cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Factors for Complications After Revision of Failed Metal on Metal Hip Arthroplasty

Introduction: To date, there have been few reports of the results of revisions for failed metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties (MoM HA9s). These series have included relatively modest numbers, and classification of the severity of adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) has been under-reported. In this study, early outcomes and complications are analyzed as a function of pre-operative MRI grade and intra-operative ALTR severity to determine their prognostic value. Methods: This is a retrospective review of revisions of 121 failed MoM HA9s performed between 2008 and 2012. Indications for revision include ALTR (n = 97), loose cup (n = 13), and combined loose cup and ALTR (n = 11). When pre-operative MRI9s were available, these were graded according to Anderson9s system by 2 radiologists who were blinded to the clinical results. Intra-operative findings were graded for severity according to an ALTR classification. Post-operative complications were recorded. Correlations between pre-operative MRI grade, intra-operative ALTR classification and post-operative complications were analyzed using Spearman9s rank correlation. ALTR Classification: Type 0: No abnormal fluid or pseudotumor. Peri-articular structures intact. Type 1: Abnormal fluid and/or pseudotumor. Peri-articular structures disrupted but repairable. Type 2: Abnormal fluid and/or pseudotumor. Peri-articular structures disrupted and no meaningful repair possible. Type 3: Abnormal fluid and/or pseudotumor. Peri-articular structrues disrupted, no meaningful repair possible, AND significant necrosis involving abductor muscles. Results: The average time to revision was 47 months (range: 7–198 months). In cases where the cup required revision, the average increase in outer diameter was 4.1 mm (range: 2–10 mm). Average revision head size was 38 mm (range: 32–48 mm). 19 patients (16%) experienced at least one complication which included dislocation (n = 12/10%), infection (n = 6/5%), recurrent pseudotumor requiring surgery (n = 2/1.7%), and VTE (n = 1/0.9%). The pre-operative MRI grade correlated significantly with the intra-operative ALTR classification (p = 0.03), and both the MRI grade and ALTR classification correlated significantly with post-operative complications (p Conclusion: Revisions for failed MoM HA9s can be heterogenous with varying degrees of soft tissue compromise. Despite the use of large femoral head sizes in the current series, the overall dislocation rate was 10%. The pre-operative MRI grade and intra-operative ALTR classification have good prognostic significance and may alert the surgeon and patient to an increased potential for complications after surgery.
The Impact of Minimal to Mild Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults

The relationship between the pure-tone audiogram and the categorization of normal hearing or a mild hearing loss fails to account for other important non-audiometric factors that impact hearing abi...
Getting Rid of Weakness in the ICU: An Updated Approach to the Acute Management of Myasthenia Gravis and Guillain-Barré Syndrome

After prompt diagnosis, severe myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) usually require management in the intensive care unit. In the myasthenic patient, recognition of precipitating factors is paramount, and frequent monitoring of bulbar, upper airway, and/or respiratory muscle strength is needed to identify impending myasthenic crisis. Noninvasive ventilation can be attempted prior to intubation and mechanical ventilation in the setting of respiratory failure. Cholinesterase inhibitors should be discontinued, but resumed prior to extubation, and steroid dosage could be increased once the airway is secured. In GBS, hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring are essential; however, respiratory failure can develop rapidly and intubation with mechanical ventilation is often required and can be prolonged. Guillain-Barre syndrome can also be complicated by dysautonomia necessitating specific therapies. Prompt recognition and initiation of immunotherapy including intravenous immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis, together with supportive care including treatment of underlying infections and physical therapy, can improve outcomes in both myasthenic crisis and GBS.
Massacre: The Life and Death of the Paris Commune. By John Merriman. (New York, NY: Basic Books, 2014. Pp. xxvi, 327. $29.99.)

For students of the history of France, the appearance of a new book by John Merriman always is a welcome event. In the present work, the author brings to the revolt of the Paris Commune his consumm...
Initial assessment of the Precision ID Globalfiler Mixture ID panel on the Ion Torrent S5XL DNA sequencer and Converge v2.0 software

Abstract The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) participated in an assessment of the Precision ID Globalfiler early access Mixture ID Panel (v1.0), which consists of primers for amplification of over 100 forensically relevant loci in the human genome. Markers included in the panel can be divided into four classes: Short Tandem Repeats (STR) (29 autosomal STRs and 1 Y STR), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (42 autosomal and two Y chromosome), insertion/deletion polymorphisms (Indels) (Amelogenin and Y Indel rs2032678), and microhaplotype blocks (MH) (36 clusters of two to four SNPs). Several challenging sample types were sequenced and analyzed, including: artificially degraded DNA, multiple-contributor mixtures, mixtures of related individuals, and picogram input amounts of DNA. Performance characteristics, in the form of mixture deconvolution outcomes and likelihood ratio calculations, for the Mixture ID Panel STRs relative to state-of-the-art capillary electrophoresis methods are presented here.
Learning circulant support vector machines for fast image search

Binary hashing is an established approach for fast, approximate image search. It maps a query image to a binary vector so that Hamming distances approximate image similarities. Applying the hash function can be made fast by using a circulant matrix and the fast Fourier transform, but this circulant hash function must be learned optimally from training data. We show that a previously proposed learning algorithm based on optimization in the frequency domain is suboptimal. We show the problem can be solved exactly and efficiently by casting it as a convex maximum margin classification problem on a modified dataset. We confirm experimentally that this allows us to learn hash functions consisting of one or more circulant filters that provide better retrieval performance for the same query runtime as a linear hash function.
Comparing the first provisional administrations in Tunisia and Libya: some tentative conclusions

This article compares the actors, institutions and strategies of the first Tunisian Provisional Administration (TPA), which was in place from the departure of authoritarian President Ben Ali until ...
Biomimetic Approaches: Synthesis of (±)-Homodimericin A

A brief history of biomimetic total synthesis is reviewed. The molecules covered in this SynPact account include tropinone (Robinson, 1917), usnic acid (Barton, 1956), progesterone (Johnson, 1971), endiandric acids (Nicolaou, 1982), methyl homosecodaphniphyllate (Heathcock, 1988), glabrescol (Corey, 2000), FR182877 (Sorensen, 2002 and Evans, 2002), and intricarene (Pattenden, 2006 and Trauner, 2006). Key biomimetic transformations of the syntheses are highlighted. Our recent biomimetic synthesis of homodimericin A is also discussed. Our study validates the key steps of the biosynthesis proposed by Clardy et al.
Mesh segmentation via geodesic curvature flow

Perceptually meaningful segmentation of a mesh is one of the fundamental, yet unconquered problems in computer-aided design and geometry modeling. A critical component that affects the result of se...
Public Awareness of Health-Related Risks From Uncontrolled Hypertension

Uncontrolled hypertension, a common disorder, is associated with increased long-term risk of several serious conditions. Awareness of the health risks of uncontrolled hypertension is not well understood. We used data from a nationwide panel survey to assess the awareness of risk associated with uncontrolled hypertension, stratified by cardiovascular disease risk factors. Awareness of increased risk from uncontrolled hypertension was high for some outcomes (heart attack, heart failure, stroke), and low for others (kidney disease, dementia). Several disparities in awareness were found. Complementary clinical and public health interventions could be instituted to increase awareness and target people who are high risk.
Increasing experiential value and relationship quality: An investigation of pop-up dining experiences

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between experiential value-relationship quality, and relationship quality-behavioral intentions within the context of the growing pop-up restaurant industry (pop-ups). The current study also assessed the moderating roles of generation, variety seeking behavior and involvement regarding dining out. Results indicated that the experiential value of pop-ups is leading to increased levels of relationship quality, as reflected in satisfaction and trust toward pop-ups, and this is leading to an increase in behavioral intentions, specifically intention to spread positive WOM, return intentions and an increased WTP for a meal at a pop-up. Furthermore, significant differences were found between groups based on generation, variety seeking and involvement. Findings are discussed in terms of both academic and practitioner implications.
Characteristics of Patients and Their Relationship to Outcome in Brief Psychotherapy

Among the more important factors affecting outcome in all forms of psychotherapy are variables relating to the patient himself: diagnosis, severity of maladjustment, personality traits, motivational states, demographic characteristics, expectations about therapy, etc. While it is difficult to bring order into this diverse list, several conclusions can be drawn from research done since the 1940’s. These findings and their implications for psychotherapy in general precede a more specific discussion of characteristics of patients and brief psychotherapy.
The Psychological Impact of Hurricanes and Storms on Adults

Almost immediately after making landfall, the psychological and physical impacts of Hurricane Katrina were evident. Thousands of people in the Gulf Coast endured countless stressors, hassles, financial crises, psychopathological symptoms, and fear, in addition to flooding, broken levees, lost homes, evacuations, and curfews. In this chapter, we review the literature specifically relevant to the impact that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had on adults in the southern Louisiana area. In the first section, a ground work is laid for how hurricanes and natural disasters impact adults, including descriptions of relevant psychopathology, risk factors for developing psychopathology, and protective factors that lead to resiliency from psychopathology. In the next section, a review of findings from previous storms and hurricanes is given, followed by a review of the literature specific to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Implications for addressing the mental health needs of persons who reside in storm-prone areas are discussed. Future directions for private practitioners and researchers are considered.
Unique regulation of the matrix metalloproteinase, gelatinase B.

PURPOSE The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), gelatinase B, is expressed by both corneal cell types found at the epithelial-stromal tissue interface, the site of basement membrane repair in the healing cornea. This study investigates the relative regulation of gelatinase B compared to other MMPs in response to agents related to those found in the corneal repair environment or in corneal ulcers. METHODS A culture model of corneal cells isolated from rabbit was used. RESULTS Gelatinase B is the major MMP expressed by corneal epithelial cells, whereas stromal fibroblasts produce gelatinase B along with three other MMPs: collagenase, stromelysin, and gelatinase A. Phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulates gelatinase B mRNA and protein synthesis by corneal cells, which is similar to its effect on the other MMPs. Stimulation occurs, at least partially, at the transcriptional level. PMA-stimulated MMP expression follows biphasic kinetics, with the major effect on collagenase, stromelysin, and gelatinase A occurring during the late component. In contrast, the major gelatinase B response occurs during the early component. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has no effect on constitutive expression of gelatinase B by fibroblasts; however, expression stimulated by PMA is enhanced. In contrast, constitutive expression of collagenase and stromelysin is inhibited by TGF-beta. However, in the presence of PMA, the initial inhibitory effect of TGF-beta is reversed after treatment. CONCLUSION Gelatinase B expression is regulated differently from other corneal MMPs. This provides a mechanism for control of basement membrane repair independent of repair processes in the stroma.
A Latent Growth Model of Twitter Follower Growth Trajectories Over Time

Latent growth modeling (LGM) is a powerful but underused statistical method for analyzing change over time. Unlike common cross-sectional designs, LGM allows researchers to account for the fact that, relationships among variables may change and are not static over time. To demonstrate the application of this technique we applied our model to an exemplar of 200 randomly selected higher educational institutions' Twitter accounts. Our preliminary results reveal significant follower growth rate. However, after controlling for the effect of school enrollment the growth rate disappeared, indicating university enrollment is a factor that impacts growth. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how LGM can be used in order to help social movement scholars interested in implementing a quantitative or mixed method approaches to their research.
Patterns and Profiles of Adolescent Tobacco Users: Results From the Virginia Youth Survey

Background Cigarette smoking has decreased to a record low among youth across the United States, including in Virginia. Rates of alternative tobacco use, however, are rising and polytobacco use is common. A better understanding of the shifting use patterns and associated risk factors is important for informing tobacco prevention, cessation, and policy efforts. Methods Weighted data from the 2013 Virginia Youth Survey were used. The sample was limited to 1168 youth who reported past 30-day tobacco use of ≥1 product (cigarettes, smokeless tobacco [smokeless], or cigars/little cigars/cigarillos [cigars]). Latent class analysis categorized individuals based on current tobacco use frequency/intensity. Multivariable multinomial logistic regressions compared classes on demographics, other tobacco-related factors, other substance use, and health/psychosocial factors. Results The five-class model indicated the best fit with classes characterized as "Chippers" (28.0%; high probability of low-frequency/intensity cigarette use), "Moderate Poly-Users" (23.6%; low- to high-frequency/moderate intensity cigarette use; moderate probability smokeless/cigar use), "Cigar Users" (20.9%; no-low-probability cigarette/smokeless use; high-probability cigar use), "Smokeless Users" (17.3%; no-low-probability cigarette/cigar use; moderate-high-probability smokeless use), and "Heavy Poly-Users" (10.4%; daily/high-intensity cigarette use, moderate-high-probability smokeless/cigar use). Classes differed significantly by demographics and inconsistently by other tobacco-related factors. Heavy Poly-Users were more likely to engage in other substance use behaviors, report suicidal ideation, and report being bullied because of gender. Conclusions Classes identified indicate that a large proportion of youth engage in polytobacco use and certain subgroups may be at greater risk for negative health consequences due to elevated psychosocial and behavioral risk factors. Implications These findings suggest distinct patterns of current tobacco use, including a high proportion of youth engaging in polytobacco use. Heavy polytobacco use co-occurs with other health risk behaviors and may be attributed to psychosocial risk factors. Results underscore the need for detailed monitoring of shifting youth tobacco use patterns as well as targeted prevention, cessation, and policy efforts.
The reproductive biology of Oxyops vitiosa Pascoe, 1870 (Colepotera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent of the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae)

The invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cavanilles) Blake (Myrtaceae) is widely distributed throughout peninsular Florida, U.S.A. and poses a threat to species diversity in the wetland systems of the Florida Everglades. Biological control research targeting the weed resulted in the introduction of Oxyops vitiosa Pascoe, 1870 to Florida. Approximately three years following its release, adult weevils were collected over 12 consecutive months across six study sites, resulting in a 52:48 F:M sex ratio that did not vary among sites or over time. All female weevils were dissected and their reproductive anatomy was investigated, particularly in relation to the fluctuation of host plant suitability. The continuum of reproductive development was divided into three distinct stages: nulliparous, parous, or degenerative. The general anatomy of each stage is described. In contrast to other systems, fat body abundance provided little insight into the weevil's reproductive status, as 99.5% of all females possessed fat bodies that filled >2/3 of the abdominal cavity. Nulliparous weevils possessed the softest elytra and were lighter in color, parous weevils had the hardest and darkest elytra, while females with degenerative reproductive systems were intermediate to the other two reproductive classes. The proportion of parous O. vitiosa females in a population was strongly influenced by resource availability, as the number of actively ovipositing females increased concomitantly with increasing suitable foliage in the host's canopy.
Cold-Start Reinforcement Learning with Softmax Policy Gradients

Policy-gradient approaches to reinforcement learning have two common and undesirable overhead procedures, namely warm-start training and sample variance reduction. In this paper, we describe a reinforcement learning method based on a softmax value function that requires neither of these procedures. Our method combines the advantages of policy-gradient methods with the efficiency and simplicity of maximum-likelihood approaches. We apply this new cold-start reinforcement learning method in training sequence generation models for structured output prediction problems. Empirical evidence validates this method on automatic summarization and image captioning tasks.
Male exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and semen quality in the Home Observation of Periconceptional Exposures (HOPE) cohort.

Abstract Background Exposure to bis-phenol A (BPA) has been associated with reduced semen quality. The objective of this study was to examine associations between BPA measured in serial daily first-morning urine samples and semen quality parameters among men trying to conceive. Methods This prospective, preconception cohort included 161 men ages 18–40 without known subfertility. Men collected daily, first morning urine during their female partner’s fertile window. Semen samples were collected through intercourse after the fertile window. Results Samples from 161 men were analyzed. Higher geometric mean (GM) BPA exposures (ng/mL) were found among men with abnormal sperm tail morphology (GM = 3.12, 95% CI = 2.43, 4.01) compared to men with normal morphologic findings (GM = 2.39, 95% CI = 2.17, 2.74). There was no association with sperm count. Conclusion Higher exposure to BPA was associated with abnormal sperm tail morphology in this prospective, pre-conception cohort.
Synthesis and application of superabsorbent polymer microspheres for rapid concentration and quantification of microbial pathogens in ambient water.

Abstract Even though numerous methods have been developed for the detection and quantification of waterborne pathogens, the application of these methods is often hindered by the very low pathogen concentrations in natural waters. Therefore, rapid and efficient sample concentration methods are urgently needed. Here we present a novel method to pre-concentrate microbial pathogens in water using a portable 3D-printed system with super-absorbent polymer (SAP) microspheres, which can effectively reduce the actual volume of water in a collected sample. The SAP microspheres absorb water while excluding bacteria and viruses by size exclusion and charge repulsion. To improve the water absorption capacity of SAP in varying ionic strength waters (0–100 mM), we optimized the formulation of SAP to 180 g⋅L−1 Acrylamide, 75 g⋅L−1 Itaconic Acid and 4.0 g⋅L−1 Bis-Acrylamide for the highest ionic strength water as a function of the extent of cross-linking and the concentration of counter ions. Fluorescence microscopy and double-layer agar plating respectively showed that the 3D-printed system with optimally-designed SAP microspheres could rapidly achieve a 10-fold increase in the concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and bacteriophage MS2 within 20 min with concentration efficiencies of 87% and 96%, respectively. Fold changes between concentrated and original samples from qPCR and RT-qPCR results were found to be respectively 11.34–22.27 for E. coli with original concentrations from 104 to 106 cell·mL−1, and 8.20–13.81 for MS2 with original concentrations from 104 to 106 PFU·mL−1. Furthermore, SAP microspheres can be reused for 20 times without performance loss, significantly decreasing the cost of our concentration system.
Using Big Data to Examine the Relationship Between Facebook Engagement and Local Newscast Ratings

Local TV news stations regularly post to social media, on Facebook in particular, in an effort to engage audiences, but little is known about the effect of this practice on newscast ratings. We exa...
Determinants of sudden cardiac death in adult patients with eisenmenger syndrome

Background Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome are known to have a high incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD), yet the underlying causes are not well understood. We sought to define the predictors...
Multicycle Autoclave Decontamination of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators

Introduction:During pandemic situations like the one caused by the emergent coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, healthcare systems face the challenge of limited personal protective equipment and impaired suppl...
The holotype of Psephodus minutus, Wellburn, 1901 (chondrichthyes, cochliodontiformes) is a gastropod steinkern

The holotype of Psephodus minutus Wellburn, from the Millstone Grit Group (Carboniferous, Lower Pennsylvanian Series, Marsdenian Substage) of Lancashire (now Greater Manchester), England, was originally interpreted as a set of three articulated tooth plates of a chondrichthyan fish. No figure was published with the description, though a drawing was published 32 years later. Examination of the specimen shows it to be a steinkern of an indeterminate high-spired gastropod. Psephodus minutus is thus rendered as a nomen nudum.
Barbara E. Waud, M.D. (1931-), an early woman clinician scientist and professor of anesthesiology at University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Abstract After the first successful public demonstration of modern anesthesia in 1846, most female anesthetists were nurses by trade since none were yet allowed to attend medical school to become physicians. The turn of the twentieth century, however, brought about greater opportunity for female physician-anesthetists. We explore the life and career of Barbara E. Waud (1931–), a pioneering woman physician and researcher in the field of anesthesiology. Waud chose to pursue a career in medicine at a time when most women did not even attend college, and for most of her training and practice, she was the only woman in her department. Personal interviews with Waud, her daughter, and her colleagues highlight her rebellious and resilient nature that helped her overcome the obstacles put forth by male colleagues, and the judgment she received from female acquaintances for being a working mother. Waud's impressive career of dedicated clinical practice and ground-breaking research spanned four decades and inspired generations of physicians.
Developing a multidisciplinary strategy to interpret the impact of missense mutations in XPA on NER activity and cisplatin sensitivity

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is an essential DNA damage repair pathway that removes bulky DNA lesions formed by exposure to ultraviolet light, environmental toxins, and platinum (Pt)-based chemotherapeutic drugs that are a standard of care for many cancer types. Mutation or decreased NER gene expression in cancer correlates with improved patient survival after Pt-based chemotherapy. However, the impact of most missense mutations in NER genes is unknown, and few approaches exist to reliably identify nonrecurrent passenger mutations with functional consequences. In this study, a multidisciplinary strategy will be developed to predict, validate, and characterize NER-defective mutations in the essential NER scaffold protein Xeroderma Pigmentosum Complementation Group A (XPA). Computational analyses were used to score NER-deficient versus NER-proficient mutations for further study. Predicted NER-deficient XPA mutants are being expressed in human XPA-deficient cells and screened for both NER activity and cisplatin sensitivity. In-depth biophysical and structural studies are being implemented to elucidate mechanisms of dysfunction. Identifying NER-deficient mutations that may sensitize tumors to Pt-based chemotherapies represents a promising strategy to stratify patients for optimal treatment strategies.
La crítica de Dorion Cairns a las "Ideen" de Husserl

In this paper I shall analyse Dorion Cairns´s, arguably Husserl´s closest follower, reading of the Ideen and I will emphasize criticisms that my teacher had of what Husserl considered a sort of manual for his phenomenological philosophy. What follows is a summary of the seminar from 1964, devoted to the Ideas. Following the structure of the book, Cairns points out the following remarks: (a) concerns about the proper understanding of the very title of the work, (b) Cairn´s consideration of the relation of transcendental phenomenology to empirical psychology and the relation of the eidetic and the transcendental . In the third place, probably the biggest difference between Cairn´s phenomenology and Husserl´s Ideas, that is, (c) the importance of the “preconstitution”, a rich substratum of human act or actions. This emphasis amounts to the critique of intentionality in Ideen as objectivating. Cairns also rejects (d) the hylē/morphē distinction and substitutes it by a more fundamental one of sensing and sensa. He also considers some fundamental aspects of (e) time. As to the third part of the Ideas, Cairns points out some difficulties in classification of acts. Other aspect of Cairn’s reading of Ideen is (f) the insistence on analysing the subjective or irrational components in the theory of praxis, values and knowledge.
The “Gec-Effect": How 100 Gecs Renders Genre and Gender Absurd

My article seeks to track the queer relations to genre initiated by contemporary hyperpop artists like 100 gecs and SOPHIE. Hyperpop is a genre of pop music recently minted in the Summer of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. My investigation of 100 gecs’ album, 1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues is a cross-disciplinary exercise in queer theory, gender studies, musicology, art history, and philosophy. The article primarily contributes to queer theory discourses on genre, gender, art, and the body. The article concludes with a meditation on “gec feminism,” articulating a critique of academic “standards” of writing and what kind of texts constitute “legitimate” objects of inquiry.
Coherence of Sound Using Navy Sonars: Deep Water Acoustics

Abstract : The long term goals are to 1) determine when methods can be used to reliably and accurately predict the temporal and spatial coherence of sound at low frequencies in the sea, 2) develop reliable and accurate methods to make such predictions and, 3) determine the physical mechanisms affecting coherence. The first two goals are to be achieved without tuning with data in any way whatsoever. The primary objective is to determine when the temporal and spatial scales of coherence are accurately predicted by solving an approximation of the acoustic wave equation for climatological conditions in the ocean perturbed by a time-evolving field of internal gravity waves following a standard spectrum. These waves have long been thought responsible for coherence in the deep ocean at low frequencies. Despite decades of theoretical work to predict coherence, theoretical models to date are highly unreliable, often being inaccurate by several orders of magnitude. We are comparing numerical predictions for coherence with data collected with Navy sonars. A secondary objective is to understand how to quantify the regions of the ocean that influence acoustic signals that are measured at a receiver. The classic picture of such regions is described by ray paths, which are solutions of the wave equation at high frequency. Modern theories of diffraction have the ability to quantify the regions exactly for any finite frequency and bandwidth (Spiesberger, 2011b). Since the exact regions that influence sound look very different than where rays propagate at low frequency, it may turn out in the long-term that the modern theory will replace the use of rays for many applications in basic research and surveillance.
Models for Dusty Lyα Emitters at High Redshift

Models are presented for the Ly{alpha} emission of dusty high-redshift galaxies by combining the Press-Schechter formalism with a treatment of the inhomogeneous dust distribution inside galaxies. It is found that the amount of Ly{alpha} radiation escaping from the galaxies strongly depends on the time over which the dust is produced through stellar activity and on the ambient inhomogeneity of the H ii regions that surround the ionizing OB stars. Good agreement is found with recent observations, as well as with previous nondetections. Although a detailed determination of the individual model parameters is precluded by uncertainties, we find that (1) the dust content in primordial galaxies builds up in no more than {approximately}5{times}10{sup 8} yr, (2) the galactic H ii regions are inhomogeneous with a cloud-covering factor of order unity, and (3) the overall star formation efficiency is at least {approximately}5{percent}. It is predicted that future observations can detect these Ly{alpha} galaxies up to redshifts of {approximately}8. If the universe is reionized at z{sub r} {approx_lt}8, the corresponding decline in the number of Ly{alpha} emitters at z{approx_gt}z{sub r} could prove to be a useful probe of the reionization epoch. {copyright} {ital {copyright} 1999.} {ital The American Astronomical Society}
Basic Science of Liver Cancer Stem Cells and Hepatocarcinogenesis

The basic science of liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) and hepatocarcinogenesis is best understood by familiarity with the increasingly complex epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with the still unknown cell origin(s) of HCC, with the anatomy and function of the liver lobule and with the historical and some novel methods for the study and identification of adult tissue stem cells and LCSCs.
Optimal Consumption and Portfolio Allocation under Mean-Reverting Returns: An Exact Solution for Complete Markets

This paper solves, in closed form, the optimal portfolio choice problem for an investor with utility over consumption under mean-reverting returns. Previous solutions either require approximations, numerical methods, or the assumption that the investor does not consume over his lifetime. This paper breaks the impasse by assuming that markets are complete. The solution leads to a new understanding of hedging demand and the behavior of approximate log-linear solutions. The portfolio allocation takes the form of a weighted average and is shown to be analogous to duration for coupon bonds. Through this analogy, the notion of investment horizon is extended to that of an investor who consumes at multiple points in time.
The mechanism of aconitase action. Evidence for an enzyme isomerization by studies of inhibition by tricarboxylic acids.

Abstract Tricarboxylic acids were shown to be both competitive and noncompetitive inhibitors of aconitase with the inhibition pattern dependent upon which substrate was used. Tricarballyate and fluorocitrate were linear competitive inhibitors when citrate or isocitrate was the substrate but noncompetitive inhibitors when cis-aconitate was the substrate. trans-Aconitate was a linear competitive inhibitor with cis-aconitate as substrate and noncompetitive when citrate or isocitrate was substrate. These data support a kinetic scheme which involves an enzyme isomerization between two forms, one of which preferentially interacts with cis-aconitate and the other with citrate and isocitrate.
Approximate equations for sediment erosion rates

In the present article, approximate equations for sediment erosion rates are illustrated and compared with experimental data. These equations are expressed in terms of the applied shear stress and critical shear stresses; these latter stresses depend on the sediment bulk properties such as particle diameter, bulk density, and mineralogy as well as others. Equations for erosion rates of natural sediments are presented which are (a) valid for fine-grained, cohesive sediments but not for coarse-grained, non-cohesive sediments, (b) valid for coarse-grained, non-cohesive sediments but not for fine-grained, cohesive sediments, and (c) uniformly valid for both fine-grained and coarse-grained sediments. Good agreement between this latter equation, the previous equations (when they are valid), and experimental data on quartz particles is demonstrated. As a preliminary step in quantifying erosion rates for more general sediments and especially to show the effects of clay minerals, the uniformly valid equation is also applied to sediments consisting of (a) quartz particles of different sizes with and without 2% bentonite, and (b) quartz particles of a single size (48 gm) but with the addition of varying amounts of four different types of clays. The clays reduce erosion rates with the greatest reduction for bentonite and illite, a lesser reduction for kaolinite, and the least for mica. Good agreement with experimental data is found in all cases.
Pavement Profile Analysis Using Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition

Pavement profile analysis is a major component in pavement infrastructure management decision making for maintenance and rehabilitation. Road profile data are non-stationary and inherently non-Gaussian. This paper presents the application ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) to profile data analysis. The EEMD employs multiple applications of empirical mode decomposition (EMD), to which white noise is added, with constant amplitude relative to the target data. The uniform distribution of white noise over the entire time frequency space provides a reference frame for signals of comparative scale to collate in one intrinsic mode function, thus eliminating mode mixing. The EEMD approach was compared with the traditional EMD and it appears that the EEMD outperforms the traditional EMD.
Public Rates Of Return On Higher Education Investments, By State

Public rates of return on higher education expenditures are calculated by state. Benefits accruing to states from their investments in higher education are measured by differential tax revenues collected from college-educated citizens versus high-school-educated citizens. For most states we find an adequate rate of return on such investments. However, we conclude that in addition to monetary returns, state governments likely consider other factors when deciding upon expending resources for higher education needs.
Corticotropin-releasing factor produces fear-enhancing and behavioral activating effects following infusion into the locus coeruleus

The present series of experiments tested the hypothesis that the behavioral activating and anxiogenic effects produced by intraventricular administration of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) may be mediated by noradrenergic neurons in the brain-stem locus coeruleus (LC). Results showed that infusion of CRF into the LC (100 ng) significantly increased nonambulatory spontaneous motor activity measured in photocell cages; ambulatory (i.e., locomotor) activity was not altered. In the modified Porsolt swim test, which examines arousal and agitation in a stressful situation, significant behavioral activation (i.e., decreased floating) was seen following infusion of CRF (10 ng) into the LC; a 500 ng dose of CRF was necessary to produce similar effects following infusion into the lateral ventricle. The results of these 2 tests suggest that the behavioral activating effects of CRF in the LC may be related to arousing or stress-related effects, rather than to increased locomotor activity per se. Anxiogenic activity was assessed in animals placed in an open field containing a small, darkened compartment. Infusion or CRF into the LC (1-100 ng) significantly increased the time spent in the compartment and decreased the amount of time spent exploring the outside of the compartment or venturing into the inner squares of the open field, all indices of anxiogenic behavior. Biochemical studies showed that bilateral infusion of CRF into the LC produced significant increases in the concentration of the norepinephrine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol in such forebrain projection areas of the LC as the amygdala and posterior hypothalamus. These data, taken together, suggest that CRF produces its behavioral activating and anxiogenic effects, at least in part, by increasing the activity of LC noradrenergic neurons.
Kinetics of Biotin Derivatives Binding to Avidin and Streptavidin

The on-rate constants (kon) of biotin (B) binding to avidin (AV) and streptavidin (SAV) are believed to be diffusion limited (109 M−1s−1). In this study; we asked whether these reactions were actual diffusion controlled, what association model and thermodynamic cycle describe the process, and what are the functional differences between AV and SAV. We have studied the B association by two stopped flow methodologies that used: I) fluorescent probes attached to B; and II) unlabeled B and HABA [2-(4’-hydroxyazobenzene)-benzoic acid]. The reactions were carried out at several temperatures, pH's and under pseudo first-order conditions with: oregon green biocytin (BcO), biotin-4-fluorescein (BFl), biotin-DNA duplex, and unlabeled B. We obtained the spectroscopy properties of the bound dye-biotin complexes to have an insight of the chemical environment surrounding B. The association data showed not cooperativity between the 1st and the 4th binding sites of AV. The kon values of SAV were faster than AV's, but in both cases were slower than those expected for a diffusion limited reaction. Furthermore, the Arrhenius plots revealed strong temperature dependence with large activation energies (6-15 kcal/mol) that did not correspond either to a diffusion limited process (3-4 kcal/mol). The outcomes indicated that AV binding sites were deeper and less accessibility than SAV. In addition, we are reporting, for the first time, a second order displacement rate constant of a bound SAV complex when challenged with free B; results that are relevant for the purification technology base on these proteins. Finally, we propose a simple reaction model with a single transition state whose forward energetic parameters complete the thermodynamic cycle in excellent agreement with previous studies.
A comparative study of the scattering of light heavy ions using a folding model

Abstract Folding-model optical potentials were constructed for the elastic scattering of light heavy ions. Particular care was taken to use realistic density distributions which incorporate centre-of-mass recoil, shell effects, variations in binding energies and fragmentation of single-particle strengths. Comparisons were made with many sets of experimental data. No large discrepancies were found like those reported earlier for6Li and9Be. The predicted potentials were found to be in agreement with experiment with a mean deviation of less than 10 %. The consistency of the results also supports the validity of the density distributions used. Some uncertainty occurs for18O because of uncertainties over the neutron distribution in this nucleus.
Intravesical therapy for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Transurethral resection is an effective therapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, the high rates of recurrence and significant risk of progression in higher grade tumors mandates additional therapy with intravesical agents. In this review we discuss the role of various intravesical agents currently in use including the immunomodualtory agent BCG and chemotherapeutic agents. We discuss the current guidelines and the role of these therapeutic agents in the context of higher grade Ta and T1 tumors.
Proteolytic signaling by TNFα: caspase activation and IκB degradation

Abstract Following binding its death receptor on the plasma membrane, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces the receptor trimerization and recruits a number of death domain-containing molecules to form the receptor complex. The complex promotes activation of downstream caspase cascade and induces degradation of IκBα. Caspases are activated using mechanisms of oligomeration and ‘self-controlled proteolysis’. According to their structures and functions, apoptosis related caspases can be divided into upstream and downstream caspases. In general, upstream caspases cleave and activate downstream caspases by proteolysis of the Asp-X site. Activated caspases then cleaved target substrates. To date, more than 70 proteins have been identified to be substrates of caspases in mammalian cells. Caspases can alter the function of their target proteins by destroying structural components of the cytoskeleton and nuclear scaffold or by removing their regulatory domains. Activation of NF-κB is dependent on the degradation of IκBα. IκB kinase (IKK) phosphorylates IκBα at the residues 32 and 36 followed by polyubiquitination at lysine 21 and 22 and subsequent degradation of the molecules by 26S proteasome. There is extensive crosstalk between the apoptotic and NF-κB signaling pathways that emanate from TNF-R1. On the one hand, activation of NF-κB can inactivate caspases; on the other hand, activated caspases can inhibit the activation of NF-κB. Both processes involve in proteolysis. This crosstalk may be important for maintaining the balance between the two pathways and for determining whether a cell should live or die.
The Case for Examining and Treating the Combined Effects of Parental Drug Use and Interparental Violence on Children in their Homes

This review examines what have been, to this point, generally two divergent lines of research: (a) effects of parental drug abuse on children, and (b) effects of children's exposure to interparental violence. A small, but growing body of literature has documented the robust relationship between drug use and intimate partner violence. Despite awareness of the interrelationship, little attention has been paid to the combined effect of these deleterious parent behaviors on children in these homes. Thus, we argue for the need to examine the developmental impact of these behaviors (both individually and combined) on children in these homes and for treatment development to reflect how each of these parent behaviors may affect children of substance abusers.
Vibronic Spectroscopy of Single C60 Molecules and Monolayers with the STM

A scanning tunneling microscope is used to study the differential conductance (dI/dV) of single C 6 0 molecules in isolation and in monolayers adsorbed on NiAl(110) and on an ultrathin alumina film grown on the NiAl-(110)surface. On the oxide layer, the electronic bands in the dI/dV spectra display a series of equally spaced features, attributed to the vibrcnic states of the molecules, which are absent when the molecules are adsorbed on the metal. A comparison between the molecular spectra measured on the oxide film reveals the effect of adsorption temperature and geometry, as well as intermolecular interactions on the vibronic features.
Risk and Resilience of Immigrant Women in Intimate Partner Violence

Violence inflicted against women by their intimate partners presents an especially critical area of inquiry among battered female immigrants following the striking ethnic diversification after the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This article reviews contemporary literature of intimate partner violence; seeks to illustrate the current state of knowledge; and provides a conceptual framework that summarizes the unique experiences of immigrant women confronting the challenges of couple violence. Five underlying cultural and structural mechanisms influencing immigrant women's susceptibility, re-adjustment, and recovery were identified: (1) acculturation, (2) cultural mechanisms, (3) mental health, (4) structural elements, (5) legal contexts, and (6) social support. A synopsis of practice implications in the context of the literature is discussed.
Inclusion of risk in evaluation of advanced technologies

Traditional economic evaluation techniques are often used to rank the technology alternatives for adoption purposes. However, the results of such evaluations are somewhat misleading since these techniques ignore the intangibles. Intangibles are factors that cannot be quantified for inclusions in the economic evaluation techniques but have great impact on the evaluation and adoption process. The current research addresses this issue by first identifying the intangible costs or risks of adopting a new technology and then developing a mechanism for their inclusion in the evaluation process. Taguchi loss functions are used as a tool for quantifying the intangible costs. The loss functions are developed based on the risks’ specification limits set by the decision maker. These loss functions are used to calculate a loss score for each technology candidate. The technology alternatives are then ranked based on their loss scores, and the technology with the lowest loss score is selected for adoption. The proposed methodology offers a powerful tool for evaluation of alternative technologies by complementing the traditional economic evaluation techniques.
A Stem Canker of Dogwood and Madrona

Increasing numbers of trees of Pacific dogwood, Cornus Nuttallii Aud. and madrona, Arbutus Menziesii Pursh., infected with a pathogen which causes serious cankers on the stems, ultimately girdling ...
Crystallinity, hygroscopicity and dissolution of moricizine hydrochloride hemihydrate.

Abstract A typical anhydrous moricizine hydrochloride, an antiarrhythmic agent, is a non-hygroscopic crystalline material. Three lots of moricizine hydrochloride were found to deliquesce within a day at 85% relative humidity, exhibit different X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) patterns and have more rapid dissolution rate than that of typical anhydrous material. No change in XRPD pattern was observed when the solvent (ethanol) was removed from these lots by heating to 80°C. A two-step water release was observed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA): a surface water release and a water of hydration release, for these heated samples. The stoichiometry of the water of hydration suggests that it is a hemihydrate. The dissolution rate of the hemihydrate was faster than that of typical anhydrous material. This hemihydrate could be converted to a typical anhydrous material by heating to 90°C. The granules obtained by a simulated wet granulation process on typical lots and typical lots containing up to 20% of hemihydrate exhibited similar physical behaviour to that of typical anhydrous material.