cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Land and people: governing social conflicts in China's state-led urbanisation

Since 2014, China has formalised rural-to-urban hukou transfer as part of its people-centred approach to urbanisation. This article aims to examine how 'urbanisation of people', a hukou-based refor...
Putting It All Together and Branding

The last step in the recipe path involves synthesizing all previous analyses into a coherent specification, removing inconsistency, reducing redundancy, improving balance and increasing practicality, both within a given specification, and with all other specifications a member is practicing (most of which will be at different levels). Finally, the brand for the Hualish embodiment must be developed.
Evolution of Cooperation in Network of Interacting Agents

This paper investigates the evolution of cooperative behavior among a set of networked agents under the continuous snowdrift game. Here the effort spent in producing communal welfare can vary continuously within a given range and the benefits of costly cooperative acts accrue not only to others but also to the cooperator itself. Theoretical analysis of different steady-state patterns that emerge from the initial variations in cooperative investments is presented here. Our analysis indicates that an increase in the variance of the initial effort distribution among the agents results in a concentration of cooperative efforts, leading to the emergence of affluent and disadvantaged agents. Under large variations in initial cooperative investments, we start to see the emergence of small connected components that consist entirely of bidirectional cooperative links where all the agents within the component make an equal investment while the cooperative links within the component receive at most two different levels of investments. We also see unidirectional cooperation between an affluent node and a disadvantaged node where the disadvantaged node bears the entire cost of cooperation while the benefit is reaped equally by both parties.
Experimental feasibility study of a new attached hydronic loop design for geothermal heating of bridge decks

Abstract Geothermally heating of bridges is a green and sustainable alternative to deicing chemicals, which are energy-intensive, corrosive to the bridges, and dangerous to the environment. Geothermal bridges harness shallow earth geothermal energy, a readily available all-year-round renewable energy source. However, the existing geothermal heated bridge technology was developed based on embedded hydronic loops, which can be only deployed during the construction of new bridges. As there are more existing bridges in the critical need of deicing, a new attached hydronic loop design was developed in this study for geothermal heating of existing bridges. The hydronic loops are attached to the bottom of a bridge deck and are encapsulated inside an insulation material geofoam. The developed hydronic loop was tested on a lab-scale concrete deck with supplied warm water to evaluate its feasibility for field application. This heated deck system was fabricated and instrumented for the heating performance tests in an environmental chamber. It was first tested under various room temperatures higher than 4.4 °C, the lowest temperature permitted by the environmental chamber. Based on the test results, an empirical prediction equation is presented to estimate deck temperature at given ambient and supplied heating fluid temperatures. The applicability of this equation to freezing temperature was validated in localized freezing tests by placing a cooling box on the test deck. All test results show that this heated bridge deck allows efficient heat transfer, approximately 60% of the supplied heat, to the bridge deck surface. The supplied heat flux to the deck surface ranges from 120 to 270 W/m2 depending on the ambient and heating fluid temperature, which is comparable to the embedded hydronic system. The new hydronic loop design is feasible to be implemented on the existing bridges for deicing and snow removal.
Morphologic and Operative Evolution of Open Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Background Increased use of endovascular repair for intact abdominal aortic aneurysms has fundamentally shifted the approach to ruptured aneurysms. Unfortunately, not all patients are anatomically suited for endovascular repair. It is hypothesized that, in the endovascular era, patients undergoing open repair are increasingly complex; with an unknown impact on postoperative morbidity and mortality. Material and Methods The Cleveland Clinic Foundation database was queried for all patients undergoing open repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) from 2006 to 2015. Electronic medical charts and cross-sectional imaging were retrospectively reviewed. The overall patient cohort was dichotomized between early (E-OR, 2006 to 2010) and late open repairs (L-OR, 2011 to 2015). Groups were compared based on demographic, anatomic, and perioperative variables. The primary endpoint was perioperative mortality. Secondary endpoints included overall mortality, late aneurysm-related mortality, and perioperative morbidity. Results Of 140 patients who underwent open repair of rAAA (63, E-OR; 77, L-OR), 76% had cross-sectional imaging available for review. Aneurysm repairs in the later time period had significantly shorter infrarenal neck lengths, were more likely to have a prior aortic intervention, tended to have poor access vessels, and were more likely to require visceral or renal revascularization (each P Conclusions Despite the increasing anatomic and operative complexity of patients undergoing open repair of rAAAs, perioperative mortality and late aneurysm-related mortality have improved over time. These results highlight the need for both systems and expertise needed to appropriately treat this changing patient population.
The penial and bacular morphology of the solitary silvery mole-rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus, Bathyergidae) from Malawi and evolutionary patterns across the African mole-rat family

Abstract The silvery mole-rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus) is a solitary, subterranean bathyergid rodent that lives in savannahs in Eastern Africa. Our study focuses on its penial and bacular morphology with respect to its mating strategies, degree of sociality, ovulation type and seasonality of breeding. The penis morphology fits into the trend in bathyergids, where solitary species have a more ornamented penis. Interestingly, the longest penile spines within the bathyergids were detected in this species. Results from the measurements of the penis bone did not match the predictions that the sociality is associated with a smaller baculum size. Moreover, so-called eusocial bathyergids have, relatively, the longest bacula within the family. Our parsimony reconstruction of the ancestral state indicates that the common ancestor of bathyergids probably lived in a group and had an induced ovulation and penis without the ornamentation.
In-hospital acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: What is the scope of the problem?

Background Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) is a frequently encountered condition in the Gastroenterology field with a mortality rate of 10-14%. Despite recent newer innovations and advancements in endoscopic techniques and available medications, the mortality rate associated with AUGIB remained persistently elevated. Aim To explore mortality, characteristics and outcome differences between hospitalized patients who develop AUGIB while in-hospital, and patients who initially present with AUGIB. Methods This is a retrospective of patients who presented to Northwell Health Staten Island University Hospital from October 2012 to October 2016 with AUGIB that was confirmed endoscopically. Patients were divided in two groups: Group 1 comprised patients who developed AUGIB during their hospital stay; group 2 consisted of patients who initially presented with AUGIB as their main complaint. Patient characteristics, time to endoscopy, endoscopy findings and interventions, and clinical outcomes were collected and compared between groups. Results A total of 336 patients were included. Group 1 consisted of 139 patients and group 2 of 196 patients. Mortality was significantly higher in the 1st group compared to the 2nd (20% vs 3.1%, P ≤ 0.05). Increased length of stay (LOS) was noted in the 1st group (13 vs 6, P ≤ 0.05). LOS post-endoscopy, vasopressor use, number of packed red blood cell units and patients requiring fresh frozen plasma were higher in group 1. Inpatients were more likely to be on corticosteroids, antiplatelets and anticoagulants. Conversely, the mean time from bleeding to undergoing upper endoscopy was significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2. Conclusion In-hospital AUGIB is associated with high mortality and morbidity despite a shorter time to endoscopy. Larger scale studies assessing the role of increased comorbidities and antithrombotic use in this setting are warranted.
IATROGENIC AORTOCORONARY ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA: PERCUTANEOUS MANAGEMENT OF IATROGENIC SURGICAL COMPLICATION

Iatrogenic aortocoronary arteriovenous fistula (ACAVF) resulting from placement of an arterial graft to a cardiac vein is a rare complication of CABG. Most patients present postoperatively with angina as a result of either residual ischemia due to an unbypassed artery or a coronary steal phenomenon
Assessment of Pedicled and Free Flap Perfusion

Pedicled and free flaps have become major instruments in the reconstruction of complex body defects. Traditionally used clinical signs such as flap color, capillary refill time, temperature, and Doppler ultrasound assessment of the vascular pedicle remain the gold standard for flap evaluation. Indocyanine green angiography is a safe, quick, and repeatable imaging technique that can be utilized to help decision making in pedicled and free flap surgery. Here we discuss the application of indocyanine green angiography in pre-, intra-, and postoperative settings to identify pedicle location, evaluate tissue perfusion, visualize anastomotic patency, detect arterial insufficiency or venous congestion, help design flaps, and avoid postoperative complications.
Supporting Innovative Entrepreneurship in Southern Italy: The Case of a Public Private Technology District

In Italy a “second type” of clusters was defined at the beginning of the 2000s with the name of technological district (TD), specialized in high-tech sectors, characterized by a significant interaction between companies and research centers and managed by a legal entity. The technological district changes the perspective and focus of the previous industrial district aggregative model, based on the localization, size scale, and production intensity, passing from the productive sector to the technical-scientific strategic one.
Salpingovesical fistula mimicking an enterovaginal fistula

Abstract Fallopian tube fistula with the bladder can mimic an enterovaginal fistula. A 34-year-old woman presented with continuous urinary incontinence after hysterectomy. A cystogram confirmed a vesicovaginal fistula and a possible additional intestinal communication. Further imaging, however, ruled out an enterovaginal fistula and diagnosed a fallopian tube prolapse with salpingovesicovaginal fistula. This case demonstrates the importance of multiple imaging modalities in identifying and clearly delineating the anatomy of gynecologic fistulous connections. The case illustrates the fact that while salpingovesical fistula is a rare complication of hysterectomy, it is an important consideration in one's differential diagnosis.
Where Are We in Bridging the Gender Leadership Gap in Academic Medicine

In nearly all walks of life, leadership sets the tone for what gets done, who does it, and how it is achieved. In 2020, the top ranks of academic medicine have not yet attained gender parity-an aspirational goal set 7 years ago in this journal as "50:50 by 2020," and a vital aim for the United States' productivity and innovation as a leader in biomedical research. Parity in academic leadership for women and other groups underrepresented in science and medicine will seed the culture change necessary for inclusive excellence: environments in which individuals from all backgrounds thrive in their pursuit of new knowledge to benefit human health.In this Invited Commentary, the author describes the National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) current system-wide framework and tools for creating cultures of inclusive excellence through a set of guiding principles and integrated strategies. Successful efforts will recognize that individually focused solutions are necessary but not sufficient for institutional culture change. In keeping with a systems approach are implementing accountability and transparency; establishing clear metrics of inclusion, diversity, and equity; tracking and evaluating such metrics; as well as tying these metrics to institutional reward systems. These essential steps to institutional culture transformation require strong partnerships between NIH and the academic community. The author argues that with committed vision, focus, and energy, success is attainable, and soon.
Site-specific opening of the blood-brain barrier by extracellular histones

Increased extracellular histones in the bloodstream are known as a biomarker for vascular dysfunction associated with severe trauma or sepsis. There is limited information regarding the pathogenic role of circulating histones in neuroinflammation and cerebrovascular endothelial injury. Particularly, it remains unclear whether histones affect the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability function. The direct effects of unfractionated histones on endothelial barrier properties were first assessed in brain microvascular endothelial cell monolayers by measuring transendothelial electrical resistance and solute flux. This was followed by in vivo mouse experiments, where BBB function was assessed by quantifying brain tissue accumulation of intravenously injected tracers of different molecular sizes, and comparison was made in mice receiving a sublethal dose of histones versus sterile saline. In parallel, the endothelial barrier ultrastructure was examined in histone- and saline-injected animals under transmission electron microscopy, corresponding to the expression of tight junction and adherens junction proteins. Histones increased paracellular permeability to sodium fluorescein and reduced barrier resistance at 100 μg/mL; these responses were accompanied by discontinuous staining of the tight junction proteins claudin-5 and zona ocludens-1. Interestingly, the effects of histones did not seem to result from cytotoxicity, as evidenced by negative propidium iodide staining. In vivo, histones increased the paracellular permeability of the BBB to small tracers of < 1-kDa, whereas tracers larger than 3-kDa remained impermeable across brain microvessels. Further analysis of different brain regions showed that histone-induced tracer leakage and loss of tight junction protein expression mainly occurred in the hippocampus, but not in the cerebral cortex. Consistently, opening of tight junctions was found in hippocampal capillaries from histone-injected animals. Protein expression levels of GFAP and iBA1 remained unchanged in histone-injected mice indicating that histones did not affect reactive gliosis. Moreover, cell membrane surface charge alterations are involved in histone-induced barrier dysfunction and tight junction disruption. Extracellular histones cause a reversible, region-specific increase in BBB permeability to small molecules by disrupting tight junctions in the hippocampus. We suggest that circulating histones may contribute to cerebrovascular injury or brain dysfunction by altering BBB structure and function.
Quasinormal modes and dual resonant states on de Sitter space

The existence of quasinormal modes (QNMs) for waves propagating on pure de Sitter space has been called into question in several works. We definitively prove the existence of quasinormal modes for massless and massive scalar fields in all dimensions and for all scalar field masses, and present a simple method for the explicit calculation of QNMs and the corresponding mode solutions. By passing to coordinates that are regular at the cosmological horizon, we demonstrate that certain QNMs only appear in the QNM expansion of the field when the initial data do not vanish near the cosmological horizon. The key objects in the argument are dual resonant states. These are distributional mode solutions of the adjoint field equation satisfying a generalized incoming condition at the horizon, and they characterize the amplitudes with which QNMs contribute to the QNM expansion of the field.
Effect of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDKIs) on body composition (BC) in patients (pts) with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

e13033Background: CDKIs with endocrine therapy (ET) is first-line treatment in HR+/HER2- MBC. Mouse models have shown that CDKIs prevent pRB phosphorylation in the mediobasal hypothalamus, a pathwa...
A social interaction learning model approach to understand adverse childhood experiences and drug use among Latinx youth

Latinx youth, members of an ethnic minority group growing faster than the national growth rate, are at increased risk of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) but it remains unclear how ACEs relate to externalizing behaviors, such as substance use and behaviors leading to injury and violence, in this population. In a sample of 100 Latinx youth, the current study examined how ACEs related to drug use and behaviors leading to injury and violence. Exposure to ACEs was associated with increased drug use, and that association was significantly moderated by behaviors leading to injury and violence for Latina adolescents. Given these findings, more attention needs to be diverted to screening for ACEs and externalizing behaviors in Latina girls.
Assessing validation methods for building identification and extraction

As data sources and algorithm choices become increasingly more available for automatically extracting and reconstructing 3D buildings, methods are needed to assess the accuracy of the classification process. Our research goal is to compare validation data sources and methods to assess objectivity, sensitivity, and reliability of current validation approaches. Our results show that when relying on object-oriented methods for building classification and extraction, methods other than pixel assessment are needed.
The challenge of knowledge management systems

Knowledge management systems and related initiatives have become a popular focus in many firms, yet many knowledge management systems initiatives fail to achieve their goals. Focuses on systems that are implemented to achieve deliberate performance improvement objectives in organizations, rather than to support discretionary communication. Employs constructs from system dynamics – a discipline that recognizes that the relationships between complex organizing technologies and human behavior are dynamic, evolving, and interconnected. Drawing from recent studies employing system dynamics, proposes a framework to analyze the implementation challenges posed by knowledge management systems adopted as part of a deliberate performance improvement program. Illustrates the framework with a case study of an initiative within a university “help desk” department where conflicting incentives hindered employees’ efforts to leverage the systems. The framework underscores the complex and interdependent effects triggered b...
GAPSS (Graphical Analysis Procedures for System Simulation)

Two types of computer-graphic displays are discussed for analysis of simulation data subsequent to simulation runs. A display showing values over time was found to be superior to a display sequentially presenting individual states of a system.A project has been underway at the RAND Corporation to develop Graphical Analysis Procedures for System Simulation. The goal is to learn how computer-graphics can aid people in their analyses of simulated systems. This paper reports interim progress on graphically displaying the results of simulations done in the GPSS language.
Hexose Transport in Isolated Brown Fat Cells A MODEL SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATING INSULIN ACTION ON MEMBRANE TRANSPORT

Abstract Direct measurement of 3-O-[3H]methyl-d-glucose uptake by brown fat cells with the use of a rapid filtration procedure was found to provide a suitable index of the d-glucose transport system activity. The rate of net 3-O-methylglucose influx across the fat cell membrane was 10 to 20 times greater than the uptake rate of l-[14C]glucose which enters the cells by simple diffusion. After equilibration the concentration of 3-O-methylglucose in the intracellular water space was the same as that in the medium, indicating that 3-O-methylglucose uptake occurs by facilitated diffusion. Detectable phosphorylation of this d-glucose analogue by brown fat cells under the conditions of these studies did not occur. 3-O-Methylglucose transport was consistently linear for 4 or more min at 23° and was several times greater at 37° and 23° than at 0°. Transport of 3-O-methylglucose was inhibited by d-glucose and by agents known to block d-glucose transport such as phlorizin and cytochalasin B. Both saturable and nonsaturable processes contributed to the initial velocity of 3-O-methylglucose uptake. The saturable component of net influx was estimated by subtraction of uptake rates monitored in the presence of cytochalasin B, which were used to approximate the nonsaturable component, from the initial velocities of 3-O-methylglucose uptake. The corrected values obtained followed simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Kt of about 4 mm. At high concentrations of the hexose, diffusion probably represented the major contribution to uptake since this portion of a Lineweaver-Burk plot of uncorrected values passed through the origin. Insulin markedly stimulated the initial rate of hexose transport, and this effect reflected an increase in apparent Vmax with no detectable difference in apparent Kt. Diamide, H2O2, vitamin K5, and spermine enhanced d-[1-14C]glucose conversion to 14CO2 to a greater extent than d-[6-14C]glucose oxidation, whereas in these experiments insulin increased oxidation of both sugars equally. Vitamin K5 and spermine had little effect on 3-O-methylglucose transport under conditions where insulin, diamide, and H2O2 significantly stimulated this process. The action of diamide and H2O2 to increase 3-O-methylglucose uptake was specific for the d-glucose transport system since, like insulin, they failed to alter l-glucose uptake. The data suggested that vitamin K5 and spermine stimulate fat cell glucose uptake and oxidation primarily by activating intra-cellular metabolic pathways while diamide and H2O2, in addition to an intracellular effect, also activate the d-glucose transport system. These results indicate that glucose uptake in brown fat cells is determined by both the activity of the membrane transport system and the rate of intra-cellular utilization and that alteration of either process can modulate glucose entry rates.
Theory of Elementary Excitations in Intermediate Valence Materials

We review the formalism for calculating the properties of systems represented by an Anderson lattice Hamiltonian. First, a mean-field theory for the one electron Green’s function is presented and then extended to include spin and charge fluctuations which lead to a many-body resonance near the Fermi level. The dynamical spin susceptibility and neutron scattering cross section are also evaluated. Finally, we present a calculation which indicates the possibility of a Cooper-pairing mechanism induced by electron correlations.
Storm Drains as Assemblages: The Political Ecology of Flood Risk in Post-Colonial Bangalore

Cities around the world are increasingly prone to unequal flood risk. In this paper, I "materialize" the political ecology of urban flood risk by casting stormwater drains—a key artifact implicated in flooding—as recombinant socionatural assemblages .I examine the production of flood risk in the city of Bangalore, India, focusing on the city's informal outskirts where wetlands and circulations of global capital intermingle. Staging a conversation between Marxian and Deleuzian positions, I argue, first, that the dialectics of "flow" and "fixity" are useful in historicizing the relational politics of storm drains from the colonial to the neoliberal era. Second, flood risk has been heightened in the contem- porary moment because of an intensified alignment between the flow/fixity of capital and storm drains. Storm drains—and the larger wetlands that they traverse—possess a force- giving materiality that fuels urban capitalism's risky "becoming-being". This argument raises the need for supplementing political-economic critiques of the city with sociomaterialist understandings of capitalism and risk in the post-colonial city. The paper concludes with reflections on how assemblage thinking opens up a more distributed notion of agency and a more relational urban political ecology.
Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) remains an important opportunistic infection among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The diagnosis of PCP should be considered in patients with new onset of fever, pulmonary symptoms, and hypoxemia. The introduction of PCP prophylaxis for SOT recipients has dramatically modified the epidemiological landscape of this infection; we are currently experiencing the era of “late PCP,” where the majority of cases occur more than 12 months after transplantation in patients with PCP risk factors in whom prophylaxis has been discontinued. Despite remarkable advancement in our understanding of the biology, mode of transmission, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations of PCP, there remains a paucity of data regarding the performance of contemporary diagnostic tools for PCP in transplant recipients. Although there is a low incidence of PCP in this population, associated morbidity and mortality may be high, necessitating additional studies aimed at diagnosis.
Transgenic Mice Expressing Human Fetal Globin Are Protected From Malaria by a Novel Mechanism

Studies in vitro by Pasvol et al (Nature, 270:171, 1977) have indicated that the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in cells containing fetal hemoglobin (HbF = alpha2gamma2) is retarded, but invasion is increased, at least in newborn cells. Normal neonates switch from about 80% HbF at birth to a few percent at the end of the first year of life. Carriers of beta-thalassemia trait exhibit a delay in the normal HbF switch-off, which might partially explain the protection observed in populations with this gene. To study this hypothesis in vivo, we used transgenic (gamma) mice expressing human Agamma and Ggamma chains resulting in 40% to 60% alpha2Mgamma2 hemoglobin, infected with rodent malaria. Two species of rodent malaria were studied. P chabaudi adami causes a nonlethal infection, mainly in mature red blood cells (RBC). P yoelii 17XNL is a nonlethal infection, invading primarily reticulocytes, whereas P yoelii 17XL is a lethal variant of P yoelii 17XNL and causes death of mice in approximately 1 to 2 weeks. Data indicate that this strain may cause a syndrome resembling cerebral malaria caused by P falciparum (Am J Trop Med Hyg, 50:512, 1994). In gamma transgenic mice infected with P chabaudi adami, the parasitemia rose more quickly (in agreement with Pasvol) than in control mice, but was cleared more rapidly. In mice infected with P yoelii 17XNL, a clear reduction in parasitemia was observed. Interestingly, splenectomy before this infection, did not reverse protection. The most striking effect was in lethal P yoelii 17XL infection. Control mice died between 11 to 13 days, whereas gamma mice cleared the infection by day 22 and survived, a phenomenon also observed in splenectomized animals. These results suggest that HbF does indeed have a protective effect in vivo, which is not mediated by the spleen. In terms of mechanisms, light microscopy showed that intraerythrocytic parasites develop slowly in HbF erythrocytes, and electron microscopy showed that hemozoin formation was defective in transgenic mice. Finally, digestion studies of HbF by recombinant plasmepsin II demonstrated that HbF is digested only half as well as hemoglobin A (HbA). We conclude that HbF provides protection from P falciparum malaria by the retardation of parasite growth. The mechanism involves resistance to digestion by malarial hemoglobinases based on the data presented and with the well-known properties of HbF as a super stable tetramer. In addition, the resistance of normal neonates for malaria can now be explained by a double mechanism: increased malaria invasion rates, reported in neonatal RBC, will direct parasites to fetal cells, as well as F cells, and less to the approximately 20% of HbA containing RBC, amplifying the antimalarial effects of HbF.
Sexual Function in Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Report from Project REACH

Abstract Introduction Of the approximately 12,000 children and adolescents that will be diagnosed with cancer in 2013, it is expected that over 80% of them will become long‐term adult survivors of childhood cancer. Although it has been well established that cancer treatment often has profound negative impact on sexual functioning, sexual functioning in adult survivors of childhood cancer is not well understood. Aim The aim of the current study was to examine the report of sexual function in adult survivors of childhood cancer in relationship to both physical and emotional functioning. Methods Two hundred ninety‐one participants enrolled in Project REACH, a longitudinal study of childhood cancer survivors, completed questionnaires as part of an annual health survey. Main Outcome Measure Primary outcome measures included the sexual functioning subscale of the Swedish Health‐Related Quality of Life Survey, the SF‐12, and the BSI‐18. Results Results indicate that 29% of young adult survivors reported two or more discrete symptoms of sexual dysfunction. Females were twice as likely to report sexual problems. Sexual problems were not related to specific types of childhood cancer treatments such as type of chemotherapy or radiation. Young adults with sexual dysfunction did report poorer functioning across the range of SF‐12 subscales including physical functioning, general health, fatigue, and mental health. Conclusions Significant sexual dysfunction is common in adult survivors of childhood cancer. A greater understanding of the particular relationship between sexual dysfunction and both physical and emotional well‐being in this relatively young population is needed. Even when long‐term cancer survivors are young adults and report generally good health, results underscore the need for clinicians to specifically assess sexual functioning. Bober SL, Zhou ES, Chen B, Manley PE, Kenney LB, and Recklitis CJ. Sexual function in childhood cancer survivors: A report from Project REACH. J Sex Med 2013;10:2084–2093.
Levofloxacin-Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in an Elderly Patient

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are mild-to-life-threatening adverse reactions that have been described after exposure to fluoroquinolones. No published reports, however, exist of exfoliative disease after treatment with levofloxacin. A 78-year-old woman with many medical problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was treated with parenteral levofloxacin for community-acquired pneumonia. She was discharged with oral levofloxacin to complete an additional 3 days of treatment as an outpatient. Two days after completing this regimen, the patient developed a rash with blistering. The rash progressed to TEN in 7 days, and she was transferred to a burn treatment center. She was treated with fluid resuscitation, wound dressing, and antibiotics. Her condition improved, and she was discharged after 22 days. To our knowledge, this case is the first published report of levofloxacin-induced TEN.
A microprocessor control scheme for switched reluctance motor drives

A microprocessor control scheme for a switched reluctance motor(SRM) drive is discussed. A SRM is inherently a variable speed machine since it requires a converter even for constant speed running. Starting with a conceptual development, a particular hardware scheme is discussed for controller implementation. Hardware-software tradeoffs incorporated in the design are discussed. Some results of an actual system are evaluated. It is shown that a microprocessor controller has many advantages over conventional controllers. The controller design uses rotor position and speed feedbacks. Self-starting is incorporated into the design. Use of off-the-shelf components makes the controller simple, reliable, and economical.
Nonmuscle arterial constriction after subarachnoid hemorrhage: role of growth factors derived from platelets

Recent studies have shown that myofibroblasts cultured from spastic arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can produce contractile forces and that cerebrospinal fluid obtained from SAH patients accelerates this contraction. Myofibroblast-populated collagen lattices were used to evaluate the roles of polypeptide growth factors considered to be released from intraluminal accumulated platelets. The myofibroblasts, obtained at autopsy from human cerebral arteries of victims of vasospasm, caused contractile forces by compacting collagen fibrils in the matrix. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and platelet-derived growth factors aa and bb (PDGFaa and PDGFbb) accelerated this contraction in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of TGF-beta 1 at 1 or 10 ng/ml, PDGFaa at 10 ng/ml, or PDGFbb at 10 ng/ml, lattice areas were reduced to 69.5 +/- 1.9% (mean +/- standard deviation) (P < 0.001), 63.3 +/- 0.4% (P < 0.001), 66.5 +/- 3.0% (P < 0.01), or 74.4 +/- 1.7% (P < 0.01) of the control on Day 6, respectively. The combination of subthreshold doses of TGF-beta 1 and PDGFaa created a stimulatory effect that appeared to act synergistically. Furthermore, myofibroblast-populated collagen lattices made with cells preincubated with TGF-beta 1 showed more rapid compaction with or without the presence of stimulants such as post-SAH cerebrospinal fluid. These results suggest that, in addition to other possible factors in the post-SAH cerebrospinal fluid, growth factors derived from accumulated platelets may play an important role in arterial constriction caused by nonmuscle components after SAH, by single or multiple mechanisms.
Photochemical synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetrabromopentacene: its unusual photodimerization

The photogeneration of 2,3,9,10-tetrabromopentacene from its precursor dione by photodecarbonylation was investigated. An unusual photodimer, 3,3′,9,9′,10,10′-hexabromo-2,2′-bipentacene, is produced.
Comparative growth analysis of cool- and warm-season grasses in a cool-temperate environment

Using both cool-season (C 3 ) and warm-season (C 4 ) species is a viable means of optimizing herbage productivity over varying climatic conditions in temperate environments. Despite well-documented differences in water, N, and radiation use, no consistent evidence demonstrates productivity differences among C 3 and C 4 perennial grass species under identical management. A field study was conducted to determine relative growth rates (RGR), nitrogen productivity (NP), and mean radiation productivity (RP) (dry matter production as a function of incident radiation) of cool- and warm-season grasses managed identically. Results were used to identify management practices that could lead to optimal productivity in combinations or mixtures of cool- and warm-season grasses. Dry matter yields of warm-season grasses equaled or surpassed those of cool-season grasses, despite a 40% shorter growth interval. Certain cool- and warm-season grasses appear to be suitable for use in mixtures, based on distribution of herbage production ; however, actual compatibility may be altered by defoliation management. Relative growth rates varied among years and were about 40% lower for canopies clipped to a 10-cm residue height each time 20-cm of growth accumulated compared with other treatments. The RGR of warm-season grasses was twice that of cool-season grasses. Nitrogen productivity (g DM g -1 N d -1 ) and mean radiation productivity (g DM MJ -1 ) for warm-season grasses was also more than twice that of cool-season grasses. Radiation productivity of cool-season grasses was dependent on N, while this was not always the case for warm-season grasses. The superior production capability of certain warm-season compared with cool-season grasses in a cool-temperate environment can be sustained under a range of defoliation treatments and demonstrates suitability for use in frequently defoliated situations.
George Bush and the Costs of High Popularity: A General Model with a Current Application

People worry about the public-relations presidency: an institutional pattern of action giving high priority to public support, especially as shown by the opinion polls. These worries have been accentuated by actions in the White House and news media. “I don't live by the polls,” Bush told reporters early in 1990, parrying the implication that he did live by them. Daily polls that benefitted the White House were taken during the six months before the Gulf War by the Wirthlin Group (Ronald Reagan's second-term pollster) on behalf of “Citizens for a Free Kuwait.” These included very sophisticated tracking and feedback devices. Bush, in fact, became the first president to mention his own popularity polls in a State of the Union address in January 1992. Yet, Bush could as well have accused reporters of living by the polls. Each change in his public approval ratings was accompanied by featured news stories. At the close of the war, even before the planes had returned to their bases, commentators began speculating on how soon the president's popularity would fall. Several things stand out from Bush's approval ratings in his first three years in office. His polls were strikingly high in absolute terms and relative to the polls of his predecessors at the same points in their administrations. Another notable feature was that they were more erratic. Where Reagan's polls changed by more than five percentage points only twice in the same period, Bush's changed by this amount 13 times, leading modern presidents in this kind of fluctuation. Bush's approval ratings climbed with the invasion of Panama in January 1990, fell the next month, and then fell further.
How Wisely Do Consumers Select Their Property and Liability Insurance Coverages

Responses from a consumer panel in South Carolina were used to evaluate consumers' selections of homeowner's and auto insurance coverages. The results indicate that many consumers violate accepted decision rules for selecting coverages. Liability limits typically were below usually recommended levels, while most respondents had selected only small deductibles. Responses also indicated that a major portion of the respondents had not been provided information by their agents to assist them in the selection of coverage. Respondents who reported they had received information from their agents typically had made more appropriate selections than those who had not.
Raman phonons in La2?2xSr1+2xMn2O7 layered manganites

Phonons of polycrystalline La{sub 2-2x}Sr{sub 1+2x}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7} (0.38 x 1.0) ceramic samples were studied at room temperature using Raman spectroscopy. The spectra are consistent with the group theory predictions for a body-centered tetragonal crystal structure (D{sup 17}{sub 4h}). Since no appreciable changes were observed in the Raman spectra for different extents of La doping, this suggests that the layered manganite structure is less sensitive to dopants than that of the related three-dimensional perovskites.
The Allure of the Distinctive: Reduced Sexual Responsiveness of Female Guppies to ‘Redundant’ Male Colour Patterns

Frequency-dependent mating behaviour has the potential to maintain genetic variation in characteristics of organisms. The colour patterns of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) provide an example of one of the most extreme genetically based polymorphisms known in nature, for which frequency-dependent mate choice could be a mechanism. Numerous studies have shown that female guppies base mating preferences on male colour patterns and there is evidence that females prefer to mate with males displaying novel or unfamiliar colour patterns. This preference could lead to frequency-dependent mating success in males. Nevertheless, the possibility that female sexual responsiveness itself may depend on the frequency of male types has not been tested systematically in guppies or any other species. This study examined the sexual responses of female guppies in experimental groups consisting of two males with similar (redundant) and two males with different (unique) colour patterns. We found that female guppies were much more likely to respond sexually to the displays of unique males than to those of redundant males. Further, there was no effect of orange colouration on female responsiveness as has been documented for this population in several previous studies, thus, discrimination against redundant male types appears to have overridden directional selection based on colour pattern characteristics. This discrimination against redundant male types could in turn lead to frequency-dependent mating success in males and maintenance of colour pattern polymorphism.
Two-zone model for a single-room fire

Abstract Frequently, computational models are used to predict fire temperatures and the migration of smoke which result from a single room fire. Many of these models, commonly called two-zone models, assume a smoky layer accumulates at the ceiling and a relatively clear air layer exists near the floor. This paper describes an improved two-zone fire model and a computer program called GTFIRE which studies the effects of room geometry and fire characteristics on the air temperature and pressure within the room and on the smoke movement from the room. Unlike existing models, this program includes a more exact energy analysis, assumes the air in the room has variable specific heats, and accounts for pressure changes in the air with respect to height. GTFIRE is executed for a number of fire scenarios to show how the placement of vents in the room and changes in room geometry affect the movement and development of smoke during the fire. Finally, program output is compared with existing two-zone models to establish how the mathematical formulation improves the accuracy of fire predictions.
COLLAGEN SECRETION AND PHENOTYPE OF SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS FROM COARCTED HUMAN NEONATAL AORTA. † 160

Patients who have undergone successful repair of coarctation of the aorta(COA) at any age have been shown to have persistent abnormalities of the pre-coarctation vascular bed, including increased stiffness and diminished vasodilation. These changes contribute to increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular causes. We sought to investigate whether these changes in aortic compliance resulted from intrinsic abnormalities in the phenotype or the types of collagen produced by the smooth muscle cells of the aortic media in these patients. A higher collagen I/III ratio reflects a greater degree of stiffness of the vessel, where type I collagen lends rigidity and type III contributes to elasticity. Smooth muscle cells from the media of the pre-COA, coarctation and post-COA tissue resected from eight patients were isolated by dissection and grown in culture. The pattern of expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (SMA) was determined by immunostaining of cells in monolayer and immunoblotting of cell lysates. Secretion of collagen types I and III was determined by isolation of radiolabeled collagen from the media of confluent plates, pepsin digestion, and separation of collagen types I and III by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ratio of collagen I/III was determined by densitometry.
Different mechanisms account for extracellular-signal regulated kinase activation in distinct brain regions following global ischemia and reperfusion

Oxidative stress after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion activates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in brain. However, the mechanism of this activation has not been elucidated. We have previously reported that in an in vitro model of oxidative stress in immature cortical neuronal cultures, the inhibition of ERK phosphatase activity contributes to ERK1/2 activation and subsequent neuronal toxicity. This study examined whether ERK activation was associated with altered activity of ERK phosphatases in a rat cardiac arrest model. Rats in experimental groups were subjected to asphyxial cardiac arrest for 8 min and then resuscitated for 30 min. Significant ERK activation was detected in both cortex and hippocampus following ischemia/reperfusion by immunoblotting. ERK phosphatase activity was reversibly inhibited in cerebral cortex but not affected in hippocampus following ischemia/reperfusion. MEK1/2 was activated in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus following ischemia/reperfusion. Using a specific inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), okadaic acid (OA), we have identified PP2A to be the major ERK phosphatase that is responsible for regulating ERK activation in ischemic brain tissues. Orthovanadate inhibited ERK phosphatase activity in brain tissues, suggesting that tyrosine phosphatases and dual specificity phosphatases may also contribute to the ERK phosphatase activity in brain tissues. Together, these data implicate ERK phosphatase in the regulation of ERK activation in distinct brain regions following global ischemia.
Prostacyclin and atherosclerosis--experimental and clinical approaches.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) stimulates platelet adenylate cyclase, increases c-AMP levels in platelets and, therefore, inhibits release reaction, suppresses platelet aggregation and dissipates white platelet thrombi.
Current conduction and dielectric behavior of high k-Y2O3 films integrated with Si using chemical vapor deposition as a gate dielectric for metal-oxide-semiconductor devices

Integration of Y2O3 high-k thin film over Si as gate dielectric in high performance CMOS and high-density MOS memory storage capacitor devices is described. Y2O3 film growth by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition induces interfacial reactions and complex SiO2 − x layer growth. It has a graded structure, in crystalline-SiO2 form at Y2O3 side and amorphous SiO2 − x form at Si side. MIS devices based on Y2O3/SiO2-SiO2 − x composite dielectric integrated with Si show high frequency C-V behavior indicative of inversion to accumulation changes in capacitance. Observed bi-directional hysterisis in C-V is detrimental to the functioning of storage capacitor in memory function. Detailed investigation of this effect led to understanding of gate bias controlled emission of carriers as responsible mechanism. Observed anomalous increase in inversion capacitance at low frequency is attributed to additional charges transferred from SiO2 − x/Si interface states. Leakage current and injected charge carrier transport across bilayer interface is dominated by Poole-Frankel (PF) process at low fields and by Fowler-Nordhiem (FN) at high fields. This investigation provides a greater understanding of the complex nature of integration of Y2O3 films.