cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of ROPS-equipped tractors on minority operated farms in the US

BACKGROUND: Tractor overturns kill an average of 100 farmers and farm workers per year. Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) are a proven intervention, but are not on a sufficient number of tractors in the US to reduce these deaths. Little has been reported on ROPS use by racial minority farm operators. METHODS: Data from the NIOSH OISPA survey were used to assess ROPS prevalence rates from a random sample of racial minority farm operators for the year 2003, and ROPS prevalence rates from a random sample of all US farms for the year 2004. RESULTS: ROPS prevalence rates on minority farming operations follow similar patterns to ROPS prevalence rates on all US farms. A low prevalence of ROPS on farms was associated with operators over the age of 65 years, farms with small acreages, and farms operated on a part-time basis. The race of the operator had little impact on ROPS prevalence rates. CONCLUSIONS: Factors such as acreage, farm operator age, region of the US, and full- or part-time farming status influence ROPS prevalence rates on farms more than the race of the operator. Understanding how ROPS prevalence differs across these farm and farm operator characteristics has the potential to efficiently target areas for ROPS promotion programs across the US. Language: en
Origin of the Electron-Bombardment Ion Thruster

D June 1960, I operated the first broad-beam electron-bombardment ion thruster, shown in Fig. 1. Most broad-beam ion sources presently in use can be traced back to this thruster. * This includes sources used for cleaning and etching microcircuits, sputter deposition of thin films, and fusion injection, as well as the original application of space propulsion.' For propulsion, NASA is presently considering a solar-electric stage with about eight thrusters of the type shown in Fig. 2, powered by solar arrays. Because of the higher exhaust velocities obtainable with electric thrusters, much less propellant need be carried along, leaving more mass for payload. The early development of the electron-bombardment thruster was in many respects an individual matter, but, at the same time, it took place the way most modern technical developments do, within a large organization. In this case the large organization was the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. In October 1958, I resigned a first-level supervisory position in a propulsion analysis group at Lewis. I had transferred into that group from an experimental work area, also at Lewis, becoming a supervisor at the same time. But the repetitive calculation of different propulsion cycles proved to be a poor exchange for the rich interplay of theory and experiment that can take place with actual hardware. So, after much soul searching, I decided that the power and prestige of a supervisory position weren't important if I didn't enjoy the work. So, after resigning the supervisory position, I joined an experimentally oriented group at Lewis under Howard Childs. This group was working on the problem of using electrical energy to accelerate propellant mass, thereby producing thrust. Researchers had proposed such electric rockets or thrusters for many years, but in 1958, the practical application of the concept was still quite new. About mid-1959, after some small preliminary jobs, Haward Childs asked me to look at the possibility of using a duoplasmatron as an electric thruster. Thrusters were, and are, divided into electrostatic and plasma types. In the electrostatic type, ions are accelerated by the electric field between two electrodes or grids. The electrons removed in the production of ions are then added back to the ion beam after acceleration. In the plasma type, a mixture of electrons and ions called a plasma is accelerated by a combination of electric and magnetic fields, roughly similar to the way a rotor is turned in an induction electric motor. Because the electrons are never separated from the ions in a plasma thruster, there is no need to add them after acceleration to "neutralize" the
Acetazolamide but not timolol lowers aqueous humor flow in sleeping humans.

The effect of timolol, acetazolamide, and the combination of the two drugs on the rate of aqueous formation in 18 healthy human subjects was measured during the day and at night in a placebo-controlled, double-masked, randomized study. In the absence of any drugs, aqueous flow during the day was 2.61 ±0.82 (mean ± SD) μl/min and at night, 1.08±0.59, a 59 lower flow rate when compared with the daytime value (P<0.0001). When compared with these aforementioned control values, timolol alone reduced the rate of aqueous flow by 39% (P<0.0001) in awake subjects but had no statistically significant effect on the flow rate in sleeping subjects (P=0.33). Acetazolamide alone reduced aqueous flow during the day by 21% compared with the control flow rate (P=0.02) and at night by 24% below the nocturnal flow rate in the sleeping eye (P=0.04). The combination of the two drugs reduced flow during the day by an additional 13% (P=0.024) compared with the flow rate achieved by timolol alone, and by an additional 32% (P<0.0001) compared with the flow rate reduction attained by acetazolamide alone. There was no statistically significant difference in the nocturnal flow rates achieved by acetazolamide alone or in combination with timolol (P=0.37). These data confirm previous studies demonstrating the effect of timolol, acetazolamide, and sleep on the rate of aqueous humor formation. Unlike a previous study, it was found that acetazolamide lowers the aqueous flow below the already low nocturnal flow rate that occurs spontaneously in the sleeping eye. It appears that the mechanisms which mediate the effects of sleep, timolol, and acetazolamide on aqueous formation are all different and that in the case of timolol a state of wakefulness is required for a measurable effect to occur.
Sensitivity of 234Th export to physical processes in the central equatorial Pacific

Abstract We determined the sensitivity of the calculated sinking flux of 234 Th in the central equatorial Pacific to physical processes and scavenging mechanisms by imposing a meridional and vertical advection and diffusion field on a simple dissolved and particulate 234 Th cycle. We used the model to estimate the efficiency with which the 234 Th deficiency relative to 238 U reflected the predicted sinking flux of 234 Th on particles and compared our results with 234 Th data taken during the JGOFS-EqPac 1992 Survey II Cruise. 234 Th deficiencies near the equator were strongly affected by both vertical advection and horizontal diffusion. The model 234 Th deficiency at the equator underestimated the model 234 Th sinking flux by 144% in neglecting advection and diffusion in the presence of strong upwelling at the equator. The model 234 Th deficiency at the equator corrected for advection overestimated the sinking flux of 234 Th by 33% in neglecting horizontal diffusion. Analysis of the scavenging mechanism suggests that, during situations of export governed by rapidly sinking particles, 234 Th-based estimates of particle export are only half as sensitive to advection compared to situations of export governed by slowly sinking particles. Given that results using the mechanism of slowly sinking particles compare better with the observed 234 Th deficiency and calculated meridional 234 Th fluxes at the equator than the mechanism of rapidly sinking particles, we consider the mechanism of slowly sinking particle more appropriate for this region. In agreement with previous studies based on observed 234 Th gradients, this study supports the incorporation of vertical advection terms in the 234 Th balance to estimate particulate carbon export at the equator but suggests that this method may have overestimated the sinking flux at the equator during EqPac Survey II by 0–63% due to the role of horizontal diffusion.
STUDIES ON COLOMBIAN CRYPTOGAMS XXII: THE BREUTELIA SUBARCUATA COMPLEX IN COLOMBIA AND NEIGHBORING AREAS

SUMMARY In Colombia and neighboring areas there are three species of Breutelia which produce smooth or rugulose (not longitudinally plicate) capsules. These are: B. subarcuata (C. Muell.) Schimp. in Besch., B. squarrosa Jaeg. and B. rhythidioides Herz. Although all are similar in gross morphology, they can be distinguished by the areolation of the alar region of the leaves. In B. squarrosa the alar region is scarcely distinct with no more than 1–3 inflated, hyaline cells in the basal corners and with a few enlarged supraalar cells. In both B. subarcuata and B. rhythidioides the alar region is clearly distinct with 2 or more rows of enlarged cells and with the outer 1–2 rows of inflated, hyaline cells. The intramarginal alar cells in B. subarcuata are non-porose, or essentially so, while in B. rhythidioides the intramarginal alar cells are quite porose. A review of type and secondary collections shows that the three members of this complex are wide-ranging in the neotropics but apparently with the highest frequency of populations in the northern Andes. B. rhytidioides Crum is rejected as a hom. illeg.
Parental Power and Adolescents' Drinking

Questionnaire data collected from 191 adolescents indicated that maternal power was negatively associated with adolescents' drinking. Paternal power was nonsignificant. Adolescents' drinking was positively related to parents' drinking.
The Amplitude of Turbulent Shear Flow

A new formulation of the problem of the statistical stability of fully turbulent shear flow is proposed, in which one seeks mean fields that bound the observed flow from the stable side. In the spirit of maximum transport theory, this formulation admits a larger set of “flows” than are dynamically possible. A sequence of constraints derived from the equations of motion can narrow this set, permitting at each step the determination of a “most stable” field free of any empirical elements. Turbulent channel flow is proposed as the first application and test of this quantitative theory. Past deductive theories for this flow, from “mean field” to “transport upper bounds,” are assessed. It is shown why these theories do not retain the significant destabilizing mechanisms of the actual flow. The implications for turbulent flow of recent work on the nonlinear and three-dimensional instability of laminar shearing flow are described. In first exploration of the “decoupled mean” stability theory proposed here, approximate analytical and numerical stability methods are used to find an amplitude and structure for the averaged flow propoerties. The quantitative results differ by considerably less than two from the observed values, providing an incentive for a more complete numerical study and for further constraints on the admitted class of flows. In the language now current for nonlinear stability theory, evidence is advanced here that anN-dimensional central manifold is adjacent to the realized turbulent flow, whereN has the largest possible value compatible with the dynamical relations.
Tunable Surface Properties from Sequence-Specific Polypeptoid–Polystyrene Block Copolymer Thin Films

Tunability of polymer surface properties depends crucially on both the chemical composition of the polymer and the physics of the chains (e.g., surface segregation, chain shape, etc.). Polypeptoids, which are non-natural biomimetic polymers based on an N-substituted glycine backbone, provide a flexible model system in which monomer sequence, chain shape, and self-assembled structure can easily be controlled to understand their influence on surface properties. We demonstrate the influence of the amount and sequence of hydrophobic monomers in a predominantly hydrophilic peptoid chain on the surface properties of a hybrid block copolymer, poly(peptoid-b-styrene). Just three fluorinated groups in peptoid sequences consisting of up to 45 hydrophilic monomers in length were needed to lower the surface energy of the peptoid and allow for its maximal surface segregation. Positioning these fluorinated groups in the middle of a chain as opposed to the chain ends resulted in a change in chain conformation at the sur...
Backflow and density excitations in quantum fluids

By the use of the f sum rule and a separation of density excitations into single and multiple excitations, we derive exact quantum expressions for the backflow contribution to the dynamic structure function S(k, Ω) and for the discrete single-excitation spectrum Ω k . The derivation is carried out for Bose liquids, Fermi liquids, charged quantum liquids, quantum solutions, an impurity atom dissolved in quantum fluids, and phonons in solids. It is shown that the backflow arises from virtual multiexcitations and that real multiexcitations give rise to a background. It is argued that multiexcitations are relatively insensitive to long-range order or quantum statistics. Thus the backflow and background contributions to S(k, Ω) of the liquid and solid phases of 4He, and also that to S(k) of liquid 3He and of liquid 4He, are expected to be similar, which is consistent with existing data. The exact expression for Ω k , which shows that multiexcitations effectively repel the single excitations, is used to make some speculations concerning the large-wavevector phonon spectrum in liquid 3He and in 3He-4He solutions.
Electromigration and contact filling of aluminum films deposited by ion-enhanced processes

Abstract Electromigration lifetime, filling of narrow contact areas (step coverage), electrical resistivity, and composition depth profiles of aluminum thin films, typical for muelectronic device metallizations have been investigated by utilizing specimens laid down by various methods, which include the “ionized cluster beam” (ICB) technique, “self-ion enhanced physical vapor deposition” (SIEPVD) and sputtering. The increased electromigration resistance observed for ICB aluminum films is interpreted to be partially due to the presence of Al 2 O 3 in the aluminum grain boundary network and partially due to a modified film morphology. SIEPVD enables one to lay down aluminum films near room temperature into narrow contact areas which have lateral dimensions of 0.5 μm or possibly less and an aspect ratio larger than 2.5.
Parameterization of plume dispersion over water

Abstract Data collected during a continuous surface release point source tracer experiment off the California coast have been analyzed to obtain the conventional, hourly averaged sigma-y and sigma-z values widely used in Gaussian plume dispersion formulae. Analytical descriptions of the horizontal and vertical plume growth as functions of downwind travel distance have been developed. Gaseous dispersion has also been parameterized for the overwater case by classifying the tracer results by stability in a Pasquill-Gifford equivalent scheme. Several other overwater data sets have been used to validate the results developed here. Comparisons made to the overland case show that both lateral and vertical dispersion are less than overland under neutral to stable conditions.
Effects of long-range interactions on the dynamics of ions in aqueous solution

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out for a Br − ion in aqueous solution in order to establish the effect of truncation of long-range interactions on the dynamical properties of the ion. Simulations using smooth truncation of the potential at different cutoff radii were carried out and compared to results using the Ewald summation method. It is shown that when small cutoffs are applied (i.e. R c  8A), the calculations yield low ionic diffusion coefficients relative to experiment, as well as short-time dynamical behavior which is inconsistent with the Ewald calculations. As the cutoff is increased, the results approach both the Ewald and the experimental results. In contrast to the results with the truncated potential, the short-time dynamical behavior of the hydrated bromide ion obtained with the Ewald method can be described by simple Langevin dynamics.
Microstructures of emulsified polymer blends

Morphologies of solvent-cast blends of immiscible polymer pairs emulsified with block copolymers have been examined using transmission electron microscopy. The morphology of such blends is controlled by the delicate balance in the swelling of each block copolymer segment by the corresponding compatible homopolymers. By manipulating the relative swelling via changes in molecular weight and enthalpic interactions, a variety of morphologies including macrophase co-existing with microphase, and microphase alone, with structures ranging from spheres to vesicles, vesicles co-existing with worm-like microdomains, and phase-inverted networks (PIN), are observed. The morphologies of ternary blends of the type A/A-b-B/B and A/X-b-B/B can be related to the phase behavior observed in the binary A/A-b-B and A/X-b-B blends.
DEMAND MANAGEMENT: THE EVALUATION OF PRICE AND DUE DATE NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES USING SIMULATION

The research considers the problem of demand management in a firm where the firm's historical delivery service level reputation influences the number of quotation requests from its potential customers. Customers have a maximum and the firm has a minimum net price to due date tradeoff curve for each job. The demand management function bargains with the customer over price and promised due date. Bargaining finishes either with an agreed price and delivery date or with the customer refusing the firm's bid and placing the order elsewhere. The firm's objective is to maximize its long-term net revenue. The firm's demand management negotiation strategy guides this bidding process. The research demonstrates the use of simulation to test different demand management bidding and negotiation strategies for different market and firm scenarios. The demonstration uses 16 scenarios to test the different demand management negotiation strategies with a model of a classical job shop in a classical market. The investigation examines finite scheduling-based due date estimation methods, as well as the more traditional parameter-based methods. This demonstration shows that it is possible to test different bidding policies, using a simulation model of a firm and its customers, and to obtain usable results.
Dietary amino acid precursors: Effects on central monoamines, aggression, and locomotor activity in the mouse

Abstract Behavioral and brain neurochemical changes were assessed in mice maintained on amino acid supplemented 12% protein diets for two and six weeks. Addition of 1,2, or 4% L-phenylalanine increased aggression but only the 1% supplement increased locomotion. Addition of 0.25 or 0.5% L-tryptophan of the basal diet also increased aggression. All behavioral effects were noted after two weeks but not after six weeks on the diets, suggesting the development of behavioral tolerance. All groups of mice gained the same amount of weight on the various diets over a seven-week period and no ill effects were observed. Mice on 16% protein diets displayed only marginal differences in brain concentrations of phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Brain concentrations of tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan were significantly reduced in animals receiving supplements of leucine for two and six weeks. L-phenylalamine supplementation caused marked increases in brain phenylalanine and tyrosine concentrations after two and six weeks. Changes in brain dopamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid also were noted. Supplements of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0% L-tryptophan increased brain indoles, and these changes also appeared to be sustained over the six-week period.
Emerging non-transplant-based strategies in treating pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Lymphomas represent the third most common cancer in children and adolescents. The non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors, with distinct clinical and pathologic features. Although intensive multi-agent chemotherapy has made non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma one of the most curable malignancies in children and young adults, there is room for improvement in treatment, particularly for those with advanced-stage disease and those who relapse after conventional therapy. New approaches are now attempting to reduce the burden of treatment, to focus on novel and more specific biologic targets, and to improve outcomes for patients with advanced-stage disease while reducing the potential for late effects. A comprehensive review of all potential agents is beyond the scope of this review, which will focus on some of the newer strategies for treating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that are coming into clinical use today.
House staff work hours and moonlighting : what do residents want ? A survey of pediatric residents in California

• In the autumn of 1988, pediatric residents were surveyed on attitudes toward work hours, moonlighting, and priorities in regulation of working conditions. Questionnaires for all 756 California residents in accredited pediatric programs were sent to chief residents. Of these, 676 questionnaires were distributed to residents and 319 (47%) were returned. Respondents indicated strong support for limits on house staff working hours, and most approved of the reduction regulations proposed in New York State. Most believed that individual departments, hospitals, or subspecialties should regulate hours. By a ratio of 4.3:1, however, respondents favored legislative intervention if such limits were not set by the profession. Moonlighting was generally considered to be an individual's choice and responsibility, but a majority were willing to restrict moonlighting if total house staff hours were also limited. ( AJDC . 1991;145:1104-1108)
Radiative Divertor Modelling for ITER and TPX

The B2.5 code for two-dimensional multi-species fluid modelling of the tokamak edge plasma is described and is applied for a parameter study of the effect of impurity seeding in ITER and TPX. Our modelling indicates that ITER must operate at an edge density of about 6.0 x 10 19 /m 3 and the extended performance TPX must operate at an edge density of about 5.0 x10 19 /m 3 in order to obtain a robust divertor solution based on impurity radiation from the edge plasma only at neon concentration below 0.6% or argon concentration below 0.4%. For both devices, a high-recycling divertor solution relying on impurity radiation from core and edge together appears very credible.
Some observations on the substructure lattice of a Δ1 ultrapower

Given a (nontrivial) Δ1 ultrapower ℱ/, let ℒU denote the set of all Π2-correct substructures of ℱ/; i.e., ℒU is the collection of all those subsets of |ℱ/| that are closed under computable (in the sense of ℱ/) functions. Defining in the obvious way the lattice ℒ(ℱ/)) with domain ℒU, we obtain some preliminary results about lattice embeddings into – or realization as – an ℒ(ℱ/). The basis for these results, as far as we take the matter, consists of (1) the well-known class of (non-trivial) minimal ℱ/'s, which function as atoms, and (2) the class of minimalfree ℱ/'s, to whose nonemptiness a substantial section of the paper is devoted. It is shown that an infinite, convergent monotone sequence together with its limit point is embeddable in an ℒ(ℱ/), and that the initial segment lattices {0, 1,…, n } are not just embeddable in (as is trivial), but in fact realizable as, lattices ℒ(ℱ/). Finally, the diamond is (easily) embeddable; and if it is not realizable, then either the 1 - 3 - 1 lattice or the pentagon is at least embeddable (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
SCALING OF THE POINT-POINT CORRELATION FUNCTION OF DLA

The scaling of the point-point correlation function of DLA has shown itself to be more complex and challenging than had at first been imagined. This paper determines from the results of previous studies that a more general scaling rule must be applied, at least robust enough to allow different moments of the point-point correlation function to scale non-trivially, and for the scale length to scale non-trivially. In this sense, it is seen that the scaling problem is analogous to that of multifractal scaling. The authors present a group-theoretic derivation of the most general scaling transformations possible, and show that it is adequately robust to explain the non-trivial scaling observed in the moments of the point-point correlation function.
Prise en charge des syndromes coronariens aigus avec sus-décalage du segment ST en Vendée en 2008 : étude observationnelle descriptive

Resume But de l’etude Evaluer la prise en charge des patients presentant un syndrome coronarien aigu avec sus-decalage du segment ST en Vendee. Patients et methode Etude prospective observationnelle menee sur toute l’annee 2008. Les patients inclus presentaient un infarctus du myocarde depuis moins de 24 heures etaient vivants a l’arrivee des secours, et etaient pris en charge par le SMUR, les urgences ou la cardiologie de l’hopital de La Roche-sur-Yon. Resultats Deux cent dix-sept patients ont ete inclus, 163 hommes et 54 femmes, d’âge moyen 65 ans. Cinquante-six pour cent des patients ont appele initialement le Samu, dont la moitie dans l’heure apres le debut des signes. Ils ont beneficie de l’envoi d’un SMUR pour 72 % des cas. Vingt-six pour cent ont consulte initialement un medecin liberal et un tiers d’entre eux ont ete rediriges vers le Samu. Trente pour cent des patients ont suivi la filiere ideale : succession douleur thoracique, appel Samu, prise en charge SMUR, angioplastie ou fibrinolyse. Le delai moyen separant l’electrocardiogramme du traitement fibrinolytique est de 36 minutes, ou de l’arrivee en salle de coronarographie de 105 minutes. Le ballonnet est gonfle 42 minutes apres. Quatre-vingt-six pour cent des patients pris en charge a la phase aigue ont beneficie d’une strategie de reperfusion : angioplastie primaire (63 %) ou fibrinolyse (21 %). Quatre-vingt-dix pour cent des revascularisations ont ete des succes. Conclusion Dans le cas des douleurs thoraciques, le Samu est sous-utilise. Le nombre de patients revascularises est satisfaisant, mais les delais de prise en charge sont trop longs, surtout quand le traitement est l’angioplastie.
The Human Condition

Book reviewed in this article: The Chosen Primate: Human Nature and Cultural Diversity. Adam Kuper.
Metatechnology: A technollogy for the safe, effective, and economical use of technology

Alarmed by Three Mile Island, Love Canal, and other disastrous deployments of new technologies, the public is demanding more voice in the decision-making on technology. To make this possible, it is proposed that metatechnology be evolved that will provide a practical technology for the safe, effective, and economical use of technology. A case history of a specific metatechnology is presented. Here the metatechnology enabled a realistic balancing of the benefits of mass screening of women by mammography against the hazards from the X-rays. By showing that the screening of women under 50 was counterproductive, this metatechnology helped to ban such screening in a program involving a quarter of a million women. The strategic mistake in setting up this and other technological programs was that the decisions were made by the technologists. They benefited the technologists but were not beneficial to the women. One of the potentials of metatechnology is that in its fully computerized versions it could be used directly by the public for decision-making on the deployment of technologies.
An 80-Year-Old Woman With Left-Sided Headache and Diplopia

An 80-year-old white woman with a history of hyperthyroidism treated with radioactive iodine ablation, gastroesophageal reflux disease complicated by Barrett esophagus, osteoarthritis, breast cancer status post-bilateral mastectomy, and diverticulosis presented with severe left-sided headache and diplopia. Three weeks prior to presentation, she developed a sharp pain located over the left temporal, parietal, and occipital regions. It was associated with exquisite scalp tenderness. Over the next few days, the pain progressed, involving the left side of the face, including the periorbital region. There was no radiation of the pain, and she had little relief with over-the-counter acetaminophen. She also experienced earache, sore throat, and left jaw pain with mastication. The patient saw a dentist for these symptoms, and she was diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder. She was prescribed a mouth guard; however, despite its use, her symptoms progressed to a point where she was unable to open her mouth at times, and her jaw felt swollen. Diplopia started 4 days prior to presentation. She experienced this intermittently for 24 hours before it became constant. She saw an ophthalmologist who diagnosed her with a right eye abduction deficit presumed to be a cranial nerve 6 (CN6) palsy. The patient then went to the emergency department for further evaluation. Review of systems was notable for fatigue, recent 10-pound weight loss, and intermittent myalgias, but there were no fevers, chills, dizziness, dysphagia, dysarthria, weakness, or numbness. Family history included coronary artery disease, diabetes, and various cancers. She was a 40-pack-year smoker, but quit 12 years ago. Her general physical examination was only notable for a blood pressure of 164/77 mm Hg. Neurological examination was notable for the inability to fully abduct the right eye. Fundoscopic examination was negative for papilledema. Strength was 5/5 throughout with normal tone. Serum laboratory analysis showed mild leukocytosis (12 200/mm3), normocytic anemia (hematocrit of 32.9% and mean corpuscular volume of 80.6 fL compared to hematocrit 40.2% 2 months prior), and thrombocytosis (675 000/mm3). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 76 mm/h (reference range 0-30) and C-reactive protein (CRP) was 73.65 mg/L (reference range 0.30-8.00). A lumbar puncture (LP) was performed with a normal opening pressure of 15 cm H2O. The white blood cell count was 1 in tube 1 and 2 in tube 4. The red blood cell count was 9 in tube 1 and 1 in tube 4. The glucose was slightly elevated at 79 mg/dL (reference range 40-70), and the protein was normal at 41 mg/dL. The viral and bacterial studies of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and orbits with and without contrast was unremarkable except for moderate supratentorial white matter changes. Magnetic resonance angiogram of the head and neck with and without contrast was normal.
General psychiatry, primary care, and medical primacy

Abstract Nonmedical psychotherapists are able to present themselves to the public as psychiatrist-equivalents, except for prescribing drugs, because psychiatrists have neglected to emphasize the nature of medical responsibility, here called “medical primacy.” Psychiatric identification with the psychoanalytic and public relations models is criticized. Three cases are presented to illustrate the functioning of the general psychiatrist as a primary care specialist. It is acknowledged that all psychiatrists may not be attracted to this role, which intersects certain transference and countertransference vectors.
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials and pain assessment in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study is to quantify, by means of pain-related Somatosensory Evoked Potentials, the pain experience in subjects with Alzheimer's disease and to compare their psychophysiological response with that of persons without dementia. Subjects Twenty-seven subjects of both sexes, aged over 65 years and residing at the nursing home of Padua, participated: 10 subjects with probable mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and 17 without dementia. Methods We measured the threshold values of thermal, mechanical and electrical pain and then we recorded the Somatosensory Evoked Potentials elicited by painful and non-painful electrical stimuli. Three components evoked by pain were analyzed: P100 and N150, which reflect discriminative/sensory processing, and P260, which reflects cognitive and emotional processing. Results There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to three pain thresholds, as well as to P100 and N150 amplitudes. Although present in the Alzheimer's disease group, P260 was significantly lower even respect to that in subjects without dementia. Discussion Alzheimer's disease patients retain a stimuli perception and detection capacity comparable to that in similarly aged subjects without dementia while, although present, the cognitive and emotional response to pain seems to be reduced. Conclusion The difficulties in the cognitive and affective elaboration of pain and the patients’ inability to communicate, prevent people/persons with AD to be adequately treated at a pharmacological level. Therefore, the priority is to identify all the nonverbal behaviour through which people with dementia communicate to the outside their pain, so you can act quickly.
Adaptive joint transform correlator for real-time colour pattern recognition

Abstract Colour liquid crystal televisions (LCTVs) can be used to perform real-time multi-channel joint transform correlation capable of discriminating between different colours and different shapes. In the future this optical system may be combined with a digital knowledge-based inference processor. Preliminary optical experimental results are presented, which demonstrate how such a system would work.
Potentiometric and UV–Vis Spectroscopy Studies of Citrate with the Hexaquo Fe3 + and Cr3 + Metal Ions

We are reporting the interaction and behavior of citrate with the hexaqo Fe(NO3)3, and Cr(NO3)3 (Fe3 + and Cr3 + will be used as shorthand notation for the two metal ions) using ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The identity of the proposed metal complexes was confirmed by using the potentiometric titration technique. With the Fe3 +/citric acid system, it appeared that the simple 1:1 complex and the bis‐complex predominate. From the UV–Vis we observed the presence of two isosbestic points, one at 320 nm above the physiological pH, and another at 350 nm in the acidic pH range of 2.10 to 3.73. The appearance of an isosbestic point at 350 nm in the acidic region is novel. These isosbestic points indicate the presence of major species at a certain pH range. In contrast to the Fe3 +/citrate system, the Cr3 +/citrate systems showed no isosbestic points. To our surprise, it appeared that the Cr3 +/citric acid system and the Cr3 +/sodium citrate system had different UV–Vis patterns. The perturbation ...
Ongoing Labor Relations A Quasi-Experimental Approach

This article summarily reviews initial results of a twelve-month period oflaborrelations at a southeastern manufacturing plant. It presents the contention of the author that grievances occur with statistically predictable frequency in a normal labor relations environ ment. Once that frequency is established, very simple quantitative methods can provide management with important data relative to current and short-run future labor relations, as well as providing a useful tool in the evaluation of the efficacy of management's actions after particular interactions with a union.
Arachidonic acid maldistribution in obesity

Arachidonic acid is an important regulator of cellular function via its effects on the physical properties of membranes, in its free form, or as a substrate for eicosanoids. Dietary studies indicate that its production is regulated, but the mechanisms of this regulation and factors influencing arachidonate distribution from the site of production remain to be determined. In particular, whether there is a nonoxidative fate for arachidonate once it has been released from phospholipid has yet to be determined. Variations in the arachidonate content of serum, liver, and muscle lipid fractions have been correlated with alterations in lipogenesis and insulin action, implying a role for arachidonate in fuel partitioning. Evidence for this mechanism acting systemically has been found in genetic models of obesity in rodents and also in humans. This review proposes that variation in the distribution of arachidonate between phospholipid and cholesteryl ester fractions participates in the abnormal fuel partitioning associated with some forms of genetic obesity.
Eutrophic overgrowth in the self-organization of tropical wetlands illustrated with a study of swine wastes in rainforest plots

The relationship of plant species diversity to cultural eutrophy in tropical wetlands was studied in Puerto Rico with experimental plots, a survey of 25 eutrophic sites developing from the wastes of society, and a simulation mini-model. The model is a quantitative hypothesis which contains the mechanisms to maximize empower (gross production) by reinforcing low diversity, net production overgrowth when resources are in excess, but switches to high diversity efficiency and recycle to maximize gross production when excess resources are absent. To study self-organization with eutrophy, six wetland plots (32 m) were seeded with many plant species and treated for five months with pig wastewaters and control plots with groundwater. Vegetation was seeded: (1) with seed bank; (2) with ten species of local rainforest and wetland trees (60 individuals in each plot); and (3) with weedy species invading from fertile surroundings. The fertilized waste plots filled in with vegetation in less than half the time (9 weeks) required for the clear water control plots (21 weeks). Vegetative diversity in both waste and control plots was maximum (2.73‐3.34 bits per individual) shortly before 100% cover was reached, and then declined with the competitive overgrowth of a few species (mixed grasses and Commelina diffusa). Of the planted seedlings, there was little growth, and individuals of only four species survived. Survival of Andira inermis and Cyrilla racemiflora was 42 and 53%, respectively. Dominants of oligotrophic wetlands (Pterocarpus officinalis and Prestoea montana) were displaced. A survey of 25 other wetland sites, receiving high nutrient waters from developments, found low diversity overgrowth, but different species prevailing. Eighty-five species were involved in wetland self-organizational processes and ecological engineering management. Eutrophic wetlands, such as those released from sugar cane closure in Puerto Rico and elsewhere, may be in a state of marshy, arrested succession because there may not be a forest species already adapted for rapid reforestation of the excess nutrient habitat. The study provides evidence of the overgrowth principle as the natural means for ecological engineering of eutrophic interfaces between the current civilization and environment. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Morphological bounds on nonlinear filters

In this paper, we present a general theory on the morphological bounds of nonlinear filters. Conditions for the existence of various morphological bounds on nonlinear filters are proposed. Several fundamental morphological bounds on nonlinear filters are derived. Extensions of morphological bounds on the iterations of a nonlinear filter are also derived. Criteria for a root of a nonlinear filter are derived. Finally, conditions for the convergence of the iteration of a nonlinear filter are proposed.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A mixed min-max control problem with state restrictions I

Abstract We consider a mixed min-max problem with state restrictions using relaxed controls. A mixed min-max problem without state constraints has been considered using Dubovitskii and Milyutin theory and convex analysis [1]. Here, we use relaxed controls to reformulate the problem and then use penalization to deal with the various restrictions. The method used to deal with the state constraints is based on a method we previously used [2].
The teaching of surgical judgment

Abstract Sound surgical judgment is based upon knowledge, reasoning, individualization, conscience, the doing of no harm, disciplined courage, repentance, and empathy. It can be taught by encouraging the resident to evaluate himself frequently on the basis of these qualities, but the teacher can contribute most effectively by demonstration as well.
Informal Work in Latin America: Competing Perspectives and Recent Debates

During the ‘lost decade’ of the 1980s, informal work and self-employment emerged as the most prevalent forms of work throughout Latin America. In response to the economic crisis, the majority of Latin American countries adopted a series of sweeping neoliberal reforms designed to open nations to trade and investment, promote export-led growth, and generate employment, ultimately reducing the incidence of informal work. Despite the widespread adherence to the neoliberal model and implementation of structural adjustment reforms during the past quarter century, informal work has not diminished and in much of Latin America the odds of finding ‘decent work’ are no better today than during the economic crisis of the 1980s. In light of this seeming paradox, this article offers an overview of the recent debates and controversies surrounding informal work in Latin America. Drawing on recent research, as well as reports and policy documents from key international organizations, I pose and attempt to answer four core questions: What counts as informal work? Who works informally in Latin America? Why do men and women throughout Latin America increasingly resort to informal work? What role does informal work play as a livelihood strategy in Latin America and how has this role changed in recent years?
A laser-programmable multichip module on silicon

A laser-programmable substrate for multichip modules comprises a silicon substrate with a dense, predefined array of pads, tracks and links. A pattern of wiring connecting some of the pads is formed with a laser. Integrated circuit chips are mounted on the substrate, and the chip pads are wire-bonded to the substrate pads. East-west tracks are on the second level of metal, and north-south tracks on the first level. Power, ground, and signals share the tracks on the two metal layers. There is an array of 258-by-258 pads on a 200- mu m pitch, and there are three signal tracks, one power track, and one ground track between any two adjacent pads. Links consist of a silicon nitride layer sandwiched between the two metal layers. When a laser pulse of the correct power and duration is directed to the link region, the metal and nitride fuse to form a conductive vertical path, with a resistance typically two ohms. >
Deferoxamine reduces and nitric oxide synthase inhibition increases neutrophil-mediated myotube injury.

We tested the contribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and the β2 integrin CD18 to neutrophil-mediated myotube injury. Human myotubes were cultured with human neutrophils in the presence or absence of inhibitors directed against ROS, RNS, and CD18. Muscle injury was assessed by a 51Cr release assay. The inclusion of superoxide dismutase (50–500 U/ml) in the culture medium did not affect myotube injury. A significant protective effect was provided by including catalase (600–2400 U/ml), deferoxamine (1–2 mM), or anti-CD18 antibody (10 μg/ml) in the culture medium. S-Ethylisothiourea (500–1000 μM), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), significantly increased myotube injury and reduced nitric oxide (NO) in cultures consisting of only myotubes. In conclusion, neutrophil-mediated skeletal muscle injury appears to be largely dependent on CD18-mediated neutrophil adhesion and iron-dependent hydroxyl radical production. In addition, skeletal muscle NOS activity may protect skeletal muscle against the injury caused by neutrophils.
MEMS acoustic sensors for totally implantable hearing aid systems

There is a need for high quality implant microphone for existing semi-implantable hearing aid systems, including cochlear systems and middle ear semi-implant systems. A totally implant hearing aids system integrating implant microphone, interface electronics, speech processor, stimulator, and cochlear electrodes, can overcome the discomfort, inconvenient, and social stigma associate with the conventional and semi-implantable hearing aids. This paper presents the results of four years in vitro study to use micro-chip acoustic sensors, serving as implant microphones, to directly sense the umbo acoustic vibration and convert it into high quality sound signal at the output. Umbo vibration characteristics were extracted from literatures and laboratory data. A PZT vibration source was built to simulate the umbo receiving 40 to 100 dB SPL sound input. A laboratory model using commercial electrets- microphone as the sensor was studied in laboratory and on several temporal bones. Near flat frequency response from 250 to 8000Hz was measured with minimum detectable signal about 65 dB SPL at 1 kHz, limited by the sensitivity of the microphone and amplifier noise. From these results, an MEMS acoustic displacement sensor chip was designed and fabricated to increase the sensitivity and to provide an easy mounting method on umbo. The prototype device can detect 40 dB SPL sound in 1-2 kHz region, assuming 100Hz channel bandwidth. Test results on temporal bones are being cumulated and was presented.
The effects of cognitive impairment on nursing home residents' emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

Abstract Background Little is known about the relationship of cognitive impairment (CI) in nursing home (NH) residents and their use of emergency department (ED) and subsequent hospital services. Methods We analyzed 2006 Medicare claims and resident assessment data for 112,412 Medicare beneficiaries aged >65 years residing in US nursing facilities. We estimated the effect of resident characteristics and severity of CI on rates of total ED visits per year, then estimated the odds of hospitalization after ED evaluation. Results Mild CI predicted higher rates of ED visits relative to no CI, and ED visit rates decreased as severity of CI increased. In unadjusted models, mild CI and very severe CI predicted higher odds of hospitalization after ED evaluation; however, after adjusting for other factors, severity of CI was not significant. Conclusions Higher rates of ED visits among those with mild CI may represent a unique marker in the presentation of acute illness and warrant further investigation.
Apigenin, a non-mutagenic dietary flavonoid, suppresses lupus by inhibiting autoantigen presentation for expansion of autoreactive Th1 and Th17 cells

Introduction Lupus patients need alternatives to steroids and cytotoxic drugs. We recently found that apigenin, a nonmutagenic dietary flavonoid, can sensitize recurrently activated, normal human T cells to apoptosis by inhibiting nuclear factorkappa-B (NF-B)-regulated Bcl-xL, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) expression. Because sustained immune activation and hyperexpression of COX-2 and c-FLIP contribute to lupus, we treated SNF1 mice that spontaneously develop human lupus-like disease with apigenin. Methods SNF1 mice with established lupus-like disease were injected with 20 mg/kg of apigenin daily and then monitored for development of severe nephritis. Histopathologic changes in kidneys, IgG autoantibodies to nuclear autoantigens in serum and in cultures of splenocytes, along with nucleosome-specific T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 responses, COX-2 expression, and apoptosis of lupus immune cells were analyzed after apigenin treatment. Results Apigenin in culture suppressed responses of Th1 and Th17 cells to major lupus autoantigen (nucleosomes) up to 98% and 92%, respectively, and inhibited the ability of lupus B cells to produce IgG class-switched anti-nuclear autoantibodies helped by these Th cells in presence of nucleosomes by up to 82%. Apigenin therapy of SNF1 mice with established lupus suppressed serum levels of pathogenic autoantibodies to nuclear antigens up to 97% and markedly delayed development of severe glomerulonephritis. Apigenin downregulated COX-2 expression in lupus T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and caused their apoptosis. Autoantigen presentation and Th17-inducing cytokine production by dendritic cells were more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of apigenin in culture, as evident at 0.3 to 3 M, compared with concentrations (10 to 100 M) required for inducing apoptosis.