cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical process based reconstruction of exposures for an epidemiological study. I. Theoretical and methodological issues.

Abstract In the occupational hygiene component of occupational epidemiological studies the goal is to assign group average exposure levels that can be used to compute individual cumulative exposures. This task requires the availability of sufficient amounts of proper individual exposure level data. Typically, the required data are either sparse, completely lacking or happenstance data collected for purposes not suitable for the aims of the study. In the epidemiological study of mortality patterns among industrial workers exposed to chloroprene and other substances, we developed and used a process analysis and modeling based exposure reconstruction to augment, extrapolate, or interpolate the available exposure data. The models developed utilize equations based on the engineering principles and chemistry associated with the processes as determined from the process documentation and task performance habits as determined from interviews of knowledgeable personnel. The resulting equations are tractable and provide a general basis for calculating exposure levels for vapors. The validation of the results with available exposure measurements suggests that comprehensive process analysis and modeling may be used to reconstruct exposures or to evaluate exposure potential with scientifically defensible methods. Furthermore, even in the absence of validating data, the methodology developed has potentially very useful applications in predicting exposure levels to newly synthesized substances. Properly interpreted, the limitations of modeling can be minimized to obtain scientifically reasonable results
Electrochemically Induced Phase Transformation in Nanoscale Olivines Li1−xMPO4 (M = Fe, Mn)

The phase stability and phase transformation kinetics of Li1−xMPO4 olivines are critical to their performance as lithium storage electrodes. In this work, nanoscale (<100 nm primary particle size) Li1−xFePO4 and Li1−xMnPO4 are chosen as model systems for comparison with a coarser-grained LiFePO4 that exhibits a conventional two-phase reaction. The nanoscale materials first exhibit time and state-of-charge dependences of the electrochemical potential and structural parameters which show that stable two-phase coexistence is not reached. The evolution of structural parameters supports the existence of a coherency stress influenced crystal−crystal transformation. However, an additional response, the preferential formation of amorphous phase at nanosize scale, is identified. In Li1−xFePO4, at 34 nm average particle size, at least one amorphous phase of varying Li content coexists with the crystalline phases. In Li1−xMnPO4 of 78 nm particle size, the electrochemically formed delithiated phase is highly disorder...
Pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcer in a patient with large granular lymphocytic leukemia

Large granular lymphocytic leukemia refers to a clonal expansion of lymphocytes that have abundant cytoplasm and azurophilic granules. The disease is characterized clinically by chronic neutropenia and it may be associated with recurrent pyogenic infections. Except for these infections, cutaneous manifestations of this disease have not been well characterized. We describe a patient with large granular lymphocytic leukemia, which was confirmed by molecular genetics studies, who had a pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcer on his leg. Results of an evaluation of the histologic characteristics and the leukocytic immunophenotype of a skin biopsy specimen from the ulcer demonstrated large granular lymphocytes within the blood vessels. Cutaneous ulceration may be a manifestation of large granular lymphocytic leukemia, and this disease should be considered when diagnosing patients with otherwise unexplained pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcers of the skin.
Capture of small particles by drops falling in electric fields

Abstract The capture of small diffusing particles of radius rp by a falling droplet of radius R ⪢ rp was investigated theoretically. Thereby, the effects of homogeneous electrical field E∞, parallel to the direction of the speed of fall U∞, and electrical charges q, Q of the particles and the droplet, respectively, are taken into account. If the Peclet number Pe = RU∞/D ⪢ 1 (D is the diffusion coefficient of the particles) then the problem leads to a formulation in terms of a diffusion boundary layer equation. Without electrical forces the boundary layer thickness δ has the order of magnitude Pe − 1 3 ; whereas, the stronger attracting electrical forces, δ ∼ (PEG)−1, where the velocity ratio G = E∞qB/U∞ with B the mobility of the particles. Formulas for the capture efficiency η of the droplet are given for positive and negative values of G.
Rearrangements of functions

Abstract Let ƒ, g be measurable non-negative functions on R, and let \ tf, ḡ be their equimeasurable symmetric decreasing rearrangements. Let F: R × R → R be continuous and suppose that the associated rectangle function defined by F(R) = F(a, c) + F(b, d) − F(a, d) − F(b, c) for R = [(x, y) ϵ R 2 ¦ a ⩽ x ⩽ b, c ⩽ y ⩽ d] , is non-negative. Then ∝ F(ƒ, g) dμ ⩽ ∝ F( \ tf, g ) dμ , where μ is Lebesgue measure. The concept of equimeasurable rearrangement is also defined for functions on a more general class of measure spaces, and the inequality holds in the general case. If F(x, y) = −ϑ(x − y), where ϑ is convex and ϑ(0) = 0, then we obtain ∝ ϑ( \ tf − g ) dμ ⩽ ∝ ϑ(ƒ − g) dμ . In particular, if ϑ(x) = ¦x¦ p , 1 ⩽ p ⩽ +∞ , then we find that the operator S:ƒ → \ tf is a contraction on Lp for 1 ⩽ p ⩽ +∞.
Release of plasminogen activator by the isolated perfused dog kidney.

BLOOD contains a proenzyme, plasminogen (profibrinolysin), which is converted to the proteolytic enzyme plasmin (fibrinolysin) by plasminogen activator. The level of plasminogen activator in the blood is increased in conditions of stress and after injection of epinephrine or nicotinic acid1,2. The origin of blood plasminogen activator has not been established with certainty although it has been suggested that it may be derived from the plasminogen activator activity found in association with the endothelial lining of vessel walls3–5. In dogs, blood fibrinolytic activity can be increased by intravenous injection of a number of vasoactive drugs6,7, but vasodilative drugs (for example, histamine) appear to be more effective than vasoconstrictive ones8.
Genomic and clinical analysis of fusion gene amplification in rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the Children's Oncology Group

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive pediatric cancer of the myogenic lineage with frequent chromosomal translocations involving the PAX3 or PAX7 and FOXO1 genes. Based on previous studies indicating that the fusion genes are amplified in a subset of these cancers, we conducted a comprehensive molecular and clinical investigation of these amplification events. Using oligonucleotide arrays to localize amplicons, we found that the minimal 1p36 amplicon measured 0.13 Mb and only contained PAX7 whereas the minimal 13q14 amplicon measured 0.53 Mb and contained FOXO1 and the poorly characterized LOC646982 gene. Application of a fluorescence in situ hybridization assay to over 100 fusion-positive cases revealed that the fusion gene is amplified in 93% of PAX7-FOXO1-positive and 9% of PAX3-FOXO1-positive cases. While most cells in amplified PAX7-FOXO1-positive cases contained the amplicon, only a fraction of cells in the amplified PAX3-FOXO1-positive cases contained the amplicon. Expression studies demonstrated that the fusion transcripts were generally expressed at higher levels in amplified cases, and that the PAX7-FOXO1 fusion transcript was expressed at higher levels than the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion transcript. Finally, fusion gene amplification and PAX7-FOXO1 fusion status were each associated with significantly improved outcome; a multivariate analysis demonstrated that this predictive value was independent of other standard prognostic parameters. These findings therefore provide further evidence for a novel good prognosis subset of fusion-positive RMS. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Total synthesis of fostriecin: via a regio- and stereoselective polyene hydration, oxidation, and hydroboration sequence.

A total synthesis of the fostriecin has been achieved in 24 steps from enyne 11. The lactone moiety was installed by a Leighton allylation and Grubbs ring-closing metathesis reaction. The highly reactive Z,Z,E-triene moiety was installed via a late-stage Suzuki−Miyaura cross-coupling of a remarkably stable Z-vinyl boronate. The relative and absolute stereocenters of the C-8,9,11 triol were generated with a regio- and stereoselective asymmetric hydration/oxidation sequence.
Gender-related effects in the job-design-job-satisfaction relationship: an interactional approach.

In this study, we took an interactional approach to understanding how ethic of care opportunity and self-actualization opportunity, two job design variables, are related to job satisfaction. Ethic of care opportunity in a job is theorized to result in satisfaction when job incumbents have high relational self-definition. Self-actualization opportunity in a job is theorized to result in satisfaction when incumbents have low relational self-definition. To the extent that women are likely to develop high relational self-definition, and men are likely to develop low relational self-definition, we hypothesized that the relationship between ethic of care opportunity and satisfaction would be strongest for women with high relational self-definition. We also hypothesized that the relationship between self-actualization opportunity and satisfaction would be strongest for men with low relational self-definition. Hypotheses were tested in a sample of women (n = 119) and men (n =115) with diverse job titles, and were supported. Results are discussed in terms of the strength of the job-design–job-satisfaction relationship for women and for men.
Embedded cluster Δ-XANES modeling of adsorption processes on Pt

Full multiple scattering models of X-ray absorption near edge spectra of Pt Janin clusters, with atop and bridge bound oxygen, were systematically improved by increasing the number of cluster atoms contributing X-ray photoelectrons from unity (limited-absorber model), to all six Janin cluster Pt atoms, and finally embedding the Janin cluster into a larger Pt reservoir with photoelectron contributions from all atoms. The simulated XANES of the adsorbate modified clusters were subtractively normalized to their respective clean clusters to yield Δ-XANES signatures. The sequential analysis of previously published limited-absorber model, and the isolated and embedded all atoms models provide insights concerning the relative contribution of surface vs. subsurface atoms to adsorbate induced ligand effects and charge compensation provided by the bulk lattice. Limitations to the application of Δ-XANES signatures to interpretation of Δ-XANES data obtained from an air-breathing fuel cell are discussed.
Bounded Solutions of Parabolic Equations in Continuous Function Spaces

This paper is concerned with the existence of bounded mild solutions to equations of the form u′(t) = Au(t) + f(t), where A generates a holomorphic semigroup that is not necessarily strongly continuous, and f is a bounded function. This problem arises when one considers a parabolic equation in spaces of continuous functions. The obtained results, that are stated in terms of spectral properties of the spectrum of A and the uniform spectrum of f, extend previous ones.
Viscous heating of a cylinder with finite length by a high viscosity fluid in steady longitudinal flow. II: Non-Newtonian Carreau model fluids

Abstract The viscous dissipation heating of a finite length cylinder exposed to a steady uniform velocity non-Newtonian fluid has been analyzed numerically. The solution determines the elliptic, velocity and temperature fields of a high viscosity non-Newtonian Carreau model fluid about an axisymmetric cylinder. With polymer processing in mind, Part I of this study [E.R.G. Eckert and J.N. Shadid, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer32, 321–334 (1989)] considered the effect of the Reynolds number, Prandtl number, probe radius to length ratio and the ratio of cylinder conductivity to fluid thermal conductivity. This paper extends these results by considering the effect of a temperature-dependent non-Newtonian shear thinning viscosity modeled by a temperature shifted Carreau fluid. Computations were performed for different values of the power law exponent, the Weisenberg number, and the Nehme number. In this study calculations are presented for an adiabatic probe with a radius to length ratio of 2.5 × 10−2, with the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers taken to be fixed at 10−3 and 108 respectively. The power law exponent is varied from 1.0 (Newtonian) to 0.2, the Weisenberg number varies from 0 (Newtonian) to 104, and the Nahme number between 0 and 104. The results determine the increase in the cylinder wall and tip temperature due to viscous frictional heating. Strong elliptic effects on the velocity extend over 100 radius lengths upstream from the cylinder. As expected the shear thinning behavior of the non-Newtonian viscosity is found to decrease the magnitude of the viscous dissipation heating of the probe surface. In contrast, the effect of the temperature dependence of viscosity described by the Nahme number is found to have a relatively small influence on the cylinder tip temperature.
E‐commerce, Transportation, and Economic Geography

ABSTRACT This paper explores possible ways in which growth in Internet retailing (e-retailing) may affect the spatial distribution of economic activities. After a brief overview of e-retailing, a categorization of possible spatial impacts is introduced. These include impacts on the retail industry, such as substitution of e-retail for brick-and-mortar retail, impacts on transportation, such as substitution of freight transportation for personal transportation in goods delivery, and pervasive impacts that affect the whole economy. The latter category includes uniform delivered pricing, spatial leveling of accessibility, and marketing strategies that target individuals rather than regions. The question of whether e-retailing and brick-and-mortar retailing are truly substitutes is taken up in the next section, along with potential implications of multi-channel retailing. The final section of the paper defines some critical research directions.
Migration, remittances and smallholder decision-making: Implications for land use and livelihood change in Central America

We model Central American migrant-sending household agricultural practices given labor losses and the concomitant infusion of remittances. Under the new economics of labor migration (NELM) framework, it is hypothesized that smallholder farm households invest remittance income in their land either to increase crop production or to transition to cattle ranching. We test this hypothesis by developing a combination of multivariate logistic, Poisson and beta regression techniques using Latin American Migration Project data to determine how agricultural land use change compared among migrant and non-migrant households in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Results indicate that a rise in months spent abroad and remittances returned do not translate into a higher percentage of farm sales, intensification or transition to cattle ranching – counter to NELM. However, farmers are investing remittances to increase row crop and pasture land holdings. These findings suggest remittance investments in quantitative increase rather than qualitative change in land use practices. Given the expansive land demands supporting low intensity smallholder agriculture and cattle, and the land degradation cattle precipitate particularly, the trend does not augur well for the sustainability of rural landscapes increasingly transformed by international remittances. Appropriate policies to champion coupled human-land system sustainability in Central America might usefully consider viable land use alternatives to remittance investments dedicated to crop and pasture expansion.
InfoExtractor – A Tool for Social Media Data Mining

ABSTRACT In this workbench note, we present InfoExtractor, a Web-based tool for collecting data and metadata from focused social media content. InfoExtractor then provides these data in various structured and unstructured formats for manipulation and analysis. The tool allows social science researchers to collect data for quantitative analysis, and is designed to deliver data from popular and influential social media sites in a useful and easy-to-access format. InfoExtractor was designed to replace traditional means of content aggregation, such as page scraping and brute-force copying.
Apolipoprotein E‐η4 allele and familial risk in Alzheimer's disease

Recent studies have found an association between presence of apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 allele and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study compared the cumulative risk of primary progressive dementia (PPD) in relatives of AD probands carrying at least one copy of the epsilon 4 allele with the relatives of AD probands not carrying epsilon 4 and with relatives of non-demented controls. Our aim was to determine whether the familial aggregation of PPD in relatives of AD probands is primarily due to those carrying epsilon 4. Seventy-seven neuropathologically diagnosed AD patients were obtained as probands through our Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Brain Bank. AD probands were genotyped for APOE. As a comparison group, 198 non-demented probands were also included. Through family informants, demographic and diagnostic data were collected on 382 first-degree relatives (age > or = 45 years) of AD probands and 848 relatives of the controls. We found that the cumulative risk of PPD in both relatives of AD probands with and without the epsilon 4 allele was significantly higher than that in the relatives of non-demented controls. However, the increased risk in the relatives of AD probands with the epsilon 4 allele was marginally, but not significantly, lower than the risk in the relatives of probands without epsilon 4. A greater likelihood of death by heart diseases over developing PPD in relatives of AD probands with epsilon 4 (3.1-fold increase) was found compared to relatives of probands without epsilon 4 (1.7-fold increase), especially prior to age 70, although the difference was not statistically significant. The increased familial risk for PPD in the relatives of AD probands with the APOE-epsilon 4 allele relative to controls suggests that familial factors in addition to APOE-epsilon 4 are risk factors for AD. Differential censorship from increased mortality of heart diseases may have prevented a higher incidence of PPD among the relatives of probands with epsilon 4.
Reconstruction of Maxillary Defects with the Radial Forearm Free Flap

The reconstruction of the midface and in particular the maxilla is a difficult task to perform with consistently good results. The basic objective of the reconstructive surgeon is to attempt to replace like tissue with like tissue. To that end, when faced with reconstructing ablative or traumatic defects, the first task to be undertaken by the surgeon is a detailed assessment of the missing tissue (eg, bone, mucosa, skin). This factor should be considered when selecting the flap to be used. The ideal flap should replace the missing tissue while minimizing morbidity to both the donor site and the recipient site. The microvascular flaps most commonly used for the reconstruction of the maxilla when both bone and soft tissues are to be replaced are the fibula free flap, the deep circumflex iliac artery flap, the scapular system flap, and the radial forearm free flap. The radial forearm flap is used most commonly as a fasciocutaneous free flap and is seldom used as an osteocutaneous free flap. The return of function and, secondly, esthetics should be of paramount importance to the reconstructive surgeon. The flap used should provide the appropriate substructures to support dental implants and dentures. When only soft tissue is needed, or when only a small amount of bone is required, the radial forearm free flap may be used as either a fasciocutaneous or an osteocutaneous flap. Anatomy of the forearm as it pertains to the harvesting of the radial forearm flap The radial artery forms the deep palmar arch of the hand. It travels down the forearm between the brachioradialis and flexor carpi radialis muscles. The ulnar artery forms the superficial palmar arch. The anastomosis between the deep and superficial arches allows the safe harvest of the radial artery without causing ischemia and necrosis of the hand and in particular the thumb. The radial artery has many fasciocutaneous perforators to the overlying skin. These perforators increase over the distal forearm. Additionally, the radial artery gives off perforators that pass through the flexor pollicis longus to supply the radius bone. These perforators allow the harvesting of an osteocutaneous flap. The venous drainage of the forearm is based on a deep and a superficial system. The superficial system is drained by larger-caliber subcutaneous veins that drain into the cephalic, basilic, and median cubital veins. The cephalic vein is the most commonly harvested vein. Numerous interconnections exist between the superficial and the deep system of veins. The deep system is based on the venae commitans of the radial artery. The sensory innervation of the forearm is by the medial and the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerves. These nerves can be harvested when a sensate flap is desired.
Children's interpretation of adult nonreaction: A trial-by-trial self-report assessment and evidence for contrast effects in an observational context

Abstract The study investigated children's interpretation of blank reaction (nonreaction) from one adult to another as a function of its pairing with positive or negative overt feedback. Each child watched through a one-way mirror as an evaluating adult provided feedback to a second adult who was performing on a two-choice discrimination task. After six initial blank reaction trials, children observed one of four types of feedback combinations over 60 experimental trials: (a) right feedback on some trials and blank reactions on others, (b) wrong feedback on some trials and blank reactions on others, (c) right, wrong, and nonreaction on different trials, or (d) nonreaction on all trials. There was little evidence that children consistently interpreted blank reaction as meaning right independent of feedback combination. In contrast, in the Right-Blank and Wrong-Blank feedback combinations, children interpreted blank as meaning the opposite of the overt feedback it was paired with on over two-thirds of the trials, with no sex differences or test anxiety effects.
Growth and Development Symposium: Stem cell therapy in equine tendon injury.

Tendon injuries affect all levels of athletic horses and represent a significant loss to the equine industry. Accumulation of microdamage within the tendon architecture leads to formation of core lesions. Traditional approaches to tendon repair are based on an initial period of rest to limit the inflammatory process followed by a controlled reloading program designed to promote the maturation and linear arrangement of scar tissue within the lesion. However, these treatment protocols are inefficient, resulting in prolonged recovery periods and frequent recurrence. Current alternative therapies include the use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) and a population of nucleated cells from adipose containing adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSC). Umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells (UCB) have recently received attention for their increased plasticity in vitro and potential as a therapeutic aid. Both BMSC and AdMSC require expansion in culture before implantation to obtain a pure stem cell population, limiting the time frame for implantation. Collected at parturition, UCB can be cryopreserved for future use. Furthermore, the low immunogenicity of the UCB population allows for allogeneic implantation. Current research indicates that BMSC, AdMSC, and UCB can differentiate into tenocyte-like cells in vitro, increasing expression of scleraxis, tenascin c, and extracellular matrix proteins. When implanted, BMSC and AdMSC engraft into the tendon and improve tendon architecture. However, treatment with these stem cells does not decrease recovery period. Furthermore, the resulting regeneration is not optimal, as the resulting tissue is still inferior to native tendon. Umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells may provide an alternate source of stem cells that promote improved regeneration of tendon tissue. A more naive cell population, these cells may have a greater rate of engraftment as well as an increased ability to secrete bioactive factors and recruit additional reparative cells. Further work should clarify the role of distinct stem cell sources in the regenerating tendon and the need for a naive or differentiated cell type for implantation.
A one-phase algorithm for semi-infinite linear programming

We present an algorithm for solving a large class of semi-infinite linear programming problems. This algorithm has several advantages: it handles feasibility and optimality together; it has very weak restrictions on the constraints; it allows cuts that are not near the most violated cut; and it solves the primal and the dual problems simultaneously. We prove the convergence of this algorithm in two steps. First, we show that the algorithm can find ane-optimal solution after finitely many iterations. Then, we use this result to show that it can find an optimal solution in the limit. We also estimate how good ane-optimal solution is compared to an optimal solution and give an upper bound on the total number of iterations needed for finding ane-optimal solution under some assumptions. This algorithm is generalized to solve a class of nonlinear semi-infinite programming problems. Applications to convex programming are discussed.
Quantum nonlocality does not exist

Quantum nonlocality is shown to be an artifact of the Copenhagen interpretation, in which each observed quantity has exactly one value at any instant. In reality, all physical systems obey quantum mechanics, which obeys no such rule. Locality is restored if observed and observer are both assumed to obey quantum mechanics, as in the many-worlds interpretation (MWI). Using the MWI, I show that the quantum side of Bell’s inequality, generally believed nonlocal, is really due to a series of three measurements (not two as in the standard, oversimplified analysis), all three of which have only local effects. Thus, experiments confirming “nonlocality” are actually confirming the MWI. The mistaken interpretation of nonlocality experiments depends crucially on a question-begging version of the Born interpretation, which makes sense only in “collapse” versions of quantum theory, about the meaning of the modulus of the wave function, so I use the interpretation based on the MWI, namely that the wave function is a world density amplitude, not a probability amplitude. This view allows the Born interpretation to be derived directly from the Schrodinger equation, by applying the Schrodinger equation to both the observed and the observer.
Effect of the bisphosphonate risedronate on bone metastases in a rat mammary adenocarcinoma model system

Risedronate (NE-58095) is a third-generation bisphosphonate with very potent antiresorptive activity but few toxic effects. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of risedronate treatment on bone metastases produced in a rat breast cancer model. Berlin Druckrey IV rats inoculated with ENU1564 mammary adenocarcinoma cells were treated daily with risedronate or a saline placebo. Survival times, dictated by extraskeletal metastases (lung, heart, and brain), were not affected by risedronate treatment. Risedronate-treated animals had skeletal changes associated with decreased remodeling of bones undergoing endochondral ossification, most prominently affecting the appendicular skeleton. Despite the skeletal alterations induced by the treatment, the distribution of bone metastases throughout the surveyed skeletal sites was similar for treated and untreated animals. Bone metastases were enumerated in histologic sections of distal femur, spine, and skull. Tumor size was estimated from area measurements obtained from histologic lesions in distal femoral metaphyses and vertebral bodies. A greater number of treated rats had no bone metastases in any of the examined sections (30 versus 16.1% of untreated rats). Multiple bone metastases were observed less frequently in treated rats (33.3 versus 71% of untreated rats). Treated rats had fewer observed bone metastases in each examined site than untreated rats (p < or = 0.025). Mean tumor areas in femora and vertebrae were smaller in treated rats (p < or = 0.05), due to the less frequent presence of very large lesions. In untreated animals, osteoclasts appeared to be active at the tumor/bone interface and osseous structures were often completely replaced by expanding tumors. In contrast, metastases in treated animals caused less disruption of skeletal histoarchitecture. The apparent lack of osteoclastic activity and retention of bone within lesions suggested a decreased contribution of osteoclasts to the bone resorptive process. An in vivo immunohistochemical cell proliferation assay failed to reveal differences in the percentage of dividing tumor cells in bone metastatic sites in treated versus untreated animals. The results demonstrate significant effects of risedronate treatment on the incidence and size of observed skeletal metastases in this model.
Streptococcus bovis septic shock due to contaminated transfused platelets.

Although most physicians and the public are primarily concerned about the risk of transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis virus during a platelet transfusion, bacterial contamination is actually the most common infectious complication. Unlike red blood cells, platelets are stored at room temperature (20–24°C), which raises the risk of bacterial proliferation. The risk of bacterial sepsis is 2.5-fold higher for each unit of transfused platelets compared to each unit of red blood cells. We report an unusual case of Streptococcus bovis septic shock associated with a contaminated platelet transfusion. Am. J. Hematol. 77:282–286, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On Certain Abnormal Ballistic Complexes: Their Relationships to Other Mechanical and Electrical Events of the Cardiac Cycle

Ballistocardiograms were recorded simultaneously with intra-atrial and intra-aortic pressure curves, heart sounds, electrokymograms and electrocardiograms in patients with various types of heart disease. In several of these subjects, in addition to the usual ballistic waves, abnormal sets of ballistic complexes occurred. In some individuals, one or more of these abnormal ballistic complexes was so prominent that it dominated the entire ballistocardiogram. By correlating the abnormal ballistic waves with other dynamic and electrical events, we have secured information which throws light on the genesis of certain abnormal waves and of the so-called H wave in the ballistocardiogram.
Corporate social responsibility communication of Chinese and global corporations in China

This paper explored how leading Chinese and global companies operating in China communicate their corporate social responsibility (CSR) principles and practices to the Chinese stakeholders through a content analysis of these companies’ corporate websites. It was found that companies usually take one of the following three major approaches in their CSR communication: CSR as ad hoc public philanthropy, CSR as strategic philanthropy, and CSR as ethical business practices. Furthermore, this paper examined the effects of country of origin and industry on companies’ CSR communication and found that whether companies are targeting at businesses or consumers has a bigger impact on their CSR communication than whether they are Chinese or global. Finally, despite a tendency towards convergence, Chinese and global companies still present their CSR principles and practices differently because of their different relations with major Chinese and global stakeholders.
Nonrelativistic superstring theories

We construct a supersymmetric version of the 'critical' non-relativistic bosonic string theory [1] with its manifest global symmetry. We introduce the anticommuting bc CFT which is the super partner of the {beta}{gamma} CFT. The conformal weights of the b and c fields are both 1/2. The action of the fermionic sector can be transformed into that of the relativistic superstring theory. We explicitly quantize the theory with manifest SO(8) symmetry and find that the spectrum is similar to that of Type IIB superstring theory. There is one notable difference: the fermions are non-chiral. We further consider 'noncritical' generalizations of the supersymmetric theory using the superspace formulation. There is an infinite range of possible string theories similar to the supercritical string theories. We comment on the connection between the critical non-relativistic string theory and the lightlike Linear Dilaton theory.
A multiplier-free adaptive algorithm for channel equalization

This paper presents a new approach for channel equalization using a multiplier-free adaptive algorithm. The algorithm is based on a quantized version of the Euclidean direction search method of optimization. The algorithm yields filter coefficients that are powers of 2, so that multiplications are reduced to simple shifts. The update equation for the coefficients is also multiplier-free. Computer simulations are given to illustrate the performance of the algorithm.
Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Cardiovascular Risk

Purpose The potential association between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and cardiovascular mortality (CVM) remains controversial. This study assessed mortality outcomes in a large national registry to further elucidate the association between treatment selection and cause of mortality. Patients and Methods A total of 7,248 men in the CaPSURE registry were analyzed. Treatment was categorized as local only, primary ADT monotherapy, local treatment plus ADT, and watchful waiting/active surveillance (WW/AS). Competing hazards survival analysis was performed for prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM), CVM, and all-cause mortality. A propensity score–adjusted and a propensity-matched analysis were undertaken to adjust for imbalances in covariates among men receiving various treatments. Results Patients treated with ADT or WW/AS had a higher likelihood of PCSM than those treated with local therapy alone. Patients treated with primary ADT had an almost two-fold greater likelihood of CVM (HR, 1.94; 95% CI,...
Rapid optically based measurements of diameter and length for spherical or rod-shaped bacteria in vivo

The application in light scattering of the Mueller matrix ratio (S34)/(S11) for determining average particle size is extended to a large size parameter range for spherical or randomly oriented rod-shaped particles such as micro-organisms. It is shown that combining the graph of this ratio with a Coulter counter measurement of particle volume gives results in agreement with microscopic measurements. Thus this combination provides a method to measure particle diameter and width simultaneously in real time for elongated particles such as bacteria, which are measured in vivo with this method. An approximate empirical formula is developed to estimate the motion of the extrema in the graph of the oscillating matrix ratio as size changes occur. This formula is also shown to be consistent with wavelength changes.
Revised venous clinical severity score: a facile measurement of outcomes in venous disease

Outcome assessment is an important criterion for the objective determination of the risks and benefits of a given procedure. The choice of an assessment instrument is critical in order to generate meaningful and relevant data. Assessment instruments are platforms for comparison and stratification of information that provide a common ground and unified language for discussions on disease processes and therapies. Like many complex conditions, venous disease has benefited from the institution of several assessment instruments designed to clarify elements of the disease process. Among these is the venous clinical severity score (VCSS), which has proved to be a valuable tool for evaluating changes in condition over time with or without intervention. The VCSS has recently undergone a revision to increase its sensitivity and value in interpreting the language of venous disease.
Optimizing Outpatient Phlebotomy Staffing: Tools to Assess Staffing Needs and Monitor Effectiveness

Context.—Short patient wait times are critical for patient satisfaction with outpatient phlebotomy services. Although increasing phlebotomy staffing is a direct way to improve wait times, it may not be feasible or appropriate in many settings, particularly in the context of current economic pressures in health care. Objective.—To effect sustainable reductions in patient wait times, we created a simple, data-driven tool to systematically optimize staffing across our 14 phlebotomy sites with varying patient populations, scope of service, capacity, and process workflows. Design.—We used staffing levels and patient venipuncture volumes to derive the estimated capacity, a parameter that helps predict the number of patients a location can accommodate per unit of time. We then used this parameter to determine whether a particular phlebotomy site was overstaffed, adequately staffed, or understaffed. Patient wait-time and satisfaction data were collected to assess the efficacy and accuracy of the staffing tool aft...
The relationship between surface free-energy and kinetics in the mineralization and demineralization of dental hard tissue.

The interfacial free-energy is an important factor in the regulation of mineralization and dissolution at the surfaces of dental hard tissues. However, few thermodynamic studies have been aimed at the elucidation of the interfacial terms. Contact angle measurements (sessile drop and thin layer wicking) and kinetic dissolution and growth techniques have been used to study the interfacial properties of root dentin (D), human enamel (E), and hydroxyapatite (HAP). The interfacial tensions between water (w) and each of these phases were calculated from contact angle data according to surface tension components theory. The values γwD = 4.5 x 10-3J m-2, γ wE = 8.8 x 10-3J m-2, and γw,HAP = 10.4 x 10-3J m-2 were of the same order of magnitude as those obtained from dissolution kinetic data (pH = 4.5): γwD = 1.4 x 10-3J m-2, γwE = 3.2 x 10-3J m-2, and γwHAP = 9.3 x 10-3J m-2. Kinetics studies of the crystallization of HAP on HAP, dentin, and enamel yielded the interfacial free-energy values, γwHAP = 17.1 x 10-3J m...
Learning From Flyy Girls: Feminist Research Ethics in Urban Schools

Feministische Forschungsethik ist insbesondere an Fragen der Identitat und Subjektivitat – bezogen auf den Forscher/die Forscherin und auf das Forschungssubjekt – interessiert. Feministische Forschung will transformativ sein, indem sie sich mit Ungerechtigkeiten gegen Madchen und Frauen beschaftigt. Im Falle von afrikanisch-amerikanischen Madchen, die stadtische Schulen besuchen, ereignen sich diese Ungerechtigkeiten innerhalb und auserhalb des Klassenraums. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0501321
HGM and wetland functional assessment: Six degrees of separation from the data?

Abstract Ecologists routinely use rapid assessment protocols to try and determine level of function for wetlands. In the United States, one of the more intensively used approaches is the hydrogeomorphic (HGM) approach. Using this system, wetlands are classified by their location, the source of water, and their hydrodynamics. Models are built to attempt to determine levels of function, but models rely almost exclusively upon structural indicators that may, or may not, relate in any meaningful way to function. In this paper I examine several models from Pennsylvania where a considerable amount of data exists for the sites from which the models were developed. I show that, even with a large data set, models still rely upon structure with a tenuous connection to real function. I then examine several other models from around the United States related to hydrology, and assess the relationship of the models to actual function. Suggestions for change include slowing the permit process down, continuing to develop large sets of reference wetlands, reducing the use of indices within indices, and developing a research agenda that addresses the relationships between structure and function.
Effect of Locally Applied Vitamin A and Estrogen on Rat Epidermis.

Summary and ConclusionsVit A administered topically to the skin for 10 days resulted in an average increase, in epidermal thickness to about twice normal. A notable increase in the extent of the st...
Hydrocephalus in coccidioidal meningitis : Case report and review of the literature

Objective and importance Coccidioidomycosis was once confined to the southwest United States and northern Mexico. It has become a larger concern because of the concentration of military bases in these areas, the increasing mobility of populations, and the rising population of immunocompromised persons. Outside endemic areas, the diagnosis is rarely considered. Patients with coccidioidomycosis may develop occult basilar meningitis progressing to communicating hydrocephalus and death. Clinical presentation A 60-year-old white man presented with a 1-month history of vertigo, falls, and vomiting. Computed tomography of the head revealed mild hydrocephalus. Lumbar puncture results were remarkable for 1065 mg/dl protein; acid-fast bacillus stain, Gram's stain, and culture results were negative. Postgadolinium magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated enhancement of basilar and cervical meninges, suggesting inflammation, and communicating hydrocephalus. For 48 hours, the patient's level of consciousness decreased progressively. Intervention A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed, and antifungal agents were initiated on an emergent basis. Conclusion Coccidioidomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of occult basilar meningitis. The diagnosis is established by the discovery of a high (>1:2) titer of complement-fixing antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid. Communicating hydrocephalus is a common complication of untreated coccidioidal meningitis, and it may develop during appropriate treatment (oral fluconazole, 200-400 mg/d, continued indefinitely). Patients with hydrocephalus and evidence of increased intracranial pressure require a shunt.
A novel active line conditioner for a three-phase system

A novel configuration for an active line conditioner is proposed for correcting voltage unbalances in a three-phase AC power system. The proposed system injects a correction voltage V/sub inj/ with proper magnitude and phase in one phase to guarantee balanced voltages at the load terminals. The negative voltage components in the input supply are effectively nullified by the injected voltage. The kVA requirement of the proposed active line conditioner is small, typically 3% for a 10% unbalance in the input supply. The dynamic cancellation of the negative sequence voltage component by the proposed scheme drastically improves the performance of induction-motor-type loads connected to a weak AC system. A thorough analysis of the scheme along with suitable design guides is presented. Selected experimental results on a laboratory prototype active line conditioner are detailed. >
Modeling the dynamics of virus shedding into the saliva of Epstein-Barr virus positive individuals.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can infect both B cells and epithelial cells. Infection of B cells enables the virus to persist within a host while infection of epithelial cells is suggested to amplify viral output. Data from a recent study have shown that the virus shedding in EBV positive individuals is relatively stable over short periods of time but varies significantly over long periods. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of virus shedding within a host are not fully understood. In this paper, we construct a model of ordinary differential equations to study the dynamics of virus shedding into the saliva of infected hosts. Infection of epithelial cells is further separated into infection by virus released from B cells and virus released from epithelial cells. We use the model to investigate whether the long-term variation and short-term stability of virus shedding can be generated by three possible factors: stochastic variations in the number of epithelial cells susceptible to virus released from infected B cells, to virus released from infected epithelial cells, or random variation in the probability that CD8+ T cells encounter and successfully kill infected cells. The results support all three factors to explain the long-term variation but only the first and third factors to explain the short-term stability of virus shedding into saliva. Our analysis also shows that clearance of virus shedding is possible only when there is no virus reactivation from B cells.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Upregulates Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptors on Cardiac Fibroblasts

Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in post-myocardial infarction (MI) remodeling. Most Ang II effects related to remodeling involve activation of the type 1 receptor (AT(1)). Although the AT(1) receptor is upregulated on cardiac fibroblasts post-MI, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the process. Consequently, we tested whether growth factors known to be present in the remodeling heart increased AT(1) mRNA levels. Using quantitative competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we found that norepinephrine, endothelin, atrial natriuretic peptide, and bradykinin had no significant effect on AT(1) mRNA levels. Ang II, transforming growth factor-beta(1), and basic fibroblast growth factor reduced AT(1) mRNA levels (P<0.02). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), however, produced a marked increase in AT(1) mRNA. After 24 hours of TNF-alpha incubation, AT(1) mRNA increased by 5-fold above control levels (P<0.01). The EC(50) for the TNF-alpha effect was 4.6 ng/mL (0.2 nmol/L). Interleukin (IL)-1beta caused a 2.4-fold increase, whereas IL-2 and IL-6 had no significant effect. Studies of TNF-alpha enhancement of AT(1) mRNA levels demonstrate that the increase was not due to a change in transcript stability. TNF-alpha treatment for 48 hours also resulted in a 3-fold increase in AT(1) surface receptor and a 2-fold increase in Ang II-induced production of inositol phosphates. The present findings provide evidence for TNF-alpha regulation of AT(1) receptor density on cardiac fibroblasts. Because TNF-alpha concentration and AT(1) receptor density increase in the myocardium after MI, these results raise the possibility that TNF-alpha modulates post-MI remodeling by enhancing Ang II effects on cardiac fibroblasts.
Uncertainty Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Drinking Water Risk Assessment

ABSTRACT Pesticide residues in drinking water can vary significantly from day to day. However, water quality monitoring performed under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) at most community water systems (CWSs) is typically limited to four data points per year over a few years. Due to this limited sampling, likely maximum residues may be underestimated in risk assessment. In this work, a statistical methodology is proposed to study two types of uncertainties in observed samples and their propagated effect in risk estimates. The methodology was demonstrated using data from 16 CWSs that have three independent databases of atrazine residue to estimate the uncertainty of risk in infants and children. The results showed that in 85% of the CWSs, chronic risks predicted with the proposed approach may be two- to four-folds higher than that predicted with the current approach, wheras intermediate risks may be two- to three-folds higher in 50% of the CWSs. In 12% of the CWSs, however, the proposed methodology showed...