cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Villanelle: An Authoring Tool for Autonomous Characters in Interactive Fiction.

Our goal is to discover tool and language design principles that enable powerful, usable autonomous character authorship for diverse audiences of storytellers. This paper describes the Villanelle project, an approach to interactive narrative authoring that supports seamless integration of autonomous characters into choice-based storytelling. We present our computational model based on behavior trees uniformly for scripting agent interaction, user interaction, and narrative events; our stand-alone authoring tool, which provides an integrated development and testing environment for authoring with this model; and our JavaScript API for web-based development, demonstrating the expressiveness and simplicity of our approach through two case studies.
An Analysis of the Current Police Response to Rioting

This chapter discusses how the police have previously or traditionally responded to violent protests and riots and examines the main factors that have been the catalyst for change in the police response to violent protest and riots. The chapter also investigates the influence of social media on the police response and reviews the influence of police knowledge and the reactions of the police to the occurrence of a riot. The final section of the chapter discusses crowd control strategies and examines the five types of public order policing.
Automated Differentiation of Benign Renal Oncocytoma and Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma on Computed Tomography Using Deep Learning

OBJECTIVES To develop and evaluate the feasibility of an objective method using artificial intelligence (AI) and image processing in a semi-automated fashion for tumour-to-cortex peak early-phase enhancement ratio (PEER) in order to differentiate CD117(+) oncocytoma from the chromophobe subtype of renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) on computed tomography imaging. METHODS The CNN was trained and validated to identify the kidney + tumour areas in images from 192 patients. The tumour type was differentiated through automated measurement of PEER after manual segmentation of tumours. The performance of this diagnostic model was compared with that of manual expert identification and tumour pathology with regard to accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, along with the root-mean-square error (RMSE), for the remaining 20 patients with CD117(+) oncocytoma or ChRCC. RESULTS The mean ± sd Dice similarity score for segmentation was 0.66 ± 0.14 for the CNN model to identify the kidney + tumour areas. PEER evaluation achieved accuracy of 95% in tumour type classification (100% sensitivity and 89% specificity) compared with the final pathology results (RMSE of 0.15 for PEER ratio). CONCLUSIONS We have shown that deep learning could help to produce reliable discrimination of CD117(+) benign oncocytoma and malignant ChRCC through PEER measurements obtained by computer vision.
Sensible agents: demonstration of dynamic configuration of agent organizations for responsive planning operations

Decisions rarely occur in isolation, and decision makers must often respond to dynamic and unexpected events. A decision-maker must consider not only its own possible actions but also the possible behaviors and the resources of others who may either assist with planning and execution, accidentally interfere, or maliciously interfere. Dynamic Adaptive Autonomy (DAA) is the fundamental technology of Sensible Agents that permits a decision-making agent (responsible for planning and execution) to react, adjust, and respond to unpredictable environments. Sensible Agents can (1) assess current and potential interaction styles for planning, and (2) optimize planning frameworks by adjusting these styles. To address these issues, dynamic configuration of decision-making agent organizations is a must. Some specific research that has contributed to flexible, adaptive multi-agent coordination includes partial global planning (Durfee and Lesser, 1987), organizational self-design (Ishida et al., 1992), TEAMS flexible teamwork (Tambe, 1997), RETSINA matchmaking (Sycara and Pannu, 1998), and organizational fluidity (Glance and Huberman, 1993). However, these techniques do not specifically adapt agent planning-interaction styles.
Chapter 23 – Modeling Schizophrenia in Animals

Modeling schizophrenia in animals represents a formidable challenge because the most characteristic symptoms of this disorder, auditory hallucinations and delusional beliefs, cannot be directly modeled in animals. Furthermore, limited current understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology underlying the clinical features of this disorder greatly hinders the ability to develop valid models based on those aspects. To circumvent these issues, investigators have attempted to recreate the leading candidate biochemical, neuroanatomical, and genetic abnormalities for this disorder in animals using pharmacological, developmental, neurotoxic, genetic engineering, and other methods. The validity of these animal preparations as animal models for schizophrenia is generally based upon the extent to which they induce measurable behavioral changes that are homologous or analogous to the core clinical features or the information processing endophenotypes (presymptom phenotypes) that are seen in schizophrenia. The utility of any animal model to serve as a screen for novel treatments is considered related to the extent to which the schizophrenia-relevant behaviors it exhibits can be ameliorated by drugs with known efficacy in schizophrenia but not by drugs known to be therapeutic for brain disorders other than schizophrenia.
Research on the Reactive Power Adjusting Ability of PV Inverter and Demonstration Application of PV Power Plant on Rapid Reactive Power Regulation

By comparing and analyzing, we obtain the conclusion that photovoltaic (PV) inverter has good reactive power regulation ability as it has similar topology and control strategy with SVG. A typical inverter power generation model of a centralized grid-connected PV power plant is built on the PSCAD/EMTDC platform. The reactive power adjustment ability of the inverter under several specific conditions is analyzed in simulation. The simulation result shows that the dynamic reactive power response time of the inverter is within 30ms and the reactive power capacity is higher than the requirement of the national standard. The reactive power regulation ability of the plant inverter is modified by combining the rapid power regulation technology of the PV power plant and ideal test results are obtained in the on-site test.
The heart of the HIV RNA packaging signal

Mechanisms ensuring faithful reproduction are enforced for viruses, as for all other organisms, by natural selection. As a virus particle is a package containing the viral genome (RNA or DNA, as the case may be) for replication and transmission to the next generation, it is essential that the genome be packaged into the assembling virus particle with high fidelity. In turn, viruses use a wide variety of mechanisms for this selective packaging. HIV type 1 (HIV-1), the causative agent of AIDS, is a retrovirus. The genome within a retrovirus particle is composed of RNA. When it infects a cell, this RNA is copied into double-stranded DNA, which is then integrated into the chromosomal DNA of the cell. How the genomic RNA (viral RNA [vRNA]) is selected for packaging during virus particle assembly is not well understood, and a paper by Ding et al. (1) in PNAS now adds a piece to this intriguing puzzle. Retrovirus particles are roughly spherical, ∼100 to 120 nm in diameter, and are initially assembled primarily from several thousand molecules of the building block, the Gag polyprotein. Thus, it is the Gag polyprotein that selects the vRNA for incorporation into the nascent particle. However, after the virus particle is released from the virus-producing cell, Gag is cleaved by the virus-coded protease into a series of fragments. This “virus maturation” event is a wholesale reorganization of the structure of the virus and is essential for the particle’s ability to undertake an infection of a new host cell. Therefore, while Gag is the principal protein in the immature particle, the predominant proteins in the mature, infectious virus particle are fragments of Gag. There are a number of remarkable aspects to the selective packaging of vRNA during HIV assembly. vRNA is selectively packaged because it contains a “packaging signal” … [↵][1]1Email: reina{at}mail.nih.gov. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Human factors and aging: A 20-year retrospective and prospective from CREATE researchers:

The Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) was founded in 1999 and is funded by the National Institute on Aging (National Institutes of Health; PO1 AG017211)...
CROI 2021: Tuberculosis, Opportunistic Infections, and COVID-19 Among People with HIV

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a main driver of morbidity and mortality among people with HIV along with other opportunistic infections. This review summarizes key highlights related to TB, and other opportunistic infections in HIV as well as studies from the virtual 2021 Conference on Retroviruses and Oppoprtunitstic Infections evaluating outcomes among HIV-COVID-19 coinfected patients.
Local Leaders’ Evaluations of Michigan’s Direction and Governor’s Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Arrival

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Spring 2020 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS)—conducted between March 30 and June 1, 2020, the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan—and tracking comparisons to previous spring waves.
Student reflections as artifacts of self-regulatory behaviors for learning: A tale of two courses

The rapid growth of online and blended learning environments in both higher education and K-12, along with the development of innovative game based, narrative driven, problem-based learning (PBL) systems known as Alternate Reality Games (AltRG), has led to the need to understand student’s abilities to self-regulate their learning behaviors and practices in these novel environments. This study examines student reflections and e-mails related to self-regulatory practices for learning across two different course designs for an Internet-based course in computer applications. Both designs leverage PBL but apply different levels of abstraction related to content and the need to self-regulate. The study looked specifically at how students communicated about learning across these environments, what student communications indicated about student readiness for university online learning and how instructional design and methods of instruction shaped student expressions of learning and self-regulation. The research design follows an ethnographic and case study approach as two designs and four sections are examined. Data was collected from student blog posts, email messages and semi-structured interviews. Atlas.TI was used to code the data using constant comparative analysis. A sequential analysis was applied using an a priori structure for self-regulation and post hoc analysis for emergent codes that resulted in the following categories: distraction, group experience, motivation, emotion, prior experiences, and time. Results indicated qualitative differences between the two designs related to student communications for learning and self-regulation. Findings were reported for both the a priori and post hoc analysis. Additionally, two major findings are reported as emerging themes. These are presented and discussed as The Expectation Gap and Different Designs, Different Outcomes.
Hardware-assisted protection and isolation

Software is prone to contain bugs and vulnerabilities. To protect it, researchers normally go to a lower layer, such as protecting the applications from the kernel or protecting the operating systems from the hypervisor, because the upper layer is controlled and depends on the lower layer. However, even a small hypervisor, which partitions the system hardware resources into different domains to support and isolate multiple virtual machines, may contain some vulnerabilities and is hard to protect within itself. In this dissertation, we use a hardware-assisted method to monitor the integrity of the software running on top it. We present HyperCheck, a hardware-assisted tampering detection framework designed to protect the integrity of hypervisors or operating systems (OS). HyperCheck leverages the CPU System Management Mode (SMM), present in x86 systems and a dedicated commercial network card, to securely generate and transmit the full state of the protected machine to an external server. Using HyperCheck, we were able to ferret-out rootkits that targeted the integrity of both the Xen hypervisor and traditional OSes. Moreover, HyperCheck is robust against attacks that aim to disable or block its operation. Our experimental results show that HyperCheck can produce and communicate a scan of the state of the protected software in less than 40ms. In addition to detecting the intrusion, another promising approach to protect the end user's computer is to separate sensitive tasks, such as financial-related activities, from unsensitive tasks. For this purpose, we designed a system which has two operating systems installed: one trusted and the other untrusted. The trusted OS runs only the trusted applications and is guaranteed to be separated from the untrusted OS. Without using a hypervisor, we leverage the commercial hardware and the BIOS to enforce the isolation between the two OSes. By utilizing the standard ACPI S3 sleep, we also achieve a short delay when switching between the two OSes.
Variation in Primary Care Service Patterns by Rural-Urban Location.

Background Rural communities have disproportionately faced primary care shortages for decades in spite of policy efforts to prepare and attract primary care health professionals to practice in rural locales. Insight into how primary care physicians’ service patterns in rural areas differ from those in less rural places is important to better inform recruitment strategies that target primary care providers and rural communities. Objectives The purpose of this research is to describe how primary care physician service patterns vary by rural-urban location for a large, privately insured population. We discuss implications of service pattern variation on policy efforts to attract primary care providers to underserved rural areas. Methods Claims data from fully insured commercial health insurance beneficiaries were used to develop service pattern profiles for primary care providers located in 1 of 4 types of rural-urban areas in Iowa in 2009. The 4 area types are metropolitan, micropolitan, noncore area adjacent to a metro area, and noncore/nonadjacent rural area. Results There were differences in primary care physicians’ service patterns by rural-urban area type. Physicians in nonmetropolitan areas provided relatively more care on a per physician basis than those in the metropolitan area type, as well as more surgery, maternity, emergency, and nursing facility services than metropolitan physicians. Conclusion Primary care physicians who value practicing a relatively diverse range of services may find locating in rural areas an appealing choice. Health systems and policy makers seeking to attract primary care physicians to rural areas can incorporate this reality into a recruitment strategy.
The Enhanced Upward Pressure on Price Screen: Merging Markets into the UPP Methodology

Farrell and Shapiro’s Upward Pressure on Price (UPP) structure is advanced as a technique to screen mergers in differentiated product markets. Lacking an ability to link their analysis with experiences from relevant markets, Farrell and Shapiro propose to assume substantial efficiencies, and conclude that any positive upward pressure on price is sufficient to trigger potential concerns. This structure creates problems: the refusal to tolerate any positive UPP leads the screen to find concerns with a broad collection of mergers and an assumption of high efficiencies means the screen is unable to identify concerns for certain mergers in low price-cost margin businesses. If minor changes are made in the UPP formula and the UPP effect is adjusted for market share, it is possible to define revised UPP-based models. One of the models can be shown to be compatible with historical FTC experience, given an assumed toleration of 2-3 percent upward pressure on price. Further research could improve the parameterization of an UPP-related screen and generate an even more reliable index. In some form, UPP analysis may succeed at defining the structural index for certain unilateral effects mergers.
Should Heliox Be Used for Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Helium is an inert gas with a very low density (0.18 g/L), which allows it to pass through narrowed passages with less turbulence than nitrogen or oxygen. For many years, helium-oxygen mixture (heliox) has been used for patients with severe airway obstruction. However, the data supporting the clinical application of heliox are few and clearly nondefinitive. This article reviews the medical literature on whether heliox should be used for mechanically ventilated patients. No definitive randomized studies have attempted to answer this question. Studies both support and contest the benefit of heliox during mechanical ventilation. Most studies agree that heliox is extremely safe; no adverse effects have been reported. However, heliox must be administered with vigilance and continuous monitoring to avoid technical complications. As is the case with all therapies that have not been definitively studied, the risk/benefit ratio for an individual patient must be assessed by the clinical care team.
Feeling abstinent? Feeling comprehensive? Touching the affects of sexuality curricula

This interpretive study draws on interdisciplinary scholarship on affect and knowledge to ask: toward what feelings do abstinence-only and comprehensive sexuality education curricula direct us? A methodology that is attuned to double exposures is discussed, and one abstinence-only sexuality education curriculum and one comprehensive sexuality education curriculum are reviewed. The interpretation provides an alternative to the usual representation of these curricula as oppositional. Both of the curricula direct knowers to feel sure, optimistic, and free. Both curricula evidence longings for stable knowledge and guaranteed meanings. Finally, learners are directed to feel that knowledge can solve all problems smoothly and happily. Mistakes, negativism, and confusion are excluded from both sets of sexual knowledge. Implications of this interpretation for changing sexuality education are discussed.
Analysis of priority pollutants at a primary aluminum production facility

Abstract This paper investigated the source of priority pollutants, assessment of the wastewater treatment plant, and priority pollutant removal efficiency for a single Soderberg-type primary aluminum plant. Forty-eight hour composite samples were collected from the following streams: (1) plant intake water; (2) wastewater from the primary air pollution control system (gas stream cooling water and wet ESPs); (3) secondary air pollution control system (room ventilation wet scrubber liquor); (4) paste plant briquette cooling water; and (5) final effluent after the wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater from the primary air pollution control system entered a conventional chemical coagulation (using slacked lime) — clarification plant. Clarified water from the clarifier was combined with the other three wastewater streams and flowed into a settling lagoon with a 20-h hydraulic retention time. Clarified lagoon water was finally discharged to the river. The principal source of organic compounds in the wastewater was from the primary and secondary air pollution control systems and results from the volatilization of petroleum coke and pitch in the Soderberg anode. Wastewater treatment plant removal efficiencies of greater than 85% were achieved for the majority of the organic priority pollutant species detected.
Characteristics of stallions in novel and in routine semen collection sites, with or without restraint

To evaluate effects of semen collection in a routine collection shed and in an outside pen, with or without a restraint, on stallion semen characteristics, twenty-six 3 to 21 year-old stallions were randomly assigned to one of four treatments over two experimental periods (May 17 to 24 and June 13 to 20), 20 days apart. Semen was collected from Group I stallions in a collection shed and with the use of a restraint, from Group II stallions in an outside pen along with a restraint, from Group III in a collection shed and without a restraint, and from Group IV in an outside pen and without a restraint. Stallions were on a once, every-other-day semen collection schedule prior to and during the experiment. Gel semen volume was higher (P<0.05; 18 vs 14 ml) while the number of spermatozoa per ejaculate was lower (P<0.05; 8.1 vs 9.3×109) for Groups I and III vs Groups II and IV semen collections, respectively. Spermatozoa/ejaculate was higher (P<0.05; 9.1 vs 8.2×109) while pH was lower (P<0.05; 7.46 vs 7.57) for restrained vs unrestrained stallion semen collections, respectively. Gel semen volume was higher (P<0.05; 19 vs 14 ml) while pH was lower (P<0.05; 7.41 vs 7.58) for Period 2 vs Period 1 semen collections, respectively. There were significant (P<0.05) first-order period × restraint interactions for gel-free and total semen volumes and for spermatozoa per ejaculate.
Hyperfine Structure of Positronium in Its Ground State

The energy difference between orthopositronium and parapositronium in the ground $n=1$ state, which is called the hyperfine structure separation $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$, has been determined in an experiment similar to that of Deutsch, Brown, and Weinstein. The frequency difference between the $M=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ and the $M=0$ Zeeman levels of orthopositronium was measured in a static magnetic field of 8000 gauss at which it is about 2460 Mc/sec. A resonance curve was taken with fixed frequency by varying the magnetic field, and an observed fractional line width, $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}{H}_{0}}{{H}_{0r}}$, of about 4.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ was obtained. The principal part of the line width (3.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$) is due to the annihilation lifetime of positronium; microwave power broadening and magnetic field inhomogeneity account for the remainder. No Doppler broadening is present despite the high velocity of the positronium atoms, because the mean free path of a positronium atom in the gas is small compared to the wavelength of the microwave radiation. The value of $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$ was computed from the observed values of the frequency and magnetic field at resonance by use of the Breit-Rabi formula to give the result: $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}=(2.0333\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0004)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ Mc/sec. The error quoted is 5 times the statistical error and is believed to represent an upper limit to possible systematic errors. The value agrees with the values of Deutsch et al. of (2.0338\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0004)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{5}$ Mc/sec and (2.0335\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0005)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{5}$ Mc/sec, obtained with fields of 9500 and 9000 gauss, respectively, and hence confirms the use of the Breit-Rabi formula. The experimental values agree with the theoretical value for $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$ of 2.0337\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{5}$ Mc/sec computed to order ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{3}$ ry by Karplus and Klein.
High School Best Practices: Results from Cross-Case Comparisons

Identifying what commonalities exist in high schools where students consistently outperform other demographically similar students is of particular interest to administrators and practitioners looking to increase graduation rates among all students. Schools that particularly improve the performance of students with special needs and those from diverse backgrounds have become a top priority in recent years. For this study, a set of schools whose students consistently performed better than a demographically similar set of schools was identified and compared. The study employed a multiple case study methodology, with interview and document collection in each of the fifteen schools. Findings suggest that four interrelated practices distinguish higher-performing schools from their average performing counterparts. These practices are a well-defined and enacted focus on rigor, capacities to innovate, open and transparent communication within the school and with the broader community, and the willingness and capability to use a variety of evidence to make strategic decisions.
CALCIC MICAS IN THE ALLENDE METEORITE : EVIDENCE FOR HYDRATION REACTIONS IN THE EARLY SOLAR NEBULA

Two calcic micas, clintonite and margarite, have been identified in alteration products in a calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusion (CAI) in the Allende meteorite. Clintonite replaces grossular in alteration veins, and margarite occurs as lamellae in anorthite. Their occurrence suggests that, in addition to undergoing high-temperature alteration by a volatile and iron-rich vapor that produced the grossular and anorthite, some CAIs underwent alteration at moderate temperatures (</=400 kelvin). Petrographic evidence suggests that the calcic micas formed before accretion but after the formation of the layered rim sequences that surround the CAL. These calcic micas provide strong evidence that, contrary to theoretical calculations, some hydration reactions occurred in the early solar nebula.
Electrochemical sensors: Taking charge of detection.

An electrochemical sensor that relies on displacement of a 'neutralizer' from a surface-bound, charged probe molecule by the analyte enables the use of a single platform for the detection of multiple analytes irrespective of their charge.
The mechanical stability of precipitated austenite in 9Ni steel

The strains inherent to the martensitic transformation of austenite particles in 9Ni steel create dislocation structures in the tempered martensite. These dislocation structures were studied by the complementary techniques of X-ray line profile analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The energy required to form these dislocation structures affects the thermodynamics of the transformation. We propose that changes in these dislocation structures reduce the “mechanical stability” of the austenite particles as they grow larger during isothermal tempering.
Safety and efficacy of Trans-warmer mattress for preterm neonates: results of a randomized controlled trial.

To compare the admission temperatures, incidence of hypothermia and discharge outcomes of preterm neonates managed with Trans-warmer mattress (TWM) initiated in the delivery room (DR) and controls. A prospective quasi-randomized controlled trial was performed between January and November 2009 on preterm neonates <32 weeks gestation. Infants in the intervention group were resuscitated and transported to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on a TWM, in addition to other measures recommended by the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. The mean (s.d.) gestational age 28.7 (3) vs 28.7 (2.4) weeks and birth weight 1151 (407) vs 1175 (413) g) were comparable in the intervention (n=53) and control (n=49) groups. Temperature of the DR, maternal temperature, 5 min Apgar score, mode of delivery, cord pH and need for resuscitation were similar in both groups. Temperature of neonates in the DR (36.3 vs 36.0 °C) was also similar. Admission temperature in the NICU was significantly higher 36.2 °C (0.8) vs 35.7 °C (0.8) and incidence of hypothermia (temperatures <36 °C) lower in the intervention group (34 vs 57%, P<0.05). TWM use was not associated with any adverse effects. On logistic regression, low birth weight, lack of use of TWM and low DR temperature were independently associated with admission hypothermia. In this quasi-randomized controlled trial, the admission temperatures of preterm neonates on whom TWM was used were significantly higher compared to controls with a reduction in the incidence of hypothermia. A TWM initiated in the DR may be a simple efficacious method of reducing hypothermia in preterm neonates.
Family and Community Determinants of Educational Attainment in Mexico

Using hierarchical linear modeling, this article investigates the effect of gender, parental capital, and community context on school-age children's educational attainment in Mexico. Data come from the Mexican Migration Project; this study investigates the contribution of various micro- and macro-level determinants. To measure schooling, the amount of education completed by two different age groups of children in Mexico was examined. In sum, male respondents were found to attain fewer years of education than females, contrary to the gender-effect model. But the study lends firm support to the parental capital model which stresses the significance of parental education and household wealth. The community context argument was marginally upheld for younger respondents but exerted a more meaningful impact on older respondents, signaling the need to emphasize age and community ecological factors in assessing educational outcomes in Mexico.
Periodic motions of arbitrarily long periods in non-linear spring-mass systems☆

Abstract The existence of an infinite number of periodic motions of arbitrarily long (minimum) periods is established for idealized spring-mass systems of two and more degrees of freedom. The proof involves reducing the associated Hamiltonian to a normal form and establishing conditions under which a certain determinant is non-zero. An essential requirement is that the system considered be inherently non-linear and that the linearized approximation be sufficiently non-resonant. This determinant is usually a complicated function of the system parameters; however, it is calculated explicitly for certain simplified but nonetheless interesting cases.
Anatomical considerations in the surgical management of blunt thoracic aortic injury

Abstract Purpose: Blunt aortic injury (BAI) involving the thoracic aorta is usually described as occurring at the isthmus. We hypothesized that injuries 1 cm or less from the inferior border of the left subclavian artery (LSCA) are associated with an increased mortality rate compared with injuries that are more distal. Methods: A retrospective review of patients admitted with the diagnosis of BAI was performed. Injuries were divided into two groups: group I, injuries that were 1 cm or less from the junction of the LSCA and the thoracic aorta; group II, injuries that were more than 1 cm from the LSCA. Primary outcome measures included cross-clamp time, rupture, and death. Results: In a 14-year period, 122 patients were admitted with BAI. The anatomy relative to the LSCA could be determined in 91 patients who underwent operative repair. Forty-two injuries (46%) were classified as group I, and 49 injuries were classified as group II. Group I injuries were characterized by an increased mortality rate (18/42 or 43% in group I vs 11/49 or 22% in group II, P =.04), intraoperative rupture rate (7/42 or 17% in group I vs 1/49 or 2% in group II, P =.003), and cross-clamp time (39.5 ± 21.9 minutes in group I vs 28.4 ± 13 minutes in group II, P =.04). Three ruptures occurred while proximal control was being obtained. Conclusion: Increased technical difficulty and risk of rupture characterize injuries that occur proximally in the descending thoracic aorta, 1 cm from the LSCA. These injuries may be better managed by instituting bypass before attempting to obtain proximal control and by routinely clamping proximal to the LSCA. (J Vasc Surg 2001;34:628-33)
Aids prevention and treatment: Psychology's role in the health crisis

Abstract Psychological research, clinical services, and consultation are crucial in efforts to more effectively curtail the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and assist persons with HIV conditions. This paper briefly reviews medical, epidemiological, and risk behavior findings concerning AIDS that are relevant to psychological interventions. The status of AIDS prevention efforts is then reviewed with particular attention to behavioral factors that influence risk conduct among such populations as gay or bisexual men, intravenous drug users, heterosexuals, and adolescents. Research on psychological needs of persons with HIV infection and AIDS is reviewed, and relevant therapy interventions are considered. The paper concludes with a discussion of several areas where further research attention is especially needed.
Recurrence of noninvasive thymomas. Report of Four Cases and Review of Literature

Less than 2% of noninvasive (benign, encapsulated) thymomas recur after resection and usually take 1 of 2 different forms: (1) pleural implants, (2) localized mediastinal tumor. It is uncommon to have these patterns occur together, and mediastinal recurrence of a noninvasive thymoma may be amenable to a second complete resection as in 2 of our patients. Recognition of this natural history should prompt consideration of surgery since the outcome of radiotherapy is unpredictable.
Genomic views of chromatin

With the availability of complete genome sequences for a number of organisms, a major challenge has become to understand how chromatin and its epigenetic modifications regulate genome function. High-throughput microarray and sequencing technologies are being combined with biochemical and immunological enrichment methods to obtain genome-scale views of chromatin in a variety of organisms. The data pinpoint novel, genomic elements and expansive chromatin domains, and offer insight into the functions of histone modifications. In parallel, state-of-the-art imaging techniques are being used to investigate higher-order chromatin organization, and are beginning to bridge our understanding of chromatin biology with that of chromosome structure.
Analysis of bent crack in unidirectional fibre reinforced composites

This paper presents a fracture analysis for a bent crack in an infinite orthotropic plate subjected to a far-field uniform tensile stress. To determine parameters relevant to the mixed-mode fracture conditions at the tip of the bent crack, the problem is formulated in terms of singular integral equations with generalized Cauchy kernels. The resulting system of equations is then solved numberically employing a Gaussian quadrature and the collocation method. Stress intensity factors, k1 and k2, and the strain energy release rates, GI and GII at the tip of the bent crack are obtained for various values of fibres direction θ and L2/L1 ratios. Extensive results for a graphite-epoxy unidirectional composite laminate are presented.
Determining Sufficient Number of Imputations Using Variance of Imputation Variances: Data from 2012 NAMCS Physician Workflow Mail Survey

How many imputations are sufficient in multiple imputations? The answer given by different researchers varies from as few as 2 - 3 to as many as hundreds. Perhaps no single number of imputations would fit all situations. In this study, η, the minimally sufficient number of imputations, was determined based on the relationship between m, the number of imputations, and ω, the standard error of imputation variances using the 2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) Physician Workflow mail survey. Five variables of various value ranges, variances, and missing data percentages were tested. For all variables tested, ω decreased as m increased. The m value above which the cost of further increase in m would outweigh the benefit of reducing ω was recognized as the η. This method has a potential to be used by anyone to determine η that fits his or her own data situation.
Maternal dietary nutrient intake and risk of preterm delivery.

Objective To examine maternal dietary intake and preterm delivery. Study Design Data included 5738 deliveries from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Odds ratios (ORs) reflected risks of delivery at Results Among deliveries Conclusions Results suggested an association of nutrient intake with earlier preterm deliveries.
Asymmetric synthesis of 1-vinyltetrahydroisoquinoline through Pd-catalyzed intramolecular allylic amination

Asymmetric synthesis of 6,7-dimethoxy-1-vinyltetrahydroisoquinolines through Pd-catalyzed intramolecular allylic amination of 3-(amidoethylphenyl)prop-2-enyl carbonates was studied, using a library of fine-tunable monodentate phosphoramidite ligands. Under optimized conditions, excellent enantiopurity (up to 96% ee) and 100% product selectivity were achieved. 1-Vinyltetrahydroquinoline thus obtained is a highly versatile intermediate for the synthesis of various biologically active alkaloids of medicinal interest.
Free energies for the discrete chain in a periodic potential and the dual Coulomb gas

The partition function for a chain of particles connected by springs in a periodic potential is considered. This problem is dual to a one-dimensional Coulomb gas on a lattice. The free energies of both problems can be calculated from the eigenvalue of a transfer matrix. High-temperature expansions are obtained for free energies of both problems. The free energy of a system of alternating charges on a lattice is calculated exactly. Continuum results for the Coulomb gas and the sine-Gordon model are easily regained from the transfer-matrix approach. For the Villain potential the partition function can be written directly in terms of the kinks in the chain. The kinks are on sites of a lattice and interact through an exponential repulsion. The ground-state periodicity of this system exhibits a complete devil's staircase as a function of mismatch. For a similar potential the free energy can be calculated at all temperatures as the eigenvalue of a differential equation. A ladder of Josephson junctions is proposed as a new physical realization for this problem.
Evidence of probabilistic behaviour in protein interaction networks.

Background Data from high-throughput experiments of protein-protein interactions are commonly used to probe the nature of biological organization and extract functional relationships between sets of proteins. What has not been appreciated is that the underlying mechanisms involved in assembling these networks may exhibit considerable probabilistic behaviour.
RANDOM EFFECTS MODELS WITH NON-PARAMETRIC PRIORS

We discuss the performance of non-parametric maximum likelihood (NPML) estimators for the distribution of a univariate random effect in the analysis of longitudinal data. For continuous data, we analyse generated and real data sets, and compare the NPML method to those that assume a Gaussian random effects distribution and to ordinary least squares. For binary outcomes we use generated data to study the moderate and large-sample performance of the NPML compared with a method based on a Gaussian random effect distribution in logistic regression. We find that estimated fixed effects are compatible for all approaches, but that appropriate standard errors for the NPML require adjusting the likelihood-based standard errors. We conclude that the non-parametric approach provides an attractive alternative to Gaussian-based methods, though additional evaluations are necessary before it can be recommended for general use.
An internal deuterium NMR thermometer

The temperature of an NMR sample can be indirectly determined by using a suitable deuteriated reference compound and the lock channel for observing the deuterium rapid-passage NMR spectrum. By calculating the autocorrelation spectrum by two forward Fourier transformations, the relative chemical shift differences can easily be determined. The procedure can be performed on most commercial spectrometers and is completely independent of the frequency of the observed nucleus and/or any high-power proton decoupling of the sample.
Effect of polymethylhydrosiloxane on propylene polymerization catalyzed by Ziegler catalyst

Polymethylhydrosiloxane was added to the Ziegler catalyst in propylene polymerization, and a kinetic study carried out for this system was in good agreement with the results obtained in the polymerization carried out in an autoclave under pressure. The experimental equations for polymerization rate are for constant siloxane and AlEt3 concentrations and for constant siloxane and TiCl4 concentrations, where α, A, and β are constants. From experimental results of studies of the chemical properties of polymethylhydrosiloxane, a reasonable reaction mechanism was proposed which can explain the experimental results in the polymerization process. The polymers were separated by use of several solvents, and both the residue and extracted parts showed the presence of silicon. On the basis of chemical analysis and infrared absorption spectra, it was concluded that the polymers obtained were copolymers of polypropylene and polymethylsiloxane.
NSF receives good news from Congress

Last week, the House passed the final National Science Foundation (NSF) funding bill more than doubling the President's budget increase for the agency for fiscal year 1995. NSF's total budget will increase by 13.8% to nearly $3.4 million. However, 5.4% was allocated for research and related activities, which was below the President's request.
Spectral Characterization Of Het-C2, A Glycolipid-transfer Protein

Het-C2 is a small 23 kDa protein, isolated from the fungi Podospora anserina, homologous to mammalian GLTP, and capable of transferring glycospingolipids in vitro. The crystal structure of Het-C2 is unknown, but molecular models suggest conservation of the GLTP-fold. Here, the locations of the Trp residues in Het-C2 have been investigated to gain further insights into their function. Sequence homology shows one of Het-C2’s two Trp residues aligned with GLTP Trp96 which resides in the sugar headgroup liganding site. The other Het-C2 Trp did not align with either of GLTP's other two Trp residues. The Trp fluorescence spectrum of native Het-C2 exhibited an emission maximum at 355nm which red shifted 2nm upon denaturation with 8M urea, indicating Trp localization to a more polar environment. Acrylamide and KI quenched >90% of the average Trp fluorescence confirming that Het-C2 Trp residues are not buried in hydrophobic environments but reside in exposed polar regions. The linearity of Stern-Volmer plots for native Het-C2 and urea-denatured (8M) Het-C2 suggested dynamic quenching at physiological pH and ionic strength. The Stern-Volmer constants were higher for native protein than denatured protein. Upon interaction with probe-sonicated POPC vesicles, the Trp emission maximum blue shifted (∼2nm) and decreased in intensity (∼13.5%). Including glycolipid in the vesicles slightly enhanced the blue shift (∼3nm) and significantly decreased Trp intensity (∼21%). Far-UV-CD of Het-C2 showed secondary structure dominated by alpha-helices and with a highly cooperative, thermally induced melting transition near 43°C. Near-UV-CD indicated the induced optical activity of Trp/Tyr residues was unaffected by interaction with vesicles lacking or containing glycolipid. The results are analyzed and discussed within the context of the known locations and functions of human GLTP's three Trp residues. [Support: NIH/NIGMS GM45928 & GM34847, NIH/NCI CA121493, The Hormel & Mayo Foundations]
Linking geomorphology, weathering and cation availability in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico

Abstract We explored the links between geomorphology, weathering and cation availability across the most common forest types and geologic provinces in the El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. Our goal was to connect the controls on primary mineral supply to soil with stocks of plant-available cations. We established a network of 216 soil profiles comprising toposequences (ridges, slopes and valleys) in three forest types (Colorado, palm and tabonuco) on two parent rock types (quartz diorite and volcaniclastic) in a factorial design. The landscape underlain by quartz diorite is divided into lower slopes that are eroding rapidly in response to renewed uplift in the last 5 Ma, and those above a regional knickpoint where remnant landforms are eroding more slowly. Quartz diorite-derived soils (0–80 cm) below the knickpoint have lost significantly less calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) relative to parent material (80, 65, and 57%, respectively) than those above it, which have lost 95, 81, and 83% (p 90% of all base cations relative to parent material. While geology and geomorphology exert the most control on the degree of soil weathering (as measured by total soil cation loss relative to parent material), exchangeable cations are influenced by geologic, biologic, and meteoric factors. Tabonuco forests have significantly higher exchangeable cation stocks (0–80 cm) than Colorado forests, even in the 500–700 m elevation zone where the two forest types are not correlated with elevation (p = 0.02, 0.005 and 0.002 for Ca, Mg, and K, respectively). Forest type explains ~ 30% of the variance in exchangeable Mg and K stocks, but only 10% of the variance in exchangeable Ca. Quartz diorite-derived soils below the knickpoint have ~ 2 × more exchangeable Ca than those above it, and within that rapidly eroding region sites closest in elevation to the knickpoint have ~ 2 × more again. The isotopic composition of bulk soil and exchangeable strontium suggests that the high Ca stocks below and near the knickpoint are mostly derived from primary mineral weathering, whereas above the knickpoint exchangeable Ca is supplied by atmospheric deposition. These data demonstrate that regional uplift, lithology, weathering, atmospheric inputs and forest communities combine to shape cation availability across the Luquillo landscape, and we hypothesize that similar interactions are important in other montane tropical forests.
Unilateral relationship enhancement in the treatment of spouses of uncooperative alcohol abusers

Abstract This article presents the conceptualization of unilateral relationship enhancement (URE) and a URE treatment program developed for use with the spouses of alcohol abusers unmotivated to enter treatment. Enhancing the marital relationship through a unilateral program is described as an important step in the preparation of the spouse to function as a positive rehabilitative influence with his or her alcohol-abusing partner. This article presents the part URE plays within a unilateral family therapy for alcohol abuse, procedural guidelines and criteria for use, a case example, clinical results based on some 68 spouses of uncooperative alcohol abusers, benefits and limitations, and other areas of possible application.
Effects of Warm-Mix Asphalt Additives on Workability and Mechanical Properties of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Material

The soaring cost of liquid asphalt binder and anticipated stricter environmental regulations have driven highway agencies to maximize the amount of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) used for pavement construction. However, because of already aged and stiffened asphalt binder in RAP, the use of high percentages of RAP in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) presents many challenges. Problems with workability and compactability during construction need to be resolved first. This study investigated the feasibility of using 100% RAP HMA as a base course with warm-mix asphalt (WMA) additives (Sasobit H8 or Advera zeolite) at a lower temperature (125°C). Mix samples (control set with 100% RAP; a set with 100% RAP plus Sasobit H8 at 1.5%, 2.0%, and 5.0%; and a set with 100% RAP plus Advera zeolite at 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.7%) were compacted with 50 gyrations. Their workability, bulk specific gravity, indirect tensile strength at 0°C, and moduli at 0°C, 26.7°C, and 50°C were determined. The effects of different amounts of WMA additi...