cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IBCFAP: Intra-Body Communications Five-Layers Arm Phantom Model

This paper presents a methodology for the preparation of a phantom arm model to be used for evaluating the performance of intra-body communications specifically and body area networks (BANs) in general. This paper describes the basic procedures for preparing tissue mimicking materials for each of the five basic tissue layers: skin, fat, muscle, cortical bone, and bone marrow. Matching materials for mimicking the dielectric properties of each tissue, with a mimic accuracy of at least 90%, were finally selected, after carrying out experimental testing on more than 50 different test samples that were prepared using different techniques and mixture concentrations. The final arm phantom is then fabricated and tested. The experimental results, mainly the gain/attenuation profile, are then displayed and compared with those obtained from the real subjects with similar experimental setup conditions showing very close to perfect match, proving the high accuracy of the fabricated arm phantom model in mimicking the dielectric behavior of real body parts, over the frequency range of interests for intra-body communications (100 kHz to 100 MHz). To date, this is the first accurate physical five-layer phantom arm model fabricated for intra-body communication applications covering this frequency range and with such high accuracy.
Rapid Detection of Airway Pathogens in Lung Transplant Donors

Purpose Final culture results are often unavailable at the time of donor organ offers, despite their importance in the evaluation of donor organ quality. We hypothesized that a rapid multiplex molecular assay could improve time to results and facilitate treatment initiation in the donors prior to organ recovery. Methods The “Rapid Detection of Airway Pathogens for Lung Transplantation” trial (NCT03933878) is a prospective observational clinical trial investigating the efficiency and accuracy of the BioFire Pneumonia Panel in the context of donor bronchoscopy. This assay tests the presence and/or quantity for 26 common airway pathogens in 2 hours. Bronchoalveolar lavage was collected from brain dead donors at the time of lung procurement. Molecular assay results were compared to standard of care cultures. Time to result between molecular assay and standard of care was compared by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Agreement between assays was assessed by Cohen's kappa. Results A total of 35 donor samples were included. From the time of sample collection to time to result, the median time was 7.01 hours [6.59–9.18] versus 57.7 hours [44.6–72.6] (p Conclusion Molecular detection of lower respiratory pathogens significantly reduces the time to result while maintaining agreement with standard of care clinical cultures in the context of candidate lung allografts. Such data could inform quality assessment and facilitate timely donor management prior to organ recovery.
Seasonality and Progression of COVID-19 among Countries With or Without Lock-downs.

Abstract Early predictions by computer simulation of 7 billion infections and 40 million deaths by COVID-19 during 2020 alone if lock-downs and other confining measures were not enforced may have justified restrictive policies mandated by governments of 165 countries. A main objective of the present study was to determine differences between the infection and death rate in countries that established early, nation-wide curfews, state-at-home orders, or lock-downs versus countries that did not mandate lock-downs to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The analyzed epidemiological data indicates that lock-downs, and other confining measures had no effect on the chances of healthy individuals becoming infected with- or dying of SARS-CoV-2. The highest incidence of COVID-19 infection progressed from countries in northern latitudes, where it was winter at the beginning of the pandemic, to countries in the southern hemisphere in July 21, 2020 were winter was starting. This trend reversed again during the last quarter of 2020. A considerable (4-fold) increase in COVID-19 infection rate is observed between fall and beginning of winter in countries in the southern hemisphere. This seasonal progression correlates with the variation in the germicidal solar flux received by these countries, suggesting that infectious virus in the environment plays a role in the evolution of COVID-19. In addition, hypotheses are presented that could explain the recurrent new spikes of COVID-19 as well as the mortality of SARS-Co V-2 observed in some developed countries higher than the mortality rate reported in several developing countries.
Thymoma: Histologically a heterogenous group of tumors

Over the years the nomenclature of thymomas has been debated regarding the best manner in which these tumors should be grouped. In every schema presented thus far, the main issue has been the presence or lack of lymphocytes and accordingly, the tumors have been place into a specific category. However, even though this concept applies for most of the cases, there are numerous tumors that do not necessarily fit into those categories as either the thymomas show another cellular proliferation associated with the epithelial cells or the epithelial cell themselves are arranged in a pattern that departs from the conventional features of the classic thymoma. Herein we will emphasize those features, which in some circumstances, mainly with small mediastinoscopic biopsies may pose a considerable problem in interpretation. We do consider that the most important issue is to be familiar with the different growth pattern that these tumors may show in order to avoid misdiagnosis. In addition, we consider that regardless of the growth pattern or cellular composition of the tumor, it is highly recommended that these tumors just like any other be carefully sampled and properly stage. Although we are fully aware of the different growth pattern and specific cellular details that thymoma may show, the discussion of each one of those tumors is beyond the scope of this review. Therefore, we have placed more emphasis in those, which in our judgment are more commonly encountered in the daily practice.
Are Natural Resources Cursed? An Investigation of the Dynamic Effects of Resource Dependence on Institutional Quality

This paper examines whether natural resource dependence has a negative influence on various indicators of institutional quality when controlling for the potential effects of other geographic, economic and cultural initial conditions. Analysis of a panel of countries from 1996 to 2010 indicates that a high degree of resource dependence, measured as the share of mineral fuel exports in a country's total exports, is associated with worse government effectiveness, as well as with reduced levels of competition across the economy. Furthermore, estimation of long-run elasticities suggests that government effectiveness and the intensity of domestic competition decrease over time as the dependence on natural resources increases. An illustration of the Russian case shows that the negative effects accumulate in the long run, leading to a worse deterioration of government effectiveness in Russia than in Canada, a country with a comparable resource endowment but far better overall institutional quality. This result is corroborated by a significant negative correlation found between regional resource dependence and an indicator of regulatory capture in Russian regions, which indicates that the regulatory environment is more likely to be subverted in regions that are more dependent on extractive industries. Overall, the findings would be consistent with a situation in which a generally weak institutional environment would allow resource interests to wield the bidding power accruing from export revenues to subvert the content of laws and regulations, as well as their enforcement. The fact that this is associated with negative externalities for the rest of the economy, notably by undermining a level playing field across non-resource sectors, sheds light on a potential channel for the resource curse.
TEMPORARY REMOVAL: On the ac magnetic susceptibility of a room temperature superconductor: anatomy of a probable scientific fraud

Abstract In Nature 586, 373 (2020) [1], Snider et al announced the experimental discovery of room temperature superconductivity in a carbonaceous sulfur hydride under high pressure, hereafter called CSH. The paper reported sharp drops in the measured magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature for five different pressures, that were claimed to be a superior test signaling a superconducting transition. Here I present several arguments indicating that the susceptibility data published in [1] were probably fraudulent. This calls into question the validity of the entire paper and its claim of detection of room temperature superconductivity. I also describe the roadblocks that I have encountered in reaching this conclusion. A variety of implications of this situation are discussed.
Financial impacts of the Medicaid expansion on community health centers.

OBJECTIVE To determine the impacts of the Medicaid expansion on revenues, costs, assets, and liabilities of federally funded community health centers. DATA SOURCES We combined data from the Uniform Data System, Internal Revenue Service nonprofit tax returns, and county-level characteristics from the Census Bureau. Our final dataset included 5841 center-year observations. STUDY DESIGN We used difference-in-differences model to estimate the fiscal impacts of the Medicaid expansion on community health centers. We employed event study models, state-specific trend models, and placebo law tests as robustness checks. DATA COLLECTION METHODS Not applicable. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS On the revenue side, we found a $2.08 million relative increase (p = 0.002) in Medicaid revenues, offset by a $0.44 million decrease (p = 0.015) in total grants among community health centers in expansion states compared with centers in non-expansion states. On the expenditure side, we found a large but not statistically significant $0.98 million relative increase (p = 0.201) in total expenditures among centers in expansion states. Uncompensated care for health centers in expansion states decreased by $1.19 million (p < 0.001) relative to their counterparts in non-expansion states. CONCLUSIONS Community health centers in expansion states benefited from the increased, stable revenue stream from Medicaid expansions. While Medicaid revenue increased as a result of the policy, we find no major evidence of substitution away from other revenue lines, with one notable exception (i.e., substitution away from state and local government grants). From a policy perspective, these results are encouraging as the Biden Administration starts to implement the safety-net enhancements from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and as more non-expansion states are considering opting into Medicaid expansions. It is anticipated that these added revenue streams will help to sustain health centers in the delivery of health care services to the underserved population.
A new picorna-like virus identified in populations of the potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli.

The potato/tomato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a pest of Solanaceae plants and a vector of the pathogenic bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’, which is associated with zebra chip disease in potato. This disease is controlled through insecticide treatments, and more environmentally friendly management options are desirable. The objective of this study was to identify viruses present in potato psyllid populations that might be used as biocontrol agents for this insect pest. A new picorna-like virus, tentatively named “Bactericera cockerelli picorna-like virus” (BcPLV), was discovered in B. cockerelli populations maintained in greenhouses, through the use of high-throughput sequencing data and subsequent confirmation by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. BcPLV has a positive-sense 9,939-nt RNA genome encoding a single 2,947-aa polyprotein and is related to the Diaphorina citri picorna-like virus (DcPLV) found in Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri populations. Based on their genome organization and the phylogeny of their RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domains, BcPLV and DcPLV together are proposed to comprise a new genus, provisionally named "Psylloidivirus", within the family Iflaviridae.
Research on gold in catalysis

The first symposium on the catalytic aspects of gold was held at the Eighth North American Meeting of the Catalysis Society, May 3–4, 1983 at the Franklin Plaza Hotel, Philadelphia. The symposium, co-sponsored by the Gold Institute, brought together widely scattered research efforts on catalysis by gold. Tins symposium advanced our understanding of the role and characteristics of gold catalysts by focusing attention on the research carried out in this somewhat neglected field.
Effects of age on the pharmacokinetics of tramadol and its active metabolite, O‐desmethyltramadol following intravenous administration to foals

Summary Reasons for performing study Tramadol is an analgesic agent used in man and a number of veterinary species. The pharmacokinetics and behavioural effects of tramadol and its active metabolite have been described in mature horses, but not in young foals. Objectives To characterise the pharmacokinetics, metabolism and some induced behavioural and physiological responses following i.v. tramadol administration in the same group of foals on 4 different occasions, from a few days after birth to age 43 days. Study design Experimental. Methods Tramadol was administered i.v. (3 mg/kg bwt) to a group of 8 foals on 4 separate occasions at ages 6–8, 13–15, 20–22 and 40–43 days. Blood samples were collected prior to administration and at multiple times until 48 h post administration. Blood samples were analysed for tramadol and metabolite concentrations and pharmacokinetics determined at each age. Behavioural and physiological effects were also assessed. Results The average volume of distribution was 5.10, 4.63, 4.02 and 3.84 l/kg bwt and clearance 3.44, 3.08, 3.14 and 2.69 l/h/kg bwt when foals were aged 6–8, 13–15, 20–22 and 40–43 days, respectively. There was not a significant difference in the elimination half-life between age groups (1.52, 1.73, 1.13 and 1.51 for ages 6–8, 13–15, 20–22 and 40–43 days, respectively). The metabolites produced were the same as in mature horses; however, glucuronidation capability, appeared to increase with increasing age. Tramadol administration was well tolerated at all ages studied with sedation noted in the 3 older age groups. Conclusions Tramadol appears to be consistently well tolerated following i.v. administration of 3 mg/kg bwt to foals ranging in age from 1 to 6 weeks. Although analgesic concentrations in foals have yet to be established, the results of this study support further study of tramadol for clinical use in foals.
Membrane Transport Proteins and Drug Transport

To exert their intended therapeutic goal, drugs need to cross epithelial barriers to reach their site of action. Transport proteins have critical physiological roles in nutrient absorption and transport of endogenous compounds. These systems can serve as useful pharmacological targets and may be used as a mechanism to increase drug absorption. However, we have little understanding of these proteins at the molecular level because of the absence of high resolution crystal structures. Numerous efforts have been made to characterize the P-glycoprotein efflux pump, the peptide transporter PepT1, and the apical sodium-dependent transporter, which are important not only for their native transporter function but also as drug targets to increase absorption and bioactivity. In vitro and computational approaches have been applied to gain some insight into these transporters with some success. This represents an opportunity for optimizing molecules as substrates for the solute transporters and providing a further screening system for drug discovery. Clearly the future growth in knowledge of transporter function will be led by integrated in vitro and in silico approaches. Keywords: transport; epithelia; bioavailability; P-glycoprotein; multidrug resistance; bile acid; peptide transport; PepT1; ASBT; IBAT; MDR
Growth control of human ovarian cancer cells by the dynein light chain and TGFβ receptor interacting protein km23-1

We have identified km23-1 as a TGFβ signaling intermediate that is also a light chain of the minus-end directed motor protein dynein (DLC). Our results suggest that km23-1 (also termed DYNLRB1/robl1/mLC7-1/Dnlc2a) can function as a “motor receptor” to recruit TGFβ signaling components to the dynein motor for endosomal trafficking prior to nuclear translocation. For example, we have shown that overexpression of the dynactin subunit dynamitin, which is known to disrupt dynein-mediated intracellular transport, blocks TGFβ-stimulated nuclear translocation of Smad2. Further, siRNA blockade of km23-1 resulted in a reduction both in nuclear levels of phosphorylated (ie, activated) Smad2 and of TGFβ/Smad2-dependent transcriptional activity (JBC 282: 19122, 2007). Similarly, we have shown that km23-2 is required for Smad3 TGFβ signaling (JCP 221: 707, 2009). However, many human ovarian cancer cells (HOCCs) have lost growth inhibitory responsiveness to TGFβ. In order to assess whether km23-1 could also regulate the growth of aggressive, TGFβ-resistant HOCCs, we developed a tet-off-inducible model system for induction of wild-type km23-1 expression in SKOV-3 HOCCs. Here we show that overexpression of km23-1 (by 10-20 fold) suppressed the growth of the cells in vitro and markedly impeded tumor formation in vivo. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis in the SKOV-3 model system demonstrated an increased fraction of cells in G2/M after induction of km23-1 expression (dox removal), compared with controls. Similar results were obtained for the TGFβ-resistant IGROV-1 HOCCs. Additional studies revealed that km23-1 overexpression in HOCCs increased the mitotic index, in association with activation of both MEK and ERK and an elevation of cyclin B1 protein expression levels. The elevated levels of phospho-MEK, phospho-ERK, and cyclin B1, as well as the distribution of the cells in mitosis, suggest that the cells are delayed in prometaphase/ metaphase. This mitotic delay, followed by cell death, appears to be the mechanism by which high levels of km23-1 can suppress ovary tumor growth in vivo. Since dynein is known to have critical functions at this point in mitosis by inactivating the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), studies are underway to investigate how km23-1 overexpression regulates the SAC to cause the reduced tumor formation in vivo. This work was supported by NIH grants CA100239, CA92889, and CA90765 to KMM. Our results indicate that km23-1 is a critical ovarian cancer target for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents. In this regard, US patents have been issued to KMM related to km23-1-based methods for diagnostic/prognostic screening, as well as for the identification of km23-1-based therapeutic agents for ovarian cancer (US 7,229,758 B2; 6-07 & US 7,741,043; 6-10).
Controlling local disorder in self-assembled monolayers by patterning the topography of their metallic supports

Micropatterning is a powerful method for controlling surface properties, with applications from cell biology to electronics1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiolates on gold and silver9,10,11—the structures most widely used for preparing organic films with specific surface properties—are usually patterned by partitioning the surface into regions formed from different thiols12,13,14,15. Here we describe a way to pattern SAMs using a single alkanethiol on substrates consisting of regions of different topography: planar islands of one metal on the surface of a second (which may be different from or the same as the first). These topographically patterned SAMs consist of three regions: two planar surfaces and a transition region between the two. The characters of the SAMs on these three regions were inferred from images of three structures that form on them: condensation figures, patterns of crystals of CaCO3 and regions of selective etching. The transition region is more active in the processes generating these structures than either of the two planar regions, and we propose that this activity is due to the relatively high disorder in the organic film there. We believe that this ability to control the local disorder in a SAM with high resolution will be important in controlling processes such as nucleation, wetting, adhesion and etching on scales of below 50 nm to 5 µm.
Income maintenance in old age: Current status and future prospects for rich countries

The purpose of this paper is to review the recent evidence on the antipoverty effectiveness and other characteristics of income maintenance for the elderly in the rich nations of the world. As they move toward Social Security reform due to worldwide population aging, strategies to reduce the future Social Security deficit in most nations examined here need to take into account the way that impending program changes affect poverty and benefit adequacy, as well as fiscal soundness. Different nations offer various approaches which would help the high elderly poverty nations to achieve lower poverty rates while also providing fiscally responsible solutions to the future public costs of an aging society.
Performance measurements of the 3D FFT on the blue gene/l supercomputer

This paper presents performance characteristics of a communications-intensive kernel, the complex data 3D FFT, running on the Blue Gene/L architecture. Two implementations of the volumetric FFT algorithm were characterized, one built on the MPI library using an optimized collective all-to-all operation [2] and another built on a low-level System Programming Interface (SPI) of the Blue Gene/L Advanced Diagnostics Environment (BG/L ADE) [17]. We compare the current results to those obtained using a reference MPI implementation (MPICH2 ported to BG/L with unoptimized collectives) and to a port of version 2.1.5 the FFTW library [14]. Performance experiments on the Blue Gene/L prototype indicate that both of our implementations scale well and the current MPI-based implementation shows a speedup of 730 on 2048 nodes for 3D FFTs of size 128 × 128 × 128. Moreover, the volumetric FFT outperforms FFTW port by a factor 8 for a 128× 128× 128 complex FFT on 2048 nodes.
A Review of: “Health Informatics for Medical Librarians. Cleveland, Ana D., and Cleveland, Donald B.”

Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet considers for review books of interest to librarians and health care consumers. This column will concentrate on reviews of resources recent books about co...
Nova Scorpii and Coalescing Low-Mass Black Hole Binaries as LIGO Sources

Double neutron star (NS-NS) binaries, analogous to the well-known Hulse-Taylor pulsar PSR 1913+16 (documented by Hulse & Taylor in 1974), are guaranteed-to-exist sources of high-frequency gravitational radiation detectable by LIGO. There is considerable uncertainty in the estimated rate of coalescence of such systems (see the work of Phinney in 1991, Narayan and coworkers in 1991, and Kalogera and coworkers in 2001), with conservative estimates of ~1 per 106 yr per galaxy, and optimistic theoretical estimates 1 or more mag larger. Formation rates of low-mass black hole (BH)-neutron star binaries may be higher than those of NS-NS binaries and may dominate the detectable LIGO signal rate. Rate estimates for such binaries are plagued by severe model uncertainties. Recent estimates by Portegies Zwart & Yungelson in 1998 and De Donder & Vanbeveren in 1998 suggest that BH-BH binaries do not coalesce at significant rates despite being formed at high rates. We estimate the enhanced coalescence rate for BH-BH binaries due to weak asymmetric kicks during the formation of low-mass black holes like Nova Sco (see the work of Brandt, Podsiadlowski, & Sigurdsson in 1995) and find they may contribute significantly to the LIGO signal rate, possibly dominating the phase I detectable signals if the range of black hole masses for which there is significant kick is broad enough. For a standard Salpeter initial mass function, assuming mild natal kicks, we project that the R6 merger rate (the rate of mergers per 106 yr in a Milky Way-like galaxy) of BH-BH systems is ~0.5, smaller than that of NS-NS systems. However, the higher chirp mass of these systems produces a signal nearly 4 times greater, on average, with a commensurate increase in search volume, hence, our claim that BH-BH mergers (and, to a lesser extent, BH-NS coalescence) should comprise a significant fraction of the signal seen by LIGO. The BH-BH coalescence channel considered here also predicts that a substantial fraction of BH-BH systems should have at least one component with near-maximal spin (a/M ~ 1). This is from the spin-up provided by the fallback material after a supernova. If no mass transfer occurs between the two supernovae, both components could be spinning rapidly. The waveforms produced by the coalescence of such a system should produce a clear spin signature, so this hypothesis could be directly tested by LIGO.
Electronic structure and phase stability properties in ternary substitutional alloys

Electronic structure and stability properties of ternary-metal alloys are examined using an extension of the Coherent Potential Approximation -Generalized Perturbation Method approach within the Tight-Binding description of the chemically random alloy. In particular, we report on calculations of density of states, mixing energies and effective cluster interactions which build up the ordering energy. The study focuses on the Ti-V-Fe system and its binary components.
Photoexcitations in polythiophene at high pressure.

We report optical-absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and picosecond photoinduced absorption (PA) decay in films of poly-3-hexyl-thiophene at pressures up to 80 kbar. The spectral bands redshift nonlinearly with pressure and the PL intensity decreases markedly. Thermochromic transitions are completely inhibited at pressures as low as 14 kbar. The picosecond recovery of the PA decay at high pressure is similar to that of unpressed polythiophene, but has a power-law exponent consistent with more ordered chains at high pressure. These effects suggest changes with pressure in the chain conformation and in the electronic polarizability; no changes in the interchain transfer integral are observed.
Both Sides of the Desk: Collaborative Self-Study in Teacher Education.

Abstract Teachers educators face the challenge of helping preservice teachers launch their career-long professional learning. The authors describe how they address this challenge by building stronger connections between teaching practices in their own methods classes and in the K-12 schools where preservice teachers observe and teach. These efforts were strengthened by their collaborative work in the Michigan English Language Arts Frameworks (MELAF) project. This state standards project—an integrated approach to speaking, reading, writing, listening, and viewing—aligns curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development. The MELAF content standards and professional developmental guidelines also provided a common text against which the authors could intepret their own curriculum and practices. The authors describe how reflective dialogue, action research, and critical inquiry into a standards-based English language arts curriculum supported revisions and improvements in their classroom practi...
Structural Characterization and Coordination Behavior of 1,2-Diphosphino and 1,2-Diarsino-Diborane(4) Compounds

Reaction of either LiPPh2 or LiAsMes2 with the diborane(4) compound (Me2N) BrBBBr(NMe2) affords the compounds (Me2N)(Ph2P)BB(PPh2)(NMe2), 1, and (Me2N) (Mes2As)BB(AsMes2)(NMe2)·0.5 PhMe, 2·0.5 PhMe (Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2-). Both 1 and 2 feature normal B–B single bond lengths; however, the empty boron p-orbitals display strong π-interactions with the dimethylamino substituents. The B–P and B–As distances and the pyramidal phosphorus and arsenic geometries are consistent with single bonding. Furthermore, the stereochemical activity of the phosphorus and arsenic lone pairs is demonstrated by the ready formation of the complex cis-[Cr(CO)4(Me2N)(Ph2P)BB(PPh2) (NMe2)]·C6H6, 3·C6H6, by treatment of 1 with [Cr(CO)4(2,5-norbornadiene)]. Compounds 1–3 were characterized by X-ray crystallography, 11B and 31P NMR spectroscopy, and by IR spectroscopy in the case of 3.
Dissolution Kinetics and Rate-Controlling Mechanisms

AbstractThe kinetics and mechanisms of dissolution in a newly designed diffusion cell were investigated. It was found that benzoic acid is an ideal compound to calibrate the fluid hydrodynamics in the diffusion cell when the mass transfer at the boundary layer is the primary contributor for its dissolution process. The dissolution of a very lipophilic drug, progesterone was also studied and the mechanisms of its dissolution process appear to be diffusion controlled. Using the dimensionless Sh-Re-Sc relationship developed earlier, it became possible to study the kinetics and mechanisms of dissolution of a solid drug. A reciprocal plot was established to obtain the kinetic constant of dissolution at the interface. This approach could be applied to investigate the kinetics of dissolution and diffusional resistance of other drugs
Can Indirect Causation be Real

Causal realists maintain that the causal relation consists in “something more” than its relata. Specifying this relation in nonreductive terms is however notoriously difficult. Michael Tooley has advanced a plausible account avoiding some of the relation’s most obvious difficulties, particularly where these concern the notion of a cross-temporal “connection.” His account distinguishes discrete from nondiscrete causation, where the latter is suitable to the continuity of cross-temporal causation. I argue, however, that such accounts face conceptual difficulties dating from Zeno’s time. A Bergsonian resolution of these difficulties appears to entail that, for the causal realist, there can be no indirect causal relations of the sort envisioned by Tooley. A consequence of this discussion is that the causal realist must conceive all causal relations as ultimately direct.
Results of a large-scale head and neck cancer screening of an at-risk population.

Summary Objective/Hypothesis To determine whether a community-based head and neck cancer screening could be an effective method to detect positive findings of head and neck cancer in at-risk populations. Study Design Survey-based study with a nonexperimental intervention component. Methods Five hundred sixty-eight adults were screened for oral and laryngeal cancers by otolaryngologists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons during three National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing race weekend events. A prescreening survey collected demographic information, relevant medical history, and information regarding risk factors for head and neck cancers, including current or past tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and chemical exposures. Signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer were documented during the screening. Results Forty-three percent of participants with a history of smoking had abnormal findings. A Pearson chi-square indicated that the proportion of males who evidenced positive findings was significantly ( P Conclusions This study is the first to document the results of a large-scale head and neck cancer screening of a population of people known to be at risk of head and neck cancers. The study demonstrates the feasibility of developing and implementing large-scale community-based head and neck cancer screenings, as are often seen in the early diagnosis and education of signs, symptoms, and risks for other cancers.
Preserving knowledge legacies: workforce aging, turnover and human resource issues in the US electric power industry

The aging of the workforce is believed to be a potential threat to productivity of companies both in the US and worldwide. High levels of turnover that may result from workforce aging could cause short-term as well as permanent loss of knowledge critical to firm operations and customer service. While there is a wealth of research regarding the causes of turnover, there is comparatively little research on the actual effects of turnover, particularly involuntary forms of turnover such as retirement. Focusing on the US electric power industry, whose employees have average ages and company tenures among the highest in the world, this paper explores the aging workforce issue both qualitatively and quantitatively. Results from an executive survey encompassing companies representing over 75 per cent of the industry’s workers affirm that workforce aging is the electricity industry’s dominant human resource (HR) concern but that it is interrelated with many other top HR issues, including skill shortages, leadership, and transition from an ‘entitlement-based’ to a ‘performance-based’ culture. Implications of prior literature on organizational learning, turnover and socio-technical systems theories are discussed, and propositions are offered as a framework for further research on the general effects of potential knowledge loss due to aging-related turnover.
Impact of Gravity Waves on Marine Stratocumulus Variability

AbstractThe impact of gravity waves on marine stratocumulus is investigated using a large-eddy simulation model initialized with sounding profiles composited from the Variability of American Monsoon Systems (VAMOS) Ocean–Cloud–Atmosphere–Land Study Regional Experiment (VOCALS-Rex) aircraft measurements and forced by convergence or divergence that mimics mesoscale diurnal, semidiurnal, and quarter-diurnal waves. These simulations suggest that wave-induced vertical motion can dramatically modify the cloud albedo and morphology through nonlinear cloud–aerosol–precipitation–circulation–turbulence feedback.In general, wave-induced ascent tends to increase the liquid water path (LWP) and the cloud albedo. With a proper aerosol number concentration, the increase in the LWP leads to enhanced precipitation, which triggers or strengthens mesoscale circulations in the boundary layer and accelerates cloud cellularization. Precipitation also tends to create a decoupling structure by weakening the turbulence in the sub...
Screening for anticoagulant heparan sulfate octasaccharides and fine structure characterization using tandem mass spectrometry.

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan located on the surface and extracellular matrix of mammalian cells. HS is constituted of highly N-sulfated domains (NS domains) interrupted by lower sulfation domains. The arrangement of these domains dictates the function of HS which is mainly involved in binding proteins and regulating their biological activities. Heparin, a heparan sulfate analogue present in mast cells, resembles the NS domains of HS but lacks the alternating high and low sulfation architecture. Because the NS domains that range up to hexadecasaccharide in size are the main protein binders, heparin has been used as a model for HS in protein binding studies. Heparan sulfate, however, is the more physiologically relevant modulator of growth factor−receptor interactions. In this work, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC−MS) were used to compare the compositions of affinity-purified heparin and HS octasaccharides with anticoagulant activities versus library octasaccharides. ...
Internal Consistency and Bias Considerations of the Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Person Test.

The present study reports the results of an internal consistency analysis of the Goodenough-Harris Draw A Person test (GHDAP). One hundred and fifty children ages 5, 6, 7, and 8 were given the test and scores were analyzed using the KR-20 formula. The results indicate that the 72-item full scales (Draw-A-Man or DAM and Draw-A-Woman or DAW) show good internal consistency at all ages, with no sex differences in mean score or internal consistency. In a secondary analysis, the 42 items common to both the DAM and DAW were examined to determine if a "short form" of the test might be constructed. The common item set showed sex effects, and internal consistency was notably lower for females than males at all age levels.
Moral Dilemmas of Modern War: Torture, Assassination, and Blackmail in an Age of Asymmetric Conflict

Gross, Michael, Moral Dilemmas of Modern War: Torture, Assassination, and Blackmail in an Age of Asymmetric Conflict, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2009, 336 pages, US$22.68. ISBN 978-0-521...
Screening and management of adult hearing loss in primary care: scientific review.

ContextHearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic condition in older adults and has important effects on their physical and mental health. Despite these effects, most older patients are not assessed or treated for hearing loss.ObjectiveTo review the evidence on screening and management of hearing loss of older adults in the primary care setting.Data Sources and Study SelectionWe performed a search from 1985 to 2001 using MEDLINE, HealthSTAR, EMBASE, Ageline, and the National Guideline Clearinghouse for articles and practice guidelines about screening and management of hearing loss in older adults, as well as reviewed references in these articles and those suggested by experts in hearing impairment.Data ExtractionWe reviewed articles for the most clinically important information, emphasizing randomized clinical trials, where available, and identified 1595 articles.Data SynthesisScreening tests that reliably detect hearing loss are use of an audioscope, a hand-held combination otoscope and audiometer, and a self-administered questionnaire, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening version. The value of routine screening for improving patient outcomes has not been evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. Screening is endorsed by most professional organizations, including the US Preventive Services Task Force. While most hearing loss in older adults is sensorineural and due to presbycusis, cerumen impaction and chronic otitis media may be present in up to 30% of elderly patients with hearing loss and can be treated by the primary care clinician. In randomized trials, hearing aids have been demonstrated to improve outcomes for patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Nonadherence to use of hearing aids is high. Prompt recognition of potentially reversible causes of hearing loss, such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, is important to maximize the possibility of functional recovery.ConclusionWhile untested in a clinical trial, older adults can be screened for hearing loss using simple methods, and effective treatments exist and are available for many forms of hearing loss.
Comparative evaluation of the effects of isradipine and diltiazem on antipyrine and indocyanine green clearances in elderly volunteers.

Calcium antagonists have been shown to depress hepatic enzymes and accelerate hepatic blood flow. This study was designed to compare the effects of two calcium antagonists, isradipine and diltiazem, on antipyrine and indocyanine green (ICG) clearances in the elderly. Eighteen elderly subjects (aged 65 to 80 years) received either isradipine (5 mg every 12 hours), diltiazem (90 mg every 8 hours), or placebo (every 12 hours) for 4 days. On the third day after the study treatment, a 0.5 mg/kg dose of ICG was administered. Blood samples were obtained over 20 minutes for HPLC determination of ICG plasma concentrations. Ten minutes later, subjects ingested 1.2 gm antipyrine. Blood samples were obtained over 48 hours for HPLC determination of antipyrine plasma concentrations. Mean ± SD antipyrine clearance after diltiazem (0.0258 ± 0.0065 L/hr/kg) was significantly lower than that observed after isradipine (0.0334 ± 0.0098 L/hr/kg) or placebo (0.0329 ± 0.0082 L/hr/kg). Antipyrine clearance after isradipine was not significantly different from that after placebo. Mean ± SD ICG clearances after diltiazem (9.17 ± 1.35 ml/min/kg) or isradipine (9.57 ± 1.82 ml/min/kg) were significantly higher than that observed after placebo (8.06 ± 1.45 ml/min/kg). These findings suggest that diltiazem, but not isradipine, affects hepatic enzyme activity in the elderly. Both agents accelerate ICG clearance, a marker of hepatic blood flow. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1990) 48, 375–380; doi:10.1038/clpt.1990.165
Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: presentation and management in the era of laparoscopy.

OBJECTIVE To report a contemporary series of patients with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP, an inflammatory condition of the kidney that has traditionally been treated with open nephrectomy, ON), managed with either ON or laparoscopic nephrectomy (LN), as early reports suggest that the benefits of LN do not extend to patients with XGP. PATIENTS AND METHODS The medical and procedural records of patients with pathologically confirmed XGP between December 1993 to February 2004 were reviewed retrospectively. During this period, 26 patients (mean age 43.5 years, range 17–85) had surgical management of XGP; information on the mode of presentation, surgical management, hospital course and complications were analysed. RESULTS Twelve (46%) and 14 (54%) patients had ON and LN, respectively. The LN group had significantly lower blood loss (P = 0.002), transfusion rates (P = 0.02), time to resumption of oral intake (P = 0.002) and length of hospital stay (P = 0.002) than the ON group. One (7%) LN was converted to ON due to failure to progress. The overall complication rates between the ON and LN groups were not significantly different (P = 0.95). CONCLUSIONS LN in the setting of XGP is often difficult and requires advanced laparoscopic skills. In highly selected patients this approach can be offered, with acceptable morbidity, allowing for lower blood loss and shorter convalesce times.
Adsorption of H2O on oxidized Fe(100) surfaces : comparison between the oxidation of iron by H2O and O2

Abstract The adsorption and reaction of water on the preoxidized Fe(100) surface is studied using LEED, AES, thermal desorption and high resolution EELS. Oxidation of the Fe(100) surface by water adsorption results in a disordered c(2 × 2) surface, with a saturation oxygen coverage of 0.39 ML. This surface cannot be further oxidized by exposure to water, but can be further oxidized by molecular oxygen. When water is adsorbed on the submonolayer oxygen pre-exposed surface, hydrogen transfer from water to adsorbed atomic oxygen occurs, forming a hydroxyl group. This group migrates from the fourfold hollow site, where it is formed, to the bridge site on this surface. Adsorbed oxygen facilitates water decomposition via this hydrogen transfer process. On the oxygen precovered surface with an oxygen coverage of 1 ML (p(1 × 1)O surface), water adsorbs molecularly and desorbs at 175 K without decomposition.
Amino acid residues 24-31 but not palmitoylation of cysteines 30 and 45 are required for membrane anchoring of glutamic acid decarboxylase, GAD65

The smaller isoform of the GABA synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase, GAD65, is synthesized as a soluble protein that undergoes post-translational modification(s) in the NH2-terminal region to become anchored to the membrane of small synaptic-like microvesicles in pancreatic beta cells, and synaptic vesicles in GABA-ergic neurons. A soluble hydrophilic form, a soluble hydrophobic form, and a hydrophobic firmly membrane-anchored form have been detected in beta cells. A reversible and hydroxylamine sensitive palmitoylation has been shown to distinguish the firmly membrane-anchored form from the soluble yet hydrophobic form, suggesting that palmitoylation of cysteines in the NH2-terminal region is involved in membrane anchoring. In this study we use site-directed mutagenesis to identify the first two cysteines in the NH2-terminal region, Cys 30 and Cys 45, as the sites of palmitoylation of the GAD65 molecule. Mutation of Cys 30 and Cys 45 to Ala results in a loss of palmitoylation but does not significantly alter membrane association of GAD65 in COS-7 cells. Deletion of the first 23 amino acids at the NH2 terminus of the GAD65 30/45A mutant also does not affect the hydrophobicity and membrane anchoring of the GAD65 protein. However, deletion of an additional eight amino acids at the NH2 terminus results in a protein which is hydrophilic and cytosolic. The results suggest that amino acids 24-31 are required for hydrophobic modification and/or targeting of GAD65 to membrane compartments, whereas palmitoylation of Cys 30 and Cys 45 may rather serve to orient or fold the protein at synaptic vesicle membranes.
Design of environmental regulatory policies for sustainable emission reduction

Current environmental emission regulations typically follow a command-and-control approach mandating the installation of state-of-the-art abatement technology to safeguard hard emission thresholds. However, this type of regulation offers no reward for conducting pollution prevention and technological research to reduce emissions below compliance levels through process innovation. Alternatively, market-based regulations stimulate continued improvement of cleaner manufacturing practices by creating economic incentives for sustained waste reduction. The aim of this work is to furnish regulators and manufacturers with a concise tool for quantifying the impact of future regulatory scenarios. The proposed methodology employs realistic mathematical models of pollution abatement operations used in chemical, pharmaceutical, and specialty chemical manufacturing. It assesses the feasibility of treatment options, estimates their cost and expected emissions. Rigorous optimization techniques are introduced for managing regional emission reduction efforts at reasonable cost to manufacturers. The comprehensive mathematical programming formulations will enable plant managers to ascertain expected compliance cost, and regulators to design environmental regulations for reducing regional emissions at tolerable cost to industry.
The internal friction of polyoxymethylene from 4.2° to 300°K

Abstract The internal friction of bulk crystallized polyoxymethylene, from 4.2° to 300°K, was investigated using an inverted torsion pendulum at 1–3 Hz. The results reveal two new relaxation processes—δ at 48°K and e below 4.2°K—which are presumed to originate from the thermally activated motions of lattice defects. A mechanism, which involves the interactions of dislocations with conformational kink defects, is proposed. This mechanism is consistent with all the experimental data in that it explains the effects of crystallization rate, copolymer composition, orientation, anisotropy and thermal treatment on the relaxation strength of the new cryogenic loss maxima. The data suggest that the γ peak corresponds to the superposition of three distinct processes—γ1 at 140°K, γ2 at 180°K and γ3 at 205°K. The mechanism of the γ1 and γ2 peaks is tentatively postulated to involve the breakaway of dislocations from minor pinning points, while the γ3 peak is associated with motions in the inter-lamellar disordered regions. The results also show that orientation by uniaxial cold rolling completely suppresses the magnitude of the β relaxation, whereas heat treatment and changes in the chemical composition of the polymer enhance the height of the peak.
Algebraic points on quartic curves over function fields

The following general problem is of interest. Let Λ be an irreducible algebraic variety of degree d , in projective n -space P n , defined over a field k ; and suppose that K is a finite extension of k with [ K: k ] prime to d . If Λ has a point defined over K , then does it necessarily have a point defined over k ? It has been studied in various instances by several authors: see, for example, Cassels [2], Coray [3, 4], Pfister [5], Bremner, Lewis, Morton [1]. Coray [3] shows that a quartic curve Λ over Q may possess points in extension fields of Q of every odd degree greater than one, but have no points in Q itself. Some further examples of this instance occur in the paper of Bremner, Lewis, Morton, with the additional property that the curve Λ also possesses points in every p -adic completion Q p of Q.