cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Cross-reactive Protein Vaccine Combined with PCV-13 Prevents Streptococcus pneumoniae– and Haemophilus influenzae–mediated Acute Otitis Media

Acute otitis media is one of the most common childhood infections worldwide. Currently licensed vaccines against the common otopathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae target the bacterial capsular polysaccharide and confer no protection against nonencapsulated strains or capsular types outside vaccine coverage. Mucosal infections such as acute otitis media remain prevalent, even those caused by vaccine-covered serotypes. Here, we report that a protein-based vaccine, a fusion construct of epitopes of CbpA to pneumolysin toxoid, confers effective protection against pneumococcal acute otitis media for non-PCV-13 serotypes and enhances protection for PCV-13 serotypes when coadministered with PCV-13. Having cross-reactive epitopes, the fusion protein also induces potent antibody responses against nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and S. pneumoniae, engendering protection against acute otitis media caused by emerging unencapsulated otopathogens. These data suggest that augmenting capsule-based vaccination with conserved, cross-reactive protein-based vaccines broadens and enhances protection against acute otitis media.
Electronic Health Record Mortality Prediction Model for Targeted Palliative Care Among Hospitalized Medical Patients: a Pilot Quasi-experimental Study

Development of electronic health record (EHR) prediction models to improve palliative care delivery is on the rise, yet the clinical impact of such models has not been evaluated. To assess the clinical impact of triggering palliative care using an EHR prediction model. Pilot prospective before-after study on the general medical wards at an urban academic medical center. Adults with a predicted probability of 6-month mortality of ≥ 0.3. Triggered (with opt-out) palliative care consult on hospital day 2. Frequencies of consults, advance care planning (ACP) documentation, home palliative care and hospice referrals, code status changes, and pre-consult length of stay (LOS). The control and intervention periods included 8 weeks each and 138 admissions and 134 admissions, respectively. Characteristics between the groups were similar, with a mean (standard deviation) risk of 6-month mortality of 0.5 (0.2). Seventy-seven (57%) triggered consults were accepted by the primary team and 8 consults were requested per usual care during the intervention period. Compared to historical controls, consultation increased by 74% (22 [16%] vs 85 [63%], P < .001), median (interquartile range) pre-consult LOS decreased by 1.4 days (2.6 [1.1, 6.2] vs 1.2 [0.8, 2.7], P = .02), ACP documentation increased by 38% (23 [17%] vs 37 [28%], P = .03), and home palliative care referrals increased by 61% (9 [7%] vs 23 [17%], P = .01). There were no differences between the control and intervention groups in hospice referrals (14 [10] vs 22 [16], P = .13), code status changes (42 [30] vs 39 [29]; P = .81), or consult requests for lower risk (< 0.3) patients (48/1004 [5] vs 33/798 [4]; P = .48). Targeting hospital-based palliative care using an EHR mortality prediction model is a clinically promising approach to improve the quality of care among seriously ill medical patients. More evidence is needed to determine the generalizability of this approach and its impact on patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes.
“It’s a Lifestyle”: Social Class, Flexibility, and Young Adults’ Stories About Defining Adulthood

AbstractIn discussions of how social class matters during the transition to adulthood, the simultaneous importance of both class origins and future class trajectories is underexplored. In this pape...
Dietary Weight Loss, Exercise, and Inflammation in Older Adults with Overweight or Obesity and Cardiometabolic Disease

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine exercise modality during weight loss on change in inflammation among older adults with overweight or obesity and cardiometabolic disease. METHODS A total of 222 older adults with a mean (SD) age of 66.9 (4.7) years and a mean (SD) BMI of 33.5 (3.5) kg/m2 were randomized to weight loss (WL; n = 68), WL plus aerobic training (WL + AT; n = 79), or WL plus resistance training (WL + RT; n = 75) for 18 months. C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 18 months. RESULTS All groups lost significant weight from baseline to 18 months, with average adjusted changes of -5.5% for WL, -9.0% for WL + AT, and -10.1% for WL + RT. WL + RT and WL + AT lost significantly more weight than WL (P < 0.05). At 18 months, CRP values in WL + RT were significantly lower than WL (2.25 pg/mL vs. 3.38 pg/mL; P = 0.004). The only difference in interleukin-6 was that at 18 months, WL + RT was lower than WL + AT (2.32 pg/mL vs. 2.75 pg/mL; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS The addition of RT during WL was more effective at reducing levels of CRP than WL. Although results were in the expected direction, there was no difference in CRP between WL and WL + AT.
Debating women’s citizenship in India 1930–1960

This book is a study of a neglected and under-studied time period in the history of women’s activism in India. While there is some scholarship on the role women played in the anti-colonial struggle...
Design of Circular Plates Based on Plastic Limit Loads

Load carrying capacities of circular plates subjected to axially symmetrical loading were determined by plastic analysis; design charts for nine cases of loading; example to illustrate use of charts for design of pressure vessel.
On Measuring Doppler Shifts between Tags in a Backscattering Tag-to-Tag Network with Applications in Tracking

In this paper, we present a technique whereby passive tags can track each other in a backscattering tag-to-tag network (BTTN). In such a network, passive tags without any on-board radio transceivers communicate directly with each other by backscattering an external excitation signal. First, we explain how the tags determine their distances to other communicating tags in their proximity and then how they can track nearby tags. Our technique is based on multiphase backscattering, more specifically, on the ability of backscattering tags to systematically change the phase offset of the signal that is being backscattered. A passive receiving tag with an envelope detector can then examine the received signal amplitude over the multiple backscattering phases and can draw inferences about the inter-tag distance. We demonstrate our method and show its accuracy on tags that we have built in our lab. Experiments show that our passive tags can measure Doppler shifts with approximately the same accuracy as that achieved by active conventional RFID readers. Our median tracking error based on data from two tags is only about 2.5 cm.
Bioactive Dental Adhesive System With tt-Farnesol: Effects on Dental Biofilm and Bonding Properties.

Background: Composite dental restorations are commonly used to restore cavitated carious lesions. Unfortunately, the main reason for failure is the development of secondary caries adjacent to the restoration. To improve the long-term survival of restorations, antibacterial agents have been added into dental materials. In this study, we assessed the antibacterial and bonding capacity of a commercial universal dental adhesive incorporated with the antibacterial agent tt-farnesol creating 3 experimental adhesives: 0.38% (v/v), 1.90% (v/v) and 3.80% (v/v), plus a control (no incorporation of tt-farnesol). Methods: The antibacterial activity was evaluated by assessing colony-forming units (CFU), biofilm dry weight and production of extracellular insoluble polysaccharides (EIP) at day 2, 3, and 5 of biofilm growth post surface treatment on the surface of composite discs. The effect of tt-farnesol on the chemical and bonding capacity of the adhesive system was assessed via pH analysis, degree of conversion (DC), and microtensile-bond strengths to human dentin in both self-etch and etch-and-rinse application modes. A qualitative analysis of the effects of tt-farnesol on biofilm formation was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sealing capacity of all adhesive systems tested was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results: The 3.80% (v/v) experimental adhesive exhibited the lowest CFU count and lowest production of EIP at day 5. Dry weight and pH values did no exhibit statistical differences among all tested groups. Bond strengths and degree of conversion decreased with the incorporation of the antibacterial agent into the adhesive system regardless of the concentration of tt-farnesol. Conclusions: The incorporation of tt-farnesol into the adhesive system significantly reduced bacterial viability and production of EIP; however, the bonding properties of the experimental dental adhesives were altered.
Anti-Jacksonian democratization: the first national political party conventions

Utilizing newspapers and manuscripts to examine the first conventions, this article further challenges the association of Jacksonianism with increasing democratization. The rise of democratization ...
Synergistic Reinforcement of Composite Hydrogels with Nanofiber Mixtures of Cellulose Nanocrystals and Chitin Nanofibers

Simultaneous incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix opens possibilities for customization of more environmentally friendly composite materials. When used in tricomponent composite hydrogels, the opposite surface charges on CNCs and ChNFs lead to the construction of beneficial nanofiber structures. In this work, composite hydrogels containing CNCs, ChNFs, or their mixtures are produced using cyclic freeze-thaw (FT) treatments. When considering different compositions and FT cycling, tricomponent composite hydrogels containing a specific ratio of CNCs/ChNFs are shown to have promising mechanical performance in comparison to other samples. These results together with results from water absorption, rheological, and light scattering studies suggest that the CNC/ChNF structures produced property improvement by concurrently accessing the stronger interfacial interactions between CNCs and PVA and the longer lengths of the ChNFs for load transfer. Overall, these results provide insight into using electrostatically driven nanofiber structures in nanocomposites.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS AS CONSTITUTIONAL STATESMANSHIP

On January 20, 2009, President Barack Obama used his considerable rhetorical skills in his inaugural address to compellingly describe national conditions and propose an aggressive agenda for political action by his administration. Yet he, like other modern presidents, failed to engage in any meaningful reflection on the scope and limits of his constitutional powers or those of the Congress, to anchor his policy agenda to constitutional authority, or even to mention the Constitution or the Congress by name. His address exemplifies an extreme form of popular leadership common to the modern presidency that neglects explicit discussion of and reliance upon constitutional forms, a problem captured in the evolving literature on The Rhetorical Presidency. This Article engages the construct of The Rhetorical Presidency inside the realm of legal scholarship, where it deserves greater attention and development, and attempts to reconcile its concerns with the realities of popular rhetoric in the modern presidency by proposing a constitutionalist model for the presidential inaugural address. The inaugural address, this Article asserts, is a unique constitutional moment at which the president should specifically engage publicly in constitutional discourse, particularly to articulate his understanding of the allocation of constitutional powers and of the scope of his responsibility to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. This model for the inaugural address would instantiate energy in the executive and would serve the interest of responsible civic education by seeking to strengthen public attachment to, and understanding of, constitutional rule.
A Review of the Impacts of Defogging on Deep Learning-Based Object Detectors in Self-Driving Cars

Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technologies are faced with several challenges under adverse weather conditions such as snow, fog, rain, sun glare, etc. Object detection under adverse weather conditions is one of the most critical issues facing autonomous driving. Several state-of-the-art Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based object detection algorithms have been employed in autonomous vehicles and promising results have been established under favorable weather conditions. However, results from the literature show that the accuracy and performance of these CNN-based object detectors under adverse weather conditions tend to diminish rapidly. This problem continues to raise major concerns in the research and automotive community. In this paper, the foggy weather condition is our case study. The goal of this work is to investigate how defogging and restoring the quality of foggy images can improve the performance of CNN-based real-time object detectors. We employed a Cycle consistent Generative Adversarial Network (CycleGAN)-based image fog removal technique [1] to defog, improve the visibility and the quality of the foggy images. We train our YOLOv3 algorithm using the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Toyota Technological Institute (KITTI) dataset [2]. Using the trained YOLOv3 network, we perform object detection on the original foggy images and restored images. We compare the performances of the object detector under no fog, moderate fog, and heavy fog conditions. Our results show that detection performance improved significantly under moderate fog and there was no significant improvement under heavy fog conditions.
To Flip or Not to Flip? A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Flipped Learning in Higher Education:

Although flipped classroom pedagogies have been widely touted for their ability to foster diverse 21st-century learning objectives, previous syntheses of flipped learning have focused almost exclus...
The Role of Pediatric Health-care Providers in Promoting Students' Asthma Health.

1. Eduardo Fox, MD*,† 2. Linda Y. Fu, MD, MS*,† 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 2. †The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC * Abbreviations: CDC: : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FERPA: : Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act HIPAA: : Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act LABA: : long-acting beta2-agonist NACP: : National Asthma Control Program NAEPP: : National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Pediatric health-care providers may be unaware of how best to partner with their patients’ schools to create asthma-friendly environments in which patients’ asthma health needs are communicated clearly, school heath staff are empowered and equipped to react to asthma exacerbations appropriately, and school personnel reinforce asthma health maintenance messages with families. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Understand how best to collaborate with school staff to promote asthma-friendly environments. 2. Describe the barriers and facilitators of students’ access to quick-relief asthma medication in school. 3. List the key elements to include in an asthma action plan so that it may serve as both a medication administration authorization form and an effective tool for communication with school health staff. 4. Recognize how to collaborate with school nurses to implement preventive interventions for students with poorly controlled asthma or chronic absenteeism. More than 5.5 million school-age children in the United States are diagnosed as having asthma. (1) This equates to almost 1 in 10 school-age children, making asthma the most common chronic childhood condition in the country. More than half of all children with a diagnosis of asthma have at least 1 asthma exacerbation each year. Particularly concerning, rates of pediatric asthma deaths have been increasing. In 2018, 156 children aged 5 to 17 years died of asthma. Non-Hispanic black children have a 6 times greater mortality rate from asthma complications than Hispanic white children and a 7 times greater rate than non-Hispanic white children. (1) Deaths that occur outside the clinical setting account for 13% of all asthma deaths in children. Asthma can affect a child’s academic attendance and education. Children with asthma miss more school than those without asthma and are at greater risk for missing more than 10 school days per year, a degree of absenteeism that may put …
The critical care literature 2020

Abstract Given the dramatic increase in critically ill patients who present to the emergency department for care, along with the persistence of boarding of critically ill patients, it is imperative for the emergency physician to be knowledgeable about recent developments in resuscitation and critical care medicine. This review summarizes important articles published in 2020 that pertain to the resuscitation and care of select critically ill patients. These articles have been selected based on the authors annual review of key critical care, emergency medicine and medicine journals and their opinion of the importance of study findings as it pertains to the care of critically ill ED patients. Several key findings from the studies discussed in this paper include the administration of dexamethasone to patients with COVID-19 infection who require mechanical ventilation or supplemental oxygen, the use of lower levels of positive end-expiratory pressure for patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome, and early initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation if resources are available. Furthermore, the emergency physician should not administer tranexamic acid to patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding or administer the combination of vitamin C, thiamine, and hydrocortisone for patients with septic shock. Finally, the emergency physician should titrate vasopressor medications to more closely match a patient's chronic perfusion pressure rather than target a mean arterial blood pressure of 65 mmHg for all critically ill patients.
Dynamic Edge-Twin Computing for Vehicle Tracking

Internet-connected devices have been surging rapidly during the past years. Many important applications based upon such devices have emerged, such as vehicle tracking systems. These applications often require real-time execution of a large number of computation tasks. Edge computing has shown great potential in processing frequent but less-demanding tasks. Additionally, cloud computing allows for great scalability when substantial computing resources are needed. Edge-cloud computing is a paradigm that combines edge computing and cloud computing. A key problem in edge-cloud computing is how to determine the execution location for each computation task. We propose a dynamic edge-twin computing model in the context of edge-cloud computing. It uses an evaluation mechanism to predict the completion times of the task at both an edge device and a cloud server. The completion time includes data transfer time and computing time and it is determined based on real-time information about the task and the computing environment. The task will be executed by the device with a shorter completion time. We have implemented a vehicle tracking system under the edge-twin model. The experimental results show that the edge-twin model outperforms edge-alone computing and cloud-alone computing.
Fibonacci Nim and a full characterization of winning moves

In this paper we will fully characterize all types of winning moves in the “take-away” game of Fibonacci Nim. We prove the known winning algorithm as a corollary of the general winning algorithm and then show that no other winning algorithms exist. As a by-product of our investigation of the game, we will develop useful properties of Fibonacci numbers. We conclude with an exploration of the probability that unskilled player may beat a skilled player and show that as the number of tokens increase, this probability goes to zero exponentially.
16. Colloidal Solutions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that colloidal solutions are ideal systems to be studied by the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) technique. This is especially true for the association colloids, such as micelles and microemulsions. The size range of these micellar systems ranges from 30 A to about 100 A that, in terms of the scattering experiment, translates into an intensity distribution in the Q range of 0.01 to 0.2 A -1 . This is the most easily accessible range of the SANS spectrometer for which the available neutron flux is also the highest. The resulting simple particle structure factor P(Q), in turn, allows an accurate determination of the interparticle structure factor S(Q) from the measurement. The internal structure of the micellar core, its water content, and its hydrocarbon conformations can also be addressed once the SANS data are properly analyzed. In microemulsions where one has an inverted micellar structure, the effective attractive interaction leads to the cloud point effect or the critical point phenomenon. SANS is a unique tool for simultaneously measuring the structure of the aggregates and their mutual correlations. An important aspect in recent developments of the application of the SANS technique in colloids is the ability to take into account the interaction realistically. An obvious direction to pursue in the future is to explore more of the phase transitions and the structure of the dense phases of these surfactant solutions.
Change‐in‐Ratio

Change-in-ratio (CIR) methods are used to estimate parameters for ecological populations subject to differential removals from population subclasses. Subclasses can be defined according to criteria such as sex, age, or size of individuals. Removals are generally in the form of closely monitored sport or commercial harvests. Estimation is based on observed changes in subclass proportions caused by the removals. Keywords: abundance; detection; encounter probabilities; population size; harvest; removal methods; sampling effort
China and Vietnam: Managing an Asymmetric Relationship in an Era of Economic Uncertainty

The financial crisis of 2008 has ushered in an era of uncertainty that is redefining the post–Cold War world. While the United States, as a global actor, focuses on systemic effects, every international relationship is affected by the need for caution and by changes in relative position. China and Vietnam have always had an asymmetric relationship, but the gap has grown with China’s strong recovery and increased regional and global presence. Both countries are interested in improving cooperation, but for Vietnam the risks as well as the opportunities are more immediate. New strength in regional cooperation as well as the continued global presence of the United States provides important contexts of reassurance to bilateral normalcy.
Effects of dietary protein concentration (corn:soybean meal ratio) and body weight on nitrogen balance of growing boars, barrows, and gilts: mathematical descriptions.

The effects of dietary CP level (actually corn:soybean meal ratio) and BW on N intake, N digestibility, the efficiency of utilization of N (apparent biological value), and N retention were measured in 36 pigs: 12 boars (five collection periods), 12 barrows (four collection periods), and 12 gilts (nine collection periods). Initial and final BW of the boars, barrows, and gilts were 19, 24, and 27 kg and 80, 69, and 110 kg, respectively. Diets were based on corn and soybean meal and contained 11 to 23% CP. Averaged over all collection periods, N retention was 24.2, 20.0, and 19.8 g/d for boars, barrows, and gilts, respectively. The response of N retention to CP levels was quadratic (P < .15) and cubic (P < .01) for boars, linear (P < .01) and quadratic (P < .05) for barrows, and linear (P < .15) for gilts. Rates of N retention responded quadratically (P < .001) for all sexes as pigs gained weight, reaching a maximum when pigs weighed 55 to 65 kg. Multiple-regression analyses were conducted and equations were developed that described the effects of CP level (or lysine intake) and BW on N retention for each sex. The results indicated that N balance was a function of both CP level (or lysine intake) and BW and that the nature of the response differed for each sex.
Mestizo Logics: Anthropology of Identity in Africa and Elsewhere

Mestizo Logics: Anthropology of Identity in Africa and Elsewhere. Jean-Loup Amselle. Translated by Claudia Royal. Stanford. CA: Stanford University Press. 1996. 207 pp.
Pectins and Gums

Pectins and gums are important polysaccharides in foods because of their functional properties. They are widely used as gelling agents, thickeners, and stabilizers. They are constituents of plant tissue and are large, complex molecules whose exact nature is not certain. However, enough is known to understand some of their properties and to make use of their functional properties to produce convenience and special texture foods.
Equilibrium DNA-binding of AraC protein: Compensation for displaced ions

Experiments on the AraC regulatory protein of Escherichia coli suggest a mechanism that DNA-binding proteins can use to reduce potentially drastic alterations in their affinity for DNA resulting from changes in salt concentration. Measurement of the net number of ions apparently displaced as AraC protein binds DNA and of fluorescence changes in the protein lead to the following picture. About 14 ions are displaced from the DNA as the protein binds the araI site. As the protein binds the DNA, however, it undergoes a conformational change and binds about ten ions. Consequently, the net order of the reaction is reduced from 15th to about fourth order in salt concentration.
Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Craniofacial Research: Some Strategies

Although it is generally acknowledged that longitudinal data provide the most information on growth and development and other time-dependent phenomena, such data are often analyzed by conventional (cross-sectional) statistical methods. This widespread practice ignores the distinctive characteristics (e.g., covariance structure) of longitudinal data and may yield misleading results. The purpose of this article is to present some strategies and make available computer programs for the appropriate analysis of longitudinal data. User-friendly PC programs for the estimation of average growth curves, computation of tracking indices, prediction of future values, diagnosis, classification, clustering, estimation of missing values, and testing hypotheses concerning individual and group differences are presented. Benefits of these methods over the usual techniques are illustrated with the example of maxillary growth in the rhesus monkey.
Group counseling for cancer patients in a community hospital

Abstract A successful pilot project of counseling for cancer patients and their families has clarified many issues regarding group work with these patients. Our experience suggests that closed-ended groups that do not include family members and are homogeneous for stage of disease are most useful.
Evidence for cell-surface glycosyltransferases. Their potential role in cellular recognition.

Intact chicken embryo neural retina cells have been shown to catalyze the transfer of galactose-14C from uridine diphosphate galactose (UDP-galactose) to endogenous acceptors of high molecular weight as well as to exogenous acceptors. Four lines of evidence indicate that the galactosyltransferases catalyzing these reactions are at least partly located on the outside surface of the plasma membrane: ( a ) there is no evidence for appreciable uptake of sugar-nucleotides by vertebrate cells nor did unlabeled galactose, galactose 1-phosphate, or UDP-glucose interfere with the radioactivity incorporated during the reaction; ( b ) the cells remained essentially intact during the course of the reaction; ( c ) there was insufficient galactosyltransferase activity in the cell supernatants to account for the incorporation of galactose-14C into cell pellets; and ( d ) the intact cells could transfer galactose to acceptors of 106 daltons, and the product of this reaction was in the extracellular fluid. Appropriate galactosyl acceptors interfered with the adhesive specificity of neural retina cells; other compounds, which were not acceptors, had no effect. These results suggested that the transferase-acceptor complex may play a role in cellular recognition.
Photoirradiation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diones by UVA light leading to lipid peroxidation

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous genotoxic environmental pollutants and potentially pose a health risk to humans. In most if not all cases, PAHs in the environment can be oxidized into their corresponding PAH–diones. This process is considered a detoxification pathway with regard to tumorigenicity. Nevertheless, photo-induced toxicological activity of PAH–diones has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we show that 27 potential environmental PAH–diones induced lipid peroxidation, in a dose (light) response manner, when irradiated with UVA at 7 and 21 J cm −2 . Photoirradiation in the presence of sodium azide, deuterated methanol, or superoxide dismutase revealed that lipid peroxidation is mediated by reactive oxygen species. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping studies supported this observation. These results suggest that UVA photoirradiation of PAH–diones generates reactive oxygen species and induces lipid peroxidation.
Strategic Compensation: Utilizing Efficiency Wages in the Public Sector to Achieve Desirable Organizational Outcomes

Given that continued pressure will be levied on public sector organizations to provide higher levels of service while maintaining low costs, the importance of considering an organization's relative...
Computer picture processing and enhancement by localized operations

In this paper, a collection of simple procedures based on masks or templates to be used in computer picture processing is presented. Small, carefully selected regions of a picture are viewed at one time. This process is repeated throughout the picture. Many different types of masks are shown. Edge detection, noise reduction, shrinking, expansion, object recognition, mensuration problems, and more are presented using simple masks. Examples of applications to various problems associated with picture processing are given.
Total soil nitrogen in the coarse fraction and at depth

Historically, studies estimating total soil N are based almost exclusively on the ≤2-mm soil particles (fine soil fraction), and generally have not included that portion of soil >2-mm (coarse soil fraction) or soil >1-m depth. This study examined the underestimation of the total soil N pool by following traditional or standard soil sampling and analysis. Seventeen varied soil series plus one soil classified to the level of Great Group were sampled from Alaska, Oregon, Puerto Rico, and Washington. Total soil N in each profile was quantified for the soil fine and coarse fractions, as well as for soil depths >1 m. In soils with a coarse fraction, the average percentage of total soil N contained in the coarse soil fraction ranged from 0.3 to 37%, increasing with an increase in coarse soil mass (the highest percentage of N for an individual profile was 67% in a Cryorthent with 92% coarse fragments). For soils with depths >1 m, the percentage of soil N below 1 m relative to the whole profile ranged from 7 to 35%. An average of 0.03% N concentration in the coarse soil fraction was found for all major genetic mineral horizons. Results of this study indicated that up to one-half of the total soil N of a profile would have been missed by the combined exclusion of the coarse fraction and soil below 1-m depth from analysis. The coarse soil fraction may reflect storage andlor potential sources of N not considered in traditional soil N budgets.
A Humbling Vision

For most of us, it’s understood, That human eyes are very good. But there is not a visual test On which we truly are the best. We can read with great precision, But raptor birds have sharper vision. Our two eyes help discriminate, But spiders may have six or eight. Our three cone types give color galore, But lowly goldfish see with four. And while our color spectrum’s rich, Bees add the ultraviolet niche. We can’t see polarization, to date, Yet ants use it to navigate Once adapted to dark, our night vision’s fine, But not like that of our pet feline. Underwater, we can’t see as well as we wish, But a loon can adjust, to visualize fish. We have but a single foveal pit; The falcon has two of them. To wit, While we must turn to look left, I’ll confide The falcon looks straight, and also aside. And the movements of our two eyes are linked, While chameleons can aim them apart, unsynched. So let us be humble, and not cast derision: We have good, but not superlative, vision! —Michael Marmor, MD Stanford, California, USA doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2008.06.001
The Ionization of Helium, Neon, and Argon by Electron Impact

Quantitative measurements have been made of the total number of positive charges produced per electron per cm path at a definite pressure, in helium, neon, and argon, as a function of the energy of the impacting electrons out to 4500 volts. In helium the maximum efficiency 1.256 occurs at 110 volts, in neon 3.008 at 170 volts, and in argon 13.01 at 88 volts.An empirical relation has been found which expresses the efficiency of ionization of helium within the experimental error for energies greater than 60 volts.The data obtained differ considerably from that found by previous investigations, but because of the more precise length of path from which the positive ions were measured and the more accurate knowledge of the energy of the electrons as well as the elimination of secondary electrons, it is believed that the results presented here are the most accurate thus far obtained.
Sodium valproate in the treatment of intractable seizure disorders A clinical and electroencephalographic study

A 12-week study of clinical response, EEG changes and serum antiepileptic drug (AED) levels using sodium valproate (VAL) was undertaken. The study showed that VAL is a powerful adjunct in the treatment of intractable epilepsy. It was most effective in patients with generalized seizures, but no seizure type was totally resistant. No serious adverse effects were encountered; nausea was easily overcome by readjusting the drug dosage. In most cases the only EEG change was decrease of epileptiform activity, and this correlated well with decreased frequency of clinical seizures. These two features in turn were most often seen with a serum VAL level of 40 μg per milliliter or greater. Intoxication with VAL was accompanied by marked slowing of the background rhythms, but no increase in beta activity. Other modifications of the EEG were probably due to changes in the plasma levels of other drugs. Interactions between VAL and conventional antiepileptic drugs occur, so that serum concentrations of all drugs must be monitored in patients receiving VAL.
Dynamic Inconsistency and Exchange-Rate Target Zones: A Welfare Analysis

This paper examines the welfare implications of different exchange-rate systems, especially an exchange-rate target-zone system, in a context of monetary policy making and dynamic inconsistency. It is shown that when there is uncertainty, there is a trade-off between commitment to a rule and discretion. A free-floating exchange-rate system may have the same loss function values in terms of price and output fluctuations as that of a target zone. However, a target-zone system may be more attractive since there is less exchange-rate fluctuation. Returning to a fixed-rate system may be worse since it may bring about larger welfare losses especially when supply shocks dominate. [F31, E52]
Response of brain amino acid metabolism to ketosis

Our objective was to study brain amino acid metabolism in response to ketosis. The underlying hypothesis is that ketosis is associated with a fundamental change of brain amino acid handling and that this alteration is a factor in the anti-epileptic effect of the ketogenic diet. Specifically, we hypothesize that brain converts ketone bodies to acetyl-CoA and that this results in increased flux through the citrate synthetase reaction. As a result, oxaloacetate is consumed and is less available to the aspartate aminotransferase reaction; therefore, less glutamate is converted to aspartate and relatively more glutamate becomes available to the glutamine synthetase and glutamate decarboxylase reactions. We found in a mouse model of ketosis that the concentration of forebrain aspartate was diminished but the concentration of acetyl-CoA was increased. Studies of the incorporation of 13C into glutamate and glutamine with either [1-(13)C]glucose or [2-(13)C]acetate as precursor showed that ketotic brain metabolized relatively less glucose and relatively more acetate. When the ketotic mice were administered both acetate and a nitrogen donor, such as alanine or leucine, they manifested an increased forebrain concentration of glutamine and GABA. These findings supported the hypothesis that in ketosis there is greater production of acetyl-CoA and a consequent alteration in the equilibrium of the aspartate aminotransferase reaction that results in diminished aspartate production and potentially enhanced synthesis of glutamine and GABA.
Granisetron: new insights into its use for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Granisetron (Kytril®, Roche) is a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3)-receptor antagonist indicated for the prevention of nausea and/or vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of emetogenic chemotherapy, including high-dose cisplatin. Its indication expanded in August 2002, with approval from the FDA for the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Granisetron strongly and selectively binds to the 5-HT3 receptor with a binding constant of 0.26 nM and exhibits a 4000 – 40,000 times greater binding affinity for the 5-HT3 receptor than other binding sites, including other 5HT subtypes and adrenergic, histaminergic and opioid receptors. Its selectivity to the 5-HT3 receptor over other receptor types is > 1000:1. Granisetron noncompetitively binds to the 5-HT3 receptor and is associated with a long duration of action as shown by the inhibition of a 5-HT axonal response flare for up to 24 h. Granisetron is unique among the 5-HT3-receptor antagonists because it is not metabolised via ...
Symptom dimensions in recent-onset schizophrenia and mania: A principal components analysis of the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale.

Previous four- and five-factor solutions of the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) suggested the possibility of an affective dimension in psychosis. A principal components analysis was used to analyze psychiatric symptom data rated on an expanded 24-item version of the BPRS. BPRS data were collected during a period of acute psychotic and affective illness with 114 young adult, recent-onset schizophrenia and schizoaffective patients and 27 bipolar manic patients. Principal components analyses of the 18-item and 24-item BPRS indicated a four-factor solution was the most interpretable. Principal components analysis of the 24-item BPRS produced a clear mania factor characterized by high loadings from items added to the 18-item BPRS, which included elevated mood, motor hyperactivity, and distractibility. This factor solution suggests that the 24-item BPRS allows for an expanded assessment of affective symptoms relating to a manic dimension. Potentially important symptoms that were added to the traditional 18-item version, namely suicidality, bizarre behavior, and self-neglect, also make clear contributions to other factors.
Disposal of activated fusion wall materials

We have used NRC's low-level waste disposal regulation (10CFR61) to classify activated fusion reactor structural materials. The limits set by the NRC in 10CFR61 will require extremely expensive steels with degraded properties, even when the limits are adjusted to give credit for use of an expensive hot waste disposal facility. Both the expense and the poorer properties could have a negative impact on reactor safety, thus subverting the overall goals of the NRC family of regulations. Following this initial study, we have examined the methodology used by the NRC to set waste concentration limits. For a long-lived gamma emitter like /sup 94/Nb, direct gamma dose to an intruding home builder dominates the limit setting process. Of all the tests applied to the waste, the controlling test which sets the lowest limit ignores all the engineered intrusion barriers which are themselves required by the same regulation. If even a small fraction of the barriers remain intact (an extremely likely event), the /sup 94/Nb limit could be increased from the 0.2 Ci/m/sup 3/ in 10CFR61 to 1100 Ci/m/sup 3/ without exceeding the limits set for personnel exposure. Similarly, cautious application of the 10CFR61 methodology to other radioisotopes of interest to fusion designersmore » will result in limits which are more in line with the unique nature of fusion energy.« less
Non-vanishing of alternants☆

Abstract Let p be prime, K a field of characteristic 0. Let (x1, … , xn) ∈ Kn such that xi ≠ 0 for all i and xi/xj is not a root of unity for all i ≠ j. We prove that there exist integers 0 det ( x j p e i ) ≠ 0 . The proof uses p-adic arguments. As corollaries, we derive the linear independence of certain Witt vectors and study the result of applying the Witt functor to a mod p representation of a finite group.
Contrail properties derived from high-resolution polarization lidar studies during SUCCESS

During the April 1996 SUCCESS field campaign, our ground-based polarization lidar studied a variety of contrails ranging from a new NASA DC-8 contrail to persisting contrails from commercial jet aircraft that had spread into an almost invisible cirrostratus sheet. What distinguishes these contrails from natural cirrus is their tendency to remain thin (∼50–500 m), and to generate strong laser backscattering and depolarization, often along with solar coronas, even an hour or more after formation. Lidar depolarization ratios in persisting contrails ranged from ∼0.3–0.7. Contrail-cirrus clouds composed of high numbers of small (20–30 µm) particles would satisfy these findings, which has implications for comprehending their radiative and climatic effects.
Accessibility issues in park design: The national parks

Abstract National Parks in the USA are experiencing a demand to provide access from the rising population of older, disabled Americans. This paper examines some of the important issues of providing equal access and the impact of man-made interventions in the wilderness. Social, demographic and legislative reasoning are used to present the need for increased access and to discuss the effectiveness of the present policies. The economic, ecological and aesthetic implications of providing greater access and of human intervention are discussed. The paper concludes by emphasising that more effective policies are needed to maintain the integrity of the natural environment.
Social status, stress, and adolescent smoking

Purpose: Adolescent smoking is associated with increased perceived stress and lower social status, but past research has not explored links between lower social status, stress, and smoking risk. This study examined whether the relation between social status and perceived stress could explain the association between lower social status and increased risk of smoking. Methods: Data were collected from 1021 non-Hispanic black and white adolescents participating in a longitudinal school-based study. Students completed a questionnaire and parents provided information on their highest level of education. Hierarchical logistic regression estimated the effects of parental education, subjective social status (SSS), and stress on smoking risk. Results: At baseline, students from families without a college-educated parent were at greater risk of current smoking (odds ratio (OR) some college 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06- 3.67, and OR high school degree or less 3.34, 95% CI 1.67-6.60 ). Higher school SSS decreased risk of current smoking (OR .73, 95% CI .62-.87), and higher stress increased smoking risk (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.08). There was no evidence that the effects of parental education were mediated through stress. At one-year follow-up, both lower school SSS and higher baseline stress were significantly associated with smoking initiation in preliminary models, but only baseline stress (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11) predicted smoking initiation in multivariable models. Discussion: These findings indicate that higher stress and lower social status increase risk of smoking, but that stress does not explain the association between lower social status and smoking. Therefore, stress reduction interventions may not alleviate social inequalities in teen smoking, but they do hold promise for youth smoking prevention. © 2006 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.
Changes in extractability of iron, aluminum and silicon and dispersibility by storage of california forest soils

Abstract The effect of long‐term laboratory storage on the extractability of pedogenic organic, Fe, Al and Si‐bearing phases and soil dispersibility in two California forest soils was investigated. Storage of A and BC‐horizon samples generally resulted in significant decreases in oxalate and pyrophosphate‐extractable Al and Fe. Aluminum and Fe extractability by pyrophosphate generally decreased more than oxalate extractability, resulting in apparent increases in the quantities Alo‐Alp and Feo‐Fep. Effects of storage on Si extractability were variable. Extraction of organic carbon from A‐horizon soil increased through storage while extractability decreased in BC‐horizon samples. Storage decreased the chemical dispersibility of A and BC‐horizon soil, thus implying an increase in aggregate stability. Ultrasonification treatment prior to chemical dispersion of field‐fresh and lab‐stored samples had little effect on particle size distribution. Decreases in pedogenic organic, Al, Fe and Si extractability can be...
SU‐GG‐T‐95: The Effect of Cloth and Paper Gowns on Skin Dose for 6 MeV Total Skin Electron Treatments

Purpose: Traditionally, patients treated with total skin electrons are required to remove all clothing. This is assumed to be best for the treatment of superficial skin lesions out of concern clothing may significantly perturb the electron dose delivered. However, no known peer‐reviewed studies have been done to validate this. We investigate what effect cloth and paper gowns will have on dose near the skin surface. Method and Materials: Using a Markus ion chamber and Gafchromic‐EBT2 film, dose to a cylindrical phantom was measured with a cloth hospital gown, a paper gown, and a tri‐layer cloth (to simulate folds and seams) compared to no covering. A 6‐MeV electron beam with spoiler accessory was used at a distance of about 4‐meters, with gantry angled at 248° and 292°. The materials covered the films which were placed onto the phantom at 1000‐MU per shot. The phantom was rotated at −60°, 0°, and 60° relative to the beam's central axis simulating the six‐field Stanford technique. Similar procedure was followed for Markus chamber with 1‐mm buildup cap in a Lucite phantom. Effect of air gap of 0, 3, and 5‐cm between full‐size gowns and ion chamber also investigated. Results: Compared to no covering, the films revealed a 0.8% increase in dose for cloth, 1.8% for tri‐layered cloth, and 0.7% for paper. Markus chamber readings revealed at 0°, 60° orientation −0.03%, −1.5% for cloth, 1.4%, −4.1% for tri‐layered cloth, and 0.2%, −0.2% for paper, respectively. Air gaps had differences by less than 0.7% for cloth and 0.2% for paper. Conclusion: For cloth and paper gowns there was a variability of less than 1.5% in dose delivered. Air gaps did not substantially affect dose but folds and seams in cloth may perturb dose more than 4%. For patient comfort, paper gowns may be most appropriate covering option.