cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Basis for a Mechanical Etiology in Adolescent Blount's Disease

The exact etiology and treatment of adolescent Blount's disease remains uncertain. In this study, the clinical and radiographic characteristics of eight consecutive patients (ten knees) with late onset tibia vara are reviewed to identify common features suggestive of aberrant mechanical forces causing their deformity. Consistent clinical features include progressive varus during the adolescent growth spurt and gross obesity. All patients were black, most were males with unilateral disease, and the only female patient had bilateral involvement. All were symptomatic cases, but in no case was trauma the cause of their disease. In addition, measurements of the physeal widths of the proximal tibia and distal femur on preoperative x-rays demonstrate consistent characteristics compatible with aberrant forces predicted by Heuter-Volkman and Delpech's laws. The clinical findings along with our surgical results confirm that these patients are best treated by corrective osteotomy to neutral mechanical axis and that over-correction is unwarranted.
Strategies to Prioritize Clinical Options in Primary Care.

In 2003, McGlynn and colleagues famously identified 439 clinical services recommended by subspecialists and others that, they argue, should be consistently delivered in primary care.[1][1] Based on lengthy patient interviews and detailed chart audits, they estimated that US adults receive only 55%
Orthogonal query recommendations for children

Children have become an ever-popular group of users who explore and search the Web. However, with this rise in popularity, there is still a gap in the amount of research that has been done to help children receive query recommendations applicable to their age group and understanding. We propose to develop an orthogonal query recommendation system and apply it specifically to children's queries. By using this recommender, we provide queries that are semantically different but conceptually very similar to a child's initial query. We have also validated our query recommendation system through Mean Reciprocal Ranking and Mean Average Precision to determine the accuracy of the recommended queries. Through this process, we have shown that the searching and browsing experience for children have improved and help them more easily find results that match their information needs.
Combined VEGF and alphavbeta3 targeting in ovarian carcinoma

281 Objectives: Based on mechanistic studies, we tested the efficacy of dual targeting of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and the alphavbeta3 integrin (αvβ3) in orthotopic mouse models of ovarian cancer. Methods: In vivo therapy experiments were carried out in chemo-sensitive (SKOV3ip1, HeyA8) and -resistant (SKOV3TRip2) ovarian cancer cell lines. VEGF was targeted with bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) and αvβ3 with the fully humanized monoclonal antibody MEDI-522 (Abegrin, MedImmune, Inc.). Mice were treated with each agent alone, together, or combined with paclitaxel for assessment of tumor growth. Tumor specimens were also tested for proliferative index by proliferative nuclear cell antigen (PCNA), microvessel density by CD31, and tumor cell apoptosis by TUNEL. Results: We have previously characterized VEGF production and alphavbeta3 expression in these cell lines. In the SKOV3ip1 model, both single-agent bevacizumab and MEDI-522 reduced tumor growth by 52-63% (p
What are other-rated scales composed of? Sources of measurement error and true trait variance in other-ratings of the Big Five

Abstract Other-ratings of targets’ traits may consist – besides true trait variance (TTV) – of different measurement error sources, particularly due to raters, scales, items, measurement times, and random fluctuations. Using Gnambs’ (2015) and Ones, Wiernik, Wilmot, and Kostal’s (2016) procedures for partitioning variance in scales due to measurement error, available meta-analytical data on Big Five other-ratings were analyzed. They showed relatively little TTV (0–13%), which was especially decreased by both low inter-rater reliability and convergent validity of Big Five measures. Accounting for both, TTV levels rose, but were still small to medium (4–26%). These findings provide important insights on what Big Five other-ratings are composed of and how such scale scores may be interpreted and treated in further analyses (e.g., trait-outcome relations).
BSDEs with Quadratic Growth in Z

In this chapter we establish the well-posedness of (one-dimensional) BSDEs whose generator has quadratic growth in its Z-component. Such BSDEs appear naturally in optimization problems with exponential utilities, and the main tool is the so-called BMO martingale.
Development of a sensory afferent projection in the grasshopper embryo. II. Growth and branching of peripheral sensory axons within the central nervous system.

The morphogenesis of several types of sensory axon branching patterns has been described by cobalt filling the cereal nerve of the grasshopper embryo at a series of different stages in development, thus staining the earliest sensory axons as they grow through the CNS. This embryonic sensory projection contains all five types of cereal afferents seen in the adult, and no new sensory tracts are added during postembryonic life. When the embryonic sensory axons first follow their pioneer axons into the neuropil they choose pathways which are characteristic of the adult sensory tracts. Since the afferents follow these paths without sending collaterals into the other tracts, it appears that the growing axon chooses its specific pathway without extensive exploration of alternative routes. Likewise, nearly all of the branches which arise from the embryonic sensory axons remain within the eventual domain characteristic of each cell type. This precise, determinate pattern of initial growth implies that the sensory axons are guided through the neuropil and achieve their final branching patterns with a minimum of overgrowth and pruning. The fact that initial growth is so precise also suggests that the parameters which guide the growing axon may help to determine its eventual pattern of synaptic connectivity by limiting its physical access to large portions of the neuropil which contain potentially compatible synaptic partner cells. Two different types of neurons may be supplying the sensory afferents with guidance cues: (i) Although most of the cereal sensory axons diverge from the cereal pioneer axons within the CNS, some sensory afferents continue to follow the pioneers through several ganglia, (ii) In the adult, a large number of the cereal sensory axons form a hollow shell of arborization around the main dendrite of an identified synaptic target cell, the Medial Giant Interneuron (MGI). This structure, the interneuron dendrite and the shell of sensory arbor, is called the cereal glomerulus. Since the MGI9s dendrite is already present at the stage when the first sensory axons enter the CNS, interactions between these cells could serve to guide the glomerular sensory axons away from the pioneers into their future tracts.
Emphysematous gastritis secondary to Sarcina ventriculi.

An 87-year-old man with history of dementia, coronary artery disease on dual antiplatelet therapy and oesophagitis presented to the emergency department with acute-onset coffee ground emesis and left upper quadrant abdominal pain of 1-day duration. Vital signs were normal. Exam was notable for diffuse abdominal pain without peritoneal signs. Medical work-up was remarkable for haemoglobin of 8.2 g/dL, lactate of 6.3 mmol/L and white blood cell count of 21.84x109/L. CT with angiography of the abdomen and pelvis revealed extensive portal and mesenteric venous gas as well as gastric emphysema (figures 1 and 2). The bowel was normal. Figure 1 Axial CT image of …
Clinical care and complicity with torture

In the light of US Central Intelligence Agency guidelines that limited routine care of detainees to promote torture, Zackary Berger and colleagues call for sanctions against health professionals who cooperate
Severe postoperative hemorrhage in a patient on dietary and herbal supplements

We report a case of a patient with severe postoperative bleeding complication, secondary to dietary and herbal supplements induced platelet dysfunction. This case demonstrates the importance of pre...
Humeral shaft nonunions treated with fibular allograft and compression plating.

Abstract The present study is a retrospective review of the treatment of 12 humeral shaft nonunions by using an intramedullary allograft with compression plating. The average age of the patients was 61 years (range, 36-82 years). Eight cases involved the proximal shaft, 3 cases were at the mid-diaphyseal level, and 1 case was at the distal one third. Follow-up averaged 30 months (range, 12-96 months). Ten patients (83%) went on to uneventful healing at an average of 3 months after surgery. Two failures involving patients with multiple medical conditions occurred secondary to reinjury. Two cases of postoperative radial nerve neuropraxia involved the posterior approach to the humerus. Each resolved with no long-term residual morbidity. One patient developed postoperative adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder that resolved with nonoperative treatment. We feel that a fibular allograft, along with compression plating, can give satisfactory results for humeral shaft nonunions. This technique can be especially helpful in proximal humeral nonunions and in nonunions involving osteoporotic bone. Patients with multiple medical problems at risk for refalls should be protected until complete healing has occurred.
Crossing the species barrier: the threat of an avian influenza pandemic

Avian influenza (H5N1) has recently been recognized as a new emerging infectious disease that may pose a threat to international public health. Most recent developments lead to the belief that H5N1 could become the cause of the next influenza pandemic. This review discusses the characteristics of H5N1 avian influenza virus as an emerging infectious disease with the potential for pandemic development. In addition, the current pandemic influenza alert status and guidelines for pandemic preparedness, treatment, and prevention are discussed.
A Framework for the Ethically Justified Clinical Management of Intersex Conditions

The clinical management of intersex conditions, as well as related conditions that are not, strictly speaking intersex conditions, has become a matter of considerable controversy within the medical profession and in the lay public (Diamond and Sigmundsen, 1997; Colapinto, 1997; Diamond, 1999). This controversy has a number of origins, including complaints from patients who have been assigned what they experience as discordant gender identity, coverage in the lay press of individual cases (such as John/Joan) (Colapinto, 1997) and activism on the part of organizations such as Intersex Society of North America. It is worth noting that a recent number of theJournal of Clinical Ethicswas devoted to consideration of intersex conditions, in response to the public controversy and to different views and approaches that have been expressed in the medical literature (Howe, 1998;Groveman, 1998;Wilson and Reiner, 1998;Crouch, 1998;Chase, 1998;Schober, 1998; Kipnis and Diamond, 1998; Preves, 1998). The current controversy appears to have created sharp divisions within the clinical community. These divisions apparently affected the preparation of above-referred number of theJournal of Clinical Ethics, because some physicians with experience in the clinical management of intersex conditions declined to contribute (Howe, 1998).
In-Cell Titration of Small Solutes Controls Protein Stability and Aggregation.

The components of the intracellular environment vary widely in size: from large multiprotein complexes to atomic ions. Besides water, low-molecular-weight solutes (<1 kDa) such as electrolytes, metabolites, and carbohydrates are by far the most abundant of these components. Small solutes are thus key contributors to the solvation environment in the cell. Small solutes have been known for decades to alter protein structure or activity in vitro, through their interactions with protein surfaces or hydration shells. Here we use the cell itself as our test tube, by titrating its hydration, ion, or carbohydrate composition systematically. We trigger the selective uptake of specific solutes by exposing cells to hyperosmotic media. We then measure protein structure, stability, unfolding kinetics, and aggregation in these different intracellular environments by using fast relaxation imaging. We compare these results with controls where solutes cannot enter the cell and only hydration is altered. Protein structure,...
Observations of Variable Ammonia Oxidation and Nitrous Oxide Flux in a Eutrophic Estuary

Accurate global forecasting of marine nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions requires a better understanding of atmospheric N2O fluxes from coastal systems, particularly the mechanisms controlling the net balance between N2O production and consumption. The objective of this study was to examine how physical and biological processes in the eutrophic Chesapeake Bay estuary influence the temporal and spatial variability of N2O using a combination of gas measurements (N2O and N2/Ar) and stable isotope tracer incubations. Observed concentrations of N2O varied considerably in both space and time with the highest concentrations (up to 20.9 nM) across the pycnocline. Ammonia oxidation rates ranged from 14.3 to 108.9 nM h−1 and were highest following wind events that mixed oxygenated surface water below the pycnocline into ammonium-rich bottom waters, resulting in nitrite (NO2−) accumulations of up to 13 μM. During periods of weak vertical mixing, both N2O concentrations and ammonia oxidation rates were lower, while lower O2 concentrations also allowed N2O consumption by denitrification. A three-layer box model provided estimates of N2O production at the surface and across the pycnocline of 4 μmol m−2 day−1 and 21 μmol m−2 day−1, respectively, and an estimate of N2O consumption below the pycnocline of approximately −3 μmol m−2 day−1. Our results demonstrate that physical processes affect the net balance between N2O production and consumption, making Chesapeake Bay a variable source and sink for N2O.
Characterizing the Effects of MR Image Quality Metrics on Intrinsic Connectivity Brain Networks: A Multivariate Approach

Motion-induced artifact detection has become a fixture in the assessment of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) quality control. However, the effects of other MR image quality (IQ) metrics on intrinsic connectivity brain networks are largely unexplored. Accordingly, we report herein the initial assessment of the effects of a comprehensive list of IQ metrics on resting state networks using a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) approach based on high-order spatial independent component analysis (ICA). Three categories of MR IQ metrics were considered: (1) metrics for artifacts including the AFNI outlier ratio and quality index, framewise displacement, and ghost to signal ratio, (2) metrics for the temporal quality of MRI data including the temporal framewise change in global BOLD signals (DVARS), global correlation of time-series, and temporal signal to noise ratio, (3) metrics for the structural quality of MRI data including the entropy focus criterion, foreground-background energy ratio, full-width half maximum smoothness, and static signal to noise ratio. After FDR-correction for multiple comparisons, results showed significant effects of the static and temporal signal to noise ratios on the spatial map intensities of the basal ganglia, default-mode and cerebellar networks. AFNI outlier ratio, framewise displacement and DVARS exhibited significant effects on the BOLD power spectra of sensorimotor networks. The global correlation of time-series displayed wide-spread modulation of the spectral power in most networks. Further investigations of the effect of IQ metrics on the characteristics of intrinsic connectivity brain networks allow more accurate interpretation of the fMRI results.
Comparing Free Radicals in Sunscreen-Treated Pig Skin by Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Melanoma, a type of cancer that develops in melanocytes, is usually caused by direct exposure of skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation resulting in cellular damage. In this study, a procedure to determine the effects of various commercial sunscreens with SPF values ranging from 15 to 100 was developed using pig skin to mimic human skin. These sunscreens contain inorganic filters, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide; active organic ingredients, such as octocrylene and oxybenzone; or both. As a model for human skin, pig skin was analyzed before and after UV exposure, and the presence of free radicals was measured using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Using this method, students were able to quantify radical formation following irradiation and use this as a basis to compare the efficacies of sunscreens against UVA. This experiment allowed undergraduate students to characterize a complex chemical process (light-induced radical formation) and relate it to something they experience every day (sun damage). Interestingly, students found higher levels of postillumination radical formation in sunscreen-treated samples, perhaps indicating sunscreen-induced stabilization of these species. Student outcomes included learning how to collect and interpret EPR data, statistical analysis of these data, and the preparation of reproducible biological samples. Students also consulted literature sources to properly display their measurements.
Negotiating Deliberative Ideals in Theory and Practice: A Case Study in “Hybrid Design”

Much literature on deliberation is derived from ideal theory. However, deliberations are inevitably non-ideal in two ways: (1) many deliberative ideals are in tension with each other; and 2) intended balancing of ideals cannot be attained perfectly amidst the messiness of real-world recruitment and conversation. This essay explores both kinds of non-ideality in respect to a case study: the 2011 community deliberative processes on a state public health “biobank,” the Michigan BioTrust for Health. We follow two recommendations from major contemporary theorists of deliberation: to be transparent about how competing deliberative goals are negotiated in deliberative design; and to publicize case studies that report associated struggles and results. We present our “hybrid design” that sought to negotiate tensions within three families of deliberative goals: goals of representation and inclusion; goals of discourse-framing; and goals of political impact. We offer deliberative facilitators tentative suggestions based on this case study, concluding deliberations need not be “ideal” to be transformative.
Fertility Preservation for Turner Syndrome

Premature ovarian insufficiency leading to ovarian failure is a major concern for women with Turner syndrome (TS). To address their concerns and needs, counseling about fertility options should begin early. Current nonexperimental options for family planning include adoption, oocyte donation, and gestational surrogacy. Spontaneous pregnancy is rare but has been reported. Oocyte cryopreservation may be an option for some women with TS, but to date, there are no reported pregnancies following this procedure. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation remains an experimental option but may not be readily accessible to all. Choices about whether and when to pursue fertility preservation are complicated by gaps in knowledge, the experimental nature of some procedures, possible risks (both known and unknown), and ethical considerations. Further studies focusing on the safety and efficacy of these procedures are essential. This necessitates adherence to proper experimental protocols, collaboration among centers, and continuing ethical interrogation.
Ka Moʻolelo o Ka Nuha: the safety zone at the Kamehameha Schools didn’t happen by accident:

Written in a style inspired by Hawaiian language newspapers of the 19th century, this moʻolelo (history) seeks to tell the story of Hawaiian patriotism at the Kamehameha Schools, a school for Indig...
Automated Diagnosis of Pneumothorax X-ray Images Utilizing Deep Convolutional Neural Network

Pneumothorax is a severe respiratory disease. In this study, an algorithm using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) is proposed to detect visual signs for Pneumothorax within x-ray images and conduct a diagnosis. Detecting and diagnosing Pneumothorax remains challenging despite of its prevalence. The deep residual network ResNet-101 was adapted through transfer learning. A database of 5,302 Pneumothorax radiographs was utilized for training, and a preliminary diagnosis accuracy of 86.26% was obtained. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 92.13%.
The spontaneous order of words: economics experiments in haiku and renga

The search is on for low cost collaborative learning models that foster creative cooperation and growth through spontaneous competition. I propose that a twist on the traditional renga competition can help. The prize-winning Capitalistic Crisis , composed by five undergraduate students at Roosevelt University, is an example of renganomics – a spontaneous, collaboratively written linked haiku poem about economics, inspired by haiku economics (Ziliak, 2011, 2009a) and classical Japanese renga . In medieval Japan renga gatherings were social, political, and economic exchanges – from small to elaborate parties – with a literary end: a completely unplanned, collectively written poem. Since their ancient and royal beginnings renga have been written competitively and by all social classes for stakes. So far as we know this is the first renga in English, or any language, to focus on economics. The paper concludes with economic haiku by a student and renga master in training.
Unsupervised GAN-CIRCLE for high-resolution reconstruction of bone microstructure from low-resolution CT scans

Osteoporosis is an age-related disease associated with reduced bone density and increased fracture-risk. It is known that bone microstructural quality is a significant determinant of trabecular bone strength and fracture-risk. Emerging CT technology allows high-resolution in vivo imaging at peripheral sites enabling assessment of bone microstructure at low radiation. Resolution dependence of bone microstructural measures together with varying technologies and rapid upgrades in CT scanners warrants data-harmonization in multi-site as well as longitudinal studies. This paper presents an unsupervised deep learning method for high-resolution reconstruction of bone microstructure from low-resolution CT scans using GAN-CIRCLE. The unsupervised training alleviates the need of registered low- and high-resolution images, which is often unavailable. Low- and high-resolution ankle CT scans of twenty volunteers were used for training, validation, and evaluation. Ten thousand unregistered low- and high-resolution patches of size 64×64 were randomly harvested from CT scans of ten volunteers for training and validation. Five thousand matched pairs of low- and highresolution patches were generated for evaluation after registering CT scan pairs from other ten volunteers. Quantitative comparison shows that predicted high-resolution scans have significantly improved structural similarity index (p < 0.01) with true high-resolution scans as compared to the same metric derived from low-resolution data. Also, trabecular bone microstructural measures such as thickness and network area measures computed from predicted high-resolution CT images showed higher (CCC = [0.90, 0.84]) agreement with the reference measures from true high-resolution scans compared to the same measures derived from low-resolution images (CCC = [0.66, 0.83]).
Gonadotropin response to insulin and lipid infusion reproduces the reprometabolic syndrome of obesity in eumenorrheic lean women: a randomized crossover trial

Objective To study the reprometabolic syndrome in normal-weight, eumenorrheic women by infusing a combination of insulin and lipid. Women with obesity have been shown to have reduced gonadotropins and impaired luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Design Randomized crossover. Setting Academic medical center. Participant(s) Fifteen women, median age 32 (interquartile ranged [IQR] 26, 36) years and body mass index 21.9 (IQR 20.2, 22.9) kg/m2 were recruited. Intervention(s) Early follicular phase, 6-hour infusions of insulin (20–40 mU/m2 per minute) and lipid (Intralipid)—insulin/lipid infusion; or saline infusion (controls). The first 4 hours of each study assessed endogenous gonadotropins; at 4 hours, GnRH (75 ng/kg) bolus was administered and sampling continued until 6 hours. Main Outcome Measure(s) Linear mixed model analysis was used to determine differences between insulin/lipid and saline influence on endogenous LH pulse amplitude (primary outcome), mean FSH, and area under the curve (AUC) response to GnRH (secondary outcomes). Result(s) Twelve women completed both intended studies and an additional 3 women completed only 1 of the 2 studies. LH pulse amplitude, mean FSH, and both AUC responses to GnRH were reduced by insulin/lipid, mean FSH and AUC for LH were at or near statistical significance. LH response to GnRH was significantly reduced when 1 participant with very high LH and antimullerian hormone levels was excluded. Conclusion(s) Acute infusion of insulin/lipid to eumenorrheic, normal-weight women recapitulated the reprometabolic syndrome of obesity. These findings imply that specific circulating factors in obese women contribute to their subfertility and thus may be amenable to discovery and treatment. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT02653092.
Impact of geographic access to primary care providers on pediatric behavioral health screening.

Abstract Behavioral Health (BH) screening is critical for early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric mental disorders. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of geographic access to primary care providers (PCP) on pediatric BH screening in children with different race/ethnicity. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the 2013–2016 administrative claims data from a large pediatric Medicaid Managed Care Plan that have been linked to 2010 US Census data and the 2017 National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registry. Geographic access was defined as the actual travel distance to nearest PCP and the PCP density within 10-mile travel radius from each individual's residence. Stratified multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between the geographic access to PCP and the likelihood of receiving screening for behavioral disorders within each racial/ethnic group. BH screening rate was 12.6% among 402,655 children and adolescents who met the inclusion criteria. Multivariable analysis stratified by individual race/ethnicity revealed that Hispanic and Black children were more vulnerable to the geographic access barriers than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. The increase in travel distance to the nearest PCP was negatively associated with screening uptake only among Hispanics (10–20 miles vs. 0–10 miles: OR = 0.78, 95% CI [0.71–0.86]; 20–30 miles vs. 0–10 miles: OR = 0.35, 95% CI [0.23–0.54]). In a subgroup that had access to at least one PCP within 10 miles of travel distance, the variation in PCP density had a greater impact on the screening uptake among Hispanics and Blacks than that in non-Hispanic Whites.
The Growing Digital Civil War Archive at the University of Mississippi

In 2011, the University of Mississippi’s Archives and Special Collections began an ongoing project to digitize a portion of materials related to the Civil War. This started as a means of participating in the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries’ (ASERL’s) collaborative digitization project, Civil War in the American South, which was established to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. ASERL’s project provides a single access point for Civil War materials from multiple repositories, and currently includes over 10,000 items from 30 libraries. In addition to providing greater access to the University’s materials via the ASERL’s portal, the creation of the University of Mississippi’s Digital Civil War Archive provides a space to present various materials from multiple collections that are all related to the subject of the American Civil War. This provides an opportunity for greater discoverability and scholarship both near to and far from the library. In conjunction with the Civil War subject guide, which links to the Digital Civil War Archive, the library provides rich, cross-referencing tools for those interested in Mississippi and the Civil War. In addition to providing a brief history of UM’s Civil War Digital Collection, this paper will document the process of identification, selection, and project management of materials to be added in 2014 to the Digital Civil War Archive, completed by Jennifer Ford (Head, Archives and Special Collection at University of Mississippi) and Susan Ivey (Digital Initiatives Librarian, University of Mississippi and author of this paper) in December 2013.
Blood flow measurements using fluorescent microspheres

Abstract Microspheres, 10 to 15 μm in diameter, injected into the circulation to an organ lodge in the capillary beds in proportion to regional blood flow. By quantifying the number of microspheres in organ pieces, an estimate of blood flow to each piece can be obtained. The most common means of quantifying microspheres is to measure the radioactivity from radiolabeled microspheres. Fluorescent microspheres can also be quantified, replacing the need for radioactivity and thereby avoiding health and environmental hazards. Methods for using fluorescent microspheres to measure regional organ blood flow are reviewed.
The Application of Crystal Soaking Technique to Study the Effect of Zinc and Cresol on Insulinotropin Crystals Grown from a Saline Solution

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of zinc and cresol on the structure of insulinotropin crystals. Methods. Insulinotropin crystals grown from a saline solution were treated with zinc and/or m-cresol using a crystal soaking technique. The effects of these additives on the crystal structure were investigated with powder X-ray diffraction, photomicrography, and differential scanning calorimetry. The molecular interaction between insulinotropin and m-trifluorocresol in solution was also studied by 19F NMR. Results. The data suggest that the original crystals grown from a saline solution have relatively weak lattice forces. After the addition of m-cresol to the suspension of the insulinotropin crystals, the crystals were immediately rendered amorphous. The m-cresol molecules which diffused into the crystals through solvent channels may have disturbed the lattice interactions that maintain the integrity of the crystal. In contrast, the zinc added to the suspension stabilized the crystal lattice so that the subsequent addition of m-cresol did not alter the integrity of the crystals. A marked increase in melting point (206° versus 184°) and heat of fusion (24.6 J/g versus 1.4 J/g) of the crystals was observed after the treatment with zinc. The solubility of the zinc treated crystals in a pH 7.1 phosphate buffered saline was 1/20 of that of the original crystals. Conclusions. When the insulinotropin crystals were treated with the additives using a crystal soaking method, the crystals underwent structural changes. Zinc stabilized the crystal lattice, and reduced the solubility of the peptide.
Dynamic load altering attacks in smart grid

A load altering attack (LAA) is a cyber-physical attack against demand response and demand side management programs. It attempts to control and change certain unsecured controllable loads in order to damage the grid through circuit overflow or other adverse effects. So far, the focus in the LAA literature has been only on static load altering attacks, where the attack is mainly concerned in changing the volume of the load. In contrast, in this paper, we address dynamic load altering attacks (DLAAs), where we are concerned with not only the amount of the change in the load, but also the trajectory over time at which we change the load. Interestingly, we can prove that if a DLAA is closed-loop in a way that the load is changed in response to changes in power grid frequency, then we can introduce DLAA trajectories that make the power system unstable. This can be achieved without the need for increasing the scope or volume of the attack, compared to a static LAA scenario. We present simulation results based on an example six bus test system.
Improving PEM Fuel Cell Catalysts Using Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Supports

This study experimentally examines the effect of nitrogen doping on the activity of Pt/C catalyst systems. The investigation was accomplished through the development of geometrically well-defined model catalytic systems consisting of tunable assemblies of Pt catalyst nanoparticles deposited onto both N-doped and undoped highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrates. N-doping was achieved via ion beam implantation, and Pt was electrodeposited from solutions of H2 PtCl6 in aqueous HClO4 . Morphology from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and catalytic activity measurement from aqueous electrochemical analysis were utilized to examine the N-doping effects. The results strongly support the theory that doping nitrogen into a graphite support significantly affects both the morphology and behavior of the overlying Pt nanoparticles. In particular, nitrogen-doping was observed to cause a significant decrease in the average Pt nanoparticle size, an increase in the Pt nanoparticle dispersion, and a significant increase in catalytic activity for both methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Some comments on optimal collection of solar energy

Etablissement d'equations definissant les conditions donnant les conditions optimales d'un systeme solaire comportant un collecteur et un accumulateur de chaleur. Resultats numeriques obtenus vers une solution approchee du systeme d'equation
Determinants of extinction in the fossil record

The causes of mass extinctions and the nature of biological selectivity at extinction events are central questions in palaeobiology. It has long been recognized, however, that the amount of sedimentary rock available for sampling may bias perceptions of biodiversity and estimates of taxonomic rates of evolution. This problem has been particularly noted with respect to the principal mass extinctions. Here we use a new compilation of the amount of exposed marine sedimentary rock to predict how the observed fossil record of extinction would appear if the time series of true extinction rates were in fact smooth. Many features of the highly variable record of apparent extinction rates within marine animals can be predicted on the basis of temporal variation in the amount of exposed rock. Although this result is consistent with the possibility that a common geological cause determines both true extinction rates and the amount of exposed rock, it also supports the hypothesis that much of the observed short-term volatility in extinction rates is an artefact of variability in the stratigraphic record.
The extent of oxygen isotope exchange between clay minerals and sea water

The extent of oxygen isotopic exchange between detrital clay minerals and sea water was investigated by analyzing O18O16 ratios of separated fine-grained size fractions of deep-sea sediments from three North Pacific ocean cores. Isotopic results were interpreted according to models based on the assumption that the extent of isotopic exchange should increase with decreasing particle size and increasing time of exchange between the sediment and sea water. The data indicate that information concerning the provenance and mode of formation of detrital clay minerals can be obtained from the O18O16 ratios of the coarser-than-0.1 μm fraction of deep-sea sediments younger than several million years and the finer-than-0.1 μm fraction of deep-sea sediments younger than several tens of thousands of years. Furthermore, if the extent of chemical reaction between detrital clays and sea water is similar to the extent of oxygen isotopic exchange, such reaction may be important in regulating the chemistry of sea water.
Policy and financing of the professional psychology workforce

The federal government has played a significant role in the financing the education of healthcare professionals since the introduction of Medicare in 1965. However, professional psychology's limited ability to argue the critical nature of its services to the welfare of the nation, and its lack of national workforce information and policy, has hindered its inclusion in Medicare's Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. This paper discusses the evolution and current status of healthcare workforce policy in the United States, and the implications for psychology and the training of future professionals. Also described are recent efforts by the American Psychological Association (APA) and a few psychologists to include professional psychology in the GME program. The importance of organized psychology's sustained involvement in national health policy is emphasized.
Global strategy: a review and an integrated conceptual framework

A review of the literature reveals that global strategy is characterized by diverse perspectives and lack of a unified theory. Identifies gaps in the literature as the contributors to its current state: lack of integration of the diverse perspectives and domination by the industrial organization (IO) theoretical view. Attempts to integrate the diverse perspectives of global strategy into a six‐dimension global strategy construct, and to integrate the IO‐based theory with the resource‐based theory of strategy and competitive advantage. Presents an integrated conceptual framework of global strategy which helps reduce the ambiguity and confusion in the global strategy literature, and that serves as a theoretical foundation for future research. Discusses the managerial implications.
Aerodynamic analysis of City-Climber robots

A multi-disciplinary robotics team at the City College of New York has developed a new generation wall-climbing robot named as City-Climber, which can operate on both smooth and rough surfaces and carry relatively large payload. This paper presents the adhesion mechanism and aerodynamic analysis of City-Climber robots using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation tool. The simulation results not only match the experimental test but also provide the directions to improve the adhesion mechanism design.
Sensitivity And Specificity Of Two Dimensional Echocardiography In The Detection Of Valvular Calcification

To test the ultrasonic method for detecting valvular calcifications, two-dimensional echocardiograms and 35-mm cinefluorograms recorded in 113 elderly men were compared. Four views of the heart were filmed with image intensification. Valvular opacifications 1.5 mm or more in diameter were considered to be calcium and served as the standards. From parasternal views the brightness of valvular echoes was compared to echoes of the aortic wall by incremental rejection. Valvular echoes persisting as long as or beyond suppression of aortic root echoes were called positive for calcium. In half of the subjects, fluorographic studies disclosed valvular calcium, of which 67 percent was graded minimum. Echocardiographic sensitivity for detecting calcium in both the mitral anulus and aortic valve was 76 percent; specificity was 89 to 94 percent. Detection in the mitral leaflets was low and due to the smallness of the target and high sensitivity of the standard. Thus, an easily performed ultrasonic technique can screen moderate calcification of the mitral annulus and aortic valve with a predictive accuracy of 80 percent.
Characteristics and management of patients presenting to the emergency department with hypertensive urgency.

Few studies have examined the characteristics of patients presenting with hypertensive urgency, factors contributing to their presentation, or their management. The time and cost associated with treatment are unknown. Retrospective analysis of 50 emergency department patients with hypertensive urgency (symptomatic blood pressure (BP) elevation focusing on systolic BP >180 mm Hg or diastolic BP >110 mm Hg) was performed. The hospital database was queried to determine the cost of the average treat-and-release visit. The mean age was 54.3±15.6 years; 64% were female; 46% were black; 90% had diagnosed hypertension. The mean presenting BP was 198±27.6/109±17.3 mm Hg; 66% had systolic BP >180 mm Hg, and 38% had diastolic BP >110 mm Hg. Initially, 30% were not on antihypertensives, and 28% were on monotherapy. Headache (42%) and dizziness (30%) were most frequently reported symptoms. Presentation was most often attributed to running out of medication (16%). IV and oral labetalol were given to 28% and 24% of patients, respectively. Fifty-six percent of patients had no change in baseline therapy at discharge. The average emergency department stay was 5 hours 17 minutes ± 4 hours 27 minutes. The average cost for similar visits in 2004 was $1543 per visit. Emergency department visits for hypertensive urgency are related mostly to noncompliance. Labetalol was the most frequently used therapy. Management in the primary care office could result in substantial cost savings.
Calibrating the child for language: Meredith Williams on a Wittgensteinian approach to language socialization

This paper addresses the normative and reflexive foundations of language socialization. In several publications Meredith Williams makes a strong case for placing Wittgenstein’s discussions of the normative character of social learning at the heart of an account of the child’s development of language and mind. This paper examines Williams’ argument, concluding that it needs to be complemented by an account of the child’s scaffolded socialization into the community’s metadiscursive practices. It is by means of the child’s increasing metadiscursive competence that the child comes to measure the phenomena and experiences of language as ‘we’ do in ‘our’ community’s linguistic-cultural world.
Complications of a permanent transvenous pacing catheter in a horse

Gross and histopathological findings in a 9-year-old horse implanted with permanent transvenous pacing cardiac catheters, 18 and 34 months before its death, are described. Lesions consisting of extensive fibrino-haemorrhagic thrombi with large numbers of bacterial colonies were present along the electrode wires and on mural and valvular endocardial surfaces of the right heart. There was a locally extensive area of suppurative endocarditis around the attachment site of the atrial electrode, which was loosely attached by a thin band of membranous tissue to the endocardium. The ventricular electrode was firmly embedded in the myocardium and was surrounded by a dense area of fibrous connective tissue in which multifocal mineralized areas were seen. Histologically, there was evidence of terminal bacteraemia. The observed lesions are discussed with respect to findings in man and other animals with similar cardiac implants.
Landscape for optimal control of quantum-mechanical unitary transformations

The optimal creation of a targeted unitary transformation $W$ is considered under the influence of an external control field. The controlled dynamics produces the unitary transformation $U$ and the goal is to seek a control field that minimizes the cost $J=\ensuremath{\parallel}W\ensuremath{-}U\ensuremath{\parallel}$. The optimal control landscape is the cost $J$ as a functional of the control field. For a controllable quantum system with $N$ states and without restrictions placed on the controls, the optimal control landscape is shown to have extrema with $N+1$ possible distinct values, where the desired transformation at $U=W$ is a minimum and the maximum value is at $U=\ensuremath{-}W$. The other distinct $N\ensuremath{-}1$ extrema values of $J$ are saddle points. The results of this analysis have significance for the practical construction of unitary transformations.
Improved energy prediction equations for dairy cattle rations.

The objective was to develop equations that would accurately predict energy contents of rations commonly fed to milking cows and that were simple to apply. Six published equations that predicted TDN from ration content of crude fiber or ADF or predicted digestible energy, metabolize energy, or NE(1) from ration ADF content were modified to remove bias caused by dietary fiber contents. The modified equation that predicted metabolizable energy from ADF was tested for accuracy using data from several feeding trials in which DM intakes and dietary ADF contents were known. Dietary metabolizable energy content calculated by the equation was multiplied by DM consumed to obtain metabolizable energy intake. Requirement of dietary metabolizable energy was calculated using factors for maintenance, milk produced, and BW changes from 1988 NRC feeding standard. Concurrence values (energy intake/energy required) from feeding trials were calculated and served as the criterion of equation accuracy. Several trials resulted in concurrence values approximating 1.0, indicating that the equation to predict dietary metabolizable content was accurate. However, values for individual trials ranged from .84 to 1.21. Concurrence values that deviated considerably from 1.0 occurred most frequently in trials in which animals experienced negative or large changes in BW. It appeared that errors may have occurred in calculating energy requirements when BW changes were negative or large. It was concluded that the modification improved the original equation and it probably was accurate. The other modified equations would be expected to be equally accurate.
A New Technique for Collecting Ambient Diesel Particles for Bioassays

This paper describes a new application of a viable aerosol sampler, the Liquid Electrostatic Aerosol Precipitator (LEAP), for the collection of diesel particles for bioassays of pulmonary toxicity and mutagenicity or carcinogenicity. Currently used methods (filtration, dry electrostatic precipitation) cause agglomeration of particles and increases in particle size up to twenty-fold, which may alter particle toxicity significantly. Collection of diesel particles with the LEAP preserved submicronic particle size. Differences in chemical composition of extracts of surface adsorbents as compared to particles collected on filters also were observed. This technique may be applicable for collection of other types of combustion products or oil mists that agglomerate when collected by filtration.
Learning Graph Walk Based Similarity Measures for Parsed Text

We consider a parsed text corpus as an instance of a labelled directed graph, where nodes represent words and weighted directed edges represent the syntactic relations between them. We show that graph walks, combined with existing techniques of supervised learning, can be used to derive a task-specific word similarity measure in this graph. We also propose a new path-constrained graph walk method, in which the graph walk process is guided by high-level knowledge about meaningful edge sequences (paths). Empirical evaluation on the task of named entity coordinate term extraction shows that this framework is preferable to vector-based models for small-sized corpora. It is also shown that the path-constrained graph walk algorithm yields both performance and scalability gains.
Family psychology and family therapy abroad: A personal odyssey

Abstract This article is based on the author's lecturing experiences and workshop tours to over 20 countries;1 travels to these and various other countries where she has observed and studied families; numerous conversations with colleagues from many nations at international congresses and who served with her on the Board of Directors of the International Family Therapy Association;2 and extensive perusal of the literature. It attempts to provide an overview of the field as it has emerged in a variety of similar and different societies and cultures.