cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CPD article: Management of open fractures: part 2

Open fractures have been considered one of the true orthopaedic emergencies by some, however, optimal treatment has not been definitively described. Significant debate has focused on the most appropriate method by which to manage open fractures, but general principles of treatment are well established. Principles include fracture classification, antibiosis, irrigation, debridement, wound management and fracture stabilisation. In this second in a two-part series on open fracture management, debridement, wound management and fracture stabilisation will be explored; the initial management of the patient was discussed in the first article in the series. Debridement should be performed on an urgent but not emergent basis; adequacy of debridement and timeliness of soft tissue coverage are probably more important than time from injury to debridement. Once the wound has been appropriately irrigated and thoroughly debrided, early aggressive treatment, with rigid bone fixation and soft tissue reconstruction, is wid...
Dynamic control of coherent orbital-angular-momentum beams in turbid environments

This work examines the propagation properties of two superimposed coherent orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes for use in underwater systems as an alternative to amplitude modulation. An OAM mode of l =+2 is interfered with OAM mode l =-1 from a λ = 540 nm laser source. These OAM modes are superimposed using a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer combined with diffractive optical elements. By manipulating the optical path length of one of the MZ legs, the interference of these beams can be temporally controlled. The spatial profile is maintained in a turbid environment up through 4.9 attenuation lengths for both cases.
Molecular profiles of proteasome inhibition in plasma cell dyscrasias.

Multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia are 2 presently incurable plasma cell dyscrasias with clinicopathological similarities, as well as distinct differences. Bortezomib, a prototypic boronic dipeptide proteasome inhibitor, was recently approved for the treatment of relapsed refractory multiple myeloma. Its efficacy in this poor prognosis clinical setting has raised the possibility that proteasome inhibition may also be suitable for the treatment of other plasma cell disorders, such as Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Herein, we review the principles underlying the use of gene expression profiling for delineation of the mechanisms of action of bortezomib against plasma cell dyscrasias, as well as for identification of potential predictors of the clinical activity of bortezomib. We also discuss how transcriptional profile data from tumor cells of bortezomib-treated patients can help build preclinical predictors of responsiveness to proteasome inhibition with the ultimate goal to develop prognostic models that will facilitate the rational design of a patient-specific therapeutic algorithm for bortezomib treatment.
Limb Salvage in Diabetics: Challenges and Solutions

Our current understanding of wound healing in the diabetic suggests that proper management of the blood glucose level is a necessary but not sufficient condition for containment of infection and optimal wound healing. The pathologic changes observed in the peripheral capillary bed of diabetics are somewhat variable and have no consistent relationship to the wound healing process. Occlusive disease of the arterioles is probably quite similar in significance and distribution to normoglycemic patients with peripheral vascular disease and suggests that proximal arterial occlusion is the major determinant of poor distal perfusion. These observations offer strong evidence that sufficient runoff vessels are present to support attempts at reconstruction of obstructing lesions of the aortoiliac and infrainguinal arterial segments. Noninvasive vascular laboratory data and arteriograms must be carefully interpreted in order to assess fully the degree of arterial occlusive disease that exists as well as the potential for vascular reconstruction. Clinical experience is especially helpful in proper patient selection. Aggressive attempts at distal revascularization can achieve functional limb salvage in the great majority of patients, provided that meticulous technical standards are observed. Conservative surgical debridement and minor amputations are often successful in managing problems of soft-tissue necrosis once pulsatile flow has been restored.
Radiation, diagnosis, and management

The biomedical effects of ionizing and nonionizing radiations include responses that are known to have thresholds ("nonstochastic" effects) as well as responses that are presumed to have no thresholds ("stochastic" effects). The latter include mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic effects. Present radiation risk management strategies seek to protect completely against nonstochastic effects by preventing anyone from accumulating a dose of radiation in excess of the relevant threshold. Protection against stochastic effects, on the other hand, is sought by limiting the level of radiation exposure sufficiently to keep the resulting risks of such effects within acceptable bounds. For this purpose, a limit is placed on the cumulative dose that may be received by any tissue of the body.
Actual and Potential Pricing Practices Under Public and Private Operation

Many of the important differences between public and private ownership or management of large-scale enterprise show up in the pricing practices used in the sale of their products, in some cases even more significantly, though perhaps not as dramatically, as in the methods used for the determination of investment or the deployment of manpower. These differences are especially important in that in cases of natural monopoly, particularly where this relates to economies of scale, price policy decisions are logically prior to investment policy decisions, in that the desirability of a given investment cannot be properly determined without first deciding what pricing policy is to be followed in the utilisation of the investment. Some of these pricing practices seem strongly conditioned by the nature of the regime, others perhaps less so, but it is worthwhile just taking a passing look at some of these differences or perhaps simply tendencies.
Outcomes in Endoscopic Ear Surgery

Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) provides several advantages compared with traditional binocular microscopy, including a wide-field view, improved resolution with high magnification, and visual access to hidden corridors of the middle ear. Although binocular microscopic-assisted surgical techniques remain the gold standard for most otologists, EES is slowly emerging as a viable alternative for performing otologic surgery at several centers in the United States and abroad. In this review, we evaluate the current body of literature regarding EES outcomes, summarize our EES outcomes at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and compare these results with data for microscopic-assisted otologic surgery.
Microscopic fungi spread in different types of soils in Western Georgia

Abstract 200 cultures of microscopic fungi have been isolated from the different types of soils (yellow brown forest, raw carbonate, yellow, red, bog, alluvial, yellow podzolic, mountain meadow and brown forest) of Western Georgia. Mainly, representatives of the following classes Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes are spread in the above-mentioned types of soils. Microscopic fungi from the class of Ascomycetes prevailed in the five types of soils: yellow brown forest, raw carbonate, red, alluvial and yellow-podzolic; and as well in mountain meadow soils. Cultures from the class of Deuteromycetes are spread in two types of soils: yellow and brown forest. As concerns microscopic fungi cultures isolated from the bog soils, no expressed dominant genus was found, only the microscopic fungi from the class of Zygomycetes prevailed in general.
Analytical Seismic Assessment of a Tall Long-Span Curved Reinforced-Concrete Bridge. Part II: Structural Response

The seismic assessment of special bridges, even under the hypothesis of full knowledge of site conditions, structural characteristics, and seismic activity at their location, is not an easy and straightforward task due to the complexities and uncertainties related to the finite-element modeling approaches, structural loading scenarios, and seismic analysis methodologies. In this article, a series of nonlinear static and dynamic finite-element analyses on the Mogollon Rim Viaduct are performed with consideration of both uniform and conditionally simulated non-uniform seismic motions. The failure modes of the bridge using different numerical modeling approaches are discussed, and the degree of sensitivity of its response to the different seismic assessment strategies is evaluated. The effect of the multi-component, multi-support and multi-directional excitations of ground motions on the design and response are studied, and the pros and cons of the commonly used structural analysis methodologies of bridges a...
Judging Teacher Evaluation: The Legal Implications of High-Stakes Teacher Evaluation Policy

New teacher evaluation policies involve several legal issues. In this chapter, I discuss the litigation already generated by these policies and major legal questions they raise. In doing so, I provide a map of some of the legal terrain implicated by teacher evaluation policies and show how this litigation highlights fundamental policy questions implicated by these policies. While much of this litigation is unsettled, it can protect teachers against what they perceive to be the undesirable and unfair effects of teacher evaluation systems. But at the same time, it can be used to attack other education policies and leverage reform. As a broader examination of such litigation reveals, such litigation also highlights underlying policy questions about balancing teachers’ rights and accountability, the place of teacher unions in education policy, and the role of the courts in education policy.
Assessment of High-Resolution, Clinically Applicable Quantitative Magnetization Transfer Imaging in the Cervical Spinal Cord of Multiple Sclerosis Patients at 3T (P3.018)

Objective: To develop a quantitative, clinically relevant magnetization transfer (MT) technique for multiple sclerosis (MS). Background: Quantitative MT (qMT) allows one to objectively assay myelin content, but requires acquisitions that are too long for most clinical applications. An optimized, single-point qMT method was recently developed for the brain and spinal cord (SC), providing high-resolution indices in clinically relevant scan times; however, this technique has not been studied in the MS SC. Methods: Ten healthy volunteers and four relapsing-remitting MS patients were imaged at 3.0T (Philips Achieva) from C2-C5. High-resolution (0.65x0.65x5 mm 3 ) MT data were acquired at a single offset/power (+ a reference image). B 1 and ΔB 0 maps were acquired to correct for inhomogeneities, a T 1 map to correct for T 1 differences, and an anatomical image for registration. Total scan time for all MR images ~ 16 minutes. Data were fit to a two-pool qMT model, while fixing parameters to values in the literature to reduce the number of data points required to invert the model. The macromolecular to free proton pool size ratio (PSR, relates to myelin content) in the dorsal, lateral WM, and central GM was generated for each subject. Results: MS patient lesions show a significant reduction in PSR (0.09±0.01, p < 0.01) compared to the surrounding WM (0.17±0.02) and control WM (0.16±0.01). A patient who presented with difficulty walking as well as sensory/motor deficits showed lesions in lateral/dorsal columns on anatomical MRI, but the ventral columns appeared normal. The PSR, however, demonstrated intact ventral columns (0.14±0.01), and a pervasive PSR lowering in the remaining cord (0.07±0.01). Conclusions: The results highlighted here provide evidence that PSR can be studied in the SC of MS patients in clinically meaningful scan times and may provide an imaging biomarker of MS. It is currently being deployed in a larger MS cohort. Disclosure: Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dortch has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lyttle has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pawate has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose.
PMMA–ZnO Hybrid Arrays Using in Situ Polymerization and Imprint Lithography

Imprint lithography has been explored as a method to transfer arrays of patterned features onto pure polymers and polymer/metallic nanoparticle composites. However, it has never been achieved on the submicrometer scale with polymer–oxide particle hybrids. This study uses in situ polymerization and imprint lithography to form ZnO–PMMA hybrid patterns. The polymerization temperature is varied to study its effects on feature fidelity, film flexibility, and pattern photoluminescence (PL) response. For a given polymerization temperature, the feature fidelity decreases with increasing ZnO content according to line-edge roughness (LER), inverse circularity (IC), and surface roughness (SR) measurements. This decrease in feature fidelity indicates an increase in particle agglomeration as the ZnO content increases. The elongation at failure for the hybrids decreases with the polymerization temperature and the ZnO content while the bending radius increases. Even at the lowest feature fidelity, the LER is <10% of the...
Offence characteristics and cognitive functioning in juveniles adjudicated for illegal sexual behaviour

ABSTRACTIntelligence differences exist between sex offenders and non-sex offenders in adult populations, but comparable intelligence differences are not consistently found among juveniles. However, juveniles may differ on measures of intelligence across offence-related variables used to subclassify adults. The purpose of the present study was to determine if between- and within-group differences exist in a sample of 925 juveniles adjudicated for illegal sexual and non-sexual behaviours across offence-related variables. The results suggest that juveniles adjudicated for illegal sexual behaviour outperformed juveniles adjudicated for non-sexual offences on Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) performance, though full-scale intelligence quotients scores for both groups were lower than would be expected in the general population. Unlike adult offenders, juveniles adjudicated for illegal sexual behaviour do not tend to differ on WASI performance across offence-related variables. These results prov...
Examining the Learning Effect of Elderly Through Multimedia Assisted Instruction Design in Taiwan

The elderly often fear technology products in Taiwan, because the complexity of technology and the lack of information create barriers for the elderly to use technology. The concurrent trends of an aging population and digital product advances means that new technology products can enrich elderly lives, if learning barriers are overcome. This study are utilized the quasi- experimental design, A multimedia -assisted teaching system (MAIS) is an intervention program. Seventy-eight older adults (over 65 years old) will participate in this study; 38 older adults belong to the comparison group, and the other 40 will be in the experimental group. Subjects’ post-test score will be used for evaluating the learning outcome after implementing the intervention program. The study seeks to clarify how to design multimedia instruction to maximize learners’ recall and understanding of the presented material.
HUBify: Efficient Estimation of Central Entities Across Multiplex Layer Compositions

Graphs or networks are a natural way to analyze inter-related set of entities. When these entities are associated with a diverse number of features, each denoting a specific perspective, then the representation can be simplified by forming a network of layers (one for each feature) or multiplexes. Vertices with high centrality values in the multiplexes represent the most influential vertices. However, detecting central entities in multiplexes for different combinations of features becomes computationally expensive, as the number of layers increases. In this paper, we address the task of efficiently identifying high centrality vertices for any conjunctive (AND) combination of features (as represented by multiplex layers.) We propose efficient heuristics that only use results from individual layers to identify high degree and high closeness centrality vertices. Our approaches, when applied to real-world, multi-featured datasets such as IMDb and traffic accidents, show that we can identify the high centrality vertices with an average accuracy of more than 70-80% while reducing the overall computational time by at least 30%.
Temporal and spatial patterns in behavioral responses of marine predators to a sudden influx of abalone prey ( Haliotis rufescens )

Predator–prey interactions exist on a variety of spatial and temporal scales; one of the earliest measurable responses to changes in these interactions is behavior. We examined the behavior of southern California kelp forest predators in response to a concentrated increase in the abundance of abalone during a restoration stocking experiment. We tested three hypotheses: (1) kelp forest predator density will increase following abalone stocking, (2) variations in predator characteristics will create an unequal impact on abalone, and (3) predation intensity will be greatest early in the experiment. Octopus discovered and exploited the influx of prey within the first week following stocking; their densities surged and then returned to pre-stocking levels after 2 months. This was not observed with any other predator. Damage from crustacean, fish, and octopus predation was observed on the recovered abalone shells, but were not correlated with predator densities. A larger percentage of recovered small shells had evidence of crustacean and fish predation, indicating there may be size-specific impacts of predators on abalone. Our results demonstrate that restoration stocking experiments can quantitatively test the predatory community’s response to reintroductions, as well as predation risk of newly stocked prey species when exposed to a diverse suite of predators.
An Analysis of the Prevalence of Heat Waves in the United States between 1948 and 2015

AbstractUnusually hot weather is a major concern to public health as well as other systems (e.g., ecological, economical, energy). This study utilized spatially continuous and homogenized observati...
Oxygen dependency of retinal adhesion.

Purpose. Normal retina is firmly attached to the retinal pigment epithelium, but the force of this adhesion drops precipitously within the first 2-3 min after enucleation. The purpose was to study metabolic factors that might be relevant to this postmortem failure of adhesion. Methods. Dutch rabbit retina was manually peeled from the retinal pigment epithelium on strips of enucleated eyecup within a 37°C bath. Retinal adhesiveness was measured by observing the amount of retinal pigment epithelium that remained adherent to the retina. Results. Autologous whole blood in place of salt solution retarded the decrease in adhesiveness. A solution of hemoglobin alone was similarly effective, whereas methemoglobin solution failed to help the persistence of retinal adhesion. Bubbling oxygen into the salt solution and circulating it to avoid oxygen depletion at the tissue boundary also proved effective at sustaining retinal adhesiveness. Eyes made ischemic in vivo for 5 min or longer, by elevating intraocular pressure, showed virtually no retinal adhesion when enucleated immediately thereafter. However, eyes made ischemic for 10 min, but allowed to regain circulation for 5 min before enucleation, showed a return of retinal adhesiveness to 80% of normal. Conclusions. Oxidative metabolism is critical to the maintenance of retinal adhesiveness, and the effects of oxygen deprivation on adhesion are reversible within a certain time period. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1993;34:2074-2078.
Molecular Diagnostics in Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors

Molecular diagnostics have greatly advanced our understanding of the pathogenesis of soft tissue and bone neoplasms and have led to the development of numerous useful diagnostic tools. Definitive cytologic diagnosis is now possible for many soft tissue and bone tumors with judicious application of immunohistochemistry and numerous molecular technologies. Immunohistochemistry is primarily used to identify the line of differentiation and protein correlates of underlying molecular alterations and can guide appropriate selection of molecular tests. Currently, the most commonly employed molecular diagnostic approaches are fluorescence in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. High-throughput molecular techniques (e.g., whole-exome or targeted panel next-generation sequencing) have potential exciting applications for cytology practice, and these platforms can provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information in the diagnosis of soft tissue and bone tumors. While ancillary tests allow for more accurate classification of many soft tissue and bone neoplasms on cytologic material, immunohistochemical and molecular tests always should be interpreted in the context of the clinical, radiologic, and cytomorphologic features, and the cytopathologist must be aware of the pitfalls and limitations of these assays. This chapter reviews the applications of molecular diagnostics, including integration of immunohistochemical markers, in the cytologic diagnosis of soft tissue and bone neoplasms.
CSR - the Cuckoo’s Egg in the Business Ethics Nest

Corporate/collective moral responsibility is a thorny topic in business ethics and this paper argues that this is due a number of unacknowledged and connected epistemic issues. Firstly, CSR, Corporate Citizenship and many other research streams that are based on the assumption of collective and/or corporate moral responsibility are not compatible with Kantian ethics, consequentialism, or virtue ethics because corporate/collective responsibility violates the axioms and central hypotheses of these research programmes. Secondly, in the absence of a sound theoretical moral philosophical foundation, business ethicists have based their ideas on legal and political epistemologies, yet still claim to be ethics-based. Thirdly, research is often driven by an intention to prove that a specific social goal is right, not by open and critical inquiry. Finally, today, corporate/collective moral responsibility is widely accepted as the Truth as most researchers are unaware of any issues because they are untrained in philosophy. The paper identifies the confusion about the epistemic basis as a major impediment for delivering a thick concept of the role of corporations as moral agents. Thus, the paper does not argue against corporate or collective agency as such, but points out an obvious but forgotten paradox: corporate and collective personhood cannot, at the moment at least, be epistemologically grounded in the field in which business ethics claims to operate: moral philosophy.
Cities in Asia: how are they adapting to climate change?

Asian cities are at the forefront of climate change impacts. Given the size of city economies, the economic losses caused by climate-induced extreme weather can be quite significant. Together, the cities of Guangzhou, Mumbai, Shenzen, Tianjin, Ho Chi Minh City, Kolkata, and Jakarta incurred $1520 million (USD) in annual losses due to coastal flooding in 2005 alone. By 2050, the annual loss incurred as a result of coastal flooding in these cities is projected to increase to $32,079 million. In the light of the projected increase in climate-induced extreme weather events and associated loss, it is important to understand where Asian cities are in terms of climate change adaptation planning and governance. I use publicly available data and information published between 2004 and 2014 to capture urban climate change adaptation activities implemented in Asian cities, their sectoral distribution, and nature. This research finds that Asian cities are at a very early stage of climate change adaptation planning and governance. Countries with a larger number of cities implementing urban adaptation activities are the ones where central governments provide policy directives and support required for urban climate change adaptation planning and governance. There are two major flaws in the way urban climate change adaptation planning and governance is being carried out in Asian cities. First, the majority of urban climate change adaptation activities are concentrated in only one sector-disaster risk management. Second, approximately two thirds of urban climate change adaptation activities are reactive in nature. What cities in Asia need is an optimal mix of proactive and reactive adaptation. Without proactive adaptation actions, cities in Asia will not be able to address the full range of climate change hazards in strategic and cost-effective manner.
Adiponectin, Obesity, and Cancer: Clash of the Bigwigs in Health and Disease.

Adiponectin is one of the most important adipocytokines secreted by adipocytes and is called a “guardian angel adipocytokine” owing to its unique biological functions. Adiponectin inversely correlates with body fat mass and visceral adiposity. Identified independently by four different research groups, adiponectin has multiple names; Acrp30, apM1, GBP28, and AdipoQ. Adiponectin mediates its biological functions via three known receptors, AdipoR1, AdipoR2, and T-cadherin, which are distributed throughout the body. Biological functions of adiponectin are multifold ranging from anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory to anti-cancer. Lower adiponectin levels have been associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. A plethora of experimental evidence supports the role of obesity and increased adiposity in multiple cancers including breast, liver, pancreatic, prostrate, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. Obesity mediates its effect on cancer progression via dysregulation of adipocytokines including increased production of oncogenic adipokine leptin along with decreased production of adiponectin. Multiple studies have shown the protective role of adiponectin in obesity-associated diseases and cancer. Adiponectin modulates multiple signaling pathways to exert its physiological and protective functions. Many studies over the years have shown the beneficial effect of adiponectin in cancer regression and put forth various innovative ways to increase adiponectin levels.
A Game-Theoretic Analysis of Pricing Competition between Aggregators in V2G Systems

While the Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) are gaining popularity, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology is becoming a reality. In V2G, a PEV provides energy as well as consumes it. Since the battery of a PEV can store a small amount of electric power, a large number of PEVs must be combined to offer useful services to the grid. However, these vehicles must be managed to provide controlled services according to the need of the grid leading to the introduction of an aggregator. This work assumes a system of multiple aggregators to which a PEV can choose to subscribe. An aggregator charges its subscribers for the V2G services. To maximize their profits, the aggregators vie with each other to get the market share. This competition dictates the prices and it is crucial for each competitor to choose an optimal price. The competition among aggregators is influenced by several factors. In this work, we analyze this competition by modeling the problem as a sequential game, in particular, using the Stackelberg Leadership Model. Solving the model provides the optimal prices. We also analyze the same problem by modeling it as a simultaneous game using the Cournot Competition Model and compare the game results with that of the Stackelberg game. We conduct an extensive evaluation of the game results to demonstrate the influence of different factors on optimal behavior.
Hemodynamic Changes Associated with Mydriatic Eye Drop Administration in Anesthetized Pediatric Patients.

Background Dilating eye drops are routinely used in pediatric retinoblastoma patients during anesthetized ophthalmologic exams. Information on the systemic effects of ocular mydriatics, especially in anesthetized pediatric patients, is limited. Objective The primary aim of this study was to analyze hemodynamic changes during mydriatic eye drop administration in anesthetized pediatric patients. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for pediatric retinoblastoma patients who underwent MRI with anesthesia. Baseline blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were charted for each patient at induction. HR and mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurements were recorded at 5, 10, 15, 30, and 45 min after eye drop administration. Secondarily, we included data from 15 patients who received dilating eye drops while under sevoflurane general anesthetic. All patients were dilated with phenylephrine 2.5 or 10% (depending on age) and tropicamide 1%. Results The final analysis included 176 anesthesia encounters. The results demonstrate no statistically significant deviation of more than 20% from baseline for either HR or MAP. Additionally, we did not detect any difference between patients who were anesthetized with propofol versus sevoflurane. Conclusions We did not observe significant hemodynamic instability with administration of dilating eye drops during propofol anesthesia.
Model lignin oligomer pyrolysis: Coupled conformational and thermodynamic analysis of β-O-4′ bond cleavage

The abundance, carbon content, and functionalized nature of lignin make it a promising candidate for targeted valorization to fuels and polymer composites. While lignin modeling by the application ...
Impact of side traffic barrier features on the severity of run-off-road crashes involving horizontal curves on non-interstate roads

Abstract Objective Reviewing the literature of run-off-road (ROR) crashes, there is limited knowledge in terms of crashes involving side (longitudinal) traffic barriers on curved segments. For instance, despite the valuable results found in past simulation and field crash tests, no study has been conducted using actual crash data analysis to evaluate the safety performance of side traffic barriers on horizontal curves of non-interstate roads. This paper aims to fill this gap. For this purpose, an actual crash data analysis was conducted to identify factors impacting the severity of crashes involving side traffic barriers on horizontal curves of non-interstate roads in Wyoming. Method A field inventory was conducted to collect type, height, side-slope rate, lateral offset, and post-spacing of over 105 miles of side traffic barriers located on horizontal curves of non-interstate roads in the state of Wyoming. The data collected includes 25% of all traffic barriers (located on tangent and curved segments) on non-interstate roads in Wyoming. Then, the data was combined with historical crashes, road geometric features, and traffic volume data. For the statistical analysis, random-parameters ordered logit was utilized to model the effect of parameters affecting the crash severity. Results Post-spacing and height of side barriers were identified to be statistically significant on the crash severity on horizontal curves of non-interstate roads. Side box beam barriers with a post-spacing of 6.1 ft were least likely to result in a fatal or severe injury crash. On the other hand, side box beam barriers with a height shorter than 25 inches showed a high probability of fatalities or severe injuries. It was found that ROR crashes tended to be less severe on side W-beam barriers having a height between 24 and 31 inches. Conclusions Side traffic barriers with a short height are not recommended to be used on horizontal curves. Based on the results found in this research and past similar studies, it is recommended to consider a height taller than recommendations given by the roadside design guide (AASHTO RDG 2011) on curved segments. Post-spacing of 6.1 ft was found to be recommended to be considered for side box beam barriers.
A novel biosynthetic scaffold mesh reinforcement affords the lowest hernia recurrence in the highest-risk patients

Patients with higher postoperative infection risk undergoing ventral hernia repair (VHR) have limited options for mesh use. Biosynthetic mesh is intended to utilize the durability of synthetic mesh combined with the biocompatibility of biologic mesh. We sought to assess the outcomes of a novel biosynthetic scaffold mesh for VHR in higher risk patients over a 12-month postoperative period. Two cohorts of 50 consecutive patients who underwent VHR with TELA Bio OviTex biosynthetic or synthetic mesh were retrospectively compared. Endpoints included surgical site occurrence (SSO), readmission rate, and hernia recurrence following VHR at 12 months postoperatively. OviTex mesh placement was associated with higher risk Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) distribution and more contaminated CDC wound class distribution compared to synthetic mesh placement (VHWG grade 3: 68% vs. 6%, p I: 70% vs. 6%, p < 0.001). Additionally, concomitant procedures were performed more often with OviTex mesh placement than synthetic mesh placement (70% vs 10%, p < 0.001). The OviTex mesh performed comparably to synthetic mesh in terms of incidences of SSO (36% vs 22%, p = 0.19), readmission rates (24% vs 14%, p = 0.31), and hernia recurrence (6% vs 12%, p = 0.74). On further evaluation, patients who developed SSO with OviTex mesh (n = 18) had a 17% hernia recurrence whereas those with synthetic mesh (n = 11) had an associated 55% hernia recurrence (p = 0.048). The OviTex biosynthetic mesh was used in higher risk patients and performed similarly to synthetic mesh in regards to rate of SSO, readmissions, and hernia recurrence. Furthermore, patients who developed SSO with Ovitex mesh were significantly less likely to have hernia recurrence than those with synthetic mesh. Overall, the data suggest that biosynthetic mesh is a more desirable option for definitive hernia repair in higher risk patients.
Blood Theology: Seeing Red in Body- and God-Talk

The unsettling language of blood has been invoked throughout the history of Christianity. But until now there has been no truly sustained treatment of how Christians use blood to think with. Eugene F. Rogers Jr. discusses in his much-anticipated new book the sheer, surprising strangeness of Christian blood-talk, exploring the many and varied ways in which it offers a language where Christians cooperate, sacrifice, grow and disagree. He asks too how it is that blood-talk dominates when other explanations would do, and how blood seeps into places where it seems hardly to belong. Reaching beyond academic disputes, to consider how religious debates fuel civil ones, he shows that it is not only theologians or clergy who engage in blood-talk, but also lawmakers, judges, generals, doctors and voters at large. Religious arguments have significant societal consequences, Rogers contends; and for that reason secular citizens must do their best to understand them.
Frequency-modulated combs: origins and opportunities

In certain lasers, including terahertz quantum cascade lasers, frequency combs can form whose output is frequency- modulated (FM) linearly in time. While this result had been replicated experimentally and numerically, an analytical description had been elusive. We will discuss our recent work showing how this can be achieved. By deriving a mean-field theory for lasers analogous to the Lugiato-Lefever equation and solving it analytically with some weak assumptions, we show that it simplifies to the nonlinear Schrodinger equation with a phase potential. The phase of its solution is piecewise quadratic in time—an FM comb. Our results apply to many lasers and explains the diverse array of experimental observations. We will discuss prospects and opportunities for improving the performance of these combs.
An evaluation of the vacuum extractor in a series of 201 cases

Abstract Because there continues to be disagreement about the indications for use of the vacuum extractor, 201 cases in which it was employed have been reviewed. The results in these cases were compared with the results in 5,545 forceps deliveries carried out during the same period of time. More injuries were produced by the vacuum extractor than by the forceps, and a greater percentage of babies had a low Apgar score when the vacuum extractor was used than when forceps were used. The technique of use of the vacuum extractor was studied by means of a transparent Plexiglas cup, and it was demonstrated that a delay before making traction is unnecessary, once the desired level of vacuum is produced.
Cellular ad-hoc relay for emergencies (CARE)

Emergency services are being improved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by obligating wireless service providers to be E911 compliant by December 2005. We propose a system which is not only compliant with the E911 requirements, but also provides enhanced functionality to relay an emergency call arising from a user outside the cellular coverage area via another user within the range of the network. Simulations based on the GSM wireless technology are described and results show that cellular ad-hoc relay for emergencies (CARE) achieves a system efficiency of over 90%.
Negative Regulation of Growth Hormone Receptor/JAK2 Signaling by Signal Regulatory Protein α

Signal regulatory proteins (SIRPs) are receptor-like transmembrane proteins, the majority of which contain a cytoplasmic proline-rich region and four cytoplasmic tyrosines that, when phosphorylated, bind SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatases (SHP). We demonstrated previously that growth hormone (GH) induces tyrosyl phosphorylation of SIRPalpha and association of SIRPalpha with SHP-2. The GH-activated tyrosine kinase JAK2 associates with and tyrosyl-phosphorylates SIRPalpha1. Here we show that JAK2-SIRPalpha1 association does not require phosphotyrosines in SIRPalpha1 or JAK2 or the proline-rich region of SIRPalpha1. However, when the C-terminal 30 amino acids of SIRPalpha1 containing the proline-rich region and tyrosine 495 are deleted, tyrosyl phosphorylation of SIRPalpha1 by JAK2 and association of SHP-2 with SIRPalpha1 are reduced. GH-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of JAK2 is reduced when wild-type SIRPalpha1 compared with SIRPalpha1 lacking the four cytoplasmic tyrosines (SIRP 4YF) is expressed in cells, suggesting that SIRPalpha1 negatively regulates GHR/JAK2 signaling. Consistent with reduced JAK2 activity, overexpression of wild-type SIRPalpha1 but not SIRP 4YF reduces GH-induced phosphorylation of ERKs 1 and 2, STAT3, and STAT5B. These results suggest that SIRPalpha1 is a negative regulator of GH signaling and that the ability of SIRPalpha1 mutants to negatively regulate GHR-JAK2 signaling correlates with their ability to bind SHP-2.
Racially Polarized Voting in a Southern U.S. Election: How Urbanization and Residential Segregation Shape Voting Patterns

This paper advances a model of racially polarized voting that captures the intervening effects of urbanization and residential segregation on white voters’ political behavior. The model is tested for a 2011 referendum election in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Using King’s method of ecological inference and weighted least squares regression, we find that regional minority population size impacts white opposition to minority-preferred political alternatives both directly and indirectly through an effect on residential racial segregation. Importantly, these influences hinge on intra-regional patterns of urbanization. The findings have important implications for understanding spatial variation in regional political behavior and inter-group relations.
Static and dynamic quenching of protein fluorescence. II. Lysozyme

The fluorescence parameters—lifetime, relative quantum yield, wavelength of maximum fluorescence intensity, half-width, and polarization—of 0.01% lysozyme were measured at 15°C in aqueous solution, in glycerol–water mixtures (0–90% v/v glycerol), in aqueous urea (0–8M) solutions, and in aqueous guanidine hydrochloride (0–6.4M) solutions. The changes in the static and dynamic quenching of lysozyme fluorescence, monitored by the quantum yield and lifetime measurements, were correlated with the other fluorescence parameters and compared with our earlier results with bovine serum albumin. The results were interpreted in terms of induced conformational changes. The various perturbants altered the fluorescence parameters of lysozyme and bovine serum albumin very differently. The differences were shown to be entirely consistent with our earlier conclusion that bovine serum albumin fluorophores are nonsurface residues and with the conclusion of others that lysozyme fluorophores are surface residues. Unlike their effects on bovine serum albumin, urea and guanidine hydrochloride affect lysozyme structure quite differently, both in nature and degree. We have suggested that the affect of urea on lysozyme fluorescence is an indirect result of reduction in the size of the cleft brought about by the structure-breaking action of urea on water in the cleft. 4M Urea is sufficient for this reaction. Large decreases in the polarization of the fluorescence of lysozyme in the 0.8–1.6M and 3.2–4.8M guanidine hydrochloride ranges demonstrated two guanidine hydrochloride-induced conformation changes. A red shift of the fluorescence maximum to 354 nm indicated that the second transition completely exposes all fluorescing tryptophan residues of lysozyme to mobile solvent water. However, even 6.4M guanidine hydrochloride did not completely unravel the lysozyme molecule at 15°C, as evidenced by its failure to cause any of the tyrosine residues to become fluorescent.
Growth and characterization of single crystal ZrB2

Abstract Single crystals of ZrB2 have been grown by an RF induction heated floating zone process under high ambient pressures. Pressures up to 20 atm were used to control the stoichiometry of the crystals by reducing volatilization from the melt. The boron losses are more than twice that of Zr from the diboride melt. The effect of pressure on material losses by volatilization is discussed in terms of a model in which the rate controlling step is diffusion through a convection boundary layer. Oriented plate-like precipitates were observed in the ZrB2 single crystals. The nature of precipitate particles observed in two crystallographic orientations is discussed. Transmission electron microscopy analyses were used to identify the structure of the precipitates, lattice parameters and relative crystallographic orientations to the ZrB2 matrix lattice. Laser microprobe analysis of extracted particles was used to characterized them chemically. The match between the crystal lattices strongly influences the morphology of the precipitate particles.
Nearly single-mode, high-density two-dimensional vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays for optical communications

ABSTRACT We have made A1GaAs/GaAs gain-guided two-dimensional (8x8 and 4x4) vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser array inthe 850-nm range for optical communication applications. Higher optical power with nearly single transverse mode outputcan be achieved by using high-density two-dimensional VCSEL arrays with smaller emitting element windows ( 5 tm). Thedistributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) of the VCSELs consist of Al0 2Ga083As/AIAs quarter-wave stacks. The GRINSCHactive region is consisted of an undoped three-quantum-well GaAs/A103Ga07As and two undoped linearly graded AlGa1Asconfmement layers. The emitting windows of the individual VCSEL elements are 5 imx5 .tm. A high cw optical power of15.3 mW was measured for a 8x8 array, with a maximum pulsed optical power of 28 mW at 160 mA. The spectrum of theVCSEL array showed single transverse mode characteristics. The near-field characteristics of the arrays were measured.Almost all the VCSEL elements emitted TEM00 mode. The modulation characteristics of the VCSEL arrays were alsomeasured at different operating current.Keywords: vertical-cavity, surface-emitting lasers, 2D VCSEL array, spectrum, modulation
Characterization of Glyburide-Polyethylene Glycol Solid Dispersions

AbstractGlyburide (GLY) is an oral hypoglycemic agent that is poorly water soluble. Solid dispersions of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000, PEG 6000, and mixtures of PEG 4000 and 6000, were prepared by the melt-and-solvent method. Phase analysis was performed by x-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to study the nature of interaction in the solid state. The x-ray diffraction pattern indicated that the dispersion had an amorphous nature as compared to the crystalline drug. The melting endothermal point of GLY was eliminated in the dispersions of DSC thermograms. The results showed that there was no chemical interaction between the drug and the polymer. Also, formation of solid solution is apparent from the DSC thermograms.
Decreased production of reactive oxygen intermediates is an early event during in vitro apoptosis of rat thymocytes

Thymocyte apoptosis is one of the best characterized experimental models of apoptosis that can be induced by a variety of stimuli such as glucocorticoids, ionizing radiation, antibodies, and toxins. Recently, it has been suggested that oxidative stress is a common mediator of apoptosis. However, little is known about the production and possible function of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in thymocytes. We used a highly sensitive flow cytometric assay with the hydrogen peroxide-sensitive dye, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), to measure intracellular ROI production in rat thymocytes, to study its primary sources, and to compare ROI levels in normal and apoptotic thymocytes. Apoptosis was induced by incubating the cells in the presence or absence of dexamethasone (Dex) at 37 degrees C in vitro. Normal thymocytes spontaneously produced significant amounts of ROI. Catalase or superoxide dismutase did not affect this intracellular fluorescence, presumably due to their failure to penetrate into the cells. However, N-acetyl-L-cysteine significantly attenuated the fluorescence in a dose-dependent manner. Significant inhibition of the intracellular fluorescence was also observed by addition of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), that could not be reversed by L-arginine. The addition of N-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME) also caused considerable inhibition. This indicates that the inhibition by L-NAME or D-NAME is due to a direct scavenging effect, and nitric oxide production is not likely to be involved. In contrast to neutrophils and macrophages whose superoxide anions are released from membrane-bound NADPH oxidase, the production of ROI in thymocytes is likely to originate mainly from mitochondria, as indicated by the inhibitory effect of the addition of rotenone or antimycin A. The addition of lymphocyte simulators phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) enhanced intracellular fluorescence of thymocytes. This increase was abrogated by addition of rotenone or antimycin A. The ROI production was decreased with time after incubation of the thymocytes for 1, 3, and 6 h in vitro. The appearance of apoptosis of thymocytes in vitro, as indicated by DNA content of cells by flow cytometry and DNA ladder formation in agarose gel electrophoresis, was delayed, as compared to the time course of the decreased ROI production. The addition of Dex to the culture medium accelerated both of these processes. The results suggest that a decreased spontaneous production of ROI in thymocytes precedes the spontaneous in vitro apoptosis and Dex exaggerates these changes.