cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epilepsy and seizure ontology: towards an epilepsy informatics infrastructure for clinical research and patient care

Objective Epilepsy encompasses an extensive array of clinical and research subdomains, many of which emphasize multi-modal physiological measurements such as electroencephalography and neuroimaging. The integration of structured, unstructured, and signal data into a coherent structure for patient care as well as clinical research requires an effective informatics infrastructure that is underpinned by a formal domain ontology. Methods We have developed an epilepsy and seizure ontology (EpSO) using a four-dimensional epilepsy classification system that integrates the latest International League Against Epilepsy terminology recommendations and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) common data elements. It imports concepts from existing ontologies, including the Neural ElectroMagnetic Ontologies, and uses formal concept analysis to create a taxonomy of epilepsy syndromes based on their seizure semiology and anatomical location. Results EpSO is used in a suite of informatics tools for (a) patient data entry, (b) epilepsy focused clinical free text processing, and (c) patient cohort identification as part of the multi-center NINDS-funded study on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. EpSO is available for download at . Discussion An epilepsy ontology consortium is being created for community-driven extension, review, and adoption of EpSO. We are in the process of submitting EpSO to the BioPortal repository. Conclusions EpSO plays a critical role in informatics tools for epilepsy patient care and multi-center clinical research.
Evaluating the effects of wildfire on stream processes in a Colorado front range watershed, USA

The impacts of a September 2010 wildfire on hydrologic and biogeochemical processes are being evaluated in a Colorado Front Range stream.
Fatal mediastinal hemorrhage in a dog.

Rapidly fatal mediastinal hemorrhage in a previously healthy dog is described. The lesion was manifest radiographically by widening of the dorsal mediastinum. Although the exact origin of hemorrhage was not identified, it is hypothesized that one or more dorsal intercostal arteries were ruptured when the dog ran to an abrupt stop at the end of a long chain.
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Santa Barbara, California 93101 and Center for Limnology,University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

Anthropogenic alterations of nutrient inputs and food-web structure are two of the primary stressors affecting lake phytoplankton. This paper explores the independent and interactive effects of nutrients and food-web structure (as indexed by zooplankton size) on phytoplankton size structure by fitting time-series models to data from three lakes where both factors have been manipulated. I assessed phytoplankton size structure using three different approaches: small and large size classes, normalized size spectra, and average phytoplankton size. Increased phosphorus loading and increased zooplankton size had positive effects on large phytoplankton, slope of size spectra, and mean phytoplankton size, but negative effects on the relative abundance of small phytoplankton. The absolute abundance of small phytoplankton was increased by increased nutrients and decreased by increased zooplankton size. There was some evidence for nutrient 3 zooplankton interactions, particularly from interlake comparisons which revealed that phytoplankton size structure responded to enrichment in qualitatively similar but quantitatively different ways in lakes with different food webs. Specifically, small phytoplankton increased more strongly with enrichment in lakes with many planktivores and few large zooplankton, while large phytoplankton increased more in lakes with few planktivores and many large zooplankton. Thus, food-web structure may influence the extent to which small vs. large phytoplankton respond to nutrient enrichment. Overall, size structure was an excellent descriptor of shifts in phytoplankton communities following manipulation of nutrient inputs and food-web structure. Size spectra and size classes were highly effective approaches for summarizing size structure; average phytoplankton size was somewhat less effective.
Web Conferencing as Classroom: A New Opportunity in Distance Learning.

Web conferencing software enables distance learners to attend classes. This paper recounts student reactions to this delivery method and makes suggestions for conducting virtual classes.
A Virtual Node-Based Tracking Algorithm for Mobile Networks

We introduce a virtual-node based mobile object tracking algorithm for mobile sensor networks, VINESTALK. The algorithm uses the virtual stationary automata programming layer, consisting of mobile clients, virtual timed machines distributed at known locations in the plane, called virtual stationary automata (VSAs), and a communication service connecting VSAs and mobile clients. VINESTALK maintains a data structure on top of an underlying hierarchical partitioning of the network. In a grid partitioning, operations to find a mobile object distance d away take O(d) time and communication to complete. Updates to the tracking structure after the object has moved a total of d distance take O{d*log network diameter) amortized time and communication to complete. The tracked object may relocate without waiting for VINESTALK to complete updates for prior moves, and while a find is in progress.
Practical design methodology of auxiliary resonant snubber inverters

This paper describes the design methodology for auxiliary resonant snubber inverters including /spl Delta/- and Y-configured auxiliary resonant snubber inverters. The design emphases are resonant circuit components including inductor, capacitor, end switch, DC link capacitor, and control technique. Design optimization can be aimed at high efficiency, high frequency, low dV/dt, or compact size. An example of designing a three-phase 100 kVA unit is described step by step. Hardware implementation and experimental results are shown for verification.
In situ measurements of Doppler power vs. flow turbulence intensity in red cell suspensions

Whereas previous studies have shown that ultrasonic backscatter and Doppler power from blood are affected by flow turbulence, turbulence level has only been inferred from the flow Reynolds number and not directly measured. In this study, both ultrasonic Doppler power and flow turbulence intensity were measured in situ to quantify the relationship between Doppler power and flow turbulence. Three grid meshes of different geometries were used in a steady-flow mock loop to generate controlled levels of flow turbulence in porcine red blood cell saline suspensions. Doppler power was measured by a 10-MHz PW Doppler flowmeter, and the turbulence intensity by using constant-temperature hot film anemometry. We showed that Doppler power is affected by turbulence and hematocrit in a complex way. At a fixed hematocrit, Doppler power increases nonlinearly with turbulence intensity and, at fixed turbulence intensity, Doppler power peaks at an optimal hematocrit level that increases with turbulence level. The shape factor, introduced by Lucas and Twersky (1987) to take into account effects of shape and orientation of the scatterers in a dense distribution of small and tenuous scatterers, was estimated by fitting the experimental data to the theoretical model. The results indicate that shape factor decreases with increasing turbulence intensity.
Federalism and Health Care

Among the many issues in the national health care debate is the role of the states. Some have asked whether the states can tackle health care on their own and have answered with a resounding “no.” Deborah Stone (1992), for example, argues that health care is too big a challenge for the states to handle: they lack sufficient autonomy from the federal government in certain areas and sufficient power over private interests in others.But apparently, states are undeterred by such thinking. In the early 1990s, three states—Minnesota, Washington, and Florida—passed comprehensive bills incorporating elements of managed competition. Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont had already enacted (but not implemented) major reforms based upon different philosophies. And Hawaii led the way in 1974 with its enactment of an employer mandate.Today, reform activity is everywhere. In 1993, 1,850 health care reform proposals were introduced in state legislatures; this year virtually every governor is working on some health care initiative. Even Lowell Weicker, Jr., governor of Connecticut, home to the nation's largest insurance companies, has announced his intention to provide universal coverage by 1997. The states are definitely not waiting around to see what the feds will do.
Quantum partition 1/ƒ noise in pentodes☆

Abstract In this paper we give a derivation of an earlier heuristic formula for partition 1/ƒ noise in pentodes and show that it is of a quantum 1/ƒ noise origin. First some guidelines are deduced from white noise sources in pentodes that carry over to 1/ƒ noise processes. First, Handel's cathode quantum 1/ƒ noise formula is stated for space-charge-limited diodes and then it is immediately applied to triodes. The triode result leads to the cathode quantum 1/ƒ noise contribution to the spectra S I a (ƒ), S I 2 (ƒ) and S I a , I 2 (ƒ) in pentodes when it is taken into account that the screen grid and anode components of this noise source are fully and positively correlated. Then the quantum partition 1/ƒ noise contributions to S I a (ƒ), S I 2 (ƒ) and S I a , I 2 (ƒ) are taken into account and it is born in mind that they are fully and negatively correlated. If it is then assumed that in the non-space-charge-limited pentode S I a , I a (ƒ) is zero, this leads immediately to the heuristic formula.
Training in Self-Management of Feelings and Emotions

The pursuit of happiness is an endeavor which has engaged the minds and energies of human beings probably for as long as people have existed. The happiness people seek is not so much an isolated emotion as it is an overall appraisal of life, a net positive summation of the train of everyday events and feelings that make up a person’s experiences. While happiness itself is difficult to study, the individual emotions and events which are its roots can much more easily be analyzed, understood and perhaps most importantly, managed. The cumulative work of many clinicians and researchers, particularly during the last two decades, has provided a foundation of information and hypotheses upon which a comprehensive program for the management of feelings and emotions can be built. This paper describes such a program, currently in operation at the University of Illinois.
Temperature Effects on Otolith Microstructure and Birth Month Estimation from Otolith Increment Patterns in Atlantic Menhaden

Abstract We demonstrate temperature-influenced increment spacing in the sagittal otoliths of juvenile Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus reared at different temperatures and describe otolith increment patterns from wild juveniles born in different months. Tank-reared individuals completed metamorphosis a month earlier at 25°C than at ambient temperatures (10–14°C). We identified several patterns from the sectioned otoliths, including reduced time to metamorphosis, faster transition to the juvenile stage, and increased increment spacing after onset of metamorphosis for those individuals exposed to warmer temperatures. For wild individuals that could be accurately aged, mean otolith increment spacing in the zone from 70 to 80 increments increased 1–2 μm for fish born in November and December to more than 3 μm for fish born in February. The increase in increment spacing is consistent with the arrival of individuals across seasonally warming temperatures in the estuary. A discriminant analysis based on oto...
Effects of hypoxia, anoxia, and endogenous ethanol on thermoregulation in goldfish, Carassius auratus.

Effects of hypoxia, anoxia, and endogenous ethanol (EtOH) on selected temperature (Tsel) and activity in goldfish were evaluated. Blood and brain EtOH concentrations ([EtOH]) and brain oxygen parti...
Heat and momentum transfer in laminar flow: Helium initially at plasma temperatures

A study was made of the laminar flow of monatomic gases. It was found that the Graetz type of correlation holds sufficientiy well for prediction of heat transfer coefficients for the gases. Equations are given for a complete analysis of the various sources of error, an approximate and rapid means of estimating the friction factor, and an approximate but rapid means of estimating the heat transfer coefficient. It appears that the temperature estimation is by far the major source of error, because of insufficiently accurate voltage and current measurements and questions concerning the heat loss term. (P.C.H.)
Nuclear “pasta” formation

The formation of complex nonuniform phases of nuclear matter, known as nuclear pasta, is studied with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations containing 51200 nucleons. A phenomenological nuclear interaction is used that reproduces the saturation binding energy and density of nuclear matter. Systems are prepared at an initial density of $0.10\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and then the density is decreased by expanding the simulation volume at different rates to densities of $0.01\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ or less. An originally uniform system of nuclear matter is observed to form spherical bubbles (``swiss cheese''), hollow tubes, flat plates (``lasagna''), thin rods (``spaghetti'') and, finally, nearly spherical nuclei with decreasing density. We explicitly observe nucleation mechanisms, with decreasing density, for these different pasta phase transitions. Topological quantities known as Minkowski functionals are obtained to characterize the pasta shapes. Different pasta shapes are observed depending on the expansion rate. This indicates nonequilibrium effects. We use this to determine the best ways to obtain lower energy states of the pasta system from MD simulations and to place constraints on the equilibration time of the system.
How do suppliers benefit from information technology use in supply chain relationships

Supply chain management systems (SCMS) championed by network leaders in their supplier networks are now ubiquitous. While prior studies have examined the benefits to network leaders from these systems, little attention has been paid to the benefits to supplier firms. This study draws from organizational theories of learning and action and transaction cost theory to propose a model relating suppliers' use of SCMS to benefits. It proposes that two patterns of SCMS use by suppliers-exploitation and exploration-create contexts for suppliers to make relationship-specific investments in business processes and domain knowledge. These, in turn, enable suppliers to both create value and retain a portion of the value created by the use of these systems in interfirm relationships. Data from 131 suppliers using an SCMS implemented by one large retailer support hypotheses that relationship-specific intangible investments play a mediating role linking SCMS use to benefits. Evidence that patterns of information technology use are significant determinants of relationship-specific investments in business processes and domain expertise provides a finer-grained explanation of the logic of IT-enabled electronic integration. The results support the vendors-to-partners thesis that IT deployments in supply chains lead to closer buyer-supplier relationships (Bakos and Brynjyolfsson 1993). The results also suggest the complementarity of the transaction-cost and resource-based views, elaborating the logic by which specialized assets can also be strategic assets.
Platinum sensitivity: treatment by specific hyposensitization.

Summary An analytical chemist developed respiratory tract and cutaneous allergy to complex salts of platinum in the course of his work. Specific hyposensitization was achieved by means of intradermal injections of allergen given in increasing doses. During the course of injections he developed symptoms and signs suggestive of a serum-sickness reaction. The immunological significance of these phenomena was investigated.
Induction of microsomal antigen and comparison with histologic localization of HLA-DR in Graves' thyroid tissue.

We have characterized thyroid microsomal antigen (M-Ag) prepared from Graves' and normal thyroid tissues using 100,000 × g thyroid membrane fractions in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with pooled polyclonal human sera containing high titers of antibody to M-Ag. A ten-fold parallel increase in dose inhibition potencies occurred with M-Ag preparations from Graves' as compared to normal thyroid tissue. The M-Ag preparations wre further evaluated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and proteins visualized by Western blot using high titer microsomal antibody (M-Ab) sera (n = 2) devoid of thyroglobulin antibody activity. We found discrete 100 kD relative molecular mass bands in Graves' M-Ag preparations (n = 3) under nonreducing conditions which were only poorly resolved in normal thyroid M-Ag (n = 3) using up to 100μg of protein per lane.The cellular localization of M-Ag was then investigated using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique on frozen sections of Graves' and normal human thyroid tissue wi...
Theory of Circularly Polarized Light Emission from Chiral Nematic Liquid Crystalline Films

Chiral nematic liquid crystalline films with fluorescent chromophores are capable of circularly polarized emission. A theory is presented in which the effects of anisotropic absorption and film thickness are accounted for. The predicted dissymmetry factor is compared with experimental data reported by Stegemeyer et al. and with the theory for the two limiting cases treated by Pollmann et al.
Regulation of Vaccinia Virus Morphogenesis: Phosphorylation of the A14L and A17L Membrane Proteins and C-Terminal Truncation of the A17L Protein Are Dependent on the F10L Kinase

This study focused on three vaccinia virus-encoded proteins that participate in early steps of virion morphogenesis: the A17L and A14L membrane proteins and the F10L protein kinase. We found that (i) the A17L protein was cleaved at or near an AGX consensus motif at amino acid 185, thereby removing its acidic C terminus; (ii) the nontruncated form was associated with immature virions, but only the C-terminal truncated protein was present in mature virions; (iii) the nontruncated form of the A17L protein was phosphorylated on serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues, whereas the truncated form was unphosphorylated; (iv) nontruncated and truncated forms of the A17L protein existed in a complex with the A14L membrane protein; (v) C-terminal cleavage of the A17L protein and phosphorylation of the A17L and A14L proteins failed to occur in cells infected with a F10L kinase mutant at the nonpermissive temperature; and (vi) the F10L kinase was the only viral late protein that was necessary for phosphorylation of the A17L protein, whereas additional proteins were needed for C-terminal cleavage. We suggest that phosphorylation of the A17L and A14L proteins is mediated by the F10L kinase and is required to form the membranes associated with immature virions. Removal of phosphates and the A17L acidic C-terminal peptide occur during the transition to mature virions. The initial steps in vaccinia virus morphogenesis are poorly understood. The first viral structures are crescent-shaped membranes that appear to form de novo in specialized factory regions of the cytoplasm which are largely devoid of cellular organelles (6, 10, 24). Griffiths and coworkers (36, 42) have proposed that the viral membranes are derived from the cellular intermediate compartment by a wrapping mechanism. Regardless of their origin, the crescents develop into spherical, immature virions (IV) containing the double-stranded DNA genome and subsequently into dense, brick-shaped, infectious intracellular mature virions (IMV). Some of the IMV escape from the assembly regions and are wrapped by membrane cisternae, derived from the trans-Golgi or early endosomal network, to form the intracellular enveloped virions (IEV) (13, 15, 23, 38, 47). A subset of IEV are propelled through the cytoplasm via actin tails and form the tips of specialized microvilli that protrude from the cell surface and mediate efficient cell-to-cell virus spread (5, 12, 14, 35, 37, 44, 55, 57). IEV without actin tails also reach the periphery (55), where they fuse with the plasma membrane to form cell-associated enveloped virions and released extracellular enveloped virions (3, 28).
Size-dependent CO2 capture in chemically synthesized magnesium oxide nanocrystals

The carbon dioxide storage capacity of magnesium oxide (MgO) particles was examined as a function of particle size, shape, and surface area. Two types of MgO nanocrystals (5 nm spheres and 23 nm disks) were synthesized and compared against commercially available MgO (325 mesh/44 μm and 40 mesh/420 μm). The surface area of the four types of particles was determined by N2 gas adsorption. Carbon dioxide capture was measured at 60 °C and 600 °C using thermogravimetric analysis, with results indicating enhanced CO2 capacity correlating with increased surface area.
Influence of boundary removal on the spatial representations of the medial entorhinal cortex

The medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) is thought to create and update a dynamical representation of the animal’s spatial location. Most suggestive of this process are grid cells, whose firing locations occur periodically in space. Prior studies in small environments were ambiguous as to whether all spatially modulated cells in MEC were variants of grid cells or whether a subset resembled classic place cells of the hippocampus. Recordings from the dorsal and ventral MEC were performed as 4 rats foraged in a small square box centered inside a larger one. After 6 minutes, without removing the rat from the enclosure, the walls of the small box were quickly removed, leaving the rat free to continue foraging in the whole area enclosed by the larger box. The rate-responses of most recorded cells (70 out of 93 cells, including 15 of 16 putative interneurons) were considered spatially modulated based on information-theoretic analysis. A number of cells that resembled classic hippocampal place cells in the small box were revealed to be grid cells in the larger box. In contrast, other cells that fired along the boundaries or corners of the small box did not show grid-cell firing in the large box, but instead fired along the corresponding locations of the large box. Remapping of the spatial response in the area corresponding to the small box after the removal of its walls was prominent in most spatially modulated cells. These results show that manipulation of local boundaries can exert a powerful influence on the spatial firing patterns of MEC cells even when the manipulations leave global cues unchanged and allow uninterrupted, self-motion-based localization. Further, they suggest the presence of landmark-related information in MEC, which might prevent cumulative drift of the spatial representation or might reset it to a previously learned configuration in a familiar environment.
Measurement of bacterial random motility and chemotaxis coefficients: I. Stopped-flow diffusion chamber assay.

Bacterial chemotaxis, the directed movement of a cell population in response to a chemical gradient, plays a critical role in the distribution and dynamic interaction of bacterial populations in nonmixed systems. Therefore, in order to make reliable predictions about the migratory behavior of bacteria within the environment, a quantitative characterization of the chemotactic response in terms of intrinsic cell properties is needed.The design of the stopped-flow diffusion chamber (SFDC) provides a well-characterized chemical gradient and reliable method for measuring bacterial migration behavior. During flow through the chamber, a step change in chemical concentration is imposed on a uniform suspension of bacteria. Once flow is stopped, diffusion causes a transient chemical gradient to develop, and bacteria respond by forming a band of high cell density which travels toward higher concentrations of the attractant. Changes in bacterial spatial distributions observed through light scattering are recorded on photomicrographs during a 10-min period. Computer-aided image analysis converts absorbance of the photographic negatives to a digital representation of bacterial density profiles. A mathematical model (part II) is used to quantitatively characterize these observations in terms of intrinsic cell parameters: a chemotactic sensitivity coefficient, chi(0), from the aggregate cell density accumulated in the band and a random motility coefficient, mu, from population dispersion in the absence of a chemical gradient.Using the SFDC assay and an individual-cell-based mathematical model, we successfully determined values for both of these population parameters for Escherichia coli K12 responding to fucose. The values obtained were mu = 1.1 +/- 0. 4 x 10(-5) cm(2)/s and chi(o) = 8 +/- 3 +/- 10(-5) cm(2)/s. We have demonstrated a method capable of determining these parameter values from the now validated mathematical model which will be useful for predicting bacterial migration in application systems.
The ‘British World’, other worlds, and the five rings: possibilities for trans-imperial histories and historical ‘what ifs’

In the early 1890s an ardent British imperialist proposed a ‘Pan-Britannic Olympics’ that included not only the British Empire but the USA in a plan to use sport to unite the English-speaking peopl...
Regulation of fetal membrane inflammation: a critical step in reducing adverse pregnancy outcome

Specifically, pPROM is directly antecedent to 35-40% of spontaneous PTB and its etiology includes several epidemio- logic, behavioral, environmental, and genetic factors. The interactions of risk factors and overlapping biomolecular pathways make pPROM a complex syndrome. Lack of under- standing of the risk factors and risk-induced pathophysiology for pPROM has hampered our ability to develop diagnostic markers for predicting high-risk pregnancies for pPROM or appropriate intervention strategies to reduce its risk. Human fetal membranes are comprised of a single layer of amnionepitheliallayer thatlinestheinteriorofamnioticcavity and multilayered chorion trophoblast layers connected to maternal decidua. 2 The 2 layers are attached through an extracellular matrix (ECM) region, rich in various types of collagens providing the tensile strength and structural integrity to the membranes. Type IV collagen-rich basement membrane connects the 2 layers to the ECM. Proteolysis, specifically directed to dismantle the structural integrity of the ECM, weakens the membranes, and causes immunological, me- chanical, and functional disruption of the layers resulting in pPROM. 3 In essence, pPROM is a disease of the fetal mem- branes 4 and currently there are no strategies to reduce or manage the risks to minimize its impact on maternal-fetal health. Researchers are engaged in addressing 3 major questions related to pPROM: (1) what are the initiators of proteolytic activity resulting in pPROM? (2) what are the effectors (biochemicals) of proteolysis, membrane weakening, and rupture and can these biochemicals serve as markers to pre- dict risk prior to rupture? and (3) if diagnosed early, how do we reduce the risk of pPROM prior to its occurrence and minimize the impact on maternal-fetal well-being? Careful characterization of the pPROM phenotypes is required to better understand causality and pathophysiology.
A Combinatorial Proof of a Relationship Between Maximal (2k 1;2k + 1)-cores and (2k 1;2k;2k + 1)-cores

Integer partitions which are simultaneously $t$-cores for distinct values of $t$ have attracted significant interest in recent years. When $s$ and $t$ are relatively prime, Olsson and Stanton have determined the size of the maximal $(s,t)$-core $\kappa_{s,t}$. When $k\geq 2$, a conjecture of Amdeberhan on the maximal $(2k-1,2k,2k+1)$-core $\kappa_{2k-1,2k,2k+1}$ has also recently been verified by numerous authors. In this work, we analyze the relationship between maximal $(2k-1,2k+1)$-cores and maximal $(2k-1,2k,2k+1)$-cores. In previous work, the first author noted that, for all $k\geq 1,$ $$ \vert \, \kappa_{2k-1,2k+1}\, \vert = 4\vert \, \kappa_{2k-1,2k,2k+1}\, \vert $$ and requested a combinatorial interpretation of this unexpected identity. Here, using the theory of abaci, partition dissection, and elementary results relating triangular numbers and squares, we provide such a combinatorial proof.
Viral Pollution of Shellfish in Estuary Waters

Enteroviruses appear in oysters following pollution of estuary waters by waste-treatment plant effluents. Primary treatment, with or without chlorination, and stabilization pond effluents are regul...
Nursing Education Application of a Computerized Nursing Expert System

Nurse educators are required to be knowledgeable about a wide variety of complex health care problems in order to provide quality education. At the same time, they are given a multitude of other responsibilities such as participating in scholarly activity, advising students, maintaining an active role in nursing practice, and performing community service. These educators must find innovative ways to present current lectures while at the same time meeting their other obligations. The use of Creighton Online Multiple Modular Expert System (COMMES), a computerized decision support consultant, was evaluated as a technique for faculty use in developing and organizing new lecture content. The study found that COMMES was beneficial as a systematic prompt for lecture content, as a tool for organizing content, and as a means to verify completeness of lecture material.
CERCLA Versus Corporate Limited Liability

United States v. Bestfoods, 524 U.S. 51 (1998), raises the question whether a parent corporation, which was the sole investor in and exercised control over a subsidiary, was liable under CERCLA for cleanup costs caused by the subsidiary. In a larger sense, the case brings into focus the conflict between collecting cleanup costs under CERCLA and avoiding liability through the use of separate corporations. Two theories of parental liability are examined: 1) piercing the corporate veil; and 2) operator liability under the CERCLA statute. Since the Court approved using the piercing remedy in CERCLA cases, the Essay explores how the piercing analysis may proceed in such cases, considers the uncertainty involving the application of the remedy, and notes the difficulty in obtaining the remedy. As to the question of operator liability, the Essay discusses the Supreme Court rejection of the position that a parent is directly liable as an operator because it actively participated in and exerted significant control over the subsidiary?s business and decision-making. The Court insists that whether the parent operates the polluting facility is the important issue in determining operator liability. The Court also rejected the automatic attribution of the actions of dual (parent-subsidiary) officers and directors to the parent when such officials were acting for the subsidiary. The Court indicated that the contrary should be presumed with the burden on the government to show the officials were acting for the parent in committing offenses. The Essay questions the Court?s distinction between control of the facility and control of the subsidiary, indicating that, even if there is such a distinction, the burden of proof to show it should be placed on those involved in the parent-subsidiary relationship and not on the government or other plaintiff seeking relief. The Essay also takes issue with the Court?s presumption and burden allocation relative to dual officers and directors. While the opinion leaves opportunities to find a parent responsible, its words and tone may be perceived as leaving only narrow openings. The Essay shows concern that the statute as construed by the Court encourages the parent to set up a subsidiary and establish a framework for its governance that may allow appearance to triumph over reality and prevent the parent from being tagged as an operator. It suggests careful legislative study and action for the resolution of parent-subsidiary and similar problems under CERCLA.
On the Resistance of Human Erythrocytes to Cobra Venom

It was pointed out by the author1 in a previous paper that the varying resistance of red cells to hemolytic agents is very probably to be regarded as an adaptive or protective mechanism. In the attempt to verify this hypothesis, a number of hemolytic agents have been tested against a series of human red cells derived from individuals suffering with different types of disease. Of these hemolytic agents, cobra venom2 gave results which seem to be of especial interest. Similar results, but much less striking in character, were obtained with saponin and digitonin. Rattlesnake venom has not been sufficiently tested to permit of a full report. In this connection, it was observed by H. Sachs3 that red cells taken from different individuals of the same species manifest a varying degree of resistance to the action of cobra venom, and he suggested that the venom might be used as an indicator of the amount of lecithin present in various tissues. Bang has recently corroborated this observation as to individual variations in resistance to cobra venom.
Problems from Trigonometry

Trigonometry is not a topic that is well understood by many students. In fact, trigonometry is not covered at all in some high schools’ curriculum. I notice that many of my students remember the “cool look” of some trigonometric functions (sine wave, etc.) and even the fact of their periodicity but still cannot solve a simple trigonometric equation if its solution requires something more than just knowledge of the main trigonometric identities. For example, when solving trigonometric equations, some students think of drawing a sine curve but forget about its boundedness. Thus when I ask them to find the maximum and minimum of the function \( f(x)=3 \sin 4x \), some can correctly state that it is 3 and −3, respectively. However, if I change the function a little bit, and ask the same question about \( g(x)=3 \sin 4x+4 \cos 4x \), then the students either give a wrong answer or try to use a calculator or solve the problem using a derivative, which can work but is not the most efficient method. It would be much better to rewrite the function using an auxiliary argument as \( g(x)=5 \sin \left(4x+\varphi \right) \) and then state that \( -5\le g(x)\le 5 \).
Progression in Point-of-Care Testing for Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis(TB) has caused a significant medical threat to global health,especially in the developing countries.Latent infection,the spread of drug resistance TB strains and poor patient adherence exacerbate the prevention and control of TB around the world.To promote the use of rapid test for detection of infectious diseases,the World Health Organization(WHO) has released a set of guidelines for developing appropriate diagnostic tools,which are affordable,sensitive,specific,user-friendly,rapid and robust,equipment-free,and deliverable.Nevertheless,there is a lack of such diagnostic tools for TB diagnosis.Thus,we here review current research and development of point-of-care testing(POCT) for TB diagnostics to guide further development of TB rapid tests.
Determination of 13 triazole fungicides in water by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

Objective:To establish a method for determination of 13 triazole fungicides in water by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction(DLLME) Methods:The triazole fungicides in water samples were extracted with 50 μl carbon tetrachloride as extractant and 1.0 ml acetone as dispersant,and 0.1 g NaCl was added.After extraction and centrifugation at 5000 rpm for 5 min,the carbon tetrachloride layer was injected for gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric determination under MRM.Results:The enrichment factors of the extraction method were 81～785,the recoveries ranged from 72.0% to 128.0%.The limits of quantification(S/N ≥10) of the method were between 0.0015 μg/L and 0.25 μg/L with the relative standard deviations of 2.1% and 6.6 %.The linearity of the method ranged from 0.5 μg/L to 500 μg/L for all compounds with correlation coefficients varying from 0.9990 to 0.9999.Conclusion:The method is simple,sensitive and low-cost and can meet the requirements for the determination of triazole pesticides in water samples.
The role of laparoscopic colectomy and laparotomy with resection in the management of complex polyps of the colon.

Surgical options available to patients with endoscopically unresectable complex polyps of the colon include laparoscopic colectomy, laparotomy with segmental resection, and a combination of techniques using the laparoscope and the colonoscope. The decision of which method to use depends on the nature of the lesion as well as the choice of both the patient and the surgeon. The surgeon must be knowledgeable in all modes of therapy.
Holographie information storage

Holographie data storage (HDS) systems having capacities in the Terabytes and data transfer rates exceeding Gbit/s appear to be feasible. An all solid-state device could be rugged and compact for use in airborne and other demanding environments. But can its potential be realized? In this tutorial we discuss physical principles on which HDS is based, including the photorefractive effect, materials issues, and optical architectures suitable for HDS, with emphasis on wavelength, angular, phase encoding and field multiplexing techniques. The aim is to highlight potential capabilities, to discuss the current state-of-the-art in HDS and what performance could be possible with further research and development in the next few years. The basic principles are illustrated with discussion of a demonstration device; the interplay between materials properties and device performance is highlighted, and both practical and fundamental issues are considered.
Vancomycin Paste Does Not Reduce the Incidence of Deep Sternal Wound Infection After Cardiac Operations

Background Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a devastating complication that increases morbidity and death in cardiac surgical patients. Vancomycin is often administered intravenously for antibiotic prophylaxis in cardiac operations. Many cardiac surgeons also apply vancomycin paste topically to the sternal edges. We examined the effect of vancomycin paste on the incidence of DSWI in patients undergoing elective cardiac operations. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients from 2003 to 2015 who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, valve, or combined coronary artery bypass grafting and valve operations at a single institution. We derived The Society for Thoracic Surgeons (STS) DSWI risk index for each patient and systematically reviewed operative, pharmacy, microbiology, and discharge records to document DSWI in these patients. Multivariate analyses were used to identify predictors of DSWI in this cohort and to quantify the effect of vancomycin paste. Results Of the 14,492 patients whose records we examined, DSWI developed in 136 patients, resulting in an overall incidence of 0.9%. After multivariate analysis, body mass index, New York Heart Association Functional Classification, and the STS DSWI risk index remained statistically significant and associated with DSWI. Although the incidence of DSWI decreased over time, the use of vancomycin paste was not associated with a reduced incidence of DSWI. Conclusions There was a marked decrease in the incidence of DSWI during the study period, concurrent with institutional implementation of revised STS antibiotic dosing guidelines in 2007 and other strategies. However, the application of vancomycin paste to the sternal edges of patients undergoing cardiac operations was not associated with a reduced risk of DSWI.
Functional electrical stimulation induced cycling using repetitive learning control

Cycling induced by functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the lower limb muscles is a common rehabilitative treatment. In this paper, a repetitive learning controller (RLC) is developed for cadence tracking during stationary FES-cycling. The RLC is developed for an uncertain, nonlinear cycle-rider system with autonomous state-dependent switching. The stimulation pattern switches across different muscle groups based on the joint effectiveness to produce torque during different regions of the crank cycle. An electric motor provides assistance in the regions of the crank cycle where the activation of the muscle groups yields low torque production. The developed RLC provides asymptotic cadence tracking despite the presence of unknown, time-varying, bounded disturbances. A Lyapunov-like stability analysis is implemented to generate the learning feedforward term and exploits a recently developed LaSalle-Yoshizawa corollary for nonsmooth systems.
Source, Please?: A content analysis of links posted in discussions of public affairs on Reddit

It is axiomatic that a functional public sphere depends on quality information, and the traditional source of that information has been legacy news media, most particularly major metro newspapers. The ongoing contraction of legacy media has led to concerns for the public sphere. Some theorists have placed hope in citizen journalism, including a kind of citizen journalism that takes place on social news sharing sites, as potentially filling some gaps left by shrinking public affairs journalism. However, little research has been conducted to investigate what citizens use as sources of information in discussion on social news sites. In this case study, I conduct a content analysis of links posted in discussions of local public affairs on Seattle’s subreddit r/Seattle to see what information from Seattle’s information ecology discussants are citing and re-posting. Findings show that Seattle Reddit users rely far more on alternative media sources and non-mediated sources, especially government sources, than th...
Energy Losses in a Tangential Helicoidal-Ramp Inlet for Dropstructures

The results of a series of experiments that relate the piezometric head in the inflow pipe to the discharge are used to derive an empirical relationship for th…
Environmental Impacts of Entomopathogenic Nematodes Used for Biological Control in Soil

Biological control is a powerful tactic that has been used to obtain many significant, well documented economic and public health benefits against pests in agroecosystems and against disease vectors (Caltagirone 1981, DeBach 1974, Pimentel et al. 1984). The use of biological control has generally been considered environmentally safe and risk-free (Batra 1982, DeBach 1974, Hokkanen and Pimentel 1989, Hoy 1992), especially in comparison to the widespread use of synthetic insecticides (Pedigo and Higley 1992, Pimentel et al. 1992). However, data to support the assumption of absence of environmental impacts are not regularly collected (Howarth 1991), and it cannot be assumed that the lack of published evidence of negative environmental impacts is evidence of their absence. Indications of the growing concern about this complex issue include the recent debate in the literature over the use of introduced biological control agents to manage rangeland grasshoppers (Carruthers and Onsager 1993, Lockwood 1993a, b).
The Evolution of Vasectomy Reversal

In the USA, about 500,000 vasectomies are performed each year, with up to 6 % of men requesting reversal. The technique of vasectomy reversal has evolved from macrosurgical to the implementation of both microscopic and robotic technologies. The very earliest attempts at vasectomy reversal, the vasoepididymostomy and vasovasostomy, have remained central in the treatment of male infertility and will continue to be so for years to come. As seen throughout its history, urological microsurgery has consistently implemented advanced techniques and state-of-the art technology in its craft, and its continued refinement will allow for even more favorable outcomes in the lives of patients seeking restoration of fertility following vasectomy. Here, we review the evolution of vasectomy reversal and its current techniques.
Lowered Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) in a Prediabetic Individual with HIV Despite Struggle with Weight Control Management- CASE STUDY (FS17-06-19)

HIV infection has previously been associated with malnutrition and wasting; however, with the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), a growing number of people living with HIV (PLWH) are becoming centrally obese, with disproportionate weight accumulation around the abdominal area and fat losses in the rest of their body (periphery face, arms and legs), indicative of lipodystrophy. As a result, some PLWH may struggle simultaneously with central fat accumulation and peripheral losses, trying to balance these 2 opposite effects. PB is a 62-year-old, African-American male infected with HIV for 12 years, receiving an NRTI regimen. Participating in the Miami Adult Studies in HIV (MASH) Cohort, PB started a 6-month nutrition intervention targeted to lower diabetes risk in prediabetic PLWH. Baseline body mass index (BMI) was 24.1 kg/m² and waist circumference (WC) was 36.5 inches. Despite having the initial intention to lose weight, PB gained ∼12.4 lbs just a month after initiation. When questioned about the weight gain, PB revealed that he had started taking an appetite stimulant (Megace) to address the wasting on his periphery, claiming that he looked “sickly”. PB stopped taking Megace after he gained >20 lbs (12.3% Wt∆) in 4 months. BMI at this time was 26.3 kg/m² and WC was 45.5 inches, reflecting a substantially increased risk for metabolic complications. With WC increasing 9 inches and hip circumference increasing only 2 inches, it is evident that a considerable amount of the weight accumulation occurred around the waist. As can be seen, he among others in his situation, are struggling with conflicting goals by simultaneously trying to reduce central obesity and prevent peripheral losses and wasting, something that may be unique to PLWH. Despite the participant's difficulties in weight management, his fasting blood glucose (FBG) improved after the 6-month nutrition intervention, with a −14 mg/dL improvement, lowering associated risk for diabetes and cardiometabolic complications. This improvement in FBG levels suggests that despite the difficulty of effective weight management in these patients, proper glucose values may still be achieved with nutrition counseling and education, thus lowering risk for diabetes and associated complications. NIGMS-RISE funding, National Institute on Drug Abuse 5U01DA040381-03 and FIU-Dissertation Funding.
Integration: Defending It, Describing It, Doing It:

The extensive literature on the integration of psychology and Christian faith falls into three rough categories: defending integration, describing integration, and doing integration. This article s...
QnAMaker: Data to Bot in 2 Minutes.

Having a bot for seamless conversations is a much-desired feature that products and services today seek for their websites and mobile apps. These bots help reduce traffic received by human support significantly by handling frequent and directly answerable known questions. Many such services have huge reference documents such as FAQ pages, which makes it hard for users to browse through this data. A conversation layer over such raw data can lower traffic to human support by a great margin. We demonstrate QnAMaker, a service that creates a conversational layer over semi-structured data such as FAQ pages, product manuals, and support documents. QnAMaker is the popular choice for Extraction and Question-Answering as a service and is used by over 15,000 bots in production. It is also used by search interfaces and not just bots.