cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toxicology from across the pond.

Despite extensive educational and preventive efforts, fatality from poisoning is a growing public health concern. While strategies to reduce fatal unintentional poisoning in children have been largely successful, growing numbers of deaths from suicidality and substance abuse present unique challenges to the public health system. This paper explores three areas where new approaches hope to mitigate major causes of poison-related fatality. Included in this discussion are bystander naloxone for opioid overdose, a reconsideration of the optimal dose of N-acetylcysteine therapy and intravenous fat emulsion (lipid rescue) therapy for cardiovascular toxins. These innovative approaches are designed to challenge dogma and provide a stimulus for individualised clinical care. Language: en
Low-Temperature Synthesis of Ultra-High-Temperature Coatings of ZrB 2 Using Reactive Multilayers

We demonstrate a route to synthesize ultra-high-temperature ceramic coatings of ZrB2 at temperatures below 1300 K using Zr/B reactive multilayers. Highly textured crystalline ZrB2 is formed at modest temperatures because of the absence of any oxide at the interface between Zr and B and the very short diffusion distance that is inherent to the multilayer geometry. The kinetics of the ZrB2 formation reaction is analyzed using high-temperature scanning nanocalorimetry, and the microstructural evolution of the multilayer is revealed using transmission electron microscopy. We show that the Zr/B reaction proceeds in two stages: (1) interdiffusion between the nanocrystalline Zr and the amorphous B layers, forming an amorphous Zr/B alloy, and (2) crystallization of the amorphous alloy to form ZrB2. Scanning nanocalorimetry measurements performed at heating rates ranging from 3100 to 10000 K/s allow determination of the kinetic parameters of the multilayer reaction, yielding activation energies of 0.47 and 2.4 eV ...
Tri-band isolation circuits using both stop-band and pass-band of double-Lorentz transmission lines for quadruplexers

In this paper, novel method to use stop-band of a double-Lorentz transmission line (DL TL) for an isolation circuit is proposed. Combining this concept with conventional usage (operating only in the pass-band) of a DL TL, design flexibility of a DL TL for an isolation circuit can be increased and an engineer can have more choices for designing a DL TL. Also, a designer could get a robust DL TL for an isolation circuit avoiding use of vicinity of stop-band but actively entering into the stop-band, because phase change of a DL TL is fast in the vicinity of stop-band and it could bring difficulty of designing and fabricating a DL TL. The quadruplexer using the proposed method is designed and fabricated. It has still the advantages, i.e. no modifying filters and straightforward design process.
Response characteristics of esophageal balloon catheters handmade using latex and nonlatex materials.

The measurement of esophageal pressure allows for the calculation of several important and clinically useful parameters of respiratory mechanics. Esophageal pressure is often measured with balloon-tipped catheters. These catheters may be handmade from natural latex condoms and polyethylene tubing. Given the potential of natural latex to cause allergic reaction, it is important to determine whether esophageal catheter balloons can be fabricated, by hand, using nonlatex condoms as construction materials. To determine the static and dynamic response characteristics of esophageal balloon catheters handmade from latex and nonlatex materials, six esophageal catheter balloons were constructed from each of the following condom materials: natural latex, synthetic polyisoprene, and polyurethane (18 total). Static compliance and working volume range of each balloon catheter was obtained from their pressure-volume characteristics in water. The dynamic response of balloon catheters were measured via a pressure “step” test, from which a third-order underdamped transfer function was modeled. The dynamic ranges of balloon catheters were characterized by the frequencies corresponding to ±5% amplitude- and phase-distortion (fA5% and fφ5%). Balloon catheters handmade from polyurethane condoms displayed the smallest working volume range and lowest static balloon compliance. Despite this lower compliance, fA5% and fφ5% were remarkably similar between all balloon materials. Our findings suggest that polyisoprene condoms are an ideal nonlatex construction material to use when fabricating esophageal catheter balloons by hand.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Useful Adjunct in Evaluating the Abdominal Pregnancy

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in obstetrics has been limited to evaluating congenital anomalies, pelvic masses, pelvimetry and placental position. Though ultrasound will continue to be the primary diagnostic tool in evaluating pregnancy, MRI will likely have increased utilization. We report a case of abdominal pregnancy where ultrasound exam diagnosed an intraabdominal pregnancy but had difficulty in accurately localizing the placenta. MRI had an important role preoperatively in evaluating the relationships of the fetus and placenta to the abdominopelvic organs. An MRI was obtained to define the relationships between the intestines, placenta, fetus and pelvic vessels. This study facilitated our surgical approach for delivery of the fetus. Based on this experience, we feel MRI clearly has a role in detailing the anatomic relationships in the surgical approach for an abdominal pregnancy.
A Celebration Honoring Judge James R. Browning - Remarks

As part of a program celebrating the career of Judge James R. Browning of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the author pays tribute by focusing on the leadership of Judge Browning during the three years from 1977 to 1980, a period that can be seen as the crucible of the modern Ninth Circuit. Drawing on research and interviews from his book “Restructuring Justice,” as well as a never before published letter written by Judge Browning to his colleagues, the author describes how Judge Browning’s unique ability to manage crises helped to preserve the circuit as a single entity in the face of recurring efforts to divide it.
The Tragedy of Your Upstairs Neighbors: When Is the Home-Sharing Externality Internalized?

I consider the question of whether apartment building owners will, in a competitive rental market, set a policy with respect to Airbnb hosting that is socially efficient. If tenants can sort across apartments based on the owners policy — voting with their feet so to speak — then the equilibrium level of Airbnb listing would be such that private benefits would equal social costs.
Angiotensin II modulates arterial baroreflex function via a central alpha 1-adrenoceptor mechanism in rabbits

To test the hypothesis that angiotensin II (ANG II) modulates arterial baroreflex function via a central alpha 1-adrenoceptor mechanism, we examined the effects of intravertebral infusion of ANG II on baroreflex function curves before and after intravertebral administration of the alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin. Rabbits were chronically instrumented with subclavian and vertebral arterial catheters, venous catheters, and aortic and vena caval occludes. Baroreflex curves were obtained by relating heart rate (HR) to mean arterial pressure during increases and decreases in arterial pressure. Intravertebral infusions of ANG II (5, 10, and 20 ng.kg-1.min-1) produced a dose-dependent shift of the midrange of the curve toward higher pressures (64 +/- 1 to 68 +/- 1, 76 +/- 1, and 85 +/- 2 mmHg, respectively). Pretreatment with prazosin (10 micrograms/kg) via the vertebral artery markedly reduced the shift in the baroreflex curve induced by the highest dose of ANG II (64 +/- 2 to 70 +/- 2 mmHg). These data suggest that ANG II resets the operating point of the HR baroreflex curve to a higher blood pressure and that this effect is mediated via a central alpha 1 mechanism. When the effects of vertebral ANG II on the baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) were examined, intravertebral administration of ANG II, while reducing the gain and the maximum RSNA, did not reset the RSNA baroreflex curve. These data suggest that ANG II acutely resets the HR baroreflex but not the RSNA baroreflex and that the resetting involves an alpha 1-adrenergic mechanism.
Transfer RNA methylase alterations in polyoma transformed rat embryo culture cells.

SummaryA polyoma-transformed cell line of proven tumorigenicity is demonstrated to have greater tRNA methylase activity than its nontumorigenic parent cell line when cultured, harvested, and assayed under controlled conditions. The marked differences in capacity to methylate heterologous tRNA substrates suggests, but does not prove, that qualitative differences may exist between the methylases of the paired cell lines.
Maximal Revenue with Minimal Calculus

A basic motivating example. If T is a right triangle and R is an inscribed rectangle with the right angle of T as one of its right angles, what is the maximum area of R? This problem can be solved by several standard methods. However, the quickest way is to treat the two triangular pieces of T outside of R as flaps and fold them on top of R. (See Figure 1.) The flaps will exactly cover R if and only if P is the midpoint of T's hypotenuse (since P is the midpoint of the hypotenuse if and only if Ay = y and Ax = x). From Figure 1, we see also that Area (R) < !Area (T), with equality holding if and only if P is the midpoint of T's hypotenuse.
Optimization of HNO production from N,O-bis-acylated hydroxylamine derivatives.

A wide range of N,O-bis-acylated hydroxylamine derivatives with chloro or arenesulfonyl leaving groups, and a related set of N-hydroxy-N-acylsulfonamides, have been synthesized and evaluated for nitroxyl (HNO) production. Mechanistic studies have revealed that the observed aqueous chemistry is more complicated than originally anticipated, and have been used to develop a new series of efficient HNO precursors (4u–4x, 7c–7d) with tunable half-lives.
Mechanics of Fracture in Two-Ply Laminates

Abstract This paper describes a study of fracture in two-ply rubber—cord composites subjected to repeated tensile deformations. Under the conditions used, failure occurs predominantly because of the growth of cracks between the plies. A fracture mechanics approach enables the rate of crack growth to be predicted in terms of the elastic properties and dimensions of the laminate, the magnitude of the deformations and the basic crack growth characteristics of the ply rubber. The theory indicates the growth rate to be determined by the strain energy released from the central region of the laminate and to be independent of crack length once this exceeds a small value. The latter feature has been verified experimentally and the magnitudes of the observed crack growth rates are in reasonable agreement with those predicted for various deformation cycles.
A Multilevel Model of Green Behavior at Work: Roles of Individual Differences and Social Contexts

In response to a growing concern pertaining to environmental sustainability among organizational leaders, we develop and test a multilevel model of greening workplaces in order to explicate how and...
Telokin expression in A10 smooth muscle cells requires serum response factor

Telokin transcription is initiated from a smooth muscle-specific promoter located in an intron of the smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase gene. We have previously identified a 310-base pair fragment of the promoter that mediates A10 smooth muscle cell-specific expression of telokin. In the current study, telokin-luciferase reporter gene assays in A10 cells and REF52 nonmuscle cells revealed that the promoter region between -81 and +80 contains the regulatory elements required to mediate the in vitro cell specificity of the promoter. Several positive-acting elements, including an E box, myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2)-TATA box, and CArG-serum response element, were identified within this region. Telokin transcription in A10 smooth muscle cells requires all three transcription initiation sites and an AT-rich sequence between -71 and -62 that includes a TATA box. MEF2 interacts with the AT-rich region with low affinity; however, MEF2 binding is not required for transcriptional activity in A10 cells. Binding of serum response factor (SRF) to a CArG element proximal to the TATA sequence is also critical for high levels of transcription in A10 cells. Together these data suggest that an AT-rich motif, acting in concert with SRF and an unusual transcription initiation mechanism, is required for the cell-specific expression of the telokin promoter in A10 smooth muscle cells.
Multivariable constrained predictive control of 1000 MW ultra supercritical once-through boiler-turbine system

For an ultra-supercritical power unit,to deal with its nonlinear characteristics,time-delay and coupling between units,we analyze the coordinated control system with three-input and three-output,and propose the multivariable constrained predictive control(MCPC) based on the double-layer construction of the power unit.The scheme of the MCPC for the ultra-supercritical power unit based on the step-response model is given,and its associated algorithm is developed in details.Simulations of the proposed control method and traditional PID control method are performed for comparison.The results of the proposed control method show less fluctuation in temperature,fuel flow and feed water flow of the units,and faster compensation response to load variations.
Autonomic imbalance assessed by time-domain heart rate variability indices in primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Objectives : The pathogenesis of primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) seems to be multifactorial and autonomic nervous dysfunction is one factor. Heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the most reliable parameters to demonstrate autonomic dysfunction. Our aim was to evaluate the time-domain HRV in patients with primary RP. Methods : A time analysis of HRV was performed in patients with primary RP and age- and gender-matched healthy controls. The results of the study and control group were compared. Results : Thirty patients with primary RP [all men, median (IQR) age: 21 (2) years) and 31 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (median (IQR): 21(3) years) were enrolled in the study. We found a statistically significant difference between the primary RP patients and control subjects in terms of time-domain HRV parameters (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion : Our study showed the presence of autonomic nervous dysfunction of heart function in patients with primary RP.
Sexual function of diabetic and nondiabetic African American women: a pilot study.

This study explored differences in sexual function of diabetic and nondiabetic African American Women. Using the Watts Sexual Function Questionnaire (WSFQ) to measure components of sexual function, diabetic women disclosed significantly lower levels of sexual desire (p < .02) than control subjects. Both groups were similar in reports of sexual arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction. For diabetics, clinical and metabolic indices such as length of time as a diabetic and level of glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb-A1C) were not related to sexual function. A significant positive relationship was noted between sexual satisfaction and body mass index (BMI) (p < .03). With regard to age, both groups showed significant negative relationships between age and sexual arousal; whereas for diabetics, significant negative correlations were also found between age and sexual desire (p < .01) and orgasm (p < .05). These findings indicate that maintenance of sexual desire may be problematic for diabetics. Being overweight was not a deterrent to sexual satisfaction. Sexual performance problems are more likely to occur for the aging African American woman with diabetes.
Factors associated with two types of child custody loss among a sample of African American mothers: A novel approach

African American families are overrepresented in the Child Welfare System; however, extant research on this phenomenon has (1) focused mostly on Caucasian or mixed-race samples and (2) has not examined informal custody arrangements alongside official child custody loss. This research addresses these gaps in the literature by examining factors associated with both official and informal child custody loss among a sample of African American mothers. Multinomial regression results show that having ever been incarcerated following a conviction increases the odds of experiencing both types of custody loss relative to no loss. Additionally, mother's experiences of childhood victimization increase the likelihood of informal custody loss relative to no loss, while being older, past year homelessness, number of minor children, being lesbian or bisexual, crack/cocaine use, and more family social support increase the odds of official loss versus no loss. Finally, increases in social support from friends decrease the odds of official loss. Implications are discussed.
Influence of growth temperature on injury and death of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A during a mild heat treatment

The growth temperature of Listeria monocytogenes has a pro-found effect on injury and death of washed cells that are suspended in phosphate buffer and exposed to 52°C for 1 h. The temperature of 52°C had low lethality for cells grown at 37 or 42°C, but there was a 103–104-fold increase in killing for cells grown at 28, 19, 10, or 5°C. There was little injury with exposure to 52°C of cells grown at 5, 10, or 19°C, but injury increased as the temperature of growth increased. When cells were grown anaerobically, lethality induced at 52°C increased as the growth temperature decreased, but there was more injury under anaerobic conditions than for aerobically grown cells. The results indicate that L. monocytogenes cells growing at low temperatures are more susceptible to heat induced death.
New adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome perspectives

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common but heterogeneous disorder that usually arises during puberty. This endocrine disorder is associated with chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenemia with clinical manifestation of oligomenorrhea, hirsutism and acne. While the underlying etiology of PCOS remains unknown, it is commonly associated with obesity and insulin resistance leading to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus in hyperandrogenemic phenotypes. Menstrual irregularities and insulin resistance in obese adolescents are usually indistinguishable from the clinical manifestations of PCOS and pose a diagnostic dilemma due to higher circulating androgens during puberty. Consequently, a universal consensus on the definition of hyperandrogenemia in adolescents has been elusive. Nevertheless, hyperandrogenemia, independent of obesity, in postmenarchal adolescents is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic syndrome. Therefore, treatment strategies including lifestyle changes and/or use of insulin-sensitizers, hormone replacement and antiandrogens should be utilized in order to delay long-term cardiovascular and metabolic complications of this endocrinopathy.
The struggle against National Socialism

Thomas Mann’s fame rose to new heights in the years between the publication of The Magic Mountain in late 1924 and Hitler’s seizure of power on January 30, 1933. Mann lectured frequently in Germany and throughout Europe, was a prominent member of the PEN Club, and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. The times were nevertheless trying for Mann, as the political movement that he had dismissed as nonsense in 1921 was proving very serious indeed. As the power of the National Socialists grew, Mann became increasingly vocal in his opposition to them. At times Mann intervened directly in political discussions, most famously in his 1930 “Address to the Germans: An Appeal to Reason” (“Deutsche Ansprache: Ein Appell an die Vernunft”). Mann spoke on October 17, 1930 in the same hall in Berlin in which he had delivered “The German Republic” in 1922; then he had spoken in the wake of Rathenau’s assassination, now he spoke in the immediate aftermath of the National Socialists’ first major victory at the polls. Mann begins by noting that he was supposed to read from his new novel, but that such a reading would be inappropriate under the circumstances. Instead, he urges the Germans in the strongest possible language to turn away from fanaticism, from a “dictatorship of violence,” from “politics as the mass opiate of the Third Reich,” and to work instead for greater human dignity, rationality, and a responsible Social Democracy. Goebbels had gotten wind of Mann’s intentions shortly before the event and sent twenty SA men in rented tuxedos to disrupt the lecture. Mann spoke over a mixture of heckling and applause and then managed to exit the hall through a little-known passageway with the help of the conductor Bruno Walter, who had performed frequently in the building and was familiar with its nooks and crannies.
Management of frontal sinusitis-associated subperiosteal abscess in children less than 9 years of age.

Purpose To investigate practice patterns for cases of subperiosteal abscess (SPA) with concomitant frontal sinusitis to identify factors favorable to medical management in children Methods The medical records of all pediatric cases of orbital and periorbital cellulitis admitted at a tertiary care center from 1999-2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Cases were included if radiography demonstrated sinusitis-associated SPA in children Results A total of 21 cases with ipsilateral frontal sinusitis and 76 without were included. Patients with frontal sinusitis had a higher incidence of nonmedial SPA compared to those without frontal sinus involvement (6/21 vs 5/76, P = 0.01). Yet a majority of SPAs in the frontal sinusitis group were located medially (15/21 [71%]). All patients with superior or superomedial SPA underwent early surgical intervention. However, 14 of 15 patients (93%) in the frontal sinusitis cohort with medial SPAs were managed successfully with medical therapy alone. Conclusions Medical management of frontal sinusitis–associated SPA appears safe for select children
Three-stage stochastic modeling modifiers for improving solution times under high renewable penetration scenarios

Power system operators have traditionally addressed system uncertainty through the scheduling of operating reserves. These reserves are excess capacity, either online or offline, that can quickly be used to address unforeseen events in the load profile. As renewable energy resources, namely wind and solar, new techniques are being developed to address the uncertainty introduced from these sources. One such technique is stochastic modeling. Stochastic modeling while potentially viable, still has some drawbacks, namely the computational limitations. Considering multiple scenarios can potentially increase the solution time to undesirable levels. This paper presents a method for modifying the stochastic model that can improve solution times while maintaining solution integrity. This method is based on modifying the stochastic framework to account for realized uncertainty which can help speed up the solution process without deteriorating reliability metrics.
Mechanical properties of nanoporous gold in tension

Abstract We report results of the tensile properties of nanoporous gold (NPG) as a function of the density and average ligament diameter. As-dealloyed tensile samples were thermally treated to coarsen the length scale of the NPG structure while increasing the sample density resulting from thickness reductions. The behaviors of samples with mean ligament diameters ranging from 30 to 750 nm and corresponding densities ranging from 0.30 to 0.57 that of bulk gold were examined. Digital image analysis was used to obtain ligament size histograms that were fit to the Weibull distribution. The Young's modulus was found to obey a power law, but with an exponent larger than that predicted by Gibson-Ashby scaling. The fracture behavior showed a brittle-ductile transition as a function of increasing ligament size. For samples characterized by a mean ligament diameter less than ∼ 220 nm, the tensile behavior was linear elastic to sample fracture while samples with larger scale ligaments showed macroscopic yielding prior to fracture. These results are interpreted within the framework of extreme value statistics.
Bioactive Properties and Potential Health Benefits of Blueberries and Anthocyanins

Recent interest has focused on the potential of naturally occurring flavonoids known as anthocyanins to provide an array of health benefits in humans. The purpose of this review was to examine the current literature database and provide an update of the health benefits and potential mechanisms associated with ingestion of anthocyanins in humans. Every effort was made to include relevant research from 2005 to present. The following search parameters were designated for paper selection in this review: 1) Search Terms- anthocyanins, blueberries, antioxidants, polyphenols, vascular performance, immune function, flavanols, berry-scourced, metabolites; 2) Search Engines- Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar. A total of 83 scientific papers were found to meet the search parameters. Critical review of these selected papers indicates that anthocyanins function as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and modulators of vascular performance and immune function. Consequently, anthocyanins demonstrate unique abilities to reduce risk of cancer, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. In conclusion, increased dietary anthocyanin consumption represents a safe, economical, and important method of reducing incidence of chronic disease in humans and may even serve as non-pharmacologic treatment for such diseases.
“It Could Affect You as a Person, Character-Wise”: Promoting Character Development and Preventing Sexual Violence at West Point

AbstractThe United States Military Academy at West Point develops cadets into “leaders of character” who will become Army officers. This focus on character presents an opportunity for the prevention of sexual violence through an emphasis on military values. Using constructivist grounded theory, this study examined how cadets experience their own sexual selfhood and their future roles as Army officers in relation to their values. The findings identified ways in which cadets were (a) finding strength and vulnerability in sexual desire, (b) shaping sexual identity through humility or hubris, (c) applying and misapplying military ethics, and (d) being optimistic yet underprepared for officership. These findings illustrate both opportunities and risks in leveraging character development approaches for sexual violence prevention in adolescence and the transition to adulthood.
On Decentralized Control of Large-Scale Systems

A scheme is presented for decentralized control of large-scale linear systems which are composed of a number of interconnected subsystems. By ignoring the interconnections, local feedback controls are chosen to optimize each decoupled subsystem. Conditions are provided to establish compatibility of the individual local controllers and achieve stability of the overall system. Besides computational simplifications, the scheme is attractive because of its structural features and the fact that it produces a robust decentralized regulator for large dynamic systems, which can tolerate a wide range of nonlinearities and perturbations among the subsystems.
The Disparity Issue: A Context for the Grand Central Terminal Decision

Transferable development rights programs, while they represent an important new means of land use regulation, are of unsettled constitutional validity. The recent decision of the New York Court of Appeals in Penn Central Transportation Co. v. City of New York upheld such a program restricting the development of the Grand Central Terminal property and granting its private owner nondollar compensation in the form of transferable development rights. In this Comment, Professor Costonis focuses on the doctrinal significance of this decision in forging a "middle way" of land use reguilation between the paths of police power and eminent domain.
Family functioning in the context of an adult family member with illness: A concept analysis.

Aim To describe and explain how the concept of family functioning has been used in the targeted sample of health literature on adult family members with illness. Background Understanding the influence of illness on family functioning is central to the provision of patient- and family-centred care. There is lack of consistency in utilising family functioning which creates confusion about the concept and can interfere with theory development in nursing science. A clear conceptual definition of attributes of family functioning based on concept analysis could act as a guide in the development of instruments to assess family functioning, the design of family-based interventions and their application in clinical practice. Design Concept analysis. Data sources Academic Search Premier, ProQuest Research Library, Family & Society Studies Worldwide, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched within the last 20 years (1997-Dec. 2016) using the terms "family function*" and "patient." Studies of paediatric patients and non-English articles were excluded. Method Rodgers' evolutionary perspective. Results The findings suggest that family functioning in the context of illness is defined as family members' ability to maintain cohesive relationships with one another, fulfil family roles, cope with family problems, adjust to new family routines and procedures and effectively communicate with each other. Conclusion Further research is needed to inform nurses' practice when assessing families or providing patient- and family-centred interventions to support family functioning across different sociocultural and political contexts, and further identification and evaluation of antecedents and consequences regarding family functioning from a nursing perspective. Relevance to clinical practice Having a comprehensive understanding of the attributes, antecedents and consequences of ineffective family functioning can facilitate healthcare providers' ability to identify strengths and potential targets to improve family functioning among their clients.
A Systematic Method for Evaluating the Potential Environmental Impact of New Industrial Chemicals

The increasing pervasiveness of toxic substances in the environment--including metallic compounds and synthetic organic compounds--poses a particular concern for future environmental quality. The nature of specific environmental problems, involving for example heavy metals as the organometallic methyl-mercury and organics as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) indicates the need for systematic methods aimed at resolving the potential environmental impact of new industrial chemicals prior to full-scale industrial use (1,2). Current environmental legislation reflects this trend and the setting of environmental quality standards in the future can be expected to include this concept (3,4).
Macrophage phospholipase A2 activity and eicosanoid production: studies with phospholipase A2 inhibitors in P388D1 cells.

The inflammatory response involves many different types of tissues and cells; a common modulator produced by many of these cells is the eicosanoids. The eicosanoids (prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes. hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids, lipoxins. etc.) are prominent mediators in the development of inflammatory reactions and have, therefore, been a target for therapeutic regulation. More precisely, the actual target has been the enzymes which control the first step of their biosynthesis from arachidonic acid, the cyclooxygenase and the lipoxygenase.
Biology and Teleology

Almost thirty years ago, in his lectures on The Idea of Nature, Collingwood listed among the characteristics of the modern as distinct from the Renaissance concept of nature, the reintroduction of teleology. Renaissance thinkers, he said, saw nature as a machine; final causes belonged outside it, in its origin or in its use, not within it. Modern thinkers, on the other hand, he believed, were beginning to lean on a new analogy, not between nature and machines, but between nature and historical process. The historical conception of scientifically knowable change or process’, he says, ‘was applied, under the name of evolution, to the natural world’. And this application entailed, among other consequences, a return to teleological thinking about natural events. In some sort of transposition, Aristotle’s recognition of goals in nature, Collingwood argued, is to be, and has been, reinstated. Discussing Aristotle, he writes: It is widely recognized that a process of becoming is conceivable only if that which is yet unrealized is affecting the process as a goal towards which it is directed, and that mutations in species arise not through the gradual working of the laws of chance but by steps which are somehow directed towards a higher form — that is, a more efficiently and vividly alive form — of life. In this respect, if modern physics is coming closer to Plato as the great mathematician-philosopher of antiquity, modern biology is coming closer to its great biologist-philospher Aristotle.
Dynamic Implications of the Form of the Budget Constraint

A subject much discussed in economics is the effect of having more or fewer markets. The markets in question are usually markets for insurance, for loans or for goods to be delivered in the future. One of the effects of having more such markets is to give consumers more flexibility in the use of their financial power. I will try to convince you that such flexibility can have a substantial effect on the dynamic behavior of an economy.
Linearized Elasticity Problems

Problems in the linearized theory of elasticity will require finding the solution of a set of coupled partial differential equations known as field equations, over a specified domain that is the region occupied by the reference configuration of the body, subject to prescribed boundary conditions on the boundary of the domain. In other words, linearized elasticity problems are boundary value problems.
An investigation of influential factors of downgrade truck crashes: A logistic regression approach

Abstract Truck crash occurrence causes extensive damage to lives and property. Truck crashes on downgrades exacerbate these costs due to the likelihood of a runaway being involved. Highway agencies have continuously sought engineering measures to reduce the incidence of such crashes. However, most past studies on truck crashes have focused on level roadway sections of highways without considering the effects of downgrades. The difference in geometric characteristics of downgrades and the mechanics of truck operations on such sections mean different factors may be at play in contrast to level roadway sections. This paper investigated the factors influencing truck crashes on downgrades; an attempt to fill in some of the research gaps. An empirical analysis of factors affecting truck crashes on two-lane downgrade roadways in Wyoming was carried out using a binary logistic regression technique. After calibrating the model, the effect of each significant variable was determined using theoretical concepts established in previous studies and engineering intuition. Crash factors including driver gender and age, weather, lighting and road conditions, number of crest curves, crash type, number of driveways, day of week and posted speed limit were found to be significant. The results of the study offer new understandings into how the identified factors influence truck crashes on downgrades.
Climate change images produce an attentional bias associated with pro-environmental disposition.

Humans have developed mechanisms to prioritize certain sensory input(s). Emotionally salient stimuli automatically capture observers’ attention at the cost of less salient information. This prioritized processing is called attentional bias. Images of climate change have been found to elicit emotional responses. Yet, to date, there is no research assessing the extent to which climate change-relevant images produce an attentional bias. In a sample of college students (N = 39), we found that (1) climate change-related images capture attention and that (2) this attentional bias is related to individual differences in environmental disposition. Thus, images of climate change are salient—attention grabbing—signals related to pro-environmental orientation.
An Activation Likelihood Estimate Meta-analysis of Thalamocortical Dysconnectivity in Psychosis

Abstract Background Thalamocortical dysconnectivity is hypothesized to underlie the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and individuals at clinical high risk. Numerous studies have examined connectivity networks seeding from the thalamus during rest, revealing a pattern of thalamo-fronto-cerebellar hypoconnectivity and thalamosensory hyperconnectivity. However, given variability in these networks, as well as their relationships with clinical and cognitive symptoms, thalamocortical connectivity’s status as a biomarker and treatment target for psychotic disorders remains unclear. Methods A literature search was performed to identify thalamic seed-based connectivity studies conducted in patients with psychotic disorders. Activation likelihood estimate analysis examined the reported coordinates for hypoconnectivity (healthy control participants > patients with psychosis) and hyperconnectivity (patients with psychosis > healthy control participants). The relationship between hypoconnectivity and hyperconnectivity, as well as their relationships with clinical and cognitive measures, was meta-analyzed. Results Each activation likelihood estimate included 20 experiments (from 17 publications). Thalamocortical hypoconnectivity was observed in middle frontal, cingulate, and thalamic regions, while hyperconnectivity was observed in motor, somatosensory, temporal, occipital, and insular cortical regions. Meta-analysis of the studies reporting correlations between hypo- and hyperconnectivity showed a strong negative relationship. Meta-analysis of studies reporting correlations between hyperconnectivity and symptoms showed small but significant positive relationships. Conclusions Activation likelihood estimates of thalamocortical hypoconnectivity revealed a network of prefrontal and thalamic regions, while hyperconnections identified sensory areas. The strong negative relationship between these thalamocortical deflections suggests that they arrive from a common mechanism and may account for aspects of psychosis. These findings identify reliable thalamocortical networks that may guide future studies and serve as crucial treatment targets for psychotic disorders.
“Yet-to-Be-Plumbed Potentialities”: Cloud-Reading Henry Stapp

This essay offers a meditation on Henry Stapp’s “psychophysical” universe from the vantage point of a Whiteheadian cosmology inflected by a premodern tradition of negative (apophatic) theology. Nicholas of Cusa’s “cloud of the impossible” and Stapp’s “cloudlike spatial structure” here come into interpenetration, inviting wide public realization of the “yet-to-be-plumbed potentialities” both of Stapp’s vision and of the “intricately interconnected whole” it curates.
Enhancing the Thermal Stability of Carbon Nanomaterials with DNA

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have recently been utilized as fillers that reduce the flammability and enhance the strength and thermal conductivity of material composites. Enhancing the thermal stability of SWCNTs is crucial when these materials are applied to high temperature applications. In many instances, SWCNTs are applied to composites with surface coatings that are toxic to living organisms. Alternatively, single-stranded DNA, a naturally occurring biological polymer, has recently been utilized to form singly-dispersed hybrids with SWCNTs as well as suppress their known toxicological effects. These hybrids have shown unrivaled stabilities in both aqueous suspension or as a dried material. Furthermore, DNA has certain documented flame-retardant effects due to the creation of a protective char upon heating in the presence of oxygen. Herein, using various thermogravimetric analytical techniques, we find that single-stranded DNA has a significant flame-retardant effect on the SWCNTs, and effectively enhances their thermal stability. Hybridization with DNA results in the elevation of the thermal decomposition temperature of purified SWCNTs in excess of 200 °C. We translate this finding to other carbon nanomaterials including multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and fullerene (C60), and show similar effects upon complexation with DNA. The rate of thermal decomposition of the SWCNTs was also explored and found to significantly depend upon the sequence of DNA that was used.
Nested Parallelism with Algorithmic Skeletons

Nested parallelism is a natural way to express programs for hierarchical systems. It enables a compositional programming approach that can then be mapped onto the system hierarchy. In this paper, we present nested algorithm composition in the STAPL Skeleton Library (SSL) which uses a nested dataflow model as its internal representation. We show how a high level program specification using SSL allows for asynchronous computation and improved locality. We study both the specification and performance of the stapl implementation of Kripke, a mini-app developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Kripke has multiple levels of parallelism and a number of data layouts, making it an excellent test bed to exercise the effectiveness of a nested parallel programming approach. Performance results are provided for six different nesting orders of the benchmark demonstrating the flexibility and performance of nested algorithmic skeleton composition in stapl.
Impact of switchable roof insulation on energy performance of US residential buildings

Abstract In the analysis described in this paper, the energy efficiency benefits of switchable insulation systems (SIS) are evaluated when applied to roofs for US residential buildings. Unlike conventional static insulations, SISs can change their thermal properties based on control strategies to achieve desired objectives. In this analysis, SISs applied to roofs are controlled to minimize heating and cooling thermal loads for US housing units. Specifically, 2-step controls are utilized to switch the R-value of SISs between low and high levels depending on outdoor and indoor thermal interactions in order to reduce heating and cooling needs while maintaining thermal comfort within a prototypical one-story home located in different US climates. The analysis results indicate that SISs can significantly reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling systems. The energy efficiency effectiveness of SISs is found to increase for high reflective roofs and for high difference between the high and low R-values especially to reduce cooling energy needs for mild and heating dominated climates. In particular, the deployment of 2-step control strategies operating SISs can reduce annual energy use by up to 44% for space cooling and up to 17% for space heating.
Application of Monte Carlo techniques to grain boundary structure optimization in silicon and silicon-carbide

Abstract While classical atomistic simulations are commonly used to study energetically favorable structures of grain boundaries, the determination of these structures oftentimes comes at a significant computational cost for each grain boundary surveyed. This arises from the need to sample many microscopic degrees of freedom within the grain boundary even when the five macroscopic degrees of freedom are known. Recent work has proposed the use of a Monte Carlo approach to grain boundary optimization, in which atoms are iteratively added or removed from the grain boundary region and the resultant structure accepted or rejected according to the Metropolis criterion. This enables the rapid sampling of microscopic degrees of freedom, thus decreasing the computational costs required to find minimum energy structures. However thus far, this approach has only been applied to single element, metallic systems of the bcc and fcc structure. This work expands the Monte Carlo grain boundary optimization approach to ceramic systems, considering the more complex diamond cubic (Silicon) and zinc blende (multi-element Silicon Carbide) crystal structures. The novel contributions of this article involve modifications to the Monte Carlo approach necessary for systems with multiple elements and covalent bonding, which results a complex energy landscape with significantly more local minima. The Monte Carlo algorithm is applied to a variety of symmetric tilt and twist grain boundaries, and the determined minimum energy structures are found to be in good agreement with literature. The algorithm also samples over a range of non-equilibrium grain boundary structures, allowing for a quantification of the metastability of grain boundaries. These results raise the possibility of expanding the Monte Carlo approach to other material systems and its use as a robust tool in better characterizing grain boundaries and other interfaces.
Hypoglycemia with insulin and sulfonylureas.

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), does the combination of insulin and sulfonylurea (SU) increase the risk of hypoglycemia? The incidence of severe hypoglycemia in patients with T2DM taking insulin alone, SU alone, or the combination of insulin and SU is low (strength of
The Impact of Network Resources on Competitive Behavior of Firms

Firms extend access to resources and information by collaborating with other firms. This paper explores how resource endowments accessible to a firm through its social network affect a firm’s compe...
Disputing the Correct Interpretation of Say’s Law: A Comment on Roy Grieve’s and Steven Kates’s Arguments

Steven Kates recently has been interpreting Say’s law of markets as equivalent to John Stuart Mill’s declaration in his fourth fundamental theorem respecting capital that ‘Demand for commodities is not demand for labour’. Kates’s interpretation distorts both Say’s own statement of the law of markets and the meaning of Mill’s fourth theorem. Roy Grieve correctly disputes Kates’s denial of Mill’s having employed the wages fund to illustrate the meaning of his controversial declaration. Citing some criticisms of the wages-fund doctrine, Grieve believes he has shown the error of Say’s Law. Both Grieve and Kates are mistaken in their principal arguments.
Calibration of smartphone sensors to evaluate the ride quality of paved and unpaved roads

Transportation agencies report that millions of crashes are caused by poor road conditions every year, which makes the localisation of roadway anomalies extremely important. Common methods of road ...