cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Municipal Wastewater Concentrations of Pharmaceutical and Xeno-Estrogens: Wildlife and Human Health Implications

Most pharmaceutical estrogens and xenoestrogens are introduced into the environment through municipal waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent sources. These effluents contain synthetic compounds; surfactants, flame retardants and halogenated hydrocarbons that can mimic estrogens; and are discharged directly into rivers and lakes. As rivers and lakes are used for water and food supply, and recreation, and wastewater effluent usage increases, the presence and concentration of xenoestrogens in surface water becomes a valid public health concern. Additionally, many USA cities have significant combined sewer overflows releasing untreated sewage directly into surface waters, thus increasing the amounts of xenoestrogens finding their way into drinking water supplies and commercial and subsistence fishing habitat.
A Conceptual Map of Visual Communication

AbstractThis paper explores the evolving and well-recognized body of visual communication theory and literature that crosses a variety of disciplines. Such multi-disciplinary work clusters in the areas of visual literacy, visual thinking, visual perception, imagery, and representation. The paper attempts to develop a more widely accepted model that better addresses the unique characteristics of visual communication as a field of study and in so doing, attempts to develop a map of the field that more clearly identifies the central theories and areas of study of visual communication in a way that moves awayfrom the limitations of the older verbal language metaphor. This map identifies the various areas and foundational theories on which a multidisciplinary program of visual communication research might be built.
New rate distortion bounds for natural videos based on a texture dependent correlation model in the spatial-temporal domain

We revisit the classic problem of developing a correlation model for natural videos and studying their theoretical rate distortion bounds. We propose the correlation coefficient of two pixels in two nearby video frames as the product of the spatial correlation coefficient of these two pixels, as if they were in the same frame, and a variable to quantify the temporal correlation between these two video frames. The spatial correlation model for pixels within one video frame is a conditional correlation model. The conditioning is on local texture and the optimal parameters can be calculated for a specific video with a mean absolute error (MAE) usually smaller than 5%. We use this conditional correlation model to calculate the conditional rate distortion function when universal side information on local texture is available at both the encoder and the decoder. We demonstrate that this side information, when available, can save as much as 1 bit per pixel for a single video frame and 0.7 bits per pixel for multiple video frames. This rate distortion bound with local texture information taken into account while making no assumptions on coding, is shown indeed to be a valid lower bound with respect to the operational rate distortion curves of both intra-frame and inter-frame coding in AVC/H.264.
Automated Patient-specific Data Interpretation In An Intelligent Cardiovascular Monitor

This paper presents an approach to automated, patient-specific data interpretation in an intelligent hemodynamic monitor. This approach uses an intelligent hemodynamic monitor prototype (DYNASCENE) which models hemodynamic derangements in discrete clinical phases or "scenes". By recording cardiac filling pressures in fluid overload andlor hypovolemia, a patient-specific range of normal filling pressures is obtained for future data interpretation. This clinically natural approach has been included as a process in the parallel-processor based system, DYNASCENE. Planned extensions of this approach to other hemodynamic parameters are described.
Photophysical Characterization of the Naturally Occurring Dioxobacteriochlorin Tolyporphin A and Synthetic Oxobacteriochlorin Analogues.

Tolyporphins are tetrapyrrole macrocycles produced by a cyanobacterium-containing culture known as HT-58-2. Tolyporphins A–J are free base dioxobacteriochlorins whereas tolyporphin K is an oxochlorin. Here, the photophysical characterization is reported of tolyporphin A and two synthetic analogues, an oxobacteriochlorin and a dioxobacteriochlorin. The characterization (in toluene, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, 1-pentanol, 2-butanone, ethanol, methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide) includes static absorption and fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yields, and time-resolved data. The data afford the lifetime of the lowest singlet excited state and the yields of the nonradiative decay pathways (intersystem crossing and internal conversion). The three macrocycles exhibit only modest variation in spectroscopic and excited-state photophysical parameters across the solvents. The long-wavelength (Qy) absorption band of tolyporphin A appears at ~680 nm and is remarkably narrow (full-width-at-half-maximum ~7 nm). The position of the long-wavelength (Qy) absorption band of tolyporphin A (~680 nm) more closely resembles that of chlorophyll a (662 nm) than bacteriochlorophyll a (772 nm). The absorption spectra of tolyporphins B–I, K (which were available in minute quantities) are also reported in methanol; the spectra of B–I closely resemble that of tolyporphin A. Taken together, tolyporphin A generally exhibits spectral and photophysical features resembling those of chlorophyll a. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Introduction to the Mössbauer Effect

At the present time there already exist a number of good introductions to the Mossbauer effect and its applications. There is, therefore, no need to write another, similar, paper, which would in large measure be a copy of earlier ones. In the present chapter we try to avoid this duplication by stressing the physical background and by giving the simplest possible pictures. These pictures may help in explaining the Mossbauer effect to nonphysicists, and they may even amuse some physicists.
Mutagenic DNA Repair in Bacteria: The Role of UmuDC and MucAB

Bacterial systems offer several advantages for studying mutagenic processes. The ease with which mutagenesis can be assayed has been harnessed in the well-established Ames test of mutagenicity. Likewise, the powerful genetics available for analysis of the gene product involved in mutagenesis have made Escherichia coli the best understood organism with respect to mutagenic processes.
Replication and lysogeny with phage P22 in Salmonella typhimurium.

The bacterial viruses have a long history of usefulness in the analysis of fundamental genetic problems. Vegetative replication of temperate phage requires the controlled and orderly expression of most of the phage genes. An intricate regulatory system must be evoked for the establishment of lysogeny. Virtual shut-down of all vegetative phage functions takes place. A small number of phage genes remain active to carry out the reactions necessary to accomplish integration of the phage genome into that of the host. Only a few phage genes are expressed in the lysogen. The genes required for vegetative replication can be reactivated on induction. This, in effect, constitutes a differentiated system. Not only are the regulatory mechanisms operating in lysogeny important in their own right, but they are also valuable models for understanding the emerging problems of oncogenic virus-host interactions.
Extending Common Intrusion Detection Framework (CIDF) to Support Queries

In this chapter, we apply the formal model that we developed in Chapter 4 to provide a query facility for Common Intrusion Detection Framework (CIDF).
Augmentation Cystoplasty of Diseased Porcine Bladders with Bi-Layer Silk Fibroin Grafts

The ability of bi-layer silk fibroin (BLSF) matrices to mediate functional tissue formation in porcine bladders subjected to acute partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO) was investigated. Sixtee...
Automatic Hyperparameter Tuning in Deep Convolutional Neural Networks Using Asynchronous Reinforcement Learning

Major gains have been made in recent years in object recognition due to advances in deep neural networks. One struggle with deep learning, however, revolves around the fact that currently it is unknown what network architecture is best for a given problem. Consequently, different configurations are tried until one is identified that gives acceptable results. This paper proposes an asynchronous reinforcement learning algorithm that finds an optimal network configuration by automatically adjusting parameters for a given problem. It is shown that asynchronous reinforcement learning is able to converge on an optimal solution for the MNIST data set.
Intimate partner problems and suicide: are we missing the violence?

Abstract: Background: Suicide consistently ranks in the top ten causes of death nationally. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel coding scheme to determine what percentage of suicide cases from 2005-2015 in Kentucky involved violence when intimate partner problems were identified. Currently, researchers using the national dataset, containing these data, only have the option to identify intimate partner problems unless each case is reviewed individually. Methods: Data from the Kentucky Violent Death Reporting System from 2005-2015 were used to create a subset of cases where intimate partner problems were identified and qualitative and quantitative analysis of the death scene investigation incident narratives was conducted to identify cases where intimate partner violence also contributed to the suicide. Results: Intimate partner problems were identified in 1,327 (26%) of all suicide cases where circumstances were known and intimate partner violence in 575 (43%) cases identified as having intimate partner problems. There was an argument or fight in 30% of cases where intimate partner problems were identified and most were immediately followed by the suicide. Conclusions: We did find supporting evidence of our hypothesis that there is a great deal of underlying and outright violence in intimate relationships, which is exacerbating the risk of suicide. This detailed coding schema guided abstractors to better identify intimate partner violence in suicides, which could be easily replicated.
Through community eyes: the transition of international organizations from community aid to development in postconflict Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone experienced an 11-year civil war, brutalizing its people and destroying its communities. With the cessation of violence, international organizations helped to secure peace, deliver aid...
Engineering metasurface dispersion for achromatic optics

We show how the dispersion of optical metasurfaces can be engineered over a broad wavelength range by judicious choice of their constituent nanostructures. This technique can render traditional refractive lenses, ranging from simple singlet to objective lenses, achromatic over unprecedently large bandwidths.
A Proposal for Capital Market Reform in Colombia

Because of a combination of external factors and domestic policy failures, Colombia experienced a sharp increase in Informal activities over the last twenty years. The large share of domestically owned assets that are outside or on the margins of the formal economy caused a significant structural distortion in capital markets. In this paper we present an initial analysis of the potential negative economic effects of this distortion. We argue that the incomplete property rights of these Informal assets generate a series of negative outcomes, amongst which: rent seeking, diluted rates of returns in legitimate activities, insufficient domestic and foreign savings, fiscal failure and a general bias against tradeables. Because all of these reasons, Colombia is contending with a variety of undesirable social economic and social trends and cannot realize its economic potential. Our proposal to overcome this problem is centered on a normalization of the status of all domestically owned assets, allowing them full property rights and participation in the formal economy. Such a one-time amnesty would greatly facilitate the country's transition to more sustainable and balanced economic growth and modernization.
21 – Plasma Polymerization

Plasma polymerization refers to the formation of polymeric materials by using either the plasma state of monomers, or reactive species created in the plasma state. Plasma is the fourth state of matter, consisting largely of ionized gas which maintains overall electrical neutrality. The plasma used in the formation of polymeric materials is the so-called ‘low temperature plasma’ or ‘low pressure plasma’, in which thermal equilibrium is not maintained among electrons, ions and neutral species. The kinetic energy (kT) of electrons, expressed in the electron temperature, is in the vicinity of 60 000 K, while corresponding values for ions and neutral species are often in the range of 300–500 K.
'Nasty as They Wanna Be' Politics: Clean Campaigning and the First Amendment

Elections always raise the specter of concern about the content of the election debate. Discussion will focus on whether candidates and their supporters attempted to persuade the electorate with positive information about the issues, the candidates' qualifications and their experience or whether they attempted to persuade by negative campaigning and mud-slinging. Does the tenor of the debate matter to voters? If so, what, if anything, should be done to control the content of campaigning to ensure some degree of electoral integrity? Contrary to the conventional view that the nature of campaigning has decayed over time, mud-slinging has always played a role in American politics.However, since the advent of twenty-four hour information access through television and internet, the effects of mud-slinging and negative campaigning may have greater impact than ever before.The ability of twenty-first century media to transform little ripples of negative campaigning into large tidal waves has created concern that the integrity of the electoral process is compromised by the pervasive and exaggerated mud-slinging. In response, state and municipal legislators have enacted legislation or practices to promote fair campaigning. Many of these efforts to "cleanse" the campaign debate are voluntary and provide neither an enforcement mechanism nor a private cause of action. Even if these Campaign Codes are non-enforceable, free speech advocates argue that clean campaign pledges chill political speech and violate the First Amendment.This article analyzes these legislative attempts to "clean up" or "gentrify" the campaign debate. It addresses the underlying premise and constitutional implications of government restrictions on negative campaign speech, addresses the purpose and nature of "voluntary" campaign pledges, discusses statutes that restrict negative campaign advertisements and false statements, considers the public's perspective on negative campaigning, focuses on First Amendment implications, and concludes that non-voluntary clean campaign pledges and negative advertising statutes are per se invalid.
Parkinson’s Disease: Possible Mechanisms for Nutritional Approaches

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is among the most common chronic neurodegenerative conditions, affecting 1% of those over 60 years of age, and involves motor and non-motor impairments. Alterations in normal physiology may become apparent years – in some cases, 10–20 years – before established diagnostic criteria are met. Thus, better clinical outcomes may result when practitioners utilize nutritional and supplement interventions that support reductions in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration as early as possible. PD is a devastating, progressive neurodegenerative condition that has both hereditary and environmental components to its pathogenesis, and early identification of risk factors and onset is critical. The purpose of this review is to highlight various nutrition and supplement interventions that may positively affect disease onset and progression, and that warrant further research.
Audio Content Analysis.

Preprint for a book chapter introducing Audio Content Analysis. With a focus on Music Information Retrieval systems, this chapter defines musical audio content, introduces the general process of audio content analysis, and surveys basic approaches to audio content analysis. The various tasks in Audio Content Analysis are categorized into three classes: music transcription, music performance analysis, and music identification and categorization. The examples for music transcription systems include music key detection, fundamental frequency detection, and music structure detection. Music performance analysis systems feature an overview of beat and tempo detection approaches as well as music performance assessment. The covered music classification systems are audio fingerprinting, music genre classification, and music emotion recognition. The chapter concludes with a discussion and current challenges in the field and a speculation on future perspectives.
Human centric accessibility graph for environment analysis

Abstract Understanding design decisions in relation to the future occupants of a building is a crucial part of good design. However, limitations in tools and expertise hinder meaningful human-centric decisions during the design process. In this paper, a novel Spatial Human Accessibility graph for Planning and Environment Analysis (SHAPE) is introduced that brings together the technical challenges of discrete representations of digital models, with human-based metrics for evaluating the environment. SHAPE: does not need labeled geometry as input, works with multi-level buildings, captures surface variations (e.g., slopes in a terrain), and can be used with existing graph theory (e.g., gravity, centrality) techniques. SHAPE uses ray-casting to perform a search, generating a dense graph of all accessible locations within the environment and storing the type of travel required in a graph (e.g., up a slope, down a step). The ability to simultaneously evaluate and plan paths from multiple human factors is shown to work on digital models across room, building, and topography scales. The results enable designers and planners to evaluate options of the built environment in new ways, and at higher fidelity, that will lead to more human-friendly and accessible environments.
Phase Transitions in Bandits with Switching Constraints

We consider the classical stochastic multi-armed bandit problem with a constraint that limits the total cost incurred by switching between actions to be no larger than a given switching budget. For this problem, we prove matching upper and lower bounds on the optimal (i.e., minimax) regret, and provide efficient rate-optimal algorithms. Surprisingly, the optimal regret of this problem exhibits a non-conventional growth rate in terms of the time horizon and the number of arms. Consequently, we discover surprising "phase transitions" regarding how the optimal regret rate changes with respect to the switching budget: when the number of arms is fixed, there are equal-length phases, where the optimal regret rate remains (almost) the same within each phase and exhibits abrupt changes between phases; when the number of arms grows with the time horizon, such abrupt changes become subtler and may disappear, but a generalized notion of phase transitions involving certain new measurements still exists. The results enable us to fully characterize the trade-off between the regret rate and the incurred switching cost in the stochastic multi-armed bandit problem, contributing new insights to this fundamental problem. Under the general switching cost structure, the results reveal interesting connections between bandit problems and graph traversal problems, such as the shortest Hamiltonian path problem.
Incorporating bubble growth volume feedback to improve simulation of the response of a structure containing liquid and gas to sudden energy input

Abstract The SNS target module is a stainless-steel structure that contains and directs mercury. The mercury is struck with short, intense proton pulses to create neutrons. The pulses deposit energy and cause loads on the target structure and mercury cavitation . Helium bubbles are introduced into the mercury to reduce loads and cavitation. This gas complicates the prediction of the target module’s physical response. The current method used to simulate the structural response to the proton pulse incorporates a simple but effective approach to approximate mercury cavitation effects. This method cannot account for the changes from injected non-condensable gas. The ability to model the target vessel response is a prerequisite for estimating its life. Known approaches for simulating a bubbly fluid mixture’s response are computationally expensive and impractical for detailed engineering models. A constitutive model is proposed for target mercury with injected gas bubbles, with the intent of providing more accurate mercury–vessel response behavior without the computing costs required to track individual bubbles. The model’s assumptions and a computational model embodiment are described. The bubbly mercury computational model is subjected to test problems to assess its potential utility. The model was able to better predict the effect of gas on wave propagation .
A Dose of Dignity: Equitable Vaccination Policies for Incarcerated People and Correctional Staff During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Since its emergence in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the lives of millions of Americans. As it so often is during times of crisis, our most vulnerable communities have disproportionately suffered and were overlooked. Among these myriad communities, incarcerated people became a particularly potent symbol of our failure to handle the spread of the virus. In December 2020, a beacon of hope emerged with the introduction of new cutting-edge vaccines which promised to bring the world back to where it was just a year-and-a-half ago. Here again, however, policy and politics have led states to adopt different distribution plans that, broadly speaking, deprioritized incarcerated populations and in some cases correctional staff as well. While vaccinations are now much more widespread, things were dramatically different not too long ago. The first goal of this Essay is to ensure we memorialize how society, once again, failed to protect our incarcerated communities when they needed it the most. To illustrate this, we offer a data-driven analysis of the early state-level policies regarding vaccinations of people who live and work in prisons. Our findings show that vaccination policies tended to systematically ignore or disadvantage incarcerated individuals. We argue that by adopting such policies, states have neglected to comply with their legal obligations, grounded in existing and emerging Eighth Amendment jurisprudence and long-standing ethical responsibilities to proactively vaccinate this population. This is particularly true given that prisons are among the high-risk “congregate settings” that are widely recognized by health experts, and often by the states themselves, as deserving of immediate distribution of vaccines. Based on these obligations, and given recent new virus outbreaks and the realization that some form of COVID-19 is here to stay (and other pandemics may be around the corner), this Essay concludes with recommendations for the future.
A Liver Transplant for Local Control in a Pediatric Patient with Metastatic TFE3-Associated Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa) to the Liver

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are rare mesenchymal tumors with widespread distribution throughout the body and unpredictable clinical behavior. Recently, a subset of these tumors has been reported to harbor Transcription Factor E3 (TFE3) gene rearrangement with distinct morphologic and immunophenotypic features. Although limited, these tumors may represent a separate entity from the conventional PEComas and may require different treatment approaches. Surgery is the main treatment option with no clear consensus on systemic therapy. Here, we present the first case of a malignant pediatric colonic TFE3-associated PEComa with isolated liver metastasis leading to liver transplantation for the local control.
Current and Potential Applications of Wearables in Sports Cardiology

Commercial wearable biosensors are commonly used among athletes and highly active individuals, although their value in sports cardiology is not well established. In this review, we discuss the evidence for the current applications of wearables and provide our outlook for promising future directions of this emerging field. The integration of routine assessment of physiological parameters, activity data, and features such as electrocardiogram recording has generated excitement over a role for wearables to help diagnose and monitor cardiovascular disease. Presently, however, there are significant challenges limiting their routine clinical use. While studies suggest that wearable-derived data may help guide training, evidence for the use of wearables in guiding exercise regimens for individuals with cardiovascular disease is lacking. Further, there is a paucity of data to demonstrate its efficacy in detecting exercise-related arrhythmias or conditions associated with sudden cardiac death. Nevertheless, future technological developments may lead to a greater potential for wearables to aid in sports cardiology practice. The ability to collect vast amounts of physiological information can help athletes personalize training regimens. However, interpretation of these data and separating the signal from the noise are paramount, especially when used in a clinical setting. While there are currently no standardized approaches for the use of wearable-derived data in sports cardiology, we outline three domains in which they could guide the care of athletes in the future: (1) optimizing athletic performance (2) guiding exercise in athletes with known cardiovascular disease, and (3) screening for cardiovascular disease.
Cholesterol and sphingomyelin are critical for Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by macrophages.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in lymphopenic patients. Pulmonary macrophages comprise the first line of host defense upon inhalation of fungal spores by aiding in clearance, but can also potentially serve as a niche for their dissemination. Given that macrophages play a key role in the outcome of a cryptococcal infection, it is crucial to understand factors that mediate phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Since lipid rafts (high-order plasma membrane domains enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin) have been implicated in facilitating phagocytosis, we evaluated whether these ordered domains govern macrophages' ability to phagocytose C. neoformans. We found that cholesterol or sphingomyelin depletion resulted in significantly deficient IgG-mediated phagocytosis of fungus. Moreover, repletion of macrophage cells with a raft-promoting sterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) rescued this phagocytic deficiency, while a raft-inhibiting sterol (coprostanol) significantly decreased IgG-mediated phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Using a photoswitchable sphingomyelin (AzoSM), we observed that the raft-promoting conformation (trans-AzoSM) resulted in efficient phagocytosis, whereas the raft-inhibiting conformation (cis-AzoSM) significantly but reversibly blunted phagocytosis. We observed that the effect on phagocytosis may be mediated by facilitating Fcγ receptor (FcγR) function, whereby IgG immune complexes crosslink to FcγRIII, resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation of FcR γ-subunit (FcRγ), an important accessory protein in the FcγR signaling cascade. Correspondingly, cholesterol or sphingomyelin depletion resulted in decreased FcRγ phosphorylation. Repletion with 7-dehydrocholesterol restored phosphorylation, whereas repletion with coprostanol showed FcRγ phosphorylation comparable to unstimulated cells. Together, these data suggest that lipid rafts are critical for facilitating FcγRIII-mediated phagocytosis of C. neoformans.
Better Civil Practice in Dissolution of Marriage Litigation

The course of litigation will test a lawyer’s knowledge of procedural law as much as the substantive law governing the case. Dissolution of marriage litigation is no exception. Yet, in seeking to enforce substantive rights under the law of dissolution, many practitioners fail to observe certain elementary aspects of procedural law. Trial judges, for their part, often overlook procedural shortcomings. Whether viewed from the perspective of a domestic relations practitioner or trial judge, any temporary gain that may be had by relaxing procedural rules is greatly outweighed by the adverse effect it will have on the administration of justice in the long term. Informed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (Marriage Act),1 Article II of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (Code),2 also known as the Civil Practice Law (CPL), and the Illinois Supreme Court Rules (Supreme Court Rules or Rules), this Article draws attention to procedural customs and practices in domestic relations cases that are at odds with well-established procedural law and suggests changes in the way certain key aspects of dissolution of marriage cases are litigated. This Article argues that adopting its recommendations would harmonize procedure
Surgical Pain Control With Ropivacaine by Atomized Delivery (Spray): A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Study Objective To investigate the role of intraoperative atomized intraperitoneal ropivacaine (AIR) as an adjuvant to anesthetic agents at the time of minimally invasive pelvic surgery. Design Double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Design Classification: Randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). Setting Tertiary care teaching hospital. Participants Fifty-five patients who underwent laparoscopic and robotic gynecologic procedures. Intervention Patients received AIR or atomized intraperitoneal saline (AIS) (dose, 2 mg/kg) immediately after the initiation of pneumoperitoneum. Measurements and Main Results Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and narcotic use (in morphine equivalents) were collected and recorded at 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours postoperatively. Results Fifty-five patients completed the study protocol and data collection, with 30 patients allocated to the AIS group and 25 patients allocated to the AIR group. Demographic and surgical variables did not vary between the groups, with the exception of median operative duration. Postoperative VAS scores at 2, 4, 8, and 12 postoperative hours were higher in the AIS group, but the difference failed to reach statistical significance. Narcotic use was also similar in the 2 groups. Conclusion The use of intraperitoneal ropivacaine was not associated with a statistically significant difference in patients' postoperative VAS scores. Thus, in contrast to findings of similar studies performed in general surgery, AIR might not confer a benefit in women undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic procedures.
Approach to MR Imaging of the Elbow and Wrist: Technical Aspects and Innovation

Wrist and elbow MR imaging technology is advancing at a dramatic rate. Wrist and elbow MR imaging is performed at medium and higher field strengths with more specialized surface coils and more variable pulse sequences and postprocessing techniques. High field imaging and improved coils lead to an increased signal-to-noise ratio and increased variety of soft tissue contrast options. Three-dimensional imaging is improving in terms of usability and artifacts. Some of these advances have challenges in wrist and elbow imaging, such as postoperative patient imaging, cartilage mapping, and molecular imaging. This review considers technical advances in hardware and software and their clinical applications.
Multicomponent, Multiphase Thermodynamicsof Swelling Porous Media with Electroquasistatics:I. Macroscale Field Equations

In this paper we systematically develop macroscopic field equations (conservation of mass, linear and angular momentum, energy, and Maxwell''s equations) for a multiphase, multicomponent medium. It is assumed that speeds involved are much slower than the speed of light and that the magnitude of the electric field dominates significantly over the magnetic field so that the electroquasistatic form of Maxwell''s equations apply. We begin with a mixture formulation for each phase and average these equations to obtain the macroscopic formulation. The relationship between species and bulk phase variables and the macroscopic and microscopic variables are given explicitly. The resulting field equations are required for many practical applications including, but not limited to, swelling clays (smectites), biopolymers, biological membranes, pulsed electrophoresis, and chromotography.
Diabetes Prevention at the Tipping Point: Aligning Clinical and Public Health Recommendations.

In this issue, the CPSTF delivers recommendations for health care systems and community organizations to offer combined diet and physical activity promotion programs that provide counseling and lon...
The Second Amendment

The National Constitution Center asked two professors — one nominated by the Federalist Society and one nominated by the American Constitution Society — to discuss the meaning of the Second Amendment. The exchange, which appears on the Interactive Constitution web site, begins with a co-authored statement that articulates the principal points of agreement between the two contributors. It is followed by individual statements addressing several issues on which the contributors disagree.
Conservation Genetics, Extinction, and Taxonomic Status: a Case History of the Regal Fritillary

I investigated the phylogeography of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in the regal fritillary ( Speyeria idalia ) to determine the conservation status of isolated populations in light of alternative definitions of spe- cies, subspecies, and evolutionarily significant units. A total of 1441 bases of partial cytochrome oxidase I and II genes were sequenced from 115 individuals in 18 populations located throughout the range of the spe- cies. A relatively disjunct population was differentiated with five synapomorphies, whereas all other popula- tions had little haplotype variation and no apparent association between geographic and genetic distance. The divergence of the disjunct population may be due to either historical isolation among populations or ex- tinction of intermediate populations within a cline. Genetic divergence due to the extinction of populations in fragmented habitat, termed "anthrovicariance," may be a generalizable phenomenon. Similar cases in in- sects have been described previously. If more cases can be elucidated, taxonomists will need to consider whether allopatry achieved through a natural vicariant event should be treated differently than that achieved via human-induced habitat loss. Mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence, along with ecological and natural-history data, suggest that the disjunct population of S. idalia is a distinct evolutionary lineage. Al- though taxonomic designation is not a simple task, the data indicate that the disjunct population is clearly of conservation concern.
Empyema Due to Actinomycoses naeslundi

A case of pulmonary actinomycosis due to Actinomyces naeslundi in a 20-year-old woman is described. She is the first patient in whom this agent has been shown to be pathogenic for man. The resulting empyema responded to therapy but decortication was required.
Identification of GTP-binding proteins in Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni by immunoblotting

Both the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni have GTP-binding proteins which are part of the trans-membrane signalling system. These proteins require GTP in order to interact with the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase. The technique of immunoblotting was used in order to distinguish the GTP-binding proteins Gs, Gi, and Go. Immunoblotting was carried out using antisera prepared against peptides deduced from bovine cDNA clones specific for α or β subunits of known G proteins. A 41-kDa Gsα has been identified in S. mansoni and a 42.5-kDa Gsα in F. hepatica. A 41-kDa Goα was found in both parasites. A 36-kDa Gβ was identified in both parasites using antiserum made against bovine transducin.
The Relationship between Clients' Conformity to Masculine Norms and Their Perceptions of Helpful Therapist Actions.

T. J. G. Tracey et al.'s (2003) common factors model derived from therapists and psychotherapy researchers has provided a parsimonious structure to inform research and practice. Accordingly, the current authors used the 14 common factor categories identified in Tracey et al.'s model as a guide to code clients' perceptions of helpful therapist actions (e.g., intervention, way of being) in short-term psychotherapy. Next, they conducted a cluster analysis to establish meaningful subgroups of clients based on clients' perceptions of helpful therapist actions. Finally, they explored if clients in these subgroups differed in their report of conformity to masculine norms. Clients (N = 161) from a university counseling center were recruited for the current study. Results revealed 3 clusters of clients based on their perceptions of helpful therapist actions: Insight (44%), Relationship (30%), and Information (26%). In contrast, Tracey et al. found 3 clusters: Bond (which includes Insight and Relationship), Information, and Structure of therapy (not found in the current study). Clients in the Insight and Relationship clusters reported more conformity to masculine norms as compared with clients in the Information cluster. There were no sex differences across clusters.
Weak formulation of boundary conditions for scalar conservation laws: an application to highway traffic modelling

This article proves the existence and uniqueness of a weak solution to a scalar conservation law on a bounded domain. A weak formulation of the boundary conditions is needed for the problem to be well posed. The existence of the solution results from the convergence of the Godunov scheme. This weak formulation is written explicitly in the context of a strictly concave flux function (relevant for highway traffic). The numerical scheme is then applied to a highway scenario with data from highway Interstate-80 obtained from the Berkeley Highway Laboratory. Finally, the existence of a minimiser of travel time is obtained, with the corresponding optimal boundary control. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characteristics and Outcomes Among Heart Failure Patients With Anemia and Renal Insufficiency With and Without Blood Transfusions (Public Discharge Data from California 2000–2006)

Renal insufficiency and anemia are increasingly recognized as predictors of adverse events in heart failure. The impact of blood transfusion on mortality in patients with heart failure has not been previously characterized. We examined temporal changes in admissions and in-hospital mortality using public discharge data from California (2000 to 2006) and then evaluated the impact of renal insufficiency, anemia, and transfusion on in-hospital mortality in univariate and multivariate analyses. In total 596,456 unique patient admissions for heart failure were recorded. Renal insufficiency and anemia were common co-morbidities (27.4% and 27.1%, respectively) and 6.2% of patients received a transfusion of red blood cells. Renal insufficiency and anemia were associated with increased mortality (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.39 to 2.52, and 1.27, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.30, respectively). After adjustment, renal insufficiency (OR 2.54, 95% CI 2.46 to 2.62) and anemia (OR 1.12 95% CI 1.07 to 1.17) remained significant; however, transfusion emerged as the strongest single predictor (OR 3.81, 95% CI 3.51 to 4.13) of mortality. In conclusion, these data suggest that anemia and renal insufficiency are independently associated with mortality in an unselected heart failure population. This is the first study to demonstrate that transfusion magnifies this effect and is associated with a particularly poor prognosis.
An automatic polarimeter for space applications.

Under a NASA contract, a compact automatic polarimeter was developed as a pilot model for lunar and planetary missions by spacecraft. The polarimeter simultaneously analyzes linearly polarized light into four intensities from which the Stokes parameters I, Q, and U can be determined. The measurements are made automatically by an electronic observation sequencer and an automatic gain selector. Five wavelength bands between 1900 A and 6000 A can be used, and each measurement is calibrated automatically. The successful operation during three high altitude balloon flights indicates that the design is sound, and that with modifications for rocket vibration it can be used in space missions. The feature of making simultaneous measurements makes it particularly useful on planetary scans with fly-by probes. Preliminary results on the wavelength dependence of the polarization of the whole lunar disk, obtained ground-based, between 2850 A and 5100 A are presented.
Quantitative measurement of protein in disc electrophoresis by direct ultraviolet absorbance.

Abstract Proteins separated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels in 5 mm precision-bore round quartz tubes may be directly seanned at 280 nm in a special carriage in a Gilford model 2000 spectrophotometer. If the ϵ value of the protein is known, a direct quantitative measure of the amount of protein in any one peak can be obtained. With our equipment, 1 μg of protein was detectable and about 200 μg was the maximum amount that could be quantitated in any single peak.
A coordinate-transformation based filter for improved target tracking

A maximum likelihood estimation method is developed for applications to the target tracking problem based on bearing observations from a single observer. The method involves propagation of states in rectangular co-ordinates in which the linear dynamics permit a closed form solution. At the measurement times, the states are converted to a special polar coordinate system in which the measurement is modelled as linear in the transformed state, and updated using the Kalman methodology. The coordinate transformation is chosen so that the direct transformation of the maximum likelihood estimate is approximately preserved. The numerical experiments for a target-intercept problem are presented which show that the performance of this coordinate transformation based filter is superior to that of the cartesian system based extended Kalman filter. Approximate analytical results are also presented to corroborate the numerical results.
HPV replication in experimental models: effects of interferon

Preclinical evaluation of the effectiveness of interferon (IFN) therapy on human papillomaviruses (HPV) has been hampered by the inability to propagate these viruses in cell culture. Nonetheless, interferon is used extensively in the treatment of HPV infections. Alpha interferons in particular have found a place in the treatment of anogenital disease, plantar warts, and laryngeal papillomas. While their is significant clinical evidence to suggest that interferon is useful in therapy of disease, the cellular mechanism(s) (i.e., antiviral, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory) by which IFN is able to control HPV-induced pathology is not well understood. This review focuses on experimental animal and cell culture models which are currently being used to help identify the antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects of IFN on HPV infection.
Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of an Online Charter School.

This study examines data from focus group discussions with parents, students, and teachers at an online charter school. Standardized achievement test scores of children at the online charter school are compared with those in a similar school and across the state. Overall, the constituents involved in the online charter school were satisfied with the school's educational service. Students at the charter school performed lower than the state average of all schools (including public schools), but they performed better when compared to a similar school as defined by the state board of education. The online charter school experienced improvement in the report card rating from a designation of “Academic Watch” to “Continuous Improvement.” Evidence from constituent satisfaction and increasing student achievement suggests that the online charter school in this study is becoming competitive with traditional public schools.
Control of cachectin (tumor necrosis factor) synthesis: mechanisms of endotoxin resistance

Cachectin (tumor necrosis factor) is a macrophage hormone strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced shock. The availability of a DNA probe complementary to the cachectin messenger RNA (mRNA), as well as a specific antibody capable of recognizing the cachectin gene product, has made it possible to analyze the regulation of cachectin gene expression under a variety of conditions. Thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages obtained from mice contain a pool of cachectin mRNA that is not expressed as protein. When the cells are stimulated with endotoxin, large quantity of additional cachectin mRNA is produced, and immunoreactive cachectin is secreted. Macrophages from mice of the C3H/HeJ strain do not produce cachectin in response to endotoxin. A dual defect appears to prevent cachectin expression. First, a diminished quantity of cachectin mRNA is expressed in response to low concentrations of endotoxin. Second, a post-transcriptional defect prevents the production of cachectin protein. Macrophages from endotoxin-sensitive mice do not produce cachectin if they are first treated with dexamethasone, apparently for similar reasons. These findings give new insight into the nature of the C3H/HeJ mutation and suggest an important mechanism by which glucocorticoids may act to suppress inflammation.
Detecting Changes In Water Quality In The Laplatte River Watershed Following Implementation Of Bmps

ABSTRACT The LaPlatte River Watershed in northwestern Vermont is the focus of an intensive land treatment program to control agricultural runoff and a long-term monitoring program to evaluate the effect of these treatments on water quality. Best Management Practices for controlling dairy manure and cropland erosion have been implemented on 90 percent of the priority areas in the Watershed. The 11-year monitoring program includes precipitation and streamflow recording and water sampling for suspended solids, phosphorus, and nitrogen analysis. Interpretation of monitoring data is confounded by incremental implementation of best management practices, climatic and hydrologic variation, and lack of pre-implementation water quality data. Application of four exploratory trend analysis techniques to six years of data from one monitored subwatershed is described. These techniques are (1) linear regression against time; (2) comparison of annual means; (3) analysis of frequency distributions; and (4) paired watershe...