cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Oregon Digital Newspaper Program’s Commitment to Open Access

The Oregon Digital Newspaper Program (ODNP) at the University of Oregon Libraries is an initiative to digitize historic and current Oregon newspapers, making them freely available to the public through a keyword-searchable online database. The ODNP is committed to open access and has included collaboration and data sharing with larger programs like the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America historic newspaper website. Since 2015, the ODNP has increased its open access mission by archiving and hosting born-digital newspaper content, as well as continuing digitization of historic newspapers from microfilm and print. This article outlines the ODNP’s past and current open access efforts, inclusion of diverse content, and open source, sustainable applications, websites, and workflows.
Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Detecting Pancreatic Cancer Missed on Cross-Sectional Imaging in Patients Presenting with Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Review.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the USA. Early detection of pancreatic cancer may help improve patient survival. It has been hypothesized that acute idiopathic or chronic pancreatitis is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer; however, these conditions may also represent an early manifestation of pancreatic cancer, rather than just being risk factors. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a sensitive diagnostic modality for the detection of small, early-stage pancreatic tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EUS for pancreatic cancer in patients with acute idiopathic or chronic pancreatitis when cross-sectional imaging (CT and/or MRI) was negative for a mass lesion in the pancreas. This study was an IRB-approved retrospective chart review conducted for the period of August 2005 to September 2018. Any patient presenting with acute idiopathic or chronic pancreatitis with a CT and/or MRI imaging negative for a pancreatic mass lesion that underwent an EUS during the study period was selected for inclusion. A retrospective review was performed to evaluate the outcomes of patients who had pancreatic cancer diagnosed from an EUS–FNA (fine needle aspiration) sample. Data were collected on patient demographics and clinical characteristics, inclusive of specific post-diagnosis treatment course. An “event rate” was calculated and is defined as the number of positive pancreatic cancer diagnoses on EUS–FNA from all patients presenting with acute idiopathic or chronic pancreatitis who underwent an EUS examination following a CT and/or MRI study negative for pancreatic mass lesion. A total of 565 patients met inclusion criteria, with 30 cases of confirmed pancreatic cancer diagnosed with EUS–FNA from this group. The event rate for EUS diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was 5.3%. The majority of patients (52.0%) diagnosed with cancer were stages I–II. Endoscopic ultrasound should be a routine part of the diagnostic algorithm when evaluating a patient with acute idiopathic or chronic pancreatitis of unclear etiology, particularly when cross-sectional imaging is negative for a mass lesion and clinical suspicion is high for neoplasia. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the role of EUS in this setting.
Editor in Chief’s Note on the Green Hydrogen Fuel from Solar / Wind Power

Renewable and sustainable energy has an evolving story as the ongoing trade war in the word is influencing crude oil prices. Moreover, the global warming is an inevitable consequence of the worldwide increasing rate of fossil fuel utilization which has persuaded the governments to invest on the clean and sustainable energy resources. In recent years, the cost of green energy has tumbled, making the price of renewables competitive to the fossil fuels. Although, the hydrogen fuel is still extremely expensive compared to the crude oil price, investigations about clean hydrogen fuel production and utilization has been developed significantly which demonstrate the importance of the hydrogen fuel in the future. This article aims to scrutinize the importance of green hydrogen fuel production from solar/wind energy.
The L-platform/L-scaffold framework: a blueprint for RNA-cleaving nucleic acid enzyme design

We develop an L-platform/L-scaffold framework we hypothesize may serve as a blueprint to facilitate site-specific RNA-cleaving nucleic acid enzyme design. Building on the L-platform motif originally described by Suslov and coworkers, we identify new critical scaffolding elements required to anchor a conserved general base guanine ("L-anchor") and bind functionally important metal ions at the active site ("L-pocket"). Molecular simulations, together with a broad range of experimental structural and functional data, connect the L-platform/L-scaffold elements to necessary and sufficient conditions for catalytic activity. We demonstrate that the L-platform/L-scaffold framework is common to five of the nine currently known naturally occurring ribozyme classes (Twr, HPr, VSr, HHr, Psr), and intriguingly from a design perspective, the framework also appears in an artificially engineered DNAzyme (8-17dz). The flexibility of the L-platform/L-scaffold framework is illustrated on these systems, highlighting modularity and trends in the variety of known general acid moieties that are supported. These trends give rise to two distinct catalytic paradigms, building on the classifications proposed by Wilson and coworkers and named for the implicated general base and acid. The "G + A" paradigm (Twr, HPr, VSr) exclusively utilizes nucleobase residues for chemistry, and the "G + M + " paradigm (HHr, 8-17dz, Psr) involves structuring of the "L-pocket" metal ion binding site for recruitment of a divalent metal ion that plays an active role in the chemical steps of the reaction. Finally, the modularity of the L-platform/L-scaffold framework is illustrated in the VS ribozyme where the "L-pocket" assumes the functional role of the "L-anchor" element, highlighting a distinct mechanism, but one that is functionally linked with the hammerhead ribozyme.
Stroke and Stroke Mimics: Diagnosis and Treatment

Rapid yet comprehensive CT or MRI protocols are required for patients with suspected acute stroke. Although a key focus is to quickly identify candidates for intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy, part of the overall goal is also to make a precise diagnosis—whether stroke or a stroke mimic. In this chapter we review recent advances in stroke triage and treatment and provide recommendations to optimize stroke imaging workflow in clinical practice.
Nrf2 activation through the inhibition of Keap1–Nrf2 protein–protein interaction

Activation of the transcription factor Nrf2 via the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling system regulates the transcription and subsequent expression of cellular cytoprotective proteins and plays a crucial role in preventing pathological conditions exacerbated by the overproduction of oxidative stress. In addition to electrophilic modulators, direct non-covalent inhibitors that interrupt the Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) leading to Nrf2 activation have attracted a great deal of attention as potential preventive and therapeutic agents for oxidative stress-related diseases. Structural studies of Keap1-binding ligands, development of biochemical and cellular assays, and new structure-based design approaches have facilitated the discovery of small molecule PPI inhibitors. This perspective reviews the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE system, its physiological functions, and the recent progress in the discovery and the potential applications of direct inhibitors of Keap1-Nrf2 PPI.
22 – Suicidal Behavior

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the socio-cultural aspects of suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior is relatively more suited to crosscultural comparative study than any other kind of psychopathology as studies of suicidal behavior present fewer problems in terms of diagnostic criteria than studies of other psychiatric conditions. Physicians, police, or even laymen can identify suicidal behavior without psychiatric knowledge and experience. Knowledge of the cultural profiles for suicide of different ethnic groups can be helpful to the clinician in various ways, such as assisting him or her in determining culturally sensitive ways to approach the subject of suicide, making culturally accurate clinical assessments of suicidality, and undertaking culturally relevant actions in dealing with matters relating to suicidal behavior. From a cultural point of view, several issues can be recommended for consideration in clinical situations. There are also different cultural attitudes toward the communication of suicidal ideas. People in some cultures consider having suicidal ideas very disgraceful or a private matter that should not be readily revealed to others, including physicians or psychiatrists. In some societies however, people have even learned that expressing suicidal ideas is a powerful way of getting professional attention and care, even if in reality, they are not seriously occupied with such depressive thoughts. Culture also influences the way people consider the option of self-killing as one of their choices in dealing with their problems. In ethnic groups where self-killing is a traditionally accepted way of dealing with distress, suicide is a relatively easier action to undertake.
Apologia Pro Vita Sua

Honest assessment of the ethical behavior of our financial institutions and markets over the recent past has made many former defenders rather uncomfortable. In this article, whose Latin title translates as “a defense of one’s life,” Derman reflects on the moral dimensions of the derivatives business—in particular, the practice of financial engineering, which creates the models that drive the markets. He offers a “Modeler’s Hippocratic Oath,” similar to the oath that guides the medical profession, whose precepts are meant to clarify and limit the proper role of abstract modeling in guiding financial decision making.
Association between African Dust Transport and Acute Exacerbations of COPD in Miami.

Background: Air pollution is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Changing climate and weather patterns can modify the levels and types of air pollutants. For example, dust outbreaks increase particulate air pollution. Objective: This paper examines the effect of Saharan dust storms on the concentration of coarse particulate matter in Miami, and its association with the risk of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 296 COPD patients (with 313 events) were followed between 2013 and 2016. We used Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and satellite-based Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) to identify dust events and quantify particulate matter (PM) exposure, respectively. Exacerbation events were modeled with respect to location- and time-lagged dust and PM exposures, using multivariate logistic regressions. Measurements and main results: Dust duration and intensity increased yearly during the study period. During dust events, AOD increased by 51% and particulate matter ≤2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) increased by 25%. Adjusting for confounders, ambient temperature and local PM2.5 exposure, one-day lagged dust exposure was associated with 4.9 times higher odds of two or more (2+ hereto after) AECOPD events (odds ratio = 4.9; 95% CI = 1.8–13.4; p < 0.001). Ambient temperature exposure also showed a significant association with 2+ and 3+ AECOPD events. The risk of AECOPD lasted up to 15 days after dust exposure, declining from 10× higher on day 0 to 20% higher on day 15. Conclusions: Saharan dust outbreaks observed in Miami elevate the concentration of PM and increase the risk of AECOPD in COPD patients with recurring exacerbations.
Pregnancy as an intergenerational conduit of adversity: how nutritional and psychosocial stressors reflect different historical timescales of maternal experience

Macronutrients consumed by the pregnant mother enter her homeostatically regulated metabolism, which buffers the fetus against short-term increases or deficits in intake. In contrast, hormones that coordinate this homeostasis, including cortisol, respond acutely to stressors. Because maternal cortisol crosses the placenta to influence fetal tissues, transient stress activation during pregnancy can durably change offspring development. These principles lead to the expectation that adversity during pregnancy will primarily impact offspring via acutely-responsive systems like stress physiology, while intergenerational effects of the mother's protein–energy nutrition will reflect her chronic nutritional experiences across pre-pregnant life. Thus, although developing fetal systems are sensitive to maternal psychosocial and nutritional adversity in utero, the intergenerational impacts of these systems reflect distinct timescales of maternal experience.
International Linkage, Bank Financing, and Firm Innovation

In this study, I explore the role of international bank linkages on firm innovation. I find robust evidence that borrowing from international-linked banks leads firms to become more innovative, in terms of both quantity and quality of innovation outcomes. Firms experience larger innovation gains borrowing more intensively from familiar international-linked banks and have higher growth opportunities in general. I argue that international bank linkages help connected banks share information and screen firms with higher innovation qualities, allowing additional credits available to higher-quality firms in conducting more innovation activities. Overall, the results shed light on the real effects of international bank linkages and the underlying determinants of innovations.
Comparative analysis of sensing characteristics of Rh-doped defect h-BN monolayer to C4F7N decomposition components under partial discharge

With the booming development of 2D materials after the discovery of graphene, hexagonal boron nitride monolayer, which is extensively used in gas sensors, has attracted widespread attention due to ...
Leading-Edge Technologies and Facility for Competitive Higher Business Education

The main purpose of this paper is to present how a new building project with an externally traditional architecture was developed, through a purposeful design and construction process, into an integrated, innovative environment for competitive higher business education.
Relay selection in wireless networks for optimal delay anonymity tradeoff

Wireless networks are susceptible to eavesdropping by unauthorized intruders who aim to extract information about the networked exchanges. Even when packets are encrypted, unsophisticated energy detectors can be used to identify the source destination pairs using the packet transmission timing on the wireless medium. Anonymous network protocols aim to prevent this information retrieval through the use of special intermediate relays that add artificial delays so as to confuse the eavesdropper. Previous studies have demonstrated that a tradeoff exists between the anonymity- secrecy of source destination pairs from timing analysis- provided by such relays and the latency incurred. The focus of this work is the tradeoff between anonymity and delay when a network of such relays are employed, as in practical anonymous systems such as Tor. Specifically, the problem of best route selection in anonymous networks that optimally trades off delay for anonymity has been investigated in this work. Using Shannon Entropy as the metric of anonymity, sufficient conditions on network parameters to achieve maximum anonymity are derived. The optimal route selection algorithm to obtain a desired tradeoff is shown to be computationally impractical, and a suboptimal route selection algorithm that effectively balances delay and anonymity has been proposed which has a negligible gap to the optimal solution, but requires far less computational resources. An incremental optimization which allows for real time addition of new users to the anonymous system is investigated and the performance compared with the centralized schemes.
Correlation analysis of genetic admixture and social identification with body mass index in a Native American community.

Objectives Body mass index (BMI) is a well-known measure of obesity with a multitude of genetic and non-genetic determinants. Identifying the underlying factors associated with BMI is difficult because of its multifactorial etiology that varies as a function of geoethnic background and socioeconomic setting. Thus, we pursued a study exploring the influence of the degree of Native American admixture on BMI (as well as weight and height individually) in a community sample of Native Americans (n = 846) while accommodating a variety of socioeconomic and cultural factors. Methods Participants' degree of Native American (NA) ancestry was estimated using a genome-wide panel of markers. The participants also completed an extensive survey of cultural and social identity measures: the Indian Culture Scale (ICS) and the Orthogonal Cultural Identification Scale (OCIS). Multiple linear regression was used to examine the relation between these measures and BMI. Results Our results suggest that BMI is correlated positively with the proportion of NA ancestry. Age was also significantly associated with BMI, while gender and socioeconomic measures (education and income) were not. For the two cultural identity measures, the ICS showed a positive correlation with BMI, while OCIS was not associated with BMI. Conclusions Taken together, these results suggest that genetic and cultural environmental factors, rather than socioeconomic factors, account for a substantial proportion of variation in BMI in this population. Further, significant correlations between degree of NA ancestry and BMI suggest that admixture mapping may be appropriate to identify loci associated with BMI in this population. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:347–360, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
H2, fixed architecture, control design for large scale systems

The H2, fixed architecture, control problem is a classic linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) problem whose solution is constrained to be a linear time invariant compensator with a decentralized processing structure. The compensator can be made of p independent subcontrollers, each of which has a fixed order and connects selected sensors to selected actuators. The H2, fixed architecture, control problem allows the design of simplified feedback systems needed to control large scale systems. Its solution becomes more complicated, however, as more constraints are introduced. This work derives the necessary conditions for optimality for the problem and studies their properties. It is found that the filter and control problems couple when the architecture constraints are introduced, and that the different subcontrollers must be coordinated in order to achieve global system performance. The problem requires the simultaneous solution of highly coupled matrix equations. The use of homotopy is investigated as a numerical tool, and its convergence properties studied. It is found that the general constrained problem may have multiple stabilizing solutions, and that these solutions may be local minima or saddle points for the quadratic cost. The nature of the solution is not invariant when the parameters of the system are changed. Bifurcations occur, and a solution may continuously transform into a nonstabilizing compensator. Using a modified homotopy procedure, fixed architecture compensators are derived for models of large flexible structures to help understand the properties of the constrained solutions and compare them to the corresponding unconstrained ones.
Microparticles Impair Hypotensive Cerebrovasodilation and Cause Hippocampal Neuronal Cell Injury after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract Endothelin-1 (ET-1), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and extracellular signal-regulated kinases-mitogen activated protein kinase (ERK-MAPK) are mediators of impaired cerebral hemodynamics after fluid percussion brain injury (FPI) in piglets. Microparticles (MPs) are released into the circulation from a variety of cells during stress, are pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory, and may be lysed with polyethylene glycol telomere B (PEG-TB). We hypothesized that MPs released after traumatic brain injury impair hypotensive cerebrovasodilation and that PEG-TB protects the vascular response via MP lysis, and we investigated the relationship between MPs, tPA, ET-1, and ERK-MAPK in that process. FPI was induced in piglets equipped with a closed cranial window. Animals received PEG-TB or saline (vehicle) 30-minutes post-injury. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were sampled and pial arteries were measured pre- and post-injury. MPs were quantified by flow cytometry. CSF samples were analyzed with enzyme...
Estrogen-mediated cell proliferation during chick oviduct development and its modulation by progesterone

Abstract The interactions of estrogen and progesterone on mitosis were examined in the surface epithelium of the developing chick oviduct. Both of these steroid hormones can stimulate cells to divide in the unstimulated oviduct. However, progesterone treatment results in a delayed suppression of cell division in both the presence and absence of estrogen. This progesterone induced depression of estrogen-mediated cell division is observed throughout oviduct development. During oviduct development estrogen is necessary for both cell division and the differentiation of specific cell types while progesterone appears to modify the action of estrogen by blocking the progression of cells through the cell cycle.
Theoretical modeling of lidar return phenomenology from snow and ice surfaces

To advance the science of lidar sensing of complex ice and snow surfaces as well as in support of the upcoming ICESat- 2 mission, this paper establishes a framework to theoretically study a spaceborne micropulselidar returns from snow and ice surfaces. First, the anticipated lidar return characteristics for a sloped non-penetrating surface is studied when measured by a multiple-channel photon-counting detector. Second, an analytical snow reflectance model based on experimental observations is applied in synthetic scene. Based on the simulation results, the spaceborne photon-counting lidar system considered here is seen to have moderate detectability on snow surfaces. In addition, for the penetrating snow model considered here, it is shown that slightly sloped snow terrain with larger snow grain size will result in smaller elevation bias.
Application of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) for the Surface Characterization of Gunshot Residue (GSR)

Gunshot residue (GSR) is typically found on the hands or clothing of persons who have been in the environment of a discharging firearm, but it may also be found on objects in the vicinity of the discharge. Computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) is the method preferred by the forensic community for the automated analysis of GSR. GSR samples are therefore typically collected from a crime suspect's hands and/or clothing using SEM sample stubs coated with a conductive adhesive. The three major components in modern firearm cartridge primers are lead styphanate (initiator), antimony sulfide (fuel), and barium nitrate (oxidizer). GSR consists of the products of combustion of these primer materials. Large populations of particles in the size range of ~1–10 μm are rapidly screened by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) for the presence of combinations of Pb, Sb, and Ba. When combinations of these three elements are detected, the particles are flagged as potential GSR particulate. Flagged particles with significant Pb/Sb/Ba compositions are subsequently relocated for a live identification and a positive confirmation of GSR. Positive particles are classified as being either “characteristic of GSR” (that is, all three key elements are present) or “consistent with GSR” (that is, any two of the key elements are present) based on the particle composition and morphology. Classification is based on the presence of the constituent elements and is not dependant on the element amounts. If a particle does not meet the proper compositional or morphological criteria, it is rejected as GSR. However, CCSEM generally does not provide information regarding the population of particles much less than 1 μm or the surface chemistry of the GSR particles. This article examines the fine fraction of GSR particles with high-resolution electron microscopy and complements the microscopy data with surface chemistry information from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Effect of surface-active agents on post-heparin lipase activity.

Abstract Cationic detergents stimulated post-heparin plasma lipase activity both in the presence and absence of Ca 2+ , whereas nonionic detergents were not stimulatory. Reactivity of the enzyme to anionic detergents appeared to depend on the type of detergents used and whether Ca 2+ was present or absent. The results suggest that the stability of the substrate is influenced by the net charges on the particles and that lipolysis is more likely to occur if the charge is positive.
Dialectical behavior therapy for women victims of domestic abuse: A pilot study.

This article describes a brief, 12-week dialectical behavior therapy program modified for female victims of domestic abuse and provides a preliminary examination of this intervention. Dialectical behavior therapy is a comprehensive cognitive–behavioral treatment, which was originally developed to treat multiproblem clients with severe and chronic emotion dysregulation, and was adapted for this study to treat female victims of domestic abuse. From pretreatment to posttreatment, participants (N 31) showed significant reductions in depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and general psychiatric distress as well as increased social adjustment. Additionally, participants reported high levels of consumer satisfaction with the treatment. Findings support the possible utility of dialectical behavior therapy for enhancing psychological and social well-being in female victims of domestic abuse.
From Empire to Globalization. .. and Back? A Post-Colonial View of Transjudicialism

From Empire to Globalization: The New Zealand Experience presents a picture of a government at a fascinating historical moment—achieving full status as an independent sovereign, ridding itself of the last vestiges of colonialism, just as the forces of globalization are changing in such dramatic ways what sovereignty means. Looking at this moment, Professor McLean analyzes not globalization as an abstract force, but rather the deep institutional effects that globalization has had on one nation’s internal sovereignty. Her examination of such developments as the expanded role of New Zealand’s judiciary in interpreting human rights instruments, and the means by which international economic instruments are incorporated into national legislation, reveals the impact of globalization on New Zealand’s system of parliamentary sovereignty as well as the restraints that it imposes on the exercise of executive and legislative autonomy in the country. Throughout, her paper exposes ways in which certain elements of globalization echo elements of the country’s earlier colonialism. Much of Professor McLean’s paper discusses the particular challenges that globalization presents to the country’s judicial system. In New Zealand courts, the influence of the colonial institutions that bound New Zealand to an empire is fading, 1 while international law—which will bind New Zealand to the global community—is gaining strength. One aspect of this phenomenon that Professor McLean discusses is the process by which the common law has become “more permeable to human rights and other international law norms.” 2 This process is part of a larger process of judicial globalization, and a question her paper raises is what the experience of the judiciary in New Zealand might tell us about judicial globalization more generally—how that experience might be used to test
Homogeneous renewal equation

Abstract Let F be a non-arithmetic distribution on the line R , and W be the class of bounded functions w without discontinuity of the second kind such that min {w(t − 0), w(t+0)} ≤ w(t) ≤ max {w(t − 0), w(t+0)}, ∀ t ∈ R .In this paper, we show that the solution of the homogeneous renewal equation w = w ★ F in the class W is a constant-function.
Fatty acid inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is enhanced in pancreatic islets from insulin-resistant rats

A study was initiated to test two hypotheses. The first was the postulate that glucose-stimulated insulin secretion would be enhanced in pancreatic islets isolated from normal non-obese rats made insulin-resistant by dietary means. The second, related hypothesis was that glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by pancreatic islets isolated from insulin-resistant rats would be more vulnerable to inhibition following culture in the presence of fatty acids. For this purpose, insulin resistance was induced in normal Sprague-Dawley rats by feeding fat-enriched and fructose-enriched diets. The results indicate that islets isolated from either fat-fed or fructose-fed rats secreted significantly more insulin at a glucose concentration of 2.5 to 10.0 mmol/L. In addition, the mean maximal glucose (27 mmol/L)-stimulated insulin secretion rate was significantly lower (15.3 +/- 2.5 ng/islet/h) in islets from fructose-fed rats versus chow-fed rats (25.2 +/- 3.1 ng/islet/h) following culture for 48 hours in the presence of palmitate (0.125 micromol/L). These results support the view that glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is enhanced in islets from insulin-resistant rats, and that these islets are more vulnerable to the inhibitory effects of free fatty acid (FFA) on insulin secretion.
A silicon force sensor for robotics and medicine

Abstract This paper describes the development of a silicon-based force sensor packaged in a flexible polyimide-based package. The fabrication process is compatible with standard integrated circuit processes and produces a flexible package that sandwiches the metal leads between protective polyimide layers. Silicon direct bonding and bulk micromachining (both isotropic and anisotropic) are utilized to fabricate the silicon sensing element. The sensing element consists of a circular diaphragm (200 μm thick with a 200 μm radius) over a 10 μm deep sealed cavity. The shallow capacity depth provides built-in overforce protection. The diaphragm is instrumented with piezoresistors in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. Sensitivity to force is realized via the addition of a solid dome over the silicon diaphragm. The dome transmits the applied force to the diaphragm. Torlon and epoxy domes are bench tested. The epoxy dome produces significant hysteresis, while the Torlon dome shows low hysteresis (2.4% of the mean output) and low nonrepeatability ( −1 N −1 are typical. The response is linear for low forces (
Interdisciplinary services used by public schools

A questionnaire to survey interagency cooperation was developed and sent to public school educational agencies throughout the country. Respondents included: special education supervisors and principals, school psychologists, and administrators at the local, regional, and state level. It was found that children with specific learning disabilities were referred more frequently than children with mental retardation and identification and assessment were the interdisciplinary services most requested in terms of evaluation and inservice training for public school staffs.
Editorial: orthopaedics, advocacy, action.

Your first response to those three words is …? After last year’s bruising presidential race and developments in Washington suggesting professional uncertainty ahead, the title of this editorial might imply an incoming pitch for an orthopaedic political action committee. Many believe our specialty needs advocates where the big decisions get made. We may. But others need our action and our advocacy even more. In this issue, we interview the authors of two Editor’s Spotlight/Take 5 articles [DOIs: 10.1007/s11999-013-2839-4 and 10.1007/s11999-013-2836-7] that remind us that as surgeons we interact with—and have a responsibility to protect—many vulnerable people. This month we learn from Dr Della Rocca and colleagues [4] that orthopaedic surgeons continue to endorse a number of mistaken beliefs about the victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), and that only approximately one in 25 of us screens patients for IPV regularly. Although orthopaedic clinicians are positioned perfectly to discover and intervene, as a group, we do not do it. We have seen studies [2, 3] and heard calls from our Academy [1] for some time now. The message has been consistent over a period of years. Why are we not getting it? Also in this issue of CORR®, we read about another group of patients that needs our advocacy. On the surface, these patients—elite adolescent male basketball players—appear anything but vulnerable. Many of these kids are taller than most of us. Tougher, too, at least tougher than this Editor-in-Chief. But Siebenrock and colleagues found that tough on the outside is not enough. Children who train year-round for high-level basketball develop cam-type deformities [7], which may put them at risk for premature hip arthritis. Although this needs to be confirmed, no doubt you remember that it was orthopaedic research that convinced baseball leagues to institute pitch counts and other restrictions [6]…but not before many boys were injured. Similarly, young female athletes probably tear more anterior cruciate ligaments than they should given what we know about neuromuscular training and injury prevention [5]. You probably do not treat these children in the office, but you almost certainly have observed the increases in frequency, intensity, and duration of training that have become normative in youth sports. As clinician-scientists, we need to ask how much is too much, and to determine whether these vulnerable patients are being harmed by sport. If they are, as humanitarians, we need to be vocal "first responders" and advocate for different training regimens. And as physicians, we all need to enter our offices with eyes open to the near certainty that victims of IPV are seeing us. We need to start seeing them.
Remote Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds by Passive Multispectral Infrared Imaging Measurements

Automated pattern recognition methodology is described for the detection of signatures of volatile organic compounds from passive multispectral infrared imaging data collected from an aircraft platform. Data are acquired in an across-track scanning mode with a downward-looking line scanner based on 8 to 16 spectral channels in the 8-14 and 3-5 microm spectral ranges. Two controlled release experiments are performed in which plumes of ethanol are generated and detected from aircraft overflights at altitudes of 2200 to 2800 ft (671 to 853 m). In addition, a methanol release from a chemical manufacturing facility is monitored. Automated classifiers are developed by application of piecewise linear discriminant analysis to the calibrated, registered, and preprocessed radiance data acquired by the line scanner. Preprocessing steps evaluated include contrast enhancement, temperature-emissivity separation, feature selection, and feature extraction/noise reduction by the minimum noise fraction (MNF) transform. Successful classifiers are developed for both compounds and are tested with data not used in the classifier development. Separation of temperature and emissivity by use of the alpha residual calculation is found to reduce false positive detections to a negligible level, and the MNF transform is shown to enhance detection sensitivity.
Evaluation of Advanced Two Tier User Authentication scheme

In this paper, we evaluate the performance of our Advanced Two Tier User Authentication (ATTUA) scheme [5] which is proposed for heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks. ATTUA scheme employs both Public Key Cryptography (PKC) and Secret Key Cryptography (SKC) approaches, such that it takes advantage of both schemes. Our analysis and simulation results have shown that, ATTUA scheme is not only more secure and yet scalable than existing SKC based schemes, but also requires less processing power and provides higher energy efficiency than existing PKC based schemes.
Synthesis of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) on Initiator-Modified Self-Assembled Monolayers

This report describes a convenient method for in situ polymerization of the environmentally responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM), on the surfaces of azo-initiator-derivatized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of ω-terminated alkanethiolates on gold. In contrast to previous methods for initiation of free radical polymerization from SAM surfaces, this method utilizes simple chemistry and commercially available precursors. Carboxylic acid-containing SAMs were derivatized with the azo-initiator, 2,2‘-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride, by first activating the carboxylic acid moieties with Woodward's reagent K. The initiator-containing samples were used to initiate polymerization at the surface. The process was enhanced by the dilution of the carboxylic acid species within the monolayer. The resulting tethered PNIPAAM surfaces were characterized using ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact angle goniometry and tested for their ability to attach and release bacteria....
Establishment of switchgrass and big bluestem in corn with atrazine

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) provide abundant forage for livestock and wildlife during hot summer months when cool-season grass species may decline in production. Little biomass production for grazing may result during warm-season grass establishment because of weed competition. Chemical methods of weed control are now limited, because application of atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N'-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine] to switchgrass and big bluestem is no longer allowed according to the label. Using corn (Zea mays L.) as a companion crop could provide potential for high biomass production during warm-season grass establishment, and allow the use of atrazine for weed control. This study investigated the ability of switchgrass and big bluestem to establish in a corn companion crop. The effects of corn hybrid (short- vs. long-season), population density, row spacing, and harvest date on switchgrass and big bluestem stands and on corn production were quantified. Establishment of switchgrass and big bluestem in corn was successful. Switchgrass mean stands were 26.3 plants m -2 in 1995 and 46.4 plants m -2 in 1996. Big bluestem stands were similar to switchgrass in 1995 (31.7 plants m -2 ), but were much lower in 1996 (5.2 plants m -2 ). Long-season corn hybrids and higher-density corn populations increased corn silage and grain yield without reducing warm-season grass stands. Within a season, no difference existed between corn grain yields when grown with either switchgrass (6.7 Mg ha -1 in 1995, 53 Mg ha -1 in 1996) or big bluestem (6.9 Mg ha -1 in 1995, 5.7 Mg ha -1 in 1996). Silage dry matter yield was not different between corn grown with switchgrass (12.6 Mg ha -1 in 1995, 16.1 Mg ha -1 in 1996) and corn grown with big bluestem (13.1 Mg ha -1 in 1995, and 16.6 Mg ha -1 in 1996) for a given year. Switchgrass and big bluestem grown in corn with atrazine reduced land production losses during the establishment year, yet allowed adequate establishment of these grasses for future forage production.
Isolation of oligogalacturonic acids in gram quantities by preparative h.p.l.c.

Abstract Oligogalacturonic acids up to a degree of polymerization of 7 (d.p. 7) were isolated in gram quantities by preparative h.p.l.c. from endo-polygalacturonase- and pectate lyase-depolymerized polygalacturonic acid. A Dynamax-60A NH 2 (21.4 × 250 mm) 1-aminopropyl silica gel column was used with an isocratic acetate buffer (ca. 0.9 m , pH 5) mobile phase. Automated operation of the preparative h.p.l.c. system allowed for rapid, high-resolution separation and collection of oligogalacturonic acids that typically were 95–99% pure on a chromatographic peak area basis. The chromatographic system described represents an advance in oligogalacturonic acid isolation and purification methodology since it is faster, less labor intensive, and it provides higher isolation rates (over 300 mg/h of total oligosaccharides) than the traditionally used ambient pressure strong anion-exchange chromatography.
α-Hydroxy amides as a novel class of bradykinin B1 selective antagonists

Abstract Antagonism of the bradykinin B1 receptor represents a potential treatment for chronic pain and inflammation. Novel antagonists incorporating α-hydroxy amides were designed that display low-nanomolar affinity for the human bradykinin B1 receptor and good bioavailability in the rat and dog. In addition, these functionally active compounds show high passive permeability and low susceptibility to phosphoglycoprotein mediated efflux, predictive of good CNS exposure.
Regulation of aberrant neurofilament phosphorylation in neuronal perikarya. III. Alterations following single and continuous /gB,ß′-iminodipropionitrile administrations

β,s′-Iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) administration produces giant neurofilament-filled axonal swellings in the first proximal internodes of large myelinated sensory and motor fibers without any accompanying axonal degeneration. In the present study, we asked whether proximal giant axonal swellings are sufficient to elicit aberrant neurofilament (NF) phosphorylation in neuronal perikarya. Rats were given a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of IDPN (2 g/kg) followed by IDPN (0.1%) in the drinking water (continuous IDPN exposure) or tap water (single IDPN exposure) for two days to 7 weeks. Immunoreactivity to phosphorylated NF (pNF) epitopes (using monoclonal antibodies 6–17 and 7–05) was observed in L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons beginning between one and 5 days, corresponding to the development of proximal giant axonal swellings. Quantitation of DRG neurons demonstrated maximal numbers of immunoreactive cell bodies to pNF epitopes (46–51%) by one week. The number of immunostained DRG cells was maintained in animals given continuous IDPN exposure, but declined significantly (P < 0.001) in rats given a single injection of IDPN to 26 ± 0.80% and 6 ± 0.04% at 3 and 5 weeks, respectively. Ventral and dorsal root fibers, which undergo axonal atrophy distal to axonal swellings, showed intense immunoreactivity to pNF epitopes and a marked reduction or a complete lack of immunostaining to antibody 2–135 (directed against non-phosphorylated NF epitopes); pretreatment with alkaline phosphatase reversed this staining pattern. In a separate study, a similar alkaline phosphatase-sensitive lack of staining to antibody 2–135 was also observed in atrophic motor fibers in the DRG 4 weeks following nerve crush. It is suggested that aberrant NF phosphorylation in DRG neuronal cell bodies from IDPN-treated rats arises secondarily to an alteration in a retrogradely transported ‘trophic’ signal(s) to the neuron due to the presence of giant axonal swellings. Furthermore, pNFs in atrophic axons may correspond to stationary or slowly moving NFs in the axoplasm.
Quaternion fields inside Pythagorean closure

Abstract A question of Roger Ware about nonexistence of quaternion extensions inside Pythagorean closure of a field is answered. It is shown that if the dihedral group of order 8 is not realizable as the Galois group of an extension inside the Pythagorean closure, then also the quaternion group of order 8 is not realizable.
Alkene determination by bromination and gas chromatography with element-selective atomic plasma spectroscopic detection

A gas chromatography (GC) method for the determination of alkenes in complex hydrocarbon mixtures containing aromatic and saturated hydrocarbons is presented. The method enables selective and quantitative bromination of alkenes without affecting aromatic and saturated compounds. The dibromoalkanes formed are detected with minimal interference from coeluting hydrocarbons by bromine-selective atomic emission detection, with sub-nanogram bromine sensitivity. The method is applied to alkenes in gasolines, wherein those having lower octane number contain higher amounts of alkenes and those with higher octane number contain relatively lower levels. This method has potential for further refinement for alkene analysis in different types of hydrocarbon samples.
APPLICATION OF ACTINIDIN FROM KIWIFRUIT TO MEAT TENDERIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BEEF MUSCLE PROTEIN HYDROLYSIS

The effect of actinidin on the tenderness of broiled bovine semitendinosus (ST) steaks was studied. An actinidin activity of 400 U/mL resulted in Kramer shear values and sensory tenderness scores equivalent to that produced by Adolph's papain-based meat tenderizer (18 U/mL). Both were significantly (P<0.05) more tender than steaks having no tenderizing treatment. Actinidin did not over-tenderize the steak surface as did Adolph's meat tenderizer. Hydrolysis of myofibrillar proteins in enzyme-treated steaks prior to broiling was considerably less for actinidin than for papain when using activities to attain equal Kramer shear values of broiled steaks.
Application of discrete orthogonal combinatorial prediction in crime sites

We establish two mathematical models by using Stochastic Partial Elasticity Theory and Artificial Neural Network respectively to obtain two sets of predicted values of of the next crime site. We also estabish a prediction model to solve the combinatorial weighting coefficient with prediction precision as optimization index. After combining the two sets of values dynamicly by using Discrete Orthogonal Method, we get a combinatorial predicted value.
A Fluid Filtration Comparison of Gutta-Percha versus Resilon, a New Soft Resin Endodontic Obturation System

The purpose of this study was to compare the sealing ability of gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer versus Resilon and Epiphany Resin Root Canal sealer using three different final irrigants with the fluid filtration model. There were 140 teeth prepared using a crown-down method to a size 50 file. The teeth were randomly divided into two groups: (A) GP and AH Plus and (B) Resilon and Epiphany. After removal of the smear layer each group was irrigated with either 5.25% NaOCl, 0.012% chlorhexidine (CHX), or 2% CHX for 10 minutes. Obturation was performed using the continuous wave of condensation. The teeth were stored for 20 days in 100% humidity before testing. Two-way ANOVA analysis indicated significantly less leakage (p < 0.05) using Resilon with Epiphany sealer compared to gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer. There was no statistical significance between any of the irrigants used for either obturation group.
Comparison of Sensor Fusion Methods for Land Cover Delineations

This study evaluated spaceborne radar and optical data independently and in combination for land use/cover mapping. Improved classification accuracy was obtained when these discrepant data sets were combined, often with the use of radar-derived measures such as texture. One of the three study sites had a merged sensor accuracy improvement of 18 percent over either sensor independently. Four different methods to combine the two sensor types were compared. The highest classification accuracies did not occur in all study sites with the same procedures for sensor integration. Generally, a procedure with a more equal weighting of the number of bands from each sensor was best, such as three of the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) bands from the optical data with radar texture measures.