cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The adsorption and reaction of normal alkanes on the Ir(110)-(1 × 2) surface

Previous studies of the adsorption and reaction of ethane and propane on the Ir(110)-(1 × 2) surface have been extended to the normal isomers of butane, pentane, hexane and heptane. At low coverages, each of these alkanes undergoes dissociative chemisorption at 125–130 K. At higher coverages, molecular adsorption occurs as well. Thermal desorption spectra of hydrogen are similar in many respects for the dissociative adsorption of all six of these paraffins, and both desorption-limited and reaction-limited adstates are observed. The latter are associated with the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbon fragments on the surface. Ethane, butane and hexane form high temperature adstates, the associated fragments of which are low in hydrogen content, while those for propane, pentane and heptane contain relatively more hydrogen. This difference may be explained in terms of a model for dehydrogenation which has been proposed previously [T.S. Wittrig, P.D. Szuromi and W.H. Weinberg, J. Chem. Phys. 76, (1982) 3305] in understanding the reaction of other hydrocarbons on this surface.
A rapid, quantitative procedure for measuring the unsaponifiable matter from animal, marine, and plant oils

A simple, rapid, quantitative procedure for measuring the unsaponifiable matter (USM) in animal, marine and plant oils is described. Saponification is achieved by grinding the oil with potassium hydroxide pellets followed by a short heating period. The resultant soap mixture is then ground together with Celite powder, transferred to a glass column, and the USM is eluted with small amounts of dichloromethane. Good agreement between duplicate determinations was obtained for all oils examined. Values for the USM of 21 different fats and oils are given. Comparison of some of these values was made with those obtained with Official Methods.
Book Review: Gender and Green Governance

Bina Agarwal,Gender and Green Governance.Delhi: Oxford University Press. 2010. 488 pages. ₹ 625.
Some Realities about Sprawl and Urban Decline

Abstract Many urban analysts believe suburban sprawl has become an important issue because it helps generate two types of problems: growth‐related difficulties like rising traffic congestion, and high concentrations of poor minority households in core‐area neighborhoods. However, a careful regression analysis of measures of both sprawl and urban decline shows no statistically significant relation between these two conditions. The basic nature of the American urban development process would cause core‐area poverty concentrations even if sprawl were replaced by more compact growth forms. But sprawl does aggravate growth‐related problems. Those problems could be attacked through either alternative overall growth strategies—such as high‐density, tightly bounded growth—or specific anti‐sprawl tactics, such as regional tax‐base sharing and regional coordination of land uses. But no feasible policies are likely either to alleviate traffic congestion much or cause most American regions to abandon sprawl.
Directed Consultation, the SEALS Model, and Teachers' Classroom Management.

Directed consultation is presented as a professional development framework to guide and support teachers in the implementation of evidence-based interventions that involve contextual and process-oriented approaches designed to be incorporated into daily classroom management. This approach consists of four components: pre-intervention observations and interviews with school professionals, professional development workshops, online training modules, and team- and individual-level implementation meetings. In the current study, directed consultation was used to train sixth-grade teachers to use the Supporting Early Adolescent Learning and Social Support (SEALS) program, a multicomponent intervention model, to promote productive and supportive classroom contexts during the transition to middle school. The current report involved classroom observations in 14 schools (7 interventions, 7 controls) as part of a broader cluster-randomized control trial. A total of 144 classrooms were observed in late fall of the sixth grade during ongoing professional development training activities and again in the spring at the completion of the SEALS training. As compared with control classrooms, teachers in intervention classrooms used more positive feedback and less negative feedback and redirection. Furthermore, teachers in intervention classrooms provided more effective use of classroom structure, feedback to students, behavior management, communication with students, groups and social dynamics, and motivation strategies. Results are discussed in terms of implications for professional development activities aimed at enhancing classroom management.
Creatine protects against mitochondrial dysfunction associated with HIV-1 Tat-induced neuronal injury.

HIV-1 infected individuals live longer but experience a prevalence rate of over 50% for HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) for which no effective treatment is available. Viral and cellular factors secreted by HIV-1 infected cells lead to neuronal injury and HIV-1 Tat continues to be implicated in the pathogenesis of HAND. Here we tested the hypothesis that creatine protected against HIV-1 Tat-induced neuronal injury by preventing mitochondrial bioenergetic crisis and/or redox catastrophe. Creatine blocked HIV-1 Tat 1-72 -induced increases in neuron cell death and synaptic area loss. Creatine protected against HIV-1 Tat-induced decreases in ATP. Creatine and creatine plus HIV-1 Tat increased cellular levels of creatine, and creatine plus HIV-1 Tat further decreased ratios of phosphocreatine to creatine observed with creatine or HIV-1 Tat treatments alone. Additionally, creatine protected against HIV-1 Tat-induced mitochondrial hypopolarization and HIV-1 Tat-induced mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. Thus, creatine may be a useful adjunctive therapy against HAND.
Intermediate: cognitive phenotypes in bipolar disorder.

Background Intermediate cognitive phenotypes (ICPs) are measurable and quantifiable states that may be objectively assessed in a standardized method, and can be integrated into association studies, including genetic, biochemical, clinical, and imaging based correlates. The present study used neuropsychological measures as ICPs, with factor scores in executive functioning, attention, memory, fine motor function, and emotion processing, similar to prior work in schizophrenia.
All-digital TAD-OFDM detection for sensor interface using TAD-digital synchronous detection

An all-digital TAD-OFDM detection method for sensor interface with digital synchronous detection based on TAD (Time A/D converter)-type ADC is introduced. A TAD basic structure is a completely digital circuit including a ring-delay-line (RDL) with delay units (DUs) driven by an input voltage V in and an RDL frequency counter, latch and encoder. Since the operating principle is to count the number of DUs through which the delay pulse passes within a sampling period T s , this ADC (TAD) naturally performs as a V in voltage-integration circuit for T s . Hence, high frequency noises can be removed simultaneously with A/D conversion. First, as an example of a voltage-integration effect as a low-pass filter, magnet pick-up sensing was verified using a 22-bit TAD test chip fabricated using a 0.65-µm CMOS with 106 µV/LSB (100 kS/s). Next, the idea of digital synchronous detection with TAD (called TAD-DSD with the voltage-integration effect) is proposed. Finally, by using the TAD-DSD principle, TA-DOFDM detection is presented and experimentally confirmed, resulting in signal-detection of each wave-amplitude from a four-carrier-composite wave, which consists of frequencies, 1.6-, 3.2-, 6.4- and 12.8-MHz, respectively.
Assessing constructed wetland functional success using diel changes in dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature in submerged, emergent, and open-water habitats in the Beaver Creek Wetlands Complex, Kentucky (USA)

Abstract We assessed the functional success of restored wetlands by determining if the patterns in dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, and pH were similar to those conditions observed in natural wetlands. The Beaver Creek Wetlands Complex consists of dozens of marshes and ponds built in a former Licking River floodplain, in the hills of east Kentucky, USA. In natural wetland ecosystems, aquatic primary production is highest in emergent and submerged vegetations zones; where daybreak dissolved oxygen (DO) is often near zero, and DO may rise to well over 100% saturation past mid-day. Open-water areas, dominated by phytoplankton, have less dramatic diel DO fluctuations—often without pre-dawn anoxia. Compared to open water, temperatures fluctuate less dramatically in vascular vegetation, due to shading and suppression of wind and waves. Measurements of ecosystem metabolism (diel changes in DO and pH) in three aquatic habitats of the constructed wetlands (emergent vegetation, submerged vegetation, open water) were compared to these natural ideals. In Beaver Creek Wetlands, water temperature patterns were not as dramatic as in natural habitats, nor did they did follow a similar trend. Waters in emergent vegetation (29.5 °C) were warmest; submerged vegetation coolest (26.5 °C); open-water intermediate (27.4 °C). Diel DO and pH patterns were not similar to natural habitats. Highest net primary production (NPP) and gross primary production (GPP) were measured in emergent vegetation waters (mean GPP = 7.58 g m −2 d −1 ); lowest in submerged vegetation (mean GPP = 5.48 g m −2 d −1 ); and intermediate in open-water (mean GPP = 6.95 g m −2 d −1 ). Diel pH changes were greatest in the highly productive emergent waters (median maximum daily difference of 0.36), and not as pronounced in submerged vegetation and open-water (median maximum change = 0.16 and 0.22, respectively). Water-column respiration was generally about double NPP. Like natural ecosystems, near anoxic DO concentrations were consistently measured in emergent and submerged plants before dawn; whereas open-water zones were generally >4 mg l −1 . These restored wetland systems may need more time to be functionally equivalent to natural marshes.
H∞‐based control strategies for civil engineering structures

Two H2-based control strategies are proposed and their applications to civil engineering benchmark structures are presented. The first strategy deals with a class of excitations with a specified ‘energy’ bound, referred to as the H2-based controller with energy-bounded excitations (H2B-EB), whereas the second strategy addresses a class of excitations with a specified peak bound, referred to as the H2-based controller with peak-bounded excitations (H2B-PB). Both control strategies are derived by minimizing an upper bound of the H2 performance with the constraints (or penalties) on the peak values of another set of quantities, such as the control resources. State feedback and dynamic output feedback controllers are derived and presented. The design syntheses of these control strategies are developed and formulated within the framework of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), so that the LMI toolbox in MATLAB can be used effectively and conveniently. These control strategies are applied to the Phase I long-span cable-stayed benchmark bridge subject to earthquakes and a wind-excited 76-storey benchmark building to illustrate their applicability to practical problems. Simulation results indicate that the performances of these proposed controllers for structural responses are better than that of the LQG sample controller. It is shown that these new control strategies are viable and effective for applications to civil engineering structures. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive Immunity to Fungi

Life-threatening fungal infections have risen sharply in recent years, owing to the advances and intensity of medical care that may blunt immunity in patients. This emerging crisis has created the growing need to clarify immune defense mechanisms against fungi with the ultimate goal of therapeutic intervention. We describe recent insights in understanding the mammalian immune defenses that are deployed against pathogenic fungi. We focus on adaptive immunity to the major medically important fungi and emphasize three elements that coordinate the response: (1) dendritic cells and subsets that are mobilized against fungi in various anatomical compartments; (2) fungal molecular patterns and their corresponding receptors that signal responses and shape the differentiation of T-cell subsets and B cells; and, ultimately (3) the effector and regulatory mechanisms that eliminate these invaders while constraining collateral damage to vital tissue. These insights create a foundation for the development of new, immune-based strategies for prevention or enhanced clearance of systemic fungal diseases.
Childhood Weight and Growth Rate as Predictors of Adult Mortality

The effect of rate of growth and relative weight in childhood on adult mortality was studied among 13,146 persons whose weights and heights were measured between the ages of 5 and 18 years in Hagerstown, Maryland, during the period 1933-1945. Relative weight was defined internally, age- and sex-specific Z-scores for height and weight were calculated using national standards, and height and weight velocities were measured as annual increments. Associations between growth parameters (pre- and postpubertal) and mortality through 1985 were investigated in subjects who matched the 1963 and 1975 private health censuses of Washington County, Maryland, using a nested case-control design. Odds ratios of mortality increased linearly with prepubertal relative weight (p less than 0.05 for both sexes combined) and with postpubertal relative weight in females (p less than 0.01). The associations between growth velocities or attained height with mortality tended to be inverse, although not statistically significant. These results are compatible with the existence of positive associations of overweight in school-age children with long-term mortality and seem to allay fears that harm could come from increased growth rates in childhood. Without jeopardizing growth, the avoidance of overweight in childhood might reduce mortality in middle age.
Gene Therapy of Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Strategies for Improvement

Gene therapy of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is limited by low frequency of the target cells, their quiescent nature, poor engraftment of treated HSC, and lack of a selective growth advantage of genetically modified cells. Lentiviral vectors combined with positive selection strategies using conditional cell-growth switches should allow for improvement.
A physically-based transient SPICE model for GaAs MESFET's

A physically-based transient SPICE model was developed for GaAs MESFETs. The model accounts for both trapping and detrapping effects hence can simultaneously simulate low-frequency dispersion and gate-lag characteristics. This is different from conventional models which can simulate either effect but not both. The present model was verified in terms of pulsed I-V characteristics and digitally-modulated RF carrier waveforms.
Fluorescent Lifetimes of Uranyl Salts at Different Temperatures

The decay of the fluorescence of uranyl salts has been measured at 293°, 77°, and 4°K with a photoelectric gate circuit technique. The resultant mean lives of the excited states in general increase sharply with decreasing temperatures. This indicates that at the higher temperatures where relaxation times as low as 50 microseconds are found the upper states are destroyed chiefly by interaction with the crystal lattice. The lifetime of the undisturbed UO2 ion must be more than 2 milliseconds. This is in agreement with the brightness of the fluorescence which normally increases in proportion with the mean life.
Leadership at Risk: The Perils of Unilateralism

“An attention to the judgment of other nations is important to every government for two reasons. The one is that, independently of the merits of any particular plan or measure, it is desirable, on various accounts, that it should appear to other nations as the offspring of a wise and honorable policy. The second is that, in doubtful cases, particularly where the national councils may be warped by some strong passion or momentary interest, the presumed or known opinion of the impartial world may be the best guide that can be followed.”James Madison, The Federalist, No. 63.
Continuous-Time Regression Models for Longitudinal Networks

The development of statistical models for continuous-time longitudinal network data is of increasing interest in machine learning and social science. Leveraging ideas from survival and event history analysis, we introduce a continuous-time regression modeling framework for network event data that can incorporate both time-dependent network statistics and time-varying regression coefficients. We also develop an efficient inference scheme that allows our approach to scale to large networks. On synthetic and real-world data, empirical results demonstrate that the proposed inference approach can accurately estimate the coefficients of the regression model, which is useful for interpreting the evolution of the network; furthermore, the learned model has systematically better predictive performance compared to standard baseline methods.
Whole‐Genome association analysis of susceptibility to paratuberculosis in Holstein cattle

The objective of this study was to identify genetic markers and genomic regions associated with susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in Holstein cattle. Associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by genotyping 521 MAP-infected Holstein cows and comparing SNP allele frequencies of these infected cows with allele frequencies estimated from specific reference populations. Reference population allele frequency estimates used Holstein sire genotype data and were weighted estimates based on sire usage within the population in question. The 521 infected cows were 233 and 288 cows from two resource populations of approximately 5000 cows each, collected independently. Population 1 was comprised primarily of daughters of twelve Holstein artificial insemination sires used heavily within the US dairy cattle population. Samples were obtained from 300 co-operating commercial dairy herds throughout the US and were tested by both MAP faecal culture and blood-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Population 2 consisted of dairy cattle from six co-operating dairy herds in Wisconsin, with all animals in the herds tested by blood enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for MAP infection. Genotyping was performed with the Illumina Bovine SNP50 Bead Chip, providing genotypes for 35,772 informative SNPs. Data from the two resource populations were analysed both in separate and combined analyses. The most significant autosomal markers from the individual and combined analyses (n=197, nominal P<0.001) were used in a stepwise logistic regression analysis to identify a set of 51 SNPs that could be used as a predictor of genetics for Holstein cattle susceptibility to MAP infection.
Building complex tissues: High throughput screening for molecules required in hair engineering

A fully functional model of hair reconstitution remains elusive because of the complexity of cellular organization and the number of molecular interactions that must be approximated. In this issue, Havlickova et al. (2009) report a significant contribution to hair engineering with their human folliculoid microsphere assay.
Matching, delay-reduction, and maximizing models for choice in concurrent-chains schedules.

Abstract Models of choice in concurrent-chains schedules are derived from melioration, generalized matching, and optimization. The resulting models are compared with those based on Fantino's (1969, 1981) delay-reduction hypothesis. It is found that all models involve the delay reduction factors (T - t2L) and (T - t2R), where T is the expected time to primary reinforcement and t2L, t2R are the durations of the terminal links. In particular, in the case of equal initial links, the model derived from melioration coincides with Fantino's original model for full (reliable) reinforcement and with the model proposed by Spetch and Dunn (1987) for percentage (unreliable) reinforcement. In the general case of unequal initial links, the model derived from melioration differs from the revised model advanced by Squires and Fantino (1971) only in the factors affecting the delay-reduction terms (T - t2L) and (T - t2R). The models of choice obtained by minimizing the expected time to reinforcement depend on the type of feedback functions used. In particular, if power feedback functions are used, the optimization model coincides with that obtained from melioration.
Arabidopsis RAV1 transcription factor, phosphorylated by SnRK2 kinases, regulates the expression of ABI3, ABI4, and ABI5 during seed germination and early seedling development

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) modulates a number of processes during plant growth and development. In this study, the molecular mechanism of Arabidopsis RAV (Related to ABI3/VP1) transcription factor RAV1 involving ABA signaling was investigated. RAV1-underexpressing lines were more sensitive to ABA than wild-type plants during seed germination and early seedling development, whereas RAV1-overexpressing lines showed strong ABA-insensitive phenotypes. Overexpression of RAV1 repressed ABI3, ABI4, and ABI5 expression, and RAV1 bound to the ABI3, ABI4, and ABI5 promoters in vitro and in vivo, indicating that RAV1 directly down-regulates the expression of ABI3, ABI4, and ABI5. The interruption of ABI5 function in RAV1-U abi5 plants abolished the ABA-hypersensitive phenotype of RAV1-U plants, demonstrating that ABI5 is epistatic to RAV1. RAV1 interacted with SNF1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE SnRK2.2, SnRK2.3 and SnRK2.6 in the nucleus. In vitro kinase assays showed that SnRK2.2, SnRK2.3 and SnRK2.6 phosphorylated RAV1. Transient expression assays revealed that SnRK2.2, SnRK2.3 and SnRK2.6 reduced the RAV1-dependent repression of ABI5, and the ABA-insensitive phenotype of the RAV1-overexpressing line was impaired by overexpression of SnRK2.3 in the RAV1 OE3 plants. Together, these results demonstrated that the Arabidopsis RAV1 transcription factor plays an important role in ABA signaling by modulating the expression of ABI3, ABI4, and ABI5, and that its activity is negatively affected by SnRK2s.
Accessing the Aortopulmonary Window (#5) and the Paraaortic (#6) Lymph Nodes in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of the different techniques of lymph node biopsies in patients with suspected metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the subaortic (station #5) and paraaortic (station #6) lymph nodes. Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted of a prospective database of patients between January 2003 and June 2006 with suspected N2 disease only in the #5 or #6 lymph nodes, or both. All patients had integrated 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography, and nodal biopsy or thoracotomy, or both, with complete thoracic lymphadenectomy. Results. There were 112 patients with clinically suspected N2 disease in lymph node stations #5 or #6, or both. The primary tumor was in the left upper lobe in 98 (88%) and in the left lower lobe in 14 (13%), and 58 had pathologic N2 disease in #5 or #6 lymph node stations only. Mediastinoscopy, used in all patients found, unsuspected N3 disease in 4 patients (3.6%) and N2 (#4L) disease in 12 (11%). Endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), implemented in 62 patients (56%), correctly identified 41 patients (66%). Left single-incision video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was used in 39 patients and was correct in 100%. Of the 58 patients, 53 (91%) completed neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, followed by resection, and their 5-year survival was 64%. Conclusions. EUS-FNA is less accurate for the #5 and #6 lymph node stations than left VATS. We prefer left VATS over the Chamberlain procedure for patients with suspected nodal metastases isolated only to #5 or #6 stations, and if positive, we prefer neoadjuvant therapy. The advantage of neoadjuvant therapy followed by resection compared with resection followed by adjuvant therapy remains controversial; and hence, the role for biopsy of these nodes is also controversial.
Vehicle interior noise transfer function predictions applying semi-analytical, finite element and boundary element approaches

The vehicle interior noise transfer functions that affect structure-borne paths critically are analysed using three different numerical techniques, namely the fast numerical modelling, finite element and boundary element. Firstly, the interior noise transfer function predictions employing the fast numerical modelling for simple rectangular cavity model are validated by comparison to the classical finite element calculations. Secondly, the finite element model is used to construct a more realistic cavity model to determine the viability of using rectangular cavity approximation in expressing the dynamics of a practical vehicle system. Results show that the rectangular cavity approximation performs quite well overall except in a narrow frequency range. These predictions are also compared to a limited set of experimental results performed in an earlier study. Thirdly, the computational times for all three numerical methods are also examined. The analysis reveals that the pure finite element method solves faster than the mixed finite-boundary element method in which the body structure is modelled using finite elements while the cavity is represented by boundary elements. On the other hand, the fast numerical modelling technique out-performs both the finite and boundary element approaches significantly due to its inherent modal superposition approach and use of only major cavity acoustic modes.
Alcohol, child maltreatment, and parenting stress in the lives of birth mothers

ABSTRACT This exploratory study examines the potential relationship between parenting stress, child maltreatment, and alcoholism in a pilot data set. Twenty-four participants (six African-American, six European-American, six Mexican-American, and six Native-American) completed four questionnaires (Parenting Stress Index, Conflict Tactics Scale Parent-Child, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, Chemical Dependency Assessment Profile [PSI, CTSPC, MAST, and CDAP]). Through principle component analyses and multiple regression analyses, it was suggested that self-perceived parenting strength or competence directly affect a parent's tactics to deal with parent-child conflicts. Results indicated that self-confidence as a competent parent was related to the frequency of using verbal degrading and physical punishment. Parents who reported that the child's temperament bothers them a lot were more likely to physically abuse the child. Though all the participants could be categorized as alcoholic by the MAST, parents'...
Complete Genome Sequences of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Laboratory Strains JH642 (AG174) and AG1839.

ABSTRACT The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis is widely used for studies of cellular and molecular processes. We announce the complete genomic sequences of strain AG174, our stock of the commonly used strain JH642, and strain AG1839, a derivative that contains a mutation in the replication initiation gene dnaB and a linked Tn917.
Time-out from fixed-ratio reinforcement: A systematic replication

This study provided a systematic replication of the “FR-TO effect”: the finding that escapes from a fixed-ratio increase as the work requirement is made more demanding. It made little difference whether the session was based on a constant number of reinforcements or on a constant period of time.
Risk, Proportionality, and Sentencing Guideline Circumvention in Federal Child Pornography and Sexual Abuse Cases

In response to increased fear and attention to the sexual victimization of children, coupled with the proliferation of child pornography on the Internet, Congress has increased the severity of fede...
Barbiturates and Lung Cancer In Humans

In a hypothesis-generating study looking for possible carcinogenic effects of drugs in humans, each of three barbiturates (pentobarbital sodium, phenobarbital, and secobarbital sodium) showed a statistically significant association with the subsequent development of lung cancer, with relative risks ranging from 1.5 to 2.8. Further analysis showed that the association was not explained by the increased prescription of barbiturate drugs shortly before the diagnosis of lung cancer or by an association of barbiturate use with cigarette smoking. Much of the data did not support a causal relationship. Neither a relation of lung cancer to duration or intensity of use not one between barbiturate use and a specific histologic type could be demonstrated.
Regional anesthesia in pain management.

Purpose of reviewThe study focuses on neural blocks with local anesthetics in postoperative and chronic pain. It is prompted by the recent publication of several systematic reviews and guidelines.Recent findingsFor postoperative pain, the current evidence supports infusions of local anesthetics at t
Application of Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method to Hygienic Evaluation of Subway Stations

[Objective]To establish a sound scientific,quantitative,practical,and comprehensive evaluation protocol with multiple indicators for hygienic evaluation of underground subway station projects by applying fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.[Methods]With reference to national standards,related literatures,and domestic existing indicator systems,subway hygienic surveys and expert consultations were conducted to construct an indicator system and a set of fuzzy criteria for subway hygienic evaluation.The weights of indicators at each level were determined by the expert consultations.The protocol was then applied to the hygienic evaluation of 10 underground stations of a north-section phase-I metro line project in Shanghai.[Results] The hygienic evaluation system,indicator weights,and evaluation criteria for subway station were initially established.The system reflected the hygienic status of subway environment from various angles.Of the 10 underground stations selected,6 were grade II(Unpolluted),and 4 were grade I(Clean);the general grade of the metro line was grade II(Unpolluted).[Conclusion]The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method could be applied to the hygienic evaluation of subway projects,and is capable to rate hygiene level and render a definite conclusion to a given project.
Primary closure after carotid endarterectomy is not inferior to other closure techniques

Objective Primary closure after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been much maligned as an inferior technique with worse outcomes than in patch closure. Our purpose was to compare perioperative and long-term results of different CEA closure techniques in a large institutional experience. Methods A consecutive cohort of CEAs between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010, was retrospectively analyzed. Closure technique was used to divide patients into three groups: primary longitudinal arteriotomy closure (PRC), patch closure (PAC), and eversion closure (EVC). End points were perioperative events, long-term strokes, and restenosis ≥70%. Multivariate regression models were used to assess the effect of baseline predictors. Results There were 1737 CEA cases (bilateral, 143; mean age, 71.4 ± 9.3 years; 56.2% men; 35.3% symptomatic) performed during the study period with a mean clinical follow-up of 49.8 ± 36.4 months (range, 0-155 months). More men had primary closure, but other demographic and baseline symptoms were similar between groups. Half the patients had PAC, with the rest evenly distributed between PRC and EVC. The rate of nerve injury was 2.7%, the rate of reintervention for hematoma was 1.5%, and the length of hospital stay was 2.4 ± 3.0 days, with no significant differences among groups. The combined stroke and death rate was 2.5% overall and 3.9% and 1.7% in the symptomatic and asymptomatic cohort, respectively. Stroke and death rates were similar between groups: PRC, 11 (2.7%); PAC, 19 (2.2%); EVC, 13 (2.9%). Multivariate analysis showed baseline symptomatic disease (odds ratio, 2.4; P = .007) and heart failure (odds ratio, 3.1; P = .003) as predictors of perioperative stroke and death, but not the type of closure. Cox regression analysis demonstrated, among other risk factors, no statin use (hazard ratio, 2.1; P = .008) as a predictor of ipsilateral stroke and severe (glomerular filtration rate 2 ) renal insufficiency (hazard ratio, 2.6; P = .032) as the only predictor of restenosis ≥70%. Type of closure did not have any predictive value. Conclusions In our study, baseline risk factors and statin use, but not the type of closure, affect perioperative and long-term outcomes after CEA.
Aeromonas shigelloides bacteremia: a case report.

Aeromonas shigelloides was isolated from the blood of a 62-year-old woman with sickle cell anemia. The bacteremic episode was secondary to cellulitis resulting from puncture of the hand with a fish bone. Although the infection appeared to respond promptly to intravenous cephalothin, the patient died in renal failure.
Toward Optimal Distributed Monitoring of Multi-Channel Wireless Networks

This paper studies an optimal channel assignment problem for passive monitoring in multi-channel wireless networks, where a set of sniffers capture and analyze the network traffic to monitor the wireless network. The objective of this problem is to maximize the total amount of traffic captured by sniffers by judiciously assigning the radios of sniffers to a set of channels. This problem is NP-hard, with the computational complexity growing exponentially with the number of sniffers. We develop distributed online solutions for large-scale and dynamic networks. The dynamism in the network may arise from mobility of the nodes being monitored. Our algorithm is guaranteed to achieve at least $1 - \frac{1}{e}$ times the optimum, regardless of the network topology and the channel assignment of nodes to be monitored, while providing a distributed solution amenable to online implementation. Further, our algorithm is cost-effective, in terms of communication and computational overheads, due to the use of purely local communication and the incremental adaptation to network changes. We present two operational modes of our algorithm for two types of networks that change at different rates; one is a proactive mode for fast-varying networks, while the other is a reactive mode for slowly-varying networks. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the two modes of our algorithm and compare it to the theoretically optimal algorithm.
Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus Replication

The identification of small molecule inhibitors of plant virus RNA replication is useful to develop antiviral drugs and to dissect various steps in the replication process. Moreover, small molecule inhibitors could be effective tools to study similarities in replication strategies of various RNA viruses. By using Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), we tested the effect of various inhibitors of host factors known to facilitate TBSV replication as well as acridine and phenanthridine derivatives, which are known anti-prion compounds, on TBSV replication. In this chapter, the methodology used to identify the direct targets of the chemicals during the different steps of replication of TBSV is described.
Brief announcement: deterministic protocol for the membership problem in beeping channels

The beeping channel model is a multiple access channel (MAC) model where active nodes can only send/hear a "jamming" signal (i.e. a beep) through the communication channel in each time slot [2]. A listening node hears a beep signal if at least one node is beeping; otherwise it hears nothing. The beeping model was recently proposed to model carrier-sensing-based wireless communication [2], and the Delta-Notch signalling mechanism between biological cells [1]. The motivation of our work, however, is to design efficient digital circuits. It turns out that the beeping channel model well characterizes the behaviors of a group of sequential logic modules connected by a logical-OR gate. A strictly synchronized global clock is available in such a circuit. In a clock cycle, a high electrical level in each input wire of the OR gate corresponds to the choice to beep made by the module connecting to this input wire while a low level corresponds to the choice not to beep. The output of the OR gate is wired back to each module as the source signal in the next cycle. We focus on deterministic protocols, which is preferred in hardware design and other applications requiring safety guarantee.
Diagnostic techniques in inflammatory bowel disease.

The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is established by the documentation that intestinal inflammation is the cause of the patient's presenting symptoms. Simultaneously, it is necessary to assess the patient's need for resuscitation and to undertake systemic evaluation of specific etiologic agents for intestinal inflammation. If no specific cause is found, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis become the most likely diagnoses, and specific tests are indicated to help differentiate these two diseases and thus choose optimal therapy. In the follow-up of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, disease severity will need to be assessed periodically. Complications of both these illnesses are less likely to prove fatal if diagnosed early.
Neuroimaging Studies of Bipolar Depression: Therapeutic Implications

Bipolar disorder (BPD) is characterized by pathophysiological changes to the visceromotor network, disrupting the regulation of endocrine and autonomic responses to stress, and hence emotion and behavior. Specifically, reductions in gray matter volume and a concomitant increase in glutamatergic neurotransmission, is observed in the pregenual (pgACC) and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), the orbitofrontal, frontal polar and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), the posterior cingulate, ventral striatum, and hippocampus. While increased glutamatergic signaling is equally salient in the amygdala, the data are conflicting on the nature of volumetric changes in this region. Neuroreceptor imaging data provide preliminary evidence for serotonin, serotonin transporter (5-HTT), dopamine receptor, and cholinergic system dysfunction in BPD. Oft-reported abnormalities of the deep frontal and basal ganglia white matter, and enlargement of the third and lateral ventricles are likely associated with cerebrovascular disease. Mood stabilizers and antidepressant drugs may attenuate pathological limbic activity, and increase neurotrophic processes, restoring balance to the system.
Aesthetics and ethics: Aesthetic value, moral value, and the ambitions of naturalism

Here's a story that Hume, I believe, would have liked. Someone I know once led a group of U.S. journalists on a tour of Germany. The tour was part of a public relations effort by a German company, so naturally the journalists were prone to be skeptical of what they saw and heard. One of the stops was a sort of clearinghouse where professional tasters made judgments about the quality, readiness, price, and so on of wines from various vineyards and regions. To display their skill to the journalists, the tasters performed blind tests - the journalists would pour wine from numbered bottles into unlabeled cups and then bring them to the tasters, who would attempt to identify the number of the wine. The tasters did so well that one of the journalists thought there must be a trick. He therefore surreptitiously contrived to pour wine from two different bottles into a single cup before submitting it to the tasters. He stood back to watch the reaction. The first taster washed the wine over his tongue, spat it out, and pronounced: “Hmmm… Something's the matter here… maybe you accidentally poured some wine into a cup that wasn't empty? I think I can taste some of number ten, but there's also a bit of something more like number seventeen or… ” After leaving the clearinghouse, the journalist later confessed the trick to his host. “You know,” he said, “those guys are really onto something.”
Substantive Due Process and U.S. Jurisdiction over Foreign Nationals

The due process rights of suspected terrorists have played a major role in the debate about how best to engage terrorist entities after September 11, 2001. Does citizenship or immigration status have a bearing on the treatment of terrorists? Does location within or outside the United States matter? This Article explores the connection between citizenship and alienage, enemy status, allegiance, and due process rights against a backdrop of international law. It surveys the application of due process to citizens and aliens based on the location of misconduct within or outside the territory of the United States and notes the expansion of criminal law to cover ever more extraterritorial conduct, including that of noncitizens who otherwise have no connection to the United States. It concludes by suggesting that the fairness of a particular exercise of extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction might be determined by looking at the nature of the obligation that a defendant owes to the state based on international law.
The Upper Mississippian Occupation at the Collier Lodge Site (12PR36): Ceramics and Chronology on the Eastern Edge of Oneota

ABSTRACTThe Upper Mississippian Fisher/Huber occupations of northwestern Indiana are part of the easternmost extension of Oneota. Excavations at the Collier Lodge site (12PR36) found 18 Upper Missi...
A comprehensive field and laboratory test programme and electronic database of pavement material properties for MEPDG

To locally calibrate the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) for the state of Wyoming, a comprehensive test programme and analyses were conducted. The field test programme included ...
Improvements to the Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) prescreener for buried threat detection in ground penetrating radar data

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems have emerged as a state-of-the-art remote sensing platform for the automatic detection of buried explosive threats. The GPR system that was used to collect the data considered in this work consists of an array of radar antennas mounted on the front of a vehicle. The GPR data is collected as the vehicle moves forward down a road, lane or path. The data is then processed by computerized algorithms that are designed to automatically detect the presence of buried threats. The amount of GPR data collected is typically prohibitive for real-time buried threat detection and therefore it is common practice to first apply a prescreening algorithm in order to identify a small subset of data that will then be processed by more computationally advanced algorithms. Historically, the F1V4 anomaly detector, which is energy-based, has been used as the prescreener for the GPR system considered in this work. Because F1V4 is energy-based, it largely discards shape information, however shape information has been established as an important cue for the presence of a buried threat. One recently developed prescreener, termed the HOG prescreener, employs a Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) descriptor to leverage both energy and shape information for prescreening. To date, the HOG prescreener yielded inferior performance compared to F1V4, even though it leveraged the addition of shape information. In this work we propose several modifications to the original HOG prescreener and use a large collection of GPR data to demonstrate its superior detection performance compared to the original HOG prescreener, as well as to the F1V4 prescreener.
EPILEPTOGENESIS AND THALAMOCORTICAL NEURONS

ABSTRACT Epilepsy is a significant clinical problem. A seizure can result either from firing of pathologically altered neurons or the discharge of normal neurons linked together in an unstable network. The thalamocortical, time dependent component of the excitability of cortical neurons has been the subject of a previous mathematical model. In this paper that model has been extended by calculating a stability criterion which, when numerical values are derived from previously published experimental data, yields results compatible with clinical observations or several anticonvulsants. It is concluded that thalamocortical modulation of cortical excitability may be one of the sites of the instability which manifests itself as abnormal neuronal firing, an epileptic seizure.
Should Employers Be Permitted not to Hire Smokers? A Review of US Legal Provisions.

Background Increasingly, healthcare and non-healthcare employers prohibit or penalize the use of tobacco products among current and new employees in the United States. Despite this trend, and for a range of different reasons, around half of states currently legally protect employees from being denied positions, or having employment contracts terminated, due to tobacco use. Methods We undertook a conceptual analysis of legal provisions in all 50 states. Results We found ethically relevant variations in terms of how tobacco is defined, which employee populations are protected, and to what extent they are protected. Furthermore, the underlying ethical rationales for smoker protection differ, and can be grouped into two main categories: prevention of discrimination and protection of privacy. Conclusion We critically discuss these rationales and the role of their advocates and argue that enabling equality of opportunity is a more adequate overarching concept for preventing employers from disadvantaging smokers.
Glucocorticoids and gut bacteria: “The GALF Hypothesis” in the metagenomic era

A new concept is emerging in biomedical sciences: the gut microbiota is a virtual 'organ' with endocrine function. Here, we explore the literature pertaining to the role of gut microbial metabolism of endogenous adrenocorticosteroids as a contributing factor in the etiology of essential hypertension. A body of literature demonstrates that bacterial products of glucocorticoid metabolism are absorbed into the portal circulation, and pass through the kidney before excretion into urine. Apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME) syndrome patients were found to have congenital mutations resulting in non-functional renal 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (11β-HSD2) and severe hypertension often lethal in childhood. 11β-HSD2 acts as a "guardian" enzyme protecting the mineralocorticoid receptor from excess cortisol, preventing sodium and water retention in the normotensive state. Licorice root, whose active ingredient, glycerrhetinic acid (GA), inhibits renal 11β-HSD2, and thereby causes hypertension in some individuals. Bacterially derived glucocorticoid metabolites may cause hypertension in some patients by a similar mechanism. Parallel observations in gut microbiology coupled with screening of endogenous steroids as inhibitors of 11β-HSD2 have implicated particular gut bacteria in essential hypertension through the production of glycerrhetinic acid-like factors (GALFs). A protective role of GALFs produced by gut bacteria in the etiology of colorectal cancer is also explored.