cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forest Access and Polycentric Governance in Zambia's Eastern Province: Insights for REDD 1

SUMMARY Increased attention to the role of forests in mitigating climate change through Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) underscores the importance of taking local forest access and user rights into account to protect forest-based livelihoods. This paper uses baseline data from a USAID-funded impact evaluation of a REDD+ program in Zambia to examine the multiple interests and institutional actors that converge on forests and explore how they intersect to shape forest access and tenure security. We analyze how forest users in this site on the cusp of REDD+ program implementation view local governance and navigate the institutions that shape current forest access and management, finding low rates of forest user participation in local forest governance and a weak accountability system. REDD+ safeguards potentially present both an opportunity and a mechanism to improve forest governance, but only if embedded into REDD+ processes and accompanied by structural change.
Influence of Annulation on the Electron Spin within the 1,2,3-Triazole Ring in Annulenotriazole Anion Radicals.

The low temperature (−100 °C) single electron reduction of N1-phenylbenzotriazole in liquid ammonia, and the room temperature reduction of N1-phenylcyclooctatetraenotriazole in hexamethylphosphoramide, yields stable solutions of both anion radicals, which were studied via EPR spectroscopy. The amount of electron spin localized within the triazole ring, and how spin is distributed within this ring, is greatly influenced by the size of the annulene ring attached. UB3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) geometry optimizations using DFT methods were carried out for both anion radicals, and the calculated coupling constants (and electron spin densities) are in good agreement with the EPR spectroscopic results. Both theory and experiment show that much of the unpaired electron spin in the N1-phenylbenzotriazole anion radical is delocalized over the entire π system of benzotriazole ring including the phenyl ring attached, but that a significant percentage of total spin is found to reside within triazole ring with much of it located...
Three Problematic Concepts: Client, Help, Worker:

Analysis of terminology leads to a search for words more clearly descriptive, more communicative, and more appropriate to a profession's present identity
Comparison of Semi-Oriented Bootstrap Percolation Models with Modified Bootstrap Percolation

In this note we wish to describe similarities and contrasts in the critical behaviour of semi-oriented bootstrap models with unoriented models. Our account will cover the development of the subject and state some open problems for which. We believe, new ideas are required. We focus on rigourous mathematical results and are throughout motivated by purely mathematical interests. For a treatment via simulations which gives broad scientific motivations see (Adler, van Enter and Duarte 1990) or (Adler 1991).
Marmosa pusilla bruchi

All biarmed pairs are identifiable. The X chromosome represents approximately 4% of the haploid female set.
The Fate of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Synthetic Field Turf System

Background:Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for one-third of infectious outbreaks reported among competitive athletes at high school and collegiate levels of compet...
On some self-immunization mechanisms of applied mathematics: The case of Catastrophe Theory

The eight mechanisms listed above are far from being a complete list. However they suffice to illustrate our main point, as announced in the introduction, i.e. that the question of immunization mechanisms acquires distinctively peculiar characteristics in the case of Applied Mathematics. The last six of them seem to us to be unique to it. As for the first two, they clearly are not, but they assume a new form in Applied Mathematics. Because of the certainty of its theorems, mathematics has traditionally stayed away from methodological problems. No clear criteria are agreed upon as to how to evaluate works in Applied Mathematics. This makes it an extremely fertile ground for theories which do not commit themselves to specific statements about facts, nor even to some methodological constraints. What is needed is the acceptance of the legitimacy and the need for critical activity. We look forward to it.
Analysis of IH System with Equivalent Circuit Corresponding to Magnetic Flux

In designing an induction heating system, the load part with magnetic field has been considered by converted to the L-R series equivalent circuit or the model with transformer. These circuit models don't correspond to the physical phenomenon of the load part, and the design guidelines of the system have not been established yet. Although there are methods of repeating electromagnetic field simulation to each application and obtaining a converged solution by trial and error, it takes lots of time and is inefficient. This paper proposes an equivalent circuit corresponding to the magnetic flux of IH load part, in order to clarify it. Moreover, a coupled analysis of electric circuit and IH load is carried out. This enables more detailed analysis of an IH load, and it was derived that high power utilization rate is realized in the parallel resonance mode by the simulation and the experiment.
Optimal timing of hepatitis C treatment among HIV/HCV coinfected ESRD patients: Pre‐ vs posttransplant

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have access to effective treatment options for HCV infection. However, they also have access to HCV-infected kidneys, which historically afford shorter times to transplantation. Given the high waitlist mortality and rapid progression of liver fibrosis among coinfected kidney-only transplant candidates, identification of the optimal treatment strategy is paramount. Two strategies, treatment pre- and posttransplant, were compared using Monte Carlo microsimulation of 1 000 000 candidates. The microsimulation was stratified by liver fibrosis stage at waitlist addition and wait-time over a lifetime time horizon. Treatment posttransplant was consistently cost-saving as compared to treatment pretransplant due to the high cost of dialysis. Among patients with low fibrosis disease (F0-F1), treatment posttransplant also yielded higher life months (LM) and quality-adjusted life months (QALM), except among F1 candidates with wait times ≥ 18 months. For candidates with advanced liver disease (F2-F4), treatment pretransplant afforded more LM and QALM unless wait time was 71 months and F3 candidates with wait times >18 months. Thus, optimal timing of HCV treatment differs based on liver disease severity and wait time, favoring pretransplant treatment when cirrhosis development prior to transplant seems likely.
Cholesterol and matrisome pathways dysregulated in human APOE ε4 glia

Abstract Apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although its association with AD is well-established, the impact of APOE e4 on human brain cell function remains unclear. Here we investigated the effects of APOE e4 on several brain cell types derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells and human APOE targeted replacement mice. Gene set enrichment and pathway analyses of whole transcriptome profiles showed that APOE e4 is associated with dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis in human but not mouse astrocytes and microglia. Elevated matrisome signaling associated with chemotaxis, glial activation and lipid biosynthesis in APOE e4 mixed neuron/astrocyte cultures parallels altered pathways uncovered in cell-type deconvoluted transcriptomic data from APOE e4 glia and AD post-mortem brains. Experimental validation of the transcriptomic findings showed that isogenic APOE e4 is associated with increased lysosomal cholesterol levels and decreased cholesterol efflux, demonstrating decoupled lipid metabolism. APOE e4 glia also secrete higher levels of proinflammatory chemokines, cytokines and growth factors, indicative of glial activation. Thus, APOE e4 induces human glia-specific dysregulation that may initiate AD risk.
Water quality assessment downstream of oil and gas produced water discharges intended for beneficial reuse in arid regions.

Abstract Produced water (PW) is the largest waste stream associated with oil and gas extraction and contains organics, salts, metals and radioactive materials. In the United States, west of the 98th meridian, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System exemption allows for release of PW to surface waters for agricultural beneficial reuse if it is “of good enough quality”. Due to the complex and variable composition of PW, the downstream impacts of these releases are not fully understood. In this study, a detailed chemical analysis was conducted on a stream composed of PW released for agricultural beneficial reuse. Over 50 geogenic and anthropogenic organic chemicals not specified in the effluent limits were detected at the discharge including hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds, and surfactants. Most were removed within 15 km of the discharge due to volatilization, biodegradation, and sorption to sediment. Inorganics detected at the discharge were within regulatory effluent limits. While some inorganic species (i.e., strontium, barium and radium) decreased in concentration downstream due to co-precipitation, concentrations of many inorganic species including sodium, sulfate and boron increased due to water evaporation. Consequently, downstream water quality changes need to be considered to adequately evaluate the potential impact of discharged PW. Regulatory health thresholds for humans, livestock, and aquatic species for most chemical species present at the discharge are still lacking. As a result, toxicity tests are necessary to determine the potential health impacts to downstream users.
Comprehensive Compact Phenomenological Modeling of Integrated Metal-Oxide Memristors

We present a comprehensive phenomenological model for the crossbar integrated metal-oxide continuous-state memristors. The model consists of static and dynamic equations, which are obtained by fitting a large amount of experimental data, collected on several hundred devices. Model describes the average devices’ I-V characteristics as well as their spatial (device-to-device) and temporal variations. Both static and dynamic equations are explicit, computationally inexpensive, and suitable for SPICE modeling. The model's predictive power is validated using experimental data, while its utility by simulating image compression and image classification applications, two practical representative applications of mixed-signal memristor-based hardware.
Comorbidity is associated with disease activity in MS: Findings from the CombiRx trial.

Objective To determine whether comorbidity is associated with clinical (relapses, disability worsening) and MRI outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) by conducting a secondary analysis of the CombiRx clinical trial. Methods CombiRx compared interferon beta-1a, glatiramer acetate, and the combination of these agents. For participants eligible for evaluation of 6-month confirmed disability worsening, we used medical history, concomitant medications, and adverse events to ascertain comorbidity status. Comorbid conditions evaluated included hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, depression, anxiety disorders, and migraine. Clinical outcomes included disease activity consisting of protocol-defined relapses, disability worsening, and MRI activity. We summarized the prevalence of these comorbid conditions and their association with disease activity and its components using multivariable Cox regression. Results Of the 1,008 participants randomized, 959 (95.1%) were eligible for assessment of 6-month disability worsening; for this subgroup, the median length of follow-up was 3.4 years (range 0.5–6.9 years). Overall, 55.1% of participants had ≥1 comorbidity at enrollment. After adjustment, anxiety (hazard ratio [HR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.55) and dyslipidemia (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01–1.72) were associated with an increased hazard of any disease activity, while migraine (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.67–0.97) was associated with a decreased hazard. Conclusions In this large trial population with rigorously obtained outcomes, comorbid conditions were common among participants and influenced disease outcomes, including relapses. The comorbidity burden of clinical trial participants with MS may be an important factor in the outcome of clinical trials. Additional investigations of the impact of comorbidity on clinical trial outcomes and response to disease-modifying therapies are warranted.
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Craniopharyngiomas with Intraventricular Extension: Case Series, Long-Term Outcomes, and Review.

Background Traditionally, craniopharyngiomas with intraventricular extension were approached transcranially; however, endoscopic approaches are now increasingly used. We sought to study the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) in the setting of complex craniopharyngiomas with intraventricular extension and to compare it with existing literature. Methods Patients undergoing EEA for resection of craniopharyngioma with ventricular involvement from 2002 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes were compared with previously published EEA and transcranial approach (TCA) studies for all craniopharyngioma locations. Results Sixty-two patients were included. Average tumor and intraventricular volume were 13.93 cm3 and 2.61 cm3, respectively. Patients presented with visual impairment, endocrinopathy, and, headache. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 47% of all cases and increased to 77% after 2012 Approximately 98% experienced improvement or stability of vision. Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and meningitis rates were 19% and 8.1%, respectively. However, nasoseptal flap (NSF) use reduced CSF leak rate to 10%. Six (9.6%) patients required shunting before resection and 25% were shunted postoperatively. Seven of 10 patients (70%) treated before NSF use required shunting, whereas only 7 of 46 (15%) required shunting with NSF reconstruction. Review demonstrated similar outcomes between the present cohort and EEA or TCA for all craniopharyngioma locations. TCA had a greater GTR, however, with large study variation. EEA showed improved visual outcomes but also increased CSF leaks. Conclusions EEA for craniopharyngiomas with intraventricular extension shows similar outcomes to TCA and EEA for all craniopharyngiomas, expanding this anatomic limit. Given ventricular involvement, CSF leak rates are expectedly high. GTR increased and CSF leak rates dramatically decreased with time, suggestive of the steep learning curve to complex resection.
Healthcare Disparities in African-American Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Call to Action (P2.073)

Objective: The purpose of our study is to review the literature on healthcare disparities in PD care among African-American patients in the US. Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is among the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders and poses a high economic burden on the healthcare system. Although no cure is available, patients can have many productive years when receiving state-of-the-art treatment. Previous studies have shown considerable disparities in PD care based on racial and socioeconomic status, specifically in the African-American community. Design/Methods: Publications from 1996–2016 were reviewed, using the following databases: PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Ovid. Results: We identified 15 articles meeting our criteria. Studies showed evidence of significant disparities in time of diagnosis and treatment received. One study found African-American patients four times less likely to be started on treatment for PD than Caucasians over the same follow-up period. A study performed in the VA system showed an average seven-year delay in receiving a diagnosis of PD in the African-American population. Review of a large hospital database revealed discrepancies in access to deep brain stimulation surgery, with 85.9% of patients being Caucasian and only 0.6% African-American. Disparities in PD care may result from differences in insurance status, access to medical care, cultural biases and healthcare literacy. Conclusions: Optimal management of PD requires timely diagnosis, treatment initiation and regular follow- up to address motor and non-motor symptoms. Disparities exist on several levels for African-American patients and efforts are urgently needed to address these. Creating public awareness of racial disparities in PD care is a first step to initiate changes. We developed a local initiative in Kentucky (“UofL Moves!”) to provide PD education to underserved patients and families, spread awareness and knowledge about racial disparities to healthcare providers and provide resources for PD care for everyone. Disclosure: Dr. Naik has nothing to disclose. Dr. LaFaver has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Teva, GLG .
Experiential Learning via an Innovative Inter-University IFRS Student Video Competition

This paper reports on the results of an innovative IFRS Student Video Competition conducted between the authors’ universities in the autumn 2009 semester. The competition provided an experiential learning opportunity for 57 graduate level students. A total of 46 recognized accounting standard-setters, partners, professors and other experts were identified, contacted and interviewed. Numerous communication technologies enabled this collaborative venture to connect the expert interviewees to the student interviewers. The end result was the creation of a series of videos on IFRS, each of 10 to 15 minutes in length, available on an educational Vimeo.com channel for the benefit of students and educators worldwide. An expansion of this innovative program to multiple universities throughout the world is possible. In addition, the program and techniques which the authors applied to IFRS pedagogy can be applied to many other emerging accounting topics, especially those that lack traditional teaching resources.
Understanding Audience Engagement with Mainstream and Alternative News Posts on Facebook

Facebook is an integral part of the American news environment. Substantial numbers of users now seek or encounter news on the platform and news organizations depend on the site to build audiences a...
Black-Box Hypotheses and Lower Bounds

What sort of code is so difficult to analyze that every potential analyst can discern essentially no information from the code, other than its input-output behavior? In their seminal work on program obfuscation, Barak, Goldreich, Impagliazzo, Rudich, Sahai, Vadhan, and Yang (CRYPTO 2001) proposed the Black-Box Hypothesis, which roughly states that every property of Boolean functions which has an efficient "analyst" and is "code independent" can also be computed by an analyst that only has black-box access to the code. In their formulation of the Black-Box Hypothesis, the "analysts" are arbitrary randomized polynomial-time algorithms, and the "codes" are general (polynomial-size) circuits. If true, the Black-Box Hypothesis would immediately imply NP ⊂ BPP. We consider generalized forms of the Black-Box Hypothesis, where the set of "codes" 𝒞 and the set of "analysts" 𝒜 may correspond to other efficient models of computation, from more restricted models such as AC⁰ to more general models such as nondeterministic circuits. We show how lower bounds of the form 𝒞 ⊂ 𝒜 often imply a corresponding Black-Box Hypothesis for those respective codes and analysts. We investigate the possibility of "complete" problems for the Black-Box Hypothesis: problems in 𝒞 such that they are not in 𝒜 if and only if their corresponding Black-Box Hypothesis is true. Along the way, we prove an equivalence: for nondeterministic circuit classes 𝒞, the "𝒞-circuit satisfiability problem" is not in 𝒜 if and only if the Black-Box Hypothesis is true for analysts in 𝒜.
Early subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease reduces long-term medication costs.

ABSTRACT Introduction Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is recognized as a safe and effective treatment in mid- and advanced-staged Parkinson’s disease (PD) that decreases the need for PD medications and their associated costs. This study reports medication costs from the only clinical trial to evaluate DBS in patients with early-stage PD and projects costs through advanced-stage disease. Methods The DBS in early PD pilot was a prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial that randomized 30 patients with early-stage PD 1:1 to receive bilateral STN-DBS plus optimal drug therapy (ODT) or ODT alone. Subjects who completed the trial participated in an observational follow-up study and were evaluated annually for five years after randomization. PD medication data collected at each study visit were used to calculate and project medication costs (n=28). Results Five-year cumulative medication cost reduction with early DBS+ODT was $28,246. Mean annual medication cost for early DBS+ODT subjects was 2.4 times lower than early ODT subjects (β=2.4, 95%CI:1.5-3.7, p=0.0004). Early DBS+ODT is projected to reduce cumulative medication costs by $104,958 over 15 years of disease duration. Conclusion DBS in early-stage PD may provide long-term medication cost reduction compared to standard care.
Dense granule protein, GRA64 interacts with host cell ESCRT proteins during Toxoplasma gondii infection

The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii adapts to diverse host cell environments within a replicative compartment that is heavily decorated by secreted proteins. In attempts to identify novel parasite secreted proteins that influence host cell activity, we identified and characterized a trans-membrane dense granule protein dubbed GRA64 (TGME49_202620). We found that GRA64 is on the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) and is partially exposed to the host cell cytoplasm in both tachyzoite and bradyzoite parasitophorous vacuoles. Using co-immunoprecipitation and proximity-based biotinylation approaches, we demonstrate that GRA64 appears to interact with certain components of the host Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRT). Genetic disruption of GRA64 does not affect acute Toxoplasma virulence in mice nor encystation as observed via tissue cyst burdens in mice during chronic infection. However, ultrastructural analysis of Dgra64 tissue cysts using electron tomography revealed enlarged vesicular structures underneath the cyst membrane, suggesting a role for GRA64 in organizing the recruitment of ESCRT proteins and subsequent intracystic vesicle formation. This study uncovers a novel host-parasite interaction that contributes to an emerging paradigm in which specific host ESCRT proteins are recruited to the limiting membranes (PVMs) of tachyzoite and bradyzoite vacuoles formed during acute and chronic Toxoplasma infection.
Representation of African American Patients in Social Media for Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND Social media use by plastic surgeons may contribute to the overall increase in breast reconstruction in the United States. However, recent data show a concerning decrease in breast reconstruction in African American women. The purpose of this study was to analyze the inclusion of African American women in social media posts for breast reconstruction, with the premise that this may be a possible contributing factor to decreasing rates of breast reconstruction in this population. METHODS Data from several social media platforms were obtained manually on December 1, 2019. Each image was analyzed using the Fitzpatrick scale as a guide. RESULTS A total of 2580 photographs were included that met the authors' criteria. Only 172 photographs (6.7 percent) were nonwhite. This study surveyed 543 surgeons, 5 percent of whom were nonwhite. The analysis of the results from the random sample of the top plastic surgery social media influencers showed that only 22 (5 percent) of the photographs uploaded were nonwhite patients. Furthermore, 30 percent of surgeons did not have any photographs of nonwhite patients uploaded. CONCLUSIONS Numerous factors can contribute to the disparity between the growing trend of white patients seeking reconstructive surgery compared to the decreasing trend of African American patients, one of which may be the disparity in their representation in social media, particularly among common platforms and social media influencers. This study highlights the evolving factors that may impair African American breast cancer patients' access to safe, effective breast reconstruction, which must be identified and resolved.
Pressure-Flow Relationships in Partially Occluded Flexible Tubes

The pressure drop through an arterial stenosis depends strongly on the minimum lumen area. In some post-mortem human specimens, atherosclerotic plaques are eccentric, and a portion of the vessel wall remains elastic [1]. In this case the lumen area will depend on the intraluminal pressure, and the severity of the stenosis will vary with perfusion pressure and flow. Drops in perfusion will reduce lumen area and consequently increase the severity of the stenosis. Increase in flow at constant perfusion pressure, caused by vasodilation of the distal circulation, will lower the pressure in the stenosis and thereby reduce lumen area. There have been a few reports of paradoxical decreases in flow accompanying vasodilation [2,3]. Spasm of coronary arteries also produces a change in stenosis severity. Santamore and Bove recently presented a possible fluid mechanical explanation for this behavior [4].
Heroines and Heroics

(1976). Heroines and Heroics. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 37-38.
Do spinless constituent quarks exist

Recent studies indicate a surprising nonrelativistic nature for the u, d, s, c, b quarks, which is suggestive of the constituent-quark viewpoint. Accordingly, we investigate the observed spectrum of elementary particles in the constituent-quark limit of small binding energies. The u, d, s, c, b quarks by themselves do not admit a rigorous constituent-quark representation, but the expanded constituent-quark basis set that we obtain from this investigation includes the u, d, s, c, b quarks as a subset. It also includes a spinless 70 MeV quark isospin doublet which echoes the conventional spin-1/2 u- and d-quark isospin doublet. Although spinless, these 70 MeV constituent quarks do not exhibit the properties of true boson states. A mathematical link between spinless and spinning quarks is provided by the relativistically spinning sphere, which serves empirically as a mechanism for the conversion of 70 MeV quantized and 140 MeV quantized spinless quark masses into similarly quantized spin-1/2 excited-state quark masses. Evidence for these characteristic quark excitations is clearly apparent in the experimental data. The constituent-quark superset that we deduce here accurately reproduces particle mass values, and it accounts for quantities such as magnetic moments and some aspects of particle lifetimes. However, in its present state of development it lacks the predictive power of the conventional set of quarks with respect to quantities such as isotopic spins and strangeness quantum numbers.
Practical Ethics in Agronomic Research

Publisher Summary Ethical behavior and unethical behavior can each lead to both good and bad consequences. Ethics is also a discipline sometimes referred to as moral philosophy. This chapter presents the discussion of broad ethical and philosophical issues and focuses on the role of ethics in day-to-day decisions and actions taken by agronomic researchers and research administrators in the practice of research. Most of the ideas presented are relevant to other areas of food and agriculture research as well. In this chapter, the results of developing a clearer conceptual framework for the important ethical decisions with which agronomic researchers are confronted every day are discussed.
Shared kernel Bayesian screening

This article concerns testing for equality of distribution between groups. We focus on screening variables with shared distributional features such as common support, modes and patterns of skewness. We propose a Bayesian testing method using kernel mixtures, which improves performance by borrowing information across the different variables and groups through shared kernels and a common probability of group differences. The inclusion of shared kernels in a finite mixture, with Dirichlet priors on the weights, leads to a simple framework for testing that scales well for high-dimensional data. We provide closed asymptotic forms for the posterior probability of equivalence in two groups and prove consistency under model misspecification. The method is applied to DNA methylation array data from a breast cancer study, and compares favourably to competitors when Type I error is estimated via permutation.
Utility of Tournament Data for Assessing Effects of Eliminating Commercial Catfish Harvest in the Missouri River

Abstract We examined tournament records for 1989 through 1998 from the 4F Flathead Club in St. Joseph, Missouri, to determine whether tournament data from catfish (i.e., channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, blue catfish I. furcatus, and flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris) anglers could be used to detect changes in adult catfish populations (primarily flathead catfish) after commercial harvest of catfish from the Missouri River was prohibited in July 1992. Data from 1989 through 1992 were considered preregulation, and 1993–1998 data were considered postregulation. We found that the fish weight needed to place first, second, or third in a tournament increased significantly (P < 0.01) after the regulation. The mean weight of the big fish for each tournament increased after the commercial ban, and the total weight of fish for each two-person team was 3 lb greater after the regulation. These changes coincided with findings of angler surveys on the Missouri River near St. Joseph, which had indicated that catc...
Friction factors for flow of near-critical helium in curved tubes

Abstract Friction factors have been measured for turbulent flow, 1.9(10) 4 Re 5 , of near critical helium in a helically wound ( D / d = 194) circular, 4-mm id tube of high aspect ratio ( L / d = 4.6(10) 4 ). These measurements are in close agreement with the classical results of lto for curved pipes. Measured pressure drops in a heated test section with large fluid expansion ratios (Δv/v up to 13) agreed well with calculated pressure drops. Results are also given for a 1.32 mm diameter sharp edge orifice flow meter operating in near-critical-helium.
Divalent Cation- and Cholesterol-Induced Perturbation in Lipid Lateral Organizations and Polyphosphoinositide-Protein Interactions

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) controls many important cellular events. A major challenge in understanding how PIP2 function in vivo is to define its physical state and lateral organization in cell membranes. The hypothesis that PIP2 forms nano-sized clusters in the presence of intracellular divalent cations by electrostatic interactions was examined in model membranes with or without cholesterol-mediated phase segregation. Additional studies show how such membrane reorganization alters the effects of PIP2 on the target proteins gelsolin and DrrA.Comparison between experimental and numerical phase diagrams suggests that a simplified electrostatic model can predict Ca2+-driven formation of PIP2 clusters, but cannot account for the difference between Ca2+ and Mg2+ in condensing PIP2-containing membranes. Differences among Ca2+, Mg2+ and multivalent polyamines in membrane condensing were revealed experimentally and related to differences in their dehydration enthalpies. Ca2+-induced perturbation of PPI-protein interactions was assayed by monolayer insertion studies using a PI4P-binding protein, DrrA. Taking advantage of its unique biphasic effect on monolayer surface pressure, in which specific insertion can be isolated from non-specific adsorption, we show that Ca2+ suppresses the specific insertion of DrrA in a concentration-dependent manner. The perturbation of PIP2-protein interactions induced by cholesterol-mediated phase segregation was probed by measuring the inhibition of gelsolin's actin filament severing activity by PIP2-containing vesicles. Cholesterol-mediated phase segregation enhances the inhibition of gelsolin by PIP2, and this effect correlates with changes in membrane ordering. This result suggests that PIP2-protein interaction depends not only on global PIP2 concentrations but also on PIP2 lateral distribution without changes in lipid synthesis or degradation. The results of this work shed light on the links between PIP2 signaling and dynamic local response at the cell membrane/cytoskeletal interface.
The Effects of Shoe Architecture on Heel Impact Forces During Gait

In the current athletic footwear market, there exists a range of shoe architectures that offer a variety of support and flexibility options. The importance of footwear type has proved to be significant in the prevention of acute injuries due to impact forces [1, 2]. It has been shown that impact forces have most often been implicated in overuse running injuries, such as stress fractures and plantar fasciitis [2]. Additionally, material properties of damping elements, such as shoes, have demonstrated an effect on impact forces. Athletic footwear is categorized by the attribute of flexibility. The natural flex observed in the sole determines the flexibility; a more flexible shoe flexes closer to the mid-foot region, while a shoe designed for stability will flex closer to the ball of the shoe. Prior work has quantified the material stiffness of different shoe architectures with stability shoes possessing higher material stiffness than flexible shoes [3].Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Detection and Use of Three Signatures of Soil-Limited Evaporation

Abstract The transition from atmosphere-limited to soil-limited evaporation is manifested in increasing surface temperature and albedo, as well as a steadying of near-surface moisture content. Each of these changes can be inferred to varying degree from ground-based and satellite-based remote sensing measurements. An evaporation model (derived for bare soil conditions) that depends on the time (t d ) between rainfall and this transition was tested on three interstorm periods during the first International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project field experiment in 1987 and 1989. In general, t d calculated from spatially averaged ground-based measurements of albedo, surface temperature, and surface soil moisture fell within 2 to 4 days of the t d estimated from the best fit of the model to the measured evaporation rates. For the dry down spanning mid-September to mid-October 1987, albedo and daytime temperature differences estimated from geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES) data yielded similar transition times. The effects of vegetation on model utility and on the ability to determine t d from remote sensing are discussed in the context of densely and sparsely vegetated sites within the FIFE experimental area.
Epidemiology of Failed Tobacco Control Legislation

Objective. —To evaluate the influence of tobacco industry campaign donations, district location, and political party affiliation on tobacco control legislation among members of the US Congress. Design. —Data were obtained from the Federal Election Commission on money contributed by the 10 leading tobacco political action committees and by tobacco industry—aligned individuals to members of the US House of Representatives (1991-1992) and Senate (1987-1992). Logistic regression analyses were performed using recorded votes and cosponsorship activities concerning tobacco control legislation during the 102nd and 103rd Congresses and membership on the House Congressional Task Force on Tobacco and Health as the dependent variables and tobacco money received, party, district location, and caucus or committee membership as the independent variables. Setting. —United States Congress in 1991 and 1992. Interventions. —None. Main Outcome Measure. —Support for federal tobacco control legislation. Results. —The tobacco industry donated approximately $2.4 million to members of Congress from January 1991 through December 1992. House members received an average of $2943 (1991-1992) and senators received an average of $11 593 (1987-1992). The more tobacco money a member received, the less likely the member was to support tobacco control legislation. In the Senate, on a vote to end the taxpayer subsidy of tobacco products in military stores, the odds ratio that senators in the top quartile of tobacco money recipients did not support the measure vs senators in the lowest quartile of tobacco money recipients was 42.2 (95% confidence interval, 4.1 to 430.0;P Conclusion. —Tobacco industry contributions to members of the US Congress strongly influence the federal tobacco policy process. Unless this influence is diminished through a combination of members refusing tobacco money and campaign finance reform, this process of contributing to death by thwarting tobacco control will continue to claim hundreds of thousands of lives a year. (JAMA. 1994;272:1171-1175)
Suction Lysimeter Modifications to Improve Sampling Efficiency and Prevent Wildlife Damage

Duing the course of research using suction lysimeters, it became apparent that simple modifications to the lysimeters could save both time and money. The procedure for extracting samples was inefficient and there was potential for cross-contamination of samples. In addition, wildlife was damaging the lysimeters, causing project delays and costly repairs. Relatively simple and inexpensive modifications to the lysimeters were made to remedy both of these problems without having to purchase new lysimeters. The suction lysimeters were retrofitted with permanent sample extraction tubes and quick-connects to increase the efficiency of sample extraction and to reduce the likelihood of cross-contamination of samples. A protective PVC casing was installed around the lysimeters to prevent wildlife tampering. These casings also served to prevent lysimeter damage from a grass fire at the study site. These modifications increased sampling efficiency by 50% and eliminated damage to lysimeters caused by wildlife and fire.
Electrocardiographic wave form and cardiac arrhythmias

In addition to its established diagnostic uses, the electrocardiogram may be useful for predicting ventricular fibrillation and other arrhythmias. Non-uniform recovery of excitability, which is a factor in vulnerability, is the determinant of QRST deflection area, and regionally selective sampling by body surface electrocardiographic mapping may permit recognition of the locally disparate recovery related to fibrillation. Preliminary experimental and clinical studies support this possibility and suggest that the multipolar content of QRST area distributions on the body surface is a marker of vulnerability.
Surface-conforming MEMS: A new approach for vehicle dynamics monitoring

Future advanced fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, launch vehicles, and spacecraft will incorporate smart microsensors to provide vehicle dynamics monitoring. Qualitative measurement of vehicle aerodynamics properties, including airflow, surface pressure distribution, and thermal profiling, are becoming increasingly important. This paper presents a new packaging concept for integrating MEMS sensors into aircraft coating protectant systems to perform conformal sensing and characterize vehicle aerodynamics. A low profile 0.1-in. elastomeric packaging technique will be presented that enables assessment of vehicle low-speed air data parameters and structural integrity.
THE CHRONOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF THE CENTRAL JALISCO SHAFT TOMBS

The shaft tomb mortuary tradition is an archaeological construct that encompasses a diverse array of burial practices, many of which now seem to reflect local variations in specific treatments of the dead. Distinctive characteristics of shaft tombs in the Tequila valleys of central Jalisco include the high degree of labor invested in tomb construction, the wealth of offerings found within the tombs, and the occasional association of the tombs with the circular public architecture known as the Teuchitlan tradition. These characteristics have led some researchers to see the Tequila valleys as the “core” of the shaft tomb tradition, in which mortuary practices were most dramatically employed to demonstrate social distinctions. Weigand's survey beginning at the end of the 1960s was designed to understand the settlement system associated with the burial tradition. Various constraints led to the use of surface materials and materials found in looters' pits to associate ceramics with tombs and public architecture. This article discusses ongoing research on the ceramic chronology of the eastern Tequila valleys and specifically those phases that span the use of shaft tombs as a high-ranking form of burial. We can discern three phases across the period of the Late Formative through the Middle Classic.
Genetic Risk Factors for Pancreatic Disorders

A combination of genetic, environmental, and metabolic factors contribute to the development and recurrence of acute and chronic pancreatitis; information on all of these is required to manage patients effectively. For example, variants that affect regulation of the protease, serine (PRSS)1-PRSS2, and claudin (CLDN)2 loci, rather than their coding sequences, interact with other genetic and environmental factors to affect disease development. New strategies are needed to use these data and determine their contribution to pathogenesis, because these variants differ from previously studied, rare variants in exons (coding regions) of genes such as PRSS1, SPINK1, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), chymotrypsin (CTR)C, and calcium-sensing receptor (CASR). Learning how various genetic factors affect pancreatic cells and systems could lead to etiology-based therapies rather than treatment of symptoms.
Acute peripheral inflammation induces moderate glial activation and spinal IL-1β expression that correlates with pain behavior in the rat

Our laboratory has previously shown that glial activation and increased proinflammatory cytokine expression are observed in the rat spinal cord following peripheral nerve injuries that result in neuropathic pain behaviors. In the present study, we sought to determine whether acute peripheral inflammation induces changes in central glial and cytokine (Interleukin-1beta) expression similar to those seen following peripheral spinal nerve transection. Two models of peripheral inflammation were used in this study: formalin (5% solution) or zymosan (25 mg/ml) injected subcutaneously into the plantar portion of the left hind paw of male Holtzman-strain Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were euthanized at 1 h, 6 h, and 1, 3, 7 days post-injection (n=4 or 5/group/time point). As expected, the animals treated with formalin showed a spontaneous pain response and mechanical allodynia that persisted for approximately 60 min following injection. The animals treated with zymosan exhibited mild spontaneous pain responses during the first hour and mechanical allodynia at 6 h and 1 day following injection. Immunohistochemistry for glial activation and cytokine expression was performed on L4-L5 spinal levels in all rats. Spinal sections from both formalin and zymosan treated animals exhibited microglial and astrocytic activation and increased Interleukin-1beta immunoreactivity at 1 and 6 h, respectively. Spinal glial activation and upregulation of Interleukin-1beta appear to parallel the development and maintenance of zymosan and formalin-induced mechanical allodynia. These findings support a unifying theory that glial activation and cytokine expression have a similar, if not related, role in producing hyperalgesia following either peripheral inflammation or peripheral nerve injury.
Public versus private: evidence on health insurance selection

This paper models health insurance choice in Chile (public versus private) as a dynamic, stochastic process, where individuals consider premiums, expected out-of pocket costs, personal characteristics and preferences. Insurance amenities and restrictions against pre-existing conditions among private insurers introduce asymmetry to the model. We confirm that the public system services a less healthy and wealthy population (adverse selection for public insurance). Simulation of choices over time predicts a slight crowding out of private insurance only for the most pessimistic scenario in terms of population aging and the evolution of education. Eliminating the restrictions on pre-existing conditions would slightly ameliorate the level (but not the trend) of the disproportionate accumulation of less healthy individuals in the public insurance program over time.
Smart structures: Part II — Hybrid control systems and control strategies

Abstract In a companion paper, the writers reviewed significant work done on active and semi-active vibration control of structures performed in the past decade or so. In this paper, journal articles on the hybrid vibration control of structures and control strategies, published during the same period, are reviewed. They include hybrid mass dampers, semi-active base isolators, actuators with passive dampers, and semi-active Tuned Liquid Column Dampers (TLCD) with passive dampers. A key element in successful implementation of smart structure technology is an effective control algorithm to compute the magnitudes of internal forces to be applied to the structure. Various improved or new control strategies developed for civil structures are reviewed in this paper. They include modified LQR and LQG, neural network-based, fuzzy logic, sliding mode and wavelet-based controllers. Studies on optimum placement of control devices are also summarized.
Multiresolution modeling of ductile reinforced brittle composites

Abstract Tungsten carbide–cobalt (WC–Co) is an important ductile reinforced brittle composite used in a range of important applications. The relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of WC–Co is truly multiscale; micromechanical processes interact at different scales, resulting in permanent plastic deformation, damage accumulation and final failure of the composite. The goal of the current paper is to develop a continuum-based model, which captures the progressively finer scales of strain localization observed in WC–Co composites during plastic deformation and failure. This is achieved via a set of multiresolution governing equations; a microstress is introduced at each scale of strain localization, which represents the resistance to inhomogeneous strain localization at that scale. The extra constitutive models associated with these microstresses can be elucidated from the average response of separate computational cell models of a representative microstructure. The final multiresolution continuum model is capable of capturing the important length scales of deformation during the plastic stage of deformation without resorting to modeling microstructural scale features directly. The result is a more realistic continuum model; in particular the fracture toughness prediction is more physical when these length scales are incorporated compared to a conventional continuum approach.