cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Red cell ferritin content during the hemoglobin transition of amphibian metamorphosis.

Abstract Soluble ferritin levels in circulating red cells of Rana catesbeiana were determined immunologically during spontaneous metamorphosis; ferritin levels declined from 1.2% in the animals of stages 13, 15, and 18 to 0.08% in stage 25 animals. The immunological reactivity of purified ferritin from frog red cells was determined to be similar to that of tadpole red cell ferritin; and therefore, the decrease in red cell ferritin was attributed to a change in the amount of ferritin rather than to a change in immunological reactivity. The concentration of red cell ferritin was used to calculate the percentage of adult cells in the circulation during metamorphic climax, and the results were similar to those obtained by other workers using the concentration of adult hemoglobin (dimer) as an index. The amount of red cell ferritin was found to be related to the utilization of exogenous iron for hemoglobin synthesis by red cell suspensions; during metamorphic climax and the hemoglobin transition, the utilization of exogenous iron for hemoglobin synthesis increased as red cell ferritin levels decreased.
Renewing focus on resident education: increased responsibility and ownership in interventional radiology rotations improves the educational experience.

Purpose To enhance the educational experience among residents rotating through interventional radiology (IR) by encouraging ownership and responsibility. Materials and Methods In May 2006, the authors implemented changes in resident education in IR that included increased clinical responsibilities, structured didactics, and greater hands-on experience, including call. Residents were assigned as first assistants, ownership of cases was encouraged, and assignment to a week on the consult service was instituted to help residents better understand all aspects of IR practice. Additional faculty recruitment and program expansion ensured the same high level of training for the fellowship program. Evaluations were reviewed every year (July 1, 2007–June 30, 2009) for hands-on training, daily teaching, didactic conferences, and overall effectiveness of the clinical service. A graduated scale of 1–5 was used. Results In 2009, 3 years after the curricular changes were made, the quality of hands-on training, daily case reviews and consults, didactics, and overall education had markedly improved with 89%, 71%, 65%, and 82% of the residents rating these respective aspects of the training as “above expectations” (4 on a scale of 5) or “superior” (5 on a scale of 5) compared with 77%, 23%, 20%, and 60% in 2005–2006. Three years after the changes, the impact of these changes on recruitment patterns also showed improvement, with 28.6% of the class of 2010 pursuing a fellowship in IR. Conclusions Increasing resident ownership, responsibility, and hands-on experience improves resident education in IR, which, in turn, promotes interest in the field.
THE RELATION BETWEEN ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND INGESTED CHOLESTEROL IN THE RABBIT

1. The range of free cholesterol in the blood of rabbits, as determined by the Windaus method, varies from 35 to 125 mg. with a mean of 71 mg. per 100 cc. of blood. 2. The small amount of cholesterol contained in the high protein diet used by us in earlier work and causing atherosclerosis does not affect the blood cholesterol nor does it cause arterial disease. 3. In order to produce atherosclerosis it is necessary to feed at least ten times that amount of cholesterol. 4. In rabbits receiving such amounts both hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis occur, but it is not possible to establish any close parallelism between the two. High blood readings are found in rabbits with normal aortae and atherosclerotic rabbits in this series sometimes have shown a normal blood cholesterol. 5. With still greater doses of cholesterol one finally reaches an amount which regularly produces hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis within a few weeks. 6. A new series of rabbits fed the high protein diet shows that those rabbits which become atherosclerotic also develop hypercholesterolemia. We attribute this elevation of the blood cholesterol to a metabolic disturbance directly referable to the excess of protein in the diet and not to its cholesterol content.
Does Widowhood or Remarriage have the Greater Impact on the Academic Achievement of Children

Using the NELS data set from the 1988–1992 period, the results of this study indicate that how one views the relative effects of widowhood and remarriage may depend largely on two factors: 1) at wh...
Surface Characterization of Magnesium Anodized in a 10M KOH Electrolyte

Magnesium (Mg) is a promising implant material for orthopedic applications due to its biodegradability and desirable mechanical properties. However, in order for Mg to have widespread clinical applications, engineering solutions that address the rapid degradation in physiological environments and promote bone-forming activity are needed. The objective of this study was to develop an anodization process using a toxicant-free electrolyte to modulate nanoscale surface features and surface chemistry on Mg. Anodic polarization and potentiostatic anodization tests were used to evaluate the effect of applied potential on surface morphology of Mg in a 10 M KOH electrolyte. Nucleation of oxides as a function of anodization duration was also investigated in order to optimize the synthesis process. The alkaline electrolyte used for anodization of Mg offers an alternative to commercial processes that use hazardous elements. The anodized samples were annealed to investigate the effect of thermal treatments on surface morphology and chemical composition. The nanostructure and chemical composition of the anodized and annealed Mg substrates were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Our results showed that the nanostructures and chemical composition of anodically-generated oxide layers on Mg are specific to each oxidation process in a 10 M KOH electrolyte. Furthermore, results indicated that anodization durations of two hours generated surface oxide layers with homogeneous topography on the Mg substrates atapplied potentials of 0.5 V, 1.5 V and 2 V.. This study showed a promising approach for creating nanoscale surface features on Mg for improved bioactivity and degradation property.
Revealing the Relationship Between Ship Crowding and Slave Mortality

Historical accounts have linked the overcrowded conditions on the Middle Passage to slaves’ ill health and high mortality. A large literature in economic history has failed to find such effects. This note demonstrates the importance of a statistical explanation: missing data. Studies finding no positive relationship between vessel crowding and Middle Passage mortality are driven by an unrepresentative sample of slave voyages. Using simple methods to correct for missing data on voyage duration, analysis of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database shows a strong and robust association between crowded voyages and slave mortality, consistent with historical accounts. This research was generously supported by graduate fellowships and research funds from the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Economic History Association, and the University of Michigan. The author is grateful for the helpful comments of several thoughtful and generous readers and seminar participants, particularly to David J. Auerbach, Martha J. Bailey, D. James Baker, Benjamin A. Hicklin, George L. Hurrell III, Daniel Marcin, Edie Ostapik, Paul W. Rhode, Elyce J. Rotella, Warren C. Whatley and two anonymous reviewers. A significantly revised version of this paper has been published in the Journal of Economic History, 74(2):535-552, June 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0022050714000291
Scanning electron microscopy of the bursa of Fabricius from normal and testosterone-treated embryos.

Abstract Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has revealed the presence of projecting follicles (PF) and button-like follicles (BLF) in the bursa of Fabricius. This study was designed to examine the embryonic bursa with SEM to ascertain which type of follicle appears first and to compare the SEM of the bursa from normal embryos with those having received testosterone propionate (TP) on the 11th day of incubation. The bursa of the latter embryos exhibits an arrested lymphoid development. PF appeared in normal embryos by 16 days and were well developed by 18 days of embryonic development. Inter-follicular epithelium was apparent by 21 days of embryonic development in normal embryos. On the other hand, bursal follicles and interfollicular epithelium failed to form in TP birds. The TP-birds exhibited a characteristic pebble-like epithelium which may attest to the regressive influence of TP on bursal epithelium or to an arrested stage of epithelial development. The PF may lead to the development of BLF or the BLF may be derived independently of PF.
Evidence for a 3'-5' decay pathway for c-myc mRNA in mammalian cells.

Many mRNAs in mammalian cells decay via a sequential pathway involving rapid conversion of polyadenylated molecules to a poly(A)-deficient state followed by rapid degradation of the poly(A)-deficient molecules. However, the rapidity of this latter step(s) has precluded further analyses of the decay pathways involved. Decay intermediates derived from degradation of poly(A)-deficient molecules could offer clues regarding decay pathways, but these intermediates have not been readily detected. Cell-free mRNA decay systems have proven useful in analyses of decay pathways because decay intermediates are rather stable in vitro. Cell-free systems indicate that many mRNAs decay by a sequential 3′-5′ pathway because 3′-terminal decay intermediates form following deadenylation. However, if 3′-terminal, in vitro decay intermediates reflect a biologically significant aspect of mRNA turnover, then similar intermediates should be present in cells. Here, I have compared the in vivo and in vitro decay of mRNA encoded by the c-myc proto-oncogene. Its decay bothin vivo and in vitro occurs by rapid removal of the poly(A) tract and generation of a 3′-terminal decay intermediate. These data strongly suggest that a 3′-5′ pathway contributes to turnover of c-myc mRNA in cells. It is likely that 3′-5′ decay represents a major turnover pathway in mammalian cells.
How gender shaped science and education: A history of nutritional sciences in the 19th and 20th centuries

Many societies view the world as composed of two distinct and complementary spheres: the female (domestic) sphere and the male (public) sphere. Because science was part of the male sphere, women were inhibited from pursuing a career in scientific research. However, the more limited female sphere often found within university departments of home economics provided women some space to establish their own research agendas. Using the lens of the history of nutrition, we can see how this universe of separate spheres had, and continues to have, both negative and positive effects for women in science.
Influence of cell concentration on the contribution of unfrozen fraction and salt concentration to the survival of slowly frozen human erythrocytes

We have shown previously that the survival of human red blood cells during slow freezing at 2% hematocrit is dependent more on the magnitude of the unfrozen fraction than on the salt concentration in that unfrozen fraction. In parallel, first Nei and more recently Pegg and colleagues have shown that survival is affected by the hematocrit of the suspension. Freezing at hematocrits above 30% becomes increasingly damaging. The present studies were designed to see whether there is a link between the two phenomena. Cells were suspended at nominal hematocrits of 0.4, 2, 8, 40, or 60% in five test solutions of glycerol-NaCl. The test solutions were of such composition that when frozen to a specified temperature, the magnitude of the unfrozen fraction differed but the NaCl concentration (ms) remained constant. At low hematocrits (0.4 to 8%), red cell survival was dependent predominantly on the unfrozen fraction and was relatively independent of the salt concentration in that fraction. This we term the "rheological" effect because injury appears to be related to interaction with the ice walls and perhaps is due to shearing forces or cell deformation. But at high hematocrits (40 or 60%), cell survival became dependent on both the unfrozen fraction and the salt concentration in that fraction. When freezing occurs at high hematocrits, increasing numbers of cells are presumably brought into contact with their neighbors. Furthermore, they are increasingly shrunken cells, for the progressive removal of liquid water, which is responsible for the crowding, also causes a rise in ms and the consequent osmotic shrinkage of cells. Our data suggest that at unfrozen fractions above those producing injurious rheological forces, the tight packing of less shrunken cells (i.e., high hematocrit, low ms) and the extensive shrinking of loosely packed cells (high ms, low hematocrit) are both quite innocuous. Injury becomes substantial only when extensively shrunken cells are brought into close contact (i.e., high ms, high hematocrit). At high hematocrit the cells occupy a substantial fraction of the unfrozen space, and the water that they lose during slow freezing adds substantially to the volume of extracellular ice. Accordingly, we defined other measures of unfrozen fraction that include these perturbations. However, we found that the conclusions on the relation between survival, unfrozen fraction, and hematocrit were not affected by the method of expressing the unfrozen fraction. Freezing at high hematocrit to high ms and low values of unfrozen fraction is one way to produce contact between shrunken cells at low temperatures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of polychlorinated biphenyls by aquatic and terrestrial insects to tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)

Insectivorous passerines often bioaccumulate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) via trophic transfer processes. Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) frequently are used for estimating PCB bioaccumulation, yet the focus on specific trophic links between contaminated sediment and bird has been limited. Bioaccumulation of PCBs from sediment to tree swallows was examined with focus on trophic pathways by simultaneously examining PCBs in emergent aquatic and terrestrial insects and gut contents of nestlings. Total PCB concentrations increased from sediment (123.65 ± 15.93 μg/kg) to tree swallow nestlings (2,827.76 ± 505.67 μg/kg), with emergent aquatic insects, terrestrial insects, and gut content samples having intermediate concentrations. Biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) varied among congeners for tree swallow nestlings and for male and female Chironomus spp. For nestlings, the highest BSAF was for the mono-ortho-substituted congener 118. Nestling biomagnification values were similar for gut contents and female Chironomus spp., suggesting this diet item may be the main contributor to the overall PCB transfer to nestlings. However, gut content samples were highly variable and, on a PCB congener pattern basis, may have been influenced by other taxa, such as terrestrial insects. Considering dietary plasticity of many insectivorous birds, the present study suggests that a variety of potential food items should be considered when examining PCB accumulation in insectivorous passerines.
Comparing French and English coronal consonant articulation

Abstract The difference between French and English speakers' production of the coronal consonants /t, d, n, l, s, z/ has traditionally been thought to involve place of articulation (dental vs . alveolar) and/or point of constriction on the tongue (laminal vs . apical). In addition, these six consonants are usually placed in the same column of the consonant chart and assumed to have the same place of articulation within a given language. A palatographic and linguagraphic investigation of 21 French speakers and 20 American English speakers shows that there is more individual variation in both languages than had previously been supposed. This is true both between speakers and between consonants. The study shows that speakers within one language may not all produce the coronal consonants at the same place of articulation on the palate or with the same point of constriction on the tongue. It is also clear that the place of articulation and apicality of the coronal lateral, and to a lesser extent the coronal fricatives, may not pattern with that of the stop consonants. Analysis of acoustic recordings made simultaneously with the palatograms and linguagrams is forthcoming.
Cell cycle stage-dependent induction of G2 phase arrest by different antitumor agents

Abstract A variety of chemically unrelated antitumour compounds has been shown to block cell cycle progression in G 2 phase. Using thymidine synchronized human lymphoid cells, we have investigated the cycle stage dependency of this kinetic response. For anthracycline antibiotics (adriamycin, adriamycin-DNA complex and rubidazone) and the epipodophyllotoxin derivative VP16, cells in S phase were most susceptible to the induction of G 2 block in the immediate life span. Alkylating agents (melphalan, peptichemio and Toshi 864) displayed a peculiar sensitivity pattern: G 1 cells were effectively delayed in the subsequent G 2 phase, whereas this kinetic event was transmitted to the daughter cell population when treatment was commenced in G 2 phase. The time of manifestation of G 2 block after incubation in S phase varied among the three alkylating agents and was a function of the position in S phase. In general, there was no correlation between phase sensitivity for induction of G 2 block and lethal cell damage.
Heat Transfer Characteristics of Steady Electroosmotic Flows in Two-Dimensional Straight Microchannels

Analytical solutions for the temperature distributions, heat transfer coefficients and Nusselt numbers of steady electroosmotic flows are obtained for two-dimensional straight micro-channels. This analysis is based on infinitesimal electric double layer (EDL) in which flow velocity becomes “plug-like” uniform except very close to the wall. Both constant surface temperature and constant surface heat flux conditions are considered in this study. Separation of variables techniques are applied to obtain analytical solutions of temperature distributions from the energy equation in which Joule heating is a significant contributor due to the applied electric field. The thermal analysis considers interaction among inertial, diffusive and joule heating terms in order to obtain the thermally developing behavior of electroosmotic flows. Heat transfer characteristics are presented for low Reynolds number microflows where the viscous and electric field terms are very dominant. For the parameter range studied here (Re ≤ 0.7), the Nusselt number is independent of the thermal Peclet number, except in the thermally developing region. In both isothermal and constant surface heat flux boundary conditions, the Nusselt number becomes constant in the fully developed region for a uniform volumetric heat generation. Analytical results for no Joule heating cases are also compared with the classical heat transfer results, and in the thermally fully developed region an excellent agreement is obtained between them.© 2003 ASME
One ORC with Many Faces

The eukaryotic chromosomal Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) is a six-protein ATPase complex that not only binds to origin DNA, but together with Cdc6, also loads the Mcm2-7 helicase onto DNA. We have visualized by cryo-EM how the yeast ORC alters its structure as it interacts with and responds to its partners. The yeast ORC is a bi-lobed structure with Orc1, 4, and 5 in one lobe and Orc2, 3, and 6 in the other. ORC alone is flexible and binding to DNA rigidifies the structure. The replication initiator Cdc6 profoundly changes the ORC structure. Cdc6 completes a ring by bridging the bi-lobed structure from the side, and in doing so, nearly doubles the DNase I footprint. Cdc6 also causes Orc1 to rotate against Orc4. These changes lie at the heart of the molecular switch that transforms the ORC from a passive DNA binder to an active helicase loader. Using cryo-EM, we have caught ORC in the act of loading the first MCM2-7 hexamer. More precisely, we have captured a 1.1-MDa 14-protein complex comprised of ORC-Cdc6-Cdt1-Mcm2-7 in the presence of ATP-γS. ORC is transformed into a spiral and has partially loaded the Mcm2-7 hexamer onto dsDNA, as DNA density is visible going through the ORC-Cdc6 spiral and into the Mcm2-7 central chamber. This loading mechanism bears striking similarity to the loading of PCNA ring by the RFC ATPase spiral. ORC will eventually recruit a second MCM2-7 hexamer and deposit a Mcm2-7 double hexamer on dsDNA before letting go of the latter. We have established the architecture of the double hexamer, providing insights into Dbf4-dependent Cdc7 kinase regulation.
Creep of magnesium strengthened with high volume fractions of yttria dispersoids

Creep experiments were performed on dispersion-strengthened-cast magnesium (DSC-Mg), consisting of unalloyed magnesium with 1 mm grain size containing 30 vol.% of 0.33 mm yttria particles. Strain rates were measured for temperatures between 573 and 723 K at compressive stresses between 7 and 125 MPa. DSC-Mg exhibits outstanding creep strength as compared with other magnesium materials, but is less creep resistant than comparable DSC-Al and other dispersion-strengthened aluminum materials. Two separate creep regimes were observed in DSC-Mg, at low stresses (sB 30 MPa), both the apparent stress exponent (napp:2) and the apparent activation energy (Qapp:48 kJ mol 1 ) are low, while at high stresses (s\ 34 MPa), these parameters are much higher (napp 9‐15 and Qapp230‐325 kJ mol 1 ) and increase, respectively, with increasing temperature and stress. The low-stress regime can be explained by an existing model of grain-boundary sliding inhibited by dispersoids at grain-boundaries. The unexpectedly low activation energy (about half the activation energy of grain boundary diffusion in pure magnesium) is interpreted as interfacial diffusion at the Mg:Y2O3 interface. The high-stress regime can be described by dislocation creep with dispersion-strengthening from the interaction of the submicron particles with matrix dislocations. The origin of the threshold stress is discussed in the light of existing dislocation climb, detachment and pile-up models. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Requirement for TNF-Tnfrsf1 signalling for sclerosing cholangitis in mice chronically infected by Cryptosporidium parvum.

SUMMARY An increase in mRNA levels for TNF and Tnfrsf1 in the bile ducts of Tnfsf5‐/‐(CD40 ligand or CD154 knockout) mice developing cholangitis following infection by Cryptosporidium parvum (CP) is accompanied by staining for TNFa in areas of inflammation. To determine whether TNF contributed to the bile duct damage seen in chronically-infected animals, we bred B6 mice with disrupted genes for Tnfrsf1a, Tnfrsf1b and Tnfsf5. Following CP infection, the Tnfsf5‐/‐ Tnfrsf1a & 1b‐/‐ mice were spared from cholangitis, even though their intestinal and bile duct infection by CP persisted. Mice with disruptions of Tnfsf5, and either Tnfrsf1a or Tnfrsf1b, developed bile duct sclerosis similar to that seen in CD40 and Tnfsf5 knockouts. Our data indicate that signalling through either TNF receptor is sufficient for the bile duct damage that follows chronic CP infection in mice, with disruption of the Tnfsf5 molecule.
The Advantages of Controlled Atmospheres for Arc Spectroscopy

Effective spectrochemical analysis depends upon three components of the apparatus. Two of them, the detector (including such elements as plates and photocells), and the light disperser (including prisms, gratings, and now echelles) are relatively well understood and perfected. The third and most significant of the three, the light source, has proved a more difficult problem. One line of attack used fairly recently, however, has been on the atmosphere around the arc. Air, the usual medium, has one major failing, namely, the interference of the cyanogen bands accompanying the reaction between atmospheric nitrogen and the electrode carbon. Other gases used in place of air not only overcome this disadvantage, but provide several additional advantages which may prove to be as important as they were unexpected. The reasons for these gains are still not understood, and painstaking trial-and-error selection of the best medium for a particular analysis is still necessary. Nevertheless the gains realized from operating a source in artificial atmospheres are frequently great enough to justify each analyst in trying all available gases for his own peculiar circumstances, problems, and apparatus. In addition to the control of source environment by varying the gas around the arc another approach to the problem is possible: that of varying the pattern of the gas flow around the arc.
SU‐E‐T‐323: Investigation of the Effect of the Gold‐Tissue Interface on the Radiation Dose Enhancement Due to Gold Nanoparticles

Purpose: Injection of goldnanoparticles into a tumor site has been found promising in achieving selective radiationdose enhancement within the tumor due to gold's high atomic number Z=79, and favorable biological compatibility. So far the amplitude of the dose enhancement has been modeled in an approximation of average distribution of separate gold atoms rather than nanoparticles, thus neglecting the effect of the gold‐tissue interface. Evaluation of the dose deposition at the interface allowed us to estimate the dose enhancement more adequately. Method and Materials: Monte Carlo N‐Particle radiation transport code version 5 (MCNP5) was used to study the dose enhancement in a 1‐dimensional approximation, with a layer of gold placed within tumor. Dimension of gold along the beam direction was set to 100 nm, while in the transverse directions to 10×10 cm2. Mono‐energetic photon sources, from 20 keV to 4 MeV, were directed onto the tumor, and dose enhancements relative to the uniform all‐tumor case were obtained in the vicinity of the gold layer. Results: The dose deposited in the tumor in the vicinity of the gold layer varies with the energy of the incoming photon beam. The highest enhancement, up to several hundred percents, was obtained for the lowest energy; with much more modest enhancement of 10 to 20% at MeV energies. The region of the dose enhancement fall‐off around the particle extends to ∼3microns, therefore for realistic nanoparticle concentrations ∼1% dose enhancement regions will overlap. Conclusions: Our approach of evaluating the gold‐tissue interface around one particle allowed for a simple way of obtaining dose distributions and more adequate values of dose enhancement factors. Use of gold particles can be justified even for MeV photon therapies where only modest, 10 to 20 % dose enhancement ratios are achieved, if a tumor site is close to a critical structure.
Apply network coding for H.264/SVC multicasting

In a packet erasure network environment, video streaming benefits from error control in two ways to achieve graceful degradation. The first approach is application-level (or the link-level) forward error-correction (FEC) to provide erasure protection. The second error control approach is error concealment at the decoder end to compensate lost packets. A large amount of research work has been done in the above two areas. More recently, network coding (NC) techniques have been proposed for efficient data multicast over networks. It was shown in our previous work that multicast video streaming benefits from NC for its throughput improvement. An algebraic model is given to analyze the performance in this work. By exploiting the linear combination of video packets along nodes in a network and the SVC video format, the system achieves path diversity automatically and enables efficient video delivery to heterogeneous receivers in packet erasure channels. The application of network coding can protect video packets against the erasure network environment. However, the rank defficiency problem of random linear network coding makes the error concealment inefficiently. It is shown by computer simulation that the proposed NC video multicast scheme enables heterogenous receiving according to their capacity constraints. But it needs special designing to improve the video transmission performance when applying network coding.
Perspectives on the Electronic ICU

Electronic ICUs (eICUs) have arisen as an effort to improve the intensive care medical coverage still unavailable to many patients. The overriding issue is the ongoing shortage of critical care med...
Polydipsia and water intoxication in a long-term psychiatric hospital.

This cross-sectional survey attempts to establish the prevalence of polydipsia and water intoxication at a state hospital ( N = 360) using staff diagnosis, specific gravity of the urine (SPGU), weight changes, and chart review. There were 150 [42%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 37 – 47%] patients diagnosed as polydipsic by the staff or by SPGU. At least 93 (26%, CI 21 – 30%) had primary polydipsia not explained by other causes. Chart review identified 17 (5%, CI 3 – 7%) patients with a history of water intoxication. Using a case-control study design, schizophrenia, extended duration of hospitalization, and heavy smoking were associated with primary polydipsia in a logistic regression analysis (respective odds ratios were 1.6, 1.8, and 3.6). All patients with a history of water intoxication were Caucasian (versus 83% in those without a history) and had significantly more extended hospitalizations (94 vs. 49%). Future case-control studies should combine longitudinal identification of true cases and controls and exhaustive collections of clinical information in a standardized way.
Bond coat surface rumpling in thermal barrier coatings

Abstract Long term durability of thermal barrier coatings is determined by the mechanisms responsible for the nucleation and growth of interfacial cracks between the coating and the substrate. One such mechanism is the progressive roughening or “rumpling” of the bond coat surface upon thermal cycling in superalloy–bond coat systems. The present work is inspired by a recent rumpling experiment [1] pointing to the important role played by the bond coat stresses in the rumpling process. A thermodynamic analysis is presented in this paper based on a bond coat stress-driven surface diffusion mechanism to explain the rumpling process. The surface chemical potential variation required for such a diffusion process is induced by the changes in the surface energy and the elastic strain energy in the system during rumpling. It is found that the amplitude of surface fluctuations with a wavelength higher than a threshold value monotonically increases with thermal cycling, while the amplitude for fluctuations with wavelength lower than the threshold value monotonically decreases. A range of wavelengths is identified to have a high monotonic amplitude increasing rate, resulting in characteristic wavelengths of rumpled surface upon thermal cycling. Effect of various input parameters on these wavelength values is analyzed. It is shown that under certain conditions, the range of wavelengths obtained from the model agree with that observed in several experimental studies.
Total Electron Content during the Great Magnetic Storm of March 8,1970

TOTAL electron content data were obtained at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, from polarization measurements of the ATS-3 satellite beacon on 137·35 MHz (Fig. 1). The bottomside ionosphere was simultaneously explored by bottomside vertical sounding. These ionograms were converted to true height electron density profiles. Curves of height variations were drawn for F-region plasma frequencies (Fig. 2). For comparison, reference is made to the storm magnetograph (Fig. 3) from Fredericksburg, Virginia.
The Argument from Skepticism for Contextualism

Epistemic contextualism was originally motivated and supported by the response it provides to skeptical paradox. Although there has been much discussion of the contextualist response to skeptical paradox, not much attention has been paid to the argument from skepticism for contextualism. Contextualists argue that contextualism accounts for the plausibility and apparent inconsistency of a set of paradoxical claims better than any classical invariantist theory. In this paper I focus on and carefully examine the argument from skepticism for contextualism. I argue not only that the prima facie advantage of contextualism is specious, but also that contextualism is in fact at a competitive disadvantage with respect to two classical invariantist views. I also argue that contextualism takes an arbitrary and unsatisfying strategy in its response to skepticism. That contextualism is alone in taking this arbitrary strategy marks a second competitive disadvantage for it. In addition, I argue that the contextualist response to skeptical paradox regenerates a skeptical paradox which contextualism is powerless to solve. Consequently, the argument from skepticism for contextualism fails. Furthermore, this feature of the contextualist response to skeptical paradox completely undermines the motivation and support for contextualism deriving from its treatment of skeptical paradox. I conclude that the argument from skepticism for contextualism fails, and that the contextualist response to skeptical paradox fails to motivate contextualism, pending the success of another argument for the contextualist thesis.
Enhancing fluid animation with adaptive, controllable and intermittent turbulence

This paper proposes a new scheme for enhancing fluid animation with controllable turbulence. An existing fluid simulation from ordinary fluid solvers is fluctuated by turbulent variation modeled as a random process of forcing. The variation is precomputed as a sequence of solenoidal noise vector fields directly in the spectral domain, which is fast and easy to implement. The spectral generation enables flexible vortex scale and spectrum control following a user prescribed energy spectrum, e.g. Kolmogorov's cascade theory, so that the fields provide fluctuations in subgrid scales and/or in preferred large octaves. The vector fields are employed as turbulence forces to agitate the existing flow, where they act as a stimulus of turbulence inside the framework of the Navier-Stokes equations, leading to natural integration and temporal consistency. The scheme also facilitates adaptive turbulent enhancement steered by various physical or user-defined properties, such as strain rate, vorticity, distance to objects and scalar density, in critical local regions. Furthermore, an important feature of turbulent fluid, intermittency is created by applying turbulence control during randomly selected temporal periods.
On the Initiation and Propagation of Buckles in a Beam on a Nonlinear Foundation

The model ofpropagating buckles consisting ofa beam on a nonlinear foundation with an up-down-up response developed by Chater et al. (1983) is revisited and used to study the dynamics of propagating buckles. The foundation is altered in order to allow variation of the ratio of the propagation pressure to the collapse pressure within a range that is similar to that seen in typical pipelines. In addition, the pressurizing fluid is modeled as an acoustic fluid. The model is used to study steady-state dynamic propagation of buckles where the fluid properties are shown to play a decisive role on the buckle velocity. The full dynamic problem is also analyzed including the transient dynamic initiation of a buckle in a structure under uniform pressure by a point load. Finally, the critical duration that the point load must have for it to initiate a propagating buckle is studied for a particular example.
A Double Standard in Death? Gender Differences in Obituaries

Male/female differences in aging-related issues may extend beyond individuals' actual lives. Gender differences in 869 obituaries, death notices, and memorials were examined. Males, compared to fem...
Strain dependence for microscopic growth parameters for Ag on Ag(100)

I use density functional theory to study the strain dependence of microscopic growth parameters for the growth of Ag on Ag(100). Results are presented for the energy barrier for adatom diffusion, diffusion of adatoms along a step edge, detachment of atoms from a step edge, and dissociation of a dimer. Over a certain range of misfit values, these parameters vary almost linearly with strain. The most surprising result is a qualitatively different behavior for detachment of an atom from a step edge and dimer dissociation.
Scoping the potential of monitoring and control technologies to reduce energy use in homes

This scoping study takes a broad look at how Information Technology-enabled monitoring and control systems in residences could play a role in mitigating energy use. Managing the residential sector is an important priority for addressing energy use, as use in homes represents 21% of US total energy demand, up 16% from 1994. Much energy is apparently wasted in delivering energy services not actually used by residents. These include heating/cooling of unoccupied houses and rooms, overheating or overcooling to make up for temperature variations, leakage current due to appliances in standby or off mode, and purchase of needlessly energy intensive models of appliances. The results of our initial rough estimate is that around 40% residential energy use is used to deliver these types of "unused" energy services. IT-enabled monitoring and control technologies have played an important role in eliminating similar kinds of waste in other sectors, so it is natural to think that these systems could have an important role in the home as well. The technology level of energy control in homes is at least 20 years old, with simple programmable thermostats still in only about a quarter of US homes. Networked thermostats, power meters and switches, and zone heating are technologies that can provide information on energy use and allow energy use to be controlled for distribution only when needed. We estimate that monitoring and control systems could save from 3-26% of residential energy use. The lower end corresponds to use of a programmable thermostat and the upper to an integrated system including monitoring and control of appliances, plus zone heating/cooling. We propose that these results provide renewed motivation to investigate the promotion of smart home energy technologies.
Tilling Fertile Soil Principles to Guide Transplants From Agriculture to Education Dissemination

This article describes how the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service (CES) might serve as a model for improving the dissemination of education research and development results. It is based on a paper prepared for the House Subcommittee on Select Education in the U.S. Congress, to assist the reauthorization of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) in the U.S. Department of Education. After reviewing the distinctive aspects of each dissemination system, the author lists various features of CES that might be replicated and others that should be avoided.
Uncertainty-aware and coverage-oriented deployment for sensor networks

We consider the sensor deployment problem in the context of uncertainty in sensor locations subsequent to airdropping. Sensor deployment in such scenarios is inherently non-deterministic and there is a certain degree of randomness associated with the location of a sensor in the sensor field. We present two algorithms for the efficient placement of sensors in a sensor field when the exact locations of the sensors are not known. The proposed approach is aimed at optimizing the number of sensors and determining their placement to support distributed sensor networks. These algorithms are targeted at average coverage as well as at maximizing the coverage of the most vulnerable regions in the sensor field. Experimental results for an example sensor field demonstrate the application of our approach.
Comparing the heroism of women and men.

This article presents comments on "Definitions and Omissions of Heroism" by Jeffery W. Martens which is a comment on the original article "The Heroism of Women and Men" by Selwyn W. Becker and Alice H. Eagly. Becker and Eagly welcome the opportunity to discuss the questions about defining heroism that Martens raised in his comment on their article. One of his questions is whether our operational definition of heroism is consistent with our conceptual definition. Conceptually, we defined heroism as voluntarily risking physical injury or death in the service of one or more other people. Operationally, we examined archival data from real-life situations in which people voluntarily assumed such risks in the service of others. To reach our goal of comparing heroic behavior in women and men, we obtained archival data only from settings populated by both sexes. The second reason that we eliminated heroism in paid occupational roles is that our specific purpose of studying whether women as well as men behave heroically made it illogical to include these roles. The authors also state they did not study heroes who pursued ideas and causes because it was difficult to study both sexes equally within prominent leadership roles. They also discuss stereotypes, social constructs of heroism as well as future research that would further our knowledge. Language: en
HIV Testing Among At-Risk Adolescents and Young Adults : A Prospective Analysis of a Community Sample

Abstract Purpose Little is known about predictors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among sexually active adolescents, who account for a large proportion of new HIV infections. This study sought to determine predictors of HIV testing among a large community-based sample of adolescents in three cities who had recent unprotected sexual intercourse. Methods Sexually active adolescents (N = 1222) completed baseline and 3-month assessments of sexual behavior, substance use and HIV testing behaviors as part of a larger, multi-site, brief HIV prevention program. Results Approximately half of the adolescents reported having previously been tested for HIV, and of those one third were tested in the next 3 months without a specific intervention. Adolescents who received HIV testing were more likely at baseline to have ever been tested, to have a STI diagnosis, to have not used substances during sex and to have been assertive about condom use with a partner. Conclusions Health care models encouraging more widespread, universal testing may be an important public health initiative to curb the spread of HIV. Regular HIV screenings provide an opportunity to enhance awareness of behavioral risk and HIV status, as well as provide opportunities for early detection and care.
Supportive communication, sense of virtual community and health outcomes in online infertility groups

Women are turning to online health groups to deal with the stresses and complications of infertility. Online groups may provide a resource that is potentially absent in their face-to-face communities. This study examines how the sense of virtual community (SOVC) that develops in these groups serves as a buffer between perceived stress and physical health symptoms. A sample of 122 women from two virtual communities completed an online survey. Results show that observing the exchange of emotional support was positively related to SOVC while observing informational support was negatively related to SOVC. Further, SOVC was negatively related to physical health symptoms and additionally, served as a buffer between stress and physical health symptoms. Implications for SOVC and virtual health community research are discussed.
Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infection in Hospitalized Children with Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters: Extending Risk Analyses Outside the Intensive Care Unit

Background. Increasingly, peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) are placed for prolonged intravenous access. Few data exist regarding risk factors for central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) complicating PICCs in hospitalized children, especially children hospitalized outside the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods. We identified all children with a PICC inserted at The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, MD) from 1 January 2003 through 31 December 2009 and used Poisson regression models to identify risk factors for PICC-associated CLABSIs. Results. A total of 2592 PICCs were placed in 1819 children. One hundred sixteen CLABSIs occurred over 44,972 catheter-days (incidence rate [IR], 2.58 cases per 1000 catheter-days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.07–3.00 cases per 1000 catheter-days). Independent predictors of CLABSI in the entire cohort included PICC dwell time of ≥21 days (IR ratio [IRR], 1.53; 95% CI, 1.05–2.26), parenteral nutrition as indication for insertion (IRR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.31–3.84), prior PICC-associated CLABSI (IRR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.18–5.25), underlying metabolic condition (IRR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.14–3.74), and pediatric ICU exposure during hospitalization (IRR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.18–2.75). Risk factors for CLABSI in children without PICU exposure included younger age, underlying malignancy and metabolic conditions, PICCs inserted in the lower extremity, and a prior PICC-associated CLABSI. Conclusions. Prolonged catheter dwell time, pediatric ICU exposure, and administration of parenteral nutrition as the indication for PICC insertion are important predictors of PICC-associated CLABSI in hospitalized children. A careful assessment of these risk factors may be important for future success in preventing CLABSIs in hospitalized children with PICCs.
Treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a revolution in care

A generation ago, children with arthritis faced a lifetime of pain and disability. Today, there are a multitude of treatment options, including a variety of biologics targeting key cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids were once the mainstay of therapy, they are now largely used as bridge or adjunctive therapies. Among the conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, methotrexate remains first-line therapy for most children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) due to its long track record of safety and effectiveness in the management of peripheral arthritis. Sulfasalazine and leflunomide may also have a secondary role. The tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have shown tremendous benefit in children with polyarticular JIA and likely in enthesitis-related arthritis and psoriatic JIA as well. There may be additional benefit in combining TNFi with methotrexate. Abatacept and tocilizumab also appear to benefit polyarticular JIA; the role of rituximab remains unclear. For the treatment of systemic JIA, while the TNFi are of less benefit, blockade of interleukin-1 or interleukin-6 is highly effective. Additionally, interleukin-1 blockade appears to be effective treatment of macrophage activation syndrome, one of the most dangerous complications of JIA; specifically, anakinra in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids may obviate the need for cytotoxic approaches. In contrast, methotrexate along with the TNFi and abatacept are effective agents for the management of uveitis, another complication of JIA. Overall, the biologics have demonstrated an impressive safety record in children with JIA, although children do need to be monitored for rare but potentially dangerous adverse events, such as tuberculosis and other infections; paradoxical development of additional autoimmune diseases; and possibly an increased risk of malignancy. Finally, there may be a window of opportunity during which children with JIA will demonstrate most optimal responses to aggressive therapy, underscoring the need for rapid diagnosis and initiation of treatment.