cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Average-reward decentralized Markov decision processes

Formal analysis of decentralized decision making has become a thriving research area in recent years, producing a number of multi-agent extensions of Markov decision processes. While much of the work has focused on optimizing discounted cumulative reward, optimizing average reward is sometimes a more suitable criterion. We formalize a class of such problems and analyze its characteristics, showing that it is NP complete and that optimal policies are deterministic. Our analysis lays the foundation for designing two optimal algorithms. Experimental results with a standard problem from the literature illustrate the applicability of these solution techniques.
Lack of Effect of Murine Norovirus Infection on a Mouse Model of Bacteria-Induced Colon Cancer

Murine norovirus (MNV) is endemic in mouse research facilities in the United States and Europe, with a prevalence as high as 58% to 64%. Because of MNV's orofecal route of infection, clinically silent persistent infections in some mouse strains, and proclivity for macrophage and dendritic cells, its presence in mouse colonies has potential to alter phenotypes in experimental mouse models, particularly those involving inflammation and immunologic responses. Although MNV is subclinical, not causing overt disease in immunocompetent mice, we found that MNV infection can accelerate bacteria-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) progression in Mdr1a^(-/-) mice. The studies presented here examined whether MNV infection also affects the phenotype of a bacterially driven mouse model of inflammation-associated colon cancer in genetically susceptible Smad3^(-/-) mice. In vitro culture of bone-marrow—derived macrophages (BMDM) was used to determine whether MNV4 influenced macrophage cytokine production. For in vivo studies, Smad3-/- mice were infected with MNV4 one week prior to infection with Helicobacter. Mice were monitored for 17 to 32 wk for development of IBD and colon cancer, and tissues were analyzed histopathologically. Although in vitro infection of BMDM with MNV4 led to increased inflammatory cytokine production, infection with MNV4 in vivo did not result in any statistically significant differences in survival, IBD scores, tumor incidence, or tumor phenotype in Smad3^(-/-) mice. In addition, MNV infection alone did not result in IBD or colon cancer. Therefore MNV infection alone or in conjunction with Helicobacter does not alter the development or progression of IBD or colon cancer in Smad3^(-/-) mice.
Clinicopathologic correlation of localized retinal pigment epithelium debridement.

Purpose. To characterize changes in the retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and choriocapillaris with fluorescein angiography (FA) and histology after hydraulic or abrasive RPE debridement in 26 domestic short-haired cats. Methods. Hydraulic debridement was produced by injecting balanced salt solution forcefully into the subretinal space. For abrasive debridement, RPE were removed with a silicone-tipped cannula after creating a localized retinal detachment. The FAs were performed after surgery, and tissue was prepared for light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results. Sixty,-seven blebs were examined by FA 1 hour after surgery, and RPE debridement was confirmed by SEM or LM in 15 blebs from 10 animals. Hyperfluorescence and variable central fluorescein leakage were seen 1 week after surgery in 52 of 53 blebs (which includes all 27 blebs from the 1-week timepoint and 26 of 29 blebs from the 4-week timepoint that were studied by FA 1 week after surgery). Choriocapillary filling delays were seen in no hydraulic debridements, but in 11 of 14 abrasive blebs, especially in areas showing leakage late in the angiogram. In 1 of 13 hydraulic and 12 of 14 abrasive debridements, areas of late dye leakage had no RPE with outer retinal degeneration. At the 4-week timepoint, 1 of 17 hydraulic and 10 of 12 abrasive debridements had foci of delayed or absent choriocapillary perfusion by FA, with degenerated outer retina, no RPE, and choriocapillary atrophy by histologic analysis. Conclusions. Abrasive debridement is more commonly associated with abnormal FAs and with incomplete RPE repopulation, choriocapillaris atrophy, and outer retinal degeneration than is hydraulic debridement. This clinicopathologic study may give insight into FA interpretation after choroidal neovascular membrane removal in human patients.
Crosslinkage of salt-soluble elastin in vitro.

Radioactively labeled soluble elastin, synthesized in vitro by viable copper-deficient pig aorta in a culture medium containing L-[4,5-3H] lysine, was incubated with normal newborn pig aorta. The insoluble residue, after extraction of the aorta with cold 0.5M NaCl at pH 7.4, was reduced with NaBH4. Insoluble elastin, prepared from this by autoclaving after extraction with guanidine, was hydrolyzed with HCl and the hydrolysate was chromatographed on Aminex A-5. Among the radioactive residues eluted in the basic region, four elastin crosslinks (isodesmosine, desmosine, lysinonorleucine and merodesmosine) were identified by comparison with known standards on the Beckman amino acid analyzer. This provides the first direct evidence that soluble elastin is a precursor of insoluble elastin.
Neural Correlates of Enhanced Audiovisual Processing in the Bilingual Brain

Abstract Bilingualism is associated with enhancements in perceptual and cognitive processing necessary for juggling multiple languages. Recent psychophysical studies demonstrate bilinguals also show enhanced multisensory processing and more restricted temporal binding windows for integrating audiovisual information. Here, we probed the neural mechanisms of bilinguals’ audiovisual benefits. We recorded neuroelectric responses in mono- and bi-lingual listeners to the double-flash paradigm in which auditory beeps concurrent with a single visual flash induces the perceptual illusion of multiple flashes. Relative to monolinguals, bilinguals showed less susceptibility to the illusion (fewer false perceptual reports) coupled with stronger and faster event-related potentials to audiovisual information. Source analyses of EEG data revealed monolinguals’ increased propensity for erroneously perceiving audiovisual stimuli was attributed to increased activity in primary visual (V1) and auditory cortex (PAC), increases in multisensory association areas (BA 37), but reduced frontal activity (BA 10). Regional activations were associated with an opposite pattern of behaviors: whereas stronger V1 and PAC activity predicted slower behavioral responses, stronger frontal BA10 responses elicited faster judgments. Our results suggest bilinguals’ higher precision in audiovisual perception reflects more veridical sensory coding of physical cues coupled with superior top-down gating of sensory information to suppress the generation of false percepts. Findings underscore that the plasticity afforded by speaking multiple languages shapes extra-linguistic brain regions and can enhance audiovisual brain processing in a domain-general manner.
Community Health Workers and Pandemic Preparedness: Current and Prospective Roles

Despite the importance of community health workers (CHWs) to health systems in resource-constrained environments, relatively little has been written about their contributions to pandemic preparedness. In this perspective piece, we draw from the response to the 2014 Ebola and 2015 Zika epidemics to review examples whereby CHWs contributed to health security and pandemic preparedness. CHWs promoted pandemic preparedness prior to the epidemics by increasing the access to health services and products within communities, communicating health concepts in a culturally appropriate fashion, and reducing the burdens felt by formal healthcare systems. During the epidemics, CHWs promoted pandemic preparedness by acting as community-level educators and mobilizers, contributing to surveillance systems, and filling health service gaps. Acknowledging the success CHWs have had in these roles and in previous interventions, we propose that the cadre may be better engaged in pandemic preparedness in the future. Some practical strategies for achieving this include training and using CHWs to communicate One Health information to at-risk communities prior to outbreaks, pooling them into a reserve health corps to be used during public health emergencies, and formalizing agreements and strategies to promote the early engagement of CHWs in response actions. Recognizing that CHWs already play a role in pandemic preparedness, we feel that expanding the roles and responsibilities of CHWs represents a practical means of improving pandemic and community-level resilience.
Multimodel Approach to Personalized Autonomous Adaptive Cruise Control

Autonomous vehicles are gaining increased attention but surveys have shown that a large percentage of people are wary of adopting the new technology. One possible explanation for the hesitancy is that the occupant would not be comfortable with the driving style as a result of the control models and their parameters as set by the manufacture. Comfort level is subjective in nature and therefore varies between individuals. To combat this issue, autonomous vehicles must be able to adapt to the driving style preference of the user. If we assume drivers are more comfortable with their own driving style, we can choose to have the vehicle learn and incorporate the driver's style into the control models. However, there is still no widely accepted “best” model. One model may prove to better represent a particular driver than other models though a driver may choose unsafe driving conditions, the replication of which should not take precedence over the safety of the occupant. In this paper, we propose a multimodel approach to find the best driver model for describing an individual's longitudinal driving style on highway. A method for extracting the indicators of an individual's driving style is proposed first. Then, a multimodel-based evaluation method is described in detail. Chandler, Herman, & Montroll, General Motors Nonlinear, Tampere, Addison & Low, Optimal Velocity Model, and Neural Network models are trained and compared in this paper. The model with the best performance in replicating driving style is further coupled with a model predictive controller to include safety constraints for safer driving. Finally, the proposed multimodel approach is tested with driving data collected from five different drivers. The test results show that our multimodel-based approach is showing advantage over a single model approach in imitating an individual's longitudinal driving style.
Loss in services precedes high school exit for teens with autism spectrum disorder: A longitudinal study.

The present longitudinal study investigated changes in service receipt and unmet service needs spanning 14 years before and after high school exit in a large community-based sample of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (n = 204), of whom 59% had co-occurring intellectual disability (ID). Using multilevel models, potential discontinuity of service patterns at the point of high school exit was examined, as well as the rate of change in services received and needed during the high school years and into the post-high school period. Differences between those with and without ID were probed. Study findings indicated that overall, sample members experienced a reduction in receipt of services during high school, particularly for those without co-occurring ID. After high school exit, sample members experienced a decline in services received; for those without ID, there was a continuous rate of loss of services after leaving high school but for those with ID, there was a sharp decline in services received. Unmet service needs increased right after high school exit for both those with and without ID. These patterns reflect loss of entitlement for services that accompanies high school exit, and the limited availability of adult services for individuals with ASD. This study documented not only the post-high school service cliff that has been the subject of much concern, but also that the loss of services begins long before high school exit and that subgroups of the population with ASD are particularly vulnerable. Autism Res 2019, 12: 911-921. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: In this research, we studied changes in the number of services received before and after high school exit in a large sample of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With each passing year during high school, individuals with ASD received fewer services. At the time of high school exit, there was a sharp drop in the number of services received, particularly for those with co-occurring intellectual disability. This study found not only that there is a post-high school service cliff, but also that the loss of services begins long before high school exit.
On health education becoming a pedagogy of global health.

(1987). On Health Education Becoming a Pedagogy of Global Health. Health Education: Vol. 18, International Health, pp. 6-9.
Pediatric Hemoptysis without Bronchiectasis or Cardiac Disease: Etiology, Recurrence, and Mortality.

Objectives To describe the etiologies of hemoptysis in patients without pre-existing bronchiectasis or cardiac disease; to assess odds of recurrent hemoptysis by diagnostic category; and to assess odds of mortality by diagnostic category. Study design This retrospective case series included all patients with hemoptysis documented during an admission to Boston Children's Hospital from January 1, 2007 to June 1, 2017. Patients with bronchiectasis, congenital heart disease, primary pulmonary hypertension, bleeding above the glottis, hemoptysis before 38 weeks of corrected gestational age, hematemesis, foreign body, and trauma were excluded. Patients were also characterized by coagulation status. Primary outcomes were recurrent hemoptysis and death. Univariate analysis was performed to determine ORs for recurrence and death per diagnostic category with infection as the reference category. Results In total, 257 patients met study criteria and were analyzed. The most common causes of hemoptysis were infection (n = 122), neoplasm (n = 58), and other diagnoses (n = 49). Of the patients with infection, recurrence was 28% and all-cause mortality was 12%. Neoplasm had lower odds of recurrence (OR 0.3, P = .012) but higher odds of mortality (OR 15.8, P Conclusions This study confirms that infection is the most common cause of hemoptysis in patients without severe underlying pulmonary or cardiac disease. Hemoptysis associated with neoplasm and/or thrombocytopenia confers mortality risk. Tracheostomy confers risk of recurrence. Future prospective research on diagnoses associated with hemoptysis is warranted.
Adding 3-month patient data improves prognostic models of 12-month disability, pain, and satisfaction after specific lumbar spine surgical procedures: development and validation of a prediction model

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT Prognostic models including early postoperative variables may provide optimal estimates of long-term outcomes and help direct postoperative care. PURPOSE To develop and validate prognostic models for 12-month disability, back pain, leg pain, and satisfaction among patients undergoing microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and laminectomy with fusion for degenerative lumbar conditions. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective cohort study using the Quality Outcomes Database. PATIENT SAMPLE Patients receiving elective lumbar spine surgery due to degenerative spine conditions. OUTCOME MEASURES Oswestry Disability Index, pain numerical rating scale, and NASS Patient Satisfaction Index. METHODS Prognostic models were developed using proportional odds ordinal logistic regression using patient characteristics and baseline and 3-month patient-reported outcome scores. Models were fit for each outcome stratified by type of surgical procedure. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were reported for all predictors by procedure. Models were internally validated using bootstrap resampling. Discrimination was reported as the c-index and calibration was presented using the calibration slope. We compared the performance of models with and without 3-month patient-reported variables. This research was supported by the Foundation for Physical Therapy's Center of Excellence in Physical Therapy Health Services, and Health Policy Research and Training grant. RESULTS The sample consisted of 5,840 patients receiving a microdiscectomy (n=2,085), laminectomy (n=1,837), or laminectomy with fusion (n=1,918). The 3-month Oswestry score was the strongest and most consistent predictor associated with 12-month outcomes. All prognostic models performed well with overfitting-corrected c-index values ranging from 0.718 to 0.795 and all optimism corrected calibration slopes over 0.92. The increase in c-index values ranged from 0.09 to 0.21 when adding 3-month patient-reported outcome scores. CONCLUSIONS Models had good discrimination and were well calibrated for estimating 12-month disability, back pain, leg pain, and satisfaction. Patient-reported outcomes at 3 months after surgery, especially 3-month Oswestry scores, improved the 12-month performance of all prognostic models beyond using only baseline variables.
Radiographic parameter-driven decision tree reliably predicts aseptic mechanical failure of compressive osseointegration fixation.

Background and purpose — Compressive osseointegration fixation is an alternative to intramedullary fixation for endoprosthetic reconstruction. Mechanical failure of compressive osseointegration pre...
Static in the System: Noise and the Soundscape of American Cinema Culture

The debut edition within California Studies in Music, Sound, and Media, Meredith Ward’s Static in the System provides linkages between historical aurality and the meanings of noise within American ...
Wirtinger Gradient Based Optimization for High-Quality Computer Generated Holography

Holography is perhaps the most promising technology to achieve wide field of view compact eye-glasses style near-eye displays. However, the digital hologram computation algorithms are still not perfect and resort to heuristic encoding or iterative methods relying on varying relaxations. In this paper, we deviate from such heuristic solutions to holographic phase retrieval but instead rely on formal optimization that is enabled by complex Wirtinger gradients. We pose the entire hologram computation forward model as a differentiable forward model and formulate a quadratic loss function that is solved via firstorder optimization methods. Using this framework, we achieve holographic reconstructions with an order of magnitude improved image quality, both in simulation and on an experimental prototype.
Authoritative school climate and out-of-school suspensions: Results from a nationally-representative survey of 10th grade students

The beneficial relationship of school climate with various positive student outcomes has been demonstrated in several studies, though the relationship has not been thoroughly explored with regards ...
Sprayable perfluoropolyether / poly(ethylene glycol) segmented polyurethane coatings with micron-scale phase separated 3D structure

Abstract A series of perfluoropolyether (PFPE)/poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) segmented polyurethanes were found to produce micron-scale phase separation across a range of fluoro content as high as 75% PFPE/25% PEG mole composition. In spite of immiscibility of the PFPE precursor, samples were capable of dispersion and spray application to surfaces before curing where they expressed micron-length scale phase separation with continuous (PEG) and discrete (PFPE) regions. This two-phase morphology was present at the air interface and continued through the film thickness creating a continuous hydrophilic and discrete hydrophobic phase structure capable of ionic conductance as a free standing film. These materials also display tough elastomeric character (e > 150%, σ > 16 MPa) and are wear resistant under abrasion. The chemical inhomogeneity and corresponding physical properties of the system combined with synthetic tunability and toughness creates potential application areas in energy, environmental technology, self-healing applications and biotechnology.
Hepatitis C Treatment at a Rural Navajo Health Clinic Using Project ECHO

Purpose: Hepatitis C incidence is higher among American Indian/Alaskan Native populations than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. Chronic Hepatitis C complications include cirrhosis of the liver, end stage liver disease, and hepatocellular cancer. Direct acting antiviral treatment taken orally results in > 90% cure, yet rural primary care providers lack the training and confidence to treat and monitor patients with chronic Hepatitis C. Rural patients are reluctant to travel to urban areas for Hepatitis C treatment. Project ECHO is an innovative tele-mentoring program where specialists mentor primary care providers via videoconferencing to treat diseases they would otherwise be unable to manage. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase Hepatitis C treatment at a rural Navajo health clinic through partnership with Project ECHO specialists. Methods: This quality improvement project was guided by Lippitt’s Phases of Change Theory. The systematic process plan included a protocol for roles and expectations of all members of the healthcare team, a documentation and communication plan, and a tracking system for monitoring patient progress through the plan of care. Outcomes were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Findings: Following partnership with Project ECHO, six patients (31.6%) consented to receiving Hepatitis C treatment at the rural Navajo health clinic. All six were contacted by outreach staff at multiple points during the project. Five (26.3%) completed the full course of drug therapy. Four (21.1%) completed follow-up lab work, of which three (15.8%) had a documented cure by sustained virologic response. Conclusions: Hepatitis C care via Project ECHO-rural clinic partnership was affordable, feasible and not excessively time consuming for a facility with substantial patient outreach resources. Key words: Rural health clinic, Hepatitis C, Project ECHO, tele-mentoring, Native American
Detection of Traumatic Brain Injury Using Single Channel Electroencephalogram in Mice

Preclinical studies of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often performed using a murine model of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) due to highly controlled settings and high reproducibility in this experimental model, compared to studies of human TBI. We have previously demonstrated persistent changes in the sleep wake cycle using a widely accepted mouse model of mTBI. The gold standard of sleep wake assessment is achieved by recording brain electroencephalogram (EEG), which not only allows for standard sleep staging but also allows further signal processing through quantitative EEG methods. Conventional methods of sleep staging require manual scoring by a trained expert. Here, a 1-D deep convolutional neural network (Deep CNN) is proposed to automatically score sleep stages and identify mTBI from a single-channel EEG signal with duration of 64 seconds by classifying the EEG signal into one of four classes: sham (control) wake, sham (control) sleep, mTBI wake, and mTBI sleep. We demonstrated that the proposed Deep CNN has the ability to learn features to classify the target classes. Deployment of the trained model on Raspberry Pi further indicates the capacity to perform classification in real time and mobile applications. Thus, the proposed system has the potential to provide a low-cost and fast method for detection of TBI in individuals.
Klaus Mollenhauer: Emancipation, Bildung and six questions for education:

Klaus Mollenhauer (1928–1998) is one of the most important German theorists of education in the postwar era. Mollenhauer is often remembered in Germany today for his first book titled Education and...
Multi-Scale Evaluation of Theoretical and Pressure-Constrained Capacity for Site Selection in the Appalachian Basin Region of the United States of America

Preliminary CO2 capacity and injection performance are evaluated at the following scales: regional or formation scale, site scale, and near-well or local scale. Multiple target injection systems such as single formation injection zone and multiple formation stacked injection zones are explored. The reservoir feasibility assessment determined (a) volumetric capacity, and (b) dynamic capacity and injectivity for CO2 storage in the ~61,000 km2 study region in the Appalachian Basin. This paper presents the reservoir feasibility assessment methodology, which applied novel visual interpretation of potential target locations for CO2 storage, systematic performance-based screening and ranking workflow for potential storage sites, and numerical investigation of key operational constraints in select potential saline sites.
The dynamics of memory for United States presidents in younger and older adults

ABSTRACTSerial position effects are often observed within the free recall of unassociated words but also when recalling items from a semantic category like U.S. presidents. We investigated the dynamics of recall for U.S. presidents in younger and older adults to examine potential age-related differences in the organisation of retrieval from semantic long-term memory. Older adults recalled more presidents than younger adults and also demonstrated dual serial position effects such that, in addition to overall serial position effects, primacy (e.g., Eisenhower) and recency presidents (e.g., Obama) within older adults' lifetime were better recalled than presidents from the middle of their lives (e.g., Ford). Additionally, participants initiated recall with the most distinct presidents (highly familiar or memorable presidents like Washington, Obama, Trump), and conditional-response probabilities revealed that presidents from similar eras were recalled in close proximity, indicating that the retrieval of distinct presidents can facilitate memory for presidents from a similar era. Collectively, we demonstrate the potential interplay of the mechanisms that influence the organisation of retrieval such that distinctiveness and temporal contiguity effects may simultaneously impact recall. Specifically, semantic and temporal-contextual associations can drive semantic autobiographical memory and people likely organise retrieval from long-term memory according to familiarity and distinctiveness.
INSURANCE Georgia Motor Vehicle Accident Reparations Act: Repeal Provisions Requiring Personal Injury Protection Insurance Coverage and Related Provisions

The Act repeals and adds a number of Code sections dealing with Georgia's automobile insurance legislation. The central measure of the Act repeals and revises provisions of the Georgia Motor Vehicle Accident Reparations Act that require personal injury protection insurance coverage. Other key features include a mandatory fifteen percent rollback of certain motor vehicle insurance rates and an additional ten percent discount for motorists with good driving records; tighter regulation of insurance rates by requiring prior approval by the Insurance Commissioner of any rating plan; adding powers to regulate fraud including provisions making it easier to report fraud, increasing the powers of the Insurance Commissioner to arrest persons for insurance fraud, and making fraud a felony offense; and providing guidelines to govern the cancellation or nonrenewal of automobile or motorcycle insurance policies.
Results of monitoring of measles laboratory in Nanchang City in 2007.

Objective To understand the characteristics of IgM of measles and epidemiological situation of Nanchang city in 2007 so as to provide the strategies for measles control.Methods The serum samples of suspected measle cases were assayed for measles IgM antibodies by ELISA.Among them,the negative measles IgM samples were tested of rubella IgM antibody.The experimental results were analyzed by SPSS software package.Results 52 measles IgM antibodies were positive in 122 suspected measles cases,total IgM positive rates were 42.6%.In 70 measles IgM negative samples,14 cases of rubella IgM were positive.Measles incidence mainly concentrated from March to June;children under 5 years old were taking up 63.5% of the total positive cases.Compared with corresponding part of last year,the proportion of under 8-month -old and above 15 -year -old age group were increased.Conclusion Routine immunization of measles should be strengthened,specially above 15 years old should be immunined importantly.The prevalence of rubella should be controlled during carrying out activities to eliminate measles.
Biotechnology and Vertical Integration in the Dutch Potato Chain

Many studies on the impact of biotechnology have stated that development and introduction of this new technology may lead to vertical integration in agrofood chain, making farmers more dependent on the inputs supplying industry and the food industry. Even without biotechnology, the agrofood sector is experiencing structural changes leading towards more horizontal and vertical integration. How does biotechnology interact with these restructuring processes? This question is answered in a case study of the Dutch potato industry. Through documentary analysis and interviews with firms at several stages of the potato chain information was gathered on current restructuring processes and the (expected) impact of biotechnology. It was found that biotechnology so far has not had a large impact. Changing consumer demand and changing competitive positions of retailers and food processors have had more effect on vertical integration. Biotechnology may reinforce this trend, but only if consumers accept products made with this new technology.
A Note on Solid Coloring of Pure Simplicial Complexes

We establish a simple generalization of a known result in the plane. The simplices in any pure simplicial complex in R^d may be colored with d+1 colors so that no two simplices that share a (d-1)-facet have the same color. In R^2 this says that any planar map all of whose faces are triangles may be 3-colored, and in R^3 it says that tetrahedra in a collection may be "solid 4-colored" so that no two glued face-to-face receive the same color.
Revisiting the (110) surface structure of TiO 2 : A theoretical analysis

A detailed reexamination of the (110) surface structure of rutile ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ has been carried out using first-principles total-energy methods. This investigation is in response to a recent high-precision quantitative low-energy electron diffraction (LEED-IV) measurement revealing certain significant quantitative discrepancies between experiment and previous theoretical calculations. We have been able to resolve these discrepancies and achieve excellent quantitative agreement with experiment by judicious attention to reducing computational approximation errors. Our analysis also reveals that bond lengths converge much faster with slab thickness than do relaxed absolute atomic positions, which are the structural parameters typically reported in the literature for this and related systems. The effect this observation has on both the choice of slab models and the way in which surface structures should be reported for covalently bonded solids is discussed. Finally, the efficacy of freezing the lowest several atomic layers of ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ slab models in their bulk-like positions is examined.
The endocrine disruptor screening program developed by the U.S. environmental protection agency.

The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) was signed into law on 3 August 1996. FQPA amended both laws under which the Environmental Protection Agency manages the regulatory process for pesticide registration and use in the United States. Many new requirements were incorporated into these two laws, including the development of “a screening program, using appropriate validated test systems and other scientifically relevant information, to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen, or such other endocrine effect....” “Certain substances” includes all pesticides (both active and other ingredients of pesticide formulations) as well as “any other substance that may have an effect cumulative to an effect of a pesticide chemical if...a substantial population may be exposed to such substance.” With the assistance of an advisory committee made up of 40 members representing several other agencies of the Federal government, States, chemical manufacturers and users, public interest groups, and the public health and academic communities, EPA has developed, and is currently implementing, such a screening program. The initial program, as proposed, consists of two tiers, a screening tier containing eight assays, and a testing tier, containing five multigeneration tests. The screening battery is designed to determine whether or not the agent being evaluated has the potential to interact not only with the estrogen-hormone system, but also the androgen- and thyroid-hormone systems, as well. The testing tier is designed to provide definitive characterization of an agent's inherent ability to disrupt one or more of the three hormone systems. This presentation will describe, in detail, the status of development and validation of each component of the proposed screening program, including possible alternatives; the universe of chemical agents that are candidates for inclusion in the program, the priority-setting process to be used for chemical selection and the relationship between EPA's program and the OECD effort to develop a program for use by its member countries.
Gamma knife radiosurgery for intracranial metastatic melanoma: a 6-year experience.

Object. The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the effectiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial metastatic melanoma and to identify prognostic factors related to tumor control and survival that might be helpful in determining appropriate therapy. Methods. Twenty-four patients with intracranial metastases (115 lesions) metastatic from melanoma underwent radiosurgery. In 14 patients (58.3%) whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) was performed, and in 12 (50%) chemotherapy was conducted before radiosurgery. The median tumor volume was 4 cm3 (range 1–15 cm3). The mean dose was 16.4 Gy (range 13–20 Gy) prescribed to the 50% isodose at the tumor margin. All cases were categorized according to the Recursive Partitioning Analysis classification for brain metastases. Univariate and multivariate analyses of survival were performed to determine significant prognostic factors affecting survival. The mean survival was 5.5 months after radiosurgery. The analyses revealed no difference in term...
Fragmentation cross sections of relativistic ^(84)_(36)Kr and ^(109)_(47)Ag nuclei in targets from hydrogen to lead

With the addition of krypton and silver projectiles we have extended our previous studies of the fragmentation of heavy relativistic nuclei in targets ranging in mass from hydrogen to lead. These projectiles were studied at a number of discrete energies between 450 and 1500A MeV. The total and partial charge-changing cross sections were determined for each energy, target, and projectile, and the values compared with previous predictions. A new parametrization of the dependence of the total charge-changing cross sections on the target and projectile is introduced, based on nuclear charge radii derived from electron scattering. We have also parametrized the energy dependence of the total cross sections over the range of energies studied. New parameters were found for a previous representation of the partial charge-changing cross sections in hydrogen and a new parametrization has been introduced for the nonhydrogen targets. The evidence that limiting fragmentation has been attained for these relatively light projectile nuclei at Bevalac energies is shown to be inconclusive, and further measurements at higher energies will be needed to address this question.
Monkeywrenching Plain Language: Ecodefense, Ethics, and the Technical Communication of Ecotage

Research problem: Subversive environmental texts, those that strive against hegemonic discourse, such as the book $\rm Ecodefense$ , have a long history of use by radical environmentalists as a means for recruitment and distribution of best practices. This study aims to investigate the role of plain language in the subversive text $\rm Ecodefense$ , and consider some ethical implications of plain language by conducting a close textual analysis. Research questions: (1) Is the subversive text $\rm Ecodefense$ an artifact of plain language? (2) If $\rm Ecodefense$ is written in plain language, what does that suggest about the inherent ethicality of plain language? Literature review: Plain language refers to clear expression designed to help users achieve desired goals. In the sense that it is a communication practice, it is guided by standards put forth by various agencies and bureaucratic bodies. In the sense that it is a movement, plain language is characterized by the proliferation of organizations advocating for plain language practices in society. This study is rooted in the investigation of the ethical practices of social movements. It considers the ethics of plain language practices when they are put toward subversive ends and explores the ethical value of plain language itself. Methodology: $\rm Ecodefense$ is analyzed using the Center for Plain Language's (CPL) Plain Language checklist and Writemark's criteria for documents, which includes consideration of the audience, structure, language content, and design of a text, as well as usability testing. Results and conclusion: Analysis shows that $\rm Ecodefense$ is partially representative of plain language use and practice under the CPL's standards, and appears somewhat more fully representative under Writemark's standards, which are designed for use by a trained assessor. Analysis further suggests that adherence to checklist-driven language practices may unwittingly enable an ethic of exigence; thus, research is needed into the ethical implications for list-driven, or standards-based, rhetoric in order to ensure that plain language practices consider long-term implications for users and for organizations that employ these practices.
Studies on keratosulfates. Methylation and partial acid hydrolysis of bovine corneal keratosulfate.

Abstract Bovine corneal keratosulfate was permethylated in nonaqueous solvent after prior peracetylation. The methyl ethers were isolated after hydrolysis and characterized either as crystalline derivatives or by their physical and chemical properties. The main repeating unit is N-acetyllactosamine polymerized via a 1 → 3 linkage to galactose, as reported previously. About 74% of the N-acetylglucosaminyl groups are sulfated in position 6. However, about 40% of the galactosyl groups are also substituted in position 6, at least in the major portion by sulfate ester groups. This was shown by the isolation and characterization of galactose 6-sulfate from partial acid hydrolysates. In addition, N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulfate and oligosaccharides sulfated to varying degrees were also obtained. The polymer contained about 25% of galactosyl groups in excess of hexosamine. This excess is preferentially hydrolyzed and may indicate branch points. Evidence of N-methylation of glucosamine was obtained. The color reactions and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of N-methylglucosamine are compared with those of N-acetylglucosamine.
Amazon Stranger: A Rainforest Chief Battles Big Oil

Amazon Stranger:. Rainforest Chief Battles Big Oil. Mike Tidwell. New York: Lyons and Burford, 1996.216 pp.
The NLERAP Approach.

From the start, NLERAP has been based on two major premises: one is that a sociocultural and sociopolitical approach to learning is more effective than a traditional approach, particularly in the case of populations that have historically been marginalized through their education; and the second is that research is more meaningful and inclusive when it is defined through a participatory action research (PAR) approach. Each is described below.
Ionizing radiation and marketing simulation on bioactive compounds and quality of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi c.v. Rio Red)

Abstract Bioactive compounds in citrus fruits have been shown to be protective against chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease, but their levels may be affected by postharvest treatments such as storage and irradiation. In this study, grapefruits were exposed to gamma irradiation at 0, 150 and 300 Gy and then stored at 10 °C for 36 d, followed by an additional 20 d at 20 °C. Flavonoid content, terpenoid content, quality (acidity and total soluble solids) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity were evaluated at regular intervals during storage. Irradiation and storage affected ( P ⩽ 0.05) the levels of bioactive compounds in grapefruit; however, the effect of storage was prominent. Irradiation differentially affected the flavonoid content of pulp and peel. Fruits exposed to 300 Gy had higher ( P ⩽ 0.01) narirutin content in peel compared to control fruits at 12 and 56 d after storage. While storage increased the d -limonene and myrcene content in all treatments, control fruit had higher terpenoid content at the end of the storage. PAL activity was found to be in traces in the peel. In general, irradiation or storage had no considerable effect on total soluble solids; however, acidity decreased ( P ⩽ 0.05) with storage.
2-D simulation of interface properties of a polysilicon-contacted BJT: is there a residual potential barrier after the oxide is broken?

Two dimensional simulations were performed on a poly-contacted bipolar, studying the effects of changing the size of broken sections of the "oxide" on the base current. Previous simulations (Egley et al. 1991) used sections which were /spl sim/250 /spl Aring/ in length, while the simulations presented here use /spl sim/50 /spl Aring/ sections, closer to what was observed from TEM by Wolstenholme et al. (1987). The smaller gaps provide a substantially more rapid increase in base current with percentage oxide broken than found with the 250 /spl Aring/ sections. This extremely rapid rise in base current with the percentage oxide broken is not observed experimentally. It is proposed that a residual barrier remains after a section of the oxide is removed. This potential energy barrier would arise from the grain boundary itself and from the possible presence of electrically active As there. >
Inspiratory augmenting bulbospinal neurons express both glutamatergic and enkephalinergic phenotypes

Many of the inspiratory augmenting (I-AUG) neurons of the rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG) are premotor neurons that excite phrenic motor neurons during inspiration, probably by releasing glutamate. In the present study, we demonstrate that these neurons are indeed glutamatergic, in that their cell bodies contain vesicular glutamate transporter-2 (VGLUT2) mRNA and spinal terminals from neurons in the region of the rVRG contain VGLUT2 protein. We also demonstrate by using parallel in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical evidence that most rVRG inspiratory premotor neurons are enkephalinergic. After iontophoretic deposits of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) in the area of the rVRG, many BDA-labeled terminals in the ventral horn of cervical spinal cord (C4-C5) were immunoreactive for enkephalin and VGLUT2. Injections of Fluoro-Gold amidst phrenic motor neurons in C4-C5 labeled neurons in the area of the rVRG that contained both VGLUT2 mRNA and preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA as revealed by double in situ hybridization. Thirty-eight bulbospinal I-AUG neurons were recorded in the rVRG and filled with biotinamide by using the juxtacellular labeling technique. Every biotinamide-filled cell tested was positively labeled for VGLUT2 mRNA (n = 14), and most of the cells tested in a separate population exhibited PPE mRNA (16/18). We conclude that most of the phrenic inspiratory premotor neurons of the rVRG are glutamatergic neurons that may also release enkephalins.
Acute tumor lysis syndrome induced by rituximab in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Acute tumor lysis syndrome (ATLS) is a well-known complication of chemotherapy in patients with rapidly proliferative hematopoietic malignancies such as lymphoma and leukemia. Rituximab anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, an alternative to chemotherapy in the treatment of low-grade follicular lymphoma, also has been associated with ATLS. Rituximab-induced ATLS has been reported in 2 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and in 2 patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I report another case of rituximab-induced ATLS in a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and review the cases in the literature.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid: The Answers Are Not All In

TO THE EDITOR: Jatoi et al should be congratulated in successfully performing a study comparing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplements versus megestrol acidate versus both for patients with cancer-associated wasting. The trial involved 421 patients who received EPA supplements twice a day (placebo v megestrol 600 mg per day or 2-gram EPA-containing supplements v both). The EPA arm, either alone or in combination, was found not to improve appetite or weight compared with megestrol alone. However, there are several questions surrounding the design of the trial. Weight gain may not be the best outcome to measure for either anorexia or cachexia; rather, lean body mass as measured by bioelectric impedance and functional status are more relevant outcomes. Secondly, measurement of drug absorption by plasma, red cell, or leukocyte levels of EPA would have improved the reliability of this study. It is known that a significant number of patients will take EPA off study and a certain subset of patients will not absorb EPA. Compliance and absorption factors would have influenced the results of this study. In a study by Fearon et al, a significant portion of patients had taken undisclosed EPA supplements and one fourth of patients randomly assigned to EPA did not have increases in plasma EPA. This study demonstrated significant weight stabilization and increased lean body mass correlated with plasma EPA levels. Abnormal digestive function and malabsorption are commonly seen in cancer-associated anorexia and cachexia, which influences EPA bioavailabilty. Jatoi et al evaluated response at 4 weeks. However, the benefits of EPA found by Fearon et al occurred at 8 weeks. Previous dose finding studies have demonstrated that patients tolerate higher doses of EPA when given alone. Burns et al performed a dose-finding study through the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (study 9473) and found that a dose of 0.3 g/kg per day of EPA plus decosahexaenoic acid was the maximum tolerable dose. Barber and Fearon found patients could tolerate doses as high as 18 grams of EPA per day (range, 9 to 27 grams). It may be premature to end the ongoing interest in omega-3 fatty acids. A better trial design perhaps would include a high-dose omega-3 fatty acid without nutritional supplement megestrol acetate arm to the study. Drug tolerance, weight, functional status, bioelectric impedance for lean body mass, and plasma or red cell EPA levels would help clarify potential confounding factors. This would require testing omega-3 fatty acid without nutritional supplements because it appears that EPA supplements are not well tolerated by patients and thus have a dose ceiling. It would be important to test maximum tolerable doses as demonstrated by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B study before declaring that EPA does not improve weight, appetite, or lean body mass and is not better than, nor adds to, megestrol acetate benefits.