cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rehumanizing the Mathematics Education of Students with Disabilities; Critical Perspectives on Research and Practice

This special issue was inspired by the Critical Approaches to Disability in Mathematics Education working group, founded at the Psychology of Mathematics Education North America conference in Tucso...
In Caverns and Caves with Saul Bellow and Walker Percy

Both Eugene Henderson of Saul Bellow’s Henderson, the Rain King, and Will Barrett of Walker Percy’s The Last Gentleman are twentieth century figures overwhelmed with a sense of lost direction. Henderson seeks his way and meaning for his life through the jungles of uncivilized villages and underground caverns in Africa. Will Barrett starts at “ground zero” in Central Park of a civilized country’s most sophisticated city, New York. Ground Zero is the point of a powerful and highly developed nation’s possible extinction. Barrett’s journey takes him through the heartland of the United States to Santa Fe. Both men are on a spiritual quest for whatever will fill an emptiness brought about by something they perceive is lost in their lives. They need a sustenance for the empty places of their lives. Henderson expresses the condition of his soul when he says,
GENERALIZED DILATIONS AND HOMOGENEITY

Abstract The goal of this article is to show that the class of homogeneous systems can be made very general if one considers generalized dilations (which are a class of group actions) and defines homogeneity with respect to them. It turns out that uniqueness of solutions (in both directions of time) is indeed a sufficient condition for a system to be homogeneous with respect to some generalized dilation. The relation between homogeneity and monotonicity is also studied and it is shown that if a system is monotone with respect to some V (a positive function) then there exists a generalized dilation with respect to which both the system and V are homogeneous. Another result presented in the paper is the equivalence of local monotonicity and global monotonicity under homogeneity.
Weibull Parameters and the Strength of Long Glass Fibers

Theoretical bimodal Weibull distributions were generated and various shapes of the resulting “linear” Weibull plots are shown. Data for the strength of 119 specimens of coated silica glass fibers 1m long are presented and a technique for extracting two distributions from the sample is described. Three methods of estimating Weibull parameters are compared for this experimental distribution.
From powerhouse to processing plant: conserved roles of mitochondrial outer membrane proteins in tRNA splicing

The mitochondrial cytoplasmic surface serves as a processing site for numerous RNAs from budding yeast to metazoans. We report that budding yeast mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) proteins that are subunits of the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (Tom70 and Tom 22) and sorting and assembly machinery (Sam37) are required for efficient pretransfer RNA (pre-tRNA) splicing. Defective pre-tRNA splicing in MOM mutants is due not to loss of respiratory metabolism but instead inefficient targeting/tethering of tRNA splicing endonuclease (SEN) subunits to mitochondria. Schizosaccharomyces pombe SEN subunits also localize to mitochondria, and Tom70 is required for this localization and pre-tRNA splicing. Thus, the role of MOM protein in targeting/tethering SEN subunits to mitochondria has been conserved for >500 million years.
The Moving to Health (M2H) approach to natural experiment research: A paradigm shift for studies on built environment and health

Improving the built environment (BE) is viewed as one strategy to improve community diets and health. The present goal is to review the literature on the effects of BE on health, highlight its limitations, and explore the growing use of natural experiments in BE research, such as the advent of new supermarkets, revitalized parks, or new transportation systems. Based on recent studies on movers, a paradigm shift in built-environment health research may be imminent. Following the classic Moving to Opportunity study in the US, the present Moving to Health (M2H) strategy takes advantage of the fact that changing residential location can entail overnight changes in multiple BE variables. The necessary conditions for applying the M2H strategy to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases and to large longitudinal cohorts are outlined below. Also outlined are significant limitations of this approach, including the use of electronic medical records in lieu of survey data. The key research question is whether documented changes in BE exposure can be linked to changes in health outcomes in a causal manner. The use of geo-localized clinical information from regional health care systems should permit new insights into the social and environmental determinants of health.
The relationship between patient satisfaction and functional status in inpatient rehabilitation: a comparison over time

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare patient satisfaction over time in the context of major changes in service delivery in acute rehabilitation (sicker patients admitted earlier and staying fewer days). We hypothesized that patient satisfaction is significantly correlated with patient functional goal achievement. Methods: Data was collected on two cohorts: Patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation for at least two weeks at a University Hospital during a two year period (Group A, n=210) or a second two year period (Group B, n=280). Patient progress is measured with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) in areas A thru M at admission, discharge, and goals established at admission. Patients are considered to have met their goals if their discharge FIM score is within 10 points of their predicted goal. Three months post discharge all patients were contacted by telephone interview about their satisfaction with their rehabilitation. Results: Two hundred and four in Group A patients reported satisfaction, but only 185 met their FIM goals. Of the six who reported dissatisfaction, three met their FIM goals. Two hundred and sixty eight Group B patients reported satisfaction, and 251 met their FIM goals of the 12 who reported dissatisfaction, 10 met their FIM goals. The average length of stay for Group A was three times longer than Group B. Chi Square analyses of the differences between satisfied and dissatisfied patients in the two groups was significant for Group A (p<.01), meaning satisfaction correlated with functional goal achievement. There is no correlation between functional achievement and satisfaction for Group B. Medical complications were noted to be higher in Group B. Conclusion: Current trends in rehabilitation as in Group B patients (sicker patients admitted earlier and staying fewer days) have not affected patient satisfaction. There was a correlation between functional goal attainment and patient satisfaction in Group A but not with Group B.
Nationwide savings analysis of energy conservation measures in buildings

Abstract Buildings consumed 40% of the energy in the United States, which is more than any other sectors of the U.S. economy, including transportation and industry. The majority of this energy was used for lighting, space heating, cooling, ventilation, and water heating in the buildings. It is well known that the carbon emission is proportional to the energy consumption. Enhancing building efficiency becomes one of the easiest, most immediate and most cost-effective ways to reduce carbon emissions. This paper focuses on the simulation-based nationwide energy savings analysis of different energy conservation measures (ECMs) to enhance building energy performance. The study includes 44 different ECMs, which were simulated in 16 different climate zones for 11 different commercial building types in the U.S. Simulations were conducted using a whole building simulation program, EnergyPlus. Commercial prototype building models from the U.S. Department of Energy [1] were used as the baselines. Model input files were automatically modified to incorporate with 44 different ECMs using scripts. The baselines were based on American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) [2] Standard 90.1 and International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). A total of 15,488 simulations were conducted to study the nationwide energy savings potentials. The details of these 44 proposed ECMs and their corresponding nationwide saving potentials are presented and discussed in this paper.
Aging sensitizes male mice to cognitive dysfunction induced by central HIV-1 gp120

Abstract Although highly active antiretroviral therapy has led to improved prognosis and alleviation of some HIV-related disease complications, it has not provided complete protection against HIV-associated dementia. As the population of persons living with HIV grows older and aged persons represent a significant number of new infections, it is important to understand how HIV may affect the aged brain. In the current study, both adult and aged mice were treated with HIV gp120 and trained in a reference memory version of the water maze. Analysis of probe data revealed that aged animals treated with gp120 demonstrated profound decrements in water maze performance compared to gp120 treated young animals and saline treated aged or young animals. Additionally, we examined the neuroinflammatory responses in the aged and adult brain 4 h after treatment with gp120. Pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with neuroinflammation are known to be antagonistic to learning and memory processes and aged and adult animals treated with gp120 demonstrated similar increases in IL-1β and IL-6 in the hippocampus and cortex. Additionally, gp120 treatment was associated with an increase in MHCII gene expression, a marker of microglial activation, in the hippocampus. Although, the aged brain demonstrated a similar inflammatory profile at the time point measured, aged animals were more sensitive to cognitive dysfunction related to gp120 treatment. This finding supports the theory that aging may be a significant risk factor in the development of HIV-associated dementia.
Subjective interpretation of "objective" video evidence: Perceptions of male versus female police officers' use-of-force.

Objective The police face great scrutiny after highly publicized instances of lethal force. Dash-camera footage ostensibly provides "objective" evidence of whether the force was excessive. We tested whether participants interpreted the same "objective" video of an officer exerting force differently based on the officer's gender and race. Hypothesis We predicted that when (a) a male (vs. female) officer used force and (b) a Black (vs. White) officer used force, participants would endorse more internal and less external explanations for their use-of-force, which would be associated with less trust in and perceived effectiveness of the officer. Method We randomly assigned Amazon's Mechanical Turk workers (N = 452; 53% female, 80% White) to (a) see a segment of a police-civilian interaction video that either included or did not include exertion of force, and to believe that the officer was (b) male versus female, and (c) Black versus White. They reported their trust in the officer and perceptions of the officer's effectiveness, and their degree of agreement with external and internal attributions for the officer's behavior. Results When officers used force, people trusted officers less (d = 1.13) and perceived them to be less effective (d = .78) relative to when they did not. Despite all participants viewing the same interaction, people who thought they saw a male (vs. female) officer perceived his use-of-force to be driven more by internal traits, such as being aggressive and emotionally reactive, and less by the external situation, which was associated with decreased trust and perceived effectiveness. In contrast, people perceived female (vs. male) officers' force to be driven more by external aspects of the dangerous situation, which was associated with increased trust and perceived effectiveness. This pattern did not depend on the officers' race or participants' gender. Conclusion This constitutes a rare instance of women benefiting from violating gender stereotypes in the workplace because people assumed her counterstereotypical behavior was more justified by the situation and less about her being an aggressive and emotionally reactive person. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Al-Qaeda’s Iran Dilemma: Evidence from the Abbottabad Records

Through a comprehensive review of documents recovered from Usama bin Ladin’s Abbottabad compound, this study provides a new periodization of al-Qaeda’s relationship with Iran. The analysis reveals ...
Ambulatory neurosurgery in the COVID-19 era: patient and provider satisfaction with telemedicine.

Objective Telemedicine has rapidly expanded in the recent years as technologies have afforded healthcare practitioners the ability to diagnose and treat patients remotely. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nonessential clinical visits were greatly limited, and much of the outpatient neurosurgical practice at the authors' institution was shifted quickly to telehealth. Although there are prior data suggesting that the use of telemedicine is satisfactory in other surgical fields, data in neurosurgery are limited. This study aimed to investigate both patient and provider satisfaction with telemedicine and its strengths and limitations in outpatient neurosurgery visits. Methods This quality improvement study was designed to analyze provider and patient satisfaction with telemedicine consultations in an outpatient neurosurgery clinic setting at a tertiary care, large-volume, academic center. The authors designed an 11-question survey for neurosurgical providers and a 13-question survey for patients using both closed 5-point Likert scale responses and multiple choice responses. The questionnaires were administered to patients and providers during the period when the clinic restricted in-person visits. At the conclusion of the study, the overall data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results During the study period, 607 surveys were sent out to patients seen by telehealth at the authors' academic center, and 122 responses were received. For the provider survey, 85 surveys were sent out to providers at the authors' center and other academic centers, and 40 surveys were received. Ninety-two percent of patients agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with that particular telehealth visit. Eighty-eight percent of patients agreed that their telehealth visit was more convenient for them than an in-person visit, but only 36% of patients stated they would like their future visits to be telehealth. Sixty-three percent of providers agreed that telehealth visits were more convenient for them than in-person visits, and 85% of responding providers stated that they wished to incorporate telehealth into their future practice. Conclusions Although the authors' transition to telehealth was both rapid and unexpected, most providers and patients reported positive experiences with their telemedicine visits and found telemedicine to be an effective form of ambulatory neurosurgical care. Not all patients preferred telemedicine visits over in-person visits, but the high satisfaction with telemedicine by both providers and patients is promising to the future expansion of telehealth in ambulatory neurosurgery.
Non-warfarin oral anticoagulant copayments and adherence in atrial fibrillation: A population-based cohort study.

Background In patients with atrial fibrillation, incomplete adherence to anticoagulants increases risk of stroke. Non-warfarin oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are expensive; we evaluated whether higher copayments are associated with lower NOAC adherence. Methods Using a national claims database of commercially-insured patients, we performed a cohort study of patients with atrial fibrillation who newly initiated a NOAC from 2012 to 2018. Patients were stratified into low ( Results After weighting patients across the 3 copayment groups, the effective sample size was 17,558 patients, with balance across 50 clinical and demographic covariates (standardized differences Conclusions Among atrial fibrillation patients newly initiating NOACs, higher copayments in commercial insurance were associated with lower adherence and higher rates of discontinuation in the first year. Policies to lower or limit cost-sharing of important medications may lead to improved adherence and better outcomes among patients receiving NOACs.
Practice-Changing Milestones in Anti-reflux and Hiatal Hernia Surgery: a Single Surgeon Perspective over 27 years and 1200 Operations

There have been steady innovations in hiatal hernia and anti-reflux surgery. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical perspective on practice-changing innovations in the context a single surgeon experience’s over a career. Patients undergoing anti-reflux surgery or hiatal hernia repair by a single surgeon from 12/1992 to 3/2020 were reviewed. Data collected: sex, age, hiatal hernia type, operation type, adjuncts used, and additional procedure performed during index operation. Superimposed on this experience are the practice-changing innovations that occurred over this timeframe. During the time period, 1200 operations were performed. Distributions: Hernia type: I, 707 (58.9%); II–IV, 325 (27.1%); Recurrent/Failed, 168 (14.0%). Type of operation, including laparoscopic and open: Nissen fundoplication: 889 (74.1%); Toupet fundoplication: 162 (13.5%); Collis-Nissen/Toupet fundoplication: 44 (3.7%); hiatal hernia repair without fundoplication (laparoscopic and open): 38 (3.2%); endoluminal fundoplication: 35 (2.9%); hiatal hernia repair with Heller myotomy/ Dor fundoplication: 10 (0.8%); transthoracic Belsey Mark IV: 2 (0.2%); hiatal hernia repair with magnetic sphincter augmentation: 20 (1.7%). Mesh reinforcement: 185 (15.4%). Additional procedures, 210 (17.5%). During this time, these practice-changing innovations occurred: laparoscopic surgery, 48-h pH monitoring, high-resolution manometry, tailoring of fundoplication, energy sources for tissue division and hemostasis, pyloroplasty for symptomatic gastroparesis, the rise and fall of endoluminal therapies, mesh reinforcement, abandonment of short gastric vessel division, and magnetic sphincter augmentation. Over the last 27 years, a number of practice-changing advances have been made. These have led to changes in technique and operation selection of anti-reflux and hiatal hernia surgery.
Testing a Prospect Theory Model of Support for Change to the Supreme Court

This paper explores public support for proposed changes to the Supreme Court through the lens of Prospect Theory. Two experiments on the 2019 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) investigate how individuals think about retrospective benefits and future risks posed by Supreme Court decision making. The first experiment indicates that measures of perceived personal and societal benefit from Court outputs are significantly influenced by the relevant time frame respondents are asked to consider (past 75 vs. past 15 years), respondents’ political partisanship, and the interaction between them. The second experiment indicates that prospective risks are significantly affected by question wording, partisanship, and an interaction between respondents’ partisanship and the relevant time frame, such that, Republicans expect more benefits in the short term and greater losses over longer periods; those expectations reverse for respondents who not identify as Republicans. Regression analyses demonstrate that using retrospective benefits as a proxy for determining if someone is in the domain of gains or losses generally does not yield significant findings with respect to support for change to the Supreme Court. Conceptualizing risk domains in terms of the expectation of future gains and losses, however, does yield significant effects in a manner consistent with prospect theory.
Twin Crises: A Comparative Analysis of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-09 and the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-99

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the key causes and effects of The Asian Financial Crisis (AFC) of 1997-99 and the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2007-09. Drawing on existing financial crisis scholarship, the author finds that weak institutions, speculative attacks and political corruption were accelerants of the AFC and GFC, but not root causes. The author finds evidence that, as with the Global Financial Crisis, the most important factors were (a) the rapid accumulation of credit and an asset price boom in the lead-up to a banking crisis, (b) a consequent sharp deterioration of asset values through a leverage downswing, (c) the impact of a leverage downswing on securities markets and financial institutions at systemically important junctures within under- and unregulated frontiers, and (d) credit and liquidity crunches that froze capital allocation. These patterns offer lessons about common themes across financial crises, and recommend several areas that may be the subject of continued research.
Clinical features of autopsy-confirmed multiple system atrophy in the Mayo Clinic Florida brain bank

Abstract Background Multiple system atrophy (MSA) presents with various combinations of autonomic dysfunction, parkinsonism, and cerebellar ataxia. Although clinical diagnostic criteria have been widely used, the sensitivity and specificity are suboptimal. This study aims to provide evidence supporting the revision of the current diagnostic criteria for MSA. Methods Medical records of 171 patients with autopsy-confirmed MSA in the Mayo Clinic brain bank were reviewed with regard to their clinical features and diagnoses. Pathologic features, including concomitant pathologies (i.e., Alzheimer-related and Lewy-related pathologies), were also assessed. Results The cohort included 133 MSA-parkinsonian type, 36 MSA-cerebellar type, and 2 unclassified MSA patients who did not show significant motor symptoms. Twenty-three patients (13%) were not clinically diagnosed with MSA, but instead with progressive supranuclear palsy, Parkinson's disease (PD), PD with dementia (PDD), or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Three patients with PDD and DLB also had concomitant Lewy body pathology. Six patients had late-onset MSA, with an age of onset greater than 75 years. Erectile dysfunction was frequent in male patients (60/63; 95%) in all age ranges. REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) was present in 82 patients (48%) and was the initial symptom in 13 patients. Cognitive impairment was present in 60 patients (35%), but was an initial symptom in only two patients. Conclusions Our findings support the conclusion that late-onset presentation should not exclude MSA. The findings of this large autopsy-based cohort provides valuable insights for improving clinical criteria for MSA.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein in Scaphoid Nonunion: A Systematic Review.

Background Scaphoid nonunion can lead to carpal collapse and osteoarthritis, a painfully debilitating problem. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) has been successfully implemented to augment bone healing in other circumstances, but its use in scaphoid nonunion has yielded conflicting results. Case Description The purpose of this study is to assess the outcomes and complications of scaphoid nonunion treated surgically with BMP. Literature Review A literature review of all available journal articles citing the use of BMP in scaphoid nonunion surgery from 2002 to 2019 was conducted. We included studies that used BMP as an adjunct to surgical treatment for scaphoid nonunions in both the primary and revision settings with computed tomography determination of union. Demographic information, dose of BMP, tobacco use, outcomes, and complications were recorded. A total of 21 cases were included from four different studies meeting inclusion criteria. Clinical Relevance The union rates were 90.5% overall, 100% for primary surgeries, and 77.8% for revision surgeries. Five patients (24%) experienced 11 complications, including four cases (19%) of heterotrophic ossification. Use of BMP in scaphoid nonunion surgery resulted in a 90.5% overall union rate but was also associated with complications such as heterotopic ossification. All included studies used BMP to augment bone graft, screw or wire fixation, or a combination of methods. The efficacy of BMP in scaphoid nonunion is unclear, and a sufficiently powered, randomized controlled trial is needed to determine optimal fixation methods, dosing, and morbidity of the use of BMP. Level of Evidence This is a Level IC, therapeutic interventional study.
Managing human resources in the public sector : a shared responsibility

1. Understanding Human Resource Management and the Department Manager's Role. 2. Staffing the Department. 3. Position Management: Understanding the Employee's Job. 4. Meeting Departmental Goals: Performance Assessment. 5. Managing Performance Improvement. 6. Employee Safety and Health. 7. Workplace Ethics. 8. The New Millennium Workplace. Appendix A: Preemployment Inquiry Guidelines. Appendix B: Sample Guidelines for Position Classification. Appendix C: IPMA Statement of Principles and Values.
EEG in Encephalopathy and Coma

ABSTRACT.Despite advances in neuroimaging, the EEG remains extremely helpful in the evaluation of encephalopathy and coma. This review discusses a variety of encephalopathies and associated EEG findings. These include metabolic disturbances, such as hepatic or renal dysfunction, which are often characterized by slowing of background rhythms and triphasic waves. Hypoxia and drug intoxications can produce a number of abnormal EEG patterns such as burst-suppression, alpha coma, and spindle coma. Patients can be encephalopathic because of ongoing epileptic activity with minimal or no motor movements. This entity, nonconvulsive status epilepticus, is difficult to diagnose in obtunded/comatose patients. An EEG, which is required to verify the diagnosis, can also help monitor trreament.
Robust linear estimation systems

The authors apply a newly originated robustness measure to the area of linear estimation. They develop closed-form expression for both performance and robustness, and show how the user can judiciously trade off performance and robustness subject to a cost criterion. They conclude by illustrating their results via a specific example. >
Extending the lifetime of barrier coverage by adding sensors to a bottleneck region

One important application of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is intruder detection for protection of a region of interest, and k-barrier coverage is a good way to achieve the necessary level of security using WSNs. One of the biggest problems with WSNs is their limited lifetime, which is directly related to the deployment and maintenance costs, and many approaches have been proposed to improve network lifetime. In this paper, a new approach to extending network lifetime through strategic deployment of additional sensors is presented. We propose two strategies for deployment of additional sensors: random and targeted. We also analyze their performance through extensive simulation. The key concept for the targeted additional sensor deployment is minimal bottleneck, which limits the network lifetime. We develop an algorithm for finding a bottleneck for 1-barrier coverage. We apply the strategies for deployment of additional sensors to a WSN initially randomly deployed. The targeted additional sensor deployment strategy extends the network lifetime 24% on average with only additional 1.4% of the initial randomly deployed sensors added to the WSN.
The Valuation Implications of a Firm's Ability to Mitigate or Sustain the Effects of Tax Law Changes

This study examines the valuation implications of the ability of firms to mitigate tax increases or sustain tax decreases. We propose that some firms are able to mitigate increases in taxes faster and sustain decreases in taxes longer than other firms. We investigate that conjecture by decomposing earnings and isolating the tax change component. Our results indicate that the securities markets expect strong (weak) firms to bear a lesser (greater) share of the tax burden when effective tax rates are increased and to receive a greater (lesser) share of the tax benefit when effective tax rates are decreased.
Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is a neoplastic proliferation derived from precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells represent a distinct subset of dendritic cells characterized by (1) high-level expression of the interleukin 3-alpha chain receptor (CD123), (2) production of interferon-alpha, and (3) differentiation into dendritic cells in culture with IL3 and CD40-ligand. Other names used to refer to these cells have included professional type 1 interferon-producing cells, type 2 dendritic cells (DC2), plasmacytoid monocytes, and plasmacytoid T-cells. Normally, plasmacytoid dendritic cells are primarily located in T-cell–rich regions of lymphoid tissues. Small numbers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells are also found in blood and bone marrow. Increased numbers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells have been identified in lymph nodes with nonspecific paracortical hyperplasia and those involved by chronic granulomatous inflammation, Kikuchi–Fujimoto lymphadenopathy, Castleman disease, and classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are also increased in association with certain inflammatory cutaneous conditions, namely psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
The multi-tasked life of GM1 ganglioside, a true factotum of nature

GM1 ganglioside occurs widely in vertebrate tissues, where it exhibits many essential functions, both in the plasma membrane and intracellular loci. Its essentiality is revealed in the dire consequences resulting from genetic deletion. This derives from its key roles in several signalosome systems, characteristically located in membrane rafts, where it associates with specific proteins that have glycolipid-binding domains. Thus, GM1 interacts with proteins that modulate mechanisms such as ion transport, neuronal differentiation, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), immune system reactivities, and neuroprotective signaling. The latter occurs through intimate association with neurotrophin receptors, which has relevance to the etiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and potential therapies. Here, we review the current state of knowledge of these GM1-associated mechanisms.
A previously unreported type of seismic source in the firn layer of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet

We identify a unique type of seismic source in the uppermost part of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet recorded by temporary broadband seismic arrays in East Antarctica. These sources, termed “firnquakes,” are characterized by dispersed surface wave trains with frequencies of 1–10 Hz detectable at distances up to 1000 km. Events show strong dispersed Rayleigh wave trains and an absence of observable body wave arrivals; most events also show weaker Love waves. Initial events were discovered by standard detection schemes; additional events were then detected with a correlation scanner using the initial arrivals as templates. We locate sources by determining the L2 misfit for a grid of potential source locations using Rayleigh wave arrival times and polarization directions. We then perform a multiple-filter analysis to calculate the Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion and invert the group velocity for shear velocity structure. The resulting velocity structure is used as an input model to calculate synthetic seismograms. Inverting the dispersion curves yields ice velocity structures consistent with a low-velocity firn layer ~100 m thick and show that velocity structure is laterally variable. The absence of observable body wave phases and the relative amplitudes of Rayleigh waves and noise constrain the source depth to be less than 20 m. The presence of Love waves for most events suggests the source is not isotropic. We propose the events are linked to the formation of small crevasses in the firn, and several events correlate with shallow crevasse fields mapped in satellite imagery.
Subjective Experiences of 24 Patients Dramatically Recovering From Stroke

Background There are no reports describing patients’ perception of having a stroke and then dramatically recovering. Summary of Report We interviewed 24 patients randomized at our center to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator or placebo in an ongoing multicenter blinded prospective study. These patients demonstrated at least 50% improvement or an absolute improvement of 5 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale during the first 24 hours after treatment, with 7 patients returning completely to normal. Twelve of 24 of the strokes involved the right middle cerebral artery, 2 of 24 the right posterior cerebral artery, 8 of 24 the left middle cerebral artery, and 2 of 24 the basilar artery territory. CT scans at 24 hours or 1 week showed infarction in 19 of 24. Most patients (19 of 24) could clearly recall the exact circumstances involving the onset of their stroke, but only 12 of 24 were aware of the magnitude of their neurological deficit (7 of 14 right hemisphere and 4 of 8 left hemisp...
Understanding the Paradigm Challenges Posed by Multiplex Panel Testing for Cancer Susceptibility

Massively parallel (“next generation”) sequencing (MPS) is a technology that has revolutionized genetics. In clinical cancer genetics, MPS affords the opportunity to concurrently analyze the sequence of an arbitrary number of genes that may be related to a clinical presentation, such as breast cancer. This multiplex panel testing may identify germ line pathogenic variants in genes that would not have been tested on phenotypic grounds. While this type of testing may be beneficial in specific circumstances, broad application introduces challenges that cannot easily be addressed by conventional pre-test counseling models. Newer approaches are required to preserve the tradition of shared decision-making that has guided clinical cancer genetics since its inception.
Influence of Hyper and Hypothyroidism on Susceptibility of Mice to Infection with Lansing Poliomyelitis Virus.

SummaryThe influence of hyper- and hypothyroidism upon susceptibility of mice to infection with Lansing poliomyelitis virus has been studied. In one series hypothyroidism seemed to favor a higher incidence of paralysis, but this was not substantiated in two other series. The only consistent deviation from the normal course of infection was an increased incidence of deaths without previous signs of paralysis in hyperthyroid mice.
Crystals Containing Conformers: A Rare Case in Which a Solid Closely Reflects a Solution Equilibrium Mixture

The factors influencing the structural, energetic and dynamic chemistry of complexes with coordinated aromatic N-donor ligands (L) are not well understood. Complexes of the type cis,cis,cis-RuCl2(Me2SO)2(L1)(L2) with L1 = L2 and L1 ≠ L2 (L1 trans to Cl, L2 trans to Me2SO) have afforded highly informative results. Here we report studies on two such complexes. One complex provides a rare example of a compound in which the solid state closely reflects the solution state, both in the structure of species involved in a conformational equilibrium and in the position of that equilibrium. In effect, the components of a fluxional equilibrium in solution are trapped, almost unchanged, in the solid state. Specifically, the complex cis,cis,cis-RuCl2(Me2SO)2(3,5-lut)(1,2-Me2Im) (2) (L1 = 3,5-lut = 3,5-lutidine; L2 = 1,2-Me2Im = 1,2-dimethylimidazole) exists as two conformers (R1 and R2) in solution and in the solid state (ratio = 0.63(2):0.37(2)); these rotamers differ by a 180° rotation of 1,2-Me2Im about the Ru−N bo...
Selected vitamins, minerals and fatty acids in infant formulas in the United States

Abstract Infant formulas (IF) are consumed during a short but critical growth period and are the sole source of nutrition for at least part of this time for non-breastfed infants. The 1980 Infant Formula Act (IFA) and subsequent legislation mandate fortification of all IF at specific levels of vitamins and minerals; manufacturers must assure these levels in their products. In order to determine the actual amounts of nutrients in IF and to determine how closely these conform to the IFA and labels amounts, fifteen highly consumed milk- or soy-based infant formulas were sampled nationally at 12 retail locations. These IF were analyzed, and thiamin, vitamins C, A, D, E and K, choline, calcium, iron, and arachidonic, docosohexanoic and linoleic acids values examined. Within analytical uncertainty, all IFs except linoleic acid in one formula met label claim and were within allowed ranges. These results suggest IFs provide nutrition at the level of the label or more. For some vitamins, there was substantially more present in the formula than the label amount, e.g. vitamin C, 25 ± 16 vs. 8 mg per 100 kcal ( n = 20), but the variability among brands was high. These data help researchers and consumers understand the nutritional impact of formulas in the diet of infants.
Acute blindness in a patient with fibrous dysplasia

A 17-year-old female with a 16-year history of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia suddenly lost vision due to the rupture into the optic canal of an unsuspected sphenoid mucocele. This is the first case report of a patient with known fibrous dysplasia to develop acute loss of vision due to a mucocele that was diagnosed by a high resolution CT scan preoperatively.
Probiotics: are we ready for routine use?

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among premature infants and affects 7% of very low birth weight infants.1 The cause of NEC is unclear, and its etiology is multifactorial; NEC seems to be the “single final pathway” created by a variety of injuries, including mucosal damage from gastrointestinal ischemia or hypoxia, increased osmolarity from enteral feedings, and the presence of potentially invasive pathogenic bacteria. Few treatments are available that have been proven to either prevent or ameliorate NEC. Feeding fresh human breast milk seems to be one of the more effective approaches to preventing NEC.2,3 The use of enteral antibiotics and other feeding practices may or may not affect NEC.4 Probiotics may be one of the most effective therapies for the prevention of NEC. At birth, an infant's gastrointestinal tract is sterile. Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract starts immediately after birth with the initiation of enteral feedings and is well established within the first few days of life.5 In breastfed infants, Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus predominate, with other enteric organisms being present less frequently.6,–,10 This is not the case for formula-fed infants. In these infants, coliforms, enterococci, and Bacteroides predominately colonize the intestinal tract. Preterm … Address correspondence to Roger F. Soll, MD, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Smith 552A, 111 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05401. E-mail: roger.soll{at}vtmednet.org
Control strategies for VOC equipment leaks

Equipement de controle, detection des fuites et programme de reparation. Exemple d'application dans une usine de gaz naturel
Prediction of vapor-liquid equilibrium for polar-nonpolar binary systems

This paper presents a method of calculating the van Laar constants for binary vapor-liquid systems. The basis of the method is the van Arkel modification of the van Laar (Scatchard-Hildebrand) equations which utilize the concept of internal pressure. A generalized method of predicting the apparent internal pressure was developed and described. The experimental van Laar constants and those calculated by the proposed method are compared for twelve polar-nonpolar binary systems.
SU-E-I-88: Diffuse Optical Tomography for Characterization of Optical Properties in Interstitial PDT

Purpose: To characterize spatial distribution of optical properties (OP) for the interstitial photodynamic therapy (PDT) dosimetry using diffuse optical tomography (DOT). Methods: A spatial distribution of interstitial optical properties (absorption and reduced scattering coefficients) in a solid prostate phantom with OP heterogeneities was measured by scanning optical detector and source fibers with a multi‐channel motorized system. Several algorithms optimizing the scanning process were developed for the data acquisition system. The calculated light fluence rates were compared with measured ones to recover the heterogeneous optical properties. A mathematical phantom was used to test the reconstruction. Results: The ability to correctly separate absorption and scattering coefficients depended on the accuracy of the light fluence source measurement. The difference between measured and reconstructed fluence rates was within 10%. The DOT allowed reliable recovery of the absorption coefficients. Conclusion: The efficacy of PDT depends on the light distribution within the treated tissue. Since the spatial distribution of tissue optical properties affects the light distribution, the accurate determination of the OP spatial distribution is critical for the interstitial PDT treatment. This work is supported by the national Institute of Health (NIH) grants P01 CA87971 and R01 CA154562
The supply response for sugar cane in Trinidad and Tobago: some preliminary results

(1987). The supply response for sugar cane in Trinidad and Tobago: some preliminary results. Applied Economics: Vol. 19, No. 9, pp. 1221-1231.
Christian B. Anfinsen

Schechter provided a concise overview of the research career of his friend and former NIH colleague in this obituary. The two scientists co-authored several articles together in the late 1960s when Schechter worked in Anfinsen's lab at the NIH.
Histiocytosis X: Neuroendocrine Testing & Growth Hormone Response

The extent of neuroendocrine impairment in 6 cases of disseminated histiocytosis X {HX} & response to hGH therapy in 3 cases was evaluated. Four males & 2 females with biopsy-proven bone & soft tissue involvement, age at onset was 2.3 yrs. Each required chemotherapy & prednisone, 4 skull irradiation. All exhibited neurogenic diabetes insipidus {DI}. LH & FSH levels averaged 2.9 & 3.4 mIU/ml prepuberally & rose at puberty in 1 patient. ACTH & cortisol did not respond in 2 cases. Stature was mildly to severely impaired, averaging 2.33 SD below the . Basal GH level was 1.52ng/ml. GH deficiency was established with hypoglycemic & arginine stimulation. These cases were treated with hGH 0.08U/kg 3× weekly. Growth rates averaged 3.77cm/yr prior to hGH therapy & 5.41cm/yr with hGH. Growth rates in the 3 cases without GH deficiency averaged 4.42cm/yr. T4 levels were normal in all cases { 7.5ug/dl}. TSH & PRL secretion were stimulated with 100ug TRH {IV}. TSH rose from basal of 4.2 {R3-6}mIU/ml to a peak of 21 {R9-42}mIU/ml at 30 min. PRL rose from a basal of 8.7 {R4-20 ng/ml to a peak of 49 {R28-84}ng/ml at 30 min. This data suggests that HX has a selective effect on hypothalamicpituitary function. TSH & prolactin responses to TRH were normal in all cases. This does not support the hypothesis that HX extensively infiltrates the hypothalamus. Response to hGH, while modest, exceeded growth rates of HX cases without GH deficiency.
When Members See Their Team Differently: How Asymmetric Perceptions Undermine Team Success

Drawing from literatures on teams and psychology, we examine the antecedents and consequences of asymmetric perceptions -- the extent to which team members differ in their perceptions of team proce...
Silver nanoparticles attached to porous carbon substrates: robust materials for chemical-free water disinfection

Abstract The antibacterial properties of silver are well known, and their potency can strongly depend on the available surface area. Nanoparticles provide the advantage of high surface area per volume, but their use is limited because, once deployed in the environment, they are difficult to retrieve and may become pollutants with potential adverse effects. This issue can be addressed if silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are attached to or encased in larger structures. This research focuses on attachment of AgNP on robust lightweight and tailorable structures of carbon that are easy to handle, yet offer high surface area thereby providing the nanomaterial advantage without the risk of agglomeration, loss, and environmental contamination. Silver nanoparticles were deposited on carbon foams via chemical reduction of silver nitrate in the presence of reducing and capping agents. Scanning electron microscope pictures show AgNP distribution throughout the porous structure. The antibacterial capacity of the prepared structure was tested against influent water contaminated with Gram negative Escherichia coli (E. Coli, JM109) strain of bacteria. The effectiveness of these materials has been demonstrated in two different water flow configurations, rotation in storage containers and incorporation in active or passive filters. These results clearly indicate that incorporation of AgNP onto porous carbon structures is a promising approach to fluid disinfection. There is ample scope for future refinement of these materials through modification of silver concentration, surface areas, flow rates, and/or electric fields.
Dynamo macrodynamics in rotating stratified fluids

Abstract The linear solvability conditions are found for any field of force leading to steady motion in a stratified rotating medium. A general solution for such motion is determined. For the Lorentz force, it is shown that a unique relation between all axisymmetric poloidal and toroidal magnetic fields is specified. A path to solutions for the non-linear α-dynamo stability problem compatible with these constraints is outlined.
Can nucleic acid amplification tests be used to test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in microbicide trials

Summary: Microbicides may interfere with detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) in urine samples from women who use microbicides. The inhibitory effects of BufferGel, PRO2000 and PRO2000 placebo, in urine samples, were determined by nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Uninfected urine was inoculated with different concentrations (10 5 ‐10 1 organisms/mL); microbicides were added to achieve final concentrations from 5% to 0.1%. Specimens were tested using strand displacement amplification (SDA) for Ct and Ng. Samples with BufferGel demonstrated no inhibition. Samples with PRO2000 showed inhibition at the 5% concentration when tested for Ct, whereas for Ng, PRO2000 showed inhibition at 5%, 2% and some 1% concentrations. The placebo showed no inhibition when detecting Ct, and variable inhibition at the 5% and 2% concentrations for Ng. The potential inhibitory effects of microbicides on the NAATs selected for detection of Ct and Ng should be considered in clinical trials involving topical microbicides.
The Power of a Coalition and Payoff Disbursement in Three-Person Negotiable Conflicts

A descriptive model is presented for n-person negotiable conflicts represented by games in characteristic function form. It measures the power of a coalition by a generalized cooperative standard of fairness (Maschler, 1963a), which requires the independent estimation of a single parameter. Stability in allocating payoff within a coalition is achieved by equalizing the differences between a player’s payoff and his power for all members of the coalition. Estimation procedures for α and measures of goodness of fit of the model are provided, and the relationships between the model and previously advocated solution concepts are explored. The model is then examined in a review of the outcomes of nine previously published experiments using 3-person games in characteristic function form.
Multilayer adsorption isotherm study of Ar films on boron nitride.

We have measured multilayer isotherms for Ar films adsorbed on BN between 65 and 80 K. We have found reentrant layering for the third and fourth layers of the films. We have also found individual-layer melting transitions for the second and third layers. We constructed a phase diagram for the system in the region studied