cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategic Visibility and the Production of Day-Labor Spaces: A Case Study from the San Diego Metropolitan Area:

In cities across the United States, groups of mostly men congregate in public and semipublic spaces in hopes of being hired for short-term work. The particular spaces where laborers congregate each day are crucial to their economic and social fortunes, yet to date, there is limited research examining the spatial organization of these sites. In this article, I draw on relational perspectives on the production of space and governmentality practices to examine day-labor hiring spaces in the San Diego Metropolitan Area. Drawing on more than seven years of mixed-methods research, I argue that laborers collectively employ strategic visibility: a set of spatial practices that reduces the potential for conflict and ensures laborers’ continued access to the particular spaces on which their survival depends. This analysis suggests that laborers’ site-selection and spatial practices are driven by pragmatic, economic concerns, rather than fear of interactions with policing agencies and/or anti-immigrant residents.
Safety and Efficacy of a Volumizing Hyaluronic Acid Filler for Treatment of HIV-Associated Facial Lipoatrophy.

Importance Facial lipoatrophy (FLA) is associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy. The condition is primarily characterized by facial volume loss that affects the contours of the cheeks, temples, and orbits and may negatively affect patients’ adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy, psychological health, and quality of life. A single treatment of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler, 20 mg/mL, may provide an immediate, natural-appearing facial enhancement outcome. Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an HA filler for treatment of HIV-associated FLA during a 12-month follow-up. Design, Setting, and Participants Open-label, safety and efficacy study in patients with HIV-associated FLA, a Carruthers Lipoatrophy Severity Scale (CLSS) grade of 2 or greater (range, 1-4, with higher scores indicating greater severity), and no previous treatment for FLA during the past year received 1 treatment and an optional touch-up. Twenty patients were treated and followed up at the Sacramento Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mather, California, from March 5, 2015, to May 17, 2016. Interventions Midface (cheeks and temples) volumization was performed using the “smile-and-fill,” fanning, and depot technique with an optional touch-up at the 2-week follow-up. Main Outcomes and Measures Patients underwent evaluation at the initial visit and follow-up at 2 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Main outcome measures included safety (rate of treatment-related adverse events), CLSS grade, and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale rating (5-point scale, ranging from worse to very much improved). Results Nineteen of the 20 patients (all men; mean [SD] age, 57 [10] years) completed all study visits. Baseline HIV-associated FLA severity was CLSS grade 2 in 16 patients; grade 3, in 3 patients; and grade 4, in 1 patient. The total mean (SD) volume of HA used was 6.1 (3.1) mL for grade 2 FLA; 9.3 (4.2) mL for grade 3 FLA; and 26.0 (0) mL for grade 4 FLA (1 mL equals 1 syringe of HA filler). All 19 patients maintained a significant improvement of CLSS (grade 1) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale rating (very much improved) with no treatment-related adverse events at 12 months. Conclusions and Relevance This study reports excellent safety and efficacy and supports use of this HA filler for treatment of HIV-associated FLA with durable results at 12 months. Future multicenter, randomized clinical trials with blinded independent investigators are needed to demonstrate the long-term safety, efficacy, and durability of this HA filler for treatment of HIV-associated FLA.
Ultrasonic decrosslinking of peroxide crosslinked HDPE in twin screw extrusion: Part II simulation and experiment

The simulation of ultrasonic decrosslinking of the peroxide crosslinked high-density polyethylene (XHDPE) under static (no flow) condition and during flow in a twin-screw extruder (TSE) is carried out. The simulation under the static condition provides dependences of the ultrasonic bubble oscillation dynamics, gel fraction, and crosslink density of the decrosslinked XHDPE on the ultrasonic amplitude, hydrostatic pressure, bubble volume fraction, and treatment time. For the decrosslinking using TSE, the simulation provides distributions of temperature, velocity, gel fraction, crosslink density, and pressure in the ultrasonic treatment zone on the ultrasonic amplitude. The simulation results of ultrasonic decrosslinking of XHDPE using TSE are compared with the experimental data. A quantitative agreement for the ultrasonic power consumption is achieved using assigned values of the initial bubble radius and volume fraction. Only a qualitative agreement on the dependence of gel fraction and crosslink density on the ultrasonic amplitude is achieved. The effect of the flow rate on the gel fraction and crosslink density of the ultrasonically decrosslinked XHDPE is overpredicted due to the absence of a suitable theory to correctly model the ultrasonic bubble nucleation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:1047–1061, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
The Application of Signaling Bias to New Therapeutic Drug Therapy for Seven Transmembrane (G Protein-coupled) Receptors: Quantifying Bias

This chapter outlines the procedures available for the quantification of biased signaling effects by agonists. Two system-independent scales can be used: Log(τ/KA) values derived from the Black–Leff operational model of agonism and Log(RA) values (RA=relative activity). These values denote the relative power of agonists to activate given signaling pathways connected to the receptor in the cell.
FISH ENTRAINMENT INVESTIGATIONS AT THE FORT SHAW DIVERSION 2003-2004, SUN RIVER, MONTANA

Fish entrainment associated with irrigation has had long-term consequences for many species in the western United States. Investigation of entrainment and attempts at its prevention through physical or behavioral barrier installation are common management practices. However, the factors affecting entrainment are rarely quantified. The purpose of this study was to quantify fish entrained from the Sun River mainstem into the Fort Shaw diversion canal by species using an entrainment monitoring system; and second, to analyze the factors that contributed to this fish entrainment. These factors included: year, photoperiod, Sun River flow, Fort Shaw Canal diverted flow, Fort Shaw lag flow, ratio of diverted flow to Sun River flow, temperature, and moon phase. There were 6536 fish captured in 2003 and 2004 comprising 13 species and unknowns. We found significant differences in entrainment rates associated with Sun River flow, ratio of diverted flow to Sun River flow, and photoperiod. Our data indicated that at this site, fish entrainment is directly related to volume of water diverted, especially when diverted flows exceed mainstem river flows, and that fish entrainment at this site was highest during dark periods. The fish entrainment netting system used at the Fort Shaw Diversion was considered to be both economical and effective for documenting occurrence and determining the composition and number of fish entrained.
Neuroscience of Compulsive Eating Behavior.

A systematic characterization of compulsivity in pathological forms of eating has been proposed in the context of 3 functional domains: 1) habitual overeating; 2) overeating to relieve a negative emotional state; and 3) overeating despite aversive consequences. In this review, we provide evidence supporting this hypothesis and we differentiate the nascent field of neurocircuits and neurochemical mediators of compulsive eating through their underlying neuropsychobiological processes. A better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that lead to compulsive eating behavior can improve behavioral and pharmacological intervention for disorders of pathological eating.
Interactions Among Sexual Activity, Menstrual Cycle Phase, and Immune Function in Healthy Women

Past research has found menstrual-cycle-related changes in functional immune response; we examined if sexual activity also changed markers of immune defense. We followed 32 naturally cycling women (15 sexually active with a partner ≥ 1 time/week, 17 sexually abstinent for the last four months) over one menstrual cycle. Participants provided serum and saliva samples at menses and ovulation, and additional saliva samples at midfollicular and midluteal phases. At each phase, participants also self-reported symptoms associated with colds, flu, pain, menstrual discomfort, and premenstrual syndrome. We tested saliva and serum for ability to kill Escherichia coli or Candida albicans, and serum for complement protein activity. For serum-mediated pathogen killing, among sexually active women only, there was a significant midcycle decrease in killing of E. coli. For saliva-mediated pathogen killing, among abstinent women only, there was a significant midcycle decrease in killing of E. coli, and midcycle increase in...
DejaVu: A case for assisted email replies on smartphones

More email is opened on mobile devices today than on other platforms [1]. At the same time, enterprises are constantly investing in approaches to improve employee productivity. In this paper, we consider the problem of automated information suggestions to assist in reply construction. The basic premise of the work is that a significant portion of the information content of a reply is likely to be present in prior emails. We first show that the premise is valid by analyzing both public and private email datasets. We then present a simple algorithm that relies on inverse document frequency (IDF) and keyword matching to provide relevant suggestions during reply construction. Through prototype evaluations done using the Email datasets, we show that the proposed algorithm has attractive benefits.
Spray in Polymer Processing

Polymer is one of the most ubiquitous materials in human civilization. The ease of processability and lower cost of manufacturing make it one of the most attractive families of materials. Spraying is one of the most studied methods of processing polymeric materials. In this chapter, a brief overview of different spray processes will be provided. Different conventional spray methods, namely thermal spray, electrospray, spray drying, etc., will be discussed. Apart from the conventional spray methods, some unique methods of spraying, namely ultrasonic spraying, electricity-assisted subsonic and supersonic blowing, solvent-mediated emulsion method, etc., will also be discussed. It should be mentioned that processed polymers are used in various shapes and sizes. For the sake of brevity and clarity, the overall discussion will be limited to three different form of polymers—planar polymer film, polymer particles (from micro to nano), and polymer fibers (from micro to nano). The discussion will be extended to elucidate some of the uses of such processed polymers. Finally, some of the challenges with processing polymers will be elucidated.
Do Political Finance Laws Reduce Corruption

We gratefully acknowledge helpful comments from Kevin Casas-Zamora, Susan Scarrow, Agustin Vallejo, and the Political Science faculty workshop at the University of Miami. This research project was supported by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, Grant M13-0559:1, PI: Staffan I. Lindberg, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Sweden as well as by co-funding from the Vice-Chancellor's office, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences, and the Department of Political Science at University of Gothenburg. We performed simulations and other computational tasks using resources provided by the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing (CRC) through the High Performance Computing section and the Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC) at the National Supercomputer Centre in Sweden, SNIC 2016/1-382 and 2017/1-68. We specifically acknowledge the assistance of In-Saeng Suh at CRC and Johan Raber at SNIC in facilitating our use of their respective systems.
Legal-Writing Exercises: Part VI—Punctuation (Continued)

This article -- the last part of a six-part series -- contains legal-writing exercises (with answers) focused on punctuation.
Afghanistan Border Fixing

The international borders of Afghanistan were defined in late nineteenth century when the British Empire, in collaboration with the Russian and Persian empires, forced the present-day borders onto the greater Afghanistan region. Prior to border demarcation through foreign border commissions (British, Russian, Persian, Chinese), almost no Afghans were involved. Parts of the existing borders have remained highly contentious to this day, with the Durand-Line border between Afghanistan and Pakistan that was drawn to deliberately split the Pashtun tribes, being the most heated argument of the present time. Basically Afghanistan has opposed this border, whereas official Pakistan, wants to keep the border as is. This is precisely because the border does effectively divide the fractious Pashtuns and better enable the Punjabi-dominated government in Pakistan to keep control of its portion of the tribes. Partition of Afghanistan has been discussed repeatedly, particularly when conditions and politics have become extreme and violent.
MATERIALS SELECTION IN ATMOSPHERIC FLUIDIZED BED COMBUSTION SYSTEMS

Synopsis The materials problems in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) system include the erosion and corrosion of in-bed heat exchangers and their support structure; erosion of the bed containment; and perhaps also mechanical fatigue of the heat exchanger and thermomechanical fatigue of the distributor plate and associate structure, although examples of these failures have not been reported. Erosion, and perhaps corrosion, of thefirst-stage cyclone must be guarded against, although the problems should not be major. The various solids feed systems–coal, acceptor, bed material, recirculated cyclone catch–will suffer from wear problems unless appropriate precautions are taken. Corrosion of gas pass heat exchangers should not be a problem, and erosion should also be no problem so long as the appropriate gas velocity limits are observed. In-bed corrosion is probably controllable for boilers; for air-heaters the situation is not so clear. In-bed erosion does not appear to be an intrinsic characteristic of an AFBC, but is often experienced: the reasons for the appearance of erosion are not well-understood at the moment, which makes this problem a matter of particular concern.
Dynamical Properties of Simple Hydrogen-Bonded Clusters

Observation of rovibrational substructure in a range of vibrational bands occurring in intermolecular hydrogen-bonded complexes have been obtained. Static gas phase infrared spectroscopic analysis of fundamental, overtone, combination and hot bands in common and some isotopically, substituted species have been recorded using color center laser and Fourier transform infrared spectrometers. Specificially, rovibrational analysis of vibrational bands in the linear complexes HCN---HF, HCN---HC1, HCN---HCN and OC---HF have been successfully investigated. As HCN---HF has been studied in greatest detail, a consideration of its analysis will be emphasized. Rovibrational data for both intramolecular and intermolecular vibrations, the latter including low frequency far infrared vibrations have been evaluated. Accurately determined complex molecular parameters, including excited state rotational constants, band origin frequencies and information on transition line profiles can provide the basic information relevant to the characterization of excited vibrational state structures, anharmonic potential energy surfaces, and where appropriate, vibrational predissociation. Effects of Coriolis interactions as contributing factors to the observed ν 1 and its ν 1 + ν 7 1 − ν 7 1 hot band profile in HCN---HF are also considered. Certain analyses of corresponding bands in OC---HF are also presented to further illustrate the scope of current investigations.
The Biopolitics of Passing and the Possibility of Radically Inclusive Transgender Health Care.

For them, the decision to have cosmetic surgery is described as a way to become ‘ordinary’, ‘normal’—‘just like everyone else’. Based on these stories, I concluded that it makes more sense to frame...
Cognitive Enhancement in Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

Schizophrenia and related psychiatric disorders can be highly disabling. Deficits in cognition, involving skills such as attention, problem solving and social understanding are core symptoms of many psychiatric disorders, which greatly impact the quality of life of patients. New research demonstrates the evidence for cognitive enhancement therapies, capable of relieving these deficits. This book explores the evidence for cognitive enhancement therapies and their mode of action, making recommendations for individualized implementation strategies. The topics covered include computer-based exercises, psychotherapeutic group activities, and pharmacological interventions. This book is designed to serve the needs of practicing clinicians, researchers, and mental health students. It is packed full of illustrations and case vignettes from the author's own practice and includes an up-to-date bibliography of the major works in this field.
Enzymatic synthesis of 1-o-galloylglycerol: Characterization and determination of its antioxidant properties.

Abstract 1-o-Galloylglycerol (GG) was synthesized by the enzymatic glycerolysis of propyl gallate (PG) using a food-grade lipase (Lipozyme® 435). The reaction conditions affecting the yield of GG were optimized and a yield of 76.9% ± 1.2% was obtained. GG was characterized by various techniques after being separated from the reaction mixture using liquid-liquid extraction. The water solubility and hydrophilicity of GG were significantly higher than those of gallic acid (GA) and PG. The antioxidant properties, measured by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging assays, showed that GG exhibited the highest scavenging capacity (GG > GA > PG). From the results of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) assays, GG and GA exhibited greater scavenging capacity than PG (GG = GA > PG). These results suggest that GG may be used as a water-soluble antioxidant alternative to GA for food and cosmetic applications.
A Game-Theoretic Approach for Dynamic Information Flow Tracking to Detect Multistage Advanced Persistent Threats

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) infiltrate cyber systems and compromise specifically targeted data and/or resources through a sequence of stealthy attacks consisting of multiple stages. Dynamic information flow tracking has been proposed to detect APTs. In this article, we develop a dynamic information flow tracking game for resource-efficient detection of APTs via multistage dynamic games. The game evolves on an information flow graph, whose nodes are processes and objects (e.g., file, network endpoints) in the system and the edges capture the interaction between different processes and objects. Each stage of the game has prespecified targets that are characterized by a set of nodes of the graph. The goal of the APT is to evade detection and reach a target node of each stage. The goal of the defender is to maximize the detection probability while minimizing performance overhead on the system. The resource costs of the players are different and the information structure is asymmetric, resulting in a nonzero-sum imperfect information game . We first calculate the best responses of the players and then compute Nash equilibrium for single-stage attacks. We then provide a polynomial-time algorithm to compute a correlated equilibrium for the multistage attack case. Finally, we simulate our model and algorithm on real-world nation state attack data obtained from the Refinable Attack INvestigation (RAIN) system.
Evaluation of UV Aerosol Retrievals from an Ozone Lidar

Abstract. Aerosol retrieval using ozone lidars in the ultraviolet (UV) band is challenging but necessary for correcting aerosol interference in ozone retrieval and for studying the ozone-aerosol correlations. This study describes the aerosol retrieval algorithm for a tropospheric ozone lidar, quantifies the retrieval error budget, and intercompares the aerosol retrieval products at 299 nm with those at 532 nm from a high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL). After the cloud-contaminated data is filtered out, the aerosol backscatter or extinction coefficients at a 30-m and 10-min resolution retrieved by the ozone lidar are highly correlated with the HSRL products, with a coefficient of 0.95 suggesting that the ozone lidar can reliably measure aerosol structures with high spatio-temporal resolution when the signal-to-noise ratio is sufficient. The actual uncertainties of the aerosol retrieval from the ozone lidar generally agree with our theoretical analysis. The backscatter color ratio (backscatter-related exponent of wavelength dependence) linking the coincident data measured by the two instruments at 299 and 532 nm is 1.34 ± 0.11 while the Angstrom (extinction-related) exponent is 1.49 ± 0.16 for a mixture of urban and fire smoke aerosols within the troposphere above Huntsville, AL, USA.
DNA–protein crosslinks from environmental exposure: Mechanisms of formation and repair

Many environmental carcinogens cause DNA damage, which can result in mutations and other alterations in genomic DNA if not repaired promptly. Because of the bulkiness of the lesions, DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are one of the types of toxic DNA damage with potentially deleterious consequences. Despite the importance of DPCs, how cells remove these complex DNA adducts has been incompletely understood. However, major progress in the DPC repair field over the past five years now supports the view that cells are equipped with multiple mechanisms to cope with DPCs. Here, we first provide an overview of environmental substances that induce DPCs, describing the sources of exposure and mechanisms of DPC formation. We then review current models of DPC repair and discuss their significance for environmental carcinogens.
Extreme Energy Dissipation via Material Evolution in Carbon Nanotube Mats

Thin layered mats comprised of an interconnected meandering network of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are subjected to a hypersonic micro-projectile impact test. The mat morphology is highly compliant and while this leads to rather modest quasi-static mechanical properties, at the extreme strain rates and large strains resulting from ballistic impact, the MWCNT structure has the ability to reconfigure resulting in extraordinary kinetic energy (KE) absorption. The KE of the projectile is dissipated via frictional interactions, adiabatic heating, tube stretching, and ultimately fracture of taut tubes and the newly formed fibrils. The energy absorbed per unit mass of the film can range from 7-12 MJ kg-1, much greater than any other material.
Threshold Analysis of the Cost-effectiveness of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Patients at High Risk for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Objectives Data from the International Cancer of the Pancreas Screening Consortium studies have demonstrated that screening for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma can be effective and that surveillance improves survival in high-risk individuals. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and cross-sectional imaging are both used, although there is some suggestion that EUS is superior. Demonstration of the cost-effectiveness of screening is important to implement screening in high-risk groups. Methods Results from centers with EUS-predominant screening were pooled to evaluate efficacy of index EUS in screening. A decision analysis model simulated the outcome of high-risk patients who undergo screening and evaluated the parameters that would make screening cost-effective at a US $100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year willingness to pay. Results One-time index EUS has a sensitivity of 71.25% and specificity of 99.82% to detection to detect high-risk lesions. Screening with index EUS was cost-effective, particularly at lifetime pancreatic cancer probabilities of greater than 10.8%, or at lower probabilities if life expectancy after resection of a lesion that was at least 16 years, and if missed, lesion rates on index EUS are 5% or less. Conclusions Pancreatic cancer screening can be cost-effective through index EUS, particularly for those individuals at high-lifetime risk of cancer.
Gene-arsenic interaction in longitudinal changes of blood pressure: Findings from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Bangladesh

Abstract Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and mounting evidence indicates that toxicant exposures can profoundly impact on CVD risk. Epidemiologic studies have suggested that arsenic (As) exposure is positively related to increases in blood pressure (BP), a primary CVD risk factor. However, evidence of whether genetic susceptibility can modify the association between As and BP is lacking. In this study, we used mixed effect models adjusted for potential confounders to examine the interaction between As exposure from well water and potential genetic modifiers on longitudinal change in BP over approximately 7 years of follow-up in 1137 subjects selected from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) cohort in Bangladesh. Genotyping was conducted for 235 SNPs in 18 genes related to As metabolism, oxidative stress and endothelial function. We observed interactions between 44 SNPs with well water As for one or more BP outcome measures (systolic, diastolic, or pulse pressure (PP)) over the course of follow-up. The interaction between CYBA rs3794624 and well water As on annual PP remained statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons (FDR-adjusted p for interaction = 0.05). Among individuals with the rs3794624 variant genotype, well water As was associated with a 2.23 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.14–3.32) greater annual increase in PP, while among those with the wild type, well water As was associated with a 0.13 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.02–0.23) greater annual increase in PP. Our results suggest that genetic variability may contribute to As-associated increases in BP over time.
The effects of x-ray and radium on cancer of the cervix

Abstract 1. 1. One hundred fourteen patients with cancer of the cervix treated with a small course of roentgen ray therapy and varying amounts of radium radiation were studied clinically and histologically over a period of two and one-half years. 2. 2. Eighty-six of the 114 patients treated showed local healing. In spite of extremely large doses of radium, it was impossible to cause local disappearance of cancer in fourteen cases. 3. 3. Almost 50 per cent of patients treated with less than 4,500 mg. hours of radium radiation had local recurrences, whereas there were only 14 per cent recurrences in those patients treated with more than this amount. 4. 4. Additional radiation after failure of the primary radiation to cause local healing is of great value as nineteen of thirty three patients treated in this manner had local cures following reradiation. 5. 5. The roentgen ray therapy given prior to the radium application causes a marked retrogression of the tumor, decreases the amount of secondary infection present, and makes the operation of applying the radium easier. 6. 6. Radium should be filtered with at least 1 mm. of platinum or 24 karat gold when used intracervically, and 2 mm. platinum when used as a surface application in the vagina. This prevents a complete endarteritis and hard fibrosis which in turn prevent healing. It also lessens the danger of fistula formation. 7. 7. There appear to be no marked differences in the response to radium of the cancers of the various histologic grades studied so that histologic grading appears to be of little value in the radiation treatment of cancer of the cervix, although the grade of tumor may influence one in favor of surgery in very early cases. There appears to be no logic in the latter. The clinical extent of the disease is of far greater importance in determining the method of treatment and for prognosis. 8. 8. Roentgen ray treatments in large amounts given over a long period of time should be effective in the parametrial extensions of the disease. 9. 9. Larger doses of radium with heavier filtration apparently cause a greater permanency of the local cure.
Closure Measurements on Short Fatigue Cracks

Single-edged notched specimens, 2.3 mm thick, of 2024-T3 aluminum were cyclicly loaded at R-ratios of 0.5, 0.0, -1.0 and -2.0. The notch roots were periodically inspected with an optical microscope to locate the initiation of very short cracks. Acetate replicas were also taken. The loads were selected to produce fatigue lives of 500,000 cycles or less. Crack opening displacements were measured at single positions across cracks as short as 0.035 mm and as long as the full thickness of the specimen. The opening load ratios for the short cracks are somewhat smaller than for long cracks at positive R-ratios, but are considerably smaller for negative R-ratios.
Borges as a Writer of Parables: Reversal and Infinite Regression

The short stories of Jorge Luis Borges are representative of a major trend in twentieth-century fiction which concentrates on aesthetic rather than moral issues. Borges himself has stressed the essentially amoral and literary perspective which distinguishes his work from that of more ethically oriented writers: "I want to make it quite clear that I am not, nor have I ever been, what used to be called a preacher of parables . . . and is now known as a committed writer." The committed writer, for Borges, is one whose ethical preoccupations not only dominate, but dictate a creative style which invariably "declines into allegory.' In contrast to such morally didactic literature, Borges presents his own stories as mere efforts to entertain or to move, but not to persuade. He expresses impatience not only with the aggressively didactic writer, but also with those readers who approach literature expecting symbols or lessons, and he often constructs his narratives deliberately to frustrate such allegorical interpretations. Borges would have his audience come to resemble himself, rich "in perplexities rather than in certainties." Fiercely antidogmatic, he perceives his stories as "tenuous and eternal crevices of unreason" in man's presumptuous architectural ordering of the universe.
Representation and Classification of Dynamical Systems

It is shown that any dynamical system may be represented by a system of first order differential equations of the form \({\dot x_i} = {a_{ij}}\partial Z/\partial {x_j}, \) where on the right side the (n × n) matrix-elements, a,i and the scalar potential Z depend on the coordinates x 1, x 2 ... x n and the summation convention is applied with respect to the repeated subscript j. Using direct notation the equation is written as \(\dot x = A(x)\partial Z/\partial x \). Invariant properties of the system under transformations are studied and the classifications of the systems are established depending on the properties of the matrix A(x). With this representation, many of the classical as well as the modern results may be shown using only linear algebra. In particular for a constant skew-symmetric matrix A, it is shown that many of the known properties of the motion for Hamiltonian systems such as form preservation, volume preservation, and variational principle remain valid.
What Is Conceptual Glue

Conceptual structures are commonly likened to scientific theories, yet the content and motivation of the theory analogy are rarely discussed. Gregory Murphy and Douglas Medin‘s ’’The Role of Theories in Conceptual Coherence‘‘ is a notable exception and has become an authoritative exposition of the utility of the theory analogy. For Murphy and Medin, the theory analogy solves what they call the problem of conceptual coherence or the problem of conceptual glue. I argue that they conflate a number of issues under these rubrics and that in each case either the problem to be solved isn‘t subject to a general solution or the theory analogy is of little use. The issues I consider are: (1) what makes a concept efficient, useful, and informative, (2) what makes a concept refer to what it does, (3) what makes a set of objects form a single category, and (4) what makes concepts combine in one way rather than another.
Analysis of multiple interval delay systems via sufficient and asymptotically necessary comparison system

We examine the stability of linear time-delay systems with several constant, unknown and independent delays, each residing within a known interval excluding zero. The delay elements are replaced with parameter-dependent filters, satisfying three properties, resulting in a delay-free comparison system. The robust stability of this finite-dimensional system guarantees stability of the original time-delay system. This result is unique in the sense that it does not require any a priori knowledge of the stability of the system for some fixed delay. It is shown that if the parameter-dependent filters are constructed in a particular fashion, using Pade approximations, an a priori known upper bound on the degree-of-conservatism of the comparison system may be provided, which is independent of the system data. In this case, the conservatism of the comparison system can be made arbitrarily small. An LMI formulation is then presented for stability analysis of the comparison system.
Comparison of AMP deaminase from skeletal muscle of acidotic and normal rats.

Abstract The deamination of AMP by AMP aminohydrolase (EC 3.5.4.6) serves as the major source of ammonia production in skeletal muscle. It has been suggested that the ammonia may serve either in a buffering capacity to combat acidosis due to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during prolonged muscular activity, or as a substrate for glutamine formation which can ultimately be utilized by the kidney in adapting to metabolic acidosis. In view of this proposal, the properties of the enzyme obtained from skeletal muscle of acidotic rats have been compared with the enzyme from normal muscle. The specific activity of AMP deaminase in crude homogenates of acidotic muscle was not significantly different from normal levels. The enzyme from acidotic muscle was purified to homogeneity and was found to be identical to the enzyme obtained from normal muscle by the criteria of electrophoretic mobility, pH optimum, molecular weight, sedimentation coefficient, subunit composition, amino acid composition, monovalent cation requirement, substrate saturation, and inhibition by ATP, P i and creatine- P . Thus, if the enzyme functions to prevent acidosis, the ability to respond to changes in the intracellular environment which accompany acidosis must be built into the structure of the enzyme normally found in skeletal muscle. Three lines of evidence strongly support this viewpoint: (a) the rate of deamination is approximately 2-fold higher at pH 6.5 than at pH 7.0, (b) the activity increases linearly with a decrease in the adenylate energy charge, and (c) within the normal physiological range of the adenylate energy charge, the enzyme is operating at only 10–20% of its maximum capacity.
Enhancement of lung preservation by prevention of lung collapse

Abstract Previous investigations of important factors in lung preservation have stressed the importance of denervation and ischemia as deterimental factors. We believe that lung collapse below the level of functional residual capacity during preservation also decreases the ability of the transplanted lung to provide total pulmonary function. To validate this assumption, four groups of five dogs each were studied utilizing the in vivo isolated lung preparation. This preparation simulates autotransplantation but avoids the attendant time-consuming anastomoses which markedly increase collapse time. In Group I, the isolated ischemic lungs were ventilated for 3 hr with the chest open, thus allowing total collapse of the lung with each respiratory cycle. Subsequently, circulation was restored, the contralateral pulmonary artery was ligated, and the chest was closed for chronic survival. Groups II, III, and IV differed only in that the chest was closed during ischemic periods of 3, 4, and 5 hr, respectively, thus preventing lung collapse below FRC. No dogs survived in Group I. Chronic survivors in Groups II, III, and IV numbered three, two, and one, respectively, supporting the contention that prevention of lung collapse below FRC enhances the ability of lung grafts to assume total respiratory function after implantation. We believe that the prevention of collapse is a much more critical factor in lung preservation than is lung ischemia. So long as collapse time during harvesting, implantation, and the so-called preservation period is less than 30–60 min, one may be able consistently to preserve a lung, under conditions of normothermic ischemia with ventilation above FRC, for 3 hr, with occasional satisfactory preservation up to 5 hr. Failure to minimize lung collapse during the preservation period and during harvesting and implantation may mean the difference between survival and death in lung allograft recipients.
NEURAL NETWORK ANALYSIS OF THERMAL IMAGE DATA

Thermal images of the human body, when obtained at different wavelengths of infrared radiation, offer a means of eliminating several sources of error which can occur in single-wavelength thermal imaging procedures. Algebraic treatment of image data, however, utilizing nonlinear functions derived from integration over Planck’s law of radiation distribution, proves to be extremely sensitive to experimental errors in measurement and truncation errors in computation. The neural network backpropagation algorithm has been applied to thermal data processing which has resulted in a more stable and error-tolerant method of data reduction. Trained on a computed ideal data set, this algorithm has been shown to more reliably process actual data.
Polymorphism of aspartic proteinases in resting and germinating barley seeds

ABSTRACT Both resting and germinated barley seeds (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Morex’) contain aspartic endopeptidase activities, and the activities increase during germination. We have extracted and partially purified aspartic endopeptidases from both resting seeds and green malt (four-day germinated barley). Six aspartic proteinase activities were found in resting barley seeds while only four activities were detected in green malt. All of the aspartic proteinases had similar pH activity optima (pH 3.5–4.5) and pI values (≈4.5). The purified green malt aspartic proteinases selectively digested a group of barley seed proteins, postulated to serve as defensive proteins, that are coded by the amylase-trypsin inhibitor super gene family. The aspartic proteinases that bound to a pepstatin A affinity column at pH 4.5 cross-reacted with antiserum raised against aspartic proteinases purified from barley seed. However, those that did not bind the affinity column also did not cross-react with the antiserum, indicating tha...
Randomized, controlled surgical trial of preoperative tumor curettage of basal cell carcinoma in Mohs micrographic surgery

Abstract Background The use of preoperative tumor curettage in Mohs micrographic surgery has never been prospectively systematically assessed. Objective To assess the utility of preoperative tumor curettage in Mohs micrographic surgery for primary or recurrent, well-defined basal cell carcinoma less than 2 cm in diameter located on the head or neck. Methods Patients were randomized to either preoperative tumor curettage or control group and were compared in terms of percent surface area increase from tumor surface area to wound surface area, absolute surface area increase, number of tissue layers removed, types of repairs performed, and postoperative complications. Multivariate analysis was performed to see if tumor location, appearance (exophytic or flat), or histology affected any of the above. Results The preoperative tumor curettage group had a 399% (95% confidence interval [CI] 346-452) mean surface area increase from tumor to wound surface area versus 263% (95% CI 216-311) for control group ( P =.0002). The preoperative tumor curettage group had a mean absolute surface area increase of 1.78 cm 2 (95% CI 1.57-1.99) versus 1.40 cm 2 (95% CI 1.15-1.65) for control group ( P =.02). The preoperative tumor curettage group had fewer tissue layers removed ( P =.3). Preoperative tumor curettage had no effect on types of repairs performed or number or type of postoperative complications. Tumor appearance and histology had no effect on any of the above end points. Conclusion Preoperative tumor curettage was associated with significantly greater percent surface area increase and absolute surface area increase from tumor surface area to wound surface area. This difference did not affect type of repair performed or postoperative complications.
The Survey Method: An Indispensable Tool for Social Science Research Everywhere?

This article reviews the proliferation of the survey method beyond the Western democracies of North America and Europe with particular emphasis on cross-national survey projects and the study of public opinion on broadly defined political issues. Discussing rules formulated by Jowell and others, a set of principles for conducting cross-national surveys is offered. Based on a case study of extending political surveys to East Germany after the fall of Communism, and beyond more technical and organizational aspects, the more general question of societal conditions and their relationship to the validity of survey data is discussed. Considering both post-Communist and Asian countries, it is suggested that to ensure the validity of survey data, culture-specific adjustments are necessary and that meaningful comparative cross-national analysis must also include nonquantitative components. The current trend of extending cross-national projects to a large number of rather heterogeneous countries is seen as producin...
Outcome and long term follow-up after corpus callosotomy in childhood onset intractable epilepsy

Epilepsy surgery is a standard of care in the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy. Twenty five percent of patients with intractable epilepsy in childhood can be candidates for epilepsy surgery. Corpus callosotomy is a surgical treatment option for patients with potentially injurious drop attacks and disabling generalized seizures. Postoperative improvement of cognition and speech are important gains after epilepsy surgery particularly during childhood. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of corpus callosotomy for the treatment of childhood onset medically intractable epilepsy in a developing pediatric epilepsy surgery center. We report 16 patients who underwent two thirds anterior corpus callosotomy for treatment of refractory seizures in childhood. All patients had drop attacks or multiple types of seizures, yet some showed focal onset with secondary generalization on electroencephalogram (EEG). One patient was seizure free (class 1 outcome), five had class 2A outcome, five had class 2B outcome, and five had class 3 outcome. Overall 11/16 (69%) of our patients improved significantly after anterior callosotomy. Corpus callosotomy remains to be a fairly good choice of surgical treatment for childhood onset medically intractable epilepsy in selected patients.
Molecular-Scale Density Oscillations in Water Adjacent to a Mica Surface

High-resolution specular x-ray reflectivity of the mica(001)-water interface under ambient conditions reveals oscillations in water oxygen density in the surface-normal direction, giving evidence of interfacial water ordering. The spacings between neighboring water layers in the near-surface, strongly oscillatory region are 2.5(2)-2.7(2) A, approximately the size of the water molecule. The density oscillations extend to about 10 A above the surface and do not strictly maintain a solvent-size periodicity as that in interfacial liquid metal and hard-sphere molecular liquids. We interpret this oscillatory density profile of the interfacial water as due to the "hard-wall" effect of the molecularly smooth mica surface.
Relationships between size and velocity for particles within debris flows

Estimation of the impact forces from boulders within a debris flow is important for the design of structural mitigation elements. Boulder impact force equations are most sensitive to the inputs of ...
System-wide implementation of the use of an extended-infusion piperacillin/tazobactam dosing strategy: feasibility of utilization from a children's hospital perspective.

Abstract Background Use of extended infusions of piperacillin/tazobactam (PT) in adult patients has been described, but data in children are limited. Objective The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of using an extended-infusion PT dosing strategy as the standard of care in a children's hospital. Methods This was a prospective observational study of patients aged >30 days who received PT after admission to a freestanding, tertiary care children's hospital. After institution of an extended-infusion PT dosing protocol as the standard dosing option, patients receiving PT were prospectively assessed for presence of and reasons for changes in dosing regimen. Results A total of 332 patients, with a median age of 5 years (interquartile range, 1.9–12 years) and median weight of 19.9 kg (interquartile range, 11.7 – 37.6 kg) received PT (100 mg/kg based on piperacillin component). Extended-infusion PT was used for the duration of PT therapy in 92% (n = 304) of patients. Twenty-eight patients (8%) received a traditional infusion over 30 minutes, with 19 of 28 being changed from extended infusion and 9 of 28 being empirically prescribed traditional infusion PT. The most commonly encountered reason for not using extended infusions was coadministration of vancomycin (17 of 28 [61%]) and lack of compatibility data with PT. Dosing errors, which were voluntarily reported, were infrequent (1.8% [n = 6]). The few observed dosing errors were likely attributable to the overall ordering process at our institution, which requires ordering as the milligram per kilogram dose as total PT rather than based on piperacillin component as is commonly documented in pediatric dosing references. Conclusions Results of this study suggest that extended-infusion PT dosing was feasible in this specific children's hospital. Ninety-two percent of patients received our institution's preferred dosing regimen; a small percentage of patients still needed to receive traditional infusion times.