cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In situ measurement of microbial biomass, community structure and nutritional status

In sediments and soils the extant microbiota that can be counted by direct microscopy have proved exceedingly difficult to isolate and culture. Classical tests are time consuming and provide little indication of the interactions within the community, the community nutritional status or metabolic activity. The in situ method is based on the extraction of ‘signature’ lipid biomarkers (SLB) from the cell membranes and walls of microorganisms. Lipids are cellular components that are recoverable by extraction with organic solvents. Lipids are an essential component of the membrane of all cells and play a role as storage materials. Extraction of the lipid components of the microbiota from soils and sediments provides both purification and concentration together with an in situ quantitative analysis of the microbial biomass, community structure, and nutritional status. The determination of the total phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids (PLFA) provides a quantitative measure of the viable biomass. Viable microbes have an intact membrane which contains phospholipids (and PLFA). With cell death enzymes hydrolyze the phosphate group within minutes to hours. The lipid core remains as diglyceride (DG). The resulting DG has the same signature fatty acids as the phospholipids (until it degrades) so a comparison of the ratio of PLFA to DG provides an indication of the viable and nonviable microbes. Analysis by SLB technique provides a quantitative definition of the microbial community structure as specific groups of microbes contain characteristic PLFA patterns. The analysis of other lipids such as the sterols (for the microeukaryotes -nematodes, algae, protozoa), glycolipids (for the phototrophs, gram-positive bacteria), or the hydroxy fatty acids in the lipopolysaccharide of the lipid A (gramnegative bacteria) can provide more detailed community structure analysis. The formation of poly (3-hydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) in bacteria or triglyceride (TG) in the microeukaryotes relative to the PLFA provides a measure of the nutritional status. Bacteria grown with adequate carbon and terminal electron acceptors form PHA when they cannot divide, because some essential component is missing. Rates of incorporation of 14 C-acetate into PHA relative to PLFA is a sensitive indicator of disturbance artifacts in estimates of metabolic activity in sediments with redox gradients. Exposure to toxic environments can lead to minicell formation and increases in specific PLFAS. Respiratory quinone structure indicates the proportions of aerobic/anaerobic activities in the community. The SLB technology provides quantitative in situ information that define the microbial ecology in sedimentary geochemical processes.
Giant Platelet Granules in Refractory Anemia (Preleukemia) and Myelomonocytic Leukemia: a Cell Marker?

Thrombotic and hemorrhagic manifestations are common in patients with myeloproliferative diseases. Also, when tested in vitro, aberrations of platelet function are frequently found in these diseases. Morphologic abnormalities of the platelets have been noted with light microscopy.
Tasks of a global civil society: Held, habermas and democratic legitimacy beyond the nation-state

In order for processes of globalization to continue without resulting in a corresponding loss of the collective capacity to make legitimately binding decisions, new mechanisms of democratic politics need to be developed. This article addresses three forms of transnational politics that could serve to broaden democratic legitimacy beyond the nation-state: (i) cosmopolitan democracy, (ii) democratic regionalism, and (iii) democratic network governance. Part one begins by examining David Held's important contributions to the project of rethinking liberal and social democracy in the context of globalization. It argues that if cosmopolitan democracy is to meet the challenges of globalization and address the need for transnational forms of democratic politics, it must be able to illuminate the very serious political obstacles to the democratization of transnational power. It must be able to articulate the forms of politics necessary to chart the course from globalizing present to cosmopolitan future. Parts two ...
Lepton pair production by virtual synchrotron radiation involving transitions to the ground state

The rates of e/sup +/e/sup -/, ..mu../sup +/..mu../sup -/, and tau/sup +/tau/sup -/ pair production via virtual-photon exchange in uniform magnetic fields involving the transition of a Dirac electron from a given Landau level to its ground state are calculated numerically by computer. Attention is paid to the virtual-photon mass distributions associated with the virtual-synchrotron-radiation events. The similarities between the mass distributions and vector-meson form factors are brought out, and empirical formulas for the rates of transition to the ground state eventuating in e/sup +/e/sup -/, ..mu../sup +/..mu../sup -/, and tau/sup +/tau/sup -/ pairs are presented.
A Call for an End to the Paradigm Wars in Reading Research.

Research on the reading process has been undertaken from a variety of perspectives. Too often progress in understanding reading is impeded when researchers working from different perspectives adopt a strong assumption of paradigm incompatibility: that a gain for one perspective is a loss for another. These paradigm wars in reading research mirror those that have taken place within the general educational research community during the last decade. It is argued that this assumption of paradigm incompatibility is false, and that progress toward a comprehensive understanding of the reading process would be hastened if we declared an end to the paradigm wars in the reading field and if investigators from all perspectives agreed to peaceful co-existence. The understanding of reading and of individual differences in reading ability can be approached from a variety of perspectives (Lipson & Wixson, 1986). For example, reading may be approached from the perspective of the neurophysiologist interested in brain processes underlying differences in reading behavior; from the perspective of the cognitive psychologist interested in isolating information processing functions that explain reading ability; and from the perspective of the social constructivist theorist interested in how social structures define, support, and suppress certain literacy acts, based on the social value assigned to various activities. The variety of existing frameworks for understanding reading might be viewed as a reflection of the complexity of the reading process. The differing perspectives might have been interpreted as indicating the necessity of multiple levels of analysis in this complex domain. Unfortunately, anyone familiar with reading research knows that this is not the history of our field. As with so many issues in reading, we
Religious tradition of conservation associated with greater abundance of a keystone tree species in rural Western Rajasthan, India

Land-use and land-cover change in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan threatens the persistence of many ecologically and economically important species. The Bishnoi people of Rajasthan have religiously protected a keystone tree species, Prosopis cineraria, locally known as the Khejeri tree, for over five centuries. We conducted the first comparative study that tests the widely held assumption that Bishnoi presence is positively associated with P. cineraria abundance in nineteen villages in rural Rajasthan. We also evaluated the influence of land area type, human and livestock population, and income on measured Khejeri tree abundance. Villages with Bishnoi had significantly more P. cineraria and had significantly higher incomes than villages without Bishnoi despite no significant differences in land area, human population, or livestock population between village classes. We found no direct associations between Khejeri tree abundance and village demographics suggesting P. cineraria abundance is a function of environmental and socio-economic factors. Within this context we discuss the role of Bishnoi protection of Khejeri trees in maintaining important ecosystem functions and supporting human prosperity.
Molecular Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of the Genus Boechera and Related Genera (Brassicaceae: Boechereae)

Abstract Boechera (Brassicaceae) is a diverse genus of ±70 sexual diploid species and numerous apomictic hybrids concentrated in western North America. It is the largest genus in tribe Boechereae, which also includes seven other small genera. Boechera is closely related to Arabidopsis and is becoming a model genus for diverse studies, focusing particularly on apomixis and hybrid speciation. As part of an ongoing effort to clarify the taxonomy of the group, we present phylogenetic analyses of Boechereae, including all genera of the tribe and most of the sexual diploid species of Boechera. Ten loci are used, including two plastid loci, nrDNA ITS, and seven low-copy nuclear loci. These analyses indicate that Boechera, as currently circumscribed, is polyphyletic, comprising three main clades. Eastern North American species previously assigned to Boechera form a distinct clade with the Asian taxon Borodinia macrophylla and are herein transferred to the genus Borodinia, resulting in seven new combinations (Boro...
Global Health Policy, Local Realities: The Fallacy of the Level Playing Field

Global Health Policy, Local Realities: The Fallacy of the Level Playing Field. Linda M. Whiteford and Lenore Manderson. eds. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2000. 331pp.
A fast finite difference method for propagation predictions over irregular, inhomogeneous terrain

Propagation of electromagnetic waves over irregular, inhomogeneous terrain is solved by a finite difference scheme. The method is fast and requires considerably less memory than the integral equation methods. The method requires a storage space of order O(N) and an execution time of order O(N/sup 2/). Fields generated by a TE/sub 2/ line source are represented in an integral form in terms of the field over a flat, constant impedance plane (the incident field), and the field scattered by the terrain irregularities and inhomogeneities. Accurate expressions are provided for the incident field and the Green's function, whose evaluation is otherwise accomplished by the rather time-consuming Sommerfeld's integrals. Measured equation of invariance is used to terminate the computational domain. The sparse matrix generated by the method is inverted by the Ricatti transform. Numerical results are presented for the ground wave as well as for the sky wave. Comparison is made for known geometries to establish the validity and limitations of the method. >
Toothbrushing barriers for people with developmental disabilities: a pilot study.

Purpose The aims of this study were: (1) to determine which step in tooth brushing is most difficult for individuals with developmental disabilities and (2) to determine if oral hygiene instruction improves technique. Material and methods Once per week for 6 weeks, disclosing solution was applied to the teeth of 14 subjects who were observed individually in their tooth brushing technique. Fourteen distinct steps were measured on a 4-point Likert scale. Plaque score was measured after brushing. Results The step causing greatest difficulty was “able to brush off residual, identified plaque.” Steps that showed greatest improvement were “open toothpaste” and “place toothpaste on brush.” The change in plaque score from the initial visit to the final visit was not statistically significant. Conclusion Oral hygiene instruction in a group and individual setting increased compliance in the initial steps of tooth brushing.
Relationship of dietary zinc to 6-mercaptopurine teratogenesis and DNA metabolism in the rat.

The possible interaction between the level of maternal dietary zinc and the teratogenic activity of 6-mercaptopurine was investigated. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets, containing 9, 100 or 1,000 ppm zinc from day zero of pregnancy and were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 6-MP (55 mg/kg) on day 11. At term, females in the group fed 1,000 ppm zinc (a high intake) showed less pronounced effects on reproduction and embryogenesis than did those fed 9 ppm (marginally deficient) or 100 ppm (normal) zinc. Embryos examined on day 12 of gestation had similar concentrations of protein and RNA; however, the DNA content was lower and the incorporation of 3H-thymidine was greater in the drug treated groups than in non-drug treated controls These results indicate that 6-mercaptopurine is acting to alter embryonic DNA. metabolism and that high levels of dietary zinc may ameliorate some of the deleterious effects of this drug on embryonic and maternal toxicity.
AUV guidance with chemical signals

A great variety of marine animals navigate using chemical signals to locate food sources, mates and spawning grounds. The sensory systems and behaviors exhibited by these animals are well adapted for robust operations in turbulent and chemically complex environments. The algorithms used by an animal to rapidly extract guidance information from a discontinuous and complex chemical signal are presently unknown and are the topic of current research. We have developed a small benthic robot that is being used as an algorithm test bed for ideas in biological chemosensing behavior. The robot is designed to mimic the basic features of a lobster relevant to chemical sensing and associated behaviors. We present the rational for this research, the design of the vehicle and initial results.
School Differences in Tracking Effects on Achievement

This article examines whether tracking students for instruction can have a differential effect on student achievement across schools. Two mechanisms are posited for possible school effects: (1) schlool differences in the determinants of track placement and (2) school variance in the opportunities for learning presented to students by track. I argue that track placement is influenced by characteristics of a school's track structure, by assignment criteria, by theflexibility of track membership, and by a school's scheduling priorities. Differential growth in achievement within track level across schools is explained by school differences in track size and homogeneity, in the quantity and quality of instruction within track, and in the determinants of academic achievement. Longitudinal data from two cohorts of more than 4,000 students provide empirical evidence of school differences in tracking practices and tracking effects on learning. Policy implications of the results for the school choice debate and for organizational and pedagogical practice are discussed. Tracking, or the assignment of students to instructional groups by ability, is a common educational practice in American secondary schools. Most high schools track students for English and mathematics instruction, and many schools track for instruction in other academic subjects as well. In the past, comprehensive high schools generally had a three-track structure, designated as the academic, general, and vocational tracks. More recently, track designations are associated with course levels. A typical tracking structure today consists of advanced placement, honors, regular, and basic level courses. Larger schools may have more course levels while smaller schools may lack advanced placement courses
Triangular step instability and 2D/3D transition during the growth of strained Ge films on Si(100)

We show that an activation energy barrier exists to the formation of wavy step edges due to stress-driven 2D instability. The barrier height and the barrier width depend sensitively on the surface stress anisotropy and step free energy. The large misfit strain of Ge films significantly reduces the barrier by lowering the S{sub B} step energy, inducing S{sub A} steps to undergo a triangular instability even during low temperature growth of Ge on Si(100). The step instability results in a novel arrangement of stress domains, and the interaction between the domains causes a spatial variation of surface strain with a surprisingly large influence on the energy barrier for island nucleation. Calculations indicate a dramatic enhancement in the nucleation of 3D islands at the apex regions of triangular steps, in good agreement with our experimental measurements.
Existence and Reference in Medieval Logic

“The expression ‘free logic’ is an abbreviation for the phrase ‘free of existence assumptions with respect to its terms, general and singular’.”1 Classical quantification theory is not a free logic in this sense, since its standard formulations commonly assume that every singular term in every model is assigned a referent, an element of the universe of discourse. Indeed, since singular terms include not only singular constants, but also variables2, standard quantification theory may be regarded as involving even the assumption of the existence of the values of its variables, in accordance with Quine’s famous dictum: “to be is to be the value of a variable”3.
Stiffness regulation by reflex action in the normal human hand.

1. The torque and electromyographic (EMG) responses to stretch of the first dorsal interosseous muscle (externally imposed joint rotation) were recorded in five normal human subjects. The total mea...
TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE IN THE GENUS CALYCELLINA (HYALOSCYPHACEAE)

The genus Calycellina is re-described and discussed; a key to the species is presented. A new combination, Calycellina punctata, with Peziza puberula as a synonym, resolves the taxonomic and nomenclatural problems of Peziza punctiformis. The collection and isolation of Calycellina punctata into pure culture have increased available characters for identification and add to the knowledge of the holomorph. The epithet puberula, misapplied to a whitish discomycete that was subsequently renamed Pezizella pilosa, is synonymized with Calycellina populina. Other published descriptions of species of Calycellina are summarized here in alphabetical order. Mollisina acerina, an excluded species often mistaken for species of Calycellina, is re-described and discussed. This is a report on the genus Calycellina Hohnel (Ascomycetes, Helotiales, Hyaloscyphaceae), and a study of two ofthe species. These small (1 mm or less in diam), light-colored fungi, characterized by apothecia with hyphoid hairs and black basal cells, have been assigned to the Leotiaceae as well as to the Hyalo? scyphaceae. Since the von Hohnel (1918) description of Calycellina, the addition of 21 new species has necessitated its modification. One ofthe originally designated species is excluded making a total of 23 species in the genus. The nomenclatural history of Peziza punctiformis Grev. shows placement of the species in seven different genera. Examination of specimens labeled Helotium punctiformis (Grev.) Phill. at The New York Botanical Garden (NY) proved that several species were included. Taxonomic and nomenclatural problems needed resolution and there was no type specimen. In the fall of 1981, fresh specimens of Calycellina punctata (Fr.) Lowen & Dumont, collected from fallen oak leaves, provided material for living cultures and a means of evaluating the nature ofthe dark basal tissue. Because the taxonomic and nomenclatural problems of Calycellina populina (Fuckel) Hohnel, Peziza puberula Lasch, and Phialina puberula {sensu Hohnel non Lasch) were related to those of Calycellina punctata and since Mollisina acerina (Mouton) Hohnel has often been misidentified as one ofthe above species, complete descriptions of these species follow. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Response to fasting of hepatic arginase, alkaline phosphatase, and rhodanese in protein-depleted rats.

SummaryWhen protein-depleted rats were subjected to 4 days of fasting, the arginase content of the liver increased by 58% while the alkaline phosphatase content decreased by a similar percentage. A simultaneous smaller increment of the rhodanese content was limited to the first 2 days of fasting. The experiments indicate that the initial increase in arginase activity was due to a nonspecific increase in hepatic protein while the later rise was a specific response probably related to the increased protein catabolism.
Special collections libraries in the digital age: A scholarly perspective

L'A. traite de questions soulevees par la numerisation des collections specialisees et du materiel de recherche dans les bibliotheques. Les technologies ont un impact formidable sur l'elargissement de la diffusion et de l'acces et l'information. Mais comment apprendre aux etudiants a discerner les informations fiables de celles qui ne le sont pas sur l'internet ? Comment selectionner les sources a numeriser ? Les priorites a assigner a un projet de numerisation sont fonction de l'objectif et de la fonctionnalite du projet, de l'audience visee et du financement. Face aux risques d'embouteillage qui menacent la gestion et l'acces au materiel de recherche sur le Web, la collaboration et une planification conjointe pour le partage des ressources de collections numeriques s'imposent.
Monitoring Use of Runways by Voles with Passive Integrated Transponders

We used passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) to mark individual voles ( Microtusochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus ) and to monitor their activity in runways. We marked 893 voles with both PIT tags and ear tags between July and November 1993, and recaptured 818 of these. Over 95% (778) of recaptured voles retained an active PIT tag until their last capture, an average of 7 weeks after initial capture. One-half as many PIT tags (40) as ear tags (88) was lost. We monitored the activity of individual voles by placing circular antennae linked to PIT-tag readers across runways. Typically, three or four voles used the same runway during a 24-h period. Voles were most active near sunset and sunrise. We conclude that an automated system based on PIT tags can provide reliable, detailed information on the spatial pattern and timing of activity for individual voles.
GEOMETRIC MODIFICATION OF LAMINATED CYLINDRICAL SHELLS WITH EMBEDDED NTTINOL

A laminated composite circular cylindrical shell prototype of a leading edge deicing system with embedded Nitinol wire was designed, constructed and analyzed to determine the feasibility of such a system for the removal of ice from the leading edge of an aircraft wing. This simple system was analyzed to determine the level of strain that could be generated by the activation of the embedded Nitinol wires. These predicted values of strain were then compared with those strains measured during laboratory tests of the prototype system. The embedded Nitinol wire was incorporated into the laminate of the finite element model of the curved laminated as a lamina of the sytem with appropriate effective thickness and a pseudo-thermal reaction to generate the recovery forces associated with the shape memory alloy. A Rayleigh-Ritz analysis was also used to confirm the results of the finite element model.
KARST ROCK CLASSIFICATION FOR WEST ANCHOR TUNNEL OF BALINGHE BRIDGE

Karst is fully developed in the surrounding rock of west anchor tunnel of Balinghe Bridge.The rock classification is considered as grades II to IV during the survey.In accordance with the actual karst excavation,advanced and initial supporting parameters should be adjusted for construction safety of the anchor tunnel.On the basis of karst geological forecast and general underground engineering rock mass classification,the physical and mathematical models of karst rock classification for the anchor tunnel are established,aiming at amending rock mass classification for different kinds of karst rocks.According to the tests of rock velocity,rock strength,as well as the extent of karst correction factor and other parameters,the karst rock classification for this anchor tunnel is determined as grade V.In fact,throughout the construction process,these measures are adopted as strong support of the anchor tunnel,such as advanced small pipe,advanced anchoring,steel frame,steel wire,shotcrete,etc..And the bench cut method is also taken for the anchor tunnel excavation.In addition,the fractured rock and the surrounding cave are reinforced by grouting after the excavation of anchor tunnel.In other words,the parameters for initial support of the anchor-tunnel are taken by considering the rock mass as grade V.In practice,it indicates that the karst rock classification for this tunnel is reasonable,which can be taken as a reference for other similar projects.
The Geologic Context of Wonderstone: A Complex, Outcrop-Scaled Pattern of Iron-Oxide Cement

Abstract Although siderite is a widespread early diagenetic mineral in fluvial systems, it is unstable in oxidizing environments and destroyed in permeable rocks that experience uplift and exhumation. The products of siderite oxidation, however, (mm- to cm-scale rhombs, concretions, and complex bands of iron-oxide cement) are widespread in the rock record of fluvial systems. The fluvial channels of the Shinarump Member of the Chinle Formation in southern Utah and northern Arizona, U.S.A., provide an excellent suite of examples of diagenetic features produced by Triassic and Neogene oxidation of early diagenetic siderite. These diagenetic features also provide direct evidence of the level of the water table during deposition of the Shinarump member. Large, in situ, discoidal concretions containing preserved siderite are present in Shinarump floodplain siltstones. Rip-up clasts derived from the siltstones developed iron-oxide rinds during late-stage, near-surface oxidation. These two structures show that floodplain silts contained abundant organic matter and methanic pore water. Groundwater recharging through these silts carried reducing water through underlying sand bodies and discharged into active channels. Degassing of CO2 and methanogenesis caused rhombic crystals of siderite to precipitate in channel sands during these wet intervals. Some of this siderite may have been oxidized during dry intervals when groundwater circulation reversed, but most siderite in the channel sands was preserved until the Shinarump was exhumed during the Neogene. As oxygenated near-surface water entered joints in the lithified Shinarump, colonies of iron-oxidizing microbes living in the phreatic zone occupied redox boundaries and used the rhombic crystals of siderite in the sandstone and the spherulitic siderite in transported siltstone intraclasts as their sources of energy and carbon. The ferrous iron released from dissolving siderite within the intraclasts was oxidized at the siltstone–sandstone contact, generating rinded concretions similar to those in the Cretaceous Dakota Formation. Complex banding known as wonderstone was produced in the channel sandstones from oxidation of the rhombic siderite; the pattern is a combination of Liesegang bands and microbially mediated cements. The preserved rhombs are pseudomorphs after siderite crystals that were either oxidized during Triassic dry intervals, or escaped Neogene microbial oxidation in the phreatic zone, only to be oxidized abiotically in the vadose zone. Microbes are likely oxidizing Shinarump siderite a few kilometers down dip of outcrops with exposed wonderstone. At such locations, the Shinarump is in contact with overlying water-saturated Quaternary alluvium.
Evaluation of polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles for oil separation under environmentally relevant conditions: effect of ionic strength and natural organic macromolecules

Oil spills in marine and non-marine environments can have dramatic effects on the environment. Previously, we reported near 100% removal of a reference MC252 oil using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) from an oil–water mixture in ultra-pure water and synthetic sea water with a low concentration of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA). In this study, the same type of NPs was used to remove oil from oil–water mixtures (oil concentration used was 0.15 ± 0.05 g L−1) in synthetic freshwaters and sea water in the presence and absence of low (1 ppm) and high (10 ppm) concentrations of SRFA or alginic acid. For the optimum NP concentration (17.6 ppm) and separation time (1 h), the data showed essentially 100% oil removal from synthetic freshwaters and sea water in the absence of natural organic macromolecules (NOM). Nearly 100% of C9–C20 alkanes were removed as measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), although removal of the longer chain alkanes was slightly lower. The presence of NOM led to a statistically significant decrease in oil removal with NOM acting as a competitive phase for either PVP or oil and reducing NP–oil interactions driven by the hydrophobic effect of PVP coating. Ionic strength facilitated oil sorption presumably by enhancing the magnetic separation of the oil–NP complex or altering PVP hydrophobicity. Alteration of the separation conditions allowed optimal oil removal, with essentially 100% oil removal under most but not all conditions. Results show that the use of these NPs is a cheap, facile and reliable technique for removing oil under a wide range of environmentally relevant conditions.
Distribution of the Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) in the Southeastern United States

Abstract Mustela nivalis (Least Weasel) reaches the southernmost portion of its North American range in the Appalachian Mountains. Throughout its southern range, the Least Weasel is considered rare or uncommon. We suggest that the current designation might underestimate the population due to a lack of records and limited knowledge of its distribution. We compiled Least Weasel records from the 7 southern-most states (Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) in the Appalachian region. We searched museum/university collections, state agency databases, and contacted small colleges to locate specimens in teaching collections. Additionally, we implemented a citizen-science project to alert cat owners of the potential for cat-killed Least Weasel specimens and explained how to report these specimens. For all specimens, we attempted to determine the method of capture. The Least Weasel appears to be more abundant and widely distributed than previously documented. We ident...
Does It Matter Why and How Patients With Heart Failure Die? A Debate That Lives On

Our interest in death and illness is nothing but a way of expressing an interest in life” —Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain .1 Is the retort to the declarative statement that “dead is dead”2 now dead? Simply answered, not at all. In the heart failure discipline, whether data are derived from clinical trials, registries, or epidemiological studies, delineating “why” and “how” patients die remains a keen interest for investigators. Cross-reference “cause of death” with “heart failure” in an online publication database, and you will find almost 60 papers in the 10 years since the “dead is dead” issue was raised. Why are we so engaged in this task? Perhaps it is because the underlying goals are sound: to understand the impact of interventions according to treatment assignment and to better understand the pathophysiology and natural history of heart failure. Article see p 91 We have in fact learned a great deal from a long list of studies: For example, patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy can die of ischemic complications,3 implantable defibrillators may shift death from …
Vitamin deficiency and cancer

Vitamins, either as coenzymes or hormone-like substances play an important role in the expression of genetic information and in the regulation of cellular metabolism, differentiation, and maturation. Recent epidemiologic evidence suggests that certain forms of cancer are more prevalent among populations with a limited intake of certain nutrients. Other evidence indicates that localized deficiency of a nutrient can occur in hormone-sensitive cells without overt systemic manifestations of deficiency disease. Folic acid, because of its key role in nucleic acid biosynthesis, and vitamin A, because of its role in epithelial maintenance are of particular interest. The recognition of folate-dependent fragile sites on chromosomes suggests that folate and related compounds may play a role in preventing tumor-specific chromosome translocations and the insertion of viral oncogenes. Improved understanding of the role of nutrients in cellular maturation could provide clues for primary cancer prevention and better methods of treatment.
Noneligible Donors as a Strategy to Decrease the Organ Shortage.

Organ procurement organization (OPO) performance is generally evaluated by the number of organ procurement procedures divided by the number of eligible deaths (donation after brain death [DBD] donors aged 70 years) is not tracked. The present study aimed to investigate the variability in the proportion of noneligible liver donors by the 58 donor service areas (DSAs). Patients undergoing liver transplant (LT) between 2011 and 2015 were obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research file. LTs from noneligible and eligible donors were compared. The proportion of noneligible liver donors by DSA varied significantly, ranging from 0% to 19.6% of total liver grafts used. In transplant programs, the proportion of noneligible liver donors used ranged from 0% to 35.3%. On linear regression there was no correlation between match Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score for programs in a given DSA and proportion of noneligible donors used from the corresponding DSA (p = 0.14). Noneligible donors remain an underutilized resource in many OPOs. Policy changes to begin tracking noneligible donors and learning from OPOs that have high noneligible donor usage are potential strategies to increase awareness and pursuit of these organs.
Increasing access to computer science for blind students

Computer science has many aspects that are inaccessible to someone who is blind. My research has focused on identifying the different barriers that exist for blind students in computer science and creating technology to overcome them. I have done two projects towards this goal, StructJumper and a survey and interviews with blind students about their experiences learning programming. StructJumper is a tool that creates a tree based on the structure of the code, which can be used for navigation and discovering contextual information in the code. The surveys and interviews focused on the barriers that blind students faced in learning computer science. For my dissertation, I am proposing one more project investigating how to convey updates to data structures.
Association Between Elements of Electronic Health Record Systems and the Weekend Effect in Urgent General Surgery.

This cross-sectional review evaluates how specific components of electronic health record systems were associated with the weekend effect for patients undergoing acute cholecystectomy, acute appendectomy, and acute hernia repair.
Voting to belong: the inevitability of systemic Islamophobia

In this article, I connect Muslim American voting practices to the ‘good Muslim’ trope. Tracing participation of members of Islamic Representative Organizations (IRO’s) in election cycles from 2000...
Caregiving by Older Adults in the United States: Gender Differences in Well-being

To date empirical research on the effect of caregiving by older adults on their own well-being has yielded mixed results with some studies showing negative effects, while others show no effect. After reviewing both the theory and previous empirical work, this chapter uses activity-level data from the 2009 Disability and Use of Time Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine how the unpaid caregiving responsibilities of older adults affect their well-being, paying particular attention to gender differences. The results show that controlling for pre-existing levels of reported life satisfaction, caregiving activities are associated with reduced levels of tiredness and pain compared to other activities by husbands. Wives did not experience any difference in tiredness or pain while engaging in caregiving compared to other activities.
50th Anniversary Perspective: Living Polymerization—Emphasizing the Molecule in Macromolecules

The ideal of living polymerization has defined research in polymer chemistry over the past 50 years. In this Perspective, we present the case that this concept has enabled the treatment of polymers as organic molecules, rather than impure mixtures of species, and allowed the translation of methods developed by synthetic organic chemists into ever more accessible living and/or controlled polymerization methods. The concurrent development of rapid analytical methods for screening new polymerization methods for living characteristics, chiefly size exclusion chromatography, has greatly aided in the expansion of living polymerization methods.
Possible Solutions as a Concept in Behavior Change Interventions.

Problem Nurses are uniquely positioned to implement behavior change interventions. Yet, nursing interventions have traditionally resulted from nurses problem-solving rather than allowing the patient to self-generate possible solutions for attaining specific health outcomes. Purpose The purpose of this review is to clarify the meaning of possible solutions in behavior change interventions. Methods Walker and Avant's method on concept analysis serves as the framework for examination of the possible solutions. Conclusion Possible solutions can be defined as continuous strategies initiated by patients and families to overcome existing health problems. Implications for nursing practice As nurses engage in behavior change interventions, supporting patients and families in problem-solving will optimize health outcomes and transform clinical practice.
Pituitary in Vitro LH and FSH Secretion after Administration of the Antiprogesterone RU486 in Vivo

Publisher Summary This chapter explores pituitary in vitro follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion after administration of the antiprogesterone RU486 in vivo . When RU486 is administered on the afternoon of proestrus, the pattern of basal LH and FSH pituitary secretion is remarkably different the next morning. The secretion of LH and FSH during the 4-day rat estrous cycle is remarkably similar except following the preovulatory gonadotropin surges on the afternoon of proestrus. Although levels of serum LH drop immediately following the proestrous surge, serum FSH remains elevated throughout the evening of proestrus until noon on the day of estrus, a phenomenon known as the secondary FSH surge. The primary surges of LH and FSH and the secondary FSH surge can be completely abolished by administration of a GnRH antagonist before the primary surges have taken place. The data on pituitary FSH secretion, either basal or GnRH-stimulated secretion, suggest a role for progesterone, at the pituitary level, in maintaining FSH secretion, which may have implications for the producing the secondary FSH surge.
SERUM CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE AND SERUM ALDOLASE LEVELS IN ACUTELY PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses serum creatine phosphokinase (SCPK) and serum aldolase (SAld) levels in acutely psychotic patients. It has been observed that the increased SCPK levels in the acutely psychotic patients are rarely present for more than 5–10 days and are sometimes present for only 1–2 days. In general, no elevations of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase activities accompanied the elevations of SCPK or SAld levels. Large increases in SCPK activity were only found in acutely psychotic patients. The absence of increased SCPK or SAld levels in severely anxious or depressed psychoneurotic patients indicated that severe stress was not the cause of the increased serum enzyme levels.
Cancer control knowledge, attitudes, and perceived skills among medical students.

Abstract Background. The Cancer Prevention and Control Education (CPACE) program aims to strengthen and coordinate curriculum offerings in cancer prevention and control for medical, graduate nursing and public health students. Methods. Students were surveyed on cancer‐related knowledge and confidence as part of needs assessment and evaluation efforts. The students completed self‐administered surveys (response rate 78%). Descriptive and stratified analysis and ANOVA were conducted. Results. Knowledge and confidence generally increased with each successive class year, but confidence varied markedly across specific counseling scenarios and by gender. While the students overall reported greater confidence in performing an examination than in interpreting the results, confidence varied significantly across specific types of examinations. Conclusions. Understanding of basic information about common cancers was disappointing. Confidence to perform and interpret examinations could be higher, especially for opposi...
Interlocal collaboration and emergency preparedness: a qualitative analysis of the impact of the Urban Area Security Initiative program.

Objective: Horizontal intergovernmental coordination, or interlocal collaboration, is an ongoing strategy to enhance public health emergency preparedness in the United States. This study aims to understand the impact of interlocal collaboration on emergency preparedness, and how the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program, a federally administered grant program to promote regional preparedness capability development, has influenced perceptions of this relationship. Design: Semistructured interviews were conducted and recorded in early 2014. Transcribed data were coded and iteratively analyzed. A purposive and snowball sampling strategy was used. Setting: Interviews were conducted in person or by phone. Participants: Twenty-eight key informants were interviewed during 24 interviews. Individuals were selected as key informants due to their knowledge of a UASI region(s) and its governance structures, investment strategies, and challenges, as well as knowledge of the UASI program’s history and goals. Main outcome measure(s): Interviews were used to identify, describe, and characterize perceptions of interlocal collaboration, national emergency preparedness, and the UASI grant. Results: Impacts, challenges, incentives, facilitators, and disadvantages to interlocal collaboration were identified. Interlocal collaboration was found to impact preparedness by promoting the perceived dissolution of geopolitical boundaries; developing self-reliant regions; developing regional capabilities; promoting regional risk identification; and creating an appreciation of interlocal collaboration importance. The UASI program was thought to have a profound and unique impact on the development of interlocal collaboration infrastructure and on national preparedness. Conclusions: Interlocal collaborations contribute to overall national preparedness. Grant programs, such as the UASI, can incentivize and foster interlocal collaboration in preparedness.
Uniform Strong Normalization for Multi-discipline Calculi

Modern programming languages have effects and mix multiple calling conventions, and their core calculi should too. We characterize calling conventions by their “substitution discipline” that says what variables stand for, and design calculi for mixing disciplines in a single program. Building on variations of the reducibility candidates method, including biorthogonality and symmetric candidates which are both specialized for one discipline, we develop a single uniform framework for strong normalization encompassing call-by-name, call-by-value, call-by-need, call-by-push-value, non-deterministic disciplines, and any others satisfying some simple criteria. We explicate commonalities of previous methods and show they are special cases of the uniform framework and they extend to multi-discipline programs.
BALANCING RESOURCES AND VALUE IN DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE REVIEWS: A CASE STUDY AT A MID-SIZED PUBLIC UNIVERSITY

This study examines the development and implementation of a distance education course review process at a mid-sized public university. Four primary goals were set for the process: to provide substantive feedback, to cultivate engagement between DE faculty and staff, to provide support to course developers and reviewers, and to establish an effective balance between faculty resources and the value of feedback generated through the process. Feedback was collected through a survey of participating developers and reviewers (n=52). Responses broadly supported achievement of the four primary goals. Those who participated in multiple roles gave stronger ratings on all survey questions than those who participated through a single role. Based on qualitative and quantitative feedback, strengths, weaknesses, and possible adjustments to the process are discussed.
The New Triffin Dilemma

According to Pozsar, there is a new kind of “Triffin Dilemma.” Due to rising inequality, a shrinking numbers of large banks, and a ceiling on Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured de...
Online Health Monitoring of Multiple MOSFETs in a Grid-Tied PV Inverter using Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR)

In this paper, Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) based condition monitoring technique for large PV inverter is proposed, which is capable of characterizing the degradation levels in all four MOSFETs in a single phase inverter using a single measurement. To achieve this, SSTDR test signal was applied across a node pair inside the PV inverter, and the corresponding peak responses were captured and processed to determine the level of aging and the location of the aged MOSFET within the inverter. The ON-state channel resistance increases with MOSFET aging, and the SSTDR reflections contain the information regarding this impedance change even though the inverter is live. That being said, the presence of PWM signal only makes the degradation detection more challenging. A new algorithm has been introduced in this paper to solve the problem mentioned above, and finally, experimental results have been included to demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithm to locate individual degraded MOSFET with their corresponding level of aging. Although the initial test results are obtained from a single phase inverter, the proposed technique is equally applicable to three-phase inverters as well.
An unusual presentation of post gastric bypass hypoglycemia with both postprandial and fasting hypoglycemia

There has been an increasing awareness of post gastric bypass hypoglycemia (PGBH). Histopathologic findings from such patients who underwent partial/total pancreatomy, however, can vary widely from minimal changes to classic nesidioblastosis, making the pathologic diagnosis challenging. PGBH typically presents as postprandial hypoglycemia, as opposed to insulinoma, which presents as fasting hypoglycemia. Herein, we describe an unusual case of a patient with PGBH who initially presented with postprandial hypoglycemia three years after surgery, but later developed fasting hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia as the disease progressed. Our hypothesis for this phenomenon is that this disease is progressive, and later in its course, the insulin release becomes dissociated from food stimulation and is increased at baseline. Future studies are needed to investigate the prevalence as well as etiology of this progression from postprandial to fasting hypoglycemia. Learning points: •• There has been an increasing awareness of post gastric bypass hypoglycemia (PGBH). •• Histopathologically, PGBH can vary from minimal changes to nesidioblastosis. •• Although uncommon, patients with PGBH after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass may present with both postprandial and fasting hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia as disease progresses. •• Our hypothesis for this phenomenon is that the insulin release becomes dissociated from food stimulation and is increased at baseline with disease progression.