cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gentle quantum events as the source of explicate order

. It is proposed that multiple emission and absorption of soft photons in a discrete quantum world (implicate order) generates the continuous Cartesian-Newtonian-Einsteinian space-time world of localizable objects and conscious observers with measuring rods and clocks (explicate order).
Avatar self-embodiment enhances distance perception accuracy in non-photorealistic immersive virtual environments

Non-photorealistically rendered (NPR) immersive virtual environments (IVEs) can facilitate conceptual design in architecture by enabling preliminary design sketches to be previewed and experienced at full scale, from a first-person perspective. However, it is critical to ensure the accurate spatial perception of the represented information, and many studies have shown that people typically underestimate distances in most IVEs, regardless of rendering style. In previous work we have found that while people tend to judge distances more accurately in an IVE that is a high-fidelity replica of their concurrently occupied real environment than in an IVE that it is a photorealistic representation of a real place that they've never been to, significant distance estimation errors re-emerge when the replica environment is represented in a NPR style. We have also previously found that distance estimation accuracy can be improved, in photo-realistically rendered novel virtual environments, when people are given a fully tracked, high fidelity first person avatar self-embodiment. In this paper we report the results of an experiment that seeks to determine whether providing users with a high-fidelity avatar self-embodiment in a NPR virtual replica environment will enable them to perceive the 3D spatial layout of that environment more accurately. We find that users who are given a first person avatar in an NPR replica environment judge distances more accurately than do users who experience the NPR replica room without an embodiment, but not as accurately as users whose distance judgments are made in a photorealistically rendered virtual replica room. Our results provide a partial solution to the problem of facilitating accurate distance perception in NPR virtual environments, while supporting and expanding the scope of previous findings that giving people a realistic avatar self-embodiment in an IVE can help them to interpret what they see through an HMD in a way that is more similar to how they would interpret a corresponding visual stimulus in the real world.
A Novel Wavelet Based Algorithm for Spike and Wave Detection in Absence Epilepsy

Absence seizures are characterized by sudden loss of consciousness and interruption of ongoing motor activities for a brief period of time lasting few to several seconds and up to half a minute. Due to their brevity and subtle clinical manifestations absence seizures are easily missed by inexperienced observers. Accurate evaluation of their high frequency of recurrence can be a challenge even for experienced observers. We present a novel method for detecting and analyzing absence seizures acquired from electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in patients with absence seizures. Six patients were included in this study, two seizure free, of a total recording time of 26 hours, and four experiencing over 100 seizures within 14.5 hours of total recordings. Our algorithm detected only one false positive finding in the first seizure free patients and 148 of 186 continuous uninterrupted 3Hz spike and wave discharge (SWD) epochs in the rest of the patients. Out of the total 38 missed SWD epochs 28 were
The Monetary Doctrines of J. M. Keynes

I. Scope of the treatise, 547.—II. The theory of prices; the equations of exchange; relation between investment and saving, 549.— Does it solve the "dilemma" of the "over-savings" theories? 553. — Specific maladjustments, 555.— Profit versus anticipated profit, 556.— III. The money mechanism. Distinction between income and savings deposits; treatment of demand and time deposits, 558. The problem of business deposits, 560. Security booms and deposits; does speculation tie up credit? 567.—IV. Bank control of prices, 573. Bank rate and investment, 575.— Market rate and "natural rate," 578. Bank control and the major depressions: the nineties, 581; — England since the war, 583; — the current depression, 584.— Bank control by action "in advance," 584.— External versus internal stability, 586.
Automatic Process Planning and Toolpath Generation of a Multiaxis Hybrid Manufacturing System

With the integration of multiaxis layered manufacturing and material removal (machining) processes, a hybrid system has more capability and flexibility to build complicated geometry with a single setup. Process planning to integrate the two different processes is a key issue. In this paper, an algorithm of adaptive slicing for a five-axis Laser Aided Manufacturing Process (LAMP) is summarized that can generate uniform and non-uniform thickness slices. A method to build a non-uniform (thickness) layer that utilizes two processes is presented, and an overall algorithm for integration is described. The newly developed algorithm implemented in the process planning helps the hybrid system build parts more efficiently.
Autofeedback Regulation of Prolactin (PRL) Secretion: Effect of Prolactin before Suckling on the Subsequent Nursing-Induced Release of PRL in the Lactating Rat*

PRL can have an inhibitory effect upon its own release. The present investigation assessed quantitative and temporal relationships among exogenously raised systemic PRL concentrations, PRL discharged in situ, and PRL negative feedback control of PRL release. Lactating rats were administered PRL in amounts designed to increase systemic plasma PRL concentrations to levels that either exceed (3 mg ovine PRL injected sc) or fall within (five iv injections of 400 or 800 ng rat PRL given at 1-min intervals) the range of PRL concentrations normally produced by suckling stimulation. The 800-ng iv or 3-mg sc dose of PRL did not block the suckling-induced rise of plasma PRL concentration when given 30 min before suckling. When administered 4 h beforehand, however, 3 mg PRL reduced both the suckling- and ether-stimulated rises of plasma PRL. Although the 400- or 800-ng iv dose of PRL increased systemic plasma PRL concentrations to levels (280 and 389 ng/ml, respectively) that approximate those of the suckled rat, neither dose inhibited the suckling-induced release of PRL when given 4 h before nursing. These data indicate that high concentrations of PRL are required before PRL from the systemic circulation can activate PRL autoregulatory mechanisms, and that these mechanisms are not activated as an immediate response to rising plasma PRL titers. The suckling-induced release of PRL was also inhibited by 3 mg PRL given 16 h before nursing. The PRL discharged in situ by 15 min of nursing was not effective, however, in blocking the suckling-induced release of PRL 16 h later. Since large amounts of PRL can presumably reach PRL regulatory mechanisms during in situ release via retrograde pituitary secretion, we conclude that the functional significance of autofeedback control of PRL release may be limited to conditions where PRL secretion is prolonged or at an abnormally high rate.
Health and biomedical informatics: opportunities and challenges for a twenty-first century profession and its education.

Objectives: Characterize the health and biomedical informatics workforce, its professionalization, and its education. Methods: Literature review and analysis. Results: Although the value of health information technology is increasingly well-documented, there are still barriers to its widespread adoption around the world. One of those barriers is a well-defined and competent workforce for developing, evaluating, and implementing systems. There are plenty of opportunities in health and biomedical informatics, yet there also is still much that we do not know about this workforce and its education. Conclusions: Continued efforts must be made to characterize and understand the optimal organization and education of this workforce.
Modern treatment of 84 newly diagnosed craniopharyngiomas

There is debate regarding the appropriate treatment for craniopharyngiomas, which often present symptomatically given their proximity to critical brain structures, and pose significant surgical challenges. The goal of this study is to identify which patient and tumor characteristics are associated with specific preoperative symptoms, surgical complications, patient outcomes, and tumor recurrence in order to guide craniopharyngioma treatment. We retrospectively identified 84 patients with newly diagnosed craniopharyngiomas treated at our institution from 1986-2010. We used binary logistic regression and survival analysis to determine the effect of several variables (including sex, age, tumor size, location, surgical approach, and extent of resection) on preoperative symptoms and postoperative outcomes, including complication rates and tumor recurrence. Age and tumor location were associated with increased rates of preoperative symptoms, with children being more likely than adults to present with endocrine dysfunction, and intraventricular tumors being more likely than extraventricular tumors to present with headaches and hydrocephalus. A transcranial surgical approach was associated with 1.5 times higher rate of surgical complications than transsphenoidal surgery, while only intraventricular tumor location was associated with a poorer patient outcome. The main factor significantly associated with tumor recurrence was extent of resection. We conclude that intraventricular tumor location is most highly correlated with preoperative symptoms. If feasible, transsphenoidal approaches are preferred, as they result in fewer surgical complications, and gross total resections are optimal because they lead to lower rates of recurrence. When gross total resection is not possible, we favor multimodal treatment approaches.
Dispersal in Marine Organisms without a Pelagic Larval Phase

Synopsis In contrast to marine organisms whose offspring go through an extended planktonic stage, the young of others develop directly into benthic juveniles or into yolky nonfeeding larvae that spend only a few hours in the plankton before settling. Yet, paradoxically, many such species have geographic distributions that are comparable to those with a pelagic dispersal stage. This article reviews some of the ways in which these organisms can expand their distributions: drifting, rafting, hitchhiking, creeping, and hopping. Drifting applies to species in which larvae may be short-lived, but adults can detach or be detached from their benthic substratum and be passively carried to new areas, floating at the water’s surface or below it. Many encrusting species and mobile species can spread by rafting, settling on natural or artificial floating substrata which are propelled by wind and currents to new regions. Hitchhiking applies to those attaching to vessels or being carried in ballast water of ships to a distant region in which their offspring can survive. Other marine species extend their distributions by hopping from one island of hard substratum or favorable sedimentary microhabitat to another, while creeping species extend their distributions along shores or shelves where habitats remain similar for long distances.
Asynchronous wakeup for ad hoc networks

Due to the slow advancement of battery technology, power management in wireless networks remains to be a critical issue. Asynchronous wakeup has the merits of not requiring global clock synchronization and being resilient to network dynamics. This paper presents a systematic approach to designing and implementing asynchronous wakeup mechanisms in ad hoc networks. The optimal wakeup schedule design can be formulated as a block design problem in combinatorics. We propose a neighbor discovery and schedule bookkeeping protocol that can operate on the optimal wakeup schedule derived. Two power management policies, i.e. slot-based power management and on-demand power management, are studied to overlay desirable communication schedule over the wakeup schedule mandated by the asynchronous wakeup mechanism. Simulation studies indicate that the proposed asynchronous wakeup protocol is quite effective under various traffic characteristics and loads: energy saving can be as high as 70%, while the packet delivery ratio is comparable to that without power management.
Expression of Duplicate msa Genes in the Salmonid Pathogen Renibacterium salmoninarum

Renibacterium salmoninarum is a gram-positive bacterium responsible for bacterial kidney disease of salmon and trout. R. salmoninarum has two identical copies of the gene encoding major soluble antigen (MSA), an immunodominant, extracellular protein. To determine whether one or both copies of msa are expressed, reporter plasmids encoding a fusion of MSA and green fluorescent protein controlled by 0.6 kb of promoter region from msa1 or msa2 were constructed and introduced into R. salmoninarum. Single copies of the reporter plasmids integrated into the chromosome by homologous recombination. Expression of mRNA and protein from the integrated plasmids was detected, and transformed cells were fluorescent, demonstrating that both msa1 and msa2 are expressed under in vitro conditions. This is the first report of successful transformation and homologous recombination in R. salmoninarum.
Activation of Eotaxin Gene Transcription by NF-κB and STAT6 in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

The C-C chemokine eotaxin is a potent chemoattractant for eosinophils and probably plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma, although the mechanisms of its regulation are not well known. Airway epithelial cells express eotaxin mRNA and protein after stimulation with a variety of cytokines. We focused on the molecular mechanisms of eotaxin gene regulation by TNF-α and IL-4 in the airway epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B. Cells were transfected with luciferase reporter plasmids, which contained up to 1363 bp of the eotaxin promoter. Eotaxin promoter activity was increased by TNF-α (2.5-fold) and IL-4 (1.5-fold), respectively. The combination of TNF-α and IL-4 produced 3.6-fold activation of the eotaxin promoter. The eotaxin promoter contains overlapping consensus binding sites for transcription factors, NF-κB and STAT6, which are known to mediate responses to TNF-α and IL-4, respectively. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed NF-κB binding after TNF-α stimulation and STAT6 binding after IL-4 stimulation using a DNA probe derived from the eotaxin promoter. Mutant plasmids were generated to define the roles of these transcription factors in eotaxin promoter activity. TNF-α stimulation, but not IL-4 stimulation, was lost in plasmids mutated at the NF-κB binding site, whereas IL-4 stimulation, but not TNF-α stimulation, was lost in plasmids mutated at the STAT6 binding site. When both sites were mutated, all transcriptional activation was lost. These results imply that TNF-α and IL-4 stimulate expression of the eotaxin gene by activating NF-κB and STAT6.
Factors Associated With Advance Care Planning Discussions by Area Agency on Aging Care Managers

Background:Initiating advance care planning (ACP) discussions in the home may prevent avoidable hospitalizations by elucidating goals of care. Area agencies on aging care managers (AAACMs) work in the home with high-risk consumers.Purpose:To determine which AAACM characteristics contribute to an increased frequency of ACP discussions.Method:Cross-sectional investigator-generated surveys administered to AAACMs at 3 AAAs in Ohio. Results: Of 289 AAACMs, 182 (63%) responded. The more experience and comfort AAACMs felt with ACP discussions, the more likely they were to initiate ACP discussions.Discussion:It may be necessary to build interactive educational experiences where, for example, AAACMs are asked to fill out their own advance directives and/or facilitate others in ACP discussions to improve experience and comfort with ACP discussions.
Diversifying Carotenoid Biosynthetic Pathways by Directed Evolution

Microorganisms and plants synthesize a diverse array of natural products, many of which have proven indispensable to human health and well-being. Although many thousands of these have been characterized, the space of possible natural products—those that could be made biosynthetically—remains largely unexplored. For decades, this space has largely been the domain of chemists, who have synthesized scores of natural product analogs and have found many with improved or novel functions. New natural products have also been made in recombinant organisms, via engineered biosynthetic pathways. Recently, methods inspired by natural evolution have begun to be applied to the search for new natural products. These methods force pathways to evolve in convenient laboratory organisms, where the products of new pathways can be identified and characterized in high-throughput screening programs. Carotenoid biosynthetic pathways have served as a convenient experimental system with which to demonstrate these ideas. Researchers have mixed, matched, and mutated carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes and screened libraries of these "evolved" pathways for the emergence of new carotenoid products. This has led to dozens of new pathway products not previously known to be made by the assembled enzymes. These new products include whole families of carotenoids built from backbones not found in nature. This review details the strategies and specific methods that have been employed to generate new carotenoid biosynthetic pathways in the laboratory. The potential application of laboratory evolution to other biosynthetic pathways is also discussed.
Are hemostasis and thrombosis two sides of the same coin

Factor XII (FXII), a clotting enzyme that can initiate coagulation in vitro, has long been considered dispensable for normal blood clotting in vivo because hereditary deficiencies in FXII are not associated with spontaneous or excessive bleeding. However, new studies show that mice lacking FXII are protected against arterial thrombosis (obstructive clot formation) and stroke. Thus, FXII could be a unique drug target that could be blocked to prevent thrombosis without the side effect of increased bleeding.
Role of fractal structure on thin-film processing of YBa2Cu3O7 –x using alkoxide sols

An alkoxide sol–gel route has been developed for producing YBa2Cu3O7 –x superconducting powder and oriented thin films. CuII methoxyethoxide, Y methoxyethoxide and Ba methoxyethoxide precursors were synthesized and processed into stable sols with methoxyethanol (MOE), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene and diisopropyl ketone (DIK) solvents. Pyridine (C5H5N), lutidine (C13H21N) and toluene-2,4-disulphonic acid were used as organic additives to modify the polymeric network structure and corresponding sol behaviour. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) were used to study the structural modifications in sols and gels with changes in solution chemistry parameters, viz. acidity/basicity, moisture exposure and solvent system. Mass-fractal dimensions in the range 2.0–2.5 were obtained for 0.01–0.1 mol kg–1 YBa2Cu3 sols in methoxyethanol–methyl ethyl ketone–toluene solvent. Significant effects of two organic base additives, pyridine and lutidine, on the sol structure were observed as a function of sol concentration. The ability of the different solutions to cover SrTiO3, ZrO2, sapphire, SiO2 and silicon substrates was measured by contact-angle measurements. Thin films produced via spin casting, dip coating and spray coating were characterized using optical, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction techniques, and the results are discussed in terms of the sol structures.
Growth Kinetics, Nutrient Uptake, and Expression of the Alcaligenes eutrophus Poly(β‐hydroxybutyrate) Synthesis Pathway in Transgenic Maize Cell Suspension Cultures

Transgenic suspension cultures of Black Mexican Sweet maize (Zea mays L.) expressing the Alcaligenes eutrophus genes encoding enzymes of the pathway for biosynthesis of the biodegradable polymer poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were established as a tool for investigating metabolic regulation of the PHB pathway in plant cells. Cultures were grown in a 2 L modified mammalian cell bioreactor and in shake flasks. Biomass doubling times for transgenic bioreactor cultures (3.42 +/- 0.76 days) were significantly higher than those for untransformed cultures (2.01 +/- 0.33 days). Transgenic expression of the bacterial enzymes beta-ketothiolase (0.140 units/mg protein) and acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (0.636 units/mg protein) was detected by enzyme assays and immunoblots. However, over the first 2 years of cultivation, reductase activity decreased to 0.120 units/mg proteins. Furthermore, the PHB synthase gene, although initially present, was not detectable after 1.5 years of cultivation in suspension culture. These facts suggest that transgenic expression of PHB pathway genes in plant cells may not be stable. A hydroxybutyrate derivative was detected via gas chromatography even after 4 years of cultivation. Although the method used to prepare samples for gas chromatography cannot directly distinguish among PHB polymer, hydroxybutyryl-CoA (HB-CoA), and hydroxybutyric acid, solvent washing experiments indicated that most or all of the signal was non-polymeric, presumably H-CoA. The synthesis of HB-CoA appeared to be linked to substrate growth limitation, with HB-CoA accumulation increasing dramatically and cell growth ceasing upon depletion of ammonium. This suggests that the PHB synthesis pathway in plants is subject to regulatory mechanisms similar to those in prokaryotic cells.
Micro- and Nanoscale Control of Cellular Environment for Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering is a potentially powerful approach for restoring organ functionality and overcoming the shortage of transplantable organs. In tissue engineering, the principles of engineering and life sciences are used to develop biological substitutes, typically composed of biological and synthetic components that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function [1]. Although relatively simple tissues such as cartilage and skin have already been successfully engineered, many basic challenges persist in the engineering of more complex tissues. These challenges – which include the generation of vascularized tissues and complex geometries – can be traced to our limited abilities to control the cellular environment at microand nanoscale resolution. Cells in the body reside in an environment that is regulated by cell–cell, cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell– soluble factor interactions presented in a spatially and temporally dependent manner (Figure 18.1). In order for tissue engineering to succeed, it is critical to reproduce these in-vivo factors outside the body. In this chapter we analyze the use of microand nanoscale engineering techniques for controlling and studying cell–cell, cell–substrate and cell–soluble factor interactions, as well as for fabricating organs with controlled architecture and resolution.
HOW ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECT POLLEN PERFORMANCE: ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVES

We review the effects of herbivory and other environmental factors on pollen performance in plants. We conclude that natural levels of variation in herbivory and other environmental factors during pollen development are often sufficient to cause significant differences in pollen performance, and that the differences in pollen performance are likely to be caused by differences in the provisioning of pollen grains. From an evolutionary perspective, we discuss how pollen and ovule provisioning may be negatively genetically correlated and how this would maintain genetic variation for pollen performance within populations. Furthermore, the highly plastic nature of pollen performance provides the potential for genotypes to respond differently to environmental variation (genotype–environment interactions), which would also promote the maintenance of genetic variation in pollen performance.
Rapid Binding of Plasminogen to Streptokinase in a Catalytic Complex Reveals a Three-step Mechanism

Abstract Rapid kinetics demonstrate a three-step pathway of streptokinase (SK) binding to plasminogen (Pg), the zymogen of plasmin (Pm). Formation of a fluorescently silent encounter complex is followed by two conformational tightening steps reported by fluorescence quenches. Forward reactions were defined by time courses of biphasic quenching during complex formation between SK or its COOH-terminal Lys414 deletion mutant (SKΔK414) and active site-labeled [Lys]Pg ([5-(acetamido)fluorescein]-d-Phe-Phe-Arg-[Lys]Pg ([5F]FFR-[Lys]Pg)) and by the SK dependences of the quench rates. Active site-blocked Pm rapidly displaced [5F]FFR-[Lys]Pg from the complex. The encounter and final SK·[5F]FFR-[Lys]Pg complexes were weakened similarly by SK Lys414 deletion and blocking of lysine-binding sites (LBSs) on Pg kringles with 6-aminohexanoic acid or benzamidine. Forward and reverse rates for both tightening steps were unaffected by 6-aminohexanoic acid, whereas benzamidine released constraints on the first conformational tightening. This indicated that binding of SK Lys414 to Pg kringle 4 plays a role in recognition of Pg by SK. The substantially lower affinity of the final SK·Pg complex compared with SK·Pm is characterized by a ∼25-fold weaker encounter complex and ∼40-fold faster off-rates for the second conformational step. The results suggest that effective Pg encounter requires SK Lys414 engagement and significant non-LBS interactions with the protease domain, whereas Pm binding additionally requires contributions of other lysines. This difference may be responsible for the lower affinity of the SK·Pg complex and the expression of a weaker “pro”-exosite for binding of a second Pg in the substrate mode compared with SK·Pm.
Lytic Replication-Defective Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus: Potential Role in Infection and Malignant Transformation

Defective viruses often have pivotal roles in virus-induced diseases. Although Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is etiologically associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), defective KSHV has not been reported. Using differential genetic screening methods, we show that defective KSHV is present in KS tumors and PEL cell lines. To investigate the role of defective viruses in KSHV-induced pathogenesis, we isolated and characterized a lytic replication-defective KSHV, KV-1, containing an 82-kb genomic deletion of solely lytic genes. Cells harboring KV-1 escaped G(0)/G(1) apoptosis induced by spontaneous lytic replication occurred in cells infected with regular KSHV but maintained efficient latent replication. Consequently, KV-1-infected cells had phenotypes of enhanced cell proliferation and transformation potentials. Importantly, KV-1 was packaged as infectious virions by using regular KSHV as helpers, and KV-1-like variants were detected in cultures of two of five KSHV cell lines and 1 of 18 KS tumors. These results point to a potential role for defective viruses in the regulation of KSHV infection and malignant transformation.
Protection, Not Protectionism: Multilateral Environmental Agreements and the GATT

In this article, Professor Baker examines the compatibility of multilateral environmental agreements with the provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The author discusses the key provisions of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the GATT.
Investigation of Radical and Polar Mechanisms in Vulcanization Reactions

Abstract The results obtained with free radical traps in a variety of curing systems for SBR rubber give evidence for both polar and free radical mechanisms. There is apparently no one mechanism even for sulfur vulcanization and the relative free radical or polar character of the crosslinking reaction varies over a broad range including situations in which both types occur in the same formulation. This may be due to competing reactions which function independently, or it may be the result of a combination of polar and free radical reactions in a single complex mechanism. For example, certain accelerators may initiate the reaction by dissociation to free radicals which attack the S8 molecule and form polysulfides which then decompose by a polar mechanism to initiate the propagation stage of the reaction. Based on the information obtained in this study and other supporting evidences, it is possible to group the familiar curing systems according to the apparent polar or free radical character of the reaction...
Virtual Authentication Ring for Securing Network Operations

Securing network operations in a distributed environment is essential for today’s communications yet is complex. Different than client /server architecture a distributed environment may contain peer to peer, overlay or arbitrary distributed network protocols without a centralized server for network control, and authentication has to be conducted in a distributed way to deal with malicious nodes in the network. In this paper we study authentication in a distributed environment for detecting malicious nodes when they launch attacks or disrupt applications. We propose a virtual authentication ring architecture and present a token ring authentication algorithm for detecting malicious
Visual outcomes of Boston keratoprosthesis implantation as the primary penetrating corneal procedure.

PURPOSE To report the short-term visual outcomes and complications of keratoprosthesis surgery as the primary penetrating corneal procedure for patients at high risk for conventional corneal transplantation. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted of 21 eyes of 19 patients who underwent either Boston keratoprosthesis type I or type II as the primary penetrating corneal procedure from February 2007 to March 2011. RESULTS Nineteen type I (90.5%) and 2 type II (9.5%) Boston keratoprosthesis procedures were performed in 19 patients. Mean follow-up was 14.6 months (range, 6-36.3 mo). Primary indications for surgery included chemical or thermal injury, aniridia, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged from 20/100 to light perception and was count fingers or worse in 20 eyes (95.2%). At last follow-up for all eyes, 15 eyes (71.4%) achieved BCVA≥20/200 and 4 eyes (19%) improved to BCVA≥20/50. No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative complications include retroprosthetic membrane formation (47.6%), cystoid macular edema (33.3%), elevated intraocular pressure (23.8%), glaucoma progression (14.3%), and endophthalmitis (4.8%). The initial keratoprosthesis was retained in 19 eyes (90.5%). CONCLUSION The Boston keratoprosthesis, based on early follow-up, is a good alternative as a primary penetrating corneal procedure in a select group of patients with very poor prognosis for penetrating keratoplasty. Although complications can occur and require close monitoring, visual acuity significantly improved in the majority of patients.
To Reinstate or to Not Reinstate? An Exploratory Study of Student Perspectives on the Death Penalty in Michigan

The U.S. state of Michigan abolished the death penalty in 1846. Since then, several abortive efforts have been made by state legislators to re-establish the death sentence to deal with convicted murderers. Concurrently, some support exists among Michigan residents for the restoration of capital punishment in the state. This article presents the results of the analysis of an attitudinal survey of 116 college students enrolled in three criminal justice courses in a Michigan public university concerning the reinstatement of the death sentence in the state. The data from this exploratory study show that a slight majority (52.6%) of respondents favored reinstatement whereas 45.7% opposed restoration. Advocates and opponents of re-establishment of the death penalty in Michigan provided similar religious, moral and economic arguments proffered by others in previous surveys on capital punishment available in the death penalty literature. The current study makes a contribution to the scant extant literature on attitudes toward the death penalty in abolitionist jurisdictions. As this body of literature grows, it can provide baseline data or information with which to compare attitudes in retentionist states.
Speaking Up: Examining Voice in War Correspondence

ion and are left confused by how to reveal their voices, and instructors are left frustrated by the lack of voice in students’ writing, particularly academic (non-fiction) writing. As I have found in my own teaching, voice is the individualistic aspect of writing that students learn to trust and express. Why? To develop a richer understanding and appreciation of language; to add greater depth and texture to their writing that’s meant to be read; and to become more engaging and effective writers who do not invent or construct a voice, but rather discover one. Writers use their voices because they long to be heard. But how does voice–the permeating essence of writing–connect to language? Voice is integral to language. In Language and Learning, James Britton explains, “the interpretive function of language is essentially the use of words to ‘give shape to experience’” (13). Similarly, the “interpretive function” of voice is “essentially the use of words to give shape” to a writer’s expressions to an audience– self or others (13). As such, a writer’s language reveals a voice, the intangible aspect of the words eliciting rather immediate emotional and intellectual responses from an audience. In English studies, voice is both defined and ill defined.
Investigation on SF6 Decomposition Products in GIS and Affecting Factors

By use of specially designed fault simulator for 110kV gas insulated switchgear(GIS),the production regularity of SF6 decomposition products,mostly SO2 and SOF2,and the effects of partial discharge strength,discharge forms,humidity of SF6 and absorbents on the content of SF6 decomposition products are researched.The availability of SF6 decomposition products in fault diagnosis of GIS equipments and the issues to be paid attention to are discussed preliminarily.
Subjective Cognitive Impairment and Affective Symptoms: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF STUDY Subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) has been argued to reflect affective symptoms (i.e., depression and anxiety) rather than actual cognitive issues. Although a number of studies exist that look at the associations between SCI and affective symptoms, no review is available to aggregate this disparate literature. We addressed this gap by conducting a systematic review to better understand the relationships among SCI and affective symptoms among older adults in both community and clinical settings. DESIGN AND METHODS We reviewed available literature per the criteria of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Weight of evidence (WoE) ratings and narrative synthesis were completed for 58 articles. RESULTS A majority of studies focused on community-based samples (n = 40). Approximately half (53%) of the articles reviewed met high WoE criteria for the current review. Cross-sectional findings consistently identified a positive relationship among SCI and affective symptoms. Findings from available longitudinal studies (n = 9) were mixed but suggested a possible reciprocal relationship among SCI and depression. The relationship between SCI and anxiety appeared to be driven by fears over loss of function. Following consultation with health professionals, the association between SCI and anxiety was diminished or eliminated. IMPLICATIONS Although SCI is consistently related to affective symptoms in older adults cross-sectionally, more longitudinal work is needed to understand their temporal relationship. Improved measurement of SCI would support a deeper understanding of the impact of SCI on psychological well-being.
Computers in Schools: Why Governments Should Do Their Homework

Latin American and Caribbean countries fare poorly in terms of student learning. After significant improvements in recent decades in the enrollment of children in preschool, primary, and secondary education, the region now faces significant challenges to ensure that its students achieve adequate levels of learning. One indication of the gap is standardized test scores. Figure 6.1 presents average standardized test scores for students aged 15 and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2006, by country. Countries in the region, identified in black, perform significantly worse than their counterparts with similar levels of development. For example, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico have a GDP per capita similar to Latvia, Russia, and Turkey, but these countries outperform the Latin American countries by large margins. Colombia and Brazil, with a similar GDP per capita to Azerbaijan and Thailand, fare substantially worse in international assessments.
73 A Study of the Catalytic Hydrogenation of Methoxybenzenes over Platinum and Rhodium Catalysts

The rates of hydrogenation of anisole, veratrole, resorcinol dimethyl ether, hydroquinone dimethyl ether, and 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene have been determined employing both Adams' platinum and 5% rhodium on alumina catalysts. The activation energies were of the order of 4–8 kcal./mole. For a given compound the activation energy was found to be greater for the rhodium catalyst. The amount of hydrogen absorbed per mole of compound indicated that extensive cleavage (40–60%) of the methoxyl groups occurred in the presence of platinum; the cleavage was much smaller (6–18%) with the supported rhodium. For each catalyst it was shown that the amount of cleavage increases linearly with temperature for all compounds except anisole, where the change with temperature was quite small or negligible. The discovery that over the rhodium catalysts, particularly at lower temperatures, the aromatic nucleus was reduced with only slight cleavage of methoxyl groups should be of importance in organic syntheses. Even though extensive cleavage occurred in hydrogenations with platinum oxide, it was shown that the relative reaction rates for the methoxybenzenes were in good agreement with those for the corresponding methylbenzenes where no hydrogenolysis occurs.
Moisture Stress Indicators in Giant Sequoia Groves in the Southern Sierra Nevada of California, USA

Giant sequoia [ Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) J. Buchholz] trees and their ecosystems are unique natural treasures in the Sierra Nevada, California, where most groves are federally managed for biodiversity, perpetuation of the species, and aesthetic, recreational, ecological, and scientific values. Increasing temperatures during the next several decades may create conditions unfavorable for these giant sequoias. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective management systems to preserve the health of these giant sequoia groves. This study used a topographic wetness index (TWI) as the indicator of soil moisture conditions to evaluate the vulnerability of giant sequoia groves to soil moisture stress and focused on evaluating TWI distributions among all 70 sequoia groves to assess their vulnerability to soil moisture stress. The TWI values were derived using a 10-m digital elevation model and compared with soil, geology, slope, aspect, and elevation at the sequoia groves to understand the vulnerability of the groves to soil moisture stress. The TWI values were also compared with snow cover persistence derived from 12 yr of MODIS snow cover products. In addition, satellite soil moisture products were used to compare the dry and wet periods predicted by snow cover persistence. Results showed that the groves located at higher elevation are less vulnerable unless the TWI across the groves is low. For the large number of groves with elevations mainly in the 1800- to 2100-m range, the TWI distributions can serve as a first-order indicator of relative vulnerability. Further, this analysis showed that areas with milder slopes and more converging area (higher TWI), plus longer snow cover persistence, should be less susceptible to low summer soil moisture than areas having steeper slopes, more diverging topography (lower TWI), and earlier snowmelt. This analysis can be used to highlight groves that are potentially more vulnerable, particularly when considering TWI, snow cover persistence, and satellite soil moisture together.
Abstract 5094: Capsaicin inhibits invasion of human non-small cell lung cancer cells in a TRPV1 receptor independent manner

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises 85% of lung cancer cases and is characterized by aggressive clinical course and rapid metastasis. One of the challenges of NSCLCs is that the tumor has frequently metastasized to distant organs at the time of diagnosis. The invasion of tumor cells is a key step in the metastatic cascade. Dietary compounds like capsaicin have been known to cause apoptosis in human NSCLCs. However, the effect of capsaicin on the pro-invasive ability of NSCLC cells has not yet been studied. The present study investigates the impact of capsaicin on the invasion of human NSCLCs. Boyden chamber assays show that capsaicin inhibits the invasion of NSCLC in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. The pro-invasive activity of capsaicin was verified by a second invasion assay, the spherical invasion assay, and similar results were obtained. The anti-invasive activity of capsaicin was independent of its growth-inhibitory activity and manifested at a lower concentration. The heat-sensation activity of capsaicin is mediated by the transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) family of proteins. Capsaicin functions as an agonist of the TRPV1 receptor. However, the anti-invasive activity of capsaicin was not affected by the generalized TRPV receptor antagonist ruthenium red. Specific antagonists to TRPV1, namely capsazepine and SB36671, did not reverse the anti-invasive activity of capsaicin. Taken together, capsaicin potently suppresses invasion of human NSCLCs independent of the TRPV receptor family. Citation Format: Matthew N. Eskew, Kathleen C. Brown, Piyali Dasgupta. Capsaicin inhibits invasion of human non-small cell lung cancer cells in a TRPV1 receptor independent manner. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5094. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5094
Stabilization Policy in a Nonlinear Business Cycle Model

The notion that the capitalist economy is inherently unstable at the macroeconomic level has immediate plausibility in view of the long history of instability in capital accumulation. It has not become the dominant view among economists, however, perhaps because of the argument that the motions of real capitalist economies around their long run average growth paths are bounded, and because of the implicit assumption that an unstable motion cannot remain bounded. This implicit assumption is true for linear systems, because the motion of a linear system far from its equilibrium point is the same as its motion near its equilibrium, but not true for non-linear systems (as Blatt, 1983, argues). Nonlinear systems that are unstable around their equilibrium points can exhibit other forms of stability, particularly the form of the stable limit cycle to which the system returns whatever its starting point. This observation is intriguing in view of the tradition of viewing the motions of the capitalist economy around its long run growth paths as a cycle.
Abstract P344: Tipped-wage Work is Associated With Greater Perceived Stress in US Women

Background: Low income and income volatility are risk factors for stress and stress-induced illnesses such as hypertension. Subminimum wage, ranging from $2.13 to $7.82 in 43 states, applies to certain service occupations such as wait staff. The implicit assumption behind this law is that, combined with tips, subminimum wage ensures earnings equal to or greater than the minimum wage. However, tips are unpredictable and vary based on shift, day of week, season, and fluctuations in the economy. Women make up 67% of the tipped-wage workforce. We tested the hypothesis that women in tipped-wage occupations experience greater perceived stress and hypertension relative to women in non-tipped service occupations and non-tipped non-service occupations. Methods: We used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Wave IV, 2007-2008; age 24-33 years; n=3,562). In multivariable ordinal logistic regression, perceived stress tertiles (Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale score: 0-3, 4-6, and 7-16) and hypertension (Normotensive, Stage 1, and Stage 2 relative to 7th Report of the Joint National Committee standards) were modeled as a function of self-reported occupation type (US Bureau of Labor Statistics categories, classified as tipped-wage, non-tipped service, and non-tipped non-service). Models were adjusted for early life and adolescent confounders, such as parental socioeconomic status (SES) and experiences of maltreatment. Results: On average, women in non-service non-tipped occupations were from higher SES families and were themselves more educated than tipped and non-tipped service workers. Women in tipped and non-tipped service occupations were similar, with non-tipped workers coming from slightly lower SES families. For women in tipped-wage occupations, the odds of being in a higher perceived stress score tertile were 54% greater than women in non-tipped service occupations (OR: 1.54; 95%CI: 1.08,2.19) and 65% greater when compared to women in non-tipped non-service occupations (OR: 1.65; 1.21,2.26). The odds of having a higher hypertensive stage among tipped-wage workers were 45% lower than women in non-tipped service occupations (OR: 0.55; 95%CI: 0.32,0.94) but were similar to women in non-tipped non-service occupations (OR: 0.72; 95%CI: 0.43,1.21). Conclusions: In a nationally representative sample of women, working in a tipped-wage service occupation was associated with greater perceived stress, even when compared to other service occupations that similarly offer low wages with limited job control and employ women from relatively similar backgrounds. The negative association between tipped-wage occupations and hypertension may reflect selectivity related to the physical demands of tipped-wage work. Our findings suggest that reliance on tips to supplement wages may exacerbate stress relative to similar work afforded a reliable minimum wage.
Perceptions of Uncivil Discourse Online: An Examination of Types and Predictors:

Incivility in public discourse has become a pressing concern of citizens and scholars alike, but most research has focused narrowly on incivility in elite discourse. The present study examines how ...