cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The New Utilities: Private Power, Social Infrastructure, and the Revival of the Public Utility Concept

From the renewed controversies over financial regulation and the problem of too-big-to-fail (TBTF) financial firms, to the clash over the FCC’s ‘net neutrality’ regulations on internet service providers, and more recent questions about Google, Facebook, and online platforms, we are in the midst of a larger policy and political debate about how to regulate modern-day forms of private power. Encompassing different areas of law and policy, the underlying issue in this debate is the following: how should we conceptualize and regulate new forms of concentrated private power, particularly when these firms control the terms of access to vital services — such as finance, broadband internet, or information — upon which many communities, constituencies, and economic actors depend? Drawing on historical Progressive Era concepts of private power and public utility, as well as current debates in financial regulation and net neutrality, this article provides an overarching framework to answer that question. First, the article argues that what makes firms like TBTF financial giants and internet service providers distinct is that they represent a form of private control over ‘infrastructural’ goods — goods that comprise a backbone for much of modern social and economic activity, upon which many communities and constituencies depend. Second, the article identifies three key elements of a 21st century framework for public utility regulation designed to remedy this problem of private control of infrastructural goods: firewalling; imposing public obligations; and creating public options. Third, the paper, applies these principles to the emergent debates over private power and infrastructure in context of internet platforms helps demonstrate their importance, shedding new light on how to address the myriad of concerns raised by new technology giants like Google, Amazon, or Uber. These public utility concepts offer a portable, trans-substantive legal and policy framework for understanding and contesting private power in a variety of sectors. Fourth, this approach also adds an important missing complement to our current legal frameworks and literatures on the problem of private power in the 21st century, particularly by reorienting business law and economic policy back towards a focus on the problems of power and inequality. Moreover, these concepts help bridge the growing literature diagnosing the legal construction of inequality with the aspiration to develop mechanisms that can undo widespread structural disparities of economic opportunity, welfare, and power.
Characterization of the Neurospora crassa DHN melanin biosynthetic pathway in developing ascospores and peridium cells.

Abstract Neurospora crassa contains all four enzymes for the synthesis of DHN (dihydroxynaphthalene), the substrate for melanin formation. We show that the DHN melanin pathway functions during N. crassa female development to generate melanized peridium and ascospore cell walls. N. crassa contains one polyketide synthase (PER-1), two polyketide hydrolases (PKH-1 and PKH-2), two THN (tetrahydroxynaphthalene) reductases (PKR-1 and PKR-2), and one scytalone dehydratase (SCY-1). We show that the PER-1, PKH-1, PKR-1 and SCY-1 are required for ascospoer melanization. We also identified the laccase that functions in the conversion of DHN into melanin via a free radical oxidative polymerization reaction, and have named the gene lacm-1 (laccase for melanin formation-1). In maturing perithecia, we show that LACM-1 is localized to the peridium cell wall space while the DHN pathway enzymes are localized to intracellular vesicles. We present a model for melanin formation in which melanin is formed within the cell wall space and the cell wall structure is similar to “reinforced concrete” with the cell wall glucan, chitin, and glycoproteins encased within the melanin polymer. This arrangement provides for a very strong and resilient cell wall and protects the glucan/chitin/glycoprotein matrix from digestion from enzymes and damage from free radicals.
Small-cell lung cancer growth inhibition: synergism between NMDA receptor blockade and chemotherapy

Background Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a poor prognosis since there is currently no effective therapy for commonly recurring disease. In our previous study, both primary and recurrent human tumors have been shown to express functional N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and blockade of these receptors with GluN1 and GluN2B antagonists decreased tumor cell viability in vitro, and growth of tumor xenografts in nu/nu mice. Materials and methods In this study, we examine the influence of the GluN2B antagonist ifenprodil and the channel-blocker antagonist memantine, on cell viability and growth of tumor xenografts of recurrent SCLC (rSCLC) in mice. Results Both antagonists significantly reduced cell viability and levels of components of the ERK1/2 pathway, increased apoptosis, and at very safe levels significantly reduced the growth of tumors in mice. Each antagonist and topotecan had additive effects to reduce cell viability with significant synergy demonstrated for the case of memantine. More significantly, combination treatments of xenografts in mice with ifenprodil and the chemotherapeutic agent topotecan produced clear additive effects that completely stopped tumor growth. Moreover, the ifenprodil and topotecan combination showed excellent supra-addition or synergy of inhibition for tumors ≤300 mm in size (P=4.7E-4). Combination treatment of memantine with topotecan also showed clear addition but, unlike ifenprodil, no synergy for the doses chosen. Conclusion Since topotecan is a drug of choice for treatment of rSCLC, our findings suggest that combining this agent with NMDA receptor blockade using the GluN2B antagonist, ifenprodil, will significantly improve patient outcomes.
Implementation of a Nursing Based Order Set: Improved Antibiotic Administration Times for Pediatric ED Patients with Therapy-Induced Neutropenia and Fever

Abstract Purpose For patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and fever, delays in antibiotic administration are associated with poor outcomes, such as ICU admission and need for further interventions. The objective of this quality improvement project was to significantly reduce the time from initiation of triage to antibiotic administration for pediatric patients arriving to the emergency department with therapy-induced neutropenia and fever. Methods An interdisciplinary team set an evidence-based goal for time to antibiotics (TTA) at 60-min. A six-month retrospective chart review of Emergency Department (ED) patients revealed a 128 min TTA mean when measured from the initiation of triage to antibiotic administration, which also reflected 0% of patients receiving antibiotics within the goal of 60 min. Members of the interdisciplinary team evaluated delays in patient care workflow and identified three primary interventions to decrease the TTA. These three evidenced-based interventions were implemented and evaluated using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) quality improvement methodology. Results By the end of the implementation period mean TTA improved to 53 min and patients received antibiotics within 60 min (83% of the time). Conclusion The interventions focused on both provider and nursing workflow, however the implementation of an evidence-based practice nursing order set made the greatest impact on timeliness of antibiotic delivery time.
Loneliness, Depression, and Physical Activity in Older Adults: The Therapeutic Role of Human–Animal Interactions

The global population of older persons is projected in 2050 to reach approximately 2.1 billion. As people age, feelings of loneliness, depression, and physical inactivity often occur due to a multi...
Lens epithelial cells-induced pluripotent stem cells as a model to study epithelial-mesenchymal transition during posterior capsular opacification.

Abstract The overall goal was to generate an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model using lens epithelial cells-induced pluripotent stem cells to elucidate EMT-regulatory factors during posterior capsular opacification (PCO). For this purpose, the mouse lens epithelial cells-derived mesenchymal cells were reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and differentiated to lens epithelial cells to be used to determine regulatory factors during EMT. Lens epithelial cells from one-month-old C57BL/6 mice were transitioned to mesenchymal cells in culture, and were reprogrammed to iPSC by delivering reprogramming factors in a single polycistronic lentiviral vector (co-expressing four transcription factors, Oct 4, Sox2, Klf4, and Myc). iPSC were differentiated to epithelial cells by a three-step process using noggin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and Wnt-3. At various time points, the cells/clones were immunocytochemically analyzed for epithelial cell markers (Connexin-43 and E-cadherin), mesenchymal cell markers (Alpha-smooth muscle actin), stem cell markers (Sox1, Oct4, SSEA4 and Tra60) and lens-specific epithelial cell markers (αA- and βA3/A1-crystallins). By increasing the number of genetic transductions, the time needed for generating iPSC from lens mesenchymal cells was reduced, successfully reprogrammed epithelial/mesenchymal cells into iPSC, and retransformed iPSC into lens epithelial cells by the growth factors’ treatment. The epithelial cells could serve as a model system to elucidate regulatory factors involved during EMT to therapeutically stop it.
Mental Effort and Information-Processing Costs are Inversely-Related to Global Brain Free Energy During Visual Categorization

Mental effort is a neurocognitive process that reflects the controlled expenditure of psychological information-processing resources during perception, cognition, and action. There is a practical need to operationalize and measure mental effort in order to minimize detrimental effects of mental fatigue on real-world human performance. Previous research has identified several neurocognitive indices of mental effort, but these indices are indirect measures that are also sensitive to experimental demands or general factors such as sympathetic arousal. The present study investigated a potential direct neurocognitive index of mental effort based in theories where bounded rational decision makers (realized as embodied brains) are modeled as generalized thermodynamic systems. This index is called free energy, an information-theoretic system property of the brain that reflects the difference between the brain's current and predicted states. Theory predicts that task-related differences in a decision makers' free energy are inversely related to information-processing costs related to task decisions. The present study tested this prediction by quantifying global brain free energy from electroencephalographic (EEG) measures of human brain function. EEG signals were recorded while participants engaged in two visual categorization tasks in which categorization decisions resulted from the allocation of different levels of mental information processing resources. A novel method was developed to quantify brain free energy from machine learning classification of EEG trials. Participant information-processing resource costs were estimated via computational analysis of behavior, whereas the subjective expression of mental effort was estimated via participant ratings of mental workload. Following theoretical predictions, task-related differences in brain free energy negatively correlated with increased allocation of information-processing resource costs. These brain free energy differences were smaller for the visual categorization task that required a greater versus lesser allocation of information-processing resources. Ratings of mental workload were positively correlated with information-processing resource costs, and negatively correlated with global brain free energy differences, only for the categorization task requiring the larger amount of information-processing resource costs. These findings support theoretical thermodynamic approaches to decision making and provide the first empirical evidence of a relationship between mental effort, brain free energy, and neurocognitive information-processing.
Gene Expression and Diet Breadth in Plant-Feeding Insects: Summarizing Trends

Transcriptomic studies lend insights into the role of transcriptional plasticity in adaptation and specialization. Recently, there has been growing interest in understanding the relationship between variation in herbivorous insect gene expression and the evolution of diet breadth. We review the studies that have emerged on insect gene expression and host plant use, and outline the questions and approaches in the field. Many candidate genes underlying herbivory and specialization have been identified, and a few key studies demonstrate increased transcriptional plasticity associated with generalist compared with specialist species. Addressing the roles that transcriptional variation plays in insect diet breadth will have important implications for our understanding of the evolution of specialization and the genetic and environmental factors that govern insect–plant interactions.
An Open-Source Computer Vision Tool for Automated Vocal Fold Tracking From Videoendoscopy.

OBJECTIVES Contemporary clinical assessment of vocal fold adduction and abduction is qualitative and subjective. Herein is described a novel computer vision tool for automated quantitative tracking of vocal fold motion from videolaryngoscopy. The potential of this software as a diagnostic aid in unilateral vocal fold paralysis is demonstrated. STUDY DESIGN Case-control. METHODS A deep-learning algorithm was trained for vocal fold localization from videoendoscopy for automated frame-wise estimation of glottic opening angles. Algorithm accuracy was compared against manual expert markings. Maximum glottic opening angles between adults with normal movements (N = 20) and those with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (N = 20) were characterized. RESULTS Algorithm angle estimations demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 0.97 (P < .001) and mean absolute difference of 3.72° (standard deviation [SD], 3.49°) in comparison to manual expert markings. In comparison to those with normal movements, patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis demonstrated significantly lower maximal glottic opening angles (mean 68.75° ± 11.82° vs. 49.44° ± 10.42°; difference, 19.31°; 95% confidence interval [CI] [12.17°-26.44°]; P < .001). Maximum opening angle less than 58.65° predicted unilateral vocal fold paralysis with a sensitivity of 0.85 and specificity of 0.85, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.888 (95% CI [0.784-0.991]; P < .001). CONCLUSION A user-friendly software tool for automated quantification of vocal fold movements from previously recorded videolaryngoscopy examinations is presented, termed automated glottic action tracking by artificial intelligence (AGATI). This tool may prove useful for diagnosis and outcomes tracking of vocal fold movement disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV Laryngoscope, 131:E219-E225, 2021.
Decomposing US Political Ideology: Local Labor Market Polarization and Race in the 2016 Presidential Election

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign highlighted protectionism of US-born workers at a time of growing income inequality, racial tensions, and labor market polarization. Our study investigates if and how voters’ life circumstances affected election behavior between 2012 and 2016, and how voter behavior relates to compositional versus structural change of communities. We relate changes in the Republican vote share between 2012 and 2016 to demographic and economic characteristics of US counties and to rates of return (in terms of vote share) to these characteristics. We find that structural change in how local-level community attributes (most especially race) affect elections played a greater role between 2012 and 2016 than did differences in these community characteristics themselves. We find this more pronounced in battleground states, and in the presidential race as opposed to congressional ones.
Applying New Physics to the Problems of the η' → π^0γγ Decay

Rare decays of light mesons may be a discovery window for a new weakly coupled forces hidden at a low-energy QCD scale. BES-III Collaboration reported an observation of the rare decay \(\eta' \to\pi^0\gamma\gamma\). The observed decay width disagrees with the preliminary theoretical estimates. We show that this tension may be attributed to New Physics, presumably Dark Photon. For completeness, we consider a possible influence of New Physics on a similar well-measured decay \(\eta \to\pi^0\gamma\gamma\) and a recently measured one, \(\eta' \to\eta\gamma\gamma\), showing that the impact of the hypothetical Dark Photon may be also present in these decays.
Investing in HR? Human resource function investments and labor productivity in US organizations

This study provides an empirical examination of the relationship between organizational investments directed toward the human resource (HR) function and a key performance outcome – labor productivi...
Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Death of Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 in a Community Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Abstract Objective To describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for death of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a community hospital setting. Patients and Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study included 313 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a community hospital in Cook County, Illinois, from March 1, 2020, to May 25, 2020. Demographics, medical history, underlying comorbidities, symptoms, signs, laboratory findings, imaging studies, management, and progression to discharge or death data were collected and analyzed. Results Of 313 patients, the median age was 68 years (interquartile range, 59.0-78.5 years; range, 19-98 years), 182 (58.1%) were male, 119 (38%) were white, and 194 (62%) were admitted from a long-term care facility (LTCF). As of May 25, 2020, there were 212 (67.7%) survivors identified, whereas 101 (32.3%) nonsurvivors were identified. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed increasing hazards of inpatient death associated with older age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04), LTCF residence (HR, 3.23; 95% CI, 1.68-6.20), and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (HR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.78-3.76). Conclusion In this single-center retrospective cohort study of 313 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 illness in a community hospital in Cook County, Illinois, older patients, LTCF residents, and patients with high quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were found to have worse clinical outcomes and increased risk of death.
Delirium in Geriatric Trauma Patients

This review focuses on exploring the most recent literature on delirium among older adult trauma and acute care surgery patients. There are numerous scientific advances in the understanding and management of delirium among geriatric trauma patients (GTP). In terms of prevention, most of these advances are focused on non-pharmacological interventions. There are several studies exploring biomarkers for the objective assessment of delirium. Current recommendations for the pharmacologic treatment of delirium suggest reserving the use of antipsychotics and other sedating medications for the treatment of severe agitation that poses a risk to the patient. Despite extensive strides in the prevention and treatment of delirium, there is still a paucity of data in GTPs. Our review shows that GTPs benefit from multi-faceted interventions that serve primarily as preventive measures, and there is evidence that some novel pharmacological interventions may help in the treatment of GTPs.
On the Edge of the American Revolution: The Nova Scotia Gazette in 1775

This study focuses on the first Canadian newspaper, the Nova Scotia Gazette, on the eve of the American Revolution. It explores the means by which the paper’s printer, Anthony Henry, was able to co...
Representations of gender and race in Ryan Coogler’s film Black Panther: disrupting Hollywood tropes

Dozens of superhero films have been produced to date, yet their narratives tend to marginalize characters of color and offer stereotypical representations of masculinity and femininity. Ryan Coogle...
Perioperative Pain Management for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Surgery

Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage (Williams and Craig, Pain, 157(11):2420–2423, 2016). Pain control for patients with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) can be quite challenging, as there are often various pain profiles and presentations of pathology. In this chapter, we will describe best practices for safe and effective pain control during the perioperative course, broken down into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative sections. We will also discuss different medications that may be used together in a multimodal approach to managing pain.
Genetics of H-2 -Linked Loci

In 1904, Darbishire reported that genes p (pink-eye) and c (albinism) were associated in segregating populations more often than would be expected under the assumption of independent assortment. However, it was only in 1915 that the meaning of this deviation was understood and the conclusion drawn that genes p and c were linked (Haldane et al. 1915). This was the first group of linked genes discovered in the mouse (or in any other vertebrate), so it was designated linkage group I (abbreviated LG I). Twelve years later, Gates (1927) reported that genes d (dilute) and se (short ear) were also linked, but segregated independently of the genes in LG I. He therefore concluded that genes d and se were part of another linkage group, and he designated it linkage group LG II. In subsequent years, additional linkage groups were discovered and designated III, IV, V, and so on. Ninth in the order of discovery was a linkage group consisting of genes for tail anomalies: T (Brachyury), Ki (Kinky), and Fu (Fused) (Dunn and Caspari 1942, 1945). In 1948, Gorer and his co-workers demonstrated that Fu and H-2 were linked, and thus proved that the H-2 system was part of LG IX. The group has since grown to include more than a dozen loci.
Consumer protection in the South-Bohemian region

Consumer protection is one of the problems to which Department of trade addicts oneself in its scientific - investigative activity. The results of investigative project were presented during International seminar "Consumer protection in South Bohemian region" on 21 November in Tabor. This seminar took place under the auspices of South Bohemian mayor and in cooperation with Association of Czech Consumers and Department of travel industry. The conclusions of seminar and research approved the rightness of Department of trade scientific - investigative orientation to the consumer protection problemacy.
Chora: Expert-Based P2P Web Search

We present Chora , a P2P web search engine which complements, not replaces, traditional web search by using peers' web viewing history to recommend useful web sites to queriers. Chora is designed around a two-step paradigm. First, Chora determines which peers to query and then it executes a query across these peers. Each peer uses a desktop search engine to query their local web history and retrieve results ordered by relevance. To determine which peers to query, a small sketch of the information available from each peer is stored in a DHT. Peers with sketches indicating that they may have relevant information are queried. The query is dispersed through an ad hoc network connecting only those machines in the query and is optimized for getting good results as quickly as possible.
Studies on bovine adrenal estrogen sulfotransferase: III. Facile synthesis of 3′-phospho- and 2′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate

A practical synthesis of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (IV) in yields of 68-72% from adenosine 2',3'-cyclic phosphate 5'-phosphate (II) is described. Reaction of II with triethylamine-N-sulfonic acid affords adenosine 2',3'-cyclic phosphate 5'-phosphosulfate (III) which, on treatment with ribonuclease-T2, provides IV. Spleen phosphodiesterase, on the other hand, converts III to 2'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (V). The biological activity of IV, measured by sulfate transfer to [6,7-3H2]estrone as mediated by bovine adrenal estrone sulfotransferase (3'-phosphoadenylyl-sulfate:estrone 3-sulfotransferase, EC 2.8.2.4), is identical with that obtained with a sample of IV prepared by an established biochemical procedure. By contrast, V exhibits approximately one-third the activity of the natural isomer.
Systemic expression of defense response genes in wheat spikes as a response to Fusarium graminearum infection

Abstract Wheat spikes infected by Fusarium graminearum result in Fusarium head blight, a devastating disease of wheat. The spikes respond to infection by inducing a set of defense response genes in infected spikelets much as has been shown in other plant-pathogen interactions. To determine whether defense response genes are expressed systemically within F. graminearum -inoculated wheat spikes, we examined transcript accumulation of four defense response genes (peroxidase, PR-1, PR-3 and PR-5) in colonized and uncolonized portions of wheat spikes of resistant and susceptible genotypes. We determined whether sampled regions of point-inoculated wheat spikes were colonized or not using a Fusarium spp.-specific plate assay and an F. graminearum isolate expressing β-glucuronidase (GUS). The GUS-expressing F. graminearum isolate proved particularly useful for visualizing and following the spread of the fungus and for measuring the amount of fungal biomass in spike tissues. We found that transcripts of the four defense response genes accumulated in both colonized and uncolonized regions of spikes of resistant and susceptible genotypes at 48 h after inoculation. These results demonstrate that direct contact with the pathogen is not required for induction of defense response genes and that these genes are activated in both susceptible and resistant genotypes.
Analysis of an HDG method for linear elasticity

Summary We present the first a priori error analysis for the first hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin method for linear elasticity proposed in Internat. J. Numer. Methods Engrg. 80 (2009), no. 8, 1058–1092. We consider meshes made of polyhedral, shape-regular elements of arbitrary shape and show that, whenever piecewise-polynomial approximations of degree k≥0 are used and the exact solution is smooth enough, the antisymmetric part of the gradient of the displacement converges with order k, the stress and the symmetric part of the gradient of the displacement converge with order k + 1/2, and the displacement converges with order k + 1. We also provide numerical results showing that the orders of convergence are actually sharp. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phoneme Effects on Vocal Effort and Vocal Quality

This study demonstrated that "vocal effort" is a legitimate laryngeal perception that can be detected by many subjects who have voice disorders and by some normal control subjects. Further, subjects with voice disorders found that the degree of vocal effort in speech was greatest for voiceless obstruent consonants, followed by voiced obstruents; sonorants and nasals required the least effort. A panel of listeners, however, could not detect differences in roughness, breathiness, intonation, or overall vocal quality as the perceived vocal effort varied.
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Impact of potassium and zirconium promoters on the activity and structure of an ultrafine iron oxide catalyst

Slurry phase Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was conducted with an ultrafine iron oxide catalyst promoted with either 0.5 at% K or 1.0 at% Zr or both. Pretreatment in CO yielded higher conversions and a more stable catalyst than activation in hydrogen or synthesis gas. Hydrogen pretreatment of K promoted catalysts and synthesis gas activation in general were less effective. Mossbauer spectroscopy and XRD showedχ-Fe5C2 and e′-Fe2.2C were formed during pretreatment in CO and did not depend on promoters present. Catalysts pretreated in H2 were reduced to metallic Fe and Fe3O4; promotion with K and Zr decreased the extent of reduction. Hydrogen pretreated catalysts, promoted with K, lost surface area and carbided rapidly under synthesis conditions. Activation in synthesis gas reduced all catalysts to Fe3O4. Subsequent synthesis did not affect the phase present for the unpromoted and Zr promoted catalysts while those promoted with K formed χ-Fe5C2 and e′-Fe2.2C. It is concluded that pretreatment type is more important to the catalyst activity during the early period of synthesis than the impact of promotion with K and/or Zr and that changes in the bulk composition of iron catalysts do not necessarily correlate with changes in activity.
Normal-mode constraints on the structure of the Earth

We have analyzed the splitting characteristics of 75 spheroidal free oscillations excited by the Great 1994 Bolivia and Kuril Islands earthquakes. These spheroidal modes may be roughly subdivided in terms of 8 radial modes, 40 mantle modes, and 27 core-sensitive modes. The splitting of each mode is corrected for the effects of rotation and hydrostatic ellipticity. The remaining signal is due to lateral variations in the mantle and core and may be expressed in terms of so-called splitting functions, which represent a local radial average of the Earth's even three-dimensional heterogeneity. In the surface-wave limit, splitting functions are the equivalent of an even-degree phase velocity map. Each mode is uniquely sensitive to the Earth's structure. Some modes are predominantly sensitive to compressional velocities in the upper mantle, others to shear velocity variations in the lowermost mantle, and some modes “see” the inner core. As part of our analysis, we determine the center frequency and quality factor of each individual mode; these observations constrain the terrestrial monopole. Collectively, the normal-mode splitting observations presented in this paper put constraints on the large-scale, even structure of the entire Earth. We compare the observed splitting functions with predictions from three recent Harvard models: SH12WM13, SKS12WM12, and PS12WM13. These models are constrained by traveltime and waveform data but contain no normal-mode information. We demonstrate that large-scale, even structure is quite accurately represented in current Earth models, but that the splitting of some predominantly compressional modes is not satisfactorily explained. Although a distinct mantle signal is observed in the splitting functions of core-sensitive modes, a characteristic zonal degree 2 pattern is missing. This missing signal is believed to be the result of inner core anisotropy.
Efficient large scale simulations with a hybrid finite element boundary integral technique

This paper outlines a novel and efficient hybrid simulation technique for solving open boundary problems. The technique combines a finite element solution for volumetric electric fields and a method of moments or boundary integral solutions to a truncation boundary. The technique is built on a domain decomposition infrastructure which highly parallelized. The underlying theory will be presented along with some examples highlighting the efficiency and accuracy when combined with adaptive meshing in finite.
Simulation of tyre–pavement interaction for predicting contact stresses at static and various rolling conditions

This paper describes the development of a 3D tyre–pavement interaction model to predict the tyre–pavement contact stress distributions for future use in the mechanistic analysis of pavement responses. The ribbed radial-ply tyre was modelled as a composite structure (rubber and reinforcement), and the tyre material parameters were calibrated through load-deflection curves. The steady-state tyre rolling process was simulated using an arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian formulation. The model results are consistent with previous measurements and validate the existence of non-uniform vertical contact stresses and localised tangential contact stresses. The analysis results show that the non-uniformity of vertical contact stresses decreases as the load increases, but increases as the inflation pressure increases. However, vehicle manoeuvring behaviour significantly affects the tyre–pavement contact stress distributions. For example, tyre braking/acceleration induces significant longitudinal contact stresses, while ty...
Protection Against Sodium Valproate Injury in Isolated Hepatocytes by α‐Tocopherol and N,N'‐Diphenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine

The possibility that lipid peroxidation is involved in valproic acid (VPA) hepatotoxicity was explored by testing the ability of the free-radical scavengers alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD) to protect against VPA toxicity. Rat hepatocyte cultures were treated with toxic doses of VPA, in conjunction with varying doses of vitamin E and DPPD. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into the culture media was used to calculate an LDH index as a measure of toxicity. Vitamin E afforded increasing protection against VPA toxicity at concentrations of 1.0 to 4.0 microM but then leveled off and did not give complete protection at concentrations up to 8.0 microM. No protection was seen at less than 1.0 microM. DPPD showed increasing protection from 0.05 to 0.50 microM, with complete protection at the highest concentration. These data indicate that VPA toxicity can be prevented by simultaneous administration of free-radical scavengers and support the concept that VPA hepatotoxicity is due to lipid peroxidation.
A higher order subdomain method for finding local stress fields in composites

Abstract The problem of finding local and volume averaged stresses in a two-dimensional heterogeneous solid is formulated in terms of fundamental point load solutions (Green's function) leading to singular integral equations. The resulting equations are solved approximately using a subdomain method in which closed form solutions for a rectangular subdomain are obtained and utilized to find the full field solution. Previously, closed form solutions for a rectangular subvolume had been found, but only for the case of an assumed constant strain. In the present paper the solution is obtained for a quadratic form which includes not only the usual constant term but also linear and quadratic terms. The advantages of using the higher order solutions is illustrated by finding the local field in a periodic composite with square fibers. The numerical solution takes less than 90 CPU s on a workstation. The solution yields average properties independent of the reference modulus as would be expected for an accurate solution of the singular integral equation and the effective transverse modulus vs volume fraction is close to that from Christensen's model developed for round fibers.
Incidence of new stroke or new myocardial infarction or death in patients with severe carotid arterial disease treated with and without statins.

We investigated in 449 patients with severe carotid arterial disease, who did not undergo revascularization, the incidence of new stroke or new myocardial infarction (MI) or death in patients treated with statins (66%) and in patients not treated with lipid-lowering therapy (34%). Hypercholesterolemia was present in all of the 298 patients (100%) treated with statins and in 145 of 151 patients (96%) not treated with statins (p = 0.001). Follow-up was 26 ± 18 months in patients treated with statins and 21 ± 17 months in patients not treated with statins (p
Plasmid DNA Profiles as Epidemiological Markers for Clinical and Environmental Isolates of Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum

Plasmid DNA was isolated, and profiles of a variety of clinical and environmental isolates of Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum (MAIS) were compared to determine whether plasmid DNA content would be useful as an epidemiological marker for these environmental pathogens. Since plasmids are common in clinical isolates and are stable during culture and exposure to NaOH, plasmid DNA analysis appears to be a suitable epidemiological tool. Based on the high frequency of plasmids in only clinical (56%) and aerosol (75010) isolates and low frequencies in soil (5%), dust (7%), sediment (<607o), and water (25%) isolates, the data suggest that MAIS-laden aerosols generated over waters of the southeastern United States are a likely source of human infection.
Nonlinear Analysis of Elastomeric Keyboard Domes

The large deflection of an elastomeric dome is studied using the finite element method. The material properties of the elastomer are described by a hyperelastic model in order to capture the strain energy stored in the dome during deformation. The nonlinear responses are determined by the modified Riks procedure, and the calculated load-deflection curve agrees well with experimental results. In addition, a pressurized thick-walled spherical hyperelastic shell is analyzed and the stress results obtained by the finite element method are in excellent agreement with the closed-form solutions. The results provide a better understanding of the mechanical behavior of elastomeric keyboard domes and demonstrate the feasibility of using the finite element method to design such structures.
Regulation of the Emulsion Particle Size Distribution to an Optimal Trajectory Using Partial Least Squares Model-Based Predictive Control

This paper describes a statistical model-based control strategy for the regulation of the particle size distribution in emulsion copolymerization. A database is generated using both a mechanistic model and experimental data. A partial least squares method is applied at each sample time to generate the prediction model to be used in a predictive control algorithm. The proposed strategy is implemented in an experimental reactor in which the copolymerization of vinyl acetate/butyl acrylate is carried out. The controller is effective in updating the input trajectories to regulate the controlled distribution to a desired target in the presence of strong disturbances.
A new relation among neutrino neutral current couplings and a constraint on the electron weak neutral current couplings

Abstract A new relation among the neutrino neutral current couplings to quarks and leptons is discussed. The relation permits a more direct test of the fermionic assignments in the Weinberg-Salam SU(2)L × U(1) model and SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1) models. This relation together with a relation derived by Bernabeu and Jarlskog allows a unique determination of neutrino electron weak neutral current couplings.
Particle-Induced Artifacts in the MTT and LDH Viability Assays

In vitro testing is a common first step in assessing combustion-generated and engineered nanoparticle-related health hazards. Commercially available viability assays are frequently used to compare the toxicity of different particle types and to generate dose-response data. Nanoparticles, well-known for having large surface areas and chemically active surfaces, may interfere with viability assays, producing a false assessment of toxicity and making it difficult to compare toxicity data. The objective of this study is to measure the extent of particle interference in two common viability assays, the MTT reduction and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays. Diesel particles, activated carbon, flame soot, oxidized flame soot, and titanium dioxide particles are assessed for interactions with the MTT and LDH assay under cell-free conditions. Diesel particles, at concentrations as low as 0.05 μg/mL, reduce MTT. Other particle types reduce MTT only at a concentration of 50 μg/mL and higher. The activated carbon, soot, and oxidized soot particles bind LDH to varying extents, reducing the concentration measured in the LDH assay. The interfering effects of the particles explain in part the different toxicities measured in human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o). We conclude that valid particle toxicity assessments can only be assured after first performing controls to verify that the particles under investigation do not interfere with a specific assay at the expected concentrations.
Quadratic and quartic one-loop divergences in gauge theories and their cancellation in supergravity

Abstract The quadratic and quartic divergences cancel in N = 2 supergravity in photon-photon scattering. They are defined by modified dimensional regularization as the residues of poles at d = 2 and d = 0 dimensions, respectively. Other definitions are shown to violate general coordinate invariance and Yang-Mills invariance. 't Hooft's algorithm for the one-loop divergences is extended to the case of higher-order divergences.
Preparing Family Specialists in Early Childhood Special Education

This article describes an early childhood special educaton personnel preparation program designed to prepare family specialists. The program was developed to meet the training needs of early childhood special educators caused by the increased emphasis on family intervention. Specialized family coursework and field-based experiences are provided to students in addition to training experiences in child-related skills and competencies. An overview of the training program is provided, along with a discussion of the early childhood special educator's expanded roles and responsibilities relative to family intervention.
Handedness is related to formal thought disorder and language dysfunction in schizophrenia

Abstract The handedness of 29 schizophrenics, 42 manic-depressives, and 25 normal controls was examined in relation to formal thought disorder and language dysfunction. Subjects demonstrated hand preference (Preference Index) and also performed four tasks of manual proficiency. On each of the four proficiency tasks a lateral proficiency score was computed to quantify direction and degree of manual superiority and their mean constituted the Lateral Proficiency Index. A Variability Index, consisting of their standard deviation, was also computed. Sinistrality, as measured by the Preference Index, was related to severity of formal thought disorder in male schizophrenics. The Variability Index was significantly related to severity of formal thought disorder and to language dysfunction in the schizophrenic group as a whole. These relations were not demonstrated in the control groups. These findings support the hypothesis that, in schizophrenia, atypical handedness is a marker of left-hemisphere dysfunction tha...
Primacy effect in single-trial free recall

The primacy effect may be due to initial list members being relatively free of proactive inhibition (PI), spending longer time in a limited-capacity rehearsal buffer, or being associated with stronger retrieval cues. In three experiments using a single-trial free-recall procedure, S s were sometimes presented a forget cue during a list. The cue meant that they were not responsible for recalling any of the words which preceded it, only those which followed it. Since the primacy effect over the functional beginning of such lists was not diminished, the PI hypothesis was rejected. Tests of memory for list members which S s were under the impression they could forget showed consistently depressed retention of items immediately preceding a forget cue. This result was considered to be more in harmony with a rehearsal-buffer notion than a stronger-retrieval-cues position.
Comparison of oxidative stability of high- and normal-oleic peanut oils

A peanut breeding line with high-oleic acid and an isogenic sister line with normal fatty acid composition were obtained. Oil was extracted with dichloromethane and processed in the laboratory by alkali neutralization and bleaching. Fatty acid compositions were determined by gas chromatography and application of theoretical response factors. Oils were extracted and processed in duplicate. The oxidative stability of the oils was measured by the Schall oven test (80°C), active oxygen method (AOM) (112°C) and by comparison of oxidation rates on thin-layer chromatography-flame ionization detector (TLC-FID) rods (100°C). Fatty acid analysis indicated that the high-oleic line had 75.6 and 4.7% oleic and linoleic acids, respectively, compared to 56.1 and 24.2% for the normal line. The induction times for the Schall test were 682 and 47 h for high- and normal-oleic oils (P<0.01). The AOM induction times were 69 and 7.3 h for high and normal oils, respectively (P<0.01). The times to reach 50% loss in triglyceride area on TLC-FID were 847 and 247 min for high-oleic compared to normal-oleic oils (P<0.01). The results indicate that high-oleic peanut oil has much greater autoxidation stability as compared to normal oil.
Estimate of Current Hospice and Palliative Medicine Physician Workforce Shortage

Abstract Context In the context of the establishment of a new medical specialty, rapid growth in hospices and palliative care programs, and many anecdotal reports about long delays in filling open positions for hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) physicians, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) appointed a Workforce Task Force in 2008 to assess whether a physician shortage existed and to develop an estimate of the optimal number of HPM physicians needed. Objectives Develop estimates of the current supply and current need for HPM physicians. Determine whether a shortage exists and estimate size of shortage in full-time equivalents (FTEs) and individual physicians needed. Methods The Task Force projected national demand for physicians in hospice- and in hospital-based palliative care by modeling hypothetical national demand on the observed pattern of physician use at selected exemplar institutions. The model was based on assumptions that all hospices and hospitals would provide an appropriate medical staffing level, which may not currently be the case. Results Approximately 4400 physicians are currently HPM physicians, as defined by board certification or membership in the AAHPM. Most practice HPM part time, leading to an estimated physician workforce level from 1700 FTEs to 3300 FTEs. An estimated 4487 hospice and 10,810 palliative care physician FTEs are needed to staff the current number of hospice- and hospital-based palliative care programs at appropriate levels. The estimated gap between the current supply and the hypothetical demand to reach mature physician staffing levels is thus 2787 FTEs to 7510 FTEs, which is equivalent to 6000–18,000 individual physicians, depending on what proportion of time each physician devotes to HPM practice. Conclusion An acute shortage of HPM physicians exists. The current capacity of fellowship programs is insufficient to fill the shortage. Changes in graduate medical education funding and structures are needed to foster the capacity to train sufficient numbers of HPM physicians.
Electronic Plagiarism as a College Instructor's Nightmare--Prevention and Detection

Plagiarism, aided by the emergence of massive databases of information on the World Wide Web, has become commonplace on college campuses and in business schools. Because prevention is preferable to policing, in this article the authors (a) present methods for educators to define plagiarism and educate students in appropriate citation and paraphrasing and (b) provide assignments and expectations that will minimize the need and possibility of cheating. The authors also suggest potential "red flags" as well as software and Web services that aid in investigation of possible Internet plagiarism.