cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatobiliary Clearance Prediction: Species Scaling From Monkey, Dog, and Rat, and In Vitro–In Vivo Extrapolation of Sandwich-Cultured Human Hepatocytes Using 17 Drugs

Abstract Hepatobiliary elimination can be a major clearance pathway dictating the pharmacokinetics of drugs. Here, we first compared the dose eliminated in bile in preclinical species (monkey, dog, and rat) with that in human and further evaluated single-species scaling (SSS) to predict human hepatobiliary clearance. Six compounds dosed in bile duct–cannulated (BDC) monkeys showed biliary excretion comparable to human; and the SSS of hepatobiliary clearance with plasma fraction unbound correction yielded reasonable predictions (within 3-fold). Although dog SSS also showed reasonable predictions, rat overpredicted hepatobiliary clearance for 13 of 24 compounds. Second, we evaluated the translatability of in vitro sandwich-cultured human hepatocytes (SCHHs) to predict human hepatobiliary clearance for 17 drugs. For drugs with no significant active uptake in SCHH studies (i.e., with or without rifamycin SV), measured intrinsic biliary clearance was directly scalable with good predictability (absolute average fold error [AAFE] = 1.6). Drugs showing significant active uptake in SCHH, however, showed improved predictability when scaled based on extended clearance term (AAFE = 2.0), which incorporated sinusoidal uptake along with a global scaling factor for active uptake and the canalicular efflux clearance. In conclusion, SCHH is a useful tool to predict human hepatobiliary clearance, whereas BDC monkey model may provide further confidence in the prospective predictions.
Simulations of non-monolithic tandem solar cell configurations for electrolytic fuel generation

The efficient conversion of solar energy to fuels through electrochemical processes requires optimizing the photovoltage and current for an ideal coupling with the electrolysis reaction. A modular architecture for tandem photovoltaics is explored and modeled as a strategy to drive an arbitrary electrolysis reaction from sunlight to produce the maximum fuel product in a day. Non-monolithic tandem solar cells based on Si and organometal halide perovskites are simulated in two-terminal and four-terminal arrangements and coupled with experimental data on water-splitting and CO2 reduction to predict the performance of an integrated solar fuels system. An appropriately designed four-terminal system is modeled to match or exceed the output of a two-terminal system. The four-terminal configuration leads to a 15.8% increase in daily H2 production with a 1.5 eV/1.12 eV system, and a 5.3% increase with a more ideal 1.74 eV/1.12 eV combination. The four-terminal system is also simulated to match the production of formic acid and increase the production of ethylene by 20.4% in a Cu-catalyzed CO2 reduction process compared to a two-terminal tandem arrangement. The effects of series resistance in non-monolithic tandem devices are modeled as well, showing a much greater tolerance to cell width in the four-terminal systems.
Office-Based STI Management: A Practical Approach to Sexual History Taking and Syndromic Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexual health is an important facet of comprehensive HIV care delivery. Additionally, patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are commonly encountered in the HIV primary care setting. To better understand the level of patient risk for STI acquisition and HIV transmission, tailor counseling, and implement optimal screening strategies, an understanding of the components of a thorough sexual history is imperative. Given the limited number of point-of-care diagnostic tests for STIs, knowledge of key STI syndromes and the associated etiologies facilitates effective management of symptomatic patients presenting to the HIV primary care setting.
A message from the general chair and program chair

The 28th IEEE International Conference on Application-specific Systems, Architectures, and Processors returns to the United States, this time in Seattle, Washington. We welcome everyone to the Pacific Northwest's largest and most culturally-diverse city. Although the Seattle area is certainly a technology hub, we also hope that you will have a chance to enjoy the natural beauty and specialty cuisine of the area, from Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains and beyond.
Integration of Lab Medicine with Clinical Rounds.

> If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you. > > —Gospel of Thomas I did a rotation with the inpatient hematology service near …
Chopper-modulated gas chromatography electroantennography enabled using high-temperature MEMS flow control device.

We report the design, fabrication and characterization of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) flow control device for gas chromatography (GC) with the capability of sustaining high-temperature environments. We further demonstrate the use of this new device in a novel MEMS chopper-modulated gas chromatography-electroantennography (MEMS-GC-EAG) system to identify specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at extremely low concentrations. The device integrates four pneumatically actuated microvalves constructed via thermocompression bonding of the polyimide membrane between two glass substrates with microstructures. The overall size of the device is 32 mm×32 mm, and it is packaged in a 50 mm×50 mm aluminum housing that provides access to the fluidic connections and allows thermal control. The characterization reveals that each microvalve in the flow control chip provides an ON to OFF ratio as high as 1000:1. The device can operate reliably for more than 1 million switching cycles at a working temperature of 300 °C. Using the MEMS-GC-EAG system, we demonstrate the successful detection of cis-11-hexadecenal with a concentration as low as 1 pg at a demodulation frequency of 2 Hz by using an antenna harvested from the male Helicoverpa Virescens moth. In addition, 1 μg of a green leafy volatile (GLV) is barely detected using the conventional GC-EAG, while MEMS-GC-EAG can readily detect the same amount of GLV, with an improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ~22 times. We expect that the flow control device presented in this report will allow researchers to explore new applications and make new discoveries in entomology and other fields that require high-temperature flow control at the microscale. A compact and ultrasensitive MEMS device could lead to the identification of biologically active compounds at previously undetectable levels. Gas chromatography electroantennography (GC–EAG) can be used to detect and identify volatile organic compounds, known as odorants, from the electrical response of insect antennae. Conventional GC–EAG, however, suffers from a poor signal-to-noise ratio and is orders of magnitude less sensitive than the insects in detecting odorants, limiting the understanding and potential control of insect behavior. Now, Si-Yang Zheng and colleagues at the Pennsylvania State University, United States, have fabricated an ultrasensitive MEMS device from a polyimide membrane bonded between two glass substrates. The device would allow GC–EAG to detect trace organic compounds at previously undetectable concentrations, paving the way for discoveries in entomology and chemical ecology.
Effects of metric hierarchy and rhyme predictability on word duration in The Cat in the Hat.

Abstract Word durations convey many types of linguistic information, including intrinsic lexical features like length and frequency and contextual features like syntactic and semantic structure. The current study was designed to investigate whether hierarchical metric structure and rhyme predictability account for durational variation over and above other features in productions of a rhyming, metrically-regular children's book: The Cat in the Hat (Dr. Seuss, 1957). One-syllable word durations and inter-onset intervals were modeled as functions of segment number, lexical frequency, word class, syntactic structure, repetition, and font emphasis. Consistent with prior work, factors predicting longer word durations and inter-onset intervals included more phonemes, lower frequency, first mention, alignment with a syntactic boundary, and capitalization. A model parameter corresponding to metric grid height improved model fit of word durations and inter-onset intervals. Specifically, speakers realized five levels of metric hierarchy with inter-onset intervals such that interval duration increased linearly with increased height in the metric hierarchy. Conversely, speakers realized only three levels of metric hierarchy with word duration, demonstrating that they shortened the highly predictable rhyme resolutions. These results further understanding of the factors that affect spoken word duration, and demonstrate the myriad cues that children receive about linguistic structure from nursery rhymes.
The plasma interleukin-6 response to acute psychosocial stress in humans is detected by a magnetic multiplex assay: comparison to high-sensitivity ELISA.

Circulating concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, an inflammatory biomarker widely assessed in humans to study the inflammatory response to acute psychological stress, have for decades been quantif...
EVALUATION OF THE ARGONNE MULTI-TUBE HYDRIDE HEAT EXCHANGER

ABSTRACT The Argonne multi-tube hydride heat exchanger uses a tubular design hydride bed with the alloys contained in the interstices of open pore aluminum foam for enhanced heat transfer. The alloys, MmNi4.15Fe0.85 (INCO HY-STOR 209) and LaNi4.7Al0.3 (INCO HY-STOR 207) are sealed into aluminum capsules with filters crimped onto the ends. The capsules are contained in the ends of a stainless steel tube and are separated by an empty capsule. Hydrogen flows in the annular space within the steel tube from one alloy to the other. Ten tubes are combined forming a bundle heat exchanger which allows heat transfer fluid to enter and exit around the outside of the steel hydride bed tubes. Transfer of hydrogen from HY-STOR 207 (LaNi4.7Al0.3) at 110°C to HY-STOR 209 (MmNi4.15Fe0.85) at 6°C, 10°C or 15°C and then back to HY-STOR 207 at 40°C was determined from thermal effects of hydrogen sorption on the alloys. Although the hydrogen transferred is greater for greater temperature differences, the measured amount of hydrogen transferred is less than expected. The smaller hydrogen transfer is most likely due to poor heat transfer across the gas space between the aluminum can and the stainless steel tube. As the temperature of the alloy bed equilibrates with the heat transfer fluid, hydrogen continues to transfer, but at a rate too slow to have a noticeable effect on the measured heat. With a heat transfer fluid flow rate of 5 l/min and a temperature resolution of 0.1°C, the limit of observable thermal effect is approximately 0.5 kcal/min, about 0.1 mole H 2 /min. For comparison, for the hydrogen transfer from HY-STOR 207 to HY-STOR 209, the sensible heat transfer is about 2.0 - 2.5 kcal/min. For hydrogen transfer in the reverse direction, the sensible heat transfer is about 1.0 kcal/min. The similarity of the hydrogen transfer rates in the two directions in spite of the large difference in the pressure ratio, ∼1.5 going from HY-STOR 207 to HY-STOR 209 and ∼6 for the reverse mode, implies the adequacy of the temperature range used. That the measured hydrogen transfer is relatively rapid would imply that the filters are not plugged and the alloys are not significantly oxidized.
Non-specific peptide size effects in the recognition by site-specific T-cell clones. Demonstration with a T site of myoglobin.

Abstract Six regions (T sites) of myoglobin (Mb) were found by a comprehensive synthetic strategy to stimulate Mb-primed lymph-node cells. To define precisely the N-terminal boundary of the immunodominant T site (residues 107-120) with site-specific T-cell clones and to determine the effects of peptide size on their stimulation, two sets of peptides were employed. In one set, the peptides were elongated to the left from His-113 by one-residue increments of the Mb sequence. The other set represented an identical stepwise elongation by one-residue increments of the Mb sequence, but which were extended by additional unrelated ('nonsense') residues to a uniform size of 14 residues. Examination of the proliferative responses of eight T-cell clones, derived from Mb-primed DBA/2 (H-2d) or SJL (H-2s) mice, revealed a dramatic non-specific size requirement. In every clone, the longer nonsense-extended peptides achieved maximum stimulating activity at a lower optimum peptide dose than its natural-sequence, but shorter, analogue. In addition, slight (one-residue) differences in the N-terminal boundaries among the clones was observed. Thus, the fine specificity of each clone was mapped to the region from residue 111 or 112 to about residue 120 of Mb, which coincides with the site of B-cell recognition and resides in a small discrete surface region of the protein chain.
Complications of urinary undiversion.

AbstractComplications of urinary undiversion may be divided into those related to patient selection and those pertaining to the operation. A detailed understanding of the anatomic and physiologic alterations in the dynamics of urine transport is an essential prerequisite for the selection of suitable candidates. Two illustrative cases emphasize the necessity for complete evaluation of the upper and lower urinary tracts as well as meticulous attention to intraoperative detail.
Toward learning a unified many-to-many mapping for diverse image translation

Abstract Image-to-image translation, which translates input images to a different domain with a learned one-to-one mapping, has achieved impressive success in recent years. The success of translation mainly relies on the network architecture to reserve the structural information while modify the appearance slightly at the pixel level through adversarial training. Although these networks are able to learn the mapping, the translated images are predictable without exclusion. It is more desirable to diversify them using image-to-image translation by introducing uncertainties, i.e., the generated images hold potential for variations in colors and textures in addition to the general similarity to the input images, and this happens in both the target and source domains. To this end, we propose a novel generative adversarial network (GAN) based model, InjectionGAN, to learn a many-to-many mapping. In this model, the input image is combined with latent variables, which comprise of domain-specific attribute and unspecific random variations. The domain-specific attribute indicates the target domain of the translation, while the unspecific random variations introduce uncertainty into the model. A unified framework is proposed to regroup these two parts and obtain diverse generations in each domain. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the diverse generations have high quality for the challenging image-to-image translation tasks where no pairing information of the training dataset exits. Both quantitative and qualitative results prove the superior performance of InjectionGAN over the state-of-the-art approaches.
MEREFLEKSIKAN SAINS UNTUK ECOTEOLOGI Telaah Pemikiran Pierre Teilhard de Chardin dan Robert Spitzer

This writing is an attempt to discuss an ecotheology from the scientific point of view. The main sentence is that reflecting on the development of science which has ecological impacts could bring human beings to the awareness of their own lives, their relation with nature, and God’s presence in nature. The thoughts of two great minds, namely of Teilhard de Chardin and Robert Spitzer are being considered here and help reflect on the progress of science, mainly physics, chemistry, and biology in order to build this scientific-based ecotheology. This reflection holds its importance in today’s world as we face ecological catastrophes. The culprit is human’s voracity of energy to develop their lives, mainly in economic basis. Science that primarily serves human knowledge to search and find out the unknown regions of the universe is also able to serve the development of technology especially which generates energy. Since then, human beings exploit the sources of energy such as crude oil, coal, natural gas, and uranium, and in doing so they destroy Mother Nature and foul her with poisonous wastes.
Drilling skull drainage of subacute subdural hematomas in children: a report of 60 cases

Objective To explore the clinical efficacies of drilling skull drainage for children with traumatic subacute subdural hematoma.Methods A total of 60 patients of subacute subdural hematoma underwent drilling skull drainage.And the follow-up period was 2 years or above.And 55 of them underwent urokinase saline irrigation.And their efficacies were observed.Results Among them,59 cases were clinically cured and hematoma disappeared postoperatively in 55 cases.A small residual hematoma (＜5 mm) persisted in 4 cases and became absorbed within the first 3 months.Seven cases had local brain softening,but there was no obvious nerve dysfunction.Post-traumatic epilepsy appeared in 5 cases and became cured clinically after medications.There were 2 cases of mild hydrocephalus and 1 case died.Conclusions Children with traumatic subacute subdural hematoma may cause brain oppression for deeper than 1cm.And the symptoms and signs of increased intracranial pressure should be managed surgically.Drilling skull drainage is mini-invasive and curative with a good prognosis. Key words: Skull; Drainage; Hmatomas, ubdural
From whom do we learn group norms? Low-ranking group members are perceived as the best sources

Abstract Social norm perception is ubiquitous in small groups and teams, but how individuals approach this process is not well understood. When individuals wish to perceive descriptive social norms in a group or team, whose advice and behavior do they prefer to rely on? Four lab studies and one field survey demonstrate that when individuals seek information about a team’s social norms they prefer to receive advice from lower-ranking individuals (Studies 1–4) and give greater weight to the observed behavior of lower-ranking individuals (Study 5). Results from correlation (Study 3) and moderation (Study 4) approaches suggest this preference stems from the assumption that lower-ranking team members are more attentive to and aware of the descriptive social norms of their team. Alternative mechanisms (e.g., perceived similarity to lower-ranking team members, greater honesty of lower-ranking team members) were also examined, but no support for these was found.
Performance Characterization of a Natural Gas–Air Rotating Detonation Engine

An experimental study of a rotating detonation engine (RDE) operating with natural gas and air at elevated chamber pressures and air preheat temperatures was conducted to quantify its performance a...
Parent-Adolescent Dyads' Efficacy, Coping, Depression, and Adolescent Health Risks.

Abstract Background Efficacy beliefs have been suggested to protect children from many risky health behaviors. However, the relationships between parent-child dyads’ coping and efficacy beliefs are not clear. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between parent-child dyads’ coping patterns and their association with collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, parenting efficacy, family satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and parents’ perceived adolescent health risks. Methods Guided by the Bandura’s efficacy framework, we surveyed 158 parent-adolescent dyads from the midwestern U.S. on coping, collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, family satisfaction, parenting efficacy, depressive symptoms, and parent perceived adolescent health risks. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and path modeling were performed. Findings Parent-adolescent dyads spiritual coping was positively correlated, but other coping subscales were not. The path models revealed that adolescents collective family and filial efficacy were positively related to their overall coping. Adolescent family satisfaction both directly and indirectly protected adolescents from depressive symptoms. Parents' parenting efficacy and family satisfaction were directly and indirectly associated with lower parents' perceived adolescent health risks. Discussion It seems that parents' constructive coping mechanisms were more collective-focused, while adolescents' coping strategies were more individual-focused (venting and humor). Promoting parent-adolescent dyads' efficacy beliefs could enhance their coping strategies and minimize depressive symptoms and adolescent health risks. Application to practice adolescents' collective coping mechanisms (self-reliance and family problem solving) can be promoted within the family context. In fact, when helping adolescents develop family problem solving skills, it is important to consider parents’ ability/efficacy and their emotional status.
Tracing the Source of Influenza A Virus Zoonoses in Interconnected Circuits of Swine Exhibitions.

Background Since 2011, influenza A viruses circulating in US swine exhibited at county fairs are associated with over 460 zoonotic infections, presenting an ongoing pandemic risk. Swine 'jackpot shows' that occur before county fairs each summer intermix large numbers of exhibition swine from diverse geographic locations. We investigated the role of jackpot shows in influenza zoonoses. Methods We collected snout wipe or nasal swab samples from 17,009 pigs attending 350 national, state, and local swine exhibitions across eight states during 2016-2018. Results Influenza was detected in 13.9% of swine sampled at jackpot shows, and 76.3% of jackpot shows had at least one pig test positive. Jackpot shows had 4.3-fold higher odds of detecting at least one influenza-positive pig compared to county fairs. When influenza was detected at a county fair, almost half of pigs tested positive, clarifying why zoonotic infections occur primarily at county fairs. Conclusions The earlier timing of jackpot shows and long-distance travel for repeated showing of individual pigs provide a pathway for the introduction of influenza into county fairs. Mitigation strategies aimed at curtailing influenza at jackpot shows are likely to have downstream effects on disease transmission at county fairs and zoonoses.
Rawlsian Stability

Despite great advances in recent scholarship on the political philosophy of John Rawls, Rawls’s conception of stability is not fully appreciated. This essay aims to remedy this by articulating a more complete understanding of stability and its role in Rawls’s theory of justice. I argue that even in A Theory of Justice Rawls (i) maintains that within liberal democratic constitutionalism judgments of relative stability typically adjudicate decisively among conceptions of justice and (ii) is committed to (i) more deeply than to the substantive content of justice as fairness. This essay thus emphasizes the continuity of Rawls’s thought over time and motivates the position that Rawlsian stability is as philosophically significant and distinctively Rawlsian as justice as fairness itself.
Perceptions of New Social Work Faculty About Mentoring Experiences

In a telephone survey 18 new social work educators responded to questions about their perceptions of mentoring in their first years as faculty members. Results indicate that new social work faculty believe mentoring relationships provide them with multiple benefits, including improved teaching and research performance. Data also suggest that programs must be carefully developed and supported if proteges, mentors, and their organizations are to fully realize these benefits. Factors such as mentor-protege matching, mentor characteristics, the roles of mentors, organizational support, and the mentoring process must be considered if a successful mentoring program is to be implemented.
Management of HIV-1 infection in adults.

Despite significant changes made over the past few years in the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), infection with HIV remains a leading cause of death throughout many regions of the world. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 2008 report on the global AIDS epidemic, 30.8 million adults and 2 million children were living with HIV at the end of 2007 (1). In 2007, 2.7 million people became infected and 2 million people died of HIV (1). In the United States, approximately 1,185,000 people are HIV infected, and 24% to 27% of patients are unaware that they are HIV-positive. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that approximately 56,300 people were newly infected with HIV in 2006 (2, 3). The development of antiretroviral therapy has dramatically altered the progression of disease caused by HIV and significantly improved the quality of life for many HIV-infected patients. Currently, 30 antiretroviral drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and available in the United States. These agents are approved for use in various combinations to prevent the emergence of resistant virus. The primary goals of antiretroviral therapy are to restore and preserve immunologic function, to reduce HIV-related morbidity, to prolong survival, and to improve quality of life. In order to optimize therapeutic outcomes and improve the patient's quality of life, a thorough understanding of the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of HIV medications is essential for clinicians managing HIV-infected patients. In November 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services published its updated guidelines to provide the most current recommendations for the use of antiretroviral therapy in patients with HIV infection (4, 5).
Contribution of active site glutamine to rate enhancement in ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases.

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases (UCHs) are cysteine proteases featuring a classical Cys-His-Asp catalytic triad, and also a highly conserved Gln that is thought to be a part of the oxyanion hole. However, the contribution of this side chain to catalysis by UCHs is not known. Herein, we demonstrate that the Gln side chain contributes to rate enhancement in UCHL1, UCHL3, and UCHL5. Mutation of the Gln to Ala in these enzymes impairs the catalytic efficiency, mainly because of a 16-fold to 30-fold reduction in k(cat) , which is consistent with a loss of approximately 2 kcal·mol(-1) in transition state stabilization. However, the contribution to transition state stabilization observed here is rather modest for the side chain's role in oxyanion stabilization. Interestingly, we discovered that the carbonyl oxygen of this side chain is engaged in a C-H···O hydrogen-bonding contact with the CeH group of the catalytic His. Upon further analysis, we found that this interaction is a common active site structural feature in most cysteine proteases, including papain, belonging to families with the QCH(N/D) type of active site configuration. It is possible that removal of the Gln side chain might have abolished the C-H···O interaction, which typically accounts for 2 kcal·mol(-1) of stabilization, leading to the effect on catalysis observed here. Additional studies performed on UCHL3 by mutating the Gln to Glu (strong C-H···O acceptor but oxyanion destabilizer) and to Lys (strong oxyanion stabilizer but lacking C-H···O hydrogen-bonding capability) suggest that the C-H···O hydrogen bond could contribute to catalysis.
Issues on the architecture and the design of distributed shared memory systems

Distributed shared memory (DSM) systems could overcome major obstacles of the widespread use of distributed-memory multiprocessors, while retaining the attractive features of low cost and good scalability common to distributed-memory machines. A DSM system allows a natural and portable programming model on distributed-memory machines, making it possible to construct a relatively inexpensive and scalable parallel system on which programmers can develop parallel application codes. Due to its potential advantages, DSM has received increasing attention. In this panel, challenges in building efficient DSM systems for a wide range of applications are addressed and discussed.
Caveolins in cardioprotection – translatability and mechanisms

Translation of preclinical treatments for ischaemia-reperfusion injury into clinical therapies has been limited by a number of factors. This review will focus on a single mode of cardiac protection related to a membrane scaffolding protein, caveolin, which regulates protective signalling as well as myocyte ultrastructure in the setting of ischaemic stress. Factors that have limited the clinical translation of protection will be considered specifically in terms of signalling and structural defects. The potential of caveolin to overcome barriers to protection with the ultimate hope of clinical translation will be discussed.
Toward an effective government–public relationship: Organization–public relationship based on a synthetic approach to public segmentation

Abstract The goal of this study is to identify and understand an effective government–public relationship building based on a synthetic approach to public segmentation. Using a national survey dataset, this study examines how different types of publics have trust differently in federal, state, and local government. By exploring how situational and cross-situational variables predict trust in government, the study finds that there are different predictors for trust in each level of government. Further, the results provide important insight into how public relations practitioners and researchers can build and maintain an effective government–public relationship with the key publics. Thus, the current study aims to fundamentally make contribution to theoretical and practical development in relationship-building research.
Lack of genic variation in the abundant proteins of human kidney.

ABSTRACT Abundant proteins of 25 human kidneys were surveyed for genic variation by means of two-dimensional electrophoresis. Eighty-three (83) proteins were scored, and no genic variation was detected. This reduction in genic heterozygosity corroborates results determined with two-dimensional electrophoresis in mice and flies. These results suggest that previous estimates of electrophoretic variation may have been in error because of biased selection of loci.
PRIVACY, PRIVILEGE, AND TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

The increasing danger of legal entanglement for researchers who disregard the rights of human subjects used in research, in particular their right of privacy, is examined. The broad definition of a human subject and the equally broad definition of injury are discussed. The implications of the Privacy Act of 1974 are noted, and the critical need for a researcher-privilege statute set forth.
3-D face modeling and its applications

This paper describes some issues in building a 3-D human face modeling system which mainly consists of three parts: • Modeling human faces; • Analyzing facial motions; • Synthesizing facial expressions. A variety of techniques developed for this system are described in detail in this paper. Some preliminary results of applying this system to computer animation, video sequence compression and human face recognition are also shown.
Infection Prevention and Control in Residential Facilities for Pediatric Patients and Their Families

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) guideline “Infection Prevention and Control in Residential Facilities for Pediatric Patients and Their Families” is the first infection prevention and control (IPC) guideline to address preventing transmission of infectious agents in “home away from home” residential settings, of which the Ronald McDonald Houses (RMHs) serve as a prototype. These types of facilities provide support services, including overnight lodging, for ill and injured children and their families. Food preparation occurs in common areas, and cleaning of rooms or apartments is performed by the occupants during their stay and before departure. Pediatric patients are frequent guests of the family-centered facilities while receiving or recovering from specialized medical therapy. Examples of high-risk populations served in these facilities include families of patients with cancer, recipients of stem cell or solid organ transplants, surgical and/or very-low-birthweight infants who receive care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), those with cystic fibrosis, and women with high-risk pregnancies awaiting delivery in a nearby medical center. Such facilities are located worldwide and vary in their physical structure and the predominant population served.
Is Democracy Good for the Poor

Many scholars claim that democracy improves the welfare of the poor. This article uses data on infant and child mortality to challenge this claim. Cross-national studies tend to exclude from their samples nondemocratic states that have performed well; this leads to the mistaken inference that nondemocracies have worse records than democracies. Once these and other flaws are corrected, democracy has little or no effect on infant and child mortality rates. Democracies spend more money on education and health than nondemocracies, but these benefits seem to accrue to middle- and upper-income groups.
The health belief model and utilization of ambulatory care services.

Abstract The applicability of a Health Belief Model for understanding variance in ambulatory care visits in a HMO setting was examined. Health beliefs concerning perceived vulnerability to illness, perceived seriousness of symptoms and perceived efficacy of health care were measured and evaluated against both retrospective and prospective utilization data. The results indicated that an individual's view of his own vulnerability is the single best predictor of utilization, followed by belief of benefits associated with preventive health behavior. The least salient attitude was seriousness. The results using retrospective and prospective utilization data were strikingly similar.
Cardiac derived neutrophil chemotactic factors; preliminary biochemical characterization.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate whether isolated hearts perfused with cardioplegic solution release inflammatory mediators such as neutrophil chemotactic factors (NCF). Three conditions were tested, including: (1) perfusion of rabbit hearts with crystalloid cardioplegic solution (4°C) saturated with air (95% oxygen) and containing dextrose (i.e. complete system), (2) perfusion of rabbit hearts with non-oxygenated cardioplegic solution, containing dextrose (i.e. minus oxygen system), and (3) perfusion of hearts with cold cardioplegic solution saturated with air in the absence of dextrose (i.e. minus dextrose system). At various time intervals (5 min, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h) samples of circulated perfusate were removed and assayed for the presence of NCF using modified Boyden chambers. Rabbit peritoneal neutrophils were the indicator cells. The standard chemoatractant, f-Met-Leu-Phe (f-MLP) was the positive control. High levels of neutrophil chemotactic activity were detected in perfusate of all above described hearts perfused for 4 h (i.e. 194 ± 22% of f-MLP control—complete system, 126 ± 13%—minus oxygen and 136 ± 10%-minus dextrose). Histological evaluation of these hearts showed evidence of global ischemia. We also detected significant levels of NCF in effluent of hearts perfused for 5 min, 1, 2 and 3 h. Similar to perfused hearts, isolated rabbit hearts incubated for 4 h with non-oxygenated cardioplegic solution (in presence and absence of dextrose) released high levels of NCF (132 ± 18%-intact heart; and 100 ± 6% myocardial segments). Standard checkerboard analysis revealed that the observed activity released from these hearts is chemotatic. Preliminary biochemical characterization of chemotactic factors generated from intact hearts showed that the activity is protease sensitive (76% inhibition—P
Structural and electronic recovery pathways of a photoexcited ultrathin VO 2 film

The structural and electronic recovery pathways of a photoexcited ultrathin vanadium dioxide (VO${}_{2}$) film at nanosecond time scales have been studied using time-resolved x-ray diffraction and transient optical absorption techniques. The recovery pathways from the tetragonal metallic phase to the monoclinic insulating phase are highly dependent on the optical pump fluence. At pump fluences higher than the saturation fluence of 14.7 mJ/cm${}^{2}$, we observed a transient structural state with lattice parameter larger than that of the tetragonal phase, which is decoupled from the metal-to-insulator phase transition. Subsequently, the photoexcited VO${}_{2}$ film recovered to the ground state at characteristic times dependent upon the pump fluence as a result of heat transport from the film to the substrate. We present a procedure to measure the time-resolved film temperature by correlating photoexcited and temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction measurements. A thermal transport model that incorporates changes of the thermal parameters across the phase transition reproduces the observed recovery dynamics. The optical excitation and fast recovery of ultrathin VO${}_{2}$ films provides a practical method to reversibly switch between the monoclinic insulating and tetragonal metallic state at nanosecond time scales.
Development and Evaluation of an Experimental Model for the Study of the Cerebral Circulation in the Unanesthetized Goat

An animal model has been developed for the continuous measurement of total cerebral blood flow in the unanesthetized, unrestrained goat. We selected the goat because each internal maxillary artery, a branch of the external carotid artery, provides the total blood flow to each hemisphere via the rete mirabile. After the occlusion of the extracerebral vessels of the internal maxillary artery with thrombin, an electromagnetic flow transducer was chronically implanted on this artery, distal to the temporal artery, to measure hemispheric blood flow. Reproducible measurements of cerebral blood flow were obtained in ten unanesthetized goats for periods ranging between two weeks and five months. The mean cerebral blood flow for the ten goats was 133 ± 5 ml/min/100 gm tissue at an average mean aortic pressure of 91 ± 3 mm Hg, heart rate of 79 ± 3 beats/min, arterial PCOCO2 of 31.4 ± 1.0 mm Hg, P02 of 76.6 ± 1.7 mm Hg, and pH of 7.48 ± 0.02. The present experimental preparation allows cerebrovascular hemodynamics to be evaluated under near-normal conditions and is suitable for physiological and pharmacological studies in normal and abnormal states.
Computational Cameras: Redefining the Image

Computational cameras use unconventional optics and software to produce new forms of visual information, including wide field-of-view images, high dynamic range images, multispectral images, and depth images. Using a controllable optical system to form the image and a programmable light source as the cameras flash can further enhance the capabilities of these cameras
A Numerical Study of Unsteady Non-Adiabatic Flames

Abstract A numerical model of non-adiabatic flame propagation is used to examine the dynamic properties of premixed flames in mixtures near flammability limits in planar and spherical geometries. Using highly schematic thermodynamic, chemical and transport models, numerical results are found to be, in the limit of high activation energy, in good agreement with analytical solutions. With more detailed models representative of lean methane-air mixtures experiencing heat loss from CO2 and H2O band radiation, numerical results for spherical geometry are found to be in very good qualitative and good quantitative agreement with results obtained in microgravity (μm) experiments. In particular, experimentally observed memory effects associated with the ignition process are reproduced. It is concluded that flame dynamics and extinguishment processes at μg are probably a result of the interactions of the Lewis number effect, flame front curvature and heat loss due to gas radiation.
the Sherpa temple as a model of the psyche1

This essay is an interpretation of the structure and symbolism of a Sherpa Buddhist temple in northeastern Nepal. The temple represents an objectification of a model of the mind which underlies Sherpa religious thinking and also has interesting implications for the psychoanalytic theory of the structure of the psyche.
Direct Democracy: Lessons from the United States:

From referendums on Scottish independence and the European Union to the recall of MPs, the popularity of direct democracy is growing in the UK. But, warns Todd Donovan, the American experience shows that more democratic is not always better.
Translating glycolytic metabolism to innate immunity in dendritic cells

Growing evidence supports a role for glycolysis in immune activation. Everts et al. (2014) now show that TLR-mediated stimulation of dendritic cells rapidly induces glycolysis, which regenerates NADPH and TCA intermediates to support fatty acid production. This enhances ER and Golgi membrane synthesis and innate activation of dendritic cells.
Dynamic Models for the Subgrid-Scale Mixing of Reactants in Atmospheric Turbulent Reacting Flows

The effects of the subgrid scales on chemical transformations in large-eddy simulations of the convective atmospheric boundary layer (CBL) are investigated. Dynamic similarity subgrid-scale models are formulated and used to calculate the subgrid-scale covariance. The dynamic procedure allows for simulations free of parameter tuning since the model coefficients are computed based on the resolved reactant concentrations. A scale-dependent procedure is proposed that allows relaxing the assumption of scale invariance used in the dynamic similarity model. Simulation results show that both models are able to account in part for the effect of the segregation of the scalars at the subgrid scales, considerably reducing the resolution dependence of the results found when no subgrid covariance model is used. The scale-dependent dynamic version yields better results than its scale-invariant counterpart.
Measurement of burn-induced leakage of macromolecules in living tissue

An experimental technique has been developed to measure changes in vascular permeability caused by thermal trauma to the microvascular bed of the hamster cheek pouch. A solution of flourescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated dextran was injected directly into the circulatory system. Subsequent leakage of dye from vessels into the extravascular space was directly observed by light microscopy and recorded by sequential photography. Individual frames of the filmed record of the trauma and post-trauma process were digitized and analyzed by computer. A point-by-point densitometric evaluation of the digitized image provides a measure of extravascular accumulation of dye-tagged dextran. Preliminary results indicate that preburn treatment with large doses of heparin yields a significant reduction in burn-induced edema.
Incorporation of elemental sulphur in coal as organic sulphur

Organic sulphur can represent over 50% of the total sulphur content in coal1, but little is known about the nature of this organic sulphur because of the chemical complexity of the coal structure and heterogeneity of the macerai assemblages forming the coal matrix. This report focuses on the mode of incorporation of organic sulphur in the very early stages of the coal-forming process. Some organic sulphur in coal originates from the sulphur-containing amino acids that are present in source plants in the peat-forming stage, but we demonstrate here that some of the organic sulphur in coal can actually originate from an inorganic sulphur source, such as elemental sulphur.
The relationship between social network variables and the utilization of mental health services

One hundred-fifty participants were interviewed about their social networks. Demographic measures and an index of social desirability were also obtained. A multiple regression of these variables against the number of outpatient psychotherapy sessions attended was computed. A statistically significant model accounting for 14% of the variance emerged. Despite the low proportion of variance accounted for by the model, a canonical coefficient accurately predicted attendance at only one therapy session 74.4% of the time. These data lend credence to the notion that the social network may exert an important influence on the utilization of mental health services. It further appears that specific areas or functions served by the network have differing influences on the individual. Implications for program development and service delivery are discussed.
Composing and executing parallel data-flow graphs with shell pipes

In this paper we extend the concept of shell pipes to incorporate forks, joins, cycles, and key-value aggregation. These extensions enable the implementation of a class of data-flow computation with strong deterministic properties, and provide a simple yet powerful coordination layer for leveraging multi-language and legacy components for large-scale parallel computation. Concretely, this paper describes the design and implementation of the language extensions in Bourne Again SHell (BASH), and examines the performance of the system using micro and macro benchmarks. The implemented system is shown to scale to thousands of processors, enabling high throughput performance for millions of processing tasks on large commodity compute clusters.
Anticipatory contrast in rats on free-operant multiple schedules

Abstract Rats were trained on free-operant multiple schedules in which two target components associated with identical schedules but different stimuli were followed either by periods of continuous reinforcement or by extinction. Higher response rates (anticipatory contrast) occurred in the targets preceding extinction when a single exposure to the target and its following schedule occurred each session. When several different cycles involving both target components were presented each session, anticipatory contrast did not occur. Intermediate conditions with two or four cycles/session produced small unreliable contrast effects. The results indicate that differences between previous studies using consummatory response procedures and those using free-operant procedures have been due to procedural differences and not to the type of response/reinforcers in the two preparations.
Coverage Time Characteristics in Sensor Networks

We study the problem of coverage of a given area for a maximum duration using a set of battery-operated sensors. Each sensor has a fixed sensing range and a limited lifetime due to the finite battery capacity. Sensors can be activated and deactivated at any time. The goal of this paper is to a find a schedule, determining when to activate and deactivate each sensor, to maximize the time for which every point in the area is covered by at least one sensor. We present several algorithms for this problem and show experimental and theoretical evidences to their efficiency. We also present an algorithm for a new model of coverage, called weak coverage, that does not require each point of the region to be covered all times, as long as the regions that are not covered are small.