cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Insertional Injuries in Pediatric Overhead Athletes: Are MRI Findings Predictive of Symptoms or Need for Surgery?

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) insertion below the articular margin (so-called T sign) exists in the pediatric population and whether MRI features can be used to identify insertional UCL injuries in overhead athletes that are symptomatic or require surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective review of elbow MR images of patients younger than 21 years from 2011 to 2017 yielded 26 control subjects who were not overhead athletes and 97 overhead athletes. According to the clinical diagnosis, 50 of the overhead athletes had symptoms. Two radiologists evaluated the UCL for thickness, abnormal insertional signal intensity, insertion distance, and adjacent marrow or soft-tissue edema. Insertion distance was defined as the coronal length of any T sign measured from the articular margin. RESULTS Mean insertion distance was greater in overhead athletes than in control subjects (1.42 vs 0.23 mm, p = 0.001) but not significantly different in athletes with symptoms compared with those without symptoms or in those who underwent operative treatment compared with those who did not. Mean UCL thickness was greater in overhead athletes than in control subjects (2.64 vs 1.74 mm, p < 0.0001), athletes with than those without symptoms (2.84 vs 2.41 mm, p = 0.005), and athletes who did versus those who did not undergo operative treatment (3.40 vs 2.73 mm, p = 0.011). Marrow (p = 0.002) and soft-tissue (p = 0.016) edema were found more frequently in athletes with symptoms. ROC analysis of UCL thickness and insertion distance as predictors of symptoms showed AUCs of 0.69 and 0.49, respectively. CONCLUSION The T sign is likely not an anatomic variation but is a poor predictor of symptoms and need for surgery. Soft-tissue and marrow edema are more frequently seen in overhead athletes with symptomatic injuries and can aid in the diagnosis of clinically relevant injury.
Symmetric local algebras

The aim of this chapter is twofold: first to investigate symmetric local algebras A over an algebraically closed field F with dim F Z(A) ≤ 5 and second to apply the results obtained to modular representation theory of finite groups. More specifically, we first prove that if A is a symmetric local algebra with dim F Z(A) ≤ 4, then A is commutative. Second, we show that if A is a symmetric local algebra with dim F Z(A) = 5, then dim F A = 5 or dim F A = 8. Now assume that charF = p > 0 and that B is a block of a group algebra FG with exactly one irreducible FG-module. Denote by k(B) the number of irreducible complex characters in B and by D a defect group of B. As an application of our results on symmetric local algebras, we demonstrate that (i) If k(B) ≤ 4, then k(B) = |D|. (ii) If k(B) = 5, then either |D| = 5 or D is nonabelian of order 8.
Screening for Improved Nerve Agent Simulants and Insights into Organophosphate Hydrolysis Reactions from DFT and QSAR Modeling

The effective detoxification of chemical warfare agents, specifically nerve agents, is a pressing issue in the modern world. Due to the high toxicity of these molecules, simulants are often used in experiments as substitutes for the agents. However, there is little reason to believe that the current simulants used in the literature are optimal predictors of nerve agent reactivity. Density functional theory calculations were performed on the alkaline hydrolysis of over 100 organophosphate molecules to identify improved simulants for the G-series nerve agents soman and sarin, based on low toxicity and similarity to nerve agent hydrolysis energetics and degradation mechanism. This screening highlighted 5 molecules that have nearly identical reaction barriers to the actual agents, while being far less toxic. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were also derived to determine the most significant molecular descriptors for describing the hydrolysis free energy barriers of these reactions. The optimal QSAR model was subjected to a thorough statistical analysis and validation procedure to confirm its predictive capacity, showing excellent quantitative and ranking accuracy. It was further shown that the model trained on G-series agents can reliably predict energetics for other organophosphate classes as well, including VX. Through these computational insights, experimentalists may be aided in accurately and safely studying these reactions with less toxic simulants.
Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia in bronchoscopy

Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia has been a well-documented illness that is usually simple to cure but can be life-threatening if not recognized. As the use of "scope" procedures becomes more commonplace, the early recognition of hypoxemia resulting from methemoglobinemia is essential. The authors report a case of benzocaine-related methemoglobinemia following bronchoscopy.
Meniscal Repair in Pediatric Populations: A Systematic Review of Outcomes:

Background:Loss of meniscal tissue in the pediatric population can have long-term consequences on joint health, highlighting the importance of meniscal preservation in this group.Purpose:To systema...
Deterrent Effect of Police and Prisons

Abstract This article reviews the evidence on the deterrent effect of police and imprisonment. Studies of changes in police presences, whether achieved by changes in police numbers or in their strategic deployment, consistently find evidence of deterrent effects. Studies of the deterrent effect of increases in already long prison sentences find at most a modest deterrent effect. Three high-priority areas for future research are identified: developing and testing an integrated model of the effects of the threat and experience of punishment, measuring perceptions of sanction regimes, developing and estimating the deterrent effect of shorter prison sentences and identifying high-deterrence policies.
Signaling, Verification, and Identification: The Way Corporate Social Advocacy Generates Brand Loyalty on Social Media:

Scholars have become increasingly interested in the importance of corporate social advocacy to an organization’s bottom line. However, few researchers have investigated the subliminal mechanism wit...
Temperature-dependent current-voltage characteristics of β-Ga2O3 trench Schottky barrier diodes

Temperature-dependent behavior of regular and trench Ni/β-Ga2O3 (001) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) was studied. Current–Voltage (I–V) characteristics, ideality factor, and barrier height of trench SBDs were compared with those of regular SBDs at temperatures ranging from 100 K to 650 K. The trench SBDs showed a superior performance to regular SBDs. At elevated temperatures (as high as 650 K), the trench SBDs maintained a high ON/OFF current ratio (105), which is four orders of magnitude higher than that in the regular diodes. The current–voltage characteristics of the trench SBDs were recovered when the sample was cooled to room temperature after high temperature measurements, whereas the I–V characteristics of the regular SBDs were degraded. The breakdown voltage (BV) was also measured on as-fabricated devices and after high temperature ramp up to 650 K. We observed a reduction in maximum achieved BV from 1084 V to 742 V on the trench SBDs and from 662 V to 488 V on regular SBDs, respectively, after temperature-dependent measurements.
Social Determinants of Health and the Role of Routine Pediatric Care in a Medically Complex Toddler.

CASE Late on a Friday afternoon, a new family presents to your practice for urgent care. They come with their youngest child Mai, a 2-year-old girl, who, although born in the United States at 36 weeks gestation, has resided in Laos with her grandparents for the past 16 months. Your triage nurse tells you that she has a fever and was found to have profound anemia while at the WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) office earlier today.On walking into the room, you describe Mai as "listless" and "sickly." Her vitals were notable for fever (102°F), tachycardia (140 beats per minute), and tachypnea (35 breaths per minute). On physical examination, she was grunting with a systolic ejection murmur and without hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory test results revealed hemoglobin of 2.2 g/dL, hematocrit of 12%, mean corpuscular volume of 50 fL, red cell distribution width of 27%, reticulocyte count of 3%, ferritin of <2 ng/mL, iron of 15 μg/dL, total iron binding count of 420 μg/dL, white blood cell count of 13.5 K/μL, and platelets of 605 K/μL. Her evaluation was consistent with severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA), which was further supported by reported restrictive diet and excessive cow milk intake of 35 ounces daily. She was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in high-output cardiac failure and was slowly transfused with 15 mL/kg of packed red blood cells over 2 days with careful monitoring. Once stabilized, she was transferred to the inpatient floor for further nutritional evaluation and supplementation. Additional workup, including hemoglobin electrophoresis, fecal occult blood test, celiac studies, and stool parasite testing were normal. The clinical picture was consistent with a viral infection in the setting of profound IDA and malnutrition.Although her clinical status had improved, she remained inpatient for nutritional optimization. Her height was at the 54th percentile (z-score: 0.11), weight was at the first percentile (z-score: -2.25), and body mass index was below the first percentile (z-score: -3.18), diagnostic of severe protein-calorie malnutrition. She was evaluated by an interdisciplinary growth and nutrition team, received multivitamin and mineral supplements, and was monitored for refeeding syndrome. She was noted to be "difficult to engage," "resistant to new faces," and made little progress on expanding her dietary choices. Concerns about a possible diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder were raised by her treating team. What would you do next? REFERENCE 1. Bouma S. Diagnosing pediatric malnutrition: paradigm shifts of etiology-related definitions and appraisal of the indicators. Nutr Clin Pract. 2017;32:52-67.
Development and Implementation of a Transdiagnostic, Stepped-Care Approach to Treating Emotional Disorders in Children via Telehealth

Abstract Stepped-care interventions may increase the accessibility of evidence-based treatments but remain relatively underexplored in the child mental health literature. Further, while the feasibility and efficacy of stepped-care interventions have been examined for specific diagnoses or classes or disorders, transdiagnostic stepped-care interventions have not yet been developed. We discuss the development and initial implementation of a transdiagnostic approach to emotional disorders using the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children (UP-C; Ehrenreich-May et al., 2018). A case series is presented to illustrate the delivery of UP-C stepped care (UPC-SC) via telehealth, using a collaborative decision-making process to inform step-up/step-down decisions. Lessons learned are discussed to guide refinements of UPC-SC and inform a larger trial.
Obesity control by SHIP inhibition requires pan-paralog inhibition and an intact eosinophil compartment

Previously a small molecule SHIP inhibitor, K118, was shown to reverse high-fat diet induced obesity and improve blood glucose regulation in obese mice. K118 treatment was also found to increase the frequency and number of IL-4 producing eosinophils in the visceral fat as well two potent immunoregulatory myeloid cell populations: M2-polarized macrophages and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) suggesting an immune regulatory mechanism. However, the cell(s) or SHIP paralog that should be targeted to improve metabolic regulation was not defined. Here we extend our understanding of how chemical inhibition of SHIP paralogs improves metabolic regulation during excess caloric intake. Here we compare SHIP inhibitors in an obesity prevention model and find that selective inhibitors for SHIP1 or SHIP2 lack the ability to prevent weight gain and body fat accumulation during increased caloric intake. Surprisingly, only pan-SHIP1/2 inhibitors can prevent diet-induced obesity. We confirm that both SHIP1 and SHIP2 must be targeted by showing that dual treatment with the SHIP1 and SHIP2 selective inhibitors can reduced adiposity caused by excess caloric consumption. We also show that pan-SHIP1/2 inhibitors of two different chemical classes can control diet-induced obesity and improve blood glucose regulation. Intriguingly, we find that both classes of pan-SHIP1/2 inhibitors require an intact eosinophil compartment to prevent diet-related fat accumulation demonstrating pan-SHIP1/2 inhibitors act via the VAT innate immune compartment to control adiposity However, improved blood glucose regulation by pan-SHIP1/2 inhibition is not dependent upon eosinophils, indicating a separate mechanism of action for diet-related loss of glucose regulation.
Newborn Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening Using Pulse Oximetry: Value and Unique Challenges in Developing Regions

Newborn screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is recommended for implementation in many developed countries as the standard of care. Efforts to implement this point of care screen in developing regions face unique barriers, and present important opportunities. The First Pan-African Newborn Screening Conference, held in Rabat in June 2019, incorporated a workshop dedicated specifically to identifying and discussing CCHD screening issues in the Middle East Northern Africa (MENA) region. The issues explored may be beneficial as part of the greater discussion of CCHD screening’s growing importance in developing regions around the world. Screening experts presented education and lessons learned from previous CCHD implementations, including a hands-on technical demonstration of CCHD screening. Children’s HeartLink, The Newborn Foundation, and Children’s National Hospital each presented on their experiences working with teams and pilot projects from around the world. Experience in implementation from Children’s Hospital Marrakesh was presented and highlighted some of the unique findings, challenges, and experiences of screening in Morocco. As developing regions investigate the implementation of CCHD screening using pulse oximetry either as part of research studies, pilots, regional studies, or as part of a nationally supported program, data to inform policymakers on the benefits of screening and specific needs for infrastructure development and resources are essential. This special issue contains initial lessons learned on newborn CCHD screening from a select number of developing countries, including Saudi Arabia and Morocco and regions such as Latin America.
Seattle Police Department and mental health crises: Arrest, emergency detention, and referral to services

Abstract Purpose This study sought to understand how officer, individual, and incident-level characteristics influence officer decisions to arrest, detain in emergencies, and refer individuals to services relative to taking no action in encounters with persons in mental health crises. This study allowed for the analysis of informal, scarcely examined outcomes. Methods We examined all available crisis incidents (n = 19,648) over a three-year period from the Seattle Police Department (SPD) using a large administrative dataset. We conducted a multinomial logistic regression. Results We found that arrest was the least frequent outcome followed by no action, referral to services, and emergency detention. Further, arrests occurred primarily in the context of person and property-related crimes as well as when officers perceived individuals as belligerent and disruptive. Emergency detention was significantly more likely when officers perceived a suicide risk than when they did not. Conclusions Largely, in the absence of a criminal offense, police officers utilized less restrictive resolutions and in many cases officers attempted to connect individuals to mental health services either through immediate emergency detention or referrals to services. Majority of crisis incidents did not involve an offense and may be better resolved by mental health professionals.
Immune mechanisms orchestrate tertiary lymphoid structures in tumors via cancer-associated fibroblasts

Tumor-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TA-TLS) are associated with enhanced patient survival and responsiveness to cancer therapies, but the mechanisms underlying their development are unknown. We show here that TA-TLS development in murine melanoma is orchestrated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) with characteristics of lymphoid tissue organizer cells that are induced by tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling. CAF organization into reticular networks is mediated by CD8 T cells, while CAF accumulation and TA-TLS expansion depend on CXCL13-mediated recruitment of B cells expressing lymphotoxin-α1β2. Some of these elements are also overrepresented in human TA-TLS. Additionally, we demonstrate that immunotherapy induces more and larger TA-TLS that are more often organized with discrete T and B cell zones, and that TA-TLS presence, number, and size are correlated with reduced tumor size and overall response to checkpoint immunotherapy. This work provides a platform for manipulating TA-TLS development as a cancer immunotherapy strategy.
An updated look at the taxonomy, stratigraphy, and palaeoecology of the Devonian bivalve genus Ontaria Clarke, 1904 (Cardiolidae, Bivalvia)

The genus Ontaria Clarke, 1904 includes a group of small, almost circular bivalves that occur abundantly in the Mid- and Late Devonian pelagic facies. These bivalves are characterised by their straight hinge line, small and, central beak, as well as commarginal rugae (if present). Based on an extensive review of type material and additional samples as well as a comprehensive literature review, this study identifies three valid species Ontaria suborbicularis Hall, Ontaria concentrica von Buch, and Ontaria iniquistriata Beushausen. Thirteen Ontaria species are either not valid or have been synonymised, and three species that were previously included in Ontaria do not belong to this genus. Representatives of Ontaria first occur in the late Eifelian and become abundant in the Frasnian and Famennian. Ontaria last occurs in the late Famennian before the Devonian/Carboniferous boundary. This genus has been identified as a representative of the family Cardiolidae previously reported only from the Silurian, making Ontaria the first report of a Devonian cardiolid taxon. Ontaria inhabited low-energy, generally well-oxygenated, off-shore environments. The overall shell morphology, small size, and the presence of a small siphon supports the idea that Ontaria lived semi-infaunal in/on muddy substrates.
Mitochondrial Contributions to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Aging

Mitochondrial dysfunction and stem cell exhaustion are two hallmarks of aging. In the hematopoietic system, aging is linked to imbalanced immune response and reduced regenerative capacity in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), as well as an increased predisposition to a spectrum of diseases, including myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. Myeloid-biased differentiation and loss of polarity are distinct features of aged HSCs, which generally exhibit enhanced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting a direct role for mitochondria in the degenerative process. Here, we provide an overview of current knowledge of the mitochondrial mechanisms that contribute to age-related phenotypes in HSCs. These include mitochondrial ROS production, alteration/activation of mitochondrial metabolism, the quality control pathway of mitochondria, and inflammation. Greater understanding of the key machineries of HSC aging will allow us to identify new therapeutic targets for preventing, delaying, or even reversing aspects of this process.
Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating

This book provides a comprehensive theological framework for assessing the significance of eating. Drawing on diverse theological, philosophical, and anthropological insights, it offers fresh ways to evaluate food production and consumption practices as they are being worked out in today's industrial food economy. Unlike books that focus primarily on vegetarianism and hunger-related concerns, this book broadens the scope of consideration to include the sacramental character of eating, the deep significance of hospitality, the meaning of death and sacrifice, the Eucharist as the place of inspiration and orientation, the importance of saying grace, and the possibility of eating in heaven. Throughout, eating is presented as a way of enacting fidelity between persons, between people and fellow creatures, and between people and Earth. Food and Faith demonstrates that eating is of profound economic, moral, and spiritual significance. Revised throughout, this edition includes a new introduction and two chapters, as well as updated bibliography. The additions add significantly to the core idea of creaturely membership and hospitality through discussion of the microbiome revolution in science, and the daunting challenge of the Anthropocene.
Head and neck replacement prostheses in revision hip arthroplasty: experience with a single modern design.

This study reviewed 52 revision hip arthroplasties in which calcar cortical deficiencies were addressed by implantation of a cemented, modern-design head and neck replacement femoral prosthesis. Mean clinical follow-up was 38 months. Radiographic follow-up beyond 22 months was available for 34 patients (mean: 35.8 months). Mean Mayo clinical hip score (maximum : 80) improved from 28.2 preoperatively to 55.2 at last follow-up. No femoral component was revised for aseptic loosening. However, radiographic analysis demonstrated one prosthesis was probably loose and two were possibly loose. A 92.7% Kaplan-Meier 5-year implant survival rate free from radiographic loosening was projected. This type of prosthesis has yielded good clinical results and excellent early survival.
Carbohydrate Metabolism in Spirochaeta stenostrepta

The pathways of carbohydrate metabolism in Spirochaeta stenostrepta, a free-living, strictly anaerobic spirochete, were studied. The organism fermented glucose to ethyl alcohol, acetate, lactate, CO(2), and H(2). Assays of enzymatic activities in cell extracts, and determinations of radioactivity distribution in products formed from (14)C-labeled glucose indicated that S. stenostrepta degraded glucose via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway. The spirochete utilized a clostridial-type clastic reaction to metabolize pyruvate to acetyl-coenzyme A, CO(2), and H(2), without production of formate. Acetyl-coenzyme A was converted to ethyl alcohol by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent acetaldehyde and alcohol dehydrogenase activities. Phosphotransacetylase and acetate kinase catalyzed the formation of acetate from acetyl-coenzyme A. Hydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were detected in cell extracts. A rubredoxin was isolated from cell extracts of S. stenostrepta. Preparations of this rubredoxin stimulated acetyl phosphate formation from pyruvate by diethylaminoethyl cellulose-treated extracts of S. stenostrepta, an indication that rubredoxin may participate in pyruvate cleavage by this spirochete. Nutritional studies showed that S. stenostrepta fermented a variety of carbohydrates, but did not ferment amino acids or other organic acids. An unidentified growth factor present in yeast extract was required by the organism. Exogenous supplements of biotin, riboflavin, and vitamin B(12) were either stimulatory or required for growth.
Trip router with individualized preferences (TRIP): incorporating personalization into route planning

Popular route planning systems (Windows Live Local, Yahoo! Maps, Google Maps, etc.) generate driving directions using a static library of roads and road attributes. They ignore both the time at which a route is to be traveled and, more generally, the preferences of the drivers they serve. We present a set of methods for including driver preferences and time-variant traffic condition estimates in route planning. These methods have been incorporated into a working prototype named TRIP. Using a large database of GPS traces logged by drivers, TRIP learns time-variant traffic speeds for every road in a widespread metropolitan area. It also leverages a driver's past GPS logs when responding to future route queries to produce routes that are more suited to the driver's individual driving preferences. Using experiments with real driving data, we demonstrate that the routes produced by TRIP are measurably closer to those actually chosen by drivers than are the routes produced by routers that use static heuristics.
Utilization of nucleic acids by Selenomonas ruminantium and other ruminal bacteria

Species of ruminal bacteria were screened for the ability to grow in media containing RNA or DNA as the energy source. Bacteroides ruminicola D31d and Selenomonas ruminantium HD4, GA192, and D effectively used RNA for growth, but not DNA. B. ruminicola D31d was able grow on nucleosides but not on bases or ribose. The S. ruminantium strains were able to grow when provided with either nucleosides or ribose but not bases. Strains of S. ruminantium, but not B. ruminicola D31d, were also able to use nucleosides as nitrogen sources. These data suggest that RNA fermentation may be a general characteristic of S. ruminantium.
Analysis of gas flow evolution and shock wave decay in detonation thermal spraying systems

The reactive Euler equations with variable gas properties are solved in both axisymmetric and plane two-dimensional flows to analyze the gas flow evolution, shock wave decay, and shock reflections in pulsed detonation thermal spraying (PDTS) systems. The gas phase governing equations are numerically solved using a high-resolution shock capturing numerical method. Expansion-compression waves are formed upon external gas expansion and persist for a long time (on the time scale of a PDTS cycle) with wide fluctuations in the gas velocity and temperature. The results show that the reflected shock wave from the substrate dies out extremely fast that micron-sized particles used in PDTS do not encounter these transients. The external shock wave decay is also analyzed for different reactive mixtures and flow geometries and is related to the truncation of the computational domain and the implementation of numerical boundary conditions at the open end boundaries.
Numerical Investigation of Constrained Direct Solutions Using Hamilton's Law

This paper presents numerical results obtained for a dynamic system that is modeled using Hamilton's law of varying action and for which geometric constraints are enforced explicitly. These results are compared with numerical results for the same system that were obtained from ordinary differential equations, differential-algebraic equations, and a formulation based on Hamilton's law in which the constraints were enforced implicitly. This comparison had two objectives: first, to show that numerical results from the formulation based on Hamilton's law and explicit constraints were equal or superior to results from other formulations; second, to verify that explicit constraints must be enforced at the end of the time step. Both objectives were successfully accomplished.
Walking for therapy with Man's best Friend

Recent research has shown that older people who walk dogs are more likely than those who walk with a human companion to engage in regular exercise and show more improvement in fitness. Studies with dogs and other animals have suggested new approaches for using animals to enhance both mental and physical health in older adults. With the current intense focus on health care reform, increased use of animals as therapy may serve as a cost-effective strategy for improving and maintaining health in older adults.
Annular Bragg resonators (ABR): the ideal tool for biochemical sensing, nonlinear optics, and cavity QED

Circular resonators are fundamentally interesting elements that are essential for research involving highly confined fields and strong photon-atom interactions such as cavity QED, as well as for practical applications in optical communication systems as and biochemical sensing. The important characteristics of a ring resonator are the Q-factor, the free spectral range (FSR) and the modal volume, where the last two are primarily determined by the resonator dimensions. The Total-Internal-Reflection (TIR) mechanism employed in "conventional" resonators couples between these characteristics and limits the ability to realize compact devices with large FSR, small modal volume and high Q. Recently, we proposed and analyzed a new class of a resonator in an annular geometry that is based on a single defect surrounded by radial Bragg reflectors on both sides. The radial Bragg confinement breaks the link between the characteristics of the mode and paves a new way for the realization of compact and low loss resonators. Such properties as well as the unique mode profile of the ABRs make this class of devices an excellent tool for ultra-sensitive biochemical detection as well as for studies in nonlinear optics and cavity QED.
EFFECT OF SILICA PARTICLES IN THE POLYMER COATING ON THE FATIGUE AND AGING BEHAVIOR OF FUSED SILICA OPTICAL FIBER

It is now established that the long term mechanical reliability of fused silica optical fiber can be determined by surface etching of the fiber that results in roughness that acts as a source of strength degrading defects.1,2 This suggests that suppression of surface dissolution should have a beneficial effect on fiber reliability. In previous work3,4 this was achieved by incorporating in the coating colloidal silica particles which then, presumably, dissolve preferentially due to their higher solubility and reactivity and so protect the fiber sacrificially. It was found that the static fatigue lifetime could be increased by up to a factor of 30 in liquid water by just 0.75 wt% of colloidal silica. However, this first such fiber exhibited two undesirable properties due to the crudity of the preparation techniques; there was large scatter in the fatigue data and the tensile strength showed a low strength mode. This paper shows that, by careful production of the coating, the disadvantages of the earlier fiber can be avoided, and that even more dramatic improvements in lifetime can be achieved. It is also shown that the coating additive is effective in vapor as well as liquid aqueous environments.
New solutions in aesthetic field theory

We have obtained a large number of solutions to the aesthetic field equations. We discuss 19 solutions which appear to lead to bounded particle systems. One of the solutions is more complex (although only slightly) than the solution discussed in detail in Muraskin and Ring (1975). The solutions we have found have varied mathematical properties.
On volume fraction theories for discretized materials

Materials which are in discretized form, such as granular materials or a distribution of bubbles, can exhibit microstructural effects associated with the local deformations of the microelements. In this paper, a theory in which new kinematical variables are introduced to model the dilatational motions of the microelements is called avolume fraction theory. It is argued that two types of local motion should be considered — dilatation of the microelements and their dilatational motion relative to one another—and that two of the three variables volume fraction, partial density and density are necessary to model them. As an example, the theory of granular materials due to Goodman and Cowin is generalized by modeling the local dilatational motions in terms of the partial density and the density of the material.
Chemorheological response of elastomers at elevated temperatures: Experiments and simulations

Abstract An experimental study and a method for simulating the constitutive response of elastomers at temperatures in the chemorheological range (90–150 °C for natural rubber) are presented. A comprehensive set of uniaxial experiments for a variety of prescribed temperature histories is performed on natural rubber specimens that exhibit finite elasticity, entropic stiffening with temperature, viscoelasticity, scission, and oxygen diffusion/reaction effects. The simulation approach is based on a multi-network framework for finite elasticity, isothermal incompressibility, thermal expansion, and temperature-induced degradation. The model extends previous work to account for kinetics of scission for arbitrary time-varying temperature histories and incorporates the effects of viscoelastic relaxation and diffusion-limited oxidative scission. The model is calibrated to experiments performed on a commercially-available filled natural rubber material, and numerical simulations are compared favorably to experiments for a variety of temperature histories.
Task allocation onto a hypercube by recursive mincut bipartitioning

Abstract An efficient recursive task allocation scheme, based on the Kernighan-Lin mincut bisection heuristic, is proposed for the effective mapping of tasks of a parallel program onto a hypercube parallel computer. It is evaluated by comparison with an adaptive, scaled simulated annealing method. The recursive allocation scheme is shown to be effective on a number of large test task graphs-its solution quality is nearly as good as that produced by simulated annealing, and its computation time is several orders of magnitude less.
Recent investigations of the status and distribution of the Orinoco crocodile Crocodylus intermedius in Venezuela

Abstract Populations of the Orinoco crocodile Crocodylus intermedius were severely depleted from commercial hunting between 1930 and 1960. Despite reduced hunting over the last 30 years, no substantial population recovery has taken place in Venezuela. Aerial surveys and nocturnal spotlight counts reveal that Orinoco crocodile populations are critically endangered. Small remnant populations remain scattered throughout the former range of the species, mostly in isolated areas where human impact has been minimal. The largest population found during this study was in the Capanaparo River in Apure State, with an estimated 100 crocodiles over 1·5 m long inhabiting a 288-km stretch of river. Smaller populations remain in the Tucupido River and the Camatagua Reservoir. Very dispersed populations survive in other rivers in the llanos savanna region, as well as in certain of the rivers in the heavily forested southern Venezuelan region. A number of factors are contributing to the decline of the species in Venezuela, including deliberate killing and incidental human-related mortality (e.g. drowning in nets), nest robbing and the scale of hatchlings, and habotat destruction. Dense populations of the spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus have expanded into most of the crocodile's former habitat and may be having a significant role in preventing crocodile population recovery.
Improved Network Development in Bidisperse AB/ABA Block Copolymer Gels

Blending a B-selective solvent and an ordered ABA triblock copolymer can, at sufficiently high solvent concentrations, produce a physical gel composed of a network of B midblocks stabilized by A-rich micelles. We demonstrate here that addition of short AB diblock copolymer molecules to such a gel at constant copolymer composition can enhance the solid-like character of the gel, as indicated by an increase in the magnitude of the dynamic elastic modulus. Similarly, addition of AB molecules to a nongelled ABA/solvent system can induce gelation. In light of recent theoretical predictions and related experimental evidence, these results are consistent with a scenario in which tail-induced volume exclusion (due to the presence of AB molecules) within the micellar coronas improves network development through an increase in the population of bridged B midblocks.
Work and Family over the Life Course: Do Older Workers Differ?

This study explored how older workers (age 55+) differed from middle-aged (ages 35–54) and young workers (<35 years) in their experience of the work–family interface. Data came from a subset of a survey conducted by a multi-national corporation in 79 countries (N = 41,813, n = 2,700). Older workers reported significantly less work-to-family and family-to-work conflict and greater work–family fit, life success, and work success than middle-aged and young workers. They reported significantly greater job flexibility and job satisfaction but were significantly less likely to be aware of and use work–family programs than young workers. Older men reported significantly less awareness and use of work-life programs and less family-to-work conflict than older women. Implications of this research are presented.
Erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport in non-modulating offspring and essential hypertensive individuals: response to enalapril.

Abstract Non-modulators are a subset of essential hypertensive individuals in whom renal hemodynamic and adrenal aldosterone responses to angiotensin II fail to modulate appropriately during high dietary salt intake. The main aim of this study was to investigate the familial aggregation of non-modulation and several erythrocyte Na+ transport systems in normotensive and hypertensive individuals as well as offspring of hypertensive parents. An additional aim was to evaluate the effect of treatment with enalapril on erythrocyte Na+ transport. We studied 15 normotensive subjects (6 males, 27±6 years), 14 untreated modulating essential hypertensive subjects (7 males, 38±7 years), 12 untreated non-modulating essential hypertensive subjects (7 males, 38±6 years), 14 modulating offspring of hypertensive parents (8 males, 25±6 years), and 14 non-modulating offspring of hypertensive parents (8 males, 26±4 years). Blood pressure was recorded with an oscillometric device and renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate by clearances of para-aminohippurate and inulin, respectively. Non-modulating subjects were identified as individuals who failed to increase effective renal plasma flow by 30% and decrease filtration fraction by at least 30% 10 days after changing from a low (20 mmol/d) to a high (250 mmol/d) sodium intake. Erythrocyte Na+ transport was characterized by measurements of the Na+-K+ pump, Na+-Li+ countertransport, Na+-K+-Cl− cotransport, passive Na+ permeability, and Na+ content. After the initial studies, hypertensive individuals were treated with enalapril (20 mg/d PO) for 6 months, after which erythrocyte Na+ transport measurements were again made. The main findings were that Na+-Li+ countertransport is increased in non-modulating hypertensive subjects and non-modulating offspring of hypertensive parents, that the increase in blood pressure in response to high salt intake is greater in non-modulating than modulating hypertensive subjects, and that enalapril decreases Na+-Li+ countertransport activity to normal in non-modulating hypertensive subjects. These findings provide support for a possible genetic role in the development of salt sensitivity and suggest that Na+-Li+ countertransport and non-modulation are related phenotypes.
Non-Bragg diffraction orders in holographic Recording and its application to one-shot phase-shifting holographic interferometry

In this paper we derive the underlying equations for real time holographic interferometry through selfdiffraction, and demonstrate experimentally on how to employ the different Bragg and non-Bragg diffraction orders to perform one shot determination of the phase deformation, or equivalently, the depth information of a deformed object. We also show that the various diffracted orders may be phase shifted with respect to each other with a constant phase shift which depends on the phase mismatch and the length of the recording material. This technique can therefore have an obvious advantage over traditional phase-shifting holography due to the elimination of the piezo-shifted mirror (inducing the different phase shifts) which limits the traditional technique to slow deformations.
A comparison of cone-beam computed tomography and direct measurement in the examination of the mandibular canal and adjacent structures.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this investigation was to assess the ability of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning to measure distances from the apices of selected posterior teeth to the mandibular canal. Measurements were taken from the apices of all posterior teeth that were superior to the mandibular canal. Methods A pilot study was performed to determine the scanning parameters that produced the most diagnostic image and the best dissection technique. Twelve human hemimandibles with posterior teeth were scanned at .20 voxels on an I-CAT Classic CBCT device (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, PA), and the scans were exported in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format. The scans were examined in InVivo Dental software (Anatomage, San Jose, CA), and measurements were taken from the apex of each root along its long axis to the upper portion of the mandibular canal. The specimens were dissected under a dental operating microscope, and analogous direct measurements were taken with a Boley gauge. All measurements were taken in triplicate at least 1 week apart by one individual (TSK). The results were averaged and the data separated into matching pairs for statistical analysis. Results There was no statistical difference (α = .05) between the methods of measurement according to the Wilcoxon matched pairs test (p = 0.676). For the anatomic measurements, the intra-rater correlation coefficient (ICC) was .980 and for the CBCT it was .949, indicating that both methods were highly reproducible. Both measurement methods were highly predictive of and highly correlated to each other according to regression and correlation analysis, respectively. Conclusions Based on the results of this study, the I-CAT Classic can be used to measure distances from the apices of the posterior teeth to the mandibular canal as accurately as direct anatomic dissection.
Effect of Ammonium on Anion Uptake and Dielectric Relaxation In Laboratory-Grown Ice Columns

Inorganic acids or their alkali-metal or alkaline-earth salts are rather insoluble in ice. Ammonium ion, however, enhances the uptake of a variety of anions into the ice matrix. In the specific cas...
Trends in RBC ordering and use after implementing adaptive alerts in the electronic computerized physician order entry system.

Objectives: To reduce unnecessary RBC transfusions, the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system was programmed to require prescribers to select an indication for transfusion. An alert appeared if the patient’s hemoglobin (Hb) level was above the threshold determined by the selected indication (adaptive alerts). Methods: Data on RBC orders from the 4 months before the adaptive alerts were implemented were compared with the 10 months after implementation. Results: Significantly fewer alerts were generated after the implementation, and the rate at which the alerts were heeded also increased. There was a trend toward fewer RBC units transfused after adaptive alert implementation. A large number of RBCs were ordered using a nonspecific transfusion indication, although many of these patients had antecedent Hb values close to the threshold. Conclusions: Electronically generated alerts can reduce but are insufficient to eliminate non–evidence-based transfusions. Analysis of the alerts suggests areas for CPOE improvement.
Execution-driven simulation of multiprocessors: address and timing analysis

This article describes and evaluates an efficient execution-driven technique for the simulation of multiprocessors that includes the simulation of system memory and that is driven by real program work loads. The technique produces correctly interleaved address traces at run-time without disk access overhead or hardware support, allowing accurate simulation of the effects of a variety of architectural alternatives on programs. We have implemented a simulator based on this technique that offers substantial advantages in terms of reduced time and space overheads when compared to instruction-driven or trace-driven simulation techniques, without significant loss of accuracy. The article presents the results of several validation experiments used to quantify the accuracy and efficiency of the simulator for sequential, distributed, and shared-memory multiprocessors, and several parallel programs. These experiments show that prediction errors of less than 5 percent as compared to actual execution times, and overheads 6 to 30 times lower than those incurred by cycle-level simulation can be achieved. Predictions of relative performance metrics such as speedup tend to be even more accurate, making this technique especially attractive as an efficient method for comparative investigations of parallel system designs.
Association between life-threatening cocaine toxicity and plasma cholinesterase activity

Study objective: To determine whether plasma cholinesterase (pseudocholinesterase) activity is a marker for severe cocaine toxicity. Design: A prevalence study in a cohort of cocaine users. Setting: A large urban emergency department. Participants: During a three-month period in 1989, 187 patients who presented to the ED on 191 consecutive occasions with signs and symptoms consistent with cocaine intoxication were prospectively enrolled in the study protocol. Methods and measurements: All patients had plasma cholinesterase activity determined by the electrometric method. The patients who were cocaine positive were stratified into one of two groups: life-threatening toxicity (LT) and non-life-threatening toxicity (NLT), based on a predetermined set of criteria. Cocaine-negative patients served as controls for the LT group if criteria were otherwise met. Results: Mean (±SD) plasma cholinesterase activities for the LT, NLT, and control groups were 682 ± 277, 904 ± 279, and 1,058 ± 385 Michel units/L, respectively. All three groups were significantly different from each other ( P Conclusion: The data suggest that decreased plasma cholinesterase activity is associated with increased risk of life-threatening cocaine toxicity.
Layer-by-layer intercalation of potassium into the graphite (0 0 0 1) surface

Abstract Exposure of an atomically clean but high step density (0 0 0 1) graphite surface to a hot potassium beam results in intercalation of the potassium into the graphite. It has been determined by low energy electron diffraction (LEED) that the single crystal surface has undergone shear displacement at the surface of the top layers to form an K|A|K|A|K… stacking with the surface localized potassium in a disordered state. The intercalation is observed to proceed in a layer-by-layer manner as a function of potassium beam exposures.
RPC in Windows: RPC in Windows systems: what you don't know could hurt you

The vulnerabilities of the remote procedure call (RPC) in Windows were exposed with devastating effect last year by the MSBlaster worm. This paper examines RPC in detail and suggests some ways to protect this widely used and useful protocol.