cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
139 Improving road traffic safety through legislations: an empirical evaluation of the 2004 chinese road traffic law

Background Road traffic injuries (RTI) impose a heavy burden in many developing counties. Among other interventions, legislations have been proposed in some countries, such as China where the first road traffic law was passed in 2004. We evaluated the impact of this law on reducing RTI. Methods Multiple linear regression models at both country and province level, as well as a longitudinal regression model at province level were applied with the data collected during 1996–2012. Using the Chow tests, we identified structure changes in the trend of traffic fatalities in China as a whole and in most provinces around 2004. As sensitivity analyses, the estimations were replicated in two other hypothetical scenarios, assuming a flat trajectory (per data from Disease Surveilannce Points system) and a increasing trajectory (per data from Ministry of Health’s vital registion system) since 2004. Results We estimated that during 2005–2012, about 498.550 (95% uncertainty interval 408.943–588.157) deaths, 4.060.591 (95% uncertainty interval 2.960.588–5.160.594) injuries and 5.658.494 (95% uncertainty interval 3.783.098–7.533.890) crashes have been averted due to the implementatoin of the 2004 traffic law. The health benefits of the legislation remained tremendous even after adjusted for the possible underreporting problem in the traffic fatality data. Conclusions Our study suggests that other developing countries can learn from the success of the 2004 Chinese traffic safety law and improve road traffic safety by introducing effective legislations.
Bariatric surgery in patients with bipolar spectrum disorders: Selection factors, postoperative visit attendance, and weight outcomes.

Abstract Background As many as 3% of bariatric surgery candidates are diagnosed with a bipolar spectrum disorder. Objectives 1) To describe differences between patients with bipolar spectrum disorders who are approved and not approved for surgery by the mental health evaluator and 2) to examine surgical outcomes of patients with bipolar spectrum disorders. Setting Academic medical center, United States. Methods A retrospective record review was conducted of consecutive patients who applied for bariatric surgery between 2004 and 2009. Patients diagnosed with bipolar spectrum disorders who were approved for surgery (n = 42) were compared with patients with a bipolar spectrum disorder who were not approved (n = 31) and to matched control surgical patients without a bipolar spectrum diagnosis (n = 29) on a variety of characteristics and surgical outcomes. Results Of bariatric surgery candidates diagnosed with a bipolar spectrum disorder who applied for surgery, 57% were approved by the psychologist and 48% ultimately had surgery. Patients with a bipolar spectrum disorder who were approved for surgery were less likely to have had a previous psychiatric hospitalization than those who were not approved for surgery. Bariatric surgery patients diagnosed with a bipolar spectrum disorder were less likely to attend follow-up care appointments 2 or more years postsurgery compared to matched patients without bipolar disorder. Among patients with available data, those with a bipolar spectrum disorder and matched patients had similar weight loss at 12 months (n = 21 for bipolar; n=24 for matched controls) and at 2 or more years (mean = 51 mo; n=11 for bipolar; n=20 for matched controls). Conclusion Patients diagnosed with a bipolar spectrum disorder have a high rate of delay/denial for bariatric surgery based on the psychosocial evaluation and are less likely to attend medical follow-up care 2 or more years postsurgery. Carefully screened patients with bipolar disorder who engage in long-term follow-up care may benefit from bariatric surgery.
Modified Jobe Approach With Docking Technique for Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction

The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow acts as the primary restraint to valgus force experienced in the late cocking and early acceleration phases of overhead throwing. If the UCL or dynamic flexor-pronator musculature is incompetent, elbow extension and valgus torque, as seen in throwing, can result in posteromedial impingement with subsequent chondromalacia and osteophyte formation. Before the first UCL reconstruction, performed by Frank Jobe in 1974, this injury was considered career ending in overhead athletes. Since the index procedure, further techniques have been developed to minimize dissection of the flexor-pronator mass and improve the biomechanical strength of graft fixation with the goal of increased return to athletic competition. We describe our technique-including pearls and pitfalls, as well as advantages and disadvantages-which combines the docking technique, through a flexor muscle-elevating approach with transposition of the ulnar nerve using a fascial sling. Harvest and preparation of a palmaris longus tendon autograft is also described.
Television and Digital Advertising: Second Screen Response and Coordination with Sponsored Search

We consider the potential to improve the efficiency and efficacy of broader advertising efforts through cross-channel coordination. Past work has demonstrated a positive relationship between television advertising and online search activity. Here, we consider the types of devices on which search response predominantly manifests following TV advertisements, and the degree to which shifts in search activity can be used to evaluate the success of TV advertisers' targeting efforts. We leverage data on TV advertising around Microsoft Windows 10 and an Xbox app (NFL Game Day Evolution), in combination with large-scale proprietary search data from Microsoft Bing. Our identification strategies hinge on a combination of geographic heterogeneity in TV advertising exposure and continuous variation in the cost of TV advertisements (a proxy for TV audience size). We first demonstrate that search response peaks within three minutes of the airing of a TV advertisement, and that this manifests primarily via second-screen mobile devices. Our estimated elasticities indicate that a 20% increase in advertising spend equates to an approximate 2.5% (3.4%) increase in search volumes for Windows 10 (the Xbox app). Second, we show that, indeed, the demographic groups targeted by TV advertisements are those most likely to respond, and we thereby demonstrate that TV ad effectiveness can be usefully measured via online search data. Third, examining sponsored search clicks in our query-level data, for queries involving brand-related keywords, we demonstrate a significant increase in rank-ordering effects in searches that take place in the minutes immediately following a TV advertisement, which implies a complementarity between TV and sponsored search advertisements.
Can anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody reverse radiation necrosis? A preclinical investigation.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) antibodies are a promising new treatment for late time-to-onset radiation-induced necrosis (RN). We sought to evaluate and validate the response to anti-VEGF antibody in a mouse model of RN. Mice were irradiated with the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion™ and then treated with anti-VEGF antibody, beginning at post-irradiation (PIR) week 8. RN progression was monitored via anatomic and diffusion MRI from weeks 4–12 PIR. Standard histology, using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and immunohistochemistry staining were used to validate the response to treatment. After treatment, both post-contrast T1-weighted and T2-weighted image-derived lesion volumes decreased (P < 0.001), while the lesion volumes for the control group increased. The abnormally high apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for RN also returned to the ADC range for normal brain following treatment (P < 0.001). However, typical RN pathology was still present histologically. Large areas of focal calcification were observed in ~50% of treated mouse brains. Additionally, VEGF and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) were continually upregulated in both the anti-VEGF and control groups. Despite improvements observed radiographically following anti-VEGF treatment, lesions were not completely resolved histologically. The subsequent calcification and the continued upregulation of VEGF and HIF-1α merit further preclinical/clinical investigation.
Depression Treatment among Adults with Multiple Sclerosis and Depression in Ambulatory Care Settings in the United States

Background. There is little information regarding depression treatment patterns among adults with MS and depression in ambulatory settings at national level in the United States (US). Objectives. The objectives of this study were to identify patterns and predictors of depression treatment in ambulatory settings in US among adults with MS and depression. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted by pooling multiple years (2005-2011) of National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the outpatient department of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data. The final study sample was comprised of ambulatory visits among adults with MS and depression. Dependent variable of this study was pharmacological treatment for depression with or without psychotherapy. Predictors of depression treatment were determined by conducting multivariable logistic regression. Results. Out of all ambulatory visits involving MS diagnosis, 20.59% also involved a depression diagnosis. Depression treatment was observed in 57.25% of the study population. Fluoxetine was the most prescribed individual antidepressant. Age and total number of chronic diseases were significant predictors of depression treatment. Conclusion. Approximately six out of ten ambulatory visits involving MS and depression recorded some form of depression treatment. Future longitudinal studies should examine health outcomes associated with depression treatment in this population.
Responses of urban heat island in Atlanta to different land-use scenarios

The urban heat island (UHI) effect changes heat and water cycles in urban areas, and has been accused of elevating energy consumption, deteriorating living environment, and increasing mortality rates. Understanding various UHI effects necessitates a systematic modeling approach. A major problem in UHI simulations is that urban areas were either considered to have only one category of land use/cover or outdated in land use/cover patterns due to the lack of high resolution data. Therefore, this study aims at integrating up-to-date remotely sensed land use/cover data with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF/UCM)/Urban Canopy Model modeling systems to simulate surface temperature patterns in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, three land-use scenarios, i.e., spontaneous scenario (SS), concentrated scenario (CS), and local policy scenario (LPS), were designed and incorporated into the modeling. Five numerical experiments were conducted by using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to explore the impact of urbanization-induced land-cover changes on temperature patterns. Land use and land-cover patterns under all three scenarios suggested that urban growth would continue through in-filling development and outward expansion. Compared to temperature simulations in 2011, temperature maps corresponding to the three urban growth scenarios showed warmer and cooler temperature patterns outside and inside the urban core, respectively. Analysis of the mean diurnal temperature cycle suggested that the highest temperature difference of 3.9 K was observed between 2011 and the LPS, and occurred around 22:00 local time. Overall, the simulations showed different UHI effects respond to the land-use scenarios in the summer. It is recommended for urban managers and policy makers to reflect on the potential impacts of alternative urban growth policies on thermal environment.
Sorbent Transport and Dispersion

Three topics are covered in this chapter: powder characterization, powder dispersion, and modeling of powder attrition and dispersion. In the powder characterization section, powder surface properties, the results of powder transport under the influence of attraction forces, the effects of additives and temperature, and the powder mechanical properties are presented. Four sorbents are characterized—calcite, dolomite, hydrated lime and dolomitic hydrate. Calcite and dolomite have comparable median particle sizes and dolomite has a wider size distribution than the calcite. The dolomite hydrates are composed of fine particles. All the sorbents have similar morphology. It is found that the van der Waals force is dominant, compared to the electrostatic and gravitational forces, in powder agglomeration. Powder dispersion experiments show that the sorbents with the lower average van der Waals forces have greater dispersibility. Temperature has an effect on the dispersion of powders. The properties of hydrate can be modified by additives, such as lignosulfanate. SEM results show that the agglomerate size of the modified hydrate is smaller than that of the pure hydrate and the modified hydrates are less cohesive. Experimental results indicate more agglomeration and/or loss of fines at high temperatures for hydrates.
Indications for External Beam Radiation Therapy for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

In this chapter, we use the term External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) to mean irradiation of the neck and upper mediastinum. EBRT for brain, bone, spine, or lung metastases are the subjects of other chapters. There are no well-designed prospective randomized trials of EBRT in patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC). Retrospective series from multiple institutions suggest that EBRT improves the rate of tumor control in high-risk subgroups but most series do not report an improvement in overall survival. As the major prognostic variables (the presence of gross disease, history of I-131 therapy, patient age, irradiation dose, etc), length of follow-up, and endpoints of analysis (local control versus survival) differ markedly from one study to the next, it is no surprise that some authors recommend EBRT while others conclude that it is not beneficial. Based on our clinical experience and review of the literature, our opinion is that there are situations where EBRT is likely to improve the length or quality of life of patients with DTC. The reference list at the end of this chapter includes most of the publications that study the role of EBRT in DTC. It is not useful to discuss the details of any specific study here. The two most widely quoted series to support the use of EBRT are those from Tubiana et al. (1985) and Farahati et al. (1996). Probably the most widely quoted study that concludes that EBRT is of no value is that of Samaan et al. (1992).
THERMAL DEFORMATIONS AND STRESSES IN COMPOSITE MATERIALS.

Composite materials are highly anisotropic thermally with the coefficient of thermal expansion in the fiber direction much lower than that in the transverse to the fiber direction. Coefficients of thermal expansion in unidirectional and multidirectional laminates can be calculated by using the properties of the constituents and lamination theory. Residual stresses are introduced in multidirectional laminates during curing as a result of thermal anisotropy. These stresses have been investigated analytically and experimentally It was found that the significant strains recorded during the cooling stage of curing correspond to thermal expansion of the laminate. Residual or restraint strains are computed from measured restrained and unrestrained thermal expansions. Residual stresses are computed using appropriate orthotropic constitutive relations. Results have been obtained from a variety of materials including boron, graphite, Xevlar, S-glass and hybrids with epoxy or polyimide matrices, for a variety of lamination angles. It was found that residual stresses do not relax appreciably with time. Results show that, for graphite and Kevlar laminates, residual stresses at room temperature are high enough to have caused damage in the transverse to the fiber direction.
The Ultrasystem and the Conditional Fallacy

Keith Lehrer’s account of justification and knowledge is unique and brilliant. Lehrer’s notion of justification in terms of coherence can be construed as a matter of beating or neutralizing competitors’, and his account of knowledge can be construed as a matter of undefeated justification.’ And competition and defeat can, in turn, be understood via the rubric of the justification game. This is a picture that has persisted throughout Lehrer’s epistemological writings—from his earliest efforts to respond to the Gettier problem to his current works-in-progress—although it has evolved over the years.
Virtual Work: Bridging Research Clusters

Virtual work is the new normal, with employees working from dispersed locations and interacting using computer-mediated communication. Despite the growth in virtual work research, it has tended to ...
High-order fully implicit solver for all-speed fluid dynamics

We introduce a novel Newton–Krylov (NK)-based fully implicit algorithm for solving fluid flows in a wide range of flow conditions—from variable density nearly incompressible to supersonic shock dynamics. The key enabling feature of our all-speed solver is the ability to efficiently solve conservation laws by choosing a set of independent variables that produce a well-conditioned Jacobian matrix for the linear iterations of the global nonlinear iterative solver. In particular, instead of choosing to discretize the conservative variables (density, momentum, total energy), which is traditionally used in Eulerian high-speed compressible fluid dynamics, we demonstrate superior performance by discretizing the primitive variables—pressure–velocity–temperature in the very low-Mach flow limits or density–velocity–temperature/entropy in the shock dynamics range. Moreover, our method allows us to avoid direct inversion of the mass matrix in discrete time derivatives, which is usually an additional source for stiffness, especially pronounced when going to very high-order schemes with non-orthogonal basis functions. Here, we show robust solutions obtained for discontinuous finite element discretization up to seventh-order accuracy. Another important aspect of the solution algorithm is the Advection Upstream Splitting Method (AUSM), adopted to compute numerical fluxes within our reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin (rDG) spatial discretization scheme. The use of the low-Mach modification of the hyperbolic flux operator is found to be necessary for enabling robust simulations of very stiff liquids and metals for Mach numbers below $$M=10^{-5}$$ , which is well known to be very computationally challenging for compressible solvers. We demonstrate that our fully implicit rDG-NK solver with the $${\mathrm{AUSM}}^{+}$$ -up flux treatment produces efficient and high-resolution numerical solutions at all speeds, ranging from vanishing Mach numbers to transonic and supersonic, without substantial modifications of the solution procedures. (At high speed, we add limiting and use a simpler preconditioning of the Krylov solver.) Numerical examples include nearly incompressible constant-property flow past a backward-facing step with heat transfer, low-Mach variable-property channel flow of water at supercritical state, phase change and melt pool dynamics for laser spot welding and selective laser melting in additive manufacturing, and Mach 3 flow in a wind tunnel with a step.
Faces of the 5 × 5 completely positive cone

The full characterization of extreme rays of the copositive cone provides an important means to study faces of the completely positive cone. The maximal faces of the completely positive cone determ...
Abstract 3280: TTFields induces immunogenic cell death and STING pathway activation through cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA in glioblastoma cells

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadliest malignant brain cancer in adults despite aggressive chemoradiotherapy. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) was recently approved in combination with adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy for newly diagnosed GBM patients. The addition of TTFields resulted in a significant improvement in overall survival. TTFields are low-intensity alternating electric fields that are thought to disturb mitotic macromolecules’ assembly, leading to disrupted chromosomal segregation, integrity and stability. In many patients, a transient stage of increased peritumoral edema is often observed early in the course of TTFields treatment followed subsequently by objective radiographic responses, suggesting that a major component of therapeutic efficacy by TTFields may be an immune mediated process. However, the mechanism underlying these observations remains unclear. Here we report results on a panel of GBM cell lines treated with TTFields at the clinically approved frequency of 200 kHz using an in vitro TTFields system. Our data showed 24 hrs TTFields-treated GBM cells had a significantly higher rate (19.9% vs. 4.3%, p=0.0032) of micronuclei structures released into the cytoplasm as a result of TTFields-induced chromosomal instability. Nearly 40% of these micronuclei were co-localized with two upstream dsDNA sensors: absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2)andInterferon (IFN)-inducible proteinCyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), compared to absence of co-localization in untreated cells. TTFields-activated micronuclei-dsDNA sensor complexes led to i) induction of pyroptotic cell death, as measured by a specific LDH release assay, and through AIM2-recruited caspase1 and cleavage of pyroptosis-specific Gasdermin D; and ii) activation of STING pathway components including Type I IFNs and pro-inflammatory cytokines downstream of the NFκB pathway. GBM cell-specific shRNA depletion of either AIM2 or STING or both in a co-culture experiment of bone marrow cells or splenocytes with supernanants obtained from knockdown GBM cells was able to reverse the inducement of immune cells. These results provide compelling evidence that TTFields function as an activator of the immune system in GBM cells, and a strong rationale for combining TTFields with immunotherapy aimed at augmenting an anti-tumor immune response such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Dongjiang Chen, Nagheme Thomas, David D. Tran. TTFields induces immunogenic cell death and STING pathway activation through cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA in glioblastoma cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3280.
A Preliminary Study of Associations between Discomfort Intolerance, Pain Severity/Interference, and Frequency of Cannabis Use among Individuals with Chronic Pain.

Background: Cannabis use is more common among individuals with chronic pain, and is often used to relieve physical discomfort. However, little is known about factors that are associated with cannab...
Endurance Exercise-Induced Autophagy/Mitophagy Coincides with a Reinforced Anabolic State and Increased Mitochondrial Turnover in the Cortex of Young Male Mouse Brain

Autophagy/mitophagy, a cellular catabolic process necessary for sustaining normal cellular function, has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy against numerous obstinate diseases. In this regard, endurance exercise (EXE)-induced autophagy/mitophagy (EIAM) has been considered as a potential health-enriching factor in various tissues including the brain; however, underlying mechanisms of EIAM in the brain has not been fully defined yet. This study investigated the molecular signaling nexus of EIAM pathways in the cortex of the brain. C57BL/6 young male mice were randomly assigned to a control group (CON, n = 12) and an endurance exercise group (EXE, n = 12). Our data demonstrated that exercise-induced autophagy coincided with an enhanced anabolic state (p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-p70S6K); furthermore, mitophagy concurred with enhanced mitochondrial turnover: increases in both fission (DRP1, BNIP3, and PINK1) and fusion (OPA1 and MFN2) proteins. In addition, neither oxidative stress nor sirtuins (SIRT) 1 and 3 were associated with EIAM; instead, the activation of AMPK as well as a JNK-BCL2 axis was linked to EIAM promotion. Collectively, our results demonstrated that EXE-induced anabolic enrichment did not hinder autophagy/mitophagy and that the concurrent augmentation of mitochondrial fusion and fusion process contributed to sustaining mitophagy in the cortex of the brain. Our findings suggest that the EXE-induced concomitant potentiation of the catabolic and anabolic state is a unique molecular mechanism that simultaneously contributes to recycling and rebuilding the cellular structure, leading to upholding healthy cellular environment. Thus, the current study provides a novel autophagy/mitophagy mechanism, from which groundbreaking pharmacological strategies of autophagy can be developed.
Draft Genome Sequences of Sphingomonas Species Associated with the International Space Station

The draft genome sequences of three Sphingomonas strains isolated from the International Space Station (ISS) were assembled. These genomic sequences will help in understanding the influence of microgravity conditions on their potential bioactive compound production and other important characteristics compared to their Earth counterparts.
Development of the Impact of a Preschool Obesity Prevention Intervention Enhanced With Positive Behavioral Supports for Mississippi Head Start Centers.

Abstract Objective To describe the methodology of the Impact of a Preschool Obesity Prevention intervention enhanced with positive behavioral supports. Design The social ecological model serves as the conceptual framework for this study, which has a within- and between-subjects design with an intervention group and a delayed intervention control group. This 3-year project will use formative methods to pretest materials in Year 1, collect data pre- and postintervention with a follow-up at 4 months in Years 2 and 3, and conduct summative and process evaluation in Year 3. Setting Head Start centers in Southern and East-Central Mississippi counties. Participants Three hundred parents with 3-year-old children enrolled in 9 Head Start centers (53 classrooms) and 75 Head Start teachers. Interventions During Year 2, Hip Hop to Health Jr., Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports will be implemented. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcomes include changes in parenting and teacher practices. Secondary outcomes include parent feeding styles as well as weight status and dietary intake. Variables will be measured using anthropometrics and validated surveys. Analysis The primary analysis will be a multilevel 2 × 3 mixed ANOVA.
Applying deep learning in digital breast tomosynthesis for automatic breast cancer detection: A review

The relatively recent reintroduction of deep learning has been a revolutionary force in the interpretation of diagnostic imaging studies. However, the technology used to acquire those images is undergoing a revolution itself at the very same time. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is one such technology, which has transformed the field of breast imaging. DBT, a form of three-dimensional mammography, is rapidly replacing the traditional two-dimensional mammograms. These parallel developments in both the acquisition and interpretation of breast images present a unique case study in how modern AI systems can be designed to adapt to new imaging methods. They also present a unique opportunity for co-development of both technologies that can better improve the validity of results and patient outcomes. In this review, we explore the ways in which deep learning can be best integrated into breast cancer screening workflows using DBT. We first explain the principles behind DBT itself and why it has become the gold standard in breast screening. We then survey the foundations of deep learning methods in diagnostic imaging, and review the current state of research into AI-based DBT interpretation. Finally, we present some of the limitations of integrating AI into clinical practice and the opportunities these present in this burgeoning field.
Preoperative MRI characteristics predict chronic subdural haematoma postoperative recurrence: a meta-analysis.

Prior studies have reported that preoperative T1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal iso- or hypointensity may indicate higher risk of postoperative chronic subdural haematoma recurrence (cSDH)...
The Effect of Market Competition on the Price of Topical Eye Drops.

To describe the relationship between the number of Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approved manufacturers and the price change of generic and branded topical eye drops.Retrospective analysis of t...
Diversity and Ethics in LMX

Most organizations are diverse and growing more varied over time in terms of employee makeup. Although having a diverse workforce is beneficial in many ways, issues of gender, race, ethnicity, age, and generation, among others, can hinder organizational effectiveness. Good leaders must be able to understand the differing needs of each employee and how this influences communication. Employees’ various identities influence their leadership needs in many ways, stressing the importance of contingent perspectives of leadership communication. It is also important to acknowledge the ethical nature of leader-member exchange. It is human nature to form preferences toward certain groups of people, such as those who look similar to us and share things in common. This becomes an ethical concern when these preferred groups of people are given more advantages over others, especially when a leader does not recognize they are forming these preferences. This chapter explores research on how these implicit biases can lead to unintentional unethical behavior, challenges the assumption that leaders are always “correct” and “moral” in their actions, and offers practical ways to recognize one’s own implicit biases to level the playing field for all members of the diverse workforce.
Corona Aging of Polyimide Films at Different Atmospheric Relative Humidity

In order to investigate the effect of atmospheric relative humidity (RH) on corona discharge aging of polyimide (PI) films, a tracing monitoring was performed on the different aging phases of PI film at different RH values. The experiments on discharge activities, dielectric properties and surface morphologies were carried out in this work. It revealed that as RH below 69% both discharge quantity and discharge frequency experienced rapid growth stage, stationary stage and secondary development stage, but as RH exceeds 84%, both of them increased linearly with time. Moisture content rate ($\Delta$wt%) increased significantly at the beginning of the corona aging and leveled off at stationary and secondary development stages; As RH reached 84%, $\Delta$wt% almost linearly increased along with the aging time; Moreover, it indicated that the electrothermal surface damage caused by corona discharge was deemed as the main cause of the rapid decrease of surface resistivity $(p_{\mathrm{s}})$. With the corona erosion, water gradually entered the film, eventually leading to the sharp decrease of $\rho_{\mathrm{v}}$ till breakdown.
Laser Sounder for Global Measurement of CO2 Concentrations in the Troposphere from Space

We report progress in assessing the feasibility of a new satellite-based laser-sounding instrument to measure CO2concentrations in the lower troposphere from space.
Making the Antibiotic Choice for Treating Bovine Respiratory Disease

BRD produces disease with morbidity peaking in 1-3 weeks and mortality peaking in 2-4 weeks after entering the feedlot.1,4 When an epidemic curve for BRD is constructed using fatal disease onset rather than mortality as the parameter, it can be seen that calves dying from BRD become ill within the first 2 weeks of entering the feedlot.4 The fact that calves become ill so quickly after entering the feedlot obviously puts great emphasis on the type of animal and its recent history. This will be important in determining the morbidity and mortality which may occur. Fall placed calves going into feedlots in Canada and the northern United States will have higher morbidity and mortality than older calves. The morbidity and mortality of fall placed calves in the northern United States will be similar to that seen in stocker calves in southern United States. Both types of calves are young, multiorigin, long haul sale barn calves whose age and handling result in higher BRD morbidity and mortality.5 Antimicrobial agents can be used in the feedlot in the traditional manner to control mortality and improve performance in sick calves experiencing BRD as well as prophylactically on arrival to limit both BRD morbidity and mortality.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in suspected cardiac tumour: a multicentre outcomes study.

AIMS Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a key diagnostic tool for the evaluation of patients with suspected cardiac tumours. Patient management is guided by the CMR diagnosis, including no further testing if a mass is excluded or if only a pseudomass is found. However, there are no outcomes studies validating this approach. METHODS AND RESULTS In this multicentre study of patients undergoing clinical CMR for suspected cardiac tumour, CMR diagnoses were assigned as no mass, pseudomass, thrombus, benign tumour, or malignant tumour. A final diagnosis was determined after follow-up using all available data. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Among 903 patients, the CMR diagnosis was no mass in 25%, pseudomass in 16%, thrombus in 16%, benign tumour in 17%, and malignant tumour in 23%. Over a median of 4.9 years, 376 patients died. Compared with the final diagnosis, the CMR diagnosis was accurate in 98.4% of patients. Patients with CMR diagnoses of pseudomass and benign tumour had similar mortality to those with no mass, whereas those with malignant tumour [hazard ratio (HR) 3.31 (2.40-4.57)] and thrombus [HR 1.46 (1.00-2.11)] had greater mortality. The CMR diagnosis provided incremental prognostic value over clinical factors including left ventricular ejection fraction, coronary artery disease, and history of extracardiac malignancy (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION In patients with suspected cardiac tumour, CMR has high diagnostic accuracy. Patients with CMR diagnoses of no mass, pseudomass, and benign tumour have similar long-term mortality. The CMR diagnosis is a powerful independent predictor of mortality incremental to clinical risk factors.
Multiple Thixotropisms of Liquid Limit–Consistency Clays Unraveled by Multiscale Experimentation

AbstractMultiscale experiments were conducted to investigate the thixotropic behavior of a naturally occurring illite-rich marine clay with a moderate salinity and of a manufactured, highly purifie...
The Riemann Problem for a Phase Transition Problem in Thermoelastic Materials

This paper is a simplified version of [7]. We consider the structure of the solutions to the Riemann problem for a system of conservation laws related to a phase transition problem.
Hierarchy of Bound States in the One-Dimensional Ferromagnetic Ising Chain CoNb 2 O 6 Investigated by High-Resolution Time-Domain Terahertz Spectroscopy

Kink bound states in the one-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising chain compound ${\mathrm{CoNb}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ have been studied using high-resolution time-domain terahertz spectroscopy in zero applied magnetic field. When magnetic order develops at low temperature, nine bound states of kinks become visible. Their energies can be modeled exceedingly well by the Airy function solutions to a 1D Schr\"odinger equation with a linear confining potential. This sequence of bound states terminates at a threshold energy near 2 times the energy of the lowest bound state. Above this energy scale we observe a broad feature consistent with the onset of the two particle continuum. At energies just below this threshold we observe a prominent excitation that we interpret as a novel bound state of bound states---two pairs of kinks on neighboring chains.
Yield behavior and failure response of an aliphatic polyketone terpolymer subjected to multi-axial stress states

The yield behavior of an engineering thermoplastic under biaxial stress states has been investigated. The material considered is an aliphatic polyketone terpolymer. Multiaxial testing was performed on thin-walled hollow cylinders at four different temperatures and three strain rates. Various stress states were applied in order to develop failure envelopes. Within each envelope, the nominal strain rate along the octahedral shear plane, γoct, was held constant. These tests were performed at 0, 20, 50 and 80°C at γoct = 0.05 min−1. At 20°C, samples were also tested at γoct = 0.005 and 0.5 min−1. Below the Tg of 12°C, failures in all stress states investigated, except axial compression, were brittle. At temperatures of 50 and 80°C, all failures were ductile. At 20°C, both ductile and brittle failures were observed. Although the rate affected the yield strength of the material, it had little effect on the mode of failure. In contrast, the temperature had a significant effect on the yield strength and mode of failure. While the effect of strain rate on yield strength was greater in the hoop direction than axial, the opposite was true for the effect of temperature. It was also observed that the state of stress played a significant role in the material failure.
Seasonal variation in clinical remission of primary care patients with depression: impact of gender.

Rationale, aims and objectives The impact of seasonal variation on clinical remission in patients with depression has not been well studied. The hypothesis for this study was that the clinical remission rate would be lower in the winter comparing to the other seasons, specifically evaluated by gender. Methods The study cohort comprised 2873 primary care patients with depression as a longitudinal retrospective chart review analysis. The sample was limited to patients who were continuing in care; dropouts were excluded from the analysis. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the independent variables for those participants who achieved clinical remission demonstrated that for the male patients, the season of diagnosis did not impact the rate of remission at 6 months while controlling for all other independent variables. For female patients, those that were diagnosed with depression in the fall had increased likelihood of 6-month remission compared with those patients diagnosed in the winter months (OR 1.300, CI 1.006–1.680, P = 0.045) and the spring and summer patients were not significantly different in their outcome rates. When both genders were combined, the odds of remission at 6 months were not statistically significant for any season of diagnosis. Conclusions This study demonstrates that in patients who were continuing care, women who were diagnosed with major depression or dysthymia in the fall season have improved 6-month clinical outcome of remission compared with those women diagnosed in the winter, when controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics. This effect was not seen in men or when the genders were combined into a single cohort. The assessment of the seasonality effect on depression outcomes requires further long-term follow-up studies.
HSP78 encodes a yeast mitochondrial heat shock protein in the Clp family of ATP-dependent proteases.

Abstract The Saccharomyces cerevisiae nuclear gene for a 78-kDa mitochondrial heat shock protein (hsp78) was identified in a lambda gt11 expression library through immunological screening with an hsp78-specific monoclonal antibody. Sequencing of HSP78 revealed a long open reading frame capable of encoding an 811-amino-acid, 91.3-kDa basic protein with a putative mitochondrial leader sequence and two potential nucleotide-binding sites. Sequence comparisons revealed that hsp78 is a member of the highly conserved family of Clp proteins and is most closely related to the Escherichia coli ClpB protein, which is thought to be an ATPase subunit of an intracellular ATP-dependent protease. The steady-state levels of HSP78 transcripts and protein varied in response to both thermal stress and carbon source with an approximately 30-fold difference between repressed levels in cells growing fermentatively on glucose at 30 degrees C and derepressed levels in heat-shocked cells growing on a nonfermentable carbon source. The response to heat shock is consistent with the presence of a characteristic heat shock regulatory element in the 5'-flanking DNA. Submitochondrial fractionation showed that hsp78 is a soluble protein located in the mitochondrial matrix. Cells carrying disrupted copies of HSP78 lacked hsp78 but were not impaired in respiratory growth at normal and elevated temperatures or in the ability to survive and retain mitochondrial function after thermal stress. The absence of a strong mitochondrial phenotype in hsp78 mutants is comparable to the nonlethal phenotypes of mutations in other Clp genes in bacteria and yeast. HSP78 is the third gene, with SSC1 and HSP60, known to encode a yeast mitochondrial heat shock protein and the second gene, with HSP104, for a yeast ClpB homolog.
Kinetic Models of Na‐Ca Exchange in Ferret Red Blood Cells

The kinetic equation that best describes the intracellular Na dependence of Ca influx into ferret red cells is sequential; whether this implies that there is a conformation of the protein that has both Na and Ca ions bound remains to be determined. Cd and Mn substitute very well for Ca on the exchanger in ferret red cells; this suggests that the Ca-binding site does not contain an important thiol and that the one of the Na steps may be rate limiting.
Bounds and error estimates for radiosity

We present a method for determining a posteriori bounds and estimates for local and total errors in radiosity solutions. The ability to obtain bounds and estimates for the total error is crucial fro reliably judging the acceptability of a solution. Realistic estimates of the local error improve the efficiency of adaptive radiosity algorithms, such as hierarchical radiosity, by indicating where adaptive refinement is necessary.First, we describe a hierarchical radiosity algorithm that computes conservative lower and upper bounds on the exact radiosity function, as well as on the approximate solution. These bounds account for the propagation of errors due to interreflections, and provide a conservative upper bound on the error. We also describe a non-conservative version of the same algorithm that is capable of computing tighter bounds, from which more realistic error estimates can be obtained. Finally, we derive an expression for the effect of a particular interaction on the total error. This yields a new error-driven refinement strategy for hierarchical radiosity, which is shown to be superior to brightness-weighted refinement.
Acetylcholine synthesis and release in the extensor digitorum longus muscle of mature and aged rats.

: Uptake of labeled choline and its incorporation into acetylcholine (ACh) were assayed at the neuromuscular junction of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle of rats aged 11 (mature adult) and 27 (aged) months. Under resting conditions, there were no significant differences in muscle ACh or choline levels. Following a 1-h incubation in labeled choline, however, tissue from the younger rats contained significantly greater amounts of labeled choline and labeled ACh; the specific activities of ACh and choline were nearly 10-fold higher in the 11-month-old animals, indicating reduced uptake of labeled choline in the older animals. ACh and choline efflux rates under resting conditions did not change with age, indicating an uncoupling of exogenous choline uptake and ACh efflux in EDL during aging. During nerve stimulation (1 Hz), the amount of labeled choline incorporated into ACh was 150% greater in the aged animals. The specific activity of ACh released during stimulation was correspondingly greater in the 27-month-old animals, although total ACh released did not change appreciably with age. There were no age-related differences in choline acetyltransferase activity. Contrasting results were obtained from diaphragm in previous studies; the linkage between choline uptake and ACh efflux was maintained during rest and stimulation in the diaphragm. Hypothetically, these differences between EDL and diaphragm may be related to their diverse activation patterns: EDL is recruited much less frequently and less regularly than diaphragm, a continually active vital muscle.
Children's Emotional Expression in Child Care Centers Varying in Quality.

This study examined the relationships between day care quality, children's emotional expression, and temperament among 60 children ages 3 to 5. Multiple regression analysis revealed that higher quality settings were associated with significantly more positive affect. It was found that the appropriateness of the caregiving, not the appropriateness of activities in the child care center, significantly predicted the proportion of positive affect. Children with teachers who displayed more instances of low-level engagement showed more intense negative affect, whereas children with teachers who showed more instances of high-level engagement displayed more intense positive affect. Contrary to expectation, temperament was not found to moderate the relationship between day care quality and children's emotional expression.
Development and evaluation of novel solid nanodispersion system for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a novel drug solubilization platform (so-called solid nanodispersion) prepared by a simple co-grinding and solvent-free process. Using structurally diverse model compounds from the Pfizer drug library, including ingliforib, furosemide and celecoxib, we successfully prepared stable solid nanodispersions (SNDs) without the use of solvent or heat. Stable colloidal particles (
Deprotection volume characteristics and line-edge morphology in chemcially amplified resists

The form and magnitude of line edge roughness (LER) is increasingly important in semiconductor processing due to continued reductions in feature sizes. While a large body of work connects processing factors to LER magnitude, the spatial dependence of LER is needed to provide a more complete description. The distribution of deprotection within the resist is represented as a collection deprotection paths created by individual photoacid generators (PAGs). In the limit of dilute PAG concentration, the form and size of the average deprotection path is measured using Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) for a model photoresist polymer and PAG mixture. The heterogeneity of the deprotection volume produces “fuzzy blobs”. The shape of these blobs is compared to the form of LER at a idealized sidewall. The sidewall morphology is consistent with models of spatially random etching up to a cutoff length scale. The cutoff length scale is ≈ 5 times the size of a single deprotection volume, suggesting that collective phenomena are responsible for observed LER.