cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Will There Be Superintelligence and Would It Hate Us

Bostrom’s Superintelligence (SI) is a wide-ranging essay (2016) that has raised important questions about the future of intelligent machines and the possible malign developments they may undergo. But, and perhaps surprisingly, it is not about technical developments in artificial intelligence (AI) nor a philosophical analysis of the concept of SI. There is little of either of these in it, which is largely an extended and stimulating essay on economics, decision theory and other forms of social science, all held together by the unsubstantiated hypothesis of “superintelligence” that belongs more to science fiction than AI. AI may well in some future produce undesirable social effects — the Internet itself could already be such a development — but there is as yet no reason to think they could be on the massive and end-of-civilization scale Bostrom so confidently predicts.
Attachment of Alcanivorax borkumensis to Hexadecane-In-Artificial Sea Water Emulsion Droplets.

Alcanivorax borkumensis (AB) is a marine bacterium that dominates bacterial communities around many oil spills because it enzymatically degrades the oil while using it as a nutrient source. Several dispersants have been used to produce oil-in-water emulsions following a spill. Compared to surface slicks, the additional oil–water surface area produced by emulsification provides greater access to the oil and accelerates its degradation. We deliberately cultured AB cells using hexadecane as the only nutrient source. We then examined the first critical step of the biodegradation process, the attachment of these AB cells to hexadecane–water interfaces, using fluorescence microscopy and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy. The hexadecane-in-artificial sea water (ASW) emulsions were produced by gentle shaking and were stabilized either by AB alone, by Corexit 9500, by Tween 20, or by carbon black particles. When no dispersants were used, AB stabilizes the emulsion, and bacterial cells attach to the hexadecane...
A one-two punch: Joint effects of natural gas abundance and renewables on coal-fired power plants

Since 2007, coal-fired electricity generation in the US has declined by a stunning 25%. At the same time, natural gas-fired generation and wind generation have dramatically increased due to technological advances and policy interventions. We examine the joint impact of natural gas prices and wind generation on coal generation, with a particular focus on the interaction between low natural gas prices and increased wind generation. Exploiting detailed daily unit-level data, we estimate the response of coal-fired generation across four transmission regions within the US. Low natural gas prices and increased wind generation have both led to reductions in coal-fired generation. Furthermore, we find evidence that the interaction between natural gas prices and wind generation is statistically and economically significant, and led to a greater reduction in coal-fired generation than would be explained by either factor alone. In some regions, marginal responses of coal-fired generation to natural gas prices in 2013 were several times what they would have been had wind generation remained at 2008 levels. Similar sensitivities were found for responses to wind generation. As a consequence, our results suggest that policies such as carbon pricing combined with those that increase wind generation would be complementary in terms of their impact on coal-fired generation.
Laminin alpha5 chain adhesion and signaling in conjunctival epithelial cells.

Purpose To identify peptides of the LG4 module of the laminin alpha5 chain that mediate human conjunctival epithelial cell adhesion to the laminin-10 isoform. Methods A peptide corresponding to a major heparin- and cell-binding domain of the LG4 module of the laminin alpha5 chain was analyzed. The attachment of conjunctival epithelial cells to the peptide compared with laminin-10 was determined by colorimetric adhesion assay. The role of glycosaminoglycans in mediating adhesion to the peptide was determined by altering their function at the cell surface and by blocking adhesion with exogenous glycosaminoglycans. The role of syndecan-4 in cell adhesion to the peptide was examined by adhesion assay. The role of the peptide in cell signaling was examined by phosphotyrosine Western blot analysis. Results The peptide facilitated the adhesion of conjunctival epithelium, although not as efficiently as laminin-10. Heparinase had no effect on adhesion to the peptide. In contrast, adhesion to the peptide decreased in glycosaminoglycan-deficient cells, heparatinase-treated cells, cells blocked with exogenous heparan sulfate proteoglycan, and cells treated with antibodies to the ectodomain of syndecan-4. Cell adhesion to the peptide for 90 or 120 minutes resulted in a significant increase in focal adhesion kinase (FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation, compared with the nonadherent control. Conclusions Human conjunctival epithelial cells use a heparin- and cell-binding peptide of the LG4 module of laminin alpha5 chain in adhesion to laminin-10. Syndecan-4 is one mechanism by which the peptide facilitates adhesion. In addition to adhesion, the peptide may function in cell-signaling events.
State Dependent Learning and Drug Discriminations

In these words, Combe first described state dependent learning in 1830. During the last 20 years, state dependent learning (SDL) and drug discriminations (DD) have been the subject of several hundred published reports. The intent of this paper is to review our present state of knowledge regarding these two closely related phenomena.
FUEL CELLS – SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS | Overview

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an electrochemical device to directly convert the chemical energy of a fuel into electricity at temperatures from 500 to 1000 °C. The high operational temperature offers certain advantages over lower temperature fuel cells, notably fuel flexibility, and can use carbon monoxide as a fuel and not become poisoned by it. Solid oxide fuel cells operate at high overall efficiency because of the use of high-grade exhaust heat in ‘combined heat and power’ applications or in combined-cycle gas turbine applications. As a result, SOFCs have various applications over a wide range of power from milliwatts to megawatts. This article provides an overview of SOFCs.
Complications of replantation surgery.

SUMMARY Potential complications after replantation surgery are numerous and varied in their nature. The average replantation patient can expect somewhere between two to three subsequent operations to maximize function. Many surgical complications and unsatisfactory functional outcomes can be avoided through careful assessment of patients and their injuries.
Modeling and Design of One Real Eight-Phase Traffic Light Control System Using Pure Petri Nets

With the developing of cities all over the world, the number of vehicle is also growing very fast. Therefore, how to design efficient traffic light controllers to control urban traffic in most cities becomes important. Many peer researchers make their effort in this target. Among them, few use Petri net as the tool to achieve the goal since the Petri net has been to be a powerful modeling tool for various kinds of discrete event systems. However, these algorithms are too complex to be applied in real traffic control. For improving above drawback, this paper tries to use pure Petri nets to design traffic light controllers. Besides, one real crossroad and traffic lights is used as example. Based on the final experimental results, the proposed methodology is practical and useful.
Lester Leaps In: The improvisational devices of Lester Young

Lester Young was a key figure in the early development of swing. In this article, I will discuss some of the more specific improvisatory elements he used regularly throughout his recorded solos in this time period. His famous solo on ‘Lester Leaps In' will be the starting point for this analysis, with a special focus on some of the innovations that Young brought to the world of jazz improvisation. Bebop, cool jazz, and free jazz all owe a debt to Lester for loosening the structures of swing, while creating a new vocabulary. We will take a look at how he did it, and what has made him a lasting icon of creativity to so many improvisers.
Nonprofit Board Members’ Reasons to Join and Continue Serving on a Volunteer Board of Directors

By expanding understanding of individuals’ reasons to serve on nonprofit boards, practitioners will be able to improve recruitment and retention of quality board members. This study explores board ...
Chronic Atrial and Ventricular Pacing in the Mouse.

Background: The mouse is the most widely used mammal in experimental biology. Although many clinically relevant in vivo cardiac stressors are used, one that has eluded translation is long-term card...
Characteristics of office-based providers associated with secure electronic messaging use: Achieving meaningful use

Abstract Objectives To identify characteristics of office-based provider used as a usual source of care (USC) associated with secure electronic messaging (SM) use. Data source 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component and the supplemental Medical Organizations Survey. Study design Cross-sectional analysis. Extraction methods Patients are linked to characteristics of their usual source of care provider. Main findings We found that 89 percent of patients whose USC had electronic health records were able to exchange secure messages with their provider. Patients whose USC reported being patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) or that used other health information technology (HIT) were also more likely to have been able to exchange SM with their provider. Patients of independent group or solo practices were less likely to have been able to exchange SM relative to patients whose USC practice was hospital owned. Conclusions Patients were more likely to have visited a USC that exchanged SMs if that practice also used other electronic health records functionalities. Study findings suggest that while patients’ USC practices were likely to exchange secure messages, there is a disparity in SM use between physician-owned practices, and hospital-owned practices.
Clinical trials of neurointervention : 2007–2018

Background ClinicalTrials.gov is one of the largest trials’ registries in the world. Objective To leverage the ClinicalTrials.gov database to define the portfolio of clinical trials of neurointervention. Methods We restricted our extraction to interventional clinical trials submitted between 2007 and 2018, and included MeSH terms that are part of the nervous system (n=19 344) or cardiovascular disease (n=19 234) categories and included a list of neurointerventional terms. The characteristics of trials, geographic distribution, dissemination, and funding sources were explored using descriptive and regression models. Results A total of 206 neurointerventional clinical trials across 1691 medical centers were identified. Acute stroke was the most studied conditions (68, 33%), followed by aneurysms (63, 31%), carotid stenosis (48, 24%), intracranial atherosclerotic disease (7, 3.5%), cerebral venous thrombosis (6, 3%), arteriovenous malformation (4, 2%), idiopathic intracranial hypertension (3, 1.5%), and others (6, 3%). Overall, 59 (29%) trials were completed, 79 (37%) were active trials (28% recruiting), and 22 (11%) were terminated or suspended. Academic centers and industry were the most common primary funding source (63% and 29%, respectively), with no funding source reported in 16 (7.7%) trials. Among 77 completed or terminated trials, only 9 (11.7%) trials reported findings within 12 months. Median time to publication for trials funded by academia was 1.66 years (interquartile range (IQR) 0.7–2.1) versus 2.1 years (IQR 1.2–3.25) for industry-funded studies. Conclusions A low dissemination rate for results and a high rate of study non-completion, as well as lack of geographic dispersion of trials appear to be major challenges in the field.
At the Intersection of Motivational Relevance and Website Visual Complexity

Abstract. This study investigated how resource allocation to and encoding of irrelevant peripheral information (advertisements) varied as a function of the emotional tone of a central event (movie ...
Diabetic ketoacidosis and olanzapine: Case report and literature review

The use of antipsychotics (AP) is associated with the development of metabolic disorders, such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and acute dysregulation of glucose metabolism. Hyperglycemic complications from drug use, although rare, are potentially life-threatening, so appropriate follow-up and risk assessment during treatment are necessary. This study reports the case of a patient with bipolar affective disorder using olanzapine who developed severe DKA and reviews the current literature on this association. The research was done in PubMed, Cochrane Database, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar databases using the keywords: diabetes mellitus, diabetic ketoacidosis, psychotic disorders, antipsychotics, olanzapine, adverse drug event. Upon analysis of the included epidemiological studies, it was observed that most patients who developed DKA were undergoing treatment with olanzapine and clozapine alone or in combination with other antipsychotics. It was seen that the DKA picture usually occurs between six to twelve months of AP use, similar to the case presented. Before insulin resistance, male gender, and middle age favor the disorder in AP users.
Time Series Classification: Lessons Learned in the (Literal) Field while Studying Chicken Behavior

Poultry farms are a major contributor to the human food chain. However, around the world, there have been growing concerns about the quality of life for the livestock in poultry farms; and increasingly vocal demands for improved standards of animal welfare. Recent advances in sensing technologies and machine learning allow the possibility of monitoring birds, and employing the lessons learned to improve the welfare for all birds. This task superficially appears to be easy, yet, studying behavioral patterns involves collecting enormous amounts of data, justifying the term Big Data. Before the big data can be used for analytical purposes to tease out meaningful, well-conserved behavioral patterns, the collected data needs to be preprocessed. The pre-processing refers to processes for cleansing and preparing data so that it is in the format ready to be analyzed by downstream algorithms, such as classification and clustering algorithms. However, as we shall demonstrate, efficient preprocessing of chicken big data is both non-trivial and crucial towards success of further analytics.
Information and Relationship Functions of Communication between Pregnant Women and Their Health Care Providers

Pregnancy is a unique health context, as women undergo physical, social, and identity transformations across gestation and childbirth. Prenatal health care providers, such as obstetricians and midw...
VERA-CS VALIDATION OF CRITICAL EXPERIMENTS

VERA is a suite of multiphysics codes which uses MPACT to model neutron transport in light water reactors (LWRs) [1]. In this paper, we validate MPACT by modeling critical experiments conducted at the IPEN/MB-01 and B&W facilities. We modeled critical loading experiments with a variety of different fuel pins and materials placed in the core. The experiments were modeled in two dimensions using MPACT and an axial buckling term. Default mesh parameters exist in MPACT for modeling larger reactor cores, and a mesh convergence study was performed to find appropriate mesh parameters for modeling the smaller critical reactors. The keff results show a consistent bias and small standard deviation for the IPEN/MB-01 reactor and a small bias and small standard deviation for the B&W facility. Overall, the results show that MPACT performs well for modeling small critical reactors.
Engineering Moving Images: “Tech Dev” Meets “Look Dev”

This chapter investigates the way engineering principles have transformed cinematic visual effects and animation production since the 1980s, noting the growing influence of “agile” software development. Film industry training manuals, trade press articles, and interviews with workers show that the flexible, reprogrammable nature of production “workflows” requires constant work to maintain the technical connective tissue of “pipelines.” This emphasis on making and re-making custom tools for every production serves post-Fordist demands of flexibility. Automated simulation-based forms of animation offer a paradigmatic case for these trends, where a spectrum of technical work spans basic research done by lead scientists, through to the scripts written and plug-ins installed by simulation artists.
How Does it Feel to Be Part of the Minority?: Impacts of Perspective Taking on Prosocial Behavio

Can online experiences that illustrate the perspective of the everyday life of a minority group improve behaviors of the dominant towards the minority group? We explore the case of natives and refugees by randomly assigning 850 natives to: i) an online game that immerses natives in the life decisions of refugees and ii) a real-life documentary about the migration process of refugees. Both treatments effectively improve altruism and reduce prejudice from natives towards migrants. The impacts of both treatments are not statistically different in any of the other outcomes that we examine.
1 Determination of DNA Base Composition

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the determination of DNA base composition. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of most organisms contains the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G) and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T) and cytosine (C). Occasionally an organism may contain modified bases such as 5-methylcytosine or hydroxymethylcytosine. In most cases the modified base substitutes for only a small fraction of the parent base. The DNA in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and in many of the viruses consists of double strands with specific base pairs (A + T) or (G + C) located at each position along the complementary strands. Since the recognition that the ratio of A + T to G + C base pairs may differ from one organism to the next and that the ratio in a given organism, usually expressed as mole percentage G + C (mol% G + C), is relatively constant, the mol% G + C values have been used for the comparative characterization of organisms. The chemical and physical properties of DNA are such that the base composition can be measured in several ways.
Why teenagers put rocks in their ears: Hidden drugs and confidentiality

Abstract Just before and during the arrest procedure, juveniles may hide drugs within the body, an act called "body stuffing." The type and quantity of drug, its container, and the hiding place modify the potential toxicity of the contraband drug. The discovery of drug contraband by medical personnel raises an ethical issue regarding confidentiality. Responsibility for prison security rests primarily with the correctional staff, not with the medical staff. The need for trust between the physician and the adolescent in the detention setting is important. Appropriate medical and psychologic intervention can only be instituted if the detainee trusts and cooperates with the physician.
Effects of calcium sources and urea on corn silage fermentation.

Abstract The influence of added urea or calcium (calcium carbonate or dicalcium phosphate) on corn silage fermentation was studied using laboratory silos. Addition of urea increased final silage crude protein content. Losses of crude protein during fermentation averaged 6.4%, but were not significantly influenced by treatments. Ammonia contents were elevated due to urea additions. As measured by total and sequential gas productions and final fermentation acid concentrations, both urea and calcium carbonate additions increased and extended fermentations. These additions also were associated with increased wet matter losses. Per unit weight of added material, urea appeared to stimulate fermentation to a greater degree than calcium carbonate. Dicalcium phosphate, when added to provide calcium levels approximately equal to those of calcium carbonate additions, did not influence fermentation appreciably, unless it was added with urea.
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 activation from adipose protein 2-cre mediated knockout of von hippel-lindau gene leads to embryonic lethality

VHL protein (pVHL), an E3 ubiquitin ligase from the Vhl gene, inhibits the transcriptional activity of HIF-1α in cells. To gain insight into the HIF-1α signaling pathway in adipose tissue, we conducted a study to generate fat-specific Vhl knockout mice. Cre/loxP technology was used in the knockout study. The mice carrying floxed-Vhl alleles were crossed with aP2-Cre mice, in which the Cre gene is driven by the aP2 (FABP4) gene promoter. The homozygous knockout (Vhlf/f-Cre) mice exhibited embryonic lethality at E14.5 to E18.5. The homozygous embryos suffered from hemorrhages in the brain and liver. HIF-1α protein and its target gene protein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were increased in the brain and liver. Endothelial proliferation and capillary leakage were observed in the tissues. Heterozygous knockout (Vhl+/f-Cre) mice appeared normal in development, growth and reproductivity. β-galactosidase reporter mice were used in the analysis of tissue-specificity of Cre recombinase in aP2-Cre mice. A strong Cre activity was observed in the dorsal hindbrain region and vertebrae of E12.5 embryos. These results suggest that in the aP2-Cre mice, the recombinase activity is expressed in the central nervous system of the embryos. Central and peripheral hemorrhages are responsible for the embryonic lethality in the homozygous knockout mice.
distribution in Au+Al, Cu, Au, and U collisions at 10.8 A·GeV/c and Et per charged particle

Abstract The pseudorapidity distributions are analyzed as a function of transverse energy produced in the target or central pseudorapidity and centrality.
Validation of reported myocardial infarction mortality in blacks and whites: A report from the community cardiovascular surveillance program

Abstract It is widely believed that blacks experience a higher mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD) than do whites. To determine whether this reported difference in mortality between blacks and whites is real, we studied the question in the context of the Community Cardiovascular Surveillance Program (CCSP). Fatal and nonfatal cases of CHD were reviewed in 12 US communities. Standardized criteria were applied to classify these cases as possible CHD, definite CHD, possible myocardial infarction (MI), or definite MI. The annual age-adjusted mortality rate per 100,000 ascribed to definite MI by the CCSP criteria was higher in blacks than in whites: 47 in white men (95% confidence interval, 36 to 58), 18 in white women (95% confidence interval, 8 to 28), 95 in black men (95% confidence interval, 10 to 180), and 41 for black women (95% confidence interval, 0 to 99). The proportion of definite MI to all fatal CHD events was higher in blacks (16%) than in whites (12%). For nonfatal events, however, the rate of definite MI was higher in whites than in blacks: 322 in white men (95% confidence interval, 293 to 351), 225 in black men (95% confidence interval, 160 to 290), 82 in black women (95% confidence interval, 43 to 121), and 103 in white women (95% confidence interval, 88 to 118). The proportion of definite MI to all nonfatal CHD events was lower in blacks (16%) than in whites (30%). Thus, the overall rate for fatal and nonfatal definite MI was lower in blacks ( 215 100, 000 ) than in whites ( 244 100,000 ). These observations suggest that a combination of high case-fatality ratio and misclassification of cause and death may contribute to the reported higher rate of CHD mortality among blacks.
Effect of bile salts on the ionic permeability of the esophageal mucosa and their role in the production of esophagitis.

Reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus is frequently associated with esophagitis and ulceration. Experimentally, esophagitis can be produced in many animal species and nonhuman primates by instilling a mixture of bile and HCl into the esophagus. The mechanism by which bile and HCl cause esophagitis remains obscure. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that HCl, in concentrations secreted by the gastric mucosa, does not significantly penetrate or injure the esophageal mucosa unless its permeability to H+ is altered. Therefore, we measured the effects of HCl and HCl plus bile salts on ionic movement across the mucosa of the distally occluded canine and human esophagus. In dogs, there was a significant loss of H+ (P
Differential regulation of transcription factor gene expression and phenotypic markers in developing sympathetic neurons

We have examined the regulation of transcription factor gene expression and phenotypic markers in developing chick sympathetic neurons. Sympathetic progenitor cells first express the bHLH transcriptional regulator Cash-1 (a chicken achaete-scute homologue), followed by coordinate expression of Phox2, a paired homeodomain protein, and GATA-2, a zinc finger protein. SCG10, a pan-neuronal membrane protein, is first detected one stage later, followed by the catecholaminergic neurotransmitter enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). We have used these markers to ask two questions: (1) is their expression dependent upon inductive signals derived from the notochord or floor plate?; (2) does their sequential expression reflect a single linear pathway or multiple parallel pathways? Notochord ablation experiments indicate that the floor plate is essential for induction of GATA-2, Phox2 and TH, but not for that of Cash-1 and SCG10. Taken together these data suggest that the development of sympathetic neurons involves multiple transcriptional regulatory cascades: one, dependent upon notochord or floor plate-derived signals and involving Phox2 and GATA-2, is assigned to the expression of the neurotransmitter phenotype; the other, independent of such signals and involving Cash-1, is assigned to the expression of pan-neuronal properties. The parallel specification of different components of the terminal neuronal phenotype is likely to be a general feature of neuronal development.
Trimethoprim: Mechanisms of Action, Antimicrobial Activity, Bacterial Resistance, Pharmacokinetics, Adverse Reactions, and Therapeutic Indications

Trimethoprim has recently been marketed as a single-entity product for the treatment of initial episodes of uncomplicated symptomatic urinary tract infections; it was previously available only in combination with sulfamethoxazole. Trimethoprim exerts antimicrobial activity by blocking the reduction of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate, the active form of folic acid, by susceptible organisms. It has inhibitory activity for most gram-positive aerobic cocci and some gram-negative aerobic bacilli. Resistance to trimethoprim may be either intrinsic or acquired. Acquired resistance most commonly stems from a chromosomal mutation that results in the production of a dihydrofolate reductase enzyme which is less vulnerable to trimethoprim inhibition. Gastrointestinal intolerance and skin eruptions are the most common untoward reactions resulting from the administration of trimethoprim. Trimethoprim constitutes very effective therapy for women with acute symptomatic urinary tract infections caused by E. coli, and the compound compares favorably with alternative standard agents, such as ampicillin and cephalexin. The safety of trimethoprim in the pregnant woman has not been established. Since indiscriminate use of trimethoprim could foster the emergence of trimethoprim resistance, thereby negating the value of both trimethoprim and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim should only be prescribed for well defined indications. Trimethoprim is currently being investigated as definitive therapy for a wide range of infections, including bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, bacterial pneumonia, and typhoid fever. Initial reports are encouraging.
Dynamics of a horizontal pendulum driven by high-frequency rocking

Abstract This paper investigates the dynamics of a horizontal pendulum subjected to high frequency rocking. The method of direct partition of motion is applied to the governing equation to separate the fast and slow dynamics. It is shown that two stable equilibria may coexist for certain parameter values. It is also shown that the high frequency excitation can stabilize an unstable equilibrium for a horizontal pendulum driven by a rocking motion. The aforementioned theoretical results show good agreement with numerical investigations. A series of experimental tests were also performed to corroborate the bifurcation threshold where forcing parameters can cause a change in stability.
Vascular prosthetic infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis: experimental study of pathogenesis and therapy.

Abstract To determine whether a slime-producing strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis was capable of producing acute infection of a prosthetic vascular graft, 5 cm segments of knitted Dacron were implanted in the infrarenal aortic position of dogs in three groups of animals. These included a control group (no graft contamination), a contaminated group that received a graft soaked in an S. epidermidis solution (untreated group), and a contaminated group in which perioperative antibiotics (three doses of cefamandole, 100 mg/kg) were administered (prophylaxis group). In all the animals reexploration and graft removal were performed at 10 days, with replacement of the defect being achieved with a new uncontaminated graft. These animals underwent exploration a third time after an additional 10-day period. S. epidermidis was not grown from the control animals ( n = 7) but was cultured in 44% of the prophylaxis group ( n = 9) and 88% of the untreated group ( n = 16) during at least one of the operative procedures (χ 2 = 15.859; p S. epidermidis infection were best seen in the untreated animals and included anastomotic disruption (56%), periaortic hematoma, and lymphadenopathy (94%). Microscopic examination of the aortic tissues revealed extensive infiltrates of leukocytes, macrophages, and foreign body giant cells with aortic necrosis. These features were less prominent in the prophylaxis animals. We conclude that S. epidermidis is capable of producing acute graft infection with perigraft inflammation and anastomotic disruption. The administration of perioperative antibiotics reduced but did not abolish these effects of bacterial contamination of prosthetic vascular grafts. (J Vasc Surg 1989;9:464–71.)
Preliminary Results Related to the Design of Virtual Probes for Use in a Nano-Manipulation Test-Bed

This paper discusses the design of virtual probe tip models for use in a nano-manipulation research test-bed (NMRT). The proposed NMRT would help study the feasibility of a given manipulation technique in a virtual environment before physical experiments. For example, NMRT would be able to help users determine if a specific kind of probe tip can be used to pull out a nano-particle from a given substrate. A virtual probe tip model (for instance) would consider the given geometry and material of probe tip and simulate its behavior in a manipulation application in a physics based virtual reality environment. Such a virtual analysis and overall approach would result in considerable saving in time and financial resources with substantial application potential in medical and biotechnology fields where nanoparticle manipulation is useful. Expandability of the NMRT is made possible by designing an ‘information oriented’ or ‘information intensive’ model for a target set of nano-manipulation activities, which maps in detail various attributes related to a target nano-manipulation process [1]. In this approach, information models based on “engineering Enterprise Modeling Language” (eEML) are used. For example, consider an existing information model for interaction of a probe tip with a spherical particle; a user can use an existing information model, or modify it quickly to study the impact of two approaches (eg. manipulation strategy-A versus strategy-B, which may apply a different probe-tip for gripping). For a target nano-manipulation process (for example, the assembly of nano particles using an Atomic Force Microscope probe as a gripper), an information model can represent the core attributes influencing the target process; influencing criteria including constraints, information inputs, and physical inputs can be modeled explicitly and used to drive a target analysis or simulation activity.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Genetic linkage analysis in hypertension: principles and practice.

Over the past century, surgical and medical techniques have become increasingly sophisticated and capable of intervention in most acute illnesses. In contrast, our efforts at preventing or curing chronic diseases have so far met with little success, primarily reflecting our ignorance concerning the precise pathogenesis of these disorders. Most commonly, epidemiologically important diseases, including hypertension, are nowadays classified as complex diseases, acknowledging the more balanced contribution of both environmental and genetic causes to these disorders than is the case in either classic monogenic or occupational (as typically environmentally caused) diseases. The combined action, and interaction, of several genetic and non-genetic factors renders the dissection of these diseases a formidable task. While epidemiologists’ work over the past century has uncovered many, perhaps most, of the non-genetic causes contributing to these illnesses, we have only recently developed the molecular and statistical tools necessary to attempt uncovering the genetic ones. Significant progress in complex disease will depend on the identification of contributing genes, and the understanding of gene environment and gene interactions involved. This will not only allow a more targeted approach to early recognition and therapy, but ultimately provide the basis for prevention and cure.
A finite element with embedded localization zones

Abstract A method is developed by which localization zones can be embedded in four-node quadrilaterals and related elements. This is accomplished by modifying the strain field within the framework of a three-field variational statement. The jumps in strain associated with the localization band are obtained by imposing traction continuity and compatibility within the element; the latter follows naturally from the variational statement. Several one- and two-dimensional applications are shown.
The chinese american eye study: design and methods.

AbstractPurpose: To summarize the study design, operational strategies and procedures of the Chinese American Eye Study (CHES), a population-based assessment of the prevalence of visual impairment, ocular disease, and visual functioning in Chinese Americans.Methods: This population-based, cross-sectional study included 4570 Chinese participants aged 50 years and older, residing in the city of Monterey Park, California. Each eligible participant completed a detailed interview and eye examination. The interview included an assessment of demographic, behavioral and ocular risk factors and health-related and vision-related quality of life. The eye examination included measurements of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual fields, fundus and optic disc photography, a detailed anterior and posterior segment examination, and measurements of blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and blood glucose levels.Results: The objectives of the CHES are to obtain prevalence estimates of visual impairment, ref...
Predicting in‐treatment performance and post‐treatment outcomes in methamphetamine users

Aims This study examines the utility of individual drug use and treatment characteristics for predicting in-treatment performance and post-treatment outcomes over a 1-year period. Design, setting and participants Data were collected from 420 adults who participated in the Methamphetamine Treatment Project (MTP), a multi-site study of randomly assigned treatment for methamphetamine dependence. Interviews were conducted at baseline, during treatment and during three follow-up time-points: treatment discharge and at 6 and 12 months following admission. Measurements The Addiction Severity Index (ASI); the Craving, Frequency, Intensity and Duration Estimate (CFIDE); and laboratory urinalysis results were used in the current study. Findings Analyses addressed both in-treatment performance and post-treatment outcomes. The most consistent finding is that pre-treatment methamphetamine use predicts in-treatment performance and post-treatment outcomes. No one variable predicted all in-treatment performance measures; however, gender, route of administration and pre-treatment methamphetamine use were significant predictors. Similarly, post-treatment outcomes were predicted by a range of variables, although pre-treatment methamphetamine use was significantly associated with each post-treatment outcome. Conclusions These findings provide useful empirical information about treatment outcomes for methamphetamine abusers, and highlight the utility of assessing individual and in-treatment characteristics in the development of appropriate treatment plans.
Water potentials for developing cladodes and fruits of a succulent plant, including xylem-versus-phloem implications for water movement

Developing cladodes had lower water potentials and developing fruits had higher water potentials than the underlying cladodes of the widely cultivated prickly pear cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica. The 0.06 MPa lower value in 4-week-old daughter cladodes indicated a typical water potential gradient from the underlying cladode along the xylem of - 0.2 MPa m −1 ; the 0. 17 MPa higher value in 4-week-old fruits, which decreased to 0.07 MPa by 10 weeks, implicated the phloem as their supplier of water. The phloem sap of the underlying cladodes had an osmotic pressure of only 0.90 to 0.98 MPa, so the phloem could suppIy a relatively dilute solution to the photosynthetically dependent fruits (daughter cladodes of O. ficus-indica are photosynthetically independent at 4 weeks). Although the water potentials were similar for adjacent tissues, the osmotic pressures were lower for the water-storage compared with the photosynthetic tissue; the osmotic pressures were higher for xylem sap from fruits, for which xylary flow apparently occurred toward the underlying cladodes, than for daughter cladodes. The relative capacitance (change in relative water content divided by change in tissue water potential) was approximately 0.71 MPa −1 for the water-storage tissue and the photosynthetic tissue of both daughter cladodes and fruits at 4 weeks of age. When these organs approached maturity at 10 weeks, the relative capacitance increased about 40% for their water-storage tissue, but decreased 30% for their photosynthetic tissue. As the plant water content decreases during drought, about twice as much water will thus be lost per unit volume of the water-storage tissue compared with the photosynthetic tissue of maturing fruits and cladodes
Syntheses and NMR analyses of the eight geometric isomers of 3,6,8-dodecatrien-1-ol, subterranean termite trail pheromone

Abstract Eight geometric isomers of 3,6,8-dodecatrien-l-ol 1, the trail-following pheromone of subterranean termites ( Reticulitermes sp. Banks), were synthesized via a Wittig olefination reaction. The conver-gent syntheses of 1 consisted of a combination of two fragments, each containing an olefin with a fixed configuration, by formation of a third double bond to give a mixture of two geometric isomers. The mixtures of 1 were resolved by recycle high-performance liquid chromatography methods. 1H and 13C NMR peak assignments of the individual isomers were accomplished by homonuclear COSY, and one-bond CH correlation spectroscopy.
Pretesting for multi-step-ahead exchange rate forecasts with STAR models

Abstract It is well known that a linear model may forecast better than a nonlinear one, even when the nonlinear model is consistent with the actual data-generating process. Moreover, forecasting with nonlinear models can be quite programming-intensive, as multi-step-ahead forecasts need to be simulated. We propose a simple pretest to help determine whether it is worthwhile to forecast a series using a STAR model. In particular, we extend Terasvirta’s in-sample test for LSTAR and ESTAR behavior to multi-step-ahead out-of-sample forecasts. We apply our pretest to the real exchange rates of various OECD countries. When the test strongly rejects the null of linearity, a nonlinear model clearly outperforms a linear one in terms of multi-step-ahead forecasting accuracies (i.e., lower mean absolute percentage errors). However, when it fails to reject the null or does so only mildly, a direct approach based on an autoregressive model yields forecasts that are slightly superior to those generated from a logistic model. We also find that, when the proposed test strongly rejects the null of linearity, the “direct” method of forecasting and the bootstrap predictor yield similar performances, with the latter outperforming in terms of lower mean absolute percentage errors.
Lethal mutagenesis of HIV with mutagenic nucleoside analogs.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replicates its genome and mutates at exceptionally high rates. As a result, the virus is able to evade immunological and chemical antiviral agents. We tested the hypothesis that a further increase in the mutation rate by promutagenic nucleoside analogs would abolish viral replication. We evaluated deoxynucleoside analogs for lack of toxicity to human cells, incorporation by HIV reverse transcriptase, resistance to repair when incorporated into the DNA strand of an RNA.DNA hybrid, and mispairing at high frequency. Among the candidates tested, 5-hydroxydeoxycytidine (5-OH-dC) fulfilled these criteria. In seven of nine experiments, the presence of this analog resulted in the loss of viral replicative potential after 9-24 sequential passages of HIV in human CEM cells. In contrast, loss of viral replication was not observed in 28 control cultures passaged in the absence of the nucleoside analog, nor with other analogs tested. Sequence analysis of a portion of the HIV reverse transcriptase gene demonstrated a disproportionate increase in G --> A substitutions, mutations predicted to result from misincorporation of 5-OH-dC into the cDNA during reverse transcription. Thus, "lethal mutagenesis" driven by the class of deoxynucleoside analogs represented by 5-OH-dC could provide a new approach to treating HIV infections and, potentially, other viral infections.
Lipemia retinalis: a combination of genetics and the American diet and lifestyle.

Abstract Background Lipemia retinalis is a well-documented but rare ocular finding directly associated with serum triglyceride levels. The clinical presentation varies with the amount of triglycerides in the blood and completely resolves with lowering triglyceride levels, making this condition transient with no visual symptoms. Case report A 46-year-old white man presented with lipemia retinalis and, hours later, to the emergency department with acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusion Lipemia retinalis warrants an immediate complete blood count and lipid panel to determine triglyceride levels with referral to a primary care provider.
The Memory Box

A Memory Box was built to illustrate the possibility of recording and attaching stories to memorabilia kept in a box. Potential users then provided a range of ideas about what kinds of stories and objects they would keep in the box, and how they would use it. The findings confirm the value of attaching stories to souvenirs, especially in the context of gift-giving, and have implications for how this might be implemented through augmented reality interfaces.
The Meaning of Kaswentha and the Two Row Wampum Belt in Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) History: Can Indigenous Oral Tradition be Reconciled with the Documentary Record?

This essay analyzes the colonial era documentary record for corroboration of Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) oral tradition regarding the kaswentha (as currently understood and represented in the form of a Two-Row wampum belt). Eighteen different recitations of the tradition appear in documentary sources from 1656 to 1755. These findings demonstrate substantial convergence and complementarity between two perspectives on the past and suggest that the comparison and integration of indigenous oral tradition and documentary research may yield a more robust understanding of the past than would be the case of either undertaken alone.
Frequency Distribution of Clay Minerals in Major Great Soil Groups as Related to the Factors of Soil Formation

The frequency distribution or relative abundance of minerals in soils varies with the five principal classes of factors that govern soil formation. The characteristics of the minerals of the parent material, the time factor, climatic factors, relief factors and biotic factors each can be shown to have important independent effects on clay mineralogy of soils under proper circumstances. The soil parent material exerts a control over the frequency distribution of minerals in soils by introduction of the clay minerals into the soil directly, by controlling the course of chemical weathering in the soil through the relative susceptibility of its minerals to weathering, by furnishing abundant divalent metallic cations, by impediment of drainage, or by acceleration of leaching when highly permeable. The time factor is conspicuous as long times give an advanced degree of weathering even in temperate climates. Climate is important, since highly weathered materials inevitably occur as a result of intense leaching in warm tropical and equatorial climates. Relief is important in concentrating leaching water and metallic cations, in affecting oxidation or reduction. The biotic factor affects minerals conspicuously where an A0, horizon develops and resulting cheluviation moves R2O3 out of the A2 horizon. Inherited minerals such as illite, quartz, feldspars, ferro-magnesian minerals, carbonates and gypsum are most abundant in clays of little-weathered parent materials and soils of the zonal Desert, Brown, Chestnut and Tundra soils as well as intrazonal Mountain groups and azonal Regosols and Lithosols. Secondary layer silicate minerals such as vermiculite, secondary chlorite, montmorillonite, kaolinite and halloysite are most abundant in clays of moderately weathered parent materials and soils of the zonal Chernozem, Prairie, Gray—Brown Podzolic, Podzol, Red—Yellow Podzolic, and Low Humic Latosol groups as well as intrazonal Planosol, Rendzina, Dark Magnesium soil, and Wiesenboden groups. Secondary sesquioxide minerals such as hematite, goethite, allophane, gibbsite and anatase and residual resistant primary minerals such as ilmenite and magnetite predominate in the more highly weathered parent materials and soils of the zonal Ferruginous Humic Latosols, Hydrol Humic Latosols, Latosolic Brown, and Ando soils and Laterites, as well as the intrazonal Tropical Savannah and Ground Water Podzol ortstein soils.