cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation of Variance, “Theoretical Plates,” Resolution, and Peak Capacity in Electrophoresis and Sedimentation

Abstract The rate of generation of variance, dσ2/dX, is a fundamental parameter which determines peak or boundary width and, thus, resolution in many differential migration systems. This parameter can be identified with the “plate height” of chromatography. By extending this nomenclature and the underlying concepts to electrophoresis and sedimentation, we arrive at parameters, particularly the “number of theoretical plates,” which allow a comparison of the effectiveness of these diverse methods. Equations are derived for the plate number as well as for resolution and peak capacity. Numerical comparisons are shown. Optimization is discussed with reference to maximum resolution, peak capacity, and separation speed.
Link between facultative melanin and tobacco use among African Americans.

Nicotine's affinity for melanin-containing tissues may result from its precursor function in melanin synthesis or the irreversible binding of melanin and nicotine. The objective of this study was to investigate a hypothesized association of tobacco use, dependence, and nicotine exposure with melanin pigmentation among African American smokers. A criterion-based sample was employed to collect data from a study of 147 adult African American current smokers. Carbon monoxide, saliva cotinine samples, and skin reflectance measures were obtained from each participant. Questionnaire data on demographic, sociological and behavioral questions related to smoking and skin color were gathered. The three dependent measures were the average number of cigarettes per day (CPD), Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score, and cotinine concentration. Analysis of variance, Pearson Correlations, and Multiple Linear Regression were conducted to analyze findings. The mean constitutive melanin reading was 56.3 and 66.5 for facultative melanin. Respondents on average smoked 19 CPD, had a mean FTND of 5.6, and a cotinine concentration of 435 ng/ml. Facultative melanin level was correlated with CPD and cotinine concentration in the bivariate analysis. The multiple linear regression results revealed that facultative melanin was significantly and positively related to CPD, the FTND, and cotinine. The results of this analysis support the hypothesis of a positive association between melanin levels and tobacco use, dependence, and exposure among African American smokers. This analysis may have important implications for research and interventions on tobacco dependence and disease outcomes. Further research on melanin and nicotine among African Americans as well as other population groups is warranted.
Dosimetric considerations in irradiation of carcinoma of the vagina.

Abstract A retrospective study was carried out of 114 patients with histologically proven invasive carcinoma of the vagina and 12 patients with carcinoma in situ; in evaluation of the dose of radiation special emphasis was given to the primary tumor and to the parametrial tissues and correlated with tumor control and survival. Eleven of the 12 patients with carcinoma in situ were controlled with interstitial or intracavitary therapy. Thirty-six of 37 patients with Stage I carcinoma showed no evidence of vaginal or pelvic recurrence. Most of them were treated with interstitial or intracavitary therapy or both and the addition of external beam irradiation did not significantly increase survival or tumor control. In Stage IIA (paravaginal extension) 12 of 17 (70.5%) patients were controlled with a combination of brachytherapy and external beam irradiation whereas only four of 16 (25%) treated without the addition of external irradiation exhibited tumor control in the pelvis. Four of 10 patients with Stage III disease were controlled whereas only one of 11 patients with Stage IV had control of the pelvic tumor even with relatively high doses of irradiation. It was apparent that the minimal dose of irradiation delivered to the primary tumor or the parametrial extension was critical in achieving successful results. The incidence of complications is correlated with the stage of the tumor and doses of radiation given. A detailed discussion of the techniques of irradiation that provide optimal dose distribution for the various stages of carcinoma of the vagina is presented.
Attributions about acquaintance rape: The role of alcohol and individual differences.

Reactions to an acquaintance rape scenario were examined for effects of respondent gender and portrayals of different levels of alcohol intoxication on attributions of responsibility and blame. Comparisons of conditions in which both victim and perpetrator were described as experiencing equivalent levels of intoxication revealed that participants rated the victim as more, but the perpetrator as less, responsible and blameworthy after consuming alcohol-particularly when drinking was accompanied by clear signs of behavioral impairment. In contrast, when the victim was more intoxicated and impaired than her assailant, intoxication of the perpetrator did not serve to excuse his behavior, but actually incriminated him more. Women generally assigned more blame to the victim. Individual differences in rape myth acceptance also influenced attributions.
Challenges to Maternal Wellbeing during Pregnancy Impact Temperament, Attention, and Neuromotor Responses in the Infant Rhesus Monkey

The relative maturity, alertness, and reactivity of an infant at birth are sensitive indices of the neonate's health, the quality of the pregnancy, and the mother's wellbeing. Even when fetal growth and gestation length have been normal, the maturing fetus can still be adversely impacted by both physical events and psychological challenges to the mother during the prenatal period. The following research evaluated 413 rhesus monkeys from 7 different types of pregnancies to determine which conditions significantly influenced the behavioral responsiveness and state of the young infant. A standardized test battery modeled after the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale for human newborns was employed. The largest impairments in orientation and increases in infant emotional reactivity were seen when female monkeys drank alcohol, even though consumed at only moderate levels during part of the pregnancy. The infants' ability to focus and attend to visual and auditory cues was also affected when the gravid female's adrenal hormones were transiently elevated for 2 weeks by ACTH administration. In addition, responses to tactile and vestibular stimulation were altered by both this ACTH treatment and psychological disturbance during gestation. Conversely, a 2-day course of antenatal corticosteroids 1 month before term resulted in infants with lower motor activity and reactivity. These findings highlight several pregnancy conditions that can affect a young infant's neurobehavioral status, even when otherwise healthy, and demonstrate that alterations or deficits are specific to the type of insult experienced by the mother and fetus.
Communicating “Truth”: Testimonio, Vernacular Voices, and The Rigoberta Menchú Controversy

In this essay, the authors explore some of the communicative dimensions of the Rigoberta Menchu controversy, engaging both the textual and contextual elements of this controversy. They first provide a brief review of the Menchu case and an analysis of the criticism by her principal detractor, David Stoll. The authors then analyze the unique role that testimonio plays in Latin American discursive constructions, as well as how other discursive communities responded to the Menchu-Stoll controversy. Finally, the authors comment on the discursive importance of the Menchu-Stoll controversy, and make a case for the heuristic value of testimonio in future investigations of Latin American work in communication studies.
Behavioral and neural analyses of connotative meaning: Word classes and rating scales☆

Abstract Behavioral (semantic differential) and neural (Evoked Potentials, EPs) responses were related to connotative meaning. The approach was based on Osgood's semantic analyses and dimensions of Evaluation (E), Potency (P), and Activity (A). The experimental variables were (1) the semantic class of the stimulus word (E+, E-, P+, P-, A+, A-) and (2) the dimension of the semantic scale (E, P, A) which the subject used to rate the stimulus words. These variables were experimentally combined such that on each trial the subject used a designated semantic scale to judge a specified stimulus word while brain activity was recorded. Using multivariate analyses, the effects on the EPs of stimulus word class, scale dimension, and their interaction were analyzed. The EP effects of stimulus word class were similar whether the subjects were merely saying the words or rating the words on a variety of semantic scales. Different EPs were found for six word classes, three semantic scale dimensions, and the 18 groups formed by their combination. The success rates in EP identification of (1) word class and (2) scale dimension did not depend on whether these two kinds of semantic variables involved the same or different semantic dimensions. The two kinds of semantic effects in EPs were largely independent. The behavioral data supported Osgood's results and showed that our subjects were appropriately processing the semantic information. The common analyses of data from all subjects suggest the universality of the connotative EP effects across individuals. This parallels, at the neural level, the universality of the connotative dimensions found at the behavioral level by semantic differential ratings. The EP effects imply that the neural representation of meaning is similar in different individuals.
Frontline therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: the dilemma continues.

To the Editor: I would like to congratulate Bosch and colleagues on a well-conducted clinical investigation confirming the activity of the FCM (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and mitoxantrone) program in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia ([1][1]). Bosch and colleagues reported that
Anti-IL-6 and PD-L1 antibody combination therapy reduces tumor progression in murine models of pancreatic cancer.

Meeting abstracts Checkpoint inhibition has gained traction as an immunotherapeutic approach. However, limited efficacy has been observed in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Prior studies by our group have indicated that human pancreatic stellate cells (PSC), a major component
Direct Endoscopic Visualization Combined with Ultrasound Guided Access during Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Feasibility Study and Comparison to a Conventional Cohort

Purpose: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy access may be technically challenging and result in significant radiation exposure. In an attempt to reduce percutaneous nephrolithotomy radiation exposure, a novel technique combining ultrasound and direct ureteroscopic visualization was developed and reviewed.Materials and Methods: Ureteroscopy without fluoroscopy was used to determine the optimal calyx for access, which was punctured with a Chiba needle under percutaneous ultrasound guidance. Next a wire was passed into the collecting system and ureteroscopically pulled into the ureter using a basket. Tract dilation and sheath and nephrostomy tube placement were performed under direct ureteroscopic visualization. Twenty consecutive patients undergoing this novel technique were reviewed and compared to 20 matched patients treated with conventional percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Mann-Whitney U and Pearson chi-square tests were used for comparisons with p <0.05 considered significant.Results: Using this novel technique...
Web advertising

Advertising on the World Wide Web has arrived. The ads we see now mark the beginning of a rapidly growing business. $906.5 million was spent on Internet advertising in the USA in 1997, and that will rise to $7.7 billion by 2002. The Web's unique properties present excellent advertising opportunities, not only for the advertisers and publishers, but also for those of us browsing the Web. These opportunities are being explored through numerous channels for Web advertising: from do-it-yourself shops to banner exchanges and for-pay advertising networks. Nevertheless, the Web offers many more opportunities. With progress, we might one day find ourselves appreciating ads that are carefully selected according to our preferences.
Pneumococcus Toxin and Antitoxin

A number of years ago one of us, while working with the scarlet fever skin test, attempted to demonstrate the presence of toxin in the filtrates of broth cultures of the pneumococcus. Although some skin reactions were observed, no satisfactory evidence of the toxin was obtained. In 1935 we1 reported a method of producing a concentrated and purified scarlet fever toxin. It occurred to us that the presence of a toxin in low concentration in pneumococcus culture filtrates might be demonstrated by making use of similar concentration and purification. It had been shown by Parker2 that anaerobically produced autolysates from broth cultures of pneumococci caused, in guinea pigs, hemorrhagic edema of the lungs and necrosis of the skin. Parker3 also demonstrated that antiautolysate serums could be produced in rabbits and horses by the repeated injection of toxin autolysate. While the present study was in progress, Coca4 reported his work on toxins produced in anaerobic cultures of pneumococci. He concluded that under ordinary atmospheric conditions of bacterial cultivation the pneumococcus produces a "toxin" which lacks the property of stimulating antitoxin production in human beings. The specific purpose of this study was to produce a pneumococcus toxin in a concentrated and purified form from pneumococci grown aerobically in ordinary veal infusion broth with about 0.1% human blood added.
Sources and Application of Cooling Water

Abstract IN the Firestone plants, the application of water for cooling purpose has progressed from year to year along the following lines. The original installation of mill rolls included a stuffing box in one end of the roll, with two 1 1/2″ holes in the end of this stationary box, one being the water inlet with a 1″ perforated standard pipe extending across the entire length of the inside of the roll. The coding water filled the entire cavity of the roll, placing it under line pressure with a drain through a 1″ pipe to the other connection in the stationary stuffing. box. This water is returned to a common header system and finds its way into the storm sewer system. This method of mill roll cooling required approximately 40 gallons of water per mill per minute, the water entering the roll at a temperature of 56° and leaving at approximately 60°, or a temperature rise of only 4° F. With this method, the difference between the temperature of the outgoing water and the stock was 85°. This method was exceed...
On the coupled heat equation of linear thermoelasticity

The presence of the coupling term in the coupled heat equation of linear thermoelasticity is quite undesirable. Beyond causing heat transfer to be coupled to the deformation, it is shown that it causes the internal energy to be singular in the isothermal limit where it does not go over continuously to its pure theory of elasticity form. This is very much unlike classical fluid mechanics in which the isothermal limit is regular in so far as the internal energy is concerned. It is shown that as long as the deformation does not contain high frequency vibrations, the coupling term can be dropped and the singularity can be removed. This is proven by a careful order of magnitude analysis of the governing equations and is a valid approximation for the overwhelming majority of phenomena. It is a desirable approximation to make that has been commonly made in the literature in the past anyhow. The full implications of these results for research in thermoelasticity are thoroughly discussed.
Direction Versus Proximity: Amassing Experimental Evidence

Scale limitations, endogeneity problems, and observational equivalence in observational studies render many tests of the proximity and directional models inconclusive. Fortunately, the task of designing experimental tests has proven tractable and the small, but growing, body of experimental evidence sheds new light on directional and proximity motivated behavior. The experiment described in this article was designed to reexamine the role of ideology structuring candidate evaluations in the general population and test the models in two new policy areas: opinion about military spending and opinion about abortion. The results indicate that ideology and opinions about military spending stimulate proximity behavior whereas opinions about abortion stimulate directional behavior. It is also found that abortion-based evaluations are more strongly directional for those who oppose abortion—which is consistent with the notion of policy balancing. The article concludes by considering the possibility that some issues ...
Work-Play Integration: An Alternative Perspective on Play in Organizational Settings

The current literature on play in work settings continues to be dominated by serious play and playful work studies. In this article, we seek to respond to recent calls for a more detailed examination of various manifestations of play in organizations by introducing the concept of social ludic activities as a specific form of playful practice which is spontaneous, pre-reflexive, and unintentional in nature and has a temporary existence. Drawing upon a practice-based perspective we explore how workers in the pursuit of their daily practices shape the emergent and situated use of social ludic activities as they interact and cope with the environment in which they are embedded. We attempt to contribute to the field by advancing a framework that revolves around several contextual factors that may influence the specific enactments that players make of the social ludic practice. Conceiving social ludic activities as a practice allows not only highlighting the value of play as a liminal space for the collective g...
Effect of Fractionation of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement on Properties of Superpave Mixtures With Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement

While the necessity for cost effective and sustainable replacements for virgin paving mixtures is becoming more and more evident in recent years, particularly with asphalt binder and aggregate economics and the obligations for using greener alternatives, contradictory performance results of high percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in Superpave mixtures have made the addition of RAP to hot mix asphalt (HMA) quite challenging. Obtaining RAP involves milling and processing that produces an excessive amount of fine aggregates, making it difficult to control the final HMA volumetric properties, especially when higher amounts of RAP are used. In addition, segregation in RAP stockpiles is a common phenomenon which causes difficulties in air void control of the final mix due to higher asphalt content of fine aggregates. Fractionation is a process in which RAP is separated into at least two sizes, typically one coarse and one fine fraction, in order to ensure consistency of RAP. Fractionation is now being increasingly specified for inclusion of higher volumes of RAP in Superpave mixtures; however, whether any improvements of mechanical properties of HMA can be obtained by fractionation is virtually unknown. In this study, the effect of increasing RAP percentage, source of RAP, and replacing RAP with fractionated RAP on the performance of Superpave HMA mixtures was investigated in terms of rutting, freeze-thaw resistance, and cracking resistance by conducting Hamburg wheel track device (HWTD), moisture susceptibility, and complex modulus tests. HMA mixtures in this study were made with the same virgin aggregates and virgin binder using two different sources of RAP by increasing RAP amount from 20 to 40 %. Results showed that the performance can be different based on the aged binder and quality of aggregates in RAP; moreover, the fractionation effect was found to be insignificant on enhancing the performance of Superpave mixtures with RAP.
Atmospheric General Circulation and Climate

This chapter describes the energy balance of the atmosphere, the general circulation of the atmosphere and the mechanisms whereby the atmosphere transports heat and moisture. It also discusses the angular momentum balance of the atmosphere and the role it plays in determining the climate. Seasonal variations and monsoons are discussed.
Inhibition Performance of Inhibitor-ZZF for Carbon Steel in Acid Solution

Inhibition performance of a complex imidazole inhibitor ZZF for carbon steel was studied by weight-loss measurement,potentiondynamic polarization curve and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy(EIS).The results suggested that in 5% HCl solution at 50℃ the inhibitor ZZF could effectively prevent carbon steel from acid corrosion and the corrosion inhibition of ZZF followed a coverage mechanism.The anode and cathode processes were simultaneously suppressed due to a ZZF film covering the surface of carbon steel.In addition,based on the EIS display of absorption film on the surface of carbon steel,a equivalent circuit was proposed as its physical model.By scanning electron microscopy(SEM)observation,a netlike appearance can be clearly seen on the surface of the carbon steel treated in the solution with ZZF.The thickness of the film is about 6μm.
Of Limits and Growth: The Persistence of Old Problems: The Politics of Environment and Development at the Rio Earth Summit

Standing before exasperated delegates on June 12, 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, President George H. W. Bush spoke in vague terms. “We believe that the road to Rio must point toward both environmental protection and economic growth, environment and development,” the president proclaimed. “By now it's clear: To sustain development, we must protect the environment. And to protect the environment, we must sustain development.” President Bush's words left many onlookers baffled. On the one hand, Bush spoke the language of sustainability, noting the interrelationship between economic development and environmental protection. Soon after his speech, the president signed the conference's formal declaration, which proclaimed “sustainable development” as the discursive framework for the United Nations' development policies. He acknowledged the need to integrate environmental protection into all economic development policies. On the other hand, President Bush did not attempt to describe exactly how that process would occur. He also rejected many of the formal conventions on the table in Rio. The president refused to sign a treaty on biodiversity protection, and he only agreed to support an agreement on global climate change that came without any binding stipulations. Although the president had accepted the necessity of crafting environmentally friendly approaches to development, it was clear that full cooperation and significant concrete measures remained out of reach. The gulf between the president's rhetoric and actions revealed two salient aspects of how the relationship between environmentalism and economic development had evolved over the previous decades. As President Bush's speech indicated, the conference legitimized the use of sustainability rhetoric to acknowledge the link between environmental protection and economic development, which major environmental nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) had been promoting for over a decade. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, many policy makers conceived of environmental protection and economic policy as separate policy domains; by 1992, every government leader acknowledged the interconnectedness of the two concepts and every leader spoke of “sustainable development.” In some respects, NGOs such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) had succeeded beyond their expectations in popularizing the sustainability concept.
The Impact of Birth Order Upon Selected Marketing Variables

The following paper conceptually relates birth order to the consumer purchasing process and the marketing mix.
Scaling impact from grassroots social innovation: a conceptual network-based model

This paper makes a theoretical contribution to the field of social innovation by applying a social network perspective to scaling grassroots initiatives. Existing theoretical work pertaining to social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and the role of networks for scaling social innovation is explored. Based on this review, a conceptual model is developed that builds on existing research and consists of four main elements: the role of agency, relationship density, relationship diversity, and network structure. The model is applied to a case study of nine food producers in Nova Scotia, Canada, who have employed a community-supported agriculture (CSA) approach to selling their products to support their social and environmental goals in a financially viable manner. Interviews with CSA operators are used to gather data, and findings from the case study are used to provide support for the particular importance of relationship diversity and network structures for scaling social innovations.
Effect of an injectable trace mineral at the initiation of a 14 day CIDR protocol on heifer performance and reproduction

Three experiments were conducted at separate locations to determine the effects of a trace mineral injection (TMI), Multimin 90, on heifer performance and reproduction. In Exp. 1, [spring-born, Angus, n = 93, body weight (BW) = 428 ± 45.2 kg], Exp. 2 (spring-born, Angus × Simmental, n = 120, BW = 426 ± 54.0 kg), and Exp. 3 (fall-born, commercial Angus, n = 199, BW = 345 ± 39.7 kg) heifers were stratified by BW within experiment and assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: a control, saline injection, or TMI at a dose of 1 mL/68 kg BW. Free choice mineral, containing Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn formulated to meet or exceed NRC recommendations, was supplemented to heifers. Injections were given 33 d prior to breeding at the initiation of a 14-d controlled internal drug release (CIDR)-prostaglandin protocol. There was no difference (P ≥ 0.37) in BW during Exp. 1. Additionally, there was no difference (P ≥ 0.52) in body condition score (BCS) at initiation or at artificial insemination (AI) and final pregnancy confirmation in Exp. 1; however, a greater (P = 0.03) BCS was noted for control heifers at breeding. Pregnancy rates to timed AI and overall pregnancy rates were also similar (P ≥ 0.74) regardless of treatment. During Exp. 2, BCS and BW did not differ (P ≥ 0.44) across treatments. There was a tendency (P = 0.07) for TMI heifers to have an increased AI pregnancy rate (62 vs. 45%) compared with control heifers despite no difference (P = 0.51) in overall pregnancy rate. In Exp. 3, BW was not different (P ≥ 0.39) across all time points. Also, BCS did not differ (P ≥ 0.45) at initiation, AI, or final pregnancy conformation. Interestingly, there was a tendency (P = 0.10) for TMI heifers to have an increased BCS at the time of breeding compared with control heifers. However, there were no differences (P ≥ 0.50) in AI and overall pregnancy rates. In 1 of 3 experiments, an injectable trace mineral administered 33 d prior to the breeding season in conjunction with a 14-d CIDR protocol, tended to increased AI conception rates of heifers even when adequate trace mineral supplement was provided. The variable response observed across experiments may be caused by differences in breed, calving season, mineral sources, and management strategies.
Dynamic Trajectory Tracking by Synergistic Dual-Stage Actuation and Control

This paper addresses precision tracking control of dual-stage actuators for machining of noncircular engine piston profiles. To achieve desired tracking performance, the capacity limits, dynamic characteristics, external disturbances, and model uncertainties of the dual-stage actuators pose significant challenges in control design and real-time implementation. The master–slave linear control configuration previously applied to similar applications is inadequate when nonlinear dynamics are triggered by constraint violations. Optimal predictive control, which minimizes the tracking error subject to physical constraints, is desirable, but the substantial computation forbids real-time implementation at the sampling rate required by the application. A hybrid approach is proposed where an offline constrained optimal feedforward tracking utilizing the model-predictive control framework (FFMPC) is added to a two-parameter robust repetitive control (TPRRC) to achieve high-precision tracking performance, which would otherwise be unattainable solely by each individual control action. Multirate digital control implementation on a dual-stage actuator system, which is comprised of a long-stroke low-bandwidth linear motor and a short-stroke high-bandwidth piezoelectric actuator for tracking noncircular engine piston profiles is presented. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach, where the tracking error by TPRRC is reduced by 84.8 % when FFMPC is added.
American Society of Functional Neuroradiology–Recommended fMRI Paradigm Algorithms for Presurgical Language Assessment

INTRODUCTION: Functional MR imaging is increasingly being used for presurgical language assessment in the treatment of patients with brain tumors, epilepsy, vascular malformations, and other conditions. The inherent complexity of fMRI, which includes numerous processing steps and selective analyses, is compounded by institution-unique approaches to patient training, paradigm choice, and an eclectic array of postprocessing options from various vendors. Consequently, institutions perform fMRI in such markedly different manners that data sharing, comparison, and generalization of results are difficult. The American Society of Functional Neuroradiology proposes widespread adoption of common fMRI language paradigms as the first step in countering this lost opportunity to advance our knowledge and improve patient care. LANGUAGE PARADIGM REVIEW PROCESS: A taskforce of American Society of Functional Neuroradiology members from multiple institutions used a broad literature review, member polls, and expert opinion to converge on 2 sets of standard language paradigms that strike a balance between ease of application and clinical usefulness. ASFNR RECOMMENDATIONS: The taskforce generated an adult language paradigm algorithm for presurgical language assessment including the following tasks: Sentence Completion, Silent Word Generation, Rhyming, Object Naming, and/or Passive Story Listening. The pediatric algorithm includes the following tasks: Sentence Completion, Rhyming, Antonym Generation, or Passive Story Listening. DISCUSSION: Convergence of fMRI language paradigms across institutions offers the first step in providing a “Rosetta Stone” that provides a common reference point with which to compare and contrast the usefulness and reliability of fMRI data. From this common language task battery, future refinements and improvements are anticipated, particularly as objective measures of reliability become available. Some commonality of practice is a necessary first step to develop a foundation on which to improve the clinical utility of this field.
Institutional aspects of waste disposal

From a technological viewpoint the disposal of radioactive waste is a difficult but manageable problem. Even for the worst part of the problem, the disposal of high-level waste, the steps leading to safe isolation seem straightforward. The purely mechanical operations required — the sinking of a shaft and excavation of a repository area, the enclosing of waste in canisters and movement of canisters into the repository, backfilling the repository and sealing the openings — can all be accomplished with known engineering techniques. Geological criteria for choosing repository sites are well established, and a number of places that satisfy these criteria have been found. Some questions remain about details, particularly with regard to predictions of repository performance over the long-term future, and some of the details require further study. Among scientists and engineers who are familiar with the problem there is fairly substantial agreement that the needed research is minor and can be accomplished as the construction of a repository proceeds. Why then, do we still delay? Why isn’t a repository for HLW already under construction?
Acute anaphylactic reactions and aspirin allergy.

The subject of anaphylaxis immediately brings to mind penicillin, and for good reasons. Still, any of a long list of diagnostic and therapeutic agents and foods can be the cause of this life-threatening event. Every physician and even some patients should be prepared to deal with this emergency. For some asthmatic patients, even taking aspirin can precipitate a severe attack of asthma. In particular, the combination of asthma and nasal polyps should raise suspicion of this type of aspirin allergy.
The Value of Being Discrete: The Differential and Causal Effects of Positive Affect and Discrete Positive Emotions on Organ Donor Registration Outcomes.

Background The current studies examined how positive affect (i.e. the blend of several positive feelings over time) and discrete positive emotions (i.e. a specific set of momentary thoughts and feelings) influence organ donor registration outcomes. Methods In Study 1, participants were randomly assigned to a writing task intended to elicit positive or negative affect. In Study 2, participants received a discrete positively valenced emotion induction (i.e. elevation, humor, hubristic pride), or were in a control condition. Results Study 1 (N = 503) indicated a causal relationship between general positive affect and registration attitudes. An indirect effect beginning with general positive affect, going through attitudes, and then intentions, to influence behavior was also indicated. Study 2a (N = 394) demonstrated that elevation, humor, and hubristic pride can be influenced using an online platform. Study 2b (N = 1,046) indicated a causal relationship between elevation and increased registration intentions and behavior. The humor recall task caused marginally significant greater registration intentions, but no significant behavioral differences. The hubristic pride task did not influence registration outcomes. Conclusion Organ donor practitioners and scholars could benefit from increased focus on the emotional states likely to be experienced at different venues when considering intervention contexts.
Prognostic value of mitoses in thick primary melanoma.

e21046Background: Patients with thick primary melanomas ( ≥ 4mm) have variable outcomes. With the availability of promising adjuvant therapies, new tools are needed to identify subsets of patients ...
Sonic hedgehog regulation of cavernous nerve regeneration and neurite formation in aged pelvic plexus.

Abstract Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a significant health concern that greatly impacts quality of life, and is common in men as they age, impacting 52% of men between the ages of 40 and 70. A significant underlying cause of ED development is injury to the cavernous nerve (CN), a peripheral nerve that innervates the penis. CN injury also occurs in up to 82% of prostatectomy patients. We recently showed that Sonic hedgehog (SHH) protein delivered by peptide amphiphile (PA) nanofiber hydrogel to the CN and penis of a prostatectomy model of CN injury, is neuroprotective, accelerates CN regeneration, improves erectile function ~60%, preserves penile smooth muscle 56% and suppresses collagen deposition 30%. This regenerative potential is substantial in an adult prostatectomy model (P120). However prostatectomy patients are typically older (61.5 ± 9.6 years) and our models should mimic patient conditions more effectively when considering translation. In this study we examine regenerative potential in an aged prostatectomy model (P200–329). Methods The caudal portion of the pelvic ganglia (MPG) and CN were dissected from adult (n = 11), and aged (n = 13) Sprague Dawley rats, and were grown in organ culture 3 days. Uninjured and 2 day CN crushed MPG/CN were exposed to Affi-Gel beads containing SHH protein, PBS (control), or 5e1 SHH inhibitor. Neurites were quantified by counting the number of growth cones normalized by tissue perimeter (mm) and immunohistochemistry for SHH, patched1 (PTCH1), smoothened (SMO), GLI1-3, and GAP43 were performed. Results SHH treatment increased neurites 3.5-fold, in uninjured adult, and 5.7-fold in aged rats. Two days after CN crush, SHH treatment increased neurites 1.8-fold in adult rats and 2.5-fold in aged rats. SHH inhibition inhibited neurite formation in uninjured MPG/CN but not in 2 day CN crushed MPG/CN. PTCH1 and SMO (SHH receptors), and SHH transcriptional activators/repressors, GLI1-3, were abundant in aged MPG/CN with unaltered localization. ROCK1 was induced with SHH treatment. Conclusions Reintroduction of SHH protein in an aged prostatectomy model is even more effective in promoting neurite formation/CN regeneration than in the adult. The first 48 h after CN injury are a critical window when growth factors are released, that impact later neurite formation. These studies are significant because most prostatectomy patients are not young and healthy, as with adult rats, so the aged prostatectomy model will more accurately simulate ED patient response. Understanding how neurite formation changes with age is critical for clinical translation of SHH PA to prostatectomy patients.
PREPARTICIPATION CARDIOVASCULAR SCREENING IN THE PAC-12: A COMPARISON OF HISTORY AND PHYSICAL WITH AND WITHOUT ECG

A preparticipation evaluation (PPE) with cardiovascular (CV) screening is required prior to athletic participation at all Pac-12 athletes. This study examines the number of CV conditions associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Pac-12 athletes screened with and without a 12-lead
Relative Importance and Value

Three axioms provide a formal definition of relative importance in a statistical or econometric model by identifying the likelihood that any ordering of independent variables is correctly ordered with respect to their relative importance. The expected contribution to model performance of independent variables with respect to this distribution is the proportional marginal decomposition of model performance with respect to the performance measure. Decomposition components are shown to be equal to the proportional value (Ortmann (2000), Feldman (1999, 2002)) of an appropriately constructed cooperative game. Also addressed are admissibility criteria for measures of relative importance, other measures of relative importance, the entropy of cooperative games and extensions and limitations.
On Common Features of the Language of Creative Performance and Hallucinogenic-Drug-Induced Creative Experience

As part of a long-term investigation of the symbolic interpretation of central nervous system activity, the authors have been concerned with the functioning and the characteristics of language during states of ergotropic1 arousal.
Routine Chest Radiographs in Children After Image-Guided Central Lines Offer Little Diagnostic Value.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of postoperative chest radiograph (CXR) after image-guided central venous line (CVL) placement in children. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all tunneled CVLs placed at two pediatric institutions from 2010 to 2017. A subgroup analysis comparing a clinically driven approach to postoperative imaging against routine imaging was performed. Results During the study period, 1080 lines were placed in 915 patients. There were 892 postoperative CXRs (82.6%). An abnormality was seen on 40 radiographs (4.5%, n = 891), with 16 false-positive (1.3%) and 5 false-negative (0.6%) CXRs. The sensitivity and specificity of CXR to identify complications requiring intervention were 50.0% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 10.0-90.0) and 95.8% (95% CI, 94.5-97.1), respectively. Positive predictive value of CXR was 7.5% (95% CI, 0-15.7) with a negative predictive value of 99.6% (95% CI, 99.2-100). A clinically driven approach to postoperative imaging was associated with 41% decrease in CXR (P Conclusions Routine postoperative CXR offers minimal value in identifying technical complications requiring intervention after image-guided CVL placement in asymptomatic children. We recommend abandoning this practice in favor of a clinical symptom-driven approach to postoperative imaging.
Barriers and facilitators to a ‘good death’ in heart failure: An integrative review

Abstract Background Heart failure is the final common pathway of many cardiovascular diseases, and yet many individuals with heart failure die hospitalised, suffering needlessly and experiencing what could be termed a ‘bad death'. While it is essential to address the wishes of individuals and their families in improving the quality of end-of-life care for patients with heart failure, their unmet needs remain poorly understood. Aim To systematically review the literature describing a good death or end-of-life care in heart failure and to synthesise identified studies to describe how elements of heart failure care may contribute to a good death. Methods PubMed and Scopus were searched from January 2001 to April 2018. The method of Whittemore and Knafl guided this review to identify emergent themes. Findings Of the 436 studies identified, 43 met the inclusion criteria. Five themes associated with end-of-life care in heart failure and a good death were generated: (1) location of death, (2) preferred care, (3) palliative care utilisation, (4) interventions to improve the likelihood of a good death, (5) the intersection of individual, family, healthcare providers, and community-level factors. Discussion This integrative review highlights a number of factors that prevent patients with heart failure from receiving palliative care, such as difficulty predicting mortality, late referral misconception of the role of palliative care and low availability of resources. Conclusion This review has identified modifiable barriers and facilitator of a good death and emphasised the importance of considering the intersection of patient, provider and healthcare system issues in facilitating a good death for patients with heart failure.
José Luis Girón Alconchel/Francisco Javier Herrero Ruiz de Loizaga/Daniel M. Sáez Rivera (Eds.): Procesos de textualización y gramaticalización en la historia del español. Madrid/Frankfurt: Iberoamericana/Vervuert, 2018, 347 pp. ISBN: 978-84-16922-72-7

Resena de la obra: Procesos de textualizacion y gramaticalizacion en la historia del espanol
Does context matter? A multilevel analysis of neighborhood disadvantage and children's sleep health

Abtract Objectives To determine how demographic, socioeconomic, and neighborhood characteristics are associated with bedtimes among US kindergarteners. Design Parents reported bedtimes of their children as well as personal, household, and residential characteristics via interviews in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten (ECLS-K) Class of 1998–1999. The ECLS-K links individual households to US Census tracts. Setting A random selection of 1,280 schools and surrounding communities in the US. Participants A random selection of 16,936 kindergarteners and their parents. Measurements The 2 outcomes were regular and latest weekday bedtimes of kindergarteners. Through a series of nested multilevel regression models, these outcomes were regressed on individual- and neighborhood-level variables, including race/ethnicity, sex, family type, household income, mother's educational attainment, neighborhood disorder, and several additional neighborhood characteristics. Results Models showed significant (P Conclusions Reducing disparities in childhood sleep may require programs that target not only children and their parents, but also the communities in which they reside.
Discrete-Outcome Analysis of Tornado Damage Following the 2011 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Tornado

AbstractGround-truth measurements of damage caused by natural disasters are routinely used to determine which factors of the natural, built, and social environment contribute to losses from these e...
A 140/220GHz radiometer for airborne imaging

A dual frequency (140/220 GHz) radiometer has been designed, developed, and delivered to the Naval Research Laboratory. This instrument has been used to obtain the first airborne, high resolution, low noise, passive imagery at these frequencies. It features all solid state receiver components, remote switching/operation, dual IF channels, a 220 GHz subharmonic mixer, and quasi-optical RF diplexing.
Vale Roger Banks: A Tribute: Edgar Roger Banks, 10 July 1930 – 26 January 2018

Roger Banks, who was well known to many in the telecommunications industry, passed away in January 2018. He retired as Telecom Australia’s Director of Business Development in 1988, having made significant contributions to Telecom’s commercial development and customer focus. His early career included significant leadership in CCITT’s switching studies. This obituary outlines his life from the early days in Victoria, through his career with the PMG and Telecom, to his post-retirement contributions as a board member and supporter of engineering education.
K-wave simulations and their biomedical application in XACT imaging

Recently, X-ray-induced acoustic computed tomography (XACT) has been raised as a promising imaging modality that can monitor the dose delivery in radiation therapy by combining high x-ray absorption contrast with the 3D propagation advantages provided by high-resolution ultrasound waves. k-Wave toolbox is a powerful MATLAB toolbox that can simulate the generation, propagation, and detection of the thermal acoustic wave. The purpose of this study was to summarize the k-Wave simulation works on XACT imaging. In our group, two simulation experiments were carried out, focusing on determining the radiation dose in stereotactic partial breast irradiation (SPBI) therapy and prostate radiation therapy, respectively. The simulation results demonstrated that the k-Wave simulation tool has great potential in simulating wave propagation and reconstructing XACT dose images according to initial pressure distribution.