cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of a self-monitoring tool on self-efficacy, health beliefs, and adherence in patients receiving hemodialysis

Abstract Objective : Assess the effectiveness of a self-monitoring tool on perceptions of self-efficacy, health beliefs, and adherence in patients receiving hemodialysis. Design : A monthly intervention using a pretest, posttest design over a 6-month period. Both the treatment and control groups were randomly selected and received surveys to assess health beliefs, perceptions of self-efficacy for performing specific healthful behaviors, and renal diet knowledge at baseline, before intervention, and 6 months later. The treatment group also received monthly feedback of monthly phosphorus levels and interdialytic weight gains. Setting : A university hospital-based 43-chair ambulatory dialysis center. Subjects : Forty patients with end-stage renal disease (25 men and 15 women, age 26 to 78 years), on chronic hemodialysis for at least 2 months and with a history of noncompliance with phosphorus and/or fluid restrictions for 1 or more months. Main outcome measures : Self-efficacy, health beliefs, knowledge, biochemical, and demographic variables were analyzed. Analysis of variance tests of repeated measures were used to examine relationships between adherence with phosphorus and fluid restrictions to health beliefs and perceptions of self-efficacy after training in self-monitoring. Results : Overall, there were no significant improvements in adherence with phosphorus and fluid restrictions between the two groups, although a comparison within the groups revealed the treatment group had a statistically significant decrease in mean phosphorus levels of 7.14 to 6.22 mg/dL ( P = .005) from baseline to month 3. However, because this value was not maintained, it was not statistically significant. No significant differences existed between the two groups for health beliefs and perceptions of self-efficacy. Knowledge scores in the treatment group, however, improved significantly as compared to the control group ( P = .008) and was a significant increase from baseline ( P = .002). In the control group, all scores fell slightly but this difference was not significant. Conclusions : The benefits of patient self-monitoring and behavioral contracting upon adherence in patients on hemodialysis are inconclusive, as serum phosphorus and interdialytic weight gains did not differ between the two groups. The interventional tools also appeared to have little effect on perceptions of self-efficacy and health beliefs. Trends of improvement, however, did exist for phosphorus within the treatment group and subjects in this group had a statistically significant increase in knowledge scores over time. Additional research using repeated measures design is needed to explore the effects of, increased frequency and duration of an intervention on the attainment of patient clinical outcome measures.
Iontophoretic transport of charged macromolecules across human sclera

The mechanisms of transscleral iontophoresis have been investigated previously with small molecules in rabbit sclera. The objective of the present study was to examine transscleral iontophoretic transport of charged macromolecules across excised human sclera. Passive and 2mA iontophoretic transport experiments were conducted in side-by-side diffusion cells with human sclera. The effects of iontophoresis upon transscleral transport of model permeants bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS) as well as a model drug bevacizumab (BEV) were determined. Passive and iontophoretic transport experiments of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and salicylic acid (SA) and passive transport experiments of the macromolecules served as the controls. The results of iontophoresis enhanced transport of TEA and SA across human sclera were consistent with those in a previous rabbit sclera study. For the iontophoretic transport of macromolecules BSA and BEV, higher iontophoretic fluxes were observed in anodal iontophoresis as compared to passive and cathodal iontophoresis. This suggests the importance of electroosmosis. For the polyelectrolyte PSS, higher iontophoretic flux was observed in cathodal iontophoresis compared to anodal iontophoresis. Both electroosmosis and electrophoresis affected iontophoretic fluxes of the macromolecules; the relative contributions of electroosmosis and electrophoresis were a function of molecular size and charge of the macromolecules.
Measurement of forces, temperatures and wear of PDC cutters in rock cutting

Abstract The introduction of PDC bits in the oil well industry by General Electric in 1973 was a significant advancement in drilling technology. To understand the potential of these bits, cutting mechanics and heat transfer models were previously developed. In the current work a series of cutting experiments was made on granite rock in order to understand better the effects of cutter temperatures and forces on PDC bit life, especially the existence of a critical temperature. The experiments consisted of cutting granite cylinders on a lathe with a single PDC cutter. During the tests, cutter forces were measured with a lathe dynamometer and cutter temperatures were measured with thermocouples mounted on the cutter. The cutting fluid used was either an air jet, air mist jet or a water jet. The force and temperature data were recorded by a computer data acquisition system, and wear profiles of the cutters were determined by measurements with dial indicators. A new cutter wear model has been developed from the cutting experiments, and the theory agrees well with experimental data. It has been learned that cutting of hard formations is possible by controlling the temperature of PDC cutters, within the critical limit, with an adequate amount of cooling. Another significant result is that the contact stress on the carbide is not negligible, which is contrary to what was previously believed. This is a practical disadvantage for drilling because it leads to higher forces on the cutters. This often results in lower penetration rates because of bit weight limitations.
4.0 T water proton T1 relaxation times in normal human brain and during acute ethanol intoxication.

Background: It has been reported that acute ethanol intoxication decreases the brain water proton magnetic resonance T 1 values, an effect that has been interpreted to indicate brain dehydration during this condition. Because water macromolecular interactions largely determine tissue water T 1 , another possible explanation for reduced brain water proton T 1 values is that the interaction between water and brain macromolecules is altered by ethanol. Methods: A 4.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instrument was used to measure brain water proton T 1 relaxation times before, during, and after ethanol intoxication (dose, 0.75 mg/kg) in healthy controls. Results: The T 1 relaxation times as assessed with MRI were highly reproducible. The mean, paired ethanol-induced differences in T 1 were -0.004 ± 0.007 sec (mean ± standard deviation) for white matter and 0.010 ± 0.015 sec for internal gray matter structures, neither of which was significant. Conclusions: This reasonably sensitive measurement does not support the view that tissue water content or water macromolecule interactions are significantly altered in the brain during acute alcohol intoxication in otherwise healthy subjects.
P63 (CKAP4) as an SP-A Receptor: Implications for Surfactant Turnover

Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) plays an important role in the clearance of surfactant from the lung alveolar space and in the regulation of surfactant secretion and uptake by type II pneumocytes in culture. Two pathways are important for the endocytosis of surfactant by type II cells and the intact lung, a receptor-mediated clathrin-dependent pathway and a non-clathrin, actin-mediated pathway. The critical role of the clathrin/receptor-mediated pathway in normal mice is supported by the finding that SP-A gene-targeted mice use the actin-dependent pathway to maintain normal clearance of surfactant. Addition of SP-A to the surfactant of the SP-A null mice “rescued” the phenotype, further emphasizing the essential role of the SP-A/receptor-mediated process in surfactant turnover. This review presents an overview of the structure of SP-A and its function in surfactant turnover. The evidence that the interaction of SP-A with type II cells is a receptor-mediated process is presented. A newly identified receptor for SP-A, P63/CKAP4, is described in detail, with elucidation of the specific structural features of this 63 kDa, nonglycosylated, highly coiled, transmembrane protein. The compelling evidence that P63 functions as a receptor for SP-A on type II cells is summarized. Regulation of P63 receptor density on the surface of pneumocytes may be a novel approach for the regulation of surfactant homeostasis by the lung.
An efficient algorithm for hierarchical compression of video

This paper addresses the problem of collaborative video over "heterogeneous" networks. Current standards for video compression are not designed to deal with this problem. We define an additional set of metrics (i.e., in addition to the standard rate versus distortion measure) to evaluate compression algorithms for this application. We then present an efficient algorithm for video compression in such an environment. The algorithm is a novel combination of the discrete wavelet transform and hierarchical vector quantization. It is unique in that both the encoder and the decoder are implemented with only table lookups and are amenable to efficient software and hardware solutions. >
Platelet activating factor activity in the phospholipids of bovine spermatozoa.

Platelet activating factor (PAP) has been detected in sperm from several mammalian species and can affect sperm motility and fertilization. Because bovine sperm contain a high percentage of ether-linked phospholipid precursors required for PAP synthesis, a study was undertaken to determine the PAP activity of bovine sperm phospholipids. Total lipids of washed, ejaculated bull sperm were extracted, and phospholipids were fractionated by thin-layer chromatography. Individual phospholipid fractions were assayed for PAP activity on the basis of I’Hlserotonin release from equine platelets. PAP activity was detected in the PAP fraction (1.84 pmol/prnol total phospholipid) and in serine/inositol (PS/PI), choline (CP), and ethanolamine phosphoglyceride (EP) and cardiolipin (CA) fractions. Activity was highest in the CP fraction (8.05 pmol/�&mol total phospholipid). Incomplete resolution of PAP and neutral lipids may have contributed to the activity In the PS/PI and CA fractions, respectively. Phospholipids from nonsperm sources did not stimulate serotonin release. Platelet activation by purified PAP and by sperm phospholipid fractions was Inhibited by the receptor antagonist SRI 63-675. These results indicate that bovine sperm contain PAP and that other sperm phospholipids, especially CP and EP, which are high In glycerylether components, are capable of receptor-mediated platelet activation.
Polarization compensation: a passive approach to a reducing heterodyne interferometer nonlinearity

Cyclic errors that are due to optical leakage limit the precision of displacement measurements made with optical interferometers. A method for real-time estimation of leakage components is introduced and is used to implement a novel passive technique for suppression of cyclic nonlinearities that uses only adjustments of existing polarizers and quarter-wave plates. This approach is used to reduce the cyclic error from 3 nm to 300 pm for an interferometer operating at a wavelength of 1320 nm.
Effect of soil depth and texture on fecal bacteria removal from septic effluents.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of soils with different texture and depth to treat fecal bacteria eluted from a house-hold septic effluent. The assessments were accomplished by leaching undisturbed soil monoliths of 30, 45, and 60cm thickness and 25cm in diameter, representing the four different textural groups and hydraulic loadings recommended by the Kentucky Health Department, with domestic wastewater effluent collected regularly from a house-hold septic system. Eluent concentrations were monitored daily over a 15 day period for fecal coliform and fecal streptococci concentrations. The results of the study indicate an alarming frequency of failure to comply with United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) criteria for depth to groundwater, when using a 30cm vertical separation distance between the bottom of the drain-field and a limiting soil interface. The treatment performance was especially poor in coarse-textured soils. Although biomat development over time is expected to improve treatment, the high influent levels of fecal bacteria pose great concerns for surface and groundwater contamination. Fine-textured soils generally provided better treatment efficiency and more consistent compliance with EPA standards. Treatment efficiency and compliance usually improved with increasing soil depth, with the 60cm thickness providing the most consistent performance and compliance with maximum discharge limit (MDL) requirements. The findings of this study document a general inadequacy of the 30cm vertical separation distance to provide effective treatment of septic effluents in Kentucky soils, particularly in coarse-textured soils. Considering that increasing the soil depth thickness may be impractical in many marginal soils, complementary or alternative treatment technologies should be adopted to improve treatment efficiency and prevent further deterioration of the quality of water resources.
Fracture-induced activation in mechanophore-linked, rubber toughened PMMA

Abstract Fracture-induced mechanochemical activation is achieved for the first time in a structural engineering polymer. Rubber toughened PMMA is lightly cross-linked (1.0 mol%) with the mechanophore spiropyran by free radical polymerization. Single Edge Notch Tension tests are performed on the spiropyran-linked material and a distinct change in color and fluorescence is detected at the crack tip, indicating the mechanochemical transformation of the spiropyran molecules. The degree of mechanophore activation is quantified via fluorescence imaging and is observed to increase with increasing crack length. The region of mechanophore activation correlates directly with the size of the plastic zone ahead of the crack tip.
Public insurance and timing of polysomnography and surgical care for children with sleep-disordered breathing

Importance Although children with low socioeconomic status (SES) have increased risk for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), their access to subspecialty care is often limited. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard diagnostic test used to characterize SDB and diagnose obstructive sleep apnea; however, it is unknown whether SES impacts timeliness of obtaining PSG and surgical treatment with adenotonsillectomy (AT). Objective To evaluate the impact of SES on the timing of PSG, surgery with AT, and loss to follow-up for children with SDB. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective cohort analysis conducted in tertiary outpatient pediatric otolaryngology clinics among patients newly evaluated for SDB over a 3-month period who did not have prior PSG ordered and had a minimum of 1-year follow-up. Main Outcomes and Measures Public insurance (Medical Assistance [MA]) was used as a proxy for low SES. Demographics and disposition between groups were compared using t tests and χ 2 analysis. Logistic regression adjusting for disposition and insurance was used to predict loss to follow-up. Days to PSG and days to AT were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, and the log-rank test was used to compare distribution of time to events between insurance groups. Results A total of 136 children (without PSG) were evaluated for SDB over the course of 3 months; 62 (45.6%) had MA. Polysomnography was recommended for 55 children (27 of 55 [49%] with MA vs 28 of 55 [50%] with private insurance; P > .99). After the initial visit, 24 of 55 children with PSG requested (44%) were completely lost to follow-up (9 of 27 [33%] with MA vs 15 of 28 [54%] private insurance; P = .34). Children with MA who obtained PSG experienced longer intervals between initial encounter and PSG (mean interval, 141.1 days) than privately insured children (mean interval, 49.9 days) ( P = .001). For those children who ultimately underwent AT surgery after obtaining PSG (n = 14), mean (SD) time to AT was longer for children with MA (222.3 [48.2] days vs 95.2 [66.1] days; P = .001). Conclusions and Relevance Children with public insurance experienced longer intervals from initial evaluation to PSG or surgery. Almost half of patients with PSG requested were lost to follow-up, regardless of SES. These findings suggest that PSG may be a deterrent for definitive care for all children, and particularly for children with public insurance or low SES. This study emphasizes the need to understand factors contributing to disparities surrounding delay in care with PSG and surgery for children with SDB.
Acute episodic hemolysis in the African black rhinoceros as an analogue of human glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

Sudden episodes of massive hemolysis have become the most common cause of death among captive black rhinoceroses, and there is evidence that they occur in the wild as well. We have observed radically unique enzyme and metabolite profiles in normal rhinoceros erythrocytes compared to humans and other mammals, including marked deficiencies of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), catalase, adenosine deaminase, and other enzymes involved in glycolysis, glutathione cycling, and nucleotide metabolism. Minimal concentrations of ATP appear to impair effective acceleration of hexosemonophosphate shunt activity in response to oxidants by restricting substrate generation at the hexokinase step. Antioxidant defenses are further compromised by catalase deficiency, which may be a general characteristic of rhinoceros erythrocytes, perhaps related to the common occurrence of severe mucocutaneous ulcerative disease. It is proposed that erythrocyte ATP deficiency in rhinoceroses may be an evolutionary adaptation conferring selective advantage against common hemic parasites, comparable to the role of human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency in falciparum malaria.
Visualizing a hierarchy of performance models for software systems

Definition of a software process to be analyzed is normally top-down. Analysis starts with a rough description and evolves into finer granularity as more performance and functional requirements become available. This process involves different performance models at each stage. The relationship between these models forms a hierarchy of performance models. Performance parameters propagate bottom-up and the analysis of these models is very complex, so that it is essential to develop computer aided performance evaluation (CAPE) tools to support the evaluation process. In this work, we developed a graphical interface for CAPE environments called the GRAphical Performance Evaluation (GRAPE) system. GRAPE supports the structural design of five different performance models: queueing, state, computation structure, data flow and statistical models. These models can be used to design parallel/distributed real-time software systems at different levels of granularity. GRAPE is the front-end tool for a CAPE environment that will allow the user to integrate the relationships between different performance metrics at different levels of analysis. These metrics propagate between the modeling hierarchy to arrive at a final quantitative or symbolic measure of its performance.
Analyzing the Impact of Agave Cultivation on Famine Risk in Arid Pre-Hispanic Northern Mexico

Cultivation of agave was common in pre-Hispanic northern Mexico and the American Southwest, and scholars generally accept that it was a strategy to ensure food supply during years of drought when the maize crop failed. Some even suggest that incorporating agave cultivation make large, nucleated settlements possible in arid northern Mexico ca. 500–900 CE. Yet the environmental circumstances under which farmers could reasonably expect such a strategy to decrease the chances of agricultural failure are not well understood. We explore the potential of this crop complementarity by assessing the risk of famine-induced migration events in different idealized environmental settings. We use Monte Carlo simulation to analyze a simple discrete-time, age-structured stochastic model for maize and agave agroecology, deriving the climatological conditions under which agave could have significantly reduced the probability of short- and long-term famine events. Investments in agave production made the most sense where average annual rainfall was between the levels that would ensure maximum maize yield and those that would mean loss of the maize crop due to drought-related mortality. Cultivating agave had little impact on famine risk at high (maize yields sufficient) and low (failure of both maize and agave) rainfall levels. Perhaps more surprisingly, it had its highest impact at moderate rainfall levels when variance in rainfall was relatively low. While a higher variance in rainfall increased the number of ‘good’ years for maize—where production would exceed demand and allow for storage—it also increased the probability of simultaneous failures in both agave and maize production. These findings are difficult to apply to specific times and places in the past, because rainfall distribution in complex, environments change, and it is difficult to take all relevant human interventions into account. The analysis does, however, offer support for the proposition that agave cultivation could have significantly enhanced survival probabilities of large, nucleated settlements in certain circumstances. It remains for further study to identify such circumstances more precisely geographically and temporally.
Dynamics of Cell Redifferentiation in Dictyostelium mucoroides

During migration of a D. mucoroides slug, prespore cells at the immediate edge of the prespore-prestalk junction advance into the prestalk region in approximately 1.5 min. Redifferentiation of the prespore into prestalk cells occurs during this period. Evidence that the cells redifferentiated required autoradiographic, electron microscopic, and staining techniques. These methods determined that glycoprotein synthesis declined; prespore vesicles, the organelles found specifically in prespore cells, were degraded; and staining was reduced during this developmental transition into prestalk cells.
Failure of amantadine hydrochloride to alter immune responses in the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis model of neuroautoimmune disease.

Amantadine hydrochloride has been reported efficacious in the symptomatic management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). To characterize further the potential effects of amantadine in MS, we studied the drug's effect on immunological parameters in the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. Nine Lewis rats were used; 3 served as controls and 6 were EAE-induced. Three of the EAE-induced rats received amantadine (AMT) (0.3 g/kg/day) at the onset of EAE symptoms. Sera were collected post-AMT treatment and assayed for antimyelin basic protein antibody (anti-MBP) and 2′3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase activity (CNP). The mean differences in the immunological parameters between treated and nontreated EAE-induced groups were not significant. These findings fail to demonstrate a spscific effect of amantadine on immunologic responses tested in the EAE model, and do not support the notion that the effects of amantadine in MS are linked to basic alterations in immune responses.
The history of simian AIDS

Retrospective data indicate that two separate outbreaks of simian AIDS and associated lymphoma were caused by Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIVmac and SIVstm, respectively) in group-housed macaques at the California Regional Primate Research Center (CRPRC) in the early and mid-1970s. Because these epizootics were not then recognized as infectious in nature, surviving healthy SIV carriers were sent to other primate centers where they transmitted the viruses to resident macaques. The source of SIV at the CRPRC was by contact with co-housed seropositive sooty mangabeys. Spread of SIV via saliva and blood while fighting most likely accounted for these epizootics. Separate outbreaks of a somewhat different version of simian AIDS, caused by the simian Type D retrovirus (SRV-1), and spread from healthy carriers via saliva and blood also occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s in group-housed macaques at the CRPRC. Initially, these SRV-1 outbreaks were also not recognized as infectious.
Statistical methods of risk assessment for continuous variables

Adverse health effects for continuous responses are not as easily defined as adverse health effects for binary responses. Kodell and West (1993) developed methods for defining adverse effects for continuous responses and the associated risk. Procedures were developed for finding point estimates and upper confidence limits for additional risk under the assumption of a normal distribution and quadratic mean response curve with equal variances at each dose level. In this paper, methods are developed for point estimates and upper confidence limits for additional risk at experimental doses when the equal variance assumption is relaxed. An interpolation procedure is discussed for obtaining information at doses other than the experimental doses. A small simulation study is presented to test the performance of the methods discussed.
Building Consensus Using the Policy Delphi Method

This article describes the use of the policy Delphi method in building consensus for public policy and proposes a technique for measuring the degree of consensus. The policy Delphi method is a systematic method for obtaining, exchanging, and developing informed opinion on an issue. It can be used to develop consensus either for or against policy issues. The method includes a multistage process involving the initial measurement of opinions (first stage), followed by data analysis, design of a new questionnaire, and a second measurement of opinions (second stage). The interquartile deviation is presented as one way of measuring consensus, and the McNemar test is described as a way to quantify the degree of shift in responses from the first to second stage. The application of the method is illustrated by a case example from a study of state legislators’ views on tobacco policy.
Role of biomass spread in vegetation pattern formation within arid ecosystems

[1] The spatial organization of biomass resulting from plant-water feedbacks in arid ecosystems, “patterned vegetation,” provides a macroscopic signal of nonlinear plant-water interactions and ecosystem health. Current models that reproduce such patterning assume diffusive biomass movement but do not account for realistic transport through seed dispersal. An adaptation of an existing three-equation model that accounts for the interactions between overland flow, subsurface flow, and biomass dynamics is used to investigate the impact of representing biomass spread with realistic dispersal kernels (a “kernel-based method”). Model results indicate that dispersion behavior changes the spatial organization of vegetation, destabilizing the regular patterns predicted by diffusion-based models. The kernel-based approach provides a closer match to power spectra derived from a remotely sensed image of patterned vegetation when compared to their diffusion-based counterpart. Potential feedbacks between the presence of spatial patterns and selection of optimal seed dispersal length scales are also investigated.
How consistent are associations between stunting and child development? Evidence from a meta-analysis of associations between stunting and multidimensional child development in fifteen low- and middle-income countries.

Objective Despite documented associations between stunting and cognitive development, few population-level studies have measured both indicators in individual children or assessed stunting’s associations with other developmental domains. Design Meta-analysis using publicly available data from fifteen Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS-4) to assess the association between stunting and development, controlling for maternal education, family wealth, books in the home, developmentally supportive parenting and sex of the child, stratified by country prevalence of breast-feeding (‘low BF’<90 %, ‘high BF’ ≥90 %). Ten-item Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) scores assessed physical, learning, literacy/numeracy and socio-emotional developmental domains. Children on track in three or four domains were considered ‘on-track’ overall. Setting Fifteen low- and middle-income countries. Subjects Publically available data from 58 513 children aged 36–59 months. Results Severe stunting (height-for-age Z-score <−3) was negatively associated with on-track development (OR=0·75; 95 % CI 0·67, 0·83). Any stunting (Z-score <−2) was negatively associated with on-track development in countries with high BF prevalence (OR=0·82; 95 % CI 0·75, 0·89). Severe and any stunting were negatively associated with physical development (OR=0·77; 95 % CI 0·66, 0·89 and OR=0·82; 95 % CI 0·74, 0·91, respectively) and literacy/numeracy development in high BF countries (OR=0·45; 95 % CI 0·38, 0·53 and OR=0·59, 95 % CI 0·51, 0·68, respectively), but not low BF countries (OR=0·93; 95 % CI 0·70, 1·23 and OR=0·95, 95 % CI 0·79, 1·12, respectively). Any stunting was negatively associated with learning (OR=0·79; 95 % CI 0·72, 0·88). There was no clear association between stunting and socio-emotional development. Conclusions Stunting is associated with many but not all developmental domains across a diversity of countries and cultures. However, associations varied by country breast-feeding prevalence and developmental domain.
Cooperative Interagency Approaches to the Illegal Drug Problem

Recent advances in law enforcement recognise that, increasingly, more types of crime have migrated across localities and even nations. Law enforcement requires the combined efforts of disparate agencies that must cooperate across organisational and jurisdictional boundaries. Nowhere is this trend more evident than in efforts to combat illegal drug trafficking. Recent efforts involve applying new communication and information technologies to assist the agencies to pool their talents and information in order to attack their common problems more efficiently and effectively. This paper is a case study of such a multi-agency alliance. It describes the two formative phases of the alliance: negotiation and commitment. The paper recounts several potential barriers to the formation of multi-agency alliances, including agency diversity, resource limitations and disincentives to collaboration. The paper also identifies critical factors for the successful formation of alliances, including common goals, facilitative s...
The Role of Biofuels in Achieving a National Energy Independence Plan

Biofuel can play a crucial role in achieving energy independence goals. The success story of the Brazil’s ethanol program started in 1976 and during the past four decades it has gained remarkable achievements in terms of economic development and energy independence. The aim of this study is to show how Brazil has achieved its goal of energy independence by implementing and updating its renewable fuel policies over the past 40 years. We adopt an evolutionary policy framework to study the emergence of ethanol as an alternative fuel in Brazil. We propose a dynamic framework for technology diffusion policies that can explain why Brazil chose ethanol as an alternative fuel and how this policy affected the country’s energy market. We argue that the success of the Brazilian ethanol program is due to its flexibility and adaptability over the past four decades. In addition to this, we note that other domestic and international forces such as oil price and domestic politics have been largely responsible for the success or failure of these policies. Lastly, we discuss the key lessons from Brazil which can help the policy makers in other countries in devising a sustainable energy policy in the future.
"That's what 'college experience' is": exploring cultural narratives and descriptive norms college students construct for legitimizing alcohol use

Among the many health issues relevant to college students, overconsumption of alcohol remains a prevalent concern. Circumscribing the drinking habits occurring on campuses are innumerable social norms furthering popular beliefs that alcohol is an inherent part of college life. This case study examines how students encounter, interpret and express the social norms they conceive as constituting their campus culture. Through triangulating ethnographic practices with in-depth interviews, we utilize a narrative lens to explore how students construct meanings and values for alcohol's roles in campus life. Our findings demonstrate how students validate uses of alcohol by coupling its presence with stress, social enhancement, peer responsibility and identity. Moreover, interviewees expressed there being subcultural differences between younger and older students' discourse around alcohol use. We draw from these observations to offer suggestions for engaging students actively in campus interventions that give rise to voices excluded from commonly construed social norms.
The Use of In Situ Behavioral Skills Training to Improve Staff Implementation of the PEAK Relational Training System

ABSTRACTThe study evaluated the effectiveness of an in situ behavioral skills training program for training 3 direct care staff to implement the Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge Relational Training System (PEAK) with 3 individuals with autism. PEAK is an evidence-based behavior analytic language development curriculum that uses discrete trials to promote the emergence of language. The data suggest that behavioral skills training improved staff implementation of PEAK and resulted in a corresponding improvement in selected language skills across 2 of 3 learners with autism.
Parallelization and improvements of the generalized born model with a simple sWitching function for modern graphics processors

Two fundamental challenges of simulating biologically relevant systems are the rapid calculation of the energy of solvation and the trajectory length of a given simulation. The Generalized Born model with a Simple sWitching function (GBSW) addresses these issues by using an efficient approximation of Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) theory to calculate each solute atom's free energy of solvation, the gradient of this potential, and the subsequent forces of solvation without the need for explicit solvent molecules. This study presents a parallel refactoring of the original GBSW algorithm and its implementation on newly available, low cost graphics chips with thousands of processing cores. Depending on the system size and nonbonded force cutoffs, the new GBSW algorithm offers speed increases of between one and two orders of magnitude over previous implementations while maintaining similar levels of accuracy. We find that much of the algorithm scales linearly with an increase of system size, which makes this water model cost effective for solvating large systems. Additionally, we utilize our GPU-accelerated GBSW model to fold the model system chignolin, and in doing so we demonstrate that these speed enhancements now make accessible folding studies of peptides and potentially small proteins.
Clinical Trials of Natural Surfactant Extract in Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Since the first use of natural surfactant extract by Fujiwara to treat premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), multiple randomized controlled clinical trials involving more than 2500 infants have been reported. These trials have used prophylactic administration of surfactant to high-risk premature infants (prevention trials) or administration of surfactant to premature infants with moderate to severe RDS (rescue or treatment trials). This article shows meta-analysis of the trial data, significant effects of natural surfactant extracts, and significant clinical benefits.
Abstract IA16: Mapping metabolic drivers of cancer using chemoproteomic and metabolomic platforms

Cancer cells possess fundamentally altered cellular metabolism that not only leads to a re-wiring of cellular biochemistry, but also drives nearly every aspect of cancer cell pathogenicity. While targeting dysregulated metabolism is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, much of cancer metabolism has focused on well-understood metabolic pathways in central carbon metabolism (e.g. glycolytic or glutamine metabolism) underlying cellular transformation and early-stages of cancer, and has largely ignored many of cellular metabolic pathways or those networks involved in cancer progression, despite clear genetic or metabolic evidence of their involvement in cancer. Here, we describe chemoproteomic and metabolomic technologies that we have utilized to identifying unique and novel dysregulated metabolic drivers of cancer. In particular, we have identified several unique nodes within lipid and sialic acid metabolism that are essential in driving cancer pathogenicity. Citation Format: Daniel Nomura. Mapping metabolic drivers of cancer using chemoproteomic and metabolomic platforms. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Metabolism and Cancer; Jun 7-10, 2015; Bellevue, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(1_Suppl):Abstract nr IA16.
Neurologic complications of cocaine.

Coca leaves have been chewed by South American Indians for several centuries, and cocaine hydrochloride (HCl) has been used since it was isolated in the middle of the 19th century by Niemann (Grinspoon and Bakalar 1981; Holmstedt and Fredga 1981; Petersen 1977). However, untoward effects related to the chewing of the leaves or intranasal insufflation of cocaine HCl had been rare. When used for the only remaining medical indication, local anesthesia, complications are uncommon. In a survey of over 100,000 rhinoplasties performed using cocaine HCl as a local anesthetic, 191 mild and 34 severe reactions were reported, and 5 deaths were attributed to its use (Feehan and Mancusi-Ungaro 1976).
Synergistic gangrene of the scrotum and penis secondary to colorectal disease.

We recently encountered 5 patients with synergistic gangrene of the genitalia secondary to colorectal disease. This number of cases suggests that there may be an increasing incidence of this entity that has been reported only several times in the past. Pseudomonas was one of the organisms cultured in all cases. Because of the high mortality rate we advocate aggressive therapy, consisting of early and repeated radical debridement into normal tissues and appropriate management of the colorectal source of contamination. Our experience indicates that the lower gastrointestinal tract should be considered as a possible cause of infection in all cases of synergistic gangrene of the scrotum and penis.
How the Bible Became a Book: Writing in Exile

The Babylonian exile is where the waters part in the history of Israel. In a series of military campaigns, the Babylonian armies decimated Judah, burned the city of Jerusalem, and ravaged the economy of the region. The first campaign came in 597 b.c.e. At that time, the Babylonians deported a large number of Judeans (2 Kgs 24:14), including the royal family of Jehoiachin (v. 12). A second campaign resulted in the burning of Jerusalem and the countryside in 586 b.c.e. (2 Kgs 25:8–12). The Babylonians set up a provisional government, and in 581 b.c.e. the Babylonians returned and took another group of Judeans into exile (Jer 52:30). Throughout the exile, however, the Judean royal family lived in comfort in the royal citadel of Babylon. They were supplied generous rations by the Babylonian government, and they maintained their claims as the legitimate rulers of Judah. Although the Babylonian conquests and exiles decimated the Judean people, the scribal infrastructure of the royal family remained intact during the Babylonian exile and into the early Persian period. In the troubled days following the Babylonian invasions writing returned to state control under the exiled royal family in Babylon. The “exile” divides history. Even the terminology – we speak of pre-exilic and post-exilic periods – reflects this division. Although the Babylonian exile is often thought of as one event, it was a long and devastating process.
A framework for generic inter-application interaction for 3D AR environments

We present a generic software framework enabling inter-application interaction in a 3D augmented reality environment. Our framework is built within a 3D AR window manager centered around ARToolkit. The user interface presents users with a simple visual mechanism to establish communications among applications in a generic way. The application interface is designed for ease of development and maximum end-user flexibility. We showcase some novel 3D applications and their interactions within the framework, demonstrating the new possibilities created by 3D interfaces. A classification is presented to categorize the applications' roles in such interactions, to help steer development. Finally, we discuss future possibilities for applications and interactions within such a framework.
Weaving a tangled web

Can there be too many science metaphors in a play for even a physicist reviewer? That was the question I found myself asking while watching Strings, a new physics-based play that opened for a three-week run over Christmas in a small theatre in New York City. The witty and enjoyable play was written by US novelist Carole Bugge and starred a competent cast of experienced actors. The storyline involves three physicists on a train journey from Cambridge to London, who, in a self-referential touch, are going to see a performance of Michael Frayn's own intellectual science play Copenhagen.
The interaction of drought stress and heat stress as determinant of dry matter yield and nutritional composition of maize (Zea mays L) whole-plant for silage

The objective of this study was to understand how abiotic factors affected dry matter (DM) yield and nutritional composition of maize whole-plant for silage. We analyzed data from maize hybrids performance trials completed at two sites (ie, Southern Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley regions) during 2011 and 2012. Data from eight maize hybrids (110 to 117 days to maturity) were tested in both sites and years. Dry matter yield and nutritional compo- sition were analyzed through mixed model analysis. Climate data were obtained from weather stations located in Blackstone and Elkton (Virginia, USA). Whole-plant DM yields varied significantly across site.years (P < 0.01), ranging from 4,556 to 15,092 kg ha-1. Dry matter (DM; P < 0.01) and crude protein (CP; P < 0.01) concentrations differed among site.years. These high variations are attributed to the low DM concentration (25.3% DM) and to the high CP concentration (10.9% CP) observed for the Southern Piedmont region in 2012. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF; P < 0.01) and acid detergent fiber (ADF; P < 0.01) were significantly different between site.years. That NDF concentration in 2012 was substantially lower for the Shenandoah Valley region (43.0% NDF) than for the Southern Piedmont region (56.6% NDF) indicates that maize crops were affected differently despite summer drought. We concluded that heat stress had a major adverse effect on kernel development in the Southern Piedmont region, but not in the Shenandoah Valley region, and that heat stress exacerbated the effects of drought reducing sub- stantially DM yields and increasing whole plant fiber concentration.
Wear Rates of Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene in a Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Wear Simulation

Purpose: Although short term outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) have been promising, long-term success may be limited due to complications, including scapular notching. Scapular notching has been explained primarily as a mechanical erosion, however, generation of wear debris may lead to further biologic changes contributing to the severity of scapular notching. Highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been used routinely in constrained joint applications such as total hip arthroplasty for reduction of wear debris particles. Although rTSA shares similarity in design conformity, conventional UHMWPE remains the gold standard. Methods: A commercially available hip simulator was converted to a 12-station rTSA wear simulator. Conventional and highly cross-linked UHMWPE humeral liners were subjected to 5,000,000 cycles of alternating abduction-adduction and flexion-extension loading profiles. Every 250,000 cycles, liners were evaluated with gravimetric wear measurements and test serum was collected for morphological characterization of wear particles. Results: Highly cross-linked UHMWPE liners (36.5 ± 10.0 mm 3 /million cycle) exhibited significantly lower volumetric wear rates compared to conventional UHMWPE liners (83.6 ± 20.6 mm3/million cycle) (p Conclusion: This is the first study to examine the effect of cross-linked PE in a rTSA wear simulation. Highly cross-linked UHMWPE liners significantly reduced UHWMPE wear and subsequent particle generation. More favorable wear properties with the use of highly cross-linked UHMWPE may lead to increased rTSA device longevity and fewer complications but must be weighed against the impact of reduced mechanical properties.
Unintentional Pediatric Cocaine Exposures Result in Worse Outcomes than Other Unintentional Pediatric Poisonings.

Abstract Background Unintentional pediatric cocaine exposures are rare but concerning due to potentially serious complications such as seizures, dysrhythmias, and death. Objectives The objectives were to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric cocaine exposures reported to the California Poison Control System. Methods This is a retrospective study of all confirmed pediatric ( Results Of the 86 reported pediatric cocaine exposures, 36 had positive urine drug testing and were included in the study cohort. The median age at presentation was 18 months (range: 0–48 months), and 56% were male (n = 20). The most common clinical manifestations were tachycardia and seizures. The most common disposition was admission to an intensive care unit (n = 14; 39%). Eleven cases (31%) were classified as having a major effect as per American Association of Poison Control Centers case coding guidelines. One child presented in asystole with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and multiple vasoactive medications. The proportion of cocaine exposures with serious (moderate or major) outcomes (66.7%; 95% confidence interval 50.3–79.8%) was higher than other pediatric poisonings reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers during the study period (0.88%; 95% confidence interval 0.87–0.88). Conclusions Although pediatric cocaine exposures are rare, they result in more severe outcomes than most unintentional pediatric poisonings. Practitioners need to be aware of the risk of recurrent seizures and cardiovascular collapse associated with cocaine poisoning.
The Great Mistake: How We Wrecked Public Universities and How We Can Fix Them By Christopher Newfield

A review of a new book that examines the privatization of public higher education, how it happened, what it means, and how to counter it.