cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen-plasma treated hafnium oxyhydroxide as an efficient acid-stable electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions.

Development of earth-abundant electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions in strong acids represents a great challenge for developing high efficiency, durable, and cost effective electrolyzers and fuel cells. We report herein that hafnium oxyhydroxide with incorporated nitrogen by treatment using an atmospheric nitrogen plasma demonstrates high catalytic activity and stability for both hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions in strong acidic media using earth-abundant materials. The observed properties are especially important for unitized regenerative fuel cells using polymer electrolyte membranes. Our results indicate that nitrogen-modified hafnium oxyhydroxide could be a true alternative for platinum as an active and stable electrocatalyst, and furthermore that nitrogen plasma treatment may be useful in activating other non-conductive materials to form new active electrocatalysts. Renewable hydrogen technologies are promising for alternative energy, but are encumbered by the kinetics of electrochemical reactions in harsh conditions. Here, authors report nitrogen-modified hafnium oxyhydroxide for electrocatalysis of hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions in acidic media.
Stochastic Taylor Formulas and Riemannian Geometry

Let (X t , P x ) be the standard Brownian motion on a complete Riemannian manifold. We investigate the asymptotic behavior of the moments of the exit time from a geodesic ball when the radius tends to zero. This is combined with a “stochastic Taylor formula” to obtain a new expansion for the mean value of a function on the boundary of a geodesic ball.
Effective Use of Upper Snake River Water Resources

Nearly 2,500,000 acres are irrigated in Upper Snake basin. Of these, 1,000,000 have a deficient water supply. An additional 3,000,000 acres of arable land have no water supply. Yet nearly 7,000,000 acre-ft flow out of the area annually of which 60% is ground-water discharge. Surface holdover storage sufficient to supply the above lands cannot be identified and the abundant ground water supply is mostly beneath presently irrigated lands. Therefore, further development must depend on coordinated surface and ground water use exchange of sources of supply and artificial recharge. Numerous hydrologic and geographic factors establish limiting parameters within which detailed planning may proceed. Studying the possible layouts and operations of such projects is being undertaken by analog studies of the ground water reservoir and computer studies of the river system.
Comparison of left ventricular lead upgrade vs continued medical care among patients eligible for cardiac resynchronization therapy at the time of defibrillator generator replacement: Predictors of left ventricular lead upgrade and associations with long-term outcomes

Background Randomized trials evaluating cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have excluded patients with a pre-existing implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (ICD). The association of CRT upgrade with clinical outcomes in patients with a pre-existing ICD is unclear. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine a CRT-eligible population to evaluate clinical outcomes associated with CRT upgrade compared to patients who did not undergo CRT. Methods Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) ICD Registry between April 2010 and December 2014, we created a hierarchical logistic regression model to identify predictors of CRT upgrade in a CRT-eligible ICD population. In the subpopulation of patients with Medicare-linked claims data, differential outcomes were determined with censoring at 3 years. The primary endpoint of this study was all-cause mortality, with secondary endpoints of rates of hospitalization and procedural complications. Results CRT upgrade was performed in 75.5% of CRT-eligible patients with pre-existing ICD (n = 15,803). Presence of left bundle branch block conduction was the strongest predictor of CRT upgrade (odds ratio [OR] 4.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.08–5.11; P Conclusion In a national registry of CRT-eligible patients with pre-existing ICD, upgrade to CRT was associated with lower rates of mortality than continued medical management.
Parental Education and Spanking of American Children: Blacks' Diminished Returns.

Background: Based on the Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) framework, high socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as parental education shows weaker protective effects against adverse experiences for Blacks than Whites. For example, Black children with highly educated parents report high levels of depression, anxiety, suicide, smoking, obesity, and chronic disease. Limited knowledge exists on MDRs of parental education on the child’s exposure to spanking by the mother. Aims: Built on the MDRs framework, we tested the hypothesis of whether the effect of parental education on the child’s exposure to spanking by the mother differs in Black and White families. We hypothesized that: 1) there is an inverse association between mothers’ educational attainment and child spanking, and 2) the effect of mothers’ educational attainment on mothers’ spanking of the child is weaker for Black than White families. Methods: We used data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study (FFCWS), a 9-year follow up study of a random sample of births in cities larger than 200,000 population. In this analysis, 2722 Black or White families were followed. The main predictor was parental educational attainment at birth. The outcomes were exposure to spanking at ages 3, 5, and 9 .Logisticregression was used for data analysis. Results: Higher parental educational attainment at birth was inversely associated with the child’s exposure to spanking by the mother among Whites, not Blacks. We also found a significant interaction between parental educational attainment at birth and race, suggesting that the associations between parental education and child exposure to spanking by the mother at ages3, 5, and 9were weaker for Black than White families. Conclusions: Diminished returns of parental educational attainment in terms of reducing children’s exposure to trauma and stress may be a mechanism that contributes to racial health disparities, particularly poor health of children in highly educated Black families. That is a smaller protective effect of parental education on reducing undesired exposures for Black than White children may be one of the mechanisms that may explain why children develop worse than expected physical, mental, and behavioral health in high SES Black families. Not all health disparities are due to racial differences in SES, but some of them are also secondary to the diminishing returns of socioeconomic status indicators such as parental education for racial minorities. Research should study contextual, structural, family, and behavioral factors that reduce Black families’ ability to mobilize their human capital and secure health outcomes for themselves and their children.
Futility in the paediatric cardiac ICU.

Introduction: Studies have suggested 5–20% of paediatric ICU patients may receive care felt to be futile. No data exists on the prevalence and impact of futile care in the Paediatric Cardiac ICU. The aim is to determine the prevalence and economic impact of futile care. Materials and method: Retrospective cohort of patients with congenital cardiac disease 0–21 years old, with length of stay >30 days and died (2015–2018). Documentation of futility by the medical team was retrospectively and independently reviewed. Results: Of the 127 deaths during the study period, 51 (40%) had hospitalisation >30 days, 13 (25%) had received futile care and 26 (51%) withdrew life-sustaining treatment. Futile care comprised 0.69% of total patient days with no difference in charges from patients not receiving futile care. There was no difference in insurance, single motherhood, education, income, poverty, or unemployment in families continuing futile care or electing withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. Black families were less likely than White families to elect for withdrawal (p = 0.01), and Hispanic families were more likely to continue futile care than non-Hispanics (p = 0.044). Conclusions: This is the first study to examine the impact of futile care and characteristics in the paediatric cardiac ICU. Black families were less likely to elect for withdrawal, while Hispanic families more likely to continue futile care. Futile care comprised 0.69% of bed days and little burden on resources. Cultural factors should be investigated to better support families through end-of-life decisions.
Driver intention prediction using model-added Bayesian network:

The autonomous driving technology requires reliable detection and prediction of the surrounding environment. Predicting the lane change intention of the surrounding traffic is critical to evaluate ...
A meta-analysis of 20 years of data on people who inject drugs in metropolitan Chicago to inform computational modeling

Progress toward hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination in the United States is not on track to meet targets, as injection drug use continues to drive increasing HCV incidence. Computational models are useful in understanding the complex interplay of individual, social, and structural level factors that might alter HCV incidence, prevalence, transmission, and disease progression. However, these models need to be informed with real socio-behavioral data. We conducted a meta-analysis of research studies spanning 20 years of research and interventions with people who inject drugs in metropolitan Chicago to produce parameters for a synthetic population for a computational model. We then fit an exponential random graph model (ERGM) using the network estimates from the meta-analysis in order to develop the dynamic component of a realistic agent-based model.
Outdoor/Indoor Contaminant Transport by Atmospheric Dust and Aerosol at an Active Smelter Site

Activities associated with mining operations including smelting, ore handling, and mine tailings management have been identified as sources of dust and aerosol that may contain metal and metalloid contaminants, such as lead (Pb) and arsenic (As). Previous studies on contaminant transport have concentrated on the potential impact of these particulate emissions in outdoor environments. The purposes of this study were (i) to quantify the effect of dust and aerosol particle size on contaminant transport from outdoor-to-indoor environments and (ii) to document the changes in particle chemical composition during transport through the outdoor/indoor barrier. Outdoor and indoor particulate samples were collected at a high school equipped with mechanical air filtration systems from 2016 to 2019. The school is located near a set of mine tailings and an active copper smelter in Hayden, Arizona. Particle size segregated samples were collected using a ten-stage micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI). Results show that airborne fine particles (aerodynamic diameters less than 1 micron) can penetrate to the indoor environment but in a reduced amount due to mechanical filtration. Aerosol in the fine fraction particulate air concentrations was around 50% of the corresponding outdoor values, but their mass concentration of contaminants was similar to outdoor values. Indoor coarse particles (> 1 micron) comprised close to 20% of the levels found in outdoor coarse particles. These results highlight the need to consider the impact of particle diameter when assessing indoor exposure and potential health effects in communities living under the direct influence of mining and smelter activities.
Short-Term Effects of COVID-19-Related Deferral of Intravitreal Injection Visits

Purpose To determine secondary effects of the mandated COVID-19 pandemic closure period for elective treatment on non-elective, injection-based retina care and outcomes. Patients and methods In this cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of a single-provider outpatient clinic across multiple satellites, consecutive patients returning for intravitreal injections (IVIs) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor or corticosteroids were identified as "delayed" or "undelayed" during a six-week study interval during the COVID-19 pandemic that closely following a mandated period of prohibited elective encounters. A "delayed" encounter was defined as having a follow-up interval exceeding 33% of the recommended cycle. Patients seen for IVIs during the corresponding six-week interval a year previously were identified for study as pre-COVID-19 controls. Main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessment based on findings of intraretinal or subretinal fluid consistent with new or recurrent neovascular events. Results The study included 183 eyes of 144 patients who underwent IVI-based care from June 18, 2020, through August 7, 2020, compared to 193 eyes of 154 patients injected during the corresponding interval 1 year before. There were 62 eyes of 46 patients seen in the study period later than scheduled (among 144 patients of 183 eyes in total), which represented a larger proportion of delayed patients compared to the previous year (31.9% vs. 14.9%, p Conclusion The unintended consequence of delayed care of patients on established care regimens should be anticipated, and mitigate strategies considered if similar restrictions are mandated in the future.
Investigation on noise exposure characteristics of workers in wooden furniture manufacturing industry and textile industry

Objective: To investigate the occupational noise exposure characteristics and distribution of workers in wood furniture manufacturing industry and textile industry, so as to provide the basis for the establishment of noise source database and the prevention and control of noise hazards in China. Methods: In March 2020, a total of 653 workers in wood furniture manufacturing industry and textile industry were selected by cluster sampling method. A general questionnaire survey was conducted to measure the characteristics of noise exposure and analyze the changes of 8 h equivalent A-level (L(Aeq, 8 h)) and kurtosis of different industries and types of work. Results: The noise exposure L(Aeq, 8 h) of workers was (91.2±6.9) dB (A) , the median kurtosis and mean kurtosis were 37.0 and 105.0, respectively. 84.1% (549/653) of the workers had L(Aeq, 8 h)≥85 dB (A) , 49.0% (320/653) and 68.5% (447/653) of the workers had median kurtosis and mean kurtosis >10. The L(Aeq, 8 h) level of the textile industry was higher than that of the wooden furniture manufacturing industry, while the median and mean of kurtosis levels of the textile industry was lower than the wooden furniture manufacturing industry (P<0.01) . The L(Aeq, 8 h) levels of spinners and weavers were higher, and the median and mean of kurtosis of nailers were higher (P<0.05) . The mean and median of kurtosis were highly correlated among workers of two industries (r=0.80, P<0.01) . The L(Aeq, 8 h) was positively correlated with mean and median of kurtosis among workers of wooden furniture manufacturing industry (r=0.33 and 0.35, P<0.01) , while it was negatively correlated with mean and median of kurtosis among workers of textile industry (r=-0.45 and -0.40, P<0.01) . Conclusion: Indicators for noise exposure characteristics, such as L(Aeq, 8 h) and kurtosis vary greatly by industries and type of works. Multi-indicator joint measurement is conducive to comprehensive assessment of noise exposure and its health effects.
State Strategies in International Bargaining: Play by the Rules or Change Them?

Bargaining between states in the international system is governed by rules which shape and constrain their bargaining behavior. However, these rules can be changed. When, why, and how do states bargain differently? Drawing on original qualitative and quantitative evidence, this book demonstrates how the rules of the game influence the cooperative or coercive nature of the strategies adopted by all states in a negotiation. These effects influence each state's incentives regarding whether to play by the rules or to change them. Examining these incentives, as well as the conditions under which states can act on them, McKibben explains the wide variation in states' bargaining strategies. Several bargaining interactions are analyzed, including decision-making in the European Union, multilateral trade negotiations, climate change negotiations, and negotiations over the future status of Kosovo. This book provides a rich understanding of the nuances of states' behavior in international bargaining processes.
Qualitative and Quantitative Morphology of Induction in Endometrial Epithelium

It is now universally recognized that the action of estrogen on its target organ is to induce the release of cellular signals in populations of target organ cells which effect changes in a neighboring cell’s hypertrophy, proliferation and differentiation. To study these responses in detail, the mechanisms of action need to be examined on a local, cellular level. Therefore, we have undertaken in recent years to use computerized image analysis to quantitatively identify subpopulations of estrogen-stimulated cells which are hypertrophic, and determine how regions of spatially separated cells respond temporally to estrogen induction. These results clearly show that there are subpopulations in the uterine epithelium which respond differentially to estrogen stimulation. In addition, results of studies of morphological interactions between the epithelial-stromal cells of the endometrium are reviewed which show the regionality of these interactions. These studies are reviewed here in an attempt to integrate this knowledge with literature from the realm of developmental biology which provide some insight into this field. Both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of this work has potential to be of diagnostic importance in the human to more precisely calculate the timing of the preimplantation endometrium as well as to more accurately predict the success of uterine adenocarcinoma management.
The theoretical status of morphologically conditioned phonology: a case study of dominance effects

This paper addresses the very general topic of morphologically sensitive phonology, arguing for a theory of the phonology-morphology interface in which the phonological grammar is completely insensitive to morphological information. The interface between phonology and morphology lies in the association between phonological subgrammars (“cophonologies”) and particular morphological constructions.
The design of an integrated circuit using a Virtual Enterprise

Recent advances in information and communication technologies have enabled the implementation of the Virtual Enterprise in various forms. This paper describes the process followed to successfully complete the layout of a Flash Memory Integrated Circuit project using a Virtual Enterprise. The criteria for project and extended team selection are presented. The team architecture and communication infrastructure are discussed in detail. The paper reports on how today's technology was used to setup hardware and software systems, and how data security issues were resolved.
Radiation belt electron acceleration by ULF wave drift resonance: Simulation of 1997 and 1998 storms

Pc 5 ULF waves are seen concurrently with the rise in radiation belt fluxes associated with CME-magnetic cloud events. Four such geomagnetic storm periods in 1997 and 1998, 10-11 January and 14-15 May, 1997; 1-4 May and 26-28 August, 1998, have been simulated with a 3D global MHD code driven by L1-measured solar wind parameters. The field output has been used to advance electron guiding center trajectories in the equatorial plane. The time series has also been analyzed for ULF wave mode structure. Toroidal field line resonances with low azimuthal mode number and frequencies commensurate with the electron drift period are identified in the radial electric field component, along with enhanced power in the poloidal (azimuthal) electric field component. The simulated time scale for inward radial transport of electrons in the several hundred keV to MeV energy range, from geosynchronous orbit to L=3-4, varies with the level of ULF wave power and overall energy input to the magnetosphere. Of the four events studied, the May 1998 storm period was most geoeffective and the January 1997 least so, in terms of simulated radial transport and energization of electrons. This transport rate is consistent with the level of ULF waves excited in the simulations, and the proposed drift resonant acceleration mechanism.
Monte Carlo Visual Tracking Using Color Histograms and a Spatially Weighted Oriented Hausdorff Measure

Color-based and edge-based trackers based on sequential Monte Carlo filters have been shown to be robust and versatile for a modest computational cost. However, background features with characteristics similar to the tracked object can distract them. Robustness can be further improved through the integration of multiple features such that a failure in one feature will not cause the tracker to fail. We present a new method of integrating a shape and a color feature such that even if only a single feature provides correct results, the feature tracker can track correctly. We also introduce a new Hausdorff-based shape similarity metric that we call the spatially weighted oriented Hausdorff similarity measure (SWOHSM). The approach is shown to be robust on both face tracking and automobile tracking applications.
Noncentral t Distribution

This is the distribution of the ratio of a normally distributed variable with unit variance to the square root of a ratio of a chi-square variable to its degrees of freedom. When the noncentrality parameter (the mean of the normal distribution) is zero, the distribution is Student's t distribution. The noncentral distribution provides the power function for a t test, and other applications concern tolerance intervals and confidence intervals. Details are given here. Keywords: student; power; t test; tolerance; confidence; quantile
Quantifying Resistance to the Sybil Attack

Sybil attacks have been shown to be unpreventable except under the protection of a vigilant central authority. We use an economic analysis to show quantitatively that some applications and protocols are more robust against the attack than others. In our approach, for each distributed application and an attacker objective, there is a critical value that determines the cost-effectiveness of the attack. A Sybil attack is worthwhile only when the critical value is exceeded by the ratio of the value of the attacker's goal to the cost of identities. We show that for many applications, successful Sybil attacks may be expensive even when the Sybil attack cannot be prevented. Specifically, we propose the use of a recurring fee as a deterrent against the Sybil attack. As a detailed example, we look at four variations of the Sybil attack against a recurring fee based onion routing anonymous routing network and quantify its vulnerability.
Alcohol tax changes and the use of alcohol in Europe.

Different motives in determining the level and structure of alcohol taxes lead to greatly varying alcohol excise duty levels. The aim of this paper is to look at alcohol excise duty rates in European Union (EU) and the mechanisms affecting them. Also the trends in alcohol prices and alcohol consumption will be discussed. Material. Material concerning alcohol taxes and consumption comes from available statistics and published literature. Results. This paper shows that despite many attempts the EU has not been able to harmonise alcohol excise duty rates in its member states.The importance of alcohol taxes as an alcohol control measure has decreased as the real value of alcohol excise duty rates has decreased in most EU countries during the last decades. Discussion. In most European countries the share of alcohol taxes of the price of alcoholic beverages is quite low.Therefore, increasing alcohol excise duty rates would in most countries lead to increased alcohol tax revenues to the public sector. Consequently, increasing alcohol excise duty rates would serve both the fiscal and the health and social policy interests of the state.
Interatomic pair potentials from DFT and molecular dynamics for Ca, Ba, and Sr hexaborides

Alkaline earth hexaborides are thermoelectric materials with unique thermophysical properties that have a broad variety of applications with great potential for new uses in fields such as light-weight armor development, gas storage, and n-type thermoelectrics. In this work, we introduce a modeling framework to simulate the basic mechanical behavior of these materials with molecular dynamics. We use a combination of density functional theory, molecular dynamics, and optimization methods to produce a set of interatomic potentials which can describe accurately the equilibrium energetics and mean-square displacements of atoms within these bulk hexaborides. The model works particularly well for hexaborides with large cations.
3-D electromagnetic field modeling based on near field measurements

This paper presents a practical 3-D electromagnetic field modeling technique based on a phaseless "near field/far field" (NF/FF) transform where field values are computed from a limited set of near field measurements taken in the vicinity of the "device under test" (DUT). A non-invasive computer vision technique for the recovery of the 3-D position parameters of the EM probe which scans the near field around the DUT is finally presented.
Preferred orbit planes in the gravitational field of a tumbling spheroidal galaxy

An analytic method is described by means of which the preferred planes into which gas will settle by dissipative differential precession in a slightly nonspherical, nonstatic potential can be determined. Attention is given to the analysis of circular orbit precession in the external potential of a slightly prolate spheroidal mass that is tumbling about a short axis, providing a crude model for barred spiral galaxies as well as for prolate elliptical ones. The results obtained agree with previous work on the existence, orientation, and stability of periodic orbits in triaxial potentials. Depending on the source and injection geometry of the gas and on the nature of dissipation in the gas, the orbital dynamics presented could lead to enhanced, or even catastrophic, radial inflow and to steady state warped structures.
A low-copy-number vector utilizing β-galactosidase for the analysis of gene control elements

A low-copy-number vector, pFZY1, with the multiple restriction site linker of M13mp18 inserted upstream from a promoterless beta-galactosidase (beta Gal)-coding lacZ gene has been constructed to provide a convenient and accurate system to analyze regulatory elements in vivo. The plasmid contains the oriF replication origin without the par locus and is present in the cell in one to two copies per genome. It is retained in the host by the presence of ampicillin, and each inserted promoter yielded consistent values of beta Gal activity under all the conditions tested. A series of tetracycline resistance (TcR) promoter fragments and lac promoter fragments have been compared in pFZY1 and the high-copy-number pKO-vector series. The transcriptional activity measured for different fragments containing the same TcR promoter varied within a six-fold range among the several constructs tested. Regulation of the wild-type lac promoter and mutants in pFZY1 was similar to that observed for lac promoters in the chromosome while their regulation in pKO-1mp18 was significantly affected by the high copy number, as expected.
The Role of a State-Level Prevention Support System in Promoting High-Quality Implementation and Sustainability of Evidence-Based Programs

Although numerous evidence-based programs (EBPs) have been proven effective in research trials and are being widely promoted through federal, state, and philanthropic dollars, few have been “scaled up” in a manner likely to have a measurable impact on today’s critical social problems. The Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation (ISF) explicates three systems that are critical in addressing the barriers that prevent these programs from having their intended public health impact. In this article we describe the relevance of these systems in a real-world context with a specific focus on the Prevention Support System (PSS). We expand on the ISF model by presenting funders and policy-makers as active and engaged stakeholders, and demonstrate how a state-level PSS has used empirical evidence to inform general and program-specific capacity-building and support interactions among researchers, funders, and practitioners in Pennsylvania. By embracing this expanded ISF framework as a conceptual model for the wide-scale dissemination and support of EBPs, and recognizing the need for a distinct state-level PSS, Pennsylvania has created an infrastructure to effectively address the primary barriers to moving from lists of EBPs to achieving population-level public health improvement.
In vivo modification of plant membrane phospholipid composition.

Summary Tomato seedlings treated with ethanolamine showed altered phospholipid composition. The changes included altered acyl chain composition as well as changes in the relative amounts of the phospholipid classes. Specifically, there was an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine with a concomitant decrease in phosphatidylcholine and no overall increase in phospholipids. Treatment with ethanolamine increased the relative amount of C 18 acyl chains (especially 18:2) in phosphatidylethanolamne and phosphatidylcholine at the expense of 16:0 and 16:1. Acyl composition of other phospholipid classes were unchanged. Labeled ethanolamine was incorporated mostly into phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. Ethanolamine-stimulated incorporation of labeled oleate was entirely into acyl chains and appeared only as 18 : 1 and 18 : 2. There was greater incorporation, but less conversion of 18 : 1 to 18 : 2 with choline. Stearate was incorporated but not desaturated.
Concurrent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion and Intra-arterial Drug Infusion via Ipsilateral Common Carotid Artery Catheter in the Rat

Abstract Pre-clinical development of therapy for acute ischemic stroke requires robust animal models; the rodent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) model using a nylon filament inserted into the internal carotid artery is the most popular. Drug screening requires targeted delivery of test substance in a controlled manner. To address these needs, we developed a novel method for delivering substances directly into the ischemic brain during MCAo in the awake rat. An indwelling catheter is placed in the common carotid artery ipsilateral to the occlusion at the time of the surgical placement of the occluding filament. The internal and common carotid arteries are left patent to allow superfusion anterograde. The surgeries can be completed quickly to allow rapid recovery from anesthesia; tests substances can be infused at any given time for any given duration. To simulate clinical scenarios, the occluding filament can be removed minutes or hours later (reperfusion) followed by therapeutic infusions. By delivering drug intra-arterially to the target tissue, “first pass” loss in the liver is reduced and drug effects are concentrated in the ischemic zone. To validate our method, rats were infused with Evans blue dye either intra-arterially or intravenously during a 4 h MCAo. After a 30 min reperfusion period, the dye was extracted from each hemisphere and quantitated with a spectrophotometer. Significantly more dye was measured in the ischemic hemispheres that received the dye intra-arterially.
Spatially Selective Photochemical Reduction of Silver on the Surface of Ferroelectric Barium Titanate

When BaTiO3 is immersed in an aqueous AgNO3 solution and illuminated by UV light, silver metal deposits on the surface in patterns determined by the ferroelectric domain structure. Because the photochemical reduction of Ag occurs preferentially on the positive ends of the dipoles, metal patterns with submicron dimensions are produced. The static dipolar field in certain domains is thought to promote the transport of photogenerated electrons to the solid−liquid interface where they reduce silver cations.
Impact of Parentification on Long-Term Outcomes Among Children of Parents With HIV/AIDS

Stein, Riedel, and Rotheram-Borus reported in 1999 that early parentification predicted maladaptive outcomes of more emotional distress, substance use, and conduct problems among adolescents of parents with HIV/AIDS (PWH) 6 months later. The current study assessed the adolescents (N=213) 6 years later to assess whether there were continuing negative effects of parentification, or, rather, if there were some positive outcomes. Although the premature assumption of parental roles had negative effects in the short term, we hypothesized that such skills may have been adaptive in the long run, especially in the case of adolescents with major stressors in their lives, including dying or ill parents, impoverished environments, and family instability. We found that early parentification predicted better adaptive coping skills and less alcohol and tobacco use 6 years later. In addition, early parentification was not associated with later emotional distress and dysfunctional parenting attitudes, including expecting role reversals in their own children.
A case report of quetiapine withdrawal syndrome in a geriatric patient

We report a possible case of withdrawal syndrome from quetiapine with a discussion of its treatment and possible causal mechanisms. The case is of a geriatric patient who had symptoms of suspected ...
Native and oxidized low density lipoproteins modulate mesangial cell apoptosis

Native and oxidized low density lipoproteins modulate mesangial cell apoptosis. Hyperlipidemia has been demonstrated to contribute to hypercellularity of the mesangium in experimental animal models of glomerulosclerosis. We studied whether it also has the potential to convert a hypercellular mesangium into a hypocellular one by inducing mesangial cell (MC) apoptosis. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) enhanced ( P µ g/ml, 24.2 ± 0.3 × 10 4 cells/ml) but augmented ( P µ g/ml 26.2 ± 3.4% apoptotic cells/field). Oxidized (OX) LDL enhanced MMC apoptosis in concentrations of 50 to 200 µ g/dl. There was a direct relationship between MMC apoptosis and oxidation of LDL as judged by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS). Since superoxide dismutase (SOD) attenuated ( P µ g/ml, 19.4 ± 0.5%; LDL + SOD, 8.1 ± 1.3% apoptotic cells/field). LDL also induced a similar effect on human mesangial cells. These studies were further confirmed by DNA fragment assays and ELISA for programmed cell death. LDL treated cells also showed enhanced mRNA expression for RSG-2, a marker for active cell death. These in vitro results provide a basis for the speculation that LDL has the potential to cause an initial hypercellular and subsequent hypocellular mesangium in the course of the development of glomerulosclerosis.
Identification of the largest individual sample value using composite sample data and certain modifications of the sweep-out method

Cost-effective hotspot identification is an important issue in hazardous waste site characterization and evaluation. Composite sampling techniques are known to be cost effective when the cost of measurement is substantially higher than the cost of sampling. Although compositing incurs no loss of information on the means, information on individual sample values is lost due to compositing. In particular, if the interest is in identifying the largest individual sample value, the composite sampling techniques are not able to do so. Under certain assumptions, it may be possible to satisfactorily predict individual sample values using the composite sample data, but it is not generally possible to identify the largest individual sample value. In this paper, we propose two methods of identifying the largest individual sample value with some additional measurement effort. Both methods are modifications of the simple sweep-out method proposed earlier. Since analytical results do not seem to be feasible, performance of the proposed methods is assessed via simulation. The simulation results show that both the proposed methods, namely the locally sequential sweep-out and the globally sequential sweep-out, are better than the simple sweep-out method.
Clinical significance of serum enzyme alterations associated with myocardial infarction.

Abstract Acute myocardial infarction is associated with alterations in the activity of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGO-T) and serum lactic dehydrogenase (SLD). These serum enzymes can be measured readily by simple techniques. From 6 to 12 hours following the onset of myocardial infarction there is a rise of 2 to 8 or 10 times the activity of the serum enzymes, with a maximum elevation within 24 to 48 hours. The peak rise in the serum enzymes is proportional to the extent of myocardial tissue necrosis, and the serum enzyme changes are thought to be due to the loss of cardiac muscle enzyme from necrotic tissue into the circulation. In the presence of equivocal electrocardiographic changes or tracings in which classical patterns of myocardial infarction are obscured, the rise in SGO-T and SLD activity in a clinical setting suggestive of infarction is an especially helpful diagnostic tool. The serum enzymes are altered in several other specific clinical settings but the serial and quantitative serum enzyme changes are usually different from those observed in association with myocardial infarction.
Hydrophobic and acidic moments of a nucleoplasmin NP-core chaperone.

Abstract A recent crystal structure, at atomic resolution, of the NO38-core chaperone has revealed a decamer comprised of a dimer of pentamers, with each pentamer consisting of closely coupled eight-stranded β-barrel monomers. This N-terminal core domain of the chaperone shares the Nucleoplasmin family fold and is presumed to assist the binding of the core histones in their assembly into nucleosomes during DNA replication and repair. The present work provides a measure of the hydrophobic residue burial about the different interfaces and centers of the NO38-core multimeric structure. While the hydrophobic “pentameric ring,” comprised of the hydrophobic cores of the monomers and prevalence of non-polar residues at their interfaces is observed, a hydrophobic bias with respect to the center of the pentamer is also found, and consequently also expected to contribute to the thermostability of the multimer. Structural and chromatographic analysis had shown the NO38-core chaperone to bind (H3-H4)2 histone tetrame...
‘Everything in the state, nothing against the state, nothing outside the state’: corporativist urbanism and Rationalist architecture in fascist Italy

Corporativist urbanism, in which Italian Rationalist architects adapted modernist design principles to the scales of urban and regional planning, represented an attempt to reshape and restructure Italian society through the comprehensive transformation of the built environment. Corporativist urbanism synthesized the empirical methods and programmatic concerns endorsed by the Congres Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne (International Congress of Modern Architecture or CIAM) with the rhetorical imperatives of the fascist regime in an attempt to rationalize industrial and agricultural production processes, promote hygienic and efficient living standards and instill in the citizenry a collective and militant mass identity in service to the fascist state. The primary vehicle for the advocates of corporativist urbanism was Quadrante, a ‘journal of battle’ that championed modern architecture and urbanism as integral components of the fascist state. Founded in May 1933 by Italy's leading Rationalist architects ...
SLI381: a long-acting psychostimulant preparation for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

SLI381 (Adderall-XR®) is a longer-acting form of Adderall®, a compound of mixed amphetamine salts that is now the most frequently prescribed brand of psychostimulant medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the US [1]. It has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective treatment for ADHD in school-age children. To date, the efficacy of SLI381 has been evaluated in controlled studies of over 500 patients. The therapeutic effects of SLI381 on the core symptoms of ADHD, as well as the duration of action of the formulation, have been demonstrated to persist for 12 h, with both greater efficacy and duration of effects seen at higher doses. Both behavioural and cognitive performance measures are improved throughout the school day and into post-school activities. The incidence of common stimulant-emergent side effects with SLI381 was no different than that seen with the existing Adderall preparation. Additionally, the frequency with which most stimulant-related side effects were experie...
Polyclonal 90Yttrium labeled antiferritin for refractory Hodgkin's disease.

Abstract Six patients with chemotherapy resistant Hodgkin's disease were treated with intravenous polyclonal 90-Yttrium (90Y) labeled antiferritin. Eighteen days after isotope infusion, patients received an autologous bone marrow transplant that was cryopreserved prior to initiation of treatment. Ten (one patient), 20 (four patients), or 30 mCi (two patients) were used. One patient received three cycles, three patients received two cycles, and two patients received one cycle. The same antibody labeled with 111-Indium was helpful in documenting the absence of anti-antibodies in six out of six patients, the presence of tumor targeting in six out of seven patients, and allowed for dose estimates in two out of six patients. One patient with a complete response received approximately 20 Gy to the tumor, whereas a second patient with 20 Gy to the tumor showed progressive disease. A total of three patients obtained a complete response, one had a partial response, and two patients progressed on treatment. Acute toxicity was limited to bone marrow aplasia, without a clear-cut beneficial effect for transplantation after 20 mCi 9Y and the suggestion of a positive effect after 30 mCi. One patient died in complete remission 26 months after treatment with antiferritin has a pronounced antitumor effect as a single agent and less normal tissue toxicity than other treatment modalities for Hodgkin's disease, such as chemotherapy, external beam radiotherapy, or autologous bone marrow transplantation after high dose chemo/radiotherapy.
Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Association of University Radiologists

Summary The 43rd Annual Meeting was highly successful in presenting to registrants the unique combination of leading-edge developments, policy discussions, resident-related teaching, organizational issues, and new science that uniquely represents the meeting of the AUR with the SCARD and the APDR. The 44th Annual Meeting will be held April 17–21, 1996, at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Additional new program elements are being planned and will be announced well in advance in anticipation of another successful meeting in 1996.
Hypermethylation of repeat expanded C9orf72 is a clinical and molecular disease modifier

C9orf72 promoter hypermethylation inhibits the accumulation of pathologies which have been postulated to be neurotoxic. We tested here whether C9orf72 hypermethylation is associated with prolonged disease in C9orf72 mutation carriers. C9orf72 methylation was quantified from brain or blood using methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digest-qPCR in a cross-sectional cohort of 118 C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers and 19 non-carrier family members. Multivariate regression models were used to determine whether C9orf72 hypermethylation was associated with age at onset, disease duration, age at death, or hexanucleotide repeat expansion size. Permutation analysis was performed to determine whether C9orf72 methylation is heritable. We observed a high correlation between C9orf72 methylation across tissues including cerebellum, frontal cortex, spinal cord and peripheral blood. While C9orf72 methylation was not significantly different between ALS and FTD and did not predict age at onset, brain and blood C9orf72 hypermethylation was associated with later age at death in FTD (brain: β = 0.18, p = 0.006; blood: β = 0.15, p < 0.001), and blood C9orf72 hypermethylation was associated with longer disease duration in FTD (β = 0.03, p = 0.007). Furthermore, C9orf72 hypermethylation was associated with smaller hexanucleotide repeat length (β = −16.69, p = 0.033). Finally, analysis of pedigrees with multiple mutation carriers demonstrated a significant association between C9orf72 methylation and family relatedness (p < 0.0001). C9orf72 hypermethylation is associated with prolonged disease in C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers with FTD. The attenuated clinical phenotype associated with C9orf72 hypermethylation suggests that slower clinical progression in FTD is associated with reduced expression of mutant C9orf72. These results support the hypothesis that expression of the hexanucleotide repeat expansion is associated with a toxic gain of function.
Introduction to Tides: The Tides of the Waters of New England and New York

This interesting little book is not really about what its main title suggests, an introductory text on tides for oceanography students. Its subtitle gives more of a clue to its contents and intended readership. The author immediately points out in the preface that ‘this book is written for the many intelligent people who work or play along the coast between Sandy Hook and the Bay of Fundy.’ In addition to discussing elementary tidal theory, the book describes in some detail the author's systematic analysis of coastal tides and currents in the New England and New York region. His analysis fits the solution of the telegrapher's equation to Tide Table predictions of tidal elevations and times of high water and slack current. In this way, Redfield separates the observed M2 tides in various straits, embayments, hydraulic channels, and estuaries into damped, progressive waves travelling in opposite directions. These waves arise through reflection of the primary wave at the head of an embayment or estuary, or through two primary waves entering a tidal strait or hydraulic channel from both ends.
Prognostic value of a normal exercise echocardiogram

Abstract Follow-up information was obtained from 148 patients who had normal resting and post-treadmill exercise echocardiograms to determine the prognostic value of a normal exercise echocardiogram in patients evaluated for suspected coronary artery disease. There were 77 men and 71 women with a mean age of 52.5 years and a pretest likelihood of coronary artery disease of 39%. Patients were followed for a mean duration of 28.4 ± 8.5 months. The exercise ECG was abnormal in 69 patients (47%) including 28 who had ischemic responses. Cardiac events occurred in six patients, three with normal and three with abnormal exercise ECGs. Events occurred only in those patients (6 of 68) who exercised to work loads less than 6 METs or who achieved less than 85% of the age-predicted maximal heart rate. Three patients had coronary artery bypass grafting for angina from 10.5 to 22.5 months after echocardiography. A fourth patient had bypass grafting for mild single-vessel disease at the time of mitral valve replacement. Two patients had myocardial infarctions (0.85% per year) at 7.5 and 41 months after echocardiography. There were no deaths. Coronary revascularization is infrequently required in the 28 months after a normal exercise echocardiogram. A normal exercise echocardiogram in a patient with good exercise capacity was predictive of an excellent prognosis, even in those who had abnormal exercise ECGs. Myocardial infarction and death were rare events, even in patients with decreased exercise capacity.