cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does Receipt of Recommended Elements of Palliative Care Precede In-Hospital Death or Hospice Referral?

Abstract Context Palliative care aligns treatments with patients' values and improves quality of life, yet whether receipt of recommended elements of palliative care is associated with end-of-life outcomes is understudied. Objectives To assess whether recommended elements of palliative care (pain and symptom management, goals of care, and spiritual care) precede in-hospital death and hospice referral and whether delivery by specialty palliative care affects that relationship. Methods We conducted structured chart reviews for decedents with late-stage cancer, dementia, and chronic kidney disease with a hospital admission during the six months preceding death. Measures included receipt of recommended elements of palliative care delivered by any clinician and specialty palliative care consult. We assessed associations between recommended elements of palliative care and in-hospital death and hospice referral using multivariable Poisson regression models. Results Of 402 decedents, 67 (16.7%) died in hospital, and 168 (41.8%) had hospice referral. Among elements of palliative care, only goals-of-care discussion was associated with in-hospital death (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.37; 95% CI 1.01–1.84) and hospice referral (IRR 1.85; 95% CI 1.31–2.61). Specialty palliative care consult was associated with a lower likelihood of in-hospital death (IRR 0.57; 95% CI 0.44–0.73) and a higher likelihood of hospice referral (IRR 1.45; 95% CI 1.12–1.89) compared with no consult. Conclusion Goals-of-care discussions by different types of clinicians commonly precede end-of-life care in hospital or hospice. However, engagement with specialty palliative care reduced in-hospital death and increased hospice referral. Understanding the causal pathways of goals-of-care discussions may help build primary palliative care interventions to support patients near the end of life.
Reduction theory for connections over the formal punctured disc

We give a purely algebraic treatment of reduction theory for connections over the formal punctured disc. Our proofs apply to arbitrary connected linear algebraic groups over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0. We also state and prove some new quantitative results.
Characterization of neutrophil-neuronal co-cultures to investigate mechanisms of post-ischemic immune-mediated neurotoxicity.

Abstract Background Immune-mediated reperfusion injury is a critical component of post-ischemic central nervous system (CNS) damage. In this context, the activation and recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) to the CNS induces neurotoxicity in part through the release of degradative enzymes, cytokines, and reactive oxygen species. However, the extent to which close-range interactions between PMNs and neurons contribute to injury in this context has not been directly investigated. New method We devised a co-culture model to investigate mechanisms of PMN-dependent neurotoxicity. Specifically, we established the effect of PMN dose, co-incident neuronal ischemia, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PMN priming, and the requirement for cell-cell contact on cumulative neuron damage. Results and comparison to existing method(s) Pre-exposure of day in vitro 10 primary cortical neurons to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) enhanced PMN-dependent neuronal death. Likewise, LPS-induced priming of the PMN donor further increased PMN-induced toxicity in vitro compared to saline-injected controls. Compartmentalization of LPS-primed PMNs using net wells confirmed the requirement for close-range cell-cell interactions in the process of PMN-induced neuronal injury. Moreover, time-lapse imaging and quantitative neurite analyses implicate PMN-neurite interactions in this pathological response. These experiments establish a platform to investigate immune and neural factors that contribute to post-ischemic neurodegeneration. Conclusions Ischemic and immune priming enhance neurotoxicity in PMN-neuronal co-cultures. Moreover, cell-cell contact and neurite destruction are prominent features in the observed mechanism of post-ischemic neuronal death.
Prospectively Assigned AAST Grade versus Modified Hinchey Class and Acute Diverticulitis Outcomes.

Abstract Background The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) recently developed a classification system to standardize outcomes analyses for several emergency general surgery conditions. To highlight this system's full potential, we conducted a study integrating prospective AAST grade assignment within the electronic medical record. Methods Our institution integrated AAST grade assignment into our clinical workflow in July 2018. Patients with acute diverticulitis were prospectively assigned AAST grades and modified Hinchey classes at the time of surgical consultation. Support vector machine—a machine learning algorithm attuned for small sample sizes—was used to compare the associations between the two classification systems and decision to operate and incidence of complications. Results 67 patients were included (median age of 62 y, 40% male) for analysis. The decision for operative management, hospital length of stay, intensive care unit admission, and intensive care unit length of stay were associated with both increasing AAST grade and increasing modified Hinchey class (all P Conclusions This study showed the feasibility of electronic medical record integration to support the full potential of AAST classification system's utility as a clinical decision-making tool. Prospectively assigned AAST grade may be an accurate and pragmatic method to find associations with outcomes, yet validation requires further study.
Keeping spectators in the stands: sport literacy framework for college basketball

Despite the potentially valuable benefits of sport literacy for spectators, there is no analytical framework for understanding the necessary components of, and the role of, sport literacy in sport spectatorship. This study aims to develop a conceptual sport literacy framework that explains the necessary elements of sport spectatorship for men's college basketball. We recruited nine college basketball experts, six self-identified fans and five novices, and conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The interview data, memos, observed data from scenario play and narratives of video clips were integrated into NVivo software and the transcribed data were analysed using a series of coding techniques in grounded theory. Most participants identified specific types of knowledge necessary for becoming a literate spectator along with the factors that facilitate the development of sport literacy. The proposed conceptual framework seeks to direct researchers and practitioners in their efforts to promote spectators' sport literacy.
Adversarial Examples Generation for Reducing Implicit Gender Bias in Pre-trained Models.

Over the last few years, Contextualized Pre-trained Neural Language Models, such as BERT, GPT, have shown significant gains in various NLP tasks. To enhance the robustness of existing pre-trained models, one way is adversarial examples generation and evaluation for conducting data augmentation or adversarial learning. In the meanwhile, gender bias embedded in the models seems to be a serious problem in practical applications. Many researches have covered the gender bias produced by word-level information(e.g. gender-stereotypical occupations), while few researchers have investigated the sentence-level cases and implicit cases. In this paper, we proposed a method to automatically generate implicit gender bias samples at sentence-level and a metric to measure gender bias. Samples generated by our method will be evaluated in terms of accuracy. The metric will be used to guide the generation of examples from Pre-trained models. Therefore, those examples could be used to impose attacks on Pre-trained Models. Finally, we discussed the evaluation efficacy of our generated examples on reducing gender bias for future research.
Crack Development in a Stressed Copper Plate

The problem we will consider in this chapter is that of crack development in a stressed plate. The ability to predict where a crack will develop in a stressed plate is of fundamental importance in the design of buildings, aircraft and nuclear reactors. Specifically, we will simulate crack and fracture development in a stressed, slotted copper plate.
Abstract 119: Identifying and Quantifying Eight ApoA-I HDL Subspecies by a Novel Modified Sandwich ELISA

HDL-cholesterol is a well-established independent risk factor used in CVD risk stratification. However, the cardioprotective effect of HDL-cholesterol is challenged by genetic studies and pharmaceutical trials, which do not support the causal relationship between increased HDL-cholesterol levels and CVD. Previously, our lab found that HDL can be classified into subspecies based on the presence of apoC-III, where for example 7% of the total plasma apoA-I in HDL has apoC-III. We also showed that the apoA-I concentration of HDL that has apoC-III predicts increased risk of CHD, whereas that of HDL that does not have apoC-III predicts decreased risk of CHD. We hypothesized that some of the many other proteins that are located in HDL are present in apoA-I HDL subspecies. We developed a novel sandwich ELISA to measure apoA-I in HDL that is associated with a specific protein of interest, and applied it to apoA-II, apoC-III, and apoE, which define known subspecies of apoA-I HDL. We also applied the ELISA to apoC-I...
SU-E-T-224: Considerations for the Proper Treatment of Multiple Cranial Metastases with Single Isocenter Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy

Purpose: To investigate some limitations of single isocenter VMAT for cranial multiple met cases. Methods: A single isocenter VMAT plan (Varian, Eclipse AAA10 commissioned down to 1 cm) was designed for two 7mm diameter spherical targets in a rectangular Solid Water (Gammex) phantom. The targets were separated by a distance of 6cm and the isocenter was centered in one of the targets. The plan was delivered (Varian, Truebeam STx) three separate times with different artificial couch angle errors of 0, 0.5 and 1 degree. The coronal dose distributions were measured with calibrated EBT3 film placed at mid-phantom. EBT3 film dosimetry was also performed on the delivery of separate multiple arc vmat plans to targets below 6mm in diameter. Results: Measurements of the sup/inf dose profiles through the high dose distributions show no movement of the central axis high dose region and shifts of the high dose region intended for the off-axis target. For the 1 degree rotation error, the high dose region was shifted 1.04mm from the target. This corresponds to the shift expected from triangulation (60mmxTan(1deg)=1.047mm). Furthermore, a streak of 10% interleaf leakage dose was observed and is likely a Result of the off axis target traveling a wide path such that a long length of MLC is exposed for the whole arc. The calculated dose was about 10% to 15% low compared to that measured on film for a 5mm diameter target. Conclusion: Judicious use of additional margin for off axis targets or limits on the span of multiple mets treated with one isocenter is recommended. The magnitude of the margin should be based on the rotational errors evaluated for the positioning system and the distance of the target from the isocenter. A lower limit of lesion size that can be accurately treated with VMAT should be determined.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Developing Placement Services for Liberal Arts Undergraduates

In Fall 2002, the University of Missouri-Columbia began a new initiative to develop placement services for liberal arts students. Placement services had never before been offered to this student population and the MU Career Center was designated as the principal creator, administrator and provider of these career services. The Career Center staff decided the most effective approach would be to develop a strategic plan that reflected the needs, values, and desires of our faculty, student, and employer constituents. We conducted an environmental scan, collected substantial data and gathered campus feedback. After careful analysis, we developed a dynamic and responsive strategic plan that would meet our goals and achieve success with our financial, organizational, and human resources in mind.
On the multiple role of NLRP3 on the pathogenesis of the viral infection (INM8P.444)

Herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) infection of the eye can be a cause of blindness with lesions attributable to inflammatory events that include components of both adaptive and innate immunity. Several innate immune receptors are triggered by HSV-1 but it is unclear how such innate immune sensing relates to the subsequent control of virus and the ensuing inflammatory process. The present study focuses on the role of the inflammasome NLRP3, which is known to influence the outcome of inflammatory disease. Comparison of ocular and intradermal infection with HSV-1 in control and NLRP3 knockout mice revealed that mice lacking NLRP3 had significantly increased viral replication and delayed clearance together with increased neutrophil recruitment and proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines production compared to WT animals. Dramatic differences were also evident in the extent of skin zosteriform lesions in WT and NLRP3 KO mice. Since immunoinflammatory diseases are minimized in NLRP3 KO mice, we anticipated that SK lesions would diminish in KO mice, but instead they occurred earlier and were more severe. We demonstrate that the cellular and molecular events in SK in KO vs. WT animals were different especially in the balance of T cells type involvement and neutrophil participation. Our results indicate that NLRP3 can influence the outcome of a virus infection by affecting multiple steps in the pathogenesis.
The return of clonal marking sheds new light on human hematopoietic stem cells.

Human hematopoietic stem cells are of vital scientific and clinical importance. Using high resolution clonal analysis, Dick and colleagues shed important new light on the developmental behavior of these cells in the context of an in vivo model system.
Observation of predicted phonon anomalies in beta -phase Ni50Al50.

Inelastic neutron scattering was used in a detailed measure of the [\ensuremath{\zeta}\ensuremath{\zeta}\ensuremath{\zeta}] transverse-acoustic (TA) and the [\ensuremath{\zeta}00] longitudinal-acoustic (LA) branches in ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{50}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{50}$ alloy. Anomalies are observed in the TA branch near \ensuremath{\zeta}=0.28 and the LA branch near \ensuremath{\zeta}=0.30 which are the precise wave vectors predicted by Zhao and Harmon in their calculations of the electron-phonon coupling in ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{50}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{50}$.
Tensile strength of the end-weave flexor tendon repair An in vitro biomechanical study

A study was designed to investigate the tensile strength of the end-weave method of tendon repair. Flexor tendons were removed from 13 fresh-frozen human cadavers, transected and repaired with the end-weave technique varying from one to five weaves, with two suture techniques, the commonly used horizontal mattress suture and a new method we have termed the cross stitch. The repairs were then tested in tension to failure on a Materials Test System (MTS) biomechanical testing device. Comparisons were also made to tensile strengths of intact whole tendons, tendon-bone insertions, and distal reinsertion techniques. Tensile strength increased linearly with the number of weaves for both suture methods. The cross stitch was found to have significantly greater strength per weave compared to the horizontal mattress suture (P < 0.05). Three out of five trials of five weaves done with the cross stitch actually failed at the tendon itself first, rather than through the repair, which was the failure mode for all other trials. The results from this in vitro model suggest that active rehabilitative exercises might safely be performed in the immediate post-operative period after procedures that involve tendon weaving.
Which is the correct answer to the Mpemba puzzle

Dear Editorial Board members,In my editorial in the last issue of Temperature,1 I included a riddle that was suggested to me by Gerald Pollack (University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA). ...
Age-, tissue-, and Ah genotype-dependent differences in the binding of 3-methylcholanthrene and its metabolite(s) to mouse DNA.

The induction of transplacental carcinogenesis by 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) in mice is determined, in part, by the genotype at the Ah locus. The relationship of Ah genotype and MC-induced DNA adducts was tested by comparing the response of pregnant and fetal C57BL/6 mice ( Ah b Ah b; responsive to the induction of MC metabolism) and DBA/2 mice ( Ah d Ah d; nonresponsive). On day 17 of gestation (day 1 = presence of vaginal plug), C57BL/6 mice were trated i.p. with 100 mg/kg MC and DBA/2 mice with 30 mg/kg. Mice were sacrificed 24 h later and the tissues were analyzed for the presence of DNA adducts using the P1 nuclease version of the 32P-postlabeling method. With a 3.3-fold difference in administered dose, the total adduct levels in fetal DNA were ( a ) similar in both strains with the exception of liver, for which C57BL/6 mice had more adducts; ( b ) higher in the lung than skin, liver, or thymus; and ( c ) only ¼ to 1/14 of the adult levels. Maternal DBA/2DNA contained more adducts in the thoracic lymph nodes and liver but fewer in the placenta and lung, compared to maternal C57BL/6 DNA. More adducts were detected in lung DNA than liver DNA in C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, these levels were similar in DBA/2 mice. When the difference in dose administered was considered in conjunction with this, less MC bound to DNA of C57BL/6 than DBA/2 mice overall. To identify adducts, oxidized metabolites of MC, 1-hydroxy-, 2-hydroxy-, 9,10-dihydrodiol-, or 3-methoxymethyl-MC, were topically applied to the dorsal skin of both strains. All of these metabolites produced adducts. Approximately 14 different adduct spots were detected. The two most abundant adducts were produced by 1-hydroxy-, 2-hydroxy-, and 9,10-dihydrodiol-MC. One of these also contained a 3-hydroxymethyl group. Several adducts did not contain the 9,10-dihydroxy group. The adducts derived from 3-methoxymethyl-MC were consistently found in greater abundance in DNA from C57BL/6 tissues, compared with DBA/2. Thus, oxidation of the 3-methyl group may be enhanced by Ah -dependent induction of MC metabolism. Together, these results suggest that the individual and total adduct levels are influenced by the genotype at the Ah locus, the route of administration, and the metabolite(s) with tissue and age specificity.
Innovations in Nursing Education: The State of the Art

This article provides an overview of the innovative pedagogic practices in nursing education published between 2009 and 2012. Four distinct categories emerged from the literature review: calls to action for reform or educational redesign; the use of technology; partnerships; and innovative curricular, clinical, and classroom teaching strategies. The publications provide clear evidence of the high capacity for creativity and innovation in nursing education.
The pretrained novice: using simulation-based training to improve learning in the operating room.

Enabling trainees to acquire advanced technical skills before they begin the operating room experience benefits both trainee and patient. Whether medical students who had received exclusively simulation-based training could perform laparoscopic suturing and knot-tying as well as senior surgery residents was determined. Simulators were used to train 11 fourth-year medical students with no previous suturing experience to perform intracorporeal suturing and to successfully tie a free-hand intracorporeal knot. Students’ skills were assessed by the performance of the fundal suturing portion of a Nissen fundoplication in a porcine model. Their operative performance was evaluated for time, needle manipulations, and total errors. Results were compared to those of 11 senior-level surgery residents performing the same task. The study concluded that trainees could learn advanced technical skills such as laparoscopic suturing and knot tying by using simulation exclusively. The trainees and senior level surgery reside...
Palliative balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty for infants with unrestrictive ventricular septal defect or single ventricle associated with severe pulmonary stenosis.

Background Symptomatic infants with unrestrictive ventricular septal defect (VSD) or single ventricle with severe pulmonary stenosis (PS) are typically treated surgically. High surgical risk infants may benefit from catheter-based palliative pulmonary valvuloplasty. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients with severe PS associated with unrestrictive VSD or single ventricle who underwent palliative pulmonary valvuloplasty as initial management and describe outcomes. Results From 2000 to 2013, 16 patients met inclusion criteria and underwent valvuloplasty at a median age and weight of 25 (range 1–352) days and 3.65 (range 2.2–12) kg. Common diagnoses included tetralogy of Fallot (50%) and double-outlet right ventricle (25%). In all, the indication was cyanosis. Reasons to defer surgery included low weight (37.5%), preference for complex operation at older age (31.25%) and significant comorbidity (18.75%). Following valvuloplasty, significant increases in oxygen saturation (83.1 ± 8.8 vs. 74.7 ± 8.7%, P = 0.008) and QP:QS (1.6 ± 0.5 vs. 0.8 ± 0.3, P = 0.0005) occurred. All two ventricle patients (n = 10) ultimately had complete operative repair at a median of 125 (range 27–382) days after valvuloplasty, during which time there was 20.3 ± 9.2 g/day of weight gain without change in oxygen saturation. Single ventricle patients who underwent cavopulmonary connection (n = 3) had similar weight gain and palliation time, but with a decrease in oxygen saturation. Two patients required reintervention to augment QP prior to definitive repair. Conclusions In select infants with unrestrictive VSD or single ventricle associated with severe PS, palliative pulmonary valvuloplasty provides an effective and durable method of increasing oxygen saturation until definitive surgical treatment can be performed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Causal approximation of equivalent transmission line parameters for moment matching-based interconnect simulations

A new method is proposed for approximation of equivalent transmission line parameters that are either numerically extracted or measured. Using these approximations dispersive interconnects can be analyzed in a moment matching simulation environment.
Writing the experience of information retrieval: digital collection design as a form of dialogue

In the context of digital libraries and other online resource collections, the substance of interaction is generated to a large degree through the selection, description, organization, and arrangement of the aggregated items. Within information studies, researchers [such as 32, 6] have shown how individual events of selection and description inevitably form judgments about the collected materials. This paper describes a process in which designers purposefully use the elements of selection, description, organization, and arrangement to "write" a resource collection as a form of rhetorical expression. The design process was implemented in two classroom settings. In the more successful second implementation, the role of the audience in structuring a rhetorical interaction was emphasized, and collection design was conceptualized as designing a dialogue between author and audience. The formalized critique of existing collection designs was a key element in enabling this dialogic orientation.
Synthesis, characterization, and gene delivery of poly-L-lysine octa(3-aminopropyl)silsesquioxane dendrimers: nanoglobular drug carriers with precisely defined molecular architectures.

Macromolecules with defined nanosizes—nanoglobules—were synthesized and characterized as novel drug carriers with precise molecular architectures. Poly-l-lysine dendrimers with a cubic octa(3-aminopropyl)silsesquioxane (OAS) core, (l-lysine)8-OAS, (l-lysine)16-(l-lysine)8-OAS, (l-lysine)32-(l-lysine)16-(l-lysine)8-OAS, and (l-lysine)64-(l-lysine)32-(l-lysine)16-(l-lysine)8-OAS, were divergently synthesized by solution phase peptide chemistry in good yield and purity. Matrix-assisted laser desorption time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry showed complete substitution of the surface amino groups of lower generation dendrimers during synthesis, as well as precisely defined molecular architectures of the nanoglobules. The structures of the nanoglobules were further characterized by 1H- and 13C-NMR and 2D-NMR (correlation spectroscopy (COSY) and pulsed-field-gradient heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation (gHMQC)) spectroscopy. The 1H-NMR spectroscopy revealed that the nanoglobules had a relatively r...
Response of Schaffer collateral-CA1 pyramidal cell synapses of the hippocampus to analogues of acidic amino acids

Analogues of the putative excitatory transmitters aspartic acid and glutamic acid were tested for antagonism against stimulus-evoked activation of Schaffer collateral-CA1 pyramidal cell synapses in slices of rat hippocampus. Responses to the analogues, applied via the superfusing medium, were extracellularly recorded. The compounds examined includedd- andl-α-aminodicar☐ylic acids, diamonodicar☐ylic acids, phosphonate analogues of acidic amino acids,d andl-γ-glutamyl glycine, and the cis- and trans-isomers of piperidine 2,3-, and 2,4-dicar☐ylic acid. Many of these compounds are known to be potent and selective antagonists for excitatory amino acids and a few excitatory pathways. In this hippocampal pathway most of these analogues showed relatively low and similar potency. The most potent antagonist uncontaminated with agonist activity wasd-α-aminosuberate, with an apparent antagonist dissociation constant (Kd of 3 mM. Only 5 of the analogues, 3 of the piperidine dicar☐ylates, kainic acid, andl-α-aminopimelic acid, reduced the amplitude of the extracellularly recorded field potentials more than 30% at 0.5 mM. However, all of the others reduced the potential by more than 30% at 5 mM. Most analogues also evoked extracellular responses whoch can be attributed to depolarization of the pyramidal neurons. Agonist activity was particularly strong among the most potent analogues. These results contrast with the responses documented by others for the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor of the dorsal-ventral root excitatory pathway of the spinal cord in which the higher homologues tested here were the most potent antagonists, and thed-isomers were more potent than thel-isomoers. It also contrasts with the response of the perforant path synapses to granule cells of the dentate gyrus in which the portion derived from the lateral entorhinal cortex is sensitive tol-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid. Thus the Schaffer-CA1 pyramidal cell synaptic field utilizes a novel excitatory transmitter receptor which interacts detectably but only weakly with a variety of acidic amino acids with potent specific inhibitory action for receptors elsewhere in the central nervous system.
Obesity Related Stigma as a Form of Oppression: Implications for Social Work Education

Obesity is a growing health problem in the US. In addition to the health problems associated with being grossly overweight, obese individuals also must confront stigma and social exclusion. Weight bias and negative attitudes towards the obese have been widely confirmed in numerous professions. The purpose of this article is two-fold: (1) to discuss the implications of weight-related stigma on obese clients; and (2) to offer pedagogical approaches for reducing discriminatory attitudes against overweight individuals, among MSW students, so that they may provide more effective clinical services to clients struggling with obesity.
Accuracy assessment of the levee lines generated using lidar data acquired in the Nakdong River basins, South Korea

Mapping levee lines is an important task for describing levee shapes. This letter proposes an efficient methodology for generating levee lines using the lidar data acquired in the Nakdong River basins, South Korea. The procedure for generating levee lines involves three main steps: (i) pre-processing for generation of the slope map; (ii) generation of the levee crown and slope planes from the slope map; and (iii) extraction of the levee lines located along the levee crown and slope planes. Accuracy assessment of the generated levee lines is implemented using the slope parameter. The experimental results show that the proposed method is efficient for identifying the levee lines located on steep terrain regardless of the object types on the surfaces, and not efficient for describing the levee shapes with flat terrain. In the future research, the other sources extracted from the high-resolution images would be integrated with the levee lines extracted from the lidar data to identify the levee lines located o...
Behavior of fully annealed and as-received polycrystalline 1100 aluminum during propagation of small and large amplitude plastic waves

Abstract Small and large amplitude plastic wave propagation in fully annealed and as-received 1100 aluminum subjected to axisymmetric constant velocity free flight impact are experimentally investigated. The objective is to study dynamic behavior of polycrystalline material at deformation levels in between yield and loading surfaces, and outside loading surface based on prior deformation history. The results show that there are distinct differences in plastic wave propagation at the above-mentioned levels of strain. During large amplitude plastic wave propagation, at levels outside the loading surface where magnitude of elastic strain is negligible compared to plastic strains, strain rate sensitivity in this material is negligible, and the dynamic behavior can be described in terms of a dynamic response function and the classical strain-rate-independent finite-amplitude wave theory. This is probably due to insignificance of the variation of yield strain with strain-rate as the elastic component is extremely small in comparison to the plastic component of strain. On the other hand, at small strain levels in between yield and loading surfaces based on prior thermomechanical history, where elastic strain magnitude is not negligible compared to plastic strain, material response during wave propagation appears to be strain-rate sensitive. This strain rate sensitivity may be mostly due to the variation of dynamic yield stress with rate of loading.
101 Effect of Karlodinium Micrum Toxin on Success of the Parasitic Dinoflagellate Amoebophyra SP.

Parasitic dinoflagellates of the genus Amoebophrya infect and kill bloom-forming dinoflagellates, including the toxic species Karlodinium micrum. Unlike non-toxic hosts, K. micrum is partially resistant to infection, a trait that may be related to toxin production. Here we tested the hypothesis that parasitism of K. micrum is inversely related to toxin concentration in the culture medium. Time-course studies were conducted to determine the influence of extracted toxin and toxin carrier (methanol) on host growth, parasite prevalence, and parasite load. Results indicate that methanol concentrations below 0.1% have no effect on these variables. When methanol concentration was maintained below 0.1%, extracted toxin equivalent to 100 to 10,000 K. micrum per ml had no effect on host abundance. We are currently analyzing sample to assess the fate of Amoebophrya dinospores when exposed to K. micrum toxin. We will also consider the effect of intracellular host toxin on parasite success, by examining the fate of Amoebophrya dinospores when inoculated to K. micrum cultures that express different levels of toxin production. Understanding the effect of toxins on parasite success will contribute to our knowledge of host-parasite biology and provide insight into the role of dinoflagellate toxins as a defense against parasitism.
XML and the importance of being an object

Recently, the Web consortium released the XML Schema specification, which is an elegant and powerful way of expressing an XML data instance's general object structure. Schema essentially replace data-type definitions and uses an XML syntax to specify object structure. For those familiar with object-oriented languages such as Java, Schema plays a similar role to classes. The sophisticated data structures XML allows are helpful in expressing information in many fields, and many communities developing XML-based standards are exploiting the object structures.
Atmospheric releases during the 2003 glacier wildfires: Mapping, analysis and modeling

A combined GIS and remote sensing approach to map and model the large wildfires in the summer 2003 at Glacier National Park. Numerical simulations were performed using the Clarke cellular automaton fire model, and the fire extents were validated using remote sensing data from the MODIS instrument. The results show a good correlation between the predicted fires and the actual. In addition, remote sensing data from the MODIS and TOMS instruments are used to quantify the optical dimming of the atmosphere caused by the fires. Atmospheric dimming correlated both spatially and temporally with the amount of burned fuel computed by the Clarke model. The observed atmospheric dimming is correlated both spatially and temporally with the fire simulations. Such knowledge is crucial in order to build a coupled land-atmosphere fire model.
From floral induction to floral shape

The initial emphasis in molecular-genetic studies of flower development was on homeotic genes that control organ identity, which is rather invariant between different species. Studies in flower development during the past three years have dealt with more diverse aspects of flower development, including floral induction and floral shape. Genes identified in the respective pathways might hold clues to the diversity of modern angiosperms.
Maintaining heritable variation via sex-limited temporally fluctuating selection: a phenotypic model accommodating non-Mendelian epigenetic effects

Using a phenotypic model, we show that significant heritable variation can be maintained in a population subjected to temporally fluctuating selection if only one sex is subject to selection. In fact, more variation is maintained with sex-limited selection at a given selection intensity than if both sexes are subject to half that selection intensity. This result is commensurate with existing population genetic models. However, genetic models may be inappropriate for sexually selected traits because many of them may be of non-genetic origin, such as maternal effects or — more likely — epigenetic effects. Phenotypic models obviate this problem by accommodating both genetic and epigenetic effects, as well as maternal effects. Our phenotypic model of sex-limited temporally fluctuating selection shows that substantial heritable variation can be maintained and thereby provides impetus to develop population epigenetic models.
Wage Theft Among Latino Day Laborers in Post-Katrina New Orleans: Comparing Contractors with Other Employers

This study examines the nature of wage theft among Latino day laborers who participated in post-Katrina construction work. It addresses three important issues: (a) Is wage theft more prevalent in circumstances where there is very little enforcement of labor law? (b) Are professional contractors more likely to commit wage theft than other employers such as homeowners and small businesses? And (c) Do contractors and non-contractors who commit wage theft vary in the reasons given to justify their crime? Through survey interviews with 304 Latino day laborers conducted at four procurement sites across the city, respondents indicate that 78 % were victims of wage theft over the previous year (2008). Comparisons of wage theft across multiple studies expose the need for the development of a common conceptualization of a rate of wage theft and the benefit of using similar sampling frames to facilitate cross-comparison. Analysis reveals that there was no significant variation in the incidence of wage theft by employer type. Contractors and non-contractors did not differ significantly in the average dollar amount of wage theft, in the number of days worked before wage theft was committed, or in the hourly wage promised to employees. Contractors were, however, much more likely to justify wage theft by citing lack of funds than non-contractors.
Volume extreme ultraviolet nano-holographic imaging with numerical optical sectioning.

Three dimensional images were obtained using a single high numerical aperture hologram recorded in a high resolution photoresist with a table top λ=46.9 nm laser. Gabor holograms were numerically reconstructed over a range of image planes by sweeping the propagation distance in the numerical reconstruction algorithm, allowing numerical optical sectioning. A robust three dimension image of a test object was obtained with numerical optical sectioning, providing a longitudinal resolution of approximately 2 µm and a lateral resolution of 164 nm.
Application Study of Viscoelastic Damping Material for the Anti-Galloping of Overhead Transmission Lines

Based on the galloping mechanism of transmission line, it is determined to use viscoelastic damping material and energy effects of TMD to suppress galloping. The dynamic mechanical properties of viscoelastic damping material is studied, with the operating environment of the transmission lines, high-and-low-temperature physics experiment is carried out, while the experimental study on mechanical properties is carried out with the developed viscoelastic damping elements. It is showed that the viscoelastic material meets the anti-galloping device performance requirements for materials, it has a good energy consumption effect, suitable for application to anti-galloping of transmission lines.
Drug-induced regulation of [125I]iodocyanopindolol-labeled 5-hydroxytryptamine1B receptor binding sites in the central nervous system.

Little is known about the regulation of 5-hydroxytryptaminew (5-HT1B) receptors, a putative terminal autoreceptor in the central nervous system. We studied the regional responses of [125I]iodocyanopindolol ([125I]ICYP)-labeled central 5-HT1B sites to chronic treatment with 5-HT agonists and antagonists at a dose of 10 mg/kg/d IP for 30 consecutive days in the rat. In controls, there were 3.4-fold regional differences in Bmax, with a rank order of brainstem > hippocampus > cortex, striatum > spinal cord, and KaS were slightly lower in striatum and spinal cord. RU 24969 significantly reduced Bmax 23 to 63% in cortex, hippocampus, striatum, brainstem, and spinal cord without a change in Ka except for a 1.7-fold increase in cortex and spinal cord. The putative 5-HT1B agonist (m-trifluoromethyl-phenylpiperazine (TFMPP), but not [l-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine] (m-CPP) or the 5-HT1B antagonists pindolol or quipazine, reduced the Bmax of cortical 5-HT1B sites (−16%). Chronic treatment with the 5-HT antagonists methysergide, pindolol, propranolol, ritanserin, metergoline, or methiothepin did not significantly affect striatal Bmax or Kd compared to respective vehicles. The data demonstrate significant changes in maximum number of 5-HT1B receptors in response to chronic agonist but not antagonist treatments at the dose studied.
Evolution of Bacterial Phosphoglycerate Mutases: Non-Homologous Isofunctional Enzymes Undergoing Gene Losses, Gains and Lateral Transfers

Background The glycolytic phosphoglycerate mutases exist as non-homologous isofunctional enzymes (NISE) having independent evolutionary origins and no similarity in primary sequence, 3D structure, or catalytic mechanism. Cofactor-dependent PGM (dPGM) requires 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate for activity; cofactor-independent PGM (iPGM) does not. The PGM profile of any given bacterium is unpredictable and some organisms such as Escherichia coli encode both forms. Methods/Principal Findings To examine the distribution of PGM NISE throughout the Bacteria, and gain insight into the evolutionary processes that shape their phyletic profiles, we searched bacterial genome sequences for the presence of dPGM and iPGM. Both forms exhibited patchy distributions throughout the bacterial domain. Species within the same genus, or even strains of the same species, frequently differ in their PGM repertoire. The distribution is further complicated by the common occurrence of dPGM paralogs, while iPGM paralogs are rare. Larger genomes are more likely to accommodate PGM paralogs or both NISE forms. Lateral gene transfers have shaped the PGM profiles with intradomain and interdomain transfers apparent. Archaeal-type iPGM was identified in many bacteria, often as the sole PGM. To address the function of PGM NISE in an organism encoding both forms, we analyzed recombinant enzymes from E. coli. Both NISE were active mutases, but the specific activity of dPGM greatly exceeded that of iPGM, which showed highest activity in the presence of manganese. We created PGM null mutants in E. coli and discovered the ΔdPGM mutant grew slowly due to a delay in exiting stationary phase. Overexpression of dPGM or iPGM overcame this defect. Conclusions/Significance Our biochemical and genetic analyses in E. coli firmly establish dPGM and iPGM as NISE. Metabolic redundancy is indicated since only larger genomes encode both forms. Non-orthologous gene displacement can fully account for the non-uniform PGM distribution we report across the bacterial domain.
Development of hydrogen resistant structural alloy NASA-23

Hydrogen-resistant alloy NASA-23 was developed specifically as a structural alloy for application in liquid propulsion systems that use hydrogen fuel. NASA-23 was designed to be similar to Alloy 718 in strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance, but with superior resistance to hydrogen environment embrittlement. The alloy is readily processed; it can be both hot and cold worked and is castable and weldable. A material property data base is being generated for both cast and wrought NASA-23. This paper will present the status of alloy development and discuss potential applications in propulsion systems.
Surgical complications of bladder augmentation: comparison between various enterocystoplasties in 133 patients.

Abstract Objectives. Ileal and sigmoid augmentation are equally effective at increasing bladder capacity and compliance. Therefore, knowledge of the incidence of major complications, including perforation, small bowel obstruction (SBO), anastomotic complications, calculus formation, and indications for revision may be useful in choosing the ideal segment. We compared the complications of ileocystoplasty and two types of sigmoidocystoplasty that required reoperative surgery. Methods. Between 1981 and 1997, 158 patients with a mean age of 11 years (range 2 to 25) underwent augmentation cystoplasty. Ileum or sigmoid colon was used in 133 patients, who were the subjects of this study. The mean follow-up was 64 months (range 6 to 185). Indications included neurogenic bladder (n = 100), bladder exstrophy (n = 12), cloacal exstrophy (n = 6), posterior urethral valves (n = 3), and miscellaneous (n = 12). Ileum was used in 65 patients and sigmoid colon in 68. Of these, 48 underwent conventional colocystoplasty and 20 seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium (SCLU). Seventy-nine percent required additional procedures to achieve continence or facilitate catheterization, which included bladder neck procedures in 56% or continent stomas alone in 23%. Results. There were no deaths or complications of bowel anastomosis. Overall, continence was achieved in 95%. Spontaneous bladder perforation was highest in patients with neurogenic bladder. Calculi developed more frequently in patients with continent stomas ( P = 0.04) and in patients with bladder/cloacal exstrophy (32%) than in patients with neurogenic bladder ( P = 0.01). Additional procedures and route of catheterization did not increase the risk of perforation. One patient with SCLU with known hypercalciuria developed bladder calculi. Conclusions. Sigmoid colon showed a trend of a lower rate of SBO with no difference in perforation or stone formation compared with ileum. Primary diagnoses of bladder or cloacal exstrophy and continent stomas are risk factors for the development of calculi. SCLU has a low rate of surgical complications and no incidence of perforation or SBO thus far; therefore, we advocate the use of SCLU when feasible, and sigmoid as the preferred bowel segment for augmentation cystoplasty.
A Method to Represent Heterogeneous Materials for Rapid Prototyping: The Matryoshka Approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a new method for representing heterogeneous materials using nested STL shells, based, in particular, on the density distributions of human bones. Design/methodology/approach – Nested STL shells, called Matryoshka models, are described, based on their namesake Russian nesting dolls. In this approach, polygonal models, such as STL shells, are “stacked” inside one another to represent different material regions. The Matryoshka model addresses the challenge of representing different densities and different types of bone when reverse engineering from medical images. The Matryoshka model is generated via an iterative process of thresholding the Hounsfield Unit (HU) data using computed tomography (CT), thereby delineating regions of progressively increasing bone density. These nested shells can represent regions starting with the medullary (bone marrow) canal, up through and including the outer surface of the bone. Findings – The Matryoshka approach introduced ca...
Eponymous verb phrases and ambiguity resolution.

To understand eponymous verb phrases such as “do a John Travolta,” readers cannot merely select a sense out of a mental lexicon (sense selection). They must create new senses (sense creation) by retrieving salient information from memory. We conducted two experiments to test the hypothesis that these processes of memory retrieval parallel those used for ordinary lexical ambiguities. To prepare for Experiment 1, we gathered readers’ interpretations of eponymous verb phrases like “do a John Travolta” to establish dominant and subordinate interpretations. We then wrote story contexts that biased comprehension toward one or the other interpretation. In Experiment 1, paraphrase judgment times were used to demonstrate that dominant meanings are privileged in the sense that they are accessible even when the story creates a subordinate bias. In Experiment 2, this privilege faded somewhat when there was a delay before the paraphrase judgment. We discuss the results with respect to the distinction between sense selection and sense creation.
Experimental determination of the superconducting pairing state in YBCO from the phase coherence of YBCO-Pb dc SQUIDs.

We present an experiment designed to determine directly the symmetry of the pairing state in the cuprate superconductors. From the magnetic flux modulation of YBCO-Pb dc SQUIDs, we determine the spatial anisotropy of the phase of the order parameter in single crystals of YBCO. The experimental results are complicated by SQUID asymmetries and the trapping of magnetic vortices, but taken as a whole give rather strong evidence for a phase shift of \ensuremath{\pi} that is predicted for the ${\mathit{d}}_{\mathit{x}}^{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\mathit{y}}^{2}$ pairing state. This is further corroborated by single junction modulation measurements.
Bent passions: Heterosexual masculinity, pornography, and gay male identity

Gay male pornography, as an expression of gay male sexuality, identity and desire requires a set of assumptions and questions different than those used in interrogating heterosexual pornography. Drawing upon Linda Williams’ argument that heterosexual pornography creates utopias of sexual abundance, this paper examines the manner in which gay male pornography likewise creates sexual utopias that both express gay male desire but which also, at the same time, attempt to confront and resolve the conflict between such desire and the overarching dominant heterosexual sex system.
Automated method for the determination of phenol in biological products.

A method is described for the rapid and accurate determination of phenol in biological products by using automated methods.