cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asthma outcomes: Healthcare utilization and costs

Background Measures of healthcare utilization and indirect impact of asthma morbidity are used to assess clinical interventions and estimate cost. Objective National Institutes of Health institutes and other federal agencies convened an expert group to propose standardized measurement, collection, analysis, and reporting of healthcare utilization and cost outcomes in future asthma studies. Methods We used comprehensive literature reviews and expert opinion to compile a list of asthma healthcare utilization outcomes that we classified as core (required in future studies), supplemental (used according to study aims and standardized), and emerging (requiring validation and standardization). We also have identified methodology to assign cost to these outcomes. This work was discussed at an National Institutes of Health–organized workshop in March 2010 and finalized in September 2011. Results We identified 3 ways to promote comparability across clinical trials for measures of healthcare utilization, resource use, and cost: (1) specify the study perspective (patient, clinician, payer, and society); (2) standardize the measurement period (ideally 12 months); and (3) use standard units to measure healthcare utilization and other asthma-related events. Conclusions Large clinical trials and observational studies should collect and report detailed information on healthcare utilization, intervention resources, and indirect impact of asthma, so that costs can be calculated and cost-effectiveness analyses can be conducted across several studies. Additional research is needed to develop standard, validated survey instruments for collection of provider-reported and participant-reported data regarding asthma-related health care.
Interactive Effects of Simulated Herbivory and Interspecific Competition on Survival of Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) Seedlings

Abstract I investigated the individual and joint effects of simulated herbivory and interspecific competition on survival of Coleogyne ramosissima Torr. (blackbrush) seedlings. Seeds of C. ramosissima and Bromus rubens L. (red brome grass) were collected at mid-elevations (1220 to 1770 m) of the Spring Mountains in southern Nevada. A pot trial experiment was conducted for six months (27 wk) in a controlled environmental greenhouse. This trial experiment, consisting of a 2 × 2 factorial design with simulated rodent herbivory and interspecific competition with B. rubens as the main effects, resulted in four treatments. Herbivory on C. ramosissima by heteromyid and non-heteromyid species of rodents was simulated by clipping the top 3 cm of young shoots. Significant interaction was detected between herbivory and competition for C. ramosissima seedling survival. When herbivory and competition were examined independently, both factors had significant adverse effects on C. ramosissima seedling survival, with the...
Effect of windowing and zero-filled reconstruction of MRI data on spatial resolution and acquisition strategy.

Standard, MR spin-warp sampling strategies acquire data on a rectangular k-space grid. That method samples data from the "corners" of k-space, i.e., data that lie in a region of k-space outside of an ellipse just inscribed in the rectangular boundary. Illustrative calculations demonstrate that the data in the corners of k-space contribute to the useful resolution only if an interpolation method such as a zero-filled reconstruction is used. The consequences of this finding on data acquisition and data windowing strategies are discussed. A further implication of this result is that the spatial resolution of images reconstructed with zero-filling (but without radial windowing) is expected to display angular dependence, even when the phase- and frequency-encoded resolutions are identical. This hypothesis is experimentally verified with a slit geometry phantom. It is also observed that images reconstructed without zero-filling do not display the angular dependence of spatial resolution predicted solely by the maximal k-space extent of the raw data. The implications of these results for 3D contrast-enhanced angiographic acquisitions with elliptical centric view ordering are explored with simulations.
OEsim: a simulator for timing behavior

Digital circuit behavior consists of two components: functionality and timing. Most computer-aided design tools focus on functional aspects of behavior emphasizing data transformation and sequencing of operations. Timing aspects of behavior have received far less attention and have only recently come to the fore as concerns for system level simulation, system integration, and synthesis are becoming more acute. In this paper, we present a behavior simulator, called OEsim, that addresses these issues. The underlying model is based on OEgraphs and supports the specification of timing constraints at many levels of abstraction, from propagation delays to interface behavior. The simulator is an ideal design validation tool in that it supports incremental checking of timing constraints during simulation and minimizes the description of circuit details unnecessary to timing simulation. The key ideas are the use of causality for the specification of abstract constraints through the use of a restricted first-order predicate calculus that has a clear simulation semantics and an efficient realization in the simulator. OEsim has been implemented in C-H and constructs a compiled simulation from an OEgraph representation,
Many-body effects in two-dimensional optical spectra of semiconductor quantum dot pairs; time-dependent Hartree–Fock approximation and beyond

We calculate coherent, third-order, nonlinear spectra of a pair of quantum dots by solving the nonlinear exciton equations, which include relevant single-exciton and two-exciton variables. The signals carry direct information on exciton dynamics and correlations. Spectra calculated with the time-dependent Hartree–Fock approximation, where the two-exciton variables are factorized, miss some important features, attributed to correlated electron–hole pairs.
A Model of College Outcomes for Adults

This article presents a model of college outcomes for adult undergraduate students to address the key elements that affect their learning and to stimulate research and theory building about adults' experience in college. It provides a review of the literature and a comprehensive model that considers the relationships between six major elements related to adults' undergraduate collegiate experiences: (a) prior experiences; (b) orienting frameworks such as motivation, self-confidence, and value system; (c) adult's cognition or the declarative, procedural, and self regulating knowledge structures and processes; (d) the "connecting classroom" as the central avenue for social engagement and for negotiating meaning for learning; (e) the life-world environment and the concurrent work, family, and community settings; and (I) the different types and levels of learning outcomes experienced by adults.
A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF THE STIMULATION OF DNA SYNTHESIS IN LYMPH NODE CELL CULTURES BY ANTI-LYMPHOCYTE SERUM, ANTI-GAMMA GLOBULIN SERUM, SPECIFIC ANTIGEN, AND PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ

Rabbit anti-guinea pig lymphocyte serum is an efficient stimulus of the synthesis of DNA by guinea pig lymph node cells in vitro. The ability of ALS to stimulate lymphocytes is characterized by its lack of dependence on prior sensitization, the magnitude of the response it elicits, and the stimulation of all sensitive lymph node cells simultaneously within a very narrow range of ALS concentrations. In contrast to this homogeneous response to ALS, the stimulation of lymph node cells by antigen proceeds in graded fashion over a wide range of concentrations, thus reflecting the heterogeneity of the response of sensitized cells to antigen. PHA gives a response which is intermediate between that of ALS and antigen. ALS appears to have specificity for membrane determinants shared by lymphocytes but not found on other tissues. This specificity does not involve cell-bound gamma globulin. The serum activity mediating lymphocyte stimulation as well as cytotoxicity is readily removed by absorption with lymph node cells.
Intermedia Processes in the Adoption of Tobacco Control Activities Among Opinion Leaders in California

This study uses the Diffusion of Innovations Theory to examine the role of mass media–generated interpersonal communication in the adoption of antitobacco norms among opinion leaders in California. Data were collected from 503 key community opinion leaders within 18 California counties in 1997 as part of the Independent Evaluation of the California Tobacco Control Program. Results provide support for the proposition that tobacco control policies and behaviors of opinion leaders can be categorized according to stages in the innovation decision process. As hypothesized, the level of mass media–generated interpersonal communication was dependent upon an individual’s stage of adoption such that the frequency of ad discussion increased with advancing stages on the continuum. Regression analyses also confirmed a strong positive associative trend between ad discussion and stage of adoption. Further analysis provided evidence that the impact of campaign exposure on adoption of antitobacco norms was mediated through discussion of the ads, highlighting the importance of social diffusion processes. This study provides evidence regarding the importance of using a stage-based framework to understand the role of communication channels at distinct stages of innovation adoption and among various community opinion leaders.
Subclinical Atherosclerotic Changes Related to Chronic Kidney Disease in Asymptomatic Black and White Young Adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Purpose Chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains asymptomatic until its late stage, and also significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease morbidity and mortality. However, information in scant on the prevalence of CKD, and its association with subclinical atherosclerosis as depicted by carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in younger adults. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1193 participants (43% males, 30% blacks) aged 23 to 43 years, residing in the semi-rural biracial (black-white) community of Bogalusa, Louisiana. The measured variables include estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to determine functional renal changes and urine album creatinine ratio to diagnose albuminuria, along with CV risk factor variables, and both segmental and composite carotid IMT. Results Ninety-nine (8.5%) subjects had CKD, with blacks showing higher prevalence than whites ( p = .01). Subjects with albuminuria had significantly greater internal carotid IMT ( p = .03), common carotid IMT ( p = .005), and composite carotid IMT ( p = .04) than those without. In the multivariate logistic regression model, albuminuria was associated with black race (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; p = .005), female gender (OR, 2.24; p = .002), diabetes (OR, 6.26; p p p = 0.02), and composite carotid IMT (OR, 1.83; p = .02), after adjusting for age. However, reduction in eGFR did not show significant independent association with carotid IMT. Conclusion Among asymptomatic young adults, subclinical atherosclerosis and structural renal damage depicted by albuminuria coexist, which has implications for early prevention and control.
Predictive fuzzy PID control for complex processes

In this paper, a new structure of predictive fuzzy PID controller is proposed. The new controller is robust and effective in controlling higher order and time-delayed complex processes. The proposed predictive fuzzy PID controller combines the fuzzy PID and generalized predictive control (GPC) ideas together, and is equipped with optimization capability that minimizes a cost function. These features make the new controller more effective than individual fuzzy PID and GPC controllers in handling nonlinear systems. Computer simulations are shown for various types of process stabilization and set point tracking problems.
Influence of n-3 fatty acid supplementation on the endogenous activities of plasma lipases

The aim of these studies was to explore the possibility that enhanced triacylglycerol clearance may contribute to the hypotriacylglycerolemic effect of n-3 fatty acids in humans. Healthy subjects (n = 20) and hypertriacylglycerolemic patients (n = 6) were given a placebo (olive oil, OO) or a fish-oil concentrate (FOC: 41% eicosapentaenoic acid and 23% docosahexaenoic acid) in two, independent, randomized, blind trials. For the healthy subjects, the FOC treatment period was 3 wk long and FOC intakes were 5 g/d. For the patients, treatment periods were 4 wk long and dosages were 5 g.70 kg body wt -1 .d -1 . Washout periods were 2-4 wk for both groups. Blood samples were drawn at the end of each phase and analyzed for plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and endogenous (nonheparin-stimulated) activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL). In the healthy subjects the FOC decreased plasma triacylglycerol concentrations by 18% (P < 0.01). whereas in the patients concentrations were reduced by 35% (P < 0.05). Low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations increased by 25% in the latter group (P = 0.06). FOC increased the endogenous activities of LPL, and HL by 62% and 68%, respectively (P < 0.0001), in the healthy subjects, but only LPL in the patients (65%, P < 0.005). These data suggest that endogenous lipase activities may be altered by nutritional interventions, and further, that accelerated lipolysis could contribute, at least in part, to the observed effects of n-3 fatty acids on human lipoprotein metabolism.
Comparison of Multiscale Morphology Approaches: PDE Implemented Via Curve Evolution Versus Chamfer Distance Transform

Multiscale morphology is useful for many image analysis tasks. A compact representation for multiscale dilations and erosions of binary images is the distance transform. It can be implemented either via using a purely discrete approach of discrete modeling and discrete processing or via a continuous modeling of the problem and then discrete processing. The discrete approach uses chamfer metrics which yield multiscale dilations/erosions of the image by polygonal structuring elements. The chamfer distance transform is an approximation of the Euclidean distance transform, and the approximation error increases with the scale. To achieve a better approximation of the true Euclidean geometry at large scales, a continuous approach can be used where multiscale dilations/erosions by disks are modeled as solutions of PDEs running for a time period equal to the scale. In this paper, we compare the discrete approach of the chamfer distance transform with the continuous approach of the morphological PDEs implemented via numerical algorithms of curve evolution. We find that, for binary images, the chamfer distance transform is easier to implement and should be used for small scale dilations/erosions. Implementing the distance transform via curve evolution is more complex, but at medium and large scales gives a better and very close approximation to the true Euclidean geometry. For gray-level images, curve evolution achieves better accuracy than gray-weighted chamfer distances in implementing the gray-weighted distance transform which is an approximate solution of the eikonal PDE encountered in vision applications.
On Improving the Conceptual Foundations of International Marketing Research

Abstract International marketing research plays a vital role as firms expand globally. Yet limited attention has been paid to the conceptual underpinnings of research needed to guide expansion. This article focuses on these issues and specifically examines the conceptual framework that guides research, the geographic units of analysis, and the constructs. The authors suggest two alternative approaches to organizing cross-cultural research: the adapted etic and the linked emic.
How the U.S. FON Program is Lawful and Legitimate

The U.S. Freedom of Navigation (FON) Program has recently drawn significant attention in the United States and abroad. An argument could be made that the program has received more attention in 2015 than in its preceding 35 years combined. This recent focus arose as the world witnessed China engage in reclamation (enhancement of naturally-formed areas of land) and “clamation” (construction of artificial islands on low-tide elevations and submerged features) in the Spratly Island group in the South China Sea – activities on an unprecedented scale and with questionable intent.Senior U.S. officials, including President Barack Obama, have publicly declared that the United States “will continue to sail, fly, and operate anywhere that international law allows.” The world now watches as U.S. military vessels and aircraft conduct FON operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea, including in the waters and airspace around the features in question. Much has been said and written recently about U.S. FONOPs – some of which is incomplete, inaccurate, or both. This article is an attempt to set the record straight on the matter, based upon this author’s prior experience with the U.S. FON Program at the operational, theater-strategic, and policy levels of the U.S. military.
Dracula agnosia (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae), a long confused undescribed species

Dracula agnosia , long confused with D. olmosii , is formally described. The two species may be easily distinguished by their sepal morphology.
Network effects in algorithmic game theory

With the development of the Internet and new technologies, network effects are recognized as a critical part of the industrial organization and play a fundamental role in expanding the economics of Information Technology industries. Network effects occur when the value or utility of a product or service to an individual varies depending on the number and possibly the set of other individuals who own the product or service. Our focus is to understand the role of network effects and study the following questions in different settings: (1) What is the best way to take advantage of network effects to market a new product? We study the question in a viral marketing model with diffusion of information through a social network. We model the question as an optimization problem and show a strong inapproximability result. Our result continues to hold for a few special settings and answers a complexity question proposed in [54, 119]. (2) What is the best way to reach and evaluate social optimum? Motivated by applications in online dating and kidney exchange, we study a stochastic matching problem, where nodes represent agents in a matching market with dichotomous preferences, i.e., each agent finds every other agent either acceptable or unacceptable and is indifferent between all acceptable agents. The goal is to produce a matching between acceptable agents of maximum size. We give a simple greedy strategy for selecting probes which produces a matching whose cardinality is, in expectation, at least a quarter of the size of this optimal algorithm's matching. We additionally show that variants of our algorithm can handle more complicated constraints, such as a limit on the maximum number of rounds, or the number of pairs probed in each round. To evaluate social optimum in terms of competition among agents, we propose the notion of cheap labor cost in "hiring a team" markets to characterize how much better off a market can be for a consumer by removing a subset of agents. We present tight bounds on the cheap labor cost for a variety of markets including s-t path markets, matroid markets and perfect bipartite matching markets. (3) What is the best way to maximize the total revenue given the existence of network effects? We study the question in an envy-free pricing setting with metric substitutability among items. While the general envy-free pricing problem is hard to approximate, the addition of metric substitutability constraints allows us to solve the problem exactly in polynomial time by reducing it to an instance of weighted independent set on a perfect graph. When the substitution costs do not form a metric, even in cases when a (1 + e)-approximate triangle inequality holds, the problem becomes NP-hard. Our results show that the triangle inequality is the exact sharp threshold for the problem of going from "tractable" to "hard".
Decomposition as Life Politics: Soils, Selva , and Small Farmers under the Gun of the U.S.–Colombia War on Drugs

How is life in a criminalized ecology in the Andean-Amazonian foothills of southwestern Colombia? In what way does antinarcotics policy that aims to eradicate la mata que mata (the plant that kills) pursue peace through poison? Relatedly, how do people keep on cultivating a garden, caring for forest, or growing food when at any moment a crop-duster plane may pass overhead, indiscriminately spraying herbicides over entire landscapes? Since 2000, the U.S.–Colombian War on Drugs has relied on the militarized aerial fumigation of coca plants, coupled with alternative development interventions that aim to forcibly eradicate illicit livelihoods. Through ethnographic engagement with small farmers in the frontier department of Putumayo, the gateway to the country’s Amazon and a region that has been the focus of counternarcotic operations, this article explores the different possibilities and foreclosures for life and death that emerge in a tropical forest ecology under military duress. By following farmers, their material practices, and their life philosophies, I trace the ways in which human-soil relations come to potentiate forms of resistance to the violence and criminalization produced by militarized, growth-oriented development. Rather than productivity—one of the central elements of modern capitalist growth—the regenerative capacity of these ecologies relies on organic decay, impermanence, decomposition, and even fragility that complicates modernist bifurcations of living and dying, allowing, I argue, for ecological imaginaries and life processes that do not rely on productivity or growth to strive into existence.
Specific Trade Costs, Quality, and Import Prices

Quality differences are an essential feature of the recent trade literature. However, statistical agencies rarely adjust for quality in import prices since they lack the data required to make those adjustments. I show that two frequently used techniques used in international price measurement, matched modeling and dropping intermittently traded goods from the sample, may lead to mismeasurement. Specific (per unit) trade costs weaken the link between price and quality, a key assumption of match modeling. Intermittently traded goods are more responsive to shocks, so dropping them understates price movements. Using U.S. import data, I find these effects are quantitatively significant. The impact is strongest on imports from low income countries, which have become increasingly important import sources. JEL classification: F1.
Which mesh or graft? Prosthetic devices for abdominal wall reconstruction

This article reviews the ever-increasing number of prosthetic devices--both synthetic mesh and biologic grafts--now in use for abdominal wall reconstruction. It also introduces a novel hybrid synthetic/biologic graft (Zenapro) and suture passer device (Novapass).
Influence of Density of the European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on the Parasitoid Lydella thompsoni (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Field studies were conducted to assess the response of the European corn borer (ECB) parasitoid, Lydella thompsoni to four genotypes of corn and to varying host density. The application of one, two, and three egg masses per plant resulted in significant differences in corn borer populations. ECB populations also varied significantly with corn variety. A density-dependent response of the parasitoid was evident, although there was no difference among parasitism rates on the four genotypes of corn. Parasitism rates varied significantly with respect to the host's position on the plant as well as the plant's position within the plot. A higher rate of parasitism was evident for the top and middle portions of the plant than for the lower portion. Within the plot, there was a higher rate of parasitism in the center rows than in the bordering rows. Laboratory studies of parasitoids emerged from borers reared on various corn varieties indicated no significant difference in size, longevity, or fecundity.
Still Further Considerations

suits. Professor Phillips is perfectly correct in pointing out that the long-run tendencies under resale price maintenance operate in the direction of higher prices. But in view of the weakness of long-run tendencies under conditions of mono olistic competition, it is the opinion of the writer that the shortrun results are far more significant, certa nly for ind vidual policy, and even f r public policy, than those of the long
Intestinal CYP3A4 protects against lithocholic acid-induced hepatotoxicity in intestine-specific VDR-deficient mice

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) mediates vitamin D signaling involved in bone metabolism, cellular growth and differentiation, cardiovascular function, and bile acid regulation. Mice with an intestine-specific disruption of VDR (VdrΔIEpC) have abnormal body size, colon structure, and imbalance of bile acid metabolism. Lithocholic acid (LCA), a secondary bile acid that activates VDR, is among the most toxic of the bile acids that when overaccumulated in the liver causes hepatotoxicity. Because cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is a target gene of VDR-involved bile acid metabolism, the role of CYP3A4 in VDR biology and bile acid metabolism was investigated. The CYP3A4 gene was inserted into VdrΔIEpC mice to produce the VdrΔIEpC/3A4 line. LCA was administered to control, transgenic-CYP3A4, VdrΔIEpC, and VdrΔIEpC/3A4 mice, and hepatic toxicity and bile acid levels in the liver, intestine, bile, and urine were measured. VDR deficiency in the intestine of the VdrΔIEpC mice exacerbates LCA-induced hepatotoxicity manifested by increased necrosis and inflammation, due in part to over-accumulation of hepatic bile acids including taurocholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid. Intestinal expression of CYP3A4 in the VdrΔIEpC/3A4 mouse line reduces LCA-induced hepatotoxicity through elevation of LCA metabolism and detoxification, and suppression of bile acid transporter expression in the small intestine. This study reveals that intestinal CYP3A4 protects against LCA hepatotoxicity.
The Polar Variables of Type Construction

Respondent imprecision, Ir, then is a measure of that "insurmountable limitation" on the social sciences of which we speculated at the outset. Is it really insurmountable? Can something be done to reduce respondent imprecision? Perhaps, just as we select, in constructing a scale, items with minimal ambiguity, it might be possible and necessary to select, for a given experiment, respondents whose previous attitude-scaleanswering behavior has shown high precision.8 These would be respondents who not only could read and understand scale items clearly, but who also had sharply defined attitudes of which they themselves were clearly aware. Of course this would introduce other difficulties; these people would not "represent" any ordinary population. An alternative procedure that might sometimes be advisable would consist of trainiing "representative" respondents so that they acquire higher discriminal abilities. (It is a moot question whether they would then be any more representative than the selected respondents, of course.) Neither selection nor training of respondents would be an unmixed blessing. Just as now, any given experiment would have to be a system of compromises between the ideal and the feasible. In any event it is the opinion of the authors that our current theory and practice with regard to attitude measurement needs reconsideration. The unspoken postulate that an attitude is a point on some continuum needs to be further examined. A very important step in such reconsideration may be the recognition that current techniques can yield "perfected instruments" capable only of stating that band within which a given respondent's self-conceived attitude is located.
Cryptography in An Algebraic Alphabet

(1929). Cryptography in An Algebraic Alphabet. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 36, No. 6, pp. 306-312.
Numerical Investigation of the Transport and Evaporation of Obscurant Smoke Droplets

Numerical simulation is performed to investigate the transport and evaporation of obscurant smoke droplets in the atmosphere. Using a two-dimensional 500m x 100m computational domain, the behavior of these droplets under different jet exhaust temperatures and flow rates of the droplets is investigated. The effect of relea sing the droplets at a different velocity compared to the continuous phase is also studied. The simulation includes modeling of droplet collisions, coalescence and secondary breakup. The main objective of this work is to observe how the droplets diffuse into the ambient air and how the spread of the vapor phase in the domain is affected. Particle traces and contour plots are given to illustrate smoke dispersion.
The Rhetoric of Previving: Blogging the Breast Cancer Gene

Previvors, women with a genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, blog in response to the rhetorical needs of their community, needs that are fillable only in writing, for a specific audience, and to engage that audience to act. Previvor bloggers have created a rhetorical community in response to specific kairotic moments and have fulfilled three common rhetorical needs: to educate others, to advocate for more research into BRCA mutations and/or breast cancer research in general, and to support others in the BRCA+ community toward the main purpose of social action.
Comparative Study on Antibacterial Effects about Plant Extracts from Different Parts of Forsythia suspensa

In this experiment Filter paper dispersion method was used to determine antibacterial effects about the ethanol extracts of different parts of Forsythia suspensa. The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC) of different parts of Forsythia suspensa. were determined by the Liquid suspension culture method.The results show that the ethanol extracts of different parts of Forsythia suspensa have certain bacteriostatic activity on the tested bacteria.Testing of bacteriostasis shows that strongest bacteriostasis is the extracts of ripening fruits.
Periprosthetic Knee Femur Fracture

Various common injuries in the pelvis and lower extremity are investigated in this chapter. Significant attention is paid not only to proper diagnostic examination and imaging, but also to optimal nonoperative and operative treatment options to manage these conditions.
TiO2-MgO mixed oxide nanomaterials for solar energy conversion

Abstract Mixed oxide materials have been intensely investigated in catalysis. In recent years, photoactive species have been deposited on high surface area supports and investigated for a variety of applications that include Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical splitting of water, and photocatalytic degradation of organics. Basic materials like MgO are attractive as supports for the above mentioned applications, since they can be synthesized conveniently with relatively large surface areas and porosities. The wide band gap (>7 eV) and hence the insulating nature of MgO also lends itself to interesting uses in several applications involving solar energy conversion. The presence of low amounts of MgO has been found to be beneficial for DSSC, photo-electrochemical splitting of water, and photocatalytic degradation of dye molecules and will be discussed in-depth in this review.
Kinetic, product, and computational studies of the ultrasonic induced degradation of 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM).

Abstract A massive spill of 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM), a semi-volatile organic compound, contaminated the Elk river and forced the recent closure of tap water for nearly 300,000 residents. Typical water treatment methods are not effective for MCHM remediation, however ultrasonic irradiation leads to its rapid pseudo-first order degradation. The degradation processes were effectively modeled employing heterogeneous kinetic models with the reaction surface corresponding to the gas-liquid interface of the cavitation bubble. The Freundlich model which takes into account non-uniform distribution within the reactive zone showed the strongest correlation to the observed degradation kinetic data with R2 > 0.99. Solute-solute clustering behavior is proposed to explain non-uniform distribution of MCHM. The results indicate the degradation occurs predominantly at the gas-liquid interface as a result of hydroxyl radical reactions and pyrolysis with primary reaction products, (4-methylcyclohexenyl) methanol and 4-methylcyclohexanone. Computational methods using density functional B3YPL/6-311G** calculations with Gaussian 09 provided insight of the hydroxyl radical and pyrolytic degradation pathways for the isomeric and conformational forms of MCHM. Our studies demonstrate that heterogeneous kinetic models and computational methods are important tools for the fundamental understanding and effective application of ultrasonically mediated degradation of MCHM which may be extended to a number of semi-volatile compounds.
Usefulness of water immersion observations to identify the stigmata of hemorrhage in colonic diverticular bleeding.

One of the important issues associated with colonic diverticular bleeding is the low rate at which the stigmata of recent hemorrhage is identified [1-2]. The space of a colonic diverticulum is often narrow, which makes observations of this area challenging. We attempted to overcome this issue using water immersion. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Undoing encryption: the argumentative function of metonyms

The recent legal dispute in San Bernardino pitting the Apple Corporation against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concerned whether Apple was legally obliged to help law enforcement access...
The Pleistocene Mind: A Critical Review of Evolutionary Psychology, and an Introduction to Intelligent Design Psychology:

Researchers and scientists in evolutionary psychology, a new theoretical perspective within the field of psychology, have proposed striking insights into human behavior based on our long evolutiona...
Gradient Ricci Solitons with a Conformal Vector Field

We show that a connected gradient Ricci soliton ( $$M,g,f,\lambda $$ ) with constant scalar curvature and admitting a non-homothetic conformal vector field V leaving the potential vector field invariant, is Einstein and the potential function f is constant. For locally conformally flat case and non-homothetic V we show without constant scalar curvature assumption, that f is constant and g has constant curvature.
Recombinant human erythropoietin in pediatric oncology

Cancer-and treatment-related anemia affects many children diagnosed with a variety of malignancies. The incidence of anemia in children with solid tumors or Hodgkin’s disease at the time of diagnosis has been reported to be 51–74% (Hockenberry et al. 2002). Several pediatric studies report a high incidence of anemia (over 50%) requiring intervention with transfusion in children receiving therapy for Wilms’ tumor, leukemia, and osteosarcoma (Borsi et al. 1995; Green et al. 1998; Nachman et al. 1998). Although baseline hemoglobin values differ by age, gender, and type of cancer, a recent European pediatric survey reported over 80% of children receiving chemotherapy were anemic (Michon 2002). It is clearly a common finding at diagnosis and during the course of treatment for childhood cancer.
Studies on the Effect of Shampoos on Scalp Lipids and Bacteria

The sale of hair products has expanded enormously in the last decade. Shampoos constitute the bulk of these and shampooing is almost a daily rite for most persons. Despite great interest on the part of consumers, scientific studies of their effects have been slight and knowledge is surprisingly meagre. The literature is mainly silent on many matters of practical medical importance. For example, is shampooing necessary to maintain scalp health? How efficient are shampoos in removing sebum and scales from the scalp surface? What are the performance differences in shampoos for dry vis-a-vis oily hair? How rapidly do lipids reaccumulate after shampooing? How effective are shampoos in removing bacteria? Dermatological texts contain extended discussions of scalp diseases such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, infectious disorders, etc. No mention is made of the general principles of scalp hygiene.
Incorporating Experiential Education Throughout the Curriculum

As experiential education proliferates, law schools will design approaches suited to their individual missions and circumstances. No “one size fits all” strategy will suffice and the current period of creativity will no doubt continue to bring forth new methods and structures. Legal education urgently needs empirical research on what methods will best promote deep learning that transfers to practice. At the same time, enough experience has accumulated to identify five general “best practices”: Incorporating experiential education widely throughout the curriculumProviding a range of experiential course types and making them available to all studentsEnsuring that experiential courses add value to students’ experienceRequiring real supervised practice experience — preferably one law clinic and one externship — for all studentsDeveloping a common vocabulary and evaluative criteria for experiential educationThis section of the forthcoming book BUILDING ON BEST PRACTICES: TRANSFORMING LEGAL EDUCATION IN A CHANGING WORLD (Lexis 2015) provides guidance on how to implement each of these five best practices.
Monte Carlo simulation of the effect of fiber characteristics on creep life of a fiber tow

Fatigue of reinforced ceramics at elevated temperatures was numerically evaluated with a fiber dominated, power-law creep model. A Monte Carlo simulation of fiber creep in a uniaxially loaded tow was used to examine the influence of fiber radius, elastic modulus, and strength on creep respose. The simulation permitted variation of both the average magnitude and dispersion of fiber characteristics while maintaining constant power-law creep parameters. A linear increase in creep life was predicted for an increase in mean fiber radius, and a linear decrease in creep life was predicted for an increase in the standard deviation of fiber radii. A linear increase in creep life was predicted for both an increase in mean fiber elastic modulus and standard deviation of elastic moduli. Characteristic fiber strength and Weibull modulus were predicted to have a significant effect on creep life of a SiC fiber low. An increase in either the characteristic strength or Weibull modulus was predicted to result in an increase in creep life.
Thalamocortical-Corticothalamic Reciprocals and the Evolutionary Origin of Medial Geniculate

Publisher Summary In mammals, such as opossums, there may be evidence of a thalamo-non-cortical projection caught in the process of becoming a thalamocortical projection. This chapter explores in what ways the two parts of the medial geniculate (MG) is similar or different. For evidence of homology in the projections afferent to the MG, an injection of retrograde tracer in the MG of Monodelphis shows: (1) labeled cells in the inferior colliculus and, therefore, the presence of ascending projections from the colliculus, and (2) labeled cells in the thalamic reticular nucleus and, therefore, the presence of direct projections from that nucleus. Following a large injection of WGA-HRP into the medial geniculate of Monodelphis, labeled neurons are seen in each division of the inferior colliculus. The same injection also shows many retrogradely labeled cell bodies in the thalamic reticular nucleus. On the basis of the presence of these two classes of afferents, therefore, MG in the opossum appears to be a typical mammalian MG. In addition, this same technical procedure also shows orthogradely labeled terminals in the thalamic reticular nucleus—that is, the presence of a reciprocal projection between MG and reticular nucleus—a character typical of MG in placental mammals.
Adjunctive Glaucoma Therapy: A Comparison of Apraclonidine to Dipivefrin when Added to Timolol Maleate

Abstract The authors compared the additive intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effects of two different topical medications, apraclonidine hydrochloride and dipivefrin hydrochloride, when used in conjunction with timolol maleate. Eighteen patients with elevated IOPs entered a randomized, double-masked, cross-over study. Each used apraclonidine 1.0%, dipivefrin 0.1 %, or placebo, twice daily for 3 weeks each, in addition to timolol 0.5% twice daily. Only apraclonidine produced a significant additional IOP lowering over timolol treatment alone at all time intervals ( P P P = 0.061). No significant change in pulse rate or blood pressure was seen during apraclonidine administration. Apraclonidine may be a useful adjunctive agent in patients with poorly controlled glaucoma.
Hydrogen Production from Methanol Electrolysis

Hydrogen is considered as the most promising energy carrier for providing a clean, reliable, and sustainable energy system. It can be produced from a diverse array of potential feedstocks including water, fossil fuels, and organic matter.
Venous Air Embolism During Arteriovenous Malformation Repair

Venous air embolism (VAE) occurs in a patient undergoing a neurosurgical procedure. Mechanism, pathophysiology, signs, and treatment of VAE are discussed as well as preventative measures to decrease the likelihood of such an event from occurring.
Thirty years and 1663 consecutive Norwood procedures: Has survival plateaued?

Abstract Objective Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is one of the most common and challenging lesions requiring surgical intervention in the neonatal period. The Norwood procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome was first reported in 1983. The objective of this study was to describe early outcomes after the Norwood procedure at a single institution over 30 years. Methods This retrospective cohort study included all patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (and variants) who underwent the Norwood procedure between January 1984 and May 2014 at a single institution. The study period was divided into 6 eras: era 1, 1984 to 1988; era 2, 1989 to 1993; era 3, 1994 to 1998; era 4, 1999 to 2003; era 5, 2004 to 2008; and era 6, 2009 to 2014. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality after the Norwood procedure. Binomial point estimates complete with 95% confidence intervals (CL0.95) were computed for the entire cohort and by era. Results During the study period, 1663 infants underwent the Norwood procedure. Overall in-hospital mortality was 25.9% (CL0.95, 23.8-28.0). Mortality by chronologic era was 40.4% (CL0.95, 34.9-45.9), 33.6% (CL0.95, 29.2-37.9), 28.7% (CL0.95, 22.8-34.6), 14.9% (CL0.95, 10.4-19.3), 11.2% (CL0.95, 7.4-15.0), and 15.7% (CL0.95, 10.3-21.1). Survival was improved in eras 4 to 6 compared with eras 1 to 3 (P all Conclusions Survival after the Norwood procedure has plateaued despite improvements in diagnosis, perioperative care, and surgical techniques. Nonmodifiable patient characteristics are important determinants of the risk of mortality.
Differential sensitivity of inbred mouse strains to ovarian damage in response to low-dose total body irradiation†.

Radiation induces ovarian damage and accelerates reproductive aging. Inbred mouse strains exhibit differential sensitivity to lethality induced by total body irradiation (TBI), with the BALB/cAnNCrl (BALB/c) strain being more sensitive than the 129S2/SvPasCrl (129) strain. However, whether TBI-induced ovarian damage follows a similar pattern of strain sensitivity is unknown. To examine this possibility, female BALB/c and 129 mice were exposed to a single dose of 1 Gy (cesium-137 γ) TBI at 5 weeks of age, and ovarian tissue was harvested for histological and gene expression analyses 2 weeks post exposure. Sham-treated mice served as controls. 1 Gy radiation nearly eradicated the primordial follicles and dramatically decreased the primary follicles in both strains. In contrast, larger growing follicles were less affected in the 129 relative to BALB/c strain. Although this TBI paradigm did not induce detectable ovarian fibrosis in either of the strains, we did observe strain-dependent changes in osteopontin (Spp1) expression, a gene involved in wound healing, inflammation, and fibrosis. Ovaries from BALB/c mice exhibited higher baseline Spp1 expression that underwent a significant decrease in response to radiation relative to ovaries from the 129 strain. A correspondingly greater change in the ovarian matrix, as evidenced by reduced ovarian hyaluronan content, was also observed following TBI in BALB/c mice relative to 129 mice. These early changes in the ovary may predispose BALB/c mice to more pronounced late effects of TBI. Taken together, our results demonstrate that aspects of ovarian damage mirror other organ systems with respect to overall strain-dependent radiation sensitivity.
Close-range, ground-based hyperspectral imaging for mining applications at various scales: Review and case studies

Abstract Detailed mapping of mineral phases at centimeter scale can be useful for geological investigation, including resource exploration. This work reviews case histories of ground-based close-range hyperspectral imaging for mining applications. Studies of various economic deposits are discussed, as well as techniques used for data correction, integration with other datasets, and validation of spectral mapping results using geochemical techniques. Machine learning algorithms suggested for automation of the mining workflow are reviewed, as well as systems for environmental monitoring such as gas leak detection. Three new case studies that use a ground-based hyperspectral scanning system with sensors collecting data in the Visible Near-Infrared and Short-Wave Infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum in active and abandoned mines are presented. Vertical exposures in a Carlin Style sediment-hosted gold deposit, an active Cu-Au-Mo mine, and an active asphalt quarry are studied to produce images that delineate the extent of alteration minerals at centimeter scale to demonstrate an efficient method of outcrop characterization, which increases understanding of petrogenesis for mining applications. In the Carlin-style gold deposit, clay, iron oxide, carbonate, and jarosite minerals were mapped. In the copper porphyry deposit, different phases of alteration are delineated, some of which correspond to greater occurrence of ore deposits. A limestone quarry was also imaged, which contains bitumen deposits used for road paving aggregate. Review of current literature suggests use of this technology for automation of mining activities, thus reducing physical risk for workers in evaluating vertical mine faces.
One small step for mankind, a big step for PoCUS

Interest in perioperative point-of-care ultrasound (P-PoCUS) has grown tremendously over the past few years[1][1] due to its ability to change management[2][2] and improve patient care. Increased availability and affordability of ultrasound machines presents P-PoCUS with the potential to become a