cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The heterogeneity of the polymeric intracellular hemoglobin of Glycera dibranchiata and the cDNA-derived amino acid sequence of one component

The erythrocytes of the marine polychaete Glycera dibranchiata contain a number of different, single-chain hemoglobins, some of which self-associate into a ‘polymeric’ fraction. An oligodeoxynucleotide probe was synthesized based on partial amino acid sequences determined by chemical methods, and used to screen a cDNA library constructed from the poly(A + )mRNA of Glycera erythrocytes (Simons, P.C. and Satterlee, J.D. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 8525–8530). The longest positive inserts found were sequenced using the dideoxy nucleotide chain termination method. One complete clone was obtained: clone 5A, 816 bases long, contained 59 bases of 5′-untranslated RNA, an open reading frame of 441 bases coding for 147 amino acids and a 3′-untranslated region of 316 bases. The derived amino acid sequence of Glycera globin P1 was in agreement with the partial amino acid sequences obtained by chemical methods. Three additional inserts obtained in the screening were also sequenced: the inferred amino acid sequences proved to be partial globin sequences which were different from each other and from the sequence of P1. Thus, the ‘polymeric’ fraction of the intracellular hemoglobin of Glycera probably consists of at least four different globin chains much like the ‘monomeric’ fraction. Comparison of the ‘polymeric’ sequence with the two known ‘monomeric’ sequences, M-II and M-IV, shows that they share 54 identical residues. At 74 positions, the identical residues in M-II and M-IV differ from the corresponding residue in P1, including at E-7, where P1 has a distal His, in contrast to Leu in M-II and M-IV. The alignment of Bashford et al. ((1987) J. Mol. Biol. 196, 199–216) and their templates were used to examine the principal differences between the two types of Glycera globin sequences. They appear to consist of uncommon surface amino acid residues at positions C6 (Phe vs. Ala), E10 (Val vs. Lys), E17 (Lys vs. Val), G1 (Arg vs. Lys), G10 (Met vs. Ala) and H5 (Arg vs. Lys). One or more of these residues could be responsible for the self-association exhibited by the ‘polymeric’ Glycera globins.
Aircraft Gas Turbine Rotating Compressor Disk Vibration

This paper is concerned with the experimental investigation of vibration in aircraft jet-engine rotating compressor disks of two different configurations. The blades in the first configuration were small, with relatively low mass, and had an insignificant effect on the disk vibration except for centrifugal loading. The second configuration had relatively large blades which resulted in combined blade and disk modes. The test techniques, test results, and examples of some known phenomenon as they occur in lightweight aircraft jet-engine disks are discussed.Copyright © 1965 by ASME
Abnormal sensitivity of diploid skin fibroblasts from a family with Gardner's syndrome to the lethal effects of X-irradiation, ultraviolet light and mitomycin-C

Abstract Skin fibroblasts isolated from two members of the same family with the cancer-prone disease Gardner's Syndrome (intestinal polyposis, colon cancer, bone and soft tissue tumors) showed enhanced sensitivity to the lethal effects of X-irradiation, ultraviolet light and mitomycin-C. These cells showed no liquid-holding type recovery following UV-irradiation of confluent cultures, but were normal in their capacity for UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis. UV survival was not influenced by post-irradiation incubation with caffeine.
Chemistry, occurrence and biological effects of saturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids associated with endophyte-grass interactions

Abstract Saturated amino pyrrolizidine alkaloids with an oxygen bridge between C-2 and C-7 have been isolated from grasses and the chemistry and biology of these substances are reviewed in this paper. These substances are commonly referred to as loline alkaloids as they are derivatives of loline and originally were isolated from Lolium spp. The saturated amino pyrrolizidine alkaloids are not hepatotoxic and must be distinguished from the 1,2-unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are very significant animal and human toxins and carcinogens of plant origin. Chemical synthesis of loline has been achieved based on starting materials of a nitrone and methyl 4-hydroxycrotonate. N-formylloline is made by addition of ethyl formate to loline and removal of excess ethyl formate and ethanol formed. N-acetylloline is synthesized by addition of acetyl chloride to loline in chlorofirm. N-acetylloline is partitioned into a dilute acid, then from a dilute base with CHCl3, and the CHCl3 removed to yield N-acetylloline. N-methylloline, norloline, N-formynorloline, N-acetylloline, and N-propionylnorloline are also readily formed from loline. Little is known about the biosynthesis of the loline alkaloids but from biosynthesis of other pyrrolizidine alkaloids a proposed biosynthesis is ornithine → putrescine → spermidine → → dialdehyde → → norloline → → loline. Loline was first isolated from Lolium temulentum L. (Lolium cuneatum Nevski) and later several derivatives were identified in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Chromatographic methodologies have been used to separate the pyrrolizidine alkaloids but 50-m capillary columns (0.32 mm i.d.) or 10-m wide-bore columns (0.53 mm i.d.) provide the greatest resolution of the many loline derivatives. Loline alkaloids have been found primarily in plants known to be infected witn Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Gams. Lolines have been found in Lolium perenne L., F. arundinacea, and Poa autumnalus Muhl. ex Ell. infected with A. coenophialum and in Festuca gigantea (L.) Vill. infected with an unidentified Acremonium spp. Loline alkaloids were present in infected tall fescue in greatest amounts in seed, followed in decreasing amounts in the rachis, stem, leaf sheath, and leaf blade. Site of synthesis, plant and/or endophyte, is not known nor is the translocation tissue known. During the main part of the growing season there is little change in the accumulation of the loline alkaloids in leaf blade. Alkaloid levels increased with plant age and increased in regrowth tissue. The concentration of endophyte mycelium in leaf sheaths is positively associated with loline alkaloid accumulation. N-formylloline is toxic to several different insects from ingestion, topical and injected applications. Larger animal bioassay have not been conducted with pure compounds but the observations suggest some pharmacological activity in these systems.
Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of aqueous glucose at temperatures from 298.15 K to 327.01 K

Specific heat capacities, apparent molar heat capacities, densities, and apparent molar volumes were determined for aqueous glucose at temperatures from 298.15 K to 327.01 K. The molalities investigated ranged from 0.20 mol·kg-1 to 1.54 mol·kg-1. The results of these measurements have been used to calculate the following thermodynamic quantities for {C6H12O6 (glucose)}(aq) at T = 298.15 K: Cop, φ, 2 = Cop, 2, m = (345±4) J·K-1·mol-1; (∂Cop, 2, m/∂T)p = (1.45±0.22) J·K-1·mol-1; (∂2Cop, 2, m/∂T2)p = (0.053±0.015) J·K-3·mol-1; Voφ, 2 = Vo2, m = (111.99±0.10) cm3·mol-1; (∂Vo2, m/∂T)p = (0.084±0.032) cm3·K-1·mol-1; and (∂2Vo2, m/∂T2)p = -(8.9±2.2)·10-3 cm3·K-2·mol-1. The first virial coefficient in the expression for the excess molar volume is (0.470±0.022) cm3·kg·mol-2. For the reaction α-l-glucose(aq) = β-l-glucose(aq), ΔrCop, m = (2±2) J·K-1·mol-1 and ΔrVom = (0.59±0.05) cm3·mol-1. These results are compared with the results from the literature. A discussion of systematic errors attributable to instrument errors, sample impurities, and incomplete anomeric and relaxation equilibrium in the solutions is given.
Gastric Motor and Sensory Functions in Obesity

In the vast majority of affected individuals, obesity involves overconsumption of food relative to calorie requirements. The sensory function of the stomach may play a key role in the cessation of food ingestion. This sensation of the stomach is, in part, determined by its motor functions, such as tone and compliance and the rate of emptying. However, studies of gastric emptying in normal-weight and obese persons have shown inconsistent results. Gastric capacity was larger in obese persons when tested with an intragastric latex balloon filled with water. In contrast, other studies using the barostat or imaging (single-photon emission computed tomography) techniques reported no differences in gastric volume or compliance between obese and lean subjects. On the other hand, increased body mass and fasting gastric volume are independently associated with delayed satiation under standard laboratory conditions of food ingestion. These data suggest that changes in gastric motor and sensory functions in obesity may present useful targets to prevent and treat obesity. Further well-controlled, validated studies are needed to clarify the potential role of altering the stomach's function as a means of controlling food intake in obesity.
Variations in the Flux Density of Some Quasi-stellar Sources

Further data on the variations in the 1.96 cm flux density of the quasars 3C 273, 3C 279, 3C 446 and 3C 454.3 are reported. The data support the theory that the variation is produced by repeated injection into magnetic field of clouds of relativistic electrons, which then expand, but some difficulties remain.
Oxidation of electrolytic ferromagnetic powders with a composite organic coating

reduction annealing. The powders may be used in oxide and carbide ceramics, which makes it possible to reduce the sintering temperature by 10 – 12% (100 – 150°C), to reduce open porosity by 7%, and to increase hardness. Very fine powders based on iron with a particle size of less than 1m, independent of preparation method, require protection from the action of the surroundings. The increased activity of these powders is connected with a significant increase in their specific surface, with the considerable number of point defects, dislocations of the crystal lattice, that stimulate chemical reaction with active elements [1]. It is well known [2] that the basis of reducing the activity of very fine powders is a reduction in their specific surface and free energy, an increase in particle size due selective recrystallization, and formation of protective layers. The low activity under normal conditions of very fine iron powders towards oxygen and other active substances, for which they have chemical affinity, is due to presence at their surface of a continuous oxide layer, that prevents development of inherent reactions for iron [1, 2]. In very fine powders, used for manufacturing permanent magnets, stabilization of their surface is accomplished due to forming protective layers. Recently the stability of the magnetic properties of specimens of the test powders has been provided by presence at the surface of particle specimens of protective layers of epoxy oligomers [3]. Resin ED-20 is used as an epoxy oligomer as the most widespread and having the optimum content of functional groups. The aim is this work is to study the magnetic properties of specimens made from electrolytic powders based on iron with a composite organic coating after reduction annealing. Powders based on iron were prepared by electrolysis in a two-layer bath. The upper layer consisted of oleic acid and
A quantitative dendritic analysis of Wernicke's area in humans. II. Gender, hemispheric, and environmental factors.

This quantitative Golgi study extends our investigation of relationships between cortical dendrite systems in humans and higher cognitive functions. Here we examine the relationship between the basilar dendrites of supragranular pyramidal cells in Wernicke's area and selected intrinsic (i.e., gender and hemisphere) and extrinsic (i.e., education and personal history) variables. Tissue was obtained from 20 neurologically normal right-handers: 10 males (Mage = 52.2) and 10 females (Mage = 47.8). Several independent variables were investigated: GENDER (male, female), HEMISPHERE (left, right), and EDUCATION (less than high school, high school, and university). These were evaluated according to Total Dendritic Length, Mean Dendritic Length, and Dendritic Segment Count. A distinction was made between proximal (1st, 2nd, and 3rd order) and ontogenetically later developing distal (4th order and above) branches. There was significant interindividual variation in dendritic measurements, which roughly reflected individuals' personal backgrounds. Females exhibited slightly greater dendritic values and variability than males across the age range examined. On the whole, the left hemisphere maintained a slight advantage over the right hemisphere for all dendritic measures when all subjects were pooled, but these differences were not in a consistent direction across individuals. Education had a consistent and substantial effect such that dendritic measures increased as educational levels increased. Dendritic differences between independent variable levels were most clearly illustrated in the total dendritic length of 3rd and 4th order branches. Distal dendritic branches appeared to exhibit greater epigenetic flexibility than proximal dendrites. The present findings concur with environmental enrichment research results in animals and suggest that dendritic systems in humans function as a sensitive indicator of an individual's (a)vocational activities.
A Comparative Geographic Analysis of the Impact of Scale on Hazards and Vulnerability in Industrialized Continental Lands and Small Pacific Islands

Geography, specifically scale, has significant impacts in terms of hazards and vulnerability. Small islands, such as those found in the Pacific, experience the impacts of their relatively unique geography and scale in terms of hazards and vulnerability in at least five ways: 1) Perception and communication; 2) Impact and escape from impact; 3) Technology; 4) Recovery; and 5) Socio-environmental justice. Comparative analysis in these five areas between the Pacific's small islands and industrialized continental regions illuminates differences regarding the way hazards and vulnerability should be conceptualized in the under-treated small islands of the world. Lessons from this analysis will aid in conceptualization of small island scenarios, as well as lend guidance to those seeking direct intervention regarding technological and natural hazards.
Achieving And Sustaining Improved Quality: Lessons From New York State And Cardiac Surgery

Since 1989 the New York State Department of Health has published annual data on risk-adjusted mortality following coronary artery bypass graft surgery by hospital and surgeon. It was the first such program in the nation and is now the most long-lived. Many hospitals were prompted by the data to improve their cardiac surgery programs, and statewide mortality fell substantially as a result. This paper examines what physicians and hospitals did in response to the data, how the market reacted, and whether this approach to quality measurement and improvement could be used more widely.
Variants of uncertain significance in BRCA testing: evaluation of surgical decisions, risk perception, and cancer distress

Studies suggest that patients carrying a BRCA variant of uncertain significance (VUS) may have lingering confusion concerning results interpretation. Counseling for uninformative BRCA-negative (UN) results is thought to be more straightforward, despite the fact that both results lead to similar methods of empiric cancer risk counseling. This study compared surgical choices and perceptions between 71 patients with VUS results and 714 patients with UN results. All patients underwent genetic counseling because of a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer between 1997 and 2010, and completed a 2-year follow-up survey. Risk-reducing mastectomy rates in both groups were 7% (p = 1.00) and risk-reducing oophorectomy rates were 5% and 3%, respectively (p = 0.42). The VUS group reported less cancer distress reduction than the UN group (23.0% vs 35.8%, respectively, p = 0.043). Over 90% of both groups found the counseling process helpful. Overall, the study suggests that VUS results disclosed in genetic counseling did not cause excessive surgery or exaggerated cancer distress, though patients with a VUS found counseling somewhat less informative or reassuring. Future research on communication of VUS results, including pre-and post-test counseling, is essential for full realization of the potential for genomic medicine.
Building Bridges for Babies in Foster Care: The Babies Can't Wait Initiative

In 2001, the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, chaired by New York State's Chief Judge Judith Kaye, developed the Babies Can't Wait Initiative to maximize the well-being and perma- nency prospects of infants in foster care. This court-based innovation became a path to healthy development for babies in foster care, a bridge to unprecedented collaboration among the New York City Family Court, child welfare system, and service providers and merged knowledge about child development with court and child welfare practice. This article tells the story of the Babies Can't Wait Initiative—its creation, implementa- tion, successes, and lessons.
Sustainable organisational technology

Organisational technology is currently understood as an ecologically neutral instrument of production and a source of competitive advantage for firms. This paper examines some challenges to this view of organisational technology. It proposes an alternative view of ecologically sustainable technologies. Sustainable organisational technology is characterised by low natural resource intensity, humanised scale of operations, stakeholder effectiveness and managed intergenerational risks. Strategic managers can create ecologically sustainable competitive advantage by ecologising their firm's inputs, throughputs and outputs.
Correcting evaluation bias of relational classifiers with network cross validation

Recently, a number of modeling techniques have been developed for data mining and machine learning in relational and network domains where the instances are not independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.). These methods specifically exploit the statistical dependencies among instances in order to improve classification accuracy. However, there has been little focus on how these same dependencies affect our ability to draw accurate conclusions about the performance of the models. More specifically, the complex link structure and attribute dependencies in relational data violate the assumptions of many conventional statistical tests and make it difficult to use these tests to assess the models in an unbiased manner. In this work, we examine the task of within-network classification and the question of whether two algorithms will learn models that will result in significantly different levels of performance. We show that the commonly used form of evaluation (paired t-test on overlapping network samples) can result in an unacceptable level of Type I error. Furthermore, we show that Type I error increases as (1) the correlation among instances increases and (2) the size of the evaluation set increases (i.e., the proportion of labeled nodes in the network decreases). We propose a method for network cross-validation that combined with paired t-tests produces more acceptable levels of Type I error while still providing reasonable levels of statistical power (i.e., 1−Type II error).
Highlights for the Management of a Child with Proteinuria and Hematuria

The identification of hematuria or proteinuria in an otherwise healthy child can cause anxiety to both the family and the pediatrician. The etiology of hematuria and proteinuria includes a long list of conditions, and detailed workup can be exhaustive, expensive and not essential in most of the patients. As will be described in this paper, most of the children with proteinuria or hematuria have a benign etiology. The primary role of the pediatrician is to identify hematuria/proteinuria, recognize the common causes of hematuria/proteinuria, and more importantly identify children with serious conditions that need referral to the nephrologist in a timely manner.
Actuator saturation and control design for buildings under seismic excitation

Efficient design techniques are presented for improving the response of seismic-excited buildings under actuators with limited capacity. Information, regarding the actuator capacity and estimated peak ground acceleration, is used to fine tune the controller and reduce conservatism. Both state feedback and observer-based controllers are discussed. The observer-based controller is based on measurement of the ground acceleration, though this requirement can be removed easily. The sufficient conditions for feasibility of a feedback controller are expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Performance of the proposed techniques is illustrated through simulations of a six-story building subjected to earthquake.
A time-domain RF steady-state method for closely spaced tones

Verifying circuits with two or more closely-spaced driving frequencies is important in RF and wireless communications, e.g., in the design of down-conversion mixers. Existing steady-state calculation methods, like harmonic balance, rely on Fourier series expansions to find the difference-frequency components typically of interest. Time-domain methods are, however, better suited for circuits with strong nonlinearities such as switching. Towards this end, we present a purely time-domain method for direct computation of difference tones in closely-spaced multi-tone problems. Our approach is based on multiple artificial time scales for decoupling the tones driving the circuit. Our method relies on a novel multi-time reformulation that expresses circuit equations directly in terms of time-scales corresponding to difference tones. We apply the new technique to an RF-CMOS mixer to predict baseband bit-streams and down-conversion gain and distortion, in two orders of magnitude less CPU time than traditional time-stepping simulation.
The end correction for a coaxial line when driving an antenna over a ground screen

Theoretical and experimental results obtained by Hartig for the end correction for a coaxial line when driving an antenna over a ground screen are corrected. Improved theoretical and experimental curves of the quantity -C_{T}/bc_{0} are obtained, where -C_{T} is the lumped negative capacitance required as end correction, c_{0} is the capacitance per unit length of the coaxial line, and b is the inner radius of the outer conductor of the line.
Bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis in a patient with hemoglobin SC disease

Abstract Case report: Bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis in the setting of pneumococcal bacteremia was diagnosed in a woman with hemoglobin SC disease who presented with decreased vision, increased redness, burning pain, and photophobia. All gram stains and cultures remained negative, and the exact source of her bacteremia was not clear. Nonetheless, early diagnosis and prompt treatment were vital to avoiding a visually devastating outcome. Comments: Aggressive treatment with intravitreal and systemic antibiotics, with or without pars plana vitrectomy, was successful in restoring final visual acuity.
National Trends in Prayer Use as a Coping Mechanism for Health Concerns: Changes From 2002 to 2007

The objective of this research was to analyze national trends in the use of prayer to cope with health concerns. Data are from the Alternative Medicine Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2002 (N ! 30,080) and 2007 (N ! 22,306). We categorized prayer use into 3 groups: never prayed, prayed in the past 12 months, and did not pray in the past 12 months. Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regressions were performed to analyze prayer use over time. All analyses adjusted for the complex sample design of the NHIS and were conducted in SAS-callable SUDAAN. Recent use (within 12 months) of prayer for health concerns significantly increased from 43% in 2002 to 49% in 2007. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic status, health status, and lifestyle behaviors, prayer use was more likely in 2007 than 2002 (adjusted odds ratio ! 1.21, 95% CI [1.14, 1.28]). Across time, individuals reporting dental pain were more likely to use prayer to cope compared with those with no pain. The adjusted odds ratios were 1.2 (95% CI [1.09, 1.33]) in 2002 and 1.16 (95% CI [1.03, 1.3]) in 2007. Other predictors of prayer, including gender, race, psychological distress, changing health status, and functional limitations, remained consistent across both time periods. Overall, prayer use for health concerns increased between 2001 and 2007. The escalating positive association between pain and prayer use for health concerns over time suggests that it is critical for mental and physical health treatment providers to be aware of the prevalence of this coping resource.
Characterization and analysis of osteopontin-immobilized poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) surfaces

A wide array of technologies exist for the characterization and quantification of molecules present at surfaces. We have used several of these experimental and instrumental techniques for the analysis of a novel biomaterial surface. Osteopontin, an extracellular matrix molecule involved in wound-healing processes, has been chosen as a relevant model protein to immobilize onto poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [poly(HEMA)]. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry were used to verify the surface chemistry and the presence of protein. Iodination of osteopontin yielded quantitative data supportive of dose-dependent immobilization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was also used to investigate the presence of osteopontin on poly(HEMA). Finally, the cell adhesive properties of immobilized osteopontin were confirmed by using a bovine aortic endothelial cell adhesion assay. The use of multiple tools to characterize the many facets of a biomaterial surface will undoubtedly improve our understanding of the surface and facilitate the amelioration of in vivo performance.
Urbanization affects the extent and hydrologic permanence of headwater streams in a midwestern US metropolitan area

AbstractHeadwater streams dominate natural landscapes and provide essential functions for downstream waters. However, because of minimal legal protection, they often are piped or buried to accommodate urban growth. Urbanization also alters stream base flows. The combined impact of these factors on channel location is unknown. We assessed the effects of urbanization on the location and length of ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streams. We randomly selected 150 of 6686 potential channel origins in Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Ohio, USA, for field assessments, and mapped 122 ephemeral, 74 intermittent, and 45 perennial flow origins in these channels. On average, 1:100,000- and 1:24,000-scale US Geological Survey maps underestimated channel length by 85% and 78%, respectively. Mean catchment areas for ephemeral and intermittent flow origins were smaller in forested (0.66 ha and 3.60 ha, respectively) than in urban areas (5.13 ha and 6.79 ha, respectively). These values indicate 93% and 46% county-wide...
Analysis of the structure and composition of individual lipoplex particles by flow fluorometry.

Abstract A flow fluorometric approach to study cationic lipoid–DNA complexes is presented. The approach uses standard flow cytometry equipment and common fluorescent dyes (BODIPY and ethidium homodimer-2) to detect both lipoid and DNA content in individual particles. In addition, a procedure that allows determination of whether or not liposomes remain intact is described. The procedure is based on monitoring the retention of a polar tracer that has been preloaded into its aqueous compartment. Sample preparation, instrument setup, data analysis, and methodological limitations are described. Applications of the procedure to cationic lipoid–DNA complexes are described, and illustrations are given for the determination of how the lipoid content, composition, and structure of individual lipoplexes in a population evolve over time, starting at about 1 min after DNA and vesicles are mixed. Analogous procedures can be applied to other heterogeneous particles and supramolecular structures.
Balanced-Budget Amendment: Panacea or Cop-Out?

This case discusses whether the United States should adopt a balanced-budget amendment. It is useful for discussions about fiscal policy, the role of government, and the budget process.
Snap Judgment: Judicial Review of Audiovisual Evidence at Summary Judgment

Conflicting results in two recent police excessive force decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court — Tolan v. Cotton and Plumhoff v. Rickard — have sown confusion among judges, lawyers, and commentators about the standards for summary judgment. This Note shows how the two decisions are consistent with each other and with longstanding summary judgment precedents. The key insight is that since the Second Circuit’s iconic 1946 decision in Arnstein v. Porter, appellate judges, including Supreme Court justices, have listened to audio recordings, scrutinized artwork, and — as in the case of Plumhoff — watched video footage in order to decide for themselves whether there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial. These “objective” components of the record are considered vitally important to the decisions. When no objective evidence is available, appellate judges are left with cases of “he said/she said” testimonial evidence in which demeanor evidence looms larger, and are therefore more likely to allow the cases to proceed to trial. The presumed propriety of appellate judicial review of audiovisual evidence not only explains the different results in Tolan (no audiovisual evidence of police shooting and a reversal of the lower court’s finding for the defendant officer) and Plumhoff (video evidence of a police car chase resulting in the Court finding for the officer), but will also have greater significance in current police excessive force cases given the omnipresence of smartphones and police recordings. At the same time, it is worth questioning whether appellate judges should continue to exercise no-limit, de novo review of present-day audiovisual evidence, which may require as much understanding of context as traditional demeanor evidence.
A new method for determining the insertion depth of tracheal tubes in children: a pilot study

Abstract Background Choosing the correct insertion depth of tracheal tubes is crucial for successful airway management in paediatrics. Currently used formulas are based on patient characteristics such as age, body weight and height. The aim of the study is to devise and evaluate more suitable body surface area based diagrams for predicting the correct tracheal insertion depth. Methods Calculated insertion depth according to currently used formulas, primary insertion depth and insertion depth corrected by chest radiography (‘gold standard') were collected from 237 children. Age, body weight, height and body surface area were noted. Body surface area based diagrams were devised and prospectively evaluated in another set of 123 paediatric patients. Results Tracheal tube position according to currently used formulas had to be corrected in 37% of all intubations. New body surface area based diagrams were created. In 20.3%, depth of the tracheal tube had to be corrected according to the new body surface area based diagrams. Conclusions The body surface area based diagrams may be a reliable tool for predicting the correct tracheal insertion depth in children.
Plasma-spray forming ceramics and layered composites

In a program at the Thermal Spray Laboratory at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, both conventional gas-stabilized plasma and high-throughput water-stabilized plasma spray torches are being used to produce thick free-standing structures of oxide ceramics, metal-reinforced ceramic laminates, and multilayered or functionally graded ceramic materials. The results of the processing, microstructure, and properties of freeforms produced from ceramics in the alumina, zirconia, and alumina-zirconia system are reported.
Use of the Convective Weather Avoidance Polygon (CWAP) to Identify Temporally Coherent Convective Storm Boundaries

The Convective Weather Avoidance Polygon (CWAP) is an automatically generated polygon that identifies the storm boundary along which pilots are likely to fly when avoiding the storm. The CWAP takes into account the weather avoidance field (WAF) calculated from the Convective Weather Avoidance Model (CWAM), edges detected in the echo tops field, and winds at the flight altitude. The initial CWAP algorithm successfully identified avoidance boundaries, but forecast CWAP boundaries could change significantly from one forecast to the next – for instance, a large polygon would break into several smaller polygons and then re-combine on successive forecasts. Refinements to the CWAP algorithm have resulted in a marked improvement in the temporal coherence of CWAP from one forecast to the next. As a result, CWAP more reliably identifies the boundaries of operationally significant storms in a region of airspace, and characterizes the forecast weather in the airspace according to CWAP-related metrics such as size, orientation, and severity. Regional weather characteristics based on CWAP provide a foundation for operational weather typing that can be used in the prediction of operational impact on trajectory-based operations and modeling of forecast uncertainty.
Housing and Mortgages in Transition Economies

This paper employs an extensive household survey data set covering a wide range of transition countries to empirically characterize the housing choices of households. The paper provides a descriptive overview of the types of dwellings, housing tenure, mode of acquisition, and mortgage prevalence by country. To explain the wide variation in housing and mortgage patterns across countries, empirical models of both acquisition mode (privatized, purchased or built without a bank mortgage, purchased or built with a bank mortgage, inherited or received as a gift, or other mode) and housing tenure choice (rent, own, other) are estimated using limited dependent variable methods. Furthermore, the prevalence of mortgage financing is analyzed. Data used in this study are from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Life in Transition Survey, LITS II, for the year 2010 covering 29 transition countries plus Kosovo.
Paternal Caregivers’ Parenting Practices and Psychological Functioning among African American Youth Living in Urban Public Housing

Structural factors associated with public housing contribute to living environments that expose families to adverse life events that may in turn directly impact parenting and youth outcomes. However, despite the growth in research on fathers, research on families in public housing has practically excluded fathers and the role fathers play in the well-being of their adolescents. Using a sample of 660 African American adolescents recruited from public housing, we examined the relationship between paternal caregivers' (i.e., fathers' and father figures') parenting practices and adolescents' depressive symptoms, attitudes toward deviance, and self-efficacy. Using a latent profile analysis (LPA), we confirmed a four-class model of paternal parenting practices ranging from high to low levels of monitoring and encouragement. Results from a one-way ANOVA indicated that paternal caregivers with high (compared to moderate) levels of encouragement and monitoring were associated with youth who reported less depressive symptoms, higher levels of self-efficacy, and less favorable attitudes toward deviance. Discriminant analysis results indicated that approximately half of the sample were correctly classified into two paternal caregiver classes. The findings provide evidence that some of these caregivers engage in parenting practices that support youths' psychological functioning. More research is needed to determine what accounts for the variability in levels of paternal encouragement and supervision, including environmental influences, particularly for paternal caregivers exhibiting moderate-to-low levels of paternal encouragement and monitoring.
Benign Giant Adrenal Cyst and Parathyroid Adenoma: A Case Report

An unusual case of a benign adrenal cyst and a parathyroid adenoma occurring in a 59-year-old man with hypercalcemia is reported. Excretory urography, ultrasound, renal aortography, computerized axial tomography and selective thyroid venous sampling were used to establish a diagnosis. Left adrenalectomy was done because of a suspicion of malignancy, which was followed by excision of a retrolaryngeal parathyroid adenoma.
Youth Can! Grow Healthy: A Formative Evaluation of a Positive Youth Development Program

This paper presents a formative evaluation of an afterschool program that combined positive youth development and school garden curricula. Novel approaches were used to teach elementary school children about gardening and nutrition, and to engage them in advocacy for healthy community physical activity and nutrition environments. The youth development curriculum included sessions on team building, community pride, healthy eating, physical activity, and advocacy. Photovoice methods were used to allow participants to assess their community and communicate findings with community leaders. The school garden curriculum included nutrition and gardening lessons. Formative evaluation was conducted for each session. Themes of the evaluation were: successful methods for engaging youth, issues in the social environment, and implications for program management. Evaluation results are discussed in relationship to relevant youth development literature to provide recommendations that will strengthen future programs.
Identification of N-Arylated NH125 Analogues as Rapid Eradicating Agents against MRSA Persister Cells and Potent Biofilm Killers of Gram-Positive Pathogens.

Bacterial biofilms housing dormant persister cells are innately tolerant to antibiotics and disinfectants, yet several membrane-active agents are known to eradicate tolerant bacterial cells. NH125, a membrane-active persister killer and starting point for development, led to the identification of two N-arylated analogues (1 and 2) that displayed improved biofilm eradication potencies compared to the parent compound and rapid persister-cell-killing activities in stationary cultures of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We found 1 and 2 to be superior to other membrane-active agents in biofilm eradication assays, with 1 demonstrating minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBEC) of 23.5, 11.7, and 2.35 μm against MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) biofilms, respectively. We tested our panel of membrane-active agents against MRSA stationary cultures and found 1 to rapidly eradicate MRSA stationary cells by 4 log units (99.99 %) in 30 min. The potent biofilm eradication and rapid persister-cell-killing activities exhibited by N-arylated NH125 analogues could have significant impact in addressing biofilm-associated problems.
A Generalized Perturbation Theory for the Reconstruction of the Axial Offset in a Pressurized Water Reactor

An original approach to axial offset ratio reconstruction in a pressurized water reactor is presented. The method, based on generalized perturbation theory, permits the definition of a“three-term” ...
Thromboelastography in Children with Coagulation Factor Deficiencies.

The thromboelastograph produces a continuous profile of the rheological changes that occur during the process of coagulation using whole blood. This information can be transformed into a dynamic velocity profile of the changes in blood elasticity occurring during clotting. We used the TEG® hemostasis analyzer in patients with hemophilia A or B with and without inhibitors and other coagulation factor deficiencies (OFD), to study the thromboelastographic profiles in these patients. Materials and Methods: 62 children (6 months-19 years old) were enrolled according to IRB regulations. 29 children had severe hemophilia A (SHA), 4 moderate hemophilia A or B (Mod.H), 2 severe factor VII deficiency, 1 combined factor V and VIII deficiency, 1 VWD (type II B), 1 severe factor V deficiency, 1 Severe PAI deficiency, 19 normal controls (NC), and 4 SHA with inhibitors (SHA+I). All patients were studied 72 hours after the last dose of factor. Citrated whole blood was activated using recombinant human tissue factor (Innovin, Dade Behring Inc®) and recalcified using 0.2M CaCl 2. In patients with central lines with heparin, a heparinase cup was used. The TEG® was run for ≥ 90 min. CBC with differential was obtained on all subjects. Results: There was no significant difference in the CBC parameters among patients. Analysis of the TEG data revealed the following: The rate of thrombin generation as visualized by plotting the 1st derivative of the TEG course, in patients with SHA without inhibitors, showed that they could be divided into 2 groups based on MTG ( 9). When analysed the 2 groups showed the following characteristics (5 representative curves from each group are shown): 13/29 children with SHA had target joints and 69%of patients with target joints had a MTG Conclusions: SHA patients have variable bleeding tendencies as seen by the variation in MTG. A lower MTG is associated with a higher incidence of target joints. This may provide a clue as to which patients may have the greatest benefit from primary prophylaxis. Patients with OFD have a TEG® profile similar to Mod.H patients. SHA+I have poor thrombin generation as seen by a significantly longer TMG and R time (p
Measuring mercury in wood: challenging but important

ABSTRACTMercury (Hg) in tree wood has been overlooked, in part because concentrations are so low as to be below detection limits of some analytical methods, but it is potentially important to forest ecosystem processes and budgets. We tested methods for the preparation and determination of Hg in tree wood by analysing samples of four tree species at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA, using thermal decomposition, catalytic conversion, amalgamation and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (USEPA Method 7473). Samples that were freeze-dried or oven-dried at 65°C were suitable for determination of Hg, whereas oven-drying at 103°C resulted in Hg losses, and air-drying resulted in Hg gains, presumably due to sorption from indoor air. Mean (±SE) concentrations of Hg tree bole wood were 1.75 ± 0.14 ng g−1 for American beech, 1.48 ± 0.23 ng g−1 for sugar maple, 3.96 ± 0.19 ng g−1 for red spruce and 4.59 ± 0.06 ng g−1 for balsam fir. Based on these concentrations and estimates of wood biomass...
Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Nonvariceal upper GI bleeding is a major source of morbidity and mortality as well as of healthcare expenditure. There have been considerable advances in the treatment of upper GI bleeding, particularly in the form of endoscopic therapeutic modalities. Endoscopists should be familiar with most of these techniques and comfortable performing them in practice. We review the various endoscopic therapies used to treat acute nonvariceal upper GI bleeding.
A SINGULAR FOURIER PROBLEM WITH NONLINEAR BOUNDARY CONDITION

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a singular Fourier problem with nonlinear boundary condition. It reviews the third Fourier problem with nonlinear radiation-type boundary condition for the class of singular parabolic operators depending on a real parameter k. The equation Lk[u] = 0 describes a diffusion with radial symmetry in (k + 1)-space dimensions where k is a positive integer, and it arises in various other situations for general values of k. For 0 ≤ k ≤ 2, it can be used to describe (as one-dimensional) diffusion in a three-dimensional body. The chapter also presents a theorem for the proof of which, a quasi-linearization method is used to construct a sequence of linear approximating problems.
Technological Apocalypse: Transhumanism as an End-Time Religious Movement

In recent years, a new genre of techno-apocalyptic writing has emerged out of a Christian context, which views transhumanism as having a major catalytic role in the creation of an imminent Antichrist system, which will use transhumanist technology to enslave the human race and ultimately destroy it. The techno-apocalyptic genre O’Callaghan examines is entirely Christian in nature, self-identifies as factual in character, in that it bases its future projections on what it believes to be realistic interpretations of inerrant, biblically based prophecies, and its focus is the transhumanist vision of the future human being. O’Callaghan draws on the current main authors in this genre and outlines the most prominent and common recurrent themes found in this subsection of a highly proliferating and prolific wider apocalyptic field.
Phytophthora stricta isolated from Rhododendron maximum in Pennsylvania

During a survey in October 2013 in the Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Permit number SFRA-1351), mature plants of Rhododendron maximum were noticed alongside a stream with nondescript necrotic lesions at the tips of some mature leaves that had been in contact with the stream water. Several leaves were collected and taken back to the laboratory for processing. Segments from 10 leaves were removed at the interface of the lesion area, surface-sterilized for 20 s in 70% ethanol and rinsed three times in sterile water. The segments were plated on PARPH+V8 Phytophthora selective medium (Ferguson and Jeffers, 1999). The plates were kept in the dark at 20oC. After approximately 3 d, colonies resembling a Phytophthora sp. were observed growing from the segments of two leaves. Mycelial tips were transferred to 20% V8 agar (isolates MSF-C and MSF-F). The isolates were identified as P. stricta based on sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (...
Psychometric Properties of the Perceived Wellness Culture and Environment Support Scale.

Objective:This study reports on the psychometric properties of the 11-item Perceived Wellness Culture and Environment Support Scale (PWCESS) and its relationship with employee healthy lifestyle bel...
Single-Scan Dual-Energy CT Using Primary Modulation

Compared with conventional computed tomography (CT), dual-energy CT (DECT) provides better material differentiation but requires projection data acquired with two different effective x-ray spectra, limiting DECT applications to specialized scanners. We propose a hardware-based method, known as PM-DECT, which utilizes primary beam modulation to enable single-scan DECT on a conventional CT scanner. PM-DECT inserts an attenuation sheet with a spatially varying pattern—primary beam modulator—between the x-ray source and imaged object. During a CT scan, the modulator selectively hardens the x-ray beam, thereby increasing the average photon energy at specific detector pixel locations. Thus, PM-DECT simultaneously acquires high and low energy data at each projection angle. From the sparse projection data, high and low energy CT images are jointly reconstructed and simultaneously decomposed into basis materials via an iterative CT reconstruction algorithm with gradient weighting and an improved version of similarity based regularization. Studies on Catphan 600 and anthropomorphic head phantoms demonstrate that PM-DECT retains a high level of spatial resolution compared with conventional CT scans. Electron density values calculated from decomposed images indicate a limited error of 1.12% for PM-DECT. Comparison against a two-scan DECT technique shows that PM-DECT’s image reconstruction from sparse data sets contributes only 0.66% error. By granting the opportunity for high-quality single-scan DECT on conventional CT scanners via limited hardware modification, PM-DECT has the potential to liberate DECT from specialized scanners, extending clinical availability, and implementation.