cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of giant liver cysts.

Background Liver cysts are often asymptomatic. Symptomatic liver cysts are uncommon and can be managed by percutaneous aspiration, laparoscopic/open marsupialization, or resection. Our aim is to review our experience with management of giant liver cysts (GLC). Materials and Methods An IRB approved chart review of patients with liver cysts between 1995–2009 was performed. There were 34 GLC in 24 patients, 20 (83%) were females (mean age of 59.2 y). Pain was the main symptom in 20 patients. The average cyst size was 15.66cm (6–32cm) with 14 cysts over 15cm in size. Two patients with GLC (11 and 15cm) decided not to have surgery; 16 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery with one recurrence. One patient with laparoscopic marsupialization at another center was managed by open marsupialization and repair of the bile leak. Four of the patients underwent open marsupialization and one underwent open resection. Four patients with prior percutaneous aspiration had recurrences (100%), three underwent laparoscopic and one open marsupialization. An 8-wk pregnant patient underwent percutaneous aspiration of a 32cm cyst to alleviate symptoms until delivery. Results The mean hospital stay for laparoscopic marsupialization was 5.57 d compared with 9.2 d for open procedure. Three (18.7%) postoperative complications (bile leak, recurrence, bleeding) occurred in the laparoscopic group, and one (20%) bile leak in the open group, with a mean follow-up of 41 mo. Conclusion Laparoscopic marsupialization of GLC is as effective and safe as open procedures in preventing cyst recurrence regardless of cyst size and location, and affords a relatively shorter hospital stay.
Response to the letter: allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of Gaucher disease.

This is our response to the letter to the editor from Dr. Machaczka on our recent review paper titled “Gaucher's disease—a reappraisal of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.”
Does dose-dependent petal damage affect pollen limitation in an annual plant?

Damage to flowers by herbivores, or florivory, can have direct impacts on gamete survival and can also indirectly affect fitness by reducing pollinator service. While recent studies have examined the impact of natural or artificial floral damage, very few researchers have manipulated both damage and pollen addition to see whether pollen limitation is enhanced by damage, and no workers, to my knowledge, have examined whether pollen limitation is dependent on the levels of florivory used. I used a pollen addition treatment and six levels of artificial floral damage to investigate whether damage increases pollen limitation and whether that pollen limitation becomes more severe with increasing numbers of petals damaged in Nemophila menziesii Hook. & Arn. I found that artificial floral damage that mimics natural florivore damage increases pollen limitation, and that this pollen limitation generally increased with increasing numbers of petals damaged. The treatment with the heaviest amount of damage did not suf...
Mutagenic activity and heterocyclic amine carcinogens in commercial pet foods

Twenty-five commercial pet foods were analyzed for mutagenic activity using the Ames/Salmonella test with strain TA98 and added metabolic activation. All but one gave a positive mutagenic response. Fourteen of these samples were analyzed for heterocyclic amine mutagens/carcinogens and all but one contained 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) and 10 of 14 contained 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) as analyzed by HPLC and confirmed by photodiode array peak matching. From these findings it is hypothesized that there is a connection between dietary heterocyclic amines and cancer in animals consuming these foods.
EVIDENCE FOR AMELIORATION OF BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA (BPD) FOLLOWING VITAMIN E ADMINISTRATION

EVIDENCE FOR AMELIORATION OF BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA (BPD) FOLLOWING VITAMIN E ADMINISTRATION
Case Study: Alternative Home Mortgage Financing Instruments

ABSTRACT Changes in the real estate finance environment have led to changes in the way mortgage loans are formulated. Specifically, they ahve led to the development of adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). The question is often asked: “Are ARMs good or bad for borrowers when compared with the simple. long-term, fixed-rate mortgage?” The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate how engineering economic principles can help prospective homebuyers understand the consequences of choosing the ARM as opposed to the conventional fixed-rate mortgage plan.
The Relationship between Chronic Illness and Depression in a Community of Urban Black Elderly Persons

The relationship between depression and chronic illness among the elderly population has often been investigated. However, the impact of individual chronic illnesses while controlling for the impact of various psychosocial factors is still not well understood. This is particularly true among Black elderly persons. In a cross-sectional study, the impact of selected chronic illnesses and psychosocial variables on depression was investigated among 1,022 Black urban elderly persons who reside in New Orleans, Louisiana. Depression was greatest among those with more financial difficulties, more stressful life events, lower self-perceptions, less support from friends, and less instrumental support. Multiple regression analysis determined that depression was greatest among elderly persons who reported kidney, vision, and/or circulation problems. These findings suggest that elderly persons may perceive these three illnesses as more debilitating than other chronic illnesses.
Environmental factors relating to tropolone formation by Penicillium stipitatum

Abstract The formation of stipitatic acid and other aromatic and troponoid metabolites during growth of Penicillium stipitatum under various conditions has been examined. The chemical and physical properties of several of these presumptive additional tropolone derivatives are described. The efficiency of incorporation of carbohydrates, of aromatic compounds, and of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates into stipitatic acid and into a class of substances entitled “acetate replacement” compounds, by the replacement technique, has been ascertained. The results of some preliminary isotopic tracer experiments have also been presented. The relationship of these findings to aromatic ring biosynthesis has been discussed.
Electrically induced large-amplitude vibration and resonance characteristics on ionic polymeric membrane-metal composites artificial muscles

This research identifies key parameters involving the vibrational characteristics of actuators made of ion-exchange- membrane-metal composites. These actuators are made from commercially available ion-exchange membranes chemically treated with platinum to produce composite actuators that are highly deformable in the presence of low amplitude electrical field. They show remarkable bending displacement that follow input signal very closely. When the applied signal frequency is varied, so does the displacement up to a point where large deformations are observed at a critical frequency called resonant frequency where maximum deformation is observed. Beyond which the actuator response is diminished. In this research paper, several samples of the actuators were made and tested with various dimensions to compare the vibrational behavior of the actuators. A data acquisition system was used to measure the parameters involved and record the results in real time basis. This research was in support of active vibration suppression research for flexible structures using ionic polymers as active dampers. It also supported other applications in biomimetics research such as bird flight motion, artificial coral reefs and marine propulsion.
Characterization of gp93, a Novel, Highly Heterogeneous Glycoprotein Present in Growth Cone Membranes

gp93 was first described in growth cones from fetal rat brain as a 90-97-kDa glycoprotein family that binds wheat-germ agglutinin and consists of at least 12 different isoelectric variants (pl range approximately 4.9-6.4). Of particular interest is that different sets of gp93 variants are expressed in growth cones isolated from different brain regions. The preparation of a polyclonal antibody to gp93 allowed further characterization of this glycoprotein. The carbohydrate groups of gp93 were partially characterized by digestion with different glycosidases. The results indicate that most or all oligosaccharide units are N-linked (asparagine-linked) and contain sialic acid. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot with anti-gp93 show that deglycosylated gp93 is an only slightly heterogeneous polypeptide of 66 kDa, indicating that gp93 heterogeneity is due, primarily or exclusively, to differential glycosylation. Analysis of the tissue distribution in fetal rat showed gp93 to be highly enriched in the brain. Immunoblots and immunostaining of cross sections of developing cerebellum revealed that gp93 is developmentally regulated in this tissue, associated primarily with growing parallel fibers and Purkinje dendrites. Immunostaining of neurons in culture shows significant amounts of gp93 in elongating neurites and growth cones. Our results indicate that gp93 is a developmentally regulated glycoprotein of the brain that is most prominent in growth cones and growing neurites and that appears to be glycosylated differentially by different neurons.
Extremely potent triterpenoid inducers of the phase 2 response: Correlations of protection against oxidant and inflammatory stress

A series of synthetic triterpenoid (TP) analogues of oleanolic acid are powerful inhibitors of cellular inflammatory processes such as the induction by IFN-γ of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and of cyclooxygenase 2 in mouse macrophages. Here, we show that these analogues are also extremely potent inducers of the phase 2 response [e.g., elevation of NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase and heme oxygenase 1], which is a major protector of cells against oxidative and electrophile stress. Moreover, like previously identified phase 2 inducers, the TP analogues use the antioxidant response element–Nrf2–Keap1 signaling pathway. Thus, induction of the phase 2 response and suppression of the iNOS induction was abrogated in nrf2–/– and keap1–/– mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The high potency of TP analogues in inducing the phase 2 response and blocking inflammation depends on the presence of activated Michael reaction (enone) functions at critical positions in rings A and C. The most potent TP doubles NAD(P)H–quinone oxidoreductase in murine hepatoma cells at 0.28 nM and has an IC50 for suppression of iNOS induction in primary mouse macrophages of 0.0035 nM. The direct interaction of this TP with thiol groups of the Keap1 sensor for inducers is demonstrated spectroscopically. The antiinflammatory and phase 2 inducer potencies of 18 TP are closely linearly correlated (r2 = 0.91) over 6 orders of magnitude of concentration. Thus, in addition to blocking inflammation and promoting differentiation, these TP exhibit another very important protective property: the induction of the phase 2 response.
Physics and initial data for multiple black hole spacetimes

An orbiting black hole binary will generate strong gravitational radiation signatures, making these binaries important candidates for detection in gravitational wave observatories. The gravitational radiation is characterized by the orbital parameters, including the frequency and separation at the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO). One approach to estimating these parameters relies on a sequence of initial data slices that attempt to capture the physics of the inspiral. Using calculations of the binding energy, several authors have estimated the ISCO parameters using initial data constructed with various algorithms. In this paper we examine this problem using conformally Kerr-Schild initial data. We present convergence results for our initial data solutions, and give data from numerical solutions of the constraint equations representing a range of physical configurations. In a first attempt to understand the physical content of the initial data, we find that the Newtonian binding energy is contained in the superposed Kerr-Schild background before the constraints are solved. We examine some deficiencies with the initial data approach to orbiting binaries, especially touching on the effects of prior motion and spin-orbital coupling of the angular momenta. Making rough estimates of these effects, we find that they are not insignificant compared to the binding energy, leaving some doubt of the utility of using initial data to predict ISCO parameters. In computations of specific initial-data configurations we find spin-specific effects that are consistent with analytical estimates.
Beam dynamics in the spallation neutron source linac

Being an 1.44MW machine, the beam loss requirement on the SNS linac is less than 1 W/m and controlling halo particle generation is of great importance. Beam dynamics aspects of the SNS linac design are presented considering various halo generation mechanisms. A halo generation mechanism in the non-periodic lattices such as the SNS linac MEBT (Medium-Energy Beam-Transport between RFQ and DTL) is reported. We find that the nonlinear space charge force resulting from large transverse beam eccentricity /spl sim/2:1 in the /spl sim/1.6-m-long MEBT chopper section is responsible for halo formation. The proposed mitigation measures are modifying the MEBT optics and introducing adjustable collimators in the MEBT. The transient beam behavior of the LEBT and MEBT choppers is also studied for the fate of partially chopped beams.
The CiaR Response Regulator in Group B Streptococcus Promotes Intracellular Survival and Resistance to Innate Immune Defenses

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is major cause of invasive disease in newborn infants and the leading cause of neonatal meningitis. To gain access to the central nervous system (CNS), GBS must not only subvert host defenses in the bloodstream but also invade and survive within brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC), the principal cell layer composing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). While several GBS determinants that contribute to the invasion of BMEC have been identified, little is known about the GBS factors that are required for intracellular survival and ultimate disease progression. In this study we sought to identify these factors by screening a random GBS mutant library in an in vitro survival assay. One mutant was identified which contained a disruption in a two-component regulatory system homologous to CiaR/CiaH, which is present in other streptococcal pathogens. Deletion of the putative response regulator, ciaR, in GBS resulted in a significant decrease in intracellular survival within neutrophils, murine macrophages, and human BMEC, which was linked to increased susceptibility to killing by antimicrobial peptides, lysozyme, and reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, competition experiments with mice showed that wild-type GBS had a significant survival advantage over the GBS ΔciaR mutant in the bloodstream and brain. Microarray analysis comparing gene expression between wild-type and ΔciaR mutant GBS bacteria revealed several CiaR-regulated genes that may contribute to stress tolerance and the subversion of host defenses by GBS. Our results identify the GBS CiaR response regulator as a crucial factor in GBS intracellular survival and invasive disease pathogenesis.
(Im)moral Support: The Social Outcomes of Parallel Self-Control Decisions

Although most consumer self-control decisions are made individually, they are rarely made in isolation. Temptations are often simultaneously encountered by multiple members of a group or dyad and thereby susceptible to social influence. However, little is known about these �parallel� self-control decisions or the resulting social consequences. In a series of studies spanning the domains of money, time management, and food consumption, consumers demonstrated a tendency to bond over matched self-control decisions through �coindulgence� or �coabstinence.� The perceived severity of choosing vice over virtue influenced when each of these matched outcomes produced greater affiliation. When indulgence threatened to seriously hinder goal progress, consumers bonded through moral support evidenced by joint abstention. When the consequences were perceived as relatively less severe, consumers found friendship through partnering in crime by both indulging. Throughout, guilt underlies the relationship between self-control behaviors and social outcomes, as peer compliance reduces guilt and thus improves affiliation.
Continuous pH and pCO2 Monitoring Using the Paratrend Inserted Through a Pulmonary Artery or Central Venous Catheter

The Paratrend continuous blood gas monitoring system was placed through a pulmonary artery or central venous catheter as a means of continuously monitoring pH, pCO2, and mixed venous oxygen saturation in three neonates at risk for cardiorespiratory dysfunction, two following surgery for congenital heart disease and one with septic shock. After calibration with an arterial/mixed venous blood gas value, the Paratrend monitor provided a clinically useful continuous measurement of pH and pCO2. The difference between the Paratrend and the arterial values for pH and pCO2 were 0.02 ± 0.009 and 2.4 ± 0.8 mmHg, respectively. There was a significant discrepancy between the oxygen saturation reading from the Paratrend and the actual measured mixed venous value (9 ± 5%). The possible applications of the Paratrend placed through a pulmonary artery or central venous catheter are discussed.
The Rediscovery of Heritage and Community Language Education in the United States

Language and cultural preservation efforts among different communities of language speakers in the United States have received increasing attention as interest in linguistic rights and globalization continues to deepen. In addition to mounting evidence of the cognitive, psychological, and academic benefits of heritage language/ community language (HL/CL) maintenance for linguistic-minority children (see Lee & Suarez, 2009, for a summary of the research), scholars have advocated for the recognition, support, and utilization of the potentially rich pool of HLs/CLs as a resource for filling linguistic and cultural voids in professional and political sectors of our society (Brecht & Ingold, 1998; Peyton, Ranard, & McGinnis, 2001; Wiley, 2005b, 2007). Yet the maintenance of HLs/CLs even among children of first-generation immigrants has been difficult, and it has been nearly unattainable beyond the third generation (Fishman, 2001; Rumbaut, 2009; Veltman, 1983). Counter to popular beliefs that HLs/CLs can be easily maintained in the home if parents speak to their children in the HL/CL, studies have shown that home language use alone is an insufficient condition for producing highly proficient users of the language, particularly those who can function in professional domains. Some form of explicit instruction is needed (Fillmore, 1991, 2000; Lao & Lee, 2009; Lee, 2002; Wright, 2004). Throughout U.S. history, the most significant efforts for HL/CL instruction outside the home have occurred in community-based HL/CL schools (Fishman, 2001;
Exploring the VLSI scalability of stream processors

Stream processors are high-performance programmable processors optimized to run media applications. Recent work has shown these processors to be more area- and energy-efficient than conventional programmable architectures. This paper explores the scalability of stream architectures to future VLSI technologies where over a thousand floating-point units on a single chip will be feasible. Two techniques for increasing the number of ALU in a stream processor are presented: intracluster and intercluster scaling. These scaling techniques are shown to be cost-efficient to tens of ALU per cluster and to hundreds of arithmetic clusters. A 640-ALU stream processor with 128 clusters and 5 ALU per cluster is shown to be feasible in 45 nanometer technology, sustaining over 300 GOPS on kernels and providing 15.3/spl times/ of kernel speedup and 8.0/spl times/ of application speedup over a 40-ALU stream processor with a 2% degradation in area per ALU and a 7% degradation in energy dissipated per ALU operation.
Software transactional memory for multicore embedded systems

Embedded systems, like general-purpose systems, can benefit from parallel execution on a symmetric multicore platform. Unfortunately, concurrency issues present in general-purpose programming also apply to embedded systems, protection from which is currently only offered with performance-limiting coarse-grained locking or error-prone and difficult-to-implement fine-grained locking. Transactional memory offers relief from these mechanisms, but has primarily been investigated on general-purpose systems. In this paper, we present Embedded Software Transactional Memory (ESTM) as a novel solution to the concurrency problem in parallel embedded applications. We investigate common software transactional memory design decisions and discuss the best decisions for an embedded platform. We offer a full implementation of an embedded STM and test it against both coarse-grained and fine-grained locking mechanisms. We find that we can meet or beat the performance of fine-grained locking over a range of application characteristics, including size of shared data, time spent in the critical section, and contention between threads. Our ESTM implementation benefits from the effective use of L1 memory, a feature which is built into our STM model but which cannot be directly utilized by traditional locking mechanisms.
Navigating Local Environments with Global Strategies: A Contingency Model of Multinational Subsidiary Performance

Multinational corporations (MNCs) often pursue global strategies that emphasize efficiency, flexibility, and learning, but globally developed strategies often clash with the environmental idiosyncrasies of MNC country subsidiary markets in which the strategy is actually implemented. Extant research pays little attention to the contingent efficacy of such global strategies from the perspective of MNC country subsidiary markets. We adopt the strategy-environment alignment principle and study how host country task- and institutional environments might influence the efficacy of global strategies for MNC subsidiary performance. We assess MNC subsidiary performance using subjective managerial judgments, and on the basis of recent research on human judgments, we theorize that these judgments embody information about judgment magnitude and uncertainty. A mean-variance function model simultaneously teases out the effects of the explanatory variables on the magnitude and uncertainty of MNC subsidiary performance judgments. To test the hypotheses, we analyze survey data from German and Japanese subsidiaries in the United States. The results support the use of the meanvariance function model and specific theory about the antecedents of performance judgment magnitude and uncertainty. Findings pertaining to interactions between global strategies and the facets of the local country environment reveal ways in which MNCs can adapt “global” strategies to navigate the complex array of country markets they face.
Molecular photoelectron spectroscopy at 132.3 eV: N2, CO, C2H4 and O2

Abstract The molecular photoelectron spectra of gaseous N 2 , CO, C 2 H 4 and O 2 were obtained using yttrium Mζ X-rays (132.3 eV). Comparison with spectra taken with MgKα 12 X-rays (1253.6 eV) showed the molecular orbitals derived from atomic 2 p orbitals to be emphasized in the YMζ spectra. Orbital compositions were confirmed in N 2 and CO, and the presence of several peaks was either better established or detected for the first time (e.g., a 2 Π u state at 23.5 eV in O 2 + ) in C 2 H 4 and O 2 . The relative cross-section predictions of Rabalais et al. were tested by these spectra. The theoretical values, which were based on ground-state wavefunctions and plane-wave (PW) or OPW continuum states, were found to agree qualitatively with experiment, establishing that this level of theory has diagnostic value. Quantitative agreement is lacking, however. The potential application of 132.3 eV X-rays to the study of photoemission from adsorbed molecules on surfaces is emphasized.
Thermodynamics Model and Experimental Validating on Thermal Field Distribution of Traditional Moxibustion

This paper aims to study on the physical characteristic and thermal-transfer process of Chinese traditional Moxibustion by carrying out theoretical and experiment verification between modern Moxibustion instruments and deducing the design of modern Moxibustion instrument. The methods used included a research on the physical condition of selected point and the hot phase of transfer in Chinese traditional Moxibustion and analysis of the diversity between different Moxibustions. A one-dimension model of steady state of thermal conduction was established to describe tradition Moxibustion. A mathematics analysis of temperature curve distribution was done and the authors were able to verify the temperature field distribution of traditional Moxibustion through infrared-heat-imaging experiment. The paper showed that temperature field distribution of selected point of traditional Chinese moxibustion is identical to that of modern Moxibustion instruments
Incidence Proportions of Brain Metastases in Patients Diagnosed (1973 to 2001) in the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System

Purpose Population-based estimates of the incidence of brain metastases are not generally available. The purpose of this study was to calculate population-based incidence proportions (IPs) of brain metastases from single primary lung, melanoma, breast, renal, or colorectal cancer. Patients and Methods Patients diagnosed with single primary lung, melanoma, breast, renal, or colorectal cancer (1973 to 2001) in the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System (MDCSS) were used for analysis. IP of brain metastases by primary site and variable of interest (race, sex, age at diagnosis of primary cancer, and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results [SEER] stage of primary cancer) was calculated with 95% CIs. Results Total IP percentage (IP%) of brain metastases was 9.6% for all primary sites combined, and highest for lung (19.9%), followed by melanoma (6.9%), renal (6.5%), breast (5.1%), and colorectal (1.8%) cancers. Racial differences were seen with African Americans demonstrating higher IP% of brain met...
Interviewing Witnesses: The Effect of Forced Confabulation on Event Memory

Age differences in rates of forced confabulation and memory consequences thereof were assessed using a recall task similar to real forensic interview procedures. Children viewed a target video and were tested with the same 18 questions immediately afterward and 1 week later. Of the 18 questions, 12 were answerable; the 6 unanswerable questions referred to information not in the video. Participants in the voluntary confabulation condition had a ‘‘don’t know’’ response option; those in the forced confabulation condition did not. Although 6-year-olds and 9-year-olds were equally likely to provide a response to an unanswerable question initially, 1 week later 9-year-olds were significantly more likely than 6year-olds to repeat their initial confabulated responses. These findings suggest that pressing child witnesses to answer questions they are initially reluctant to answer is not an effective practice, and the consistency of children’s responses over time is not necessarily an indication of the accuracy of their eyewitness memory.
Prediction and Validation of Chaotic Behavior in an Electrostatically Actuated Microelectromechanical Oscillator

We investigate chaotic behavior for a microelectromechanical (MEM) oscillator, which is modeled by a version of the Mathieu equation that contains both linear and nonlinear time varying stiffness coefficients. By using Melnikov's method we have developed a criterion for the existence of chaos in such oscillators, which depends solely on system parameters. Chaotic behavior was observed experimentally and numerically for a MEM oscillator developed using the criterion from our analysis.
Chemical Treatment of Wheat Straw

Summary An in vitro digestion study, a lamb growth trial and a lamb digestion trial were conducted to evaluate the effect of different NaOH and Ca(OH)2 treatments on the energy availability of wheat straw. In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of wheat straw was increased 29% by chemical treatment with 1% NaOH plus 3% Ca(OH)2 and by as much as 86% by a 4% NaOH plus 1% Ca(OH)2 treatment. A significant amount of hemicellulose was solubilized by chemical treatment with NaOH and Ca(OH)2, but little cellulose was solubilized. Rate and extent of both hemicellulose and cellulose digestion of treated wheat straw were increased significantly in comparison to corresponding measures for untreated wheat straw. Lambs fed chemically-treated wheat straw gained significantly faster and more efficiently and consumed more dry matter per day than those fed untreated wheat straw diets. Chemical treatment of wheat straw significantly increased dry matter, organic matter cellulose and hemicellulose digestibilities in the lamb digestion trial. Organic matter digestibility was increased from 51.3% for untreated wheat straw to 65.3% for 4% NaOH-treated wheat straw.
A.2. Stolen fire: Aeschylean imagery and Thoreau’s identification of the Graius homo of Lucretius with Prometheus

In his Journal for April 26, 1856, Thoreau noted that he had quickly looked over the first 200 lines of the De Rerum Natura but was “…struck only with the lines referring to Promethius (sic)—whose vivida vis animi…extra/processit longe flammantia moenia mundi .” (1.72–73) During this time (i.e., late April and into May) Thoreau was reading the Roman agricultural writers Columella and Palladius, and it is unclear what led him to pick up the De Rerum Natura and then discard it so quickly. Perhaps most curious is Thoreau’s comment that lines 72–73 refer to Prometheus. No commentator in the context of Thoreau has noted that Lucretius is not actually referring to Prometheus in these lines but to Epicurus. The goal of this paper is to show how these lines in their wording and imagery may have reminded Thoreau of Aeschylus’ description of Prometheus in Prometheus Bound and led him to conclude that lines 1.72–73 of the De Rerum Natura refer to Prometheus.
Thorax Injury Biomechanics

This chapter provides a broad overview of the biomechanics of the human thorax with a focus on impact loading. The introduction to the thoracic anatomy emphasizes its skeletal structures, organs and soft tissues, and this is followed by a brief description of injury quantification using the Abbreviated Injury Score and Injury Severity Score. Injury mechanisms are reviewed from a historical perspective. They include rib fractures and flail chest, lung contusions, hemo- and pneumo-thoraces, and heart and aorta injuries. The next two sections are focused on frontal and side impact injury aspects. In the frontal impact, different methods used in loading are described, including blunt, belt and airbag loading, along with biomechanical response data and injury mechanisms. Various candidates for injury criteria are also described. Pure lateral and oblique side impacts are then described using a similar method, albeit separately. The oblique loading modality discovered in modern vehicular environments is relatively new. Oblique impacts are shown to be more injurious than pure lateral impacts. Injury criteria associated with this vector needs further research as studies are beginning to appear in published literature. The reader is then exposed to a brief assessment and development of dummy thorax although dummy-related topic is covered elsewhere in the book.
Rapid Measurement of Cyclosporine and Sirolimus in Whole Blood by Paper Spray–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

To the Editor: Paper spray (PS)1 is a recently described method for the direct mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of blood and other biological samples (1–3). Paper spray is performed by depositing a sample such as whole blood onto a paper substrate contained within a disposable cartridge; extraction and ionization occur directly from the disposable cartridge with an automated MS attachment (Fig. 1). No punching or offline extraction is required. Total analysis time, including sample extraction, is several minutes. Fig. 1. Paper spray for direct analysis of blood spots by MS. Ion chronograms from the lowest calibrator in whole blood, overlaid with representative chronograms from blank blood, are shown for cyclosporine and sirolimus. Quantification was performed with the entire area under the curve for each analyte, normalized by SIL-IS, to obtain calibration curves as shown. Because of its simplicity, paper spray could lower the barrier for implementation of MS-based assays in clinical laboratories. We previously used PS-MS/MS to monitor tacrolimus in clinical samples and showed good correlation with 2 immunoassays and an external HPLC-MS/MS method (4). Here we extend this approach by demonstrating the simultaneous quantification of cyclosporine and sirolimus by PS-MS/MS. Therapeutic drug monitoring of these drugs is important for organ transplant patient care. The method used was similar to our …
How Should Agriculture be Financed

A definite feeling has existed in and out of Congress during many of the last twenty-five years that our farm finance system has been unsatisfactory. The large amount of Federal legislation on farm credit in this period provides ample evidence in support of this view. Nor has this feeling entirely disappeared. Several bills calling for drastic credit revisions are now scheduled for debate in the coming session of Congress. In appraising past legislation and in marking out a future course, the question may well be raised as to what kind of farm credit system, private and governmental, is desired or needed in this country. The following discussion tackles this question by dealing, first, with the outline of an ideal system; and, second, with some desirable changes in our present farm credit organization. Not all features of the farm credit system can be covered, naturally, because of the limit to the length of this paper.
EXPERIENCE TREATING IN-STENT RESTENOSIS LESIONS FROM A MULTICENTER REGISTRY

In-stent restenosis (ISR) is commonly encountered during endovascular revascularization of infrainguinal arteries. However, limited data exists guiding operator decision-making. We analyzed data for 1,056 procedures performed between April 2005 and August 2014 from the multicenter Excellence in
The Advantages of Using Group Means in Estimating the Lorenz Curve and Gini Index From Grouped Data

A recent article proposed a histogram-based method for estimating the Lorenz curve and Gini index from grouped data that did not use the group means reported by government agencies. When comparing their method to one based on group means, the authors assume a uniform density in each grouping interval, which leads to an overestimate of the overall average income. After reviewing the additional information in the group means, it will be shown that as the number of groups increases, the bounds on the Gini index obtained from the group means become narrower. This is not necessarily true for the histogram method. Two simple interpolation methods using the group means are described and the accuracy of the estimated Gini index they yield and the histogram-based one are compared to the published Gini index for the 1967–2013 period. The average absolute errors of the estimated Gini index obtained from the two methods using group means are noticeably less than that of the histogram-based method. Supplementary mater...
Microwave digestion-AAS determination of calcium iron and zine in fortified foods

Objective:By optimizing the condition of microwave digestion,we establish a fast and simple pretreament method to determine the calcium,iron and zine in fortified foods.Methods:Used microwave digestion technique,digest the fortified foods by Nitrate and Peroxide in the heating,pressure conditions.Then use the method of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry to determine the calcium,iron and zine.Results:Dealing with the fortified foods by microwave digestion,the relative standard deviation(RSD) of calcium,iron and zine are less than 2.43%,1.92%,1.74%,and the recoveries of calcium is 95.8%~102%,the iron is 96.8%~103% and the zine is 96.4%~103%.the determination results of the reference materials GBW07605 is satisfaction.Conclusion:The advantage of microwave digeastion technology method operation is simple,analysis speed is fast and Sensitivity,Precision,Accuracy are fine.The microwave digestion technology is a ideal pretreatment technology to determine the lead in the fortified foods.
A review of surgical strategies for penile prosthesis implantation in patients with Peyronie's disease.

The introduction of the inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) has revolutionized the treatment of patients with both Peyronie’s disease (PD) and erectile dysfunction (ED). A thorough literature review was performed in order to review the surgical strategies used to treat PD, using the PubMed online database with the keywords “penile prosthesis”, “surgical management” and “Peyronie’s disease”. Patient satisfaction rates of 72–100% and partner satisfaction rates of 89% have been reported in the literature, although strong preoperative education may be needed to prepare patients for risks such as penile shortening, seen in up to 54% of patients. Three-piece IPPs are most commonly used, and when comparing the two most popular models (AMS 700 CX vs. Coloplast Titan), no significant differences were seen in functional outcomes or patient satisfaction. Simple insertion of an IPP has been shown to resolve curvature in 33–90% of patients, but surgeons may often need to also utilize ancillary straightening procedures for residual curvatures. Manual modeling can correct residual curvature with an 86–100% success rate, but with a 4% risk of urethral injury. When the post-modeling residual curvature exceeds 30 degrees, a plaque-releasing incision or plication is recommended to further reduce curvature. Grafting is recommended if the resulting incisional defect is larger than two centimeters. Alternative straightening techniques such as plication prior to IPP insertion, endoscopic plaque resection, the “scratch technique” and bone saw plaque incision have also been described.
Have you ever had a terminal degree

In closing, I thought I had a terminal degree when I proudly wrote MS after my name. Soon this APN will write DNP after her name! I will have my terminal degree. On second thought, in nursing, do we ever stop learning whether or not we earn more initials to write after our names?
Altered Calcium Homeostasis in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells of Leaner Mutant Mice

The leaner (tgla) mouse mutation occurs in the gene encoding the voltage-activated Ca2+channel α1A subunit, the pore-forming subunit of P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. This mutation results in dramatic red...
The Thrombotic Microangiopathy Registry of North America

The thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) are rare, life-threatening thrombotic disorders of diverse etiologies. Systematic studies of TMA have been difficult to perform due to their rare occurrence, disease heterogeneity and, lack of an organized research network in the United States. Whereas a multi-institutional approach has been used in Europe and Canada, TMA research in the US has been largely single-center based. To overcome the limitations of single institutional registries and to expand the number of TMA patients available for study, four academic centers convened during the 2013 ASFA annual meeting to establish the TMA Registry of North America (TRNA) with the following goals: (1) design and develop a registry to define "best practices" for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of TMA; (2) develop a platform for conducting observational and interventional clinical trials; (3) and, establish a national bio-repository of samples from patients with TMA to facilitate future studies. This abstract reports the first multi-institutional network in the United States designed to study TMA. Members met through bimonthly tele-conferences to develop a clinical registry using REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), a HIPAA-compliant, internet-based software program for data entry. To facilitate a cohesive and streamlined review of IRB applications, the TRNA utilized IRBshare, a portal for rapid approval of multi-site investigations. IRB consent included participation in a bio-repository arm for collecting blood and apheresate. Following approval through the Duke IRB in June 2014, study documents were uploaded to the IRBshare website. Since August 2015, 16 study participants with TMA have been consented, 13 of which have had their clinical information entered into the database. Preliminary data shows our population is 73% African-American and female. Average laboratory values at presentation included hemoglobin of 9.7 g/dL, platelets 53 x10^9/L, and LDH 1,150 u/L. ADAMTS13 testing was performed in 77% (10/13), of which 60% (6/10) measured at Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Evolution of Bacterial “Frenemies”

Chronic polymicrobial infections are associated with increased virulence compared to monospecies infections. However, our understanding of microbial dynamics during polymicrobial infection is limited. A recent study by Limoli and colleagues (D. H. Limoli, G. B. Whitfield, T. Kitao, M. L. Ivey, M. R. Davis, Jr., et al., mBio 8:e00186-17, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00186-17) provides insight into a mechanism that may contribute to the coexistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung. CF lung infections have frequently been used to investigate microbial interactions due to both the complex polymicrobial community and chronic nature of these infections. The hypothesis of Limoli et al. is that the conversion of P. aeruginosa to its mucoidy phenotype during chronic CF infection promotes coexistence by diminishing its ability to kill S. aureus Highlighting a new facet of microbial interaction between two species that are traditionally thought of as competitors, this study provides a platform for studying community assembly in a relevant infection setting.
The Influence of Ga on H Reactivity With Ga-Stabilized δ-Pu Alloys

The influence of Ga on the adsorption and solubility of H on Ga-stabilized δ-Pu alloys is investigated using density functional theory and experimentally via a Sieverts’ apparatus. All-electron DFT calculations, with spin-orbit coupling and full relaxations of the surface, are implemented to calculate H adsorption on δ-Pu-Ga alloy (111) surfaces. Chemisorption energies indicate that H prefers a threefold hollow site that binds strongly to a Pu-rich environment regardless of Ga concentration of the surface. Sites that include a Ga-H bond yield an increase in chemisorption energies as opposed to chemisorption energies when the H is only bonded to Pu atoms. Also solution energies for interstitial sites are less exothermic than surface adsorption energies. Experimentally, H-vacancy binding is more exothermic than interstitial binding, and since vacancy binding is the analog of surface binding, the DFT results are in agreement. Both DFT and experimental results show that with increasing Ga content to 7 at. % G...
No System is Perfect: Understanding How Registration-Based Editorial Processes Affect Reproducibility and Investment in Research Quality--Free Responses to Survey on Author Discretion

This document includes the complete set of free-text responses to our survey on the 2017 Journal of Accounting Research Conference, Registered Reports of Empirical Research. We solicited responses from all authors who have published in six well-regarded accounting journals over the last decade. Respondents provide thoughts on how research quality is affected by authors’ discretion to choose: which measures and analyses to report; whether or not to report a sample or subsample; which observations to exclude from primary analyses; whether to gather additional data after observing results; to change their predictions and/or underlying theory; and to choose not to report or highlight hypotheses. Respondents also provide first-hand accounts of discretionary choices and failed replications, advice to editors and reviewers, and their thoughts on other forms of discretion, motivations for using discretion, and any insights they wish to share not covered by their previous answers.
Peer Bonds in Urban School Communities: An Exploratory Study.

The literature identifies three main types of peer associations: cliques, crowds, and dyadic friendships. When schools create learning communities, an additional type of peer association may emerge that is not based on interactions but instead is based on membership in a shared community. The aim of this study is to qualitatively explore the nature and characteristics of this association, labeled peer bonds. Observational data (n=432) and semi-structured interviews (n=33) were collected in two urban high schools over the course of three academic years. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method. Findings suggest that there are six characteristics of peer bonds: investment in peer success, shared identity, shared values, pedagogical caring, shared success, and shared failure. The scholarly significance of this study is the expansion of theoretical conceptualizations of peer associations in learning communities while the practical significance is the potential use of a largely underutilized source for academic interventions, peers, by creating school community.
Exploring the Limits of Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (O-DNP) for Portable Magnetic Resonance Detection of Low γ Nuclei

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in portable, permanent magnet-based spectrometers is primarily limited to nuclei with higher gyromagnetic ratio, γ, such as 1H, 19F, and 31P due to the limited field strength achievable in these systems. Overhauser effect dynamic nuclear polarization (O-DNP), which transfers polarization from an unpaired electron to a nucleus by saturating an electron paramagnetic resonance transition with an oscillating radio frequency magnetic field, B1e, can increase the polarization of low γ nuclei by hundreds or even thousands, enabling detection in a portable system. We have investigated the potential for O-DNP to enhance signals using (4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO hereafter) as a source of unpaired electrons in a homebuilt ultra-low field (ULF) O-DNP-NMR spectrometer. We have found, in general, that larger concentrations of TEMPO are required for effective O-DNP with low γ nuclei, which has a number of important effects. Spin exchange effects cause the EPR lines to overlap and ultimately merge at high concentrations of TEMPO, fundamentally increasing the maximum possible enhancement, while the electron–electron dipolar interaction reduces both longitudinal and transverse relaxation times for the electrons, dramatically increasing the required B1e strength. The relationship between TEMPO concentration, B1e magnitude and O-DNP enhancement is quantified, and strategies for achieving these fields are discussed.