cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HEAT TREATMENT FOR INCREASING METHANE YIELDS FROM ORGANIC MATERIALS

Abstract This research is concerned with the efficacy of heat treatment to convert refractory organic materials to biodegradable substances so that they will be convertable biologically to methane gas. Organic municipal refuse was used to represent a typical lignocellulosic waste material. This material was subjected to heat treatment at temperatures from 25° to 250°C, pH from 1 to 13, and for times up to 3 hours. Based upon short-term biogradability tests, optimum temperature for improvement of biodegradability increased with increase in pH from 130°C at pH 1 to 200°C at pH 13. With alkaline treatment, maximum biodegradability resulted when lignin solubilization was high, but when cellulose solubilization was low. Increased solubilization of organics was achieved with increased temperature at all pHs, the maximum observed being 90 percent at pH 13 and 250°C. Semi-continuous digestion studies indicated greater increase in biodegradability resulted from heat treatment than was predicted from the short-term biodegradability studies. Results suggest that a two-stage digestion system with heat treatment of material from the first stage at pH 13 and 200°C would result in an additional 73 percent volatile solids destruction, a 73 percent increase in methane production, and a 36 percent reduction in volatile solids for ultimate disposal. Inhibition resulted when from 1 to 3 g/1 of heat-treated lignin was present, and successful semi- continuous digestion required concentrations within or below this level. Studies with several single-ring organic compounds, typical of those expected to result from heat treatment of lignocellulose, indicated that with acclimation, all are anaerobically biodegradable and convertible to methane by mixed cultures. Compounds tested include furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, phenol, catechol, benzoate, benzaldehyde, cinnamic acid, trans-cinnamaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, and vanillin. These studies show that heat treatment has potential for increasing biodegradability of many natural lignocellulosic materials. Greater understanding of the mechanisms involved in conversion of organics by heat treatment, and of the ability of microorganisms to ferment the various end-products should help to devise systems for significantly increasing the yield of methane from anaerobic fermentation of waste materials.
Reactions Between Steel Surfaces and Zirconium in Liquid Bismuth

The variables affecting corrosion and mass transfer of steels by inhibited liquid Bi are discussed and explained in terms of the variables affecting formation of the ZrN or ZrC inhibiting films. Corrosion is acclerated by increasing the maximum temperature of operation, the temperature differential, and the Cr content of the steel. Low carbon areas also are more sensitive to attack, as are rough surfaces. Segregation in weld areas and their normally low C content may be responsible for preferential weld attack. Formation of the inhibiting nitride and/or carbide films is controlled by the activity and distribution of N and C in the steel. Minor constituents that influence their activity and distribution may also therefore affect the corrosion resistance. Localized attack is accompanied by Zr deposition, possibly resulting from interaction between the dissolved Zr and carbide particles in the steel. ZrN films may spall, and can reform in the spalled and corroded areas. (auth)
Shovelomics for phenotyping root architectural traits of rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.) and genome-wide association mapping

Root system in plants plays an important role in mining moisture and nutrients from the soil and is positively correlated to yield in many crops including rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.). Substantial phenotypic diversity in root architectural traits among the B. napus growth types leads to a scope of root system improvement in breeding populations. In this study, 216 diverse genotypes were phenotyped for five different root architectural traits following shovelomics approach in the field condition during 2015 and 2016. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker panel consisting of 30,262 SNPs was used to conduct genome-wide association study to detect marker/trait association. A total of 31 significant marker loci were identified at 0.01 percentile tail P value cutoff for different root traits. Six marker loci for soil-level taproot diameter (R1Dia), six loci for belowground taproot diameter (R2Dia), seven loci for number of primary root branches (PRB), eight loci for root angle, and eight loci for root score (RS) were detected in this study. Several markers associated with root diameters R1Dia and R2Dia were also associated with PRB and RS. Significant phenotypic correlation between these traits was observed in both environments. Therefore, taproot diameter appears to be a major determinant of the canola root system architecture and can be used as proxy for other root traits. Fifteen candidate genes related to root traits and root development were detected within 100 kbp upstream and downstream of different significant markers. The identified markers associated with different root architectural traits can be considered for marker-assisted selection for root traits in canola in future.
Synthesis of hydride and alkyl compounds containing the Cp*Os({eta}{sup 3}-allyl) fragment. Crystal structures of Cp*Os({eta}{sup 3}-C{sub 8}H{sub 13})Br{sub 2} and [Cp*Os({eta}{sup 3}-C{sub 4}H{sub 7})Me(H{sub 2}O)][BF{sub 4}]

2-methylpropenyl and cyclooctenyl products Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)Br2 and Cp*Os( 3 -C8H13)Br2, respectively. The monoalkyl complexes Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)MeBr and Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)(CH2SiMe3)Br can be generated by treating Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)Br2 with MgMe2 or LiCH2SiMe3. The dimethyl complex Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)Me2 can be synthesized from Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)Br2 by addition of methyllithium. In contrast, addition of ethyllithium to Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)Br2 yields the ethylene complex Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)( 2 -C2H4) and a small amount of Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)H2. The latter dihydride can be synthesized in better yield by treating Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)Br2 with LiAlH4. When the dimethyl complex Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)Me2 is protonated with HBF4 in the presence of H2O, the aqua complex [Cp*Os( 3 -C4H7)Me(H2O)][BF4] is formed.
The internal female genital organs of Chaetodiopsis and Diasemopsis (Diptera: Diopsidae) and their systematic relevance

The morphology of the internal female reproductive organs of Chaetodiopsis meigenii and four Diasemopsis species, all based on material from Natal (South Africa), is descriptionbed. Variation is evident, especially in the form and size of the ventral receptacle, the ventral sclerite, and the spermathecae. Phylogenetic analysis of these characters, in combination with results available from other diopsids, resolves generic but not species relationships. It confirms that this character system can be valuable for phylogenetic analysis, as suggested by previous authors. The vast enlargement of the multi-chambered ventral receptacle in Chaetodiopsis and Diasemopsis has various implications on the possibilities of sperm competition and spermatozoa selection, that deserve further investigation. The ventral receptacle possibly acquires part of the sperm storage function from the spermathecae, that are concurrently reduced in number and size. Furthermore, the parallel arrangement of several hundred chambers, housing individual spermatozoa, provides an arena for spermatozoa competition. The elongation of the chambers, coinciding with the elongation of the spermatozoa, constitutes a new example for the coevolution of spermatozoa and female sperm receptacles.
Cold War Germany in News Maps

This chapter discusses the specific example of maps of divided Cold War Germany in news journals. Although the governments and presses of England and America recognized Germany as a barometer of Cold War tensions, their cartographic responses differed. American news maps were far more anticommunistic and characterized the nation as a bipolar Cold War battleground. British maps, by contrast, portrayed Germany (and Cold War Europe in general) as less polarized and more geopolitically multilateral. In this chapter, British and American news maps are compared with West German-made maps which revealed a longing for the return of a unified German state.
Current Clinical Trials in Non-muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Heightened Need in an Era of Chronic BCG Shortage

BCG is the gold standard agent used in high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that is amenable to bladder sparing management. However, recent BCG shortages appear to be a chronic problem. There are limited effective intravesical options in lieu of BCG or in patients in whom BCG is not effective. This review aims to highlight emerging bladder sparing therapies and trials for NMIBC. Patients with high-risk NMIBC who do not respond to BCG are at increased risk for progression and death from bladder cancer. There are a variety of clinical trials exploring different therapeutic approaches including checkpoint inhibition, novel chemotherapy and drug delivery, viral and gene therapy, vaccines, and targeted therapy. In the era of limited supply of BCG, there is a need for both effective first-line alternatives as and options for patients who do not respond to BCG. Fortunately, there are a variety of active trials and mechanisms exploring these areas aggressively.
Sentinel lymph node mapping for uterine cancer: a practical illustration of injection and mapping techniques using robot-assisted fluorescence imaging.

We created a surgical teaching video that demonstrates sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in uterine cancer as a practical guide for injection technique and illustrates common lymphatic mapping patterns. Trocar placement, docking strategy, indocyanine dye preparation, and cervical injection
Exploring second professional year pharmacy student reflections after an interprofessional shadowing experience with nursing students in critical care units: a qualitative study

Accreditation standards for pharmacy and nursing education require interprofessional education (IPE) as a key component in both curricula. There is increasing evidence for using interprofessional shadowing as a learning modality for IPE; reflection can be used to enhance learning from these experiences. We explored pharmacy student-reported reflections from an interprofessional shadowing experience with nursing students through qualitative content analysis of reflective statements. We found that pharmacy students gained knowledge of nursing roles and areas of expertise, awareness of how the team provides care, and awareness of the importance of communication and mutual respect to improve both team performance and patient safety. Additionally, we were able to assess interprofessional sub-competencies that were met as a result of the interprofessional shadowing experience, specifically, pharmacy students gained knowledge and skills across all four IPEC Core Competencies. Interprofessional shadowing combined with reflection can enhance learning, and thematic analysis of these reflections can be utilized to assess IPE outcomes.
An Electronic Medical Record-Derived Individualized Performance Metric to Measure Risk-Adjusted Adherence with Perioperative Prophylactic Bundles for Health Care Disparity Research and Implementation Science.

Background Health care disparity persists despite vigorous countermeasures. Clinician performance is paramount for equitable care processes and outcomes. However, precise and valid individual performance measures remain elusive. Objectives We sought to develop a generalizable, rigorous, risk-adjusted metric for individual clinician performance (MIP) derived directly from the electronic medical record (EMR) to provide visual, personalized feedback. Methods We conceptualized MIP as risk responsiveness, i.e., administering an increasing number of interventions contingent on patient risk. We embedded MIP in a hierarchical statistical model, reflecting contemporary nested health care delivery. We tested MIP by investigating the adherence with prophylactic bundles to reduce the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), retrieving PONV risk factors and prophylactic antiemetic interventions from the EMR. We explored the impact of social determinants of health on MIP. Results We extracted data from the EMR on 25,980 elective anesthesia cases performed at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center between June 3, 2018 and March 31, 2019. Limiting the data by anesthesia Current Procedural Terminology code and to complete cases with PONV risk and antiemetic interventions, we evaluated the performance of 83 anesthesia clinicians on 2,211 anesthesia cases. Our metric demonstrated considerable variance between clinicians in the adherence to risk-adjusted utilization of antiemetic interventions. Risk seemed to drive utilization only in few clinicians. We demonstrated the impact of social determinants of health on MIP, illustrating its utility for health science and disparity research. Conclusion The strength of our novel measure of individual clinician performance is its generalizability, as well as its intuitive graphical representation of risk-adjusted individual performance. However, accuracy, precision and validity, stability over time, sensitivity to system perturbations, and acceptance among clinicians remain to be evaluated.
Impacts of Scent on Mental Cutting Ability for Industrial and Engineering Technology Students as Measured Through a Sectional View Drawing

Results from a number of studies indicate that the sense of scent and more specifically the existence of odor can influence cognitive learning. A smaller number of studies suggest that the existence of odor can influence visual learning and more specific the spatial visualization ability; however, research provides inconsistent results. Considering this, a quasi-experimental study was conducted to identify the existence of statistically significant effects on spatial visualization ability as measured by the Mental Cutting Test and Sectional View drawing ability due to the impacts of a specific type of odor. In particular, the study compared two types of odors; roasted coffee, baking cookies vs. no odor and whether a significant difference exists among engineering technology students. According to the results of this study it is suggested that the type of odor provides statistically significant differences.
The Collection of Zoosporic Eufungi at the University of Michigan (CZEUM): introducing a new repository of barcoded Chytridiomyceta and Blastocladiomycota cultures

We formed the Collection of Zoosporic Eufungi at the University of Michigan (CZEUM) in 2018 as a cryopreserved fungal collection consolidating the University of Maine Culture Collection (UMCC, or JEL), the University of Alabama Chytrid Culture Collection (UACCC), and additional zoosporic eufungal accessions. The CZEUM is established as a community resource containing 1045 cryopreserved cultures of Chytridiomycota, Monoblepharidomycota, and Blastocladiomycota, with 52 cultures being ex-type strains. We molecularly characterized 431 cultures by amplifying the majority of the rDNA operon in a single reaction, yielding an average fragment length of 4739 bp. We sequenced multiplexed samples with an Oxford Nanopore Technology MinION device and software, and demonstrate the method is accurate by producing sequences identical to published Sanger sequences. With these data, we generated a phylogeny of 882 zoosporic eufungi strains to produce the most comprehensive phylogeny of these taxa to date. The CZEUM is thus largely characterized by molecular data, which can guide instructors and researchers on future studies of these organisms. Cultures from the CZEUM can be purchased through an online portal.
The Biography of a Scale: Contextual Factors That Influence the Measurement of Family Functioning

The subject of instrument relevance is addressed by examining issues that have arisen in the use of a single scale over a forty year period. The issues revolve around the impact of varying social conditions, changing ethos, differential respondent receptiveness, and evolving research technology. Extended use of an instrument, it is argued, yields information that transcends the conventional techniques for testing instrument adequacy. The lack of opportunities in social work for accessing information on extended use of measurement tools is due, among other factors, to a preoccupation with working on subjects that are new and original and to a lack of coordination among research endeavors
Learning from the Past: Trends in Executive Compensation over the 20th Century

In recent years, a large academic debate has tried to explain the rapid rise in CEO pay experienced over the past three decades. In this article, I review the main proposed theories, which span views of compensation as the result of a competitive labor market for executives to theories based on excess of managerial power. Some of these hypotheses have found support in cross-sectional evidence, but it has proven more difficult to determine which factors have caused the observed changes in pay over time. An alternative strategy is to evaluate the fit of plausible explanations out of sample by contrasting them with the evolution in executive pay and the market for managers during earlier time periods. A case study of General Electric suggests that evidence for earlier decades can speak of the recent trends and reveals the limitations of current explanations to address the long-run data. (JEL codes: G30, J33, M52, N82) Copyright The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Munich. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.
POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT AND COMPLICATIONS

SUMMARY Knowledge of the degree of impairment of different organ systems can lead to better planning and postoperative management of the geriatric patient by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The objective of improved postoperative management is ultimately to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality in this growing surgical population.
Trends and current status of aluminum chemistry in Adirondack headwater streams 30 Years after the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

Abstract Mobilization of toxic forms of aluminum (Ali) have been one of the most harmful effects of acidic deposition on aquatic ecosystems. Large decreases in acidic deposition levels have resulted in decreases in Ali concentrations in surface waters starting in the 1990s. However, recent studies indicate that fish communities are still being impaired by elevated Ali concentrations in streams, suggesting the need for a present-day assessment of the recovery status of Al chemistry in impacted regions such as the Adirondack region of New York, United States. Therefore, the recovery status of Al was assessed from long-term high-frequency monitoring of three Adirondack streams up through 2019, and multiple resampling of 127 headwater streams throughout the Adirondack region between 2004/2005 and 2018/2019. Results indicated that concentrations of Ali have continued to decrease throughout the Adirondack region, but that harmful conditions still exist in a substantial number of streams during spring snowmelt. In the western Adirondack region, 35 percent of streams during spring snowmelt, (typically the most acidic period), and 10 percent of streams during summer were still experiencing harmful concentrations of Ali (>1.0 μmol L−1) in 2018/2019. In the less-impacted east-central Adirondack region, 10 percent of streams during snowmelt, and 4 percent of streams during summer were experiencing harmful Ali concentrations in 2018. Temporal decreases in Ali concentrations were due in part to a shift in speciation from Ali to non-toxic organically complexed Al as dissolved organic carbon concentrations increased, which was also a response to decreasing acidic deposition. Increased availability of calcium resulting from acid-neutralization processes such as weathering also contributed to the decrease in Ali over the past 5–8 years. The current low levels of acidic deposition may have begun to enhance recovery by increasing the effectiveness of ambient acid-neutralization processes.
Effect of Molecular Weight on Viscosity Scaling and Ion Transport in Linear Polymerized Ionic Liquids

A series of acrylic polymerized ionic liquids (PILs) with imidazolium cations and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (TFSI) anions were synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transf...
The Student Managed Investment Program: A Guide for Small, Not-for-profit, Private Schools

The student managed investment programs accord students the unique opportunity to gain “real world” investment experience, and their growth in numbers and size provides evidence of their educational efficacy. This study provides a qualitative analysis of the operations and performance of a small, not-for-profit, private university’s (the University) student managed investment fund. Our analysis begins with a discussion of applied “best practices” from both start-up and ongoing improvement perspectives. Evaluative emphasis is given to relevant topics that include undergraduate – graduate course curriculum, student–board engagement, funding needs, and sources as well as the importance of implementing and maintaining effective internal controls. In addition, recent events have highlighted the increasing financial challenges faced by smaller not-for-profit, tuition-driven schools. In juxtaposition with these practices, we further examine important issues related to the successful and sustainable funding of the program’s operations.
Lectores de imágenes en tiempos de revolución: 'Descomedidos y chascones' (1973) de Carlos Flores

This article studies the film Descomedidos y chascones (1973) by Carlos Flores. Divided in three parts, the film is dedicated to exploring diverse sectors of Chilean youth and their relationship to mass media during Popular Unity. The second part of Flores’ work, which will be the principal focus of this study, presents four groups of young people who may be considered “filmic readers”: they are presented with image sequences of other young people that they are then to discuss and interpret on camera. Two of these groups of spectators are comprised of young textile workers and pobladores. I propose that these workers and pobladores in the film participate in the same kinds of critical processes related to hegemonic culture that Flores and his film crew seek to impress upon viewers. By featuring these members of the working class with a high degree of political consciousness in his educational activities, Flores is able to signal the worker as the ideal “reader” and militant of the future.
Is a Reputation for Misconduct Always Harmful? Evidence from Corporate Venture Capital

This paper examines the effect of reputation - good, and bad - on a corporate venture capital (CVC) firm’s ability to attract potential investments. Using an extensive data set that combines information on investments by CVCs with detailed information about lawsuits against those CVC programs, we find that a reputation for experience, active involvement in the startup (rather than passive investment), and misconduct (as indicated by lawsuits) are all positively associated with the CVC's ability to attract investments. Curiously, a reputation for misconduct does not appear to deter startups when the CVC has a reputation for experience but does deter startups if the CVC firm also has reputation for active engagement with its portfolio companies. Further, the results hold despite controlling for generalized favorability of the parent corporation. Our study thus lends support to the notion that a “reputation for what” matters, and that finer grained measures are needed when studying the complex relationship between reputation and performance.
The Anarchy of Numbers

The way out of the quagmire, he argued, was for econometricians to explore larger regions of "specification space," systematically analyzing the relationship between assumptions and conclusions. Their evidence: the statistical significance in crosscountry panel growth regressions of an interaction term of total aid received and an indicator of the quality of recipient economic policies (aid Â policy). Section I reviews the approaches and conclusions of the studies that are tested for robustness, section II describes the tests, and section III reports the results. The DAC considers a loan concessional if it has a grant element of at least 25 percent of the loan value, using a 10 percent discount rate. In contrast, EDA includes development loans, regardless of how concessional (for example, it includes loans on nearcommercial terms by the World Bank to middle-income countries such as Brazil), but counts only their grant element--that is, their net present value. 264 THE WORLD BANK ECONOMIC REVIEW diversity ...
Testing for market timing ability

Abstract In this paper we examine the Henriksson-Merton test of market timing and its potential usefulness in evaluating investment advice. The paper proposes a natural extension of the test that is valid under more general assumptions about the distribution of asset returns. We show that the Henriksson-Merton test and its more general counterpart are special cases of standard tests of market rationality and efficiency. Both tests are applied to a group of foreign exchange advisory services.
Global trends in breastfeeding duration (1015.1)

Breastfeeding is an important determinant of child survival and strategy for improving child health in developing countries. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to 2 years or beyond. We analyzed nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 21 countries between 1990 and 2011. Countries had at least 2 years of data, including one from 2008 or later for a total of 83 surveys. Our sample includes singleton, last-born infants 0-36 months living with their mother (n=185,469). We compared median breastfeeding duration calculated from current status data. Trends within countries did not exhibit meaningful patterns. Median duration changed by <1 month in 43% of intervals. Significant differences are seen between countries; 14% of country-years had medians 2 years. Despite progress promoting awareness of breastfeeding, adherence to recommendations is not common. Analyzin...
An International Perspective of In-Home Electronic Shopping

This article provides a chronology of the development of in-home videotex shopping in the United States, England, and France. Once heralded as the “next revolution of the retailing world,” videotex shopping has been marked by great expectations and relatively disappointing results across these three “hi-tech" economies. Reasons supporting the high hopes are compared with actual market results. The players - past and present - are identified, the issues are discussed, and the prospects for the future are evaluated. Developers of in-home videotex shopping are urged to avoid technological myopia and focus on the larger issue of satisfying consumer shopping needs.
Exploitation, Alienation, and Injustice

(1979). Exploitation, Alienation, and Injustice. Canadian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 121-139.
Prominent coronary artery flow with normal coronary artery anatomy is a rare but ominous harbinger of poor outcome in the fetus.

AbstractObjectives: “Heart sparing” refers to prominent antegrade fetal coronary artery (CA) blood flow readily visualized by color Doppler and is a harbinger of poor outcome in growth restricted fetus, but little is known of the features and presentation of heart sparing in normally grown fetuses. Our objective was to describe heart sparing effects in normally grown fetuses, and compare the presentation and outcome of heart sparing between fetuses with growth restriction and those who were normally grown.Methods: In a series of fetuses with prominent antegrade CA flow, we assessed Doppler flow profiles in the aortic isthmus, ductus venosus (DV), umbilical vein (UV), umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA). We calculated MCA and UA systolic/diastolic ratios and the cerebral placental ratio, and measured fetal biometry. We evaluated cardiac function using the myocardial performance index (MPI) and the cardiovascular profile score (CVPS).Results: Ten fetuses with heart sparing had normal DV f...
The Social-Emotional Side of Learning Disabilities

This article provides a context for this special issue devoted to the social-emotional side of learning disabilities (LD). The impact LD definitions have on policy and practice, the prevalence of s...
The pet-friendly veterinary practice: a guide for practitioners.

Low-stress handling is important for the safety of the veterinary staff and for the welfare of the patient. The commitment to ensuring the emotional well-being of the patient should be equal to that shown toward the physical well-being of the animals under a veterinarian’s care. Before handling animals it is essential to assess the environment and the patient’s response to it. Taking the time to create a behavior handling plan makes future visits easier and bonds clients to the practice. Understanding how and when to use handling tools is key to making patient visits safer, more humane, and more efficient.
Development of saxitoxin-sensitive and insensitive sodium channels in cultured neonatal rat astrocytes

Voltage-sensitive Na channels were studied in cultures of neonatal rat cortical astrocytes. These channels were present at all times in culture as determined by tracer 22Na+ influx in the presence of batrachotoxin (BTX) and sea anemone polypeptide toxin (AxTx). The affinity of saxitoxin (STX) binding and sensitivity to STX inhibition of sodium influx were utilized to characterize these channels. Up to 7 d in culture, high-affinity 3H-STX binding (Kd of 0.2 nM at 4 degrees C) was very low, and 22Na+ influx was inhibited only by high concentrations (Ki = 170 nM) of STX. From 7 to 14 d, total specific binding of STX increased to a maximum of over 2 pmol/mg protein and remained constant for 28 d. By 14 d, inhibition of 22Na+ influx by STX was clearly biphasic, indicating the presence of 2 populations of channels with Ki's of 0.2 nM and 150 nM. At 14 d in culture, binding of 3H-STX to astrocyte membranes revealed the presence of 2 specific sites. During this second week, increasing numbers of high-affinity STX binding sites and increasing sensitivity to the inhibition of BTX + AxTx-stimulated 22Na+ influx by STX coincided with the change in morphology of primitive flat polygonal cells to highly branched stellate forms characteristic of mature astrocytes in vivo. Changes in culture conditions modified the time course of the onset of high STX affinity binding. Twenty-four hours after changing to serum-free G5 medium, there was both an 8-fold increase in STX binding sites and a change to a stellate shape in all cells. The results suggest that although low-affinity STX Na channels are always present in astrocytes, after 7 d in culture a different population of channels appears with the high affinity for STX characteristic of adult neuronal sodium channels. This spontaneous process is greatly accelerated by changing to a chemically defined medium.
The present and future of peptide vaccines for cancer: single or multiple, long or short, alone or in combination?

Peptide vaccines incorporate one or more short or long amino acid sequences as tumor antigens, combined with a vaccine adjuvant. Thus, they fall broadly into the category of defined-antigen vaccines, along with vaccines using protein, protein subunits, DNA, or RNA. They remain one of the most immunogenic approaches, based on measures of T cell response in the blood or in draining lymph nodes. However, existing peptide vaccines have had limited success at inducing clinical tumor regressions, despite reliable induction of T cell responses. Several new developments offer promise for improving peptide vaccines, including use of long peptides, optimization of adjuvants including toll-like receptor agonists, and combination with systemic therapies that may reduce tumor-associated immune dysfunction, such as blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 interactions. To apply these new approaches optimally, it will be critical to study their effects in the context of defined antigens, for which peptide vaccines are optimal.
Poly(ethylenimine)-mediated gene delivery affects endothelial cell function and viability.

Poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) was used to transfect the endothelial cell line EA.hy 926, and the secreted levels of three gene products, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), and von Willebrand Factor (vWF), were assessed via ELISA. We found that the levels of these gene products in cell supernatants increased by factors up to 16.3 (tPA), 8.3 (PAI-1), or 6.7 (vWF) times the levels recorded for untreated cells, and roughly correlated with the percentage of cells that expressed the reporter plasmid. Transfections carried out using promotorless constructs of the same reporter plasmid also yielded increases in tPA, PAI-1, and vWF to similar extents. Additionally, data regarding cell viability were gathered and found to inversely relate to both the effectiveness of the PEI used for transfection and the secreted levels of the three mentioned products. There appeared to be two distinct types of cell death, resulting from the use of either free PEI (which acts within 2 h) or PEI/DNA complexes (which cause death 7-9 h after transfection). Cells were also transfected by poly(L-lysine) and liposomal carriers, and increases in secreted tPA similar to those seen with PEI-mediated transfection were observed for positively transfected cells. The results of these investigations indicate that non-viral gene delivery can induce a state of endothelial cell dysfunction, and that PEI-mediated transfection can lead to two distinct types of cell death.
Preservice Teachers' Beliefs regarding School Violence Prevention Training

Abstract This study was undertaken to answer the following questions: (1) What are preservice teachers' beliefs regarding school violence prevention and intervention approaches? (2) What are preservice teachers' beliefs regarding the effect of violence prevention training on the school environment? (3) Do preservice teachers' beliefs regarding school violence differ based on background and demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, race, education level, area of certification, and student teaching school location [urban vs. suburban vs. rural])? More than 800 undergraduate and graduate students from selected universities across the state of Ohio participated in this study. Data were collected during the 1998/1999 academic year. Significant differences in preservice teachers' beliefs regarding school violence were found based on sex, area of certification, and level of violence prevention training received. This study suggests that violence prevention training should be offered through teacher preparation p...
The Quality of Medical Care Received by Older Persons

This paper reviews studies published since 1970 on the quality of medical services received by older persons. Although many of the studies were flawed in design or limited in scope, they suggest that there are problems in the quality of care received by older persons in ambulatory, hospital, and nursing home settings. Changes in health care delivery and financing should attempt to improve, rather than merely maintain, the quality of medical and health services received by this vulnerable population.
A deadly complication of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), often a catastrophic event resulting in acute respiratory failure, occurs in the setting of the collagen vascular diseases, in particular systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There are a number of other systemic conditions that may result in this complication, including any of the systemic vasculitides, antibasement membrane antibody disease, medications that result in vasculitis, antiphospholipid syndrome, various coagulopathies, thrombocytopenia from any cause, and less frequently, severe viral infections1. In this issue of The Journal Martinez-Martinez, et al describe 50 subjects with SLE, both adults and juveniles, who experienced 57 episodes of DAH2. This represents the largest collection of patients with this SLE complication. There were no differences in outcomes between juveniles (< 18 yrs) and adults. In the adult group 90% were women and the mean age for the entire cohort was 23 years. Overall mortality was 42%, and not unexpectedly, the sicker patients, i.e., those requiring mechanical ventilation and those with infections, renal dysfunction, hypocomplementemia, and … Address correspondence to Dr. Schwarz, 12700 East 19th Ave. C272, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA. E-mail: Marvin.Schwarz{at}UCDenver.edu
The value of geriatric care enhancement training for direct service workers.

Abstract This study reports on the evaluation of a skills-enhancement training series for direct service providers in home care that was part of a federally funded state-level initiative to improve employee recruitment and retention. The gerontological training curriculum included content to improve problem-solving, communication, and stress management skills in order to increase professionalism and self-efficacy. While the first year of training utilized a network of “real-time” compressed video-teleconferencing broadcast to satellite sites statewide, these broadcasts were videotaped and accompanied by trained moderator-led scripted case study discussions at each of the sites during the second year. As the training series progressed, there was a linear increase in the likelihood that training would change the way participants performed their jobs in the future. Importantly, the training was more highly rated by the participants who had a greater commitment to pursuing their care work with geriatric clien...
Thermal Design of Thermoelectric Generators for Automobile Waste Heat Recovery

In this present work, we attempt to maximize the electrical power generation by optimizing Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) geometry for a prescribed TEG volume. A plate-fin heat exchanger topology is assumed and consideration is given to additional pressure drops associated with the fins placed in the exhaust flow path; and the cross-sectional changes across TEG inlet-exit ports. The thermal profile in the TEG is computed such that different thermoelectric modules may be placed where they provide the maximum Seebeck coefficient and hence provide the maximum power output. Multiple filled skutterudites are employed in the higher temperature regions and Bismuth Telluride modules are used at lower temperature regions of the TEG. Separate calculations are performed for cases where the available maximum number of TEMs is limited for cost optimization.Copyright © 2012 by ASME and General Motors
Psychiatric Illness and Facebook: A Case Report

There is relatively little content available addressing the use of social media, such as Facebook in psychiatric populations. There has been significant growth of various social media websites in the last 10 years, such as Facebook, and yet little is written about their overall impact on this population. There are articles in the scientific literature about the use of social media in adolescents and young adults and also about its use among physicians and medical students. This article reviews the literature addressing social media and describes a therapeutic interaction with a patient with significant psychiatric comorbities and his use of social media. Furthermore, this is a unique example in current literature of an overall positive interaction and social improvement of this patient in large degree due to his use of Facebook. Physicians themselves must be very cautious in their interaction with patients online and especially via social media, while acknowledging that social media can serve as a spring board for more reclusive patients into greater societal integration.
Sodium Complexes of Isomaltol and Maltol

Abstract Sodium bis(3-O-hydroxy-2-furyl methyl ketone) (3) and sodium 3-O-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone hydrate (4) were isolated and characterized from the interaction of isomaltol and maltol with sodium methoxide in boiling benzene (toluene or acetone). Elemental analyses of 3 furnished the formula C12H11NaO6, and this composition was confirmed by conversion to isomaltol O-benzoyl ester.
On wireless network scheduling with intersession network coding

Cross-layer optimization including congestion control, routing, and scheduling has shown dramatic throughput improvement over layered designs for wireless networks. In parallel, the paradigm-shifting network coding has empirically demonstrated substantial throughput improvement when coding operations are permitted at intermediate nodes and packets from different sessions are mixed. Designing network codes and the associated flow in network coding presents new challenges for cross-layer optimization for wireless multi-hop networks. This work shows that with a new flow-based characterization of pairwise intersession network coding, a joint optimal scheduling and rate-control algorithm can be implemented distributively. Optimal scheduling is computationally expensive to achieve even in a purely routing-based (without network coding) paradigm, let alone with network coding. Thus, in this paper, the impact of imperfect scheduling is studied, which shows that pairwise intersession network coding can improve the throughput of routing-based solutions regardless of whether perfect/imperfect scheduling is used. Both the deterministic and stochastic packet arrivals and departures are considered. This work shows for the first time a striking resemblance between pairwise intersession network coding and routing, and thus advocates extensions of routing-based wisdoms to their network coding counterpart.
Job attitudes among higher-custody state prison management personnel: A cross-sectional comparative assessment

Abstract Research on workplace attitudes among corrections personnel has focused almost exclusively on front-line officers and has largely overlooked managerial personnel. The study reported here sought to address this void in the literature by collecting data from a sample of supervisory personnel and administrative staff employed in eleven adult male, higher-custody state prisons located throughout the United States. The researchers found significant differences between prison personnel employed in facilities that practiced different managerial approaches. In particular, prison personnel employed in facilities where managerial practices were guided by either highly rigid and formalized administrative elements or strict responsibility-oriented features experienced lower levels of satisfaction with work and higher levels of role strain than their counterparts employed by prisons that practiced more balanced, middle ground managerial approaches.
Bariatric surgery decision making challenges: the stability of teens’ decisions and the treatment failure paradox

Criteria for adolescent bariatric surgery include failure of ≥6 months of organized weight loss attempts. We wished to explore whether adolescents, initially wanting surgery, change their mind during a 6-month weight loss program and how many meet the treatment failure criterion. A retrospective chart review of adolescents enrolled in a weight loss program between 3/2007 and 2/2009. Twenty-one (13 % of total patients) initially wanted bariatric surgery. Most were Medicaid enrollees (70 %), female (85 %), and white (60 %). The mean age was 15 years and mean BMI was 51 (range 36–71). Five did not meet BMI, comorbidity, or psychological criteria for surgery. Eight lost weight and therefore did not meet the treatment failure criterion. Of these, seven no longer wanted surgery. Eight did not lose weight and therefore met the treatment failure criterion; five of these decided against surgery due to difficulty in making recommended lifestyle changes. Most patients initially wanting bariatric surgery changed their minds. The treatment failure criterion presented a paradox, because most patients who met the criterion exhibited difficulty in making the lifestyle changes. To aid provider/patient decisions about bariatric surgery, further work should explore the criteria for surgery and stability of adolescents’ decisions regarding bariatric surgery.
Are colorful males of great tits Parus major better parents? Parental investment is a matter of quality

Given the known influence of parental investment on breeding success of great tits Parus major, females should be expected to use male parental quality as an essential criterion in mate choice. Since parental quality cannot usually be observed directly at the time of pairing, it has been suggested that females rely on male ornaments as indicative of their ability to provide parental care. This hypothesis, called the good parent hypothesis, has been tested repeatedly assessing only parental effort as the number of feedings made by parents. However, in evaluating parental investment, the focus should also be on the quality of prey captured rather than only on its quantity. We analyzed feeding rates and the provisioning of different prey in relation to both male yellow carotenoid-based breast coloration and the size of the black melanin-based stripe in a Mediterranean great tit population. We predicted that more carotenoid ornamented individuals would feed nestlings with a diet consisting of a higher proportion of caterpillars. However, and contrary to predictions, we found that males with higher values of hue in the yellow breast feathers, fed their offspring with a lower proportion of caterpillars and a higher proportion of spiders. In addition, nestlings that received a higher proportion of spiders showed an improved body condition after controlling for tarsus length and other variables. Male feeding rates correlated positively with brood size and tended to correlate negatively with date, although we did not find any effect of male coloration. Our data therefore support the good parent hypothesis, insofar as parental investment is also a matter of quality, and that, at least in the Mediterranean area, caterpillars are not the only key food source.
Combining size distribution and chemical species measurements into a multivariate receptor model of PM2.5

[1] We introduce an extended receptor model, implemented with the multilinear engine ME2, which combines simultaneous but separate filter-based species information with size-resolved particle volume information. Our chemical data set consisted of 24-hour filter measurements reported by the EPA Speciation Trends Network at Beacon Hill in Seattle, Washington, from February 2000 to June 2003. We measured the particle size distribution at this site from December 2000 to April 2002 using a differential mobility particle sizer (DMPS) and an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS). The combined model extends the traditional chemical mass balance approach by including a simultaneous set of conservation equations for both particle mass and volume, linked by a unique value of apparent particle density for each source. The model distinguished three mobile source features, two consistent with previous identifications of “gasoline” and “diesel” sources, and an additional minor feature enriched in EC, Fe and Mn and ultrafine particle mass that would have been difficult to interpret in the absence of particle size information. This study has also demonstrated the feasibility of defining missing mass as an additional variable, and thereby providing additional useful model constraints and eliminating the posthoc regression step that is traditionally used to rescale the results.