cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rising Rates of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Leading to Liver Transplantation in Baby Boomer Generation with Chronic Hepatitis C, Alcohol Liver Disease, and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis-Related Liver Disease

We aim to study the impact of the baby boomer (BB) generation, a birth-specific cohort (born 1945-1965) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-related liver transplantation (LT) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We performed a retrospective analysis using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)/Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) database from 2003 to 2014 to compare HCC-related liver transplant surgery trends between two cohorts-the BB and non-BB-with a secondary diagnosis of HCV, ALD, or NASH. From 2003-2014, there were a total of 8313 liver transplant recipients for the indication of HCC secondary to HCV, ALD, or NASH. Of the total, 6658 (80.1%) HCC-related liver transplant recipients were BB. The number of liver transplant surgeries for the indication of HCC increased significantly in NASH (+1327%), HCV (+382%), and ALD (+286%) during the study period. The proportion of BB who underwent LT for HCC was the highest in HCV (84.7%), followed by NASH (70.3%) and ALD (64.7%). The recommendations for birth-cohort specific HCV screening stemmed from a greater understanding of the high prevalence of chronic HCV and HCV-related HCC within BB. The rising number of HCC-related LT among BB with ALD and NASH suggests the need for increased awareness and improved preventative screening/surveillance measures within NASH and ALD cohorts as well.
An agent-based simulation of the impact of yogic breathing adoption

Stress can impose negative impact on the health and well-being of a person. People who do not have tools to manage their stress are more likely to acquire cardiovascular disease (CVD) - the leading cause of death in the USA. For affected individuals, it not only implies health risks but also increased medical expenditures which can lead to financial issues - the top stressor in the USA. Research studies reveal that yoga reduces the stress perceived and modulates stress response systems. In this study, an agent-based model was developed to simulate the impact of adopting a yogic breathing technique, particularly on managing stress, preventing CVD and reducing the associated medical expenses. The simulation results show that people who practice SKY have generally lower and normal SBP, BMI and stress levels while those who don't, have generally higher levels and fall into the high-risk category.
The SIV Envelope Glycoprotein, Viral Tropism, and Pathogenesis: Novel Insights from Nonhuman Primate Models of AIDS.

Background Cellular tropism of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is closely linked to interactions between the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) with CD4 and chemokine receptor family members, CCR5 and CXCR4. This interaction plays a key role in determining anatomic sites that are infected in vivo and the cascade of early and late events that result in chronic immune activation, immunosuppression and ultimately, AIDS. CD4+ T cells are critical to adaptive immune responses, and their early and rapid infection in gut lamina propria and secondary lymphoid tissues in susceptible hosts likely contributes to viral persistence and progression to disease. CD4+ macrophages are also infected, although their role in HIV-1 pathogenesis is more controversial. Methods Pathogenic infection by simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) in Asian macaques as models of HIV-1 infection has enabled the impact of cellular tropism on pathogenesis to be directly probed. This review will highlight examples in which experimental interventions during SIV infection or the introduction of viral mutations have altered cellular tropism and, subsequently, pathogenesis. Results Alterations to the interaction of Env and its cellular receptors has been shown to result in changes to CD4 dependence, coreceptor specificity, and viral tropism for gut CD4+ T cells and macrophages. Conclusion Collectively, these findings have yielded novel insights into the critical role of the viral Env and tropism as a driver of pathogenesis and host control and have helped to identify new areas for targeted interventions in therapy and prevention of HIV-1 infection.
Very Simple and Efficient Byzantine Agreement.

We present a very simple, cryptographic, binary Byzantine-agreement protocol that, with n >= 3t+1 >= 3 players, at most t of which are malicious, halts in expected 9 rounds.
Relationalism and Social Networks

Social network analysis is in many ways a perfect method for relational sociology, yet it is not always favored by relationalists. I address some of the theoretical reasons that network analysis may be perceived as problematic by relational sociologists, then suggest a style of network analysis that is consistent with relational sociology. A relational social network analysis should retain an interest in how the context and contents interact with the structure of ties to shape social outcomes of interest. I also suggest that an attention to interactions rather than relations and an emphasis on network dynamics are consistent with relational approaches. Various methods, including multilevel, multiplex, and dynamic network modeling are introduced as innovative means through which a relational sociological agenda may be advanced.
Spin-polarization and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism in GaAs

Abstract The combination of angular spin momentum with electronics is a promising successor to charge-based electronics. The conduction bands in GaAs may become spin-polarized via optical spin pumping, doping with magnetic ions, or induction of a moment with an external magnetic field. We investigated the spin populations in GaAs with x-ray magnetic circular dichroism for each of these three cases. We find strong anti-symmetric lineshapes at the Ga L3 edge indicating conduction band spin splitting, with differences in line width and amplitude depending on the source of spin polarization.
Insecticidal activity of selected botanicals on maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais L., in stored maize grains

Laboratory studies were conducted to find the effect of powdered leaf of five plant species such as lantanas or shrub verbenas (Lantana camera), neem (Azadiracta indicia), annona (Annona squamosa), Adathodai (Justicia adhatoda) and Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) along with chemical pesticide Actellic 5EC (500g/l pirimphos-methyl) against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais L., infesting maize grains in storage. Among them Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi) was found to be significantly the best compared to other treatments. It was registered that Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi) and Annona squamosa (Annona) killed 86 percentage of adult weevils by about 6th week. Furthermore, the damage was completely controlled in the grains treated with Ocimum tenuiflorum after eight weeks and almost same in grains applied with Annona squamosa. In addition, significant differences were found between the numbers of emerged weevils in different treatments. In the grains treated with Actellic, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Annona squamosa, the new emerged weevils were not observed and the appearance of newly emergrd weevils were observed in Lantana camera, Azadiracta indica and Justicia adhatoda from 6th week and it was higher in Lantana camera compared to the Azadiracta indica and Justicia adhatoda from 6th week onwards.
Genetic Defects in Processing Growth Hormone

Progress in recombinant DNA technology has enabled characterization of the sequence and organization of the hGH gene and the hGH gene cluster. This chapter reviews these findings and their pertinence to hGH expression in normal tissues as well as their derangements in selected genetic types of hGH deficiency.
Neural cell adhesion molecule (CD56)-positive acute myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes.

The CD56 antigen is normally expressed on natural-killer cells but has additionally been shown to be present on a variety of hematologic malignancies, including a subset of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). There is disagreement, however, about its prognostic significance and its association with specific cytogenetic abnormalities. All clinical samples from June 1994, through September 1995, with increased myeloblasts were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry for anomalous expression of CD56. Patients with CD56 + blast cells were selected, and morphologic review was performed. Clinical information was obtained, and cytogenetic data were reviewed. Southern blot analysis to detect rearrangement of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene was performed when possible. The samples from 23 of 114 patients studied demonstrated anomalous expression of CD56 on myeloblasts, including patients with AML, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis. The samples from 10 of 15 patients with CD56 + AML demonstrated at least partial monocytic differentiation. Dysplastic features were displayed in the samples of 12 patients. Correlation with specific cytogenetic abnormalities was not found. The MLL gene was rearranged in five of 18 patients. Seventeen patients have died, with a median survival of 4.6 months for patients with AML. Three have sustained a complete remission. One has findings of high-grade myelodysplastic syndrome. Two were unavailable for follow-up. Expression of CD56 was found in 20% of patients with increased myeloblasts, including patients with high-grade MDS, chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis, and AML. This phenotype was associated with dysplasia, monocytic differentiation, and rearrangement of the MLL gene.
Acute Graft Versus Host Disease: Prophylaxis

Acute GVHD remains one of the most significant barriers to successful allogeneic stem cell transplantation, accounting for a substantial portion of early transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Acute GVHD results from the complex interaction of donor T cells and host tissues that involves recognition of major and minor histocompatibility antigens in an inflammatory milieu. The pathophysiology of acute GVHD involves both the innate and adaptive immune systems and follows the orderly cycle of host tissue damage (from conditioning or other injury), donor T cell activation and clonal expansion, followed by cellular and inflammatory factor-induced tissue injury [1]. While all three components are critical, it is only the cellular attack on host tissues that is currently specifically targeted by GVHD prophylactic mechanisms, either with the use of a variety of pharmacologic agents or graft manipulation techniques. Other strategies to reduce acute GVHD (such as non-myeloablative or reduced intensity transplantation) may independently reduce the risk of acute GVHD via a reduction in host tissue damage from conditioning.
The effects of portfolio purchasing on a specialized subject collection.

Objective: To examine the impact of portfolio purchasing on a small, highly specialized medical collection at The Ohio State University. Methodology: In this citation analysis, cited references for articles published by faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine between 2000 and 2004 were collected and analyzed to determine whether The Ohio State University Libraries provided print or electronic access to the publications cited or the publishers of the cited journals, and whether the university purchased a subscription to each journal or received the subscription through a consortium-sponsored portfolio purchasing agreement. Results: Of the 419 journals veterinary faculty cited more than 10 times, only 13 (3.1%) were in Zone 1, and 63 (15.0%) were in Zone 2 of the Bradford distribution, a citation analysis model which demonstrates that a small number of journals account for the bulk of literature utilized in any established field. Of these, only 23 (5.5%) were procured through an OhioLINK or other consortium portfolio purchasing agreement. Discussion/Conclusion: The costs of acquiring a publisher's portfolio, even through a consortium, should be balanced with the costs of purchasing content required to provide a balanced collection for all user populations.
Enzymatic production of biohydrogen

Although in theory the amount of hydrogen that could be generated from renewable sources of energy such as cellulose (a polymer of glucose) is vast1, only 16–24% of the maximum stoichiometric yield of hydrogen from glucose (about 12 mol H2 per mol glucose) is typically achieved by biological methods2. Here we show that the enzymes of the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle3,4,5 can be coupled to hydrogenase purified from the bacterium Pyrococcus furiosus, one of only a few hydrogenases that use NADP+ as the electron carrier6, to generate 11.6 mol H2 per mol glucose-6-phosphate. Hydrogen produced by this pathway is the major product, unlike that produced by intermediate metabolic pathways of bacterial fermentation, and therefore has important practical implications for biohydrogen production7.
Effect of dietary taurine supplementation on GSH and NAD(P)-redox status, lipid peroxidation, and energy metabolism in diabetic precataractous lens.

PURPOSE. To evaluate changes in glutathione and NAD(P)-redox status, taurine and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glucose utilization, and energy metabolism in diabetic precataractous lenses and to assess whether these changes can be prevented with dietary taurine supplementation. METHODS. The experimental groups included control and streptozotocin-diabetic rats with a 3-week duration of diabetes fed unsupplemented or taurine (1% or 5%)-supplemented diets. The levels of glucose, sorbitol, fructose, myo-inositol, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), glycolytic intermediates, malate, α-glycerophosphate, and adenine nucleotides were assayed in individual lenses spectrofluorometrically by enzymatic methods, reduced glutathione (GSH) spectrofluorometrically with O-phthaldialdehyde, MDA colorimetrically with N-methyl-2-phenylindole, and taurine by high-performance liquid chromatography. Free cytosolic NAD + /NADH and NADP + /NADPH ratios were calculated from the lactate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme systems. RESULTS. Sorbitol pathway metabolites and MDA were increased, and GSH and taurine levels were reduced in diabetic rats versus controls. The profile of glycolytic intermediates (an increase in glucose 6-phosphate, no change in fructose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-diphosphate, an increase in dihydroxyacetone phosphate, a decrease in 3-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and pyruvate, and no change in lactate), and a 9.2-fold increase in α-glycerophosphate suggest diabetes-induced inhibition of glycolysis. Free cytosolic NAD + /NADH ratios, ATP levels, ATP/ADP, and adenylate charge were reduced, whereas free cytosolic NADP + /NADPH ratios were elevated. Lens taurine levels in diabetic rats were not affected by supplementation with 1% taurine. With 5% taurine supplementation, they were increased approximately 2.2-fold higher than those in untreated diabetics but remained 3.4-fold lower than in controls. Lens GSH levels were similar in diabetic rats fed unsupplemented and 5% taurine-supplemented diets, whereas GSSG and MDA levels and GSSG/GSH ratios were reduced by 5% taurine supplementation. The decrease in free cytosolic NAD + /NADH, ATP/ADP, and adenylate energy charge were ameliorated by 5% taurine supplementation, whereas accumulation of sorbitol pathway intermediates, depletion of myoinositol, inhibition of glycolysis, a decrease in ATP and total adenine nucleotide, and an increase in free cytosolic NADP + /NADPH were not prevented. CONCLUSIONS. Dietary taurine supplementation ameliorates MDA levels, GSSG/GSH, and NAD + / NADH and fails to prevent the osmotically mediated depletion of GSH and taurine and the decrease in glucose utilization and ATP levels in diabetic precataractous lens. Dietary taurine supplementation cannot be regarded as an alternative to aldose reductase inhibition in eliminating antioxidant and metabolic deficits contributing to diabetes-associated cataractogenesis.
Do inflammatory cells influence skeletal muscle hypertrophy

Most research on muscle hypertrophy has focused on the responses of muscle cells to mechanical loading; however, a number of studies also suggest that inflammatory cells may influence muscle hypertrophy. Neutrophils and macrophages accumulate in skeletal muscle following increased mechanical loading, and we have demonstrated that macrophages are essential for hypertrophy following synergist ablation. Whether neutrophils are required remains to be determined. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs impair adaptive responses of skeletal muscle in both human and animal experiments suggesting that the routine use of such drugs could impair muscle performance. Much remains to be learned about the role of inflammatory cells in muscle hypertrophy, including the molecular signals involved in calling neutrophils and macrophages to skeletal muscle as well as those that regulate their function in muscle. In addition, although we have demonstrated that macrophages produce growth promoting factors during muscle hypertrophy, the full range of functional activities involved in muscle hypertrophy remains to be determined. Further investigation should provide insight into the intriguing hypothesis that inflammatory cells play integral roles in regulating muscle hypertrophy.
Patient-reported outcome measures for use in clinical trials of SLE: a review

Inclusion of patient-reported outcomes is important in SLE clinical trials as they allow capture of the benefits of a proposed intervention in areas deemed pertinent by patients. We aimed to compare the measurement properties of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures used in adults with SLE and to evaluate their responsiveness to interventions in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). A systematic review was undertaken using full original papers in English identified from three databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed. Studies describing the validation of HRQoL measures in English-speaking adult patients with SLE and SLE drug RCTs that used an HRQoL measure were retrieved. Twenty-five validation papers and 26 RCTs were included in the indepth review evaluating the measurement properties of 4 generic (Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF36), Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) item-bank, EuroQol-5D, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue) and 3 disease-specific (Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), Lupus Patient Reported Outcomes, Lupus Impact Tracker (LIT)) instruments. All measures had good convergent and discriminant validity. PROMIS provided the strongest evidence for known-group validity and reliability among generic instruments; however, data on its responsiveness have not been published. Across measures, standardised response means were generally indicative of poor-moderate sensitivity to longitudinal change. In RCTs, clinically important improvements were reported in SF36 scores from baseline; however, between-arm differences were frequently non-significant and non-important. SF36, PROMIS, LupusQoL and LIT had the strongest evidence for acceptable measurement properties, but few measures aside from the SF36 have been incorporated into clinical trials. This review highlights the importance of incorporating a broader range of SLE-specific HRQoL measures in RCTs and warrants further research that focuses on longitudinal responsiveness of newer instruments.
Facilitation of Smart City and Community Technology Convergence

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has led a series of efforts designed to propel consensus toward reusable, standards-based smart city solutions through open collaborations with worldwide participation. This paper describes the novel strategy and methods used in these activities.
Utopia Digital: Non-governmental organizations and the making of consumers in Brazil’s “New Middle Class” shantytowns:

This article examines how class, consumerism, and employment influence beliefs of an idealized digital world in marginalized communities. I recount 24 months of ethnographic and institutional obser...
Optical vortex manipulation for topological quantum computation

Topological quantum computation based on Majorana bound states may enable new paths to fault-tolerant quantum computing. Several recent experiments have suggested that the vortex cores of topological superconductors, such as iron-based superconductors, may host Majorana bound states at zero energy. However, quantum computation with these zero-energy vortex bound states requires precise and fast manipulation of individual vortices, which is difficult to do in a scalable manner. To address this issue, we propose a control scheme based on local heating via, for example, scanning optical microscopy to braid vortex-bound Majorana zero modes in a two-dimensional topological superconductor. First, we derive the conditions required for transporting a single vortex between two defects in the superconducting material by trapping it with a hot spot generated by local optical heating. Equipped with critical conditions for the vortex motion, we then establish the ideal material properties for vortex braiding and describe how transition errors resulting from finite speed and/or temperature can be minimized. Our work paves the way toward optical or microscopic control of zero-energy vortex bound states in two-dimensional topological superconductors.
Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT)–based severity score as a prognostic tool in patients with suspected immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy associated colitis

This study aimed to assess MDCT as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in patients with suspected immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related colitis. This retrospective cohort study included patients receiving ICIs at three hospitals between 2015 and 2019 who underwent both abdominopelvic MDCT and endoscopic biopsy to workup suspected ICI-related colitis. Two radiologists independently reviewed MDCT images for signs of colitis based on pre-defined features. Diagnostic performance of MDCT was calculated and categorical variables between treatment subgroups were compared. Logistic regression was used to develop proposed MDCT criteria for diagnosis and MDCT severity score based on a combination of MDCT features of colitis to predict the patient outcomes in ICI-related colitis. A total of 118 MDCT scans from 108 patients were evaluated for suspected colitis, with 72 confirmed ICI-related colitis cases. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of MDCT for diagnosis of ICI-related colitis was 81% (58/72), 52 % (24/46), 73% (58/80), and 63% (24/38), respectively. Small bowel involvement was visualized in 25% of cases with ICI-related colitis (18/72). In melanoma patients presenting with diarrhea grade ≥ 2 (n = 40), MDCT had the best diagnostic performance for ICI-related colitis (specificity = 80% [8/10], PPV = 92% [23/25]). MDCT severity scores predicted intravenous steroid use (OR 10.3, p = 0.004), length of stay > 7 days (OR 9.0, p < 0.001), and endoscopic mucosal ulceration (OR 4.7, p = 0.02). MDCT is a useful diagnostic and prognostic tool for evaluating patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-related colitis. An MDCT-based severity score enables assessment of disease severity and predicts outcome. • MDCT is useful for the diagnosis of colitis in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, and an MDCT-based severity score allows for prognostication of patient outcomes. • MDCT yielded moderate sensitivity (81%) for diagnosis of ICI-related colitis but limited specificity (52%). However, in symptomatic melanoma patients (grade 2–4 diarrhea) with a high pretest probability, MDCT proved useful for diagnosis with a high PPV (92%). • For ICI-related colitis, our proposed MDCT severity score has prognostic value in predicting intravenous steroid use, prolonged length of stay during inpatient admission (> 7 days), and endoscopic mucosal ulceration.
A Simulation and Prototyping Toolkit for Airflow Energy Harvesting in Vehicles

Airflow energy harvesting has attracted much attention in the community of energy harvesting, but the efforts to make it accessible for individual users have been limited. In this paper, we address this issue and demonstrate a comprehensive toolkit, Exergy, which can help and support novice users to simulate, design, and manufacture an airflow energy harvester for vehicles.
The preservation of LANDSAT data by the National Land Remote Sensing Archive

Digital data, acquired by the National Landsat Remote Sensing Program, document nearly two decades of global agricultural, environmental, and sociological change. The data were widely applied and continue to be essential to a variety of geologic, hydrologic, agronomic, and strategic programs and studies by governmental, academic, and commercial researchers. Landsat data were acquired by five observatories that use primarily two digital sensor systems. The Multispectral Scanner (MSS) was onboard all five Landsats, which have orbited over 19 years; the higher resolution Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor acquired data for the last 9 years on Landsats 4 and 5 only. The National Land Remote Sensing Archive preserves the 800,000 scenes, which total more than 60 terabytes of data, on master tapes that are steadily deteriorating. Data are stored at two terabytes of data, on master tapes that are steadily deteriorating. Data are stored at two locations (Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Landover, Maryland), in three archive formats. The U.S. Geological Survey's EROS Data Center has initiated a project to consolidate and convert, over the next 4 years, two of the archive formats from antiquated instrumentation tape to rotary-recorded cassette magnetic tape. The third archive format, consisting of 300,000 scenes of MSS data acquired from 1972 through 1978, will not be converted because of budgetary constraints. This data preservation project augments EDC's experience in data archiving and information management, expertise that is critical to EDC's role as a Distributed Active Archive Center for the Earth Observing System, a new and much larger national earth science program.
A Control Law for Pole/Variant Zero Placement

This paper describes a technique to design a constant state feedback control law for a multi-input, multi-output, linear time-invariant model of a dynamic system such that the poles and the variant zeros of the closed loop system are placed at prespecified and distinct locations, defined via a desired transfer function matrix. The properties associated with the inverse of transfer function matrices and the conditions for the existence of the control law have been exploited.
Fêtes traditionnelles et festivals glocalisés aux Marquises : Utilisation des systèmes alimentaires syncrétiques pour forger des identités hybrides

Cet article commence par un bref survol des sources ethnohistoriques couvrant la production, la distribution, la preparation, et la consommation de la nourriture aux iles Marquises depuis l’epoque des contacts reguliers avec les europeens au XVIIIe siecle jusqu’aux differentes vagues d’experiences de la globalisation (exploration, commerce, colonisation, christianisation, education, tourisme et medias internationaux). Il montre comment les reactions locales a ces forces globales ont produit une serie de formes alimentaires syncretiques – ordinaires et rituelles – dont l’interet analytique depasse la simple dimension ethnographique, puisqu’elle permet de comprendre de facon theorique la maniere dont ces communautes utilisent la dimension semiotique et sensible de la nourriture pour forger des identites hybrides. L’analyse met au point premierement comment les formes alimentaires « traditionnelles » ont ete maintenues et reinventees et deuxiemement comment elles ont ete deployees lors des fetes et festivals glocalises – domestiques et internationaux – et plus particulierement ceux associes depuis environ 35 ans avec un mouvement de renouveau culturel aux iles Marquises.
Beauty and the Labor Market: Accounting for the Additional Effects of Personality and Grooming

This paper examines the influence of three non-cognitive personal traits — beauty, person- ality, and grooming — on the labor market earnings of young adults. It extends the analyses of Hamermesh and Biddle (1994, American Economic Review 84(5): 1174-1194) and others who focus primarily on the effects of beauty on labor market earnings. We find that personality and grooming significantly affect wages, and their inclusion in a model of wage determination reduces somewhat the effects of beauty. We also find some evidence of employer discrimination based on these traits in the setting of wages.
The Influence of Administrative Law Judge and Political Appointee Decisions on Appellate Courts in National Labor Relations Board Cases

Scholars have long been simultaneously concerned with the factors that influence appellate court decision making and the level of deference that the courts allow for agencies. However, scholars have treated administrative agencies as unitary actors with a single level of decision making, but in reality agency decisions involve input from multiple actors within the agency. I argue that appellate courts rely more heavily on decisions made by actors in the bureaucracy with greater levels of expertise and who are less politically motivated as cues in their decision making. This theory is bolstered by legal precedent in the area of administrative law that suggests courts should more heavily rely on the expert judgment of administrative judges. Thus, as a result of their increased expertise, appearance of political neutrality, and institutional support, courts will be more reliant on decisions issued by administrative law judges (ALJs) than those issued by the political appointees as cues in their decision making. Using over 300 unfair labor practice decisions issued by the federal appeals courts on review of cases from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board), I develop a model of appeals court decision making in unfair labor practice cases as a function of the initial decision of the ALJ, the final order of the political appointees of the NLRB, case characteristics, the ideology of the deciding appeals court panel, Supreme Court influence, and economic factors. Though the ideology of the court plays a role in its decision making, cues from ALJ decision making and that of the Board weigh more heavily in appellate court outcomes. However, cues from ALJ decisions play the most consistent role in appellate court decision making, even in more difficult cases. This has important implications for agency strategy in courts and suggests that future research should consider the influence of lower-level decision making over appellate court decision making in the area of administrative law.
Adding Self-healing capabilities to the Common Language Runtime

Self-healing systems require that repair mechanisms are available to resolve problems that arise while the system executes. Managed execution environments such as the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and Java Virtual Machine (JVM) provide a number of application services (application isolation, security sandboxing, garbage collection and structured exception handling) which are geared primarily at making managed applications more robust. However, none of these services directly enables applications to perform repairs or consistency checks of their components. From a design and implementation standpoint, the preferred way to enable repair in a self-healing system is to use an externalized repair/adaptation architecture rather than hardwiring adaptation logic inside the system where it is harder to analyze, reuse and extend. We present a framework that allows a repair engine to dynamically attach and detach to/from a managed application while it executes essentially adding repair mechanisms as another application service provided in the execution environment.
Extending Recidivism Monitoring for Drug Courts Methods Issues and Policy Implications

A wealth of research has been amassed documenting the effectiveness of drug treatment courts in addressing the needs of substance-abusing individuals involved with the criminal justice system. However, there is a relative dearth of research that examines the long-term impact of these programs on recidivism rates for both drug treatment court graduates and those unsuccessfully discharged from the program. In this study, we examine which demographic and programmatic/legal factors influence program disposition and recidivism rates of participants (both graduates and those unsuccessfully discharged) across the 5 years following their discharge from a drug treatment court program located in a suburban city in the Midwest. The study sample consists of 249 (N = 249) male participants who have been out of the program for more than 5 years. Results from the univariate and multivariate analyses are provided, as well as policy implications, directions for future research, and study limitations.
Protein metabolism during healing of wounds.

The foregoing is illustrative of the available information on the alterations in the biochemical processes which occur during the healing of wounds. Many of the studies mentioned appear to make some aspects of the phenomena involved in the healing of wounds more understandable. Yet, these results are too isolated to form a clear and unified picture of the healing processes and the mechanisms which control them. It will be necessary to discover the mechanisms which bring about the changes in metabolism before a real understanding of the processes of wound healing can be obtained. Obviously, much more data are required before these mechanisms can become apparent.
Measurement of steroid synthesis in zona glomerulosa cells by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry: inhibition by nitric oxide

Abstract A liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry method was developed to simultaneously determine the concentrations of aldosterone, corticosterone, cortisol, deoxycorticosterone, pregnenolone, and progesterone in bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells. Steroids were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction, separated on a reverse-phase C 18 column, ionized by electrospray, and detected by single-quadrupole mass spectrometry in a positive ion mode. All steroids formed sodium adducts at high abundance. Factors affecting the formation and signal of sodium adducts were investigated. The limits of detection ( S / N = 3) using selected ion monitoring are 2 pg for these steroids and 10 pg for pregnenolone. DETA NONOate, a nitric oxide donor, inhibited the basal, angiotensin-II-stimulated, and 25-hydroxycholesterol-stimulated syntheses of these steroids in ZG cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The technique demonstrates the ability to determine the individual steroid in each enzymatic step of aldosterone synthesis and the activity of steroidogenic enzymes in adrenal ZG cells.
Chlamydia trachomatis proctitis

One hundreds seventy-one homosexual men, 96 of whom had symptoms suggestive of proctitis and 75 of whom had no such symptoms, were consecutively enrolled in a study of the prevalence, clinical spectrum, and histopathology of Chlamydia trachomatis rectal infections. C. trachomatis was isolated from the rectums of 14 men. Three of the isolates, which had lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) immunotypes, were recovered from three men with symptoms and signs of severe proctitis, two of whom had granulomatous inflammation that was observed at rectal biopsy and was initially suggestive of Crohn's disease. Eleven isolates, which had non-LGV immunotypes, were obtained from eight symptomatic and three asymptomatic men, all of whom had fecal leukocytes and mild abnormalities of the mucosa present at sigmoidoscopy, usually with mild nongranulomatous inflammatory changes that were seen on rectal biopsy. These observations suggest that the presence of LGV immunotypes of C. trachomatis in the rectum is associated with severe acute proctitis that mimics Crohn's disease of the rectum, whereas the non-LGV immunotypes are associated with a mild proctitis with or without symptoms.
Phosphate induced developmental arrest of hamster two-cell embryos is associated with disrupted ionic homeostasis.

Culture of hamster embryos with 0.35 mM inorganic phosphate results in developmental arrest at the 2-cell stage. These arrested 2-cell embryos were found to have significantly elevated levels of both intracellular pH and intracellular free calcium. Culture of 2-cell embryos with both glucose and phosphate did not further alter intracellular ionic homeostasis. Developmental arrest of 2-cell embryos was dependent on the concentration of phosphate used. Culture with 1.25 microM phosphate did not alter development, while concentrations of 2.5 microM and 5.0 microM resulted in a percentage of embryos arresting development at the 2-cell stage. Analysis of intracellular levels of pH and calcium after culture with different phosphate concentrations revealed a significant negative correlation between intracellular calcium levels and development beyond the 2-cell stage. There was no correlation between the increase in intracellular pH and embryo development in the presence of phosphate. The increase in intracellular calcium levels after culture with phosphate appears to be derived from intracellular pools, as preventing the influx of extracellular calcium did not alter development beyond the 2-cell stage. Therefore, it is apparent that a disruption in ionic homeostasis is associated with developmental arrest of hamster embryos cultured with phosphate.
Nuclear inheritance of oligomycin resistance in mouse L cells.

The inheritance of oligomycin resistance was studied in three mouse L-cell mutants, OLI 2, OLI 4, and OLI 14. All three mutants had previously been shown to have oligomycin-resistant mitochondrial ATPase activity. In addition, OLI 14 has DCCD-resistant mitochondrial ATPase activity and an altered DCCD-binding protein. Oligomycin-resistant cells were enucleated and fused with oligomycin-sensitive cells under a variety of selective regimes designed to allow growth of oligomycin-resistant cybrids. No transfer of oligomycin resistance via the cytoplasm of OLI 2, OLI 4, or OLI 14 was detected. In contrast, oligomycin resistance was transferred with the karyoplasts of OLI 14 in karyoplast-cell fusions. Fusions between OLI 14 cells and oligomycin-sensitive cells also produced oligomycin-resistant hybrids. Transfer of oligomycin resistance in the karyoplast-cell and cell-cell fusions was demonstrated at the level of the mitochondrial ATPase. These results indicate that oligomycin resistance in OLI 14 is most likely under nuclear control. Furthermore, nuclear inheritance of oligomycin resistance in a mutant with a modified DCCD-binding protein suggests that the gene for the DCCD-binding protein is encoded in the nucleus of mammalian cells.
Estimation of the CO2 Absorption Capacities in Aqueous 2-(2-Aminoethylamino)ethanol and Its Blends with MDEA and TEA in the Presence of SO2

A study of carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2)/CO2 mixtures absorption has been carried out in aqueous 2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethanol (AEE) solution and its blends with N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) to estimate the influence of SO2, MDEA, and TEA on the CO2 absorption capacity of the AEE. The CO2 absorption loading has been estimated in 15 wt % AEE alone and in the presence of either 5 and 10 wt % MDEA or 5 and 10 wt % TEA solutions with 100 vol % CO2 and 5.03 and 15.02 vol % SO2/CO2 mixtures at a starting temperature of 296 K and flow rates of 3.067, 3.229, and 3.605 L/min, respectively. The results revealed that the presence of SO2 in the gas decreases the CO2 absorption rate and loading in the AEE solution as a function of the concentration of SO2. The additions of 5 and 10 wt % of MDEA and TEA do not seem to influence the CO2 absorption rate in the AEE solution. Moreover, the addition of MDEA increases slightly the CO2 absorption capacity of AEE, while TEA decreases t...
Reanalyzing Ultimatum Bargaining-Comparing Nondecreasing Curves Without Shape Constraints

We employ a hierarchical Bayesian method with exchangeable prior distributions to estimate and compare similar nondecreasing response curves. A Dirichlet process distribution is assigned to each of the response curves as a first stage prior. A second stage prior is then used to model the hyperparameters. We define parameters which will be used to compare the response curves. A Markov chain Monte Carlo method is applied to compute the resulting Bayesian estimates. To illustrate the methodology, we re-examine data from an experiment designed to test whether experimenter observation influences the ultimatum game. A major restriction of the original analysis was the shape constraint that the present technique allows us to greatly relax. We also consider independent priors and use Bayes factors to compare various models.
EEG monitoring during paroxysmal hyperpnea of tetralogy of Fallot: an epileptic or hypoxic phenomenon?

We describe a neurologically compromised infant with tetralogy of Fallot who was having multiple paroxysmal episodes of hypotonia, eye rolling, stiffening, and loss of consciousness. Simultaneous electroencephalography with video monitoring was used to determine if these episodes were a primary epileptic phenomenon or the result of hypoxic central nervous system involvement from paroxysms of hyperpnea and cyanosis. The findings would suggest that the paroxysmal episodes were not primarily epileptic. The electroencephalographic findings during the spell were similar to those found with hypoxia due to other causes. This may have physiological and therapeutic significance and be useful in following other infants with congenital heart disease who have similar episodes, especially when the infants have significant risk factors for seizures. (J Child Neurol 1987;2:98-100).
The Electrodiagnosis of Neuropathy: Basic Principles and Common Pitfalls

Electrodiagnostic studies are a critical tool for the identification and study of peripheral neuropathy, enabling definition of the pathophysiologic type of nerve injury, its distribution, severity, and the degree of motor or sensory nerve involvement. These data help to differentiate the varieties of neuropathy from other neuromuscular diseases. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography, although widely performed, are complex techniques and are subject to a wide range of artifacts, which can result in missed or erroneous diagnoses. Without proper education, training, and experience in neuromuscular disease and the techniques of electrodiagnosis and careful attention to potential sources of error, the critical information needed to properly diagnose and treat patients with neuropathy is unreliable and may lead to wasted resources and patient injury.
Nonlinear optical interactions in polymer waveguides

We review the effects of variations in effective mode indices and dispersion on the design and characterization of polymeric waveguides for frequency conversion and photoinduced diffraction in integrated optics devices. Device design in each case depends critically on the effective index of refraction of light propagating in the waveguide which may be a function of the intensity and device history. In detail we report on the conditions for anomalous dispersion phase matching in nonlinear waveguides and on techniques for measuring photoinduced diffraction in prism coupled waveguides. With respect to the latter, diffraction effects due to photochromic gratings in slab waveguides of disperse red 1 in polymethylmethacrylate were studied. Optical damage in the form of diffractive mode conversion was observed when light whose wavelength was slightly longer than the absorption edge of disperse red 1 was coupled in. We also investigated the effect of mode coupling changes on the determination of diffraction efficiency and sensitivity in waveguide experiments using two crossed guided beams. Diffraction efficiencies predicted by measurements of the modulation depth in the guide are found to overstate the actual diffraction efficiencies which could be observed in this geometry. Techniques for overcoming this limitation and for improving estimates of the energy density and interaction length in the guide are noted.
Effective Practices for English Language Learners in the Middle Grades: Introduction to the Special Issue of Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness

Abstract To improve content area achievement outcomes for English language (EL) learners in middle schools, a team of researchers from around the country proposed a focused program of research that would develop and rigorously test targeted interventions focused on teachers' instructional practices, peer-assisted learning, vocabulary development, and use of the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP). This special issue of the Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness reports some of the findings from this focused program of research along with this introduction which serves to provide the context for the studies and information on lessons learned from the development and testing of these specific interventions. Here we consider the specific challenges that researchers face in conducting applied research in educational settings with EL learners, including the dynamic and developmental nature of students' status as EL learners, the heterogeneity of the population, the heterogeneity of scho...
A low-overhead interconnect architecture for virtual reconfigurable fabrics

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been widely shown to have significant performance and power advantages compared to microprocessors and graphics-processing units (GPUs), but remain a niche technology due in part to productivity challenges. Although such challenges have numerous causes, previous work has shown two significant contributing factors: 1) prohibitive place-and-route times preventing mainstream design methodologies, and 2) limited application portability preventing design reuse. Virtual reconfigurable architectures, referred to as intermediate fabrics (IFs), were recently introduced as a potential solution to these problems, providing 100x-1000x place-and-route speedup, while also enabling application portability across potentially any physical FPGA. However, one significant limitation of existing intermediate fabrics is area overhead incurred from virtualized interconnect resources. In this paper, we perform design-space exploration of virtual interconnect architectures and introduce an optimized virtual interconnect that reduces area overhead by 48% to 54% compared to previous work, while also improving clock frequencies by 24% with a modest routability overhead of 16%.
Chemical storage of solar energy kinetics of heterogeneous SO3 and H2O reaction—Reaction analysis and reactor design

Abstract The first energy recovery step in the ammonium hydrogen sulfate (AHS) cycle is the formation of H2SO4(l) from H2O(g) and SO3(g). It has been determined that the optimum way to accomplish this is by the use of a double pipe tubular reactor. In this paper, a mathematical model for the reactor is presented, applied to the three reaction zones, and a method of numerical solution discussed. Three horizontal pilot-scale configurations, 0.234 × 106 to 5.863 × 106 kJ/h energy release, are discussed and sizing presented. Also, the results for a vertical configuration are presented. The need for additional work on two-phase gas-liquid flow in condensing systems and in annuli has been identified. The most important conclusion is that a high temperature can be achieved in the reactor by the use of a front end adiabatic section followed by nonadiabatic sections to recover the heat released.
Catastrophes and H-mode transition in tokamak scrape-off and divertor

Abstract The two-chamber model for the main plasma scrape-off and the divertor chamber of tokamaks is studied using the ideas of catastrophe theory. The Maxwell convention is used. The results show qualitative agreement with the experimentally observed features of the H-mode transition.