cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Matthew Paris and the Cartography of the Margins

During the mid-thirteenth century, Matthew Paris produced visual itineraries depicting the route from London to the Holy Land. These maps belong to an exegetical cartographic mode also found in other medieval maps, such as mappaemundi. Rather than serving as practical tools for directing pilgrims to the Holy Land, Matthew's itineraries served as occasions for spiritual pilgrimages carried out within the confines of St. Albans monastery. In contrast to the cartography that emerged during the early modern period, in which nature is conceived as positive and spatially continuous, these exegetical maps treat nature negatively as a space of discontinuity between sites of civilization. Through various cartographic strategies, nature is invoked only to be confined to the margins of medieval pilgrimage. Emptied of meaning, the natural world thus becomes a non-space that allows human interpretation to enter into the cartographic text.
Intercoder Reliability and Validity of WebPlotDigitizer in Extracting Graphed Data

Quantitative synthesis of data from single-case designs (SCDs) is becoming increasingly common in psychology and education journals. Because researchers do not ordinarily report numerical data in addition to graphical displays, reliance on plot digitizing tools is often a necessary component of this research. Intercoder reliability of data extraction is a commonly overlooked, but potentially important, step of this process. The purpose of this study was to examine the intercoder reliability and validity of WebPlotDigitizer (Rohatgi, 2015), a web-based plot digitizing tool for extracting data from a variety of plots, including XY coordinates of interrupted time-series data. Two coders extracted 3,596 data points from 168 data series in 36 graphs across 18 studies. Results indicated high levels of intercoder reliability and validity. Implications of and recommendations based on these results are discussed in relation to researchers involved in quantitative synthesis of data from SCDs.
Disparities in the Context of Opportunities for Cancer Prevention in Early Life

Persistent health disparities are a major contributor to disproportionate burden of cancer for some populations. Health disparities in cancer incidence and mortality may reflect differences in exposures to risk factors early in life. Understanding the distribution of exposures to early life risk and protective factors for cancer across different populations can shed light on opportunities to promote health equity at earlier developmental stages. Disparities may differentially influence risk for cancer during early life and create opportunities to promote health equity. Potential risk and protective factors for cancer in early life reveal patterns of disparities in their exposure. These disparities in exposures can manifest in downstream disparities in risk for cancer. These risk and protective factors include adverse childhood experiences; maternal alcohol consumption in pregnancy; childhood obesity; high or low birth weight; benzene exposure; use of assisted reproductive technologies; pesticide and insecticide exposure; isolated cryptorchidism; early pubertal timing; exposure to radiation; exposure to tobacco in utero and in early life; allergies, asthma, and atopy; and early exposure to infection. Disparities on the basis of racial and ethnic minority status, economic disadvantage, disability status, sex, geography, and nation of origin can occur in these risk and protective factors. Vulnerable populations experience disproportionally greater exposure to risk factors in early life. Addressing disparities in risk factors in early life can advance opportunities for prevention, promote health equity, and possibly reduce risk for subsequent development of cancer.
Organoleptic, Chemical and Microbiological Changes in Ultra-High-Temperature Sterilized Milk Stored at Room Temperature 1 .

The effects of carton materials on flavor of ultra-high-temperature sterilized milks stored 100 days at 22 ± 2 C was investigated. Flavor scores of stored milk decreased concurrent with an increase in stale flavor. At the same time propanal, pentanal, hexanal, and an unidentified compound increased; cooked flavor along with methyl sulfide and another unidentified compound decreased. Differences in browning were observed between ultra-high-temperature sterilized and reference (freshly pasteurized) milks and between 2- and 12-day-old ultra-high-temperature sterilized milks. Thiobarbituric acid values did not increase (indicating no lipid oxidation) until after the milk had been stored 22 days; however, those values were below that which would be detected organoleptically. Abnormally high acetaldehyde concentrations were related to the ethylene oxide sterilizing pretreatment of the carton board. Reference milk was superior in flavor to milk from all other treatments. Aluminum foil-lined cartons were less permeable to gases than were polyethylene-lined cartons. Milk in aluminum foil-lined cartons retained desirable flavor characteristics longer than did that stored in polyethylene-lined cartons. Wrapping cartons with Saran and aluminum foil was detrimental to flavor in all instances. Analysis of variance of microbiological data established that there were no differences in numbers of microorganisms in the different types of cartons during 42 days.
Low-loss air-clad suspended silicon platform for mid-infrared photonics

We demonstrate a low-loss fully-air-clad suspended silicon platform for mid-infrared photonics. We fabricate a suspended microring resonator with a high quality factor of 83,000 at 3.79 μm wavelength and suspended nanotapers using etchless waveguide processing.
Aesthetic Changes in Lip Profile following Advancement Genioplasty

This study examined the aesthetic changes in the labiomental fold profile after advancement genioplasty. We presented a Cartesian system, based on symphyseal landmarks, to compare both hard and sof...
Allometric Considerations of the Adult Mammalian Brain, with Special Emphasis on Primates

Allometric studies of the brain investigate differences in the size of the total brain or its subdivisions and associate those differences with the size of the organism or, for its parts, with the size of the brain. Two quantitative features are examined in these studies: (1) the intercepts, or how big a part is in relation to the whole, and (2) the slope, or how the two features scale together. Over the past 100 years comparisons of adult vertebrates have demonstrated that taxonomic groups differ according to the amount of brain per body weight and that brain weights do not show as much enlargement as do body weights (negative allometry). Although many studies have covered all vertebrates, only mammalian data will be discussed in this review.
Standalone, Collective or Both? How Low‐income Urban Households Employ Strategies to Secure Basic Service Access in Hyderabad, India

Basic service security remains grossly insufficient for many urban slum households in low-income and middle-income countries. While participation in collective action has often been hailed as the most effective means to secure improvements, households also employ standalone strategies to enhance service provision. Yet potential trade-offs or complementarities between individual and collective strategies have rarely been considered. Using data from a survey of 752 households in the core urban area of Hyderabad, India, this study uses both the exit, voice and loyalty and collective action frameworks to jointly consider household participation in standalone and groups efforts to improve basic service security. Findings show that, contrary to most past conceptualizations, households employ several strategies simultaneously. While there is some evidence of substitution in strategies employed by households, there appears to be little strategic complementarity. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trends in healthcare expenditure in United States adults with chronic kidney disease: 2002-2011.

This study examines trends in healthcare expenditure in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other kidney diseases (OKD) in the U.S. from 2002 to 2011. One hundred and eighty-seven thousand, three hundred and fourty-one adults aged ≥18 from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component were analyzed. CKD and OKD were based on ICD-9 or CCC codes. A novel two-part model was used to estimate the likelihood of any healthcare use and total expenditures. Covariates included individual demographics and comorbidities. Approximately 711 adults surveyed from 2002 to 2011 had CKD and 3693 had OKD. CKD was more likely among Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), Midwest and Western residents while OKD was more likely among Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), Hispanics, married and Northeast residents. Both CKD and OKD were more likely in ≥45 years, males, widowed/divorced/single, ≤high school educated, publicly insured, Southern residents, poor and low income individuals. All comorbidities were more likely among people with CKD and OKD. Unadjusted analysis for mean expenditures for CKD and OKD vs. no kidney disease was $39,873 and $13,247 vs. $5411 for the pooled sample. After adjusting for covariates as well as time, individuals with CKD had $17,472 and OKD $5014 higher expenditures, while adjusted mean expenditures increased by $293 to $658 compared to the reference year group. Unadjusted yearly expenditures for CKD and OKD in the US population were approximately $24.6 and $48.1 billion, while adjusted expenditures were approximately $10.7 and $18.2 billion respectively. CKD and OKD are significant cost-drivers and impose a profound economic burden to the US population.
Asymmetric Conformational Transitions in AAA+ Biological Nanomachines Modulate Direction-Dependent Substrate Protein Unfolding Mechanisms.

Powerful AAA+ biological nanomachines, such as ClpY, form hexameric ring structures, which selectively process abnormal proteins targeted for degradation by unfolding and threading them through a narrow central channel. The molecular details of this process are not yet fully understood. We perform Langevin dynamics simulations using a coarse-grained model of substrate proteins (SPs), Titin I27 and its V13P variant, threading through the ClpY pore. We probe the effect of ClpY surface heterogeneity and changes in pore width on SP orientation and the direction of applied force during SP unfolding. We contrast mechanisms of SP unfolding in a restrained geometry, as in single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments, and in an unrestrained geometry, as in the in vivo degradation process. In open pore configurations, unfolding of unrestrained SPs occurs via an unzipping mechanism, which involves force application along a weak mechanical direction. In the partially closed pore, unfolding occurs via a shearing mec...
Experimental validation of an optofluidic platform for microbial single cell isolation and whole genome amplification for human microbiome applications

Single microbial cell genome sequencing is becoming a powerful tool for the discovery of the hidden genetic information valuable for many medical applications. One of the critical steps in single-cell genome sequencing is the physical isolation of individual cells from a highly diverse heterogeneous population. Amplifying the genome of a single microbial cell is another challenge due to the minute amount of DNA. Efforts have been directed in developing an optofluidic platform integrating advanced microscopy, optical tweezers and microfluidic technology for single cell isolation and genome amplification. Here, we investigate and evaluate the validity of this platform for single microbial cell genome amplification. The successful validation of this approach allows us to perform various single cell studies using this platform.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Very Young

The aim of this report was to review the recent literature related to the assessment and management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children under the age of 2 years. Adenotonsillectomy (AT) indications are changing, with a greater proportion of younger children undergoing AT for OSA. Medical therapies may be an alternative to AT in mild-moderate OSA cases; however, further research is needed. Coblation® intracapsular tonsillectomy may confer benefits in reduced post-operative pain and hemorrhage. Recent concerns regarding the safety of general anesthesia in young children are an important area for further investigation. There is a paucity of literature related to OSA in children younger than 2 years. Recent large-scale trials have actively excluded children from this age group and there are no planned studies of this specific population. These children represent a distinct population with differing etiologies, presentations, investigations, and management consideration.
Airborne polarimetric Doppler weather radar: Performance enhancement using AESA technology

Active electronic scanning array (AESA) enables rapid scanning, and the radar beam could be steered to any angular direction nearly instantly. Rapid steering of the antenna beam is suitable for beam multiplexing. Beam multiplexing (BMX) enables the collection of independent sample pairs of radar signals that reduce errors in radar measurements while providing rapid updates of scan volumes. In contrast to the AESA, a mechanically scanning radar collects continuous sample pairs of radar signals requires longer dwell times compared to BMX for estimating radar measurements with a comparable standard error. Gain and beamwidths of AESA changes and also cross-coupling between horizontally and vertically polarized signals occur as the beam is steered away from the broadside. Radar calibration procedure should take into account of these variations. Transmit and receive beam characteristics of AESA could be made independent of other by appropriate weighting of the individual radiating element transmit and receive signals. The flexibility in forming antenna beam shape is helpful for blocking interference and minimizing the effect of clutter on weak weather echo.
Outcomes After Laparoscopic Gastrostomy Suture Techniques in Children.

Abstract Background There are various suture techniques used during laparoscopic gastrostomy to secure the stomach to the anterior abdominal wall. However, it remains unclear whether temporary fixation or subcutaneous absorbable sutures predispose pediatric patients to fewer postoperative complications. Our goal was to determine if a particular suture technique resulted in an increased risk for the development of postoperative complications. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort analysis was performed for patients less than 18 y of age who underwent laparoscopic gastrostomy at a tertiary Children's Hospital between 2012 and 2016. Children were grouped according to suture techniques for laparoscopic gastrostomy placement: temporary sutures or subcutaneous absorbable sutures. Postoperative outcomes at 30 d were defined as major complications (tube dislodgement, unplanned reoperation, readmission) and minor complications (stitch abscess, surgical site infection, emergency department visit). The chi squared test was used to determine if an association existed between the suture techniques and 30 d postoperative complications. Results We identified 682 pediatric patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrostomy. There were 301 (44%) patients with subcutaneous sutures placed and 381 (56%) with temporary sutures placed. The overall rate of major and minor complications was 8.3% and 22%, respectively. We observed a significant difference in the occurrence of major postoperative complications between the subcutaneous and temporary suture techniques (11% versus 6.3%, P = 0.029). There was no significant difference in the development of minor complications between subcutaneous and temporary suture techniques. Conclusions Children who receive subcutaneous sutures during laparoscopic gastrostomy are at an increased risk for developing a major postoperative complication.
Single-Molecule Conformational Switches

A class of bistable stator-rotor molecules is described. The stationary part connects the two electrodes and facilitates electron transport between them. The rotary part, which has a large dipole moment, is attached to an atom of the stator via a single sigma bond. Hydrogen-like bonds formed between the rotor’s oxygen and stator’s hydrogen atoms make the symmetric orientation of the dipole unstable. The rotor has two potential minima with equal energy for rotation about the sigma bond. The dipole can be flipped between the two states by an external electric field. The two rotor-orientation states have different current-voltage characteristics, so they are distinguishable electrically. Theoretical results on conformation, energy barriers, retention times, switching voltages, and current-voltage characteristics are presented for a particular family of stator-rotor molecules.
National Trends in Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: Validation of Medicare Claims-based Algorithms.

Objective To better describe the real-world use of active surveillance. Active surveillance is a preferred management option for low-risk prostate cancer, yet its use outside of high-volume institutions is poorly understood. We created multiple claims-based algorithms, validated them using a robust clinical registry, and applied them to Medicare claims to describe national utilization. Materials and Methods We identified men with prostate cancer from 2012-2014 in a 100% sample of Michigan Medicare data and linked them with the Michigan Urologic Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC) registry. Using MUSIC treatment assignment as the standard, we determined the performance of 8 claims-based algorithms to identify men on active surveillance. We selected 3 algorithms (the most sensitive, the most specific, and a balanced algorithm incorporating age and comorbidity) and applied them to a 20% national Medicare sample to describe national trends. Results We identified 1186 men with incident prostate cancer and completely linked data. Eight algorithms were tested with sensitivity ranging from 23.5% to 88.2% and specificity ranging from 93.5% to 99.1%. We found that the use of surveillance for men with incident prostate cancer increased from 2007 to 2014, nationally. However, among all men in the population, there was a large decrease in the rate of prostate cancer diagnosis and an increased or stable rate in the use of active surveillance, depending on the algorithm used. Less than 25% of men on active surveillance underwent a confirmatory prostate biopsy. Conclusion We describe the performance of claims-based algorithms to identify active surveillance.
Intimate Identities and Language Revitalization in Veneto, Northern Italy.

In this chapter, I examine language revitalization as part of a local, historical, and sociocultural revitalization project in which collective and intimate identities emerge in Northeastern Italy’s Veneto region. Through an analysis of public signage, textual artifacts, and participants’ narratives, I describe how the promotion of the local language is related to a developing sense of collective and intimate identities, especially as a reaction to the recent arrival of many migrants and refugees in Italy. These migratory flows have triggered strong reactions by Italians, such as discourses about national identity and the Northern League’s aggressive anti-immigration politics. I show how politics, history, art, and language become part of a complex configuration in which intimate identities and language affiliations are enacted in participants’ everyday lives.
A Novel Technique for Gait Analysis Using Two Waist Mounted Gyroscopes

Analysis of the human gait is used in many applications such as medicine, sports, indoor localization, and person identification. Several research studies focus on the use of MEMS inertial sensors for gait analysis and have shown promising results. Step detection and step length estimation are two basic and important gait analysis tasks. Although researchers have proposed many methods for step detection, all of them rely on experimental thresholds selected based on a limited number of subjects and walking conditions. Also, most of these methods do not distinguish walking from other activities; they can only recognize motion state from an idle state. On the other hand, step length estimation methods used in the literature either need constant calibration for each user, rely on impractical sensor placement, or both. In this paper, the human walking bipedal nature is employed for gait analysis using two waist mounted MEMS gyroscopes. This setup allows the step detection and discrimination from other non-bipedal activities without the need for magnitude thresholds. The hip rotation angle in the sagittal plane is also calculated that allowed us to estimate the step length without needing for constants calibration. By mounting an accelerometer on the center of the back of the waist, an auto-calibration method for the Weinberg equation's constant is developed. This method also improves the accuracy of the Weinberg equation for step length estimation.
Consumer Satisfaction in Loose Monopolies: The Case of Medical Care:

Increasing deregulation will force attention upon the problems of achieving consumer satisfaction in industries that are not regulated. This article examines the problems of regulating performance ...
Abstract P104: Impact of Cold Weather on Cardiovascular Diseases in Texas

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been estimated to account for nearly 50% of total deaths during cold seasons, and cold weather has been shown to have a significant impact on CVD. More ...
Forecast bias and analyst independence

This paper examines the accuracy of equity analysts who provide earnings forecasts for European companies. We find strong evidence of institutional bias in analysts’ forecasts, specifically, when analysts move between sell-side employers and independent employers, they issue more accurate forecasts while they are employed by independent firms. Moreover, these differences persist when we hold constant the set of firms these mobile analysts research. We find statistically significant differences in the forecast accuracy of sell-side and independent analysts. The optimistic bias of sell-side analysts appears to be related to underwriting activity. Analysts employed by lead underwriters produce less accurate forecasts for newly public companies than do either buy-side or independent analysts. The optimistic bias persists for a five-year period following an IPO.
300 GHz Channel Characterization of Chip-to-Chip Communication in Metal Enclosure

This paper presents the characterization of Terahertz (THz) wireless channel inside a desktop size metal box with focus on line-of-sight (LoS) and reflected-non-line-of-sight (RNloS) propagation. Measurements for LoS propagation inside the metal box show that path loss varies with respect to the transceiver’s height from the bottom wall, and for some heights, the path loss is lower than the free space value. By analyzing the relationship between the path loss and the antenna’s height, the results show that the first six modes of TE mode dominate the resonating modes inside the box. Also, the path loss analysis indicates that the resonating modes combined with the reflections happened inside the box should be responsible for the strong ripples on the path loss curve. Finally, the RNLoS measurements with dual-in-line-memory-module (DIMM) as the reflecting surface show that the differences between the average path losses measured inside the metal box and in free space are limited to 1 dB.
Hot-electron emission processes in waveguide-integrated graphene

Photoemission plays a central role in a wide range of fields, from electronic structure measurements to free-electron laser sources. In metallic emitters, single-photon1, multiphoton2–5 or strong-field emission6–10 processes are the primary photoemission mechanisms. Here, using a sub-work-function 3.06 eV continuous-wave laser, photoemission from waveguide-integrated monolayer graphene is observed to occur at peak power densities >5 orders of magnitude lower than reported multiphoton and strong-field emission6,11,12. The behaviour is explained by the emission of hot electrons in graphene. In monolayer graphene, the need for photoelectrons to be transported to an emitting surface is eliminated, dramatically enhancing the probability of emission before thermalization. These results indicate that integrated-photonics-driven hot-electron emission provides a rich new area of exploration for both electron emission and integrated photonics. Unusual photoemission from graphene is explained by the emission of hot electrons. The findings may lead to integrated photonic devices driven by hot-electron emission.
RADIATIVE TRANSFER STUDIES AND OPACITY CALCULATIONS FOR HEATED GASES

Representative radiative transfer studies and recent developments in opacity calculations for heated gases are outlined.
COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients on Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis: A Case Series.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) population, with high mortality rates reported among patients on hemodialysis. However, the degree to which it has affected the peritoneal dialysis (PD) population in the United States has not yet been elucidated. In this report, we describe the clinical characteristics, presentations, clinical course, and outcomes of ESKD patients on PD hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods We describe the characteristics, presentation, and outcomes of adult ESKD patients on chronic PD hospitalized with CO-VID-19 in our 13 major hospitals in the NY health system using descriptive statistical analysis. Results Of 419 hospitalized patients with ESKD, 11 were on chronic PD therapy (2.6%). Among those 11, 3 patients required mechanical ventilation, 2 of whom died. Of the entire cohort, 9 of the 11 patients (82%) were discharged alive. While fever was a common presentation, more than half of our patients also presented with diarrhea. Interestingly, 3 patients were diagnosed with culture-negative peritonitis during their hospitalization. Seven patients reported positive SARS-CoV-2 exposure from a member of their household. Conclusion Hospitalized patients on PD with COVID-19 had a relatively mild course, and majority of them were discharged home.
Racial States and Re-making Race: Exploring Coloured Racial Re- and De-formation in State Laws and Forms in Post-Apartheid South Africa:

The nation-state is one powerful entity that makes race. For instance, the mid-twentieth-century South African apartheid racial state cultivated a triracial hierarchy through officially naming thre...
The Algebra and Combinatorics of Shuffles and Multiple Zeta Values

The algebraic and combinatorial theory of shuffles, introduced by Chen and Ree, is further developed and applied to the study of multiple zeta values. In particular, we establish evaluations for certain sums of cyclically generated multiple zeta values. The boundary case of our result reduces to a former conjecture of Zagier.
Behind the Meter: Implementing Distributed Energy Technologies to Balance Energy Load in Virginia

One of the principal challenges associated with decarbonization is the temporal variability of renewable energy generation, which is creating the need to better balance load on the grid by shaving peak demand. We analyzed how innovative load-shifting technologies can be used by large institutions like the University of Virginia to shift load and support statewide efforts to decarbonize. To do this, we focused on the University's plans for expansion of the Fontaine Research Park, which is a good model for understanding how these technologies could distribute energy load behind the meter. First, we worked to develop a predictive model to forecast when peak demands will occur and understand how interventions, including heat recovery chillers and thermal storage tanks, might be used to balance load. Then, we extended a statewide energy systems model using the Tools for Energy Modeling Optimization and Analysis (TEMOA) to simulate the ways in which these types of interventions might be scaled to the whole state. Using the energy demand model in conjunction with aggregated institutional energy use data, the team evaluated the effects that broader adoption of distributed energy technologies in Virginia could have on the grid's ability to handle the energy transition. Our study showed implementing distributed energy sources on a state-scale had insignificant effect on balancing load. However, on a microgrid scale, such technologies prove to be a useful resource to decrease peak demand which would allow for further clean energy projects and possible cost reductions.
Some Inlet-Plane Effects on the Numerically Simulated Spatially-Developing Mixing Layer

The incompressible plane mixing layer has been investigated using a full simulation of the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations, with no turbulence model. The code solves the spatially-developing mixing layer and simultaneous solution of a passive scalar field allows the entrainment process to be examined in detail. Results from two simulations are presented. The first investigates the effect of the wake shed from the splitter plate on the development of the forced mixing layer. This effect appears to be responsible for the large initial asymmetry of entrainment which has been observed experimentally. In the second simulation the forcing is modified by adding a random-walk to the phase of the forcing eigenfunctions, in an attempt to simulate a more ‘natural’ mixing layer. Passive scalar probability density functions for each simulation show asymmetric entrainment of unmixed fluid and the existence of a preferred mixture fraction across the layer.
Predictive models for severe sepsis in adult ICU patients

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients have significant morbidity and mortality, often from complications that arise during the hospital stay. Severe sepsis is one of the leading causes of death among these patients. Predictive models have the potential to allow for earlier detection of severe sepsis and ultimately earlier intervention. However, current methods for identifying and predicting severe sepsis are biased and inadequate. The goal of this work is to identify a new framework for the prediction of severe sepsis and identify early predictors utilizing clinical laboratory values and vital signs collected in adult ICU patients. We explore models with logistic regression (LR), support vector machines (SVM), and logistic model trees (LMT) utilizing vital signs, laboratory values, or a combination of vital and laboratory values. When applied to a retrospective cohort of ICU patients, the SVM model using laboratory and vital signs as predictors identified 339 (65%) of the 3,446 patients as developing severe sepsis correctly. Based on this new framework and developed models, we provide a recommendation for the use in clinical decision support in ICU and non-ICU environments.
Physiological Effects of Menaquinone Deficiency in Bacillus subtilis

Several aspects of the respiratory physiology of a mutant of Bacillus subtilis deficient in menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and in cytochromes were investigated. The mutant, an aromatic amino acid auxotroph blocked at dehydroshikimate reductase, is unable to synthesize MK-7 unless grown in the presence of the common aromatic amino acid intermediate, shikimate. The inability to synthesize MK-7 prevents the mutant from expressing the normal postexponentialphase cytochrome phenotype. When grown in the presence of shikimate, normal levels of these electron transport components are formed. It was found that the intracellular concentration of MK-7 could be predictably regulated by growing the cells with known concentrations of exogenous shikimate. When the mutant was grown under conditions where MK-7 biosynthesis was severely limited, there was a decrease in oxygen uptake and in membrane-associated reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase and succinate oxidase activity. NADH oxidase, but not succinoxidase, could be restored in membrane preparations by the addition of menadione to the reaction mixture. Reduced-minus-oxidized cytochrome difference spectra indicate that an MK-7 deficiency limits electron flow through the cytochrome chain. Furthermore, oxidation-reduction patterns suggest that MK-7 functions between the primary dehydrogenases and the cytochromes. Although the mutant is asporogenous when grown under conditions where MK-7 biosynthesis is limited, the inability to sporulate does not appear to result from lesions in the electron transport system.
Philosophical Hermeneutic Interviewing

This article describes, exemplifies and discusses the use of the philosophical hermeneutic interview and its distinguishing characteristics. Excerpts of interviews from a philosophical hermeneutic study are used to show how this particular phenomenological tradition is applied to research inquiry. The purpose of the article is to lay out the foundational background for philosophical hermeneutics in a way that clarifies its unique approach to interviewing and its usefulness for advancing health care knowledge. Implications for health care research and practice are addressed.
The acute right lower quadrant: CT evaluation

A variety of acute inflammatory conditions may affect the right lower quadrantprompting the patient to seek medical evaluation [1]. The clinical presentation is often confusing. The work-up of a patient with right lowerquadrant painisbased onthe clinicalhistory and physical examination, laboratory evaluation, and plain-film radiography. In patients with acute right lower quadrant pain (and abdominal pain in general), however, plain-film radiography is often noncontributory (Fig. 1) [2]. A recent study evaluating patients with abdominal pain showed that plain-film radiographywasinterpretedasnonspecificin588(68%)of871 patients, normal in 200 (23%), and abnormal in 83 (10%). In this study, abdominal radiography had 0% sensitivity for appendicitis, pyelonephritis, pancreatitis, and diverticulitis. Moreover, the clinical history and physical examination in patients with right lower quadrant pain are often nonspecific. Depending on the expertise of the treating physician, abdominal and pelvic CT is often performed to confirm if an inflammatory condition is present and to characterize it further [3]. With the widespread proliferation of multislice CT scanners in emergency departments throughout the country, this trend will likely continue [4] .I n most patients with acute right lower quadrant pain, a specificdiagnosisofappendicitiscanbemadewithCT leading to prompt surgical intervention [5,6]. Appendicitis is the most common cause of the acute abdomen particularly in young individuals. It is important for the clinician and radiologist to remember, however, that abdominal symptoms and physical signslocatedintherightlowerquadrantmaybecaused by a variety of other conditions [1,5]. In a review of
Recursive estimation of unstructured uncertainty and robust control design

Robust control design for a class of nonlinear system and online estimation of uncertainty is presented. Estimation is done via high gain observers, and the estimates are used by the proposed robust control to relax prior knowledge, required in a typical robust control design on the size of uncertainties, without assuming a bounding function, the proposed control scheme has the potential to being less conservative while guaranteeing robust stability.
Maternal Acceptance of the Fetus: True Human Tolerance

Induction and maintenance of immunologic tolerance in humans remains a desirable but elusive goal. Therefore, understanding the physiologic mechanisms of regulation of immune responses is highly clinically relevant for immune-mediated diseases (e.g., autoimmunity and asthma/allergy) and for cell and organ transplantation. Acceptance of the fetus, which expresses paternally inherited alloantigens, by the mother during pregnancy is a unique example of how the immune system reshapes a destructive alloimmune response to a state of tolerance. Understanding the complex mechanisms of fetomaternal tolerance has important implications for developing novel strategies to induce immunologic tolerance in humans in general and for prevention of spontaneous abortion in at-risk populations in particular.
Design and Performance of Shadow-Mask Color Cathode Ray Tubes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the design and performance of the shadow-mask color cathode ray tube (CRT). The triad patterns of the beamlets landing on the phosphor screen as a function of the mask-screen geometry are discussed in detail, showing the condition necessary for exciting maximum phosphor area without losing color purity. In all cases, a black non-luminescent material is deposited between adjacent color phosphor elements to enhance the contrast. To create the apertures, a flat sheet of the mask material is coated with a photoresist layer that is first exposed to a suitable optical pattern and then developed. The bare area is then etched to form apertures or slits through it. The minimum practical aperture size or slit that can be produced is about the thickness of the mask material. For self-supporting masks (whose edges are attached to a surrounding rigid frame), the thinnest material now used is about 0.1 mm, making the diameter of the smallest circular apertures or width of the smallest slits also about 0.1 mm. In the special case of masks held under tension, thinner material can be used, allowing smaller apertures or slits to be produced.
‘Keeping Land for Their Children’: Generation, Migration and Land in South Africa’s Transkei

Even as they cultivate less land, residents of Hobeni, in the former Transkei homeland, describe increasing concerns over land shortage, explaining that disused land has its owners who ‘are keeping that land for their children’. This paper examines the social practices that shape rural land tenure, in a setting where traditional authorities bear little relevance to customary tenure. Land in this context holds value not only for agricultural and residential use; it is a resource for rural residents to persuade migrants to maintain their rural ties, in a political-economic context in which migration has become more unstable and insecure. Attention to the attractive value of land as a resource situated in relations between migrants and rural kin also highlights the limits of a narrowly economic perspective on apparently ‘underutilised’ land: land may be materially ‘unproductive’ but socially valuable.
A model of xenograft hyperacute rejection attenuates endothelial nitric oxide production: a mechanism for graft vasospasm?

Abstract Background The deposition of complement components within grafts, complement consumption, and prolongation of graft function by complement inactivation imply a pivotal role for complement in xenograft hyperacute rejection. The current investigations examined the endothelial production of vasoactive substances in pulmonary arteries during simulated hyperacute rejection. Methods and results Canine pulmonary arteries were suspended in organ chambers and exposed to either autologous canine serum for 90 minutes or heterologous porcine serum for 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Following serum exposure, the vessels were allowed a one-hour equilibration in buffered crystalloid solution. Dose-response curves were obtained with acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, and calcium ionophore A23187 following contraction with phenylephrine (10 −6 M) in the presence of indomethacin (10 −5 M). Receptor-dependent, endothelial-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine (10 −9 –10 −4 M) were impaired with 30-, 60-, or 90-minute porcine serum exposure when compared to vessels exposed to autologous canine serum ( n = 10, 7, 9, respectively; p −9 –10 −6 M) were significantly impaired at 60- and 90-minute porcine exposures only ( n = 7, 8; p −9 –10 −4 M) were not impaired with either canine or porcine serum exposure. Oxyhemoglobin (10 −6 M) abolished acetylcholine-mediated relaxations, indicating that nitric oxide was the predominant mediator. Conclusions Simulated hyperacute xenograft rejection impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of canine pulmonary arteries. Both basal and stimulated production of nitric oxide is impaired by heterologous serum exposure and, subsequently, complement activation. Reduced production of nitric oxide may explain, in part, the vasospasm and thrombosis of xenografts during hyperacute rejection.
Hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene catalyzed by sulfided CoO-MoO3γ-Al2O3: The reaction network

Kinetics experiments have determined the reaction network in the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene catalyzed by sulfided CoO-MoO3/γ-Al2O3 at 573°K and 102 atm. The predominant reaction is a direct sulfur extrusion, giving biphenyl and hydrogen sulfide; the biphenyl is subsequently hydrogenated slowly to give cyclohexylbenzene and then bicyclohexyl. Dibenzothiophene also undergoes a primary hydrogenation reaction preceding sulfur removal, but it is about one thousand times slower than the sulfur extrusion reaction.
The Path-Dependent City

Urban policy making approximates the components of a path-dependent model-random selection and self-reinforcement-which suggests that cities get locked into suboptimal policies. Thus, despite rigid rules of individual and collective behavior posited by many urban theorists, identical cities can evolve along drastically different paths. The author shows how simple time-series models can overlook path dependence and demonstrates the trends of a path-dependent series using budget data from Chicago and New York. New York exhibited policy lock-in in the decades following the Great Depression, but Chicago did not.
Probing the Boundaries of Orthology: The Unanticipated Rapid Evolution of Drosophila centrosomin

The rapid evolution of essential developmental genes and their protein products is both intriguing and problematic. The rapid evolution of gene products with simple protein folds and a lack of well-characterized functional domains typically result in a low discovery rate of orthologous genes. Additionally, in the absence of orthologs it is difficult to study the processes and mechanisms underlying rapid evolution. In this study, we have investigated the rapid evolution of centrosomin (cnn), an essential gene encoding centrosomal protein isoforms required during syncytial development in Drosophila melanogaster. Until recently the rapid divergence of cnn made identification of orthologs difficult and questionable because Cnn violates many of the assumptions underlying models for protein evolution. To overcome these limitations, we have identified a group of insect orthologs and present conserved features likely to be required for the functions attributed to cnn in D. melanogaster. We also show that the rapid divergence of Cnn isoforms is apparently due to frequent coding sequence indels and an accelerated rate of intronic additions and eliminations. These changes appear to be buffered by multi-exon and multi-reading frame maximum potential ORFs, simple protein folds, and the splicing machinery. These buffering features also occur in other genes in Drosophila and may help prevent potentially deleterious mutations due to indels in genes with large coding exons and exon-dense regions separated by small introns. This work promises to be useful for future investigations of cnn and potentially other rapidly evolving genes and proteins.
Supercritical Water Gasification of Phenol and Glycine as Models for Plant and Protein Biomass

We examined the gasification of phenol and glycine in supercritical water (SCW). For phenol SCW gasification, the water density and phenol loading were varied to determine their effects. Increasing the water density at a constant phenol loading lowered the phenol conversion for Ni-catalyzed reactions. Increasing the phenol loading at a fixed water density increased the conversion. The H2 yields at equilibrium increased with decreasing water density, decreasing phenol loading, and increasing temperature. Glycine was much more resistant to gasification than phenol. Large amounts (20%–90%) of the initial carbon remained in the aqueous phase even after 1 h for both homogeneous and Ni-catalyzed reactions. Solid material was also produced. Of the gases that were formed, CO was most abundant from the homogeneous reactions, while hydrogen was the most abundant in the presence of a nickel catalyst. The Ni catalyst assisted in glycine gasification, as less carbon was found in the aqueous phase, and gas yields were ...
Important role for endothelial calveolin-1 in focal cerebral ischemia-induced blood-brain barrier injury.

Age-associated, ischemic stroke is one of the most common causes of death and disability in the United States today. The focal ischemia that occurs after thrombo-embolic occlusion of a cerebral artery causes rapid cellular death in the ‘core’ ischemic zone, the primary zone of the blocked artery’s perfusion field where cell death occurs within minutes to an hour. In addition, although there is collateral flow to the surrounding tissue, referred to as the ‘penumbra’, flow is significantly reduced in this region. The penumbra region of the infarct evolves/increases over time unless intervention is provided by restoration of blood flow or by blocking the ongoing ischemic-cytotoxic processes that kill penumbra cells. In ischemic stroke, there is disturbance to the blood-brain barrier that leads to disrupted vasoregulation, vascular leakage and vasogenic edema with increased tissue volume caused by fluid accumulation. Under severe ischemic conditions, increased pressure within the skull can produce accelerated clinical deterioration of the patient. With disruption of the blood–brain barrier, there is also increased probability of hemorrhage after ischemic stroke. A great deal has been learned about the pathophysiology of stroke over the past 25 years, yet the numerous compounds that have been tested in humans have failed to improve outcome, with the exception of tissue plasminogen activator (Barone 2009; Zhou et al. 2011). Therefore, it is important to identify new targets for therapeutic development, including agents that protect the blood–brain barrier, and thus protect the brain. These agents can be expected to be beneficial in treating stroke patients (Jin et al. 2010).
Real-time compensation of the inner filter effect in high-density bioluminescent cultures.

Bioluminescence has recently become a popular research tool in several fields, including medicine, pharmacology, biochemistry, bioprocessing, and environmental engineering. Beginning with purely qualitative goals, scientists are now targeting more demanding applications where accurate, quantitative interpretation of bioluminescence is necessary. Using the recent advances in fiber-optic technology, bioluminescence is easily monitored in vivo and in real time. However, the convenience of this measurement is often concealing an unsuspected problem: the bioluminescence signal might be corrupted by a large error caused by the extinction of light by biological cells. Since bioluminescent cultures not only emit light but also absorb and scatter it, the measured signal is related in a complex, nonlinear, and cell-concentration-dependent manner to the “true” bioluminescence. This light extinction effect, known as the “inner filter effect,” is significant in high-density cultures. Adequate interpretation of the bioluminescence signal can be difficult without its correction. Here, we propose a real-time algorithm for elimination of the inner filter effect in a bioreactor. The algorithm yields the bioluminescence which would be measured if the glowing culture was completely transparent. This technique has been successfully applied to batch and continuous cultivation of recombinant bioluminescent Escherichia coli. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.