cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract TP264: Analysis of Emergency Department Code Stroke Activations at a Large County Hospital: Real World Experience

Introduction: Code strokes are activated to rapidly mobilize hospital resources directed at stroke care. Activations for non-strokes and stroke mimics can divert attention away from patients with a...
Neonate born with ischemic limb to a COVID-19 positive mother: management and review of literature

To describe challenges in diagnosis and treatment of congenital neonatal gangrene lesions associated with history of maternal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection Case presentationA preterm neonate was born with upper extremity necrotic lesions and a history of active maternal COVID-19 infection The etiology of his injury was challenging to deduce, despite extensive hypercoagulability work-up and biopsy of the lesion Management, including partial forearm salvage and hand amputation is described ConclusionsNeonatal gangrene has various etiologies, including compartment syndrome and intrauterine thromboembolic phenomena Maternal COVID-19 can cause intrauterine thrombotic events and need to be considered in a differential diagnosis
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Needs: Assessing the COVID-19 Impact in Rural America

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of information concerning the impact of COVID-19 on rural populations This report shares key results from a cross-sectional survey of South Dakota residents' perceptions on the impact and knowledge of COVID-19 during the early phases of the pandemic METHODS: From March 24 to April 14, 2020, South Dakota residents (n = 4,761) reported on their psychological symptoms, pandemic-related stressful experiences, top concerns regarding the pandemic, attitudes towards COVID-19, and social distancing behaviors, and where residents were getting COVID information and who they trust to provide accurate information RESULTS: Most participants were engaging in at least some social distancing and indicated at least moderate concern about COVID-19 Across age groups, getting sick from the coronavirus was the most frequently endorsed concern Younger adults endorsed concerns about not being able to work, whereas older adults endorsed concerns about accessing medical care The majority of the sample reported anxiety, worry, and sleep problems;about half the sample reported depressed mood, anhedonia, and appetite problems Results highlight the importance of engaging public health experts and physicians in COVID-19 health messaging campaigns CONCLUSIONS: These data provide insight into the specific challenges experienced by adults and youth in a rural state during the early phase of the pandemic Public Health professionals and medical doctors are in a unique position to guide targeted interventions and health messaging Copyright© South Dakota State Medical Association
Enabling the electrochemical simulation of Li-ion battery electrodes with anisotropic tortuosity in COMSOL MultiphysicsⓇ.

Abstract Li-ion battery electrodes, such as widely used graphite anodes, may have anisotropic tortuosity due to the non-equiaxed shape of the active material particles and the post-casting calendaring process. Such anisotropy can be ignored in conventional electrodes because all the macroscopic ion transport occurs along the electrode thickness, making the ion transport effectively one dimensional. However, the anisotropy becomes important to consider with three-dimensional architectures, such as those generated by laser-patterning. COMSOL MultiphysicsⓇ is one of the leading tools used by the Li-ion battery modeling community to simulate the electrochemical dynamics of the Li-ion batteries. However, in its current implementation of the underlying model equations, the Li-ion battery module in COMSOL 5.4 cannot be used to simulate the electrochemical behavior of an electrode with anisotropic tortuosity. In this work, we show how the current implementation can be modified to simulate the anisotropic case. • The existing Li-ion battery model in COMSOL 5.4 was extended to account for the anisotropy in the electrode tortuosity • The extended model is necessary to accurately simulate the electrochemical dynamics of 3D architectures such as Highly ordered laser-patterned electrode (HOLE) • The testing and validation results are included in this work
Evaluation of Selected High-Temperature Thermoplastic Polymers for Advanced Composite and Adhesive Applications

Commercially available polyethersulfone (PES) and polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ) resins were evaluated as high-temperature thermoplastics for advanced composite and adhesive applications. Continuous graphite reinforced laminates up to 400 plies thick were fabricated successfully from both systems, once processing parameters were defined. Structural as well as hemispherical shapes were postformed from consolidated flat laminates. Poor-quality panels were reprocessed to high-quality parts, using the thermoplasticity of the matrix resins. The PES exhibited sensitivity to moisture as shown in the testing of both the neat resins and advanced composites. Adhesive bonds were also fabricated on 6A14V titanium adherends, using PPQ and thermoplastic processing techniques. The performance of the adhesive was improved significantly by the use of woven graphite scrim cloth. It is postulated that this scrim cloth results in significantly reduced residual stress in the bond line.
Specificity of antibody formation after intravitreal immunization with bovine gamma globulin and ovalbumin: II. Nonspecific enhancement of the secondary response☆

Abstract Rabbits immunized intravitreally with bovine gamma globulin and ovalbumin were challenged intravitreally with both bovine gamma globulin and ovalbumin, with bovine gamma globulin and human serum albumin, or with bovine gamma globulin alone. The specificity demonstrated in the primary response did not appear in rabbits challenged with both antigens; antibody-producing cells of both specificities were found in the uveal tracts of both eyes. Anti-ovalbumin-producing cells were found in the uveal tracts of the rabbits challenged with bovine gamma globulin alone, or with bovine gamma globulin and human serum albumin. Anti-bovine gamma globulin producing cells were also present. No antibody-producing cells were found in the unchallenged eyes of rabbits challenged with bovine gamma globulin alone. The action of a nonspecific soluble enhancing factor is postulated to explain the enhanced response to ovalbumin that resulted when rabbits were challenged with bovine gamma globulin alone.
Amino acid signatures in the detached cat retina.

PURPOSE. Expressions of certain macromolecules are altered by experimental retinal detachment in the cat. Related alterations in micromolecular signatures of neurons, Miiller cells, and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were investigated. METHODS. High-performance immunochemical mapping, image registration, and quantitative pattern recognition were combined to analyze the amino acid contents of virtually all retinal cell types after 3 to 84 days of detachment. RESULTS. Retinal micromolecular signatures showed a spectrum of alterations. The glutamate contents of Miiller cells increased and remained elevated for weeks after detachment. Multispectral signatures of Miiller cells showed massive metabolic instability in early detachment stages that ultimately resolved as a homogeneous profile significantly depleted in glutamine. Retinal pigment epithelial cell signals also changed dramatically, displaying an initial glutamate spike and then a prolonged decline, even as taurine levels followed an opposite pattern of initial loss and slow restoration. Neurotransmitter signatures of surviving neurons showed extensive precursor-level variation, and, in one case, GABAergic horizontal cells displayed anomalous sprouting. CONCLUSIONS. Dramatic changes in Miiller cell amino acid signatures triggered by retinal detachment are partially consistent with losses in glutamine synthetase activity. Taurine signal variations suggest that orthotopic RPE cells attempt to regulate abnormal taurine concentrations in the enlarged subretinal space. Surviving neurons possess characteristic neurotransmitter signals, but their metabolite regulation seems abnormal. On balance, microchemical and structural anomalies develop in the detached cat retina that represent serious barriers to recovery of normal visual function. {Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998;39:1694 -1702)
X chromosome abnormalities and the obstetrician. The value of routine nuclear sexing of newborn infants.

Abstract The frequent association of X chromosome abnormalities with many important medical and psychosocial problems is noted. A series of over 21,000 unselected, almost consecutive newborn infants was studied for incidence, significance, and cause of X chromosome abnormalities. The difficulty of studying such a large population by chromosome analyses was minimized by preliminary screening for presence or absence of an X chromosome abnormality by Barr body counts performed on amniotic membrane cells, and nuclear sex-phenotypic sex comparisons. Chromosome analysis, extensive physical examination, and attempted correlation with possible etiologic factors were done only on those cases suspect after screening. The influence of a rubella epidemic on the incidence of X chromosome abnormalities was demonstrated. The advantage to the individual, family, physician, and community of early detection of X chromosome abnormalities was indicated. The role of the obstetrician in detecting causes of chromosome abnormalities and possibly in averting them was noted. Routine nuclear sexing of newborn infants is urged.
40 Years of FCT: Status and Directions

A somewhat historical perspective of the use of FCT for fluid dynamics is given. The particular emphasis is on large-scale blast problems. A comparison with other high-resolution CFD solvers is included to highlight the differences between them, as well as the relative cost. Results from test runs, as well as several relevant production runs are shown. Outstanding issues that deserve further investigation are identified.
A Risk Assessment Approach for Policy Evaluation: New Jersey Case Studies

ABSTRACTMonitoring environmental policy progress often focuses on contaminant concentrations while policy goals address health. To bridge this gap, we developed policy evaluation case studies applying risk assessment methods to explore population health risks of chemical exposures before and after policy implementation. Beginning in the 1970s the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection provided some of the United States' first data on contaminants including trichloroethylene in drinking water and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish. These data provide a unique opportunity to evaluate environmental policies. The 1979 PCB manufacturing ban succeeded in reducing exposure and risk, but the persistence of these compounds in local fish requires continued state and local consumption advisories. The positive impact of drinking water standards for trichloroethylene was reflected in declining detection in public water supplies from the late 1970s to 2005, although maximum concentrations in a small pe...
Bio-inspiration: learning creative design principia

Reusing or modifying known design concepts cannot meet new challenges facing engineering systems. However, engineers can find inspiration outside their traditional domains in order to develop novel design concepts. The key to progress and knowledge acquisition is found in inspiration from diverse domains. This paper explores abstract knowledge acquisition for use in conceptual design. This is accomplished by considering body armor in nature and that developed in Europe in the last Millennium. The research is conducted in the context of evolution patterns of the Directed Evolution Method, which is briefly described. The focus is on conceptual inspiration. Analysis results of historic and natural body armor evolution are described and two sets of acquired creative design principia from both domains are presented. These principia can be used to stimulate human development of novel design concepts. Creative design principia, combined with human creativity, may lead to revolutionarychanges, rather than merely evolutionarysteps, in the evolution of engineering systems.
Effect of a Cognitive-Behavioral Prevention Program on Depression 6 Years After Implementation Among At-Risk Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Adolescents whose parents have a history of depression are at risk for developing depression and functional impairment. The long-term effects of prevention programs on adolescent depression and functioning are not known. Objective To determine whether a cognitive-behavioral prevention (CBP) program reduced the incidence of depressive episodes, increased depression-free days, and improved developmental competence 6 years after implementation. Design, Setting, and Participants A 4-site randomized clinical trial compared the effect of CBP plus usual care vs usual care, through follow-up 75 months after the intervention (88% retention), with recruitment from August 2003 through February 2006 at a health maintenance organization, university medical centers, and a community mental health center. A total of 316 participants were 13 to 17 years of age at enrollment and had at least 1 parent with current or prior depressive episodes. Participants could not be in a current depressive episode but had to have subsyndromal depressive symptoms or a prior depressive episode currently in remission. Analysis was conducted between August 2014 and June 2015. Interventions The CBP program consisted of 8 weekly 90-minute group sessions followed by 6 monthly continuation sessions. Usual care consisted of any family-initiated mental health treatment. Main Outcomes and Measures The Depression Symptoms Rating scale was used to assess the primary outcome, new onsets of depressive episodes, and to calculate depression-free days. A modified Status Questionnaire assessed developmental competence (eg, academic or interpersonal) in young adulthood. Results Over the 75-month follow-up, youths assigned to CBP had a lower incidence of depression, adjusting for current parental depression at enrollment, site, and all interactions (hazard ratio, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.53-0.96]). The CBP program’s overall significant effect was driven by a lower incidence of depressive episodes during the first 9 months after enrollment. The CBP program’s benefit was seen in youths whose index parent was not depressed at enrollment, on depression incidence (hazard ratio, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.36-0.81]), depression-free days ( d = 0.34, P = .01), and developmental competence ( d = 0.36, P = .04); these effects on developmental competence were mediated via the CBP program’s effect on depression-free days. Conclusions and Relevance The effect of CBP on new onsets of depression was strongest early and was maintained throughout the follow-up period; developmental competence was positively affected 6 years later. The effectiveness of CBP may be enhanced by additional booster sessions and concomitant treatment of parental depression. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00073671
Local Union Officers' Donations to a Political Action Committee

Durant les annees 80, les syndicats americains ont grandement accru leurs activites politiques en partie en reaction strategique a la reduction du nombre de leurs membres. Une caracteristique importante de cet effort est la contribution financiere aux campagnes presidentielles et des membres du Congres par des comites d'action politique (CAP). En vertu de la loi electorale federale, les syndicats peuvent prelever aupres de leurs membres, sur une base volontaire, des sommes d'argent CAP pouvant servir, dans des limites prevues, aux campagnes electorales generales et celles des primaires pour les candidats a la presidence et au Congres. Les dirigeants syndicaux locaux elus peuvent jouer un grand role dans cet effort syndical de ramasser des fonds CAP puisqu'ils representent un groupe important de donateurs potentiels et que leurs dons personnels peuvent influencer leurs membres. Cependant, le seul statut de dirigeants locaux n'implique pas un comportement homogene. Peu de recherche empirique a porte sur les dirigeants locaux en soi, aussi nous avons eu recours a une documentation pertinente plus large dans les domaines tels la participation politique generale, la participation politique des syndiques et l'incitation des employes a se joindre a des groupes d'interets pour des fins politiques. A partir de cela, nous proposons des hypotheses specifiques eu egard aux variables socio-psychologiques, demographiques, economiques, regionales et experimentales pouvant influencer les dons CAP des dirigeants syndicaux locaux. Nous avons verifie nos hypotheses a l'aide d'analyses de regression de donnees colligees suite a une enquete menee aupres de 700 dirigeants locaux des Metallurgistes unis d'Amerique (Metallos) qui ont tous suivi des seminaires commandites par le syndicat international. Les resultats revelent une variation considerable dans les dons qu'ont eux-memes rapportes les dirigeants locaux. Cependant, en moyenne, ces dons excedent de beaucoup ceux des membres. Chez les dirigeants, les resultats demontrent que l'implication dans le syndicat est un bon predicteur de dons CAP. Les resultats suggerent que les Metallos et les syndicats americains en general pourraient accroitre leur niveau actuel d'action politique en permettant aux dirigeants locaux de ramasser de l'argent CAP par une education de base et par le fait d'inculquer un plus grand sentiment d'engagement syndical.
Computation of Current Distribution of Cylindrical Antennas and Scatterers in Multi-Layer Media Using a Multi-Wire Model

ABSTRACT In this paper, a new multi-wire model is developed to solve the important problem of the determination of the longitudinal current distribution along and around a wire antenna protruding through multi-layer medium. This problem is important because the longitudinal directed current distribution on a wire antenna near the interface between two layered medium is not uniform as a function of the angle around the antenna because of proximity effects and because the longitudinal current distribution along the antenna can vary significantly when the antenna passes through layers having different electrical properties. In the past, almost all numerical methods have treated this wire antenna problem by assuming a longitudinal current that was uniform in the azimuthal direction around the antenna. With the new model, the magnitude of the longitudinal current azimuthal around the wire antenna can be modeled in terms of many small thin wires in a cylindrical cage-like configuration. A moment method procedur...
Weighted analogues of capacity, transfinite diameter, and Chebyshev constant

For an arbitrary closed subsetE of the complex plane, the notions of logarithmic capacity, transfinite diameter, and Chebyshev constant ofE with respect to an admissible weightw onE are introduced. For thew-modified capacity, an electrostatics problem for logarithmic potentials in the presence of an external field is analyzed. This leads to an extremal measure whose support is the “smallest” compact set where the sup norm of weighted polynomials “live.” The introduction of a weightw has the advantage that the classical quantities mentioned in the title can be considered for unbounded setsE. Some of the theorems presented are generalizations of the authors' previous results for the case whenE⊂R.
Multicentric dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in patients with adenosine deaminase–deficient severe combined immune deficiency

Background Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant skin tumor associated with a characteristic chromosomal translocation (t[17;22][q22;q13]) resulting in the COL1A1 -platelet-derived growth factor β (PDGFB) fusion gene. This malignancy is rarely diagnosed in childhood. Objective We observed an unexpected high incidence of this DFSP in children affected with adenosine deaminase–deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID) and set out to evaluate the association of these 2 clinical entities. Methods Twelve patients with ADA-SCID were evaluated with a complete dermatologic examination and skin biopsy when indicated. Conventional cytogenetic and molecular analyses (fluorescence in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, or both) were performed when possible. Results Eight patients were found to have DFSP. Six patients had multicentric involvement (4-15 lesions), primarily of the trunk and extremities. Most lesions presented as 2- to 15-mm, round atrophic plaques. Nodular lesions were present in 3 patients. In all cases CD34 expression was diffusely positive, and diagnosis was confirmed either by means of cytogenetic analysis, molecular testing, or both. The characteristic DFSP-associated translocation, t(17;22)(q22;q13), was identified in 6 patients; results of fluorescence in situ hybridization were positive for fusion of the COL1A1 and PDGFB loci in 7 patients; and RT-PCR showed the COL1A1 - PDGFB fusion transcript in 6 patients. Conclusions We describe a previously unrecognized association between ADA-SCID and DFSP with unique features, such as multicentricity and occurrence in early age. We hypothesize that the t(17;22)(q22;q13) translocation that results in dermal overexpression of PDGFB and favors the development of fibrotic tumors might arise because of the known DNA repair defect in patients with ADA-SCID. Although the natural course of DFSP in the setting of ADA-SCID is unknown, this observation should prompt regular screening for DFSP in patients with ADA-SCID.
A Model for Neurologic Sources of Aperiodicity in Vocal Fold Vibration

The time course of a force twitch in the thyroarytenoid muscle is modeled, and trains of twitches are summed to simulate force tetani. By incorporating means and standard deviations of motoneuron f...
Modeling of liquid phase epitaxy for magnetic bubble films

Magnetic garnet films suitable for magnetic bubble memories are grown by means of liquid phase epitaxy from multicomponent melts. This growth process has been successfully modeled using an electronic spreadsheet. Given initial film properties measured by one growth run, the model will predict the properties of future growth runs, including the effects of changes in temperature, growth rate, or composition. It has aided development of several new melts. >
Proteases in pathogenesis and plant defence

Plant pathogens deliver a variety of virulence factors to host cells to suppress basal defence responses and create suitable environments for their propagation. Plants have in turn evolved disease resistance genes whose products detect the virulence factors as a signal of invasion and activate effective defence responses. Understanding how a virulence effector contributes to virulence on susceptible hosts but becomes an avirulence factor that triggers defence responses on resistance hosts has been a major focus in plant research. Recent studies have shown that a growing list of pathogen-encoded effectors functions as proteases that are secreted into plant cells to modify host proteins. In addition, several plant proteases have been found to function in activation of the defence mechanism. These findings reveal that post-translational modification of host proteins through proteolytic processing is a widely used mechanism in regulating the plant defence response.
Infant mortality and socioeconomic development: evidence from Malaysian household data.

Household data from Malaysia are used to assess the roles of a number of mortality correlates in explaining the inverse relationship between the infant mortality rate (IMR) and socioeconomic development. Increases in mothers’ education and improvements in water and sanitation are the most important household-level changes that accompany regional and temporal development and contribute to the inverse relationship between the IMR and development. One concomitant of development-reduced breastfeeding-has kept the relationship from being even stronger. Continued prevalence of extended breastfeeding in the poorer states of Peninsular Malaysia and a narrowing of educational and sanitation differentials helped close the IMR gap between the richer and the poorer states.
Transforming Growth Factor-β Initiates Wound Repair in Rat Liver through Induction of the EIIIA-Fibronectin Splice Isoform

A prominent feature of the hepatic response to injury is production of a fetal isoform of fibronectin, a splice variant containing the EIIIA region, which appears very early after injury and derives from sinusoidal endothelial cells. Previous studies have shown that it is instrumental in initiating the cellular response to injury, specifically the conversion of resting stellate cells to myofibroblast-like cells. The present work describes the regulation of this change in fibronectin expression. Using sinusoidal endothelial cells from normal or injured liver in primary culture, we show that exogenous transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) stimulates [EIIIA]Fn expression. To assess the role of TGFβ in vivo, we used a chimeric IgG containing the extracellular portion of the TGFβ type II receptor as a competitive inhibitor of the cytokine. Administered to animals at the time of injury, the inhibitor reduced expression of [EIIIA]Fn mRNA by 50% as compared to controls (P < 0.01). There was a corresponding decrease in [EIIIA]Fn protein production as judged by immunohistochemistry. Cell fractionation experiments indicated that the changes observed in whole-liver extracts were localized to sinusoidal endothelial cells. We conclude that TGFβ initiates wound repair in part by stimulating endothelial expression of [EIIIA]Fn. Results with the soluble inhibitor of the TGFβ type II receptor suggest a novel strategy for modulating wound repair in vivo.
Re-identification of C3HClF2 by analysis of its Diels-Alder products

Abstract A compound previously reported as 1-chloro-3,3-difluoroallene has been identified to be 1-chloro-3,3-difluoropropyne through NMR analysis of its Diels-Alder reaction products.
Intraneural microstimulation in humans.

Intraneural microstimulation (INMS) was developed independently by Torebjork and Ochoa [20] and by Vallbo [23]. As pioneers, we often wonder whether the awesome yield of the method, as applied to discern subjective attributes of pure evoked sensations in human subjects, has been a mirage. Cultural nihilism resists the proposition that certain single sensory units from skin of the human hand may normally be able to evoke a conscious sensation endowed with specific and consistent subjective quality, measurable magnitude, and chartable location. But, of course, depending on the physical circumstances prevailing in the neighborhood of a given intraneural site, an electrode tip can regularly record anywhere from between zero and multiple nerve fibers, and usually a few. And why not even record one single fiber in focus? The usual situation in which zero to multiple fibers are recordable from the same intra-neural microelectrode site, certainly does not negate that it may be possible also to microstimulate zero, a few, or the whole fiber content of a fascicle at stimulus intensity is gradually increased. And why not even stimulate one single fiber? Indeed, it is more plausible to accept viability of single fiber stimulation than mandatory multi-fiber stimulation at stimulus intensity at threshold for the first detectable sensation. Therefore, after the test of time, we do believe it is possible to excite single sensory nerve fibers through intra-neural microstimulation in humans [10,15,17,18]. Nobody does intraneural microstimulation (INMS) these days. It is extremely demanding.
Ecotourism experiences reported online: Classification of satisfaction attributes

Abstract This study proposed a quantitative method for evaluating ecotourism experiences reported online by U.S. travelers to Costa Rica. The user-generated content (UGC) used in this study was 373 reviews extracted from TripAdvisor ® . By applying the content analysis technique, 26 attributes that influence ecotourists’ satisfaction with their ecolodge stays were identified and further aggregated into seven categories: ecolodge settings, room, nature, service, food, location, and value for money. A two-step non-parametric statistical procedure was developed to quantitatively support the classification of attributes into satisfiers, dissatisfiers, criticals, and neutrals, the typology first proposed by Cadotte and Turgeon [(1988). Dissatisfiers and satisfiers: suggestions from consumer complaints and compliments. Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction and Complaining Behavior, 1 (1), 74–79]. The proposed procedure is considered an original contribution of the article to the literature. The authors hope that the results from this study can be useful to ecolodge managers to evaluate performance in critical areas and develop strategies to maximize customer satisfaction through better utilization of limited resources.
Infrared spectrometric studies of thermally induced changes in ligand/surface interactions for cyanoalkyl groups immobilized on silica

Abstract The nitrile stretch regions for 2-cyanoethyldimethyl- and 5-cyanopentyldimethyl-silanized silica were studied under dry-state conditions by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. Deconvolution of each of the resulting board asymmetric bands produced a doublet with high- and low-frequency assignments correct respectively for a population of ligands which hydrogen-bonds with free silanols and a population which is sterically hindered from the surface by adjacent groups. These results are consistent with previous observations for the same materials in contact with a non-polar liquid (n-hexane). Thermally induced changes in band contour, integrated intensity and frequency were observed, indicating a decrease in cyano/silanol interaction with increasing temperature. When similar physically coated materials were examined, the nitrile band, although broad, was substantially more symmetrical than that obtained for the chemically altered surfaces.
Development and validation of a terrestrial biotic ligand model for Ni toxicity to barley root elongation for non-calcareous soils.

A Terrestrial Biotic Ligand Model (TBLM) for Ni toxicity to barley root elongation (RE) developed from experiments conducted in sand culture was used to predict toxicity in non-calcareous soils. Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations and pH in sand solution were varied individually and TBLM parameters were computed. EC50 increased as Mg2+ increased, whereas the effect of Ca2+ was insignificant. TBLM parameters developed from sand culture were validated by toxicity tests in eight Ni-amended, non-calcareous soils. Additional to Ni2+ toxicity, toxicity from all solution ions was modelled independently as an osmotic effect and needed to be included for soil culture results. The EC50s and EC10s in soil culture were predicted within twofold of measured results. These are close to the results obtained using parameters estimated from the soil culture data itself.
ß-function approach to the p-adic string☆

Abstract Using a σ -model approach to the p adic string in the presence of tachyonic background fields, we compute the s -function corresponding to a discrete scale invariance. It is shown, up to second order in tachyon fields, that the requirement of vanishing s -function reproduces the tachyonic field equation previously derived from the analysis of p -adic tree amplitudes.
Hemodynamic characteristics, myocardial kinetics and microvascular rheology of FS-069, a second-generation echocardiographic contrast agent capable of producing myocardial opacification from a venous injection

Objectives. We sought to 1) study the effects of FS-069 on cardiac and systemic hemodynamic function, myocardial blood flow, left ventricular wall thickening and pulmonary gas exchange when injected intravenously; and 2) compare the myocardial kinetics and microvascular theology of FS-069 and Albunex when injected directly into a coronary artery. Background. FS-069 is a second-generation echocardiographic contrast agent composed of perfluoropropane-filled albumin microspheres; it is capable of consistent and reproducible myocardial opacification from a venous injection. Methods. Nine dogs were used to study the effects of FS-069 on hemodynamic function, pulmonary gas exchange, left ventricular wall thickening and myocardial blood flow and to characterize its myocardial kinetics when injected intravenously. These dogs were also used to compare the myocardial kinetics of FS-069 with those of Albunex during intracoronary injections. Nine Sprague-Dawley rats were used to compare the microvascular rheology of these two contrast agents, and in vitro modeling was performed to assess whether the microvascular findings of FS-069 can explain its echocardiographic behavior during direct coronary injections. Results. There were no effects of 30 rapid venous injections of FS-069 (every 20 s) on cardiac output; mean aortic, pulmonary or left atrial pressures; and peak positive and negative first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt). Similarly, there were no effects of this agent on radiolabeled microsphere-measured regional myocardial blood flow, left ventricular wall thickening or pulmonary gas exchange. When injected intravenously, the myocardial transit of this agent resembled a gamma-variate form. When diluted FS-069 was injected directly into the coronary artery; however, its transit resembled the integral of gammavariate function, with persistent myocardial opacification lasting several minutes, which was different from that of Albunex. Intravital microscopy revealed that, unlike Albunex, when no bubbles are entrapped within the microcirculation after an arterial injection, a very small fraction of the diluted, larger FS-069 microbubbles are entrapped. In vitro modeling confirmed that this small fraction of microbubbles can result in persistent myocardial opacification. Conclusions. FS-069 produces no changes in hemodynamic function, myocardial blood flow, left ventricular wall thickening or pulmonary gas exchange when injected intravenously in large amounts. When diluted FS-069 is injected into the coronary artery, a very small fraction of the larger bubbles are entrapped within the microcirculation, resulting in a persistent contrast effect. Thus, although FS-069 is a safe intravenous echocardiographic contrast agent, it cannot provide information on myocardial blood flow when injected directly into a coronary artery.
In situ Lorentz TEM magnetization studies on a Fe–Pd–Co martensitic alloy

Abstract Understanding domain wall pinning centers and the resultant mobility of ferroic (ferromagnetic and ferroelastic) walls under an applied magnetic field is of central importance to actuator applications of magnetic shape memory alloys. The movement of ferroic boundaries in a twinned Fe–Pd–Co martensite was analyzed by means of Lorentz mode transmission electron microscopy. An in situ magnetizing sample-holder was used to record the evolution of the magnetic domain structure as a function of the applied field. Fresnel images were recorded at different field values and a phase reconstruction algorithm was used to map the magnetization configuration inside the foil. The motion of magnetic domain walls was found to be strongly influenced by the presence of twin boundaries. Free-standing domain walls became mobile at fields as low as 15 Oe, whereas an order of magnitude higher field was required to depin domain walls that coincided with twin boundaries. The domain wall motion was completely reversible with a notable hysteresis.
Review of the HeRO (hemodialysis reliable outflow) device: a novel approach for hemodialysis

Learning Objectives 1. Introduce and describe this relatively novel approach to hemodialysis. 2. Discuss post implantation surveillance and complication management. 3. Emphasis will be placed on the interventional radiologist's role with the HeRO device. Background Over half a million people in the United States suffer from chronic kidney disease requiring either renal transplantation or hemodialysis. When a transplant is unavailable, the currently preferred order of providing hemodialysis access is as follows: arteriovenous fistula, graft and central venous catheter. A recently developed alternative for hemodialysis is the HeRO device which is a hybrid access that incorporates a surgically created arterial graft that is connected to a completely subcutaneous central venous catheter. Clinical Findings/Procedure Details This educational exhibit will introduce and describe this new device for hemodialysis and will review indications and appropriate patient selection, including preprocedural patient evaluation. A clinical case example of a HeRO device implantation will be used to illustrate the procedural steps in successfully implanting the device. An algorithm for appropriate clinical and imaging surveillance, maintenance of device patency and management of post-insertion complications such as graft thrombosis will be reviewed. The potential pitfalls, clinical and technical success rates will also be discussed, followed by a summary of the medical literature regarding the HeRO catheter. Conclusion and/or Teaching Points The HeRO device is intended for patients who have exhausted other means of hemodialysis as a result of failed fistulas and/or grafts or for those patients with poor venous outflow (e.g. proximal venous stenoses/occlusions). On the continuum of the preferred order of providing hemodialysis access, this device falls between dialysis grafts and tunneled catheters. The infection rate and incidence of venous stenoses is lower when using this device, as compared to central venous catheters. Secondary intervention rates are lower than central venous catheters, are equivalent to those of arteriovenous grafts and exceed those associated with AV fistulas.
[1,5] Sigmatropic hydrogen shifts in cyclic 1,3-dienes.

Density functional calculations have been carried out for [1,5] hydrogen shifts in 1,3-cycloalkadienes (cyclohexadiene, cycloheptadiene, and cyclooctadiene). The complexity of the potential surfaces of these reactions was found to increase with ring size. For 1,3-cyclohexadiene a single transition structure for the [1,5] hydrogen shift was located, which connects the two enantiomeric conformers. For 1,3-cycloheptadiene two enantiomeric transition structures for the [1,5] hydrogen shift were located, which interconnect three conformers of the diene, a pair of enantiomeric conformers and a third achiral conformer. Finally for 1,3-cyclooctadiene two diastereomeric transition structures were found in addition to six conformers (three pairs of enantiomeric conformers) of the diene. Calculated activation energies for the [1,5] hydrogen shifts were found to be in qualitative agreement with experiment. Variation in these energies are attributed to strain energies present in either the diene or the transition stru...
Social and situational factors associated with contraceptive switching: implications for practitioners.

The goal of this study was to learn about the prevalence and importance of various factors (social context economic status or knowledge about method use) that contribute to method switching among users of the diaphragm and oral contraceptives (OCs). A brief review of the literature revealed that most women first use a nonmedical and less effective contraceptive method and then switch to a more effective method and that for US women demographic variables are associated with continuation. The general analytic strategy involved identifying women who switched from the OC or the diaphragm for reasons other than side effects. Two models of switching were investigated: one predicted a higher rate of switching in the initial period of use because expectations failed to match reality and the other predicted switching due to random events and yielded a constant hazard function across time. Variables that may be predictive of switching are 1) initial attitude toward method 2) partners attitude 3) general knowledge of contraception 4) method-specific knowledge 5) clinic experience 6) religious beliefs 7) importance of sexual pleasure and 8) reservations about genital contact. Data were collected from interviews with 324 OC users and 201 diaphragm users. Analyses were performed for three types of bias (selection retention and retesting). Results were also obtained for open-ended and survival analyses. In this study population about 45% of the diaphragm users and 70% of the OC users had switched after five months. The findings indicate that both diaphragm and OC users switched because of mismatched expectations about the methods. Negative experiences during initial clinic visits also predicted switching (this variable had a sizable impact). Further exploration is needed to determine the exact reasons why many OC users quit when they ran out of supplies. Additional research is also needed to determine if some of the psychosocial variables that indicated no predictive power in this study may in fact be relevant to switching if assessed in a dynamic fashion that adequately models their influence.
Chronic Loading and Extension Increases the Acute Breaking Strength of Polypropylene Sutures

Polypropylene sutures provide satisfactory strength for construction of vascular anastomoses, but occasionally they break. Experimental studies show that they break at reduced forces when they are subjected to chronic loads. Moreover, in patients, sutures are subject to acute loads superimposed on chronic loads. For example, an episode of hypertension applies acute load that is added to the baseline chronic load in a suture that has been used to close an arteriotomy. The purpose of the present study was to examine the breaking force of 6–0 polypropylene sutures subjected to acute loads after they had been loaded with chronic loads. One hundred sixty-five 6–0 polypropylene sutures were subjected to 50–175 g chronic loads in vitro. After 38 days they were subjected to additional increasing acute loads until they broke. Five hundred ninety other sutures were subjected to “injuries” of manipulation before chronic loading. A stray knot was simulated by placing a knot in the center of 90 sutures. Nurse’s tugs used to straighten folded sutures in the operating room were simulated by applying brief loads of 75–275 g to 452 other sutures. Intraoperative injuries were simulated in 48 other sutures by pinching them with DeBakey forceps. Surprisingly, chronic loading of polypropylene sutures increased their acute breaking force. It is suggested that this may have resulted from increased orientation of crystals in the core of the filaments. By contrast, disturbing the outer surface of the filament by placing a stray knot, or pinching with forceps decreased acute breaking strength. These data suggest that if polypropylene sutures do not break soon after they have been placed in a patient, they may gain strength over time. (Ann Vasc Surg 1998;12:424–429.)
Anti-Individualism and Knowledge

Contemporary philosophy of mind is dominated by anti- individualism, which holds that a subject's thoughts are determined not only by what is inside her head but also by aspects of her environment. Despite its dominance, anti-individualism is subject to a daunting array of epistemological objections: that it is incompatible with the privileged access each subject has to her thoughts, that it undermines rationality, and, absurdly, that it provides a new route to a priori knowledge of the world. In this rigorous and persuasive study, Jessica Brown defends anti- individualism from these epistemological objections. The discussion has important consequences for key epistemological issues such as skepticism, closure, transmission, and the nature of knowledge and warrant.According to Brown's analysis, one main reason for thinking that anti-individualism is incompatible with privileged access is that it undermines a subject's introspective ability to distinguish types of thoughts. So diagnosed, the standard focus on a subject's reliability about her thoughts provides no adequate reply. Brown defuses the objection by appeal to the epistemological notion of a relevant alternative. Further, she argues that, given a proper understanding of rationality, anti- individualism is compatible with the notion that we are rational subjects. However, the discussion of rationality provides a new argument that anti-individualism is in tension with Fregean sense. Finally, Brown shows that anti-individualism does not create a new route to a priori knowledge of the world. While rejecting solutions that restrict the transmission of warrant, she argues that anti-individualists should deny that we have the type of knowledge that would be required to use a priori knowledge of thought content to gain a priori knowledge of the world.
Commentary on “a new series of slides depicting facial expressions of affect” by Mazurski and Bond (1993)

Abstract Mazurski and Bond (1993) reported on the development of a new series of slides of facial expressions of emotion that improved on Ekman and Friesen's (1976) Pictures of Facial Affect. They apparently did not know about another new set which has been available since 1988 that improves on Ekman and Friesen's photograph set, and has many advantages over Mazurski and Bond's set. We describe that set in this article.
Strong representability of partial functions in arithmetic theories

Abstract The following is a generalization of a definition due to Mendelson. definition . A partial function ϑ(x1, …,xn) is said to be strongly representable in a first-order theory K of arithmetic if there is a well-formed formula A(x1,…,xn,xn+1) with free variables x1,…,xn, xn+1 satisfying 1. 1. ⊢K(x1)…(xn)(∃!xn+1)A(x1,…,xn,xn+1), and 2. 2. for all integers m1,…, mn, mn+1 ϑ(m 1 ,…,m n ) = m n+1 iff ⊢ K A( m 1 ,…, m n , m n+1 ) . theorem . Let K be any consistent r.e. extension of Robinson's system, R. Then the class of partial functions strongly representable in K is exactly the class of all partial recursive functions. The key to the proof is the following Exact Separation Theorem due to Putnam and Smullyan and to Shepherdson: Let K be any consistent r.e. extension of Robinson's system, R, and let α and β be any two disjoint recursively enumerable sets. Then there is a well-formed formula B(x) with free variable x satisfying, for all integers n, 1. 1. n ϵ α iff ⊢ K B( n ) and 2. 2. n ϵ β iff ⊢ K ~ B ( n ) . If the requirement that K be r.e. is replaced by the requirement that K be ω-consistent and incomplete, one can prove, without appealing to the exact separation theorem, that all total recursive functions and all partial recursive functions having at least two integers not in their range are strongly representable in K. Classifying the partial recursive functions by the alternation of quantifiers preceding primitive recursive predicates in the predicates used to strongly represent the function leads, for each theory K, to a classification which has at most four classes. In particular, for (ω-consistent theories K, the ∑1 class is a r.e. class of total recursive functions which contains the K-provable recursive functions, although we do not know if the containment is proper.
The impact of Toll-like receptors on bacterial virulence strategies

The mammalian immune system has evolved in the presence of microbes, both pathogenic and commensal. The consequences of microbial recognition by the host has led to the development of compensatory mechanisms by both the host and microbe to either resist or tolerate the existence of the other. In this review we discuss examples of this co-evolutionary relationship. Because of space considerations and for conceptual clarity, we have focused on detection of bacteria by the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family and highlight examples of bacterial strategies to evade, subvert and in some cases even utilize these receptors.