cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Approaches and Surgical Techniques in the Acquired Pathology of the Diaphragm

This chapter examines acquired pathology of the diaphragm, including diaphragmatic relaxation or eventration of a weakened or paralyzed hemidiaphragm, tumors of the diaphragm, and esophageal hiatal hernia. Surgical management of symptomatic diaphragmatic relaxation should be considered after conservative options are exhausted, and can be completed minimally invasively with a plication procedure. Diaphragmatic tumors are rare, with secondary tumors more common than primary tumors; en bloc resection is ideal followed by simultaneous primary or mesh reconstruction of the diaphragm. We then discuss hiatal hernia anatomy and classification, risk factors, symptoms, and diagnostic modalities. Candidacy for surgery is described, and although the majority of repairs for types I through IV are completed laparoscopically, the Collis-Belsey transthoracic approach remains relevant and is described as well as postoperative management.
Lung Transplantation Outcomes after Crossing Low Level Donor Specific Antibodies without Augmented Immunosuppression

Purpose Lung transplant recipients with pre-transplant donor specific antibodies (DSA) are often treated with augmented immunosuppression. It is unknown whether some DSA can be safely crossed without additional therapies. We implemented a protocol allowing transplant when crossing select low level DSA (defined as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) 1000-5000) without planned augmented immunosuppression. Methods This was a single center retrospective cohort study between 4/1/2015-8/31/2020. All recipients received solumedrol and basiliximab induction without desensitization. Presence of low level pre-transplant DSA was recorded. All post-transplant DSA was monitored within 14 days of transplant and then at routine intervals. The primary study outcomes were overall survival, definite CLAD≥1-free survival, and definite antibody mediated rejection (AMR), all defined according to ISHLT consensus guidelines. Results Of the 453 recipients, 36 (7.9%) had a low-level pre-transplant DSA crossed at transplant (Table 1). 13 had Class I antibodies and 26 had Class II. The median historical DSA MFI was 1800 (IQR 1300-2400) and the median most recent MFI was 1200 (IQR 950-2000). Among recipients where pre-transplant DSA was crossed, 17 (47.2%) had persistent post-transplant DSA with a median peak MFI of 7400. Class II antibodies were more likely to be detected post-transplant than Class I (57.7% vs 15.4%, p=0.02). There was no statistical difference in definite AMR in recipients where pre-transplant DSA was and was not crossed (8.3% vs 3.1%, p=0.11). With a median follow-up time of 2.4 years, there were no differences in adjusted overall survival (HR=1.14, 95% CI=0.57-2.32, p=0.71) or CLAD≥1-free survival (HR=0.82, 95% CI=0.44-1.54, p=0.54). Conclusion Lung transplantation in the presence of low level DSA without planned augmented immunosuppression was not associated with worse overall or CLAD-free intermediate-term survival but may be associated with increased AMR.
Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Bundle on Inpatient Use of Highly Bioavailable Antibacterials.

OBJECTIVES: Intravenous (IV) to enteral transition of highly bioavailable antibacterial drugs is associated with improved safety and lower cost. We evaluated the impact of a bundle of stewardship-driven interventions (including in-person stewardship rounding, clinical pathways, and clinical pharmacist-driven enteral transition workflows) on IV versus enteral administration of highly bioavailable antibacterials at a freestanding children’s hospital. METHODS: We collected 2010–2018 inpatient usage data for clindamycin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, rifampin, linezolid, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. We analyzed total use (in days of therapy [DOTs] per 1000 patient-days [PDs]) and the percentage of total use administered enterally, both hospital wide and stratified by unit subgrouping, specifically comparing use 1-year prestewardship implementation with year-5 postimplementation. RESULTS: Across the 8-year study window, clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, and metronidazole, together, accounted for 96% of IV DOTs for highly bioavailable antibacterials. Overall, clindamycin use decreased from 44.4 to 20.2 DOTs per 1000 PDs (P CONCLUSIONS: Stewardship interventions were associated with decreased overall use and an increased enteral percentage of total use for both clindamycin and fluoroquinolones, although not metronidazole. These data provide an easy-to-collect benchmark for pediatric hospitals to compare IV with enteral use of highly bioavailable antibacterials within the context of overall antibacterial use.
A probabilistic optimal sensor design approach for structural health monitoring using risk-weighted f -divergence

Abstract This paper presents a new approach to optimal sensor design for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications using a modified f-divergence objective functional. One of the primary goals of SHM is to infer the unknown and uncertain damage state parameter(s) from the acquired data or features derived from the data. In this work, we consider the loss of boundary contact (a “gap”) between a navigation lock miter gate and the supporting wall quoin block at the bottom of the gate to be the damage state parameter of concern. The design problem requires the optimal sensor placement of strain gages to obtain the best possible inference of the probability distribution of the gap length using the data from the multi-dimensional strain-gauge array. Using the notion of f-divergences (measures of difference between probability distributions), a risk-adjustment is made by using functions that weigh the importance of acquiring useful information for a given true value of the state-parameter and using Bayesian optimization. For this case study of miter gate monitoring, a computationally expensive high-fidelity finite element model and its digital surrogate is employed to provide efficient, previously-validated data.
Factors Associated With Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety Among Women Experiencing Homelessness and Unstable Housing During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The prevalence of depression among individuals in the US has increased 300% during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a greater burden of illness in individuals with lower incomes.1 With the goal of informing adaptation of services for socioeconomically marginalized individuals, we surveyed mental health symptoms and social challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic among women experiencing homelessness and unstable housing (HUH). Extrapolating from the available evidence,2,3 there are approximately 440 000 women experiencing HUH in the US.
Multifactorial Inheritance and Complex Diseases

Multifactorial diseases are caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. The study of multifactorial disease involves several steps, including determination of disease heritability, segregation analysis to determine the genetic model, linkage or association mapping to identify genetic loci underlying the disease, fine mapping to determine the causal variants, and replication and functional analysis to confirm the initial findings. The HapMap and 1000 Genomes project, which surveyed genetic variation in a diverse set of human populations, led to advances in affordable high-throughput genotyping technology that enabled myriad genome-wide association studies for many common diseases. Direct sequencing, which allows for unbiased assessment of all sources of genetic variation, has been used more recently. Important statistical considerations include adjusting for population admixture to prevent false-positive associations, quality control (QC), appropriate design and analysis of discovery and validation sets, and adjusting for multiple testing. The power and interpretability of genetic studies is improved by incorporating prior biological knowledge such as of genes or pathways, and by performing cross-platform integration and functional assessment. Many changes and advances have occurred in the study of multifactorial diseases with advances in genotyping technology, and yet more change is likely in the years to come.
Initiation of lubricant catalytic decomposition by hydrogen evolution from contact sliding on CHx and CNx overcoats

Tribochemical studies of the head/disk interface (HDI) were conducted using hydrogenated (CHx) and nitrogenated (CNx) carbon disk samples coated with perfluoropolyether ZDOL lubricant. The studies involved drag tests with uncoated and carbon-coated Al2O3–TiC sliders and thermal desorption experiments in an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) tribochamber. We observed that the hydrogen evolution from CHx overcoats initiates lubricant catalytic decomposition with uncoated Al2O3/TiC sliders, forming CF3 (69) and C2F5 (119). The generation of hydrofluoric acid (HF) during thermal desorption experiments provides the formation mechanism of Lewis acid, which is the necessary component for catalytic reaction causing Z-DOL lube degradation. On the other hand, for CNx films, lubricant catalytic decomposition was prevented due to less hydrogen evolution from the CNx overcoat.
Yields and Cultural Energy Requirements for Corn and Soybeans with Various Tillage-Planting Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the tillage system effect on yield for corn and soybean production in the United States corn belt. The tillage-planting system includes preplant tillage, planting, and weed control by cultivation, herbicides, or both. The tillage system also affects methods of fertilizer and insecticide application. Three types of tillage-planting systems––namely, high-energy systems, moderate-energy systems, and low-energy systems are described in the chapter. Moderate-energy tillage systems can be substituted for high-energy systems on most soils without yield penalty if pests can be controlled. Low-energy tillage systems appear to be well adapted to the rolling soils of the southern corn belt and the well-drained loams and coarser textured soils of the northern corn belt if pests are controlled. Low-energy tillage has not been well adapted to poorly drained soils. The chapter discusses various yield factors influenced by tillage-planting system—including (1) early planting, (2) soil compaction, (3) weed control, (4) fertilizer placement, (5) moisture conservation, (6) soil erosion prevention, (7) insect and disease control. The chapter estimates cultural energy requirements for various systems and soil types, including energy requirements for herbicides. Energy estimates are given for low, medium, and high-draft soils.
Adversary Advocacy and the Authority of Adjudication

Should lawyers detach their professional activities from their personal factual, legal, and moral views and promote even clients’ causes that they would oppose as citizens and reject as judges or jurors, or should lawyers constrain the professional services that they provide to suit their personal views? Should lawyers serve particular clients as partisans, or should they serve justice writ large? To employ the terms that have brought us together, should lawyers assist clients in acting like Holmesian bad men, promoting their private interests as aggressively as the law allows, or should they encourage clients to honor the law’s internal purposes, and indeed impose these purposes on clients, so that they help clients to secure not as much as they can get, but only what the law recommends? The lore of the bar—think of Lord Brougham’s remark that a lawyer should serve his client “by all expedient means” and “reckless of the consequences,” and even though he should “involve his country in confusion for his client’s protection”1—tends towards the first alternative in each pair. Moreover, the positive law governing lawyers also elaborates a partisan conception of lawyers’ professional role. Broad and organic principles of lawyer loyalty2 and client control3 require lawyers zealously to pursue ends that their clients have wide discretion in setting. In addition, a broad and organic principle of professional detachment,4 although usually understood as an effort to shield lawyers from legal or even moral
Experiences in promoting an intercultural perspective in an educational technology program

Technology is a driving force behind why intercultural education and intercultural communication are important goals for the 21st century. As such, tomorrow’s educational technology leaders must be well-versed in these areas. In this article we describe an international grant designed to build a transatlantic doctoral community focused on educational technology, highlight the impact of this grant on an educational technology program in the United States and provide suggestions for others interested in enculturating educational technology doctoral students into a community of intercultural practice. Readers will be particularly interested in our struggles (and potential solutions) related to student exchanges and our curriculum for courses designed to elevate intercultural education in our program.
Stability of DNA/anti-DNA complexes. II. Salt lability and avidity.

The kinetics of dissociation of antibody-radiolabeled dsDNA (homogeneous PM2 DNA or sonicated dsDNA of m.w. 6 x 10(5)) complexes at 37 degrees C have been examined via three independent radioimmunoassays: the Farr, Millipore Filter, and PEG assays. Two different procedures were used to study the kinetics. Either excess unlabeled DNA or high salt concentrations were employed to induce complex dissociation. Our results suggest that typical SLE sera contain at least two distinct populations of anti-dsDNA antibodies. One population is of rather high avidity and dissociates slowly in the presence of excess DNA or high salt. The other population is of considerably lower avidity and is dissociated more rapidly under these conditions. The results of a double label dissociation kinetics study provide independent evidence supporting this hypothesis.
Innovations in teaching energy systems utilizing an integrated simulation environment

The purpose of this presentation is to show the latest efforts by the authors in the development of integrated drive simulation environment. Furthermore, we present the utilization of these research developments into the classroom and how it can be integrated into lectures. We want to help students acquire the knowledge related to actual operations of integrated power systems, for example, the physical behavior of various electrical components, interactions of the individual components with each other during dynamic operations. We could also show component reactions to changes in system parameters or operation conditions as well as study the effects of design changes. The development of physical component modeling and the integrated coupling of these realistic physical modeling with the over all system have led to the creation of realistic practical system that is capable of simulating dynamic operations. This environment also includes hardware-in-the-loop ability along with distributed simulation in order to achieve research innovations in addition to the associated education benefits.
Historical Concepts of Interactions, Synergism and Antagonism between Nutrition and Infection

In the 1950s textbooks of nutrition made little or no mention of a relation to infection. The same was true for treatises on infectious disease. Relevant studies in experimental animals and a number of classical clinical observations were available pointing out the role of infection in precipitating nutritional disorders. However, clinicians and nutritionists did not recognize the importance of the relationship. The field and metabolic studies of the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) in the 1950s demonstrated that malnutrition and infection in humans are generally synergistic. These studies stimulated the review of available evidence that resulted in the 1968 WHO monograph on "Interactions of Nutrition and Infection." It provided extensive evidence for the role of infections in precipitating clinical malnutrition and for the impact of malnutrition on morbidity and mortality from infection. The high frequency of diarrhea in underprivileged young children led to intensive studies in many countries of its effect on nutritional status and to recognition of the high prevalence of "weanling diarrhea." The effects of infection on nutritional status were then extensively and elegantly investigated at Fort Detrick, MD, and hormonal and cytokine mechanisms identified. The subsequent explosion in knowledge of cell-mediated immune mechanisms has led to an understanding of how malnutrition lowers this resistance. Today, recognition of the synergistic relationship between nutrition and infection influences most public health interventions to prevent malnutrition.
Preoperative incisional and intraoperative frozen section biopsy techniques have comparable accuracy in the diagnosis of benign intraosseous jaw pathology.

Purpose To compare the accuracy of intraoperative frozen section (FS) and preoperative incisional biopsy (IB) techniques to diagnose benign intraosseous jaw lesions. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective cohort study composed of subjects with benign intraosseous jaw lesions. The predictor variable was the technique for establishing a preliminary diagnosis of the lesion, preoperative IB or intraoperative FS. The outcome variable was the accuracy of the biopsy technique when compared with the final histologic diagnosis and was classified as concordant or discordant. The comparative diagnostic accuracy of the techniques was assessed with the χ 2 test. Results A total of 71 subjects met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 39 years (range, 5 to 85 years), and 58% (41) were male patients. Of the subjects, 20 (28%) underwent IB. In 14 (70%) of these, the results of biopsy agreed with the final diagnosis. 51 (72%) underwent intraoperative FS and in 31 (62%) of these, the results of biopsy agreed with the final diagnosis. The difference in diagnostic accuracy between IB (70%) and FS (61%) was statistically insignificant ( P = .48). Sources of biopsy error included sampling error (46%), insufficient epithelial tissue (15%), inflammation (15%), pathologist's experience (8%), and artifact (4%). Conclusions Preoperative IB and intraoperative FS provide comparable accuracy of diagnosis in patients with benign intraosseous jaw pathology. Sampling error was the most common reason for discordant results.
Reactions of a cationic bridging methylidyne-iron complex with carbon monoxide and with alkenes

Abstract The bridging methylene diiron compound (C5H5)2Fe2(CO)2(μ-CO)-(μ-CH2), 1, reacts with (C6H5)3C+PF6- to produce [(C5H5)2Fe2(CO)2(μ-CO)-(μ-CH)]+ PF6−, 4, the first methylidyne complex in which a CH unit bridges between two metals. Methylidyne complex 4 reacts with CO to produce the bridging acylium complex [(C5H5)2Fe2(CO)2(μ-CO)(μ-CHCO)]+PF6−, 7. Methylidyne complex 4 reacts with ethylene to add its μ-CH bond across the carbon-carbon double bond of ethylene to give the propylidyne complex [(C5H5)2Fe2(CO)2(μ-CO)-(μ-C2CH3)]+ PF6−, 11. Reaction of 1,2-disubstituted alkenes with 4 leads to the formation of equilibrating mixtures of bridging alkylidyne complexes and bridging vinyl complexes.
A comparison of cathepsin B processing and distribution during neuronal death in rats following global ischemia or decapitation necrosis.

The objective of this study was to examine the possible role of the cysteine protease cathepsin B (E.C. 3.4.22.1) in the delayed neuronal death in rats subjected to the two-vessel occlusion model of global ischemia. Immunohistochemistry of the hippocampus showed an alteration in the distribution of cathepsin B in CA1 neurons from a lysosomal pattern to a more intense label redistributed into the cytoplasm. This change was not detected until the neurons had become morphologically altered with obvious shrinkage of the cytoplasmic region. Western blotting and enzyme activity measurements of subcellular fractions, including lysosomes and a cell soluble fraction, demonstrated that there was an overall decrease in cathepsin B activity at this time but an increase in the proenzyme form, particularly in the soluble fraction. This was found to be completely different from the marked loss of all forms of cathepsin B in necrotic neurons following decapitation.
Wages and performance-based pay: Evidence from the NLSY

Abstract The link between performance and pay should be strongest where performance is more accurately observed, Brown (Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 1990, 43, 1655–1825; RAND Journal of Economics, 1992, 23, 366–375). More productive workers self-select into jobs with performance-based pay. Consequently, workers whose pay is based on performance should earn more than those whose pay is not based on such measures. This paper adds to the literature on the subject by providing new empirical evidence for Brown's model using the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth (NLSY) data.
In vivo patient measurements of bladder elasticity using Ultrasound Bladder Vibrometry (UBV)

A healthy compliant bladder is capable of storing increasing volumes of urine at low pressures. The loss of bladder compliance is associated with various diseases. The urodynamic studies (UDS), the current clinical gold standard for measuring bladder compliance, requires catheterization and measuring intra-bladder pressure as a function of filling volumes. Ultrasound Bladder Vibrometry (UBV) is a noninvasive technique that uses focused ultrasound radiation force to excite Lamb waves in the bladder wall and pulse-echo techniques to track the wave motion in tissue. Cross-spectral analysis is used to calculate the wave velocity, which is directly related to the elastic properties of the bladder wall. In this study, we compare the measurements of changes in bladder elasticity as a function of bladder pressure and volume obtained using UBV and the pressure-volume measurements obtained using UDS. UBV and UDS of an excised porcine bladder are presented. Comparative studies in neurogenic and healthy patient bladders are also summarized.
Value Based Design: An Objective Structuring Approach to Design Concept Generation

Conceptual design is an important early stage activity of engineering design. The decisions made at the conceptual design phase commit up to 70% of the production cost and have significant impact on the downstream design and manufacturing processes. While computer tools have been developed to support design analysis and information management at the later stages of design, generating good design concepts and making smart decisions in conceptual design still largely depend on designers’ experience. Our research takes a value-based approach to conceptual design and proposes a set of specific methods and guidelines for designers to identify, structure their design objectives and use the objective structure to guide their concept generation process. This paper describes the proposed objective driven approach to design concept generation and presents a design example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Moral Hazard in Property Tax Administration: A Comparative Analysis of the Czech and Slovak Republics

A federalist country adopting a tax must decide which level of government will design tax policy, which will administer the tax, and which will collect the revenues. Often, the same level of government performs all three functions, just as the federal income tax is handled in the United States. Of course it need not happen this way. In Taiwan, the value-added tax is largely administered at the provincial level, policies governing its use are set by the national government, and the revenue is split between the two government levels. In the United States, state governments establish property tax policy and local governments administer the property tax, but the majority of the revenue goes to school districts, which have no policy or administrative role in the process.
Activation of NOTCH1 or NOTCH3 Signaling Skews Human Airway Basal Cell Differentiation toward a Secretory Pathway

Airway basal cells (BC) function as stem/progenitor cells capable of differentiating into the luminal ciliated and secretory cells to replenish the airway epithelium during physiological turnover and repair. The objective of this study was to define the role of Notch signaling in regulating human airway BC differentiation into a pseudostratified mucociliated epithelium. Notch inhibition with γ-secretase inhibitors demonstrated Notch activation is essential for BC differentiation into secretory and ciliated cells, but more so for the secretory lineage. Sustained cell autonomous ligand independent Notch activation via lentivirus expression of the intracellular domain of each Notch receptor (NICD1-4) demonstrated that the NOTCH2 and 4 pathways have little effect on BC differentiation into secretory and ciliated cells, while activation of the NOTCH1 or 3 pathways has a major influence, with persistent expression of NICD1 or 3 resulting in a skewing toward secretory cell differentiation with a parallel decrease in ciliated cell differentiation. These observations provide insights into the control of the balance of BC differentiation into the secretory vs ciliated cell lineage, a balance that is critical for maintaining the normal function of the airway epithelium in barrier defense against the inhaled environment.
Researching, Organizing, Educating, and Acting: Social Change and Participatory Research

As an activist and applied sociologits, I have an interest in an expanded role for the social sciences in communinity empowerment. Developed through academic traininig and collaborations with the Highlander Center and other participatory institutes, my work examines participatory research models dedicated to social change. This study draws from perspectives on power and forms of knowledge to develop an model wich expands on Participatory Research, both as a methodology and a form of empowerment. Participatry approaches offer social theorists, who are engaged in humanist and public sociology, a greater vision of the role of research for the social good
Switched-capacitor boost converter design and modeling for indoor optical energy harvesting with integrated photodiodes

Integrated photovoltaic energy harvesting from indoor lighting is appropriate for ultra-low duty cycle applications. Indoor illumination may flicker due to AC mains rectification or pulse-width-modulated dimming, causing ripple on the output voltage. Switched-capacitor DC/DC conversion can increase harvester output voltage and reduce this ripple. We present a switched-capacitor boost converter design, a model that matches measured output voltage within 10% for 500 Hz to 5 MHz switching frequencies, and compare the converter to a series photodiode configuration. The distortion caused by supply ripple on a passive filter delta-sigma modulator is modeled and verified with measurements from a 180nm test chip.
Reorganization Parameters of Electronic Transitions in Electronically Delocalized Systems. 1. Charge Transfer Reactions

This paper addresses the problem of calculating the free energy surfaces of charge transfer (CT) reactions in electronically delocalized systems involving direct electronic overlap of the donor and acceptor units. The model includes two electronic states of the solute linearly coupled to a linearly responding solvent in both the diagonal and off-diagonal terms of the Hamiltonian matrix. The exact solution for the adiabatic free energy surfaces along the CT reaction coordinate is derived as a function of the reorganization parameters invariant to the extent of electron delocalization and the parameter of electron delocalization. For dipolar solutes, the latter is defined through adiabatic differential and transition dipoles measured by optical spectroscopy. The invariant reorganization energy is the real, observable reorganization energy determining the vertical transition energy, bandwidth, and the activation energy of self-exchange transitions. The Golden Rule expression for the ET rate constant is obtai...
Implementing graceful RFID privilege reduction

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is used for access control systems, public transit fares, credit and debit cards, and for anti-counterfeiting purposes. In all three cases malicious duplication of RFID tags or their theft can have significant consequences for the owner or product user. This paper presents an implementation of a risk-based access control system, Dynamic Risk Assessment Access Control (DRAAC) for the Microsoft Windows operating system. This implementation of DRAAC can be connected to a wide range of devices including RFID systems, smartphones, and PCs.
Spherical Indentation and Fracture of Glass Plates

Spherical indentation of thick and thin glass plates was investigated numerically and experimentally. The energy release rate at the tip of a cone crack was calculated by using finite element techniques and used to investigate the applicability in thick plates of Roesler's law relating the cone crack radius to the indentation load. Indentations of thin glass specimens resting on different substrates were also studied numerically and experimentally. The stresses in the thin specimens were calculated and correlated with the observed failures. On the basis of these results, a crack initiation mechanism map was developed for glass specimens on different substrates.
Infection of mice with Mycobacterium avium primes CD8+ lymphocytes for apoptosis upon exposure to macrophages.

Mycobacterial infection is associated with granuloma formation in which the presence of apoptosis has been recognized. The role of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in host protection against mycobacterial infections has been demonstrated. Previous studies, however, have shown that CD8+ T cells have a limited role in host defense against Mycobacterium avium infection, and we hypothesize that M. avium infection could lead to T cell apoptosis. To investigate this hypothesis, C57BL/6 mice were infected with M. avium strain 101, and the rate of apoptosis of splenic lymphocytes cultured ex vivo with peritoneal macrophages was determined and compared with that of controls. When exposed to infected macrophages ex vivo, splenic lymphocytes from M. avium-infected mice underwent apoptosis, as determined by the TUNEL assay. This increased T cell apoptosis above the control level was observed after 3 weeks but not after only 1 week of infection in mice. No splenic T cell apoptosis was observed when lymphocytes from Mycobacterium smegmatis-infected mice were cultured in the presence of M. smegmatis-infected peritoneal macrophages. Likewise, macrophages infected in vitro with heat-killed M. avium did not trigger T cell apoptosis. Culture of macrophages in different chamber from lymphocytes, separated by a transwell membrane, was not associated with increase of apoptosis compared with uninfected control, suggesting a requirement for direct cell-cell interactions to trigger lymphocyte apoptosis. Using a double staining TUNEL followed by anti-mouse CD4 or anti-mouse CD8 monoclonal antibodies, it was observed that only CD8+ T cells but not CD4+ T cells underwent apoptosis at 3 weeks of infection. In conclusion, M. avium infection in C57/BL6 mice for 3 weeks renders CD8+ T cells prone to apoptosis when exposed ex vivo to macrophages infected with M. avium.
Active control for vibration suppression in a flexible beam using a modal domain optical fiber sensor

An account is given of the use of a modal-domain (MD) fiber-optic sensor as an active control system component for vibration suppression, whose output is proportional to the integral of the axial strain along the optical fiber. When an MD sensor is attached to, or embedded in, a flexible structure, it senses the strain in the structure along its gage length. On the basis of the present integration of the sensor model into a flexible-structure model, it becomes possible to design a control system with a dynamic compensator which adds damping to the low-order modes of the flexible structure. This modeling procedure has been experimentally validated.
High-Resolution Integrated Image Sensor with Polymer Micropolarization Array

A novel image sensor for high-resolution polarization imaging is presented. The image sensor combines polymer polarization filters with CMOS imaging technology in order to extract the first three Stokes parameters at the focal plane.
REMOVED: Drugs of Choice for Sedation and Analgesia in the Neonatal ICU

This article has been removed at the request of the Guest Editors and Authors. Please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). Reason: A drug dosage error appeared in the March 2009 issue of Clinics in Perinatology , Volume 36, No. 1, in the article "Drugs of Choice for Sedation and Analgesia in the Neonatal ICU" by R. Whit Hall and Rolla M. Shbarou. In Table 1, the dose for Remifentanil was listed as 1 mg/kg. The correct dosage should be 1 mcg/kg. As a matter of policy, this article has been removed from the March 2009 issue on record. A corrected version of the article is republished in its entirety in the June 2009 issue.
Earthquake rocks Mexico City

An earthquake registering 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred September 19, 1985, at 9:18 A.M. (EDT), near the coast of Mexico. The quake, centered about 400 km southwest of Mexico City, was the strongest in the world since one of the same magnitude struck near the coast of central Chile on March 3, said the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). As Eos went to press, it was reported that 250 people had been killed in the Mexican earthquake. A regional tsunami warning issued on the morning of the earthquake was cancelled a few hours later. According to John Filson, chief of earthquake studies at the USGS headquarters in Reston, Va., the quake was centered near the northern end of the Middle America Trench, located off the west coast of Mexico and Central America.
Aging and the Rising Costs of Healthcare in the United States: Can There be a Solution?

As a result of the aging of American society and the fact that older persons require a great deal more healthcare and much more expensive treatments, the costs are on the rise and spiraling out of control. As a solution, ethicists Daniel Callahan and others have proposed healthcare rationing on the basis of age. On the basis of utilitarian ethicist, these writers have argued that age-based rationing will lead to the provision of healthcare to the greatest number of people. Of course, utilizing other ethical theories other writers have opposed the rationing of healthcare on the basis of age. The paper presents the arguments made, and the ethical theories employed, by both sides, which suggest an ethical dilemma, thus most probably a debate about age-based rationing in the future. The author found it interesting to seek the views of professors teaching healthcare –related courses about this type of rationing. Utilizing grounded theory/ quantitative research methodology, designing a questionnaire that included some 14 questions, the author interviewed some 18 professors of healthcare courses in Pennsylvania. Utilizing grounded theory in the analysis of the results of the interviews led to some eight interesting themes, which are presented and analyzed in the paper. After presenting the results of that study, and not finding the application of age-based rationing feasible, the paper also discusses other alternative solutions for reducing healthcare costs, including the notion of fair innings suggested by Allan Williams. All these alternatives are discussed in the paper.
Parents' first concerns of their child's development in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders.

Objective: Investigations about first concerns among parents of toddlers with ASD and comparisons of the same with children diagnosed with other developmental disorders are scarce.Method: The current study utilized a sample of toddlers diagnosed with an ASD or other developmental delay and examined the nature of parents’ first concern and the age of first concern compared to the age of first assessment.Results: The majority of parents of both toddlers diagnosed with ASD and non-ASD related developmental delays indicated that the area of first concern was in communication. However, the age of first concern was significantly younger for toddlers with an ASD diagnosis. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the age at which concerns were first noted and the age at which assessment was sought.Conclusion: The implications of these findings are discussed as they relate to early assessment and intervention.
Changes in pulmonary function during the diuretic phase of respiratory distress syndrome

To evaluate the relationship between improvement in pulmonary function and spontaneous diuresis in respiratory distress syndrome, nine premature infants requiring mechanical ventilation for RDS were studied at a mean age of 11.9 hours prior to the onset of diuresis, at onset of diuresis, at maximum urine output (mean age 44.9 hours), and at 24 hours after maximum urine output. Prior to diuresis functional residual capacity decreased from mean±SEM of 16.2±2 to 13.3±1.2 ml/kg, and dynamic lung compliance decreased from 2.5±0.3 to 1.8±0.3 ml/cm H 2 O ( P P L had increased by 60% to 2.8±0.4 ml/cm H 2 O ( P a a DO 2 had decreased from 246±27 to 184±30 torr ( P 2 O ( P L , or PIP, but IMV rate and a a DO 2 continued to decrease. These data show that the pulmonary function in RDS deteriorates until the onset of diuresis, after which it rapidly improves. This diuresis may represent the removal of excess lung liquid and seems necessary for improvement in RDS.
288 EFFECT OF HYPOVOLEMIC HYPOTENSION (HVH) ON CEREBRAL METABOLISM IN NEWBORN PIGLETS

We studied the effects of HVH on systemic and cerebral metabolism of glucose (gl.mmol/L), lactate (lac.mmol/L) and O2 content (C'O2 vol.%) in eight, 1-4 days old piglets under anesthesia during assisted ventilation. HVH was induced by exsanguination dropping t.hemean BP to 40 mmHg (50% of baseline) for 60'. Arterial (art.) venous from saggital sinus (v), lac. gl. and C'O2 and CSF lac. were measured sequentially. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured with radioactive microspheres. Results: (x±SE: p values for significant difference as compared to baseline: *<0.05, **<0.01). During HVH, CSF lac., art. lac., gl. and Δ art.-v for lac. increased. The product of CBF and Δ art .-v C'O2 was constant, indicating brain oxygenation remained stable during HVH. We therefore conclude: 1) Increased art.-v lac. and CSF lac. are due to systemic increase in lac. production; 2) Therefore, increase in CSF lac. by itself does not reflect brain compromise during HVH; and 3) By changing flow and O2 extraction rates, brain maintains its oxygenation under a wide range of adverse situations.
Automatic control of dissolved oxygen levels in fermentations

Dissolved oxygen levels in fermentation systems are affected by (a) gas flow rate, (b) degree of agitation, and (c) oxygen partial pressure in the gas. Since the first two variables cannot easily be separated, a method for dissolved oxygen control has been devised based on the variation of oxygen partial pressure in the gas. Oxygen and nitrogen are fed to a special mixing valve capable of varying the proportions of the two gases while keeping the total flow rate constant. A dissolved oxygen electrode and control system adjust the valve setting to automatically maintain a preset oxygen level. Oxygen analyzers, monitoring the inlet and outlet gas streams, provide additional information from which oxygen absorption and uptake rates may be determined. The system provides a means for the quantitative and independent study of aeration and agitation effects. In addition, it offers a basis for routine control of oxygen levels in plant fermentation equipment.
Amphibian brain gangliosides: pattern analysis by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography.

Abstract 1. 1. Gangliosides were extracted from brains from ten amphibian species, representing six different genera from two orders, and analyzed by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography (2D-TLC). 2. 2. Qualitatively distinct differences were detected at the family level, while differences within the same family or genus were primarily quantitative.
Radiographic parameters improve lower extremity prosthetic alignment

The goal of prosthetic fitting is to provide comfort and functionality to the patient. It is thought that incorporating the use of standing anterior–posterior long leg radiographs (LLR) into the fitting of lower extremity prostheses will provide an objective guide when making adjustments, and be a better assessment of alignment. This study compares prosthetic alignment before and after radiography-guided adjustments. This retrospective study was performed at a multidisciplinary amputee clinic on patients with congenital and/or acquired limb deficiencies. Their prosthetic alignment was evaluated by LLR and adjusted as needed. Satisfactory alignment was defined as a mechanical axis angular deviation of ≤1° and a leg length discrepancy of ≤10 mm. A total of 45 unique prostheses from 24 subjects (10 female and 14 male) were included. Post-adjustment radiographs were obtained from 29 prostheses. After the initial prosthetic fitting, the probability of a satisfactory fit was 20.0 % (95 % CI 10.9–34.9 %). Following the baseline adjustment, the probability of a satisfactory fit improved to 53.3 % (95 % CI 37.5–70.9 %). After adjustment number 4, the probability of a satisfactory fit further improved to 76.7 % (95 % CI 41.9–98.0 %). There were also significant improvements in distal offset distance (p = 0.0040) and leg length discrepancy (p = 0.0206). The distal offset distance decreased by an average of 10.7 mm (95 % CI 3.6–17.8), and leg length discrepancy decreased by an average of 3.0 mm (95 % CI 00.48–5.5). The addition of LLRs to existing fitting methods significantly improves prosthetic alignment and length.
Interdigitated hydrocarbon chain packing causes the biphasic transition behavior in lipid/alcohol suspensions

Abstract It has been shown recently by Rowe ((1983) Biochemistry 22, 3299–3305) that ethanol has a ‘biphasic’ effect on the transition temperature (Tm) of phosphatidylcholine bilayers, reducing Tm at low concentrations but increasing Tm at high concentrations. Our X-ray diffraction data show that this reversal of Tm is a consequence of the induction of an unusual gel phase, where the lipid hydrocarbon chains from apposing monolayers fully interpenetrate or interdigitate. The properties of this interdigitated phase also explain the lipid chain length dependence of the reversal in the Tm versus ethanol concentration curves and the narrow width of the transition at high ethanol concentrations, as well as spectroscopic and calorimetric data from lipid suspensions containing other drugs such as methanol, benzyl alcohol, phenyl ethanol, and chlorpromazine.
Diffusion and drug release in polymer films prepared from ester derivatives of hyaluronic acid

Abstract The transport properties of thin films formed from hyaluronic acid esters have been studied. The permeabilities of the films to various solutes, the partition coefficients for a series of alkyl parabens, the rate and extent of hydration, and the release of a model compound were used as indicators of transport behavior. All the films tested had permeabilities to small neutral and positively charged solutes that were greater than 1 × 10−5 cm/s. Smaller permeability values were observed for negatively charged solutes, and for solutes with molecular weights greater than 3000 amu. The partition coefficients (Cmembrane/Cbuffer) for a series of alkyl parabens into a benzyl ester film varied from 12 to 41, and increased with increasing alkyi chain length of the paraben, indicating a partial hydrophobic character of the hydrated films. The films hydrated to a significant degree in distilled water (20 to 260% weight increase); the degree of hydration depended on the alcohol used to form the ester. A correlation between the permeability of the films to ethyl paraben and the degree of polymer hydration was observed. The release of a model compound (chlorpromazine) that was physically incorporated into the films was rapid, with complete release occurring in less than 200 minutes. This rapid release is consistent with the high degree of hydration and high permeability of the films.
On the formulation of electrodynamics from a single principle

The single postulate of Coulomb-Clausius potential between charges allows one to derive all of Maxwell's equations with an explicit form for polarizability.
Binding of N H 3 to graphite and to a (9,0) carbon nanotube

The interaction of $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ with graphite and a (9,0) carbon nanotube is studied using the second-order M\o{}ller-Plesset and density functional theory approaches. For both graphite and the nanotube, our best estimate of the $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ binding energy is $2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kcal}∕\mathrm{mol}$. $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ physisorbs on the carbon surface and the hydrogen end points toward the carbon surface. The binding is mostly electrostatic in nature and there is very little charge transfer occurring. Band-structure calculations on a (10,0) semiconducting nanotube show essentially no change in the nanotube band gap when $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ is added. The implications of these calculations on the experimental results are discussed.
Distributive justice revisited: A reconceptualization and an empirical test

Research on distributive justice has classified allocative standards into three distinct categories: equity, need, and equality. We empirically test the notion that equality should be further divided into two distinct constructs: absolute and bounded equality, thus leading to four distinct categories of distributive justice. Using a sample of 240 individuals (119 managers and 121 union activists), we further test for differences between managers and public and private sector unionists in their endorsement of these four standards. Results support all four of our specified hypotheses. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for distributive justice issues in the workplace, and future research directions are proposed.
The missing piece: Valuing averting behavior for children's ozone exposures

Abstract Individuals can reduce their exposure to air pollution by reducing the amount of time they spend outdoors. Reducing outdoor time is an example of an averting behavior that should be measured as part of willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in air quality. In this paper, we estimate parents’ WTP to prevent restrictions on a child's outdoor time from a stated-preference (SP) conjoint survey. We combine this WTP measure with an estimate of reductions in time spent outdoors on high-ozone days from an activity-diary study to estimate this averting behavior component of WTP for reductions in ozone pollution.
Neuronal Growth Cone Retraction Relies on Proneurotrophin Receptor Signaling Through Rac

Growth of axons and dendrites is a dynamic process that involves guidance molecules, adhesion proteins, and neurotrophic factors. Although neurite extension is stimulated by the neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF), we found that the precursor of NGF, proNGF, induced acute collapse of growth cones of cultured hippocampal neurons. This retraction was initiated by an interaction between the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75 NTR ) and the sortilin family member SorCS2 (sortilin-related VPS10 domain–containing receptor 2). Binding of proNGF to the p75 NTR -SorCS2 complex induced growth cone retraction by initiating the dissociation of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Trio from the p75 NTR -SorCS2 complex, resulting in decreased Rac activity and, consequently, growth cone collapse. The actin-bundling protein fascin was also inactivated, contributing to the destabilization and collapse of actin filaments. These results identify a bifunctional signaling mechanism by which proNGF regulates actin dynamics to acutely modulate neuronal morphology.