cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Atypical Presentations of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) and Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) – A Case Series and Comprehensive Literature Review (P04.079)

OBJECTIVE: To raise the awareness for subtle clinical presentations of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome and particular risk factors for the development of Intracranial Hemorrhage which may result in fatal outcomes. BACKGROUND: The Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a clinical-radiographic syndrome of heterogeneous etiologies grouped together due to similar imaging findings. There is an ongoing controversy about the exact pathophysiology of PRES. As variable as its etiologies, PRES can present clinically in multiple and sometimes very subtle ways. Despite its generally benign course PRES -if not recognized and treated in a timely manner- can lead to major complications with potentially fatal outcomes. In particular, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a life-threatening complication of PRES that has only been studied in a few retrospective case series. DESIGN/METHODS: We report a case series of PRES in four female patients (age 30 to 78) who presented with various imaging findings including ICH but very different, atypical clinical symptoms. We particularly focus on risk factors for the development and the outcome of ICH in the setting of PRES. RESULTS: The clinical presentations ranged from simple-partial seizures, non-convulsive status epilepticus, and thunderclap headache to catatonic behavior. The outcomes varied from complete neurological recovery to rapid decline and death. Major risk factors for the development of PRES and ICH were treatment with immunosuppressants, serious co-morbidities and poorly controlled seizures. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a comprehensive literature review and the clinical courses in our case series, it is clear that ICH associated with PRES may be under recognized, presenting a diagnostic challenge to the physician and posing a threat of serious if not fatal outcome. Further investigation into specific risk factors predisposing patients with PRES to hemorrhage is warranted, as this may promote heightened clinical awareness of the phenomenon. Disclosure: Dr. Muhlhofer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Manchak has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kelly has nothing to disclose.
Natural and anthropogenic barriers to climate tracking in river fishes along a mountain–plains transition zone

Aim To examine how the distributions of fishes in three rivers changed over four decades of rising air temperatures. Location Colorado, USA. Methods We used fish sampling over more than four decades in three rivers in Colorado, USA, to examine changes in the upper and lower distribution limits of fishes. Results There was a divergent pattern of range shifts among species. One coldwater fish species showed the expected pattern of retraction at its lower limit and expansion at its upper limit. However, warmwater fishes, on average, did not shift their upper distribution limit. Main conclusions All three rivers displayed a strong habitat transition from upstream, high-gradient reaches to downstream, low-gradient reaches, suggesting that habitat conditions associated with high channel slope may limit the ability of some fish species to track warming water temperatures. In addition, potential anthropogenic barriers to fish movement occurred near species distribution limits, and these may prevent or delay range shifts in river fishes. The overall pattern of range shifts was consistent across the three rivers, suggesting a coherent influence of species' traits, physiological tolerances and habitat requirements on fish species distributions.
Teachers' gestures and students' learning: sometimes "hands off" is better.

During mathematics instruction, teachers often make links between different representations of mathematical information, and they sometimes use gestures to refer to the representations that they link. In this research, we investigated the role of such gestures in students’ learning from lessons about links between linear equations and corresponding graphs. Eighty-two middle-school students completed a pretest, viewed a video lesson, and then completed a posttest comparable to the pretest. In all of the video lessons, the teacher explained the links between equations and graphs in speech. The lessons varied in whether the teacher referred to the equations in gesture and in whether she referred to the graphs in gesture, yielding four conditions: neither equations nor graphs, equations only, graphs only, and both equations and graphs. In all conditions, the gestures were redundant with speech, in the sense that the referents of the gestures were also mentioned in speech (e.g., pointing to “2” while saying “2”). Students showed substantial learning in all conditions. However, students learned less when the teacher referred to the equations in gesture than when she did not. This was not the case for gesture to graphs. These findings are discussed in terms of the processing implications of redundancy between gesture and speech, and the possibility of “trade-offs” in attention to the visual representations. The findings underscore the need for a more nuanced view of the role of teachers’ gestures in students’ comprehension and learning.
Fast Global Labeling for Real-Time Stereo Using Multiple Plane Sweeps.

This work presents a real-time, data-parallel approach for global label assignment on regular grids. The labels are selected according to a Markov random field energy with a Potts prior term for binary interactions. We apply the proposed method to accelerate the cleanup step of a real-time dense stereo method based on plane sweeping with multiple sweeping directions, where the label set directly corresponds to the employed directions. In this setting the Potts smoothness model is suitable, since the set of labels does not possess an intrinsic metric or total order. The observed run-times are approximately 30 times faster than the ones obtained by graph cut approaches.
Optical Property Measurements and Single Particle Analysis of Secondary Organic Aerosol Produced from the Aqueous-Phase Reaction of Ammonium Sulfate with Methylglyoxal

Reactions involving the dicarbonyl species methylglyoxal (MG) have been suggested as an important pathway for the production of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the atmosphere. Reaction in an aqueous inorganic salt solution, such as ammonium sulfate (AS), leads to the formation of light-absorbing brown carbon (BrC) product. We report on an investigation of the optical properties of BrC aerosol generated from the aqueous-phase reaction between MG and AS as a function of aging time using calibrated cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) at a wavelength of 403 nm. The retrieved real index of refraction at 403 nm is n = 1.558 ± 0.021, with an imaginary index value of k = 0.002 ± 0.004; these values do not appear to change significantly with aging time over the course of 22 days and are similar to the AS aerosol values. The small complex index suggests that BrC aerosol formed from this pathway may not significantly impact radiative forcing. Measurements of the aerosol optical properties show significant deviat...
The Use of Hormonal Antiandrogen Therapy in Female Patients with Acne: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.

Little is known about how dermatologists prescribe hormonal antiandrogen acne treatment (HAAT). The aim of this study was to investigate dermatologists’ HAAT-prescribing habits and HAAT’s impact on systemic antibiotic use in women with acne. We performed a retrospective study at an academic medical center of female patients receiving HAAT (combined oral contraceptive [COC], spironolactone) for acne from January 2005 to October 2015. Data from a control group of female acne patients who never received HAAT were also collected. A total of 672 female patients received HAAT. Out of all systemic medications for acne, antibiotics were used as first-line treatment in 39% of patients, COCs in 12%, and spironolactone in 21%. Mean antibiotic durations in patients who initiated HAAT for the first time at the study site (250.4 days) were significantly longer than in patients who received HAAT prior to presentation and continued HAAT at the study site (192.0 days) (p = 0.021). A statistically significant inverse association was found between HAAT use and mean antibiotic duration (p = 0.016). HAAT is not typically used as a first-line systemic therapy in women with acne. HAAT usage is associated with shorter cumulative antibiotic durations and early HAAT initiation can decrease systemic antibiotic use in acne treatment.
Trekking the globe with the World IT Project

It is widely acknowledged that information systems/information technology (IS/IT) academic research is mostly Western centric (i.e., U.S. and Western Europe based). Several surveys have clearly pointed out that most of the publications are based in the West, the authors are from the West, the research itself is conducted in the West, and even the topic areas pertain to the needs and concerns of the West. Given that IS/IT has pervaded the entire globe, such a dominant Western bias does not do justice to the rest of the world as other nations do not find their particular topics investigated or have to rely on Western results, which may not be necessarily applicable to their context.
E5 can be expressed in anal cancer and leads to epidermal growth factor receptor-induced invasion in a human papillomavirus 16-transformed anal epithelial cell line.

We detected the first human papillomavirus (HPV)-16-immortalized anal epithelial cell line, known as AKC2 cells to establish an in vitro model of HPV-16-induced anal carcinogenesis. Consistent with detection of E6, E7 and E5 expression in anal cancer biopsies, AKC2 cells expressed high levels of all three HPV oncogenes. Also, similar to findings in anal cancer biopsies, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was overexpressed in AKC2 cells. AKC2 cells exhibited a poorly differentiated and invasive phenotype in three-dimensional raft culture and inhibition of EGFR function abrogated AKC2 invasion. Reducing E5 expression using E5-targeted siRNAs in AKC2 cells led to knockdown of E5 expression, but also HPV-16 E2, E6 and E7 expression. AKC2 cells treated with E5-targeted siRNA had reduced levels of total and phosphorylated EGFR, and reduced invasion. Rescue of E6/E7 expression with simultaneous E5 knockdown confirmed that E5 plays a key role in EGFR overexpression and EGFR-induced invasion.
Prenatal heart block screening in mothers with SSA/SSB autoantibodies: Targeted screening protocol is a cost-effective strategy.

OBJECTIVE Maternal anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies can lead to fetal complete heart block (CHB). Current guidelines recommend weekly echocardiographic screening between 16 and 28 weeks gestation. Given the cost of screening and the rarity of conduction abnormalities in fetuses of mothers with low anti-Ro levels (<50 U/mL), we sought to identify a strategy that optimizes resource utilization. DESIGN Decision analysis cost-utility modeling was performed for three screening paradigms: "standard screening" (SS) in which mid-gestation mothers are screened weekly, "limited screening" (LS) in which fetal echocardiograms are avoided unless the fetus develops bradycardia, and "targeted screening by maternal antibody level" (TS) in which only high anti-Ro values warrant weekly screening. A systematic review of existing literature and institutional cost data were used to define model inputs. RESULTS The average cost of LS, TS, and SS was $8566, $11 038, and $23 279, respectively. SS was cost-ineffective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $322 756 while TS was cost-effective with an ICER of $43 445. CONCLUSION While the efficacy of fetal intervention for first or second degree AV block remains unclear, this analysis supports utilizing antibody levels to stratify this population for optimized surveillance for CHB. SS is cost-ineffective and results in resource overutilization.
Extraction of Zinc from Airport Stormwater Runoff using Oyster Shells

A pilot program was evaluated for the removal of zinc (Zn) levels from stormwater runoff at a west coast airport facility showing high levels of Zn runoff in the stormwater drainage. The research presented in this paper evaluated three aspects of the stormwater runoff: 1) water sampling from influent and effluent roof runoff; 2) whether Zn particles were absorbed into the oyster shell fragments; and 3) whether Zn particles were attached to fragmented oyster shells and/or compost materials. The use of fragmented oyster shells mixed into compost and sand served as a medium for the remediation of Zn from stormwater runoff from unpainted galvanized hangar roofing. Influent and effluent water samples determined the effectiveness of an oyster medium in the removal of Zn levels. Data obtained from the influent water samples showed excessive amounts of Zn particles in stormwater, whereas the effluent levels showed a capture rate of > 99% of Zn from the stormwater system. No signs of Zn particles were found inside the fragmented oyster shells, nor were there an abundant amount of Zn particles found in the other medium.
Trace Minerals, the Central Nervous System, and Behavior

Awareness that small amounts of inorganic compounds are imperative for normal growth began over a century ago when it was recognized that iron, copper, and zinc were essential for the maturation of plants and microorganisms. Further evidence of the importance of these minerals for animal nutrition was subsequently derived from two major sources: basic studies on the effects of specially formulated diets, low or high in a specific mineral, on growth and reproduction in animals; and the realization that a number of endemic diseases of man and animals resulted from mineral deficiencies.
Stabilty of biskyrmions in centrosymmetric magnetic films

Motivated by the observation of biskyrmions in centrosymmetric magnetic films [X. Z. Yu et al., Nat. Commun. 5, 3198 (2014), W. Wang et al., Adv. Mater. 28, 6887 (2016)], we investigate analytically and numerically the stability of biskyrmions in films of finite thickness, taking into account the nearest-neighbor exchange interaction, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), dipole-dipole interaction (DDI), and the discreteness of the atomic lattice. The biskyrmion is characterized by the topological charge $Q=2$, the spatial scale $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, and another independent length $d$ that can be interpreted as a separation of two $Q=1$ skyrmions inside a $Q=2$ topological defect in the background of uniform magnetization. We find that biskyrmions with $d$ of order $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ can be stabilized by the magnetic field within a certain range of the ratio of PMA to DDI in a film having a sufficient number of atomic layers ${N}_{z}$. The shape of biskyrmions has been obtained by the numerical minimization of the energy of interacting spins in a $1000\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1000\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{N}_{z}$ atomic lattice. It is close to the exact solution of the Belavin-Polyakov model when $d$ is below the width of the ferromagnetic domain wall. We compute the magnetic moment of a biskyrmion and discuss ways of creating biskyrmions in experiment.
Mammalian Diversity and Matses Ethnomammalogy in Amazonian Peru Part 3: Marsupials (Didelphimorphia)

This report is the third in our monographic series on mammalian diversity and Matses ethnomammalogy in the Yavari-Ucayali interfluvial region of northeastern Peru. Based on taxonomic analysis of specimens collected in the region, we document the occurrence of 19 species of marsupials in the genera Caluromys, Glironia, Hyladelphys, Marmosa, Monodelphis, Metachirus, Chironectes, Didelphis, Philander, Gracilinanus, and Marmosops. Our principal taxonomic results include the following: (1) we provide a phylogenetic analysis of previously unpublished mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data for Caluromys that supports the reciprocal monophyly of all currently recognized species in the genus but reveals substantial heterogeneity in one extralimital taxon; (2) we explain why Marmosa constantiae is the correct name for the southwestern Amazonian taxon previously known as Mar. demerarae, and we diagnose Mar. constantiae from Mar. rapposa, a superficially similar species from southern Peru, eastern Bolivia, and central Brazil; (3) we explain why Mar. rutteri is the correct name for one of the Amazonian species currently known as Mar. regina, and we restrict the latter name to the transAndean holotype; (4) we recognize Metachirus myosuros as a species distinct from Met. nudicaudatus based on morphological comparisons and a phylogenetic analysis of new mtDNA sequence data; and (5) we name a new species of Marmosops to honor the late Finnish-Peruvian naturalist Pekka Soini.Of the 19 marsupial species known to occur in the Yavari-Ucayali interfluve, 16 have been recorded in sympatry at Nuevo San Juan, the Matses village where we based most of our fieldwork from 1995 to 1999. We explain why we believe the marsupial species list from Nuevo San Juan to be complete (or nearly so), and we compare it with a species list obtained by similarly intensive fieldwork at Paracou (French Guiana). Although Nuevo San Juan and Paracou are 2500 km apart on opposite sides of Amazonia, the same opossum genera are present at both sites, the lists differing only in the species represented in each fauna. We briefly discuss current explanations for spatial turnover in species of terrestrial vertebrates across Amazonian landscapes and provide evidence that the upper Amazon is a significant dispersal barrier for marsupials.Marsupials are not important to the Matses in any way. In keeping with their cultural inattention to mammals that are inconspicuous, harmless, and too small to be of dietary significance, the Matses lexically distinguish only a few kinds of opossums, and they are not close observers of opossum morphology or behavior.
No Seat at the Table: How Corporate Governance and Law Keep Women Out of the Boardroom

Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Glass Ceilings, Floors, and Walls * Restraints on Advancement * Glass Ceilings and Floors: The Court Cases * Prices of Motherhood: Stereotyping, Work/Life Issues, and Opting Out * In a Different Register: Women in the Governance Model * Bully Broads, Iron Maidens, Queen Bees, and Ice Queens Part II: Climbing the Corporate Ladder: Myths and Realities * Routes to the Top: The Advice * The Road to the Top: The Evidence * The 2005 Proxy Data * Women and Minorities in Organizations: The Legacy of Tokenism Part III: Corporate Governance and the Keeper of the Keys to the Boardroom * Corporate Governance in America * Women, Culture, and the U.S. Model of Corporate Governance * Women in Corporate Governance: The Numbers versus the Expectations Part IV: Getting a Seat at the Boardroom Table * Paradigm Shifts: A Tale of Three Women * Prescriptions Appendix A: Fortune 500 Corporations 187 with No Women Directors Appendix B: Fortune 500 Corporations 189 with a Single Woman Director Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
"A Hard Space to Manage": The Experiences of Women of Color Faculty Teaching Online.

The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of Women of Color (WOC) faculty who teach asynchronous online courses. While there is a growing body of literature on the experiences of WOC ...
Interactions between Kuroshio Extension and Central Tropical Pacific lead to preferred decadal-timescale oscillations in Pacific climate

The Kuroshio Extension (KE) exhibits prominent decadal fluctuations that enhance the low-frequency variability of North Pacific climate. Using available observations, we show evidence that a preferred decadal timescale in the KE emerges from the interaction between KE and the central tropical Pacific via Meridional Modes. Specifically, we show that changes in the KE states apply a persistent downstream atmospheric response (e.g. wind stress curl, 0–12 months timescales) that projects on the atmospheric forcing of the Pacific Meridional Modes (PMM) over 9 months timescales. Subsequently, the PMM energizes the central tropical Pacific El Nino Southern Oscillation (CP-ENSO) and its atmospheric teleconnections back to the Northern Hemisphere (1–3 months timescale), which in turn excites oceanic Rossby waves in the central/eastern North Pacific that propagate westward changing the KE (~3 years timescales). Consistent with this hypothesis, the cross-correlation function between the KE and the PMM/CP-ENSO indices exhibits a significant sinusoidal shape corresponding to a preferred spectral power at decadal timescales (~10 years). This dynamics pathway (KE→PMM/CP-ENSO→KE) may provide a new mechanistic basis to explain the preferred decadal-timescale of the North Pacific and enhance decadal predictability of Pacific climate.
Illegitimacy of Plagiarism Norms

On Thursday, March 19, shortly before midnight and fortified by bourbon, I asked Alvin Emoodo of youressaymaster.com to ghostwrite an article for me. Here is what I asked him to write: "I’d like you to write an article explaining why plagiarism norms are illegitimate and not justified. Among other things, it can argue that plagiarism norms are not really intended to benefit readers, but to benefit authors. And it can argue that plagiarism norms benefit established authors at the expense of new authors. But be creative!" On Sunday, March 22, shortly before midnight, Alvin emailed me this article. Here is the abstract he provided: "The concept of plagiarism is often vague and does not hold a comprehensive understanding. Its vagueness has contributed to many culprits going unpunished. Many dictionaries define plagiarism simply as 'literary theft.' Plagiarism is the theft of thoughts, creativity, and ideas of another person with the aim of owning it without acknowledging the input of the source. It is a crime. In 1990, Neal Bowers published a poem titled 'Tenth-Year Elegy' in the Poetry journal. A year later, Bowers discovers that another poet by the name David Sumner had copied line after line of the poem and published it in the Mankato Poetry Review as his own and gave it a new title – 'Someone forgotten.' Later on, Bowers published “Words for the Taking,” a memoir that described Sumner’s actions as a 'crime.' Plagiarism deceives readers and gives the plagiarist undeserved credits while hurting the plagiarized authors. All plagiarism norms are illegitimate and not justified. The cheating that is plagiarism earns plagiarists undeserved awards such as academic certificates. In his memoir, after learning of the actions of David Sumner, Bowers explains how he spent languid afternoons at home while thinking about his 'thief,' when he should have been writing poems. Bowers describes how he was there wishing for something to be done against Sumner’s plagiarism actions, although he did not know what that “something” was or should have been." I paid Alvin $50 up front and $50 on delivery. In my opinion, it was money well-spent.
Fully Passive-Printed Wireless Wear Sensor

Wear of abradable materials presents a significant challenge across many industries, where the efficiency, efficacy, and safety of important systems rely on the detection and monitoring of component wear. Three design variations demonstrate real-time monitoring of wear by a novel, additively manufactured, embeddable, and fully passive wireless wear sensor. The three sensor designs incorporate closely spaced, narrow interconnects connected to a parallel resistor circuit, with a passive RFID chip for complete remote operation. The first design includes ten closely spaced horizontal interconnects and tracks wear events orthogonal to the interconnects for a resolution of $200~{\mu }\text{m}$ . The second design divides horizontal interconnects into two interdigitated sets of five lines each to achieve a resolution of $125~{\mu }\text{m}$ . The third design features ten interconnects printed vertically and connected to a sloped drain line to achieve a resolution of $50~{\mu }\text{m}$ . We fabricated all three designs with a single-layer print on machinable glass-ceramics and commercial surface-mount resistors. Lab testing showed that the three sensor designs had an overall experimental resolution of 215.3, 127.8, and $57.34~{\mu }\text{m}$ , respectively. We attribute error to a combination of manufacturing challenges related to the printing of orthogonal and acute angled narrow interconnects, RFID sampling rates, and errors from testing. The maximum error in measured voltage steps for each of the three designs is 10%, 6.67%, and 6.78%. This study is limited in sample size due to testing constraints and is presented as proof of concept. Future work should assess the robustness of these designs and processes.
Modelling transport and mean age of dense core vesicles in large axonal arbours

A model simulating the transport of dense core vesicles (DCVs) in type II axonal terminals of Drosophila motoneurons has been developed. The morphology of type II terminals is characterized by the ...
Active tuning of silicon photonic microring resonator towards a chiral exceptional point

We demonstrate a silicon photonic passive PT-symmetric structure operating at an exceptional point, with dynamic mode-splitting tunability enabled by a local heater.
Anabolic actions of PTH in murine models: two decades of insights.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is produced by the parathyroid glands in response to low serum calcium concentrations where it targets bones, kidneys, and indirectly, intestines. The N-terminus of PTH has been investigated for decades for its ability to stimulate bone formation when administered intermittently (iPTH) and is used clinically as an effective anabolic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis. Despite great interest in iPTH and its clinical use, the mechanisms of PTH action remain complicated and not fully defined. More than 70 gene targets in more than 90 murine models have been utilized to better understand PTH anabolic actions. Because murine studies utilized wild-type mice as positive controls, a variety of variables were analyzed to better understand the optimal conditions under which iPTH functions. The greatest responses to iPTH were in male mice, with treatment starting later than 12 weeks of age, a treatment duration lasting 5-6 weeks, and a PTH dose of 30-60 μg/kg/day. This comprehensive study also evaluated these genetic models relative to the bone formative actions with a primary focus on the trabecular compartment revealing trends in critical genes and gene families relevant for PTH anabolic actions. The summation of these data revealed the gene deletions with the greatest increase in trabecular bone volume in response to iPTH. These included PTH and 1-α-hydroxylase (Pth;1α(OH)ase, 62-fold), amphiregulin (Areg, 15.8-fold), and PTH related protein (Pthrp, 10.2-fold). The deletions with the greatest inhibition of the anabolic response include deletions of: proteoglycan 4 (Prg4, -9.7-fold), low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (Lrp6, 1.3-fold), and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (Lrp5, -1.0-fold). Anabolic actions of iPTH were broadly affected via multiple and diverse genes. This data provides critical insight for future research and development, as well as application to human therapeutics. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Effect of an on/off HVAC control on indoor temperature distribution and cycle variability in a single-floor residential building

Abstract This paper investigates an influence of an intermittent on/off operation of the air-conditioning (AC) equipment on the indoor temperature distribution, air flow and a cycle variability within a single-floor medium-size residential house. The analysis is performed using a recently developed and well validated computational tool based on a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method, coupled with conjugate heat transfer simulations within a three-dimensional model of a solid building envelope, and an HVAC on/off control model. The importance of including unsteady minute-level dynamic effects associated with the cycling of AC equipment into the energy and thermal analysis of residential and commercial buildings was recently recognized. Despite that, there were no studies that examined the effect of on/off cycling on the physics of the air mixing during both cooling and heating stages of the AC cycle, and how these unsteady interactions effect both the energy consumption and its variability, and the indoor thermal environment linked to a thermal comfort of the building occupants. The current paper focuses on analyzing the duration and variability of the cooling and heating cycles and their effect on the temperature distribution inside a residential house. It is found that both heat transfer from the walls, and turbulent intermittency of the indoor air affect the duration of the cooling and heating cycles. It is demonstrated that a central air system controlled by a single thermostat placed in the hallway results in a consistent overcooling of the interior spaces. These findings are important for the considerations of the electric grid management, and for the improvement of HVAC systems design and control.
Static Model Tests of Curved Girder Bridge

Static tests of a scale model horizontally curved highway bridge are reported. A plexiglas model of an existing two span curved girder highway interchange facility was used for the tests. The fabrication techniques used in construction of the model are described. The model was tested in two stages. In the first stage a grid system consisting of two curved girders interconnected by diaphragms was subjected to concentrated static loads located at various positions along the two girders. In the second stage, a deck slab was added and the model was again tested under static loading. In each test, centerline deflections of the two girders and strains at various locations on the bridge cross section were measured. The measured deflections and strains were compared with values obtained from a computer program for two span horizontally curved bridge structures. In general, the measured deflections and strains were found to be in reasonable agreement with the calculated values.
The antibody basis of local immunity to experimental cholera infection in the rabbit ileal loop.

It is reasonable to assume that in cholera, as in other infectious diseases, an effective immunity is dual in nature, having both antibacterial and antitoxic components. There is little doubt that the former occurs, as evidenced by the observed protective effect of immunization with bacterial vaccines against the naturally occurring human disease [17, 25], vaccines whose nature is such that it is now known that they contain little or no enterotoxin antigen. In addition, protection against challenge infection in the guinea-pig by immunization with heat-stable 0 antigen has been described by Burrows and Ware [5].
The Implications of Developmental Cognitive Research on "Evolving Standards of Decency" and the Imposition of the Death Penalty on Juveniles

Introduction 442 I. Background Principles: The Evolution of Eighth Amendment Capital Punishment Jurisprudence 445 A. Capital Punishment for Juvenile Offenders 447 B. Capital Punishment for Mentally Retarded Offenders 451 C. Modern Capital Punishment Jurisprudence 452 II. Incorporating Science into the Constitutional Calculus 454 A. Scientific Research on Juvenile Cognitive Development........454 B. Comparing Frontal Lobe Dysfunction, Mental Retardation, and Juvenile Cognitive Development 461 III. Standards of Decency Have Evolved to the Point Where Juvenile Capital Punishment is Cruel and Unusual Under the Eighth Amendment 465 A. Developing a National Consensus: Looking Beyond Capital Punishment Legislation to Minimum Age Statutes.....465 B. Defining “Evolving Standards of Decency” in the Wake of Atkins: Moving Away from Legislative and Jury Behavior to Focus on a Comprehensive “Societal” View of Juvenile
Child’s Play

A 58-year-old male presents to the hospital for knee replacement surgery. The patient has a history of transfusion (at another hospital) some years ago after gastrointestinal bleeding. A type and screen sample (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA anticoagulant) is submitted to the blood bank.
What Makes a Classic? Daemons and Dual Audience in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials

Scholars have spent a fair amount of time exploring Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, educating us on its weighty literary inspirations and why it is an important work of fiction. Explaining the necessity and appeal of daemons in the trilogy (which are probably the most fascinating aspect of the books for readers) has proved a more daunting task. Getting a good handle on daemons is like trying to grasp a child's daemon as its form continually morphs. In her article Susan R. Bobby pins down daemons for us, fixing them in a fresh light for us to observe.
Applications Performance on Intel Paragon XP/S-15

The impact of two different operating systems OSF, and SUNMOS available on the NAS Paragon, on the performance of applications has been studied and investigated. In OSF, paging of the unused part of the server and management of the virtual memory by the operating system degrades the performance of the applications by as much as by 40% in some of the cases studied. The influence of the data cache on the performance of the applications under both OSF and SUNMOS using one-dimensional (1-D) Fast Fourier transform (FFT) and three-dimensional (3-D) FFT has also been investigated. The performance of NAS Parallel Benchmarks is reported, and the scalability issues of the machine and the algorithms under both OSF and SUNMOS are considered.
Activation of complement components C3 and C5 by a cysteine proteinase (gingipain-1) from Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis.

Complement components C3 and C5 are susceptible to limited proteolysis by an arginine-specific cysteine proteinase isolated from Porphyromonas gingivalis. This bacterium is an anaerobe commonly associated with severe periodontal disease. Infection by P. gingivalis is accompanied by an acute inflammatory response, complete with extensive neutrophil involvement. This prompted us to investigate a possible direct role for complement in periodontitis evoked by P. gingivalis. Exposure of C3 and C5 to the cysteine proteinase at molar ratios between 1:25 and 1:100 (enzyme to substrate ratios) resulted in a time-dependent, limited degradation of each component. C3 was converted in a stepwise manner to C3a-like and C3b-like fragments with evidence of extensive further degradation of the C3a-like portion of the molecule. We were unable to demonstrate C3a activity in the C3 digestion mixtures. C3 degradation appears to involve primarily the alpha-chain. Proteolysis of C5 also progresses in a stepwise manner producing an initial internal cleavage of the alpha-chain to generate 30- and 86-kDa fragments. Further digestion of the 86-kDa amino-terminal fragment of the alpha-chain leads to the release of C5a or a C5a-like fragment that is biologically active for neutrophil activation. The fact that a potent chemotactic factor, i.e. C5a, can be generated from C5 by a proteinase derived from P. gingivalis suggests a recruiting mechanism for attracting neutrophils to the gingival lesion site in periodontal disease.
Trapping Mechanism Associated with Electron Delocalization and Tunneling of CaAl2 O 4 : Ce3 + , A Persistent Phosphor

A long afterglow phosphor, CaAl 2 O 4 :Ce 3+ , was prepared and studied. It exhibits a broad-hand emission in the deep blue with a persistence time longer than 10 h. The Ce 3+ ions occupy three distinct Ca 2+ sites in this material, and the emission and excitation spectra from Ce 3+ ions in these sites have been identified. The thermoluminescence spectra were obtained following irradiation at different wavelengths. Five traps were found: two of the traps, with depths of 0.67 and 0.82 eV, are filled by electron transport though the conduction band; the other three, with depths of 0.4, 0.46, and 0.6 eV, are filled by electrons tunneling from the 5d levels of adjacent Ce 3+ ions. Photoconductivity measurements were also made which indicated that the lowest 5d levels of Ce 3+ lie below the conduction band and that the ground state of Ce 3+ is about 1.1-1.4 eV above the valence band of the host.
A closer look at boosted image retrieval

Margin-maximizing techniques such as boosting have been generating excitement in machine learning circles for several years now. Although these techniques offer significant improvements over previous methods on classification tasks, little research has examined the application of techniques such as boosting to the problem of retrieval from image and video databases. This paper looks at boosting for image retrieval and classification, with a comparative evaluation of several top algorithms combined in two different ways with boosting. The results show that boosting improves retrieval precision and recall (as expected), but that variations in the way boosting is applied can significantly affect the degree of improvement observed. An analysis suggests guidelines for the best way to apply boosting for retrieval with a given image representation.
The "Refrige-a-RAT-or": an accurate, inexpensive, and clinically relevant small animal model of therapeutic hypothermia.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19: 402–408 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Abstract Background: Physical and molecular mechanisms for the neuroprotective effect of therapeutic hypothermia are not completely understood, and new therapeutic applications incorporating hypothermia remain to be developed and tested. Clinically relevant animal models of therapeutic hypothermia are not well established or consistent. Objectives: The objective was to develop and test an inexpensive small animal therapeutic hypothermia system that models those in widespread clinical use and verify that such a system confers neuroprotection in a rat model of global brain ischemia. Methods: A water-cooled extracorporeal system and attendant anesthesia/sedation protocol were developed and tested. In Stage 1, animals were instrumented for brain, temporalis, and rectal temperature monitoring, and the system was tested for its effect on temperature and hemodynamics. In Stage 2, animals were instrumented for rectal temperature only, subjected to global brain ischemia by two-vessel occlusion and hypotension for 8 minutes, and given either sham therapy (37°C) or hypothermia (32°C) for 4 hours. Viable CA1 neurons were counted at 7 days. Results: The system was well tolerated, provided exquisite control of animal core and brain temperatures, and conferred robust neuroprotection at 7 days. The median and interquartile ranges (IQRs) of viable neurons per 300-μm field were 130 (IQR = 128 to 135) for sham control, 19 (IQR = 15 to 30) for untreated ischemic animals, and 101 (IQR = 94 to 113) for ischemic animals treated with hypothermia (p < 0.05 for comparison between all groups). Conclusions: Like human protocols, this model incorporates sedation and analgesia, results in robust neuroprotection, is well tolerated, and offers exquisite temperature control. The system is noninvasive and inexpensive and offers a model that is similar to methods used in clinical practice. This system will be of interest to investigators using small animal models to examine neuroprotective mechanisms of hypothermia and translational strategies that combine hypothermia with targeted pharmacotherapy.
Bacteriophage-like particles associated with the gene transfer agent of Methanococcus voltae PS

The methanogenic archaebacterium Methanococus voltae (strain PS) is known to produce a filterable, DNase resistant agent (called VTA, for voltae transfer agent), which carries very small fragments (4,400 base pairs) of bacterial DNA and is able to transduce bacterial genes between derivatives of the strain.
Why do ethnopolitical organisations turn to crime

This paper empirically analyses the involvement of ethnopolitical organisations in criminal behaviour across time in two regions of the world – the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Drawing on the data from the Minorities at Risk Organizational Behavior data set, it contributes important insights to a literature on organisational crime that is dominated by case studies and small-N analysis, as well as reinvigorating the study of ethnopolitical organisations as actors in the analysis of organised crime. Our findings reveal that in both regions groups that engage in violence of some form were significantly more likely to engage in many kinds of criminal activity. Our analysis also finds that ideological orientation has a marginal impact, while economic grievances and diaspora connections were significant predictors of criminal activity for groups in the Middle East (but not Eastern Europe). In sum, this analysis suggests that the decision to engage in criminal activity is primarily dependent on the organisati...
Tiebout, Time, and Transition in the Structure of Local Government in U.S. Metropolitan Areas

Citizens in U.S. metropolitan areas receive goods and services provided by sub-county governments that include municipalities/townships, school districts, and special districts. Beginning with Tiebout, economists have theorized that economic factors play an important role in determining the observed variation in local government structure across U.S. metropolitan areas. Earlier cross-sectional studies have shown that greater variation in the economic and demographic characteristics of residents, holding all else constant, exerts a positive effect on the number of local governments in a metropolitan area at a point in time. Here, we examine the effect that a change in the variation in these economic characteristics has on the change in the number of local governments over the decade 1982 to 1992. We find evidence that in even the relatively short period of ten years, increased variation in household income in a metropolitan area leads to more, or smaller, local school districts and special districts within a metropolitan area. Our findings are consistent with Tiebout's model and offer further evidence in support of the theory that has become the cornerstone of economic thinking on local public finance.
Asthma Medications Should Be Available for Over-the-Counter Use: Con

The United States Food and Drug Administration recently considered a policy to transfer inhaled short-acting bronchodilators to over-the-counter status if conditions of safe use can be established. The American Thoracic Society filed a comment in opposition to the proposal. This article examines the negative consequences that might result from allowing nonprescription access to bronchodilators and other inhaled asthma medications. Such a proposed policy change conflicts directly with current guidelines for asthma management and would undermine efforts to achieve adequate asthma control in patients. In addition, a policy change to convert asthma medications to over-the-counter status could result in increased costs to patients as well as increased health care costs to society overall due to a worsening of asthma control in the population.
SOIL WATER CONTENT AND DRY DENSITY BY TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY

Soil water content and dry density are two important properties for compaction quality control. This paper presents a new method for determining soil water content and dry density using a single time domain reflectometry test, which is an improvement over that designated by ASTM D6780. This new method is based on simultaneous measurement of apparent dielectric constant and bulk electrical conductivity on the same soil sample. Calibration equations correlate these two parameters with soil gravimetric water content and dry density, which are simultaneously solved after adjusting field-measured conductivity to a standard conductivity. The method compensates for temperature effects. The test process takes about 3 min and all calculations are automated. Testing may be done in situ using a special probe that provides sufficient sampling volume or in a compaction mold adapted to form a probe. Laboratory and field tests results show this one-step method is a fast, accurate, and safe method for construction quality control.
Numerical Studies of Urban Planetary Boundary-Layer Structure under Realistic Synoptic Conditions

Abstract The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) mesoscale model was modified and used to simulate the evolution of meteorological conditions in the vicinity of St. Louis, Missouri, from near sunrise to noon on 25 July 1975. Observations obtained during the METROMEX (Metropolitan Meteorological Experiment) and RAPS (Regional Air Pollution Study) field programs were available for comparison with modeled conditions. The PSU/NCAR model used a nested grid with two-way interaction between the coarse mesh (7.5 km) and the fine mesh (2.5 km), where the fine domain covered the city and its immediate suburban and rural surroundings. Realistic three-dimensionally variable initial and lateral boundary conditions were obtained from the observations so that the numerical experiments could be used for quantitative evaluation of certain urban effects. After simulation of the actual conditions (control experiment), the importance of a number of processes on the urban planet...
Raman Spectra of Benzene and Diphenyl

Raman spectrum of benzene.---By employing suitable filters with both mercury-arc and helium-arc excitation a number of new lines have been recorded. The complete spectrum given in frequency differences, $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$, is as follows: $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}=606, 849, 992, 1178, 1584, 1603, 2460, 2542, 2597, 2617, 2784, 2928, 2947, 3046, 3060, 3164$. Anti-Stokes lines corresponding to $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$ values 606, 849, 992 are verified.Raman spectrum of diphenyl.---With mercury arc excitation and quinine sulphate filter fair spectra were obtained though the continuous background due to fluorescence was troublesome. The spectrum consisted of five faint diffuse lines and seven strong lines. Their $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$ values are: 416, 606, 731, 766, 810 (these are very faint) and 990, 1023, 1280, 1544, 1584, 1603, 3055, 3170. It will be noted that six of the lines are found in the spectrum of benzene.
Reactions of [NiIII(cyclam)] with aqueous sulfur dioxide: Exhibition of a deuterium isotope effect and catalysis by chloride and bromide

One unit of S(IV) (SO2 or SHO3−) is oxidized per 2 units of [NiIII(cyclam)] species to obtain sulfate. Kinetic analyses have been done by varying the acidities (0.013 ⩽ [H+] ⩽ 1.0 M) and halide concentrations (0.000 ⩽ [X−] ⩽ 0.012 M; X=Cl and Br) at constant ionic strength (μ = 1.0 M). The rate law that incorporates the [X−] and [H+] dependence is −d[NiIII]T/dt=2k[NiIII]T[S(IV)]T where 2k={ka[H+] + kbK + kK′X[H+] [X−] + kK′XK[X−]} {[H+] + K}−1 {1 + K′X[X−]}−1, here ka=87 ± 7 M−1s−1, kb=(2.5 ± 0.5)×103M−1s−1 and pK = 1.8 ± 0.2. Rate constants ka and kb are attributed to the reactions of [NiIII(cyclam) (H2O)2]3+ with SO2 and SHO3−, respectively. Monohalo species apparent equilibrium constants K′Cl=(1600 ± 400) M−1 and K′Br=(190 ± 20) M−1 and rate constants k=80 ± 8 M−1s−1 and k = 140 ± 15 M−1s−1 are ascribed to the protonated pathway, involving the [NiIII(cyclam) (H2O)X]2+ and SO2(aq) reaction pairs. The other two rate constants of k=(5 ± 1)×103M−1s−1 and k=(3.1 ± 0.5)×104M−1s−1, refer to the deprotonated pathway and are assigned to the [NiIII(cyclam) (H2O)X]2+ /SHO3− redox couple. A deuterium H2O / D2O isotope effect of 2.1–2.8 can be attributed partially to an equilibrium isotope effect at low acidity though a small kinetic isotope (2.5 ± 0.5) effect is evident for the dihydrogen sulfito pathway, ka. The kinetic isotope effect and the absence of sulfite radical scavenging effects are explained by a mechanism entailing migration of a hydride from sulfur to the NiIII center to produce a NiIII—H species, which rapidly comproportionates, and S(VI). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.