cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retroclival hematoma in the pediatric population: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Case reports of retroclival hematoma are infrequent, and little is known about the mechanism of formation of the lesion, its management strategy, and the outcome in affected patients. The authors report two cases of posttraumatic retroclival hematoma in children and discuss the available literature. Both patients were treated with cervical immobilization and had good outcomes. Retroclival hematomas are rare. Most reported cases involve pediatric patients in whom the hematomas developed in association with trauma. Spinal trauma in children mainly occurs at the craniovertebral junction due to a high fulcrum of cervical motion and results in ligamentous injuries more often than fractures. The formation of epidural hematomas posterior to the clivus is likely to be due to either clivus fracture or ligament disruption. A high index of suspicion is essential in making the diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is superior to computed tomography in demonstrating retroclival hematomas because of its superiority in delineating the extradural spaces and the integrity of the ligaments. The authors conclude that in most cases retroclival hematomas can be treated conservatively and good outcomes can be expected.
Large-scale impact of CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers: A sensitivity study on pressure response in stratified systems

Abstract Large volumes of CO2 captured from carbon emitters (such as coal-fired power plants) may be stored in deep saline aquifers as a means of mitigating climate change. Storing these additional fluids may cause pressure changes and displacement of native brines, affecting subsurface volumes that can be significantly larger than the CO2 plume itself. This study aimed at determining the three-dimensional region of influence during/after injection of CO2 and evaluating the possible implications for shallow groundwater resources, with particular focus on the effects of interlayer communication through low-permeability seals. To address these issues quantitatively, we conducted numerical simulations that provide a basic understanding of the large-scale flow and pressure conditions in response to industrial-scale CO2 injection into a laterally open saline aquifer. The model domain included an idealized multilayered groundwater system, with a sequence of aquifers and aquitards (sealing units) extending from the deep saline storage formation to the uppermost freshwater aquifer. Both the local CO2-brine flow around the single injection site and the single-phase water flow (with salinity changes) in the region away from the CO2 plume were simulated. Our simulation results indicate considerable pressure buildup in the storage formation more than 100 km away from the injection zone, whereas the lateral distance migration of brine is rather small. In the vertical direction, the pressure perturbation from CO2 storage may reach shallow groundwater resources only if the deep storage formation communicates with the shallow aquifers through sealing units of relatively high permeabilities (higher than 10−18 m2). Vertical brine migration through a sequence of layers into shallow groundwater bodies is extremely unlikely. Overall, large-scale pressure changes appear to be of more concern to groundwater resources than changes in water quality caused by the migration of displaced saline water.
The effect of matrix metalloproteinase inhibition on tendon-to-bone healing in a rotator cuff repair model.

Hypothesis Recent studies have demonstrated a potentially critical role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the pathophysiology of rotator cuff tears. We hypothesize that local delivery of a MMP inhibitor after surgical repair of the rotator cuff will improve healing at the tendon-to-bone surface interface. Materials and methods Sixty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent acute supraspinatus detachment and repair. In the control group (n = 31), the supraspinatus was repaired to its anatomic footprint. In the experimental group (n = 31), recombinant α-2-macroglobulin (A2 M) protein, a universal MMP inhibitor, was applied at the tendon-bone interface with an identical surgical repair. Animals were sacrificed at 2 and 4 weeks for histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry, and biomechanical testing. Statistical comparisons were performed using unpaired t tests. Significance was set at P Results Significantly greater fibrocartilage was seen at the healing enthesis in the A2 M-treated specimens compared with controls at 2 weeks ( P P P Conclusion Local delivery of an MMP inhibitor is associated with distinct histologic differences at the tendon-to-bone interface after rotator cuff repair. Modulation of MMP activity after rotator cuff repair may offer a novel biologic pathway to augment tendon-to-bone healing after rotator cuff repair.
Computing the bivariate Gaussian probability integral

In signal processing applications, it is often required to compute the integral of the bivariate Gaussian probability density function (PDF) over the four quadrants. When the mean of the random variables are nonzero, computing the closed form solution to these integrals with the usual techniques of integration is infeasible. Many numerical solutions have been proposed; however, the accuracy of these solutions depends on various constraints. In this work, we derive the closed form solution to this problem using the characteristic function method. The solution is derived in terms of the well-known confluent hypergeometric function. When the mean of the random variables is zero, the solution is shown to reduce to a known result for the value of the integral over the first quadrant. The solution is implementable in software packages such as MAPLE.
Long-term storage of bionanodevices by freezing and lyophilization.

Successful long-term storage of a “smart dust” device integrating biomolecular motors and complex protein assemblies has been demonstrated using freezing or lyophilization, which implies that fabrication and application can be separated even for complex bionanodevices.
Comprehensive above-threshold analysis of antiguided diode laser arrays

The effect of gain spatial-hole burning (GSHB), carrier diffusion and interelement loss on antiguided laser arrays is thoroughly analyzed. Nonresonant devices, due to the nonuniformity of the in-phase-mode near-field intensity profile, experience self-focusing and multimode operation with increasing drive level above threshold, similar to evanescent-wave-coupled devices. Resonant and near-resonant devices (i.e., resonant-optical-waveguide (ROW) arrays) display substantially uniform in-phase-mode near-field intensity profiles at all drive levels, thus not allowing excitation of high-order modes (i.e., adjacent modes) due to GSHB at the array level. However, GSHB at the individual-array-element level eventually allows adjacent-mode lasing at high drive levels: /spl ges/10/spl times/ fundamental-mode threshold for devices with relatively small ratio of element to interelement widths (so called fill factor): /spl sim/1.1; and /spl ges/7/spl times/ fundamental-mode threshold for devices with moderate fill factor (/spl sim/3) and 60 cm/sup -1/ interelement loss. (The carrier diffusion length is taken to be 3 /spl mu/m, and the index step, /spl Delta/n, is moderate: 0.02-0.03). The calculations agree well with many experimental results, and confirm the inherent single-spatial-mode stability of ROW arrays. The model also predicts that high-index-step (/spl Delta/n/spl ges/0.1) ROW arrays are likely to achieve in-phase-mode stability to drive levels /spl ges/15/spl times/ threshold, powers of /spl ap/3W, in beams with /spl ap/70% of the energy in the main lobe. Practical design guidelines are presented. >
Applying decision analysis process to exterior physical security system technology design and selection

Developing and evaluating exterior physical security system alternatives can be a daunting task. Once alternatives are identified, they must be evaluated not to only the set of threats they provide against, but also to other factors such as cost, performance, schedule and environmental impact. This article describes a systematic approach of applying decision analysis tools and techniques to develop, and quantitatively evaluate a set of design alternatives and its associated security technologies. The intent is to provide an annotated checklist to guide security system designers when dealing with uncertainties in exterior physical security system design.
Does Duration of Spousal Caregiving Affect Risk of Depression Onset? Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study

Objectives To assess the association of current and long-term spousal caregiving with risk of depression in a nationally (U.S.) representative sample of older adults. Methods We studied married and depression-free Health and Retirement Study respondents aged 50 years and older (n = 9,420) at baseline from 2000 to 2010. Current (≥14 hours per week of help with instrumental/activities of daily living for a spouse in the most recent biennial survey) and long-term caregiving (care at two consecutive surveys) were used to predict onset of elevated depressive symptoms (≥3 on a modified Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) with discrete-time hazards models and time-updated exposure and covariate information. Results Current caregiving was associated with significant elevations in risk of depression onset (hazard ratio: 1.64; Wald χ 2 , 1 df: 28.34; p 2 , 1 df: 3.63; p = 0.06). Conclusions Current spousal caregiving significantly predicted onset of depression; the association was not exacerbated by longer duration of caregiving.
Wireless Emergency Alerts: Trust Model Simulations

Abstract : Trust is a key factor in the effectiveness of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) service. Alert originators must trust WEA to deliver alerts to the public in an accurate and timely manner. Members of the public must also trust the WEA service before they will act on the alerts that they receive. This research aimed to develop a trust model to enable the Federal Emergency Management Agency to maximize the effectiveness of WEA and provide guidance for alert originators that would support them in using WEA in a manner that maximizes public safety. This report overviews the public trust model and the alert originator trust model. The research method included Bayesian belief networks (BBNs) to model trust in WEA because they enable reasoning about and modeling of uncertainty. The report details the procedures used to run simulations on the trust models. For each trust model, single-factor, multifactor, random-input, and special-case simulations were run on each factor and group of factors investigated. The analysis of the simulations had two goals: to identify those simulations that predicted the highest levels of trust and those simulations that predicted the lowest levels of trust. This report includes the results for each trust model.
MAPPING VERBAL ARGUMENT PREFERENCES TO DEVERBAL NOUNS

We describe an experiment mapping semantic role preferences for transitive verbs to their deverbal nominal forms. The preferences are learned by data mining large parsed corpora. Preferences are modeled for deverbal/argument pairs, falling back to a model for the deverbal only when sufficient data is not available. Errors in role assignment are reduced by 30–40%.
Yahweh, the Bad Shepherd? Defamiliarization and Pastoral Symbolism in Zechariah 11:7-17

Defamiliarization is transformative exegesis. More than a search for meaning, the process of defamiliarization attempts to revitalize scriptural symbolism and let symbols do what they do, namely, t...
Modification of Gill-Thomas-Cosman frame for extracranial head-and-neck stereotactic radiotherapy.

Abstract Purpose A modification of a commercially available, noninvasive, relocatable, stereotactic Gill-Thomas-Cosman (GTC) head frame is presented for treatment of extracranial lesions of the head and neck, base of the skull, and inferior nasopharyngeal region. Methods and materials Skull-based and nasopharyngeal lesions cannot be treated with the GTC frame because it obstructs the beam path. To treat those lesions, the GTC frame was modified without compromising the integrity, flexibility, or use of the treatment software. The modification uses a set of aluminum extension rods of variable lengths and bevels to support a modified dental plate. The extension rods allow the dental tray and attached GTC frame to be lowered so that the more inferior regions may be treated. Ten patients underwent CT with the modified frame and CT localizer. For some patients, MRI was acquired without the frame. Image fusion of MRI and CT scans was used to delineate the target volume, and planning was done with the existing software for proper treatment. Results The modification of the GTC frame has been successful in imaging, planning, and extending the treatment domain for the base of the skull, nasopharyngeal regions, and other superior lesions of the head and neck. The reproducibility of the modified frame and the patient localization helmet technique was identical to that of the unmodified frame. Conclusion The modification of the GTC frame is simple and accurate. It provides flexibility in treating an extended range of the base of the skull, nasopharyngeal region, and other superior lesions of the head and neck that otherwise could not be treated with the GTC frame.
Parental Stress in Families of Children with a Genetic Disorder/Disability and the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation

Background: Research suggests that parents of children with disabilities endure increased amounts of stress but also experience positive outcomes. Purpose: To further investigate findings from focu...
The visual language of experts in graphic design

Graphic designers and other visual problem solving experts now routinely use computer-based image-editing tools in their work. Recently, attempts have been made to apply learning and inference techniques from artificial intelligence techniques to graphical editors in order to provide intelligent assistance to design professionals. The success of these attempts will depend on whether the programs can successfully capture the design knowledge of their users. But what is the nature of this knowledge? Because AI techniques have usually been applied in such areas as medicine or engineering rather than visual design, little is known about how design knowledge might differ from knowledge in other fields. This paper reports the results of an informal knowledge engineering study to try to understand how knowledge is communicated between humans in graphic design. Nowhere is the process of design communication more critical than in teaching beginning designers, since the effectiveness of the communication is crucial to the success of the student. The study examined books intended to teach graphic design to novices, and tried to analyze the nature of the communication with a view toward applying the results to a knowledge acquisition system for graphic design applications.
Chloroplast structure and function in ac-20, a mutant strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. II. Photosynthetic electron transport.

Photosynthetic electron transport is markedly affected in mixotrophic cells of ac-20 because they lack the capacity to form the wild-type level of cytochrome 559, as well as Q, the quencher of fluorescence of photochemical system II. The other components of the electron-transport chain, as well as reactions dependent upon photochemical system I, are unaffected in the mutant strain. These observations are discussed in terms of the previously reported effects of the ac-20 mutation on CO2 fixation and ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase activity.
CORTICAL NEURONAL MIGRATION MUTANTS SUGGEST SEPARATE BUT INTERSECTING PATHWAYS

▪ Abstract During brain development, neurons migrate great distances from proliferative zones to generate the cortical gray matter. A series of studies has identified genes that are critical for migration and targeting of neurons to specific brain regions. These genes encode three basic groups of proteins and produce three distinct phenotypes. The first group encodes cytoskeletal molecules and produces graded and dosage-dependent effects, with a significant amount of functional redundancy. This group also appears to play important roles during the initiation and ongoing progression of neuronal movement. The second group encodes signaling molecules for which homozygous mutations lead to an inverted cortex. In addition, this group is responsible for movement of neurons through anatomic boundaries to specific cortical layers. The third group encodes enzymatic regulators of glycosylation and appears to delineate where neuronal migration will arrest. There is significant cross-talk among these different groups...
Juvenile incarceration and health

Addressing the health status and needs of incarcerated youth represents an issue at the nexus of juvenile justice reform and health care reform. Incarcerated youth face disproportionately higher morbidity and higher mortality compared to the general adolescent population. Dental health, reproductive health, and mental health needs are particularly high, likely as a result of lower access to care, engagement in high-risk behaviors, and underlying health disparities. Violence exposure and injury also contribute to the health disparities seen in this population. Further, juvenile incarceration itself is an important determinant of health. Juvenile incarceration likely correlates with worse health and social functioning across the life course. Correctional health care facilities allow time for providers to address the unmet physical and mental health needs seen in this population. Yet substantial challenges to care delivery in detention facilities exist and quality of care in detention facilities varies widely. Community-based pediatricians can serve a vital role in ensuring continuity of care in the postdetention period and linking youth to services that can potentially prevent juvenile offending. Pediatricians who succeed in understanding and addressing the underlying social contexts of their patients' lives can have tremendous impact in improving the life trajectories of these vulnerable youth. Opportunities exist in clinical care, research, medical education, policy, and advocacy for pediatricians to lead change and improve the health status of youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
Clinical Follow-up of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Mitral Balloon Valvotomy

Background This study is the clinical follow-up (20±12 months; range, 6 to 49 months) of 327 patients who had percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PMV) at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Methods and Results There were seven in-hospital deaths. Patients were divided into two groups according to their echocardiographic score; 211 patients had echocardiographic scores ≤8 and 116, echocardiographic scores >8. Patients with echocardiographic scores >8 were older (64±11 versus 48±14 years, P 8. Rates of survival (98±2% versus 72±11%), survival with freedom from mitral valve replacement (91±4% versus 55±13%),...
Ultrasound Versus Computerized Tomography for Evaluating Urolithiasis

Purpose: We prospectively evaluated the precision of ultrasound and computerized tomography to diagnose urinary stones in children and determined whether these differences in radiological findings have any impact on clinical management.Materials and Methods: A total of 50 consecutive patients with suspected urolithiasis underwent computerized tomography and ultrasound. Two radiologists reviewed each study independently in blinded fashion. When a difference in findings was detected, 8 pediatric urologists reviewed the case. Clinical management was based on the results of each radiological test independently. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test.Results: Compared to computerized tomography ultrasound had 76% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In 8 patients stone(s) seen on computerized tomography was not seen on ultrasound. The average size of missed stones was 2.3 mm. In 7 patients computerized tomography showed stones bilaterally but stone was seen on only 1 side on ultrasound. When...
The geographic distribution of Parkinson's disease mortality in the United States.

Purpose: This study examines geographic variation in reporting of Parkinson's disease mortality in the U.S. Methods: National Center for Health Statistics and Bureau of the Census data were used to map age-adjusted, race- and race-gender-specific Parkinson's disease mortality rates in the U.S. for 1988. Results: Among whites, high underlying-cause rates predominated in the North and low rates predominated in the South, whereas high contributing and all-cause rates were concentrated in the northeastern U.S. Strong north-to-south decreasing gradients were present for both underlying- and all-cause rates for whites, regardless of gender, whereas a clear west-to-east gradient could not be demonstrated. Geographic variation in contributing- and all-cause rates was partially explained by variation in tendency to report contributing causes of death. Reported rates among blacks were significantly lower than among whites. There was no latitudinal or longitudinal gradient of underlying-cause rates for blacks, but there was a relatively weak north-to-south decreasing gradient of all-cause rates for blacks, regardless of gender. Conclusions: The large-scale pattern of underlying-cause Parkinson's disease mortality among whites has persisted for over three decades.
Mechanism of Vasoconstriction Induced by Chronic Inhibition of Nitric Oxide in Rats

Either acute or chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis by L-arginine analogues results in increases in mean arterial pressure and reductions in renal blood flow. The role of endogenous vasoconstrictors in mediating these effects is not entirely clear. In the present study, nitric oxide was inhibited in male Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration of nitro-L-arginine for 3 weeks. At the end of this time, mean arterial pressure was 30 to 40 mm Hg higher than in normal controls, renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were 25% to 30% lower, and renal vascular resistance was markedly increased. Intravenous infusion of receptor antagonists for angiotensin II, thromboxane, epinephrine, and endothelin-1 had no significant effect on the hypertension. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and furosemide-induced diuresis in the presence of angiotensin blockade also had no effect on blood pressure. Renal vascular resistance was also unaffected by these interventions, except that saralasin did reduce renal resistance in both control and nitric oxide-inhibited groups. However, the absolute level of renal vascular resistance remained higher in the latter group. Calcium channel blockade partially corrected blood pressure and renal resistance, but the levels remained significantly higher than in control animals. The findings are consistent with the view that the increase in vascular smooth muscle tone caused by inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis cannot be accounted for by overexpression of common endogenous vasoconstrictors. Rather, the generalized increase in vascular smooth muscle tone appears to be due to a direct effect of reduced nitric oxide availability, which may lead to an increase in intracellular calcium concentration or sensitivity.
Sex in the Parish: Social-Scientific Explanations for why it Occurs:

Places Karen Lebacqz and Ronald Barton's ethical perspectives on sexual relations between pastors and their parishioners in the context of congregational processes and dynamics, and advocates the u...
Theoretical Investigation of Thermal Conductivity in Wurtzite GaN

We apply Klemens’ second-orderperturbation theory to investigate thermal conductivity in wurtzite GaN films. Specifically, the effect of edge, screw, and mixed types of dislocations and their orientation with respect to the temperature gradient on the thermal conductivity values is analyzed. Using typical impurityprofiles for GaN films, we study the relative contribution of different impurities into thermal resistance.
Abstract 2283: Relative Deficiency of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Cerebral vasospasm (VS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with delayed cerebral ischemia and poor neurological outcome. We have recently reported that shortly after SAH, there is a ...
Regioselectivity of Addition to the Azavinylidene Ligand in Tp′W(CO)(η2-HC≡CH)(N═CHMe): Electrophilic Addition versus Oxidation and Radical Coupling

The Tp′W(CO)(HCCH)(N═CHMe) (Tp′ = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) molecule contains an electron-rich 1-azavinylidene ligand where the preferred site for electrophile addition is the α-nitrogen. As is observed in other cases for electrophile addition to a 1-azavinylidene with a cis-alkyne ligand, this fragment will add small electrophiles such as H+, Me+, and Et+ to the α-nitrogen lone pair, maintaining a WII metal center and forming the coordinated imine products [Tp′W(CO)(HCCH)(NH═CHMe)][BF4], [Tp′W(CO)(HCCH)(N(Me)═CHMe)][OTf], and [Tp′W(CO)(HCCH)(N(Et)═CHMe)][OTf]. In contrast, when a one-electron oxidant is employed, net electrophile addition at the β-carbon can be achieved. Changing the nature of the electrophile to [CPh3][BF4] leads to a rapid one-electron oxidation and selective radical combination to form the imido product [Tp′W(CO)(HCCH)(NCH(CH3)CPh3)][BF4]. This net addition of an electrophile at the 1-azavinylidene β-carbon concomitantly oxidizes the metal center to WIV and raises the ...
Mechanical Response of the Isolated Mammalian Heart to Anoxia.

Conclusions1. The depressant effects of anoxia on the completely isolated mammalian heart appeared at oxygen tensions well below those tolerated by the intact animal. The heart muscle, therefore, at least as examined in the present experiments, cannot be regarded as a limiting factor in tolerance of the intact animal for anoxia. 2. Increases in cardiac output (of purely cardiac origin) by the isolated heart under anoxia are seen only when C02 is absent from the ventilating gas. The effect appears to be due to the marked elevations in pH seen under these conditions, and, as such, is regarded as a systematic artefact rather than evidence of a direct stimulating effect of low oxygen tensions on the myocardium.
The Role of Covalent and Metallic Radii in Covalent Metallic Superlattices and Two-Dimensional Isoelectronic Alloys

Covalent metallic superlattices and isoelectronic alloys consist of ordered layers of, for example, Si/AlP, Ge/GaAs, and Si/Sb,etc. Depending on design, wide range of electrical properties can result. The covalent, metallic and ionic radii play a crucial role in the stoichiometry of epitaxial systems.
Kirchhoff’s Third and Fourth Laws

Consider a connected resistive network energized exclusively by current sources or exclusively by voltage sources. In Chapter Seven we have established the existence and uniqueness of a current chain and a voltage chain describing the performance of the network and satisfying Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law and Kirchhoff’s Current Law. However, we pointed out that the formulas developed in Chapter Seven for the current chain and voltage chain are not suitable for specific calculation of the branch currents and the branch voltages. In this Chapter we develop additional formulas for the current chain and voltage chain from which the branch currents and branch voltages may be readily calculated. We conclude this Chapter by showing that these formulas are essentially invariant under changes in the orientation of the branches of the network.
Progress in study on obstructive sleep apnea syndromein pediatrics

There are many common characteristics between children and adults for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS).But children with OSAS have some distinguished characteristics.In the review,we summarized cause,pathophysiology,epidemiology,clinical manifestation,diagnosis,and treatment of OSAS in children.In order to alleviate or relieve snoring,hypoxemia,apnea and sleep disorder,the treatment strategies of OSAS should indude tonsilectomy(adenoidectomy),continuous positive pressure breathing(CPPB),removing allergen,obesity treatment,oxygen therapy and so on.
Blood Group Antigen Expression on Vaginal Cells and Mucus in Women with and without A History of Urinary Tract Infections

AbstractAdherence of bacteria to carbohydrate receptors on the surface of vaginal epithelial cells is a critical event that precedes bacterial colonization of the vaginal mucosa and subsequent urinary tract infection. Blood group antigens, carbohydrate structures bound to lipids or proteins, constitute an important component of the uroepithelial cell membrane and may affect susceptibility to urinary tract infections. To determine if the ABH and Lewis antigen expression in women with a history of urinary tract infections differed from that of women without such a history, vaginal specimens from 87 women (42 patients and 45 controls) were analyzed for the detection of these antigenic determinants using monoclonal antibodies in quantitative immunoassays. The profile of ABH antigen expression was generally consistent with the ABO phenotype of the individual and appeared to be influenced by the secretor status. Secretors expressed higher levels of A, B and H determinants than nonsecretors. In addition, Lewis a...
Spin-off cost/benefits of expanded nutritional care.

Here are documented figures on cost (money) I benefit (improved health) when intensive diet therapy for patients with diabetes was substituted for oral hypoglycemic agents, use of insulin, and minimal nutritional care.
Hepatic hemangioendotheliomas and hyperbilirubinemia

A 3-week-old infant with hyperbilirubinemia and hepatomegaly secondary to hemangioendotheliomas of the liver was presented. Review of the literature produced 18 cases of associated jaundice in 182 infants with hepatic vascular tumors, an incidence of 10%. This disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the infant with hepatomegaly and jaundice, particularly in the presence of gastrointestinal complaints, cutaneous hemangiomas, congestive heart failure, or abdominal bruit. Liver scan should be done in such infants to rule out vascular tumors. Although mortality appears to be high in jaundiced infants with such tumors, currently available therapeutic modalities may be of value in treating these infants.
Further variants of the Astolfi/Marconi high-gain observer

For a class of observable nonlinear systems, a reduced-order, nested-saturation, high-gain observer is constructed. In this observer, the largest terms required to compute the observer updates involve products of the high-gain parameter and saturation functions; no higher powers of the high-gain parameter appear, unless under the saturation functions. Subsequently, fast (but not too fast) filters are inserted at various locations in the observer to enhance the performance of the observer with respect to measurement noise. When the number of fast filters is equal to one less than the dimension of the nonlinear system, it is possible to recover the recently-introduced high-gain observer structure of Astolfi and Marconi. The novelty of that observer structure is that it limits the size of the observer gains to the high-gain parameter raised to the second power. On the other hand, depending on the magnitude and frequency content of the measurement noise, fewer fast filters may be sufficient to achieve the desired performance with respect to measurement noise.
Large-Scale Reforms and the ‘Cafeteria’ College

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the lessons learned from successful and high performing K-12 school reforms and apply them to system wide reforms to the California Community College system. Under-performing K-12 school systems are putting increasing pressure on the nation’s community colleges especially in the area of developmental education in numeracy and literacy. The community college acts as a bridge between high school and employment as well as providing an alternative path to a four-year university education.
Effect of Pore Water Pressure on Response of Asphalt Concrete

Rapid traffic loading induces pore water pressure inside partially or fully saturated interconnected cracks and voids of asphalt concrete. The induced pore pressure contributes extra stresses within the pavement and accelerates crack evolution and propagation. Crack propagation facilitates diffusion of moisture through the solid phase and accelerates the degradation of the time-dependent stiffness and strength of asphalt concrete. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the coupled effects of pore water pressure, moisture diffusion, and mechanical loading on asphalt concrete pavement. The effect of pore water pressure was considered by using the effective stress concept inside deformable media. Biot’s approach was used and coupled to the nonlinear viscoelastic and viscodamage (moisture and mechanical) constitutive relationships for asphalt concrete. The models were implemented in PANDA, a finite element code developed at Texas A&M University. Capabilities of the proposed framework and constitutive relatio...
Mono-N-protected amino acid ligands stabilize dimeric palladium(ii) complexes of importance to C–H functionalization

Mono-protected amino acid (MPAA) ligands are used in a number of Pd-catalyzed C–H functionalization reactions. MPAAs have been proposed to bind to Pd(II) via κ2-(N,O) coordination, but such binding has not yet been experimentally validated. Herein, we report the synthesis and detailed characterization of a series of MPAA complexes prepared via cyclopalladation of dimethylbenzylamine in the presence of MPAAs. The isolated complexes exist as μ-carboxylato (MPAA) bridged dimers and feature potential M–M cooperativity and secondary sphere hydrogen bonding. Selective MPAA coordination and relay of stereochemistry, previously suggested to uniquely result from κ2-(N,O) MPAA coordination, are both observed. The isolated MPAA complexes undergo C–C and C–X (X = Cl, Br, I) bond formation when treated with electrophiles used for catalytic C–H functionalization. Stoichiometric iodination of MPAA palladacycles was found to proceed via a dinuclear palladium species with one equivalent of iodine in the rate limiting transition structure, and the isolated complexes also served as viable precatalysts for catalytic C–H functionalization. Together, these results provide a number of insights into the reactivity of Pd-MPAA complexes relevant to C–H bond functionalization.
Checking Out: Download and Digital Library Exchange for Complex Objects

Digital resources are becoming increasingly complex and are being used in diverse ways. For example, educational resources may be cataloged in digital libraries, used offline by educators and students, or used in a learning management system. In this paper we present the notion of “checking out” complex resources from a digital library for offline download or exchange with another digital library or learning management system. We present a mechanism that enables the customization, download and exchange of complex resources. We show how the mechanism also supports digital library and learning management system exchange formats in a generic fashion with minimal overhead. We also show how checkouts grow linearly with respect to the complexity of the resources.
A Formal Model of Knowledge Interpretation on the Basis of Classification Processes

Abstract The algebraic model of sentential calculus in a formal system in relation to other formal systems is proposed. The model is based on the implementation of classification processes for interrelated data represented from different points in the corresponding formal systems.
Identification and functional characterization of the promoter driving "Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase gene (XET)" gene for root growth in the desert Populus euphratica.

Abstract Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase / hydrolase family genes encode enzymatic proteins that potentially have two different catalytic activities either endotransglucosylase ( XET ) or endohydrolase ( XEH ) activity. Endotransglucosylase catalyze the breakdown and molecular grafting of the β-(1-4)-xyloglucan backbone and endohydrolase catalyze the irreversible shortening. We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanism of the upstream region of the XET gene. An expression unit consisting of the b-glucuronidase (gusA) reporter gene under the control of 1831 bp fragment of the Populus euphratica XET ( PeXET ) promoter was introduced into tobacco via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The sequence was identified as PeXET promoter as it contain all the upstream sequences required for a typical promoter. Analysis of the promoter sequence indicated some basic cis-acting elements were related to various environmental stresses, developmental response and plant hormones responses. Functional properties of the promoter were examined by GUS staining and fluorescence quantitative analyses using at least three PCR-positive transgenic tobacco plants, treated with various plant hormones iso-osmotic and environmental stresses for different times. We demonstrated that the PeXET promoter was a multistress-inducible promoter. To explain the unknown features of the upstream regulatory mechanism of the PeXET gene in desert plants, we suggest that the function of the PeXET promoter, especially under environmental stress conditions, to be studied for possible value in molecular breeding as new promoters of stress-resistance genes for desert plants.
Therapeutic potential of systemic brain rejuvenation strategies for neurodegenerative disease

Neurodegenerative diseases are a devastating group of conditions that cause progressive loss of neuronal integrity, affecting cognitive and motor functioning in an ever-increasing number of older individuals. Attempts to slow neurodegenerative disease advancement have met with little success in the clinic; however, a new therapeutic approach may stem from classic interventions, such as caloric restriction, exercise, and parabiosis. For decades, researchers have reported that these systemic-level manipulations can promote major functional changes that extend organismal lifespan and healthspan. Only recently, however, have the functional effects of these interventions on the brain begun to be appreciated at a molecular and cellular level. The potential to counteract the effects of aging in the brain, in effect rejuvenating the aged brain, could offer broad therapeutic potential to combat dementia-related neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. In particular, results from heterochronic parabiosis and young plasma administration studies indicate that pro-aging and rejuvenating factors exist in the circulation that can independently promote or reverse age-related phenotypes. The recent demonstration that human umbilical cord blood similarly functions to rejuvenate the aged brain further advances this work to clinical translation. In this review, we focus on these blood-based rejuvenation strategies and their capacity to delay age-related molecular and functional decline in the aging brain. We discuss new findings that extend the beneficial effects of young blood to neurodegenerative disease models. Lastly, we explore the translational potential of blood-based interventions, highlighting current clinical trials aimed at addressing therapeutic applications for the treatment of dementia-related neurodegenerative disease in humans.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in a Clinical Sample of African Americans

The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), a widely used and comprehensive assessment of mindfulness, has demonstrated promising psychometric properties among non-clinical and clinical samples and among diverse international samples. Yet, to date, no studies have examined its factor structure, reliability, and validity in a clinical sample of United States (USA) underrepresented minorities. The current study addressed this by investigating the factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity of the FFMQ among 283 low-income African American adults with a recent suicide attempt. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 20-item, five-factor measure: acting with awareness, describing, non-judging, observing, and non-reacting. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this reduced item five-factor structure. Internal consistency coefficients ranged from 60–86, but test-retest reliability coefficients did not support the temporal stability. Construct validity was supported; FFMQ facets were correlated with theoretically related constructs, such as self-compassion and self-criticism. Several facets were negatively associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, and the describing facet demonstrated unique predictive validity for depressive symptoms. These findings support the cultural relevance and utility of the FFMQ with African Americans with significant psychological distress.
Jeffers’s Inheritors: “Transhuman Magnificence” in Late-Twentieth Century American Poetry

Although the reputation of Robinson Jeffers’s poetry has waxed and waned from the poet’s heyday in the 1930s to the present, his views on “transhuman magnificence” and antianthropocentrism have persisted in such poets as Kenneth Rexroth, A.R. Ammons, Gary Snyder, Wendell Berry, Mary Oliver, Lucille Clifton, and Joy Harjo. These poets do not march lockstep with Jeffers’s “inhumanist” rhetoric, and some of them have directly challenged Jeffers: I argue that they are Jeffers’s “inheritors” through their belief in the sacredness of nature and their critique of anthropocentrism in a variety of contexts.
Thermal Inactivation of Salmonella Serotypes in Red Meat as Affected by Fat Content

Survival curves of a cocktail of eight serotypes of Salmonella in ground beef and pork meat of different levels of fat (4% to 28%), at temperatures that ranged from 58°C to 65°C, were examined. Asymptotic D-values (D-values for large times) and initial D-values (D-values for small times, near zero) were estimated by identifying regions where the survival curves were linear, and performing linear regressions on data within the identified regions. The initial lag D-values increase with increasing fat levels for both beef and pork. The relationship of the asymptotic D-values with fat levels and temperature is complex, and definitive conclusions could not be made. It appears that, for ground beef, asymptotic D-values increase with increasing fat levels, but this was not the case for ground pork. The shapes of the survival curves were concave, convex, and sigmoidal, and depended upon the temperature, where for the lower temperatures studied (58°C and 60°C) the curves exhibited tailing. The Gompertz function was found to provide a good fit to the data over the range of temperatures and fat levels studied. These results, particularly for beef, suggest the importance of determining the shape of the survival curves (concave, convex or sigmoidal) when estimating times needed to obtain an adequate margin of safety for thermal processes of red meat.
The Role of Demographics, Trust, Computer Self-efficacy, and Ease of Use in the Sharing Economy

The digital sharing economy has introduced opportunities for economic growth, productivity, and technological innovation. However, the adoption of sharing economy applications may be inaccessible to certain demographics, including older adults, low-income adults, and individuals who are not college educated. This research investigates how the demographic factors: trust, computer self-efficacy, and perceived ease of use, impact participation in the sharing economy. Drawing on survey data with 508 participants, we found that trust in institutions, computer self-efficacy, and perceived ease of use positively correlate to individuals' past use of and willingness to pay for future sharing economy services, but age is negatively correlated. Surprisingly, we do not find that sharing economy users are more likely to have higher trust in strangers, higher incomes, or more education. We compare our findings to existing research, discuss why institutional trust might negate other concerns about sharing economy use, and explore opportunities to support broader participation in the sharing economy.
Lapatinib and Sorafenib Kill GBM Tumor Cells in a Greater than Additive Manner

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant brain tumor in adults, affecting thousands of people worldwide every year, with a life expectancy, post diagnosis of 12 months. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy together, result in an overall mean survival not exceeding 15 months. Targeted therapeutic agents sorafenib, an oral multi kinase inhibitor, and lapatinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, used in combination have been shown to kill GBM cells be through inhibition of major growth mediating signaling pathways that are frequently over expressed in gliomas, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3kinase/ protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT). Sorafenib can restore lapatinib induced cytotoxicity by down regulation of myeloid cell leukaemia-1 (Mcl-1) expression. Prior studies have shown Mcl-1 to play an important role in resistance to lapatinib. Furthermore, data indicated that this drug combination is able to trigger activation of autophagic and apoptotic pathways and induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in GBM cells, collectively resulting in cell death. In conclusion, data presented here demonstrates that the combination of sorafenib and lapatinib can kill GBM cells in a greater than additive fashion, through induction of autophagy, apoptotic events (extrinsic and intrinsic) and ER stress.
On producing CO 2 from subsurface reservoirs: simulations of liquid‐gas phase change caused by decompression

Author(s): Oldenburg, C; Pan, L; Zhou, Q; Dobeck, L; Spangler, L | Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) extraction from deep reservoirs is currently important in CO 2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and may become more important in the future if interim CO 2 storage becomes common. In late 2014, we were involved in a production test of liquid CO 2 from the Middle Duperow dolostone at Kevin Dome, Montana. The test resulted in lowering the temperature at the well bottom to ∼2 °C, and showed that the well and reservoir had very low CO 2 productivity. We have used the CO 2 modeling capabilities of the TOUGH codes to simulate the test and to show that liquid CO 2 in the reservoir changes to gas phase as the pressure is lowered in the well during production testing. The associated phase change and decompression combine to drastically lower the bottom-hole temperature, creating the potential for water ice or CO 2 hydrate to form. By hypothesizing a relatively high-permeability damage zone near the well surrounded by lower permeability reservoir rock, we can match the observed pressure, temperature, and production rate. Moving from the Kevin Dome test to the question of CO 2 extraction from deep reservoirs in general, we carried out a parametric study to investigate the effects of reservoir depth and transmissivity on CO 2 production rate for a prototypical reservoir. Simulations show that depth and high transmissivity favor productivity. Complex phase changes within the ranges of P-T encountered in typical CO 2 production wells affect production rates. The results of our parametric study may be useful for the preliminary feasibility assessment of CO 2 extraction from deep reservoirs. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley a Sons, Ltd.