cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chest Pain and Syncope in Children: A Practical Approach to the Diagnosis of Cardiac Disease

Chest pain and syncope are common in children, accounting for numerous provider visits and leading to a considerable amount of testing.1-7 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services projects that health care spending will exceed 20% of the US Gross Domestic Product by 2018.8 Considering the looming crisis in health care finance and impending changes in the US health care delivery system, provider-driven methods to optimize resource utilization are critical. Careful evaluation of current practices, with particular attention to use of expensive and overutilized resources, is needed. Pediatric chest pain and syncope share a paradox in that both are common and benign in the vast majority of cases, but can be cardinal symptoms of rare and serious cardiac conditions. The prevalence of serious cardiac pathology in children presenting with these symptoms is low, but extensive and costly cardiac testing is common and may be unnecessary in many cases.4,5 Outpatient visits for chest pain and syncope at Boston Children’s Hospital have more than doubled over the last 10 years and now account for ~15% of all outpatient visits (Figure 1; available at www.jpeds.com). In this article, we discuss causes of pediatric syncope and chest pain and propose an approach focused on careful history and physical exam that aims to optimize testing and referral patterns while maintaining a high detection rate for serious heart disease. Figure 1 Annual cardiology clinic visits for chest pain and syncope at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Epipelic and pelagic primary production in Alaskan Arctic lakes of varying depth

We compared on eight dates during the ice-free period physicochemical properties and rates of phytoplankton and epipelic primary production in six arctic lakes dominated by soft bottom substrate. Lakes were classified as shallow ( $$ \overline {\text{z}} $$ < 2.5 m), intermediate in depth (2.5 m < $$ \overline {\text{z}} $$ < 4.5 m), and deep ( $$ \overline {\text{z}} $$ > 4.5 m), with each depth category represented by two lakes. Although shallow lakes circulated freely and intermediate and deep lakes stratified thermally for the entire summer, dissolved oxygen concentrations were always >70% of saturation values. Soluble reactive phosphorus and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN = NO3 −–N + NH4 +–N) were consistently below the detection limit (0.05 μmol l−1) in five lakes. However, one lake shallow lake (GTH 99) periodically showed elevated values of DIN (17 μmol l−1), total-P (0.29 μmol l−1), and total-N (33 μmol l−1), suggesting wind-generated sediment resuspension. Due to increased nutrient availability or entrainment of microphytobenthos, GTH 99 showed the highest average volume-based values of phytoplankton chlorophyll a (chl a) and primary production, which for the six lakes ranged from 1.0 to 2.9 μg l−1 and 0.7–3.8 μmol C l−1 day−1. Overall, however, increased $$ \overline {\text{z}} $$ resulted in increased area-based values of phytoplankton chl a and primary production, with mean values for the three lake classes ranging from 3.6 to 6.1 mg chl a m−2 and 3.2–5.8 mmol C m−2 day−1. Average values of epipelic chl a ranged from 131 to 549 mg m−2 for the three depth classes, but levels were not significantly different due to high spatial variability. However, average epipelic primary production was significantly higher in shallow lakes (12.2 mmol C m−2 day−1) than in intermediate and deep lakes (3.4 and 2.4 mmol C m−2 day−1). Total primary production (6.7–15.4 mmol C m−2 day−1) and percent contribution of the epipelon (31–66%) were inversely related to mean depth, such that values for both variables were significantly higher in shallow lakes than in intermediate or deep lakes.
Cognitive Variability: A Key to Understanding Cognitive Development

Among the most remarkable characteristics of human beings is how much our thinking changes with age. When we compare the thinking of an infant, a toddler, an elementary school student, and an adolescent, the magnitude of the change is immediately apparent. Ac counting for how these changes oc cur is perhaps the central goal of re searchers who study cognitive development. Alongside this agreement about the importance of the goal of deter mining how change occurs, how ever, is agreement that we tradition ally have not done very well in meeting it. In most models of cogni tive development, children are de picted as thinking or acting in a cer tain way for a prolonged period of time, then undergoing a brief, rather mysterious, transition, and then thinking or acting in a different way for another prolonged period. For example, on the classic conserva tion-of-liquid quantity problem, children are depicted as believing for several years that pouring water into a taller, thinner beaker changes the amount of water; then undergo ing a short period of cognitive con flict, in which they are not sure about the effects of pouring the wa ter; and then realizing that pouring does not affect the amount of liquid. How children get from the earlier to the later understanding is described only superficially. Critiques of the inadequacy of such accounts have been leveled most often at stage models such as Piaget's. The problem, however, is far more pervasive. Regardless of whether the particular approach de scribes development in terms of stages, rules, strategies, or theories; regardless of whether the focus is on reasoning about the physical or the social world; regardless of the age group of central interest, most theo ries place static states at center stage and change processes either in the wings or offstage altogether. Thus, 3-year-olds are said to have nonrep resentational theories of mind and 5-year-olds representational ones; 5-year-olds to have absolute views about justice and 10-year-olds rela tivistic ones; 10-year-olds to be in capable and 15-year-olds capable of true scientific reasoning. The em phasis in almost all cognitive developmental theories has been on identifying sequences of one-to-one correspondences between ages and ways of thinking or acting, rather than on specifying how the changes occur.
Food Insecurity Is Associated with Adverse Health Outcomes among Human Infants and Toddlers

The U.S. Household Food Security Scale, developed with federal support for use in national surveys, is an effective research tool. This study uses these new measures to examine associations between food insecurity and health outcomes in young children. The purpose of this study was to determine whether household food insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes in a sentinel population ages < or = 36 mo. We conducted a multisite retrospective cohort study with cross-sectional surveys at urban medical centers in 5 states and Washington DC, August 1998-December 2001. Caregivers of 11,539 children ages < or = 36 mo were interviewed at hospital clinics and emergency departments (ED) in central cities. Outcome measures included child's health status, hospitalization history, whether child was admitted to hospital on day of ED visit (for subsample interviewed in EDs), and a composite growth-risk variable. In this sample, 21.4% of households were food insecure (6.8% with hunger). In a logistic regression, after adjusting for confounders, food-insecure children had odds of "fair or poor" health nearly twice as great [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.66-2.18], and odds of being hospitalized since birth almost a third larger (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.16-1.48) than food-secure children. A dose-response relation appeared between fair/poor health status and severity of food insecurity. Effect modification occurred between Food Stamps and food insecurity; Food Stamps attenuated (but did not eliminate) associations between food insecurity and fair/poor health. Food insecurity is associated with health problems for young, low-income children. Ensuring food security may reduce health problems, including the need for hospitalizations.
14C distribution in soil organisms and respiration after the decomposition of crop residue in conventional tillage and no-till agroecosystems at Georgia Piedimont

This study illustrated how crop residue-derived carbon interacts with non-residue carbon (e.g., native soil carbon) in agroecosystems and how carbon is allocated to soil organisms and respiration under different tillage regimes. The carbon dynamics in crop residue, soil microorganisms, nematodes and respiration were monitored using 14 C-labeled corn residue. In addition, the carbon budget was estimated for both conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) agricultural ecosystems during the short period after residue application. A laboratory and a field study were conducted separately to assess the above objectives. The results illustrated that the general patterns of carbon allocation were similar in both laboratory and field studies but at a lower magnitude in the field. Most 14 C input to soil was released into air through soil respiration (93‐98%) under both CT and NT regimes, with only a small portion bound in microbial (1.8‐6.5%) and nematode biomass (0.01‐0.12%). However, more 14 C was retained in microbial and nematode biomass under CT than under NT, while the 14 C distributed in soil respiration was similar under both tillage regimes. The 14 C specific activities of soil microorganisms, nematodes and respiration were significantly higher under CT than under NT. The higher 14 C specific activities of soil microorganisms and nematodes, and more 14 C retained in the biomass of soil microorganisms and nematodes under CT, suggested that soil organisms might use C more efficiently under CT than under NT. During the short-term experiments, cumulative soil respiration was significantly higher but residue-derived carbon contributed less to soil respiration under NT than under CT. Consequently, more non-residue carbon (e.g., native soil carbon) was decomposed and respired by soil organisms under NT than under CT after 40 days of the residue application. It is suggested that residue application might cause a net loss of soil carbon in agroecosystems possibly because of the priming effect of crop residue, particularly under NT regime under the short term. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Iterative Nonlinear Tikhonov Algorithm With Constraints for Electromagnetic Tomography

Low frequency electromagnetic tomography such as the capacitance tomography (ECT) has been proposed for monitoring and mass-gauging of gas-liquid two-phase system under microgravity condition in NASA's future long-term space missions. Due to the ill-posed inverse problem of ECT, images reconstructed using conventional linear algorithms often suffer from limitations such as low resolution and blurred edges. Hence, new efficient high-resolution nonlinear imaging algorithms are needed for accurate two-phase imaging. The proposed Iterative Nonlinear Tikhonov-regularized Algorithm with Constraints (INTAC) is based on an efficient finite element method (FEM) forward model of quasi-static electromagnetic problem. It iteratively minimizes the discrepancy between FEM simulated and actual measured capacitances by adjusting the reconstructed image using the Tikhonov regularized method. More importantly, it enforces the known permittivity of two phases to the unknown pixels which exceed the reasonable range of permittivity in each iteration. This strategy does not only stabilize the converging process, but also produces sharper images. Simulations show that resolution improvement of over 2 times can be achieved by INTAC with respect to conventional approaches. Strategies to further improve spatial imaging resolution are suggested, as well as techniques to accelerate nonlinear forward model and thus increase the temporal resolution.
In Vitro Prostaglandin Production by Bovine Corpora Lutea Destined to be Normal or Short-Lived

Basal and calcium ionophore (CaI)-influenced production of prostaglandins (PGs) by corpora lutea (CL) destined to be normal or short-lived were compared. Ovulation was induced in 24 lactating beef cows with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 1000 IU) administered between 35 and 40 days postpartum. Ten cows received norgestomet implants for 9 days prior to induced ovulation (Normal CL) and 14 served as untreated controls (Subnormal CL). Five cows in each treatment were unilaterally ovariectomized on Day 6 (Day 0 = day of hCG administration) and CL were collected. Blood samples were collected daily through-out the experimental period from cows not ovariectomized. Plasma progesterone (P4) in ovary-intact animals indicated that short-lived CL were induced in 8/8 cows not pretreated with norgestomet, and normal luteal lifespan was observed in 4/5 implanted cows. Dispersed luteal cells were incubated for 8 h with 0, 0.05, 0.5, or 5 microM CaI (A23187). Incubation media were analyzed for P4, PGF2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (PGI), and PGE2. The weight, cell number, and basal or CaI-influenced production of P4 did not differ between Normal CL and Subnormal CL. Basal production of PGF2 alpha, PGI, and PGE2 was higher in Subnormal CL than in Normal CL (p less than 0.05). In response to 0.05 microM CaI, PGF2 alpha was stimulated in Subnormal CL (p less than 0.01), while PGI (p less than 0.05) and PGE2 (p less than 0.1) were increased in Normal CL. Production of PGs was reduced by 5 microM CaI in Subnormal CL (p less than 0.01), but not in Normal CL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Increased Osteoblast and Decreased Smooth Muscle Cell Adhesion on Biologically-inspired Carbon Nanofibers

Osteoblast (the bone-forming cells) and smooth muscle cell adhesion was investigated on carbon nanofiber formulations of various diameters (specifically, from 60 to 200 nm) and surface energies (from 25 to 140 mJ/m2) in the present in vitro study. Results provided the first evidence that osteoblast adhesion increased with decreased carbon nanofiber diameter after 1 hour. In contrast, smooth muscle cell adhesion was not dependent on carbon nanofiber diameter. Moreover, the present study demonstrated that smooth muscle cell adhesion decreased with increased carbon nanofiber surface energy after 1 hour. Alternatively, osteoblast adhesion was not affected by carbon nanofiber surface energy. Since adhesion is a crucial prerequisite for subsequent functions of cells (such as the deposition of bone by osteoblasts), the present results of controlled adhesion of both osteoblasts and a competitive cell line (i.e., smooth muscle cells) demonstrate that carbon nanofibers with small diameters and high surface energies may become the next-generation of orthopedic implant materials to enhance new bone synthesis. These criteria may prove critical in the clinical success of bone prostheses.
Thyroiditis Differentiation of Acute Suppurative and Subacute Case Report and Review of the Literature

Acute suppurative thyroiditis is rarely seen during childhood. The classic clinical features of this illness (fever, neck pain, and a swollen, tender mass over the thyroid gland) can differentiate acute thyroiditis from the more common subacute thyroiditis. In less typical cases, however, this distinction can be difficult. An adolescent male presented with a swollen, tender thyroid gland. Atypical laboratory findings and the lack of fever and toxicity delayed the diagnosis and treatment of acute suppurative thyroiditis. A review of the pediatric literature summarizes clinical and diagnostic features valuable in the differential between acute suppurative thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis in childhood. The important contribution of fistulae between the piriform sinus and thyroid gland to the pathogenesis and acute suppurative thyroiditis is emphasized. Such a fistula should be sought in every patient in whom this entity is diagnosed.
Bats Killed in Large Numbers at United States Wind Energy Facilities

Bats represent a substantial contribution to mammalian species diversity and ecosystem processes in North America, including their role in performing important economic service functions. The development and expansion of wind energy facilities is a key threat to bat populations in North America. Dead bats are being found underneath wind turbines across North America, and bat fatalities have been documented at almost all of the wind facilities at which thorough bat surveys have been conducted. The results suggest that thousands of bats may be killed annually at some wind facilities, and recent estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of bats may be killed annually in the contiguous United States. Here, I use published bat fatality information to derive estimates of the number of bats killed at wind energy facilities in the contiguous United States in 2012 and conclude that over 600,000 bats may have died as a result of interactions with wind turbines.
Detection and estimation of rotational motions using the 3-D Gabor representation

In this paper, detection and estimation of rotational motion in the 3-D Gabor domain are investigated. By extending frequency domain methods to the joint spatiotemporal/spatio-temporal-frequency (st/stf) analysis framework, we propose a technique to estimate multiple localized rotational motions in image sequences. Based on a rotational motion model derived in the 3-D Gabor domain, an algorithm for estimating localized uniform rotational motions is constructed and discussed.
Nanoclustering in a MA/ODS Ferritic Alloy

A new higher chromium variant of mechanically alloyed (MA) oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic alloy, designated 14YWT, has been developed. The microstructures of this alloy have been characterized in the local electrode atom probe from the initial ball milled flakes through the extruded material that was heat treated at up to 1380degC. No nanoclusters were found in the ball milled flakes but some layering of yttrium and oxygen was observed. A high number density of Ti-, Y- and O-enriched nanoclusters was observed in the flakes after a simulated extrusion treatment of 1 h at 850degC. The nanoclusters were also observed after annealing an extruded rod for 1 h at 1380degC and the grain boundaries were found to be enriched in chromium and tungsten. Results of first-principles calculations on oxygen binding energy in the presence of vacancies suggest that the condition for stable nanoclusters is a well-dispersed Y distribution with more Ti than Y
Novel splice variants of ING4 and their possible roles in the regulation of cell growth and motility

The ING4 gene is a candidate tumor suppressor gene that functions in cell proliferation, contact inhibition, and angiogenesis. We identified three novel splice variants of ING4 with differing activities in controlling cell proliferation, cell spreading, and cell migration. ING4_v1 (the longest splice variant), originally identified as ING4, encodes an intact nuclear localization signal (NLS), whereas the other three splice variants (ING4_v2, ING4_v3, and ING4_v4) lack the full NLS, resulting in increased cytoplasmic localization of these proteins. We found that one of the three ING4 variants, ING4_v2, is expressed at the same level as the original ING4 (ING4_v1), suggesting that ING4 variants may have significant biological functions. Growth suppressive effects of the variants that have a partial NLS (ING4_v2 and ING4_v4) were attenuated by a weaker effect of the variants on p21WAF1 promoter activation. ING4_v4 lost cell spreading and migration suppressive effects; on the other hand, ING4_v2 retained a cell migration suppressive effect but lost a cell spreading suppressive effect. Therefore, ING4_v2, which localized primarily into cytoplasm, might have an important role in the regulation of cell migration. We also found that ING4_v4 played dominant-negative roles in the induction of p21WAF1 promoter activation and in the suppression of cell motility by ING4_v1. In addition, ING4 variants had different binding affinities to two cytoplasmic proteins, protein-tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type, f polypeptide (PTPRF), interacting protein (liprin), α1, and G3BP2a. Understanding the functions of the four splice variants may aid in defining their roles in human carcinogenesis.
POTENTIAL FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE LOBATE LAC SCALE, PARATACHARDINA LOBATA LOBATA (HEMIPTERA: KERRIIDAE)

Abstract The lobate lac scale insect, Paratachardina lobata lobata (Chamberlin) (Kerriidae: Coccoidea: Hemiptera), a recent invader of southern Florida from India and Sri Lanka, now infests more than 160 economic and native plants in at least 49 plant families. It is killing wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera L.) and coco plum (Chrysobalanus icaco L.), valued native and horticultural plants in many locations. Intensive insecticide use in infested natural and residential areas is an unsuitable control approach because of the large numbers of plants infested, the high cost, and probable damage to non-target organisms. Biological control is a much needed solution for lobate lac scale. No parasitism has been detected in Florida. The lobate lac scale is native to India and Sri Lanka, occurring in localities south of 16 degrees N. latitude. The known host range includes some of the same species and families of host plants as it does in Florida, plus other plant groups on which it has yet to be detected in Florida. The...
Benefits and risks of modifying maternal fat intake in pregnancy and lactation

The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that healthy Americans aged > 2 y reduce energy intake to maintain ideal body weight, saturated fat to 10% of energy, fat intake to 30% of energy, and cholesterol consumption to < 300 mg/d. Although these guidelines exclude pregnant or lactating women, nursing infants, and very young children, women with gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and familial hyperlipidemias may benefit from them. In a normal pregnancy, serum cholesterol and triglycerides rise 25-40% and 200-400%, respectively. Multiparous middle-aged women may have an increased incidence of angina and cholesterol gallstones from the hypercholesterolemia of pregnancy. Few studies support the safety of maternal low-fat diets for the developing fetus or demonstrate benefits to the mother. Polyunsaturated fatty acids lower serum lipids, and n-3 fatty acids may improve some obstetric complications. Arachidonic acid (20:4) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) may benefit the psychomotor and visual development of children.
Abstract WP355: Impact of Target Stroke on Reducing Door-to-Needle Times

Background: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) is the only FDA approved drug treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) within 3 hours or less from onset of stroke symptoms. The guide...
Diesel Fuel Property Effects on In-Cylinder Liquid Penetration Length: Impact on Smoke Emissions and Equivalence Ratio Estimates at the Flame Lift-Off Length

In this study, elastic scattering was employed to investigate diesel fuel property effects on the liquid length (i.e., the maximum extent of in-cylinder liquid-phase fuel penetration) using select research fuels: an ultralow-sulfur #2 diesel emissions-certification fuel (CF) and four of the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) Fuels for Advanced Combustion Engines (FACE) diesel fuels (F1, F2, F6, and F8). The experiments were performed in a single-cylinder heavy-duty optical compression-ignition engine under time-varying, noncombusting conditions to minimize the influence of chemical heat release on the liquid-length measurement. The FACE diesel fuel and CF liquid lengths under combusting conditions were also predicted using Siebers’ scaling law and pressure data from previous work using the same fuels at similar in-cylinder conditions. The objective was to observe if the liquid length under noncombusting or combusting conditions provides additional insights into the relationships among the main fuel prope...
Stomatal conductance of Acer rubrum ecotypes under varying soil and atmospheric water conditions: predicting stomatal responses with an abscisic acid-based model.

A multiplicative model of stomatal conductance was developed and tested in two functionally distinct ecotypes of Acer rubrum L. (red maple). The model overcomes the main limitation of the commonly used Ball-Berry model (Ball et al. 1987) by accounting for stomatal behavior under soil drying conditions. We combined the Ball-Berry model with an integrated expression of abscisic acid (ABA)-based stomatal response to ABA concentration ([ABA]) in bulk leaf tissue (g fac ), which coupled physiological changes at the leaf level with those in the root. The factor g fac = exp(-β[ABA] L ) incorporated the stomatal response to [ABA] into the Ball-Berry model by down regulating stomatal conductance (g s ) in response to physiological changes in the root. The down regulation of g s is pertinent under conditions where soil drying may modify the delivery of chemical signals to leaf stomata. Model testing indicated that the multiplicative model was capable of predicting g s in red maple under wide ranges of soil and atmospheric conditions. Concordance correlation coefficients were high (between 0.59 and 0.94) for the tested ecotypes under three environmental conditions (atmospheric, rhizospheric and minimal stress). The study supported the use of g fac as a gas exchange function that controls water stress effects on g s and aids in the prediction of g s responses.
A Flexible Curriculum Designed For a Program in Medical Technology

In the past three years, one medical technology program confronted some very specific educational needs. Faced with declining numbers of applicants, increasing competition for applicants, changing job roles in the clinical laboratory, and the need for some expansion, this educational program sought to remedy immediate and future problems while keeping costs at a minimum. The manner in which needs were perceived and the ways in which a flexible curriculum helped solve problems are discussed. Included in the solutions were implementation of full-time and part-time options for coursework, a retraining option, formation of a consortium with a local community college, implementation of a cytogenetics option, and initiation of a phlebotomy training program.
Electrostatic disturbance forces on a 3-axis drag-free sensor

The electrostatic analysis of a multiple-capacitance 3-axis drag-free sensor is presented in this paper. The instrument consists of a proof-mass (a dense metallic ball) floating freely inside a spherical cavity enclosed by the sensor plates and the shield. Since the ball and the cavity are not necessarily concentric, the problem in three-dimensional potential theory for electrostatics is solved by the method of boundary perturbations and specifically in terms of spherical harmonics. The capacitance outputs of the instrument and the electrostatic forces acting on the system are derived as non-linear functions of the ball position, ball charge and the sensor plate potentials. The instrument sensitivity and cross-coupling effects are discussed. The analysis may also be useful for electrostatic gyros and suspensions.
Precision Optics for High Laser Power

The use of high power lasers in precision measurement applications places demands on optical components, particularly with respect to thermal management. We discuss methods to improve component performance, with an emphasis on gravitational wave interferometers.
Inicio no brasil e fim nos eua

As politicas de acao afirmativa implementadas a partir dos anos 60 nos Estados Unidosforam parte de uma grande iniciativa do Estado para acabar ou pelo menos reduzir as desigualdades raciais e o racismo Elas surgem numa fase de grande otimismo vis-a-vis a economia e a democracia americanas A situacao dos negros entretanto constituia se como bem denominou Gunnar Myrdal (1944)a epoca no dilema americano pois mantinha-se a posicao subordinada dos afro americanos em meio a crenca americana de fe em valores cristaos e igualitanos Embora tivesse constatado cedo a persistencia do racismo e das desigualdades raciais identificando os como o maior desafio da democracia americana Myrdal pensou que a nova retonca da democracia resultado da II Guerra Mundial juntamente com as novas tendencias de grande crescimento economico pudessem provocartransformacoes fundamentais nas relacoes raciais nos Estados Unidos pondo fim ao maior escândalo americano O otimismo de Gunnar Myrdal infelizmente nao se concretizou mas sua hipotese serviu de estopim intelectual para o Movimento dos Direitos Civis Frente a rapida marcha rumo a democracia desencadeada no Brasil nos ultimos 10 anos e diante da posicao igualmente subordinada dos negros na sociedade brasileira podemos vislumbrar dilema semelhante No entanto o Brasil de hoje e muito diferente dos Estados Unidos do pos-guerra No Brasil o racismo e apenas um dos problemas nao resolvidos da democracia em meio a muitos outros e a raca ainda neto e considerada um elemento central na construcao das desigualdades Solucionar os problemas da extrema pobreza da corrupcao generalizada e da negacao dos direitos humanos basicos e questao considerada pnontana juntamente com outras em relacao ao racismo na agenda da democratizacao do pais Por outro lado o sistema racial brasileiro e muito diferente daquele que prevalecia nos tempos de Myrdal nos Estados Unidos A situacao extremamente critica do racismo americano nos anos 20 com a segregacao legal ao estilo Jim Crow o linchamento dos negros pelos brancos e a inexistencia de direitos civis para os negros sao caractensticas ausentes do caso brasileiro No entanto tambem no Brasil a desigualdade racial e muito grande e o racismo crescente tal como agora
Health Hazard and Intervention Measures of Benzene-exposed Workers in the Jewelry Processing Enterprises in Shenzhen City

[Objective]To investigate the health hazards of benzene-exposed environment in the jewelry processing enterprises,study the effects of intervention measure.[Methods]The benzene series concentration in the working environment air was detected,occupational health examination was carried out in workers,and intervention measures were performed.[Results]The qualified rate of the benzene series concentration in the working environment air was 20% and 100% before and after intervention respectively.After intervention,the subjective symptoms and signs of workers(headache,dizziness,insomnia,poor appetite,skin lesions and hemorrhagic tendency)improved in different degree.The abnormal menstruation of female workers(menostaxis,menorrhagia and irregular menstrual periods)improved after intervention as well.In terms of blood routine examination,the incidences of the WBC,Hb and PLT decreases before intervention were higher than those after intervention.The difference in examination results between before and after intervention was significant.[Conclusion]After the intervention measures were implemented in the jewelry processing enterprises,the benzene series concentration decreased into the allowable range,and the health conditions of workers improved greatly.
Experimental oncogene induced prostate cancer

The mouse prostate reconstitution model exploits the ability of the fetal urogenital sinus to differentiate into a mature prostate when grafted under the renal capsule of an adult isogenic male host. By use of a recombinant retroviral vector, the ras and myc oncogenes are introduced singly or in combination into the fetal urogenital sinus--resulting in distinct phenotypes of prostatic pathology: dysplasia (caused by ras), hyperplasia (caused by myc) and frank carcinomas (caused by a combination of ras+myc). This unique experimental model creates in vivo conditions that mimic the natural initiation and progression of cancer. An expanded MPR protocol allows restricted retrovirus infection of the mesenchyme or epithelial compartments to evaluate paracrine activities. It enables almost unparalleled flexibility in addressing fundamental questions in prostate cancer. We have identified genetic variance in the susceptibility to tumour induction between two different strains of mice (mimicking the observation of racial variability in the predisposition to clinical prostate cancer). The MPR model supports data from other tumour models and implicates TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 3 as being strongly associated with tumour progression. Finally, with this model, we have established clonal prostate adenocarcinomas to study directly the affects of castration on gene expression. Not only are TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 3 mRNA levels increased in association with malignancy but they are also further enhanced by castration treatment. Based on these experimental studies, we believe that TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 3 expression strongly influences the progression of prostate cancer. This information will hopefully impact on the development of more effective therapy for this important malignancy.
Chapter 6 – Metal Casting Processes

This chapter describes metal casting processes. It also describes the most common metal casting methods and materials used for the economical production of both complex parts as well as simple parts. There are two basic types of molds used in castings: expendable molds that are destroyed to remove the part and permanent molds. Sand casting is a process in which a sand mold is formed by packing a mixture of sand, a clay binder, and water around a wood or metal pattern that has the same external shape as the part to be cast. Investment casting as well as die casting can produce parts of similar geometric shapes and size. Die casting is a process in which a melt is injected under pressure into a metal mold and this is discussed in detail. This chapter includes a discussion of Design For Manufacturing (DFM) issues as they apply to the production of metal castings. This chapter concludes with a set of qualitative DFM guidelines for die casting.
An Alternative MIMO FRF Estimation Method Using Pneumatic Exciters

As an alternative to shaker and impact hammer excitation, a new method of excitation using small, single acting pneumatic cylinders is being investigated. In this method, the structure is excited by the piston of pneumatic cylinders on which a load cell and different types of impact tips can be mounted. In contrast to a shaker test, there is no mass loading of structure in this set up as the load cell is mounted on the piston of cylinder with no connection to test structure. Solenoid valves regulate air flow through the cylinders and thus control the timing and duration of impacts. An electrical circuit consisting of a transistor switch is used to actuate the solenoid valves. A system of independent, random duration and interval pulses (digital time series) is sent to each exciter system to be able to estimate Multiple Input (MI) Frequency Response Functions (FRFs). In this way, the excitation signal is more like a random input than an impact input (where only one impact per measurement ensemble is taken). Since, the random pulse sequences sent to each exciter system are uncorrelated and the cylinders and structure are not connected, it will be always possible to uncouple the forces involved. This approach can also be used for single input impact testing as there will be better repeatability in position, line of action and magnitude of impacts. This method will be validated by comparing FRFs and modal parameters obtained by it with those of traditional impact test.
Transferability of habitat suitability models for nesting woodpeckers associated with wildfire

ABSTRACT Following wildfire, forest managers are challenged with meeting both socioeconomic demands (e.g., salvage logging) and mandates requiring habitat conservation for disturbance-associated wildlife (e.g., woodpeckers). Habitat suitability models for nesting woodpeckers can be informative, but tests of model transferability are needed to understand how broadly models developed at one location can be applied to inform post-fire forest management at other locations. We developed habitat suitability models and tested their transferability for 2 disturbance-associated woodpecker species, Black-backed (Picoides arcticus) and Lewis's (Melanerpes lewis) woodpecker. Habitat suitability models consisted of weighted logistic regression models comparing environmental conditions at nest versus non-nest sites. We developed models at each of 3 wildfire locations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and then examined predictive performance for each model at alternate (“application”) locations. Models generally discrim...
The effect of acidification on the bioavailability and electrochemical lability of zinc in seawater

A poorly studied but potentially important consequence of the CO2-induced acidification of the surface ocean is a possible change in the bioavailability of trace metals, which play a critical role ...
A scaling law for the spectra of large earthquakes

Abstract An ω-squared model suggested by Hanks and McGuire has had impressive success in predicting measures of strong ground motions over a broad range in moment magnitude. There remains the question of how the ground motion spectra should scale for earthquakes large enough to rupture the entire width of a seismogenic zone, i.e., earthquakes for which the usual similarity principles do not apply. The scaling law proposed in this paper takes as its fundamental postulate that the high-frequency level of the acceleration spectrum is proportional to the square root of the rupture area for all earthquakes, not just those for which the similarity principles apply. The spectrum corresponding to the proposed scaling law is controlled by two corner frequencies, one inversely proportional to the rupture length and the other inversely proportional to the rupture width. The proposed law agrees with the Hanks-McGuire model below the value of moment corresponding to rupture of the whole width of the seismogenic zone. A stochastic kinematic model is devised for the purpose of making ground motion predictions corresponding to the proposed law. The spectrum of the stochastic kinematic model can be written in terms of the product of two factors, one controlled by the corner frequency related to rupture length and the other by the corner frequency related to rupture width. Above their respective corner frequencies both factors are proportional to frequency raised to a power. The two exponents are chosen in order to make the spectrum correspond to the proposed law, but it is noteworthy that both exponents can easily be justified on other grounds. The exponent in the factor controlled by the corner frequency related to rupture width corresponds to the square root singularity in slip velocity exhibited by Kostrov9s solution for a constant stress relaxation propagating at constant velocity. The exponent in the factor controlled by the corner frequency related to rupture length has the value implied by the well-established proportionality between average dislocation and rupture length, on the assumption that dislocation is a random function of position along the fault. Predictions of peak horizontal acceleration, velocity, and response spectra corresponding to the proposed law are made with the stochastic kinematic model and also using random vibration theory. The two sets of predictions show good agreement. The predictions are consistent with strong-motion data for shallow earthquakes in western North America, within the scatter of the data and the uncertainty of the parameters of the proposed law. The predictions differ by more than a factor of two from a simple extrapolation of the Hanks-McGuire model only at moment magnitudes more than one unit greater than the critical magnitude corresponding to rupture of the entire width of the seismogenic zone. It is likely that few if any such earthquakes ever occur.
Tropical Forest Fragmentation Limits Movements, but Not Occurrence of a Generalist Pollinator Species

Habitat loss and fragmentation influence species distributions and therefore ecological processes that depend upon them. Pollination may be particularly susceptible to fragmentation, as it depends on frequent pollinator movement. Unfortunately, most pollinators are too small to track efficiently which has precluded testing the hypothesis that habitat fragmentation reduces or eliminates pollen flow by disrupting pollinator movement. We used radio-telemetry to examine space use of the green hermit hummingbird (Phaethornis guy), an important 'hub' pollinator of understory flowering plants across substantial portions of the neotropics and the primary pollinator of a keystone plant which shows reduced pollination success in fragmented landscapes. We found that green hermits strongly avoided crossing large stretches of non-forested matrix and preferred to move along stream corridors. Forest gaps as small as 50 m diminished the odds of movement by 50%. Green hermits occurred almost exclusively inside the forest, with the odds of occurrence being 8 times higher at points with >95% canopy cover compared with points having <5% canopy cover. Nevertheless, surprisingly. the species occurred in fragmented landscapes with low amounts of forest (~30% within a 2 km radius). Our results indicate that although green hermits are present even in landscapes with low amounts of tropical forest, movement within these landscapes ends up strongly constrained by forest gaps. Restricted movement of pollinators may be an underappreciated mechanism for widespread declines in pollination and plant fitness in fragmented landscapes, even when in the presence of appropriate pollinators.
CONSTRAINT SATISFACTION NEURAL NETWORKS FOR IMAGE SEGMENTATION

A class of Constraint Satisfaction Neural Networks (CSNN) is proposed for solving the problem of image segmentation which can be formulated as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP). A CSNN consists of a set of objects, a set of labels for each object, a collection of constraint relations linking the labels of neighboring objects, and a topological constraint describing the neighborhood relationships among various objects. The connections and the topology of a CSNN are used to represent the constraints in a CSP. The mechanism of the neural network is to find a solution that satisfies all the constraints in order to achieve a global consistency. The final solution outlines segmented areas and simultaneously satisfies all the constraints.
Medical marijuana policies and hospitalizations related to marijuana and opioid pain reliever.

Abstract Objectives Twenty-eight states in the U.S have legalized medical marijuana, yet its impacts on severe health consequences such as hospitalizations remain unknown. Meanwhile, the prevalence of opioid pain reliever (OPR) use and outcomes has increased dramatically. Recent studies suggested unintended impacts of legalizing medical marijuana on OPR, but the evidence is still limited. This study examined the associations between state medical marijuana policies and hospitalizations related to marijuana and OPR. Methods State-level annual administrative records of hospital discharges during 1997–2014 were obtained from the State Inpatient Databases (SID). The outcome variables were rates of hospitalizations involving marijuana dependence or abuse, opioid dependence or abuse, and OPR overdose in 1000 discharges. Linear time-series regressions were used to assess the associations of implementing medical marijuana policies to hospitalizations, controlling for other marijuana- and OPR-related policies, socioeconomic factors, and state and year fixed effects. Results Hospitalizations related to marijuana and OPR increased sharply by 300% on average in all states. Medical marijuana legalization was associated with 23% (p = 0.008) and 13% (p = 0.025) reductions in hospitalizations related to opioid dependence or abuse and OPR overdose, respectively; lagged effects were observed after policy implementation. The operation of medical marijuana dispensaries had no independent impacts on OPR-related hospitalizations. Medical marijuana polices had no associations with marijuana-related hospitalizations. Conclusion Medical marijuana policies were significantly associated with reduced OPR-related hospitalizations but had no associations with marijuana-related hospitalizations. Given the epidemic of problematic use of OPR, future investigation is needed to explore the causal pathways of these findings.
Tuning thiol addition to squaraines by ortho-substitution and the use of serum albumin

Abstract Tuning the reactivity of squaraine dyes toward nucleophilic addition of thiols was investigated. A series of water soluble, aniline-derived squaraines were synthesized with various ortho substitutions to the squaraine ring. As hypothesized, we found that placing moderately electron donating groups in the ortho position conveyed intermediate reactivity to thiols between the essentially non-reactive hydroxyl-substituted squaraines and very reactive non-substituted squaraines. Furthermore, serum albumin was tested for its influence on the addition of thiols to the squaraines. The dyes bind in the hydrophobic cavities of the protein, and thus we expected serum albumin to affect the squaraines' reactivity. Rather than a protective effect by the protein, we found a cooperative effect for thiol addition.
Strawson’s modest transcendental argument

ABSTRACTAlthough Peter Strawson’s ‘Freedom and Resentment’ was published over fifty years ago and has been widely discussed, its main argument is still notoriously difficult to pin down. The most common – but in my view, mistaken – interpretation of Strawson’s argument takes him to be providing a ‘relentlessly’ naturalistic framework for our responsibility practices. To rectify this mistake, I offer an alternative interpretation of Strawson’s argument. As I see it, rather than offering a relentlessly naturalistic framework for moral responsibility, Strawson actually develops a transcendental argument, which grounds our moral responsibility practices in the practical perspective of social agents. However, the aims of this essay are not purely interpretative. Strawson’s essay continues to have important implications for a number of issues that arise in the contemporary debates that concern free will and moral responsibility. In particular, it puts significant pressure on moral responsibility sceptics like D...
Primary Patient-Derived Cancer Cells and Their Potential for Personalized Cancer Patient Care.

Summary Personalized cancer therapy is based on a patient's tumor lineage, histopathology, expression analyses, and/or tumor DNA or RNA analysis. Here, we aim to develop an in vitro functional assay of a patient's living cancer cells that could complement these approaches. We present methods for developing cell cultures from tumor biopsies and identify the types of samples and culture conditions associated with higher efficiency of model establishment. Toward the application of patient-derived cell cultures for personalized care, we established an immunofluorescence-based functional assay that quantifies cancer cell responses to targeted therapy in mixed cell cultures. Assaying patient-derived lung cancer cultures with this method showed promise in modeling patient response for diagnostic use. This platform should allow for the development of co-clinical trial studies to prospectively test the value of drug profiling on tumor-biopsy-derived cultures to direct patient care.
Qualifying for the Green500: Experience with the newest generation of supercomputers at LANL

Abstract The High Performance Computing Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory recently brought four new supercomputing platforms on line: Trinity with separate partitions built around the Haswell and Knights Landing CPU architectures for capability computing and Grizzly, Fire, and Ice for capacity computing applications. The power monitoring infrastructure of these machines is significantly enhanced over previous supercomputing generations at LANL and all were qualified at the highest level of the Green500 benchmark. This paper discusses supercomputing at LANL, the Green500 benchmark, and notes on our experience meeting the Green500's reporting requirements.