cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING Assessing Biotic Integrity of Streams: Effects of Scale in Measuring the Influence of Land Use/Cover and Habitat Structure on Fish and Macroinvertebrates

Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblage com- position, instream habitat features and surrounding land use were assessed in an agriculturally developed watershed to relate overall biotic condition to patterns of land use and channel structure. Six 100-m reaches were sampled on each of three first-order warm-water tributaries of the River Raisin in southeastern Michigan. Comparisons among sites and tributaries showed considerable variability in fish assem- blages measured with the index of biotic integrity, macroin- vertebrate assemblages characterized with several diversity indexes, and both quantitative and qualitative measure- ments of instream habitat structure. Land use immediate to the tributaries predicted biotic condition better than regional land use, but was less important than local habitat variables in explaining the variability observed in fish and macroinver- tebrate assemblages. Fish and macroinvertebrates ap- peared to respond differently to landscape configuration and habitat variables as well. Fish showed a stronger rela- tionship to flow variability and immediate land use, while macroinvertebrates correlated most strongly with dominant substrate. Although significant, the relationships between instream habitat variables and immediate land use ex- plained only a modest amount of the variability observed. A prior study of this watershed ascribed greater predictive power to land use. In comparison to our study design, this study covered a larger area, providing greater contrast among subcatchments. Differences in outcomes suggests that the scale of investigation influences the strength of pre- dictive variables. Thus, we concluded that the importance of local habitat conditions is best revealed by comparisons at the within-subcatchment scale.
How Nature Synthesizes Vitamin B12 ? A Survey of the Last Four Billion Years

This review contains an account of recent experimental results in the continuing saga of vitamin B12 biosynthesis (largely from the author's laboratory) as well as a personal view of future directions of research in natural product biosynthesis. The emphasis is on the powerful combination of molecular biology in the search for, and the expression of, the genes encoding the biosynthetic enzymes and state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques, in order to “view” the biochemical events as they take place in the NMR tube. As a logical development of these approaches, the feasibility of one-flask, multienzyme synthesis of natural products is addressed.[11 ] Implicit throughout is the profound change in the “tools of the trade” of the bioorganic chemist, thanks to the harnessing and exploitation of cloning techniques and the resultant availability of enzymes which can make carbon-carbon bonds. It is also our desire to alert organic chemists, who may wish to take advantage of these technical developments, to the fact that they will be rewarded by a new world of natural catalysts capable of high yielding, synthetic chemistry often with a surprising, but welcome, lack of substrate specificity. Finally we hope to convey our enthusiasm for the methods now at the disposal of present and future generations of chemists for studying Nature's synthetic routes to complex natural products.
Distinct IFT mechanisms contribute to the generation of ciliary structural diversity in C. elegans

Individual cell types can elaborate morphologically diverse cilia. Cilia are assembled via intraflagellar transport (IFT) of ciliary precursors; however, the mechanisms that generate ciliary diversity are unknown. Here, we examine IFT in the structurally distinct cilia of the ASH/ASI and the AWB chemosensory neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans, enabling us to compare IFT in specific cilia types. We show that unlike in the ASH/ASI cilia, the OSM-3 kinesin moves independently of the kinesin-II motor in the AWB cilia. Although OSM-3 is essential to extend the distal segments of the ASH/ASI cilia, it is not required to build the AWB distal segments. Mutations in the fkh-2 forkhead domain gene result in AWB-specific defects in ciliary morphology, and FKH-2 regulates kinesin-II subunit gene expression specifically in AWB. Our results suggest that cell-specific regulation of IFT contributes to the generation of ciliary diversity, and provide insights into the networks coupling the acquisition of ciliary specializations with other aspects of cell fate.
Strategic management games: a review

This article describes seven currently available management games commonly used in the strategic management course within colleges and universities. The games reviewed have had sustained use through several editions. All are now scored by a microcomputer and use up-to-date computer technology. Five tables are included summarizing the dimensions of the games reviewed. The tables summarize for the seven games the factors categorized as the external environment and industry factors, marketing variables, production variables, and financial variables. Variables included by all of the seven games are first reviewed in each table, then unique variables are itemized for each game. This review suggests that management games are becoming much more robust and much more strategic since the review of games in this journal in 1987.
Large‐scale organization of moist convection in idealized aquaplanet simulations

This paper discusses results from idealized simulations using a non-hydrostatic general circulation model with Cloud-Resolving Convection Parameterization (CRCP, the 'super parameterization') pertinent to the large-scale organization of tropical convection. The essence of tropical dynamics is the intricate balance between large-scale processes-such as radiative transfer, large-scale waves, monsoons, Hadley and Walker circulations- and the convective dynamics. Traditional approaches to this problem consider either large-scale models using convection parameterization or cloud-resolving models in which large-scale effects are prescribed. The CRCP merges the two approaches. It uses a 2D cloud-resolving model to represent the impact of cloud-scale processes-such as convective motions, precipitation formation and fallout, interaction of clouds with radiative and surface processes-in every column of a large-scale or global model. The global CRCP model is applied to the idealized problem of a rotating constant-SST aquaplanet in convective-radiative equilibrium. The aquaplanet has the size and rate of rotation of the Earth. The global CRCP simulations feature pronounced large-scale organization of convection within the equatorial waveguide. Prominent equatorial 'super cloud clusters' spontaneously develop in CRCP global simulations and bear a strong resemblance to the Madden-Julian Oscillation observed in the terrestrial tropics. Model results suggest that convective transport of zonal momentum, supposedly due to the impact of organized convection, plays a significant role in the large-scale organization of tropical deep convection.
Principles of Management of Severe Hyponatremia

Hyponatremia represents a serious health hazard.[1][1] Hospitalized patients,[2][2] nursing home residents,[3][3] women,[4][4]–[5][5] and children[6][6] exhibit high frequency and/or severity of hyponatremia. Hyponatremia developing during the course of other morbid conditions increases their
Karyotypic derivation of H9 cell line expressing human immunodeficiency virus susceptibility

Background The T-cell lymphoma HUT78 cell line and the H9 clone of the CD4-positive HT cell line, derived from HUT78, are known to be genetically identical on the basis of allozyme (allelic isozyme) patterns and DNA fingerprinting, but the chromosome compositions of these cell lines have not been determined. The HT cell line and its H9 clone carry susceptibility to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine specific chromosome changes linking the expression of the HIV susceptibility that is unique to H9 cells by characterizing the karyotypes of the HUT78 and the H9 cell lines, by comparing chromosome differences between these lines, and by evaluating the relationships between them. Methods Air-dried chromosome slides were prepared, and the fast Giemsa-trypsin method was used to delineate G-bands. The numerical distribution of chromosomes from the two cell lines was determined, and complete chromosome analysis in 47 HUT78 metaphases and 21 H9 metaphases with discernible G-banding was used to specify the modal karyotypes of each cell line. Results Both cell lines had complex karyotypes that contained 47%-65% structurally modified marker chromosomes. The distribution of numbers of chromosomes in HUT78 cultures was broad. There were two distinct modal numbers of chromosomes at 42 and 43 and at 73, resulting from the presence of three actively growing sublines: two hypodiploid (1s) sublines (HUT78/1sA and HUT78/1sB) and a hypertriploid (2s) subline (HUT78/2s), respectively. HUT78/1sA and HUT78/1sB differed by five reciprocal chromosome replacements, and HUT78/2s had double copies of most of the chromosomes in 1s cells. H9 and HUT78/2s had had 21 matching markers, 10 of which were paired; contained 21 chromosomes with the same number of copies; consistently lacked eight homologous normal chromosomes; and showed close modal numbers of chromosomes at 69 and 73, respectively. Conclusions Derivation of the 2s subline from the 1s subline by polyploidization is apparent. All lines apparently had the same progenitor cell population, and HUT78/2s represents an intermediate linking HUT78/1s to H9. Implications These data should be useful for studying specific chromosome changes linking the expression of the HIV susceptibility unique to H9 cells. Karyologic studies such as those presented here can provide data (a) to clearly identify the clonal cell population of a subline, (b) to examine relationships among sublines of the same progenitor, and (c) to provide a clue that may link a subtle chromosome change to a phenotypic expression.
The measurement of toughness of ABS and high‐impact polystyrene by the falling dart impact test

Falling Dart Impact, FDI, toughness is used extensively to characterize the response of plastics to potential abuse. A critical study shows FDI toughness is highly variable with only 68 percent of the test pieces of a typical material failing within ±35 percent of the mean break energy, MBE. If no adjustment for this variability is made, the ASTM accepted “up/down” testing procedure leads to erroneous MBE values. A statistical analysis was carried out which defines the confidence which can be placed in measured MBE's as a function of the number of pieces tested. This analysis shows, for example, that 60 pieces must be tested so that a measured 20 percent difference in MBE's will be significant 90 percent of the time; while if 20 pieces are tested, as is suggested by ASTM, a 35 percent difference is needed before the same level of significance is reached.
Exposure of adult mice to environmental tobacco smoke fails to enhance the immune response to inhaled antigen.

Epidemiologic evidence supports a role for environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the occurrence and severity of allergies/asthma. However, neither the precise combination of ETS and allergen exposure nor the mechanism (or mechanisms) by which these factors interact and contribute to asthma induction is known. Animal model studies have failed to establish a convincing relationship between ETS exposure and asthma induction, perhaps because of methodological inadequacies. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ETS inhalation would provoke an asthmatic response by overcoming normal airway tolerance to inhaled antigens. Our protocol combined daily ETS exposure with nose-only sensitization to ovalbumin. Three strains of mice were tested, each with a different level of susceptibility to airway hypersensitivity. Immunological responses were assessed by immunoglobulin production. Airway inflammation was assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage differentials and lung histopathology. Airway hyperresponsiveness was determined ...
Dilemmas in undertaking research in paediatric intensive care

Providing evidence-based interventions for infants and children is important in paediatric intensive care, where decision making impacts most acutely on morbidity and mortality. However, despite the major progress of medicine in the 21st century, we still lack this evidence for majority of the decisions we make. In this article, we explore and suggest possible solutions for several dilemmas faced by paediatric intensive care researchers. These include ethical dilemmas such as validity of informed consent, use of deferred consent, balancing risk versus benefit and methodological dilemmas such as how to generate high-quality evidence with low-patient volume, choice of valid outcome measures and how best to use research and researchers' networks.
Leveraging ICT Capabilities in Potentially Deceptive Interactions: An Integrated Theoretical Model to Improve Detectability

With the proliferating use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), deception is increasingly being perpetrated through technology-mediated channels. Deception can result in substantial costs to individuals and organizations. However, the mechanisms by which ICT capabilities influence the detection of deception remain largely unexplored. This paper discusses how specific ICT capabilities can be leveraged to detect deception before, during and after the exchange of deceptive messages. We develop an integrated theoretical model and detail propositions grouped under two broad media capabilities—transmissibility and extensibility—derived from Saussurean structuralist theory that views ideas and artifacts in terms of binary opposition. Further, our theoretical model includes two key contingencies that affect deception detection—the overtness of deception and the skill disparity between the deceiver and the receiver. Finally, we conclude by discussing the implications of our theory for practice and offer suggestions for future research.
Floorplan representations: Complexity and connections

Floorplan representation is a fundamental issue in designing a floorplanning algorithm. In this paper, we first present a twin binary trees structure for mosaic floorplans. It is a nonredundant representation. We then derive the exact number of configurations for mosaic floorplans and slicing floorplans. Finally, the relationships between various state-of-the-art floorplan representations are discussed and explored.
Photosynthetic measurements in the central North Pacific: The dark loss of carbon in 24-h incubations1

Half-day incubations ( noon-sunset ) and 24-h incubations ( noon-noon) with ‘“C-labeled bicarbonate gave similar values for net primary production in the central gyre of the North Pacific (ca. 28”N, 155”W). Photosynthetic rates per light hour were nearly twice as high in 6-h as in 24-h incubations. The discrepancy seems to be due largely to dark respiration in the 24-h incubations, and the data can be used to estimate dark loss of ‘“C. The interpretation of measurements of primary production in natural samples of seawater with the 14C technique (Stecmann Nielsen 1952) is not always straightforward. In the present case uncertainty arose over the observation that half light-day (noonsunset, ca. 6 h) incubations with 14C often gave results similar to full 24-h incubations. That is, photosynthetic rates per hour of illumination were often nearly twice as high for noon-sunset incubations as for 24-h incubations. A few full light-day (12-15 h) incubations were also carried out and these gave values similar to the 24-h incubations and much less than twice the 6-h, noonsunset treatments. Ryther ( 1954, 1956a,b) showed that dark respiration could have a large influence on productivity measurements and on this basis he accounted for discrepancies between measurements with the 14C method and the oxygen light-dark bottle method in tropical oceanic waters. In his laboratory experiments with phytoplankton cultures, 10 to 40% of the cellular 14C from photosynthesis was lost in 4-h darkness. The oxygen light-dark bottle method showed a dcCline with the age of the culture in the ratio of gross photosynthesis to dark respiration, i.e. a variation in the ratio with growth rate.
Where are the bioherbicides

Abstract Since commercialization of Collego™ and Devine™ in the early 1980s, there has been a small but consistent research effort in the area of bioherbicides. The bioherbicide approach has promised effective weed management in cropping systems where the classical approach (using exotic natural enemies) is largely unsuitable. The overriding principle of the bioherbicide approach has been that a host-specific, coevolved natural enemy can be used as a bioherbicide when applied in simple formulations at inundative levels; however, two decades of research has effectively disproven this principle. Although research has revealed weaknesses in the bioherbicide approach, it has also revealed potential in a number of areas. A number of niche situations will remain in which host-specific plant pathogens can be developed as bioherbicides, such as for parasitic weeds and narcotic plants, but more research should be conducted with virulent, broad host range organisms, and more effort should be devoted to developing t...
Models of Geomagnetism: A Survey

We turn now to a problem of internal geophysical fluid dynamics connected with the explanation of the geomagnetic field. In the present chapter we shall examine some basic facts concerning geomagnetism and outline the main approaches that have been used to model it. Many of the ideas are applicable to planetary magnetism generally, and also to the solar magnetic cycle.
Integrating Operations Management Into Cost Systems: An Accounting Approach To Linear Programming

Managers rely on information from cost accounting systems in building operations management models to support their decision-making. Yet, the link between accounting and operations management techniques within a business information system can be improved. Cost accountants provide critical input for decision models, but, they often have difficulty using decision models and relating results back into the cost accounting information system. The Keano Macadamia Nut Company is a cross-functional exercise which illustrates a cost accounting system providing data for a linear programming problem; the use of linear programming to obtain a solution to a profit maximization problem, and a connection of the model’s optimal solution back into the cost accounting system.
Frequency and Outcomes of Transient Myocardial Ischemia in Critically Ill Adults Admitted for Noncardiac Conditions

• BACKGROUND Critically ill adults admitted for noncardiac conditions are at risk for acute myocardial ischemia. • OBJECTIVES To detect myocardial ischemia and injury in patients admitted for noncardiac conditions and to examine the relationship of myocardial ischemia, injury, and acuity to cardiac events. • METHODS Transient myocardial ischemia, acuity, elevations in serum troponin I, and in-hospital cardiac events were examined in 76 consecutive patients. Transient myocardial ischemia, determined by using continuous electrocardiography, was defined as a 1-mm (0.1-mV) change in ST level from baseline to event in 1 or more leads lasting 1 or more minutes. Acuity was determined by scores on Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II. • RESULTS A total of 37 ischemic events were detected in 8 patients (10.5%); 32 (86%) were ST-segment depressions, and 35 (96%) were silent. Twelve patients (15.8%) had elevated levels of troponin I. Transient myocardial ischemia, elevated troponin I levels, and advanced age were significant predictors of cardiac complications (R 2 = 0.387, F = 15.2, P < .001). Acuity correlated only modestly with increased length of stay in the intensive care unit (r = 0.26, P = .02) and elevated troponin I levels (r = 0.25, P = .03). Patients with transient myocardial ischemia had significantly higher rates of elevations in troponin I (P < .001) and cardiac events (P < .001) than did patients without. • CONCLUSIONS Transient myocardial ischemia and advanced age are predictors of cardiac events and may indicate patients at risk for cardiac events. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2003;12:508-517)
Neobladder Voiding Function in Men

Following construction of an orthotopic neobladder, the lower urinary tract manifests an altered function. The voiding mechanism in neobladder patients is non-physiologic. To ensure acceptable continence and protect the upper urinary tract, careful patient selection and surgical expertise are required. Although functional qualities of the orthotopic reservoir often remain stable over time, long-term follow-up is necessary as distinct complications are an ever-present concern.
The rise of homosexuality and the dawn of communism in Hong Kong film: 1993-1998.

ABSTRACT I have designed this essay as a general overview of the self-evident trend towards queer subject matter in the past decade in Hong Kong film, a trend that not only coincides historically with the 1997 handover to the Mainland but also frequently comes equipped with parent-child relationships that can be read as allegories for the colony's future as the “child” to its mother country. Queerness in HK films has both alternated between and combined indigenous forms of queerness and the imported Western variety; by charting courses through internationalized concepts of homosexuality, HK films have posited their queerness not only as an existential allegory of (post)colonialism but also as a claim (or hope) for a utopian sexuality cum utopian international politics.
Influence of market-level and inter-firm differences in costs on product positioning and pricing

ABSTRACTThe objective of this article is to study the impact of differentiation and firm positioning on firm’s pricing decisions in a horizontally differentiated competitive market. We build a parsimonious game-theoretic model and analyse simultaneous entry of firms. The effect of differentiation is modelled as an additional cost incurred by both firms based on the degree of differentiation between the firms. The cost of positioning is modelled as a market level cost affecting both firms whereby firms incur a cost if they want to position themselves away from the centre of distribution of consumers. Our analysis provides some surprising results, explains some conflicting empirical observations documented in previous research and may also be useful for further empirical research in this area by providing sharper predictions about the impact of various types of costs on market outcomes. For example, we find that if the cost of positioning is sufficiently high, then a firm with lower cost of differentiation ...
A Veterinary Comparative Counseling Elective Featuring Web-based, Student-created, Client Information Sheets.

Objective. To design and implement a course in Companion Animal Comparative Counseling that would expose students (N=38) to essential elements of veterinary therapeutics and provide them with the opportunity to apply their knowledge by writing and posting client information sheets (CIS) on an open web site.Design. The elective course was limited to companion animals. Nine different topics were covered over the semester. Class sessions included a didactic component, trivia questions, and field trips. There were 4 major graded assessments: an examination on foundation knowledge, followed by two comparative counseling assessments and evaluation of group-composed CIS. Attendance and participation were also considered.Assessment. The class learned comparative disease states, how to counsel on common pet prescriptions, where to access informatics about specific veterinary drugs, and how to create their own CIS.Conclusion. As pharmacists, these students may have improved their training in veterinary comparative ...
Electrospray Ionization Ion Mobility Spectrometry of Amino Acids: Ion Mobilities and a Mass−Mobility Correlation

As part of an ongoing effort to explore the utility of high-resolution electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry (ESI-IMS) for the detection and identification of organic molecules on other planetary bodies, pursuant to NASA objectives, the reduced ion mobilities of 14 amino acids that have been identified in meteoritic material were determined in both N2 and CO2 drift gases. A (12,4) hard core potential model of the ion−neutral interaction was applied to a combined data set of amino acid mobilities from the present work (abiotic) and an earlier investigation of twenty common biotic amino acids (Beegle, L. W.; Kanik, I.; Matz, L.; Hill, H. H. Anal. Chem. 2001, 73, 3028−3034). The model was used to investigate the protonated amino acid mass−mobility correlation to extract details of the ion−neutral interaction and to gain insight into the structural details of these ions.
Effect of opening the endolymphatic duct in hydropic guinea pig ears.

In 36 guinea pigs the endolymphatic ducts were opened in normal ears as well as in ears in which hydrops had been induced by obliteration of the endolymphatic duct and sac. When the normal endolymphatic duct was opened and disconnected from the sac, either hydrops did not develop or mild hydrops developed after short survival times. However, when the blocked duct of the hydropic inner ear was reopened, there was no remarkable difference in the extent of hydrops in comparison to specimens with routine blockage alone after short to long survival times. When the effects of reopening in the early (2 months) and late stages (5 months) of hydrops were compared with the effects of routine blockage alone, the late reopening showed more severe sensorineural atrophy in the cochlea. Although the early reopening resulted in less atrophic changes than the late reopening, the results were no better than that following blockage alone. The opened duct was covered by connective tissue or epithelial cell layers within 7 days, and by new bone at about 21 days after opening.
Operating system controlled processor-memory bus encryption

Unencrypted data appearing on the processor- memory bus can result in security violations, e.g., allowing attackers to gather keys to financial accounts and personal data. Although on-chip bus encryption hardware can solve this problem, it requires hardware redesign or increases processor cost. Application redesign to prevent sensitive data from appearing on the processor-memory bus is extremely difficult. We propose and evaluate a processor-memory bus encryption technique for embedded systems that requires no changes to applications or hardware. This technique exploits cache locking or scratchpad memory, features present in many embedded processors, permitting the operating system (OS) virtual memory infrastructure to automatically encrypt data belonging to protected processes as they are written to off-chip memory. Pages belonging to unprotected processes are stored unencrypted to prevent performance and energy consumption penalties. We evaluate the proposed bus encryption technique using full system simulation. Experimental results indicate that it is possible to prevent the working data sets of processes from appearing on the processor-memory bus in plaintext, without using dedicated hardware and without changing applications. The OS based technique results in 1.37times slowdown for protected processes for processors with 512 KB of L2 cache and 1.78times slowdown for processors with 256 KB of L2 cache. There are negligible performance penalties for unprotected processes.
MO-FG-209-02: Development of a Virtual Breast Phantom From a Multi-Modality Perspective

This symposium will review recent advances in the simulation methods for evaluation of novel breast imaging systems – the subject of AAPM Task Group TG234. Our focus will be on the various approaches to development and validation of software anthropomorphic phantoms and their use in the statistical assessment of novel imaging systems using such phantoms along with computational models for the x-ray image formation process. Due to the dynamic development and complex design of modern medical imaging systems, the simulation of anatomical structures, image acquisition modalities, and the image perception and analysis offers substantial benefits of reduced cost, duration, and radiation exposure, as well as the known ground-truth and wide variability in simulated anatomies. For these reasons, Virtual Clinical Trials (VCTs) have been increasingly accepted as a viable tool for preclinical assessment of x-ray and other breast imaging methods. Activities of TG234 have encompassed the optimization of protocols for simulation studies, including phantom specifications, the simulated data representation, models of the imaging process, and statistical assessment of simulated images. The symposium will discuss the state-of-the-science of VCTs for novel breast imaging systems, emphasizing recent developments and future directions. Presentations will discuss virtual phantoms for intermodality breast imaging performance comparisons, extension of the breast anatomy simulation to the cellular level, optimized integration of the simulated imaging chain, and the novel directions in the observer models design. Learning Objectives: 1.Review novel results in developing and applying virtual phantoms for inter-modality breast imaging performance comparisons; 2.Discuss the efforts to extend the computer simulation of breast anatomy and pathology to the cellular level; 3.Summarize the state of the science in optimized integration of modules in the simulated imaging chain; 4.Compare novel directions in the design of observer models for task based validation of imaging systems. PB: Research funding support from the NIH, NSF, and Komen for the Cure; NIH funded collaboration with Barco, Inc. and Hologic, Inc.; Consultant to Delaware State Univ. and NCCPM, UK. AA: Employed at Barco Healthcare.; P. Bakic, NIH: (NIGMS P20 #GM103446, NCI R01 #CA154444); M. Das, NIH Research grants
A preliminary examination of conversation analytic techniques: Rates of inter‐transcriber reliability

Conversation analysis has enjoyed recent acceptance in mainstream communication research. Despite successes, it remains criticized by quantitative researchers for a variety of reasons. One such reason is that, to date, conversation analysts have not felt obligated to demonstrate “inter‐transcriber” reliability for the use of transcription notation. This paper argues for determining ways to address this criticism. Toward that end, 22 participants were asked to transcribe a randomly selected segment of naturally occurring conversation. The transcripts were compared and percentages of agreement were computed for overall agreement as well as agreement regarding verbal content, pauses, overlaps, and intonation. Additionally, education level was considered as a predictor of transcription agreement. Results indicate that multiple transcribers are capable of producing similar transcripts within the acceptable tolerances of a priori coding schemes. With the exception of pauses, all transcription notations were agr...
Dispersion Interaction Between Two Atoms or Molecules

In this chapter, diagrammatic time-dependent perturbation theory is employed to calculate the Casimir-Polder dispersion potential between two neutral electric dipole polarisable atoms or molecules. Its computation via the minimal-coupling scheme is summarised first. Next, it is shown how the energy shift may be computed more simply by adopting the multipolar Hamiltonian in the electric dipole approximation. In this second framework the force is mediated by the exchange of two virtual photons, and the Casimir-Polder formula results on summing the contribution from twenty-four time-ordered diagrams evaluated at fourth-order of perturbation theory. The potential is obtained for oriented as well as for isotropic systems separated beyond the region of wave function overlap. Asymptotically limiting forms of the interaction energy applicable in the near-and far-zone regions are also found. The former reproduces the London dispersion formula, while the latter exhibits an inverse seventh power law due to the effects of retardation.
4.30 Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery to the Brain

Nanomaterials have emerged as important and versatile platforms for the delivery of therapeutics to the brain. This article describes the complex anatomy and physiology of the brain, which create challenges in treating diseases of the central nervous system, and current strategies using nanomedicines to address these challenges. We discuss various approaches to overcome the blood-brain barrier, examples of successful incorporation of therapeutics with nanomaterials, and strategies to achieve efficient delivery of nanomedicines into specific cells.
Application of finite element method in mechanical design of automotive parts

As an effective numerical analysis method, finite element method (FEM) has been widely used in mechanical design and other fields. In this paper, the development of FEM is introduced firstly, then the specific steps of FEM applications are illustrated and the difficulties of FEM are summarized in detail. Finally, applications of FEM in automobile components such as automobile wheel, steel plate spring, body frame, shaft parts and so on are summarized, compared with related research experiments.
Structural Characterization of Rh and RhAu Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticles

We report the structural characterization of 1-2 nm Rh and RhAu alloy dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) prepared by chemical reduction with NaBH4. In contrast to previously reported results, in situ and ex situ X-ray absorption spectroscopic experiments indicate that only a fraction of the Rh3+ present in the precursors are reduced by NaBH4. Additional structural analysis of RhAu alloy DENs using extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy leads to a model in which there is significant segregation of Rh and Au within the nanoparticles. In Rh-rich alloy DENs, Au atoms are segregated on the nanoparticle surface.
Management of Acute Liver Failure: A Pediatric Perspective

Pediatric acute liver failure is a rare, complex, rapidly progressing, and life-threatening illness. Majority of pediatric acute liver failures have unknown etiology. This review intends to discuss the current literature on the challenging aspects of management of acute liver failure. Collaborative multidisciplinary approach for management of patients with pediatric acute liver failure with upfront involvement of transplant hepatologist and critical care specialists can improve outcomes of this fatal disease. Extensive but systematic diagnostic evaluation can help to identify etiology and guide management. Early referral to a transplant center with prompt liver transplant, if indicated, can lead to improved survival in these patients. Prompt identification and aggressive management of pediatric acute liver failure and related comorbidities can lead to increased transplant-free survival and improved post-transplant outcomes, thus decreasing mortality and morbidity associated with this potential fatal condition.
Temporal and spatiotemporal investigation of tourist attraction visit sentiment on Twitter

In this paper, we propose a sentiment-based approach to investigate the temporal and spatiotemporal effects on tourists' emotions when visiting a city's tourist destinations. Our approach consists of four steps: data collection and preprocessing from social media; visitor origin identification; visit sentiment identification; and temporal and spatiotemporal analysis. The temporal and spatiotemporal dimensions include day of the year, season of the year, day of the week, location sentiment progression, enjoyment measure, and multi-location sentiment progression. We apply this approach to the city of Chicago using over eight million tweets. Results show that seasonal weather, as well as special days and activities like concerts, impact tourists' emotions. In addition, our analysis suggests that tourists experience greater levels of enjoyment in places such as observatories rather than zoos. Finally, we find that local and international visitors tend to convey negative sentiment when visiting more than one attraction in a day whereas the opposite holds for out of state visitors.
Potentially Inappropriate Opioid Prescribing, Overdose, and Mortality in Massachusetts, 2011-2015.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) may contribute to opioid overdose. To examine the association between PIP and adverse events. Cohort study. Three million seventy-eight thousand thirty-four individuals age ≥ 18, without disseminated cancer, who received prescription opioids between 2011 and 2015. We defined PIP as (a) morphine equivalent dose ≥ 100 mg/day in ≥ 3 months; (b) overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions in ≥ 3 months; (c) ≥ 4 opioid prescribers in any quarter; (d) ≥ 4 opioid-dispensing pharmacies in any quarter; (e) cash purchase of prescription opioids on ≥ 3 occasions; and (f) receipt of opioids in 3 consecutive months without a documented pain diagnosis. We used Cox proportional hazards models to identify PIP practices associated with non-fatal opioid overdose, fatal opioid overdose, and all-cause mortality, controlling for covariates. All six types of PIP were associated with higher adjusted hazard for all-cause mortality, four of six with non-fatal overdose, and five of six with fatal overdose. Lacking a documented pain diagnosis was associated with non-fatal overdose (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.02–2.41), as was high-dose opioids (AHR 1.68, 95% CI 1.59–1.76). Co-prescription of benzodiazepines was associated with fatal overdose (AHR 4.23, 95% CI 3.85–4.65). High-dose opioids were associated with all-cause mortality (AHR 2.18, 95% CI 2.14–2.23), as was lacking a documented pain diagnosis (AHR 2.05, 95% CI 2.01–2.09). Compared to those who received opioids without PIP, the hazard for fatal opioid overdose with one, two, three, and ≥ four PIP subtypes were 4.24, 7.05, 10.28, and 12.99 (test of linear trend, p < 0.001). PIP was associated with higher hazard for all-cause mortality, fatal overdose, and non-fatal overdose. Our study implies the possibility of creating a risk score incorporating multiple PIP subtypes, which could be displayed to prescribers in real time.
Moving Forward with Autonomous Systems: Ethical Dilemmas

Automation has improved transportation systems in various domains over the last several decades. Increasing autonomy in these systems has gradually reduced the role of the human operator to that of system monitor with the ultimate goal of eliminating the human from the control system entirely. Commercial aviation has benefited from automation, but it operates with the support of a broad infrastructure of safety when compared to vehicular road traffic. While not designed to operate in a fully autonomous mode, the computer, sensor, and software technology developed for aircraft are being applied to self-driving cars with the expectation that driving will also see significant improvements in accident rates and efficiency through the elimination of human error and negligence [1]. A sophisticated combination of hardware sensors and computer software analyzes the environment and controls the speed and direction of the car without input from its human occupants and their opaque interactions increase the complexity of the system. This approach has potential benefits but also potential problems. Autonomous vehicles will present ethical challenges while being developed and after deployment. The purpose of this paper is to consider the many ethical implications involved with the implementation and oversight of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. This paper examines primary ethical dilemmas present in the use of autonomous cars including liability and moral agency.
Effects of storage times and temperatures on T3, T4, LH, prolactin, insulin, cortisol and progesterone concentrations in blood samples from cows.

Little is known about stability of hormones in blood samples stored under various conditions. This study was conducted to examine stability of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, insulin, cortisol and progesterone in blood and serum samples. Experiment 1 was designed to determine if concentrations of these hormones were affected by exposure to cellular elements of anticoagulated and coagulated blood when stored at 4 C and room temperature (22 to 26 C). Jugular venous blood was collected from six diestrous Holstein cows into evacuated bottles containing sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), heparin or no anticoagulant. Subsamples of EDTA-treated and heparinized blood were stored .25, .5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24 and 72 h at 4 C or room temperature. Subsamples of blood without anticoagulant were stored in polypropylene tubes (clot tubes) or serum separator tubes for 1, 2, 4, 8, 24 ad 72 h. Mean concentrations of T3, T4, LH, prolactin and cortisol did not change in plasma or serum from either of the four types of samples stored at 4 C or room temperature for 72 h. The mean insulin concentration decreased 18% by 72 h in serum from serum separator tubes stored at room temperature. At 4 C, mean progesterone concentrations decreased 55% by 24 h and 73% by 72 h in plasma from EDTA-treated blood; 41% by 72 h in serum from clot tubes, and 26% by 24 h and 36% by 72 h in serum from serum separator tubes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pathology of alcoholism.

The chronic abuse of alcohol often leads to rather specific pathologic changes that affect one or more organ systems; only a few are spared. Most commonly affected is the liver, where a wide range of abnormalities may occur. Acute liver disease includes one or more of the following: fatty liver with cholestasis, acute sclerosing hyaline necrosis (alcoholic hepatitis), lytic necrosis, or acute portal fibrosis. Progression to precirrhosis or cirrhosis may follow acute disease or may occur slowly and be undetected clinically. Complications of cirrhosis such as esophageal varices, ascites, muscle wasting, and renal failure are common. Severe siderosis also occurs. Hepatocellular carcinoma and, to a lesser degree, cholangiocarcinoma may arise in the cirrhotic liver. The pancreas, likewise, may be the seat of acute disease, alcoholic pancreatitis, or long-continued injury that leads to chronic calcifying pancreatitis. Pseudocysts or abscesses may complicate acute disease. Both acute and chronic myocardial injury have been noted and aptly named alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Alcoholic myopathy (rhabdomyolysis), affecting skeletal muscle, may occur alone or in conjunction with myocardial change. In severe disease, myoglobinemia and myoglobinuria result. Alcoholics are particularly prone to have severe infections, probably because of acquired defects in host defenses. Pneumonia is a common cause of death. Other fatal infections, such as renal papillary necrosis, meningitis, and endocarditis, are additional hazards. Untreated pulmonary tuberculosis is occasionally observed at autopsy. Bone marrow dysfunction with megaloblastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and granulocytopenia may be present singly or in some combination. Hemolytic anemia also complicates alcoholism. Coagulation defects may occur in cirrhosis. Characteristic abnormalities of the central nervous system include Wernicke’s encephalopathy, central pontine myelinofysis, Marchiafava-Bignami’s disease, and cerebellar atrophy. Peripheral neuritis is a common complication. Premature testicular and ovarian atrophy appear in many patients. Bilateral ischemic necrosis of the femoral heads apparently due to obstruction of the venous outflow is a debilitating complication. Peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, often of large size, may cause death. An unusually high frequency of carcinoma of the pharanyx, larynx, and esophagus has been reported, especially in alcoholics who smoke. Bilateral enlargement of the parotid glands (parotimegaly) due to fatty infiltration and possibly glandular hyperplasia is fairly common. The fetal alcohol syndrome includes a wide range of congenital defects, among which are central nervous system abnormalities, facial changes, and muscular disorders. Toxic amblyopia is rare, but may lead to optic atrophy. “Liver palms” and vascular spiders are stigmata of chronic liver disease. The most common pathologic change in the chronic alcoholic is fibrogenesis, especially in the liver, pancreas, myocardium, and skeletal muscle.
Behavioral risks associated with tattooing

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tattoos are an increasingly prevalent form of self-expression, especially for adolescents. This study was conducted to determine health-risk behaviors associated with tattoos in young men and women entering military service. METHODS: We surveyed a cohort of 550 military recruits using a modification of the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS), a validated instrument used to assess health risk behaviors in adolescents. All individuals entering basic training in the US Marine Corps or the US Air Force from June through September 1999 were eligible to participate. The primary outcome variables of interest were tobacco use, alcohol use, seatbelt use, suicidal behaviors, depression, and physical violence. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 91% (n = 499 of 550). Overall, 27% of respondents had tattoos (n = 125) when entering military service. Women entering military service were more likely to have a tattoo than men. Controlling for age and gender, individuals with tattoos were more likely to smoke, drink heavily, use smokeless tobacco, and ride in a vehicle with someone who had been drinking than non-tattooed individuals. CONCLUSIONS: In a population of military recruits, tattoos were associated with predictable adverse health-risk behaviors. This represents an important opportunity for targeted preventive counseling. Language: en
Does coaching goals of care discussion skills make a difference

6586Background: Advanced cancer patients often have a poor understanding of their cancer prognosis. Goals of Care (GoC) discussions provide information about the cancer, its treatment & prognosis a...