cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aging with an existing physical disability

Significant advances in medical technology and increasing social and environmental supports throughout communities now allow persons with even severe disabilities to live into late-middle and old age. Disabilities are diverse, ranging from cognitive to mental health to sensory to physical impairments. Each different type of disability has specific implications for the experience of aging; notably, many persons have more than one type of impairment, complicating matters. In the United States, 54 million persons currently live with disabilities, and the numbers with grow substantially with the aging "baby boomers" as persons become newly disabled by the consequences of chronic conditions. This talk, however, focuses on persons with physical disabilities who either have had their disability since birth or who acquired their disability during childhood or by middle age. Persons aging with a physical disability confront threats to their functional abilities on four broad levels: (1) progression of their underlying disability; (2) development of secondary conditions (i.e., other conditions related to or as complications of their disabling condition); (3) development of comorbid chronic conditions associated with aging (i.e., conditions not related in etiology to the underlying disability); and changes in social, socioeconomic, and physical environments (e.g., widowhood, retirement from work, fixed income, downsizing home, becoming unable to drive). This talk with explore each of these four dimensions, looking first at the nature and epidemiology of the concerns and then drawing upon stories from research interviews and the literature to highlight the personal dimensions of aging with a physical disability.
Patterns of Military Entrepreneurship in Latin America

In many Latin American countries the military remains an influential economic actor despite the shift to democratic regimes and market-based economies. Yet while critics have targeted the region’s military entrepreneurs – the military owners, managers or stakeholders of economic enterprises – as a challenge for the development of liberal democracies, they have not paid sufficient attention to distinguishing different types of military entrepreneurship that reflect distinct historical patterns and political implications. This paper identifies three major types of military entrepreneurs in Latin America: industrializers determined to build national defense capabilities and compete for international prestige, nation-builders seeking to promote economic development that can foster social development and cohesion, and rentier capitalists pursuing financial gain for members of the military through investment ventures. Through short narrative histories, it reviews important differences among the three types in terms of their origins, paths and political consequences. The conclusion considers how we should assess these patterns to better understand the implications of military entrepreneurship.
Energy metabolism of intervertebral disc under mechanical loading

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is closely associated with low back pain (LBP), which is a major health concern in the U.S. Cellular biosynthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM), which is important for maintaining tissue integrity and preventing tissue degeneration, is an energy demanding process. Due to impaired nutrient support in avascular IVD, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) supply could be a limiting factor for maintaining normal ECM synthesis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the energy metabolism in the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) of porcine IVD under static and dynamic compressions. Under compression, pH decreased and the contents of lactate and ATP increased significantly in both AF and NP regions, suggesting that compression can promote ATP production via glycolysis and reduce pH by increasing lactate accumulation. A high level of extracellular ATP content was detected in the NP region and regulated by compressive loading. Since ATP can serve not only as an intra-cellular energy currency, but also as a regulator of a variety of cellular activities extracellularly through the purinergic signaling pathway, our findings suggest that compression-mediated ATP metabolism could be a novel mechanobiological pathway for regulating IVD metabolism.
Topology and geometry of unorganized point clouds

We present a new method for defining neighborhoods, and assigning principal curvature frames, and mean and Gauss curvatures to the points of an unorganized oriented point-cloud. The neighborhoods are estimated by measuring implicitly the surface distance between points. The 3D shape recovery is based on conformal geometry, works directly on the cloud, does not rely on the generation of polygonal, or smooth models. Test results on publicly available synthetic data, as ground truth, demonstrate that the method compares favorably to the established approaches for quantitative 3D shape recovery. The proposed method is developed to serve applications involving point based rendering and reliable extraction of differential properties from noisy unorganized point-clouds.
Use of Radio Frequency Identification for Targeted Advertising: A Collaborative Filtering Approach Using Bayesian Networks

This article discusses a potential application of radio frequency identification (RFID) and collaborative filtering for targeted advertising in grocery stores. Every day hundreds of items in grocery stores are marked down for promotional purposes. Whether these promotions are effective or not depends primarily on whether the customers are aware of them or not, and secondarily whether the customers are interested in the products or not. Currently, the companies are incapable of influencing the customers' decisionmaking process while they are shopping. However, the capabilities of RFID technology enable us to transfer the recommendation systems of e-commerce to grocery stores. In our model, using RFID technology, we get real time information about the products placed in the cart during the shopping process. Based on that information we inform the customer about those promotions in which the customer is likely to be interested in. The selection of the product advertised is a dynamic decision making process since it is based on the information of the products placed inside the cart while customer is shopping. Collaborative filtering will be used for the identification of the advertised product and Bayesian networks will be used for the application of collaborative filtering. We are assuming a scenario where all products have RFID tags, and grocery carts are equipped with RFID readers and screens that would display the relevant promotions.
Tracking a Movement: U.S. Milestones in Suicide Prevention

Suicidology and suicide prevention are relatively new fields of study in the United States, but they have made significant progress since their beginnings. This study aimed to identify the most impactful theories in the history of science and suicidology and the most impactful events in the suicide prevention movement. These theories and events were identified through expert nomination. The most impactful theories were those of Shneidman, Durkheim, and Joiner. The most impactful events included the opening of the first suicide prevention center and hotline, the founding of the American Association of Suicidology, and national publications (e.g., National Strategy for Suicide Prevention).
Dsolve: safety verification via liquid types

We present Dsolve, a verification tool for OCaml Dsolve automates verification by inferring “Liquid” refinement types that are expressive enough to verify a variety of complex safety properties.
Implementation of a Bait Adulticide Technology for Corn Rootworm in Integrated Farm Management Systems: a Systems Engineering Approach

This paper presents a consistent approach to the development of interdisciplinary research plans and transfer of technology from Agricultural Research Service laboratories. Specifically, this case study discusses the implementation of a bait adulticide for an agronomic pest insect (corn rootworm) within an integrated farm system. Prospects for the use of systems engineering within the Agricultural Research Service for research planning, conduct and evaluation are discussed.
Sub-pixel variability of remotely sensed soil moisture: an inter-comparison study of SAR and ESTAR

Soil moisture was retrieved from radar data using an inverse model based on the integral equation model (IEM). ESTAR images of brightness temperature obtained during the same period were inverted independently for soil moisture. The results at individual sampling sites were first compared against gravimetric soil moisture observations for Washita '94, and the RMS errors for both applications were between 3% and 4%. Subsequently, the authors investigated the use of high resolution SAR-derived soil moisture fields to estimate sub-pixel variability in ESTAR derived fields. The objective was to determine whether scaling arguments can be used to disaggregate ESTAR data to finer spatial resolution based on the geomorphic layout of the landscape. The differences in the ESTAR and SAR retrieved soil moisture were related to the amount of vegetation present at that pixel. Furthermore, they also investigated the problem of consistency between the two systems. For this purpose, SAR-derived soil moisture was aggregated to ESTAR resolution, and these estimates were used along with land surface attributes to derive the corresponding brightness temperature fields (i.e., backward retrieval). Estimated and observed brightness temperature fields were compared and analyzed to establish the aggregation kernel inherent to ESTAR, that is, how the instrument actually processes/integrates sub-pixel variability.
On the condensed history technique for electron transport

Abstract In this report we discuss the theory of the “condensed history technique”, an approximate solution to the Boltzmann transport equation that sums the effect of up to thousands of discrete, small momentum transfer elastic and inelastic collisions into single larger-effect quasi-events. This technique saves much calculational effort at the expense of introducing errors that are now understood quantitatively in terms of the development presented herein. We apply our analysis to modern realizations of the condensed history method, namely those of EGS/PRESTA, ETRAN/TLC, FLUKA, PENELOPE, and LLCA. We have also constructed an algorithm that exhibits smaller large step size instabilities than all of these methods and give several examples.
A finite element method for three-dimensional unstructured grid smoothing

The finite element method is applied to grid smoothing in three-dimensional geometry, generalizing earlier results obtained for planar geometry. The underlying set of equations for the Cartesian components of grid coordinates, based on the notion of harmonic coordinates, has a natural variational formulation. To estimate the target metric tensor that drives the elliptic grid equations, the metric tensor components are computed on a coarse-grained grid. Numerical examples illustrating the proposed approach are presented together with results from the smoothness functional, which is used to measure the quality of the resulting grid.
Feedback stabilization via dynamic fixed gain controls: Preliminary report

We synthesize scanning feedback controls {?i(t)} for the vibrating string equation ytt(x,t) = yxx(x,t) + Ry(x,t) +?i=1 N ?(x-?i(t))y(x,t), 0 < x < 1, y = 0 at x = 0,1. so that (y,yt) ? (0,0) at t ? ? in the weak topology of H0 1(0, 1) × L2(0, 1).
Cervical carcinoma: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative staging

Objective To assess the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of invasive cervical cancer. Methods Seventy-nine women with untreated cervical cancer underwent pre-treatment MRI ( n = 71) and/or CT ( n = 37) within 4 weeks of surgical evaluation. Twenty-nine women had both MRI and CT. Images were evaluated for tumor detection, size, stromal invasion, local extension, and nodal metastases. Results Tumor size was evaluated accurately by MRI, with a correlation coefficient of 0.93. Magnetic resonance estimates of tumor size were within 0.5 cm of the surgical sample in 64 of 69 women (93%). Magnetic resonance was 88% accurate evaluating the presence of stromal invasion and 78% accurate for depth of stromal invasion. Computed tomography could not evaluate tumor size or stromal invasion because it could not distinguish cancer from the surrounding normal cervical tissue. In evaluating stage of disease, MRI had an accuracy of 90%, compared with 65% for CT ( P P P Conclusion Compared with CT, MRI offered significantly improved evaluation of tumor size, stromal invasion, and local and regional extent of disease in pre-treatment imaging for cervical cancer.
Efficacy of supplemental dietary neutralizing agents for lactating dairy cows. A review

Abstract With today's feeds and feeding practices, lactating dairy cows are being subjected to rations which lead to a lower ruminal pH than routinely experienced previously. This acidic digestive environment can have a negative influence on animal performance. The use of dietary buffers and alkalizing agents has often improved performance under these conditions. Forty-one experiments involving supplemental feeding of sodium bicarbonate to dairy cows consuming diets averaging 57% concentrate are summarized. When corn silage was the main dietary forage, cows receiving supplemented diets produced an average of 0.8 kg day −1 more milk with 0.22% higher milk fat test resulting in 1.6 kg day −1 more 4% fat-corrected milk. When a grass/legume silage or hay is fed, results with sodium bicarbonate have been inconsistent. Little response in production has been observed when the buffer has been fed with cottonseed hull-based diets. Sodium bicarbonate tends to exert its effect by elevating ruminal pH, shifting the acetate to propionate ratio within the rumen and increasing the digestibility of dietary acid detergent fiber. Highly refined sodium sesquicarbonate, magnesium oxide and a multi-element buffer also have proven effective in improving milk fat percent and/or milk yield. There does not appear to be sufficient evidence that combining magnesium oxide with sodium bicarbonate improves animal performance beyond that of either buffer alone when fed in diets of typical forage-to-grain ratios.
Stage and segment specificity of the secretory cell of the dermal glands of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

The pair of epidermally derived Verson's glands on each segment of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, secretes at ecdysis proteinaceous products which coat the epicuticle. These proteins are produced by a single secretory cell which displays both stage- and segment-specificity during development. Three major 12-kDa polypeptides are synthesized at the larval molts, while higher molecular weight (14–93 kDa) polypeptides are produced at the pupal molt. In the pupa, but not in the larva, there are three segment-specific protein patterns, each involving both qualitative and quantitative differences: (1) thoracic (T) segments 1 and 2; (2) T3 and abdominal (A) segment 1; (3) A2–A8. Larval-specific proteins were found to be synthesized in low amounts throughout the penultimate fourth instar, with enhanced synthesis occurring during the molt, coincident with the molting surge of ecdysteroids. Synthesis of the major pupal products commenced about the time of wandering, with enhanced synthesis occurring throughout prepupal development, coincident with the prepupal surge in ecdysteroids. The onset of synthesis of the major pupal products differed, both within and between segments. Culture of fifth instar Day 2 glands in vitro showed that this synthesis depended on 20-hydroxyecdysone. The differential regulation within and between segments observed in vivo was also seen in vitro.
The Dominant-Firm Advantage in Multiproduct Industries: Evidence from the U. S. Airlines

In many industries, the largest firms are most successful in entering and competing in individual markets or submarkets. While this success is often attributed to cost or quality differences, it may also reflect reputation advantages or marketing strategies that benefit firms selling a wider variety of products in the industry. I present an approach to estimating the advantages of a dominant firm in the airline industry that allows one to effectively control for cost and quality heterogeneity. Results using data from 1986 indicate that an airline with a dominant presence at an airport will have a significant advantage in attracting customers whose trips originate at that airport, regardless of the specific route on which the customer is traveling.
Vertebral artery ostial stent placement for atherosclerotic stenosis in 72 consecutive patients: clinical outcomes and follow-up results

The study’s purpose is to report the technical and clinical outcomes of a patient cohort that underwent vertebral artery ostium stent placement for atherosclerotic stenosis. We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively collected database of neurointerventional procedures performed at a single center from 1999 to 2005. Outcome measures included recurrent transient neurological deficits (TNDs), stroke, and death. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate stroke- and/or death-free survival at 12 months. Cox proportional hazard was used to identify risk factors for recurrent vertebrobasilar ischemic events. Seventy-two patients with 77 treated vertebral ostial lesions were included. The 30-day stroke and/or death rate was 5.2% (n = 4), although no event was directly related to the vertebral ostium stent placement. Three procedure-related strokes were secondary to attempted stent placement at other sites (one carotid artery and two basilar arteries), and the one death was secondary to the presenting stroke severity. The mean clinical follow-up time available for 66 patients was 9 months. There were 14 TNDs (21%), two strokes (3%), and two deaths (3%) recorded in the follow-up. Recurrent vertebrobasilar ischemic events occurred in nine patients (seven TNDs and two strokes). No recurrent stroke and/or deaths were related to the treated vertebral ostium. Stroke- and/or death-free survival rate (including periprocedural stroke and/or death) was 89 ± 5% at 12 months. No vascular risk factor was significantly associated with recurrent vertebrobasilar ischemic events. Vertebral artery ostium stent placement can be safely and effectively performed with a low rate of recurrent stroke in the territory of the treated vessel. Patients who also underwent attempted treatment of a tandem intracranial stenosis appeared to be at highest risk for periprocedure stroke.
Changes In the Flora of the Mount Holyoke Range, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts Over the Past 150 Years (1860–2010)

Abstract The current (2010) flora of the Mount Holyoke Range was compared to a flora compiled from herbarium specimens collected between 1860 and 1952. Losses and additions were examined for families and for rare and introduced species. The patterns of loss were compared to other recent floras from Massachusetts. In addition, the potential impacts of global warming on species distribution and spring flowering phenology were examined. The historic flora consisted of 370 species, all but 8 of which were native. The current flora of 834 taxa more than doubled that previously recorded, with introduced species showing the largest percent increase. About 10.7% of the native plants from the historic flora were not re-located; thus, lower than the 20–44% loss of natives in other Massachusetts floras from urban or suburban areas but similar to the loss from the non-urban Harvard Forest flora. Nevertheless, the patterns of loss were similar for all areas, with rare species and families such as the Orchidaceae, Saxi...
The passionate cosmopolitan in Salman Rushdie's Fury

Relating Rushdie's work to theories of cosmopolitanism and to Rushdie's own comments on the intersection of globalization and American hegemony, this essay argues that Fury treats cosmopolitanism in an American guise with ambivalence. It foregrounds American immigrant experiences as ones with limited recourse to the consolations of nostalgia and authenticity, and it links justice‐seeking anger to the transnational allegiances and cultural and geographical mobility that define cosmopolitanism. Rage emanating from childhood vulnerability and from loss of ideals fuels cosmopolitanism in this novel, and thus it intriguingly alters a received idea of the cosmopolitan character as cool, distanced, and ironic.
Electrochemical disinfection of Escherichia coli in the presence and absence of primary sludge particulates

Electrochemical (EC) residual disinfection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the presence and absence of primary sludge particulates (PSPs) was studied. The kinetics followed a first-order rate law. When PSPs were absent, the EC residual disinfection rate coefficient (k) increased linearly with EC pretreatment energy (EC, 0-0.63 kWh/m(3)). However, with 143 mg PSPs/L, k first increased linearly with EC (0-0.28 kWh/m(3)) and then decreased linearly with EC (0.28-0.42 kWh/m(3)). H2O2 was detected during EC pretreatment in PSPs-free samples and the H2O2 concentration (CH) increased with EC (0-0.83 kWh/m(3)) linearly. Chloride was detected in PSPs aqueous samples (143 mg PSPs/L) and its concentration (CC) changed during EC pretreatment: initially, a decrease of CC was observed when EC increased from 0 to 0.28 kWh/m(3), followed by an increase of CC when EC increased 0.28-0.42 kWh/m(3). In both cases, k correlated to the initial post-EC chloride concentration (CCI) in an inverse linear relationship. This two-stage change of CC and k was caused by a combination of two reactions: anodic oxidation of chloride and the reaction of chloramines with excess chlorine. This paper explains the mechanisms underlying EC residual disinfection in the presence and absence of PSPs, and proposes a feasible strategy for EC disinfection when PSPs are present, an approach that could be useful in the treatment of combined sewage overflow (CSO).
On finite element analysis of an inverse problem in elasticity

This investigation concerns an inverse problem modelled by the finite element method. For a given mesh and set of physical properties, even though a well-posed direct problem possesses a unique solution in classical linear elasticity, variational arguments establish that a corresponding inverse problem may not. Furthermore, even when the inverse problem admits a unique solution when modelled ‘exactly’ using the classical linear theory of elasticity, an unfortunate mesh choice may cause the finite element model of the inverse problem to fail to do so. The current investigation introduces a simple matrix nonsingularity criterion assuring that the finite element model possesses a unique solution. An apparently new and readily computed numerical test is introduced to verify satisfaction of the criterion. Examples are given illustrating the effectiveness of the criterion and its application to mesh design.
Metastatic breast cancer induces an osteoblast inflammatory response

Breast cancer preferentially metastasizes to the skeleton, a hospitable environment that attracts and allows breast cancer cells to thrive. Growth factors released as bone is degraded support tumor cell growth, and establish a cycle favoring continued bone degradation. While the osteoclasts are the direct effectors of bone degradation, we found that osteoblasts also contribute to bone loss. Osteoblasts are more than intermediaries between tumor cells and osteoclasts. We have presented evidence that osteoblasts contribute through loss of function induced by metastatic breast cancer cells. Metastatic breast cancer cells suppress osteoblast differentiation, alter morphology, and increase apoptosis. In this study we show that osteoblasts undergo an inflammatory stress response in the presence of human metastatic breast cancer cells. When conditioned medium from cancer cells was added to human osteoblasts, the osteoblasts were induced to express increased levels of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1; cytokines known to attract, differentiate, and activate osteoclasts. Similar findings were seen with murine osteoblasts and primary murine calvarial osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are co-opted into creating a microenvironment that exacerbates bone loss and are prevented from producing matrix proteins for mineralization. This is the first study implicating osteoblast produced IL-6, IL-8 (human; MIP-2 and KC mouse), and MCP-1 as key mediators in the osteoblast response to metastatic breast cancer cells.
Distinct conformations of a putative translocation element in poliovirus polymerase.

The mechanism whereby RNA is translocated by the single subunit viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases is not yet understood. These enzymes lack homologs of the "O-helix" structures and associated fingers domain movements thought to be responsible for translocation in many DNA-templated polymerases. The structures of multiple picornavirus polymerase elongation complexes suggest that these enzymes use a different molecular mechanism where translocation is not strongly coupled to the opening of the active site following catalysis. Here we present the 2.0- to 2.6-A-resolution crystal structures and biochemical data for 12 poliovirus polymerase mutants that together show how proper enzyme functions and translocation activity requires conformational flexibility of a loop sequence in the palm domain B-motif. Within the loop, the Ser288-Gly289-Cys290 sequence is shown to play a major role in the catalytic cycle based on RNA binding, processive elongation activity, and single nucleotide incorporation assays. The structures show that Ser288 forms a key hydrogen bond with Asp238, the backbone flexibility of Gly289 is required for translocation competency, and Cys290 modulates the overall elongation activity of the enzyme. Some conformations of the loop represent likely intermediates on the way to forming the catalytically competent closed active site, while others are consistent with a role in promoting translocation of the nascent base pair out of the active site. The loop structure and key residues surrounding it are highly conserved, suggesting that the structural dynamics we observe in poliovirus 3D(pol) are a common feature of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases.
Periodic Structure of 2-D Navier-Stokes Equations

We study in this article both the structure and the structural evolution of the solutions of 2-D Navier-Stokes equations with periodic boundary conditions and the evolution of their solutions. First the structure of all eigenvectors of the corresponding Stokes problem is lassified using a block structure, and is linked to the typical structure of the Taylor vortices. Then the structure of the solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations forced either by eigenmodes or by potential forcing is classified.
Econometric Issues in the Analysis of Charitable Giving

In this article, several econometric problems arising from estimating models of charitable contributions are examined. An instrumental variable technique proposed by Clotfelter is used to reduce the bias of the estimated price effect and compare it with other methods. Linear dependence between price and income are reduced by including state and local tax rates and show that the degree of collinear ity is low. By using demographic characteristics, current and permanent income and contributions to different organizations in the Consumer Expenditure Survey, the results are compared with other models, and bias caused by neglecting government expenditures is examined. These comparisons show that the dummy-intercept and the first-difference model omit important permanent effects and that omitting government welfare expenditures biases price elasticities, although the degree of bias may be small.
Artificial kidneys: past, present, and future.

The Past—The artificial kidney, the bioengineering substitution of a biological system necessary to maintain life, comprises four subentities: hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, hemofiltration, and hemoperfusion. The main emphasis of this discussion will be on hemodialysis, however there are obvious corollaries with peritoneal dialysis, hemofiltration, and hemoperfusion and these will be discussed where relevant. The history and development of the four systems will be discussed. The Present—A better understanding of the limitations of artificial kidneys will be presented by a review of normal kidney function. A discussion of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) physiology and biochemistry including electrolyte metabolism and acid-base balance will be given. The Future—Initially, one might predict a continuing progression of technological sophistication applied to artifical kidney machines: microprocessor controlled functions such as osmolality changes, electrolyte homeostatis, and acid-base balance. However, the two distinct conceptually valid approaches for hemodialysis (and hemofiltration) are [1] daily or even continuous artificial kidney treatments and [2] increasingly sophisticated dialysis techniques used on an intermittent (thrice weekly) basis. These will be discussed in detail including uremic toxins, physiologic feedback controls and biochemistry servocontrols. The future of artificial kidneys is described as following two diverging courses. The first is that of daily or even continuous treatment, which renders redundant all but the simplest of servocontrol mechanisms. The second describes the evolution of logic of complex integrated closed-loop feedback controls for periodic artificial kidney treatments.
Image Access Protocol for Image Processing Software

During the past decade a number of multiimage picture processing software packages have been put together. However, only a few of the references to picture processing systems discuss image data structure or input/output routines. This correspondence is a first step in a direction toward getting a communication process started by suggesting some specifications for a multiimage data format and standard input/output interface routines to access the image data.
Video Games and Youth Violence: A Prospective Analysis in Adolescents.

The potential influence of violent video games on youth violence remains an issue of concern for psychologists, policymakers and the general public. Although several prospective studies of video game violence effects have been conducted, none have employed well validated measures of youth violence, nor considered video game violence effects in context with other influences on youth violence such as family environment, peer delinquency, and depressive symptoms. The current study builds upon previous research in a sample of 302 (52.3% female) mostly Hispanic youth. Results indicated that current levels of depressive symptoms were a strong predictor of serious aggression and violence across most outcome measures. Depressive symptoms also interacted with antisocial traits so that antisocial individuals with depressive symptoms were most inclined toward youth violence. Neither video game violence exposure, nor television violence exposure, were prospective predictors of serious acts of youth aggression or violence. These results are put into the context of criminological data on serious acts of violence among youth.
Fulminant Hepatic Failure: Summary of a Workshop

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is defined by the appearance of severe liver injury with hepatic encephalopathy in a previously healthy person. There are an estimated 2,000 cases of FHF in the United States yearly, representing 0.1% of all deaths and, perhaps, 6% of liver-related deaths. The causes of FHF are many, the chief ones in the United States being hepatitis A; B; non-A, non-B and drug induced liver disease. There are no specific therapies for FHF, however, liver transplantation is recommended for situations in which spontaneous recovery appears unlikely. Factors that are valuable in assessing the likelihood of spontaneous recovery are static features such as patient age and etiology of FHF and dynamic features including encephalopathy grade, prothrombin time, and serum bilirubin. Presently, approximately 7% of all liver transplants are done for FHF and the 1-year patient survival rates average 63%, somewhat less than survival rates for nonfulminant liver disease, averaging 78%. The management of patients with FHF is challenging, particularly important being monitoring and early treatment of infections, hemodynamic abnormalities, and brain edema. Innovative approaches to management and therapy include use of cytoprotective or antiviral medications, hepatic support systems, extracorporeal liver support, hepatocyte transplantation, auxiliary liver transplantation, and xenotransplantation. None of these are of proven benefit, but many are promising as a means to support the patient with FHF until spontaneous recovery occurs or a suitable liver graft is available for transplantation.
Contribution of π-electrons to nuclear spin-spin coupling of aromatic protons

Abstract Empirical data on hyperfine splittings in aromatic free radicals are used as a basis for estimating the contribution of π-electrons to proton-proton nuclear spin-spin couplings in aromatic molecules. This contribution of the π-electrons to the coupling of protons N and N′ is where β is the Bohr magneton, Q is a hyperfine splitting constant with an empirical value of 30 ± 3 gauss, ηNN′ is the bond-border connecting carbon atoms N and N′, and ΔE is an effective electronic excitation energy. Our estimates indicate that JNN′π is quite small for one or two-ring aromatic systems, i.e., ≲1 cps. This contribution to proton-proton splittings, though small, does have the interesting property that it is not rapidly attenuated with increasing bond distance between proton pairs.
Soil-elevation relationships on a volcanic plateau in the Southern Cascade Range, northern California, USA

Summary The main features of an altitudinal sequence were determined from mapping soils on a late Cenozoic volcanic plateau west-southwest of Lassen Peak, and from the analyses of 27 pedons sampled from 270 to 2030 m above sea level. This sequence is characterized by thermic Rhodoxeralfs in oak-grassland below 500 m through mesic Palexeralfs, mesic Xeric Haplohumults, frigid Andic Haplohumults, and Haplocryands in conifer forest. Soil depth and clay content are greatest in the lower part of the conifer forest, but soils in the oak-grassland are slightly redder. The characteristic (not necessarily predominant) clay minerals, from low to high altitude, are smectite, kaolinite, halloysite, hydrated halloysite, and allophane. Soil reaction ranges from slightly acid at all depths in the oak-grassland to strongly acid in the surface and very strongly acid in the subsoil at higher altitude. The soil organic carbon content increases from about 9 kg/m2-m in the oak-grassland to about 11 in the lower part and 25 kg/m2-m or more in the upper part of the conifer forest. Soil organic carbon to total nitrogen ratios range from 11 to 14 in the oak-grassland and from 25 to 35 in the surface horizons in the conifer forest; increase with elevation in the forest being relatively small compared to the abrupt increase in C:N ratio from grassland to forest.
A qualitative review of issues arising in the use of psycho­stimulant medications in patients with ADHD and co‑morbid substance use disorders

ABSTRACTObjective: This review addresses the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders (SUDs), with an emphasis on factors that determine the potential for psychostimulant abuse. Strategies for identification and treatment of patients with ADHD who are at risk for, or have, co-morbid SUD are also addressed.Research design and methods: The article was based on a qualitative review of current literature addressing co-morbid ADHD and SUD.Discussion: Adolescent and adult patients with ADHD are at increased risk for SUD, as well as a number of other psychiatric disorders. Psychostimulant agents like methyl­phenidate (MPH) and mixed amphetamine salts (MAS) are effective first-line pharmacotherapies for ADHD; however, they are Schedule II controlled substances with a potential for abuse. Evidence suggests that treatment of ADHD during childhood with stimulant agents may reduce the risk of developing SUD later on. Factors associated with the highest risk of S...
On the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy to assess the weathering performance of isolated clearcoats from different chemical families

A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum analysis technique has been developed to compare the photooxidation resistance of clearcoats from different chemical families. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements of clearcoat photooxidation resistance are combined with ultraviolet spectroscopy measurements of ultraviolet light absorber additive longevity to produce a clear picture of clearcoat weathering performance. Benchmark results are presented for 23 coatings from a wide range of chemical families. All measurements were carried out under 0.45 W/m2 borosilicate inner and outer filtered xenon arc SAE J1960 JUN89 accelerated exposure.
Beam scanning for heavy charged particle radiotherapy

An important aspect of heavy charged particle radiotherapy is its ability to localize dose to the target volume. Current techniques generally employ beam delivery schemes which use range modulated beams in which the Bragg peak is spread out over a range of depths. The range modulation is constant over the entire beam cross section. This paper examines the potential gain from the use of variable range modulation over the beam cross section which can be achieved through beam scanning. An analytic technique has been developed to calculate a gain factor, related to integral dose, for a number of different charged particle beams. The dependence of the gain factor on tumor depth, diameter, and size has been examined. These analytic results have been compared with computer calculations of treatment plans simulating beam scanning and fixed modulation delivery techniques for actual clinical cases. The rationale for beam scanning, and its potential impact on tumor control is discussed.
Electro-photoluminescence in HgI2

Abstract We report the existence and some features of electro-photoluminescence in HgI 2 . This EPL is not an injection effect. It is dependent upon both the polarity of the illuminated contact and the energy of the exciting light.
Measurement of the off-axis NuMI Neutrinos

Abstract An analysis of the off-axis beam is discussed. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory has two beam lines that produce neutrinos: the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) and the NuMI beam line. The BNB beam is designed for use by the MiniBooNE experiment. The NuMI beam produces neutrinos for the MINOS experiment and it will be supplying the NOνA experiment with neutrinos. The MiniBooNE detector also observes neutrinos from the NuMI beamline, at an off-axis angle of 6.3 degrees. Samples of charged current quasi-elastic (CCQE) ν μ and ν e interactions were analyzed.
The Culture of Credit in Eighteenth-Century Commerce: The English Textile Industry

�� In this article, I seek to expand the relatively narrow focus of most work on commercial credit in eighteenth-century England by incorporating culture into an economic analysis. I argue that the various credit regimes that operated in the regional branches of the English wool textile industry are best understood as having a cultural dimension. A comparative analysis of business strategies in these regions suggests that the different cultures of credit had important implications for the development of the textile industry during the eighteenth century, shaping the character of the entrepreneurship of each region’s merchants and producers. It is something of a commonplace to remark on the extent to which eighteenth-century commerce was built on credit. Indeed, credit is of central importance in almost any economy whose exchanges are more complex than simple barter, but credit is a topic of special interest in relation to eighteenth-century England because economic expansion during that period (in terms of both size and complexity) was so robust in comparison to the financial system that supported it. Lacking a comprehensive credit market, the British economy was dependent on personal trust for all economic transactions, from commercial payments to capital formation.
Detection of Viable Salmonella in Lettuce by Propidium Monoazide Real‐Time PCR

Contamination of lettuce by Salmonella has caused serious public health problems. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria in food, but it is inaccurate as it might amplify DNA from dead target cells as well. This study aimed to investigate the stability of DNA of dead Salmonella cells in lettuce and to develop an approach to detecting viable Salmonella in lettuce. Salmonella-free lettuce was inoculated with heat-killed Salmonella Typhimurium cells and stored at 4 °C. Bacterial DNA extracted from the sample was amplified by real-time PCR targeting the invA gene. Our results indicate that DNA from the dead cells remained stable in lettuce for at least 8 d. To overcome this limitation, propidium monoazide (PMA), a dye that can selectively penetrate dead bacterial cells and cross-link their DNA upon light exposure, was combined with real-time PCR. Lettuce samples inoculated with different levels of dead or viable S. Typhimurium cells were treated or untreated with PMA before DNA extraction. Real-time PCR suggests that PMA treatment effectively prevented PCR amplification from as high as 10(8) CFU/g dead S. Typhimurium cells in lettuce. The PMA real-time PCR assay could detect viable Salmonella at as low as 10(2) CFU/mL in pure culture and 10(3) CFU/g in lettuce. With 12-h enrichment, S. Typhimurium of 10(1) CFU/g in lettuce was detectable. In conclusion, the PMA real-time PCR assay provides an alternative to real-time PCR assay for accurate detection of Salmonella in food.
Chirality in Microcystins

Abstract A new method has been developed to identify the isomers of amino acids by derivatization of the corresponding standards with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5- l -alanine amide (Marfey's reagent or FDAA) and analysis of the diastereomeric derivatives by a liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry technique. Quantification of the FDAA derivatives that originate from standards was possible by using l -phenylalanine as the internal standard. The procedure was applied to determine the chiralities of the amino acids present in some previously uncharacterized blue-green algal peptides (microcystins).
Is insulin pump therapy better than injection for adolescents with diabetes

Background and aims: Insulin pump therapy is a commonly used alternative to multiple daily injections (MDI) in the treatment of pediatric type 1 diabetes. The aim of the current study was to examine whether there are different medical and psychosocial outcomes for adolescents using MDI versus pump therapy as experienced in a naturally occurring context of self- or doctor-chosen insulin regimens. Methods: Adolescents and their parents completed questionnaires assessing quality of life and parenting stress. A1C levels were obtained from the medical record. Results: Metabolic and psychosocial outcomes did not differ significantly between adolescents using pump therapy and adolescents using MDI. Higher parental stress was associated with older children, lower quality of life, and higher A1C levels. Conclusions: Physicians might present this information to families along with the potential advantages and disadvantages of pumps and injections.
FINITE ELEMENT SOLUTION OF OPTIMAL CONTROL PROBLEMS WITH STATE-CONTROL INEQUALITY CONSTRAINTS

It is demonstrated that the weak Hamiltonian finite-element formulation is amenable to the solution of optimal control problems with inequality constraints which are functions of both state and control variables. Difficult problems can be treated on account of the ease with which algebraic equations can be generated before having to specify the problem. These equations yield very accurate solutions. Owing to the sparse structure of the resulting Jacobian, computer solutions can be obtained quickly when the sparsity is exploited.
Why is alkylation of an enolate accompanied by so much polyalkylation

The lithium enolate 1-Li of 6-phenyl-α-tetralone forms a monomer−tetramer equilibrium in THF at 25 °C with K1,4 = 4.7E+10 M-3. The lithium enolate 2-Li, however, forms a monomer−dimer equilibrium with K1,2 = 3800 M-1. In both cases reaction with benzyl bromide is dominantly with the monomer. The results support an earlier conjecture of House that alkylation of an enolate is frequently accompanied by extensive polyalkylation because the less substituted enolates are more aggregated.
Reducing off-task behavior in the classroom: A comparison of encouragement and reprimands

Teachers report using both reprimands and encouragement as strategies to reduce off-task behavior in the classroom. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of reprimands, none has examined the efficacy of encouragement. In order to answer this question, two experiments were performed. Subjects were 16 children with academic and/or behavioral problems who were assigned to one of two classes in a remedial summer program. Experiment I employed a reversal design in each class to compare either reprimands or encouragement with No-Feedback conditions. Reprimands proved superior to No Feedback in reducing off-task behavior, but Encouragement did not. In Experiment II Reprimands and Encouragement were directly compared to one another, with each class exposed to both conditions. Reprimands resulted in lower rates of off-task behavior and higher academic productivity than Encouragement.
Myotonic dystrophy: is a narrow focus obscuring the rest of the field?

Purpose of reviewThe myotonic dystrophies (DM1 and DM2) are the paradigm for RNA toxicity in disease pathogenesis. The emphasis of this review will be on recent developments and issues in understanding the pathogenesis of DM1 and how this is driving the accelerated pace of translational and therapeu
Storm-runoff generation in the permanente creek drainage basin, west central California. An example of flood-wave effects on runoff composition

Abstract Variations in the isotopic and chemical composition of storm runoff in the 10.6-km 2 Permanente Creek basin, Santa Clara County, California, indicate that changes in water composition lag behind changes in streamflow. This lag occurs even though field observations and rainfall-runoff modeling indicate that much of the storm runoff must be composed of “new” water running off impervious surfaces. The apparent incompatibility posed by the presence of “old” water and the direct and indirect evidence that surface runoff contributes substantially to storm runoff can be explained if initial rises in streamflow result from effects of flood waves. Flood waves composed of old channel water reach downstream locations ahead of the new water derived from impervious areas. By this mechanism, streamflow can rise rapidly in response to surface runoff and still be composed of large amounts of old water. Data collected in Permanente Creek indicate that flood waves can occur even in small basins, at least when those basins contain impervious surfaces.
The benefit–incidence of public spending: the Caribbean experience

This paper shows that public spending on basic services, to wit, primary and secondary education and basic health care benefit the poor; while the non-poor are the principal beneficiaries of tertiary and education subsidies and hospital spending. The evidence also shows that expenditures on infrastructure spending in the Caribbean benefit the non-poor disproportionately more than the poor. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.