cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Duplicitous Bonds: Talents of Maturity

The constraints of childhood are assumed to be the obvious ones of an incomplete being not yet ready for the world outside, protected and even secured within necessary confines: the boy in “The Sisters” is allowed to navigate the distance between his own home and that of Father Flynn; the boy in “An Encounter” that between home and school (which he violates by an unlicensed excursion in the direction of the Pigeon House); the boy in “Araby” permitted, with misgivings, the nocturnal venture to the bazaar. The liberties allowed the young adolescent extend the boundaries and remove various barriers, yet Eveline Hill is constrained by the limitations of the straight line between home and “the Stores”, usurping for herself the prohibited escapes with Frank that take her as far as the theatre, and the North Wall docks, until she is pulled back. The strictures imposed by her father, her dead mother and Margaret Mary Alacoque prove to be greater than the freedom she associates with the sailor and the seas that extend outward from restrictive Dublin: as a woman she has fewer territorial rights than the male “child” of “Araby”.
The Big Markets: New York and California

New York and California are the two big economic powerhouses on the East and the West Coasts and have been trailblazers in the field of banking. Some of the country’s first banks were chartered in New York, and the state is also home to some of the oldest continually operating banks. California, on the other hand, was the first state to permit unrestricted branching throughout the state. It created a truly competitive and well-regulated statewide banking sector in the process.
Cooperation in Green Car Technology R&D - Final CRADA report

This report lists the major accomplishments, benefits to industry, and proceedings for the Cooperation in Green Car Technology R&D project at ANL.
Do childbirth grants increase the fertility rate? Policy impacts in South Korea

In response to a low fertility rate, a number of municipalities in South Korea have been providing family benefits in the form of childbirth grants and child allowances. Using panel data for 230 municipalities that spans the years 2001–2014, this paper examines the impacts of family benefits on the fertility rate in Korea. I use the fact that different municipalities began providing the family benefits at different times to estimate the impact of family benefits on fertility rates using a difference-in-differences approach. This study finds a positive effect of family benefits on total fertility rate. Moreover, it finds little evidence of an anticipatory response within municipalities that adopted the policy. Given that a 10 million Korean won increase in family benefits is associated with a 3.5% increase in the total fertility rate, an increase in family benefits of about 44 million Korean won per child would be required to raise the total fertility rate to a safe zone above 1.5 children per woman, where population declines are gradual and easily reversed.
Contrast-induced acute kidney injury in kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury in kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Stability analysis of nonlinear two-grid method for multigroup neutron diffusion problems

Abstract We present theoretical analysis of a nonlinear acceleration method for solving multigroup neutron diffusion problems. This method is formulated with two energy grids that are defined by (i) fine-energy groups structure and (ii) coarse grid with just a single energy group. The coarse-grid equations are derived by averaging of the multigroup diffusion equations over energy. The method uses a nonlinear prolongation operator. We perform stability analysis of iteration algorithms for inhomogeneous (fixed-source) and eigenvalue neutron diffusion problems. To apply Fourier analysis the equations of the method are linearized about solutions of infinite-medium problems. The developed analysis enables us to predict convergence properties of this two-grid method in different types of problems. Numerical results of problems in 2D Cartesian geometry are presented to confirm theoretical predictions.
Characterization of weld attributes in ultrasonic welding of short carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites

Abstract Ultrasonic welding is a well-known technique for joining thermoplastics and has recently been introduced for joining carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites. However, there is a lack of understanding on how weld quality attributes develop under different welding conditions, especially without using an energy director. In this paper, ultrasonic welding of an injection molded short carbon fiber reinforced composite is tested to investigate three important weld attributes, bonding efficiency, weld area, and horn indentation. From a two-level full factorial experiment, welding energy is found having the most important influence on joint quality, which is related to weld attributes. Thus, only welding energy is varied to simplify the analysis of weld attributes evolution during the welding process. After examining the microstructure of the cross sections and the fracture surface of the welded joints, several observations were obtained. First, the bonding formation for the carbon fiber reinforced composite is mainly through the polymer–polymer interface healing with involved carbon fibers as reinforcements. Second, the bonding efficiency and weld area increase with an increase in welding energy until they reach a threshold. As welding energy continues to increase, the bonding efficiency will decrease due to material degradation as pores develop, but weld area will remain unchanged. Finally, the difference of welding attributes leads to three failure modes of the joints, e.g. interfacial separation, nugget shear fracture, and nugget pull-out fracture, which are an indicator of the joint quality. These experimental observations provide insights toward the development of a robust ultrasonic welding process for fiber reinforced composites.
Hybrid-Functional Calculations of the Copper Impurity in Silicon

Unsurprisingly, considering its significance to electronics, the impact of copper impurities on the electrical properties of silicon has been widely studied. Surprisingly, there is still marked disagreement, both among and between experiments and calculations. The remarkable disagreement between various theoretical studies is mainly due to the band-gap error in basic versions of density functional theory. This study revisits the problem using the nuanced HSE06 hybrid functional. Its model for the electronic structure of Cu in Si yields results that agree well with experimental transition levels and solubilities.
Stochastic Basis Adaptation and Spatial Domain Decomposition for Partial Differential Equations with Random Coefficients

We present a novel uncertainty quantification approach for high-dimensional stochastic partial differential equations that reduces the computational cost of polynomial chaos methods by decomposing ...
OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH TURNER SYNDROME LIVING IN A RURAL VERSUS URBAN SETTING

Access to optimal health care is not evenly distributed in the US with rural residents facing higher mortality rates from cardiovascular disease. Providing medical care to the rural population in general, and to highly complex patients specifically, comes with challenges. Women with Turner Syndrome
Sexually Inhibited Children

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is an increasingly common condition in adults, one that is extraordinarily difficult to treat. The study of inhibitions—where they come from and what happens to them in the course of development—is basic to understanding human sexuality. This article presents a brief overview of HSDD in adults and material that would support the emergence of HSDD in childhood and adolescence. Excessive inhibitions could be related to parental constraint, guilt, effects of sex abuse prevention programs, unresolved pre-oedipal conflicts, and biologic factors. Common sense approaches to treatment are presented.
Scattering by an Infinite Array of Randomly Spaced Coplanar Cracks

In this paper, the investigation is carried out for the scattering of an anti-plane shear (SH) wave by an infinite array of randomly spaced coplanar cracks. This study was motivated by the desire to better understand the detection and characterization of a flaw plane, i.e., a plane of microcracks, in a more realistic situation. The first thing we can do to model a flaw plane is to model it as a periodic array of cracks [1–5]. In reality, however, an array of cracks is never periodic but rather random. Thus in a previous paper [6], we have treated scattering by an infinite array of randomly oriented cracks. That problem as well as the present problem belong to multiple scattering problems [7–10]. There exists a vast literature on this topic. To our knowledge, however, there is not much literature on the type of problems treated in this paper, where reflection and transmission are investigated for random scatterers located in a line. In addition to the scattering by an array of randomly spaced cracks, the wave propagation of an SH wave in a randomly cracked medium will be also discussed.
A Review of Nelarabine in the Treatment of T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma

Patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) have a dismal prognosis. Prior to the development of novel purine analogs, salv...
Present bias and health

This study uses a dynamic discrete choice model to examine the degree of present bias and naivete about present bias in individuals’ health care decisions. Clinical guidelines exist for several common chronic diseases. Although the empirical evidence for some guidelines is strong, many individuals with these diseases do not follow the guidelines. Using persons with diabetes as a case study, we find evidence of substantial present bias and naivete. Counterfactual simulations indicate the importance of present bias and naivete in explaining low adherence rates to health care guidelines.
Site environmental report for 2004 Sandia National Laboratories, California.

Sandia National Laboratories, California (SNL/CA) is a government-owned/contractor-operated laboratory. Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, operates the laboratory for the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration. The DOE Sandia Site Office oversees operations at the site, using Sandia Corporation as a management and operating contractor. This Site Environmental Report for 2004 was prepared in accordance with DOE Order 231.1A. The report provides a summary of environmental monitoring information and compliance activities that occurred at SNL/CA during calendar year 2004. General site and environmental program information is also included.
Abstract P1-06-01: Regulation of BRCA1 by SIRT2

We are constantly exposed to a variety of both external and internal DNA damaging agents, such as UV light from the sun and reactive oxygen species created as by-products of aerobic respiration. As a result, our DNA accumulates thousands of instances of damage per cell per day. DNA damage response (DDR) pathways, which include DNA repair and cell-cycle checkpoints, are responsible for the repair of DNA damage and are critical for protecting against mutagenesis and maintaining genome integrity. DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are the most deleterious type of DNA damage and are repaired by one of two pathways: Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), an error-prone mechanism of repair active throughout the entire cell cycle, or homologous recombination (HR), considered to be an 9error-free9 method for DSB repair that occurs in the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Deficiencies in NHEJ or HR can result in genomic instability via genomic incorporation of chromosomal aberrations, which can ultimately lead to an increased risk of cancer. However, in many cases, the mechanisms by which defects in these pathways lead to an increased risk of developing cancer is unknown, making preventative care and treatment of resulting cancers more difficult. Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA1), an established tumor suppressor, is a protein necessary for the proper repair of DNA DSBs through the HR pathway. Defects in BRCA1, whether genetically inherited or spontaneously developed, have been linked to different types of cancer in both men and women, including breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer. Yet, the regulation of BRCA1 in HR is not well understood and thus highlights a major a gap in our understanding of how deficiencies in HR contribute to the development of cancer. Our lab has discovered that SIRT2, a class III NAD+ dependent histone deacetylase and putative human tumor suppressor, plays a crucial role in the DDR and repair of DNA DSBs. We have shown that depletion of SIRT2 impairs HR and increases cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation in a deacetylase-dependent manner. A mass spectrometry analysis showed SIRT2 interacts with several proteins involved in DDR, including BRCA1. We validated the interaction between SIRT2 and BRCA1 and found SIRT2 deacetylates BRCA1 both in vitro and in cells. Depletion of SIRT2 and subsequent deacetylation of BRCA1 decreases BRCA1 protein levels in cells, impairing HR. Our results show SIRT2 is a novel regulator of BRCA1 and is critical for the repair of DNA DSBs through HR. These findings provide invaluable insights into how to exploit the interplay between SIRT2 and BRCA1 as a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Citation Format: Minten EV, Zhang H, Li C, Head PE, Yu DS. Regulation of BRCA1 by SIRT2 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-06-01.
Mulibrey Nanism Syndrome: A Case for Heart Transplantation

Mulibrey nanism syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting multiple organ systems. The cardiovascular system is one of the most significantly affected, with simultaneous myocardial and pericardial disease. These patients are usually managed by pericardiectomy to resolve the milieu of hemodynamic problems ensuing due to concurrent constrictive and restrictive pathologies. We highlight the use of cardiac transplantation as a definitive management for a hemodynamically decompensated patient with Mulibrey nanism syndrome.
Bound manganese oxides capable of reducing the bacteriochlorophyll dimer of modified reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

A biohybrid model system is described that interfaces synthetic Mn-oxides with bacterial reaction centers to gain knowledge concerning redox reactions by metal clusters in proteins, in particular the Mn4CaO5 cluster of photosystem II. The ability of Mn-oxides to bind to modified bacterial reaction centers and transfer an electron to the light-induced oxidized bacteriochlorophyll dimer, P+, was characterized using optical spectroscopy. The environment of P was altered to obtain a high P/P+ midpoint potential. In addition, different metal-binding sites were introduced by substitution of amino acid residues as well as extension of the C-terminus of the M subunit with the C-terminal region of the D1 subunit of photosystem II. The Mn-compounds MnO2, αMn2O3, Mn3O4, CaMn2O4, and Mn3(PO4)2 were tested and compared to MnCl2. In general, addition of the Mn-compounds resulted in a decrease in the amount of P+ while the reduced quinone was still present, demonstrating that the Mn-compounds can serve as secondary electron donors. The extent of P+ reduction for the Mn-oxides was largest for αMn2O3 and CaMn2O4 and smallest for Mn3O4 and MnO2. The addition of Mn3(PO4)2 resulted in nearly complete P+ reduction, similar to MnCl2. Overall, the activity was correlated with the initial oxidation state of the Mn-compound. Transient optical measurements showed a fast kinetic component, assigned to reduction of P+ by the Mn-oxide, in addition to a slow component due to charge recombination. The results support the conjecture that the incorporation of Mn-oxides by ancient anoxygenic phototrophs was a step in the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis.
Learning and payoff externalities in an investment game

Abstract This paper examines the interplay of informational and payoff externalities in a two-player irreversible investment game. Each player learns about the quality of his project by observing a private signal and the action of his opponent. I characterize the unique symmetric equilibrium in a timing game that features a second-mover advantage, allowing for arbitrary correlation in project qualities. Despite private learning, the game reduces to a stochastic war of attrition. In contrast to the case of purely informational externalities, all investments happen at the same real time instant—irrespective of the sign of the correlation—and beliefs never get trapped in a no-learning region, provided that the second-mover advantage is sufficiently high.
Chapter 5 – Quantum Step and Activation Energy

Publisher Summary This chapter studies quantization with a quantum step. It develops ways to calculate the density of states (DOS) of quantum steps allowing scientists to sum the optical transitions and correlate them with the photo reflectance measurements. New understanding relating to band-edge alignment may be studied with quantum steps. In particular, it should be possible to utilize the quasi-discrete nature of the DOS of a quantum step in a variety of photo-assisted processes. With regard to the quantum step, electro-reflectance offers distinct simplicity. It is known that the quantum step offers another way of characterizing the heterojunction systems. Unlike quantum wells where many quantum devices have been explored and developed into routine applications such as oscillators, lasers, and amplifiers, it is conceivable that the quantum step may also be developed into useful devices. A quantum step can also provide various parameters that characterize a quantum system. The DOS is calculated using the residence time, which in turn is used in the calculation of electroreflectance.
Kinetics of Nanoparticle Radiolabeling of Metalloporphyrin with 64Cu for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging

Porphyrins are a unique class of biocompatible molecules with strong light absorption and rich coordination chemistry, leading to their use as chelating agents in applications such as biomedical im...
Control of arrival time using structured wave packets

Abstract Scattering dynamics are examined for Gaussian and non-Gaussian wave packets with identical momentum densities. Average arrival time delays, dwell times, and phase time delays are calculated for wave packets scattering from a square barrier, and it is shown that the non-Gaussian wave packets exhibit different average arrival time delays than the Gaussian wave packets. These differences result from the non-linear terms in the momentum wave function phase of the non-Gaussian wave packets, which alters the self-interaction times of the wave packets. Control of the average arrival time delay can be achieved through adjustment of the momentum wave function phase, independent of wave packet energy and momentum density.
And Still I Rise: Resilience Factors Contributing to Posttraumatic Growth in African American Women:

Understanding the impact of trauma and resilience has long been of interest to mental health professionals everywhere. However, what is missing in the literature is the unique standpoint of African...
Maria Varela’s Flickering Light: Literacy, Filmstrips, and the Work of Adult Literacy Education in the Civil Rights Movement

In this article, I take up the underrecognized and almost unstudied literacy work of Maria Varela, a Latinx Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) staff member in charge of developing literacy materials for African Americans in the South during the 1960s. I analyze the use of community activism in the multimodal literacy materials that Varela and African American communities collaboratively produced. These filmstrips played a critical role in those communities developing a new ethos of place: an imagined and embodied relationship between local and national communities that offers a new identity, sense of participatory agency, and place from which to speak.
A preocupação com a preservação do patrimônio: estudo de caso do Ginásio das Dores em Porto Alegre

O presente artigo trata sobre o estudo da importância da preservacao de patrimonios historicos, ressaltando a iniciativa da Rede La Salle que desde o ano de 2007 esta envolvida com o processo de restauracao e reutilizacao do Ginasio Nossa Senhora das Dores, situado no Centro Historico de Porto Alegre o qual fazia parte da Escola La Salle Dores ate final da decada de cinquenta. O estudo foi desenvolvido atraves de pesquisa em fotos, documentos, reportagens, revistas, folhetins da escola. Alem do projeto de restauro e a continuacao desta iniciativa que foi o documento realizado por uma comissao. Tambem foi realizado entrevistas com Irmaos Lassalistas. Os documentos e outros se encontram no Arquivo Central da Rede La Salle. O trabalho conclui que o restauro do patrimonio historico da Rede La Salle e sua transformacao em Centro Cultural ira preservar as memorias da instituicao e evolucao da sua obra educacional, alem de dar novo conceito a edificacao guardando suas caracteristicas historicas e fortalecendo economica e socialmente esta regiao.
Why do learners ignore expected feedback in making metacognitive decisions about retrieval practice

We report two experiments investigating why learners, in making metacognitive judgments, often seem to ignore or otherwise fail to appreciate that feedback following retrieval practice provides a restudy opportunity. Learners practiced word pairs for a final cued-recall test by studying each pair initially, making a judgment of learning (JOL), and then deciding whether to practice the pair again after a short or long spacing interval, or not at all. For different groups in Experiment 1, additional practice involved restudying, retrieval practice without feedback, or retrieval practice with feedback (the full pair). We used procedures (long feedback duration and covert retrieval practice) designed to rule out the possibility that feedback is ignored because it is usually brief or because participants' choices are influenced by a desire to look good by performing well on overt practice tests. In the relearning condition, learners preferred a long spacing interval for items at all JOL levels. Despite the feedback duration and the covert retrieval practice, learners in both retrieval-practice conditions preferred a short spacing interval for hard, low-JOL items and a long spacing interval for easy, high-JOL items, even though this may not be an effective strategy when feedback is provided. In Experiment 2, instructions framed feedback either as a presentation of the correct answer or as a restudy opportunity preceded by retrieval practice. Framing feedback as a restudy opportunity markedly changed the choices learners made. Apparently, the restudy function of feedback does not occur to learners unless they are specifically alerted to it.
Evaluating the benefits of using a context classification system to develop intersection safety performance functions

Safety performance functions (SPFs) are used to predict intersection crashes. Unlike previous studies, which only used the three categories outlined in the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) to develop SP...
Treatment Thresholds for Tetranychus pacificus (Acari: Tetranychidae) in California Almonds Based on Monitoring for the Natural Enemy Scolothrips sexmaculatus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Optimization of integrated pest management for Pacific spider mite, Tetranychus pacificus McGregor, in California almonds requires that miticide applications be delayed as long as possible to promote biological control, while still occurring before exponential mite increases cause defoliation. We used data from twelve untreated almond orchards between 2006 and 2019 to determine that decisions to treat T. pacificus should be made on the first monitoring date with 1.4 mites per leaf (38.1% of leaves infested) to ensure that miticide applications are made prior to reaching the treatment threshold of 5.4 per leaf an average of 4.7 d later. Modifications to this threshold based on biological control were made using capture rates of sixspotted thrips, Scolothrips sexmaculatus Pergande, on yellow adhesive traps from 14 almond orchards between 2016 and 2019. Data showed that T. pacificus density remained unchanged when there were 0.42 S. sexmaculatus per trap per week for every one T. pacificus per leaf. For orchards where T. pacificus density has exceeded action and treatment thresholds, we developed a less accurate, but more practical, model that does not require counting mites on leaves. On average, T. pacificus density remained unchanged for seven and 14 d if there were an average of five and three S. sexmaculatus per trap per week, respectively. Growers who adopt the action and treatment thresholds presented herein have the potential to avoid unnecessary miticide use, maximize reliance on biological control, and promote the long-term sustainability of California's almond industry.
Longitudinal Changes in Body Composition Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Abstract Sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle tissue, has been identified as a potential risk factor for adverse outcomes in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. However, much remains unknown about longitudinal changes in body composition following HCT. We retrospectively evaluated computed tomography (CT) imaging from 315 lymphoma patients undergoing HCT at our institution between 2000 and 2014. Two HCT cohorts were established: auto-HCT (did not receive allo-HCT, n=218) and allo-HCT (may have received previous auto-HCT, n=97). Cross-sectional area of lean muscle, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were measured at the level of the third lumbar vertebral body (L3) on an axial CT image prior to HCT, 1 year post-HCT, and 2.5 years post-HCT. Lean muscle was normalized for height and reported as L3 skeletal muscle index (L3SMI). Sarcopenia was defined as L3SMI ≤39 cm2/m2 for women and ≤55 cm2/m2for men. Sarcopenia prior to HCT was observed in 50% of HCT recipients, 47% in the auto-HCT cohort and 57% in the allo-HCT cohort. The number of lines of therapy prior to HCT was predictive of sarcopenia prior to HCT (OR=1.29, p=.01). There was a significant decline in skeletal muscle mass over time for patients in the allo-HCT cohort when compared to the trend in the auto-HCT cohort (-6.52 cm2/imaging interval, p= In conclusion, retrospective analysis of CT imaging revealed significant loss of muscle mass and an increased incidence of sarcopenia following HCT, especially in patients undergoing allo-HCT. Future studies are needed to further characterize changes in body composition in HCT recipients and investigate its impact on HCT outcomes. Download : Download high-res image (74KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Accuracy of the Lymph Node Yield in Surgery for Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Children.

Our aim was to determine the accuracy of lymph node yield (LNY) for pediatric patients undergoing thyroidectomy with concurrent lymph nodes harvest for clinically node-negative (cN0) papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Patients aged ≤ 18 years with cN0 PTC undergoing thyroidectomy were reviewed in the NCDB, 1998–2016. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with ≥ 1 LNY were compared to those without. A truncated beta-binomial distribution estimated the number of lymph nodes needed to detect pathologic nodal positivity, and LNY was calibrated for 90% sensitivity in nodal staging and stratified across clinical tumor size staging (T). 1,948 children with cN0 PTC underwent surgical resection; median age was 17 years; 83.2% were female; 47.6% were T1, 25.3% T2, 9.3% T3. 1,272 (65.3%) of these patients had lymph nodes resected, or ≥ 1 LNY. The median LNY was 5 nodes (interquartile range 2–12); 45.9% of patients had ≥ 1 metastatic lymph nodes. In the overall ≥ 1 LNY cohort, 12 nodes (CI 9–19) were needed to predict nodal positivity with > 90% sensitivity. Based on clinical T-stage, detecting a metastatic lymph node with > 90% sensitivity required a LNY of 14 for T1; 8 for T2; 6 for T3. This is the first study estimating the necessary LNY for determining nodal positivity in children with cN0 PTC. The high LNY required in small T1 tumors is likely infeasible and should not be pursued. Accuracy increases with lower LNYs for higher T-stages. Our findings can help guide prognosis and treatment for pediatric patients with PTC.
Variceal bleeding

Primary prophylaxis: Patients with cirrhosis who have esophageal varices but who have never had a bleeding episode may be treated medically or endoscopically. Without treatment, approximately 30% of cirrhotic patients with varices bleed and this risk is reduced by approximately 50% with therapy. Medical therapy includes nonselective beta blockers with or without nitrates. Compliance and side effects limit efficacy. Primary prophylaxis with endoscopic sclerotherapy is not warranted because of evidence suggesting that complications outweigh benefits. Studies of endoscopic therapy with ligation (endoscopic banding) demonstrate that in select patients (those with large varices), endoscopic banding may reduce the risk of first bleeding episode when compared with propranolol. Patients with large varices may benefit from a combination of banding with nonselective beta blockers. Secondary prophylaxis: After an initial variceal bleed, the risk of a second bleed is high and therapy is warranted to reduce the risk of rebleeding. The options are similar to those for primary prophylaxis, and in addition to medical and endoscopic therapy, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) and surgical shunts are therapeutic options. The combination of endoscopic therapy with medical therapy is the initial approach to prevent variceal rebleeding. Endoscopic banding is preferred to sclerotherapy because banding is associated with lower bleeding rates and fewer complications. TIPS is useful in cases refractory to endoscopic therapy or in uncontrolled variceal hemorrhage. Surgical shunts are typically reserved for patients in whom TIPS cannot be performed for technical reasons or for well-compensated cirrhotic patients. Acute variceal bleeding: Acute bleeding from esophageal varices requires an endoscopic evaluation and therapeutic intervention. Technically, endoscopic banding may not be possible because of limited visualization from bleeding and sclerotherapy is used because it is easier to perform in this setting. A continuous intravenous drip of octreotide should be initiated if variceal bleeding is suspected. If variceal bleeding cannot be controlled, then a Minnesota tube or Sengstaken-Blakemore tube should be placed by someone with experience. TIPS is effective rescue therapy for controlling acute variceal hemorrhage in circumstances when other methods fail.
Medication adherence in cardiovascular medicine

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. While pharmacological advancements have improved the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease, non-adherence to prescribed treatment remains a significant barrier to improved patient outcomes. A variety of strategies to improve medication adherence have been tested in clinical trials, and include the following categories: improving patient education, implementing medication reminders, testing cognitive behavioral interventions, reducing medication costs, utilizing healthcare team members, and streamlining medication dosing regimens. In this review, we describe specific trials within each of these categories and highlight the impact of each on medication adherence. We also examine ongoing trials and future lines of inquiry for improving medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
The Indomitable Mary Easton Sibley: Pioneer of Women's Education in Missouri

Review of: "The Indomitable Mary Easton Sibley: Pioneer of Women's Education in Missouri," by Kristie C. Wolferman.
Abstract T MP62: Persistent Racial Disparities in Outcomes for Middle-aged People With Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the US Stroke ‘Buckle’

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has no cure and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. While the burden of ICH on Black patients (vs. Non-Hispanic White counterparts) has long been recognized, recent comparative trends in the racial characteristics of ICH among people Methods: Utilizing the South Carolina hospital discharge database, patients (age 25-64 years) discharged with a primary diagnosis of ICH (ICD9 431) from 2001 to 2012 were identified. Black to White disparity rate ratios for stroke hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality were calculated based on rates per 100,000 population by discharge year. Clinical characteristics were compared by multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age and gender. Results: There were 4,285 (Blacks = 2,557 and Whites = 1,728) ICH hospitalizations from 2001 to 2012 in patients Conclusions: Over the last 12 years, rates of hospital-based ICH outcomes remained persistently and considerably poorer among middle-aged Black vs. White patients within the US Stroke Buckle. Intensified efforts aimed at mitigating the personal and societal burden of this lingering racial disparity are warranted.
Genetic and molecular dissection of quantitative traits in rice

Recent progress in the generation of a molecular genetic map and markers for rice has made possible a new phase of mapping individual genes associated with complex traits. This type of analysis is often referred to as quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Increasing numbers of QTL analyses are providing enormous amounts of information about QTLs, such as the numbers of loci involved, their chromosomal locations and gene effects. Clarification of genetic bases of complex traits has a big impact not only on fundamental research on rice plant development, but it also has practical benefits for rice breeding. In this review, we summarize recent progress of QTL analysis of several complex traits in rice. A strategy for positional cloning of genes at QTLs is also discussed.
A symbolic algorithm for determining convexity of a matrix function: how to get Schur complements out of your life

Inequalities involving polynomials in matrices and their inverses and associated optimization problems have become very important in engineering. When these polynomials are "matrix convex" interior point methods apply directly. A difficulty is that often an engineering problem presents a matrix polynomial problem whose convexity takes considerable skill, time, and luck to determine. Typically this is done by looking at a formula and recognizing complicated patterns involving Schur complements; a tricky hit or miss procedure. Certainly computer assistance in determining convexity would be valuable. The paper describes some symbolic methods and software which represent a beginning along these lines. Our procedure proceeds automatically and completely avoids Schur complement wizardry. The paper presents an algorithm which takes in a noncommutative rational function /spl Gamma/(X) of X and puts out a family of inequalities which determine a domain F of X's on which /spl Gamma/ is "matrix convex". Somewhat surprising and decidedly non-trivial is our main theorem showing that when the variable X is symmetric, that is X=X/sup T/, then the domain G determined by our algorithm is, in a certain sense, the largest possible domain of matrix convexity for T. Of possible independent interest is a theory of positivity of noncommutative quadratic functions and a noncommutative LDU algorithm. The algorithms described have been implemented under Mathematica and the noncommutative algebra package NCAlgebra. Examples presented in the article illustrate some of this software.
Inhibition of voltage-gated K+ channel gene expression by the neuropeptide thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Many neurotransmitters regulate action potential activity in neuronal, endocrine, and cardiac cells by rapidly modulating the gating of K+ channels. Neurotransmitters might also produce prolonged effects on excitability by regulating the expression of K+ channel genes. Here we show that the neuropeptide thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) down-regulates Kv1.5 and Kv2.1 K+ channel mRNAs in clonal pituitary cells. The effect on Kv1.5 mRNA expression does not require protein synthesis and is due to decreased transcription. Immunoblots demonstrate that Kv1.5 and Kv2.1 immunoreactivities are significantly reduced by TRH within 12 hr. The change in channel protein expression is associated with a decrease in voltage-gated K+ currents. Thus, TRH enhances excitability by inhibiting K+ channel gene expression. Neuropeptide regulation of K+ channel gene expression may produce long-term changes in neuronal action potential activity and synaptic transmission.
COMPARING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EARNINGS USING STATE WAGE SURVEYS

This paper shows how state wage surveys can be used to compare the earnings of public and private sector workers within states. This subject of long-running interest to economists has generated a complex and sometimes contradictory set of empirical results. Surprisingly little, if any, of this academic work has used the publicly available wage surveys that many states routinely collect. This paper serves as an introduction to such surveys and an application of the Wisconsin State Wage Survey for the purpose of comparing public and private compensation. While the evidence generally indicates public earnings are higher, we are careful to point out the limitations of our methodology which suggests this conclusion is incomplete.
Structural Variations in Copper(II) Complexes of a Bitopic Bis(pyrazolyl)methane Ligand

The equal molar reaction of Cu(BF4)2·3H2O with the ditopic, bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligand p-[CH(pz)2]2C6H4 (Lp) where pz is a pyrazolyl ring, in methanol produces [Cu(μ-Lp)(CH3OH)](BF4)2·(CH3OH)0.62 (1) and a similar reaction in water/methanol yields [Cu(μ-Lp)(CH3OH)]2(SiF6)(BF4)2·(CH3OH)2 (2). The water/ethanol solvent system yields both [Cu2(μ-Lp)(H2O)6](SiF6)2·(H2O)4 (3) and [Cu(μ-Lp)(H2O)](BF4)2·(CH3CH2OH)2 (4), and if the ratio of Cu(BF4)2·3H2O and Lp is changed to 2:1, only 3 forms. Recrystallization of the solid formed from the reaction of THF solutions of Cu(BF4)2·3H2O with Lp from DMSO yields [Cu2(μ-Lp)(DMSO)6](BF4)4·(DMSO)2·C6H6·(H2O)0.5 (5) and a recrystallization of compound 1 from DMSO yields [Cu2(μ-Lp)(DMSO)6](BF4)4·(DMSO)2·C6H6 (6). Complexes 1, 2, and 4 are coordination polymers in which the N4O-coordinated, square-pyramidal copper(II) ions are oriented in an anti conformation withrespect to the phenylene spacer of Lp. Complexes 3, 5 and 6 are dinuclear with N2O3-coordinated, square-pyramidal copper(II) ions again oriented in an anti configuration with respect to the bridging Lp. The square pyramidal geometries show axial elongation, a result of pseudo Jahn–Teller electronic effects. In the cases of the coordination polymers, the axially coordinated solvent molecule is lost at low temperatures upon heating of the crystals. The three compounds in each structural type have nearly the same overall configurations. Cooperative effects of O–H···F, O–H···O and C–H···F hydrogen bonding interactions organize the supramolecular structures and influence the crystal packing of complexes 1–4. The C–H···F interactions have metrics that indicate they are unusually strong, due to the enhanced polarization of the C–H bond and charge assistance from the anionic fluorine atom.
The neural network self-healing process by using a reconstructed sample space

The inherent ability of neural networks to recover information when neurons in the network are damaged is discussed. This self-healing property is shown to exist in networks used for pattern recognition. The self-organizing feature map (SOFM) is the network used to study this topic. The SOFM has an efficient data compression technique that allows signal processing techniques to be used in recovering lost information from destroyed nodes. >
Abortions by resident physicians in a municipal hospital center.

Abstract In Bellevue Hospital, a municipal hospital serving a densely populated area, the majority of abortions are performed by the junior resident staff, under the supervision of attending physicians. Abortion statistics, birth statistics, and a review of significant complications of in-hospital abortions for the period of July 1, 1970, through February 28, 1971, are presented, and comparisons are made with related data for the same period in 1968. Our figures indicate that even in relatively inexperienced hands in-hospital abortions on a large scale can be performed with a low incidence of complications. Most of the immediate complications, however, are potentially life-threatening and require prompt, experienced gynecologic management in a hospital setting.
Mechanics of Carbon Nanotubes

This chapter reviews basic models and new effects in the still emerging field of Nanoscale Mechanics and one of its essential parts: Mechanics of Carbon Nanotubes . Experiments with carbon nanotubes, theoretical models and modeling (i.e., molecular dynamics simulations), classification of carbon nanotubes into four classes (i.e., thin and thick lattice shells , long high-aspect-ratio nanotubes and beam-like carbon nanotube crystals of small radii) have been reviewed. Classification of carbon nanotubes is important for the safety of nanotechnology and evaluation of health effects. Interfacial sliding of the adjacent lattice shells in the multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) has been discussed along with a nanoscale analog of the Newton’s friction law and the effect of spatial exclusion of electrons (ESEE) at the interface , which effectively can be viewed as a nanoscale analog of the Pauli’s exclusion principle. Examples of lattice waves, i.e., phonons, in carbon nanotubes have been presented. Ranges of applicability of estimates for the effective thickness of carbon nanotubes varying between 0.66 and 3.4 A have been examined along with their dependence on the balance between the elastic interactions and van der Waals forces.
Optimizing building form for energy performance based on hierarchical geometry relation

Abstract Most current research using optimization with building performance was restricted to simple geometry. It considered the building form as a box, polygonal shape, or simple curvature, restricting its applicability and integration with the design process. Generally, geometry variables including length, height, and depth usually control the objective values such as the area and volume of the building. Using these variables, the energy consumption data or simulation results per area or volume are compared to find the optimal form of the building. In addition, the algorithms used to predict performance in most of optimization studies are rather unsophisticated. There are technical constraints that are caused by specific problems that building simulation and optimization tools currently pose. For example, one major constraint can be lack of automated comparisons between different conditions and sharing geometry and boundaries with ease of operability. If the technical constraints can be overcome, building performance will much more easily be integrated into the design process. This paper introduces new method to control building forms by defining hierarchical relationship between geometry points to allow the user to explore the building geometry without being restricted to a box or simple form. It illustrates how the methodology allows the generation of optimized site-specific building form by integrating advanced simulation and optimization algorithm.
Common Postoperative Complications in Otolaryngology Presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department

Postoperative complications in pediatric otolaryngology often present to the emergency department. Posttonsillectomy hemorrhage is a feared complication due to its lethal potential and should be managed in conjunction with an otolaryngologist. Physicians should possess and awareness of procedures that have been used in an emergent setting. Postoperative pain management options are discussed including acetaminophen, acetaminophen with codeine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Rare postadenoidectomy complications such as nasopharyngeal stenosis and Grisel syndrome are discussed. Tympanostomy tubes are the most common surgery in children, and the proper treatment of posttympanostomy tube otorrhea is discussed.
Incorporating Accountability into Internet E-mail

ABSTRACT E-mail used to be the number one killer application of the Internet. However, misuse such as spam, phishing, and malware attacks has plagued E-mail systems. Considering deterrence as important as prevention and protection in countering E-mail misuse, we aim to improve accountability in the E-mail system beyond identification and non repudiability. Full accountability should be an intrinsic condition for trust and it constitutes the basis of deterrence against E-mail misuse. Therefore, we propose to use a layered trust management framework to help E-mail receivers eliminate their unwitting trust and provide them with accountability support. We formalize the notions of identification, authorization, attestation, and retribution as key elements of accountability. We show how our framework can help E-mail systems deter misuse and address wrongdoing. Our simulation studies confirm that the proposed system is effective in mitigating spam. We believe that our trust management framework can also be used ...
Racial Politics and Redistribution: Isolating the Contingent Influence of Civil Rights, Riots, and Crime on Tax Progressivity

To assess the determinants of political support for redistribution, this time-series study analyzes historically contingent changes in the progressivity of the income tax. Nonviolent civil rights protest should increase sympathy for the least affluent and enhance support for redistributive policies, but social problems blamed on the underclass may have the opposite effect. After controlling for shifts in partisan control of the presidency, nonwhite presence, family incomes, and union strength, the results suggest that civil rights activity leads to redistributive tax codes, but social problems blamed on the underclass such as riots or crime reduce tax progressivity. Additional findings suggest that these relationships are contingent. The positive relationship between civil rights actions and redistributive tax policies is significantly stronger when Democrats control the presidency, but the negative relationship between riots and egalitarian taxation is enhanced during Republican administrations.
International teachers negotiating 21st century science classrooms: a question of hybridized identities and pedagogical imaginaries

International high school science teachers are crossing international and cultural borders to teach, raising important issues in education. In this article, we describe the cross-cultural assessment challenges that four international science teachers encountered when they migrated to teach in the United States. These included differences in grade expectations for a given quality of work, the weight given to final examinations, the assessment process, and cutoff scores for letter grades. To become proficient in their new teaching contexts, the participating teachers had to modify (or hybridize) their assessment philosophies and practices in order to conform to the expectations of their new schools. This hybridization process ushered them into what is proposed as the Pedagogical imaginary; a transitional space between the ``purity'' of their native educational conventions and that of their American schools. The implications of these findings are discussed in hopes of improving high school science teaching experiences for international science teachers.