cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engineering Femtosecond Organometallic Chemistry: Photochemistry and Dynamics of Ultrafast Chelation of Cyclopentadienylmanganese Tricarbonyl Derivatives with Pendant Benzenecarbonyl and Pyridinecarbonyl Groups

The chelation following photodissociation of CO for cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl derivatives with a bifunctional side chain has been investigated. Previous studies show that steady-state irradiation of 1 (Mn{η5-C5H4CH2COR}(CO)3, R = 2-pyridyl) leads to CO dissociation and formation of O-chelate 2 with smaller amounts of N-chelate 3. Subsequently, 2 rearranges thermally to 3. A new preparation for 1 is reported, while analogues 4 (R = phenyl) and 5 (R = 4-pyridyl) are prepared for the first time. Steady-state UV–vis, FTIR, and NMR studies of 4 and 5 in heptane demonstrate that O-chelates 6 and 7, respectively, are formed with the side-chain oxygen but decay on the minute time scale. The linkage isomerization of O-chelate 2 to 3 is faster than the decay observed for the O-chelate 6 (R = 2-pyridyl versus Ph), even in the presence of 0.1 M pyridine for the latter. Following irradiation of 4 during time-resolved infrared studies in heptane, ultrafast O-chelation is observed but not ultrafast solvent ...
A Comparison of In Vitro Toxicity and Antifungal Efficacy of Membrane-Active Drugs after Liposome Encapsulation

The membrane-active ionophores were observed to possess antifungal activity against Candida albicans 336 and were toxic to human erythrocytes. Liposome encapsulation of these drugs significantly reduced their toxicity to erythrocytes but resulted in the loss of their antifungal potency. These results are compared with membrane-active polyenes which maintained their antifungal activity after encapsulation into liposomes. Liposomal-ionophores, however, showed antifungal activity along with low concentrations of Amphotericin B indicating the presence of synergism between these drugs.
Experimental evaluation of predators and parasitoids in suppressing greenbugs (Homoptera: Aphididae) in sorghum and wheat

The effectiveness of endemic predators and parasitoids as biological control agents of the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), was experimentally evaluated during 1985 and 1986 in Kansas winter wheat, Triticum aestivum , and grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor. Mechanical exclusion was used as the experimental method of evaluation. The coccinellids Coleomegilla maculata lengi Timberlake, Hippodamia convergens Guerin, and Scymnus spp. were the predominant predators of greenbugs in sorghum and comprised 89% of the predator population. Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) was the most abundant primary parasitoid in sorghum. The natural enemy complex was able to suppress experimental greenbug densities at all stages of sorghum growth from 3-leaf through the boot stage. The impact of L., testaceipes on greenbugs was sporadic between locations. In winter wheat, H. convergens was the most abundant natural enemy and significantly suppressed greenbug densities. Natural enemies, primarily coccinellids, consistently reduced experimental greenbug populations in winter wheat and grain sorghum.
Surgical treatment of aortic root dilatation of Marfan's syndrome in chlildren using Robicsek technique

Objective:To review the experience of surgical treatment of aortic root dilatation of Marfan's syndrome in children using Robicsek technique.Method:From September 1996 to July 2001,9 children with Marfan's syndrome were involved,of which 6 cases with aortic root dilatation underwent Robicsek technique.3 patients underwent Robicsek technique without cardiopulmonary bypass;3 with cardiopulmonary bypass,in which 2 existed aortic valve regurgitation,and one underwent homograft,one underwent mechanism valve replacement.Result:5 patients were survivor,one died for left heart failure after two days since operation.results were satisfactory during the follow-up of 2-5 years.Conclusion:Robicsek technique is a good selection in treating Marfan's syndrome of children.
Research on Manufacturing Process for Complex Low-alloyed Wear-resisting Crusher Liner

Crusher is widely used in electricity,building materials,metallurgy and mining industry.Crusher liner is the key component of crusher for bearing load.The operations efficiency and production cost of crusher are directly affected by the performance and service life of crusher liner.Therefore,crusher liner is required to have good mechanical properties,impact toughness and abrasive resistance.Aiming at the low wear resistance and short service life of commonly used crusher liner,a new type complex low-alloyed wear-resisting crusher liner is researched.According to the production process of crusher and the performance requirement of crusher liner,the chemical composition is devised.The casting process and heat treatment process are researched.Field trial manufacture and corresponding performance experimental investigation are performed.It is shown from the result of experiment that the Rockwell hardness of this complex low-alloyed wear-resisting steel is above 50 HRC and the impact toughness is above 18 J/cm2.So the liners have better mechanical performance and wear resistance.Production and industrial test shows that the service life of this new liner is much longer and the economic and social benefit is significant.
Ryanodine and left ventricular function in intact dogs: dissociation of force-based and velocity-based indexes

After anesthesia and autonomic blockade, nine dogs chronically instrumented with left ventricular (LV) micromanometers and piezoelectric dimension crystals were studied before and after the intrave...
Workplace secondhand smoke exposure: a lingering hazard for young adults in California.

Objective To examine occupational differences in workplace exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among young adults in California. Methods Data are taken from the 2014 Bay Area Young Adult Health Survey, a probabilistic multimode cross-sectional household survey of young adults, aged 18–26, in Alameda and San Francisco Counties. Respondents were asked whether they had been exposed to SHS ‘indoors’ or ‘outdoors’ at their workplace in the previous 7 days and also reported their current employment status, industry and occupation. Sociodemographic characteristics and measures of health perception and behaviour were included in the final model. Results Young adults employed in service (p Conclusions Despite California9s clean indoor air policy, 33% of young adults in the San Francisco Bay Area still reported workplace SHS exposure in the past week, with those in lower income occupations and working in non-office environments experiencing the greatest exposure. Closing the gaps that exempt certain types of workplaces from the Smoke-Free Workplace Act may be especially beneficial for young adults.
Delayed Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

A 65-year-old Caucasian woman, otherwise healthy, underwent menopause at 53 years of age. Since then, she has been on hormone replacement therapy (0.62 mg/2.5 mg) for hot flashes. However, over a year ago, she discontinued HRT upon reading about the risks of breast cancer and heart disease. She has not taken any vitamin D or calcium on a regular basis, but does use a multivitamin tablet occasionally. She was diagnosed with gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD), for which she has been on pantoprazol over the past 6 years. She is also lactose intolerant. She indicates that she has lost 2 in. in height. Approximately 10 years ago, the patient fell on a sidewalk and broke her forearm, which was managed by her orthopedic surgeon. There is no history of osteoporosis. The patient has never smoked and drinks wine socially. Her mother had a hip fracture at age 68 years.
Harnessing Social Media for Substance Use Research and Treatment

It is not news that drug addiction is still one of the largest problems we face as a nation, despite decades of attempted social, legal, and medical solutions. New synthetic drugs of abuse seem to be emerging regularly, with substances like Flakka sending unsuspecting users into terrifying and dangerous experiences. Prescription and street opioids are ravaging unsuspecting communities, importing big city problems to bucolic rural locales. Nearly one in 10 (8.4%) American adults confronted a substance use disorder in the past year [1], resulting in an array of personal hardships ranging from the disruption of relationships to death. If that fact alone provides insufficient motivation to engender change, consider the fact that tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use cost the United States U$700 billion annually [2], which is $244 billion more than we spend on Medicaid. And, this problem is not unique to the U.S but is a global problem. The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime estimates that there are between 16 million and 39 million problem substance users across the world, with only one in six having access to, or receiving, treatment [3]. Drastically new approaches for research and treatment are clearly required to address this persistent and evolving worldwide need.
Basic Principles of Light

The purpose of this chapter is to present an overview of the fundamental behavior of light. Having a good grasp of the basic principles of light is important for understanding how light interacts with biological matter, which is the basis of biophotonics. A challenging aspect of applying light to biological materials is that the optical properties of the materials generally vary with the light wavelength and can depend on factors such as the optical power per area irradiated, the temperature, the light exposure time, and light polarization. The following topics are included in this chapter: the characteristics of lightwaves, polarization, quantization and photon energy, reflection and refraction, and the concepts of interference and coherence.
Spinocerebellar Ataxia 2 (SCA2)

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview on phenotype, gene function, and diagnosis of Spinocerebellar ataxia 2 (SCA2), which .is a neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of an unstable CAG repeat in the SCA2 or ataxin-2 gene on human chromosome 12. SCA2 typically shows a phenotype of progressive ataxia accompanied by slow saccadic eye movements, but a wide phenotypic spectrum is observed including L-dopa-responsive Parkinsonism. Ataxin-2 is a member of a novel protein family with putative RNA-binding domains that are evolutionarily conserved. The wide separation between normal and pathological repeat ranges seen in other CAG repeat disorders is not present in SCA2 and alleles with reduced penetrance exist. Animal models elucidating normal and mutant ataxin-2 function are generated which are discussed in this chapter.
Polyamine Biosynthesis in the Brown-Rot Fungus Postia placenta

Polyamines are aliphatic polycations that have been shown to be essential for optimal growth and development of a wide variety of living organisms (McCann et al., 1987). Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) (EC 4.1.1.17) and arginine decarboxylase (ADC) (EC 4.1.1.19) control the rate-limiting steps responsible for biosynthesis of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. The enzymes ODC and ADC catalyze the decarboxylation of ornithine and arginine, respectively. Both reactions lead to the formation of the polyamine putrescine, the precursor of spermine and spermidine (McCann et al., 1987).
The Role of Patience in Arguments About Vaccine Science

We value dialogue deeply. In public disagreements over science, however, ideals like “parsimony” and “objectivity” can create false justification for refusing dialogue. We impatiently proclaim the “facts” of scientific consensus, treating them as nonrhetorical objects, letting the science “speak for itself.” This essay makes a case for patient discourses of science, willing to acknowledge even the concerns of “pseudoscientific” publics, like vaccine denialists. Anthimeria is discussed as a practice for patiently “playing” with the tokens of expression associated with ours and others’ epistemological commitments, in order to embrace opportunities of knowing and relational being-together through the most “becoming of terms.”
The Influence of a Failed Irrigation and Debridement on the Outcomes of a Subsequent 2-Stage Revision Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Previous work has suggested a failed irrigation and debridement (I&D) before a 2-stage exchange negatively impacts the outcome of the subsequent 2-stage revision. Methods This was a retrospective review of 132 patients who underwent a 2-stage exchange without prior I&D (2-Stage), and 45 patients had a failed I&D before their 2-stage exchange (I&D+2Stage) between April 2009 and April 2015. Charts were reviewed for patient demographics, presenting inflammatory laboratory values, type of antibiotic spacer used, surgical details, microbiology data, length of postoperative antibiotic treatment, and reoperation. A logistic regression was used to assess the association between I&D and reoperation. Results The I&D+2Stage group had an 82.2% success rate, and the 2-Stage group had an 82.5% success rate (P = .95). The odds of reoperation for infection with the use of greater than 2 grams of vancomycin was 0.33 (P = .01, 95% confidence interval 0.14-0.79) as compared with having less than 2 grams of vancomycin in the construct. Spacer type, having a prior I&D to the 2-stage procedure, being infected with an antibiotic resistant organism, total grams of aminoglycoside were not associated with a risk of failure. Conclusion Success rates between the I&D+2Stage group and the 2-Stage group were similar. The use of greater than 2 grams of vancomycin in the spacer construct decreased the odds of reoperation. I&D before a 2-stage exchange may not negatively influence the outcomes of a subsequent 2-stage revision procedure and requires further investigation.
Getting Boarded and Beyond; a Personal Guide for International Medical Graduates

For some international medical graduates (IMGs), becoming an American Board of Medicine Diplomate (ABIM) may sound extremely hard or perhaps impossible. Those who think this way forget the obvious fact that almost 25 percent of the medical workforce in the United States started exactly like them as international medical graduates (1). It may also come to everyone's surprise that the number of non-US citizens IMGs continues to grow, and has been the highest ever last year based on the latest National Residency Matching Program Report (2). Moreover, the match rate for non-U.S. citizen IMGs continues to grow to reach 50.5% in 2016, up from 49.4% in 2015. In this paper, we reflect on our own journey from being international medical graduates preparing for the United States Medical Licensing Exams (USMLEs) to American board certified physicians and will take you a step further through the initial steps of fellowship. We hope this will help guide other IMG's and make their dream one day come true. Keywords: Postgraduate Education, International Medical Graduates, Residency
A novel scheme for constructing product development portfolio based on TRIZ

“R & D efficiency” and “systematic management” are two major key issues concerned in this research. This paper considers how to apply TRIZ methods to improve product lifecycle management in enterprise, and establishes the contents of product development portfolio at the design stage. The proposed scheme is founded on the four pillars of TRIZ: Functionality, Resource, Contradiction and Ideality. We apply a relational structure containing four sectors of data representation to effectively record the contents of the product design. We also introduce 31 management parameters to product development process, and support R & D management and analytic mechanism. In addition, systematic management is planned to assist the relationships identification among design requirements, design parameters, and engineering parameters. Through the construction of TRIZ-based product portfolio we may easily trace engineering parameters related to significant quality factors and product improvement. The innovation cycle to gradually increase the “Ideality” of the product can be achieved.
First Indirect X-Ray Imaging Tests With An 88-mm Diameter Single Crystal

Using the 1-BM-C beamline at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), we have performed the initial indirect x-ray imaging point-spread-function (PSF) test of a unique 88-mm diameter YAG:Ce single crystal of only 100-micron thickness. The crystal was bonded to a fiber optic plate (FOP) for mechanical support and to allow the option for FO coupling to a large format camera. This configuration resolution was compared to that of self-supported 25-mm diameter crystals, with and without an Al reflective coating. An upstream monochromator was used to select 17-keV x-rays from the broadband APS bending magnet source of synchrotron radiation. The upstream, adjustable Mo collimators were then used to provide a series of x-ray source transverse sizes from 200 microns down to about 15-20 microns (FWHM) at the crystal surface. The emitted scintillator radiation was in this case lens coupled to the ANDOR Neo sCMOS camera, and the indirect x-ray images were processed offline by a MATLAB-based image processing program. Based on single Gaussian peak fits to the x-ray image projected profiles, we observed a 10.5 micron PSF. This sample thus exhibited superior spatial resolution to standard P43 polycrystalline phosphors of the same thickness which would have about a 100-micron PSF. This single crystal resolution combined with the 88-mm diameter makes it a candidate to support future x-ray diffraction or wafer topography experiments.
Sterilizing the Mildly Mentally Retarded without Their Consent

Under certain specific circumstances it is morally permissible to sterilize some mildly mentally retarded people without their consent. At the outset of my argument I want to acknowledge that there is a grave difficulty, conceptually and empirically, in identifying which individuals belong to the relevant class of the mentally retarded. If that class is either conceptually so vague or empirically so confused that individuals who do not belong in it are inadvertently placed there, then it would be ethically impermissible to subject the class to involuntary sterilization. But let me put that difficulty aside until the end, and proceed with the argument as if we knew with acceptable exactness who the mildly mentally retarded are and which of them meet the specified requirements for sterilization.
Math Hater: How One Child Overcame Her Math Anxiety Through Self-Administered Art Therapy

Art therapists use pictorial image making to help patients communicate feelings through creative expression and cope with traumatic experiences through the artistic processes (Ulman, 2001). With ch...
Single Daily Icodextrin Exchange as Initial and Solitary Therapy.

BackgroundIncremental dialysis utilizes gradually increasing dialysis doses in response to declines in residual kidney function, and it is the preferred renal replacement therapy for patients who h...
Xenon: An Emerging Neuroprotectant With Potential Application for Cardiac Arrest Care

Xenon is an inert, highly polarizable noble gas with demonstrated safety and application in general anesthesia for over 50 years. A potent inhibitor of the N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptors, xenon has a well-documented ameliorating effect on excitotoxic neuronal injury in numerous cellular and animal models of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. The most important determinant of overall survival and morbidity in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is the severity of neurological injury. The only approved neuroprotective strategy in this setting is mild therapeutic hypothermia, which has demonstrated significant, albeit modest, improvements in mortality. The combination therapy of therapeutic hypothermia and xenon in porcine models of cardiac arrest has shown a greater improvement in functional outcomes than either intervention alone, thereby prompting the study of combination therapy in randomized clinical trials. The treatment of postarrest patients with xenon and mild hypothermia is safe and demonstrates favorable cardiovascular features, including a reduced heart rate, a reduction in troponin elevations, and a decreased need for vasopressors. Combination therapy is superior in protecting white matter integrity than hypothermia alone, but did not significantly impact neurological outcomes at 6-month follow-up. Despite an abundance of preclinical evidence supporting xenon's neuroprotective properties, its translational potential in postcardiac arrest care is indeterminate due to a lack of adequately-powered studies.
From Sea Slaves to Slime Lines: Commodification and Unequal Ecological Exchange in Global Marine Fisheries

Socioecological transformations of marine systems are intimately connected to the structure of the global capitalist economy, including its relationships of unequal exchange and the international division of labor. We highlight how unequal economic and ecological exchange are intertwined in fishing production in Southeast Asia, in particular Thailand, where capital receives more value in labor power and ecological wealth and services for less. In order to suppress production costs, slave labor is used to harvest fish, and child and migrant labor is employed in processing plants. These operations supply fish for the global market, with the largest shares flowing to Europe and the United States. As seafood production shifts with the ongoing growth of aquaculture, the depletion of target fish, and the expansion in the production of fishmeal and fish oil, the relationships that connect slave labor, slime lines, environmental degradation, and the depletion of marine systems become more embedded within a system predicated on the constant accumulation of capital that creates global social and ecological inequalities.
Closed-loop Bio-signal Amplifiers: Experimental Results

In this chapter, we will present the measurement results of the telescopic-cascode and complementary low-noise amplifiers discussed in the previous chapter. In order to compare and contrast the performance of these two LNA designs, we fabricated both LNAs in a 0.13 μm CMOS process. As the analog front-end of a neuralrecording channel, each LNA is followed with a variable-gain amplifier (VGA) to accommodate signals of various amplitudes. Fig. 5.1 illustrates one recording channel with the complementary LNA followed by a VGA.
Articular Cartilage Cryopreservation and Transplantation

Although advances in joint replacement have significantly improved the treatment of articular cartilage degeneration in elderly individuals, the treatment of articular cartilage loss by the use of prosthetic devices has not been as successful in young people. Joint replacement implants loosen and plastic bearing surfaces wear out prematurely in young people. For this reason, the use of biological substitutes to replace and resurface articular cartilage defects in younger age groups remains a popular and worthwhile endeavor.
Program Metamorphosis

Modern development environments support refactoring by providing atomically behaviour-preserving transformations. While useful, these transformations are limited in three ways: (i) atomicity forces transformations to be complex and opaque, (ii) the behaviour preservation requirement disallows deliberate behaviour evolution, and (iii) atomicity limits code reuse opportunities for refactoring implementers. We present `program metamorphosis', a novel approach for program evolution and refactoring that addresses the above limitations by breaking refactorings into smaller steps that need not preserve behaviour individually. Instead, we ensure that sequences of transformations preserve behaviour together, and simultaneously permit selective behavioural change. To evaluate program metamorphosis, we have implemented a prototype plugin for Eclipse. Our analysis and experiments show that (1) our plugin provides correctness guarantees on par with those of Eclipse's own refactorings, (2) both our plugin and our approach address the aforementioned limitations, and (3) our approach fully subsumes traditional refactoring.
Active Aging by Continuous Learning: A Training Environment for Cultural Visits

The “Citta Educante” project aims at radically rethinking the learning environments through the application of the most advanced ICT technology. Among the different aspects of the project, the LECTurE module aims, by exploiting artificial intelligence techniques, at proposing contextualized lessons, as well as interaction requests, to the involved users. In particular the lesson’s content, is specifically tailored for the older adults and personalized by taking into account users’ psycho-physiological aspects as well as geo-localization information and temporal constraints. In this paper, after a generic introduction to the “Citta Educante” project, the LECTurE module is presented and instantiated in two relevant use cases: the on-site training, in which the system is used as a support to the classical teaching methodologies within a classroom, and the distributed training, in which the technology aims at moving and animating the teaching experience, also, “outside the classroom”, with additional stimuli for the users during a practical experience (e.g., a real visit in a museum to complement a theoretical art history lesson). The paper describes, then, the choices made for the realization of a first prototype and its embodiment into a concrete scenario which, by implementing a “treasure hunt” like game, aims at fostering older adults’ physical and cognitive activity.
In Patients with Early-Onset Scoliosis, Can Growing Rods Be Removed Without Further Instrumentation? An Evidenced-Based Review.

Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is defined by the presence of spinal deformity in children 10 years of age or younger. Left untreated, patients with EOS are at high risk for thoracic insufficiency and ...
Hacking the Non-Technical Brain: Maximizing Retention in a Core Introductory IT Course

Maximizing student retention of, and ability to apply, technical material in introductory information technology courses is a complex task, especially with respect to the general student population. This population struggles with the application of programming concepts in the time-constrained testing environment. Our study considers the implementation of daily quizzes in a core-curriculum information technology and programming course as a means to improve student concept retention and application. Between the first and second exams, the instructors implemented a series of high-frequency, no-risk quizzes. Of the four sections of the course that each instructor taught, two sections each were provided with the quizzes as the experimental group and two remained with the standard curriculum as the control. The results demonstrate the benefits of frequent, effortful recall on student performance in a core-curriculum information technology and programming course.
Impact of Induced Syncytia Formation on the Oncolytic Potential of Myxoma Virus

Introduction Cancer has become one of the most critical health issues of modern times. To overcome the ineffectiveness of current treatment options, research is being done to explore new therapeutic modalities. One such novel treatment is oncolytic virotherapy (OV) which uses tumor tropic viruses to specifically target and kill malignant cells. While OV has shown significant promise in recent clinical trials, the therapeutic use of viruses poses a number of unique challenges. In particular, obtaining effective viral spread throughout the tumor microenvironment remains problematic. Previous work has suggested this can be overcome by forcing oncolytic viruses to induce syncytia formation. Methods In the current work, we generated a series of recombinant myxoma viruses expressing exogenous fusion proteins from other viral genomes and examined their therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo. Results Similar to previous studies, we observed that the expression of these fusion proteins during myxoma infection induced the formation of multinucleated syncytia which increased viral spread and lytic potential compared to non-fusogenic controls. Contrary to expectations, however, the treatment of established tumors with these viruses resulted in decreased therapeutic efficacy which corresponded with reduced viral persistence. Discussion These findings indicate that enhanced viral spread caused by syncytia formation can actually reduce the efficacy of OV and supports a number of previous works suggesting that the in vitro properties of viruses frequently fail to predict their in vivo efficacy.
Extending the Life of Self-Healing Structural Materials

The ability for materials to self-heal or grow new material to replace damaged material is an easy task for Nature, but not so common in engineering. Current approaches implement crystal-producing bacteria within concrete materials. In this issue of Matter, Srubar and colleagues explore the use of a photosynthetic cyanobacterium embedded in a sand-hydrogel scaffold to produce a promising concrete-alternative.
Testosterone modulates renal ammonia metabolism

There are substantial sex differences in renal structure and ammonia metabolism that correlate with differences in expression of proteins involved in ammonia generation and transport. This study determined the role of testis-derived testosterone in these differences. We studied 4-mo-old male C57BL/6 mice 4 and 8 wk after either bilateral orchiectomy (ORCH) or sham-operated control surgery and determined the effect of testosterone replacement to reverse the effects of ORCH. Finally, we determined the cellular expression of androgen receptor (AR), testosterone's canonical target receptor. ORCH decreased kidney and proximal tubule size, and testosterone replacement reversed this effect. ORCH increased ammonia excretion in a testosterone-dependent fashion; this occurred despite similar food intake, which is the primary component of endogenous acid production. ORCH increased expression of both phosphoenolpyruvate, a major ammonia-generating protein, and Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter, which mediates thick ascending limb ammonia reabsorption; these changes were reversed with testosterone replacement. Orchiectomy also decreased expression of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3, which mediates proximal tubule ammonia secretion, in a testosterone-dependent pattern. Finally, ARs are expressed throughout the proximal tubule in both the male and female kidney. Testosterone, possibly acting through ARs, has dramatic effects on kidney and proximal tubule size and decreases ammonia excretion through its effects on several key proteins involved in ammonia metabolism.
An assessment of windbreaks in Central Wisconsin

Soil erosion by wind is a persistent problem in central Wisconsin. The extent and effectiveness of windbreaks in erosion-prone areas are unknown. We investigated the potential effectiveness of windbreaks established for soil erosion control in Portage County, Wisconsin. Our objectives included quantification of their extent and condition, development of a routine method for field assessment, and compilation of a reference database of windbreak information. We used aerial photographs to identify the windbreak population, and a two-stage, stratified random sampling technique to obtain samples for field evaluation. Variables and attributes examined included species, number of gaps, height, width, porosity, spacing, live crown ratio, crown condition, and a condition rating. Methods included simple photo-interpretation techniques, field measurements, optical scanning techniques, and data manipulation in geographic information systems. We identified over 2600 windbreaks comprising a total extent of 834 km; only a small proportion of this may offer effective protection at critical periods. Collectively, field windbreaks protect a very small proportion only of the county‘s agricultural land area from wind erosion. These results imply a need for increased planting rates, explicit maintenance or renovation of existing barriers, and windbreak designs that are both sustainable and compatible with current agricultural production efforts.
The fiscal management of permanent and temporary foreign aid: Evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa

This paper argues that whether aid receipts are permanent or temporary is an important yet overlooked determinant of the fiscal management of foreign aid. I present a theoretical framework that shows that permanent aid and temporary aid differently affect the recipient governments' choice between taxes and debt issuance. Empirically, I assess how the fiscal deficit responds to permanent aid and temporary aid in a panel of sub‐Saharan African aid‐recipient countries. Results show that while permanent aid leads to higher deficit, temporary aid reduces the deficit. The different responses of government spending to permanent aid and temporary aid help explain this pattern. Results provide important policy implications for the design of foreign aid programmes to developing countries.
Regional adiposity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and left ventricular strain: an analysis from the Dallas Heart Study.

Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), high body mass index, and excess visceral adiposity are each associated with impairment in left ventricular (LV) peak circumferential strain (Ecc), an intermediate phenotype that precedes the development of clinical heart failure (HF). However, the association of regional fat distribution and CRF with Ecc independent of each other and other potential confounders is not known. Participants from the Dallas Heart Study Phase 2 who underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry assessment of regional fat distribution, CRF assessment by submaximal treadmill test, and Ecc quantification by tissue-tagged cardiovascular magnetic resonance were included in the analysis. The cross-sectional associations of measures of regional adiposity, namely visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and lower-body fat (LBF) with Ecc after adjustment for CRF and other potential confounders (independent variables) were assessed using multivariable linear regression analysis. The study included 1089 participants (55% female, 39% black). In the unadjusted analysis, higher VAT was associated with greater impairment in Ecc. After adjustment for baseline risk factors, CRF, parameters of LV structure and function, and other fat depots such as SAT and LBF, higher VAT remained associated with greater impairment in Ecc (β: 0.19, P = 0.002). SAT and LBF were not significantly associated with Ecc, however, CRF remained associated with Ecc in the fully adjusted model including all fat depots (β: − 0.15, P < 0.001). VAT and CRF are each independently associated with impairment in Ecc, suggesting that higher VAT burden and low CRF mediate pathological cardiac remodeling through distinct mechanisms.
The Parting of the Ways: The Impact of World War Ii on Afrikaner-Dutch Ties

The impact of European fascism on Afrikaner nationalism in South Africa is much contested, especially regarding Daniel Malan s National Party, which in World War II claimed to be pro-neutral rather than pro-Axis. This paper, drawing on monographs and articles, Afrikaans and Dutch newspapers, parliamentary records, memoirs, pamphlets, and archival documents, adds to this debate by examining how the war and Afrikaner nationalist responses to it re-shaped once warm ties with their Dutch cousins, who admired earlier Afrikaner resistance to British aggression. Malan s Nationalists at first likened opposition to entering World War II alongside Britain to that of neutrals such as the Dutch, yet remained unbending even after Germany occupied the Netherlands. Arguments justifying this stance and supporting a separate peace or even co-operation with a victorious Axis showed similarities with those of Far Right Dutch collaborators with the brutal Nazi occupation, alienating longtime Dutch supporters of the Afrikaners cause. Many Dutch opposed renewing ties, viewing the post-war Malan government s apartheid policies as echoing those of their wartime rulers, especially when Malan nominated as ambassador to the Netherlands Otto du Plessis, whom many Dutch considered pro-Nazi. The Netherlands ultimately became among the most vocal Western opponents of the apartheid regime.
Trends in US Health Insurance Coverage During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Importance While most working-age adults in the US obtain health insurance through an employer, little is known about the implications of the massive pandemic-related job loss in March 2020 and subsequent rebound for rates of employer-sponsored coverage and uninsurance. Objective To determine how health insurance coverage changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants Analysis of trends in insurance coverage based on repeated cross sections of the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey data, using linear regression to adjust for respondent’s demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and state of residence. More than 1.2 million US adults aged 18 to 64 years were surveyed from April 23 through December 21, 2020. Exposures The COVID-19 pandemic, separated into spring and summer and fall and winter time periods during 2020, as well as state Medicaid expansion status. Main Outcomes and Measures Regression-based estimates of the weekly percentage-point change in respondents’ health insurance status, including having any health insurance, any employer-sponsored health insurance, or only nonemployer sponsored coverage. Nonemployer-sponsored coverage is categorized into private, Medicaid, and other public in some analyses. Results The study population included 1 212 816 US adults (51% female; mean [SD] age, 42 [13] years) across all 50 US states and Washington DC. Among these respondents, rates of employer-sponsored coverage declined by 0.2 percentage points each week during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other types of coverage, particularly from public sources, increased by 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points in the spring and summer and fall and winter periods, respectively. Overall, health insurance coverage of any type declined, particularly during the spring and summer period, during which uninsurance increased by 1.4 percentage points, representing more than 2.7 million newly uninsured people, over a 12-week period. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of data from the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, results showed that while public programs played an important role in protecting US adults from pandemic-driven declines in employment-sponsored coverage, many people became uninsured during 2020.
Intravitreous treatment of severe ocular von Hippel-Lindau disease using a combination of the VEGF inhibitor, ranibizumab and PDGF inhibitor, E10030: Results from a phase 1/2 clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Treatment options for severe ocular von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease are limited. This trial evaluated preliminary safety and potential efficacy of combination intravitreous injection with ranibizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, and E10030, a PDGF inhibitor, for eyes with VHL disease-associated retinal hemangioblastoma (RH) not amenable or responsive to thermal laser photocoagulation. METHODS This was a prospective, single-arm, open-label phase 1/2 study, comprised of three adults with VHL-associated RH and vision loss. Intravitreous injections of ranibizumab (0.5 mg) and E10030 (1.5 mg) were given unilaterally every 4 weeks in the study eye through 16 weeks, then every 8 weeks through 48 weeks. Supplementary standard care therapies were allowed without restriction after 40 weeks. The primary outcome was the ocular and systemic adverse effect profile at 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes included changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), RH size, exudation, epiretinal proliferation and retinal traction, and need for ablative treatment of RH or ocular surgery at week 52. RESULTS Three participants each received nine injections prior to week 52 and were followed for 104 weeks. One participant manifested mild episodic ocular hypertension in the study eye. Change in BCVA in the study eye at week 52 for the three participants was -5, -12 and +2 letters. No reduction in RH size was measured at 52 weeks. Variable mild improvements in exudation in two participants at week 16 were not sustained through week 52. CONCLUSIONS Combination intravitreous injection with ranibizumab and E10030 demonstrated a reasonable preliminary safety profile, but limited treatment effect.
Thinking beyond domestic water supply: approaches to advance multiple-use water systems (MUS) in the rural hills of Nepal

The development of multiple-use water systems (MUS) in Nepal has mostly relied on international/non-governmental organizations. Despite the growing interest in MUS within the country, the approach ...
Modelling of defects in a serial system of axial compressors

A modelling method of the axial compressor that operates within marine gas turbine configuration is presented. The method makes it possible to determine an arbitrary working point on the compressor characteristics. A concept is described of modelling the characteristics of the turbine engine axial compressors which work in series, with a given character of inter-blade gas channel fouling accounted for. The determined characteristics are suitable to carry out numerical simulation experiments by means of computers.
CONCRETE BOX-GIRDER BRIDGES AS SANDWICH PLATES

A relatively simple, accurate method for the complete determination of internal moments, shears, and deflections in concrete box girder bridges with statically applied external vertical loads has been developed and is described. The method of analysis used is based on the concept of replacing the actual structure by an equivalent uniform plate which models the behavior of the actual structure. The objectives of the study, which are analyzed in detail, are (1) A discussion of the basis and applicability of the analysis of box girder bridges by sandwich plate theory; (2) presentation and solution of the governing equations for the boundary conditions and loadings considered; (3) the development of procedures for computing governing stiffness parameters; and (4) presentation of results derived for a sample structure and comparision of predicted beam bending moments with corresponding quantities measured in a full scale field test bridge.
NEW RESULTS ON NONLINEAR SYSTEMS

Publisher Summary During the past few years there has been rapid development of new methods for nonlinear equations. This chapter presents some of the recent results of these new methods. During the past few years, new computational tests have appeared for the existence of a solution to a given system of nonlinear equations. Rall has made a comparison of one of the interval tests with the well-known Kantorovich theorem. The interval test proves to be much easier computationally than the Kantorovich theorem. This theorem can yield very tight component-wise error bounds on an approximate solution x* whether f is nonlinear or linear. This theorem has been generalized to nonlinear systems with interval coefficients by Gay. In the more general form, this theorem can be used to compute bounds on the set of possible solutions corresponding to intervals of uncertainty in the coefficients of the system. An inclusion monotonic interval extension of the Jacobian matrix is also elaborated.
Localization of thyroid and spinal cord autoantibodies by fluorescent antibody technic.

Summary(1) Sections of normal spinal cords of rabbits were treated with rabbit antisera produced by immunization of rabbits with rabbit spinal cord suspensions; the treated sections were stained with fluorescein conjugated goat antiserum to rabbit immune globulin. Selected areas stained suggest the myelin sheath as at least one of the antibody combining sites, though further histological studies are needed. No staining was obtained with normal sera or with rabbit sera containing thyroid autoantibodies. (2) In the same manner sections of thyroid glands of normal rabbits were exposed to the action of rabbit sera containing rabbit thyroid autoantibodies and stained with fluorescein conjugated goat antiserum to rabbit immune globulin. Positive staining reactions were obtained in the colloid extending into adjoining epithelial layer. Interstitial tissue remained basically unstained. No positive staining reactions were obtained using normal rabbit serum or rabbit serum containing brain autoantibodies. (3) With ...
Fiber array technique for subnanosecond x-ray framing camera

A subnanosecond x-ray framing camera technique employing a fiber optics image dissector coupled to a 10 ps optical streak camera will be described. The output data from the streak camera can be reduced from photographic film or directly couple into a SEC Vidicon camera for immediate computer decoding of each scan line into a two dimensional picture. The use of the new subnanosecond plastic scintillator in front of the fiber optics dissector will also be discussed. The paper will include (1) the description of the basic principle, (2) fiber optics's image dissector construction, (3) time resolution considerations, and (4) experimental data on a prototype 7 by 7 array.
Global robust control of feedforward systems: state-feedback and output-feedback

In this paper, we propose a robust control design technique for feedforward systems based on our recent results on dynamic high-gain scaling techniques for controller design for strict-feedback-type systems. We consider both state-feedback and output-feedback. The designed controllers have a very simple structure being essentially a linear feedback with state-dependent dynamic gains and do not involve any saturations or recursive computations. The observer in the output-feedback case is similar to a Luenberger observer with dynamic observer gains. The Lyapunov functions are quadratic in the states (and the observer errors in the case of output-feedback). The stability analysis is based on our recent results on uniform solvability of coupled state-dependent Lyapunov equations. The controller design provides strong robustness properties both with respect to uncertain parameters in the system model and additive disturbances. This robustness is the key to the output-feedback controller design.
e-Business technological innovations

Modern distribution is being shifted from paper-based, people-intensive marketing systems toward electronic-based procedures that rely on Internet communications and web-enhanced software tools. This article develops a typology of e-business technological innovations that have come to characterize cutting-edge distribution management. e-Business tools relevant to marketing channels are organized by the channel process flows that yield communication and transaction enhancements to distribution systems. Further, a model of the impact of e-business on channel performance is developed. The mediating role of channel structure on technology's impact on channel outcomes in terms of efficiency and effectiveness is also analyzed. Finally, implications of the e-business revolution for managers and researchers are discussed.