cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Crisis Gets Served Before Anything Else”: Structural constraints on integrating lgbt consciousness‐raising into antiviolence work

This article explores structural constraints on knowledge production and practice among volunteer members of a community-based coalition in a southern U.S. state that addresses intimate partner violence among those whom identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). Male violence against women is a serious social problem and sufficient support systems are lacking. The availability of competent support systems for LGBT-identified persons affected by intimate partner violence is even grimmer. In response to this epidemic, advocacy organizations have responded through policy, advocacy, service provision, education, and training. This article focuses on one community-based coalition to explore the ways hegemonic discourses interplay with organizational structure, fear, and a crisis mode orientation to shape the ways people advocate for social change and justice causes. This ethnographic research reveals the ways sociopolitical structures constrain members' willingness to explore alternatives outside of the hegemonic frameworks guiding understandings of and responses to intimate partner violence.
Detecting element specific electrons from a single cobalt nanocluster with synchrotron x-ray scanning tunneling microscopy

We use a nanofabricated scanning tunneling microscope tip as a detector to investigate local X-ray induced tunneling and electron emission from a single cobalt nanocluster on a Au(111) surface. The tip-detector is positioned a few angstroms above the nanocluster, and ramping the incident X-ray energy across the Co photoabsorption K-edge enables the detection of element specific electrons. Atomic-scale spatial dependent changes in the X-ray absorption cross section are directly measured by taking the X-ray induced current as a function of X-ray energy. From the measured sample and tip currents, element specific X-ray induced current components can be separated and thereby the corresponding yields for the X-ray induced processes of the single cobalt nanocluster can be determined. The detection of element specific synchrotron X-ray induced electrons of a single nanocluster opens an avenue for materials characterization on a one particle at-a-time basis.
Feeling Pedagogy: Parenting and Educating in the Flesh

This chapter documents the experiences of two African American professors and parents as they confront racism during story time with their child. In the flashpoint moment they narrate, the authors illuminate the indiscriminate ways that race and racism show up in the everyday lives of people of color, including the home space. The authors describe the vulnerability that comes from the realization that racism is everywhere, can manifest at any time, and always leaves behind an emotional toll.
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

This chapter provides a review of the spectrum of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), including its epidemiology, clinical and radiographic presentation, outcomes, and unique situations related to IPA. Over 200 species of Aspergillus are known, although only a few have been reported as pathogenic to humans. The more commonly reported human pathogens include A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, and A. terreus. Of these, A. fumigatus is the most common species to cause invasive disease. Persons at highest risk of development of disease include those with hematologic malignancies, recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT; more so with allogeneic than autologous), and recipients of solid organ transplants (SOT). Pleuritic chest pain and hemoptysis may be present, as can altered mental status and respiratory failure. The availability of molecular markers of aspergillosis (galactomannan) allowed investigators to follow a group of 19 patients with IA during the time of neutrophil recovery. The majority of patients survived without any changes in antifungal therapy, and in the three deaths, autopsy revealed no evidence of IPA. Important issues that remain to be addressed include elucidation of the optimal monitoring strategy (diagnostic test of choice, frequency, specimen tested), the role of combination antifungal therapy in the treatment of the disease, and the role of novel adjunctive therapies in disease management. Risk groups are expanding beyond the traditional groups of hematologic malignancy patients and HSCT recipients to include rheumatologic patients on chronic corticosteroid therapy and patients with a prolonged intensive care unit admission.
Soft tissue evaluation of contemporary Caucasian and African American female facial profiles.

Abstract Previous studies suggest that esthetic Caucasian profiles exhibit fuller lips than the norm for their race, while esthetic African American profiles are similar to those of esthetic Caucasians. The present study was undertaken to compare the profiles of female Caucasian and African American models and their nonmodel counterparts. Four groups of 30 subjects were evaluated: Caucasian models [CM], Caucasian controls [CC], African American models [AM], and African American controls [AC]. The models' profiles were photographed from current fashion magazines, the photos were scanned, and 17 landmarks were digitized. Each profile was standardized for size and oriented along the N'-Sn' line on a Macintosh 6115CD computer. Control photographs were processed in a similar manner. Twenty-six variables were measured for each profile. Means, ranges, and standard deviations were computed along with unpaired, two-tailed Student's t-tests (p<0.05) to evaluate group differences. The results showed that for the AM ...
Contagion and Chaos: Disease, Ecology, and National Security in the Era of Globalization

Historians from Thucydides to William McNeill have pointed to the connections between disease and civil society. Political scientists have investigated the relationship of public health to governance, introducing the concept of health security. In Contagion and Chaos, Andrew Price-Smith offers the most comprehensive examination yet of disease through the lens of national security. Extending the analysis presented in his earlier book The Health of Nations, Price-Smith argues that epidemic disease represents a direct threat to the power of a state, eroding prosperity and destabilizing both its internal politics and its relationships with other states. He contends that the danger of an infectious pathogen to national security depends on lethality, transmissability, fear, and economic damage. Moreover, warfare and ecological change contribute to the spread of disease and act as "disease amplifiers." Price-Smith presents a series of case studies to illustrate his argument: the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-19 (about which he advances the controversial claim that the epidemic contributed to the defeat of Germany and Austria); HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa (he contrasts the worst-case scenario of Zimbabwe with the more stable Botswana); bovine spongiform encephalopathy (also known as mad cow disease); and the SARS contagion of 2002-03. Emerging infectious disease continues to present a threat to national and international security, Price-Smith argues, and globalization and ecological change only accelerate the danger.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound Improves Shared Diagnostic Understanding Between Patients and Providers.

OBJECTIVES Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an integral part of the physical examination. The effect on shared understanding of adding POCUS to the traditional examination is unknown, yet this is an often-described benefit of POCUS. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the use of POCUS improves shared understanding between providers and patients about patients' diagnoses. METHODS This was a prospective controlled trial involving a convenience sample of hospitalized adults. Providers in the control arm performed usual care without POCUS, whereas providers in the study arm had the option to add POCUS. Surveys were administered to the subjects and their providers with questions on patient understanding of symptoms, diagnosis, and main contributors to their health problem. Two independent physicians rated the degree of shared understanding between patient and provider surveys. RESULTS Of the 64 patients enrolled in the study, 60 had complete data. There was increased shared understanding between providers and patients with respect to their diagnosis (POCUS 9.56 ± 0.63, non-POCUS 7.62 ± 1.63, P < 0.005) and main contributors (POCUS 9.65 ± 0.77, non-POCUS 8.30 ± 1.13, P < 0.005) in the POCUS arm compared with the non-POCUS arm. Patients also increased the self-rating of their understanding of their health problem in the POCUS arm. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that using POCUS improves patients' understanding of the diagnostic process. POCUS may be uniquely poised to enhance patients' understanding of and engagement in that process.
On Statistical Inference with Random Sets

In contributing to the foundations of statistical inference with set-valued observations, we establish the convergence of a sequence of cores of capacity functionals, in the Hausdorff distance induced by Prohorov distance, in terms of Choquet week convergence of capacity functionals.
Aneuploidy induced by agricultural pesticides: where do we stand?

Even though aneuploidy is one of the worst afflictions of man, efforts to develop a mammalian test system for the study of induced nondisjunction have largely failed. A few scattered successes usually deal with Drosophila, fungi, plants, and mammalian cell cultures. The present paper discusses possible avenues to be explored for developing reliable test systems. These include: (i) epidemiological studies, (ii) analysis of fluorescent Y bodies, (iii) direct visualization of sperm chromosomes, (iv) analysis of out-of-phase centromere separation sequences, and (v) the soybean spot test.
Interactions Between Technology, Profits, Welfare and Profit Effects of Mergers with Trade Restrictions

The objective of this study is to analyse the effects of trade liberalisation on profits of a capital-intensive exporting country and a labour-intensive one with different cost functions and the welfare of the importing country, as well as the effects of trade liberalisation on the firm-level profit-enhancing effects of mergers, under an oligopolistic competition framework. The results show that output is increasing in the degree of trade liberalisation and price falls with it. However, the effects of freer trade on profits of the exporting countries are ambiguous and depend on the net gains in profit from free trade. Given same level of output for both countries, a sufficiently high output would bring more profits to the capital-intensive country than to the labour-intensive country. Welfare of the importing country, at least within this framework, is increasing in the degree of trade liberalisation, provided that the initial level of restrictions in trade are not too high. Mergers, as considered in this paper, cause an increase in the firm-level profits. The extent to which they enhance the profits is inversely proportional to the number of firms in the country. With a freer trade, the profit effect of mergers depends on the extent to which the fall in profit due to fall in price outweighs the gain in profit due to increased output. A firm in the capital-intensive country can gain more from a merger than one in the labour-intensive country, if the aggregate output is at sufficiently large scale.
Steric Repulsion Forces Contributed by PEGylation of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Reduce Gelation and Aggregation at the Silicone Oil-Water Interface

Silicone oil, used as a lubricating coating in pharmaceutical containers, has been implicated as a cause of therapeutic protein aggregation. After adsorbing to silicone oil-water interfaces, proteins may form interfacial gels, which can be transported into solution as insoluble aggregates if the interfaces are perturbed. Mechanical interfacial perturbation of both monomeric recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (rhIL-1ra) and PEGylated rhIL-1ra (PEG rhIL-1ra) in siliconized syringes resulted in losses of soluble monomeric protein. However, the loss of rhIL-1ra was twice that for PEG rhIL-1ra; even though in solution, PEG rhIL-1ra had a lower ΔGunf and exhibited a more perturbed tertiary structure at the interface. Net protein-protein interactions in solution for rhIL-1ra were attractive but increased steric repulsion because of PEGylation led to net repulsive interactions for PEG rhIL-1ra. Attractive interactions for rhIL-1ra were associated with increases in intermolecular β-sheet content at the interface, whereas no intermolecular β-sheet structures were observed for adsorbed PEG rhIL-1ra. rhIL-1ra formed interfacial gels that were 5 times stronger than those formed by PEG rhIL-1ra. Thus, the steric repulsion contributed by the PEGylation resulted in decreased interfacial gelation and in the reduction of aggregation, in spite of the destabilizing effects of PEGylation on the protein's conformational stability.
Solar hydrogen production using direct coupling of SO2 depolarized electrolyser to a solar photovoltaic system

Abstract To obtain clean hydrogen production from a renewable energy source, direct coupling of photovoltaic and SO2 depolarized electrolysis (SDE) is one of the most promising alternative options. Both incident solar radiation variability and operating SDE parameters can affect the performance of such system. However, a big challenge is to have an efficient relative sizing. In fact, relative sizing is always a key issue when coupling renewable electric sources to SDE electrolysers. The aim is to determine the operation conditions and the optimal size of the direct coupling of a photovoltaic array to a SDE that ensure maximum hydrogen production while minimizing the energy consumption. In this study, a detailed two part-modeling approach has been used to estimate a system relative sizing for hydrogen production in a desired location. First, a simple model based on the extraction of the maximum power delivered by the photovoltaic array as function of temperature conditions and solar irradiation is developed. The model results are validated with experimental data of commercial PV module Second and in order to predict the maximum hydrogen production of SO2 depolarized electrolysis as a function of the consumed power, the SDE polarization curve is determined using a model and validated by experimental data. For the site of Bouzareah (Algiers), the results indicate that, for the case of global solar radiation on horizontal surface, the optimal combination of the integrated system is of one stack of 14 cells mounted in series and 17 stacks of 14 cells connected in parallel. In this case the global annual loss is 14.11%. For the same site but in the case of the global solar radiation on tilted surface, though the best sizing is still the same combination of series/parallel cells, the global annual loss is 20.80%.
Developing Tools for Multimessenger Gravitational Wave Astronomy

We present work in progress to craft open-sourced numerical tools that will enable the calculation of electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational waveforms: the {\tt GiRaFFE} (General Relativistic Force-Free Electrodynamics) code. {\tt GiRaFFE} numerically solves the general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics system of equations in the force-free limit, to model the magnetospheres surrounding compact binaries, in order (1) to characterize the nonlinear interaction between the source and its surrounding magnetosphere, and (2) to evaluate the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational waves, including the production of collimated jets. We apply this code to various configurations of spinning black holes immersed in external magnetic field, in order to both test our implementation, and to explore the effect of strong gravitational field, high spins and of misalignment between the magnetic field lines an black hole spin, on the electromagnetic output and the collimation of Poynting jets. We will extend our work to collisions of black holes immersed in external magnetic field, which are prime candidates for coincident detection in both gravitational and electromagnetic spectra.
Law of Large Numbers

Let X1, ..., X n be a random sample from N(μ, σ2) and define \( % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagCart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9 % vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x % fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaam4vaiabg2 % da9maabmaabaGaaGymaiaac+cacaWGUbaacaGLOaGaayzkaaGaeu4O % dm1aa0baaSqaaiaadMgacqGH9aqpcaaIXaaabaGaamOBaaaakiaadI % fadaWgaaWcbaGaamyAaaqabaaaaa!4314! W = \left( {1/n} \right)\Sigma _{i = 1}^n{X_i} \)X i . We know that W is N(μ, σ2/n). We need Chebyshev’s in-equality $$ % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagaart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqipu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9 % vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x % fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaamiuamaabm % aabaGaaiixaiaadEfacqGHsislcqaH8oqBcaGG8bGaeyyzImRaeyic % I4macaGLOaGaayzkaaGaeyizIm6aaSaaaeaacqaHdpWCdaahaaWcbe % qaaiaaikdaaaaakeaacaWGUbGaeyicI48aaWbaaSqabeaacaaIYaaa % aaaakiaacYcaaaa!4969! P\left( {\backslash W - \mu | \geqslant \in } \right) \leqslant \frac{{\sigma ^2 }} {{n \in ^2 }}, $$ (14.1) , for any ϵ > 0.
Staffing Levels and COVID-19 Cases and Outbreaks in U.S. Nursing Homes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nursing homes have experienced a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Early analyses indicated that baseline quality was not predictive of nursing home cases, but a more nuanced study of the role of nurse staffing is needed to target resources and better respond to future outbreaks. We sought to understand whether baseline nurse staffing is associated with the presence of COVID-19 in nursing homes and whether staffing impacts outbreak severity. DESIGN: We analyzed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) facility-level data on COVID-19 cases and deaths merged with nursing home and county characteristics. We used logistic regressions to examine the associations of staffing levels from Nursing Home Compare with the outcomes of any COVID-19 cases and, conditional on at least one case, an outbreak. Among facilities with at least one case, we modeled count of deaths using hurdle negative binomial-2 regressions. SETTING: All nursing homes in the CMS COVID-19 Nursing Home Dataset with reports that passed the CMS Quality Assurance Check as of June 25, 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of nursing homes that met COVID-19 reporting requirements. MEASUREMENTS: A nursing home is defined as having at least one case is if one or more confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case among residents or staff is reported. Conditional on at least one case, we examine two outcomes: an outbreak, defined as confirmed cases/certified beds >10% or total confirmed and suspected cases/beds >20% or >10 deaths, and the total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 among residents and staff. RESULTS: A total of 71% of the 13,167 nursing homes that reported COVID-19 data as of June 14 had at least one case among residents and/or staff. Of those, 27% experienced an outbreak. Higher registered nurse-hours are associated with a higher probability of experiencing any cases. However, among facilities with at least one case, higher nurse aide (NA) hours and total nursing hours are associated with a lower probability of experiencing an outbreak and with fewer deaths. The strongest predictor of cases and outbreaks in nursing homes is per capita cases in the county. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of COVID-19 in the community remains the strongest predictor of COVID-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes, but higher NA hours and total nursing hours may help contain the number of cases and deaths.
Men, Women, and Policy Preferences:The Great Reversal in Partisan Alignment

This paper examines a major social cleavage—sex—in its changing relationship to policy preferences, as this relationship shapes and is shaped by political parties and the partisan attachments of men and women in American society. Some social cleavages come almost pre-packaged in these regards, as with social class and social welfare or racial background and civil rights. Others have less immediate but equally insistent implications, as with religious denomination and cultural values. Though all three leave substantial room for further impacts from political parties and party attachment. Sex is less obvious in its expected relationships. Better data coupled with an analytic framework designed to address the changing relationship between social cleavages and policy preferences by way of partisan attachment allow a fresh approach to sex as a social cleavage in American politics.
Effect of Laser Scan Length on the Microstructure of Additively Manufactured 17-4PH Stainless Steel Thin-Walled Parts

Abstract Components with varying dimensions are found in numerous applications. The current work examines how microstructures and phases change for additively manufactured 17-4PH thin walls as a function of laser path length, path direction, and wall thickness. Two sample sets were designed, each consisting of four walls with thicknesses of 6.4 mm to 0.8 mm. In the first set, the wall axes were parallel to the scan axes, such that the laser path length varied from layer to layer with the laser path either being parallel or perpendicular to the wall. In the second set, the walls lay at 45° to the scan axes, such that the laser path had the same length in all layers and gradually decreased with wall thickness. Substantial changes in phase stability and microstructure are observed as the wall thickness decreases, with ferritic phases and coarse grains changing to fine grains and an increasing volume fraction of austenite. These changes are attributed to changes in the local temperature-time profile as the length of the laser paths change from 19 mm to 0.8 mm. These observations demonstrate the range of microstructure and phase control options available in additive manufacturing with judicious selections of part layouts on build plates and of laser beam directions.
Network Reconfiguration Impact on Renewable Energy System and Energy Storage System in Day-Ahead Scheduling.

Renewable energy sources (RES) has gained significant interest in recent years. However, due to favourable weather conditions, the RES is installed in remote locations with limited transmission capacity. As a result, it can lead to major curtailments of the free resource when the network is congested. Therefore, energy storage system (ESS) is considered as a viable solution to store energy and address the intermittent nature of RES though ESS is often distributed and may not be geographically close to RES. Therefore, ESS may also suffer from limited transmission capacity due to network congestion. Currently, grid operators overlook network flexibility as a congestion management tool in day-ahead scheduling. This paper addresses these issues and studies the benefits of introducing network reconfiguration (NR) as a preventive and corrective action for transmission flexibility in day-ahead stochastic security-constrained unit-commitment (SSCUC-PC) while considering a multi-scenario RES output. Simulation results demonstrate that NR can lower total system cost, reduce RES curtailments and utilize ESS for better impact by alleviating network congestion in both base-case and post-contingency networks.
“This happens all the time”: a Qualitative Study of General Internists’ Experiences with Discriminatory Patients

Workplace discrimination negatively affects physicians of color personally and professionally. Although the occurrence of discrimination from patients has been visible in social media, popular press, and personal essays, scant research exists on patients as a source of discrimination directed at physicians of color. To explore practicing general internists’ experiences observing or interacting with patients exhibiting discriminatory behavior directed at physicians of color. A qualitative study with in-depth, semi-structured, one-on-one telephone interviews conducted and recorded between May and September 2019. A purposive sample of 24 general internists practicing at 12 academic health centers in the USA: 14 self-identified as White and 10 as a physician of color, which included Asian, Black, Native American, and self-identified other race. Four coders analyzed the transcribed and verified interview text; thematic analysis was used to inductively identify cohesive themes and subthemes. Analyses revealed four major themes: (1) assumption that a legitimate doctor is White, male, and able-bodied; (2) legacy of the Black experience; (3) working through the struggle of discrimination; and (4) ethical dilemma of providing care to discriminatory patients. In addition to discrimination from patients based on a physician’s race or ethnicity, participants described experiencing or observing discrimination based on a physician’s gender and disability status. Participants generally expressed a need for greater support from colleagues and more guidance from institutional policies. General internists practicing in academic settings reported observing or experiencing discrimination from patients based on the physician’s race, ethnicity, gender (or their intersection), and disability status and the ethical dilemma of providing care to such patients. These results contribute to growing evidence of the need for institutions to better support an increasingly diverse physician workforce with policies and specific guidance to help physicians respond to discrimination from patients while still providing quality care.
A layer-by-layer quality monitoring framework for 3D printing

Abstract Technology development in additive manufacturing is accelerating transition from mass production to mass customization. In this transition, automation in all stages of production including quality control is a key. In this study, a layer-wise framework is proposed to monitor quality of 3D printing parts based on top-view images. The proposed statistical process monitoring method starts with self-start control charts that require only two successful initial prints. Answering the challenges of image processing due to lighting, a Machine Learning (ML) method is adopted to separate each layer from the printing bed. A sample image is compared to the standard image from a good part at each layer. The number of pixels in the difference images is fed into the proposed control charts to monitor printing process at each layer. An Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) chart based on the number of pixels is used for process monitoring at each layer. Once enough parts have been printed, homogeneous layers are clustered to reduce the number of control charts needed for process monitoring. Experimental results based on a 3-inch diameter basket part show that the proposed framework based on continuously monitoring of layer-by-layer images is able of detecting small changes in printing process.
Premature Deindustrialization in Developing Countries and Implications for Economic Growth

The examination in this paper is with regard to developing countries, and with regard to deindustrialization in the output share of manufacturing (both at current and constant prices). The question is whether the falling output share of manufacturing across time in developing countries –whether it occurs due to the determinant trade openness? In that, is there a steady decline in manufacturing output share both at current and constant prices, and what are the potential reasons behind it. Certain aspects of deindustrialization in developing countries will be explored in this paper. The first examination is that – by using a select developing country group consisting of 98 countries, the relationship between manufacturing output shares at current and constant prices and the GDP per capita income will be examined to prove the inverted-U hypothesis. It will be followed with an analysis of the different determinants of deindustrialization and how those determinants behave with respect to developing countries.
Visual SLAM for Asteroid Relative Navigation

This paper focuses on the application of visual SLAM for the purpose of precise autonomous navigation around an asteroid. We develop a factor graph-based approach allowing for incremental growth and fusion of sensor orientation measurements, Earth-relative inertial position measurements, as well as in-situ monocular camera imagery-based measurements, with an emphasis on the initialization step. Crucially, and in contrast to typical simulated scenarios found in the literature, we validate our approach using real imagery from NASA’s DAWN mission to asteroid Vesta, along with navigation comparison data from the NASA NAIF SPICE kernels. Quantitative comparisons show impressive accuracy for a typical target characterization phase segment, both in terms of the estimated trajectory as well as in terms of the tracked estimated landmarks. Based on these results, this paper further supports the viability of autonomous SLAM-based navigation for deep-space asteroid missions.
Failure in cervical total disc arthroplasty: single institution experience, systematic review of the literature, and proposal of the RUSH TDA failure classification system.

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT Cervical total disc arthroplasty (TDA) is an alternative procedure to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion that facilitates neural decompression while both preserving motion of the spinal unit and decreasing the risk for degenerative changes at adjacent segments. However, due to its more recent introduction in clinical practice and low complication rates, the modes by which TDA may fail remain to be described. PURPOSE This study sought to identify the modes and frequencies of cervical TDA failure in order to propose a novel classification system. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective Cohort and Systematic Review. PATIENT SAMPLE Patients who underwent single or two-level TDA for cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy at a single institution and in the literature of medium and large prospective studies. OUTCOME MEASURES Cervical TDA failure, defined as subsequent surgical intervention at the index segment. METHODS This study retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent single or two-level TDA for cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy at a single institution to identify the potential implant failure modes. A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective data in the literature was then performed to further supplement failure mode identification and to describe the rates at which the various failure types occurred. Statistical analysis included between-group comparisons of Non-Failed and Failed patients and frequencies of each failure type among Failed patients. RESULTS A retrospective review at our institution of 169 patients (201 levels) identified eight failures, for a failure rate of 4.7%. Additionally, seven patients were revised who had the primary surgery at an outside institution. The systematic review of 3976 patients (4525 levels) identified 165 (4.1%) additional failures. Using this data, six primary failure types were classified, with several subtypes. These include recurrent or persistent index-level stenosis (Type I); migration (Type II) presenting as gross extrusion (A) or endplate failure with subsidence/acute fracture (B); instability (Type III) due to mechanical loosening (A), septic loosening (B), or device fracture (C); device motion loss (Type IV) such as “locking” of the device in kyphosis; implantation error (Type V) due to malposition (A) or improper sizing (B); and wear (Type VI) either without osteolysis (A) or with wear-particle-induced osteolysis (B). Stenosis (Type I) was the most common mode of failure found both through retrospective review and in the literature. CONCLUSIONS Cervical TDA fails through six primary mechanisms. While rates of certain failures requiring subsequent surgical intervention are low, it is possible that these complications may become more prevalent upon further longitudinal observation. Thus, future application and validation of this classification system is warranted to evaluate how failure frequencies change over time and with larger patient samples.
Sketch and Speak: An Oral, Written, and Graphic Expository Strategy Intervention for Secondary Students

Purpose This clinical focus article describes an intervention to improve comprehension, retention, and expression of the ideas and language of expository texts. Sketch and Speak intervention links ...
Energy dependence of O-antigen synthesis in Salmonella typhimurium.

Abstract The uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol prevents in vivo synthesis of O antigen in Salmonella typhimurium by inhibiting the first reaction of the pathway, formation of galactosyl-pyrophosphoryl-undecaprenol. Inhibition was observed only in intact cells; dinitrophenol had no effect on activity of the synthase enzyme in isolated membrane fractions. In vivo inhibition could not be explained by changes in intracellular nucleotide pools or a shift in the equilibrium of the reaction and appeared to be specific for the first step in the pathway. Neither the subsequent mannosyl transferase, which catalyzes formation of the trisaccharide-lipid intermediate, mannosyl-rhamnosyl-galactosyl-pyrophosphoryl-undecaprenol, nor O-antigen polymerase was inhibited. In addition, incorporation of galactose into core lipopolysaccharide was only modestly inhibited under conditions in which O-antigen synthesis was abolished. The results suggest that maintenance of proton motive force is required for access of substrate, UDP-galactose and/or undecaprenyl phosphate, to the active site of the galactosyl-pyrophosphoryl-undecaprenol synthase enzyme.
Integration of remote sensing and crop growth modeling for nitrogen management decision support in corn

This dissertation describes efforts to move toward a completely integrated remote sensing and crop growth modeling tool for developing precision nitrogen management recommendations for corn. Aerial hyperspectral remote sensing imagery collected throughout the 2004 growing season was used to estimate com plant stand density, and a machine vision system was used to map com population on the ground. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the ability of all combinations of three reflectance bands to estimate com plant population at resolutions of 2 m, 6 m, and 10 m. Coefficients of multiple determination of up to 0.82 were achieved in this endeavor. Although some limitations apply, remote sensing can be used as a tool to provide com plant population inputs for crop growth simulations. A cross validation technique and bivariate confidence ellipses were used to evaluate CERES Maize simulations of spatial com yield variability across an Iowa cornfield. Results indicated that the model performed most poorly when using the wettest or driest growing seasons to validate the model, because the model parameters fitted under the conditions of moderate growing seasons were less flexible for simulating yield in growing seasons with more extreme weather. Results also indicated that topography affects the model performance spatially. CERES-Maize was also used to simulate yield and unused nitrogen remaining in the soil at harvest for a sequence of historical weather data. Simulations were run for 13 spring-applied nitrogen rates over a cornfield divided into 100 0.2 ha grid cells. A methodology based on cumulative probability distributions was then developed to use model output for assessing the link between yield and nitrogen left behind for various nitrogen rates in each grid cell. This methodology can be used to develop precision nitrogen management strategies that address both the economic and environmental concerns of nitrogen management practices. Although the three projects in this dissertation furthered the development of remote sensing, crop growth modeling, and decision support technologies, more work is required to obtain a completely integrated tool for development of precision nitrogen management strategies in midwestem cornfields.
Ligand-induced conformational changes modify proteolytic cleavage of the adipocyte insulin-sensitive glucose transporter

The transport conformation of the human erythrocyte glucose transporter (GLUT1) modifies rates of proteolytic cleavage of this protein by a variety of enzymes. We investigated the effects of ligand-induced conformational change on the susceptibility to enzymic cleavage of the insulin-sensitive rat adipocyte glucose transporter (GLUT4). A GLUT4-enriched slow sedimenting microsomal fraction was prepared from basal adipocytes and subjected to PAGE and immunoblotting. The GLUT4 protein was detected in these immunoblots with a C-terminal-specific antiserum as an M(r)-46,000-50,000 doublet. GLUT1 protein was not detected by a GLUT1-specific antiserum in these membranes. Tryptic digestion caused loss of the GLUT4 signal in immunoblots in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. Low-M(r) membrane-bound fragments were not observed in electrophoretic gels, whether detection was attempted by immunoblotting or by counting radioactivity in gel slices following photolabelling with [3H]cytochalasin B. Transport-specific ligands known to induce an outward-facing conformation in the human erythrocyte GLUT1 protein retarded cleavage of the GLUT4 protein by submaximal concentrations of trypsin, whereas ligands known to induce an inward-facing conformation increased the extent of cleavage. The transported substrate D-glucose retarded tryptic cleavage of GLUT4. This result contrasts with the known behaviour of GLUT1, in which D-glucose accelerates cleavage. Cleavage of GLUT4 by thermolysin was also retarded by the outward-binding analogue 4,6-O-ethylidene glucose. These results show that the conformational sensitivity to proteolysis of GLUT4 mirrors that of GLUT1, except that the glucose-loaded GLUT4 has a different steady-state configuration, which may reflect underlying kinetic differences between the two proteins.
THE DESIGN OF DATABASES AND OTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR HUMANITIES SCHOLARS: THE GETTY ONLINE SEARCHING PROJECT REPORT NO. 4

Based on the results of a two‐year study of online searching by humanities scholars, conducted by the Getty Art History Information Program, implications are drawn for the design of information products for the humanities. Scientists and humanities scholars not only have different kinds of information needs, they also relate to their own literatures infundamentally different ways. As a result, humanities researchers need information products that do not arise out of the conventional assumptions and framework that have produced the familiar databases and other information products in the sciences and industry. These characteristic differences of humanities scholars are first discussed; then design implications are considered in the following areas: design and content of databases, indexing vocabulary in humanities resources, and interfaces and command languages.
Folate content of different edible portions of vegetables and fruits

Purpose – Significant differences may occur in the nutrient content of different edible portions of vegetables and fruits. The purpose of this study was to screen the folate content of different edible portions of some common fruits and vegetables.Design/methodology/approach – 5‐methyltetrahydrofolate was measured using high‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in composites of asparagus tips and stems, broccoli florets and stems, the bulb and leaves of leeks, and the peel and flesh of apples, pears, peaches, and potatoes.Findings – Folate content was significantly higher (25 µg/100 g) in asparagus tips vs stems or whole vegetable and leek bulbs compared to leaves or the whole plant, on an as‐consumed basis. No significant difference was found in the edible portions within the other products.Practical implications – Selective consumption of asparagus tips and leek bulbs would increase folate intake compared to the whole vegetable or the stems and leaves. Consideration should be given to pos...
Interelectrode coherences from nearest-neighbor and spherical harmonic expansion computation of laplacian of scalp potential

Abstract Interchannel coherence is a measure of spatial extent of and timing relationships among cerebral electroencephalogram (EEG) generators. Interchannel coherence of referentially recorded potentials includes components due to volume conduction and reference site activity. The laplacian of the potential is reference independent and decreases the contribution of volume conduction. Interchannel coherences of the laplacian should, therefore, be less than those of referentially recorded potentials. However, methods used to compute the laplacian involve forming linear combinations of multiple recorded potentials, which may inflate interchannel coherences. We compared 3 methods of computing the laplacian: (1) modified Hjorth (4 equidistant neighbors to each electrode), (2) Taylor's series (4 nonequidistant neighbors), and (3) spherical harmonic expansion (SHE). Average interchannel coherence introduced by computing the laplacian was less for nearest-neighbor methods (0.0207 ± 0.0766) but still acceptable for the SHE method (0.0337 ± 0.0865). Average interchannel coherence for simulated EEG (random data plus a common 10 Hz signal) was less for laplacian than for referential data because of removal of the common referential signal. Interchannel coherences of background EEG and partial seizure activity were less with the laplacian (any method) than with referential recordings. Laplacians calculated from the SHE do not demonstrate excessively large interchannel coherences, as have been reported for laplacians from spherical splines.
Dielectronic satellite spectrum of heliumlike vanadium.

K x-ray spectra of heliumlike vanadium and associated dielectronic satellite emission from lithiumlike, berylliumlike, and boronlike vanadium have been observed with a high-resolution crystal spectrometer from the Lawrence Livermore electron-beam ion trap. Measurements include dielectronic satellite spectra from the KLL, KLM, KLN, KLO, and KLP resonance. Many transitions are identified that are unresolved in plasma observations, and transition energies are measured with high accuracy. Comparisons of calculated and observed intensities of selected transitions show few differences.
Effects of modulators of myosin light-chain kinase activity in single smooth muscle cells

PHOSPHORYLATION of myosin light chains by a calmodulin-myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) pathway is considered to be responsible for coupling increased calcium concentration with contraction in smooth muscle1,2. This simple view has, however, recently been questioned3–6. To test this hypothesis directly, we microinjected individual smooth muscle cells with modulators of the MLCK pathway while measuring contraction and calcium-ion concentration. Injection of a constitutively active proteolysed form of MLCK causes contraction but no change in calcium concentra-tion. By contrast, injection of peptide inhibitors of MLCK blocks contraction in response to K+ depolarization, despite the fact that the change in calcium concentration in response to stimulation was enhanced over controls. These results provide a direct demonstration at the level of a single cell that activation of the calmodulin–MLCK pathway is both necessary and sufficient to trigger contraction of smooth muscle.
Double blind study of hydroxyzine, promethazine, secobarbital, and a placebo for preanaestbetic medication

H'evaoxYzmE (Atarax@, Vlstarll@) has been under ehmcal trial to determine its efllcaey for pre-anaesthetae medacaUon on the bas.~ of its purported ne~oseda~jve, antihistaminic, anhspasmodle, anta-emet~c, and anaesthellc potentaatmg properties ~4 Laboratory studies have shown that the intravenous mleetmn of hydr0xyzme causes a transmnt fall m blood pressure, an increase m coronary blood flow, and suppressmn of epinephrine-reduced ventrmula~l arr]hythmms 7 The pmtectare effect of hydroxyzme against arrhythmms is unrehable s In ehmeal tests, the therapeutic sedative dose has ~nrtually no antasml0gogue effect, 9 nor doe~s It chsturb the blood pressure even when circulatory stress of 60-degree head-up tilt is used t0 No undesirable side effects have been reported chmeally Promethazme (Phenergan@) has been used widely for pre-anaesthetm medacatlon dmmg the past ten years, ~x-~ paracularly when it as desirable to provade an antflustammm effect a7.~s It ~s a potent sedative, as deltermmed by the potentmi~on of ttnopental anaesthesm, s as a powerful antlslalogogue on account of its marked antxchohnerglc properties, ~9 ~0 and it has a mmmaal effect on the ctrculatory response to hlt 2~ The only drawback to ~ts routine u~e as the frequent complaint by patients of a "twltchy" feehng, whmh appears to be a common effeci of phenottnazme denvataves 2z 2~ Secobarbltal ~s a short-acting hypnotxc sedattve that has been used w~dely' for pre-anaesthet~e medmataon for many years It ~s recogmzed to be effective and has va-tually no undesirable effects, except that oceasmnally an elderly patient becomes confused during the half-asleep state that as reduced, whmh increases the ala~zn ff the patient as m an unfamflmr env~rorltment Tlh~s response as not uncommon w~th most of the barbiturate sedattves ~z Th~s report describes a double-bhnd study m whaeh hydroxyzme, secobarb~tal and a placebo (coded unlmowns) were compared w~th prornethazme (coded, but known) for pre-anaesthetac medmataon
Regulation of Microglial Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Response to Neuronal Injury

The regulation and substrate specificity of microglial phosphotyrosine (ptyr) increases accompanying motor neuron degeneration in the rat spinal cord induced by injection of the cytotoxic lectin, ricin, into sciatic nerve were examined using specific enzyme inhibitors, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analyses. Optical density measurements of immunostained sections show that microglial ptyr levels are elevated at 3 days postinjection. This period coincides with initial stages of neuronal degeneration, and ptyr levels are maximal at 7 days. We next asked whether this increase is due to increased tyrosine kinase or decreased tyrosine phosphatase activities by assaying ptyr immunostaining in animals that received osmotic pump infusion of the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, for the 7-day survival period. When compared to the control ventral horn, microglial ptyr on the experimental side was attenuated by at least 45% in the presence of herbimycin A. In order to identify microglial substrates undergoing increased tyrosine phosphorylation, Western blot analysis was performed on hemicord and punch biopsy samples from control and experimental sides following ricin injection. A subset of two proteins was identified whose increased ptyr was almost completely attenuated in the herbimycin-A-treated animals. We conclude that the data support earlier indications that upregulation of microglial tyrosine phosphorylation is a key early event in response to neuronal injury. Further, this upregulation is due to turning on tyrosine kinase activities, particularly nonreceptor kinases, and the end product is phosphorylation of a very limited number of substrates. This suggests the activation of specific tyrosine phosphorylation pathways, which may represent critical therapeutic intervention points, rather than a global response. The results are discussed in terms of recent cell culture models of microglial activation and earlier data demonstrating elevated microglial ptyr in neurodegenerative disease.