cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Patient with Persistent Left-Sided Inferior Vena Cava: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Background Oblique lumbar interbody fusion takes advantage of the wide interval between the aorta and left-sided psoas muscle to access the lumbar spine, allowing a minimally invasive approach for interbody fusion with lower associated morbidity. As this approach is gaining popularity among spine surgeons, it is important to understand the potential pitfalls that may arise in patients with congenital anomalies of the vascular anatomy. Case Description We present a case of a persistent left-sided inferior vena cava (IVC) affecting the side of approach in a patient undergoing lumbar interbody fusion through an oblique prepsoas retroperitoneal approach. Preoperative imaging of our patient revealed a persistent left-sided inferior vena cava with a wide interval between the aorta and the right-sided psoas, allowing us a right-sided oblique approach. Conclusions Thorough preoperative imaging evaluation is essential to identify vascular anomalies that may hinder oblique prepsoas retroperitoneal approach to the lumbar spine. Although rare, double IVC or isolated left IVC may complicate the oblique approach.
On Conformations of Peptides Bound to Class I Major Histocompatibility Complexes

The binding of peptides to major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) molecules is a key step for regulating the immune response. Hundreds of crystal structures of the MHCI in complex with the peptide, which sometimes include the T-cell receptor (TCR), have been produced to help understand this key interaction. To further understand the conformations of peptides bound to MHCI, we examined all peptide structures in peptide-MHCI dimers or TCR-peptide-MHCI trimers. We observed that peptides with the same sequence in different peptide-MHCI/TCR-peptide-MHCI complexes can either take similar conformations in both backbone and side chain, similar conformations in backbone and distinct conformations in side chains, and also distinct conformations in both backbone and side chains. These conformational varieties can be used to support the modeling of peptide-MHC complexes and the structure-based prediction of the binding affinity of the MHC-peptide complex.
Poster: A Reliable and Accountable Privacy-Preserving Federated Learning Framework using the Blockchain

Federated learning (FL) is promising in supporting collaborative learning applications that involve large datasets, massively distributed data owners and unreliable network connectivity. To protect data privacy, existing FL approaches adopt (k,n)-threshold secret sharing schemes, based on the semi-honest assumption for clients, to enable secure multiparty computation in local model update exchange which deals with random client dropouts at the cost of increasing data size. These approaches adopt the semi-honest assumption for clients, therefore they are vulnerable to malicious clients. In this work, we propose a blockchain-based privacy-preserving federated learning (BC-based PPFL) framework, which leverages the immutability and decentralized trust properties of blockchain to provide provenance of model updates. Our proof-of-concept implementation of BC-based PPFL demonstrates it is practical for secure aggregation of local model updates in the federated setting.
William Gaddis’ Education-Writing and His Fiction: A Fuller Archival History

The little use that critics of William Gaddis’ fiction have previously made of his corporate writing career has concerned a very limited portion of its history: the fact that his cancelled book on classroom TV for the Ford Foundation contributed material to J R’s school-centric plot. Gaddis’ own dismissive retrospective account of the interest and significance of his corporate work has constrained critical investigation. The archive, though, reveals a close, sustained relationship between his corporate work and fiction. This article sets out their linked histories and surveys the archival material that future discussions of the relation between Gaddis’ corporate and artistic careers will need to take account of.
Early Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA Predicts Peak Allograft Function in Heart Transplant

Purpose Donor-derived cell-free DNA (ddcfDNA) is a validated marker of allograft injury in heart transplant, predicting both acute cellular (ACR) and antibody mediated rejection (AMR). In lung transplant, early post-transplant ddcfDNA is as a strong predictor of peak allograft function and survival. The importance of early ddcfDNA in heart transplant recipients (HTR) is unclear. Methods HTR were monitored in a multi-center prospective study conducted by the Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT). Early plasma samples were assayed for ddcfDNA by shotgun sequencing on post-transplant Days 1, 7, and 28. The relationship of early ddcfDNA levels to peak ejection fraction (EF) anytime during follow-up and the occurrence of AMR were assessed using non-parametric tests. Peak ejection fractions (average of two highest post-transplant values) were grouped as low ( Results 129 HTRs were monitored for a median (IQR) 367 (163-625) days after transplantation. 17 AMR episodes were detected at a median (IQR) of 14 (8-93) days. Post-transplant day 1 ddcfDNA levels correlated inversely with peak EF, with progressively higher values in the high, normal, and low EF groups (2.9% vs 3.5% vs 8.1%; p=0.05); levels were 2.5X higher for low versus high peak EF (p=0.02). Higher ddcfDNA levels in the low peak EF group persisted at days 7 (0.45% vs 0.39% vs 0.89%; p=0.23) and 28 (0.33% vs 0.35% vs 0.65%; p=0.36), though these differences were not significant. Day 7 post-transplant ddcfDNA levels were higher for patients who developed AMR than for controls (0.63% vs 0.42%; p=0.03). Conclusion Early ddcfDNA may have prognostic implications for peak allograft function and future rejection risk in HTR. Patients with low peak EF and those who go on to develop AMR appear to have higher and persistent early post-transplant allograft injury compared to other HTR.
The Geography of COVID-19 Growth in the US: Counties and Metropolitan Areas

It has been 70 days since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the US. Since then it has spread and grown in all but 2 of 376 MSAs and all but 45 of the 636 counties that are contained in these MSA. In this paper we examine the determinants of how rapidly the virus grows once it has been seeded within a MSA or county. We find virus cases can be well predicted by area population, as well as days-since-onset. In the data, virus cases scale almost proportionately with population, and excluding population significantly changes the impact of days-since-onset. Growth is also related to residential density and per capita income, particularly at the county level. There are weaker relationships to MSA average household size, per capita income, and the fraction of the population that is over 65. These results come from parameterizing a simple power function model of cumulative infections since onset. This is shifted proportionately by the various MSA/County covariates. We also experiment with restricting the sample of areas so as to have a minimum number of cases – equal to .01% of the area’s population. This effectively focuses on the more advanced part of the virus growth curve. Here we find a significant further decrease in the coefficient of days-since-onset. This is preliminary evidence that the virus growth is tapering. We intend to repeat our analysis as time progresses.
La virgen de los viciosos

Mientras consumen bazuco, ocultos entre el manglar a orillas de la laguna de Chambacu, en Cartagena de Indias, el padre Pedro le cuenta a su amigo Pipe Pirulo como fue que consiguio la dosis mas reciente gracias a un milagro de la virgen de los viciosos. Pedro le cuenta a Pirulo que la virgen se le aparecio y le regalo el dinero para ir a comprar un pase, que termino convirtiendose en un gran cargamento, gracias a un trueque que hizo con dos policias homosexuales a cambio de casarlos por la iglesia. Pedro le cuenta a Pirulo su historia con el bazuco, como paso de ser sacerdote a un habitante de la calle y en medio de la narracion, intenta conquistar a su amigo. La verborrea de Pedro combina insinuaciones sexuales, anecdotas de sus tiempos como lider espiritual de la comunidad y un discurso politico que termina por despertar en Pirulo el deseo de formar un movimiento al margen de la ley. Pirulo querra juntar a todos los bazuqueros de la ciudad, para ir a destruir los monumentos que todavia rinden homenaje a la colonia y la esclavitud.
“Estaba bien chiquito” (I Was Very Young): The Transition to Adulthood and “Illegality” of the Mexican and Central American 1.25 Generation:

Knowledge on the transition to adulthood of undocumented immigrants arriving in childhood primarily derives from the experiences of minors arriving below the age of 13 years—or the 1.5 generation. ...
Valuing relationships, valuing differences: Co-teaching practices in a Hong Kong early childhood center

Abstract Co-teaching provides opportunities for children that cannot be produced by a solo teacher. However, building relationships between co-teachers, particularly in a cross-cultural setting, can be difficult. This study of early years teachers in a Hong Kong international school aims to consider the elements that facilitate a strong and productive co-teaching relationship and challenges that teaching teams encounter. The study utilizes qualitative interviews of 26 teachers to capture teachers’ perceptions of co-teaching. Findings suggest, that while teachers valued their relationships, the building and maintenance of a productive co-teaching relationship takes work, flexibility, and an openness to the perspectives of one’s partner.
Single-mode Topological Valley-Hall lasing at Telecommunication Wavelength

We report a single-mode valley-Hall laser at telecommunication wavelength. The control of degree of asymmetry in a honeycomb photonic crystal governs light confinement in the valley-Hall cavity and enables systematic single-mode operation despite multiple resonances.
Flood Extent Mapping: An Integrated Method Using Deep Learning and Region Growing Using UAV Optical Data

Flooding occurs frequently and causes loss of lives, and extensive damages to infrastructure and the environment. Accurate and timely mapping of flood extent to ascertain damages is critical and essential for relief activities. Recently, deep-learning-based approaches, including convolutional neural network (CNN) has shown promising results for flood extent mapping. However, these methods cannot extract floods underneath vegetation canopy using the optical imagery. This article attempts to address this problem by introducing an integrated CNN and region growing (RG) method for the mapping of both visible and underneath vegetation flooded areas. The CNN-based classifier is used to extract flooded areas from the optical images, whereas, the RG method is applied to estimate the extent of floods underneath vegetation that are not visible from imagery using the digital elevation model. A data augmentation technique is applied for training the CNN-based classifier to improve the classification results. The results show that the data augmentation can enhance the accuracy of image classification and the proposed integrated method efficiently detects floods in both the visible and the areas covered by vegetation, which is essential to supporting effective flood emergency response and recovery activities.
Assessment of the Efficacy of Telephone Medicine Consultations in Trauma and Orthopaedics During COVID-19 Using the Ashford Clinic Letter Score

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, our aim was to protect staff and patients, therefore, face-to-face clinics were converted to telephone clinics We retrospectively compared two groups of patients: those seen in traditional clinics pre-COVID-19 and those who had telephone clinics during the pandemic The mean Ashford Clinic Letter Score (ACLS) for the face-to-face clinic letters was 6 7, and the letters from both groups of telemedicine appointments scored better;the first group scoring 7 1 and the second 7 45 The pandemic allowed us to show that telephone clinics are effective and can be superior to traditional clinics in a specific set of patients
Radiographic and MRI Assessment of the Thrower’s Elbow

Throwing athletes are vulnerable to elbow injuries, especially in the medial elbow, related to high stress and valgus load in both acute and chronic settings as a result of this complex biomechanical action. This current review details the relevant anatomy and imaging features of common elbow pathology identified with radiographs and MRI in throwing athletes. Although elbow pathology in throwing athletes is well documented, advances in imaging technology and technique, particularly with MRI, have allowed for more detailed and accurate imaging description and diagnosis. Pathology of thrower’s elbow occurs in predictable patterns and can be reliably identified radiologically. Clinical history and physical examination should guide radiologic evaluation initially with radiographs and followed by an MRI optimized to the clinical question. Constellation of clinical, physical, and radiologic assessments should be used to guide management.
C5a complement receptor modulates odontogenic dental pulp stem cell differentiation under hypoxia.

Aim: Alterations in the microenvironment change the phenotypes of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). The role of complement component C5a in the differentiation of DPSCs is unknown, especially under oxygen-deprived conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of C5a on the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs under normoxia and hypoxia.Material and Methods: Human DPSCs were subjected to odontogenic differentiation in osteogenic media and treated with the C5a receptor antagonist-W54011 under normal and hypoxic conditions (2% oxygen). Immunochemistry, western blot, and PCR analysis for the various odontogenic differentiation genes/proteins were performed.Results: Our results demonstrated that C5a plays a positive role in the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs. C5a receptor inhibition resulted in a significant decrease in odontogenic differentiation genes, such as DMP1, ON, RUNX2, DSPP compared with the control. This observation was further supported by the Western blot data for DSPP and DMP1 and immunohistochemical analysis. The hypoxic condition reversed this effect.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that C5a regulates the odontogenic DPSC differentiation under normoxia. Under hypoxia, C5a exerts a reversed function for DPSC differentiation. Taken together, we identified that C5a and oxygen levels are key initial signals during pulp inflammation to control the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs, thereby, providing a mechanism for potential therapeutic interventions for dentin repair and vital tooth preservation.
Otsukaresamadeshita!: A Critical Analysis of Japan's Toxic Work Culture

Japan is known for its excessive work culture and dedication to work, which led the world to view the country as a ‘workaholic’. The ‘white collar heroes’ or locally known as the ‘salary man’ have been credited with boosting the Japanese economy, at the expense of their own lives. Approximately 1,949 work-related deaths and suicide attempts were recorded in 2019, all due to overwork. This paper analyses the Japanese work culture from the biopolitical power relations and discourse theory using an ethnography approach and participant observation methodology.
Chapter 6 High Performance Liquid Chromatography of Modified Nucleosides in Human Serum

Publisher Summary The development of a rapid method for analysis of urinary nucleosides, utilizing reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography following concentration by a boronate gel tremendously improved the accuracy of analysis. Further modifications of this method were developed by Gehrke and Kuo, and allowed the isolation and quantitation of serum nucleosides. Sera from total of 37 volunteers with no evidence of systemic disease were analyzed for ten nucleosides. The mean age was 45 and the range was 25–70. The development of methods that separate and remove proteins and other substances has allowed identification and quantitation of nucleosides in serum. Using this technology it is now possible to identify and quantitate more than 65 modified nucleosides. Precise analyses provide reproducible values and superior resolution. Prior to the evaluation of this method in malignant diseases, it was necessary to establish normal serum nucleoside levels. Evaluation of sera obtained from 37 normal adult donors provided standard values of ten nucleosides.
Extreme rainfall intensities

Statistics of the total time, in minutes, that extreme rainfall rates are exceeded were computed from weighing raingage records at stations in several rainfall regimes. The results are presented on maps, frequency diagrams and as analytical expressions. Measures of areal variability were calculated from data at seven stations within an 8 km2 area. The total-time-intensity data have only an imprecise relationship to clock-hour frequencies, the shortest duration rainfall data published regularly.
Effects of Selenium Compounds on Formate Metabolism and Coincidence of Selenium-75 Incorporation and Formic Dehydrogenase Activity in Cell-Free Preparations of Escherchia coli

The effects of selenite, selenocystine, and selenomethionine in a defined growth medium on formic dehydrogenase biosynthesis in aerobically and anaerobically grown Escherichia coli have been studied. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of a partially purified enzyme demonstrated a coincidence of 75Se incorporation and formic dehydrogenase activity.
Dopamine and Dobutamine in Pediatric Therapy

Dopamine hydrochloride is widely used to increase blood pressure, cardiac output, urine output, and peripheral perfusion in neonates, infants, and older children with shock and cardiac failure. Its pharmacologic effects are dose dependent, and at low, intermediate, and high dosages include dilation of renal, mesenteric, and cerebral vasculature; inotropic response in the myocardium; and increases in peripheral and renal vascular resistance, respectively. The inotropic response is diminished in neonates compared with older children and adults due to maturational differences in norepinephrine stores. The clearance of dopamine varies widely in the pediatric population, depending on age. Its elimination half-life is approximately 2 minutes in full-term neonates and older children, and may be as long as 4-5 minutes in preterm infants. Due to immaturity of the autonomic nervous system, the drug may produce some adverse respiratory responses at high dose in neonates, the most common being tachycardia and cardiac arrhythmias. Dobutamine resembles dopamine chemically and is an analog of isoproterenol. It is relatively cardioselective at dosages used in clinical practice, with its main action being on beta 1-adrenergic receptors. Unlike dopamine, it does not have any effect on specific dopaminergic receptors. Dobutamine is used to increase cardiac output in infants and children with circulatory failure. Its elimination half-life is about 2 minutes in adults and older children. No information is available about its pharmacokinetics in neonates and infants. Adverse effects such as an increase in heart rate usually occur at high dosages.
Field Trips in Natural Resources Professional Education: The Panama Case and Recommendations

Summary Field trips are vital components of professional education. The goal of field trips is to prepare graduates to be broad-based problem-solvers for sustainable management of natural resources in the common interest. Field trips are ideal vehicles to aid development of the kind of professional needed in today's complex and dynamic natural resources environment. For field trips to be successful, students must actively exercise their skills in thinking, observation, management, and technical subjects, in integration of diverse knowledge and experience, and in applying their judgments in applied contexts. We describe a 10 day field trip to the Panama Canal Watershed in March, 1998, to assist policymakers and managers administer natural resources. The 17 students on the field trip came from diverse backgrounds including from countries in Central America and Indonesia, Peace Corps experience, and other practical experiences. The Canal Watershed supplies all water for canal operations and drinking water fo...
Characterization of 14 novel microsatellite loci in the Argentine black and white tegu ( Salvator merianae ) via 454 pyrosequencing

We have developed 14 novel microsatellite loci for the Argentine black and white tegu ( Salvator merianae), using samples from invasive populations from the US state of Florida. Pyrosequencing was used to identify 3154 potentially amplifiable microsatellite loci and to subsequently develop 14 informative markers. These 14 markers were screened for variation in 40 individuals from Miami-Dade County, Florida. All loci were polymorphic and contained between 2 and 4 alleles per locus (mean ± SE = 2.71 ± 0.24), with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.00 to 0.88 (mean ± SE = 0.38 ± 0.07). Four of the loci ( Teg4, Teg5, Teg17, Teg19) significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg proportions and three of these loci ( Teg4, Teg5, Teg19) showed evidence of null alleles. In addition, there was statistical evidence for genotypic disequilibrium between Teg14and Teg19. BLASTn searches of NCBI’s ‘nr/nt’ database using microsatellite containing 454 fragments as queries were largely uninformative; however, it is likely that some of these markers will be of utility in S. merinae’s native range.
Exposure to 17α‐ethinylestradiol decreases motility and ATP in sperm of male fighting fish Betta splendens

The synthetic estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical released into aquatic environments from sewage treatment facilities. We tested the effects of two environmentally relevant concentrations of waterborne EE2, 10 and 100 ng L(-1) , on reproductive endpoints in the teleost fish Betta splendens. In the first experiment, testes were removed from males and sperm were exposed to EE2 directly through the activation water. Direct exposure to EE2 had no effect on any measure of sperm swimming performance. In the second experiment, we exposed sexually mature male B. splendens to EE2 using a semi-static exposure protocol for 4 weeks. There were no significant treatment effects in the 10 ng L(-1) treatment group, but at the 100 ng L(-1) dose we found that fish had smaller gonads and reduced sperm swimming velocity. When allowed to interact freely with female conspecifics, males exposed to 100 ng L(-1) EE2 built smaller nests and showed a nonsignificant decrease in fertilization success. To investigate further the potential mechanism underlying the decrease in sperm quality, we repeated the chronic exposure experiment and analyzed the ATP content of sperm from fish in each treatment group. We found that males exposed to 100 ng L(-1) of EE2 had fewer moles of ATP per sperm than did fish in the other two treatment groups, suggesting that a decrease in intracellular ATP caused a reduction in sperm swimming velocity. The current study adds to the growing body of literature that indicates the risks to aquatic organisms of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of EE2.
Optimal laboratory testing for diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid nodules, goiter, and thyroid cancer.

Optimal use of laboratory tests to diagnose and monitor patients with goiter, thyroid nodules, or thyroid cancer requires an appreciation of the pathophysiologic factors implicated in thyroid hyperplasia and neoplasia: growth factors (especially thyrotropin, TSH), growth-stimulating immunoglobulins, activating mutations of the TSH receptor, and other oncogenic transformations. In patients with diffuse goiter and thyroid nodules, serum TSH measurement in a highly sensitive assay excludes both primary hypothyroidism and common causes of thyrotoxicosis. In selected patients, screening for anti-thyroid peroxidase with or without anti-thyroglobulin antibodies can confirm the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis. Serum calcitonin measurement is appropriate only when medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is clinically suspected. Laboratory testing is essential in management of thyroid carcinoma patients after primary surgical therapy. Serum TSH measurement is vital to ensure that thyroxine replacement and TSH suppression are adequate in treatment of epithelial cancers. Serial monitoring of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) can detect tumor recurrence and quantify tumor burden. Interpretation of serum Tg results requires an appreciation of certain technical considerations (e.g., anti-Tg antibody interference) and the patient's concurrent TSH status. Periodic serum Tg measurements and 131I scans are complementary monitoring techniques. Serum calcitonin measurement and screening for ret protooncogene mutations are both valuable for identifying individuals with MTC.
Hepatitis C in children : recent advances

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hepatitis C virus infection has recently been recognized as a viral infection with the potential to cause significant complications, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in adults. Changes in our understanding of its natural history in children and recent advances in therapy for acute and chronic hepatitis C are reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent work has demonstrated that, although uncommon, vertical transmission is the most frequent mode of hepatitis C acquisition in children and is enhanced in the setting of maternal co-infection with HIV. Chronic hepatitis C during childhood leads in some cases to development of advanced hepatic fibrosis, with complications including liver failure and liver cancer, which has changed our general approach to this infection. Perhaps the most significant recent advance in this area is our improved understanding of the safety and efficacy of interferon-based antiviral therapies for children with hepatitis C. SUMMARY: Hepatitis C virus infection has reached epidemic proportions worldwide; despite its being less prevalent in children than in adults, it poses a significant clinical problem in this age group. Emerging antiviral therapies are currently in clinical trials for adult patients with hepatitis C with encouraging preliminary results, which should be extended to children.
Vibration Tailoring of a Polar Orthotropic Circular Plate With a Translational Spring

In this study, the vibration tailoring problem is analytically solved for the polar orthotropic circular plate with translational spring along its circumference. By using the semi-inverse method and postulating the mode shape as a polynomial, we derive a closed-form solution.
Air Passenger Transportation and Growth in the U.S. Urban System, 1950–1987

The relationship between transportation and urbanization at the national scale is revisited by focusing upon the role that air passenger transportation has played in the post-war evolution of the U.S. urban system. Theory suggests that major transportation innovations have exhibited profound and prolonged interdependencies with patterns of growth in national or regional urban systems. As the most recent major intercity transportation innovation, it should be expected that utilization of air transportation should bear some relationship to patterns of growth in urban places. This paper documents this relationship by using FAA and U.S. Census data to correlate volumes of air passenger flows per capita with changes in population and employment for the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. The expectation that higher volumes of air passenger flow per capita exhibit a positive correlation with both previous and subsequent growth is confirmed by the analysis. More detailed examination of both high and low air passenger index cities suggests functional and regional consistencies with the central hypothesis. The implications of these results for air transportation and airport planning include at least some justification for increased attention to provision of air service and adequate airport infrastructure as well as reiteration of the importance of air transportation in economic development.
Plasmid transformation of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides is promoted by high concentrations of polyethylene glycol

The recent isolation and characterization of two plasmids from Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides has opened up new possibilities for studying mycoplasmal genetics. In order to facilitate the development of a genetic system in M. mycoides subsp. mycoides, parameters of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transformation were examined, as existing protocols prove very inefficient in this organism. The effects of PEG concentration, DNA concentration, presence of Ca2+ ions, and choice of buffers on the transformation of the Tn916-containing plasmid pAM120 into M. mycoides subsp. mycoides were examined. The stability of Tn916 in the M. mycoides subsp. mycoides chromosome was also evaluated. The optimal PEG concentration (53-62% (w/v)) in the transformation mixture was substantially higher than the PEG concentration reported to be optimal for transformation of other mycoplasmas (36% (w/v)). The PEG concentrations used here were also higher than the concentration used to promote transformation or fusion of gram-positive bacterial protoplasts. A necessity for the presence of Ca2+ ions for optimal transformation was shown, as was the possible involvement of cell culture growth stage. Our results demonstrate the need for expanding current transformation techniques for mycoplasmas. Studies also indicate that once Tn916 inserts into the M. mycoides subsp. mycoides chromosome, it can transpose to other sites at a relatively high frequency.
Computational Modeling of Biomass in a Fluidized Bed Gasifier

Computational modeling of fluidized beds can be used to predict operation of biomass gasifiers after extensive validation with experimental data. The present work will focus on computational simulations of a fluidized bed gasifier with a multifluid Eulerian-Eulerian model to represent the gas and solid phases as interpenetrating continua. The simulations described in this paper will model cold-flow fluidized bed experiments, and consider factors such as particle sphericity, coefficient of restitution, and drag coefficient calibration. Hydrodynamic results from the simulations will be qualitatively compared with X-ray flow visualization studies of a similar bed.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Measurement of growth equalized employment multiplier effects: An empirical example

This paper is an expository note in which it is demonstrated that conventional input-output multipliers based upon the Leontief matrix may provide misleading information concerning the relative importance of the processing sectors within a regional economy. An alternative technique is presented in which economic multipliers are based upon percentage changes in sales to final demand. Evidence that size variation among economic sectors prevents meaningful comparisons of multipliers is shown using the Colorado Input-Output Model. A comparison between several types of conventional employment multipliers and growth equalized multipliers is used to indicate the magnitude of the effects of non-equal sector size.
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonists inhibit the proliferation of androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancers

The antiproliferative effects of an antagonist of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) JV-1-38 were evaluated in nude mice bearing s.c. xenografts of LNCaP and MDA-PCa-2b human androgen-sensitive and DU-145 androgen-independent prostate cancers. In the androgen-sensitive models, JV-1-38 greatly potentiated the antitumor effect of androgen deprivation induced by surgical castration, but was ineffective when given alone. Thus, in castrated animals bearing MDA-PCa-2b cancers, the administration of JV-1-38 for 35 days virtually arrested tumor growth (94% inhibition vs. intact control, P < 0.01; and 75% vs. castrated control, P < 0.05). The growth of LNCaP tumors was also powerfully suppressed by JV-1-38 combined with castration (83% inhibition vs. intact control, P < 0.01; and 68% vs. castrated control, P < 0.05). However, in androgen-independent DU-145 cancers, JV-1-38 alone could inhibit tumor growth by 57% (P < 0.05) after 45 days. In animals bearing MDA-PCa-2b and LNCaP tumors, the reduction in serum prostate-specific antigen levels, after therapy with JV-1-38, paralleled the decrease in tumor volume. Inhibition of MDA-PCa-2b and DU-145 cancers was associated with the reduction in the expression of mRNA and protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor. The mRNA expression for GHRH receptor splice variants was found in all these models of prostate cancer. Our results demonstrate that GHRH antagonists inhibit androgen-independent prostate cancers and, after combination with androgen deprivation, also androgen-sensitive tumors. Thus, the therapy with GHRH antagonist could be considered for the management of both androgen-dependent or -independent prostate cancers.
Local policymaking and concentrated poverty: the case of Buffalo, New York

Abstract Concentrated poverty has been the subject of extensive debate among urban scholars in recent years. Several different variables have been examined in analyses of concentrated poverty, but the impacts of local policy making have not been given much attention. This article examines the role of local policymaking in the creation of concentrated poverty in the US city of Buffalo since the 1930s. Through an examination of local policy making in public housing, redevelopment and education, as well as a discussion of open housing and interstate highway construction, the paper documents how local policies have shaped residential and institutional segregation, and therefore the concentrated poverty that results. This perspective stands as an alternative to existing explanations that focus on macro-economic change, while it builds on explanations that focus on the role of residential segregation. Although local governments are clearly constrained in their ability to deal with poverty, the article concludes with policy suggestions to address this problem.
Extensive Venous Thrombosis in a Runner: Progression of Symptoms Key to Diagnosis

Although usually considered a disease of sedentary people, deep venous thrombosis can occur in active patients. Physical findings may be difficult to differentiate from those of muscle trauma, a Baker's cyst, or hematoma. A high index of suspicion must be maintained, because delay in making the diagnosis and initiating anticoagulation may have fatal consequences. Doppler flow studies are required in all cases of limb pain or swelling in runners when deep venous thrombosis is even remotely suspected, as in this case of a 40-year-old man who developed ankle and lower-leg pain 1 month after a 10-km run. If promptly treated, patients can make a safe return to training without adverse consequences.
Papillary renal cell carcinoma with oncocytic cells and nonoverlapping low grade nuclei: expanding the morphologic spectrum with emphasis on clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular features

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC), a morphologically and genetically distinct subtype of RCC, is morphologically separated into 2 subtypes, type 1 and 2, for prognostic purposes. Type 1 PRCC (single layer of small cells, scant pale cytoplasm) is more common and has a favorable prognosis compared with type 2 (pseudostratified high-grade nuclei, abundant eosinophilic/oncocytic cytoplasm). We report the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular data of 7 adult papillary tumors with morphological features distinct from type 1 or 2 PRCC. All tumors demonstrated predominant papillary architecture, lined by cells with oncocytic cytoplasm, and nonoverlapping low Fuhrman grade nuclei (1 or 2). Foamy macrophages were noted in 2 of 7 tumors. No case demonstrated necrosis or psammoma bodies. Most tumors (6/7) were small (mean size, 2.0 cm; range, 0.8-5.7 cm) and limited to the kidney. No tumor recurrence or metastasis was identified (median follow-up, 22 months). All tumors demonstrated trisomy for 7 and 17 by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis and uniform CK 7, CD10, and α-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase expression, characteristic of PRCC. These results suggest that these tumors are distinct from type 1 (owing to oncocytic cells) and type 2 (owing to low-grade nonstratified nuclei, low stage, and good outcome). Awareness of this favorable spectrum of PRCC is important to avoid its potential misinterpretation as an aggressive type 2 PRCC (owing to oncocytic cells) or rarely as an oncocytoma (owing to oncocytic cells and low-grade nuclei). Morphologic spectrum of these PRCCs emphasizes that the future prognostic model of PRCC may need to be based primarily on the nuclear characteristics, irrespective of the cytoplasmic features.
On the difference between internal and external reactions to legitimate and illegitimate frustrations: a demonstration

Although it is commonly assumed that the nature of any given frustration (defined as an unexpected barrier to goal attainment) affects the strength of the resulting instigation to aggression, the present paper argues that the type of frustration, ie, whether it is legitimate or illegitimate, can also influence the strength of an overt attack upon an available target independently of instigation intensity. Two groups of university men were unexpectedly kept from winning a money prize for working on a motor task, and one group was induced to attribute this failure to their partner's misbehavior (illegitimate frustration) while the other men were told the failure was due to the apparatus (legitimate frustration). In comparison to a nonthwarted control group, both frustrated conditions displayed the same level of internal arousal. However, when all subjects had an opportunity to “supervise” a second partner on an unrelated task soon afterwards, only those who had been illegitimately thwarted earlier were now more openly punitive toward this “innocent” individual than the control group. Possible reasons for these results are discussed, but it is emphasized that a distinction must be drawn between the internal and external reactions to a frustration.
Borehole sampling of fracture populations - compensating for borehole sampling bias in crystalline bedrock aquifers, Mirror Lake, Grafton County, New Hampshire

Abstract The clustering of orientations of hydraulically conductive fractures in bedrock at the Mirror Lake, New Hampshire fractured rock study site was investigated by comparing the orientations of fracture populations in two subvertical borehole arrays with those mapped on four adjacent subvertical roadcuts. In the boreholes and the roadcuts, the orientation of fracture populations appears very similar after borehole data are compensated for undersampling of steeply dipping fractures. Compensated borehole and pavement fracture data indicate a northeast-striking population of fractures with varying dips concentrated near that of the local foliation in the adjacent rock. The data show no correlation between fracture density (fractures/linear meter) and distance from lithologic contacts in both the boreholes and the roadcuts. The population of water-producing borehole fractures is too small (28 out of 610 fractures) to roadcuts. The population comparisons. However, the orientation of large aperture fractures (which contains all the producing fractures) contains two or three subsidiary clusters in orientation frequency that are not evident in stereographic projections of the entire population containing all aperture sizes. Further, these subsidiary orientation clusters do not coincide with the dominant (subhorizontal and subvertical) regional fracture orientations.
Response Surface Method Using Sequential Sampling for Reliability-Based Design Optimization

Traditional RBDO requires the sensitivity for both the most probable point (MPP) search in inverse reliability analysis and design optimization. However, the sensitivity is often unavailable or difficult to compute in complex multi-physics or multidisciplinary engineering applications. Hence, the response surface method (RSM) is often used to calculate both function evaluations and sensitivity effectively. Researchers have been developing the RSM for decades, and yet are still searching for an approach with an efficient sampling method for fast convergence while meeting the accuracy criteria. This paper proposes a new adaptive sequential sampling method to be integrated with the Kriging method for RBDO. By using the bandwidth of the prediction interval from the Kriging method, a new sampling strategy and a new local response surface accuracy criteria are proposed. In this sequential sampling method, the response surface is initiated using very few samples. An additional sampling point will then be determined by finding the point that has the largest absolute ratio between the bandwidth of the prediction interval and the predicted response within a neighboring area of current point of interest. The insertion of additional sampling will continue until the accuracy criterion of the response surface in the neighborhood of the current point of interest is achieved. Case studies show this proposed adaptive sequential sampling technique yields better result in terms of convergence speed compared with other sampling methods, such as the Latin hypercube sampling and the grid sampling, when the same sample size is used. Both a highly nonlinear mathematical example and a vehicle durability engineering example show that the proposed RSM yields accurate RBDO results that are comparable to the sensitivity-based RBDO results, as well as significant savings in computational time for function evaluation and sensitivity computation.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Lower extremity arterial revascularization in obese patients

Background Obesity and associated comorbidities are associated with a high rate of complications and technical difficulties after a number of surgical procedures. We studied the role of obesity in outcomes in lower extremity arterial revascularization. Methods We reviewed all lower extremity arterial revascularizations performed at our institution in 2000. Body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m 2 defined obesity. Perioperative outcomes, long-term survival, and graft patency were evaluated in obese and nonobese patients by using linear regression, the Fisher exact test, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results The study population consisted of 74 (26%) obese and 207 (74%) nonobese patients. Patient demographics of the obese and nonobese populations were similar. The mean BMI for obese patients was 35 ± 5 kg/m 2 and in nonobese patients was 25 ± 3 kg/m 2 . The mean age of each group was 67 ± 10 years (BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 ) and 70 ± 13 years (BMI 2 ). There were 45 (61%) obese men and 29 (39%) obese women. There were 128 (62%) nonobese men and 79 (38%) nonobese women. Diabetes was present in 76% of the obese and 70% of the nonobese patients. Perioperative myocardial infarction, 30-day mortality, and rate of reoperation within 30 days were not significantly different. Obese patients had higher increased postoperative wound infection rates (16% vs 7%; P = .04). Survival analysis showed 81% ± 5% and 85% ± 3% 1-year survival and 66% ± 6% and 62% ± 3% 3-year survival in obese and nonobese patients ( P = .58), respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed no effect of obesity on long-term graft patency, with 1-year graft patency rates of 82% ± 6% and 81% ± 4% in obese and nonobese patients, respectively ( P = .79). Conclusions Obese patients have similar limb salvage rates, perioperative cardiac morbidity, long-term survival rates, and long-term graft patency but have increased perioperative wound infections.
Freeze tolerance in an arctic Alaska stonefly

Most aquatic insects do not survive subzero temperatures and, for those that do, the physiology has not been well characterized. Nemoura arctica is a species of stonefly widely distributed throughout arctic and subarctic Alaska. We collected nymphs from the headwaters of the Chandalar River, where we recorded streambed temperatures as low as -12.7 degrees C in midwinter. When in contact with ice, autumn-collected N. arctica cool to -1.5+/-0.4 degrees C before freezing, but individuals survived temperatures as low as -15 degrees C, making this the first described species of freeze-tolerant stonefly. N. arctica clearly survive freezing in nature, as winter-collected nymphs encased in ice demonstrated high survivorship when thawed. In the laboratory, 87% of N. arctica nymphs frozen to -15 degrees C for 2.5 weeks survived and, within one month of thawing, 95% of the last-instar nymphs emerged. N. arctica produce both glycerol and ice-binding factors (e.g. antifreeze protein) in response to low temperature. Hemolymph glycerol concentrations increased from 3 mmol l(-1) to 930+/-114 mmol l(-1) when temperatures were decreased from 4 degrees C to -8 degrees C, and N. arctica continued to produce glycerol even while frozen. Although the hemolymph of individual cold-acclimated nymphs occasionally exhibited more than a degree of thermal hysteresis, typically the hemolymph exhibited only hexagonal crystal growth, indicating a low concentration of ice-binding factor. Hemolymph of nymphs acclimated to subzero temperatures had recrystallization inhibition. These results demonstrate that, in the face of freezing conditions, N. arctica exhibit overwintering adaptations similar to those of terrestrial insects.
Peacekeeping, Bloody Peacekeeping

The business of peacekeeping has been getting a lot tougher. Rich nations are putting their muscle where their immediate interests lie, leaving the job of patrolling hardscrabble territory to their less financially capable U.N. colleagues.
Effects of nerve growth factor on behavioral recovery following caudate nucleus lesions in rats

Abstract Rats with bilateral lesions of the caudate nucleus received intracaudate injections of either nerve growth factor protein (NGF) or inert buffer immediately following surgery. NGF-treated animals demonstrated a faster recovery of normal appetitive behavior and perseverated less than their buffer-treated counterparts on a spatial reversal task, but both groups were impaired relative to sham controls on acquisition of an active avoidance response. Glia to neuron ratios were significantly increased in both lesion groups when compared with sham controls. However, this increase was less in the NGF-treated animals than in the buffer-treated animals. NGF treatment had no effect on steady-state caudate dopamine levels, measured six months after surgery.
Continuity versus split and reconstitution: Exploring the molecular developmental corollaries of insect eye primordium evolution

Holometabolous insects like Drosophila proceed through two phases of visual system development. The embryonic phase generates simple eyes of the larva. The postembryonic phase produces the adult specific compound eyes during late larval development and pupation. In primitive insects, by contrast, eye development persists seemingly continuously from embryogenesis through the end of postembryogenesis. Comparative literature suggests that the evolutionary transition from continuous to biphasic eye development occurred via transient developmental arrest. This review investigates how the developmental arrest model relates to the gene networks regulating larval and adult eye development in Drosophila, and embryonic compound eye development in primitive insects. Consistent with the developmental arrest model, the available data suggest that the determination of the anlage of the rudimentary Drosophila larval eye is homologous to the embryonic specification of the juvenile compound eye in directly developing insects while the Drosophila compound eye primordium is evolutionarily related to the yet little studied stem cell based postembryonic eye primordium of primitive insects.