cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increasing Metered Dose Inhaler Use for Acute Asthma Exacerbations in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Quality Improvement Challenge

Abstract Pediatric asthma is the most common chronic condition in children and results in significant disease burden and healthcare costs. The mainstay of asthma treatment is inhaled albuterol, and different modalities of albuterol delivery have been shown to affect healthcare quality measures. Albuterol delivered via metered-dose inhaler with a valved holding chamber (MDI/VHC) has been shown to be at least as effective as nebulized albuterol while also reducing medication side effects, admission rates, length of stay in the emergency department (ED) and overall costs. However, a culture of nebulized albuterol still predominates in the ED. Quality Improvement methodology is well suited to address this healthcare quality problem. The goal of this article is to utilize The Model for Improvement framework to provide a review and a critique of the literature regarding the transition to MDI/VHCs from nebulizers in the acute care of children with asthma exacerbations.
Substrate thermal conductivity controls the ability to manufacture microstructures via laser-induced direct write

In controlling the thermal properties of the surrounding environment, we provide insight into the underlying mechanisms driving the widely used laser direct write method for additive manufacturing. We find that the onset of silver nitrate reduction for the formation of direct write structures directly corresponds to the calculated steady-state temperature rises associated with both continuous wave and high-repetition rate, ultrafast pulsed laser systems. Furthermore, varying the geometry of the heat affected zone, which is controllable based on in-plane thermal diffusion in the substrate, and laser power, allows for control of the written geometries without any prior substrate preparation. These findings allow for the advance of rapid manufacturing of micro- and nanoscale structures with minimal material constraints through consideration of the laser-controllable thermal transport in ionic liquid/substrate media.
Algorithms and strategies in short-read shotgun metagenomic reconstruction of plant communities.

Premise of the study DNA may be preserved for thousands of years in very cold or dry environments, and plant tissue fragments and pollen trapped in soils and shallow aquatic sediments are well suited for the molecular characterization of past floras. However, one obstacle in this area of study is the limiting bias in the bioinformatic classification of short fragments of degraded DNA from the large, complex genomes of plants. Methods To establish one possible baseline protocol for the rapid classification of short-read shotgun metagenomic data for reconstructing plant communities, the read classification programs Kraken, Centrifuge, and MegaBLAST were tested on simulated and ancient data with classification against a reference database targeting plants. Results Performance tests on simulated data suggest that Kraken and Centrifuge outperform MegaBLAST. Kraken tends to be the most conservative approach with high precision, whereas Centrifuge has higher sensitivity. Reanalysis of 13,000 years of ancient sedimentary DNA from North America characterizes potential post-glacial vegetation succession. Discussion Classification method choice has an impact on performance and any downstream interpretation of results. The reanalysis of ancient DNA from glacial lake sediments yielded vegetation histories that varied depending on method, potentially changing paleoecological conclusions drawn from molecular evidence.
Epiphyseal growth plate architecture is unaffected by early postnatal activation of the expression of R992C collagen II mutant.

Abstract Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED) exemplifies a group of heritable diseases caused by mutations in collagenous proteins of the skeletal system. Its main feature is altered skeletal growth. Pathomechanisms of SED include: changes in the stability of collagen II molecules, inability to form proper collagen fibrils, excessive intracellular retention of mutant molecules, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The complexity of this pathomechanism presents a challenge for designing therapies for SED. Our earlier research tested whether such therapies only succeed when applied during a limited window of development. Here, employing an inducible mouse model of SED caused by the R992C mutation in collagen II, we corroborate our earlier observations that a therapy must be applied at the prenatal or early postnatal stages of skeletal growth in order to be successful. Moreover, we demonstrate that blocking the expression of the R992C collagen II mutant at the early prenatal stages leads to long-term positive effects. Although, we could not precisely mark the start of the expression of the mutant, these effects are not significantly changed by switching on the mutant production at the early postnatal stages. By demonstrating the need for early therapeutic interventions, our study provides, for the first time, empirically-based directions for designing effective therapies for SED and, quite likely, for other skeletal dysplasias caused by mutations in key macromolecules of the skeletal system.
Replicate Engineered Virtual Patient Populations as Surrogates for Real Patient-Level Data

Dissemination of clinical data for research has limitations. The most coveted data is richly descriptive at the individual level, but acquiring such granularity comes with significant cost, effort, or time. De-identification of individual records is not foolproof, with potential for privacy breaches, especially for "real-world" data derived from electronic health records. Also, the open data movement has progressed slowly for clinical trials, partly due to concerns about data ownership. Here, reverse engineered virtual patient populations (RE-ViPPs) are described, based on aggregate cross-tabulated categorical data from populations. The method does not require end-user access to individual-level data. Rather, using sequential linear regressions and random number generation, it generates virtual individual patients to comprise populations that, on average, closely resemble the real population in question. The method is validated by applying it to aggregated data derived from the seminal SPRINT trial, for which the individual-level data is known. The method yields virtual populations, each with 9361 patients, faithfully mimicking the 9361 real SPRINT participants. Multiple logistic regression on 100 such populations shows that, just as in SPRINT, risk factors with the highest odds ratio for the primary event are, in descending order, past clinical cardiovascular disease, age ≥ 75, chronic kidney disease, high non-HDL, and smoking history. Factors associated with fewer events are female sex and intensive blood pressure treatment (the trial9s intervention). Application of RE-ViPPs to trials, registries, and health record databases could reduce the cost, time, ownership, and de-identification burdens hindering open data by encouraging dissemination of aggregate, richly cross-tabulated real data that investigators can use to construct virtual patients and make meaningful conclusions.
Cognitive Guidelines for the Design and Evaluation of Early Mathematics Software: The Example of MathemAntics

Thousands of educational applications are available for the latest touch screen devices. Unfortunately, quantity does not guarantee quality: most applications are limited in focus and do not promote conceptual knowledge. This chapter explores how cognitive psychology can inform the design and evaluation of software for early mathematics education so as to promote conceptual understanding, problem solving, and the excitement of learning. We propose six cognitive design principles that can exploit the new technological affordances available on the latest devices, particularly touch screen tablets. For each design principle, we outline important issues that software developers need to consider, and then we discuss examples of how cognitive principles can inform design. We also discuss two added benefits of mathematics software running on the new technology: the software can provide innovative approaches to the evaluation of learning and to basic cognitive research. We argue that when cognitive psychology shapes the development of software the results can be improved achievement, teaching, and testing. And a non-trivial added benefit can be that children will enjoy learning meaningful mathematics.
Prescribing patterns for FOLFIRINOX in the real world.

463Background: FOLFIRINOX therapy is associated with improved outcome in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. The regimen can be associated with significant toxicity and empiric dose modificatio...
Database-Centric Scientific Computing

Working with Jim Gray, we set out more than 20 years ago to design and build the archive for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the SkyServer. The SDSS project collected a huge data set over a large fraction of the Northern Sky and turned it into an open resource for the world’s astronomy community. Over the years the project has changed astronomy. Now the project is faced with the problem of how to ensure that the data will be preserved and kept alive for active use for another 15 to 20 years. At the time there were very few examples to learn from and we had to invent much of the system ourselves. The paper discusses the lessons learned, future directions and recalls some memorable moments of our collaboration.
The Work Performed By Biological Motors

Molecular motors are enzymes that perform work (F {middle dot} x) when they move along a track a distance x against a constant force F. This work is performed through intermediate chemical steps in a motors ATPase reaction cycle, each step having a free energy change associated with it that is a sum of chemical, {Delta}{micro}chem, and mechanical, {Delta}{micro}ext, potentials. Defining {Delta}{micro}ext is fundamental to our understanding of how molecular motors work, yet after decades of study the definition of {Delta}{micro}ext remains disputed. Some postulate that {Delta}{micro}ext is a function of both F and x, while others assume that {Delta}{micro}ext is a function of neither F nor x, and still others argue that {Delta}{micro}ext is a function of F but not x. Here we evaluate these models and conclude that only the latter - a mechanochemical model proposed by A.V. Hill in the 1930s - describes molecular motor mechanochemistry.
Practicing Justice, Justifying Practice: Toward Critical Practice Teacher Education:

Arguments for social justice teacher education and arguments for practice-based teacher education are often seen as incongruous. Drawing on sociocultural theory and theories of justice, our study i...
The fatty acid oxidation enzyme long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase can be a source of mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide

Fatty acid oxidation (FAO)-driven H2O2 has been shown to be a major source of oxidative stress in several tissues and disease states. Here, we established that the mitochondrial flavoprotein long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD), which catalyzes a key step in mitochondrial FAO, directly produces H2O2in vitro by leaking electrons to oxygen. Kinetic analysis of recombinant human LCAD showed that it produces H2O2 15-fold faster than the related mitochondrial enzyme very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD), but 50-fold slower than a bona fide peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase. The rate of H2O2 formation by human LCAD is slow compared to its activity as a dehydrogenase (about 1%). However, expression of hLCAD in HepG2 cells is sufficient to significantly increase H2O2 in the presence of fatty acids. Liver mitochondria from LCAD-/- mice, but not VLCAD-/- mice, produce significantly less H2O2 during incubation with fatty acids. Finally, we observe highest LCAD expression in human liver, followed by kidney, lung, and pancreas. Based on our data, we propose that the presence of LCAD drives H2O2 formation in response to fatty acids in these tissues.
Comparison of bleaching protocols utilizing hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemical proliferation marker MCM3 in pigmented melanomas

Melanomas represent the malignant transformation of melanocytes, cells found primarily in the skin to protect epithelium and underlying connective tissues from harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Melanomas vary greatly in morphology and may continue to produce melanin markedly, mildly, or not at all. Performing and evaluating hematoxylin and eosin stains as well as immunohistochemical stains on pigmented melanomas has been a long-standing challenge due to the obscuring pigment. Protocols for removing melanin to reveal cellular morphology have been used successfully for years, but coupling these protocols with stains for immunohistochemistry represents an added challenge. In this study, the investigators evaluated results of various melanin bleaching protocols on tissue morphology, completeness of melanin removal, and immunohistochemistry staining quality. It was found that 1% formamide in 3% H2O2 under bright light without heating outperformed other tested protocols.
Smart textiles: transforming the practice of medicalisation and health care

Smart textile medical devices are forms of clothing that use sensors and fabrics to monitor bodily processes and communicate with data systems through wireless transmission. To investigate the co-evolution of digital technologies and health care practices, this study draws on focus group and fieldwork data to analyse the sociological implications of the creation of two smart textile devices: one - the bellyband - will replace the tocodynamometer and foetal heart rate monitor during labour and birth in hospitals and the other - the babyband - will replace the cardiopulmonary monitor in neonatal intensive care units. Analysis of potential users' views of smart textiles demonstrates the contemporary contours of medicalisation and surveillance medicine. Smart textiles blur the boundary between hospital/medicine and home/daily life. In this blurring, medicalisation becomes "cozy" or "comfortable" and surveillance takes on a friendly form. Smart textile medical devices thus fit into broader trends in health care in which hospitals are designed to be homelike and intimate even as patients and devices become fully integrated into data systems.
Heat exchange with interband tunneling

The carrier transport associated with interband tunneling in semiconductors has been investigated extensively both experimentally and theoretically. However, the associated heat exchange from interband tunneling is not discussed in depth. Due to the nanoscale nature of the tunneling phenomenon, people tend to use a “resistor model” to compute the heat generated. We present our analysis of heat exchange in tunneling junctions based on an extended Kane’s model. We observe that the heat exchange is distinct when we apply forward bias, small reverse bias, and large reverse bias. In each of these bias regimes, we demonstrate that the internal temperature distribution of a tunneling junction can deviate from the simplified “resistor model” significantly.The carrier transport associated with interband tunneling in semiconductors has been investigated extensively both experimentally and theoretically. However, the associated heat exchange from interband tunneling is not discussed in depth. Due to the nanoscale nature of the tunneling phenomenon, people tend to use a “resistor model” to compute the heat generated. We present our analysis of heat exchange in tunneling junctions based on an extended Kane’s model. We observe that the heat exchange is distinct when we apply forward bias, small reverse bias, and large reverse bias. In each of these bias regimes, we demonstrate that the internal temperature distribution of a tunneling junction can deviate from the simplified “resistor model” significantly.
System-justifying beliefs and trajectories of global self-worth among Black and Latinx college students.

OBJECTIVES The present study investigated the relationship between system-justifying beliefs (i.e., believing the United States to be fair and just for all racial and ethnic groups) during the 1st semester of college and trajectories of self-worth across 4 years of college among Black and Latinx college students attending an elite predominantly White institution. METHOD Participants in this 5-wave longitudinal study included 186 Black and Latinx college students (30% male; 26% 1st-generation college students; Mage = 18 years, SD = 0.36). RESULTS The results of latent growth curve modeling analyses indicated that system-justifying beliefs were positively related to initial levels of self-worth and negatively related to trajectories of self-worth over time. CONCLUSIONS Findings from the present study suggest that although initially beneficial, system-justifying beliefs may undermine self-evaluations among Black and Latinx college students over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Predicting postdischarge hospital-associated venous thromboembolism among medical patients using a validated mortality risk score derived from common biomarkers.

Background Discharged medical patients are at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). It is difficult to identify which discharged patients would benefit from extended duration thromboprophylaxis. The Intermountain Risk Score is a prediction score derived from discrete components of the complete blood cell count and basic metabolic panel and is highly predictive of 1-year mortality. We sought to ascertain if the Intermountain Risk Score might also be predictive of 90-day postdischarge hospital-associated VTE (HA-VTE). Methods We applied the Intermountain Risk Score to 60 064 medical patients who survived 90 days after discharge and report predictiveness for HA-VTE. Area under the receiver operating curve analyses were performed. We then assessed whether the Intermountain Risk Score improved prediction of 2 existing VTE risk assessment models. Results The Intermountain Risk Score poorly predicted HA-VTE (area under the curve = 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-0.60). Each clinical risk assessment model was superior to the Intermountain Risk Score (UTAH area under the curve, 0.63; Kucher area under the curve, 0.62; Intermountain Risk Score area under the curve, 0.58; P < .001 for each comparison). Adding the Intermountain Risk Score to these scores did not substantially improve the performance of either risk assessment model (UTAH + Intermountain Risk Score, 0.65; Kucher + Intermountain Risk Score, 0.64). Conclusion The Intermountain Risk Score demonstrated poor predictiveness for HA-VTE when compared to existing risk assessment models. Adding the Intermountain Risk Score to existing risk assessment models did not improve upon either risk assessment model alone to justify the added complexity.
Spatial analysis of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Illinois, 2008-2019

Understanding the geographic distribution and clustering of chronic wasting disease (CWD) among free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations can inform disease management practices. We used a retrospective analysis of surveillance data to evaluate CWD's spatial and temporal dynamics within 16 CWD-infected northern Illinois counties. Of 42,541 deer samples collected and tested for CWD from recreational hunter harvest between 2008 and 2019, we recorded 359 (0.84%) CWD-positive samples. We observed variability in CWD cases over time and space. By county, the median CWD-positive proportion was 0.84%, varying from a minimum of 0.14% in McHenry County to a maximum of 6.28% in Boone County. Across years, there were differences among CWD-positive proportions with a median of 0.90%, ranging from a minimum of 0.27% in 2012 to a maximum of 1.60% in 2019. We used a retrospective discrete Poisson scan statistic model to evaluate the space-time clustering of CWD-positive deer. We identified a statistically significant (p < .001) primary cluster C1 (area = 23.59 km2 ; RR = 10.48), occurring from 2010 to 2015 in the north-central part of the study area, and a secondary cluster C2, occurring from 2014 to 2019 (area = 9.27 km2 ; RR = 3.88) in the north-west of the study area. Detected CWD-positive space-time clusters suggest that the risk of CWD is not random. Space-time clusters of CWD can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Illinois CWD management programme. The area surrounding the older C1 cluster has undergone longer and more intense CWD management compared with C2. Currently, the older C1 cluster is no longer as high risk compared with the newer cluster C2, suggesting that management efforts in C2 should be increased. However, all CWD clusters should be targeted with surveillance, prevention and management programmes, including reducing deer densities to limit further spread of CWD.
Mechanochemical generation of acid-degradable poly(enol ether)s

In an effort to develop polymers that can undergo extensive backbone degradation in response to mechanical stress, we report a polymer system that is hydrolytically stable but unmasks easily hydrolysable enol ether backbone linkages when force is applied. These polymers were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a novel mechanophore monomer consisting of cyclic ether fused bicyclohexene. Hydrogenation of the resulting polymers led to significantly enhanced thermal stability (Td > 400 °C) and excellent resistance toward acidic or basic conditions. Solution ultrasonication of the polymers resulted in up to 65% activation of the mechanophore units and conversion to backbone enol ether linkages, which then allowed facile degradation of the polymers to generate small molecule or oligomeric species under mildly acidic conditions. We also achieved solid-state mechano-activation and polymer degradation via grinding the solid polymer. Force-induced hydrolytic polymer degradability can enable materials that are stable under force-free conditions but readily degrade under stress. Facile degradation of mechanically activated polymechanophores also facilitates the analysis of mechanochemical products.
Differences in Treatment Approaches by Residential Treatment Facilities

The accessibility and use of evidence-based mental health treatment are crucial to children and adolescents with mental health and behavioral health disorders. However, there is little known regard...
That Little Voice Inside (a)

Just after 8:00 p.m. on a Monday evening, Catherine Russell, senior vice president and director of business development at Western Banking Group, arrived at one of the branches she oversaw to catch up on some work. She saw movement inside the locked building and was taken aback—it was Rachel Dwyer, the branch manager; her son; and her boyfriend. “Why is she…why are they all in the branch after hours?” Russell wondered. This was yet another item on a list of curious situations Russell had encountered at that particular branch in the past several weeks. Maybe it was nothing, she thought, but that little voice inside was not so sure. Excerpt UVA-OB-1059 Rev. Oct. 7, 2015 That Little Voice Inside (A) Just after 8:00 p.m. on a Monday evening, Catherine Russell, senior vice president and director of business development at Western Banking Group (WBG), pulled into the parking lot of one of the branches she oversaw. She maintained an office in the building and had to catch up on some work. Russell saw movement inside the locked building and was taken aback—it was Rachel Dwyer, the branch manager; her two-year-old son, Matty Dwyer; and her boyfriend, Jack Scorolli. Dwyer and her staff normally left the building shortly after 5:00 p.m., when the bank closed. “Why is she…why are they all in the branch after hours?” Russell wondered. This was yet another item on a list of curious situations Russell had encountered at that particular branch in the past several weeks. Maybe it was nothing, she thought, but that little voice inside was not so sure. Harbor Community Bank When Russell joined what was then Shoreside Bank, in 2007, it was a small community bank with assets of $ 300 million—one of six such banks owned by a holding company, Western Banking Group. At the end of 2008, following a yearlong efficiency study, WBG collapsed the charters of those banks and brought them all under one brand, Harbor Community Bank (HCB). HCB would have a collective $ 2.2 billion in assets and each bank would become a region within HCB. Although WBG was governed by the “big board,” several of those directors also sat on local boards maintained in the different regions. . . .
Four Decades of Ischemic Penumbra and Its Implication for Ischemic Stroke

The ischemic penumbra defined four decades ago has been the main battleground of ischemic stroke. The evolving ischemic penumbra concept has been providing insight for the development of vascular and cellular approaches as well as diagnostic tools for the treatment of ischemic stroke. rt-PA thrombolytic therapy to prevent the transition of ischemic penumbra to core has been approved for acute ischemic stroke within 3 h and was later recommended to extend to 4.5 h after symptom onset. Mechanical thrombectomy was introduced for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke with a therapeutic window of up to 24 h after stroke onset. Multiple modalities brain imaging techniques have been developed that provide guidance to define ischemic penumbra for reperfusion therapy in clinical practice. Cellular and molecular dissection of ischemic penumbra has been providing targets for the development of neuroprotective therapy for ischemic stroke. However, the dynamic nature of ischemic penumbra implicates that infarct core eventually expands into penumbra over time without reperfusion, dictating relative short therapeutic windows and limiting the impact of current reperfusion intervention. Entering the 5th decade since the introduction, ischemic penumbra remains the main focus of ischemic stroke research and clinical practice. In this review, we summarized the evolving ischemic penumbra concept and its implication in the development of vascular and cellular interventions as well as diagnostic tools for acute ischemic stroke. In addition, we discussed future perspectives on expansion of the campaign beyond ischemic penumbra to develop treatment for ischemic stroke.
Properties of carbohydrate-stripped thyroglobulin. I. Preparation and physicochemical properties of desialized thyroglobulin.

Abstract The influence of sialic acid on the conformation of thyroglobulin was investigated by comparing largely desialized thyroglobulin with native (intact) thyroglobulin. There was no significant difference in the ultraviolet absorption spectrum nor in the dissociation into subunits produced by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate, at least, around neutral pH. The results from sedimentation studies show that both protein preparations are fairly compact molecules. These data indicate that no appreciable gross conformational changes take place on removal of the sialic acid residues from thyroglobulin. However, there were slight differences in electrophoretic mobility between native and desialized thyroglobulin, and there was partial aggregation of desialized thyroglobulin at pH 5.6. Furthermore, the contribution of sialic acid residues to the acidic properties of thyroglobulin was shown by a change from a single boundary to two boundaries, and by the rise in the isoelectric point from 4.49 to the values of 4.55 and 4.66 for these two main peaks that were detected for desialized human thyroglobulin, as shown by isoelectric focusing.
Expression of rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase in insect cells and site-directed mutagenesis of putative non-heme iron-binding sites

Rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase was expressed in both Escherichia coli and the Spodoptera frugiperda insect cell line, Sf9. Recombinant enzyme from E. coli was inactive and contained less than 0.1 iron atom/subunit. In contrast, recombinant enzyme expressed in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus vector was active and identical in several properties to phenylalanine hydroxylase from rat liver: the Km for 6-methyltetrahydropterin was 39 microM (compared with 35 microM for the rat liver enzyme), 1 atom of iron was "associated" per enzyme subunit, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra showed that iron was distributed within two distinct environments. Putative iron-binding sites of phenylalanine hydroxylase were studied by mutating either histidine 284 or 289 to serine and expressing these mutant enzymes (PAH-H284S and PAH-H289S) in Sf9 cells. Mutants were expressed at levels similar to wild-type PAH, but contained < or = 0.1 iron/subunit and were inactive. Thus, both His284 and His289 apparently are required for iron binding and hydroxylation activity.
Benjamin Klein's Contributions to Law and Economics

This chapter in the book PIONEERS OF LAW AND ECONOMICS explores the contributions of Benjamin Klein to law and economics. I explore the intellectual foundations of Klein's pioneering analysis of the hold-up problem, the theory of the firm, vertical restraints, franchising, and the role of contract terms in facilitating self-enforcement of contractual relationships. I also discuss the significant influence of Klein's work on antitrust law, as well as its implications for contract interpretation. Klein's pioneering work over the past 30 years has not only provided us with a much greater understanding of contractual arrangements, but also a model for law and economics scholars and economists interested in explaining real world phenomenon rather than merely producing blackboard insights.
Value creation and success in strategic alliances

Abstract The authors use evidence from more than 200 organizations to demonstrate how companies which invest in alliance structures to co-ordinate alliance activity and systems to capture, codify, communicate and coach alliance-related know-how, definitely reap benefit in a number of ways. They also provide guidance on alternative ways to organize alliance structure and learning and co-ordination systems. The path to these benefits is not easy and companies need resources, people, and caution in managing the dedicated alliance function.
Left Ventricular Structure and Systolic Function in African Americans: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Objectives: To estimate prevalence of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and its relation to systolic function in a population-based sample of African Americans. Design: A baseline 2D guided M-mode echocardiogram was conducted as part of a longitudinal cohort study to assess prevalence and cross-sectional relationships between echocardiographic and clinical parameters. Setting: Data were collected as part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Participants: Analysis is limited to 1543 African Americans, aged 51±70 years, without clinically apparent cardiovascular or echocardiographically determined valvular disease. Main Outcome Measures: LV hypertrophy prevalence was de®ned as LV mass/ height2.7$51 g/m2.7. LV systolic chamber function was assessed at the midwall using the ratio of observed midwall fractional shortening (MWS%) to the value predicted from circumferential end-systolic stress. Results: The prevalence of LV hypertrophy was 33% in men, 38% in women. The prevalence of concentric hypertrophy (LV hypertrophy with relative wall thickness $0.45) was greater than that of eccentric hypertrophy (men: 24% vs 9%; women: 27% vs 11% women). Observed/predicted (O/P) MWS% was strongly and inversely related to LV mass/ height2.7 (P,.001) and LV hypertrophy (P,.001). The O/P MWS% was inversely related to LV mass/height2.7 quartile: O/P MWS% was 106% and 99% in the ®rst and 97% and 89% in the fourth quartile of LV mass/height2.7 for men and women, respectively. Adjusting for age, adiposity, diabetes, blood pressure, antihypertensive medication use, and smoking did not remove association between O/P MWS% and LV mass/height2.7. Conclusions: LV hypertrophy was highly prevalent in this population-based middle-aged sample of African Americans and was associated with poorer LV systolic chamber function.
United Nations Sanctions: Creating a More Effective Tool for the Enforcement of International Law

In the four years since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the United Nations has imposed sanctions on target states seven times, in contrast to only three uses of sanctions in the previous 71 years by the United Nations and the League of Nations. Sanctions are penalties for violations of norms of international law, penalties intended to induce the target state to alter its illegal behavior and comply with the norms and demands of the international community. The substantial increase in the use and breadth of universal non-military sanctions in the past four years demonstrates first that sanctions have become a popular and well-received mechanism for the enforcement of international law, and second, that the current system of sanctions, although frequently invoked, is ineffective and needs improvement.This article highlights several shortcomings of sanctions, including reliance on domestic implementation, loopholes in international implementation of sanctions, and policy issues regarding the linkage of sanctions to the overthrow of governments and the problem of sanctions disproportionately impacting the ordinary citizens rather than the leaders and elites. The article then proposes several changes in existing sanctions regimes to improve the effectiveness of sanctions and enable sanctions to stand alone, without the accompanying threat of imminent military force in the background. I therefore propose changes in the broader attitude toward and policy of sanctions as well as specific changes to existing mechanisms for the implementation of sanctions.
Antitrust and IPOs in the Supreme Court

This short comment suggests a connection, so far unrecognized, between two antitrust cases currently awaiting decision by the Supreme Court. In one case, the Court is likely, though not certain, to overturn the long-standing rule that resale price maintenance is illegal per se. If that should occur, another case on the Court's docket, involving the scope of the implied antitrust immunity enjoyed by underwriters of corporate securities offerings, would (or should) look very different. This comment suggests that, if the law of vertical restraints is finally rationalized so that an issuer of a security may lawfully restrict price and other competition among its distributors, the traditional basis for inferring a congressional intention to exempt securities offerings from the Sherman Act (a "clear repugnancy" between two statutory regimes) would at least arguably disappear. Although the justices are unlikely to see the point in the pending case on underwriter immunity, there might be room for future antitrust challenges to horizontal restraints conceived and implemented by underwriters in IPOs.
Male Adolescents: Sexual Victimization and Subsequent Sexual Abuse

Veneziano, Veneziano and LeGrand (2000) found support for the victim to victimizer hypothesis of sexual aggression with 74 sexually abusive youth. This project, a further step in examining this theory (Burton, 2000, Burton, Miller, & Shill, 2002) builds on their ideas with data from 179 adolescent sexual abusers, and supports their findings. In an examination of relationships, gender, modus operandi, and acts, the sexually abused youth were likely to repeat what was done to them. This project also offers a further analysis of how victimization accounts for a significant portion of the variance in perpetration by these youth. Implications for research and practice are offered.
Latex and Foam Rubber

At the time the preparation of this chapter was begun, we received a poster from Grupo Hulero Mexicano, A.C. It informed us of the Mexican Rubber Group’s sponsorship of the First International Symposium and Exhibition of the Rubber Industry—Mexico City, September 1984. The poster also contained a drawing under which was inscribed the following: A solar god, possibly Tonatiuh or maybe Xiuhtecuhtli offering rubber, while on the high altar a rubber ball is burning.
Atkin-Serre Type Conjectures for Automorphic Representations on $GL(2)$

Let $H(z)$ be a newform of weight $k \geq 4$ without complex multiplication on $\Gamma_{0}(N)$ with normalized $L$-function $L(H,s) = \prod_{p} (1 - \alpha_{p} p^{-s})^{-1} (1 - \beta_{p} p^{-s})^{-1}$. A conjecture of Atkin and Serre states that for sufficiently large primes $p$, \begin{equation} \label{atkinserre} |\alpha_{p} + \beta_{p}| \gg p^{-1-\epsilon} \end{equation} for all $\epsilon > 0$. Let $\pi$ a genuine cuspidal automorphic representation on $GL_{2}(\A_{F})$, where $F$ is a totally real number field. Assuming GRH for the symmetric power $L$-functions associated to $\pi$, we prove that \[ |\alpha_{v} + \beta_{v}| \geq q_{v}^{-\delta} \] for all but $O(x^{1 - \delta}/\log x)$ places $v$ with $q_{v} \leq x$ provided $\delta \leq 1/8$. This implies a strong form of \eqref{atkinserre} for almost all primes $p$.
Sculptured thin films: nanorods, nanopipes, nanosmiles

Atomic shadowing during physical vapor deposition causes exacerbated growth of surface protrusions and leads to a chaotic 3D layer growth, which can result in the development of well-separated nanorods, nanosprings, or nanopipes, which are surprisingly regular and have potential applications ranging from fuel cell electrodes and pressure sensors to self-lubricating coatings and nanoactuation. Glancing angle deposition (GLAD) causes particularly strong atomic shadowing and can be used to systematically investigate the effect of shadowing on the morphological evolution. These extremely rough layers cannot be described as a chaotic perturbation from a flat surface. However, using a model which describes them as a nanorod array with an average rod width that follows power law scaling results in experimental curves where all metals converge on a single master curve which exhibits a discontinuity at 20% of the melting point, associated with a transition from a 2D to a 3D island growth mode, and a single homologous activation energy of 2.46 for surface diffusion on curved nanorod growth fronts, which is applicable to all metals at all temperatures. Also, under extreme shadowing conditions, the conventional structure zone model is simplified as there is a direct transition from an underdense (zone I) to a dense (zone III) structure at ~50% of the melting point.iýc
Conversion of chrysotile to a magnesian smectite

Chrysotile from Thetford Mines in Quebec, Canada was treated first with mild formic or oxalic acid at concentrations of 0.5 to 2.0 N at 200°C in Teflon-lined 12.0 mL Parr bombs. The reaction products were identified by X-ray diffraction as a poorly crystalline Fe-bearing kerolite-like 2:1 layer silicate (which will be described as a kerolitic precipitate or a kerolitic mesophase in this report). Electron microscopic examination showed a thin foily morphology for this kerolitic mesophase that may have formed by the following reaction: (1) $$\mathop {{\rm{M}}{{\rm{g}}_{\rm{6}}}{\rm{S}}{{\rm{i}}_{\rm{4}}}{{\rm{O}}_{{\rm{10}}}}{{\left( {{\rm{OH}}} \right)}_{{8_{\left( {\rm{s}} \right)}}}}}\limits_{{\rm{chrysotile}}} + 6.02{{\rm{H}}^{\rm{ + }}}_{\left( {{\rm{aq}}} \right)} + 0.54{\rm{F}}{{\rm{e}}^{{\rm{2 + }}}}_{\left( {{\rm{aq}}} \right)} \to \mathop {\left( {{\rm{M}}{{\rm{g}}_{{\rm{2}}{\rm{.46}}}}{\rm{Fe}}_{{\rm{0}}{\rm{.54}}}^{{\rm{2 + }}}} \right){\rm{S}}{{\rm{i}}_{\rm{4}}}{{\rm{O}}_{{\rm{10}}}}{{\left( {{\rm{OH}}} \right)}_{\rm{2}}} \cdot n}\limits_{{\rm{kerolitic}}\;{\rm{mesophase}}} {{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{{\rm{O}}_{\left( {\rm{s}} \right)}} + {\rm{3}}{\rm{.55M}}{{\rm{g}}^{{\rm{2 + }}}}_{\left( {{\rm{aq}}} \right)}$$ The magnetite impurity in the initial chrysotile asbestos served as the source of Fe in the above reactions. Subsequently, this kerolitic precipitate was reacted with 0.2 N NaOH for 48–96 h at 200°C and a highly crystalline smectite was formed with the same foily morphology as the kerolitic precipitate. X-ray spectral analyses of the kerolitic mesophase and smectite suggest the following reaction to have taken place: (2) $$\eqalign{ & \mathop {\left( {{\rm{M}}{{\rm{g}}_{{\rm{2}}{\rm{.46}}}}{\rm{Fe}}_{{\rm{0}}{\rm{.54}}}^{{\rm{2 + }}}} \right){\rm{S}}{{\rm{i}}_{\rm{4}}}{{\rm{O}}_{{\rm{10}}}}{{\left( {{\rm{OH}}} \right)}_{\rm{2}}}}\limits_{{\rm{kerolitic}}\;{\rm{mesophase}}} \cdot n{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{{\rm{O}}_{\left( {\rm{s}} \right)}} + {\rm{0}}{\rm{.53M}}{{\rm{g}}^{{\rm{2 + }}}}_{\left( {{\rm{aq}}} \right)} + 0.54{\rm{NaO}}{{\rm{H}}_{\left( {{\rm{aq}}} \right)}} + 0.01{\rm{F}}{{\rm{e}}^{{\rm{3 + }}}}_{\left( {{\rm{aq}}} \right)} \to \cr & \;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\mathop {\;\;{\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_{0.54}}\left( {{\rm{M}}{{\rm{g}}_{{\rm{2}}{\rm{.99}}}}{\rm{Fe}}_{{\rm{0}}{\rm{.01}}}^{{\rm{2 + }}}} \right)\left( {{\rm{S}}{{\rm{i}}_{{\rm{3}}{\rm{.46}}}}{\rm{Fe}}_{{\rm{0}}{\rm{.54}}}^{{\rm{3 + }}}} \right){{\rm{O}}_{10}}{{\left( {{\rm{OH}}} \right)}_{{\rm{2}}\;\left( {\rm{s}} \right)}}}\limits_{{\rm{saponite}}} + 0.54{\rm{S}}{{\rm{i}}^{{\rm{4 + }}}}_{\left( {{\rm{aq}}} \right)} \cr} $$ The reaction products, a kerolitic mesophase and smectite, possess a non-fibrous habit in contrast to the fibrous (asbestiform) morphology of chrysotile.
Intrinsic Cardiac Nerve Activity and Paroxysmal Atrial Tachyarrhythmia in Ambulatory Dogs

Background— Little is known about the relationship between intrinsic cardiac nerve activity (ICNA) and spontaneous arrhythmias in ambulatory animals. Methods and Results— We implanted radiotransmitters to record extrinsic cardiac nerve activity (ECNA; including stellate ganglion nerve activity and vagal nerve activity) and ICNA (including superior left ganglionated plexi nerve activity and ligament of Marshall nerve activity) in 6 ambulatory dogs. Intermittent rapid left atrial pacing was performed to induce paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or atrial tachycardia. The vast majority (94%) of ligament of Marshall nerve activity were preceded by or coactivated with ECNA (stellate ganglion nerve activity or vagal nerve activity), whereas 6% of episodes were activated alone without concomitant stellate ganglion nerve activity or vagal nerve activity. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and atrial tachycardia were invariably (100%) preceded (<5 seconds) by ICNA. Most paroxysmal atrial tachycardia events (89%) were prec...
Usage Patterns of Nondrug Alternatives in Adolescence.

This study examined the usage patterns of nondrug alternatives and obtained knowledge that will be beneficial to those involved in the “alternative” approach to drug abuse prevention and to those counseling in the drug rehabilitation area. The purpose was to identify the specific nondrug alternatives most generally used to achieve a specific mood or state of consciousness alteration. A questionnaire was designed exploring eight possible nondrug alternatives for altering the negative states of anxiety, depression and hostility, and for achieving the positive states of adventure, camaraderie and pleasure. The questionnaire was administered to 300 students, fifty males and fifty females from each of three age levels: 13–14; 15–16; 17–18. Analysis showed that social, physical, and risk-taking activities were used most frequently to achieve positive states and that distracting activity, discussion with friend, and personal contemplation were used most frequently to reduce the negative states. Few sex and age d...
Particle Behavior in a Fluctuating Plasma Jet

: This paper reports numerical studies of the fluctuations of a plasma jet and behavior of the powder particles injected into such a fluctuating plasma jet. A radially fluctuating plasma jet is assumed to represent rotational fluctuations by forcing a steady-state plasma jet to oscillate radially with a specified frequency. Axial fluctuations are considered by applying a transient input voltage to the two-dimensional LAVA code. The trajectories and temperature histories of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles injected into a fluctuating N2/H2 plasma jet flowing into air are monitored and compared with experimental data. The results show that the radial fluctuation significantly affects the plasma conditions and particle behavior, while the axial fluctuation leads to results closely resembling those of steady-state plasma jets.
Acquisition and retention of monocular discriminations in rats as a function of relevant (reversal) or irrelevant opposite-eye training

Albino rats retained a monocular pattern discrimination even after interpolated mastery of a reversal or a black-white discrimination via the opposite eye. In the first experiment, a second-eye reversal problem was acquired more rapidly than the original pattern problem. The second experiment showed that monocular training on a black-white problem has a marked facilitatory effect on subsequent acquisition of a pattern discrimination with the opposite eye.
Hybridization of rotor states in parallel electric and magnetic fields

Abstract We demonstrate in a spectroscopic experiment the hybridization of rotor states within the X and A electronic states of ICl, induced by parallel magnetic and electric fields of up to 0.7 T and 50 kV/cm. For a polar paramagnetic electronic state, such as the A state, the electric and magnetic fields conjoin in producing hybridization for one half of the molecular ensemble while they counteract for the other half. In the latter case the electric and magnetic effects can be tuned to balance out exactly; the concomitant field-induced hyperfine splitting remains in place, however, despite the resulting free rotation of the molecule.
Patient health incentives: ethical challenges and frameworks

Patient incentives for encouraging healthy behavior raise a number of ethical concerns: Do they target the vulnerable? Do they involve psychological manipulation? Do they undermine intrinsic motivation? To the purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of ethical challenges raised by patient incentives and incentive programs and develop a systematic approach to understanding and analyzing these ethical challenges. Ethical considerations raised by patient incentives can be broadly grouped into two kinds: medical (“patient-oriented”) and public health (“constituent-oriented”) concerns. Ethical frameworks suitable to these kinds of concerns are explored. Two ethical frameworks are applied to the challenges raised by patient incentives: (1) Incentives are assessed in terms of personal and social responsibility for health; and (2) incentives are assessed as elements of normatively structured clinical relationships (e.g., the traditional patient–clinician relationship). A better understanding of ethical concerns and the resources available within the personal responsibility and clinical encounter frameworks suggest complementary guidance may be available for approaching many of the ethical issues raised by patient incentives.
ZINC STATUS DOES NOT AFFECT ALUMINUM DEPOSITION IN TISSUES OF RATS

To examine whether zinc deficiency would increase the toxicity of dietary aluminum, weanling, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed purified diets containing either 2 or 30 mg Zn/kg diet, with or without 500 mg Al/kg diet for 28 d. Individually pair-fed rats were fed the 30 mg Zn/kg diet with or without added aluminum to control for inanition secondary to zinc deficiency. Rats fed the 2 μg Zn/kg diet showed evidence of zinc deficiency, including anorexia, growth retardation, and depressed concentrations of zinc in tibias and livers. Zinc deficiency did not significantly increase the concentrations of aluminum in the tibias, livers, kidneys, or regions of the brain examined (cerebrum, cerebellum, midbrain, and hippocampus). Inclusion of aluminum in the diet did not alter aluminum concentrations in the various tissues. Under the conditions of this study, zinc deficiency did not result in greater sensitivity to dietary aluminum exposure.