cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engineering an SQL gateway to IMS

Multidatabase systems enable organizations to integrate legacy database systems, and their applications, with newer database technology. One such legacy system is IBM'S Information Management System (IMs), a hierarchical database management system developed in the 1960s. Commercial IMS gateways typically suffer from poor performance and lack essential features needed to support updates. In this paper, we outline the engineering issues of constructing a multi-user IMS gateway that supports both client applications and ad-hoc requests. Our proposed architecture exploits the transaction management services of IMS/TM and the cross-memory services of MVS/ESA. Design features include run-time query optimization using an access plan cache and the use of IMS/TM message processing regions for database access. On the basis of performance and system programming considerations, we also discuss some implementation aspects of the gateway's design.
Physician response to a medication alert system in inpatients with levodopa-treated diseases

Objective: To evaluate the appropriateness of dopamine receptor antagonist prescriptions in hospitalized patients with dopamine-requiring diseases after implementation of an automated prescription alert system. Methods: We examined dopamine receptor antagonist prescriptions in hospitalized patients with dopamine-requiring diseases and physician response to an automated drug contraindication alert system at Barnes-Jewish Hospital from 2009 to 2013. A detailed review of patient medical records was performed for all alert events generated when a physician prescribed a dopamine receptor antagonist concurrently with a dopamine receptor agonist in hospitalized patients. Two movement disorders neurologists determined the appropriateness of each prescription, based on patient medical history, through consensus. Physician response to alert was compared by indication for the prescription and physician specialty. Results: Of 237 orders, 197 (83.1%) prescriptions for dopamine receptor antagonists were considered inappropriate. The prevalence of inappropriate dopamine receptor antagonist prescriptions per levodopa prescriptions was 16.10% (95% confidence interval 9.47, 22.73) in psychiatry, 7.51% (6.16, 8.86) in general medicine, 6.14% (4.49, 7.79) in the surgical specialties, and 0.85% (0.46, 1.25) in the neurologic/neurosurgical specialties. Of the inappropriate prescriptions, 146 (74.1%) were continued despite the alert. The strongest predictor of discontinuation of dopamine receptor antagonist medications was use of the medication to treat nausea or emesis ( p Conclusions: Despite successfully identifying instances when dopamine antagonists were prescribed to patients with dopamine-requiring diseases, the alert system modestly affected physician prescribing behavior, highlighting the need for improved education of health care providers.
Compound Q is finally deciphered

Methane monooxygenases (MMOs) activate the high energy C–H bond of methane and convert it to methanol with high selectivity and under physiological conditions. Despite decades of efforts focusing on elucidating the structure, function and mechanism of soluble MMOs, the structure of a key intermediate (called compound Q) remains unknown. This article highlights a recent report by Banerjee et al. which not only firmly establishes the core-structure of Q, but also provides significant insight into its formation, reaction with methane and eventual decay.
Poison avoidance and patch (location) selection in rats

Thirsty rats were tested on a four-armed radial maze with three water locations and one distinctive taste location (saccharin). Rats that were injected with lithium chloride after drinking a novel saccharin solution visited the saccharin location less than did unpoisoned animals, primarily during the later portions of the test sessions. When saccharin was moved to a different location, previously poisoned rats rapidly avoided the new saccharin location and increased visits to the original saccharin location, now rebaited with water. A similar pattern of learned avoidance and approach was obtained in Experiment 2 with three water locations and one vacant location (no water). These results indicate that: (1) sampling the contents of alternative patches mediates both learning to avoid the location of an aversive substance and returning to a newly viable patch, and (2) avoiding the location of a novel substance after a single poisoning occurs because the location does not contain an edible substance, not because of an aversion conditioned to environmental cues.
Anatomy of right superior septal artery demonstrated on the coronary CT scan.

BackgroundA coronary CT scan allows for non-invasive visualization of the anatomy of a coronary artery in three dimensions compared to the two dimensions afforded by conventional angiography. The septal artery, the main blood source of the interventricular septum, is usually derived from the left anterior descending artery; however, it is occasionally derived from the right coronary artery.PurposeTo analyze the prevalence, origin, diameter, and length of the right superior septal artery (RSSA) demonstrated on a coronary CT scan.Material and MethodsThe right superior septal artery was retrospectively reviewed on the reconstructed axial scan images (0.5-mm thickness, 0.25-mm interval) in 1290 consecutive patients who underwent coronary CT scans. All patients were scanned on a 320-row CT scanner. The images were transferred to a workstation to trace the vessel to analyze the origin, diameter, and length. We also compared the length of the RSSA between patients with and without coronary artery stenosis.Result...
Three-year comparison of thermal balloon and rollerball ablation in treatment of menorrhagia.

Abstract Study Objective To compare uterine balloon therapy and hysteroscopic rollerball endometrial ablation with respect to efficacy and safety in treatment of menorrhagia. Design Multicenter, prospective, randomized study (Canadian Task Force classification I). Setting Fourteen North American university and private practice sites. Patients Women undergoing endometrial ablation for menorrhagia. Intervention Rollerball endometrial ablation or uterine balloon therapy. Measurements and Main Results Of 275 women randomized to one of these procedures, 255 were treated under the protocol and 214 were followed for 3 years. Results of uterine balloon therapy and rollerball endometrial ablation remained similar, with little difference at 3 years compared with results at 1 year. We noted a suggestion of an increase in hysterectomies in the rollerball group (14) compared with the uterine balloon therapy group (8) at 3 years. Conclusion Endometrial ablation with the ThermaChoice uterine balloon or rollerball continues at 3 years to be a successful method for treating menorrhagia, avoiding hysterectomy, decreasing dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms, and improving quality of life.
Is the extent of paratracheal nodal irradiation in laryngeal cancer with subglottic extension related to outcome

During a 20-year period, we treated 26 patients with radiation after total laryngectomy because of laryngeal cancer with subglottic extension (LCSE). The paratracheal lymph nodes superior (and inferior in two cases) to the suprasternal notch were irradiated in addition to the primary tumour bed. With a follow-up period ranging from 5 to 185 months, the occurrence of neoplastic disease in the upper mediastinum was not observed in a single case. The rates of recurrent tumour in the neck and distant metastasis were both 8%. The 6-year survival rate was 67%. The observed results lead us to the conclusion that even with non-irradiation of the superior mediastinal paratracheal lymph nodes, postoperative radiotherapy can achieve reasonable long-term disease-free survival in patients with LCSE.
Scaling of particle trajectories on a lattice

The scaling behavior of the closed trajectories of a moving particle generated by randomly placed rotators or mirrors on a square or triangular lattice is studied numerically. On both lattices, for most concentrations of the scatterers the trajectories close exponentially fast. For special critical concentrations infinitely extended trajectories can occur which exhibit a scaling behavior similar to that of the perimeters of percolation clusters.At criticality, in addition to the two critical exponents τ=15/7 anddf=7/4 found before, the critical exponent σ=3/7 appears. This exponent determines structural scaling properties of closed trajectories of finite size when they approach infinity. New scaling behavior was found for the square lattice partially occupied by rotators, indicating a different universality class than that of percolation clusters.Near criticality, in the critical region, two scaling functions were determined numerically:f(x), related to the trajectory length (S) distributionns, andh(x), related to the trajectory sizeRs (gyration radius) distribution, respectively. The scaling functionf(x) is in most cases found to be a symmetric double Gaussian with the same characteristic size exponent σ=0.43≈3/7 as at criticality, leading to a stretched exponential dependence ofnS onS, nS∼exp(−S6/7). However, for the rotator model on the partially occupied square lattice an alternative scaling function is found, leading to a new exponent σ′=1.6±0.3 and a superexponential dependence ofnS onS.h(x) is essentially a constant, which depends on the type of lattice and the concentration of the scatterers. The appearance of the same exponent σ=3/7 at and near a critical point is discussed.
Commuters' enroute diversion and return decisions: Analysis and implications for advanced traveler information systems

Abstract Incident-induced congestion is a major source of delay and frustration for drivers in large urban areas. Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) have been proposed within the framework of Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS) to address one component of the incident-induced congestion problem: diversion of drivers to alternate routes. To fully utilize the potential of ATIS, transportation managers need to understand driver response to such congestion. This study examines short-term commuter response to unexpected (incident-induced) congestion. It investigates factors which influence diversion from the regular route and return to the regular route after diversion. Discrete choice models of diversion and return behavior show that the following information and trip factors increase the probability of diversion: delay information received from radio traffic reports as opposed to observation of congestion, longer delays and longer travel times, and number of alternate routes used in the past. Further, drivers were more likely to divert if they lived in the city as opposed to the suburbs, were risk seekers, had a higher stated propensity to divert and were male. However, anticipated congestion on the alternate route inhibited drivers from diverting. Finally, drivers who had longer commute trips were more likely to return to their regular route. The most important implication for designing ATIS is that traffic information must be “customized” to account for individual differences. Specific design implications are discussed in this paper.
Hydrostatic extrusion of amorphous Fe82B12Si6 and U70Cr30

Abstract An investigation of the feasibility of forming dense cylinders from amorphous Fe 82 B 12 Si 6 and U 70 Cr 30 platelets using a combination of die compaction and hydrostatic extrusion is described. Densities of up to 84% and 87% of the theoretical value where realized in one pass using an extrusion ratio of 1.6 for the iron and uranium alloys, respectively. Equations are presented for consolidation and extrusion parameters.
Maintenance Therapy for Advanced Lung Cancer: Who, What, and When?

A 60-year-old woman with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and 35-pack-year smoking history is referred for treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). She initially presented after a transient ischemic attack, when a chest radiograph demonstrated a right lung mass. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a 5-cm right upper lobe mass, without mediastinal adenopathy, and a 6-cm cystic mass in the spleen. Additional imaging showed no brain metastasis. Endobronchial ulstrasound-guided core biopsies of the lung mass and ipsilateral mediastinal nodes confirmed a poorly differentiated non-small-cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for napsin A and thyroid transcription factor 1, suggestive of adenocarcinoma (Fig 1). Molecular analysis identified a KRAS G12C mutation. A positron emission tomography (PET) -CT scan demonstrated [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the right upper lobe mass and splenic lesion (Fig 2A). CT-guided fine-needle aspiration of the splenic lesion was performed and revealed metastatic carcinoma, consistent with the lung primary. Treatment with carboplatin plus pemetrexed was initiated, without bevacizumab because of the recent transient ischemic attack; carboplatin was selected over cisplatin because of similar concerns. The patient received two cycles of chemotherapy without complications, and repeat imaging showed decrease in size of the lung mass and splenic lesion (Figs 2B and 2C). After four cycles of chemotherapy, a chest CT showed ongoing response (Fig 2D). Her Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status remained 0.
T4 RNA ligase mediated preparation of novel "chemically misacylated" tRNAPheS.

T4 RNA ligase was employed for the condensation of Escherichia coli tRNAPhe missing cytidine-75 and adenosine-76 (tRNAPhe-COH; the acceptor "oligomer") with each of several chemically acylated derivatives of pCpA (the donor "oligomer"). The resulting "chemically misacylated " tRNAPheS were obtained in 20-65% yields following chromatographic workup on DEAE-cellulose and benzoylated DEAE-cellulose. Characterization of the chemically misacylated tRNAs was accomplished by (i) enzymatic reaminoacylation of chemically misacylated tRNAPhe with phenylalanine by E. coli phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase following chemical deacylation of the "incorrect" amino acid, (ii) comparison of the hydrolytic effects of Cu2+ solutions on chemically and enzymatically prepared samples of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl- tRNAPheS , and (iii) measurement of the chromatographic behavior of the tRNA species derived from chemical misacylation .
Changes in hepatic glutathione concentration modify cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity☆☆☆

Abstract Cd has a strong affinity for sulfhydryl groups and is hepatotoxic. Thus, to further understand the mechanism of Cd-induced liver injury, the effect of increased and decreased hepatic glutathione (GSH) concentration on Cd-induced liver injury was examined. Liver GSH was lowered by pretreating rats with phorone (250 mg/kg, ip) or diethyl maleate (0.85 mg/kg, ip) 2 hr prior to challenge with various doses of Cd. Ten hours after Cd (1) 40–80% of the rats pretreated with phorone or diethyl maleate and challenged with 1.0–2.0 mgCd/kg died whereas no mortality was observed in the control group; (2) plasma enzyme activities of alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) were markedly increased in phorone and diethyl maleate-pretreated rats challenged with Cd (0.7–2.0 mg/kg) versus control rats; and (3) moderate changes in liver histology were observed in corn oil pretreated and Cd challenged rats, while prior depletion of GSH potentiated histopathologic changes in liver produced by Cd alone. Another group of rats received cysteine (1.9 g/kg, po) 3 hr prior to injection of a lethal dose of Cd. Cysteine pretreatment increased liver GSH levels by 22% 3 hr after administration and attenuated Cd-induced liver injury as evidenced by marked decreases in plasma ALT, AST, and SDH activities. Pathological changes in liver were also reduced. These data indicate that liver reduced GSH concentration is important in modulating Cd-induced hepatotoxicity.
Frequencies of standing Alfvén wave harmonics and their implication for plasma mass distribution along geomagnetic field lines: Statistical analysis of CRRES data

[1] The relationship among the frequencies of the harmonics of standing Alfven waves depends on the variation of plasma mass density along the geomagnetic field line. This in turn means that observed standing wave frequencies may be used to infer the mass density variation, which is difficult to measure with particle instruments on spacecraft. Determination of the density variation is important in understanding mass transport processes in the ionosphere-magnetosphere system and also in improving magnetospheric diagnostic techniques using ULF waves. We investigate the frequencies of multiharmonic toroidal standing Alfven waves detected in the electric and magnetic fields measured by the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES). The data cover the entire CRRES mission period from July 1990 to October 1991. Using a semi-automated procedure, we identify over 4000 samples of the fundamental toroidal frequency (f1), which are often accompanied by the second (f2) and third (f3) harmonics. Most (∼3000) fundamental frequency samples are taken at dipole L shells from 4 to 8 and at magnetic local time (MLT) from 1200 to 1800, and we perform statistical analyses of the frequencies in this L-MLT domain. The most frequently observed ratios are f2/f1 ∼ 2.5 and f3/f1 ∼ 4.0 for 4 ≤ L < 6 and f2/f1 ∼ 2.8 and f3/f1 ∼ 4.3 for 6 ≤ L < 7. These observations are compared with the theoretical ratios obtained for the density variation of the form ρ = ρeq(LRE/R)α, where ρeq is the equatorial mass density, L is the magnetic shell parameter, R is geocentric distance to the field line, and the power law density index α is a free parameter. We find that α ∼ 0.5 fits the average observed frequency ratios at 4 ≤ L < 6, consistent with a diffusive equilibrium solution. No single value of α fits the average observed frequency ratios at 6 ≤ L < 7. In that case, theoretical solutions indicate that the mass density is locally peaked at the equator; that is, the mass density decreases as one moves off-equator, then increases again toward the ionosphere. Combined with the results of recent studies of electron density (which have not found such a peak in density at the magnetic equator), this indicates that heavy ions are preferentially concentrated at the magnetic equator.
Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy versus conventional thyroidectomy: A cost-effective analysis:

Abstract Objective To compare the cost of minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) with conventional thyroidectomy. Study Design A cost-effectiveness study and chart review. Setting Academic university hospital. Subjects and Methods Pediatric and adult patients referred to the Department of Otolaryngology−Head and Neck Surgery for suspicious thyroid nodules, goiters, or known carcinomas. A tertiary care hospital's billing department was queried for all hemithyroidectomies and total thyroidectomies completed by the Department of Otolaryngology−Head and Neck Surgery between January 5, 2006, and November 1, 2007. The charges, including surgery, hospital, pathology, and anesthesia, for minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) and traditional or minimally invasive open thyroidectomies meeting MIVAT inclusion criteria were then reviewed retrospectively and compared statistically. Results A total of 185 thyroidectomies were performed, 50.3 percent of which met criteria for MIVAT. Length of stay (days) was significantly shorter for patients undergoing MIVAT hemithyroidectomy (mean difference −0.8; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] −1.08 to −0.52) and not significantly different between groups for total thyroidectomy (mean difference 0.1; 95% CI −0.36 to 0.56). Mean anesthesia cost (U.S.$) was similar between groups for hemi- and total thyroidectomies. MIVAT mean pathology cost was significantly less than open thyroidectomy for hemithyroidectomy (mean difference −89.9; 95% CI −179.01 to −0.79) and approached significance for total thyroidectomy. There was no significant difference in hospital cost and total cost for hemithyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy. Conclusion In a group of matched cohorts, the cost of MIVAT appears to be equal to that of open thyroidectomy.
PATTERNS OF LATER LIFE EDUCATION AMONG TEENAGE MOTHERS

This article uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth to examine the phenomenon of later life education among women who first give birth as teenagers. The analysis first considers patterns of educational attainment through the middle 30s for all women, disaggregated by age at first birth. This allows for an examination of the amount of education received by teen mothers relative to women who delay giving birth until adulthood. The analysis also considers racial-ethnic differences in patterns of attainment. Next, the analysis is restricted to teen mothers and focuses on an examination of the composition of educational attainment according to the amount of time that has elapsed since the first birth. The findings suggest that later life education among teen mothers is an important and understudied phenomenon with implications for welfare reform and adult education policies.
Phase separation in the synthesis of styrene–divinylbenzene copolymers with di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate as diluent

Synopsis Phase separation by suspension copolymerization of styrendivinylbenzene (DVB) with di2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DOP) as diluent was investigated using equilibrium swelling, swelling rate, apparent densities, and mercury porosimetry. The copolymer prepared in the absence of DOP is heterogeneous, showing that a phase separation exists in the polymerization system, and, in the presence of DOP, the propagating copolymer separates earlier. Furthermore, with increasing amounts of DVB, phase separation occurs earlier than gelation, which causes a sudden increase in the amount of pores about 200500 A in diameter corresponding to the interstices between the microspheres.
Uroflowmetry: spontaneous versus instrumented.

Cette etude a ete entreprise pour voir si les heures d'attente, l'incertitude du volume vesical chez les patientes ayant une sensation de repletion vesicale et la necessite de repeter les mesures de debit urinaire lors de volumes vesicaux inferieurs a 150 ml a la mictiometrie initiale pourraient etre evites par la «mictiometrie instrumentee», a savoir un remplissage vesical superieur ou egal a 150 ml grâce a un catheter vesical et un bilan mictiometrique comparable a celui de la mictiometrie spontanee
Severity-Adjusted Mortality in Trauma Patients Transported by Police

Study objective Two decades ago, Philadelphia began allowing police transport of patients with penetrating trauma. We conduct a large, multiyear, citywide analysis of this policy. We examine the association between mode of out-of-hospital transport (police department versus emergency medical services [EMS]) and mortality among patients with penetrating trauma in Philadelphia. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of trauma registry data. Patients who sustained any proximal penetrating trauma and presented to any Level I or II trauma center in Philadelphia between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2007, were included. Analyses were conducted with logistic regression models and were adjusted for injury severity with the Trauma and Injury Severity Score and for case mix with a modified Charlson index. Results Four thousand one hundred twenty-two subjects were identified. Overall mortality was 27.4%. In unadjusted analyses, patients transported by police were more likely to die than patients transported by ambulance (29.8% versus 26.5%; OR 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00 to 1.39). In adjusted models, no significant difference was observed in overall mortality between the police department and EMS groups (odds ratio [OR] 0.78; 95% CI 0.61 to 1.01). In subgroup analysis, patients with severe injury (Injury Severity Score >15) (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.90), patients with gunshot wounds (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.94), and patients with stab wounds (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.45) were more likely to survive if transported by police. Conclusion We found no significant overall difference in adjusted mortality between patients transported by the police department compared with EMS but found increased adjusted survival among 3 key subgroups of patients transported by police. This practice may augment traditional care.
Spatial Feature Assembly in First and Second Language Acquisition

In recent minimalist approachesto acquisition, there has been an increasing emphasis on the importance of the lexicon in accounts of syntactic variation. This paper extends the view of lexical feature assembly and reassembly articulated by Lardiere into the open-class lexicon and into the realm of motion events. An original L1 experiment reveals that variation in the syntax of motion events within French at all stages of development is of the same ilk as variation across languages, and is illuminated by a feature-based analysis. Implications are drawn out for L2 acquisition, in terms of lexical transfer and feature reassembly.
Laser-induced plasma chemistry of the explosive RDX with various metallic nanoparticles

The feasibility of exploiting plasma chemistry to study the chemical reactions between metallic nanoparticles and molecular explosives such as cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) has been demonstrated. This method, based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, involves the production of nanoparticles in a laser-induced plasma and the simultaneous observation of time-resolved atomic and molecular emission characteristic of the species involved in the intermediate chemical reactions of the nanoenergetic material in the plasma. Using this method, it has been confirmed that the presence of aluminum promotes the ejection process of carbon from the intermediate products of RDX. The time evolution of species formation, the effects of laser pulse energy, and the effects of trace metal content on the chemical reactions were also studied.
Police-induced confessions: an empirical analysis of their content and impact

Abstract Confessions have a greater impact on juries than other types of evidence, sometimes in the face of contradictory evidence. Twenty false confessions were content-analyzed to determine the substance of false confessions and perhaps help to explain why judges, juries, and others are prone to believe these statements. Our analysis indicated that most false confessions contained references to specific visual and auditory details concerning the crime and victim(s) as well as references to the confessor's thoughts, feelings, and motives during and after committing the crime. In a second study, mock jurors read confessions that were varied in terms of the presence of crime details, motive statements, and apologies, to determine the impact of these common aspects of confessions on a mock jury. Although a simple admission of guilt was often sufficient for conviction, more elaborate narrative confessions in which the defendant recounted how and why he committed the crime further increased confidence in thes...
Cable Vibration Control with a TMD-MR Damper System: Experimental Exploration

Although traditional mechanical dampers can help reduce cable vibrations, they are not the most effective solution due to their position restrictions. Tuned mass dampers (TMDs) were proposed to overcome this limitation and have been proven effective for cable vibration mitigation according to previous research. However, the effectiveness of TMDs is very sensitive to the vibration frequency, which implies that TMDs designed for a specific vibration frequency may not be efficient for other frequencies. A new type of mechanical damper named the TMD magnetorheological (MR) damper system is proposed in the present study to address this problem. The feature of this proposed damper is the combination of the position flexibility of TMDs and the adjustability of MR dampers. The proposed damper system is attached to a 7.16-m-long cable to investigate its vibration reduction effectiveness and the dynamic properties of the combined cable-damper system. Experimental results show good vibration reduction effects of the TMD-MR system. The present study focuses on a conceptual exploration of the TMD-MR damper system for cable vibration mitigation through an experimental approach.
Geotropic and Morphological Alterations in Rice Seedlings caused by Plant Growth Regulators

DURING some investigations into the effects of gamma-BHC on rice seeds a number of experiments were carried out to test whether BHC was behaving in a similar way to plant growth substances in producing abnormalities. These experiments were carried out because it was found that gamma-BHC inhibited root growth at low concentrations (for example, in aqueous solutions at 10−5 M, root growth was reduced to half that of the controls) and because of a recent suggestion by MacLagan1 that some of the chlorinated hydrocarbons, including BHC, might behave in a similar way to auxins in plant tissue. It has now been found (unpublished work) that BHC does not behave as an auxin so far as rice seedlings are concerned. Nevertheless, during these experiments some results were obtained which may shed some light on current theories of geotropism and also on the effects that auxins have on morphogenesis.
Combustion wave propagation in magnesium/water mixtures: Experiments and model

Abstract Metal (Al, Mg)/water mixtures are of interest for hydrogen generation and propulsion. Due to the highly exothermic metal–water reaction, such mixtures, upon ignition, exhibit self-sustained propagation of combustion wave with simultaneous release of hydrogen from water. In this work, experiments with stoichiometric Mg / H 2 O mixtures were conducted. Uniform propagation of the combustion wave was observed, and the effect of metal particle size, in the range 75 – 150 μ m , on the combustion front velocity was determined. Based on the obtained results, a mathematical model for combustion wave propagation in Mg / H 2 O mixtures was developed. In this model, the combustion wave structure includes a thin water-boiling front, a preheat zone with water vapor flowing through the porous medium and a wide zone of reaction between the formed water vapor and the metal. This diffusion-limited model, solved analytically, predicts the front velocity and thermal profile of the combustion wave for different metal particle sizes. A satisfactory agreement between the experimental and modeling results is demonstrated, and features to improve the model are identified. With some modifications, the model can also be applied to combustion wave propagation in nanoaluminum/water mixtures.
The timing of surgical intervention for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: a plan for a randomized clinical trial.

It is estimated that 20% of patients with epilepsy have seizures that cannot be controlled by antiepileptic drug therapy. 1.2 Approximately half of these patients are potential candidates for surgical treatment. 1 Based on a prevalence of epilepsy in the United States of 0.5% to 1.0%, 3 there should be more than 100 000 patients with poorly controlled epilepsy who might benefit from surgical intervention. 1,4 Data obtained from an international conference on surgical treatment for the epilepsies held in 1992 5 indicated that only 1500 therapeutic surgical procedures were performed for epilepsy in the United States in 1990. With increasing interest in epilepsy surgery, this number may have doubled over the past 8 years. Nevertheless, there appears to be an extraordinary underutilization of this effective alternative treatment for a common and seriously disabling neurological disorder. Similar statistics can be found in every industrialized country, and surgical treatment for epilepsy is all but completely unavailable in the developing world.
The challenge of effective governance: the case of Swiss Air

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address corporate governance structures. Effective corporate governance can lead to managerial excellence but managerial ethical excellence does not always exist without effective corporate governance. Embedded in both effective corporate governance and managerial excellence is the “rightness of decisions” or the ethical decision making process. This paper analyzes this key process in the case of the failure of Swissair.Design/methodology/approach – The authors examine the key corporate governance structure through an explanatory case analysis of Swissair. They look at the structure by applying institutional theory rather than agency theory. It is hypothesized that corporate governance structures must comply with the norms generated by various stakeholders as well as economic incentives. No one set of norms may dominate the compliance; otherwise a corporation loses legitimacy and resources. It is contended that this lack of compliance of all stakeholder norms led ...
Maintenance of Air in Intercellular Spaces of Plants

Although air-filled intercellular spaces are necessary and ubiquitous in higher plants, little attention has been paid to the possible mechanisms by which these spaces are kept from being flooded. The most likely mechanism is that the living plant cell may maintain a hydrophobic monolayer on the surfaces of adjacent intercellular spaces. The existence of `apparent free space9 in cell walls and the fact that detergent solutions do not enter the intercellular spaces argue against this hypothesis. It is concluded that the mechanism by which these important air spaces are maintained is still unknown.
Human Aldo-Keto Reductases: Function, Gene Regulation, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

Abstract Aldo–keto reductases (AKRs) are a superfamily of NAD(P)H linked oxidoreductases that are generally monomeric 34–37 kDa proteins present in all phyla. The superfamily consists of 15 families, which contains 151 members ( www.med.upenn.edu/akr ). Thirteen human AKRs exist that use endogenous substrates (sugar and lipid aldehydes, prostaglandins, retinals and steroid hormones), and in many instances they regulate nuclear receptor signaling. Exogenous substrates include metabolites implicated in chemical carcinogenesis: NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon trans -dihydrodiols, and aflatoxin dialdehyde. Promoter analysis of the human genes identifies common elements involved in their regulation which include osmotic response elements, anti-oxidant response elements, xenobiotic response elements, AP-1 sites and steroid response elements. The human AKRs are highly polymorphic, and in some instances single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of high penetrance exist. This suggests that there will be inter-individual variation in endogenous and xenobiotic metabolism which in turn affect susceptibility to nuclear receptor signaling and chemical carcinogenesis.
Abrasion resistance of concrete as influenced by inclusion of fly ash

Abstract This research was conducted to evaluate abrasion resistance of high-volume fly ash concrete. A reference plain portland cement concrete was proportioned to obtain 28-day strength of 41 MPa. Concrete mixtures were also proportioned to have two levels of cement replacements (50 and 70%) with an ASTM Class C fly ash. Abrasion tests were carried out using the rotating cutter method as per ASTM C-944. In this work all the concrete specimens made either with or without fly ash passed the abrasion resistance requirements per ASTM C-779, Procedure B. An accelerated test method was also developed to evaluate abrasion resistance of concrete. This method used the rotary cutter device having dressing wheels equipped with smaller size washers. A measured amount of standard Ottawa sand was added to the surface being abraded at one minute intervals. The accelerated test results exhibited lower abrasion resistance for high-volume fly ash concrete systems relative to no-fly ash concrete.
Multiple Otx binding sites required for expression of the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Spec2a gene

Abstract The control region of the aboral ectoderm-specific Spec2a gene of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus contains a 188-bp enhancer element, the RSR enhancer, required for temporal activation and aboral ectoderm/mesenchyme cell expression. Within the enhancer is a positive cis-regulatory element with the core consensus sequence TAATCC, which is capable of binding the sea urchin orthodenticle-related homeobox protein SpOtx. In this report, we extend our analysis of the RSR enhancer by dissecting it into smaller pieces and testing these pieces in an enhancer activation assay. The 188-bp enhancer region could not be divided without partial loss of activity, and two of the three pieces tested exhibited some activity. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we showed that three Otx consensus binding sites were responsible for the activity of the enhancer, acting in a noncooperative manner to yield full activity. Mutagenizing the three Otx sites and a fourth one just upstream abolished all activity in the context of the complete Spec2a control region. Bandshift analysis revealed that the Otx sites were able to bind SpOtx, suggesting that this transcription factor mediates positive control at these sites. Non-SpOtx binding sites overlapping two of the Otx sites may also play a role in Spec2a expression. Using a lacZ reporter gene, we showed that a 76-bp DNA fragment containing two of the Otx sites was sufficient for aboral ectoderm/mesenchyme cell expression. These results suggest that the RSR enhancer plus an upstream DNA element required for mesenchyme cell repression are necessary and sufficient for the proper temporal activation and aboral ectoderm expression of the Spec2a gene and that the Otx elements play a positive role in this process.
Fractionation of pitches by molecular weight using continuous and semibatch dense-gas extraction

Abstract A countercurrent, multistage, dense-gas extraction technique with reflux was investigated for the fractionation of carbonaceous pitches. Two modes of operation were investigated: continuous-stripping and semibatch operation. For example, continuous stripping with dense-gas toluene in the supercritical state, a positive column temperature gradient from 330 to 380 °C, and a pressure of 49 bar was used to strip the monomer and dimer species from an A-240 petroleum pitch feed, yielding a high molecular weight (mol wt) bottoms product rich in trimer and higher oligomers. Afterwards, semibatch operation was used with supercritical, dense-gas toluene, a temperature gradient of 330 to 380 °C, and pressures from 84 to 111 bar to fractionate the above bottoms product, yielding a trimer-rich overhead (average mol wt ( M w ) = 800) and a tetramer and higher residue with M w ∼ 1000. Considering the two operations as a unit, a combined selectivity factor of ∼350 was obtained. Not only is this at least an order of magnitude better than what can in principle be accomplished by conventional, single-stage solvent extraction, but such extraction is inapplicable to our system because of the insolubility of the pitch fractions of interest in typical liquid solvents. Matrix-assisted, laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI) was used to verify that separation was indeed occurring by mol wt and to study the relationship between the M w , softening point, and C/H ratio of the fractions produced.
Chemistry, Green Chemistry, and the Instrumental Valuation of Sustainability

Using the Public Value Mapping framework, I address the values successes and failures of chemistry as compared to the emerging field of green chemistry, in which the promoters attempt to incorporate new and expanded values, such as health, safety, and environmental sustainability, to the processes of prioritizing and conducting chemistry research. I document how such values are becoming increasingly “public.” Moreover, analysis of the relations among the multiple values associated with green chemistry displays a greater internal coherence and logic than for conventional chemistry. Although traditional chemistry research has successfully contributed to both economic and values gains, there have been public values failures due to imperfect values articulations, failure to take a longer-term view, and inertia within a system that places too much emphasis on “science values.” Green chemistry, if implemented effectively, has potential to remedy these failures.
Conversational skills training for retarded adolescents

Five retarded adolescents who had difficulty conversing with others received group conversational skills training that focused on both discrete social behaviors (such as asking questions, talking about oneself, and making speech acknow-ledgers) and on the topic content of their conversations. Training was introduced across these skills in multiple baseline fashion. The intervention's effectiveness was shown through: behavioral ratings of unstructured and extended conversations between pairs of subjects and of extended conversations between each subject and unfamiliar nonretarded partners; global judgments of improved skill; and maintenance of skill improvement at 5-month follow-up.
Practical points in themanagement of the hospitalized epileptic patient

This article briefly discusses the etiology and pathophysiology of epilepsy. Therapeutic management and nursing considerations of the hospitalized epileptic patient are the primary focus.
Small punch test evaluation of intergranular embrittlement of an alloy steel

The ductile-brittle transition temperature in steel is commonly determined using Charpy V-notch impact specimens as specified by ASTM E23-81. In some specific cases, however, the use of this standardized test specimen may be impractical, if not impossible. For instance, it is well known that ferritic steels show a substantial degradation of the mechanical properties after long time exposure to an irradiation environment. Because of the increase in strength and the reduction in ductility due to neutron irradiation, the Charpy V-notch transition temperature is raised causing concern from a safety point of view. To study these radiation effects, a test specimen much smaller than the standard Charpy V-notch specimen would be extremely desirable for two reasons. First, to study neutron damage small specimens take less space within a reactor. Secondly, the damage achieved in simulation experiments, such as proton or electron accelerators, is limited to small penetration depths. Several efforts on the development of such a small test specimen, similar to that used to determine the ductility of sheet metal, as recommended by ASTM E643-78, have been described in the literature. The paper reports on correlations between small punch (SP) and Charpy V-notch (CVN) test results obtained on temper-embrittled NiCr steel.more » The ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) with intergranular embrittlement being induced by grain boundary segregation of specific impurities was determined. The relation between test results discussed in terms of the micromechanisms of intergranular cracking. It is suggested that in radiation embrittlement investigations similar correlations may be obtained.« less
Fitness and extra‐group reproduction in male Verreaux's sifaka: An analysis of reproductive success from 1989–1999

Adult males in social groups often compete with other male group members for access to adult females. In some primate species, males also seek mating opportunities in neighboring social groups. Such extra-group fertilizations (EGFs) provide an additional source of variation in male fitness. This additional component of fitness provided by EGFs must be incorporated into analyses that investigate sources of variation in male lifetime reproductive success. In this study, a model is analyzed in which male fitness over a 10-year sample period is decomposed into additive and multiplicative variance and covariance components. The data come from an ongoing study of a wild population of Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi) located at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Southwest Madagascar. Paternity and demographic data for 134 males are used to decompose male fitness into the following three multiplicative components: reproductive lifespan during sample period, fertility, and offspring survival. These multiplicative components are estimated for males reproducing within their resident groups plus (i.e., the additive portion) for males reproducing in neighboring social groups. The analysis shows that variation in fertility makes the largest contribution to variation in total fitness, followed by variation in amount of time spent in sample period (which is a proxy of total reproductive lifespan) and variation in offspring survival. EGFs contribute an important source of variation to male fitness, and numerous factors enhance the opportunities for EGFs in male sifaka. These include female choice, a high degree of home range overlap, and a limited mating season.
Dissociative ionization of silane

Abstract The dissociative ionization cross-sections of silane (SiH 4 ), have been measured by Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Neither the molecular ion SiH 4 + nor the hydrogen ions H 2 + , H + are formed by electron impact. Cross-sections for the other silicon hydride ions at 50 eV are: σ(SiH 3 + ) = (0.5 ± 0.08) × 10 −16 cm 2 , σ(SiH 2 + ) = (0.74 ± 0.11) × 10 −16 cm 2 , σ(SiH + ) = (0.21 ± 0.03) × 10 −16 cm 2 , and σ(Si + ) = (0.19 ± 0.03) × 10 −16 cm 2 .
Conceptualizing Research–Practice Partnerships as Joint Work at Boundaries

This article presents a conceptual framework for analyzing how researchers and district leaders perceive and navigate differences they encounter in the context of research–practice partnerships. Our framework contrasts with images of partnership work as facilitating the translation of research into practice. Instead, we argue that partnership activity is best viewed as a form of joint work requiring mutual engagement across multiple boundaries. Drawing on a cultural–historical account of learning across boundaries (Akkerman & Bakker, 2011) and evidence from a study of two long-term partnerships, we highlight the value of the concepts of boundary practices in organizing joint work and boundary crossing as a way to understand how differences are recognized and navigated. The framework has implications for how partnerships can surface and make productive use of difference in organizing joint work and for how funders can better support the work of research–practice partnerships.
Phenylbutazone-induced myelodysplastic syndrome with Philadelphia translocation

We present a case of a 69-year-old white male with a 3-year history of a myelodysplastic syndrome probably induced by phenylbutazone, and which developed into an overt leukemic phase. Chromosome analysis in the leukemic phase revealed the bone marrow cells to contain a Philadelphia translocation [46,XY,t(9;22)(q34;q11)]. We discuss the possible association between a prior history of exposure to hemotoxins and myelodysplastic syndromes, and the rarity of a Ph translocation in drug-induced hematologic malignancy.