cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Semantically Enhanced Concept Search of the Holy Quran: Qur’anic English WordNet

This paper presents a framework to perform concept- and keyword-based English search of the Holy Quran. The concept-based search is challenging as it should be able to handle the abstract queries which often do not occur verbatim in text. In order to implement it, a Qur’anic English WordNet is implemented, which is a WordNet-derived database for the English translations of the Qur’an to form the basis of a semantically rich resource for Qur’an search system. WordNet structure of semantically linked information is used as baseline and is augmented with a few newly created relations to capture Qur’an specific information. A Vocabulary of Qur’anic Concepts is also automatically extracted from the English Qur’anic translations and is made available in the form of conceptual hierarchy. Finally, an information retrieval tool, Qur’an enhanced search tool, is developed to perform semantically enhanced search based on the newly created knowledge resources. The strength of the proposed scheme is demonstrated by comparing the information retrieved against other similar tools, and results are found to be encouraging with best performance in terms of recall. Furthermore, the semiautomatic approach of creating the knowledge repository used in this research is scalable as compared to other existing systems which are manually created. The proposed system is easily extendable for other religious knowledge texts such as Islamic Jurisprudence and Hadeeth.
Assessing public transit performance using real-time data: spatiotemporal patterns of bus operation delays in Columbus, Ohio, USA

Public transit vehicles such as buses operate within shared transportation networks subject to dynamic conditions and disruptions such as traffic congestion. The operational delays caused by these ...
Tire Traction on Dry, Uncontaminated Surfaces

Tire traction on dry surfaces is discussed with emphasis given to the viewpoint of the vehicle-tire system engineer. The paper indicates that, in this context, the mechanics of shear force generation assumes greater importance than the detailed mechanisms that control the frictional coupling at the tire-road interface. After postulating a working definition to distinguish between the concept of “tire traction” and the mechanics of shear force generation, the latter process is described in phenomenological terms. Initial, early, and current efforts to define and measure the shear force mechanics of tires in their normative operating condition are briefly reviewed prior to presenting test results obtained recently in several research programs. These findings relate to (1) the manner in which the longitudinal and lateral components of shear force depend on the longitudinal and lateral components of slip, (2) the shear force/slip relationship as a function of tire geometry and construction, and (3) the sensitivity of peak lateral force to small amounts of tread shoulder wear.
Designs for the Pluriverse: Radical Interdependence, Autonomy, and the Making of Worlds

A recent exhibition in Albuquerque entitled‘ Beautiful Test Sites/Now I am Become Death’ examines the relationship between modern consumption and the imaginative capacity of the individual. The art...
Bone Health in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory medical condition with relapses and remission. Metabolic bone disease, including osteoporosis is associated with IBD and imparts a significant morbidity if pathologic fractures were to occur. There has been a significant amount of research that evaluated the pathophysiology and associations between IBD and osteoporosis. Although corticosteroids contribute to the risk of low bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis and fractures, older age, female gender, smoking, and family history of fracture have been shown to contribute. Additionally, intestinal inflammation affects bone resorption and formation through pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6 further accelerating bone loss. Little information is available on standardizing screening or treatment. It is important to recognize the risk factors that are associated with inflammatory bowel disease and osteoporosis to identify the patient population at risk and initiate treatment/prevention strategies early. Treatment can include calcium, vitamin D, or bisphosphonates. Some studies showed benefit of treating the underlying IBD to improve BMD.
Comparing Spectroscopic Techniques, Instruments, and Sample Analysis in a Guided Inquiry Lab to Promote Students’ Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Abilities

A multiweek laboratory experiment is described, which guides students to use data to make decisions through multiple steps, before reaching a final conclusion. The lab focuses on the comparisons of fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopies to determine the concentration of a desired substance in an unknown sample in consideration of a complex matrix. Students use pooled class data to draw conclusions on the sensitivity, selectivity, dynamic range, and detection limits of the different types of spectroscopy techniques and instrumentation. After determining the concentration of the substance by both an absorbance and fluorescence method, students must statistically evaluate their results from the two methods and perform standard additions to quantify their analyte in the presence of the matrix effects. Students are prompted with questions to answer but are provided limited procedural information to engage and grow students’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. It is anticipated that the experiment can be implemented or modified for an “Instrumental Analysis” or “Quantitative Analysis” type of analytical chemistry course.
Computational study of a latent heat thermal energy storage system enhanced by highly conductive metal foams and heat pipes

Numerical simulations are performed to analyze the thermal characteristics of a latent heat thermal energy storage system with phase change material embedded in highly conductive porous media. A network of finned heat pipes is also employed to enhance the heat transfer within the system. ANSYS-FLUENT 19.0 is used to create a transient multiphase computational model to simulate the thermal behavior of the storage unit. Copper foam is the porous medium used to enhance the heat transfer and is impregnated with the phase change material, potassium nitrate (KNO3). The effects of the porosity of the metal foam and the quantity of heat pipes on the thermal characteristics of storage unit have been investigated. The results indicated that increasing the quantity of the embedded heat pipes leads to drastic acceleration of both charging and discharging process. Impregnating the copper foam with potassium nitrate phase change material significantly affects the total charging and discharging times of the storage unit. It was shown that the porosity of the metal foam plays a key role in the thermal behavior of the system during the charging and discharging processes.
The likely economic impact of fewer elective surgical procedures on US hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Background To help control the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, elective procedures have been cancelled in most US hospitals by government order. The purpose of this study is to estimate national hospital reimbursement and net income losses owing to elective surgical procedure cancellation during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods The National Inpatient Sample and the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample were used to identify all elective surgical procedures performed in the inpatient setting and in hospital-owned outpatient surgery departments throughout the United States. Total cost, reimbursement, and net income was determined for all elective surgical procedures. Results The estimated total annual cost of elective inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures in the United States was $147.2 billion, and estimated total hospital reimbursement was $195.4 to $212.2 billion. This resulted in a net income of $48.0 to $64.8 billion per year to the US hospital system. Cancellation of all elective procedures would result in estimated losses of $16.3 to $17.7 billion per month in revenue and $4 to $5.4 billion per month in net income to US hospitals. Conclusion Cancellation of elective procedures during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has a substantial economic impact on the US hospital system.
When and how do advertisements affect investors’ processing of online financial information?

We conduct three experiments that examine when and how advertisements affect investors’ processing of financial information in an online environment. Our first experiment investigates the effects of peripheral advertisements with benign content. We do not observe differences in investment judgments when such ads are present, and a follow up eye tracking study confirms that investors generally avoid looking at these types of ads. Our second experiment investigates the effects of advertisements when they are more difficult to distinguish from relevant content. We find that investors’ efforts to avoid advertisements result in lower recall of graphically presented financial information when advertisements that interrupt the relevant content are present. Our third experiment investigates peripheral advertisements with content that elicits a negative emotional response and finds that these ads affect investment judgments via their effects on investor mood and the perceived tone of nearby financial information. Overall, our findings suggest that investors successfully ignore benign peripheral advertisements, but other types of advertisements, such as intrusive or emotionally laden advertisements, affect investors’ processing of nearby financial information.
A MAV Platform for Indoors and Outdoors Autonomous Navigation in GPS-denied Environments

As Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAV) technology becomes mature and more capable, its use for automating risky and repetitive tasks has been explored, even in challenging environments. This has resulted in a wide array of expensive platforms specialized for solving specific problems that sometimes do not generalize to other applications. In this work we develop a MAV system, UTAINS, capable of navigating in GPS-denied environments for indoors and outdoors applications. The main design target for the platform is autonomous aerial inspections of power plants, so we first introduce a survey about flying robots for inspection and exploration tasks in GPS-denied environments, presenting the proposed systems in terms of their autonomy level. Furthermore, we present the design of a modular low-cost system that can easily scale for a wide range of applications, both from a software and a hardware perspective. The software architecture is subdivided in modules that implement the key competences for autonomous navigation: motion control, perception, localization, and planning. We show the successful implementation of a design aimed for power plants inspection in GPS-denied environments through real flights following a planned trajectory, both in indoors and outdoors scenarios.
Changing Gene Frequencies in Populations

Recurrent selection populations (RSP’s) have been effectively utilized for changing gene frequencies in populations of various crop plants and for pyramiding genes for resistance to specific plant diseases. The method has been particularly adapted for cross-pollinated crops and has been especially successful in developing disease resistance in maize and alfalfa. In regard to these two crops broad-based resistance to both fungus and bacterial diseases has been obtained. The method has also been used for developing resistance to various insect problems in maize and alfalfa. Among the self-pollinated crops barley is particularly suitable for improvement by RSP’s due to numerous genetic male sterility genes. In a program at Montana State University to improve the control of barley diseases for the semi-arid areas of the world, the method is being used with the major diseases of barley. The objective is to pyramid genes for resistance into suitable agronomic backgrounds for both 2 row and 6 row barley. Separate RSP’s are being developed with major and minor gene resistance. The base cultivars containing one male sterile entry were selected for their genetic diversity and general adaptability. Each cycle of recurrent selection in each year consisted of two generations: a selection for resistance and a recombination generation. In the latter, seeds were harvested only from male sterile plants to assure recombinations. The populations for resistance to specific diseases were grown each year in several locations and resistant-plants were selected for further cycling. At the same time new resistance sources, as identified, were added into the population. The RSP’s for scald and net blotch have shown a high percentage of resistant plants wherever grown and have been combined into one population. Significant progress has also been obtained on some of the RSP’s containing only minor effect additive genes for specific barley diseases.
Bounds on the performance of a class of digital communication systems

Bounds on the capacity of a class of digital communication channels are derived. Equating the bounds on capacity to rate-distortion functions of (typical) sources in turn produces bounds on the performance of a class of digital communication systems. For ratios of squared quantization level to noise variance much less than one, the power requirements for this class of digital communication systems are shown to be within approximately 3 dB of the theoretical optimum.
A classical stochastic description of the quantum lattice gas model

Here we represent the quantum states of the finite lattice gas as a probability measure on a space Ω of finite sequences of zeros and ones. All relevant observables, like functions of the Hamiltonian (and the Hamiltonian itself) and number operators, are written as real functions on Ω, thus we achieve a complete representation.
Equilibrium elution chromatography : The column-origin boundary condition

Abstract Linear, equilibrium chromatography on a finite column has been re-examined using the rate model. Unlike most previous descriptions, the boundary condition at the column origin is treated as reflective. The development of the band profile on the column behaves in a physically and mathematically reasonable fashion. In this regard, long-standing disagreements on this fundamental issue are finally eliminated. For almost all practical situations, the use of Gaussian profiles for theoretical descriptions of on-column equilibrium chromatography appears valid.
Energy-efficiency and storage flexibility in the blue file system

A fundamental vision driving pervasive computing research is access to personal and shared data anywhere at anytime. In many ways, this vision is close to being realized. Wireless networks such as 802.11 offer connectivity to small, mobile devices. Portable storage, such as mobile disks and USB keychains, let users carry several gigabytes of data in their pockets. Yet, at least three substantial barriers to pervasive data access remain. First, power-hungry network and storage devices tax the limited battery capacity of mobile computers. Second, the danger of viewing stale data or making inconsistent updates grows as objects are replicated across more computers and portable storage devices. Third, mobile data access performance can suffer due to variable storage access times caused by dynamic power management, mobility, and use of heterogeneous storage devices. To overcome these barriers, we have built a new distributed file system called BlueFS. Compared to the Coda file system, BlueFS reduces file system energy usage by up to 55% and provides up to 3 times faster access to data replicated on portable storage.
Wildlife and Nature Liberation

Some people today with a wildlife management orientation who do not question the ethics of exploiting animals on a sustainable basis, have a world view that is the antithesis of those who oppose the killing of all wildlife. This preservationist view, which is endorsed by many animal rightists, stands in opposition to the conservationist’s recognition of the need to monitor wildlife populations and at times, violate the rights of individual animals by killing or relocating them in order to maintain the integrity of their habitat-sanctuary, not for the benefit of humans, but for the benefit of all species and individual animals therein. This is very different from the management mentality where species and ecosystems are manipulated and exploited primarily for human gain. Sometimes the line between such human-centered management practices and conservation for the sake of the animals is unclear. Hence, conservationists and deep ecologists dedicated to protecting wildlife may be misjudged by humanitarians and animal rightists as being on the side of wildlife management, placing human interests before those of the animals, when their killing is encouraged. Likewise, humanitarians and animal rightists may be misjudged as being unrealistic, anthropocentric, and ignorant, especially when they fear, for example, that to condone the killing of wild animals could lead to a kind of “ecological fascism,” where conservationists play God, violate the rights of animals and do not let nature take care of things. But while nature knows best, many wildlife habitats and sanctuaries are no longer natural because of human interference, ranging from adjacent farming, forestry, dam construction, acid rain, etc. Hence, the need to monitor ecosystems and all species therein is a part of responsible stewardship.
Phase-Shifted Terahertz Fiber Bragg Grating for Strain Sensing With Large Dynamic Range

Recent advances in optical fiber sensing techniques have demonstrated the utility of terahertz (THz) gratings as a modality for strain and temperature sensing. However, these techniques remain reliant on the use of higher order resonant peaks, enhancing their sensitivity at the cost of limited dynamic range. The use of a lower order resonant peak for sensing can lead to a larger dynamic range at the cost of accuracy. This letter reports a $\pi $ -phase-shifted THz fiber Bragg grating, fabricated using a femtosecond laser, capable of detecting changes in strain over a substantially larger dynamic range than previously reported methods with improved accuracy. A second THz grating without a $\pi $ -phase-shifted structure, but otherwise identically constructed, was interrogated in series on the same optical fiber. The two devices were simultaneously experimentally investigated using a strain test ( $\sim 1 ~\text{m}\varepsilon $ in total), and the results presented in this letter. In addition, the theoretical models of the devices were created, which closely matched experimentally observed device physics.
Cellular cardiomyoplasty with autologous skeletal myoblasts for ischemic heart disease and heart failure.

Cell transplantation to repair or regenerate injured myocardium is a new frontier in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Even though it is based on many years of pre-clinical studies, much remains to be understood about this methodology, even as it progresses to the clinic. For example, controversies exist over the specific cells to be used, the dosages needed for tissue repair, how cells will affect the electrical activity of the myocardium, and even whether the cells can improve myocardial function after transplantation — all of which are briefly reviewed here. Autologous skeletal myoblasts appear to be the most well studied and best first generation cells for cardiac repair. Yet cardiocytes and, more recently, stem cells have been proposed as cell sources for this technology. Their advantages and limitations are also discussed. Although cellular cardiomyoplasty (cell transplantation for cardiac repair) shows great pre-clinical promise, its future will heavily depend on conducting carefully controlled, randomized clinical trials with appropriate endpoints. Utilizing biologically active cells provides both an opportunity for tissue repair and the potential for not yet understood outcomes. As with any frontier, many pioneers will attempt to conquer it. But also as with any frontier, there are pitfalls and consequences to be considered that may surpass those of previous endeavors. The future thus requires careful consideration and well-designed trials rather than haste. The promise for cell transplantation is too great to be spoiled by ill-designed attempts that forget to account for the biology of both the cells and the myocardium.
A Hybrid Model Approach to Artificial Intelligence

This paper establishes a learning paradigm for natural language. The paradigm is then effectively modeled by using a hybrid approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI). A synergy of established AT paradigms was found by examining various methodologies, and choosing aspects of each that can replicate the desired learning paradigm. The hybrid model postulated is a combination of object-oriented deductive database with elements of fuzzy logic, neural networks, and natural language understanding methodologies. A three-word, transitive verb-phrase, natural language understanding model was created, based on fuzzy values, and inference mechanisms that endow the model with deductive capabilities. The resulting model creates new phrases based on input of data, while queries return information that is relevant to the universe of the models matrix. The resulting output is based on a dynamic relationship between the static objects in the matrix and the fed input. The results showed that the mechanisms involved in this model can be effective, and realistically implemented.
Introduction: Wildlife Crime

The poaching and the subsequent illegal trafficking of wildlife has become a booming local and global business (Alacs and Georges 2008) and is directly related to significant population losses for many species (Schneider 2012). In the last decade, countless media stories have been shared about the rise in poaching incidents particularly as they relate to the more photogenic animals, such as elephants, rhinos, and tigers. Many of these animals are critically endangered or have already gone extinct in the wild. For example, both the Western Black Rhino (Save the Rhino International 2015) and the Northern White Rhino are believed to be extinct in the wild (WWF 2015) as a direct consequence of rhino poaching for their horns. The poaching and illegal trafficking of animals and/or their by-products is not limited to only photogenic species. Pangolins, an insect-eating mammal that is similar to an armadillo, are not particularly attractive (Gill 2012) and do not receive much media attention, but are among the most poached mammals in the world for their meat and scales (Sutter 2014). The illegal wildlife trade is driven by a number of factors including the pet trade, accessories or luxury items, bush meat, and alternative medicines. As a result of the increased attention to ‘wildlife crime’, researchers from a variety of disciplines have begun to give this problem more attention. One of those disciplines is criminology. In fact, many criminology-related publications on the topic have been published within the last couple of years. For instance, a quick search of Criminal Justice Abstracts using Bwildlife conservation^ produced 236 articles or books published from 1937 to 2005, and 247 articles and books in the ten years spanning 2006 to 2015. Clearly, criminologists have become more interested in the sub-discipline of wildlife crime, also known as ‘conservation criminology’, and have made great progress in explaining why it happens, how the trade operates and offer solutions to reduce its frequency. The purpose of this special issue on BWildlife Crime^ is to create awareness of this global issue, increase dialogue with conservationists, and promote partnership research with park rangers and others on the ground. This special issue on wildlife crime covers a broad range of topics and includes conceptual and empirical papers. Eur J Crim Policy Res (2015) 21:299–302 DOI 10.1007/s10610-015-9290-x
A further inquiry into the scholarly productivity of academic accountants: Twenty years of evidence from classes of 1980–82

Abstract Scholarly productivity is a key component of faculty evaluation at many universities. In fact, under current accreditation standards promulgated by the AACSB, faculty members must remain academically qualified in research. Here we provide evidence regarding faculty research productivity. The determinants of faculty productivity are estimated with data spanning a 20 year period for 487 accounting doctoral graduates during the years of 1980–82. Sample statistics reveal that a relatively small portion of researchers produce over half of the sample's articles. Also, our regression results suggest that top-tier institutions of first hire, larger department size of initial hire, and the experience within academic ranks are all positive determinants of scholarly productivity. Conversely, research output is reduced with increased time spent teaching and accepting an initial hire at a public rather than a private institution.
Brain microstructure database system: an exoskeleton to 3D reconstruction and modeling

Abstract To explore and understand the topology and geometry of brain architecture at a neuronal level of detail requires mapping brain microstructure by 3D reconstruction of mammalian brain. The Brain Tissue Scanner (BTS) allows the reconstruction of mammalian brain architectures by scanning and generating 1 Tbyte of volumetric brain data per day. We are building a large-scale, distributed database system to store and process this massive data. The database system provides an exoskeleton to the 3D reconstruction and modeling software, and provides a seamless integration with HTML/XML for user interface and with XML for data exchange. The database exoskeleton can be isolated from inevitable changes in the reconstruction and modeling software.
Measurement of light extinction constant of JP-8 soot in the visible and near-infrared spectrum

Abstract The dimensionless extinction constant, K e , was measured using the NIST large agglomerate optics facility (LAOF) for soot produced from JP-8 flames. Measurements were performed using light sources ranging from 632.8 to 1565 nm. These experiments represent the first measurement of dimensionless extinction constant for soot produced from JP-8 flames. The K e values did not display significant spectral variations that were observed for pure fuels such as acetylene and ethene. The measured K e values ranged from 9.75 to 9.95 in the wavelength range between 632.8 and 1565 nm. Measurements provide a more reliable value of K e for use in optical-based soot diagnostics for soot concentration and temperature measurement as well as for soot radiation analysis.
Markets under price controls in partial and general equilibrium

Abstract When parallel markets arise in the face of price or other controls, two aspects of agents' behavior become crucial in analyzing market outcomes. First, sellers' risk will rise with increases in illegal sales, but may also fall with increases in legal sales. If the latter is true, the parallel market price will induce higher output. Second, if consumers can be given access to the price-controlled good without incurring search, queuing and other transaction costs due to rationing, production of the controlled good will be higher. These effects are demonstrated in both partial and general equilibrium.
Double bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction technique: University of Pittsburgh Approach

Abstract Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction has traditionally focused on the larger and stronger anterolateral bundle. Persistent low-grade laxity frequently occurs with this technique. Recent biomechanical data has shown that reconstruction of the posteromedial bundle, in addition to the anterolateral bundle, more closely restores knee kinematics to normal. Therefore, this type of “double-bundle” reconstruction may be superior to “single” bundle techniques. This article addresses the basic science rationale behind double bundle PCL reconstruction and discusses in detail the technique used at the University of Pittsburgh.
A New Approach to Checking Outside Reading

TO control the extensive outside reading of foreign language classes has always been a problem. The teacher simply has to rely on the honesty of the student and to convince him of the importance of his reading regularly, carefully and abundantly. Much has been written about the problem, and various kinds of reports have been tried out as a check on the weekly reading. The use of questions in English in the long run proved to be uninteresting and to have no great value. Could the reports from the beginning of the second semester on be done in the foreign language? The experiment carried out at De Paul University with the second semester students of German was successful.'
A Note on Proximity Measures and Cluster Analysis

Clustering techniques and related approaches to numerical classification are beginning to receive a fair amount of attention by marketing researchers. Three articles on the subject [2, 9, 11] have already appeared in JMR, and a variety of marketing studies using clustering procedures have been reported in working papers. One of the principal problems in applying cluster analysis is the choice of what proximity measure to use in summarizing the similarity (or dissimilarity) of profile pairs. Morrison [10] discussed some problems associated with using a Euclidean distance measure in the space of original variables, a point also made by Overall [12] in the psychological literature. This article shows some of the interrelationships among various measures that have been suggested for summarizing pairwise proximities and to demonstrate that clustering results are not invariant over these alternative measures. Despite the arguments for using one measure in preference to another, we believe that no "dominant" proximity measure currently exists, given such high variation in the researcher's objectives [5]. The ten proximity measures used in this comparative study follow:
Single-dose estrogen infusion can amplify brain levels of Sonic hedgehog, a signal protein for neuro stem cells and repair following the indirect brain injury resulting after severe torso burns

Severe burn patients are often noted to have subsequent neurocognitive problems. Experimentally, we have found striking, prolonged elevations of inflammatory markers in the brain (for example, IL-6) even when the injury occurs in a remote anatomic location. This neuroinflammatory response can also be significantly blunted by a single post-burn dose of estrogen. Sonic hedgehog (SHH), an important signaling protein found in the brain, controls and directs differentiation of neural stem cells, influencing brain regeneration and repair by generating new neurons throughout life. As estrogens not only blunt inflammation but also exert an influence on a variety of stem cells, we hypothesized that 17β-estradiol (E2) might affect levels of SHH in the post-burn rat brain.
HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE VARIANT (hGH-B) PROMOTES GROWTH IN TRANSGENIC MICE

The human growth hormone (hGH) gene family consists of 5 members linked on the long arm of chromosome 17. The hGH-A gene is expressed by the somatotrophs of the anterior pituitary. The hGH-B gene encodes a GH-like polypeptide of unknown function. To determine if hGH-B is capable of stimulating growth in animals, transgenic mice containing a metallothionine-I/hGH-B fusion gene were generated. The GH produced by these mice was compared with pituitary hGH-A, mouse GH, and hGH-A and hGH-B from transfected mouse L cell fibroblasts. The 3 transgenic male mice were larger at weaning (26-31 gms) than control males (20 ± 0.4 gms); by age 2 mos the transgenic mice were 40-90% larger than the controls. Serum from these mice contained large (17-30 μg/ml) amounts of hGH-immunoreactivity while control serum did not. The GH-immunoreactivity from the transgenic mice differed from hGH-A in a) cross-reactivity with a panel of monoclonal antibodies, b) behavior on gel filtration and c) pI. Conclusions: hGH-B is capable of stimulating growth in mice. The differences in amino acid sequence between hGH-A and hGH-B result in substantial differences in tertiary and quanternary structure.
Anemia and elevated lead levels in underimmunized inner-city children.

Objective. Underimmunized children are less frequently screened for anemia and elevated lead levels than those who are up-to-date (UTD). However, the association between underimmunization and actual disease (hemoglobin [Hgb] <11 g/dL or blood lead level [PbB] ≥10 μg/dL) has not been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between underimmunization, anemia, and elevated lead levels among children attending an inner-city clinic. Study Design. Data from a computer-based immunization tracking system were integrated with primary care-based laboratory data. Cross-sectional data for immunization coverage, anemia, and elevated lead levels were evaluated for children who were 1, 2, 3, and 4 years of age. The first Hgb or PbB values obtained within 6 months of the child's birthday were used. Setting. An inner-city hospital-affiliated pediatric primary care center. Patients. A child was considered to be a pediatric primary care center patient if he/she had at least 3 immunizations in the immunization tracking system and at least 1 Hgb or PbB screening test during February 1993 through February 1996. Results. A total of 4045 Hgb tests from 2672 children were available for analysis (1198, 1102, 945, and 800 at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years of age, respectively). Anemia was common during the first 4 years of life (21.2%, 15.8%, 11.0%, and 10.3% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years of age, respectively). At 2 and 3 years of age, underimmunized children were significantly more likely to be anemic compared with UTD children (relative risk [RR] = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.24–1.79 at 2 years of age; RR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.12–1.83 at 3 years of age). Underimmunized children with anemia at 1 year of age were less likely than UTD children to resolve their anemia by 2 years of age (52.5% vs 20.8%, RR = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.47–3.87). Underimmunized children were also significantly more likely to have elevated lead levels at 2 years of age (RR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.03–1.5). Conclusion. Underimmunized children in the inner city are at especially high risk for anemia and elevated lead levels. These children need routine preventive health services, as well as immunization. Integrating laboratory screening data with immunization tracking systems would be an important step toward improving the health of inner-city children.
Timing of occurrence of large submarine landslides on the Atlantic Ocean margin

Abstract Submarine landslides are distributed unevenly both in space and time. Spatially, they occur most commonly in fjords, active river deltas, submarine canyon–fan systems, the open continental slope and on the flanks of oceanic volcanic islands. Temporally, they are influenced by the size, location, and sedimentology of migrating depocenters, changes in seafloor pressures and temperatures, variations in seismicity and volcanic activity, and changes in groundwater flow conditions. The dominant factor influencing the timing of submarine landslide occurrence is glaciation. A review of known ages of submarine landslides along the margins of the Atlantic Ocean, augmented by a few ages from other submarine locations shows a relatively even distribution of large landslides with time from the last glacial maximum until about five thousand years after the end of glaciation. During the past 5000 yr, the frequency of occurrence is less by a factor of 1.7 to 3.5 than during or shortly after the last glacial/deglaciation period. Such an association likely exists because of the formation of thick deposits of sediment on the upper continental slope during glacial periods and increased seismicity caused by isostatic readjustment during and following deglaciation. Hydrate dissociation may play a role, as suggested previously in the literature, but the connection is unclear.
Autoxidation of saturated fatty acids. II. The determination of the site of hydroperoxide groups in autoxidizing methyl palmitate.

The monohydroperoxides of methyl palmitate oxidized at 150C were concentrated, purified, and reduced to yield a mixture of isomers of monohydroxy palmitate. No evidence of unsaturation in these molecules could be obtained, and no direct method for the resolution or identification of the individual isomers was found. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the reduced esters suggested that the hydroxy groups were not located at either end of the chain of the fatty ester.
Nucleon Electromagnetic Form Factors at High Momentum Transfer

It is show that there is no necessary contradiction in results leading to the conclusions that the nucleon is fundamental rather than composite and that there is no core contribution to the proton form factors. (R.E.U.)
Regulation of sulfate metabolism in Neurospora crassa: transport and accumulation of glucose 6-sulfate.

Neurospora crassa can utilize glucose 6-sulfate as its sole sulfur source, although this compound cannot serve as a carbon source for this organism. Neurospora possesses a transport system capable of glucose 6-sulfate uptake; the system is energy dependent, is inhibited by extracellular sulfate, and is clearly distinct from the permeases responsible for the uptake of glucose and those for sulfate transport. The metabolism of glucose 6-sulfate apparently involves its transport as an intact molecule, followed by a slow intracellular hydrolysis. Methionine, which represses the synthesis of a number of enzymes of sulfur anabolism, also represses the synthesis of the transport system responsible for glucose 6-sulfate uptake. A regulatory gene, cys-3, which controls the synthesis of aryl sulfatase, choline sulfatase, choline-O-sulfate permease, and two distinct permease species, also regulates the permease for glucose 6-sulfate.
INABILITY OF HEAT STRESS TO AFFECT SENSITIVITY OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES TO PEDIOCIN IN PORK

The effect of heat-shock (48C for 20 min) on sensitivity of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A to bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus acidilactici was evaluated. Exposure of Listeria to pediocin (68, 267AU/ mL) resulted in lower number of survivors in the first 2 h of incubation in Trypticase soy broth at 37C compared with samples without pediocin, regardless of whether the cells were heat-shocked or not. Further incubation for 24 h resulted in resumption of growth by L. monocytogenes, with counts reaching the same level as samples without pediocin. Cold storage of Listeria in pork in the presence of pediocin (8,192 AU/g) resulted in a 2.0 log 10 reduction after 24 h, when compared with controls not exposed to pediocin, regardless of whether the samples were stored under air, vacuum, or a modified atmosphere. Prior heat-shocking did not have an effect on sensitivity of Listeria to pediocin during storage. Thus, storage atmosphere and exposure to heat shock, which are known to induce thermotolerance in L. monocytogenes, had no effect in sensitivity of this organism to pediocin.
Induction of ligneous conjunctivitis by conjunctival surgery.

Purpose/Methods A woman with ligneous conjunctivitis of the left upper eyelid underwent conjunctival autograft transplant from the left lower to the left upper eyelid. The disease in the upper eyelid persisted, and the previously healthy lower eyelid developed ligneous conjunctivitis at the autograft donor site. Results/Conclusions The conjunctivitis was aggressively treated with multiple surgical debridements and topical and oral medications, including topical cyclosporine. The conjunctivitis slowly resolved over the course of seven months, with the longest persistence in the upper eyelid at the junction between the original tissue and the autograft. We conclude that the conjunctival transplant surgery worsened ligneous conjunctivitis in this patient's upper eyelid and induced it in her lower eyelid.
A STUDY OF THE PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF THE PANCREAS IN NINETY CASES OF DIABETES MELLITUS.

1. Anatomical lesions of the pancreas occur in more than seven-eighths of all cases of diabetes mellitus. 2. In diabetes associated with lesions of the pancreas, the islands of Langerhans constantly show pathological changes (sclerosis, hyaline degeneration, infiltration with leucocytes and hypertrophy). 3. In some cases of pancreatic diabetes (twelve of ninety cases) the lesion of the pancreas is limited to the islands of Langerhans. 4. In sixteen cases of diabetes associated with hyaline degeneration of the islands of Langerhans the average duration of the disease has been three and a half years; in forty-six cases with sclerosis of these bodies, three years and eleven months. In six cases of diabetes associated with an infiltration of leucocytes about the islands of Langerhans the average duration has been eleven months. 5. Destructive lesions of the islands of Langerhans may be associated with compensatory hypertrophy of other interacinar islands. 6. Peculiar adenoma-like hypertrophy of the islands of Langerhans occurs in a small proportion of cases (seven of ninety) and may be associated with adenomata of the thyroid gland (two cases) and of the pituitary body (one case). 7. Diabetes mellitus occurring in association with haemochromatosis (bronzed diabetes) is referable to pigmentation and destruction of the islands of Langerhans. 8. The pancreas is found to exhibit no pathological changes in twelve per cent. of cases. In approximately one-half of these cases it has been noted that the size of the gland or the number of islands is much less than normal. 9. Fifty per cent. of cases of diabetes mellitus occurring before the age of thirty years are associated with lesions of the pancreas; seventy-five per cent. of all cases of diabetes in which the pancreas is normal occur before the age of thirty years. Ninety-seven per cent. of cases of diabetes occurring after the age of thirty years are associated with lesions of the pancreas; and eighty-six per cent. occur in association with chronic interacinar pancreatitis accompanying arteriosclerosis. 10. Interacinar pancreatitis which occurs in seventy-three per cent. of all cases of diabetes is almost constantly associated with arteriosclerosis: gangrene of the extremities, which occurs with one-fourth of all cases of interacinar pancreatitis, is doubtless referable to the same cause. 11. Chronic interlobular pancreatitis, when associated with diabetes, is accompanied by sclerosis or hyaline degeneration of the islands of Langerhans. 12. Diabetes in association with myxœdema or with exophthalmic goiter may be referable to a lesion of the pancreas, namely, chronic interacinar inflammation with sclerosis of the islands of Langerhans; diabetes in association with acromegaly may be referable to a lesion of the islands of Langerhans, namely, sclerosis and hyaline degeneration with adenoma-like hypertrophy.
A Handmade Life

Mr. Coperthwaite: A Life in the Maine Woods, Part 1. Spring in Dickinson's Reach. Directed and produced by Anna Grimshaw. Color, 83 mins., 2012. Distributor: Berkeley Media LLC (see below). Institu...
Impact of molecular orientation on thermal conduction in spin-coated polyimide films

Polymer films are serving as passive regions in fast logic circuits and as active regions in organic optoelectronic devices, such as light-emitting diodes. Recent data illustrated the strong anisotropy in the thermal conductivity of polyimide films of thickness near 1 μm, with the in-plane value larger by a factor of approximately six. This manuscript extends previous theoretical work on heat conduction in stretched bulk polymers to model the conductivity anisotropy in spin-coated polymer films. Predictions are based on the standard deviation of the angle of molecular orientation with respect to the film in-plane direction, which can be investigated using birefringence data, and the expected conductivity anisotropy in a material with perfectly aligned chains. The modeling and previous data indicate that the anisotropy factor could increase to a value larger than 10 for polyimide films much thinner than 1 μm.
Induction of pigmentary changes in the skin of the Mongolian gerbil by chemical carcinogens.

Die wiederholte Auftragung von Krotonol oder von 7, 12-Dimethylbenz(a)-Anthrazen (DMBA) ruft beim erwachsenen mongolischen Gerbillus eine deutliche Uberpigmentierung der behaarten Bauchhaut hervor. In beiden Fallen geht die Uberpigmentierung vornehmlich auf eine Vermehrung der Zahl der Hautmelanozyten zuruck, die die Haarfollikel umgeben und sich zwischen diesen befinden. DMBA erzeugt im Gegensatz zu Krotonol zahlreiche Papillome und aktive Melanozyten innerhalb der interfollikularen Oberhaut. In einem Fall hat sich bei einem mit DMBA and Krotonol behandelten Gerbillus eine melanozytische Hautgeschwulst entwickelt.
Evaporative Cooling of Laying Hens in Hawaii

Abstract A study was conducted to determine the effects of evaporative cooling on laying hens in a tropical environment of high relative humidity. Four strains of Single Comb White Leghorn pullets totaling 1,248 birds were housed in two identical enclosed houses except that in one the incoming air was passed through an air wash prior to entering the unit. The maximum temperature averaged 3.0 C lower and the relative humidity 15% higher in the unit cooled by evaporation. No significant differences were noted among any of the production parameters measured, although there was a numerical advantage for the evaporatively cooled unit in egg production, egg size, egg specific gravity, cracked eggs, and mortality. There were no consistent differences among the strains between the two units.
Psychometric Properties of ABPN-Style Oral Examinations Administered Jointly by Two Psychiatry Residency Programs

The authors examined the reliability and validity of American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology-style oral exams (ASOs) given jointly by two schools. ASOs were given to 80 psychiatry residents from all four postgraduate years during the study period. Interrater reliability was near perfect for two years at one university, but it was much weaker at the second site. Test-retest reliability could not be demonstrated at either institution. Concurrent validity was demonstrated one year but was inconsistently demonstrated the second year. Likewise, predictive and construct validity were variable. International medical graduates were more apt to fail than American medical graduates. Although resident and faculty satisfaction with the examination was high, site-to-site variability in reliability and validity indicates the need to improve this ASO before using it for high-stakes evaluations.
The Tor Project: An inside view

A decade since the first version was released, Tor continues to be at the center of the debate around online privacy.
Valuing the Adult Health Effects of Air Pollution in Chinese Cities

China's ongoing economic growth is accompanied by a large amount of air pollution that exacts significant health and economic costs on its people. Following up on some earlier work focusing upon general mortality and child-specific health effects, this article uses a larger data set, covering more than 90 Chinese cities, along with a set of China-based epidemiological functions, to estimate some of the adult health benefits of reducing urban air pollution. Projecting future air pollution based upon current conditions, it calculates the averted mortality and morbidity effects that would result from the cleanup of particulates, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The inclusion of nitrogen dioxide in our analysis is particularly important because it is a growing problem and has not been included in most of the more widely known studies that examine Chinese air pollution. Finally, the economic valuation of these pollution-related health effects is developed, using a number of recent, China-based valuation studies.