cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
General and Personal Mortality Salience and Nationalistic Bias

The purpose of this study was to explore the links between general and personal mortality salience and nationalistic bias. After watching either a mortality salience or a control videotape, participants read a scenario about a car accident in which the driver was suing either an American or a Japanese auto manufacturer. Results showed that mortality salience produced nationalistic bias in assignments of blame to the company and to the driver; such nationalistic bias did not occur in the control condition. This creation of intergroup bias when mortality was made salient is consistent with the predictions of terror management theory. This study makes an important theoretical contribution by providing evidence that the observed effects are driven by thoughts of personal mortality; the bias in favor of American auto companies occurred only among participants who reported thinking about their own deaths.
Malignant peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor-peripheral neuroepithelioma of the head and neck: A clinicopathologic study of five cases and review of the literature

Background. The term primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) encompasses a number of neoplasms of common neuroectodermal origin, but of variable clinical, histopathologic, ultrastructural, and molecular characteristics. Here, we focus on one particular member of the PNET family, the malignant peripheral PNET (pPNET) or peripheral neuroepithelioma of head and neck. Methods. Five patients diagnosed with malignant pPNET–peripheral neuroepithelioma of head and neck were included in the study. All existing literature was reviewed. Results. The diagnosis of malignant pPNET–peripheral neuroepithelioma of the head and neck was confirmed in all five cases. All patients are alive after treatment with a combination of therapeutic modalities; only one patient had metastatic disease develop. A literature review revealed another 38 reported cases. Conclusions. Malignant pPNET–peripheral neuroepithelioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of small, round, blue cell tumors of head and neck. A combination of multiple diagnostic modalities is essential for correct diagnosis, and multimodality treatment offers the best outcome. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 488–498, 2003
Limulus Lateral Eye: Properties of Receptor Units in the Unexcised Eye

Single receptor units in the compound eye of the horseshoe crab were illuminated, and their impulse discharges were recorded without removing the eye from the animal. The receptors were spontaneously active in darkness and responded without saturation over a light intensity range of 10(10) to 1. When the eye was excised, the receptors did not discharge in darkness and had an intensity range of 10(5) to 1, as is usually found. Experiments show that these and other differences result from cutting off the blood supply to the eye when it is excised. In addition, the range and shape of the intensity characteristic suggest that more than one receptor mechanism encodes light intensity in this eye.
A framework for CS1 closed laboratories

Closed laboratories are becoming an increasingly popular approach to teaching introductory computer science courses, as they facilitate structured problem-solving and cooperation. However, most closed laboratories have been designed and implemented without embedded instructional research components for constant evaluation of the laboratories' effectiveness. As a result, it is not convenient to maintain and improve the laboratories over time so that they adapt to changing CS topics, curricula, and student needs. This article reports on an integrated framework for designing, implementing, and maintaining laboratories with embedded instructional research design. Although the activities reported here are part of our department-wide effort to cover CS0, CS1, and CS2, we focus here on the design and implementation of the labs for CS1.
Investigations with O‐linked protein glycosylations by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Posttranslational modifications such as glycosylation can play a fundamental role in signaling pathways that transform an ordinary cell into a malignant one. The development of a protocol to detect these changes in the preliminary stages of disease can lead to a sensitive and specific diagnostic for the early detection of malignancies such as ovarian cancer in which differential glycan patterns are linked to etiology and progression. Small variations in instrument parameters and sample preparation techniques are known to have significant influence on the outcome of an experiment. For an experiment to be effective and reproducible, these parameters must be optimized for the analyte(s) under study. We present a detailed examination of sample preparation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI-FT-ICR-MS) analysis of O-linked glycans globally cleaved from mucin glycoproteins. Experiments with stable isotope-labeled biomolecules allowed for the establishment of appropriate acquisition times and excitation voltages for MALDI-FT-ICR-MS of oligosaccharides. Quadrupole ion guide optimization studies with mucin glycans identified conditions for the comprehensive analysis of the entire mass range of O-linked carbohydrates in this glycoprotein. Separately optimized experimental parameters were integrated in a method that allowed for the effective study of O-linked glycans.
Minimizing the influence of fundus pigmentation on retinal vessel oximetry measurements

The goal of making calibrated oxygen saturation measurements of blood in retinal arteries and veins via a noninvasive spectroscopic technique has nearly been realized. Semi-continuous advancement in the field of retinal vessel oximetry over the last three decades has resulted in several technologies that seem poised for commercialization. In this paper, we present our instrumentation and technique for making well-calibrated saturation measurements of the blood in retinal vessels. The Eye Oximeter (EOX) is a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope capable of acquiring multi-spectral images. Analysis of these spectral vessel images allows spectroscopic determination of the oxygen saturation of blood within each vessel. The primary emphasis of this paper is to illustrate the effect of fundus pigmentation on these oximetric measurements. We show that decreasing fundus reflectivity is mathematically similar to decreasing the vessel thickness. The apparent decreased vessel thickness is a direct consequence of scattering by red blood cells. We present in vitro and in vivo measurements that demonstrate an instrument calibration that is nearly independent of vessel diameter and fundus reflectivity.
Effect of assisted ventilation on respiratory drive of normal anesthetized dogs.

Abstract We measured the diaphragm electromyogram (EMGd) and airway occlusion pressure (P100) of anesthetized dogs at the ends of 30-min of alternating spontaneous breathing and assited mechanical ventilation (inspiratory pressure triggered by a minimal inspiratory effert; IPPB). Peak airway pressures (Paw) of 5, 10, 15,and 20 cm H20 were applied in random order during IPPB. The initial rate of rise of EMGd (4 experiments) and P100 (9 experiments) decreased during IPPB, both in proportion to the Paw, AtPaw of 20 cm H20, PaCO2, EMGd and P100 decreased on the average 5.2 Torr, 58% and 56%, respectively. When PaCO2 was kept the same during IPPB as during spontaneous breathing (8 expereiments), OPPB reduced EMGd and P100 15% and 24% respectively, both statistically significant. during progressive cooling of both cervical vagi, the effect of IPPB (Paw = 20 cm H20) on EMGd and P100 decreased progressively, near maximal at 6–4°C and after vagotomy. However, the decrease in PaCO2 during IPPB was not affected. These data suggest that increasing tidal volume during IPPB depressed respiratory drive (EMGd and P100), partially from decreased PaCO2 and partially from stimulating pulmonary stretch receptors. The drop in PaCO2 during IPPB does not appear to be vagally mediated.
Factors influencing pituitary-adrenal rhythmicity: its ontogeny and circadian variations in stress responsiveness.

Abstract (1) The controlling mechanism for circadian pituitary-adrenal periodicity is clearly of central neural origin. (2) Ontogenetic modification of the pituitary-adrenal rhythm was investigated in order to determine critical periods in development during which the presence of excess ACTH or corticosteroid would affect normal maturation of the rhythm. (3) Neonatal treatment with ACTH on days 7–9 or 17–19, but not at other times postnatally, suppressed the circadian plasma corticosteroid rhythm in adult rats. (4) Treatment with corticosterone on day 18, but not on days 3, 6 or 12, had similar persistent effects. (5) Thus, brief exposure to high circulating levels of ACTH or corticosterone during two critical neonatal periods which correspond to specific stages in the development of hypothalamic and forebrain structures may affect the normal development of central structures involved in circadian regulation. (6) Development of the pituitary-adrenal rhythm in the female rat is closely related to the onset of puberty. When puberty is delayed, i.e. by neonatal implantation of corticosterone or a sham implant on day 4, maturation of the full amplitude of the circadian rhythm is correspondingly delayed. (7) The role of the hippocampus and septum in the circadian periodicity of stress-induced pituitary-adrenal responsiveness was investigated. (8) Electrical stimulation of hippocampus in freely-behaving chronically-implanted adult male rats prolonged the plasma corticosterone response to 10-min restraint stress in the morning, but was without effect in the afternoon. (9) Septal stimulation in the afternoon abolished the plasma corticosterone response to the stress, whereas stimulation in the morning was less effective. (10) These differential effects obtained at the trough and peak of the pituitary-adrenal cycle suggest that hippocampus and septum may play a role in producing the diminished stress responsiveness normally observed at the peak of the cycle.
Speed Of Sound Estimation In Biological Tissues: Theoretical And Experimental Studies

In this paper we describe a pulse-echo Beam Tracking technique which can be used for precision estimations of the speed of sound in biological tissues. The theoretical trade offs among the estimation parameters are described, followed by experimental results from phantoms and from tissues in vitro. Finally, a computer simulation is described which demonstrates further improvement in the precision of the technique.
Stochastic response of a two DOF articulated tower

Abstract In a previous paper [P. Bar-Avi and H. Benaroya, Journal of Sound Vibration 190 , 77–103 (1996)], the response of an articulated tower in the ocean subjected to deterministic and random wave loading was investigated. The tower was modeled as an upright rigid pendulum with a concentrated mass at the top and having one angular degree of freedom about a hinge with coulomb damping. In this paper, which is an extension of the previous one, the tower is modeled as a spherical pendulum having two angular degrees of freedom. The tower is subjected to wave, current, and vortex shedding loads. Geometrical non-linearities as well as non-linearities due to wave drag force, which is assumed to be proportional to the square of the relative velocity between the tower and the waves, were considered. The governing coupled differential equations of motion are highly non-linear, and have time-dependent coefficients. The tower's average response is evaluated for uniformly distributed random fluid constants C D , C M , C L , friction coefficient μ and current direction α. This is accomplished computationally via Monte-Carlo simulations with the use of ‘ACSL’ software. The influence on the tower's response of different parameter values is investigated.
Dynamic image fusion and general observer preference

Recent developments in image fusion give the user community many options for ways of presenting the imagery to an end-user. Individuals at the US Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate have developed an electronic system that allows users to quickly and efficiently determine optimal image fusion algorithms and color parameters based upon collected imagery and videos from environments that are typical to observers in a military environment. After performing multiple multi-band data collections in a variety of military-like scenarios, different waveband, fusion algorithm, image post-processing, and color choices are presented to observers as an output of the fusion system. The observer preferences can give guidelines as to how specific scenarios should affect the presentation of fused imagery.
Hysteresis in the production of force by larval Dipteran muscle

SUMMARY We describe neuromuscular hysteresis – the dependence of muscle force on recent motoneuron activity – in the body wall muscles of larval Sarcophaga bullata and Drosophila melanogaster . In semi-intact preparations, isometric force produced by a train of nerve impulses at a constant rate was significantly less than that produced by the same train of stimuli with a brief (200 ms) high-frequency burst of impulses interspersed. Elevated force did not decay back to predicted values after the burst but instead remained high throughout the duration of the stimulus train. The increased force was not due to a change in excitatory junction potentials (EJPs); EJP voltage and time course before and after the high-frequency burst were not statistically different. Single muscle and semi-intact preparations exhibited hysteresis similarly, suggesting that connective tissues of the origin or insertion are not crucial to the mechanism of hysteresis. Hysteresis was greatest at low motoneuron rates – yielding a ~100% increase over predicted values based on constant-rate stimulation alone – and decreased as impulse rate increased. We modulated motoneuron frequency rhythmically across rates and cycle periods similar to those observed during kinematic analysis of larval crawling. Positive force hysteresis was also evident within these more physiological activation parameters.
Cultivation of the oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus ) on wood substrates in Hawaii

Five non-native, aggressively growing trees, Falcataria moluccana (Miquel) Barneby & Grimes, Casuarina equisetifolia L. ex J. R. & G. Forst, Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maid, Psidium cattleianum Sabine, and Trema orientalis (L.) Blume, were evaluated for suitability as substrate for outdoor cultivation of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Kumm., in Hawaii. An existing shade house was modified for mushroom production and proved to be an adequate fruiting site. Nitrogen-fixing trees (C. equisetifolia, T. orientalis, and F. moluccana) supported greater yield (275.5, 272.4 and 268.8 g/bag, respectively), biological efficiency (70.1, 78.5, and 74.0%, respectively), and flush number (3.0, 3.2, and 3.5) than non-fixers. P. cattleianum supported significantly lower yield (190.5 g/bag) and biological efficiency (44.2%). Mean crop period was 51 days and was not affected by the wood substrate. Similarly, substrate did not have a significant impact on the concentration of nutrients or moisture in fruit bodies. Taste preferences were noted in mushrooms grown on different substrates; those grown on C. equisetifolia were most flavourful and preferred in one taste test.
Towards X-ray Thermal Kinetic Inductance Detectors

Traditionally, kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) have been thought of as non-equilibrium detectors, which detect the excess of quasiparticles from the absorbed photon. In this case, recombination of quasiparticles is the bottleneck that limits the quasiparticle lifetime. However, the response of a KID to an excess of quasiparticles from photon absorption gives a nearly identical response to the increase in quasiparticle density due to a temperature change. Thus, KIDs can be used as thermometers to detect the temperature rise in an absorber due to a thermalized X-ray photon. In this work, we present a working prototype of an X-ray thermal KID (i.e., TKID) using a tungsten silicide resonator with superconducting tantalum absorber on a silicon nitride membrane. Finally, we outline improvements for future designs.
SU‐E‐J‐138: Breathing Motion Model Comparison Inside and Outside the Lung

Purpose: To compare the results of our deformable image registration algorithm inside and outside the lungs for our novel fast 4DCT technique in order to quantify the sliding motion between the lung and other organs in the thorax. Methods: : Data was acquired with a fast helical protocol. We used a 64‐slice CT scanner. 25 low dose whole‐lung scans were obtained in alternating directions for five patients. Images were obtained continuously under free breathing conditions. A pneumatic bellows was placed around the abdomen as a respiratory surrogate. Each image slice was assigned a unique bellows voltage signal. The lungs were segmented in each scan and, all scans were deformably registered, and were then deformed to the first scan geometry. The motion model was fit to the breathing surrogate to obtain the model parameters at each voxel inside the lung. Separately, all tissue outside the lungs was segmented, registered and fit to the motion model. Separate segmentation and registration of tissues inside and outside the lung boundary is necessary to properly treat the sliding motion that occurs at the interface of lung and chest wall. The object of this study was to determine if the separately treated inside and outside regions could be matched at the lung boundary. Results: Discontinuity in the superior‐inferior motion vectors was observed at the edges of the lungs, as expected, due to shear motion. Motion vectors in the left‐right and anterior‐posterior directions were continuous across the lung border, due to the lack of shear motion in those directions. Two masks representing the lung surface were deformed separately using the interior and the exterior motion models and found to be consistent. Conclusion: : We obtain a validation of the lung motion model and demonstrated that it can be used to reproduce accurate images for tissues outside the lung NIH grant number: ROI CA096679
Optimized supply-air temperature (SAT) in variable-air-volume (VAV) systems

Abstract A criterion, based on optimization principles, for determining the SAT setpoint in VAV systems is presented. It is generally accepted that conventional SAT reset controls (SATRC), bounded by either space humidity or ductwork size, will save cooling and/or heating energy. How-ever, the ventilation consequences and penalty resulting from increased fan power have generally been overlooked. Ventilation is impacted since changes in the SAT setpoint change the primary airflow rate and the operation of economizer cycles, i.e. the distribution of fresh outdoor air (OA). These changes may result in extra energy demand and ventilation inefficiency if the reset criterion is not appropriate. This optimization concept simultaneously reduces energy consumption and meets ventilation requirements. Simulation results illustrate that the use of the optimized SATRC saves more energy than a conventional one.
Neurotypic and gliotypic proteins as biochemical markers of neurotoxicity

Cells of the central and peripheral nervous system are differentially sensitive to toxic insults. Because biochemical differences between nervous system cell types are revealed by region- and cell-type-specific proteins, we proposed that these unique neuronal (neurotypic) and glial (gliotypic) proteins may be used to detect and characterize the cellular responses to chemical-induced injury (28). We are testing this hypothesis by administering known and suspected neurotoxicants to the developing and mature rat and assessing the effects of these agents on previously characterized neurotypic and gliotypic proteins. Using radioimmunoassays of these proteins in combination with their localization by immunohistochemistry, we have characterized several features of the neurotoxic state: 1) region-dependent patterns of neurotoxicity are revealed by changes in neurotypic and gliotypic proteins; 2) these changes are time-dependent and vary depending on the nature of the insult; and 3) significant changes in neurotypic and gliotypic proteins can be observed where there is no apparent pathology. Data obtained using a number of known neurotoxicants are presented to illustrate the use of this approach for assessing neurotoxicity.
OAXACAN WOOD CARVINGS IN THE WORLD OF FINE ART Aesthetic Judgments of a Tourist Craft

In recent years, certain ethnic and tourist arts have become highly valued by collectors, gallery owners, and museum curators in the United States, Canada, and Europe. This paper examines the extent to which economically successful woodcarvers in the Mexican state of Oaxaca have been able to gain the attention of the gatekeepers and tastemakers of the art world. The woodcarvers confront formidable obstacles in their efforts to have their work accepted as fine art. The recent invention of Oaxacan wood carving may make the craft seem inauthentic. Because carvings are usually made by a group of related family members, even some of the most aesthetically pleasing pieces cannot be attributed to an individual artist. The relatively low standard of living of most woodcarvers prevents them from adopting an "art for art's sake" philosophy emphasizing experimentation, originality, and lack of concern for commercial possibilities.
Porcine small intestine submucosa as a treatment for enterocutaneous fistulas

An enterocutaneous fistula is a distressing complication to patient and surgeon alike. Management includes control of sepsis, maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance, adequate nutrition, and definition and control of the fistula. Fistulas treated nonoperatively may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer to heal. For those that persist, operative repair can result in further morbidity and mortality. Subcutaneous administration of octreotide acetate has not been effective in increasing the overall rate of fistula closures, but it has been shown to considerably reduce the output and shorten the time to fistula closure. Recent advances in fistula management include treatment with fibrin sealant after 2 to 3 months of nonoperative management. Porcine small intestine submucosa (Oasis, Cook Biotech, Inc., West Lafayette, IN) is an acellular resorbable biomaterial that can serve as scaffolding for new tissue growth. We have used this material in a fashion similar to fibrin sealant to heal enterocutaneous fistulas that have been refractory to nonoperative management.
I Forgive You, but You Must Die: Murder Victim Family Members, the Death Penalty, and Restorative Justice

AbstractPrevious studies have noted that in some capital cases, victim family members express forgiveness of the offender, empathy for his family, or for his adverse life experiences—but still support the execution. This article attempts to explain the phenomenon by identifying three types of forgiveness and the motives for them, and it explores the applicability of reparative dialogues between murder survivors and offenders. Empirical evidence comes from 52 interviews and/or open-ended questionnaires with survivors whose capital cases ended in an execution in Texas or Virginia. Most of the 52 survivors witnessed the execution, supported the death penalty, and rejected remorse when it was expressed by the offender. Yet some of them forgave the offender, empathized with the offender or his family, or were ambivalent about the death penalty, despite supporting the execution—the “forgive but die” sentiment. This subset of survivors—forgivers and empathizers—who are the most amenable to mediation dialogues ar...
Jellyfish Envenomation Syndromes Updated

Jellyfish venoms are mixtures of toxic and/or antigenic polypeptides and enzymes pathogenic to human beings. As newer therapeutic agents become available to treat the various reactions to stings caused by these animals, an accurate diagnosis of the type of reaction the patient experiences and of the offending species will be necessary. Fatal reactions may be caused either by anaphylaxis or by the action of toxins in the venom on the heart, respiratory center, or kidneys. Cutaneous eruptions after envenomation may be local, generalized, exaggerated, recurrent, delayed, persistent, or occur at sites distant from the primary sting. Fat atrophy, pigmentary changes, vasospasm, and contractures with gangrene can occur after jellyfish stings. Identification of the envenoming animal can be made by actual visualization, examination for nematocysts on skin scrapings, or serologically It may also be predicted based on knowledge of location, time, and environmental circumstances of the encounter. First-aid measures designed to prevent additional nematocyst rupture are species-specific. Anaphylaxis should be prevented by the appropriate lifesaving measures. Other syndromes, caused by the toxins of the venom or mediated by humoral or cellular immune mechanisms, should be treated specifically.
Childhood and adolescent predictors of early and middle adulthood alcohol use and problem drinking: the Columbia County Longitudinal Study

Aims Toexaminetheroleof individuallyandcontextuallybasedfactorsmeasuredduringchildhoodandadolescence in predicting alcohol use and abuse measured during early and middle adulthood. Design Initial sample of 856 individuals first interviewed at age 8 with follow-up interviews at 19 (n = 427), 30 (n = 409), and 48 (n = 523). Participants Individuals enrolled in 3rd-grade classes in Columbia County, NY, in 1960 (49% female; > 90% Caucasian; primarily working-class families), who were re-sampled in 1970 (51% female), 1981 (52% female) and 2000 (49%female). Measurements Parentreportsof negativefamilyinteractionandsocio-economicstatuswhenthechild was8 yearsold;IQtestatage8;peernominationsof aggression,popularityandbehavioralinhibitionatages8and19; self-report of depression and educational attainment at age 19; self-report of alcohol use and problem drinking at ages 30 and 48. Findings Path models showed that the effects of childhood individual variables (e.g. aggression, popularity, behavioral inhibition) on adulthood alcohol use and abuse generally were mediated by the same behavioral variables in adolescence. Specifically, both for males and for females, lower levels of behavioral inhibition and higher levels of aggression predicted adulthood alcohol variables. Childhood contextual variables (family socio-economic status and negative family interaction) were relatively weak predictors of adulthood alcohol use and abuse. Conclusions Alcohol use and abuse in adulthood, when considered in a long-term developmental‐contextual framework, appear to be consistent with a general deviance model of problem behavior whereby individually based factors from childhood and late adolescence predict long-term indices of adulthood alcohol use and abuse.
Extracellular Matrix Deposited by Synovium-Derived Stem Cells Delays Replicative Senescent Chondrocyte Dedifferentiation and Enhances Redifferentiation

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposited by synovium-derived stem cells (SDSCs) on articular chondrocyte expansion and maintenance of differentiation status and redifferentiation capacity. Passage 0 (P0) pig articular chondrocytes were expanded for six passages on plastic flasks (Plastic), SDSC-derived ECM (ECM), or substrate switching from either Plastic to ECM (PtoE) or ECM to Plastic (EtoP). Cell morphology, gene expression profiles, and immunophenotypes at each passage were used to characterize differentiation status of expanded cells. Chondrocytes at P0, P2, and P6 were assessed for redifferentiation capacity in a pellet culture system treated with either TGF-β1- or serum-containing medium for 14 days, using histology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, Western blot, and real-time PCR. We found that ECM not only greatly enhanced chondrocyte expansion but also delayed dedifferentiation of expanded chondrocytes. Intriguingly, compared to a dramatic decrease in CD90+/CD105+ cells and CD90+ cells, CD105+ cells dramatically increased when chondrocytes were plated on Plastic; on the contrary, ECM expansion dramatically increased CD90+ cells and delayed the decrease of CD90+/CD105+ cells. Interestingly, expanded chondrocytes on ECM also acquired a strong redifferentiation capacity, particularly in the pellets treated with TGF-β1. In conclusion, the ratio of CD90 to CD105 may serve as a marker indicative of proliferation and redifferentiation capacity of dedifferentiated chondrocytes. ECM deposited by SDSCs provides a tissue-specific three-dimensional microenvironment for ex vivo expansion of articular chondrocytes while retaining redifferentiation capacity, suggesting that ECM may provide a novel approach for autologous chondrocyte-based cartilage repair.
Organolanthanide-centered hydroamination/cyclization of aminoolefins. Expedient oxidative access to catalytic cycles

The readily accessible (Me{sub 5}C{sub 5}){sub 2}Sm and (Me{sub 5}C{sub 5}){sub 2}Sm(THF){sub 2} catalyze the hydroamination/cyclization of a variety of aminoolefins. Mechanistic observations suggest that the active catalysts are trivalent organosamarium complexes
Injuries to the Pectoralis Major Muscle Diagnosis and Management

Injuries to the pectoralis major muscle are relatively infrequent but result in pain, weakness, and deformity of the upper extremity. The usual injury mechanism is during eccentric shortening of the pectoralis major under heavy load, such as when performing a bench press exercise. The ability to detect and treat a pectoralis major rupture is important for both the clinician and the patient and is aided with knowledge of the anatomy, the clinical findings, and results of nonoperative and operative care. It is important to understand the physical demands and desires of the patient as well as to understand the outcomes of both nonoperative and operative care to make an informed decision regarding optimal treatment. This article highlights the importance of the clinical examination in identifying the injury, examines various surgical techniques to repair the rupture, and reports on potential complication and reinjury rates.
Deadline differentiated pricing of deferrable electric power service

As the penetration of wind and solar energy into the electric grid continues to grow, there will be an increasing need to evolve demand-side solutions capable of compensating the inherent variability in power supply from such renewable resources. Today, demand is largely treated as inelastic. However, the power requirements of many commercial and residential loads are such that a fraction of power demand at any given moment is inherently deferrable in time subject to a deadline constraint on the total energy supplied. Examples include thermal systems such as refrigerators, water heaters, HVAC systems, data centers, and, assuming mass adoption of plug-in electric vehicles, batteries. In this paper, we discuss some limitations of dynamic pricing mechanisms (e.g., real-time pricing) as a means of inducing demand response and suggest a novel forward contracting mechanism for deadline-differentiated deferrable energy contracts to alleviate some of these difficulties. Essentially, consumers who consent to deferral of their consumption in time - subject to a pre-specified deadline - will receive a discounted per-unit price for said energy. In this way, the supplier is capable of extracting flexibility in the delivery of energy to participating deferrable loads, while consumers receive a discount on energy with an associated deadline guarantee on delivery. The supply side is modeled as random to capture variability in renewable power supply. Using a general model for consumer preferences to capture the effect of consumption deferral on utility, we prove the existence of a competitive equilibrium and provide a characterization of deadline-differentiated prices yielding such an equilibrium. We also discuss provably optimal online scheduling policies to dynamically allocate the variable supply to a bundle of deadline-differentiated energy tasks.
Site of airway obstruction in asymptomatic asthmatic children

The site of airway obstruction in asthmatics may be in the central or peripheral airways. Recent studies with air and 80% helium/20% oxygen maximal expiratory flow-volume curves have suggested that this obstruction was predominantly in the central airways unless there were complicating clinical factors such as chronic bronchitis, recurrent respiratory infection or smoking. Others have indicated that peripheral airway obstruction is present in some asymptomatic asthmatics. Using air and 80% helium-20% oxygen maximal expiratory flow-volume curves and measurements of pulmonary mechanics, we studied the site of airway obstruction in asthmatic children without the above clinical factors and found it to be in the central or peripheral airways or both.
The Effect of Generic Versus Personally Delivered Education and Self-Disclosure on the Social Acceptability of Adults with Tourette Syndrome

Research has shown that both education about Tourette Syndrome (TS) and self-disclosure have a positive impact on how peers rate the social acceptability of an individual with TS. However, no studies have directly compared generic TS education and personally delivered self-disclosure on how they impact attitudes towards an individual with TS. In the current study, 197 participants viewed a short videotape of a male actor displaying tics, after which they were assigned to one of three groups. One group received no education, one group viewed a commercially available video in which several individuals with TS provided education about TS and discussed their personal experiences with the syndrome, and one group viewed a content-matched video of an actor displaying tics, providing TS education, and personally self-disclosing about his experience having TS. Results indicate that participants in both video conditions rated themselves as more knowledgeable about tics than those in the control condition. More importantly, results also show that participants who viewed the actor personally self-disclose about TS rated him as more socially acceptable than did individuals who either viewed the content-matched generic TS education video or who did not receive education.
Hepatic enhancement during the hepatobiliary phase after gadoxetate disodium administration in patients with chronic liver disease: the role of laboratory factors.

Purpose: To identify factors influencing hepatobiliary phase (HBP) hepatic enhancement on gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed abdominal gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRIs and medical records of patients with (n = 97) and without (n = 48) CLD. CLD subgroups were formed based on normal/abnormal components of liver function tests (LFTs). Hepatic enhancement coefficients (HEKs) were calculated on MRI, and compared with LFTs and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. Results: The mean HEK was significantly lower (P < 0.0008) in the CLD than control group. The mean HEK was similar to controls in the subgroup with all normal LFTs (P = 0.09) and subgroup with normal direct bilirubin (DB) (p = 0.09), while it was significantly reduced (P < 0.0001) in the subgroup with elevated DB. For all other LFT components, regardless of normal or abnormal values, there was a significant reduction in the mean HEKs versus controls (all P values <0.01). There was a highly negative correlation between the mean HEKs in CLD subgroups and number of abnormal LFTs (r = −0.93) and MELD scores (r = −0.89). Conclusion: HBP hepatic enhancement in CLD patients is similar to those with no CLD as long as direct bilirubin remains normal. Higher MELD scores and higher number of abnormal LFT components are associated with reduced hepatic enhancement. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evaluating a private foundation's health program

Abstract Public policy decisions in health are increasingly difficult and expensive. Although there will never be enough information available, private foundations can help to bridge the most important gaps in knowledge. Larger foundations may also wish to respond to those who doubt the value of foundation activities. This article reviews the experiences over the past eight years of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in employing evaluation and related social research procedures in the planning and implementation of a major philanthropic effort to improve the health and medical care of Americans. Discussed are the still evolving Foundation evaluation framework, the unanticipated problems in undertaking specific evaluations, and the substantive findings of some of the studies.
Changing taste preferences, market demands and traditions in Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua: A community reliant on green turtles for income and nutrition

Caribbean Nicaragua has its own cultural logic that helps to explain the eating habits of indigenous communities that rely on sea turtle meat for nutrition and prefer its taste to that of other available meats. Nutritional costs and benefits form a fundamental part of this reliance, yet there are ecological, economic, cultural, and other factors that may be just as if not more important than the nutritional value of turtle meat. Caribbean Nicaraguans have legally harvested green turtles (Chelonia mydas) for more than 400 years, and continue to rely on the species as an inexpensive and tasty source of protein and income. From 1967 to 1977, green turtles were harvested for both local and foreign consumption, including annual exports to the US and Europe from turtle packing plants in Nicaragua in excess of 10,000 turtles. Although the processing plants have been closed for over 30 years after Nicaragua became a signatory of CITES in 1977, the local demand for turtle meat in coastal communities has continued. Following themes of cultural ecology and ecological anthropology, we first discuss what is known about the traditional culture of Caribbean Nicaragua, in particular the history of its changing economy (after European contact and settlement on the coast) and subsistence lifestyle of Miskito and Creole societies on the coast. Second, we provide background information on regional ethnic identity and the human ecology of the Caribbean Nicaragua sea turtle fishery. We then present a quantitative analysis of the relationship between protein preference and various demographic characteristics, and speculate whether protein preferences have been altered in the coastal culture, providing recommendations for future research. Recent studies present disparate views on whether nesting and foraging green turtle populations are increasing or decreasing in the region: in either case the level of harvest makes the topic of protein preference an important and relevant consideration in conservation.
Fatigue behavior of Nextel™ 312/Blackglas™ ceramic matrix composite with tensile and zero mean load

This study characterized a woven fabric reinforced ceramic matrix composite, Nextel™ 312/Blackglas™, under monotonic and fatigue loading conditions at room and elevated (760°C) temperatures in order: (1) to investigate monotonic tensile and compressive loading behavior at room and elevated temperatures, (2) to establish the fatigue life diagrams (S - N curves) with tensile and zero mean load under low frequency (0.1 Hz) cycling condition at room and elevated temperatures, and (3) to investigate damage mechanisms and failure modes under monotonic and fatigue loading conditions. Fatigue lives under tension-compression cycling were much longer than those under tension-tension cycling at a given stress range for both room and elevated temperatures. However, fatigue lives under tension-compression cycling were much shorter than those under tension-tension cycling for a given maximum stress level at room temperature, but lives were about equal under these two loading conditions for a given maximum stress level ...
Synergy Effects of Conductive Fillers on Elastomer Graphite Composite Material for PEM Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

Bipolar plates are necessary components in the current design of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks. The aim of this study is to investigate the elastomeric material with the addition of different types of graphite conductive fillers for the potential use as a bipolar plate in a PEM fuel cell stack. The conductive fillers investigated here include Cytec thermal graphite fibers, Asbury Carbons PAN AGM 99 fiber, synthetic graphite (4012), natural flake (3763), and different grades of graphite powder (TC 305). Some of these conductive fillers are implemented in a two component silicone slurry matrix (RTV 627 by Momentive Performance Materials) to make a composite material. The synergy effects between different fillers in a composite are studied through the percolation theory and scanning electron microscopy images. It has been found that binary blends of fillers resulted in lower resistivity values than individual components over wide composition ratios. A bulk electrical resistivity of 0.03...
Electromagnetics for High-Speed Analog and Digital Communication Circuits

Modern communications technology demands smaller, faster and more efficient circuits. This book reviews the fundamentals of electromagnetism in passive and active circuit elements, highlighting various effects and potential problems in designing a new circuit. The author begins with a review of the basics - the origin of resistance, capacitance, and inductance - then progresses to more advanced topics such as passive device design and layout, resonant circuits, impedance matching, high-speed switching circuits, and parasitic coupling and isolation techniques. Using examples and applications in RF and microwave systems, the author describes transmission lines, transformers, and distributed circuits. State-of-the-art developments in Si based broadband analog, RF, microwave, and mm-wave circuits are reviewed. With up-to-date results, techniques, practical examples, illustrations and worked examples, this book will be valuable to advanced undergraduate and graduate students of electrical engineering, and practitioners in the IC design industry. Further resources for this title are available at www.cambridge.org/9780521853507.
Seismic response of tied‐back retaining walls

Parametric studies based on finite element simulations were conducted to establish the fundamental mechanisms by which tied-back walls respond to travelling displacement pulses. Considering first linear elastic soil behaviour, we observed that the flexural stiffness of the wall hardly affects maximum transient displacements. Rather, the transient response is determined mainly by the ratio of pulse wavelength to wall height. The maximum load carried by the anchor was found to increase with increasing anchor stiffness. For short wavelengths, on the order of less than two times the wall height, the maximum displacements and displaced shapes are affected significantly by the inclination of the anchor. The importance of the anchor stiffness suggested by the linear elastic analysis was confirmed by the non-linear analysis. A stiff anchor suppressed permanent displacements in the vicinity of the anchor, but did not substantially reduce permanent displacements elsewhere. As peak accelerations increased from 0.1 g to 0.4 g, permanent wall displacements increased significantly.
Bovine immunodeficiency virus : incidence of infection in Mississippi dairy cattle

Abstract Bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), a lentivirus, was originally derived from a Holstein cow with persistent lymphocytosis and severe wasting. The virus is known to occur sporadically throughout the United States and perhaps across the globe, but epidemiological data concerning the incidence of BIV are meager and the virus was previously unreported in Mississippi animals. This study examined the seroepidemiology of BIV infection from two Mississippi dairy herds (Coastal Plains and MSU). Serology revealed a 38% incidence of BIV infection in Coastal Plains animals and a 58% incidence in MSU animals. A cumulative BIV seroprevalence of 50% was found in the Mississippi animals, and BIV seroprevalence increased with increasing age of the animals. Peripheral blood leukocytes of age-matched BIV seropositive and seronegative animals were enumerated to assess any effect of BIV infection on leukocyte populations. No significant differences were found in total leukocyte populations or leukocyte subpopulations between BIV seropositive or seronegative animals. These data indicate that BIV infection is prevalent in Mississippi animals, but the role of BIV in bovine disease remains unclear.
Characterization of anti-idiotype reagents to bovine herpesvirus-1 monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody (MAb) to a neutralization epitope on the 97-kD glycoprotein of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) was used to prepare an anti-idiotypic antibody in rabbits. Purified F(ab′)2 fragments of the MAb were used to immunize the animals and the sera containing the greatest anti-idiotype activity were identified by ELISA. After digestion of the immunoglobulins with pepsin and purification by affinity chromatography, anti-idiotype F(ab′)2 fragments reacted specifically with the MAb in ELISA. Binding of the anti-idiotypic (anti-id) antibody was inhibited by preincubation of the MAb with BHV-1. Using an ELISA inhibition assay with BHV-1, the anti-id reagent inhibited the binding of anti-BHV-1 MAb to BHV-1, suggesting that the anti-id mimics an epitope of the 97-kD glycoprotein by binding the antigen combining site of the MAb. Development and characterization of this anti-id and future studies of its immunomodulatory effects are discussed.