cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Administration of intravenous antibiotics in patients with open fractures is dependent on emergency room triaging.

Background Recent literature has demonstrated that emergent administration of antibiotics is perhaps more critical than even emergent debridement. Most recent studies recommend patients receive antibiotics no later than 1 hour after injury to prevent infection. The objective of this study is to evaluate the time to antibiotic administration after patients with open fractures arrive to a trauma center depending on triaging team. Methods A retrospective study at a level 1 Trauma center from January 2013 to March 2015 where 117 patients with open fractures were evaluated. Patients who presented with open fractures of the extremities or pelvis were considered. Subjects were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Patients aged 18 and older were analyzed for Gustilo type, antibiotics administered in the emergency room (ER), presence of an antibiotic allergy, post-operative antibiotic regimen and number of debridements, among others. Additionally, whether a patient was triaged by ER doctors or trauma surgeons (and made a trauma activation) was evaluated. Outcome measurements included time to intravenous (IV) antibiotic administration and time to surgical debridement. Results Patients received IV cefazolin a median of 17 minutes after arrival. Eighty-five patients who were made trauma activations received cefazolin 14 minutes after arrival while 24 non-trauma patients received cefazolin 53 minutes after arrival (p = <0.0001). The median time to gentamicin administration for all patients was 180 minutes. Patients not upgraded to a trauma received gentamicin 263 minutes after arrival, while patients upgraded received gentamicin 176 minutes after arrival. There was no statistically significant difference between the timing to cefazolin or gentamicin based on Gustilo type. Conclusions Overall, patients that arrive at our institution with open fractures receive IV cefazolin significantly faster when trauma surgeons evaluate the patient. Additionally, delays in gentamicin administration are demonstrated in both triaging groups. This is due to the fact that cefazolin is stocked in the hospital ER, while gentamicin is commonly not due to weight-based dosing requirements precluding a standard dose. Improvements can be made to antibiotic administration of non-trauma patients and those requiring gentamicin via improved education and awareness of open fractures.
Hunger and Fullness: How High-Poverty Urban Students Experience School Food Policy:

The issue of school food and its role in the learning environment has been overlooked by educators, education researchers, and policy makers. This study uses observations and interviews in three hi...
Rate and Determinants of Completing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Medicare Beneficiaries With Bladder Cancer: A SEER-Medicare Analysis.

Abstract Objective To determine the rate and determinants of neoadjuvant chemotherapy noncompletion in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Methods Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data, we identified all patients who underwent cystectomy between 2008-2013 and received chemotherapy within 6 months. Of these, 594 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, defined as the presence of a claim for chemotherapy within the 180 days preceding cystectomy. Our primary outcome was noncompletion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We determined regimen-specific cut points for noncompletion based on clinical trials and national guidelines. Results Over the study period, 174 of 594 patients (29%) did not complete neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Noncompleters and completers received a median interquartile range of 4.4 (3.0-8.0) and 10.0 (7.7-11.2) weeks of chemotherapy, respectively. A total of 391 (66%) patients received a cisplatin-based regimen and 203 (34%) patients received an alternative regimen, with 27% and 33% not completing chemotherapy, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, age and geographic region were independently associated with failing to complete chemotherapy. Conclusion Nearly 30% of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not complete their regimen. Advanced age and nonclinical factors, such as practice patterns in certain geographic regions, may influence a patient's likelihood of successfully completing chemotherapy.
Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm–Current Insights

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare clonal hematologic malignancy of plasmacytoid dendritic cell precursors. The presentation and clinical course of BPDCN is widely heterogeneous and was most recently categorized as a distinct clinical entity by the World Health Organization in 2016. The expanded understanding of the pathobiology of BPDCN has improved diagnostic accuracy and informed novel targeted therapeutic options. The United States Food and Drug Administration-approval of tagraxofusp (SL-401) in December 2018 has focused attention on this leukemia frequently associated with skin involvement. Herein, we aim to: (1) review etiology; (2) summarize diagnostic criteria; and (3) discuss historic treatments and novel therapies for BPDCN.
Reflections of a Dohlman Fellow

Claes Henrik Dohlman, MD, PhD (CHD), has devoted his entire career to advancing our understanding of the biology of the cornea and the pathophysiology and management of corneal diseases. He is truly a renaissance scholar of the cornea, whose influence has defined and shaped the field. His basic science work, which spans all structures of the cornea, is eloquently reviewed in this volume by his long-term colleague Ilene Gipson (Chap. 17). While these studies are noteworthy, and for many would constitute a lifetime of contribution, Claes’ most significant impact on the field of cornea falls into two major areas – development of the most widely used keratoprosthesis (Boston KPro) in the world (reviewed in Chap. 15 by Mona Harissi-Dagher, one of the leaders of the current generation of KPro surgeons) and training multiple generations of corneal specialists. It is estimated that Dr. Dohlman has trained over 200 corneal specialists in his career, many of whom have held or currently hold leadership positions in ophthalmology around the world. Dr. Dohlman’s true impact is much greater, however, when one considers all of the corneal specialists trained by the Dohlman fellows. It is rare to find corneal specialist in the United States today who cannot be traced to have some connection back to Claes Dohlman. As I write this chapter, I am truly grateful for the many lessons I have learned from Dr. Dohlman, some of which I will attempt to convey in the following pages.
Resonant capture in quadruple stellar systems

Some quadruple star systems in the hierarchical 2+2 configuration exhibit orbit-orbit resonances between the two compact binaries. We show that the most important resonances occur at period ratios of 1:1, 3:2 and 2:1. We describe the conditions required for capture and show that they can be satisfied at the 3:2 and 2:1 resonances in binaries that migrate significantly in semimajor axis after circularization, probably through magnetic braking or gravitational radiation.
A new model of repeat mTBI in adolescent rats

Abstract Sports-related injury is frequently associated with repeated diffuse and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We combined two existing models for inducing TBI in rats, the Impact Acceleration and Controlled Cortical Impact models, to create a new method relevant to the study of cognitive sequelae of repeat mTBI in adolescent athletes. Repeated mTBI, such as those incurred in sports, can result in a wide range of outcomes, with many individuals experiencing no chronic sequela while others develop profound cognitive and behavioral impairments, typically in the absence of lasting motor symptoms or gross tissue loss appreciable antemortem. It is critical to develop models of mTBI and repeat mTBI that have the flexibility to assess multiple parameters related to injury (e.g. number and magnitude of impacts, inter-injury interval, etc) that are associated with brain vulnerability compared to normal recovery. We designed a 3D-printed plastic implant to permanently secure a metal disc to the skull of adolescent rats in order to induce multiple injuries without performing multiple survival surgeries and also to minimize pre-injury anesthesia time. Rats were randomly assigned to sham injury (n = 12), single injury (n = 12; injury on P41), or repeat injury (n = 14; injuries on P35, P38, and P41) groups. Compared to single injury and sham injury, repeat injuries caused increased toe pinch reflex latency (F(2,34) = 4.126, p
Miscarriage determination in first trimester based on alpha-fetoprotein extracted from sanitary pads.

Objective To determine if high alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level in vaginal blood collected on a sanitary pad can assist with detecting an active miscarriage. Design A prospective cohort study. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Five groups were evaluated: women with active miscarriage, pregnancy of unknown location, completed miscarriage or extrauterine pregnancy (EUP), ongoing pregnancy, and undergoing elective dilation and curettage (DC area under the curve 0.96). Conclusion(s) Alpha-fetoprotein can be extracted from vaginal blood collected on sanitary pads. A high level of vaginal AFP can assist with the same-day detection of an active miscarriage. This novel test is useful in differentiating active miscarriages from ongoing pregnancies, completed miscarriages, and EUPs and, therefore, it reduces uncertainty, anxiety level, and number of repeat office visits.
Seven Strategies to Rebuild Worker Power for the 21st Century Global Economy: A Comparative and Historical Framework for Policy Action

Is globalization good or bad for workers? One view sees it as an inevitable and desirable process of making economies more efficient: It may displace workers in the short run, but it has the potential to make them richer in the long run. Another view sees globalization as a net negative, leading to a loss of local and national control as workers are divided against each other in a race-to-the-bottom where business wins and labor loses. In Seven Strategies to Rebuild Worker Power for the 21st Century Global Economy, Roosevelt Fellow Todd N. Tucker uses historical lessons to lay out a framework for how to rebuild worker power and fight inequality, starting with a global labor agreement — what Tucker calls the Worker Power Agreement — modeled on the Paris Climate Accords. The report argues for governments to take on explicit targets to increase union density, as well as complementary policies that our trading partners make use of, including: Privileging firms that cooperate well with unions; Making labor law enforcement more favorable toward labor; Extending union contracts to non-union workers; Structurally incorporating unions into the policymaking process; Allowing unions to manage public benefits; and Making union membership the default status for workers. Recent Supreme Court decisions like Janus v. AFSCME reveal that the state (of which courts are a part) can and does put its thumb on the scale against labor. Thus, policy could instead actively tilt the other way. This paper proposes a fundamental re-visioning of the role of government in rebuilding worker power, which has a stronger foothold when it benefits from more than just one base of support. Instead of defeatist resignation, modest legal changes, or waiting for unions to save themselves, Tucker recommends ambitious and linked strategies at the international and domestic level to strengthen labor institutions across the globe.
“Who Does the Math?”: On the Diversity and Demographics of the Mathematics Community in the USA

Mathematics is a human endeavor. In other words, mathematics is done, taught, discovered, and learned by people. Of course, people have various identifying characteristics and experiences that affect how they interact with other people and how people interact with them. In this paper I will be arguing that the identities of the people who are perceived as belonging to the mathematics community in the USA are important. I will present data about the diversity and demographics of the mathematics community in the USA and discuss the significance and implications of the underrepresentation of certain groups.
Chondrosarcoma of the Appendicular Skeleton

Chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary malignancy of bone next to osteosarcoma but shares very few features in common with its osteogenic counterpart. It can occur as a primary lesion de novo or arise from a preexisting benign cartilage lesion. Conventional chondrosarcoma classically arises from the medullary cavity and will grow outward. It is a tumor of adult patient populations, characterized by the production of hyaline cartilage by malignant chondrocytes. However, the highest grades of chondrosarcoma may produce very little cartilage matrix at all. This breadth in tumor grades leads to clinical presentations that vary in symptomatology, radiographic and clinical findings, and biologic aggression making patient management across the continuum of chondrosarcoma challenging. Chondrosarcoma is generally considered a surgical disease because it is resistant to both chemotherapy and radiation, although rare histologies and inoperable sites will still be treated with these modalities. Notable controversies persist in the surgical treatment of low-grade chondrosarcoma, in the feasibility of limb salvage in the setting of pathologic fracture, and in the management of chondrosarcoma of the hands and feet.
Why People Turn to Institutions They Detest: Institutional Mistrust and Justice System Engagement in Uneven Democratic States:

Does political mistrust lead to institutional disengagement? Much work in political science holds that trust matters for political participation, including recourse to the justice system. Scholars ...
Aerodynamic Interference Effects on Oscillating Airfoils with Controls in Ventilated Wind Tunnels

Lift interference effects are discussed based on Bland's integral equation. A mathematical existence theory is utilized for which convergence of the numerical method has been proved for general (square-integrable) downwashes. Airloads are computed using orthogonal airfoil polynomial pairs in conjunction with a collocation method which is numerically equivalent to Galerkin's method and complex least squares. Convergence exhibits exponentially decreasing error with the number n of collocation points for smooth downwashes, whereas errors are proportional to l/n for discontinuous downwashes. The latter is reduced to l//i m+/ with /nth order extrapolation to the limit (using m-1 we obtain hundredfold error reductions with only a 13 % increase of computer time). Numerical results are presented showing acoustic resonance, and the effect of Mach number, ventilation, height to chord ratio, and mode shape on wind tunnel interference. Excellent agreement with experiment is obtained in steady flow, and good agreement is obtained for unsteady flow.
Between Faculty, Administration, Board, State, and Students: On the Relevance of a Faculty Senate in the Modern U.S. University

This essay is an edited text of a presentation made by the incoming chair of the University Faculty Senate of Pennsylvania State University to a conference co-sponsored by the American Association of University Professors and faculty at the Pennsylvania State University. The topic of these remarks is shared governance. I will consider shared governance within the increasingly contested governance space of the U.S. public research university. My contextual focus will be on its most fragile element, a faculty senate. I will start with a very brief review of the foundations. The conceptual structures of shared governance are fairly well known but it is always useful to nod in the direction of sources. I then consider the realities of shared governance, considering the law relating to shared governance and its functional challenges. I will suggest the context and the difficulties of shared governance within the a-symmetric power arrangements that are the hallmark of public universities. What I hope to flesh out is an outline of the context in which shared governance might be measured by its form with little attention paid to the effectiveness of its function. I will then consider where a faculty senate can fit into this governance enterprise. I will consider whether shared governance has come to mean more a sharing of the burdens of administration than a sharing of governance. I will end with a consideration of how I see the Penn State Faculty Senate playing a more engaged role within the constraints of shared governance, and the way in which, in the absence of legal protection, the university itself must provide a contractually based protection for the shared governance obligations of faculty.
Methylation of CpGs as a Determinant of Transcriptional Activation at Alternative Promoters for Transforming Growth Factor-β3

The human transforming growth factor-β3 ( TGF-β3 ) gene has a typical CpG island, the core of which is centered just upstream of its principle promoter. Activation of an alternative downstream promoter, leading to the production of a truncated mRNA lacking the portion of the 5′ noncoding region responsible for translational inhibition of TGF-β3 mRNA, is only evident in breast cancer cells. We compared the methylation status of genomic DNA isolated from a panel of breast (SKBR-3 and T47-D) and non-breast cancer (HT-1080, A673, and A375) cell lines by sequencing sodium metabisulfite-treated DNA. In all cell lines, the core of the TGF-β3 CpG island was predominantly unmethylated, irrespective of promoter usage associated with that cell line. In contrast, we observed a marked difference in methylation at 19 CpG sites immediately flanking and downstream of the alternative promoter’s transcription initiation site. Specifically, the non-breast cancer cell lines exhibited nearly complete methylation of these CpG sites, whereas in the breast cancer cell lines, these CpGs were predominantly unmethylated. Our data support the hypothesis that methylation of a limited number of CpGs at the periphery of an otherwise unmethylated CpG island underlies the transcriptional repression of the downstream promoter in non-breast cancer cells, thereby serving to regulate the use of alternative promoters for TGF-β3.
Three domains in the simian virus 40 core origin orchestrate the binding, melting, and DNA helicase activities of T antigen.

The simian virus 40 (SV40) core origin of replication consists of three functional domains. The sequence 59-CACTACTTCTGGAATAG-39 with an imperfect inverted repeat (underlined), a palindrome with four 59-GAGGC-39 pentanucleotide repeats, and a 17-base-pair A + T-rich segment. We have been able to assign primary functions to each domain. Remarkably, SV40 large T antigen melted the inverted repeat domain in the complete absence of other origin sequences. Presumably, this protein-DNA interaction initiates a replication bubble that leads to daughter strand DNA synthesis. The pentanucleotide domain alone docked and arranged T antigen at the origin. The A + T-rich domain had no independent function, but, in the presence of the other two domains, allowed bound T antigen to extend the replication bubble. Thus, three domains of the origin coordinate the binding, melting, and DNA helicase activities of T antigen in an ordered sequence of events to initiate DNA replication. Images
A rarita-schwinger formalism for boson fields

A Rarita-Schwinger formalism is developed for general boson or tensor fields representing particles with both zero and nonzero masses. As examples of relativistic classical fields, the Proca and Maxwell fields are viewed from the two alternative approaches contained in this formalism; the first employing a rank-one tensor, and the second employing a rank-two antisymmetric tensor. Then the 4-vector field developed by Goldberg, Haller and Landovitz will be examined as a quantum field theory.
A Review of “Awakening giants, feet of clay: assessing the economic rise of China and India”

The fast-growing economies of China and India have long been in the spotlight of the western media, and heated discussion usually focuses on what these countries’ rise implies for the rest of the w...
Thermal characterization of polymeric materials used in semiconductor die bonding

Abstract Several conductive and non-conductive epoxy systems recommended for use in microelectronic device bonding applications have been characterized by thermal analysis and spectrographic techniques. Data on such properties as degradation temperatures, weight changes as a function of temperature, coefficient of expansion, second-order transition temperature, shrinkage behavior, and peak exothermic reaction temperature of polymeric materials were determined to be important in order to optimize curing conditions for specific polymer applications. Thermal analysis has been successfully used in observing the shrinkage behavior of some conductive gold- and silver-filled epoxy resin systems and in understanding fluctuating contact resistance readings in ohmic die bonds using conductive epoxy systems.
Layer-coupled plasmons in a sawtooth-type potassium double-layer model on Si(001)-2×1 surfaces

Using a sawtooth-type potassium double-layer model, we have calculated the layer-coupled interband and intraband plasmon modes of alkali-metal adatoms on Si(001)-2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 surfaces. For K adlayer on Si(001)-2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 surfaces, our calculated plasmon dispersion curves successfully reproduce the diplike shape in the [100] direction of the overlayer-plasmon dispersion curves observed in an experiment by using angle-resolved electron-energy-loss spectroscopy. The agreement between our calculated results and the experimental results is found to be good.
A class of confidence intervals for sequential phase II clinical trials with binary outcome

The phase II clinical trials often use the binary outcome. Thus, accessing the success rate of the treatment is a primary objective for the phase II clinical trials. Reporting confidence intervals is a common practice for clinical trials. Due to the group sequence design and relatively small sample size, many existing confidence intervals for phase II trials are much conservative. In this paper, we propose a class of confidence intervals for binary outcomes. We also provide a general theory to assess the coverage of confidence intervals for discrete distributions, and hence make recommendations for choosing the parameter in calculating the confidence interval. The proposed method is applied to Simon's [14] optimal two-stage design with numerical studies. The proposed method can be viewed as an alternative approach for the confidence interval for discrete distributions in general.
Effect of nitric oxide on hemoprotein-catalyzed oxidative reactions.

Abstract Hemoglobin or myoglobin-catalyzed oxidation reactions have been suggested to initiate and/or exacerbate tissue injury associated with a variety of pathological conditions including post-ischemic tissue injury, hemorrhagic disorders, and chronic inflammation. In the present study, we investigated what effect different fluxes of nitric oxide (NO) have on hemoprotein-catalyzed oxidation reactions in vitro. The hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system was used to generate both O − 2 and H 2 O 2 , whereas the spontaneous decomposition of the spermine/NO adduct was used to generate NO at a known and constant rate. We assessed the ability of myoglobin (Mb) or hemoglobin (Hb) to oxidize dihydrorhodamine (DHR) to rhodamine (RH) in the presence of O − 2 /H 2 O 2 and/or NO. In the presence of a constant flux of O − 2 and H 2 O 2 (1 nmol/min each), 500 nM MetMb (Fe 3+ ) stimulated DHR oxidation from normally undetectable levels to ∼35 μM. This oxidation reaction was inhibited by catalase but not SOD, suggesting the formation of the ferryl–hemoprotein adduct (Fe 4+ ). Equimolar fluxes of O − 2 , H 2 O 2 , and NO increased further DHR oxidation to ∼50 μM. The 15 μM increase in DHR oxidation was independent of heme concentration and was inhibited by SOD. This suggested that equal fluxes of O − 2 and NO interact to yield a potent oxidant such as peroxinitrite (OONO − ) which together with Mb-Fe 4+ oxidizes DHR. Further increases in NO fluxes significantly inhibited DHR oxidation (80%) via the NO-dependent inhibition of Mb-Fe 4+ formation. Additional studies using methemoglobin (Hb-Fe 3+ )-catalyzed oxidative reactions yielded virtually identical results. We conclude that in the presence of a hemoprotein such as myoglobin or hemoglobin, NO may promote or inhibit oxidation reactions depending upon the relative fluxes of O − 2 , H 2 O 2 , and NO.
Tensile testing of thin films supported on compliant substrates

Elastic properties of thin films are routinely measured by straining them on a flexible carrier substrate. Stress–strain characteristics for the film/substrate composite strip are obtained and a simple mixture theory is used to extract the elastic properties of the film by assuming a uniform one-dimensional tensile stress distribution within the film thickness. In this paper, we examine the validity of using this simple theory by determining the three-dimensional elastic stress field in a composite strip. Three sample geometries and loading configurations are considered. In case A, the film is coated on one side of the carrier substrate while in case B, the carrier substrate is coated on both sides. For both case, the external load is applied only on the substrate. In case C, the geometry was the same as case A, but the external load was applied to both the film and the substrate. For film to substrate moduli ratios less than 5, the mixture theory provided adequate results with errors less than 10% for all cases considered. However, for case A, the rule of mixtures theory tends to significantly overestimate the tensile stress in the film for moduli ratio exceeding 5. An error analysis is also presented which provides guidance regarding the minimum film thickness necessary to attain results with a given accuracy. Overall the results presented in this paper provide researchers with rules to design the sample geometry and film thickness to accurately determine the elastic properties of thin films using the composite film/strip experiment. These rules are exemplified by measuring the elastic properties of a thin sputtered Al film and a hexagonal honeycomb structured Si/polymer composite film produced through an evaporation induced self-assembly process. In both cases, films are deposited on a flexible Kapton substrate and strained using a home-built film tester.
Flash X-Ray Studies Of Ballistic Phenomena

Frankford Arsenal was a pioneer in the development and application of flash radiography of ballistic phenomena. Frankford Arsenal first began using the Westinghouse Micronex flash X-ray system in 1941, and converted to Field Emission Corporation (now Hewlett-Packard) flash X-ray equipment in the early 1960's. When Frankford Arsenal closed in 1977, its missions and equipment were transferred to U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Command. The flash X-ray studies performed at Frankford Arsenal are now being continued at the ARRADCOM Test Site, Fort Dix, New Jersey as well as at ARRADCOM Headquarters, Dover, New Jersey. These studies are concerned with investigations of small caliber ammunition and weapons, and reduced scale models of large caliber projectiles. The important feature of flash X-rays in ballistics research and development is that high speed radiographs provide qualitative and quantitative information which frequently cannot be obtained by any other means or which can be obtained more easily and inexpensively by this technique. This paper describes some of the experimental applications of high speed radiography in obtaining data on various ballistic phenomena such as the determination of projectile penetration of armor plate, and particle size and orientation after penetration.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Functional differences between kindlin-1 and kindlin-2 in keratinocytes

Integrin-β1-null keratinocytes can adhere to fibronectin through integrin αvβ6, but form large peripheral focal adhesions and exhibit defective cell spreading. Here we report that, in addition to the reduced avidity of αvβ6 integrin binding to fibronectin, the inability of integrin β6 to efficiently bind and recruit kindlin-2 to focal adhesions directly contributes to these phenotypes. Kindlins regulate integrins through direct interactions with the integrin-β cytoplasmic tail and keratinocytes express kindlin-1 and kindlin-2. Notably, although both kindlins localize to focal adhesions in wild-type cells, only kindlin-1 localizes to the integrin-β6-rich adhesions of integrin-β1-null cells. Rescue of these cells with wild-type and chimeric integrin constructs revealed a correlation between kindlin-2 recruitment and cell spreading. Furthermore, despite the presence of kindlin-1, knockdown of kindlin-2 in wild-type keratinocytes impaired cell spreading. Our data reveal unexpected functional consequences of differences in the association of two homologous kindlin isoforms with two closely related integrins, and suggest that despite their similarities, different kindlins are likely to have unique functions.
Nano/femtosecond laser-based nanostructuring of ultrathin films

Nanofabrication, at lateral resolutions beyond the capability of conventional optical lithography techniques, is demonstrated here. Various nanofeatures (nanogrids, nanocraters, nanocurves) were machined, with high spatial resolution (~10-12nm), on thin metallic and semiconductor films by utilizing the enhanced field that exists underneath a scanning microscope tip irradiated with a laser beam. For the first time in the published literature, recrystallization results of thin a-Si films, at the nano-scale, are being presented to demonstrate the utility of this machining scheme as an effective 'nano'-laser source. Attempting to understand the modification mechanism and the physics involved, numerical simulation studies were performed to evaluate the field enhancement underneath the tip and the 'femtosecond laser-thin film' interaction dynamics in general. For the former study Finite Difference Time Domain simulation was carried out to evaluate the spatial distribution of the field intensity in the near field of the SPM probe tip. The later study employed finite-difference numerical method to solve the hyperbolic two-temperature scheme used to model the interaction. Possible applications of thin film structuring and its use as a mask may be in the areas of high-resolution nanolithography, nanofluidics, controlled nanodeposition, ultra high-density data storage, nanoelectronics, nanophotonics and various nanobiotechnology related applications.
A comparison of the capabilities of juvenile and adult Penaeus setiferus and Penaeus stylirostris to regulate the osmotic, sodium, and chloride concentrations in the hemolymph

Abstract 1. 1. The capabilities of juvenile and mature adult Penaeus setiferus and P. stylirostris to regulate the osmotic, sodium, and chloride concentrations in the hemolymph are compared. 2. 2. In P. setiferus and P. stylirostris acclimated to salinities of 9.8 and 10.8%. respectively, juvenile shrimp are stronger hyperosmotic and hyperionic regulators than adults. However, the reduced regulatory capabilities of adult shrimp are not sufficient to require migration to offshore waters for survival. 3. 3. At 40.4%. juvenile P. setiferus are more effective hypoosmotic and hypoionic regulators than adults. However, there is no difference between the regulatory capabilities of juvenile and adult P. stylirostris at 36.2%. 4. 4. Differences in hemolymph concentration between juvenile and adult P. setiferus at 23.5%. indicate that the isosmotic and isoionic crossover concentrations are elevated with maturation.
Termination of Reentry by Lidocaine in the Tricuspid Ring In Vitro: Role of Cycle-Length Oscillation, Fast Use-Dependent Kinetics, and Fixed Block

We hypothesized that drugs with rapid recovery kinetics from use-dependent sodium channel block could promote oscillatory termination of reentry by enhancing interval-dependent conduction. Mechanisms of termination were related to properties of the reentrant circuit. Nine adjustable reentrant preparations were used in which the canine atrial tricuspid ring was cut and then reconnected electronically by sensing activation on one side of the cut and pacing the other after an adjustable delay. The cycle length and diastolic interval during reentry were manipulated by changing this delay. Lidocaine (1.28×10−5 mol/L) significantly increased refractoriness (94±39 ms) and the slope of the conduction curve (−0.12±0.07) at the site of block during pacing. Lidocaine terminated sustained reentry by two mechanisms. Early termination resulted from increased cycle length oscillation and refractoriness (reproducible in each experiment) but only at short delays with short initial diastolic intervals. The range of delays ...
Development and evaluation of an impactor for a PM2.5 speciation sampler.

ABSTRACT A conventional impactor for a particle speciation sampler was developed and validated through laboratory and field tests. The speciation sampler consists of the following components: a PM2.5 conventional impactor that removes particles larger than 2.5 μm, an all-glass, coated honeycomb diffusion denuder, and a 47-mm filter pack. The speciation sampler can operate at two different sampling rates: 10 and 16.7 L/min. An experimental characterization of the impactor’s performance was conducted. The impactor’s collection efficiency was examined as a function of critical design parameters such as Reynolds number, the distance from the nozzle exit to the impac-tion plate, and the impaction substrate coating method. The bounce of particles larger than the cut point was successfully minimized by using a greased surface as the im-paction substrate. Additionally, a series of field intercomparison experiments were conducted at both 10 and 16.7 L/min airflow. PM2.5 mass and SO4 2- concentrations were measured...
Quantifying the remote triggering capabilities of large earthquakes using data from the ANZA Seismic Network catalog (southern California)

Received 24 August 2006; revised 22 June 2007; accepted 13 August 2007; published 3 November 2007. [1] Various studies have examined remote earthquake triggering in geothermal areas, but few studies have investigated triggering in nongeothermal areas. We search the ANZA (southern California) network catalog for evidence of remote triggering. Using three statistical tests (binomial, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and Wilcoxon rank sum), we determine the significance of the rates and timing of earthquakes in southern California following large teleseismic events. To validate our statistical tests, we identify 20 local main shocks (ML � 3.1) with obvious aftershock sequences and 22 local main shocks (ML � 3.0) that lack obvious aftershock sequences. Our statistical tests quantify the ability of these local main shocks to trigger aftershocks. Assuming that the same triggering characteristic (i.e., a particular seismic wave amplitude, perhaps in a specific frequency band) is evident for both local and remote main shocks, we apply the same tests to 60 remote main shocks (mb � 7.0) and assess the ability of these events to trigger seismicity in southern California. We find no obvious signature of remote triggering. We find minimal differences between the spectral amplitudes and maximum ground velocities of the local triggering and nontriggering earthquakes. Similar analysis of a select few of our remote earthquakes shows that the related ground motion regularly exceeds that of local earthquakes both at low frequencies and in maximum velocity. This evidence weakly suggests that triggering requires larger amplitudes at high frequencies and that a maximum ground velocity alone is not the primary factor in remote triggering. Our results are complex, suggesting that a triggering threshold, if it exists, may depend on several factors.
Ulnar Neuropathy Following Distal Humerus Fracture Fixation

Ulnar nerve dysfunction is a well-recognized phenomenon following distal humerus fractures. Its fixed anatomic position predisposes the nerve to injury. Injury can occur at the time of injury, during closed-fracture manipulation, intraoperatively during fracture fixation (when it is routinely identified), or during fracture healing. Intraoperative management varies widely and can include in situ decompression or anterior transposition. This article reviews the literature and presents 24 patient cases. A 38% incidence of late ulnar neuropathy following open reduction and internal fixation is identified. There is no statistical difference between an in situ release and all anterior transpositions, except for submuscular.
Optical reflectivity of micromachined {111}-oriented silicon mirrors for optical input - output couplers

In this work, bulk-micromachined -oriented silicon mirrors at have been fabricated in 20 wt% KOH solution at various temperatures and characterized with single-mode fibers (10/125 and 5/125). In fabricating the mirrors, the etch rate of the (100) silicon surface was widely varied from 5.3 to as the processing temperatures were varied from 40 to C. In spite of the tremendous variation of etch rate, the measured reflectivities of the mirrors showed fairly stable values of 63.7 - 58% at 1330 nm and 55.4 - 57.7% at 1550 nm. This paper describes the silicon mirror processing conditions, measured reflectivities, reflected beam profiles, and a prototype integrated optical I - O coupler with the realized mirrors. The results obtained from this work show that optical I - O couplers with mirrors on conventional (100)-oriented silicon wafers are feasible, enabling us to envisage a synchronized optical clock distribution system as well as a distributed remote optical sensing system with low manufacturing cost.
A report on computer science certification for secondary school teachers in Wisconsin (Panel Discussion)

In 1977, the Wisconsin Certification Standards listed a secondary level teaching certificate in computer science for the first time. While at least 97 (out of 436) school districts in Wisconsin were offering courses in computer science, only five teachers were certified to teach it. A computerized audit of teachers, courses, and licenses conducted in the spring of 1978 turned up a large number of violations involving courses identified as computer science. Consequently, many teachers throughout Wisconsin were notified that they were not properly certified and could not continue to teach computer science. As a result of discussions between representatives of the Bureau for Teacher Education and Certification and the Department of Public Instruction's Mathematics Supervisor, an agreement was reached on May 3, 1978. The agreement contained the following provision: Licensed mathematics teachers who have taught computer science courses for two semesters prior to July 1, 1982, may be issued a computer science license upon the Department's receipt of an application and the administrator's verification of teaching.
The Gravity of Hades

? for homogeneously dense planets-Euler's implicit model-gravity weakens with descent from the surface; ? for a planet possessing a homogeneous mantle that is less than 2/3 as dense as its core, a local minimum for gravity intensity exists within a sufficiently thick mantle; ? for our own Earth, having a solid inner core, a less dense liquid outer core, and an extensive even less dense mantle, gravity intensifies with descent from -9.8 m/s2 at the surface to an extreme of -10.8 m/s2 where the mantle meets the core.
Next-Generation Seismic Modeling and Imaging project: summary of elastic modeling results

Summary A collaborative industry-US national laboratory-university research project has focused on increasing our understanding of elastic wave propagation in complex Earth structures. The project also followed up and extended the a highly successful 3-D SEG/EAEG acoustic modeling effort. Though considerable additional computing resources have become available in the past decade, it is still a major undertaking to compute a full 3-D elastic survey. Most of the project’s work has been devoted to carrying out calculations of 2-D and 3-D elastic model data sets in existing models that were modified and extended to make them more generally useful. The 3-D elastic modeling is described here. The model and data calculated from it are available to interested researchers. Several new 2-D and 3D models were identified and the work of adapting them for elastic modeling is underway, but will not be completed within this project.
Changing Assessment Practices of Teaching Candidates and Variables that Facilitate that Change

This mixed-methods study explores changes over time in assessment strategies and identifies variables that facilitate that change by examining assessment practices of 11 teacher candidates enrolled in a one-year postbaccalaureate teacher education program that prepares for teaching in rural and urban settings of Alaska. Analyzing multiple data sources drawn directly from candidates’ fieldwork performances and teacher education program experiences suggests changes in emphasis and range of assessment strategies between the first and second semesters of the teacher education program. The extent of change varied between rural and urban candidates indicating a need for more attention to the specifics of rural education in teacher preparation. Variables that facilitated a change in assessment practices were identified as mentor teachers, field experiences, unit and lesson planning, university coursework, collegial interactions, and university supervisors. Results further indicate that assessment strategies deve...
Stress singularities at an elastic crack with arbitrary surface loads, including possible fracture mechanics applications

Abstract A slit in an infinite elastic medium subjected to an arbitrary relative displacement across the slit is analyzed, as well as the singular behavior of the stress field around the slit ends. Several types of behavior are identified ranging from the r −1 2 type of singularity of the stress free slit to the nonsingular solutions of Barenblatt and Dugdale, and including a general fractional power solution not previously discussed. Possible applications to fracture mechanics are discussed since these solutions can be used to construct theories of fracture mechanics analogous to the usual Griffith-type theory, but exhibiting somewhat different characteristics.
Photoinduced charge separation in a carotenoid-porphyrin-diquinone tetrad: enhancement of quantum yields via control of electronic coupling

Abstract A molecular tetrad consisting of a free-base porphyrin (P) linked to a carotenoid polyene (C) and a diquinone moiety (Q A –Q B ) has been synthesized, and its photochemistry has been investigated using time-resolved techniques. Excitation of the porphyrin moiety of the tetrad in dichloromethane solution is followed by photoinduced electron transfer to yield an initial C-P + -Q − A –Q B state, which is formed with arate constant of 2.3×10 9 s −1 and a quantum yield of 0.87. In chloroform, the rate is 4.1×10 9 s −1 and the quantum yield is 0.94. Transient absorption studies show that this state evolves by subsequent electron transfer pathways to a final C + -P-Q A –Q − B charge-separated state whose lifetime is 7.4 μs in dichloromethane and 740 ns in chloroform. The quantum yield of the final state is 0.49 in dichloromethane and 0.57 in chloroform. The yield of the final state is substantially higher than that in a related, previously-reported tetrad in spite of the fact that the quantum yield of the initial C-P + -Q − A –Q B species is lower. This fact is interpreted in terms of the rates of charge-separation reactions relative to those of charge recombination. It is shown that yields of charge separation in multicomponent molecules may be altered in a predictable fashion using the basic tenets of electron transfer theory.
Profiling lipid metabolites yields unique information on sex- and time-dependent responses of fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ) exposed to 17α-ethynylestradiol

Alterations in hepatic lipid profiles of fathead minnows (FHM) exposed to the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) were determined using 1H-NMR spectroscopy-based metabolite profiling. The exposures were conducted using either 10 ng/l or 100 ng/l EE2 via a continuous flow water delivery system. Livers were collected at 1, 4, and 8 days of the exposure and 8 days after the chemical was removed from the water (i.e. an 8 day depuration). The exposure resulted in a number of sex-specific changes in lipid profiles that were also highly time dependent. Those metabolites most affected by exposure included phosphatidylcholine, diglycerides, triglycerides and cholesterol. In addition, changes in the length and degree of unsaturation of hepatic fatty acids were observed. Lipid profiles in plasma for fish collected on the 4th day of exposure were also analyzed in order to provide further insights into changes observed in hepatic metabolite changes. Using validated partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the response trajectories of the male liver lipid profiles at both exposure concentrations were compared. This analysis indicated that the males exposed to the low concentration of EE2 (10 ng/l) were largely able to recover from the exposure once the chemical was removed from the water. Conversely, the males exposed to the high concentration (100 ng/l) did not appear to recover from the exposure despite the 8 day depuration.
Mouldy oldy: how fungus lives among us

Comment on Stanzani et al, page [2258][1] The work by Stanzani and colleagues illustrates the prescience of the statement by Jonathan Swift, “Hobbes clearly proves that every creature lives in a state of war by nature,”[1][2] when applied to weaponry used by opportunistic fungi to survive in
Linear and nonlinear dynamo action

Abstract We discuss a nonlinear forced magnetohydrodynamic dynamo simulation that exhibits a surprising range of behavior, including multiple hydrodynamic states with different dynamo properties. Magnetic fields may decay after initial kinematic amplification. This behavior emphasizes that initial conditions must be taken into account when classifying nonlinear dynamos.
Why do trees live so long

A long life multiplies a tree's reproductive opportunities, thus increasing its fitness. Therefore, characteristics that prolong life should be naturally selected. Longevity in trees is achieved by means of numerous behaviors and characteristics, some of which are unique to trees. These include the retention of stem-cell-like meristematic cells after each growth cycle; the ability to replace non-vigorous, lost, or damaged organs, both above and below ground, in the presence or absence of trauma; a sectored vascular system that allows part of a tree to survive where a whole one cannot; formation of clones; a mechanical structure that can react to forces tending to de-optimize it; a hormonal control system that coordinates the above behaviors; and synthesis of defensive compounds.