cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical Outcomes of Plaque Excision and Grafting and Supplemental Tunica Albuginea Plication for Treatment of Peyronie's Disease With Severe Compound Curvature.

Abstract Background There are limited data in the literature that describe the management of Peyronie's disease (PD) with severe compound curvature, which often requires additional straightening procedures after plaque excision and grafting (PEG) to achieve functional penile straightening ( Aim This study highlights the clinical distinction and our experience with men with PD and severe compound curvature treated with PEG and supplemental tunica albuginea plication (TAP). Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with PD and acute angulation who underwent PEG (group 1) and patients with compound curvature who underwent PEG with TAP (group 2) between 2007 and 2016. Outcomes Primary post-operative outcomes of interest include change in penile curvature, change in measured stretched penile length, and subjective report on penile sensation and sexually induced penile rigidity. Results 240 Men with PD were included in the study, of which 79 (33%) patients in group 1 underwent PEG and 161 (67%) in group 2 underwent PEG and TAP. There was no difference in associated PD co-morbidities including age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypogonadism, diabetes, or tobacco use. After artificial induction of erection with intracorporal trimix injection, the average primary curvature was 73 (range, 20–120) degrees for group 1 compared to 79 (range, 35–140) degrees for group 2 (P = .01). Group 2 had an average secondary curvature of 36 (20–80 degrees). After completion of PEG, men in group 2 had an average residual curvature of 30 (range, 20–50) degrees which required 1–6 TAPs to achieve functional straightness ( Clinical Translation Our review shows promising surgical outcomes for the use of PEG and supplemental TAP for this subtype of complex PD. Strengths and Limitations This article reports the largest experience with treatment of PD with compound curvature to date. Limitations of this study include the retrospective nature of the analysis as well as the lack of a validated objective measurement of erectile function after penile straightening. Conclusion Our study found no baseline difference in underlying co-morbidities in men with severe compound curvature compared with men with acute severe angulated curvature. Men with severe compound curvature represent a severe and under-recognized population of men with PD who can be surgically corrected with PEG and supplemental TAP(s) when needed without an increased risk of loss of penile length, recurrent curvature, decreased penile sensation, or erectile dysfunction when compared to men treated with PEG alone. Chow AK, Sidelsky SA, Levine LA. Surgical Outcomes of Plaque Excision and Grafting and Supplemental Tunica Albuginea Plication for Treatment of Peyronie's Disease With Severe Compound Curvature. J Sex Med 2018;15:1021–1029.
1.18 – Seeing in the Dark: Retinal Processing and Absolute Visual Threshold

Vision near absolute threshold is one of the several examples in which sensory performance approaches the limits set by the physics of the sensory signals themselves. These observations about the reliability of sensory detection pose strict constraints on the underlying neural mechanisms. Meeting these constraints poses a considerable challenge to our understanding of sensory transduction, synaptic transmission, and neural coding. Work over the past 30 years has led to a reasonably clear picture of how the rod photoreceptors respond to individual photons. Recent work has begun to uncover the retinal mechanisms that permit the resulting signals to be conveyed through the retina and to the brain.
Argument Strategies: Antidote to Tylenol's Poisoned Image

The Tylenol capsule poisonings created a potentially disastrous situation that could easily have cost the reputation and market share of one of Johnson and Johnson's leading products. The manufactu...
Displaying Multivariate Data Using Polyplots

Polyplots are glyphs which display multivariate and univariate data simultaneously over time. Each glyph, a regular polygon with as many vertices as the number of variables of interest, represents one time interval. By locating the mean at the vertex an..
Pharmacokinetics of stereomeric 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitol mononitrates in rats

The pharmacokinetics and urinary recoveries of four isomeric mononitrates, L-isoidide mononitrate (L-IIMN), isosorbide-2-mononitrate (IS-2-MN), isomannide mononitrate (IMMN), and isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN), were investigated at an intravenous dose of 2 mg/kg in rats. All four compounds exhibited monoexponential kinetics at this dose. The volumes of distribution were similar for all four isomers and were estimated at about 1.0 liter/kg. The systemic clearances of L-IIMN, IMMN, IS-2-MN, and IS-5-MN were 65.1 ± 13.0, 32.7 ± 12.0, 11.0 ± 2.3, and 8.23 ± 1.82 ml/min/kg, respectively (P < 0.05, all pairwise comparisons). Free mononitrate in the urine accounted for 0.306 to 4.56% of the administered dose, while the recovery in conjugated forms (after glusulase hydrolysis) accounted for 42.8% of the IMMN dose and 7.70 to 14.5% of the dose of the remaining three isomers. The dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of three of the mononitrates were explored at selected higher doses which cause equivalent vasodilator responses, L-IIMN (22 mg/kg), IS-2-MN (100 mg/kg), and IS-5-MN (300 mg/kg). The clearances of L-IIMN, IS-2-MN, and IS-5-MN at these higher doses were 42.3 ± 5.7, 6.38 ± 0.59, and 3.33 ± 0.62 ml/min/kg, respectively, all significantly less than those found at the 2 mg/kg dose. Typical Michaelis–Menten-type curvatures were observed in the concentration–time curves after IS-2-MN and IS-5-MN dosing. The pharmacokinetics of L-IIMN were also dose dependent, but they could not be described by simple Michaelis–Menten kinetics.
Laminin 332 expression and prognosis in breast cancer

Summary The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of and potential significance of laminin 332 (LM332) in breast cancer. Specimens from a population-based cohort (N = 297) from 1994 to 1995 were stained for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), HER2 and the LM332 β3 chain. Seventy-five tumors were LM332-positive and 222 were negative. LM332 β3 stained 16.0% of ER and/or PgR-positive tumors and 73.2% of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). Immunoblotting revealed LM332 in TNBC and HER2-positive samples, but not in an ER-positive breast carcinoma or a phyllodes tumor. After 20 years, 172 patients were alive, 43 had died of breast cancer and 82 of other causes. Patients with LM332-positive tumors had significantly worse 5 (P
Sublattice symmetry breaking and Kondo-effect enhancement in strained graphene

Kondo physics in doped monolayer graphene is predicted to exhibit unusual features due to the linear vanishing of the pristine material's density of states at the Dirac point. Despite several attempts, conclusive experimental observation of the phenomenon remains elusive. One likely obstacle to identification is a very small Kondo temperature scale ${T}_{K}$ in situations where the chemical potential lies near the Dirac point. We propose tailored mechanical deformations of monolayer graphene as a means of revealing unique fingerprints of the Kondo effect. Inhomogeneous strains are known to produce specific alternating changes in the local density of states (LDOS) away from the Dirac point that signal sublattice symmetry-breaking effects. Small LDOS changes can be amplified in an exponential increase or decrease of ${T}_{K}$ for magnetic impurities attached at different locations. We illustrate this behavior in two deformation geometries: a circular ``bubble'' and a long fold, both described by Gaussian displacement profiles. We calculate the LDOS changes for modest strains and analyze the relevant Anderson impurity model describing a magnetic atom adsorbed in either a ``top-site'' or a ``hollow-site'' configuration. Numerical renormalization-group solutions of the impurity model suggest that higher expected ${T}_{K}$ values, combined with distinctive spatial patterns under variation of the point of graphene attachment, make the top-site configuration the more promising for experimental observation of signatures of the Kondo effect. The strong strain sensitivity of ${T}_{K}$ may lift top-site Kondo physics into the range experimentally accessible using local probes such as scanning tunneling microscopy.
Bifunctional Molecular Probes for Activity-Based Visualization of Quinone-Dependent Amine Oxidases

The design, synthesis, and evaluation of two bifunctional molecular probes that can be used to visualize quinone-dependent amine oxidase enzymes in an activity-dependent manner are described. These probes use alkylhydrazines to irreversibly bind the target enzymes, which can then be visualized with either Western blotting or in-gel fluorescence. The results show that the Western blotting readout, which utilizes commercially available anti-nitrophenyl antibodies to detect a simple dinitrophenyl antigen, provides a stronger readout than the fluorescein-based fluorescence readout. This visualization strategy can be used to measure the potency of enzyme inhibitors by selectively visualizing the active enzyme that remains after treatment with an inhibitor. Looking forward, this probe molecule and visualization strategy will enable activity-based protein-profiling experiments, such as determining inhibitor selectivity values within full proteome mixtures, for this family of amine oxidase enzymes.
Learning Curve Analysis of Open Kasai Portoenterostomy for Biliary Atresia.

BACKGROUND Open Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) remains the mainstay of treatment for biliary atresia (BA) even in the era of minimally invasive surgery and is generally considered to be technically challenging. This study describes the learning curve (LC) of open KPE and its effect on outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our center, the caseload of BA was relatively low with average annual caseload below five in the past, and open KPE was started in the early 2000s. This study retrospectively enrolled the first 35 consecutive children undergoing open KPE for BA by the same surgeon in our center between June 2003 and April 2014. The LC was evaluated using the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method for operative time (OT). RESULTS The CUSUM LC of OT, which peaked at the 23rd case, was best modeled as a second-order polynomial with equation CUSUM (min) = -0.8851 × case number2 + 33.54 × case number -45.978 (R2 = 0.7287). The LC consisted of two distinct phases: phase 1 (the initial 23 cases), representing the initial learning phase and phase 2 (the remaining 12 cases), representing acquisition of technical competency. Preoperative parameters were comparable between the two phases (each P > 0.05). Of note, OT and estimated blood loss significantly decreased in phase 2 compared with phase 1 (P < 0.001; P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the rates of early jaundice clearance and 2-y native liver survival significantly increased in phase 2 (P = 0.032; P = 0.034, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The two phases identified by CUSUM analysis of OT represents characteristic stages of LC for open KPE of the surgeon in our center. It is possible for surgeons to achieve competency of this demanding technique in centers with relatively low caseload of BA and late start of KPE.
Allowing Girls to Hold up Half the Sky: Combining Norm Shifting and Economic Incentives to Combat Daughter Discrimination in China

The related problems of missing women and daughter discrimination plague contemporary China. Although statistics predict only a slightly greater male birth rate and a slightly lower female mortality rate in the first few years after birth, sons substantially outnumber daughters in modern Chinese families. This article assesses the mechanisms by which families effect daughter discrimination: sex selective abortions, female infanticide, child abandonment, underinvestment of family resources in girls, as well as secondary reinforcing practices like lineage societies and patrilocal living arrangements. Rather than developing legal proposals to counteract each of these individual practices, this paper suggests ways that law can help ameliorate the root causes of the widespread son preference. China's rapid shift away from the once-prevalent custom of footbinding provides a helpful lesson for those seeking to use law to change social practices. Both footbinding and modern daughter discrimination rest on a belief trap, a set of incorrect but self-reinforcing perceptions, about the economic and social value of girls. In the context of footbinding, the combination of anti-binding associational societies and laws supporting the anti-binding position helped foster a norm cascade in opposition to footbinding, leading to the rapid elimination of that practice. This historical success suggests a template for approaching daughter discrimination in modern China. Specifically, this article proposes: (1) the creation of modern associational societies that eschew daughter discrimination; (2) the provision of financial incentives to family planning workers and doctors to promote female births; and (3) the development of targeted economic reforms to erode support for patrilocal and patrilineal traditions.
Evaluating social inclusion: An adaptable measure for use on college campuses

Gender and sexual identity discrimination are commonly reported among persons of non-heterosexual or non-cisgender identities. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) students are more likely to experience discrimination, hate crimes, poverty, sexually transmitted infections, anxiety, and depression compared to heterosexual and cisgender individuals. These marginalized experiences create a unique need for education, resources, support, and community. Greater awareness of sexual and gender minorities encourages college students to feel comfortable sharing their experiences, and openly identifying as a sexual and/or gender minority. Consequently, to retain the full breadth of diversity within university communities, centers on campus that provide programming, education, and advocacy for minority students are essential for an inclusive campus climate that nurtures diverse student populations. Given the dearth in empirical instruments to support social inclusion among Sexual and Gender Minorities on college campuses, the purpose of this research was to, 1.) Develop a meaningful measure for use in the evaluation of gender identity and sexuality among college students and their perceived social inclusion through the lens of a social inclusion center; and 2.) Include questions addressing efficacy of relevant social inclusion centers for SGM students, staff, faculty, and their allies. This research focuses on self-report data collected through the Gender and Sexual Inclusion, Knowledge, and Attitude Survey from staff, faculty, and undergraduate students from a small liberal arts college in the Pacific Northwest (N = 218).
Development and Pre-Clinical Analysis of Spatiotemporal-Aware Augmented Reality in Orthopedic Interventions

Suboptimal interaction with patient data and challenges in mastering 3D anatomy based on ill-posed 2D interventional images are essential concerns in image-guided therapies. Augmented reality (AR) has been introduced in the operating rooms in the last decade; however, in image-guided interventions, it has often only been considered as a visualization device improving traditional workflows. As a consequence, the technology is gaining minimum maturity that it requires to redefine new procedures, user interfaces, and interactions. The main contribution of this paper is to reveal how exemplary workflows are redefined by taking full advantage of head-mounted displays when entirely co-registered with the imaging system at all times. The awareness of the system from the geometric and physical characteristics of X-ray imaging allows the exploration of different human-machine interfaces. Our system achieved an error of 4.76 ± 2.91mm for placing K-wire in a fracture management procedure, and yielded errors of 1.57 ± 1.16° and 1.46 ± 1.00° in the abduction and anteversion angles, respectively, for total hip arthroplasty (THA). We compared the results with the outcomes from baseline standard operative and non-immersive AR procedures, which had yielded errors of [4.61mm, 4.76°, 4.77°] and [5.13mm, 1.78°, 1.43°], respectively, for wire placement, and abduction and anteversion during THA. We hope that our holistic approach towards improving the interface of surgery not only augments the surgeon’s capabilities but also augments the surgical team’s experience in carrying out an effective intervention with reduced complications and provide novel approaches of documenting procedures for training purposes.
A Transfer Learning Approach for Dialogue Act Classification of GitHub Issue Comments.

Social coding platforms, such as GitHub, serve as laboratories for studying collaborative problem solving in open source software development; a key feature is their ability to support issue reporting which is used by teams to discuss tasks and ideas. Analyzing the dialogue between team members, as expressed in issue comments, can yield important insights about the performance of virtual teams. This paper presents a transfer learning approach for performing dialogue act classification on issue comments. Since no large labeled corpus of GitHub issue comments exists, employing transfer learning enables us to leverage standard dialogue act datasets in combination with our own GitHub comment dataset. We compare the performance of several word and sentence level encoding models including Global Vectors for Word Representations (GloVe), Universal Sentence Encoder (USE), and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT). Being able to map the issue comments to dialogue acts is a useful stepping stone towards understanding cognitive team processes.
Body Mass Index and Mortality Among Adults With Incident Myocardial Infarction

The relationship between body mass index (BMI; weight (kg)/height (m)2) and mortality among survivors of myocardial infarction (MI) remains controversial. We examined the relationships of BMI before and after MI and change in weight with all-cause mortality among participants in the Nurses' Health Study (1980-2016) and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1988-2016) cohorts. During a follow-up period of up to 36 years, we documented 4,856 participants with incident nonfatal MI, among whom 2,407 died during follow-up. For pre-MI and post-MI BMI, overweight was not associated with lower mortality. Obesity (BMI ≥30) was associated with higher risk of mortality. Compared with participants with post-MI BMI of 22.5-24.9, hazard ratios were 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.34) for BMI 30.0-34.9 and 1.52 (95% CI: 1.27, 1.83) for BMI ≥35.0 (P for trend < 0.001). Compared with stable weight from before MI to after MI, a reduction of more than 4 BMI units was associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio = 1.53, 95%: CI: 1.28, 1.83). This increase was seen only among participants who lost weight without improving their physical activity or diet. Our findings showed no survival benefit of excess adiposity in relation to risk of mortality. Weight loss from before to after MI without lifestyle improvement may reflect reverse causation and disease severity.
What Is Psoriasiform Dermatitis

Psoriasiform dermatitis is a histological term that refers to a group of disorders which histologically mimic psoriasis. Chief among them in frequency are lichenified dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and pityriasis rubra pilaris. Other disorders include secondary syphilis, mycosis fungoides, and inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus.
A Contrast of Ethical Attitudes and Practices Between Aviation Students at Schools With and Without an Ethics Course for Pilots

The authors explore academic and ethical misconduct in various forms and consider the role of students’ perceptions. They gather data from professional pilot students in four year academic disciplines from seven accredited universities across the United States. Four components are considered to better understand the behavior and perception of students’ conduct in professional pilot education across the United States. These components are: attitude towards academic dishonesty, attitude towards neutralization behavior, attitude towards normalization of deviance, and ethical standards. Preliminary findings from the students’ pre-tests are reported.
Cell-mediated immunity in the chicken. I. Development of a target cell destruction assay.

Abstract An objective cytotoxicity test which measured target cell destruction was developed for chicken lymphoid cells. Significant cell-mediated cytotoxicity was observed after 21 hr of incubation of 51 Cr-labeled chicken red blood cells with PHA-stimulated lymphoid cells. The use of inhibitors demonstrated that PHA- P -induced cell lysis was inhibited when protein synthesis was blocked and that cell lysis was not dependent upon DNA synthesis. A difference in the kinetics of the PHA response of splenic lymphoid cells and peripheral blood lymphoid cells was noted as determined by their cytotoxic effect upon labeled target cells. Lymphoid cell cytotoxicity stimulated by PHA- P was suppressed by thymectomy, but was unaffected or enhanced by bursectomy. It was concluded that PHA- P -stimulated lymphoid cell cytotoxicity was a function of thymus-dependent lymphocytes.
President Obama and the Intensification of Black Threat from 2008 to 2012

Extant research shows Barack Obama’s emergence on the national political scene stirred racist sentiments in some whites’ political attitudes and behaviors. During his first four years of presidential leadership, national rhetoric focused increasingly on racial issues. This created more salient frames that encouraged Americans to link local demographics to national politics. We test if this resulted in greater racial animus among whites with an investigation of black threat theory in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. In 2012, whites were less likely to vote for Obama as black concentration increased in their counties of residence. The 2008 data show weaker evidence of a relationship. Whites living in the poorest counties drive this result and real or perceived changes in the economy do not explain it away. Feelings of black threat among whites have intensified as racial issues have increasingly come to the forefront of national political discourse.
A cooperative expert system architecture for embedded avionics

An underlying requirement for artificial intelligence software in avionics environments is real-time throughput and behavior. By using multiple processors and efficient communication mechanisms, the concept of cooperative expert systems can be used effectively in real-time applications. A hardware and software environment for supporting cooperative expert systems with multiple streamlined set (RISC-influenced) processors and a real-time shared memory multicomputer operating system executive is presented and analyzed. By using the parallelism of cooperative expert systems and RISC-influenced real-time shells in conjunction with conventional preemptive multitasking, the execution speed of artificial intelligence programs can be increased to meet real-time requirements while also maintaining the predictable response characteristics expected of avionics systems. >
Online Network Forensics for Automatic Repair Validation

Automated intrusion prevention and self-healing software are active areas of security systems research. A major hurdle for the widespread deployment of these systems is that many system administrators lack confidence in the quality of the generated fixes. Thus, a key requirement for future self-healing software is that each automatically-generated fix must be validated before deployment. Under the response rates required by self-healing systems, we believe such verification must proceed automatically. We call this process Automatic Repair Validation (ARV). We describe the design and implementation of Bloodhound , a system that tags and tracks information between the kernel and the application and correlates symptoms of exploits (such as memory errors) with high-level data (e.g. , network flows). By doing so, Bloodhound can replay the flows that triggered the repair process against the newly healed application to help show that the repair is accurate (i.e., it defeats the exploit). We show through experimentation a performance impact of as little as 2.6%.
Clock trees: differential or single ended?

A low-swing differential clock distribution scheme is presented, and is compared with widely used single ended clock distribution. Test chips based on these two clocking styles are designed with 1 GHz clocks in a 90 nm technology. Low-swing differential clock trees are seen to have 25-42% less sensitivity to power supply noise and 6% less sensitivity to manufacturing variations than single ended clock trees, which leads to significant savings in skew and jitter. Another important contribution is the development of techniques to design robust single ended and differential clock trees.
The metabolism of a new schistosomicide 2-isopropylaminomethyl-6-methyl-7-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (UK 3883).

1. The metabolism of a new schistosomicide, 2-isopropylaminomethyl-6-methyl-7-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, was investigated in the mouse, rat, rabbit and rhesus monkey.2. All the species studied converted the compound to its 6-hydroxymethyl analogue, which showed greater schistosomicidal activity in vivo than the parent drug.3. Several other metabolites were also produced by oxidation at the 2- and/or 6-positions to give carboxylic acid derivatives. None of these metabolites showed biological activity.4. A species difference was apparent, since the 2-carboxylic acid metabolite was not detected in the urine or bile of the rat.
Optimal matches of patient preferences for information, decision-making and interpersonal behavior: evidence, models and interventions.

Abstract Objective A comprehensive review was conducted of the theoretical and empirical work that addresses the preference-match strategy in physician–patient communication. Methods Searches were conducted on Medline, PsychINFO, InFoTrac One File Plus, Sociological Abstracts, and Dissertation Abstracts through 2004. The following keywords were used: patient preferred and received information; patient preferred and actualized treatment decision-making; patient–physician beliefs in shared decision-making; patient–physician match, fit, or concordance; reciprocal relationship or mutuality; doctor–patient affiliation, control, relationship; match/fit between patient and physician in affiliation, control, or relationship. Results Findings revealed varying degrees of support for the positive effects of matching patients’ preferred levels of information, decisional control, and consultative interpersonal behavior. Conclusions Findings justify not only continued but expanded research efforts in this area that would incorporate recommended changes in research design and implementation. Practice and research implications Assessment strategies and match interventions are discussed that, if evidence continues to be supportive, might routinely optimize patient–physician encounters toward more positive outcomes. Methodological guidelines are suggested that can improve future preference-match studies of the patient–physician interaction. Practitioners need to consider adoption of patient-match assessment and intervention strategies in addition to recent exclusive concentrations on patient-centered and shared decision-making approaches.
Worry and Bother: Factors in Rural Women’s Health Decision Making

This exploratory study examined older rural women's health decision making. Thirty-three rural women were recruited to participate in semistructured qualitative interviews. Major themes emerged that focused on rural women's comments regarding their concerns about not worrying or bothering their children with personal health matters. Themes were discussed in the context of an ethic of care. Results suggest that it is important for mental health professionals, family physicians, social workers, and other practitioners to be aware of the sense of worry and concern for others that older rural women bring to bear in decision making about personal health issues.
Nanosize and microsize clay effects on the kinetics of the thermal degradation of polylactides

Abstract Polylactide (PLA)–montmorillonite (MMT) micro- and nanocomposites based on semicrystalline and amorphous polymers and unmodified or organomodified clays at 5 wt% content were produced by melt mixing. Based on the three different test methods that were used to follow thermal degradation, different conclusions were obtained. During melt processing, thermomechanical degradation was more pronounced in the presence of all fillers, which apparently acted catalytically, but to different degrees. During isothermal degradation in air from 180 °C to 200 °C, degradation rate constants were calculated from novel equations incorporating changes in intrinsic viscosity (IV). Results show that the thermal degradation rate constants of the amorphous PLA and its composites are lower than those of the semicrystalline PLA and its composites. Due to better filler dispersion in the polymer matrix, the thermal degradation rate constants of the nanocomposites are significantly lower than those of the unfilled polymers and their microcomposites under air. As per dynamic TGA data and thermal kinetic analysis from weight losses and activation energy calculations, organomodified nanofillers have a complex effect on the polymer thermal stability; the unmodified fillers, however, reduce polymer thermal stability. These TGA data and kinetic analysis results also support the findings that the thermal stability of the amorphous PLA and its composites is higher than that of the semicrystalline polymer and its composites and the thermal stability of the nanocomposites is higher than that of the microcomposites. In general, mathematical modeling based on random thermal scission equations was satisfactory for fitting the TGA experimental data.
Lactoperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of thiocyanate by hydrogen peroxide: a reinvestigation of hypothiocyanite by nuclear magnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy.

In an effort to reconcile conflicting reports regarding the spectra of the human defense factor hypothiocyanite (OSCN-), we have synthesized OSCN- by three methods and characterized the product spectroscopically. Method I is lactoperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of SCN- by H2O2 at pH 7. Method II is hydrolysis of (SCN)2 at pH 13. Method III is oxidation of SCN- by OX- (X = Cl and Br) at pH 13. All three methods produced essentially the same initial UV, 13C NMR, and 15N NMR spectra. The UV spectrum reveals a λmax of 376 nm, which is a previously unreported distinguishing feature. The 13C NMR spectrum (δ = 127.8 ppm at pH 13 vs dioxane at 66.6 ppm) is comparable to those that have been previously reported for OSCN- as prepared by methods I and II (although in some cases different assignments have been made). However, the 15N NMR spectrum we measure (δ = −80.6 ppm at pH 13 vs NO3- at 0 ppm) contrasts with previous reports. We conclude that all three methods produce the same species, and the spectra are now sel...
Optimal scheduling of homogeneous job systems

Abstract Homogeneous job systems are systems in which all of a finite set of jobs to be processed by the system have exactly the same processing requirements. This paper assumes that each job first executes an input task requiring an input unit (channel or controller) for some amount of time Tc along with a memory unit. Then it executes a computational task requiring a processing unit and the memory for some amount of time Tp. Under these assumptions, it is possible to derive some inequalities concerning the relative number of memory, input, and processor units which can be efficiently used by the system as a function of Tc and Tp. The scheduling problem is to order tasks and assign resources to them in such a way as to minimize some cost function. The cost functions considered in this paper are job set finishing time and dwell time. Some theorems are stated and proved which yield closed form expressions for the minimum finishing time in batch and in time-shared systems as a function of the number of jobs, memories, processors, input units, and Tc and Tp. The purpose of this study is to derive some general results which aid in the efficient utilization of multiprocessor computer systems. Although this study is directed toward a specific type of homogeneous system, it is shown that the results are applicable to other systems (e.g., systems with output).
Experimental infection of Helisoma trivolvis (Colorado strain) snails with cercariae of Echinostoma trivolvis

Abstract A Colorado (CO) strain of Helisoma trivolvis resistant to miracidial infection, but susceptible to Echinostoma trivolvis cercarial penetration, was used to study encystment of cercariae released from naturally infected H. trivolvis (Pennsylvania strain). All 12 snails, 8–10 mm in shell diameter, each exposed to 25 cercariae and necropsied 1–4 days post-exposure were infected with between 9 and 19 cysts per snail (average 14). In all infectivity experiments, regardless of the size (age) of the Colorado strain snails used, encysted metacercariae were recovered from the kidney-pericardial region of experimentally infected snails within 24 h post-exposure. Snails exposed individually with 500 cercariae averaged 230 cysts per snail at 24 h p.i. Cercariae encysted at 6–8 h p.i., but not at 2 and 4 h p.i. Light microscopical observations of the cysts suggested that greater than 99% were viable. Metacercariae subjected to in vitro excystation in an alkaline trypsin-bile salts medium showed excystation rates of 60–85%. In conclusion, H. trivolvis (CO strain) is an excellent experimental second intermediate host for cercarial encystment of E. trivolvis .
Aftershocks of the western Argentina (Caucete) earthquake of 23 November 1977: some tectonic implications

An aftershock survey, using a network of eight portable and two permanent seismographs, was conducted for the western Argentina (Caucete) earthquake (MS 7.3) of November 23, 1977. Monitoring began December 6, almost 2 weeks after the main shock and continued for 11 days. The data set includes 185 aftershock hypocenters that range in the depth from near surface to more than 30 km. The spatial distribution of those events occupied a volume of about 100 km long ×50 km wide ×30 km thick. The volumnar nature of the aftershock distribution is interpreted to be a result of a bimodal distribution of foci that define east- and west-dipping planar zones. Efforts to select which of those zones was associated with the causal faulting include special attention to the determination of the mainshock focal depth and dislocation theory modeling of the coseismic surface deformation in the epicentral region. Our focal depth (25–35 km) and modeling studies lead us to prefer an east-dipping plane as causal. A previous interpretation by other investigators used a shallower focal depth (17 km) and similar modeling calculations in choosing a west-dipping plane. Our selection of the east-dipping plane is physically more appealing because it places fault initiation at the base of the crustal seismogenic layer (rather than in the middle of that layer) which requires fault propagation to be updip (rather than downdip).
Fatigue Crack Propagation Simulation of Rubber Shock Absorbers

Rubber shock absorbers are the key parts to isolate vibrations of the machinery and equipment. In this paper, a three dimensional finite element model of a rubber shock absorber is established; then the computation of three dimensional fatigue crack growth rates are discussed by using the nonlinear finite element method. The stress distribution which can determine the initial crack location and the possible risk surface under dynamic loads is obtained. The three dimensional crack growth is simulated by using finite element method and linear elastic fracture mechanics. A brittle fracture process of the rubber shock absorber along the dangerous surface is simulated by using the cohesive element of ABAQUS.
STUDY OF THE SPIN-RELAXATION TIMES AND THE EFFECTS OF SPIN-EXCHANGE COLLISIONS IN AN OPTICALLY ORIENTED SODIUM VAPOR

The spin-relaxation time of an optically oriented sodium vapor diffusing in a helium or neon buffer gas has been measured and analyzed by the method of Franzen. The diffusion coefficients for sodium in helium and neon are 1.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 and 0.50\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.17 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec, respectively. The disorientation cross sections for sodium colliding with helium and neon are (3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}26}$ and (1.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, respectively. The radio-frequency (rf) Zeeman transitions of the sodium atoms in the ground state have been examined. An analysis of the effects of spin-exchange collisions between sodium atoms on the intensities and line shapes of the various Zeeman transitions is presented. From these studies a spin exchange cross section of (1-3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ is estimated for two sodium atoms colliding. The main source of error in this measurement is probably lack of knowledge of the sodium vapor pressure in the sodium-absorption cells.
Are exports an engine of growth

Economic growth seems to be out of the reach of many countries in spite of all the efforts of governments, international agencies and economic theories. Investment is necessary, but not sufficient for economic growth. The debate on sufficient condition continues. The present study focuses on where the limited funds of poor countries should be invested. This study provides ample evidence in support of exports as the engine of growth. Thus, the recommendation is that the main investment efforts of a nation must be focused on the exports sector.
Repression of the Staphylococcus aureus accessory gene regulator in serum and in vivo

Subgenomic DNA microarrays were employed to evaluate the expression of the accessory gene regulator (agr locus) as well as multiple virulence-associated genes in Staphylococcus aureus. Gene expression was examined during growth of S. aureus in vitro in standard laboratory medium and rabbit serum and in vivo in subcutaneous chambers implanted in either nonimmune rabbits or rabbits immunized with staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Expression of RNAIII, the effector molecule of the agr locus, was dramatically repressed in serum and in vivo, despite the increased expression of secreted virulence factors sufficient to cause toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in the animals. Statistical analysis and clustering of virulence genes based on their expression profiles in the various experimental conditions demonstrated no positive correlation between the expression of agr and any staphylococcal virulence factors examined. Disruption of the agr locus had only a minimal effect on the expression in vivo of the virulence factors examined. An effect of immunization on the expression of agr and virulence factors was also observed. These results suggest that agr activation is not necessary for development of staphylococcal TSS and that regulatory circuits responding to the in vivo environment override agr activity.
Preparation of a novel structured catalyst based on aligned carbon nanotube arrays for a microchannel Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor

Abstract A novel microstructured catalyst based on aligned multiwall carbon nanotube arrays was synthesized and tested for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction in a microchannel reactor. Fabrication of such a structured catalyst first involved metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of a dense Al2O3 thin film over FeCrAlY foam to enhance the adhesion between ceramic-based catalyst and metal substrate. Aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes were deposited uniformly over the substrate by controlled catalytic decomposition of ethylene. These nanotube bundles were directly attached to FeCrAlY foam through a submicron layer of oxide thin film. Coating the outer surfaces of these nanobundles with an active catalyst layer forms a unique hierarchical structure with fine interstitials between the carbon nanotube bundles. The microstuctural catalyst possessed superior thermal conductivity inherent from carbon nanotube, which allows efficient heat removal from catalytic active sites during exothermic FTS reaction. The concept was tested and demonstrated in a microchannel fixed bed FTS reactor. FTS turn-over activity was found to enhance by a factor of four owing to potential improvement in mass transfer in the unique microstructure. Furthermore, improved temperature control with the carbon nanotube arrays also allows the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis being operated at temperatures as high as 265 °C without reaction runaway.
A Case Study of Librarian Outreach to Scientists: Collaborative Research and Scholarly Communication in Conservation Biology

Global collaboration is increasingly important across universities and conservation biology organizations. In this example, a partnership resulted in the creation of a short course aimed at exploring communication forms and digital tools that facilitate scholarly communication in conservation biology. Questions the authors hoped to answer in the course were: What are the benefits and limitations of these digital tools? How can researchers in conservation biology use these methods to share data, show impact, and connect to colleagues and stakeholders? Why is open access even more important in this highly collaborative scholarly environment? How can communities of interest benefit scientists and the public?
Coupled structural-magnetic strain model for magnetostrictive transducers

The growing interest in giant magnetostrictive materials for generation of strains in smart structure systems motivates the development of increasingly accurate performance prediction and optimization tools. We propose a model for the strains generated by magnetostrictive materials in response to applied magnetic fields. The direct or magnetostrictive effect is modeled by considering active and passive components of the strain. The active or external component, associated with the alignment of magnetic moments with the external magnetic field, is modeled with a ferromagnetic hysteresis model in combination with a quartic magnetostriction law. The passive or internal component, associated with the elastic response of the transducer materials as they vibrate, is modeled through force balancing which yields a wave equation with magnetostrictive inputs. The effect of stress on the magnetization of the magnetostrictive core, or the magnetomechanical effect, is implemented by considering a `law of approach' to the anhysteretic magnetization caused by stress. This provides a representation of the bi-directional coupling between the magnetic and elastic states. It is demonstrated that the model accurately characterizes the magnetic hysteresis and the strains output by a prototyping transducer.
Trends in Autism Research: A Systematic Journal Analysis.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disability for which prevalence rates continue to increase. Persons with ASD vary widely in both severity of disability and services required. Therefore it is important to identify trends in research and evaluate progress in the field. The current study uses a journal analysis to evaluate research over a 12 year period in three prominent autism focused research journals: Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, and Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Findings include identification of trends in research designs, sample characteristics, and interventions.
Equal employment opportunity across states: The EEOC 1979–1989

This study uses unpublished EEOC data from 1979–89 to concentrate on how dwindling resources and policy changes advocated by the EEOC chairs regarding the time and intensity devoted to anti-discrimination cases may have yielded regional variation in discrimination outcomes. We arrive at two major conclusions. First, evidence here suggests that the EEOC counteracted potential regional resistance against anti-discrimination laws. Second, we argue that the seeming inefficiency of the EEOC during Thomas' first years as EEOC chair appears to have occurred because he inherited a large pool of low-merit cases.
A FORTRAN IV function for calculating probabilities associated with the studentized range statistic

Computer programs are available for calculating probabilities associated with most of the common para­ metric statistics, either by approximation (Jaspen, 1965; Veldman, 1967) or by direct solution (Dunlap & Duffy, 1975). Programs for probability levels associated with the studentized range statistic, on the other hand, are not readily available. The only such program that we have been able to fmd is the ONEWAY subroutine from the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Nie, Hull, Jenkins, Steinbrenner, & Bent, 1975), and this program provides only an approximation via the fit of a poly­ nomial surface to the 10%, 5%, and 1% tabled critical values of the studentized range. Although this program allows decisions regarding the null hypothesis, it does not provide probability values for particular studentized range statistics. Although limited tabulations of the integral of the studentized range have been available for some time (e.g., Newman, 1939; Pearson & Hartley, 1943), the most accurate and extensive tables were compiled by Harter, Clemm, and Guthrie (1959). The Harter, Clemm, and Guthrie tables were the result of a multistage numer­ ical integration procedure, but the probabilities reported were checked and are claimed to be accurate to at least six decimal places; this provides values against which to check the output of our program. The Harter et al. (1959) tables are reprinted in part by most statistical textbooks that describe range tests. The disadvantage of any tabular presentation of a statistical distribution, no matter how complete, is that only specific discrete values of the statistic are tabled. A computer function, on the other hand, provides a probability for any value of the statistic. The program discussed in the present paper solves the studentized range integral in the following form: 1 - F(q) = cur [4(t/q) z (t/q)]U (1 - Pn(t)] "i dt, where
Measurement and prediction of pressure drop in two-phase micro-channel heat sinks

Abstract This study explores hydrodynamic instability and pressure drop in a water-cooled two-phase micro-channel heat sink containing 21 parallel 231 × 713 μm micro-channels. Two types of two-phase hydrodynamic instability were identified: severe pressure drop oscillation and mild parallel channel instability. It is shown the severe pressure drop oscillation, which can trigger pre-mature critical heat flux, can be eliminated simply by throttling the flow upstream of the heat sink. Different methods for predicting two-phase pressure drop are assessed for suitability to micro-channel heat-sink design. First, generalized two-phase pressure drop correlations are examined, which include 10 correlations developed for both macro- and mini/micro-channels. A new correlation incorporating the effects of both channel size and coolant mass velocity is proposed which shows better accuracy than prior correlations. The second method consists of a theoretical annular two-phase flow model which, aside from excellent predictive capability, possesses the unique attributes of providing a detailed description of the various transport processes occurring in the micro-channel, as well as fundamental appeal and broader application range than correlations.