cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anthropogenic Aquifer Recharge and Water Quality

The composition of recharge water evolves as it passes through the unsaturated zone and enters and flows through an aquifer. Infiltrated and injected waters interact with aquifer minerals and organic matter, and mix and react with native groundwater. Geochemical processes during and after aquifer recharge can either improve or cause a deterioration of water quality. The concentrations of pathogens and some chemical contaminants are reduced during recharge and subsequent aquifer transport and residence. Storage of impaired waters (e.g., treated wastewater) in aquifers provides time for the biodegradation of contaminants that degrade slowly. Some managed aquifer recharge (MAR) projects (e.g., soil-aquifer treatment and bank filtration) intentionally take advantage of natural contaminant attenuation processes to improve water quality. Fluid-rock interactions in some MAR systems have released arsenic and metals into recharged waters causing an unacceptable deterioration in water quality. Pretreatment options are available to control adverse geochemical reactions, such as dissolved oxygen removal to prevent oxidation of arsenic-bearing sulfide minerals and associated leaching.
Application of the boundary element method to non‐linear diffusion with reaction problems

An integral solution method based on the concept of the direct boundary element technique has been applied to develop a solution procedure for problems of diffusion with a non-linear reaction in one dimension. The non-linearity is handled by a process of quasi-linearization over subintervals or elements in the main domain of integration. The weighting functions are defined for each subinterval such that the discretization is exact for the corresponding linear problem. This leads to a new powerful and simple method for the solution of this class of problems. A banded global matrix is obtained with both the concentration and its gradient as the unknown variables, and the problem is solved in an iterative manner. Illustrative results are presented for a test problem of diffusion with a second order reaction in an infinite slab, an infinite cylinder and spherical geometries. The accuracy of the method for situations with a sharp concentration gradient is demonstrated. The technique can also be used to numerically compute the solution in the boundary layer for fast reactions.
Tailoring Narration for Distinct Audiences in Emerging Adulthood

The development of narrative identity is a critical task for emerging adults—one shaped by parents and peers. However, how diverse audiences might jointly shape narrative identity remains underexam...
The Effect of Time Interval from MRI to Rotator Cuff Repair on Tear Size: Imaged vs. Actual Tear Size:

Objectives:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the advanced imaging modality of choice for the evaluation and diagnosis of full thickness rotator cuff tears (RCT). Tear size progression has been co...
Ethicist as Healer: Is Offering Justified Normative Recommendations All We Are Doing in Active Patient Cases?

Brummett and Salter propose a descriptive taxonomy that hopefully inspires more nuanced discourse regarding the roles and expertise of the clinical ethicist. The authors of the target article menti...
Bioactivation Metabolism: Activation Enzymes

Enzymes make up the largest and most highly specialized class of protein molecules. Foreign compound-metabolizing enzymes are produced from the information stored within the genes and are present in most tissues with the highest levels located in the liver and intestines. Activation enzymes are composed of oxidases, hydrolases, and reductases. Oxidases include cytochrome P450s, flavin-containing monooxygenases, amine oxidases, lipoxygenases, aldehyde and xanthine oxidases, alcohol dehydrogenases, prostaglandin H synthase, and peroxidases. Oxidation reaction occurs at specific atom or group such as carbon, nitrogen, or unsaturated hydrocarbon. Reductases include nitroreductase, azoreductase, aldo-keto reductase, and carbonyl reductase. Reduction reactions occur at nitrogen atom or carbonyl group. Hydrolases include carboxylesterases and epoxide hydrolases. Hydrolysis reactions occur at specific group such as ester, amide, or epoxide.
Can Customary Land Tenure Facilitate Agricultural Productivity Growth? Evidence from Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, land is managed through customary tenure, which discourages land rentals and sales. Yet it permits land transactions through an institution called borrowing. This study investigates whether the borrowed status of land affects the seasonal crop and input choices as well as longer-term, productivity-enhancing investments made on it. Analysis using nationally representative, plot-level data from the Enquete Permanente Agricole suggests that borrowed land is more intensively farmed in terms of cropping and inputs. We find no evidence of borrowed lands having fewer erosion-preventing investments or of being fallowed less than nonborrowed (inherited) land.
Suppression of α-catenin and adherens junctions enhances epithelial cell proliferation and motility via TACE-mediated TGF-α autocrine/paracrine signaling.

The loss of adherens junctions elevates autocrine TGF-α signaling in a TACE-dependent manner. Keratinocyte epithelial sheets depend on this signaling to propagate ERK activity for proliferation and...
Anesthesia for Watchman Procedure

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common arrhythmia in adults, is characterized by an irregularly irregular rhythm and loss of effective atrial contraction. With loss of atrial contraction, blood stasis in the atrial appendage promotes thrombus formation and an increased risk of thromboembolism and ischemic stroke. Traditionally, long-term oral anticoagulation therapy was used to decrease the incidence of AF ischemic stroke, but its use is associated with bleeding complications. Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is a relatively new procedure aimed at preventing thromboembolism and reducing bleeding risk. The most commonly used LAA occlusion device is the Watchman® (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA). This chapter gives an overview of the anesthetic management of this procedure.
Fecal vs. Rumen Contents to Determine White-tailed Deer Diets

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and determine the feasibility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) diet composition of rumen versus fecal contents during winter months in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Sixty-two deer were shot over five winters (December – May). Major plant composition was approximately the same; however, juniper, pine, lichen, and Astragalus species showed significant differences between fecal and rumen comparisons. Spearman rank order correlation indicated ranks were in good agreement (r = 0.82, P = 0.01). Average Kulczynki’s similarity was 75 percent overall and is considered very good for major forage species. Significant differences were observed for shrubs and lichen when considering all forage species.. Overall, fecal analyses for major forage species will provide excellent information and help managers make more informed decisions with regard to habitat resources for deer. Key words: diet composition, methods, microhistological, forage, plants
Q-learning Enabled Intelligent Energy Attack in Sustainable Wireless Communication Networks

In this paper, we identify a new security issue, called the malicious energy attack, in sustainable wireless communication networks (SWCNs). We show that by providing extra energy to specific nodes, a malicious energy source (MES) can intentionally manipulate the routing path of SWCNs. The efficiency of energy attack depends on which nodes to be attacked. To enhance the efficiency of energy attack, a reinforcement learning technique, Q-Learning, is used to develop an intelligent energy attack (Q-IEA) policy for MES. Through interacting with the network environment, the Q-IEA can intelligently take attack actions without having to know the details of the routing method at the network layer. This function can greatly enhance the adaptability of MES to different routing protocols and network topologies. Simulation results verify that Q-IEA can significantly manipulate the routing path of the targeted traffic on demand.
Endoscopic Guided Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the treatment of choice for kidney stones >2 cm in size. Obtaining a nephrostomy tract to access the kidney is a key step in this procedure that ultimately de...
Toward a Mesoscopic Analysis of the Temporal Evolution of Scientific Collaboration Networks

This poster reports on our latest results in a multiyear project that employs a mixed network analytic and ethnographic approach to understand the factors underlying field-specific attitudes towards openness and sharing of scholarly data. We report initial results of adding a temporal dimension to an analysis of scientific collaboration networks that provide evidence for comparative study of community structures and collaboration patterns across scientific fields. The addition of a temporal dimension to the analysis allows us to study the dynamic processes involved in the evolution of a scientific community and to determine field specific patterns. Further, it improves the accuracy with which the internal structures of scientific collectives can be resolved. This ongoing work advances an ethnographically grounded approach to the mesoscopic analysis of collaboration networks. Supported by ethnographic insights, we can connect mesoscopic network features to notions of research groups, group leadership and implied seniority, intergroup collaboration, between group migration, and ephemeral one-off exchanges. Eventually, a mesoscopic perspective should allow us to significantly improve the validity of models to explain network evolution.
REHYDRATION MECHANISMS IN COLLAGEN AS SEEN BY THERMALLY STIMULATED CURRENT

The objective of this work is to suggest a quantitative model of natural skin aging. This model is expected to carry out tests for pharmaceutical or cosmetic products to achieve skin firmness purposes. We have defined an experimental protocol to highlight mechanism of rehydration and molecular mobility of collagen. Thermally stimulated currents in skin collagen have been investigated in the temperature range of -180°C to 60°C. We highlighted principally two types of molecular movements. α relaxation mode at approximately 20°C is associated with intermolecular mobility of tropocollagen molecules. Intermolecular mobility of polar sequences characterized by β relaxation mode is highly sensitive to hydration. This mode shows in the hydrated state two components: β1 and β2. During dehydration, there is firstly a significant decrease in the intensity of α and β1 modes and the disappearance of the β2 sub-mode. Finally, γ mode registered at -160°C is associated with non-polar amino acids.
The term structure of interest rates in money demand models: A further analysis

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to propose an empirical method for incorporating the term structure of interest rates into the demand for money. The suggested procedure is equivalent to the one developed by Heller and Khan (1979), but is much to implement.
Disruption of gut homeostasis by opioids accelerates HIV disease progression

Cumulative studies during the past 30 years have established the correlation between opioid abuse and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Further studies also demonstrate that opioid addiction is associated with faster progression to AIDS in patients. Recently, it was revealed that disruption of gut homeostasis and subsequent microbial translocation play important roles in pathological activation of the immune system during HIV infection and contributes to accelerated disease progression. Similarly, opioids have been shown to modulate gut immunity and induce gut bacterial translocation. This review will explore the mechanisms by which opioids accelerate HIV disease progression by disrupting gut homeostasis. Better understanding of these mechanisms will facilitate the search for new therapeutic interventions to treat HIV infection especially in opioid abusing population.
Endocannabinoid tone versus constitutive activity of cannabinoid receptors

This review evaluates the cellular mechanisms of constitutive activity of the cannabinoid (CB) receptors, its reversal by inverse agonists, and discusses the pitfalls and problems in the interpretation of the research data. The notion is presented that endogenously produced anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) serve as autocrine or paracrine stimulators of the CB receptors, giving the appearance of constitutive activity. It is proposed that one cannot interpret inverse agonist studies without inference to the receptors' environment vis-a-vis the endocannabinoid agonists which themselves are highly lipophilic compounds with a preference for membranes. The endocannabinoid tone is governed by a combination of synthetic pathways and inactivation involving transport and degradation. The synthesis and degradation of 2-AG is well characterized, and 2-AG has been strongly implicated in retrograde signalling in neurons. Data implicating endocannabinoids in paracrine regulation have been described. Endocannabinoid ligands can traverse the cell's interior and potentially be stored on fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs). Molecular modelling predicts that the endocannabinoids derived from membrane phospholipids can laterally diffuse to enter the CB receptor from the lipid bilayer. Considering that endocannabinoid signalling to CB receptors is a much more likely scenario than is receptor activation in the absence of agonist ligands, researchers are advised to refrain from assuming constitutive activity except for experimental models known to be devoid of endocannabinoid ligands.
Abstract #5493: Antitumor effects by novel nitrone compound OKN007 in a rat C6 glioma model

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO The prognosis of patients who are diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme is very poor, due to the difficulty of an early and accurate diagnosis and the lack of currently efficient therapeutic compound. In a previous study, we demonstrated the efficiency of phenyl-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) as a potential anti-glioma drug in the pre-treatment of a rat C6 glioma implantation model. However, post-treatment of PBN had little effect for tumor regression compared with pre-treatment. Using the same model, we examined the effect of a novel Nitrone compound, OKN007 that is a structural analog of PBN. The rat glioma model was established by injecting C6 rat glioma cells (106 cells in 10 uL) into the cerebral cortex of male Fischer 344 rats. Fifteen days later, OKN007 was orally administered through drinking water (0.015%, 17.5 mg/kg). The efficacy of OKN007 was assessed using tumor growth patterns and growth rates as determined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (T1/T2-weighted imaging) methods. MR results from OKN007 post-treated rats indicated a decrease in tumor volume and delay in tumor growth rate. OKN007 post-treatment was also significantly effective in increasing survival rate. Funds for this study were provided in part by the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), and a grant (AR071-063) from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology (OCAST). Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 5493.
Phase 2 study of pre-excision single-dose intraoperative radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancers: six-year update with application of the ASTRO accelerated partial breast irradiation consensus statement criteria.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) allows delivery of high-dose radiation at the time of lumpectomy, potentially sparing adjuvant daily radiation. A phase 2 study of pre-excision IORT was performed for early-stage breast cancer. METHODS: Patients ≥ 48 years of age with invasive ductal carcinoma, ≤ 3 cm, and clinically node-negative were eligible for this study, which was approved by institutional review board. Ultrasound was used to select electron energy and cone size to cover the tumor plus 1.5- to 2.0-cm lateral margins and 1-cm-deep margins (90% isodose). Fifteen Gy was delivered with a Mobetron irradiator, and immediate needle-localized partial mastectomy followed. Local event results were updated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients received IORT alone. Median age was 63 years, and median tumor size was 1.2 cm. Of these, 81% were positive for estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor, 11% were positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and 15% were triple-negative. Also, 42%, 49%, and 9% would have fallen into the Suitable, Cautionary, and Unsuitable groups, respectively, of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology consensus statement for accelerated partial breast irradiation. Median follow-up was 69 months. Ipsilateral events occurred in 8 of 53 patients. The 6-year actuarial rate of ipsilateral events was 15% (95% confidence interval = 7%-29%). The crude event rate for Suitable and Cautionary groups was 1 of 22 (5%) and 7 of 26 (27%), respectively. Overall survival was 94.4%, and breast cancer–specific survival was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of local events in this study is a matter of concern, especially in the Cautionary group. On the basis of these findings, pre-excision IORT, as delivered in this study, may not provide adequate local control for less favorable early-stage breast cancers. Cancer 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Digital document understanding and visualization

The explosion of digital documents on the internet and in the workplace has led to an increasing need for computer systems that help us not only manage the documents but also manage our understanding of these documents and their relationships.When users are confronted with hard copy documents or unorganized digital documents, they look at main topic headers, skim the contents and so forth. The problem of how this can be done more effectively in an on-line environment is the main topic of this minitrack. Accordingly, this minitrack brings together the multiplicity of research in various fields on how organizations, groups and individual users seek to understand and navigate through document collections and individual documents.Possible areas for papers included summarization, categorization, and key-phrase clustering, user interfaces for understanding documents, and studies of how users access documents and intuit their contents without actually reading much of them. In this session, Kazi and Ravin tackle the problem of resolving ambiguity in recognizing who or what a name or term refers across a collection of documents.This is valuable in designing methods of summarizing the contents of a document collection as well as in recognizing related documents. Boguraev and Neff describe approached to the problem of recognizing segments in longer documents and determining topic shifts. Solving this problem can help produce more accurate summaries of multi-topic articles.Colbath, et. al. describe an approach to searching archives of spoken documents. This is a particularly difficult problem because of the lack of formatting cues and the inherent inaccuracy of transcribed speech.Roussinov and McQuaid present methods for clustering documents and investigate the efficacy of these techniques in actual user experiments.This session also includes two proposals for work, and descriptions of the progress of these proposals. Futukata proposed how documents may be arranged based on observing the processes used to arrive at the generation of the document, and Wilde describes how documents can be organized into a link-based view of the collection.Finally, Cooper and Prager describe a solution to the problem of eliminating documents of minimal content from search results and shows how document similarity can be used to validate these content-free documents.
Control of F′lac Replication in Escherichia coli B/r

The timing of replication of an F′lac plasmid during the division cycle of Escherichia coli B/r lac−/F′lac was examined in relation to the timing of initiation of chromosome replication. This was accomplished by measuring the induction of β-galactosidase and the incorporation of radioactive thymidine into cells at different ages in cultures growing exponentially at various rates. In cells growing with interdivision times of 27, 36, and 55 min, the F′lac replicated at various stages in the division cycle but always at approximately the same time as initiation of chromosome replication. In cells growing with an interdivision time of 85 min, the F′lac episome replicated midway through the division cycle, whereas chromosome replication initiated at the start of the cycle. Measurements of absorbance at 450 nm per cell suggested that the F′lac replicated when the cells reached a mass which was a constant multiple of the number of episomes per cell at each growth rate. In contrast, the mass per cell at initiation of chromosome replication in cells with an 85-min interdivision time was significantly lower than this constant value. A possible explanation for the apparent coupling between F′lac replication and initiation of chromosome replication at the higher growth rates, and the lack of coupling at the lowest growth rate, is discussed.
Learning by Doing: An Experience with Outcomes Assessment

An emphasis on assessment and outcomes measures is a drum beat that is growing louder in American legal education. Prompted initially by the demands of regional university accreditation bodies, the attention paid to outcomes assessment is now growing with the forecast that the ABA will revise its accreditation standards to incorporate outcomes measures. For the past three years, the University of Pittsburgh School of Law has been developing a system for assessing the learning outcomes of its students. By describing our experience here at Pitt Law, with both its high and low points, we hope to suggest some helpful pointers for other law schools as they work to develop systems for assessing whether they are accomplishing institutional goals related to student learning.
Hormones and Reproductive Development

To farmers, horticulturalists, and others whose livelihood depends on growing plants, it is obvious that the transition from vegetative to reproductive development is a critical phase in the life cycle of higher plants. It is difficult to overestimate the impact the direct products of flowering have on human endeavors. Because they are an integral part of the human diet, production of seeds and fruits form the foundation of all nations’ economies. Thus, it becomes equally evident that the ability to manipulate and control flowering with simple treatments has enormous potential both from an economic standpoint as well as increasing food production for an ever growing human population. However, the development of such cultural techniques is predicated on a thorough understanding of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of reproductive development. Although a great deal of descriptive information exists for many species about the influence of environmental factors on reproductive development, knowledge of the mechanisms by which the floral transition takes place is almost totally lacking. Flowering, or more precisely, reproductive development, is composed of many independent but highly coordinated processes. To discuss the role of hormones in floweringper sewould be pointless; it is much more convenient to arbitrarily divide flowering into several temporally related sequences.
The enduring significance of the thought of Karl Marx

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess Marx's enduring significance in the center of his thought, the first volume of Capital. In Capital and related writings, Marx systematically works out his theory of value. Although Marx's value theory has been widely thought to be internally inconsistent, the “myth of inconsistency” in reclaiming Marx's “Capital” has been recently refuted by Kliman.Design/methodology/approach – Based on Kliman's refutation, a logically coherent interpretation of Marx's theory is on hand. The paper therefore aims to bring out the philosophical character of Marx's critique of political economy, to which the terms and relations of value theory are essential. It is rooted in the abiding humanism he first discovered through his critical appropriation and transformation of Hegelian philosophy.Findings – Following Raya Dunayevskaya in Marxism and Freedom, this paper interprets Marx to have founded a new critical science of society “that was at the same time a philosophy of history...
Generation and preliminary characterization of immortalized cell line derived from rat lymphatic capillaries.

Objective Isolation of rodent endothelial cells from lymphatic capillaries with yields that allow extensive functional studies remains challenging due to low cell numbers, variable purity, and limited growth potential. The purpose of this study was the generation and preliminary characterization of rat lymphatic cell line with extended replicative capacity. This cell line is intended for in vitro studies of cellular transport in lymphatic endothelium and for in vivo experiments in rat animal models. Methods We created a novel rat lymphatic immortalized cell line, SV40-LEC, using retroviral gene transfer of SV40 large T antigen. We confirmed expression of characteristic markers and then examined its growth and transport properties. Results SV40-LECs demonstrated improved proliferative capacity, but retained morphological characteristics of lymphatic cells and expression of established lymphatic markers. The cells form capillary-like network in vitro. SV40-LEC monolayer has similar permeability to that of the primary initial lymphatics. Paracellular transport in SV40-LECs is limited for substances >70 kDa. Barrier properties of the SV40-LECs can be modulated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate and histamine, which are known to affect microvascular permeability. Conclusion The SV40-LECs provide an excellent tool for in vitro studies of properties of lymphatic endothelium, and may be suitable for in vivo transplantation studies.
Molecular characterization of isoniazid-resistant clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the USA

Drug-resistant tuberculosis poses a significant problem for treatment. The mechanisms of resistance to the front-line drug isoniazid (INH) are complex and can be mediated by katG, inhA and other unknown genes. To identify the percentage of INH-resistant strains with no katG or inhA mutation, this study characterized a panel of 28 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and five mutants derived from H37Rv resistant to INH. Seventeen of 33 resistant strains (51 %) had katG mutations with 12 of the 17 strains having the most common KatG Ser315Thr mutation. Three of the 17 strains with the KatG 315 mutation had an additional mutation in the inhA promoter and were resistant to a high level of INH. Seventeen of the 33 INH-resistant strains (51 %) had inhA mutations. The most common inhA promoter mutation was -15C-->T and was present in 13 of the 17 inhA mutations. This promoter mutation occurred alone without katG mutations and was associated with a low level of INH and ethionamide resistance. However, other inhA mutations were associated with katG mutations. No mutations were found in the ndh gene. Three of 33 strains (9 %) had no mutations in katG, inhA or ndh, indicating that their resistance was due to a new mechanism of resistance. Detection of the KatG Ser315Thr mutation and the -15C-->T inhA mutation accounted for 76 % (25/33) of the INH-resistant strains and should be useful for rapid detection of INH-resistant strains by molecular tests.
Heat transfer characteristics of submerged jet impingement boiling of saturated FC-72

Abstract Global heat transfer characteristics of submerged jet impingement boiling of a highly wetting dielectric fluid (FC-72) on a heated copper surface are presented. The effect of variation of the jet exit Reynolds number (Re) on boiling incipience, fully developed nucleate boiling, and critical heat flux (CHF) are documented. The jet exit Re is varied by variations of the jet exit velocity and the jet nozzle diameter for a fixed surface diameter. High-speed visualization is used to supplement trends observed in the heat transfer data. Scenarios of low and high incipience wall superheat are identified, corresponding to partially or fully developed nucleate boiling condition upon initiation of boiling. For the high incipience wall superheat scenario, the time of spread of boiling activity over the heated surface during temperature overshoot is found to be inversely proportional to the wall superheat temperature at boiling incipience. The incipient boiling wall superheat temperature is found to be uncorrelated with jet Re and jet diameter. A cumulative probability distribution function is used to characterize the onset of boiling with wall superheat temperature. At a fixed Re, CHF increases with increasing jet velocity and with decreasing jet diameter, indicating that the jet kinetic energy is a key parameter in CHF enhancement. The CHF data are compared with available jet impingement CHF correlations from literature on free surface and confined jets. The free surface jet CHF correlation by Monde and Katto (1978) [1] is seen to best capture the experimental data trends for Re greater than 4000.
Cotranslational dimerization of the Rel homology domain of NF-κB1 generates p50–p105 heterodimers and is required for effective p50 production

Generation of the NF-κB p50 transcription factor is mediated by the proteasome. We found previously that p50 is generated during translation of the NFKB1 gene and that this cotranslational processing allows the production of both p50 and p105 from a single mRNA. We now demonstrate that the Rel homology domain in p50 undergoes cotranslational dimerization and that this interaction is required for efficient production of p50. We further show that this coupling of dimerization and proteasome processing during translation uniquely generates p50–p105 heterodimers. Accordingly, after the primary cotranslational event, additional posttranslational steps regulate p50 homodimer formation and the intracellular ratio of p50 and p105. This cellular strategy places p50 under the control of the p105 inhibitor early in its biogenesis, thereby regulating the pool of p50 homodimers within the cell.
Geriatric Pharmacokinetics and the Kidney

The general population is aging and, as a result, drugs are increasingly prescribed for a variety of medical conditions in a group of patients with multiple physiologic and pharmacokinetic abnormalities. The present report summarizes principles of prescribing for the elderly, especially those related to the decline in renal function that frequently occurs.
Increasing the diagnostic yield of portable skull films

A three-year retrospective analysis was conducted at a 280-bed suburban community hospital with 27,000 annual emergency department visits. All patients with a discharge diagnosis of skull fracture were studied. There were 72 patients with skull fractures. Thirty-two (44.4%) of these patients had basilar skull fractures, located predominantly in the occipital bone. Of these, 19 (59.3%) had normal antero-posterior and lateral views, with the skull fracture detected only on the Towne view. Five of these patients had depressed skull fractures and three had intracranial lesions requiring surgical intervention. We conclude that, when the decision is made to obtain portable skull films, a Towne view must be included, as well as the antero-posterior and lateral views, to increase the diagnostic yield of portable skull films in patients with skull fractures.
Measuring the Academic Impact of Libraries.

University and college libraries often seek ways to demonstrate their impact for the academic community. This article reports the results from a two-year study that analyzed library use as demonstrated through checkouts and off-campus access to full-text resources against grade point averages (GPAs) of undergraduates and graduates at a large Midwestern library. The study found that undergraduates with a GPA above the mean university GPA used the library more than those with a GPA below the mean. There was a correlation between greater use of the library and increases in GPA between the two years—that is, as one grew, so did the other. The study also showed that students who checked out materials in one year returned for additional checkouts.
Efficient Estimation of Linear Parameters from Correlated Node Measurements over Networks

We investigate the performance of distributed estimation of static parameters in networks whose nodes make correlated measurements. The measurement models are linear with node specific time-varying observation matrices. The nodes cooperate with their neighbors by exchanging information that allow for approximation of the sufficient statistics in the estimation. We prove that the proposed estimation method is efficient. Specifically, we show that the performances of the distributed estimator and the centralized one are asymptotically the same, i.e., the limit of the ratio of their variances is 1.
Ion cyclotron resonance studies of some reactions of C+ ions☆

Product distributions and rate constants for the reaction of ground state C(+) ions with O2, NO, HCl, CO2, H2S, H2O, HCN, NH3, CH4, H2CO, CH3OH, and CH3NH2 have been measured. Rate constants were obtained using ion cyclotron resonance trapped ion methods, and product distributions were obtained using a tandem mass spectrometer. Rapid carbon isotope exchange has also been observed in C(+)-CO collisions.
Temporally patterned activity recorded from mandibular nerves of the isolated subesophageal ganglion of Manduca.

Abstract We recorded bursts of motor neuron activity from closer and opener mandibular nerves of isolated subesophageal ganglia (SOG) and compared them with the feeding motor pattern of intact Manduca larvae. Closer bursts recorded from isolated SOG lasted from 1 to 4 s, interburst interval durations lasted from 2 to 49 s, and within- and between-animal variability was great. In contrast, motor activity bursts (EMGs) measured from mandibular closer muscles of intact, feeding animals lasted 0.08 to 0.24 s with interburst intervals of 0.26 to 0.57 s. Variability both within and between animals was small. Bath application of 10 −4 M octopamine to the isolated SOG tended to increase frequency and reduce the duration of bursts, so that they became more like those recorded during feeding.
Brn-3.2: a Brn-3-related transcription factor with distinctive central nervous system expression and regulation by retinoic acid.

Abstract The identification and molecular characterization of Brn-3.2 has revealed a family of Brn-3-related mammalian POU proteins that share homology with the C. elegans developmental regulator Unc-86 and extended similarity with the Drosophila neurodevelopmental gene I-POU , which defines a novel POU-IV box. Brn-3.2 exhibits DNA binding properties similar to those of Brn-3.0, but its expression is uniquely regulated by retinoic acid in teratocarcinoma and neuroblastorna cells. In the developing PNS and retina, the expression pattern of Brn -3.2 is similar to that of Brn-3.0 . In the caudal CNS (spinal cord, hindbrain, and midbrain) Brn-3.2 and Brn-3.0 are initially coexpressed, but diverge later in development. Rostral to the midbrain, Brn-3.2 and Brn-3.0 exhibit nonoverlapping patterns of expression, suggesting divergence of gene function in more recently evolved structures. Our analysis suggests that in the CNS Brn-3.2 is selectively expressed in postmitotic neurons, implying a role in specifying terminally differentiated neuronal phenotypes.
Free amino acids and related compounds during metamorphosis of the blowfly Phormia regina

Abstract Phormia regina larvae raised on an aseptic semi-defined diet have been employed to determine the profiles of free amino acids and related ninhydrin-positive compounds during metamorphosis. Two-dimensional high-voltage ionophoresis, paper chromatography, enzymatic reactions, hydrolysis, and specific colour tests were used to identify all the major peaks obtained by running deproteinized extracts on an automatic amino acid analyser. Each developmental stage was examined before and after acid hydrolysis of the extracts, and profiles of the following substances recorded: cysteic + homocysteic acids, phosphoserine + phosphothreonine, glycerophosphoethanolamine, phosphoethanolamine, taurine, urea, l -methionine- d -sulphoxide, aspartic acid, glutamine, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, α -amino- n -butyric acid, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, β -alanine, β -aminoisobutyric acid, γ -amino- n -butyric acid, ethanolamine, ammonia, lysine, histidine, and arginine. At certain stages of development ornithine, tryptophan, and a number of peptide peaks were observed but these have not been estimated. No evidence was obtained for the presence of any d -amino acids. Following acid hydrolysis aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and glycine increased the most, β -alanine, β -aminoisobutyric acid, γ -aminobutyric acid, taurine, and tyrosine showed no increase in titre, while the remaining components increased to an intermediate extent. During adult development the concentration of the following amino acids showed the most marked changes: tyrosine, methionine sulphoxide and methionine, proline and glutamic acid, but the titres of most of the compounds examined varied to some degree.
Remarks on trajectories of plane autonomous non-conservative dynamical systems

Abstract Under very mild conditions it is proved that the equation for the trajectory of a plane nonconservative system can be deduced algebraically. Several examples are discussed.
Evaluating CERES-Maize for reduction in plant population or leaf area during the growing season☆

Abstract A crop model able to simulate the effects of a reduction in plant population and/or leaf area would be useful to estimate yield losses from biotic (e.g. pathogens and arthropods) and abiotic (e.g. hail) stresses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of a structured version of CERES-Maize (V 1·0) to reduction in plant population or leaf area at various growth stages. Simulation results showed that the model was not able to predict a grain yield plateau at high plant populations and overpredicted grain yield by as much as 16% when the plant population was 6·5 plants m −2 . When plant population was reduced below 5·6 plants m −2 , CERES-Maize underpredicted yield, but accurately predicted the trends observed in the field data. In response to reduction in leaf area, the model over-predicted kernel number and underpredicted kernel weight except at 100% reduction in leaf area during vegetative growth. In this situation, the model was not able to simulate the growth of the remaining leaves in the whorl and produce a yield. These results were based on independent data sets from two locations in the Corn Belt. To address these problems in the model, the relationship between grain yield and plant population, the redistribution of carbon during vegetative growth after reduction in leaf area, and the prediction of kernel number should be investigated.
Mobility and dissipation of ethofumesate and halofenozide in turfgrass and bare soil.

The effect of turfgrass cover on the leaching and dissipation of ethofumesate and halofenozide was studied. Sampling cylinders (20 cm diam. × 30 cm long) were placed vertically in plots of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.), or bare soil. ethofumesate [(±)-2-ethoxy-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethylbenzofuran-5-yl methansulfonate] was applied at 840 g ai ha-1 on September 21, 1997. Halofenozide (N-4-chlorobenzoyl-N‘-benzoyl-N‘-tert-butylhydrazine) was applied at 1680 g ai ha-1 on August 30, 1998. Replicate sampling cylinders were removed 2 h after treatment and 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 days after treatment. Sampling cylinders were sectioned by depths and soil extracts were assayed by HPLC with a pesticide detection limit of 0.01 mg kg-1. Turfgrass was divided into verdure and thatch and analyzed separately. ethofumesate leaching in turfgrass was reduced by at least 95% compared to leaching in bare soil. The half-life of ethofumesate in bare soil was 51 days compare...
Three-dimensional effects on fatigue crack closure in the small-scale yielding regime – a finite element study

Plasticity induced closure often strongly influences the behaviour of fatigue cracks at engineering scales in metallic materials. Current predictive models generally adopt the effective stress-intensity tractor (ΔK eff =K max -K oP ) in a Paris law type relationship to quantify crack growth rates. This work describes a 3D finite element study of mode I fatigue crack growth in the small-scale yielding (SSY) regime under a constant amplitude cyclic loading with zero T-stress and a ratio K min /K max = 0. The material behaviour follows a purely kinematic hardening constitutive model with constant hardening modulus. Dimensional analysis suggests, and the computational results confirm, that the normalized remote opening load value, K op /K max at each location along the crack front remains unchanged when the peak load (K max ), thickness (B) and material flow stress (σ 0 ) all vary to maintain a fixed value of K = K max/σ0 √B. Through parametric computations at various K levels, the results illustrate the effects of normalized peak loads on the through-thickness opening-closing behaviour and the effects of σ 0 /E, where E denotes material elastic modulus. The examination of defamation fields along the fatigue crack front provides additional insight into the 3D closure process.
Clinically Significant Mucosal Candidiasis Resistant to Fluconazole Treatment in Patients with AIDS

Eight cases of severe mucosal candidiasis in patients with AIDS who were taking fluconazole at a dosage of 400-800 mg/d are described. Candida albicans alone or in conjunction with Torulopsis glabrata or Candida stellatoidea was isolated from each patient. In vitro susceptibility testing demonstrated resistance to fluconazole in all eight cases. All tested isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, and six of eight isolates tested were susceptible to itraconazole. All individuals were severely immunocompromised (CD4 lymphocyte counts: mean, 15/mm3; range, 6-39/mm3) and had been receiving prophylaxis with fluconazole for a mean of only 3 months (range, 1-7 months). The occurrence of candidal mucositis in patients receiving high doses of fluconazole is a matter of concern that requires further study in regard to the causes, prevention, and treatment of the disease.
Rotational setup errors in pediatric stereotactic radiation therapy

Abstract Purpose Stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) is an increasingly commonly used technique in children. The use of image guidance increases the ability to accurately position patients. With our robotic couch, rotational errors that can be corrected are limited to approximately 3 degrees. Given this limitation, we reviewed the rotational setup errors in our pediatric brain tumor population. Methods and Materials We reviewed the rotational corrections for all pediatric (age ≤21 years old) patients treated at our facility from 2009 to 2011. We compared children Results The mean pitch, roll, and yaw rotational setup errors for younger children are −0.70 ± 2.60 degrees, −0.06 ± 1.89 degrees, and 0.69 ± 2.42 degrees, respectively; for children ≥5 years old, they are 0.46 ± 2.09 degrees, −0.06 ± 1.89 degrees, and 0.69 ± 2.42 degrees, respectively. The mean pitch corrections are larger for children Conclusions Rotational errors in our pediatric population occur more frequently than previously reported, and are more common in younger children and in children treated with steroids. These rotational set up errors may not be fully correctable due to mechanical and safety limitations. We have altered our planning and treatment process to better account for rotational errors in children receiving SRT.
Early to Middle(?) Jurassic extensional tectonism in the western Great Basin: Growth faulting and synorogenic deposition of the Dunlap Formation

Lower to Middle(?) Jurassic synorogenic rocks in the Mesozoic marine province of western Nevada were deposited in northwesterly trending half-grabens during regional extension. The development of extensional basins appears to be widespread in the northwestern Great Basin and may explain lithologically similar coeval rocks elsewhere in the western Cordillera of North America.
A comparative study of two preoperative radiation regimens with cystectomy for bladder cancer

This report surveys the results of two programs of preoperative irradiation with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in 205 patients. Irradiating the true pelvis to 4000 rads in 4 weeks with radical cystectomy after 6 weeks was implemented in 119 patients (Group 1) from 1959 to 1965; 2000 rads given in 1 week to the true pelvis and radical cystectomy within the following week was implemented in 86 patients (Group 2) from 1966 to 1970. Determinate survival without evidence of recurrence at 5 years was 43% in Group 1 and 42% in Group 2. Mortality with recurrence of bladder cancer in 5 or more years was 44% in group 1 and 42% in group 2. Pelvic complications occurred in 13% of group 1 and 9% of group 2.
Referral characteristics of primary care physicians for seizure patients.

Summary: Purpose: To investigate primary care physicians' behavior with respect to referral patterns, antiepileptic drug (AED) initiation, and level of comfort in managing seizure patients. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used for collecting and analyzing data. A 20-item survey was developed and mailed to 8,195 primary care physicians including family practitioners, internal medicine physicians, and obstetrics–gynecologists throughout the state of Ohio; 504 primary care physicians that interact regularly with epilepsy patients responded to the survey. Results: Two patterns of referral emerged. Data showed that the majority (n = 382) of physicians refer 50% of their patients, but a minority of physicians (n = 122) refer <50% of their patients. Differences between the two groups existed in three of the four research questions asked: who initiates AED therapy, comfort level, and percentage of patients referred to a neurologist. Influence of managed care on decision making was not different between the two groups. Conclusions: A minority of primary care physicians rate themselves very comfortable with seizure patients. These same physicians refer a minority of their patients to a neurologist. As a whole, however, primary care physicians refer a majority of their seizure patients to a neurologist. Neurologists evaluate most seizure patients because most primary care physicians claim not to be extremely comfortable with evaluation and treatment of seizures. We conclude that neurologists play an essential role in the treatment of most seizure patients.