cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospects for low-toxicity lead-free perovskite solar cells.

Since the 2012 breakthroughs1–3, it is now very much accepted that halide perovskite solar cells may have a strong practical impact in next-generation solar cells. The most efficient solar cells are using Pb-based halide perovskites. The presence of Pb in these devices, however, has caused some concerns due to the high perceived toxicity of Pb, which may slow down or even hinder the pace of commercialization. Therefore, the science community has been searching for lower-toxicity perovskite-type materials as a back-up strategy. The community is paying significant attention to Pb-free materials and has achieved promising results albeit not yet approaching the spectacular performance of APbI3 materials. In this comment, we summarize the present status and future prospects for Pb-free perovskite materials and their devices.
Functional cooperation of α-synuclein and VAMP2 in synaptic vesicle recycling

The function of α-synuclein (α-syn) has been long debated, and two seemingly divergent views have emerged. In one, α-syn binds to VAMP2, acting as a SNARE chaperone-but with no effect on neurotransmission-while another posits that α-syn attenuates neurotransmitter release by restricting synaptic vesicle mobilization and recycling. Here, we show that α-syn-VAMP2 interactions are necessary for α-syn-induced synaptic attenuation. Our data connect divergent views and suggest a unified model of α-syn function.
FIRST SYNTHESIS OF 2-AMINOPYRROLE AND SIMPLE 1-SUBSTITUTED-2-AMINOPYRROLES. OBSERVATION OF FAST PROTON EXCHANGE AT C-5

Abstract N -(1-substituent-1 11 -pyrrol-2-yl)phlhalimides can be used to prepare the previously unknown 2-aminopyrrole and 1-substituted 2-aminopyrroles which undergo fast proton exchange at C-5 in acetic acid at 25 °C.
One prescription for the opioid crisis: require buprenorphine waivers for pain medicine fellows

There is widespread awareness of the staggering numbers of overdose deaths. Concerted efforts by numerous societies have been made to curtail excessive opioid prescribing but little is being done to raise awareness of the aftermath. In Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine , the article, “One
Solute effects on the Σ3 111[11-0] tilt grain boundary in BCC Fe: Grain boundary segregation, stability, and embrittlement

Abstract Solute segregation can profoundly affect the thermodynamic stability and cohesive properties of the grain boundaries (GBs) in Fe-based alloys. In the present work, first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) are performed to understand the atomistic mechanisms of the solute-GB interactions under the dilute limit condition. The segregation effects of six transition metal elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zr, Ta, and W) on the Σ3 111 [ 1 1 - 0 ] tilt boundary in BCC Fe are systematically studied by examining GB energy, solute segregation energy, and GB cohesion. The solute segregation energy is verified to be composed of a combination of the strain and electronic contributions rather than either of them alone, even for the solute elements with large atomic volume. The potential effects of the FCC/BCC polymorphic phase transformations on the solute segregation behaviors are also discussed. The dynamic change in atomic and electronic structures with straining are investigated to provide physical insights into the effects of solute segregation on the properties of the GB cohesion.
Spectral observations of the extreme ultraviolet astrophysical background radiation.

A grazing incidence spectrometer designed to measure the diffuse background between 80 and 650 A was flown on a sounding rocket. The results include the first spectral measurements of this background below 520 A. Several emission features were detected which may originate in a hot ionized interstellar gas. The strongest of these features is consistent with O V emission at 630 A. This emission, when combined with upper limits for other lines, restricts the temperature of this component to 5.4 < log T < 5.7, in agreement with temperatures derived from O VI absorption studies. A feature centered at about 100 A is best fit by a cluster of Fe XVIII and Fe XIX lines from gas at log T = 6.6 to 6.8. A feature found near 180 A is consistent with Fe X and Fe XI emission from gas at log T = 6.
Quantification of Cu Segregation to Grain Boundaries in an Al - 4 Wt.% Cu Thin Film Using High Resolution X-Ray Mapping

A typical microprocessor chip has several million devices patterned into it and, as fabrication techniques improve, device dimensions continue to shrink. This miniaturization results in a corresponding decrease in the dimensions of the interconnects between devices, causing an increased susceptibility to failure by current-induced mass transport, or electromigration (EM). It is well known that the addition of a small amount of Cu to Al interconnects increases their median time to failure profoundly. Since EM in these films occurs almost exclusively at grain boundaries, the simplest explanation for the role of Cu is that it segregates to the grain boundaries and reduces their diffusivity. Analytical electron microscopy studies have shown that Cu segregates to grain boundaries in Al under the proper conditions, and its concentration was measured using X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), but only a small number of boundaries were measured.In order to determine whether the distribution of Cu affects the resistance of a material to EM damage, it is first necessary to characterize the Cu content of the material as a whole, which requires the analysis of large numbers of boundaries rather than just a few.
The actual and anticipated effects of a menthol cigarette ban: a scoping review

The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, banned characterizing flavors in cigarettes; however, mentholated tobacco products were exempt. Since 2009, over 20 US jurisdictions and numerous countries around the world have extended this restriction to menthol. Currently, the FDA is reconsidering its position on a nation-wide menthol cigarette ban. However, the effects of such a ban remain unclear. We conducted a scoping review to explore the impact of a menthol cigarette ban on individual behaviors (initiation, cessation, and product switching), sales, and compliance. We conducted a search of the international literature using PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science (to November 25, 2019). We retrieved articles relevant to the impacts of an implemented or hypothetical menthol ban. We also included studies of flavored tobacco product bans due to their potential relevance in gauging compliance and product substitutability. The search identified 493 articles, of which 24 were included. Studies examined the effects of implemented menthol bans (n = 6), hypothetical menthol bans (n = 12) and implemented flavor bans that exclude menthol (n = 6). Menthol bans were found to reduce sales and increase smoking cessation with only partial substitution for non-menthol cigarettes. US smokers’ reactions to a hypothetical ban indicate that about 25–64% would attempt to quit smoking and 11–46% would consider switching to other tobacco products, including 15–30% to e-cigarettes. Flavor ban studies indicate reductions in initiation of 6%. Ban compliance was high, but studies indicate that the tobacco industry and retailers have attempted to circumvent their impact via packaging changes and online sales. Our review finds that extending the US cigarette flavor ban to menthol products would promote smoking cessation and reduce initiation. This evidence supports further action by the FDA towards mentholated tobacco products. However, few studies have been conducted in the vaping era.
Is There a Differential Market Size Effect in U.S. Free Agent Signings? Evidence From Localized Sentiment Trading:

We consider three professional sports and examine if there is a disparate return response to free agent signings with small versus big market franchises. After controlling for player ability, contr...
Optimized Characterization and Processing of Thin Silicon Oxynitride Dielectric Films

Silicon oxynitride (SiO x N y ) films are a promising candidate for replacing conventional SiO 2 as gate dielectrics in current and future metal oxide semiconductor devices. However, characterization and optimization of the processing of these thin films for appropriate use in devices is not trivial. In this paper, we studied a group of ~80-100A SiO x N y films deposited under different process conditions by using several surface analysis techniques, as required for new device development. Mercury (Hg) probe metrology was used to characterize the gate current leakage, charge trap density, and dielectric breakdown aspects to identify the most promising films with the least electrical leakage and breakdown. Optimized secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) analysis was used to study the impurity depth profile changes in order to distinguish the chemical distribution differences between the films. By combining the Hg probe and SIMS characterization results, it was found that a lower nitrogen concentration at the SiO x N y /Si substrate interface, as well as other impurity incorporation produce promising SiO x N y films.
Abstract MP90: Validity of Hospital Discharge Diagnosis Codes for Stroke: Evaluation of New American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Definitions

Background: Characterizing International Classification of Disease (ICD-9) code validity is essential given widespread use of hospital discharge and claims databases in research. Estimates for acute stroke vary depending on the codes investigated. We sought to estimate the validity of ICD-9 codes grouped according to the 2013 American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) updated stoke definition and to explore differences by patient characteristics and study site. Methods: Medical records (N=4,260) containing ICD-9 codes 430-438 or stroke keywords in the discharge summary were abstracted for hospitalizations of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study cohort members from 1987-2010. A computer algorithm and physician reviewer identified definite and probable ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with differences adjudicated by a second physician. Using ARIC diagnosis as a gold standard, we calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity of groups of ICD-9 codes matched to stroke subtypes by the AHA/ASA (ischemic stroke: 433.01, 433.11, 433.21, 433.31, 433.81, 433.91, 434.01, 434.11, 434.91; ICH: 431; SAH: 430). We excluded codes for spinal and retinal infarcts (336.1, 362.31, 362.32), which were not validated in ARIC (N=3 events). Results: Thirty-three percent of 4,260 hospitalizations were validated as definite or probable strokes (1,251 ischemic, 120 ICH, 46 SAH), and 30% (1,276 of 4,260) of hospitalizations included ICD-9 codes identified by the AHA/ASA. The AHA/ASA code groups had PPV 76% and 68% sensitivity, compared to PPV 40% and 95% sensitivity for ICD-9 codes 430-438 (not 435) traditionally used to identify stroke. For ischemic stroke, AHA/ASA identified ICD-9 codes were present for 1,043 hospitalizations. Among these, PPV was 76% overall and was slightly higher for blacks (80%, N=400) compared to whites (74%, N=643; p=0.04). However, differences by race diminished conditional undergoing a CT scan or MRI (blacks 81%, N=390; whites 78%, N=601). Among whites, PPV for ischemic stroke ranged from 60-79%, and sensitivity ranged from 60-70% across study sites. ICD-9 codes 430-431 for ICH and SAH were present for 225 hospitalizations and had PPV 61%. PPV was higher among blacks (73%, N=89) compared to whites (53%, N=136; p=0.003), and differences by race were not diminished conditional on undergoing a CT scan or MRI. Among whites, PPV for ICH and SAH ranged from 38-60%, and sensitivity ranged from 78-89% across study sites. Conclusion: New AHA/ASA code groups had higher PPV but lower sensitivity for identifying acute stroke than a traditional code group. PPV was higher among blacks compared to whites and both PPV and sensitivity varied by study site. These data may be useful for calibrating estimates of stroke incidence generated from administrative claims data and in sensitivity analyses.
Simulating Nerves and Networks

Methods in Neuronal Modeling From Ions to Networks (2nd ed.). Christof Koch and Idan Segev, Eds. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1998. 687 pp. $60. ISBN 0-262-11231-0. The seven new and seven extensively revised chapters in this summary of computational neuroscience techniques provide a firm foundation for simulating the function of neurons and neural circuits. The authors have made important progress towards effectively constraining models with biological detail at a cellular level.
Review article: the role of rapid virological response in determining treatment duration for chronic hepatitis C

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 1251–1267 Summary Background For patients with chronic hepatitis C, attaining rapid virological response (RVR) is highly predictive of attaining SVR. Aim To consider the predictive value of RVR in terms of SVR and relapse. Methods Data were collected from published clinical trials to define the predictive value of RVR for SVR and evaluate the proposed continuum linking RVR to relapse. Results These data support a 24-week regimen among genotype (G)1 patients who attain RVR with positive predictive values (PPVs) of 77.8% and 85.7% in patients with G1 infection treated for 24 and 48 weeks. Conversely, failure to attain RVR among G1 patients should not be viewed as a criterion for extending treatment duration beyond 48 weeks: negative predictive values (NPVs) were 60.9% and 52.7% in G1 patients without RVR treated for 48 and 72 weeks. Among G2/3 patients, RVR has a high PPV; however, the NPV varied with treatment duration indicating that a 24-week treatment regimen is warranted in G2/3 patients who fail to attain RVR. Conclusions The present analysis confirms RVR as a strong predictor of SVR that can be used to tailor treatment duration, but which also should be appreciated in the context of treatment duration and regimen.
Visual Deconstruction: Recognizing Articulated Objects

We propose a deconstruction framework to recognize and find articulated objects. In particular we are interested in human arm and leg articulations.
Identification of Potential Efficiency Opportunities in Internal Combustion Engines Using a Detailed Thermodynamic Analysis of Engine Simulation Results

Current political and environmental concerns are driving renewed efforts to develop techniques for improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines. A detailed thermodynamic analysis of an engine and its components from a 1st and 2nd law perspective is necessary to characterize system losses and to identify efficiency opportunities. We have developed a method for performing this analysis using engine-simulation results obtained from WAVE , a commercial engine-modeling software package available from Ricardo, Inc. Results from the engine simulation are post-processed to compute thermodynamic properties such as internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, and availability (or exergy), which are required to perform energy and availability balances of the system. This analysis is performed for all major components (turbocharger, intercooler, EGR cooler, etc.) of the engine as a function of crank angle degree for the entire engine cycle. With this information, we are able to identify potential efficiency opportunities as well as guide engine experiments for exploring new technologies for recovering system losses.
Proton and deuteron form-factors at large momentum transfer

Two recent experiments at SLAC are described, one on electron-proton elastic scattering out to Q 2 = 31.3 (GeV/c)2, and another on 180° elastic scattering from the deuteron out to 2.7 (GeV/c)2. The proton data yield new values for the magnetic form factor G M p which are compared to predictions from perturbative QCD. Preliminary results from the deuteron measurement indicate the presence of a diffraction feature in the magnetic form factor B(Q 2) at high Q 2. Recent speculation on the neutron form factors at high Q 2 and the implications for experiment are briefly described.
El intercambio de dones en el mundo griego: reciprocidad, imprecisión, equivalencia y desequilibrio

This paper analyzes some basic principles and characteristics of gift-exchange in the Greek world. Two divergent aspects of the obligation to reciprocate gifts with counter-gifts will be explored: on the one hand, the recipient’s tendency to try to cancel the obligation with equivalent counter-gifts and, on the other, the necessity of some imprecision about the degree of equivalence so as to keep the gift-exchange within the limits of reciprocal generosity and so that it not become an exchange of commodities. Some consequences of this paradox are examined: the difficulty in balancing the relationship between givers and recipients in order that neither party feels in debt, and the formation of chains of gifts and counter gifts.
Analysis of redox and apoptotic effects of anthracyclines to delineate a cardioprotective strategy

Cardiotoxic side effects of anthracyclines limit their use as effective chemotherapeutics. One mechanistic model of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is attributed to the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, this theory has been questioned because several cardioprotective strategies have included the use of antioxidants without significant clinical benefit. We sought to determine whether measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species after anthracycline exposure in vivo and in vitro could provide a means for designing more effective antioxidant-based cardioprotective schemes. Intracellular levels of ROS were assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from leukemia bearing mice exposed to anthracyclines and in patients receiving anthracyclines. Comparison of cell death induction and ROS levels were also conducted in vitro in cardiomyocyte and leukemia lines. ROS blockade using antioxidants was conducted, and effects on cell death were assessed. Elevated ROS in blood of mice and representative patient samples correlated with cardiomyocyte necrosis and decreased ejection fraction. In vitro, comparison of the cytotoxic effects of anthracyclines in acute leukemia cells and in cardiomyocytes revealed distinct kinetics of cell death induction and dependence upon oxidative stress. Although apoptotic cell death was observed in both acute leukemia cells and cardiomyocytes, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine protected cardiomyocytes but not acute leukemia cells from anthracycline cytotoxicity. Our findings point toward revisiting the use of NAC as a cardioprotective agent since it does not appear to interfere with the cytotoxic action of anthracyclines. NAC has been evaluated clinically for cardioprotective activity but future trials must ensure that adequate dose, scheduling and incorporation of markers of oxidative stress are included.
Silver Staining of Mitochondria in Rat Retina as Shown by Light and Electron Microscopy

Mitochondria of the rod terminal spherules localized in the outer plexiform layer of the rat's retina, have been selectively stained by the application of the Bodian Protargol method to paraffin and methacrylate sections of retinas fixed in Bensley's acetic-osmicbichromate mixture. In paraffin sections, the silver staining of mitochondria has a sharpness and clarity which surpasses similar sections stained by the anilin-acid fuchsin-methyl green procedure. By means of electron microscopy, particles of silver 0.4 μ in one dimension were seen within the mitochondria. It is thought that in paraffin sections, which are approximately 100 times thicker, these larger particles may be responsible for the observed mitochondrial staining. Smaller particles of silver, 200A to 260A, were deposited on other membranous structures of the rod spherule which include, the synaptic membranes of the rod-bipolar junction, the limiting plasma membranes of the spherule as well as some of the mitochondrial membranes, and the syn...
INTENSITY GENERALIZATION IN EDR AUDIOMETRY.

Two groups of 15 normally hearing adults were conditioned on EDR audiometry to a 1 000 cps tone, one group at 60 dB hearing level and the other at 20 dB hearing level. All subjects were then given ...
General solution of the 2-cocycle functional equation on solvable groups

The general solution of the 2-cocycle functional equation on abelian groups is well known. Methods are also known for finding regular solutions on Lie groups. Here we find general solutions of the 2-cocycle equation on certain non-abelian groups. We consider groups that are semidirect products, and in particular solvable groups that can be built up by splitting extensions.
Electrical and Dielectric Properties of Wet Bone as a Function of Frequency

The electrical and dielectric properties of wet, bovine, compact bone were determined in three orthogonal planes, using a differential technique, for a frequency range of 1 kHz-l MHz. For axial specimens, at 10 kHz, the specific resistance, specific capacitance, and specific impedance were 16.6 k?/cm, 60.9 pF. cm-1 and 16.59/?3.65°k?·cm, respectively. Similarly, the dielectric properties, namely the relative dielectric constant, relative dielectric loss factor and dielectric dissipation factor were 688, 10.8 ×103, and 15.7, respectively. The electrical properties were found to be highly dependent on the frequency and the moisture content of bone. The bone was also found to be highly anisotropic in its electrical behavior, the impedance being lowest in the axial direction. It is shown that the differential method provides an accurate means of measuring the electrical properties of bone, avoiding stray capacitance errors.
Magnetospheric electric fields and plasma sheet injection to low L-shells during the 4-5 June 1991 magnetic storm: Comparison between the Rice Convection Model and observations

[1] The major magnetic storm of 4–5 June 1991 was well observed with the Combined Release and Radiation Experiment (CRRES) satellite in the duskside inner magnetosphere and with three Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft in the polar ionosphere. These observations are compared to results from the Rice Convection Model (RCM), which calculates the inner magnetospheric electric field and particle distribution self-consistently. This case study, which uses the most complete RCM runs to date, demonstrates two significant features of magnetospheric storms, the development of subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) and plasma-sheet particle injection deep into the inner magnetosphere. In particular, the RCM predicts the electric field peak near L = 4 that is observed by the CRRES satellite during the second injection. The RCM calculations and DMSP data both show SAPS events with similar general characteristics, though there is no detailed point-by-point agreement. In the simulation, SAPS are generated by the deep penetration of plasma sheet protons to L < 4 and Earthward of the plasma sheet electrons. Similarly, the vast majority of the ions that make up the storm-time ring current came from the plasma sheet; most of the particles that made up the prestorm quiet-time ring current escaped through the dayside magnetopause during ring current injection. The RCM demonstrates the capability of plasma sheet ions to reach all ring current orbits and predicts the location of the injected particles (both ions and electrons) reasonably well. However, it overpredicts the ion flux in the inner magnetosphere.
The visual microphone: passive recovery of sound from video

When sound hits an object, it causes small vibrations of the object's surface. We show how, using only high-speed video of the object, we can extract those minute vibrations and partially recover the sound that produced them, allowing us to turn everyday objects---a glass of water, a potted plant, a box of tissues, or a bag of chips---into visual microphones. We recover sounds from high-speed footage of a variety of objects with different properties, and use both real and simulated data to examine some of the factors that affect our ability to visually recover sound. We evaluate the quality of recovered sounds using intelligibility and SNR metrics and provide input and recovered audio samples for direct comparison. We also explore how to leverage the rolling shutter in regular consumer cameras to recover audio from standard frame-rate videos, and use the spatial resolution of our method to visualize how sound-related vibrations vary over an object's surface, which we can use to recover the vibration modes of an object.
Differential reward magnitude and human conditioning with social reinforcers

In two separate investigations, human Ss received social stimuli as reinforcers in a discrete-trials paradigm of instrumental conditioning. The major variable of interest was reward magnitude utilizing stimuli from attraction research. In the first experiment, a group receiving large reward performed the instrumental response faster than a group receiving small reward. In a second experiment, two groups received large and small reward, respectively, and a third group received differential magnitudes of reward (both large and small) correlated with external stimuli. The results indicated that the differential group was depressed below both the large and small groups in the first portion of the response. These data (1) demonstrate magnitude of reward effects in an instrumental learning paradigm utilizing human Ss and (2) indicate that attraction stimuli function in an analogous manner to more traditional reinforcers.
Hereditary endosymbiosis in Paramecium bursaria.

Abstract Methods for separating the hereditary endosymbiotic association Paramecium bursaria into its two components, paramecium and chlorella and for the independent culture of each are described. Chlorella-less paramecia can be reinfected, and combinations of algae and paramecia of various strains have been established and analyzed. The results of such “recombination” experiments demonstrate differences among the chlorellae from diverse strains of P. bursaria and indicate as well that the host paramecia of diverse strains can be distinguished. These facts suggest that P. bursaria will prove an excellent material for general problems of cell heredity and endosymbiosis.
Some consequences of Nonet symmetry

Attention is drawn to the existence of certain similarities between predictions of the asymptotic nonet-symmetry model and the quark model. In particular, the electromagnetic decays of vector and pseudoscalar mesons and the decoupling of the $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ meson from the nucleons are discussed. We find slight differences of prediction for certain electromagnetic decay rates which would have implications in choosing between the so-called quadratic and linear mass mixing formulas for pseudoscalar mesons.
Role of molecular charge in disruption of the blood-brain barrier during acute hypertension

Acute hypertension disrupts the blood-brain barrier and may neutralize the negative charge on cerebral endothelium. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of molecular charge on permeability of the blood-brain barrier during acute hypertension. Intravital fluorescent microscopy and fluorescein-labeled dextrans were used to evaluate disruption of the blood-brain barrier during acute hypertension in rats. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier was quantitated by calculating clearance of neutral dextran and of anionic dextran sulfate in two groups of rats. Pressure in pial venules, which are the primary site of disruption of the blood-brain barrier during acute hypertension, was measured using a servo-null device. When systemic arterial pressure was increased from 87 +/- 5 (mean +/- SEM) to 188 +/- 5 mm Hg, clearance of neutral dextran increased from 0.04 +/- 0.01 to 4.38 +/- 0.72 ml/sec x 10(-6). When systemic arterial pressure was increased from 91 +/- 4 to 181 +/- 3 mm Hg, clearance of anionic dextran sulfate increased from 0.02 +/- 0.01 to only 0.70 +/- 0.23 ml/sec x 10(-6). Increases in pial venular pressure were similar in the two groups. Thus, similar increases in systemic arterial pressure and pial venular pressure during acute hypertension produce less disruption of the blood-brain barrier to anionic dextran sulfate than neutral dextran. The findings suggest that 1) the net negative charge of cerebral vessels may be preserved during acute hypertension, and 2) molecular charge is an important determinant of the severity of disruption of the blood-brain barrier during acute hypertension.
Toolkit to support intelligibility in context-aware applications

Context-aware applications should be intelligible so users can better understand how they work and improve their trust in them. However, providing intelligibility is non-trivial and requires the developer to understand how to generate explanations from application decision models. Furthermore, users need different types of explanations and this complicates the implementation of intelligibility. We have developed the Intelligibility Toolkit that makes it easy for application developers to obtain eight types of explanations from the most popular decision models of context-aware applications. We describe its extensible architecture, and the explanation generation algorithms we developed. We validate the usefulness of the toolkit with three canonical applications that use the toolkit to generate explanations for end-users.
Sorption properties of greenwaste biochar for two triazine pesticides

Abstract Biochar is a carbon-rich product generated from biomass through pyrolysis. This study evaluated the ability of an unmodified biochar to sorb two triazine pesticides – atrazine and simazine, and thereby explored potential environmental values of biochar on mitigating pesticide pollution in agricultural production and removing contaminants from wastewater. A greenwaste biochar was produced by heating waste biomass under the oxygen-limited condition at 450 °C. The effects of several experimental parameters, including biochar particle size, contact time, solid/solution ratio, and solution pH on the sorption of atrazine and simazine were comprehensively investigated. The biochar with small particle size needed less time to reach sorption equilibrium. The sorption affinity of the biochar for the two pesticides increased with decreasing solid/solution ratio. The sorbed amounts (Cs) of atrazine and simazine increased from 451 to 1158 mg/kg and 243 to 1066 mg/kg, respectively, when the solid/solution ratio decreased from 1:50 to 1:1000 (g/mL). The sorption of the biochar for both pesticides was favored by low pH. The sorption isotherms of atrazine and simazine on the biochar are nonlinear and follow a Freundlich model. When atrazine and simazine co-existed, a competitive sorption occurred between these two pesticides on the biochar, reflecting a decrease in sorption capacity (Kf) from 435 to 286 for atrazine and from 514 to 212 for simazine. Combined adsorption and partition mechanisms well depicted sorption of atrazine and simazine on carbonized and noncarbonized fractions of the biochar in the single-solute and co-solute systems.
Prehospital 12-lead ECG diagnostic programs

Early reperfusion significantly reduces mortality and morbidity in patients with acute myocardial infarction [2-6]. Prehospital 12-lead ECG programs significantly decrease time to definitive reperfusion therapy [8-13]. The feasibility and safety of prehospital 12-lead ECG programs are well [figure: see text] established [8,11,13,14]. Additional potential benefits include increased diagnostic accuracy in the prehospital setting [14], providing a comparison ECG to the one obtained in-hospital [15], differentiating arrhythmias [16-18], and sensitive and specific computerized ECG interpretation [31,32]. Prehospital 12-lead ECG diagnostic programs also provide the necessary clinical information to implement system changes or interventions such as prehospital thrombolytic therapy, direct CCU admission, or triage to tertiary cardiac care centers [22,30,34,35]. The information acquired should be used optimally to effect significant improvements in patient care through a well planned and coordinated program.
Quantitative X-ray Computed Tomography Peritoneography in Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients Receiving Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Background Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is used to treat peritoneal surface-spreading malignancies. We sought to determine whether volume and surface area of the intraperitoneal chemotherapy compartments are associated with overall survival and posttreatment glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) patients.
Sur Une Base de Donnees Relationnelle Pour L'étude Lexicologique du Nahuatl

This text shows the implementation of a lexical data base to deal with a complex morphology. The samples are from nahuatl, a meso american language.
Influence of Vertical Illuminance on Pedestrian Visibility in Crosswalks

This project investigated the lighting levels required for crosswalk illumination. The current European methods for lighting suggest a crosswalk lighting level of 40 vertical lux for ensured safety. Two major questions were studied: the required vertical illuminance level for adequate pedestrian visibility and the selection of an object that could act as a surrogate for the pedestrian. The vertical illuminance was determined from an experiment that measured the visibility of pedestrians at lighting levels of 5, 20, 40, and 60 vertical lux. During the experiment, a crosswalk scene was presented to the participants and the time taken for identification of an object was measured. In addition to the lighting level, the conditions used in the experiment were lamp type (metal halide versus high-pressure sodium), the presence of glare, the use of overhead lighting, and the type of pedestrian clothing (white, black, and denim). The study found that a lighting design level of 20 vertical lux is likely adequate for...
The effects of intrauterine position on competition and behavior in the mouse.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of intrauterine position on: (1) competition for limited food resources when the animals were previously deprived of food; (2) social preference for a male during various phases of the estrous cycle; and (3) social and sexual behavior when the animals were provided with like-treated females or receptive females, respectively. Females developing in utero between two males (2M females) and females developing between two females (0M females) were different on only one measure recorded during the competition for limited food, i.e., gaining control of the food pellet, with the 0M females outcompetiting the 2M females. When given a choice between a male or a female neither 2M or 0M females in estrus showed a preference for the male. The results also indicated that 2M females were significantly more aggressive and more likely to show male sexual behavior when compared to 0M females.
Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Induction of the Prostaglandin G/H Synthase 2 Gene Causes Thromboxane-Dependent Pulmonary Hypertension in Rabbits

Two genes encode proteins with prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS) activity. PGHS-1 is primarily a constitutively expressed gene, whereas inflammatory agents such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin rapidly induce the PGHS-2 gene in leukocytes. Both PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 are rate-limiting enzymes for the production of prostaglandins and thromboxane following release of arachidonic acid by phospholipases. We previously reported that LPS perfusion into the circulation of isolated perfused rabbit lung (IPL) results in thromboxane-dependent pulmonary hypertension and lung edema when the LPS-primed lung is subsequently stimulated with platelet activating factor (PAF) (J. Clin. Invest. 1990;85:1135). In this study, we showed that the mechanism by which LPS primes IPL for enhanced production of thromboxane and pulmonary hypertension in response to PAF depends on specific upregulation of the PGHS-2 gene in the rabbit lung. LPS perfusion of IPL induced PGHS-2 gene expression, which correlated with the conver...
Worst shapes of imperfections for space trusses with multiple global and local buckling modes

Abstract The initial postbuckling behavior and imperfection sensitivity of truss-type structures in which the joints do not transmit moments is determined by means of the Lyapunov-Schmidt-Koiter approach. Such structures possess local buckling modes involving the buckling of individual members, and global modes involving axial deformations of all members but no member buckling. Of particular interest is the case in which through optimization (or otherwise) a number of local and global modes are coincident. The worst shape of imperfection for this case is determined from the bifurcated equilibrium branch on which the load drops most rapidly. It is shown that this critical bifurcated branch initially involves the buckling of one member only. The general theory is illustrated by a number of examples involving two- and three-dimensional lattice columns. The leading order asymptotic results for these examples are compared to exact results obtained by tracking the appropriate equilibrium branch numerically.
Nexus: ethics, law, and management. The manager and pain control for patients

Every day seems to bring new demands for health services managers, even though none of the existing expectations seems to end. But, an effective pain management program is basic to meeting patient needs and is driven by patients' judgments and demands. It remains for HSOs and their managers to determine the means by which patients' judgments and demands will be met.
State machine-based fault diagnosis with application in a vehicle chassis system

In this paper, a novel Fault Detection and Identification (FDI) scheme based on a state machine residual estimator method is presented. The FDI scheme is applied to actuator and sensor faults in a vehicle chassis system. To cope with the multiple faults isolation problem, the state machine records and utilizes the previous fault information to determine the current fault state. Simulation results show that multiple fault detection and isolation can be successfully achieved by the proposed state-machine based FDI scheme.
A comparison of efficiency and error convergence of multiquadric collocation method and finite element method

In this paper, we demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the multiquadric collocation method as compared to the finite element method. When used as interpolants, the multiquadric (MQ) radial basis function has the property of exponential convergence with respect to a shape parameter, according to a proof by Madych and Nelson. Although the optimal choice of shape parameter is still an unsettled issue, we demonstrate by three examples that the accuracy achieved by the MQ solution cannot be rivaled by the FEM.
Epidemiology and Natural Course of Eating Disorders in Young Women From Adolescence to Young Adulthood

ABSTRACT Objectives To describe the epidemiology of eating disorders (ED) in a community sample of adolescent girls; to compare the clinical characteristics of full-syndrome (FS) and partial-syndrome (PS) ED cases; and to provide information about the continuity between adolescent ED and young adult psychopathology. Method A randomly selected sample of high school girls were assessed during adolescence ( n = 891) and a year later ( n = 810), and a stratified subset ( n = 538) was assessed during their 24th year. The assessments included the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation, level of functioning, mental health treatment utilization, history of suicide attempt, and physical symptoms. Results The incidence of ED was less than 2.8% by age 18, and 1.3% for ages 19 through 23. Comorbidity with other psychopathology (89.5%), but especially depression, was very high. FS- and PS-ED groups differed significantly from a no-disorder comparison group on most outcome measures, and more than 70% of the adolescent FS- and PS-ED cases met criteria for an Axis I disorder in young adulthood. Conclusions FS- and PS-ED are associated with substantial comorbidity, treatment seeking, impaired functioning, and risk for psychopathology in young adulthood.
Parenting Magazines and Obesity: How Well Do They Trim the Fat?

Magazines serve as an important source for health-related news, and this study examines the kinds of obesity-related messages that appear in magazines targeting parents and women. Coders examined 306 stories between 2002 and 2008 and found that messages focused on food more frequently than exercise or dieting. Women were more likely to appear in stories with food-related themes, while men were more likely to appear when supporting research or data were present.
Optimization for detection of cytomegalovirus by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in clinical samples

PCR is 100 times more sensitive than traditional tube culture for detecting cytomegalovirus (CMV) but may require up to 12 reactions per specimen (Sandin et al., 1991). In order to make the assay practical for use in a clinical laboratory the procedure used to detect CMV must be simplified. In this study, the effect of reducing the number of reactions per specimen on sensitivity and specificity of the PCR assay was evaluated. 53 residual samples from specimens processed for CMV by shell vial assay/routine tube tissue culture (SVA/TTC) were analyzed by PCR. The residual samples were separated into a supernatant and pellet fractions, then tested for CMV with primers to the immediate early (IEP) and late protein (LP) genes using a nested procedure. To exclude false negatives due to the presence of inhibitors in the sample fractions, all fractions were tested for the presence of the human myosin heavy chain gene also using a nested procedure. SVA/TTC had a sensitivity and specificity of 52/96% in comparison to PCR when data from all 12 PCR reactions was considered. However, high sensitivity and specificity were retained when only the data of the IEP primers with two samples were considered. The results from examining only the 1:10 dilution of pellet and the undiluted supernatant by PCR provided a 60% increase in sensitivity over SVA/TTC, high specificity and a clinically feasible assay.
Stress and coping: the Loma Prieta Earthquake

This study examined the stress response, coping strategies, and behavioral intentions of 185 subjects following the Loma Prieta Earthquake. Subjects completed a series of open ended questions about previous experience with earthquakes and their preparedness for previous and future earthquakes. The Impact of Event Scale (IES) and the Symptom Checklist, Version 90R (SCL-90R), were used to measure participants’ subjective stress response and symptoms of psychological distress at two days and either one week or three weeks following the earthquake. At one or three weeks, some subjects also completed the Coping Strategies Inventory. This study describes the stress response in this earthquake population and explores the relationship of the passage of time and past experiences with earthquakes to psychological distress following the earthquake. Coping strategies and behavioral intentions were also assessed. Results indicated that, although stress levels were elevated at the time of the initial testing, there were declines in reported stress as early as the one week follow-up session. Additionally, a number of gender differences were found in terms of the stress response to the earthquake.
Rewriting the ecclesiastical landscape of early medieval Northumbria in the Lives of Cuthbert

This article re-examines the use of place-names in the early prose Lives of Cuthbert and provides an additional explanation for Bede's removal of many of the place-names that greatly localize the events in the anonymous Life. I argue that the author of the anonymous Life was following a common Irish hagiographic practice of using place-names as propaganda to create a network of churches, monasteries, or lands under the authority of the paruchia of a saint's leading church. Bede's deliberate choice to remove certain place-names that were outside Lindisfarne's diocese, or even its immediate sphere of influence, suggests that he was aware of this agenda and intentionally revised these details in order to set right the Northumbrian ecclesiastical landscape.
Role of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 paracrine axis in rheumatic diseases.

Objectives Hypothalamic-pituitary axis abnormalities have been associated with systemic disturbances in several rheumatic diseases. Longitudinal analysis of erythrocyte, serum, urinary and synovial fluid growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and somatostatin levels could provide important surrogate measures of disease activity in rheumatic diseases. Methods The authors reviewed the population and longitudinal studies literature on GH, IGF-1, and somatostatin levels in rheumatic disorders using the PubMed and Medlines databases from the National Library of Medicine. In addition to the literature search, primary data were analyzed for basal somatostatin levels in patients with hand, knee, and spine osteoarthritis (OA) as well as primary and secondary hip OA. Results A review of the literature supports the view that hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction accompanies clinical symptoms in many rheumatic diseases. In studies from our laboratory, serum GH levels were elevated in patients with OA, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), fibromyalgia, and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis but not in patients with gout, pseudogout, or systemic lupus erythematosus. In OA and RA, synovial fluid GH levels exceeded serum GH levels. However, the literature remains controversial regarding the significance of changes in IGF-1 levels in rheumatic disorders. Many studies support an inverse relationship between age and IGF-1. Elevated serum GH levels in various rheumatic diseases were not coupled to changes in serum IGF-1 in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, RA, and fibromyalgia. In particular, serum IGF-1 levels in OA were shown to be lower or no different compared with age-matched normal subjects. Further, in OA, impaired articular chondrocyte response to IGF-1 was attributed, in part, to low synovial fluid IGF-1 that further compromised IGF-1 chondrocyte responses as a result of increased levels of synovial fluid IGF-1 binding proteins. Of note, serum somatostatin levels and “specific” somatostatin receptor levels were often lower in RA and systemic lupus erythematosus, but basal serum somatostatin levels were generally not altered in OA. Conclusions The results of these analyses support the view that some rheumatic diseases such as OA and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, heretofore considered to be purely focal and degenerative, could be reclassified as systemic metabolic disturbances. We propose that serum GH, IGF-1, and somatostatin levels be monitored on a longitudinal basis during the course of medical therapy of rheumatic diseases to determine the extent to which changes in clinical symptoms (exemplified by reduced pain and inflammation and improved range of joint motion) are accompanied by changes in the basal concentration of these hypothalamic/pituitary-related hormones.