cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An introduction to antibiotic-free techniques to eliminate Staphylococcus aureus from blood

Here, we describe the implementation of three techniques for capturing and killing Staphylococcus aureus in blood in vitro inside a medical tube. The first technique involves capturing and removing pathogens using antibodies that are coated, via a simple chemical process, on the inner walls of a modified medical tube (tube capturing technique). In the second technique, a photosensitizer-antibody conjugate adheres to the pathogens while in circulation. When blood flows through the same kind of tube, the conjugate is activated by near-infrared (NIR) light to kill pathogens (photodynamic therapy technique). For the third technique, pathogens are exposed to light in the ultraviolet (UV) range while circulating through a similar tube (UV technique), which kills the pathogens. We spiked blood with S. aureus, starting with about 107 CFU/mL and ending at 108 CFU/mL after 5 hours. While the spiked bacteria rapidly grew in nutrition-rich whole blood, each of the three techniques were able to independently remove between 61% and 84% more S. aureus in the experimental blood sample compared to the controls groups. When combined, these techniques demonstrated a removal rate between 87% and 92%.
The nuclear ‘balance of terror’ in Europe

Behind the continent's peaceful facade is a stockpile of 10,000 atomic warheads—and they are there to be used; the exercising of the ‘deterrent’ would mean the death of millions
Preliminary Evidence on Film Production and State Incentives

This study examines whether state movie production incentives are effective in attracting and/or retaining movie production. The issue is of significant policy interest because of the large amounts...
An Extreme Learning Machine Approach to Density Estimation Problems

In this paper, we discuss how the extreme learning machine (ELM) framework can be effectively employed in the unsupervised context of multivariate density estimation. In particular, two algorithms are introduced, one for the estimation of the cumulative distribution function underlying the observed data, and one for the estimation of the probability density function. The algorithms rely on the concept of ${F}$ -discrepancy, which is closely related to the Kolmogorov–Smirnov criterion for goodness of fit. Both methods retain the key feature of the ELM of providing the solution through random assignment of the hidden feature map and a very light computational burden. A theoretical analysis is provided, discussing convergence under proper hypotheses on the chosen activation functions. Simulation tests show how ELMs can be successfully employed in the density estimation framework, as a possible alternative to other standard methods.
The mirage of the metropolis: city imaging in the age of digital chorography

Even as cities evolved geographically, the basis of city imaging (as codified by Kevin Lynch) remained relatively stable for over half a century. More recently, digitally driven transformations in urban life challenge the continued relevance of established city-imaging paradigms. Although digital navigation and mapping devices are readily at hand to neutralize any disorienting predicaments, the ability to image cognitively the wider urban environment remains integral to the construction of a meaningful sense of place. Towards the objective of reconciling city imaging with the place-making challenges of the contemporary metropolis, this paper explores the potential for innovating modes of urban mapping and representation. Specifically, the digital re-envisioning of the historical mapping practice of ‘chorography’ is positioned within Fredric Jameson’s challenge for a new aesthetic of cognitive mapping that enables the situational representation of the individual within the vaster totality. In doing so, the paper contributes to the wider adaptation of urban discourse to digitally propelled shifts in urban life.
Screening of duplicated loci reveals hidden divergence patterns in a complex salmonid genome.

A whole genome duplication (WGD) doubles the entire genomic content of a species and is thought to have catalyzed adaptive radiation in some polyploid-origin lineages. However, little is known about general consequences of a WGD since gene duplicates (i.e. paralogs) are commonly filtered in genomic studies; such filtering may remove substantial portions of the genome in data sets from polyploid-origin species. We demonstrate a new method that enables genome-wide scans for signatures of selection at both non-duplicated and duplicated loci by taking locus-specific copy number into account. We apply this method to RAD sequence data from different ecotypes of a polyploid-origin salmonid (Oncorhynchus nerka) and reveal signatures of divergent selection that would have been missed if duplicated loci were filtered. We also find conserved signatures of elevated divergence at pairs of homeologous chromosomes with residual tetrasomic inheritance suggesting that joint evolution of some non-diverged gene duplicates may affect the adaptive potential of these genes. These findings illustrate that including duplicated loci in genomic analyses enables novel insights into the evolutionary consequences of WGDs and local segmental gene duplications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Optimizing somatic genomic reporting and physician interpretation with web-based, interactive technologies.

1517Background: The increased availability of tumor genomic profiling is revolutionizing oncology. However, the promise of precision care will not be realized if providers misinterpret complex geno...
Facilitating adoption of an interactive e-textbook among university students in a large, introductory biology course

E-textbooks are more prevalent in college courses, but much recent research still shows that students prefer paper textbooks and have difficulty regulating their learning with digital course materials. Still, college instructors—especially in lower-division STEM courses—often adopt digital course materials with e-textbooks that include a variety of metacognitive supports that students may not use. The purpose of this study was to test whether an intervention that drew upon the principles of the Technology Acceptance Model could facilitate better adoption of an interactive e-textbook in a large, introductory biology course. Participants included 239 undergraduate students from laboratory sections that were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The treatment group viewed a video detailing the most beneficial ways to interact with an e-textbook. A pre- and post-test were administered to the participants in both groups. The treatment group had higher overall satisfaction, on average, with the e-textbook than the control group but did not report using the interactive tools more often. The implications for instruction with digital course materials are discussed.
The Role of an Indigenous Nations Library Program and the Advancement of Indigenous Knowledge

The Indigenous Nations Library Program (INLP) at the University of New Mexico is entering its twelfth year of program history and developing a unique venture into Indigenous librarianship. Rather t...
An efficient approach for load-shared and fault-tolerant multicore shared tree multicasting

Multicasting can be done in two different ways: source based tree approach and shared tree approach. Shared tree approach is preferred over source-based tree approach because in the later construction of minimum cost tree per source is needed unlike a single shared tree in the former approach. However, in shared tree approach a single core needs to handle the entire traffic load resulting in degraded multicast performance. Besides, it also suffers from ‘single point failure’. In this paper, novel and efficient schemes for load shared multicore multicasting are presented. Multiple cores are selected statically, that is, independent of any existing multicast groups and also the selection process is independent of any underlying unicast protocol. Some of the selected cores can be used for fault-tolerant purpose also to guard against any possible core failures.
Predicting long-term urban growth in Beijing (China) with new factors and constraints of environmental change under integrated stochastic and fuzzy uncertainties

Numerous studies related to the simulation and prediction of urban growth to address land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes have been conducted in recent years, but very few have considered the impact of climate change, flooding impact, government relocation, corridor cities, and long-term rainfall variations simultaneously. To bridge the gap, this study predicts possible future LULC changes for 2030 and 2050 in Beijing (China), since Beijing is one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world. The proposed integrated modeling analysis covers four key scenarios to reflect the influences of different factors and constraints on LULC changes, in which cellular automata, Markov chain, and multi-criteria evaluation are fully coupled. While fuzzy membership function was used to address the uncertainty associated with the decision analysis, Markov chain, which is regarded as a stochastic process, was applied to predict future urban growth pathways. In addition, a statistical downscaling model driven by possible climate change scenarios was employed to address long-term rainfall variations in Beijing, China. This study differs from previous ones for Beijing in terms of not only the effects of climate change and flooding impact but also the newly-developed economic free trade zone in Xiong’an and the central government’s plan to relocate to the Tongzhou district. Findings indicate that there is no marked difference in LULC over the four key scenarios. Compared to the baseline LULC in 2010, the predicted results indicate that urban expansion is expected to increase more than 6 and 11% in 2030 and 2050, respectively.
Does Cosmology Imply the Plausibility of Establishing a World Government

In the last century, the evolution of mankind has reached its peak. Our species landed on the moon, put a plan to colonize Mars, and used technology to genetically engineer their potential newborns. As social scientists, we are also impressed by the ability of diverse societies to form a union. The phenomenon of unification has emerged in different continents spanning the model of Federalism, the UN model, and the European Union. However, the complexity of the indefinite human variables in the society makes law harder than rocket science and unifying different cultures harder than colonizing Mars. Throughout history, many philosophers, legal scholars, and economists have sought the possibility of establishing a world government or state. A super state that will rule over planet earth and prevent wars to achieve the dream of perpetual peace. Both the advocates and critics of the world government have adopted an array of contradicting ideologies from Anarchism and Liberalism to Nazism and Communism in order to justify their positions. Glen T. Martin had adopted a more creative approach, he intriguingly argued for establishing a world government by relying on the evolution that took place in our understanding of the universe. In this short paper, I will assess Glen Martin's arguments on one hand and will analyze the idea of a world government from a Cosmological perspective on the other.
Complement Component 3 Negatively Regulates Antibody Response by Modulation of Red Blood Cell Antigen

Red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization can make it difficult to procure compatible RBCs for future transfusion, directly leading to increased morbidity and mortality in transfusion-dependent patients. However, the factors that regulate RBC alloimmunization remain incompletely understood. As complement has been shown to serve as a key adjuvant in the development of antibody (Ab) responses against microbes, we examined the impact of complement on RBC alloimmunization. In contrast to the impact of complement component 3 (C3) in the development of an immune response following microbial exposure, transfusion of C3 knockout (C3 KO) recipients with RBCs expressing KEL (KEL RBCs) actually resulted in an enhanced anti-KEL Ab response. The impact of C3 appeared to be specific to KEL, as transfusion of RBCs bearing another model antigen, the chimeric HOD antigen (hen egg lysozyme, ovalbumin and Duffy), into C3 KO recipients failed to result in a similar increase in Ab formation. KEL RBCs experienced enhanced C3 deposition and loss of detectable target antigen over time when compared to HOD RBCs, suggesting that C3 may inhibit Ab formation by impacting the accessibility of the target KEL antigen. Loss of detectable KEL on the RBC surface did not reflect antigen masking by C3, but instead appeared to result from actual removal of the KEL antigen, as western blot analysis demonstrated complete loss of detectable KEL protein. Consistent with this, exposure of wild-type B6 or C3 KO recipients to KEL RBCs with reduced levels of detectable KEL antigen resulted in a significantly reduced anti-KEL Ab response. These results suggest that C3 possesses a unique ability to actually suppress Ab formation following transfusion by reducing the availability of the target antigen on the RBC surface.
Species Differences in Renal Structure and Function — Applications to Nephrotoxicity in Man

A classical example of how physiologists can take advantage of a specific renal adaptation is that of E.K. Marshall Jr. and the aglomerular goose fish (26). Marshall had shown that dog renal tubules accumulate the dye phenol red even when glomerular filtration was stopped by lowering the blood pressure. However, due to the belief held by most physiologists in the theory proposed by Cuhsny (that tubular secretion did not exist), the proofs presented by Marshall were not accepted. Then Marshall found from the literature that some fishes have renal tubules without glomeruli and therefore must form urine entirely by secretion. He came to Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in the summer of 1926 to work with the goose fish Lophius piscatorius. The work proved that not only is phenol red secreted by the renal tubules of the goose fish, but also a number of organic acids and bases as well as fluid and electrolytes (27). Wher these results were presented by Marshall his staunch opponent A.N. Richards was overheard saying: “at last Marshall has found one animal that fits his theories” (26).
Preparation and some properties of rat skeletal-muscle polyribosomes

1. A method is described for the sucrose-gradient sedimentation analysis of ribosomes in a post-mitochondrial supernatant of rat skeletal muscle. 2. An essential feature of the method involves the use of buffer of ionic strength 0·3 for homogenization of the muscle tissue. 3. Polyribosomes can be prepared by precipitation from post-mitochondrial supernatant of skeletal muscle by adjustment of the potassium chloride content of the medium. These polyribosomes stimulate cell-free amino acid incorporation in vitro in an energy-dependent system. 4. Ribosome aggregates of uniform size distribution can be obtained by adjustment of the ionic strength of the post-mitochondrial supernatant, followed by differential sucrose-gradient centrifugation. 5. In vivo, rat skeletal-muscle polyribosomes became labelled by 14C-labelled amino acid within 15min., and radioactivity was associated with the light ribosome species within 45min. 6. Electron microscopy of the polyribosomes revealed aggregations containing more than 40 single ribosomes.
EUPEG: Towards an Extensible and Unified Platform for Evaluating Geoparsers

Geoparsing, namely recognizing and geo-locating place mentions from unstructured texts, is a critical task in geographic information retrieval (GIR). While a number of geoparsers have been developed, they were often tested on different datasets using different performance metrics. Consequently, it is difficult to compare multiple geoparsers directly. In recent years, open corpora with human annotations have been developed and shared by researchers. However, much effort is still needed for implementing and applying previous geoparsers to these annotated corpora or to rehydrate certain datasets (e.g., tweets) due to data sharing restrictions. This short paper presents the early work of EUPEG: an Extensible and Unified Platform for Evaluating Geoparsers. EUPEG is an open-source and Web-based platform which incorporates existing geoparsers and hosts a set of annotated corpora. A newly developed geoparser can be connected to EUPEG and compared with other geoparsers based on the hosted datasets. The objectives of EUPEG are to enable systematic comparison of geoparsers across datasets and to reduce the amount of time and effort that researchers have to spend in implementing previous geoparsers as baselines.
PRAISE OF THE CONVERT: BELIEVE AND BELONG FROM THE CATHOLICITY OF LATIN AMERICA

Latin America was considered for many years the main bastion of Catholicism in the world by the number of parishioners and the influence of the church in the social and political life of the region, but in recent times there has been a decrease in the catholicity index. This paper explores three variables that havemodified the identity of Catholicism in Latin American countries. The first one refers to the conversion processes that have expanded the presence of Christian denominations, by analyzing the reasons that revolve around the sense of belonging that these communities offer and that prop up their expansion and growth. The second variable accounts for those Catholics who still belong to the Catholic Church but who in their practices and beliefs have incorporated othermagical or esoteric scheme in the form of religious syncretisms, modifying their sense of being Catholics in the world. The third factor has a political referenceand has to do with the concept of laicism, a concept that sets its objective, not only in the separation of the State from the Church, but for historical reasons incatholicity restraint in the public space which has led to the confinement of the Catholic to the private, leaving other religious groups to occupy that space.
A Dangerous Displacement Crisis: The Psychological Ecology of Extremism After the Fall of ISIS

The Islamic State has lost much of its territory, leaving foreign fighters with few options. Specifically, they can choose to stay in a losing battle, move to a new theater of conflict, or return home. Those who choose to return home return to communities and structures that remain relatively unchanged since they left and return to watch regional conflicts—Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Palestine—simmer largely unresolved. In other words, the context and motivations that pushed thousands of fighters to take up arms and ideology with the Islamic State and other groups have not changed, and continue to be a source of frustration and potential radicalisation for thousands of new youth across the region. Grievances remain unaddressed, opportunities remain scarce, political change is slow or nonexistent, and millions of youth continue to feel excluded, hopeless, and marginalized even within their families and communities. Simply, neither the structural nor the psychological situation has improved in any meaningful way, maintaining the risk of extremism and violence across the region.
Fortnite Is ‘Dropping’ Into Legal Land: A Proposal to Amend the Copyright Act to Address Artists’ and Game Developers’ Concerns Over Dance Moves As Purchasable Emotes in Video Games

Copyright affords subject matter like choreography exclusive rights. If you own a copyright to a work, you may exclude others from making, selling, distributing, performing, etc., the work. The lawsuits against Epic Games alleging copyright infringement for use of the plaintiffs’ dance moves in “Fortnite” reveal the doctrine’s inadequacy to balance the interests between parties today. Exclusive rights in dance moves is flawed. But there is a sense of unfairness in the Fortnite Lawsuits. A narrowed amendment is necessary to grant non-exclusive rights in an artist’s commercially exploited work not currently subject to copyright protection.
Persistent Hypothyroid Symptoms Despite Adequate Thyroid Hormone Replacement

The majority of patients with hypothyroidism who are treated with thyroid hormone replacement to maintain serum TSH levels within the population reference range experience complete resolution of their hypothyroid symptoms. However, a significant minority have persistent symptoms and express dissatisfaction with their treatment. These patients usually benefit from seeing attentive and compassionate providers who listen carefully to their concerns and work with them to explore solutions. They should be evaluated for other coexistent autoimmune and systemic disorders and be encouraged to engage in healthy lifestyle practices. It is often productive to carefully explain that nonspecific symptoms are common in the population and are often not related to thyroid disease. A polymorphism (Thr92Ala) of the deiodinase 2 enzyme, which converts thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) in the brain, is present in approximately 16% of the population. These patients have been reported in one study to respond better to combination therapy with levothyroxine (LT4) and liothyronine (LT3); however genetic testing for this polymorphism is expensive and not recommended. Current clinical practice guidelines stress that replacement with LT4 is the treatment of choice for patients with hypothyroidism; however, a trial of combination LT4 and LT3 or of desiccated thyroid extract with maintenance of serum TSH levels within the reference range is considered reasonable to determine if these patients may experience better symptom relief than they have had with LT4 monotherapy.
Long-range continuities in comparative and historical sociology: The case of parasitism and women’s enslavement

In this methods-building article, I show how attention to long-term continuities in female enslavement patterns helps us understand the emergence of the Black Atlantic. Slavery, I argue, is one form of human parasitism. I extend Orlando Patterson’s theory of human parasitism to examine the phenomenon of parasitic intertwining, wherein the forced labor of women became integral to broader social projects including household functioning, elite status maintenance, and population expansion. The thousand-year period between the fall of Rome and the rise of the transatlantic slave trade was once described as a rupture in European slavery, with serfdom gradually supplanting slavery. The mass capture, transport, and enslavement of women, however, continued even as male slaves and ex-slaves gained significant status changes. The entrenchment of women in zonal slave trades generated both a potent cultural logic and a structural blueprint for the transatlantic trade.
Protein coating composition targets nanoparticles to leaf stomata and trichomes

Plant nanobiotechnology has the potential to revolutionize agriculture. However, the lack of effective methods to deliver nanoparticles (NPs) to the precise locations in plants where they are needed impedes these technological innovations. Here, model gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were coated with citrate, bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a protein control, or LM6-M, an antibody with an affinity for functional groups unique to stomata on leaf surfaces to deliver the AuNPs to stomata. One-month-old Vicia faba leaves were exposed via drop deposition to aqueous suspensions of LM6-M-coated AuNPs and allowed to air dry. After rinsing, Au distribution on the leaf surface was investigated by enhanced dark-field microscopy and X-ray fluorescence mapping. While citrate-coated AuNPs randomly covered the plant leaves, LM6M-AuNPs strongly adhered to the stomata and remained on the leaf surface after rinsing, and BSA-AuNPs specifically targeted trichome hairs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of active targeting of live leaf structures using NPs coated with molecular recognition molecules. This proof-of-concept study provides a strategy for future targeted nanopesticide delivery research.
Internal Colonialism Revisited

Internal Colonialism attacked elements of the diffusion theory and provided an alternative explanation of nationalism. Like its diffusionist predecessor, the new theory assumed that solidary groups were formed by individuals sharing common material interests. Unlike the diffusion theory, however, Internal Colonialism suggested that under certain conditions nationalism could continue to persist, if not thrive, in the very midst of industrial society. The origins of the southern Irish cultural division of labor were to be found in the Cromwellian Settlement of 1642, which expropriated all Catholic landowners and distributed their property to Protestant Englishmen. More revealing was the book’s reception within the United Kingdom and Ireland. As might be expected, the dominant English reaction was indifference: the Times Literary Supplement actually refused to review it, and the leading sociology journal ignored it.
Student behaviors in a blended synchronous course

In the quest for broader participation in higher education, blended synchronous courses are offered as a way to support nontraditional as well as traditional students. While students appreciate the...
Topological Signal Processing in Neuroimaging Studies

Electroencephalography (EEG) is an important neuroimaging tool for understanding network disorders caused by neuroanatomical malformation or damage such as epilepsy and post-stroke aphasia. Topological data analysis (TDA) can decode patterns in EEG signals that are not captured by standard temporal and spectral features but at the same time reveal important information on the underlying brain processes of clinical interest. The heterogeneity of conditions associated with brain network disorders renders it highly challenging to develop statistical methods for analyzing topological features in patients’ EEG signals. In this paper, we advance a generalized topological signal processing framework for extracting and analyzing topological features in EEG signals. The framework is applied to study EEG correlates of neural deficits in post-stroke aphasia patients.
Innovations in concepts and measurement for the study of peace and conflict

The observation, measurement, and analysis of violent and contentious processes are essential parts of the scientific study of peace and conflict. However, concepts such as the level of repression,...
Pre-loss group therapy for dementia family care partners at risk for complicated grief.

Introduction Dementia family caregiving may span more than a decade and places many family care partners (CPs) at risk for poor bereavement outcomes; estimates of complicated grief in bereaved dementia family CPs range from 10% to 20%. We adapted our efficacious complicated grief group therapy intervention for bereaved dementia caregivers for soon-to-be bereaved dementia CPs at risk for complicated grief to facilitate healthy death preparedness and eventual bereavement-pre-loss group therapy (PLGT). Methods In this Stage IB pilot intervention study, we implemented and evaluated PLGT in three psychotherapy group cohorts with family CPs at-risk for complicated grief whose person living with dementia (PLWD) had a life expectancy of 6 months or less and resided in a nursing home. PLGT is a 10-session multi-modal psychotherapy administered by social workers. Results Participants in PLGT realized significant improvement in their pre-loss grief and in reported preparedness for the death of their family member, and participants evidenced lowered pre-loss grief severity and improvement, as measured by facilitators. Participants also realized significant improvement in meaning making, particularly as a sense of peace and a reduction of loneliness. Discussion The process and treatment elements of the PLGT intervention affirm the value of specialized care for those dementia family CPs at risk for complicated grief, as the PLGT groups demonstrated a steady progression toward improvement collectively and individually. PLGT participants realized statistical and clinical improvement across pre-loss grief measures suggesting that their risk for complicated grief risk was mitigated, and they were better prepared for the death of their PLWD.
Characteristics of the Electromagnetic Field in the Near- and Far-Field and their Application to Interference Mitigation

A radio frequency (RF) propagation model that can accurately predict the power received by one antenna from an RF signal that is transmitted by another antenna over an imperfectly conducting ground has many applications in link budget analysis and interference mitigation. Common theoretical RF propagation models such as the Two-ray Reflection Model or models based on solving Maxwell’s equations using the parabolic equation methods can reliably generate such predictions only in the far-field of the antennas, where antenna gain patterns can be used with the models. This paper will examine a model derived from Maxwell’s equations. The model solves the problem of electromagnetic propagation over a half-space that applies to both the near- and far-field. The model’s theoretical equations are corroborated with field measurements. The paper concludes with recommendations on how the propagation characteristics of RF signals in the near-field can be used to mitigate interference from earth station transmitters to commercial base station antennas.
Impact of the CDC 2021 Sexually Transmitted Infection Guideline Update on Emergency Medicine

This review highlights recent changes to the CDC recommendations for sexually transmitted infections. Neisseria gonorrhoea has developed resistance to multiple antibiotics. A total of 500 mg intramuscular ceftriaxone (1000 mg in patients weighing greater than 150 kg) is required to achieve the mean inhibitory concentration to eradicate infection reliably. Mycoplasma genitalium has also been found to develop antibiotic resistance and is implicated in cases of recurrent urethritis and cervicitis. The CDC has published a 2021 update to their sexually transmitted infection management guidelines. These guidelines include new first-line regimens for managing gonorrhea and chlamydia as well as for pelvic inflammatory disease. This review provides a succinct summary of the new treatment guidelines with an emphasis on updates pertinent to management of sexually transmitted infections in the emergency department.
A Review of Criminal Court Consultation

This is a collection of 18 essays plus an introduction by the editors. The latter is icularly useful, as it emphasizes a matter of central importance to the use of mental th professionals in the courts: the issues which arise in litigation are framed by the icable law, not by psychiatry or psychology. Accordingly, the consultant should mpt to clarify the “legal criteria that define the [psychiatric-legal] issue” at the outset is or her work. Nothing has done more to obfuscate the often difficult interactions he courts and the medical and psychological consultants than failure to understand , for example, whether or not antisocial personality is regarded as an “illness” for nostic or treatment purposes is not determinative of whether it should be an exculpatory factor with respect to the legal issue of criminal responsibility. This is not to say the law makes the questions to be addressed clear; it is difficult to imagine concepts vague than those on which competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility lly turn. Lack of determinate legal meanings invites substitution of alternative concepts of the disciplines on which courts rely to assist them in resolving the cases before . Yet this substitution of terms confuses the task of rational adjudication.
Comparative Risk Assessment of Transportation of Hazardous Materials in Urban Areas

The transportation of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) through urban areas is one of the most challenging risk-related issues faced by modern society. Society cannot function without this activity, yet the concentration of people and property in urban areas makes the potential for damage due to a HAZMAT release very high. Clearly, a methodology is required to systematically identify and quantify risk in this situation, help develop mitigation measures, and evaluate the effectiveness of such measures.
Extracts of Flourensia cernua (L): volatile constituents and antifungal, antialgal, and antitermite bioactivities.

The chemical components of tarbush (Flourensia cernua) leaves were fractionated by extracting successively with hexanes, diethyl ether, and ethanol. Volatile profiles of each fraction were identified by using GC-MS. The hexanes fraction contained mostly monoterpenoids, while the ethanol fraction volatiles were primarily sesquiterpenoids. Crude fractions were tested for activity against fungi, algae, and termites. Application of as little as 1 μg of the essential oil from the hexanes fraction was sufficient to provide visible antifungal activity in bioautography assays. The diethyl ether fraction showed selective activity against the cyanobacterium responsible for the 2-methylisoborneol-induced off-flavor sometimes associated with catfish farming operations. All three fractions exhibited a high degree of antitermite activity.
Quantitative physiology of the precancerous cervix in vivo through optical spectroscopy.

Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer worldwide. The ability to quantify physiological and morphological changes in the cervix is not only useful in the diagnosis of cervical precancers but also important in aiding the design of cost-effective detection systems for use in developing countries that lack well-established screening and diagnostic programs. We assessed the capability of a diffuse reflectance spectroscopy technique to identify contrasts in optical biomarkers that vary with different grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) from normal cervical tissues. The technology consists of an optical probe and an instrument (with broadband light source, dispersive element, and detector), and a Monte Carlo algorithm to extract optical biomarker contributions including total hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, Hb saturation, and reduced scattering coefficient from the measured spectra. Among 38 patients and 89 sites examined, 46 squamous normal sites, 18 CIN 1, and 15 CIN 2 + sites were included in the analysis. Total Hb was statistically higher in CIN 2 + (18.3 ± 3.6 µ M, mean ± SE) compared with normal (9.58 ± 1.91 µ M) and CIN 1 (12.8 ± 2.6 µ M), whereas scattering was significantly reduced in CIN 1 (8.3 ± 0.8 cm -1 ) and CIN 2 + (8.6 ± 1.0 cm -1 ) compared with normal (10.2 ± 1.1 cm -1 ). Hemoglobin saturation was not significantly altered in CIN 2 + compared with normal and CIN 1. The difference in total Hb is likely because of stromal angiogenesis, whereas decreased scattering can be attributed to breakdown of collagen network in the cervical stroma.
Perceptions of professional student readiness for physiology courses: can online review modules help? (720.3)

There can be a disconnect between the level of content covered in undergraduate coursework and the expectations of professional-level faculty of their incoming students. Some basic science faculty members may assume that students have a good knowledge base in the material and neglect to appropriately review, while others may spend too much class time reviewing basic material. It was hypothesized that the replacement of introductory didactic physiology lectures with interactive online modules in a first-year D.M.D. course could improve student preparedness prior to lectures. These modules would also allow faculty members to analyze incoming student abilities and save valuable face-to-face class time for alternative teaching strategies. Results indicated that the performance levels of incoming students was poor (57% average on a pre-test), and students often under-predicted their abilities (by 13% on average). Faculty expectations varied greatly between the different content areas, and did not appear to cor...
Computer Simulation – a Tool for Mathematical Relativity – and Vice Versa

Examples from the study of spatially inhomogeneous cosmological space-times are given to illustrate the potential for synergy between mathematical analysis and computer simulation.
How mobile are fish populations? Diel movement, population turnover, and site fidelity in suckers

Movement of organisms is an important mechanism controlling an array of processes within ecosystems. Recent analyses suggest that movement is composed of individual displacement (distance moved by individuals) and turnover (proportion of individuals moving). Turnover of individuals is important because it influences population size and structure, as well as interactions among individuals and different species within a habitat. We used stationary antennas and passive integrated transponders tags to monitor individual habitat use, turnover, and displacement of Sonora suckers (Catostomus insignis) and desert suckers (Catostomus clarkii) in the West Fork Gila River, New Mexico, USA. Many tagged fish used our focal stationary antenna reach, but only a subset was consistently present. Population size and turnover rates were variable from day to day. Although some individuals spent the majority of their time within the focal reach, most made extended departures (one or more days) from their home pools. Many indi...
Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations in women with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine activity of the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH-IGF-1) axis in women with fibromyalgia (FM). METHODS: Premenopausal women with FM (n = 24) and premenopausal healthy women (n = 27) were studied. IGF-1 was measured in 23 patients with FM and 25 controls. GH was measured during a stepped hypoglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp procedure (blood glucose decreased from 90 to 40 mg/dl every 30 min in 10 mg/dl decrements) in 12 FM and 13 control subjects. RESULTS: IGF-1 concentrations were similar in the FM (200 +/- 71 ng/ml, mean +/- SD) and control (184 +/- 70 ng/ml) groups. By multiple variable analysis, IGF-1 was negatively associated with age (p = 0.0006), body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.006), and 24 h urinary free cortisol (p = 0.007) in healthy controls. Even after accounting for these factors, there was no association between FM and IGF-1. The average peak GH achieved during hypoglycemia was lower in patients with FM (range 5 to 58 ng/ml, median 13 ng/ml) versus controls (6 to 68 ng/ml, median 21 ng/ml) (p = 0.04). However, BMI was a significant predictor of average peak GH in FM (r = -0.62, p
X-ray structural studies of epitaxial yttrium silicide on Si(111)

We performed a series of glancing angle and reflection x-ray diffraction experiments to study both the in-plane and out-of-plane structure of epitaxial YSi2−x films grown on Si(111), with thicknesses ranging from 85 A to 510 A. These measurements allowed us to characterize the mean film lattice constants, the position correlation lengths of the film, and the presence and extent of strain as a function of film thickness. We find that the strain along the basal plane increases as a function of increasing thickness to approximately 1% in the 510 A film; the corresponding out-of-plane strain is such that the film unit cell volume increases as a function of thickness. The corresponding in-plane microscopic strain varies from 0.5% for the 85 A film to 0.3% for the 510 A film. We relate our results to the mode of film growth and the presence of pinholes in the films.
WEAVING CULTURAL CONTEXT INTO AN INTERDISCIPLINARY END-OF-LIFE CURRICULUM

Over the last several decades, increasing emphasis has been placed on taking an interdisciplinary approach to designing end-of-life (EOL) education curricula. Such EOL curricula have focused on a wide range of policy and practical themes, including culture, ethics, spirituality, and religion, as well as on legal, political, economic, and clinical topics. Despite the more frequent inclusion of cultural issues today, the organization of EOL curricula remains highly problematic, as culture is often handled as a single, self-contained module. The authors of this article argue that a more effective educational strategy involves treating culture as a major thread permeating many aspects of EOL communication and decision-making, one which contributes profoundly to perceptions of whether "a good death" occurs. An interdisciplinary graduate seminar on EOL issues was designed and piloted incorporating cultural issues. This article highlights the approaches used to provide education concerning cultural variability i...
Serial murder and the case of Aileen Wuornos: attachment theory, psychopathy, and predatory aggression.

The extant research on female homicide has yet to offer any systematic assessment of why women murder serially. Part of the explanation is attributed to existing literature focusing on justifiable and excusable homicide, or women who kill their abusive partners because they have been battered, fear that their lives are in danger, or are otherwise victimized. Thus, predatory homicide perpetrated by women has not received extensive attention in the relevant literature. This article aims to address this deficiency by providing a detailed case study analysis of Aileen Wuornos, a convicted serial murderer executed at Broward Correctional Institution in Pembroke Pines, FL, on October 9, 2002. By linking the literature on attachment theory with the research on psychopathy and predatory aggression, this article argues that Aileen Wuornos was a cold blooded and calculated killer: a serial offender responsible for her delinquent and criminal behavior. Generalizing from the case of Aileen Wuornos, several tentative recommendations are proposed as linked to clinical and forensic prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as future research on women, psychopathy, and predatory serial homicide. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamical symmetry of the quadratic Zeeman effect in hydrogen: Semiclassical quantization

By exploiting the approximate SU(2) symmetry of the {ital m}=0 quadratic Zeeman Hamiltonian within multiplets of fixed principal quantum number, the dynamics is mapped onto a twofold hindered rotor. This allows a singularity-free uniform semiclassical quantization of Solov'ev's approximate integral of the motion to be performed. Excellent agreement with quantum results is obtained.
Overreaction and underreaction in the foreign exchange market

Abstract Research has documented overreaction and underreaction for stocks and stock market indices, but it has not yet analyzed these phenomena with regard to currency exchange rates. This paper examines exchange rate changes following extreme 1-day fluctuations for currencies in industrialized and emerging markets. In this study, the exchange rate is defined as the number of foreign currency units per US dollar. An overreaction phenomenon for currencies in emerging markets and an underreaction phenomenon for currencies in industrial markets are found. Each extreme 1-day currency fluctuation event is classified according to the type of underlying reason as described in the Wall Street Journal. Events for which no announcements (undefined events) were found are associated with a stronger tendency toward overreaction than those events for which an explanation was given (defined events). This suggests that investors overreact more when the source of the extreme fluctuation is largely unknown. The defined events are classified into two groups: economic events and political events. There is some evidence that political events are associated with a stronger tendency toward overreaction than economic events. These findings can be attributed to uncertainty. Political events (e.g., civil uprising) should be more difficult to assess than economic events (e.g., the release of an inflation report), and undefined events should be associated with the largest degree of uncertainty. Cross-sectional analysis is used to relate post-event exchange rate changes to the magnitude of the initial exchange rate change, leakage, day of the week effects, type of currency (from emerging or industrial market), and the type of announcement (economic, political, or undefined) that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. The cross-sectional analysis confirms that currencies in emerging markets experience stronger degrees of overreaction than those of industrial markets, even after controlling for potentially confounding factors. Moreover, it confirms that undefined events experience stronger degrees of overreaction than defined events, even when controlling for other factors.
The Productivity of Educational Research and the Applied-Basic Research Distinction

concern with the productivity — or better put, the lack of productivity — of educational research is a peren­ nial theme. Clifford's (1973) excel­ lent article in the Second Handbook of Research on Teaching illustrates well the difficulty of coming to a conclu­ sion about matters as complex as theimpact of educational research upon schooling and the factors that influ­ ence that impact. Generally, it ap­ pears that research has had some in­ fluence on practice in the schools when the findings have been compat­ ible with already-held views, and through cultural diffusion (Clifford, 1973, pp. 24-7). But Clifford's sum­ mary of various critical reviews of research (pp. 23-4) supports my judgment that there would have been little discernable effect on educational practice if most of the studies reported in educational journals and disserta­ tions had never been conducted. It was no surprise, then, that one of the major points of Kerlinger's (1977) AERA presidential address, "The In­ fluence of Research on Education Practice," was that "there is little direct connection between research and educational practice" (p. 5). Kerlinger was not, however, concerned with evaluating the impact of educa­ tional research, but with arguing that relatively greater effects might be ex­ pected if more educational research were basic (theory-aimed) instead of applied, and that basic researchmore appropriately, perhaps, the funding for such research (p. 6)— has been hindered by demands that "re­ search should pay off and that it should be relevant to contemporary social and educational problems" (p. 5). Of great importance is the distinc­ tion Kerlinger draws between basic research, which he clearly equates with scientific research, and applied research, which, although never clearly defined, appears to be consi­ dered nonscientific research because it addresses practical problems. This narrow use of the term "science" to exclude applied research and, there­ fore, most educational research, may reinforce current attitudes that appear to constitute a serious impediment to the productivity of educational re­ search (i.e., research into teachinglearning processes and the factors that affect learning, especially in school­ ing institutions). This paper is a re­ sponse to Kerlinger's contentions. It is not intended as a point-by-point rebuttal of his argument but is more broadly concerned with the effects of defining science so narrowly that applied educational research is excluded.
Is laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass superior to mini-gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity?

Is laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass superior to mini-gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity?
An Edge Dislocation in a Three-Phase Composite Cylinder Model

It is shown that, the three-phase model allows the dislocation to have a stable equilibrium position under much less stringent combinations of the material constants. Also, that in the three-phase model the orientation of Burgers vector has only limited influence on he stability of dislocation