cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ignoring Goethe’s Faust: A Critical-Theoretical Perspective on American Ideology

The neglect of Goethe, his work in general, and Faust in particular, in English-speaking countries, is notorious. While Shakespeare’s plays have been prominent and widely performed in German-speaking countries, the same is not true for Goethe in the English-speaking world. Focusing non-exclusively on Faust, and cutting a link to Thomas Mann’s Doctor Faustus, I will endeavor to delineate problematic aspects of American ideology, and what it would take, within U.S. sociology, to be cognizant of the latter. Georg Lukacs wrote about Goethe and Faust, and so did Theodor W. Adorno and Leo Loewenthal, highlighting its importance to critical theory. The goal is to delineate a critical theory of American ideology that cannot be developed from a perspective from within the US alone, and of the role Shakespeare’s work has been playing in normalizing the prevalence and workings key aspects of this ideology.
Perinatal Depression: Giving Birth to New Hope

Depression in pregnancy is common in the United States, but access to evidence-based perinatal mental health remains scarce. This article describes historical factors that have led to barriers in a...
Diplomacy and Trade: The Current Contradictory Relations between the United States and Bolivia

Diplomatic relations between Bolivia and the United States have been difficult since Evo Morales became president in 2006. Despite these poor relations and even despite the abrogation of the ATPDEA (Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act) in 2008, commerce between Bolivia and the United States has increased more than during governments allied with the United States. These conclusions show that the state of diplomatic relations are not necessarily indicative of the intensity of trade between countries.
Suffering and Healing in the Late Nineteenth Century:Medical Case Studies from the Lourdes Sanctuary.

Following the 1858 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, the small French town became a world-renowned sanctuary city and a favoured site of devotion for miracle-seeking pilgrims. As such, Lou...
Clinical analysis on human metapneumovirus infection in children with respiratory

Objective To analyze clinical features of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in children with respiratory tract infection,providing reference for better observation and treatment for children with respiratory tract metapneumovirus infections.Methods 1798 cases of acute respiratory infections from June 2008 to June 2010 were selected,and their fresh sputum were taken as respiratory specimens tested by the presence of hMPV with reverse-transcription polymerase Chain reaction(RT-PCR).PCR products of hMPV N gene from some patients were randomly selected for sequencing analysis,and the sequences of the nucleotides and amino acids were compared with those in the GennBank.The hMPV infection detection was made,peripheral blood routine check,chest X-ray,C-reactive protein,and clinical data were all recorded.Results 43 cases of hMPV were found (positive rate of 46.7％) in cases aged less than 6months,9 patients (9.8％) in 6 months to 1-year-old group,27 patients (29.3％) in 1 to 3-year-old group,10 cases (10.9％) in 3 to 7-year-old group,3 cases (3.3％) in 7 to 14-year-old group.The clinical manifestations of hMPV infection were as follows:cough (89.1％),fever (73.9％),pulmonary rales (51.1％),wheezing (33.7％),dyspnea (8％).Conclusion It shows that hMPV is associated with children suffering respiratory tract infections in some area in Guangzhou and it exits for the full year with infection peak of the epidemic from March to April in a year.The infection rate is higher in children aged less than 6months,there isn no specific clinical features in hMPV infection,with only fever,cough,or wheezing. Key words: Respiratory tract infections; Human metapneumovirus; Clinical manifestations
Boundary Control Approach to the Spectral Estimation Problem: The Case of Simple Poles

A new approach to the spectral estimation problem is proposed. Our approach is based on the Boundary Control method. We show that the problem of decomposition of a signal modeled by a linear combination of exponentials can be reduced to an identification problem for a discrete time linear dynamical system. It follows that values of exponentials can be found solving a generalized eigenvalue problem as in Matrix Pencil method. We also give exact formulas for the amplitudes and consider the case of nonuniform sampling. The companion paper focuses on the case of polynomial amplitudes.
The information content of stock splits

Abstract This study examines whether stock splits contain information content about future operating performance or whether splits are undertaken by firms to realign their share prices and to improve trading liquidity. In the four years following split announcements, splitting firms do not experience improved operating performance relative to non-splitting firms. Furthermore, stock split signals are not related to future profitability. The positive announcement effect can be explained by lower share prices and improved market liquidity following stock splits but not by split signals and post-split operating performance. Our results show very little evidence that stock splits signal improvement in long-run operating performance and are more consistent with the trading range/liquidity hypothesis.
Comparative international incidence of Ewing Sarcoma 1988-2012.

Ewing Sarcoma (ES) is the second most common primary bone tumor in children and adolescents. There are few known epidemiological or genetic risk factors for ES. Numerous reports describe incidence rates and trends within the United States, but international comparisons are sparse. We used the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) data to estimate age standardized incidence rates (ASRs; cases per million) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), male-to-female incidence rate ratios (IRR; 95% CI), and the average annual percent change in incidence (AAPC; 95% CI) for ES by geographic region for children and adults aged 0-49 years. We also estimated the ASR for each country or country subpopulation among the 10-19-year-old age range; capturing the peak incidence of ES. In total, 15 874 ES cases ages 0-49 were reported in the CI5 series between 1988 and 2012. AAPC estimates varied by age group and geographic region. Most of the statistically significant AAPCs showed an increased incidence over time; the only statistically significant decreases in incidence were observed among 20-29-year-olds and 30-39-year-olds in Southern Asia at -1.93 and - 1.67%. When categorized by predominant ancestry, we observed countries and subpopulations with predominately African, East Asian, and South-east Asian ancestry had the lowest incidence rates, whereas Pacific Islanders and populations with predominantly European and North African/Middle Eastern ancestry had the highest. An excess incidence in males was observed in most regions. Our results highlight substantial variation in ES incidence across geographic populations, reflecting potential ancestral influence on disease risk.
Chronofunctions for new Mexico, USA soils show relationships among climate, dust input, and soil development

Abstract Rates of soil development provide critical information about the types and rates of geomorphic and landscape evolutionary processes. Soil development in arid and semiarid regions of the southwestern United States is predominantly controlled by influx of eolian dust, yet our ability to quantify the rates of morphologic development and of dust and carbonate incorporation is limited by available age control. We describe 10 pedons in the Socorro area of central New Mexico and analyze their silt, clay, and carbonate contents. These soils have well-established direct or indirect age control that we used to estimate average rates of dust and carbonate accumulation over the past ~0.5–800 ka. We also computed the profile development index (PDI) for these soils using 10 common morphologic properties and compare our resulting PDI chronofunction to those from northern and southern New Mexico. We find that the net silt-and-clay content increases in progressively older soils at rates similar to the profile-mass carbonate contents, presumably sourced primarily from eolian dust. Our chronofunction comparison indicates that soil development occurs more rapidly in higher latitude regions of New Mexico than in the drier warmer climates of the Socorro area and southern New Mexico. We interpret the N–S regional trend of soil development considering a regional climate gradient. We conclude that greater mean annual precipitation and cooler mean annual temperatures and/or slower rates of eolian dust accumulation into the soil profile at higher latitude northern sites cause the observed differences in regional soil development. This would promote greater mobility of available silt and clay, and also increase rates of soil formation, as indicated by the presence of argillans in late-Pleistocene soils of northern New Mexico.
Re-imagining Technology Education for Student Teachers Using Human-Centered Design

This design case describes the implementation of the Human-centered Design process, developed by the world leading design firm IDEO and Stanford d. school. The process describes the technology integration onto a teaching credential program course at a university in Central California. It reports the thought process to adopting HCD in the course with a focus on a semester-long assignment called Technology Leap Project (TLP). The preliminary design decisions and the design process in depth. Each phase of the HCD process (i.e. Inspiration, Ideation, Implementation) was defined and its manifestation into the TLP was articulated and assembled with samples of students’ work. The case also discusses various merits and challenges for the design team of applying the HCD process in engaging student learning and responding to their learning needs. Finally, the revision plan was discussed.
Sensory Input and the Inconstant Fly

In his efforts to arrive at conclusions that have some universality the biologist customarily works with groups of animals rather than with individuals. He strives for reproducible results from which he can make predictions that have a high probability of being correct. To this end he carefully controls, in so far as it lies within his power, the characteristics of the experimental population and the ambient influences playing upon it. He is sensitive to inter-sample variability and variability from one individual to the next. He attempts to control for genetic variability by working with siblings or iso-genic strains. He seeks to control ontogenetic variation by striving to have all of his animals subjected to the same sets of developmental influences. He is attentive to sex, age, hormonal balance, nutritional state. He tries to ensure that the antecedant behavioral experience of each individual, its level of adaptation, its central excitatory and inhibitory states are the same.
Criticism, Complexity, and Invalidities: Theoretical Considerations

The results of the previous chapter may be regarded as a data basis in need of further analysis. Let us begin by making an inventory of the logical topics found in Galileo’s book, as seen from the section titles of the last chapter. The following table will serve our purpose.
Health Status in Young Adults Two Decades After Pediatric Liver Transplantation

We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients who underwent pediatric liver transplant (LT) between 1988 and 1992 to evaluate long-term health status. Survivors completed socio-demographic, medical and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) surveys by mail including the SF-36v2, PedsQL™4.0 Generic Core Scale, PedsQL™ Cognitive Functioning Scale and PedsQL™3.0 Transplant Module. SF-36 scores were converted to SF6D-based utilities and risk factors for lower outcomes were assessed. Eighty-five of 171 patients had survived. Fifty-six were contacted with a response rate of 66%. Median age at LT was 0.86 years (IQR 0.58-3.0) and 64.3% had biliary atresia. Mean age at survey was 23.0 ± 4.4 years: 62% attended college, 68% lived with parents and 80% of those over 23 were employed. Patient health utilities were lower than norms (0.75 ± 0.12 vs. 0.82 ± 0.18, p < 0.01) and correlated with unemployment (p < 0.042), hospitalizations (p < 0.005) and lower education level (p < 0.016). Lower PedsQL™3.0 Transplant Module and PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scale scores correlated with unemployment (p = 0.006, p = 0.009) and hospitalizations (p = 0.006, p = 0.02). Pediatric transplant recipients who survive to adulthood have lower physical HRQOL, measurable transplant-related disability and lower health utility. Transplantation is life saving; however, physical and psychological sequelae continue to affect health status up to two decades later.
Model reduction of multidimensional positive real systems

This paper presents a model reduction method for multidimensional positive real systems. The approach is based on balancing positive definite solutions to dual linear matrix inequalities for positive real systems. Several numerical algorithms are proposed and an example is included to demonstrate the performance of the model reduction method. >
The Advantage of a Broad Focal Zone in SWL

The evolution of lithotripters over the past 20 years has lead to the production of lithotripters with smaller focal zones (diameters 4–8 mm) than the first generation lithotripters (∼12 mm diameters) and with higher peak pressures (∼100 MPa compared to ∼40 MPa). At first glance it may seem beneficial to focus the acoustic energy more tightly onto the stone however clinical reports suggest that the narrower focal zones have poorer outcomes and more side effects. Here the impact of focal spot size on energy delivered to stones and the intensity delivered to tissue is considered by numerical modeling. It is shown that lithotripters with focal spots much larger than a stone are able to deliver similar energy to a stone as a narrow high pressure focal spot lithotripter. The reduction of energy delivered to the stone is exacerbated in the presence of motion. The larger focal spot lithotripters result in reduced incident intensity to the tissue. These results suggest that wide focal spot lithotripters have the ...
Whiteness, Equal Treatment, and the Valuation of Injury in Torts, 1900-1949

The essay explores the relationships between U.S. tort law, race, and legal culture in the first half of the twentieth century. The essay begins by highlighting two ways in which tort law and legal culture were glaringly white. First, whiteness was the default in the sense that litigants and witnesses were presumed to be white unless otherwise identified, and second, African-American people were excluded from decision-making roles in the tort system. Despite the whiteness of the civil justice system, black plaintiffs brought and won tort cases in all regions during this period. The tort system's institutional commitment to private enforcement and individualized resolution of claims resulted in significant access to the civil justice system for black plaintiffs. However, that same commitment to individualized resolution of tort claims allowed bias and inequality to devalue black plaintiffs' claims at every stage of tort litigation, in ways that were impossible to challenge. Despite the racist exclusions of the legal system and wider culture during this period, a theoretical commitment to equal treatment of tort victims persisted as an undercurrent in legal culture. Judges and others used a variety of attempted justifications, different in content but similar in structure, to rationalize their unequal treatment of black tort plaintiffs.
Sandia shock compression database

An authoritative, updatable, and searchable bibliographic database whose topical area is shock compression is currently under development. The database is derived from published scientific articles and reports with current emphasis in the subareas of strength, phase transitions, spall, and stress-volume relations. The content of the cited work is described by keywords which are selected and reviewed by scientific advisors. Keywords are organized to provide major and minor descriptors which summarize the technical content in considerable detail. Details of theoretical and experimental approaches are described and major emphasis is identified. In addition to bibliographic information and abstracts, fields have been provided for figure captions, table titles and supplementary information.
Studies on reovirus RNA: I. Characterization of reovirus genome RNA

Abstract Chemical treatment does not release the genome of reovirus in intact form. Irrespective of the procedure used, the same mixture of fragments is released with sedimentation coefficients of about 14, 12 and 10.5 s. On electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels these size classes can be further resolved, the two former into two components each, the last into three. These fragments are double-stranded as judged by the following criteria: they exhibit a sharp melting profile with a Tm dependent on the ionic concentration; they are resistant to ribonuclease, provided that the concentrations of both monovalent and divalent ions, as well as that of the enzyme, are suitably adjusted; their sedimentation behavior is independent of the ionic concentration over a wide range; and their base composition displays equality of A and U, as well as of G and C. In addition to this mixture of double-stranded fragments there is released from virions an RNA of small size (2 to 3 s) which amounts to about 20% of the mass of the viral genome. The base composition of this RNA is 82% A, 13% U, 3% G and 3% C. This A-rich RNA is synthesized in step with the viral genome RNA. RNA molecules corresponding to intact viral genomes were not detected in infected cells at times when the viral genome was replicating. Irrespective of the method of breaking open the cells, or of the cell strain used, the same mixture of RNA fragments was obtained as was released from virions. These results suggest that the reovirus genome consists of a number of segments of double-stranded RNA; further, it would appear that the reovirus genome does not replicate as one intact molecule, but rather in the form of these same segments. The molecular weights of the L, M and S segments have been estimated by reference to three sets of data in the literature; the most likely values are 2.3 ± 0.2 × 106, 1.3 ± 0.2 × 106 and 8 ± 2 × 105. L, M and S segments are released from virions in the ratio of n : n : 1.5n. Owing to uncertainty concerning the size of the reovirus genome, the exact number of segments of which it is composed cannot be specified. The most likely value of n is 2, although a value of 3 or even 4 is not ruled out. The function of the A-rich material is not known. It is conceivable that it serves to link the double-stranded segments, giving rise to a structure which is so labile that it does not withstand any but the most gentle manipulation. However, the precise manner in which linking is accomplished, and the role, if any, of the Arich material in this process must await further work.
Germany, Hitler, and World War II: Pearl Harbor: The German perspective

When news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor reached Germany, that nation's leadership was absorbed by the crisis in its war with the Soviet Union, begun by the German attack earlier that year. In view of a serious defeat administered to the German forces by the Red Army at the southern end of the front, Adolf Hitler had relieved the commander-inchief of the German army group fighting there, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, on December 1 and flew to the army group and army headquarters in the southern Ukraine on December 2. Late on December 3, he flew back to his headquarters in East Prussia, only to be greeted by more bad news: the German army group at the northern end of the main front was also being pushed back by Red Army counterattacks; and, most ominous of all, the German offensive in the center toward Moscow was not only exhausted but was itself in danger of being overwhelmed by a Soviet counteroffensive of which the first major effects were beginning to be noted in German headquarters on December 5 and 6. Not yet recognizing the extent of the defeat at the front, and imagining that there would merely be a temporary halt in German offensive operations, Hitler and the German Army Chief of Staff, General Franz Haider, as well as the head of operations in the high command of the armed forces, General Alfred Jodl, prepared a general directive for winter operations which was signed by Hitler, issued on December 8, and quickly overtaken by the reality of Red Army victories on the Eastern Front.
Narrative Discourse Cohesion in Early Stage Parkinson's Disease.

Background Models of basal ganglia (BG) function suggest that expressive language deficits will likely and consistently present in BG disease. Disparities currently exist between the predictions of models of BG function in expressive language and data from studies of BG disease. Traditional expressive language assessment methodologies that emphasize measures of language form (word and sentence productivity) while not carefully considering how language is used, may only partially account for these disparities. Objective To use measures of cohesion to examine the use of cohesive markers in narrative discourse. Methods Twelve individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) were compared to 12 matched neurologically intact controls on measures of discourse performance. Three discourse samples (typical day, memorable vacation and family) were analyzed for measures of narrative productivity, number of cohesive ties and cohesive adequacy. Mixed model analyses were completed for group comparisons. Results Group differences were not observed on measures of language form as measured by narrative productivity, communication units, and number of cohesive ties produced. In contrast, group differences were observed in cohesive adequacy as individuals with PD produced a higher percentage of incomplete and erroneous cohesive ties relative the control subjects across narratives. Conclusions These results support the conclusion that the BG in PD may have an executive role in expressive language use that can be disrupted without impacting language form.
American Business Interests and the Open Door in China

One of the basic aims of American foreign policy has been to maintain the right of all countries to trade with China on an equal basis. The first formal declaration of this aim came with the sending of the Open Door notes in September, 1899. The origin of these notes has received much attention from historians in recent years, and certain aspects of their origin, particularly the part played by W. W. Rockhill and the Englishman, Alfred Hippisley, have become very well known. At least one aspect, however, has been entirely overlooked: namely, that special business interests in the United States were concerned over the possible loss of the Chinese market; were eager to have the government take just the sort of action which it did take; and were active in bringing pressure to bear on the government. It is the thesis of this article that they were partly responsible for the sending of the notes and, consequently, for America's Open Door policy.
Breast Cancer Genetic Screening and Critical Bioethics' Gaze

This paper illustrates a role that bioethics should play in developing and criticizing protocols for breast cancer genetic screening. It demonstrates how a critical bioethics, using approaches and reflecting concerns of contemporary philosophy of science and science studies, may critically interrogate the normative and conceptual schemes within which ethical considerations about such screening protocols are framed. By exploring various factors that influence the development of such protocols, including politics, cultural norms, and conceptions of disease, this paper and the critical bioethics' approach it endorses illuminate and critically assess some of the competing worldviews informing protocol development. One of the frequently neglected worldviews in traditional bioethics' treatment of protocols concerning breast care is constituted by women's own views of their breasts and breast cancer, both within the technologically-oriented social practice of American medicine and in light of the social construction of their breasted experience in American society. This paper attempts to redress and critically assess this neglect on the part of traditional bioethics. Finally, in contrast to traditional bioethics, critical bioethics critically interrogates its own normative and conceptual commitments. In this final capacity, a critical bioethics' approach makes a valuable contribution to the evolution of bioethics.
Mst1 inhibition rescues β1-adrenergic cardiomyopathy by reducing myocyte necrosis and non-myocyte apoptosis rather than myocyte apoptosis

It is generally held that inhibition of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1) protects the heart through reducing myocyte apoptosis. We determined whether inhibition with a dominant-negative Mst1 (DN-Mst1) would protect against the cardiomyopathy induced by chronic β1-adrenergic receptor (β1-AR) stimulation by preventing myocyte apoptosis. DN-Mst1 mice were mated with β1-AR transgenic (Tg) mice and followed for 20 months. β1-AR Tg mice developed cardiomyopathy as they aged, as reflected by premature mortality and depressed cardiac function, which were rescued in β1-AR × DN-Mst1 bigenic mice. Surprisingly, myocyte apoptosis did not significantly decrease with Mst1 inhibition. Instead, Mst1 inhibition predominantly reduced non-myocyte apoptosis, e.g., fibroblasts, macrophages, neutrophils and endothelial cells. Fibrosis in the hearts with cardiomyopathy increased fivefold and this increase was nearly abolished in the bigenic mice with Mst1 inhibition. Regression analysis showed no correlation between myocyte apoptosis and cardiac function or myocyte number, whereas the latter two correlated significantly, p < 0.05, with fibrosis, which generally results from necrosis. To examine the role of myocyte necrosis, chronic β-AR stimulation with isoproterenol was induced for 24 h and myocyte necrosis was assessed by 1 % Evans blue dye. Compared to WT, DN-Mst1 mice showed significant inhibition, p < 0.05, of myocyte necrosis. We confirmed this result in Mst1-knockout mice, which also showed significant protection, p < 0.05, against myocyte necrosis compared to WT. These data indicate that Mst1 inhibition rescued cardiac fibrosis and myocardial dysfunction in β1-AR cardiomyopathy. However, this did not occur through Mst1 inhibition of myocyte apoptosis but rather by inhibition of cardiomyocyte necrosis and non-myocyte apoptosis, features of Mst1 not considered previously.
Microkinetic modeling for hydrocarbon (HC)-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx on a silver-based catalyst

Abstract Modeling of aftertreatment systems for NO x abatement from fuel combustion is a critical step in catalyst design. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a key component in the overall aftertreatment system. In this paper, we focus on developing a detailed elementary reaction mechanism for hydrocarbon (HC)-based SCR on a silver-impregnated monolith catalyst. Rather than developing a single rate expression based on power-law fitting or Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics, a detailed microkinetic modeling approach is utilized to capture the essential physics of this problem. Even though the system is complicated, with more than 10 reductants along with some promoting or inhibiting effects of other species, a hierarchical approach for mechanism development is used to retain the simplicity of the mechanism in terms of computational implementation. The HC-SCR mechanism is shown to capture experimental data for all reductants, in most cases, quantitatively.
Gender differences in adolescents in residential treatment

Gender differences for adolescents in residential care were examined for a sample of 2,067 youths in a large residential facility. At admission, female youths were more troubled than male youths, as shown in significantly higher Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) diagnoses and comorbidity rates, higher internalizing and externalizing Child Behavior Checklist scores, and significantly higher Suicide Prevention Scale hopelessness, negative self-evaluation, and suicide ideation scores. Girls had higher rates of depressive and anxiety diagnoses on the DISC at both admission and 1 year. Both genders demonstrated significant reductions in both externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors over the first year in the program. Girls had significantly higher rates of internalizing problem behavior but showed a significantly greater reduction in these behaviors than did boys. At departure, girls were rated as being more successful than boys by clinical staff. Youths did not differ by gender in their behavior on a 6-month follow-up success scale. Implications for prioritizing research addressing the needs of female adolescents in residential care are discussed.
Application of Transistors to Safety Circuits

The application of transistors to circuits controlling the rod release for shutdown of a nuclear reactor is described. No vacuum tubes are used in the circuit. The circuits were designed with maximum attention to reliability and fail-safe operation.
Correlation and spectral analysis of relations between single unit discharge and muscle activities.

Abstract Correlation and spectral analysis was used to study functional linkages between single-cell discharge in the magnocellular red nucleus and the electromyographic activity of several limb muscles. Long sequences of unit discharge and EMG activity were recorded while feline subjects performed a food retrieval task. Unit discharge and muscle activity were patterned in bursts that corresponded in different phases of the task. There was sufficient variability in the parameters of these bursts to regard the signals as pseudorandom variables, thus facilitating a correlation analysis. Cross-correlation functions computed between unit discharge and each muscle EMG served to characterize the strength and reliability of linkages between a single unit and various limb muscles. Auto-correlation and auto-spectral density functions provided summary measures of the temporal and frequency characteristics of the signals. Power in the signals was concentrated in a behaviorally relevant range (0.2–8 Hz). Coherence functions showed peaks that indicated which frequency components were well correlated with unit discharge. Two-sided impulse responses served to characterize the dynamic properties of the linkages. These methods are shown to be valuable in characterizing noncausal, as well as causal, linkages through multisynaptic pathways in the nervous system.
EFFECTS OF CLIPPING AND FOUR LEVELS OF NITROGEN ON THE GAS EXCHANGE, GROWTH, AND PRODUCTION OF TWO EAST AFRICAN GRAMINOIDS

Kyllinga nervosa and Themeda triandra plants were subjected to different clipping and nitrogen availability regimes. Following an extended period of growth under these conditions, total biomass, gas exchange and several morphological parameters were measured. Kyllinga nervosa showed compensatory growth to moderate levels of clipping whereas any clipping reduced the total biomass of T. triandra. Unclipped plants of either species were unable to respond to increased levels of nitrogen. Clipped plants responded in an ambiguous fashion, with increased allocation to offtake (material removed by clipping) in both species. Total biomass of K. nervosa was highest at 15 mM nitrogen levels which are equivalent to field levels. Both photosynthesis and respiration rates were unaffected by nitrogen treatments. Photosynthesis was significantly reduced by the most severe clipping regime of K nervosa, but was unaffected by clipping of T. triandra.
High-signal foci on MR images of the brain: observer variability in their quantification.

Foci of high signal in the cerebral white matter are common incidental findings on MR images of the brain of control subjects or patients with a variety of diseases. Although the number of foci has been reported to correlate with age and several risk factors, the degree of observer variability in quantifying foci has not been reported. We used kappa statistics to determine radiologists' agreement in counting high-signal-intensity foci on MR images obtained in healthy volunteers and in patients with hypertension. Before interpreting the images, one pair of radiologists studied 30 routine MR images and reached consensus on differentiating high-signal foci from other foci of high intensity caused by normal structures (e.g., deep gyri or Virchow-Robin spaces). These two observers than independently determined the number of foci in the study group. Using their own criteria, other radiologists independently counted the foci. Agreement between observers was determined with the kappa statistic. The results showed fair agreement between the radiologists who first reached a consensus in counting foci of hyperintensity and poor agreement between the other observers. We conclude that in order to compare the frequency of foci of hyperintensity in different groups of patients, observer variability must be controlled. Studies without proper control subjects may lead to incorrect conclusions regarding the correlation of focal hyperintensities and various risk factors.
A graded association of exercise capacity and all-cause mortality in males with high-normal blood pressure.

Abstract Introduction. Information regarding the effect of exercise capacity on mortality risk in individuals with high-normal blood pressure is severely limited. Thus, we evaluated the association of exercise capacity and all-cause mortality in individuals with high-normal blood pressure. Methods. Exercise test was performed in 1727 males with high-normal blood pressure at two Veteran sites (Washington, DC, and Palo Alto, CA). Fitness status was assessed in metabolic equivalents (METs) at exercise peak. All-cause mortality was recorded for a mean follow-up period of 9.8±6.0 years. Results. Exercise capacity was inversely associated with all-cause mortality, and the association was independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. For each 1 MET increase in exercise capacity, the adjusted mortality risk was reduced by 13%, underscoring the strong predictive value of exercise capacity that was confirmed by ROC analysis. Data analysis according to fitness levels revealed a threshold level of 4 METs, o...
Holonomy in Rogers Supermanifolds with Applications to Super YANG-MILLS Theory

The present paper focuses on a certain class of Banach manifolds we call Rogers supermanifolds since they are indeed supermanifolds modeled on graded Banach spaces. Although the subject of holonomy is well-developed for superanalytic supermanifolds utilizing local ring formulations of supermanifolds this seems not to be the case for supermanifolds modeled on graded Banach manifolds in the sense of Rogers. The proof of our main result requires a partial development of these concepts for such supermanifolds. Our main result determines conditions under which a super connection on a superprincipal bundle induces a connection on a quotient superprincipal bundle where is a foliation of and is the induced foliation on . We also show how such a quotient formulation may be used to describe in a fully geometric fashion the so-called "conventional constraints" of super Yang–Mills theory. One consequence of our development is that instead of requiring two superconnections to describe Yang–Mills theory as is the case in some formulations, we describe the relevant concepts using a single superconnection and moreover we show that the "pregauge transformations" are simply ordinary gauge transformations on the appropriate quotient bundles.
NO adsorption and decomposition on La2O3 studied by DRIFTS

Abstract In situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was performed to study the reaction mechanism of NO decomposition on La2O3. Peak assignments were verified by establishing isotope shifts of species formed after adsorption of 15 NO . Peak deconvolution was employed to resolve complex spectra. The adsorption behavior of NO was established at 298 K as well as temperatures up to 773 K. Upon adsorption at room temperature, NO−, N2O2−2, chelating NO−2, nitrito (NO−2), and unidentate and bidentate NO−3 groups are observed, whereas at higher temperatures, nitrate and smaller amounts of NO−2 groups prevail. A surface reaction model developed on the basis of the solid-state properties of La2O3 reveals that the anionic NO species (NO−, N2O2−2) are formed by adsorption on anion vacancies and that they decompose at higher temperatures to yield nitrogen and oxygen. NO adsorption onto basic oxygen anion creates NO−2 and NO−3 spectator species; however, NO−2 groups may also be involved in the decomposition process by reacting with the remaining oxygen to form nitrates. The surface reaction model is in agreement with a sequence derived from kinetic modeling.
Lower extremity weakness after endovascular aneurysm repair with multibranched thoracoabdominal stent grafts

Objective We conducted our study to describe the incidence, presentation, management, risk factors, and outcomes of lower extremity weakness (LEW) after elective endovascular aneurysm repair with multibranched thoracoabdominal stent grafts. Methods Excluding symptomatic patients and those with aortic dissection, between July 2005 and October 2013, 116 patients with aortic aneurysms were treated in a prospective, single-center trial of multibranched endovascular aneurysm repair. LEW that resolved within 30 days of operation was classified as transient. Persistent LEW was defined as inability to walk or stand 30 days after surgery. Perioperative spinal cord protection measures included bypass as needed to maintain flow to the subclavian and internal iliac arteries, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and permissive hypertension. Results Postoperative LEW occurred in 24 of 116 patients (20.6%). In 15 (12.9%), LEW was transient with full recovery. Nine patients (7.7%) had persistent LEW, three with paraparesis and six with paraplegia. Five of 24 patients (21%) awoke from anesthesia with LEW. Symptoms of LEW developed within 72 hours of operation in 14 of 24 (58%). Late-onset LEW (≥72 hours postoperatively) always occurred in the presence of a precipitating hypotensive event (5 of 24; 21%). Univariate analysis showed no association between LEW and Crawford type, staged repair, aneurysm extent, or postoperative endoleak. Baseline glomerular filtration rate 2 (odds ratio [OR], 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-14.6; P = .03), fluoroscopy time >190 minutes (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.0-12.7; P = .04), and sustained hypotension (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.7; P = .04) were identified as independent risk factors for LEW in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Most episodes of LEW after multibranched endovascular aneurysm repair are transient and do not occur in the operating room. Adjunctive strategies to maintain spinal perfusion, including cerebrospinal fluid drainage and permissive hypertension, may help prevent permanent LEW.
Malrotation of the intestine.

Malrotation of the intestinal tract is a product of a well defined aberrant embryology. Because the consequences of malrotation associated with a midgut volvulus may be catastrophic, an understanding of the anatomy, diagnostic criteria, and appropriate therapy for this putative emergency illness is imperative. This report summarizes a recent 18-month experience with this diagnosis and contrasts this experience with that in the published literature. More than half (14/22) of the patients presented during the first month of life, and all had vomiting, which in most cases was bilious. The barium upper gastrointestinal series was the preferred diagnostic study, being both sensitive (18/19, 95%) and accurate (18/21, 86%). In this series two-thirds of the patients presented with volvulus (15/22, 68%) of whom five had ischemic intestine requiring resection. One of these children died of overwhelming sepsis. A Ladd procedure was the preferred treatment, which as defined by us includes evisceration and inspection of the mesenteric root, counterclockwise derotation of a midgut volvulus, lysis of Ladd's bands with straightening of the duodenum along the right abdominal gutter, inversion-ligation appendectomy, and placement of the cecum into the left lower quadrant. A high index of suspicion in the neonate with vomiting, rapid diagnosis, and appropriate operative therapy results in a predictable favorable outcome for children with intestinal malrotatioh.
ECAS Phase I fuel cell results

This paper summarizes and discusses the fuel cell system results of Phase I of the Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS). Ten advanced electric powerplant systems for central-station baseload generation using coal were studied by NASA in ECAS. Three types of low-temperature fuel cells (solid polymer electrolyte, SPE, aqueous alkaline, and phosphoric acid) and two types of high-temperature fuel cells (molten carbonate, MC, and zirconia solid electrolyte, SE) were studied. The results indicate that (1) overall efficiency increases with fuel cell temperature, and (2) scale-up in powerplant size can produce a significant reduction in cost of electricity (COE) only when it is accompanied by utilization of waste fuel cell heat through a steam bottoming cycle and/or integration with a gasifier. For low-temperature fuel cell systems, the use of hydrogen results in the highest efficiency and lowest COE. In spite of higher efficiencies, because of higher fuel cell replacement costs integrated SE systems have higher projected COEs than do integrated MC systems. Present data indicate that life can be projected to over 30,000 hr for MC fuel cells, but data are not yet sufficient for similarly projecting SE fuel cell life expectancy.
Alarming trends in pediatric overweight in the United States.

Objectives: A comprehensive review of the pediatric overweight literature was undertaken to examine secular changes in the prevalence of pediatric overweight, the current magnitude and scope of pediatric overweight, and the identity of high-risk groups in the U.S.
Rule of reason versus mechanical tests in the adjudication of price predation

There is considerable controversy surrounding the legal standards used to detect and prosecute cases involving predatory pricing. This paper recommends the use of a two tiered standard in predatory pricing litigation. The first part of the test is designed to determine whether the market is structurally predisposed toward predation. The second part of the test examines the issue of predatory intent. Flexibility is built into these guidelines by giving the plaintiff an option in terms of the evidentiary burden it must carry. The administrative feasibility of this two tiered proposal is demonstrated in a case study analysis. The case analysis shows that the application of a mechanical price-cost predation rule would have incorrectly resulted in a guilty verdict.
Utilization of 5,6-dihydrouridine 5'-triphosphate in the reaction catalyzed by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

Abstract 1. Characteristics of the incorporation of 5,6-dihydrouridine 5′-monophosphate (H 2 UMP) into RNA by DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (nucleosidetriphosphate: RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6) from Escherichia coli were investigated. 5,6-Dihydro-UTP (H 2 UTP) replaces UTP in the polymerase reaction at a low efficiency with dAT copolymer or DNA from salmon sperm, calf thymus and pea bud as primers. UTP stimulates H 2 UMP incorporation into RNA in the presence of each of the primers when it is added to reaction mixtures during the initial stages of RNA synthesis or when RNA synthesis has leveled off. H 2 UMP is incorporated into RNA next to each of the 4 common nucleotides. As compared to the pattern of UMP incorporation, it occurs less frequently next to itself or UMP and more frequently next to GMP and AMP. The molecular size of RNA containing H 2 UMP is smaller than that containing UMP. These results may be related to the fact that H 2 UTP is a specific but inefficient substitute for UTP in the polymerase reaction. With H 2 UTP as substrate, elongation of RNA chains are retarded at positions requiring UTP participation resulting in relatively short polynucleotides which represent a partial transcription of the DNA primers. Addition of UTP permits lengthening of the polynucleotide molecules resulting in a net increase in acid insoluble polymer containing H 2 UMP. 2. The conversion of H 2 UMP to H 2 UTP by a soluble enzyme preparation from Ehrlich ascites cells is described. Since all of the reactions, including the interconversion of UMP and H 2 UMP, have been demonstrated, it is proposed that synthesis de novo of naturally occurring polynucleotide H 2 UMP is a possible metabolic pathway in vivo . However, the results do not exclude the possibility that hydrogenation of specific UMP residues may occur at the polynucleotide level.
The Chemotherapy of Cancer: I. Lead

Efforts to depress or combat the growth of cancer with colloidal metals have been made by numerous workers in the past. Occasional success has been reported following injections of gold, copper, selenium, and other metals. In the last decade, interest has been aroused by the brilliant researches of Blair Bell, who used compounds of lead, and compounds of this metal have received wide therapeutic trial, both here and abroad. Thus F. C. Wood, in his report before the Dallas session of the American Medical Association in 1926, was inclined to encourage their use. He and Ullmann, together with such men as Bischoff and Blatherwick, Bischoff, Maxwell, Evans, and Nuzum, were among the pioneers in this country in the development of methods and of compounds suitable for injection into man. Following the treatment by these men of groups of patients who had cancer, it soon became apparent that, while something seemingly was accomplished, better results might be obtained by the combined use of lead and other methods of treatment. As a result of efforts along these lines, reports soon appeared of the use of lead and irradiation. Ullmann (10,11) spoke encouragingly of such combined treatment as early as 1927. Todd (7, 8) in his early reports on the use of lead selenide stated that 80 per cent of the patients he treated were benefited, and in a report in April 1934 he advocated the use of radium and roentgen rays in conjunction with lead selenide. However, in a report of twelve well controlled cases of carcinoma of the breast in which, according to the methods reported, the patients received sufficient lead, followed at once by intensive irradiation, Aub and Smithwick voiced the opinion that not only were the results unfavorable, but that in some cases death was actually hastened. Many other men have interested themselves in this problem. The monograph by Todd (9) summarizes the work well.
Identification of a critical motif responsible for gating of Kir2.3 channel by intracellular protons.

Protons are involved in gating Kir2.3. To identify the molecular motif in the Kir2.3 channel protein that is responsible for this process, experiments were performed using wild-type and mutated Kir2.3 and Kir2.1. CO2 and low pHi strongly inhibited wild-type Kir2.3 but not Kir2.1 in whole cell voltage clamp and excised inside-out patches. This CO2/pH sensitivity was completely eliminated in a mutant Kir2.3 in which the N terminus was substituted with that in Kir2.1, whereas a similar replacement of its C terminus had no effect. Site-specific mutations of all titratable residues in the N terminus, however, did not change the CO2/pH sensitivity. Using several chimeras generated systematically in the N terminus, a 10-residue motif near the M1 region was identified in which only three amino acids are different between Kir2.3 and Kir2.1. Mutations of these residues, especially Thr53, dramatically reduced the pH sensitivity of Kir2.3. Introducing these residues or even a single threonine to the corresponding positions of Kir2.1 made the mutant channel pH-sensitive. Thus, a critical motif responsible for gating Kir2.3 by protons was identified in the N terminus, which contained about 10 residues centered by Thr53.