cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A numerical study on the use of geofoam to increase the external stability of reinforced soil walls

The potential benefit of placing a panel of compressible (i.e. expanded polystyrene) geofoam behind the reinforced zone of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls is investigated using a numerical modeling approach. A panel of geofoam is placed immediately behind the reinforced zone during the construction phase of an idealized plane-strain reinforced soil segmental wall model. The analysis procedure includes the modeling of soil compaction. The magnitudes and distributions of earth pressure behind the reinforced zone in the wall models with and without the geofoam panel are compared to quantify the reductions in lateral earth pressure, resultant lateral force and overturning moment expected due to the placement of the geofoam material. Predicted magnitudes of facing lateral deformation and reinforcement strains are also compared among cases studied in order to evaluate the effect of geofoam on wall serviceability. It is shown that placing geofoam behind the reinforced zone can reduce the maximum latera...
Plasma polymerization of iron pentacarbonyl with C2 hydrocarbons

Abstract Iron-containing plasma polymers are deposited from a plasma using iron pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)5) plus C2 hydrocarbons as comonomers and are characterized using a variety of techniques. The plasma polymers are found to contain high proportions of highly dispersed iron oxide as well as lesser quantities of carboxylate and/or ketonate ions and aldehydic and/or ketonic groups. By decreasing the energy per unit mass W/FM part of the iron is deposited in a lower oxidation state complexed to CO and is soluble in organic solvents. The effects of hydrocarbon saturation and of the ratio of hydrocarbon to Fe(CO)5 are also described and a comparison is made with the product deposited when only Fe(CO)5 (or Fe(CO)5 plus H2) is used as the monomer.
Excess dietary vitamin B6 alters water maze performance in two strains of mice

The effects of excess vitamin B6 on learning performance in a water maze were studied in progeny of two strains of mice, I strain mice which demonstrate acute sensitivity to pyridoxine depletion, and C57BL strain mice, a control strain. I strain mice fed 12 mg pyridoxine (PN)/kg diet made more errors to complete the maze than C57BL mice. When fed diets with vitamin B6 410 or 1230 times the recommended amount, water maze error scores of I strain mice decreased; but for C57BL strain mice, increased. Significant differences between dietary treatment for both strains were found, however, only when scores from third and later litters were included in the analysis. This suggests that a cumulative effect of diet was necessary in order to see an effect on water maze learning. The improvement in water maze performance demonstrated by the I strain mice with vitamin B6 intakes 410 times recommended amounts indicates that the pyridoxine requirement of the I strain is between 12 and 410 mg PN/kg diet. The detrimental effects found on learning performance of C57BL strain mice, a control strain, provides evidence of neurotoxicity with ingestion of megadose amounts of vitamin B6. In parent mice, final body weight and organ weights tended to increase in the I strain and decrease in the C57BL mice with the higher PN diets, but body weight gain was less in both strains in mice fed the higher amounts of PN. In the offspring mice, dietary PN had no effect on body weight and brain pyridoxal phosphate content.
Tissue-specific responses of IGF-1/insulin and mTOR signaling in calorie restricted rats.

Moderate calorie restriction (CR) (∼60% of ad libitum, AL, intake) has been associated with numerous favorable physiological outcomes in many species, and the insulin/IGF-1 and mTOR signaling pathways have each been proposed as potential mediators for many of CR's bioeffects. However, few studies have assessed the widely held idea that CR induces the down-regulation of the insulin/IGF-1 and/or mTOR pathways in multiple tissues. Accordingly, we analyzed the phosphorylation status of 11 key signaling proteins from the insulin/IGF-1 (IRTyr1162/1163, IGF-1RTyr1135/1136, IRS-1Ser312, PTENSer380, AktSer473, GSK3αSer21, GSK3βSer9) and mTOR (TSC2Ser939, mTORSer2448, P70S6KThr412, RPS6Ser235/236) pathways in 11 diverse tissues [liver, kidney, lung, aorta, two brain regions (cortex and cerebellum), and two slow-twitch and three fast-twitch skeletal muscles] from 9-month-old male AL and CR Fischer 344 x Brown Norway rats. The rats were studied under two conditions: with endogenous insulin levels (i.e., AL>CR) and with insulin infused during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp so that plasma insulin concentrations were matched between the two diet groups. The most striking and consistent effect of CR was greater pAkt in 3 of the 5 skeletal muscles of CR vs. AL rats. There were no significant CR effects on the mTOR signaling pathway and no evidence that CR caused a general attenuation of mTOR signaling across the tissues studied. Rather than supporting the premise of a global downregulation of insulin/IGF-1 and/or mTOR signaling in many tissues, the current results revealed clear tissue-specific CR effects for the insulin signaling pathway without CR effects on the mTOR signaling pathway.
Disposable Ties and the Urban Poor1

Sociologists long have observed that the urban poor rely on kinship networks to survive economic destitution. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork among evicted tenants in high-poverty neighborhoods, this article presents a new explanation for urban survival, one that emphasizes the importance of disposable ties formed between strangers. To meet their most pressing needs, evicted families often relied more on new acquaintances than on kin. Disposable ties facilitated the flow of various resources, but often bonds were brittle and fleeting. The strategy of forming, using, and burning disposable ties allowed families caught in desperate situations to make it from one day to the next, but it also bred instability and fostered misgivings among peers.
Les perspectives d’emploi au Canada

Pierre-Alain Sauve rapporte d’abord les previsions du Conference Board du Canada sur la persistance de hauts niveaux de chomage en moyenne periode. Il y joint quelques considerations utiles sur le lien entre productivite et emploi et sur les differences entre la situation canadienne et la situation americaine.
Androgen-induced PSA expression requires not only activation of AR but also endogenous IGF-I or IGF-I/PI3K/Akt signaling in human prostate cancer epithelial cells†

BACKGROUND. Prostatecancer(PrCa)riskispositivelyassociatedwithlevelsofinsulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and prostate specific antigen (PSA), both androgen receptor (AR) signaling target genes in PrCa cells. Although activated AR is required for androgen-induction of expression of both genes, effects of the IGF-I signaling pathways on the androgen-induction of PSA have not been studied. METHODS. Human prostate stromal and epithelial cancer cells were treated alone or in coculture withsteroid hormone and/orinhibitors. Gene orproteinexpression wasanalyzed by real time RT-PCR or Western blotting of lysates, nuclear extracts, or immunoprecipitated
The effect of differential shift costs on capital utilization

Abstract This paper presents the results of a micro study of the influence of the shift differential factor on utilization rates in Kenyan manufacturing. Qualitative information about the nature of technology and of shift differentials is incorporated into models of the choice of utilization rate under the alternative assumptions of constant returns to scale and increasing returns to scale. Econometric tests are then used to show that 1971 data is consistent with the theoretical predictions, although the results suggest that the quantitative significance of the shift differential factor in causing excess capacity should not be overstated.
La Niña diversity and Northwest Indian Ocean Rim teleconnections

The differences in tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) expressions of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events of the same phase have been linked with different global atmospheric circulation patterns. This study examines the dynamical forcing of precipitation during October–December (OND) and March–May (MAM) over East Africa and during December–March (DJFM) over Central-Southwest Asia for 1950–2010 associated with four tropical Pacific SST patterns characteristic of La Nina events, the cold phase of ENSO. The self-organizing map method along with a statistical distinguishability test was used to isolate La Nina events, and seasonal precipitation forcing was investigated in terms of the tropical overturning circulation and thermodynamic and moisture budgets. Recent La Nina events with strong opposing SST anomalies between the central and western Pacific Ocean (phases 3 and 4), force the strongest global circulation modifications and drought over the Northwest Indian Ocean Rim. Over East Africa during MAM and OND, subsidence is forced by an enhanced tropical overturning circulation and precipitation reductions are exacerbated by increases in moisture flux divergence. Over Central-Southwest Asia during DJFM, the thermodynamic forcing of subsidence is primarily responsible for precipitation reductions, with moisture flux divergence acting as a secondary mechanism to reduce precipitation. Eastern Pacific La Nina events in the absence of west Pacific SST anomalies (phases 1 and 2), are associated with weaker global teleconnections, particularly over the Indian Ocean Rim. The weak regional teleconnections result in statistically insignificant precipitation modifications over East Africa and Central-Southwest Asia.
A comparative study of the adsorption and hydrogenation of acrolein on Pt(1 1 1), Ni(1 1 1) film and Pt–Ni–Pt(1 1 1) bimetallic surfaces

Abstract In this study we have investigated the reaction pathways for the decomposition and hydrogenation of acrolein (CH2 CH−CH O) on Ni/Pt(1 1 1) surfaces under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). While gas-phase hydrogenation products are not observed from clean Pt(1 1 1), the subsurface Pt–Ni–Pt(1 1 1), with Ni residing below the first layer of Pt, is active for the self-hydrogenation of the C O bond to produce unsaturated alcohol (2-propenol) and the C C bond to produce saturated aldehyde (propanal), with the latter being the main hydrogenation product without the consecutive hydrogenation to saturated alcohol. For a thick Ni(1 1 1) film prepared on Pt(1 1 1), the self-hydrogenation yields for both products are lower than that from the Pt–Ni–Pt(1 1 1) surface. The presence of pre-adsorbed hydrogen further enhances the selectivity toward C O bond hydrogenation on the Pt–Ni–Pt(1 1 1) surface. In addition, HREELS studies of the adsorption of the two hydrogenation products, 2-propenol and propanal, are performed on the Pt–Ni–Pt(1 1 1) surface to identify the possible surface intermediates during the reaction of acrolein. The results presented here indicate that the hydrogenation activity and selectivity of acrolein on Pt(1 1 1) can be significantly modified by the formation of the bimetallic surfaces.
Why do we not have a vaccine against congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of disability in newborns. In spite of knowledge that maternal immunity to CMV protects newborns against these disabilities, there is no licensed vaccine for CMV. The barriers to availability of a CMV vaccine include: (1) a lack of knowledge about the problem; (2) an incomplete understanding of the immune correlates of protection; and (3) uncertainty about what the proper target population is for vaccination. This review summarizes the current state of CMV vaccines and discusses the obstacles that must be overcome before the goal of a vaccine can be realized.
Design and preliminary testing of a handheld antagonistic SMA actuator for cancellation of human tremor

Essential Tremor is a debilitating disorder that in the US alone is estimated to affect up to ten million people. Unfortunately current treatments (i.e. drug therapy and surgical procedures), are limited in effectiveness and often pose a risk of adverse side-effects. In response to this problem, this paper describes an active cancellation device based on a hand-held Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuated stabilization platform. The assistive device is designed to hold and stabilize various objects (e.g. eating utensils, tools, pointing implements, etc.) by sensing the user's tremor and moving the object in an opposite direction using SMA actuators configured in biologically inspired antagonistic pairs. To aid in the design, performance prediction and control of the device, a device model is described that accounts for the device kinematics, SMA thermo-mechanics, and the heat transfer resulting from electrical heating and convective cooling. The system of differential equations in this device model coupled with the controller gain can be utilized to design the operation given a frequency range and power requirement. To demonstrate this, a prototype was built and experimentally tested under external disturbances in the range of 1-5 Hz, resulting in amplitude reduction of up to 80%. The extent of cancellation measured for both single-frequencies and actual human tremor disturbances demonstrate the promise of this approach as a broadly used assistive device for the multitudes afflicted by tremor.
The Explosive Transient Camera (ETC): an instrument for identification of gamma ray burst optical counterparts.

The Explosive Transient Camera (ETC) is a wide field (-3isteradns) electronic camera array which can detect coincident optical flashes with durations of ~10 to 10 seconds. It is anticipated (but not yet conclusively demonstrated) that simultaneous optical flashes will be associated with certain classes of gamma ray bursts (GRBs). For the ETC, each array element is a 20° x 30° FOV, cooled CCD detector, developed at MIT. An optical transient as faint as B = +11 (1 second duration) can be detected with S/N > 20, and its position determined to an accuracy of + 10 arc seconds. Thus, candidate events ~10 times fainter than the archived event (plate taken in 1928) reported for the 19 November 1978 gamma ray burst (GRB) by Schaefer (1981) should be detectable in real time. In addition to detecting GRBs, the ETC is expected to catalog large numbers of flare stars, as well as potentially new classes of astronomical transients. The coordinates established by the ETC will be immediately transmitted (--1 second delay) to the Rapidly Moving Telescope (RMT) under development at NASA/GSFC (Teegarden, Cline and von Rosenvinge 1982), which can further refine the position of a flash and follow its (presumed) subsequent decline. Communications to other rapid response radio or IR instruments will also be provided for, as well as time comparisons to gamma ray events detected by the International GRB Satellite Network (Hurley 1981). A prototype camera element was first tested in April 1982 to establish sky background levels and spurious event rejection schemes. A 1/2 steradian test version of the ETC is planned for operation in early 1984. Expansion to the full 3 steradian complement of 16 detectors at each of two sites is planned during the 1984-1985 period.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
SARS: a non-event for affected countries’ stock markets?

The impact of SARS on the stock markets of Canada, China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is examined. The leading sto...
The technical communicator's role in bridging the gap between Arab and American business environments

Communication between the West and the Middle East has at times been tenuous, disjointed, and ineffective. Due to the ever-increasing global market, it has become essential that American technical communicators cross these geographic, cultural, and language barriers to bridge this historical communication gap. Business with Saudi Arabia particularly has prompted American technical communicators to delve into all cultural and language dynamics of an Arab audience. In essence, the technical communicator must comprehend the impact of Islamic doctrine on the Arab business person; identify the philosophical, religious, historical, and social dynamics of the English/Arab communication process; recognize the fundamental differences between the English language and the Arabic language; and, after assessing the Arab audience and language level, implement the most effective communication strategies for effective communication with a high-context society such as Saudi Arabia.
Genetic Variation in the Endangered Santa Ana River Woolly-Star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum (Polemoniaceae) :

Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum (Milliken) Mason is a geographically restricted subspecies occurring only in a short stretch of the Santa Ana River Wash, in southern California. This subspecies is considered endangered and has been afforded US federal protection. Enzyme electrophoresis was used to assess its genetic variability and its relationship to other nearby conspecific populations, which are morphologically similar to ssp. sanctorum. Gene diversity is higher than expected for this endemic taxon. Most of the genetic variation in this subspecies resides within the sites comprising the single, large population. Analysis of nearby populations involving other subspecies of Eriastrum densifolium indicate that these entities are very closely related to the Santa Ana River population. The genetic vulnerability of this plant appears to be low, and the relationship to other nearby, morphologically similar populations is uncertain.
Carbon nanotube IR properties and applications

Over just one decade since the chance discovery (or re-discovery) by Iijima, carbon nanotubes have attracted much interest from the science and technology communities, and have accumulated a vast array of claimed or likely applications. In the area of electronics, there is no shortage of remarkable and clever demonstrations of functional devices and logic gates. In the area of electro-optics, nanotubes have received much less attention but have perhaps as great potential. This article reviews some of our explorations on this new frontier of electro-optics, following a brief introduction of the basic nanotube properties, and summarizes the key findings of the electro-optic, and IR in particular, properties of nanotubes. It then highlights a few new and potentially promising directions in which future nanotube research could extended. The emphasis of this review paper will be on the basic physical principles underlying the experimental findings and device explorations, rather than on the device and structure specific data.
A new tool for quantifying and characterizing asymmetry in bilaterally paired structures

This paper introduces a new tool to quantify and characterize asymmetry in bilaterally paired structures. This method uses deformable registration to produce a dense vector field describing the point correspondences between two images of bilaterally paired structures. The deformation vector field properties are clustered to detect and describe regions of relevant asymmetry. Three methods are provided to analyze the asymmetries: the global asymmetry score uses cluster features to quantify overall asymmetry, the local asymmetry score quantifies asymmetry in user-defined regions of interest, and the asymmetry similarity measure quantifies pairwise similarity of individual asymmetry. The scores and image distances generated by this tool are shown to correlate highly with asymmetry ratings assigned by an expert.
Experiments on the unsteady nature of vortex breakdown over delta wings

Vortex breakdown location over delta wings is not steady and exhibits fluctuations along the axis of the vortices. Experiments on the nature and source of these fluctuations were carried out. Spectral analysis and other statistical concepts were used to quantify the unsteady behaviour of vortex breakdown location obtained from flow visualization. The fluctuations consist of quasi-periodic oscillations and high-frequency low amplitude displacements. The quasi-periodic oscillations are due to an interaction between the vortices, which cause the antisymmetric motion of breakdown locations for left and right vortices. The oscillations are larger and more coherent as the time-averaged breakdown locations get closer to each other as angle of attack or sweep angle is varied. The frequency of this organized motion is much smaller than the frequency of any other known instabilities. On the other hand, the most probable frequency for the high-frequency small-amplitude fluctuations of breakdown location is in the same range as the frequency of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability of the separated shear layer. A mechanism for the interaction between the vortices causing the oscillations of breakdown location was proposed. When a splitter plate was placed in the symmetry plane of the wing, the large amplitude quasi-periodic oscillations of breakdown location were suppressed.
A history of recreation resource planning: The origins of space standards

(1984). A history of recreation resource planning: The origins of space standards. Leisure Studies: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 189-200.
Kinematics of the Axially Loaded Ankle

An apparatus that allowed the application of a 900 N axial load and the simultaneous measurement of rotation in the sagittal, coronal, and axial planes was used to study the normal kinematics of th...
ACID‐CATALYZED AND THERMAL REARRANGEMENTS OF OBTUSAQUINOL AND RELATED 3,3‐DIARYLPROPENES

Abstract Thermal rearrangement of the natural neoflavanoid, (±)-obtusaquinol, yields (±)-obtusafuran. In aqueous acid media obtusaquinol, latifolin and related phenolic 3,3-diarylpropenes rearrange to the isomeric 2-cinnamylphenols. The acid-catalyzed transformations involve initial elimination of a cinnamyl cation. 3-Cinnamylflavans are formed as minor products in these reactions.
Combined global change effects on ecosystem processes in nine U.S. topographically complex areas

Concurrent changes in climate, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, and increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) affect ecosystems in complex ways. The DayCent-Chem model was used to investigate the combined effects of these human-caused drivers of change over the period 1980–2075 at seven forested montane and two alpine watersheds in the United States. Net ecosystem production (NEP) increased linearly with increasing N deposition for six out of seven forested watersheds; warming directly increased NEP at only two of these sites. Warming reduced soil organic carbon storage at all sites by increasing heterotrophic respiration. At most sites, warming together with high N deposition increased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions enough to negate the greenhouse benefit of soil carbon sequestration alone, though there was a net greenhouse gas sink across nearly all sites mainly due to the effect of CO2 fertilization and associated sequestration by plants. Over the simulation period, an increase in atmospheric CO2 from 350 to 600 ppm was the main driver of change in net ecosystem greenhouse gas sequestration at all forested sites and one of two alpine sites, but an additional increase in CO2 from 600 to 760 ppm produced smaller effects. Warming either increased or decreased net greenhouse gas sequestration, depending on the site. The N contribution to net ecosystem greenhouse gas sequestration averaged across forest sites was only 5–7 % and was negligible for the alpine. Stream nitrate (NO3 −) fluxes increased sharply with N-loading, primarily at three watersheds where initial N deposition values were high relative to terrestrial N uptake capacity. The simulated results displayed fewer synergistic responses to warming, N-loading, and CO2 fertilization than expected. Overall, simulations with DayCent-Chem suggest individual site characteristics and historical patterns of N deposition are important determinants of forest or alpine ecosystem responses to global change.
The πω meson exchange contribution to the nucleon-nucleon interaction

Abstract The πω exchange contribution to the NN interaction is calculated. The spin-independent central and the spin-orbit components of the resulting interaction are found to be negligible compared to the corresponding components of the single ω-meson exchange interaction. The tensor and spin-spin components due to πω exchange are of the same order of magnitude as the corresponding components due to single ω-exchange.
Multiple Trend Breaks and the Unit-Root Hypothesis

Ever since Nelson and Plosser (1982) found evidence in favor of the unit-root hypothesis for 13 long-term annual macro series, observed unit-root behavior has been equated with persistence in the economy. Perron (1989) questioned this interpretation, arguing instead that the “observed” behavior may indicate failure to account for structural change. Zivot and Andrews (1992) restored confidence in the unit-root hypothesis by incorporating an endogenous break point into the specification. By allowing for the possibility of two endogenous break points, we find more evidence against the unit-root hypothesis than Zivot and Andrews, but less than Perron.
Microwave optical double resonance and fluorescence spectrum of NO2 excited by the 4579 Å line of the argon-ion laser

Abstract A microwave-optical double resonance (MODR) involving the J = 21 2 ← 19 2 and J = 21 2 ← 17 2 components of the 10 0, 10 ← 9 1, 9 rotational transition of the ground vibronic state of 14 N 16 O 2 has been observed using the 4579 A Ar + laser line for excitation. By means of high resolution study of the laser excited fluorescence, the optical transition has been assigned to the J = 19 2 ← 21 2 spin component of the 9 0, 9 ← 10 0, 10 transition from the ground vibronic state to an unknown vibrational state of A 1 symmetry of the 2 B 2 electronic state.
Total nondialyzable solids in human urine. X. Isolation and characterization of nonultrafiltrable material with blood-group substance activity☆

Abstract A fraction of the nonultrafiltrable portion of the urinary total nondialyzable solids is described. Some analytical and physical properties of this material have been measured. Blood-group substance activity was potent, in terms of isohemagglutination inhibitory potency. The particle size of the fraction is much less than that of blood-group substances from other sources. The yield corresponded to about 5 mg. per 24-hr. urine.
The Microbial Origins of Obesity

The advent of advanced genomic sequencing and analytical tools has enabled the field of microbiome research to grow exponentially. One clinically relevant disease state with well-known microbiome associations is that of obesity and related metabolic disorders. In their new study, Cox et al . delve more deeply into this association with a series of mouse experiments that explore the underlying mechanisms. The authors begin with the hypothesis that even transient perturbations in the gut microbiota at the time of initial acquisition will have lasting metabolic consequences. They achieved these perturbations by using low-dose penicillin, a practice frequently used to promote growth in livestock. Here, penicillin administration to pregnant mice was started shortly before birth and continued through weaning. This resulted in greater metabolic perturbations as compared with that of penicillin treatment started weeks after birth, at the time of weaning. Treated animals, particularly those treated before birth, led to obesity-related alterations in body mass, bone mineral content, adiposity, ileal atrophy, and concomitant host gene expression changes. Moreover, alterations in the gut microbiota preceded the metabolic changes, suggesting that they may be the mechanistic link. To better define causality, the gut microbiota from penicillin-treated animals was transferred to germ-free animals. These recipients, despite no actual penicillin exposure, experienced many of the same metabolic, histologic, and gene expression changes observed in penicillin-treated animals. Another notable finding was that early antibiotic administration even of short duration led to lifelong metabolic changes despite a normalization in the gut microbiota. The authors also detailed the taxonomic composition of the microbiota, providing clues as to which among the bacterial species may play the key roles in these biological events. Although the relevance of these findings should be tempered by the mouse model used, which has shown differences compared with other mammals, the implications are potentially far-reaching. They bear relevance to the livestock industry, which routinely uses low-dose antibiotics to enhance growth at the cost of rising antibiotic resistance. Perhaps antibiotic-free strategies can be identified that alter the gut microbiota and achieve the desired effect. These findings also introduce another element of caution in the use of antibiotics perinatally. L. M. Cox et al ., Altering the intestinal microbiota during a critical developmental window has lasting metabolic consequences. Cell 158 , 705–721 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674%2814%2900821-6
Reacting to the Radical Right Lessons from Germany and Austria

This article seeks to explain the variation in the electoral success of far-right parties in Germany and Austria over the past several decades. It argues that the reaction of existing political par...
Therapeutic Techniques: Thoracostomy in the Neonate: A Blunt Discussion

As the subspecialty of neonatology developed in the 1960s, many procedures performed in newborns were miniaturized versions of the methods used in adults. It is unfortunate that, in the case of thoracostomy, this unintentional misinformation has not been totally eradicated from current neonatology literature or practice. Common sense alone indicates that the site and methods used to perform thoracostomy in a sitting adult might not be optimal for use in a supine neonate. Thoracostomy, like any invasive procedure in a newborn no matter how valuable a life-saving maneuver, is associated with a significant risk for mortality and morbidity that increases inversely with gestational age. Three aspects of thoracostomy in the newborn are key to minimizing the associated iatrogenic mortality and morbidity: anatomy, equipment, and diagnosis. The individual performing the thoracostomy must have a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the neonatal chest and of the potential impact of prematurity and maternal-fetal or neonatal disease processes upon the normal anatomy. The techniques of thoracostomy/chest aspiration are intuitive, based on a detailed knowledge of the newborn chest. Equipment should be selected for optimal safety in the newborn. If suitable equipment is not commercially available, adapted equipment should be predesignated for the purpose and immediately available. The diagnosis of fluid or air accumulation in the thoracic cavity as the cause of clinical deterioration in the newborn and the location of the accumulation should be defined prior to the procedure as accurately as time allows. The following review is restricted to the evacuation of air from the chest. Most of the principles described apply also to evacuation of fluid. (1) There are essentially three circumstances in which thoracostomy is performed in the newborn to evacuate air: 1) The infant is deteriorating so rapidly that the operator does not have sufficient time to investigate …
A utility-based performance metric for ROC analysis of N-class classification tasks

We have shown previously that an obvious generalization of the area under an ROC curve (AUC) cannot serve as a useful performance metric in classification tasks with more than two classes. We define a new performance metric, grounded in the concept of expected utility familiar from ideal observer decision theory, but which should not suffer from the issues of dimensionality and degeneracy inherent in the hypervolume under the ROC hypersurface in tasks with more than two classes. In the present work, we compare this performance metric with the traditional AUC metric in a variety of two-class tasks. Our numerical studies suggest that the behavior of the proposed performance metric is consistent with that of the AUC performance metric in a wide range of two-class classification tasks, while analytical investigation of three-class "near-guessing" observers supports our claim that the proposed performance metric is well-defined and positive in the limit as the observer's performance approaches that of the guessing observer.
The role of Probiotics in allergic diseases

Allergic disorders are very common in the pediatric age group. While the exact etiology is unclear, evidence is mounting to incriminate environmental factors and an aberrant gut microbiota with a shift of the Th1/Th2 balance towards a Th2 response. Probiotics have been shown to modulate the immune system back to a Th1 response. Several in vitro studies suggest a role for probiotics in treating allergic disorders. Human trials demonstrate a limited benefit for the use of probiotics in atopic dermatitis in a preventive as well as a therapeutic capacity. Data supporting their use in allergic rhinitis are less robust. Currently, there is no role for probiotic therapy in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Future studies will be critical in determining the exact role of probiotics in allergic disorders.
Explaining the Extent of Local Economic Development Activity: Evidence from Canadian Cities:

This paper is an attempt to explain economic development policies in Canadian cities by examining local fiscal health, intercity competition for development, the extent of professionalism in the economic development arena, and local governmental structure. Although these factors have been found to affect local economic development practices in the United States, the data presented here indicate that this is not the case in Canada. Only the amount of planning in economic development, the extent of citizen input, the presence of ward-based elections, and the extent to which decisions are left to professionals appear to influence economic development techniques practised in a city.
Domestic Violence: Credible Threats and the Use of Services as Signals

Previous work on domestic violence has focused on the woman's threat point to leave violent relationships, and the impact of variables such as income on this threat point. She has a credible threat to leave if her utility outside the relationship is at least as great as that achieved by staying. This paper considers the possibility that her threat point is known only to her, and, therefore, she may have strategic incentives to signal that she will leave when in fact she may or may not. This strategic interaction is modeled in a game-theoretic sorting model in which she may bluff and he may or may not call her bluff. Services such as police intervention, shelters, and counseling may provide her with a signaling mechanism, and the model illustrates that the use of such signals may improve her situation even if she returns to the relationship. Thus, measuring the success of services by only the number of women who leave violent relationships may underestimate their value by ignoring the benefits offered to women who stay in their relationships. This model provides a rational explanation for why many battered women use services and/or call the police only to return to their relationships after a few days or weeks. In addition, the model illustrates that the overall power of women in the economy can provide external benefits for all women, regardless of their particular situation.
Treatment outcomes in a graduate orthodontic clinic for cases defined by the American Board of Orthodontics malocclusion categories

Introduction: The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) discrepancy index (DI) quantifies the severity of a malocclusion. The ABO objective grading system (OGS) assesses the quality of orthodontic finishing. Indiana University’s comprehensive clinical assessment (CCA) supplements the OGS to provide an instrument to determine clinical outcomes. The purposes of this article were to (1) determine whether treatment outcome is related to the type of malocclusion as defined by the ABO classification, (2) determine the fraction of finished orthodontic cases in the graduate orthodontics clinic that are within the ABO standards for passing the phase III clinical examination, (3) evaluate the contribution of each component of the OGS and the CCA to the total OGS and CCA scores, (4) determine the percentage of finished cases that meet the ABO case category specifications, and (5) identify problem areas to improve the quality of treatment for challenging malocclusions. Methods: Three hundred eighty-two cases that satisfied requirements for 8 of the ABO’s malocclusion categories were selected from 989 consecutively finished cases from 1998 through 2003. They were evaluated by using the OGS, the CCA, and the DI. Results: The average OGS score was 32.64, the average CCA score was 5.62, and the average DI score was 20.94. There was no significant difference in the OGS and the CCA scores among the categories. Categories 2, 5, 7, and 8 had a DI score that was significantly higher than the average for the entire sample. The OGS and CCA scores were positively correlated with the DI score, meaning that complex malocclusions are challenging to finish well. The most points lost for the OGS and the CCA were for occlusal contacts and treatment efficiency (length of treatment relative to the result), respectively. The fewest points lost were for interproximal contacts and vertical control, respectively. Furthermore, prematurely terminated cases (early debonds) had longer treatment times and higher (worse) OGS and CCA scores. Conclusions: This study demonstrates problems in treating complex malocclusions in a graduate orthodontics program and suggests methods for increasing the quality of clinical outcomes.
Gastrointestinal Colonization with a Cephalosporinase-Producing Bacteroides Species Preserves Colonization Resistance against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus and Clostridium difficile in Cephalosporin-Treated Mice

ABSTRACT Antibiotics that are excreted into the intestinal tract may disrupt the indigenous intestinal microbiota and promote colonization by health care-associated pathogens. β-Lactam, or penicillin-type, antibiotics are among the most widely utilized antibiotics worldwide and may also adversely affect the microbiota. Many bacteria are capable, however, of producing β-lactamase enzymes that inactivate β-lactam antibiotics. We hypothesized that prior establishment of intestinal colonization with a β-lactamase-producing anaerobe might prevent these adverse effects of β-lactam antibiotics, by inactivating the portion of antibiotic that is excreted into the intestinal tract. Here, mice with a previously abolished microbiota received either oral normal saline or an oral cephalosporinase-producing strain of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron for 3 days. Mice then received 3 days of subcutaneous ceftriaxone, followed by either oral administration of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) or sacrifice and assessment of in vitro growth of epidemic and nonepidemic strains of Clostridium difficile in murine cecal contents. Stool concentrations of VRE and ceftriaxone were measured, cecal levels of C. difficile 24 h after incubation were quantified, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of microbial 16S rRNA genes was performed to evaluate the antibiotic effect on the microbiota. The results demonstrated that establishment of prior colonization with a β-lactamase-producing intestinal anaerobe inactivated intraintestinal ceftriaxone during treatment with this antibiotic, allowed recovery of the normal microbiota despite systemic ceftriaxone, and prevented overgrowth with VRE and epidemic and nonepidemic strains of C. difficile in mice. These findings describe a novel probiotic strategy to potentially prevent pathogen colonization in hospitalized patients.
Molecular and morphological evidence reveals introgression in swarms of the invasive taxa Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. xbohemica (Polygonaceae) in the United States.

Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed, Polygonaceae) is a well-known East Asian perennial that is established throughout the U.S. and Europe. Another congener, F. sachalinensis, and their hybrid, F. 3bohemica, also persist on both continents. Their invasive success is primarily attributed to their ability to spread via clonal growth. However, mounting evidence suggests invasion history and dynamics differ between continents and that sexual reproduction is more common than previously assumed. We used published morphological traits designed to distinguish the three taxa to characterize their distribution in 24 New England towns. We found continuous variation of all five traits, with 84% of our 81 individuals having at least one trait outside parental limits. Hierarchical cluster analysis, along with two chloroplast and one nuclear species-specific markers, suggests the presence of intercrossing, segregating hybrids, and likely introgression between F1 hybrids and F. japonica. Our markers also show the first evidence of bidirectional hybridization between parental taxa in the U.S., emphasizing the complex structure of populations in our region. This study is a first step toward unraveling the evolutionary forces that have made these taxa such aggressive invaders in the U.S. The data may also affect management strategies originally designed for largely monomorphic, clonal populations.
Response styles of a patient population on the fear survey schedule

Abstract The 122 Item Fear Survey was administered to 185 patients of a national sample of psychologists and psychiatrists. Psychotics and neurotics scored significantly higher on total fear responses than did a behavioral disorder population. Differences in response styles between men and women were found which indicated that women generally related their fears more easily than men. The data were factor analyzed and three factors were revealed that accounted for 90 per cent of the variance. The factors were named as follows: 1. 1. Fears related to losing status and adequacy socially; 2. 2. Fears relating to small animals; 3. 3. Fear relating to disease. Four general conclusions emerged. First, as experience suggests, there are different levels of expressed fears related to diagnostic groups. Second, women expressed all fears more readily than men. Third, general fears could be clustered in a shortened fear schedule to benefit further exploration of this area. Such a questionnaire was presented. Fourth, the nature of the fear clusters lends validity to the notion of such an instrument measurement of fear.
Rejecting “femininity”: Some research notes on gender identity development in lesbians∗

Fifteen women who identify themselves as lesbians were interviewed about their own development of gender identity. All the women involved in the study indicated a rejection of the traditional feminine role. This was often manifested before they were even aware of same‐sex attractions. However, they saw the traditional role for women as representing heterosexuality. To gain access to women, many even saw a need to achieve masculinity. Due to few or no visible lesbian role models and the rejection of the traditional female role, many, as children, chose the male role. This was reflected in: 1) taking the male role in play or fantasy, 2) being a “tomboy”, and 3) rejecting items of dress and play associated with female children. While none, as adults, still wanted to portray a male role, each still rejected traditional femininity. Thus these lesbians had to come to their own conclusions about what it meant not only to be women, but lesbians as well.
Photocatalytic Reductive Cyclizations of Enones: Divergent Reactivity of Photogenerated Radical and Radical Anion Intermediates

Photocatalytic reactions of enones using metal polypyridyl complexes proceed by very different reaction manifolds in the presence of either Lewis or Bronsted acid additives. Previous work from our lab demonstrated that photocatalytic [2 + 2] cycloadditions of enones required the presence of a Lewis acidic co-catalyst, presumably to activate the enone and stabilize the key radical anion intermediate. On the other hand, Bronsted acid activators alter this reactivity and instead promote reductive cyclization reactions of a variety of aryl and aliphatic enonesvia a neutral radical intermediate. These two distinct reactive intermediates give rise to transformations differing in the connectivity, stereochemistry, and oxidation state of their products. In addition, this reductive coupling method introduces a novel approach to the tin-free generation of β-ketoradicals that react with high diastereoselectivity and with the high functional group compatibility typical of radical cyclization reactions.
Low-temperature thin film nitride transformation reactions

This study illustrates a novel method of transforming between two refractory nitride thin films at temperatures well below their respective melting points.
Assessment of molecular imaging of angiogenesis with three-dimensional ultrasonography.

Molecular imaging (MI) with ultrasound relies on microbubble contrast agents (MCAs) adhering to a ligand-specific target for applications such as characterizing tumor angiogenesis. It is projected that ultrasonic (US) MI can provide information about tumor therapeutic response before the detection of phenotypic changes. One of the limitations of preclinical US MI is that it lacks a comprehensive field-of-view. We attempt to improve targeted MCA visualization and quantification by performing 3-D MI of tumors expressing αvβ3. Volumetric acquisitions were obtained with a Siemens Sequoia system in CPS mode by mechanically stepping the transducer elevationally across the tumor in 800 micron increments. MI was performed on rat fibrosarcoma tumors (n=8) of similar sizes using MCAs conjugated with a cyclic RGD peptide targeted to αvβ3. US MI and immunohistochemical analyses show high microbubble targeting variability, suggesting that individual 2-D acquisitions risk misrepresenting more complex heterogeneous tissues. In 2-D serial studies, where it may be challenging to image the same plane repeatedly, misalignments as small as 800 microns can introduce substantial error. 3-D MI, including volumetric analysis of inter- and intra-animal targeting, provides a thorough way of characterizing angiogenesis and will be a more robust assessment technique for the future of MI.
Met Expectations and Satisfaction with Duration A Patient-Centered Evaluation of Breastfeeding Outcomes in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II

Background:Breastfeeding expectations predict breastfeeding duration. The extent to which expectations for duration are met remains unknown.Objectives:To evaluate prospective measures of expected breastfeeding duration, changes in expectations over time, and factors associated with meeting expectations.Methods:The Infant Feeding Practices Study II followed women from late pregnancy to 1 year postpartum. Expected breastfeeding duration was assessed 5 times. Logistic regression identified factors associated with met prenatal expectations. Subgroup analysis compared met prenatal expectations to satisfaction with breastfeeding duration.Results:One-year postpartum, 34.7% of 1802 participants had met prenatal expected breastfeeding duration, and 23.9% were still breastfeeding. Fifty-eight percent of women met expectations stated at 7 months postpartum. Modifiable risk factors associated with meeting prenatal expectations included early regular breast pump use (odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]...