cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilateral Pulmonary Artery Banding as Rescue Intervention in High-Risk Neonates

Background Presentation in shock and preoperative infection remain risk factors for neonatal cardiac surgery. This report describes bilateral pulmonary artery banding (bPAB) in ductal-dependent lesions with systemic outflow obstruction as rescue intervention before surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in these high-risk neonates. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for 10 patients who underwent bPAB before conventional surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Patient characteristics including birth weight, gestational age, cardiac and noncardiac diagnoses, preoperative and postoperative markers of organ function, and outcome measures were examined. Results The majority of patients (8 of 10) were considered high-risk owing to multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. The median age at bPAB was 12 days (range, 5 to 26 days), and the median interval between bPAB and second surgery was 10.5 days (range, 5 to 79 days). Organ function improved after admission and continued to improve after bPAB in 9 of 10 patients. No patient experienced new complications between bPAB and subsequent operation. Of 8 patients who had stage I palliation, 5 have undergone or are awaiting completion Fontan, 1 underwent Kawashima procedure, 1 underwent orthotopic heart transplant, and 1 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and intact atrial septum died at 44 days old. Both patients who underwent biventricular repair are alive and well. Median follow-up for survivors was 2.9 years (range, 0.25 to 6.25 years). Conclusions Bilateral pulmonary artery banding is safe in ductal-dependent lesions with systemic outflow obstruction. High-risk patients with preoperative organ dysfunction or infection can recover within a short period and become lower risk candidates for complex congenital heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass.
Cultivating Virtual Stereotypes?: The Impact of Video Game Play on Racial/Ethnic Stereotypes

This study demonstrates broad-based, second-order cultivation effects from video game play and provides a significant contribution to our understanding of how virtual representations of race and et...
Dream characteristics of stock brokers after a major market downturn.

Dream characteristics of 28 stock brokers during the second worst weekly performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the last 11 yr. were measured using the KJP Dream Inventory. Additional m...
Critical currents of ideal quantum Hall superfluids

Filling factor v=1 bilayer electron systems in the quantum Hall regime have an excitonic-condensate superfluid ground state when the layer separation d is less than a critical value d c . On a quantum Hall plateau current injected and removed through one of the two layers drives a dissipationless edge current that carries parallel currents and a dissipationless bulk supercurrent that carries opposing currents in the two layers. In this paper we discuss the theory of finite supercurrent bilayer states, both in the presence and in the absence of symmetry breaking interlayer hybridization. Solutions to the microscopic mean-field equations exist at all condensate phase winding rates for zero and sufficiently weak hybridization strengths. We find, however, that collective instabilities occur when the supercurrent exceeds a critical value determined primarily by a competition between direct and exchange interlayer Coulomb interactions. The critical current is estimated using a local stability criterion and varies as (d c -d) 1 / 2 when d approaches d c from below. For large interlayer hybridization, we find that the critical current is limited by a soliton instability of microscopic origin.
An analysis of HF radar measured surface currents to determine tidal, wind‐forced, and seasonal circulation in the Gulf of the Farallones, California, United States

[1] A complete year of hourly 3 km resolution high-frequency radar measured surface currents covering the Gulf of the Farallones were analyzed with the following three primary objectives: (1) describe the seasonal surface circulation, (2) identify tidal currents, and (3) determine the influence of wind forcing. Three predominant seasonal circulation regimes were identified: relaxation, storm, and upwelling. The relaxation period exhibited mean poleward flow over the slope, variable equatorward flow over the shelf, and cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies south of Pt. Reyes. The storm period mean flow was variable and exhibited evidence of coastally trapped buoyancy flow from the mouth of the San Francisco Bay. The upwelling period exhibited equatorward flow throughout the gulf with regions of intensified flow at the northern and southern regions over the slope. The tidal variance ranged from 4 to 60%, was highest around the mouth of the Bay, decreased past the shelf, and its spatial pattern reflected the combined influence of the K1 and M2 tidal current amplitudes. K1 ellipses typically rotated clockwise throughout the gulf and decreased in amplitude past the shelf. M2 ellipses were comparably more variable in orientation and magnitude. Harmonic “tidal” analyses of buoy wind data over 4 month time periods showed significant K1 amplitudes which did not appear when the analysis was done for the entire year. This indicates that harmonic tidal analyses on surface currents are probably more effective at disassociating diurnal sea breeze driven currents when performed over long periods of time such as a year.
Evaluation of trickle-bed air biofilter performance for styrene removal

Abstract A pilot-scale trickle-bed air biofilter (TBAB) was evaluated for the removal of styrene from a waste gas stream. Six-millimeter (6-mm) Celite pellets (R-635) were used as the biological attachment medium. The operating parameters considered in the study included the styrene volumetric loading, the empty-bed residence time (EBRT), the frequency and duration of backwashing, and nutrient–phosphorous (nutrient–P) management as a biomass control strategy. The aim of the study was to demonstrate that high removal efficiencies could be sustained over a long period. Periodic backwashing of the biofilter with full-medium fluidization was necessary for removing excess biomass and attaining stable, long-term high removal efficiencies. Styrene removal efficiencies in the 99%+ level were achieved for volumetric loading rates up to 2.93 kg COD/m3·day and a 1-min EBRT. With a COD volumetric loading rate of 4.26 kg COD/m3·day and a 0.67-min EBRT, removal efficiencies in the 97–99% level were achieved. Evaluations of pseudo steady-state performance data, 1 day following backwashing, yielded first order removal rate constants that were dependent on EBRT. Nutrient–phosphorus (nutrient–P) limitations failed to provide a strategy for biomass control while at the same time maintaining acceptable performance.
Primary magmatic carbon in ureilites: Evidence from cohenite-bearing metallic spherules

The compositions and mineralogy of metal-sulfide spherules trapped in ureilites are studied. Electron microprobe analyses of metallic phases and sulfides in spherules were conducted and backscattered electron images of metallic spherules in olivine and in ureilites are presented. It is observed that the spherules are composed of cohenite, Fe-Ni metal, troilite, and rare phosphorus-bearing minerals. The intergranular metal and graphite in the ureilites are analyzed. The phase relations of cohenite-bearing spherules are considered. Spherules represent Fe-Ni-C-S alloys that exist as immiscible metallic liquid droplets in the silicate magma from which ureilite olivine and pigeonite crystallized. The data reveal that graphite crystals occur as inclusions in olivine and ureilites and therefore graphite in ureilites is a primary magnetic component. It is hypothesized that graphite is a residue from the solid source materials that melted to produce the ureilite parent magma or crystallized from the magma.
Social Psychology of Beauty: Effects of Age, Height, and Weight on Self-Reported Personality Traits and Social Behavior

Summary In a study of the relationship between body morphology indices and self-reported personality and social behavior measures, 128 adult men and 173 adult women in extended interviews offered self-report information on personality measures (e.g., self-acceptance, likeableness, sensation-seeking tendencies, anxiety, etc.) and social behavioral indices (e.g., number of personal visits, degree of social involvement, self-perceived satisfaction in social interaction). Also, information on height, weight, and self-reported age was obtained. Ss ranged from 18 to 80 years of age and were randomly drawn from telephone directories and contacted by phone. Age was associated with sensation-seeking declines and fear of negative evaluation while being positively associated with responsibility. Weight was associated with poor self-perceptions and high emotionality. Height was associated with sensation-seeking, likeableness, and locus of control. Some, but few, relationships between age, weight, and height and socia...
How old is too old? An economic approach to replacing military aircraft

The US Air Force is asking when to replace its aging aircraft. We develop a framework to identify economically optimal replacement strategies that recognizes cost trade-offs and incorporates age effects. We also preview a stochastic methodology. We use the framework to identify an optimal strategy, defined by the replacement age, for a generic fleet and conduct a sensitivity analysis. Quantitative illustrations show that the range of strategies that provides close-to-optimal outcomes widens as the operating and support (O&S) cost growth rate decreases and the ratio of the acquisition price to the initial O&S cost increases. A wider range implies more decision-making leeway.
Business models for solar powered charging stations to develop infrastructure for electric vehicles

Electric power must become less dependent on fossil fuels and transportation must become more electric to decrease carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. Increasing availability and accessibility of charging stations is predicted to increase purchases of electric vehicles. In order to address the current inadequate charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, major entities must adopt business models for solar powered charging stations (SPCS). These SPCS should be located in parking lots to produce electricity for the grid and provide an integrated infrastructure for charging electric vehicles. Due to the lack of information related to SPCS business models, this manuscript designs several models for major entities including industry, the federal and state government, utilities, universities, and public parking. A literature review of the available relevant business models and case studies of constructed charging stations was completed to support the proposals. In addition, a survey of a university’s students, staff, and faculty was conducted to provide consumer research on people’s opinion of SPCS construction and preference of business model aspects. Results showed that 69% of respondents would be more willing to invest in an electric vehicle if there was sufficient charging station infrastructure at the university. Among many recommendations, the business models suggest installing level 1 charging for the majority of entities, and to match entities’ current pricing structures for station use. The manuscript discusses the impacts of fossil fuel use, and the benefits of electric car and SPCS use, accommodates for the present gap in available literature on SPCS business models, and provides current consumer data for SPCS and the models proposed.
Quality control in the secretory pathway : retention of a misfolded viral membrane glycoprotein involves cycling between the ER, intermediate compartment, and Golgi apparatus

Proteins synthesized in the ER are generally transported to the Golgi complex and beyond only when they have reached a fully folded and assembled conformation. To analyze how the selective retention of misfolded proteins works, we monitored the long-term fate of a membrane glycoprotein with a temperature-dependent folding defect, the G protein of tsO45 vesicular stomatitis virus. We used indirect immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, and a novel Nycodenz gradient centrifugation procedure for separating the ER, the intermediate compartment, and the Golgi complex. We also employed the folding and recycling inhibitors dithiothreitol and AIF4-, and coimmunoprecipitation with calnexin antibodies. The results showed that the misfolded G protein is not retained in the ER alone; it can move to the intermediate compartment and to the cis-Golgi network but is then recycled back to the ER. In the ER it is associated with calnexin and BiP/GRP78. Of these two chaperones, only BiP/GRP78 seems to accompany it through the recycling circuit. Thus, the retention of this misfolded glycoprotein is the result of multiple mechanisms including calnexin binding in the ER and selective retrieval from the intermediate compartment and the cis-Golgi network.
Sepsis induces increased apoptosis in lamina propria mononuclear cells which is associated with altered cytokine gene expression.

Abstract Studies indicate that lymphoid tissue (e.g., thymus, bone marrow, and Peyer's patches) shows evidence of increase apoptosis (A o , a form of nonnecrotic cell death) during sepsis. However, it is not known if mucosal lymphoid tissue, such as lamina propria (LP), also shows evidence of increased A o and if so, is this associated with functional changes, i.e., cytokine gene expression in the LP. To examine this, male C3H/HeN mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) were harvested at 4 h (early sepsis) or 24 h (late sepsis). Alterations in the cell phenotype as well as A o (Tunel assay) were determined by three-color flow cytometry. Cytokine gene expression was assessed by multiprobe RNase protection assay. Sham LPMC preparations were found to be 34.4 ± 2.4% B220 + (B-cells), while 12.4 ± 2.1% were CD8 + (cytotoxic T-cells), 22.0 ± 0.8% were CD4 + (helper T-cells), and 6.4 ± 0.7% were F4/80 + (macrophages). The frequency of B220 + (9%*↑) and CD8 (6%*↑) populations increased markedly at 4 h after CLP; however, this increase was not seen at 24 h. The percentage of A o + in CD8 + , B220 + , and F4/80 + cells increased markedly at both 4 and 24 h. CD4 + cells showed a marked increase in A o only at 24 h after CLP. When LPMC mRNA expression was examined, a significant increase in IL-2, -10, and -15 gene expression was observed only at 24 h but not 4 h after CLP. Thus, the early phenotypic changes associated with increased A o may be a reflection of localized immune cell activation in early sepsis contributing to the increased cytokine gene expression seen in late sepsis. This localized activation may contribute to gastrointestinal inflammation and/or immune dysfunction in sepsis.
Anomalous damping of phonons in ferroelectric Gd 2 ( M o O 4 ) 3

Measurements of the ${A}_{1}$ Raman spectrum of ferroelectric ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{2}$${(\mathrm{M}\mathrm{o}{\mathrm{O}}_{4})}_{3}$ as a function of uniaxial stress up to about 1.5 kbar at temperatures near the 433-K transition ${T}_{0}$ and as a function of temperature from 20 to 523 K, have provided new information about the anomalously damped lines peaking at about 50 and 75 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at 300 K. The force-constant parameter ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$ of the 75-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ line is independent of stress whereas its damping constant $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ decreases with increasing stress as found previously for the 50-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ line. No other lines are observed to be stress dependent in this stress range. The stress dependences of the 50- and 75-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ lines are identical. An analysis of the integrated intensities at zero stress from 80 to 523 K showed all lines except the two at 50 and 75 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ to approximate the expected Bose-Einstein temperature dependence. The 50- and 75-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ lines damp anomalously on heating; their integrated intensities go through maxima near 320 K. At 15 K, the 75-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ line splits into a doublet with 81- and 83-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ peaks, similar to the known splitting of the 50-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ line below 300 K into 44.5- and 51.5-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ peaks. Only two lines below ${T}_{0}$ are allowed by symmetry to correlate with the "soft" doubly degenerate zone-boundary phonons of the paraelectric phase. Since in these measurements none of the lines "soften" significantly with increasing temperature or "harden" with increasing stress, the identities of the "soft" phonons in the ferroelectric phase remain undetermined.
Of Sugarcoating and Hope

Theatre and performance scholars in the U.S. are an optimistic bunch. We are fond of concluding our analyses with a happy ending, in which we celebrate, or at least comment upon, humanity’s capacity to create despite the various forces of oppression/exploitation/terror in which that particular group of humanity is caught. Even when we focus upon particularly formidable structures of domination, we can usually discern ruptures and slippages in which marginalized voices and alternative agendas are at least momentarily articulated. Although we have learned to be more nuanced in our theorization of resistance through a greater understanding of how margins and centers are interdependent, we still cherish those powerful moments of performance in which the margins triumph and the centers are destabilized. Inspired by these glimpses that we have been privileged to witness, we write passionately and persuasively about hope. We imagine alternatives with a vengeance.
Parallel structural optimization on a network of computer workstations

Abstract The development of a framework for the parallel structural optimization on a network of engineering workstations, using general purpose finite element and optimization programs, is reported. A flexible library of FORTRAN callable routines for execution on a network of Apollo workstations was developed. The optimization of a helicopter tail boom was performed to test this computational framework. The analysis was performed by ABAQUS, while the optimization was done through ADS. A general discussion on speedup performance achieved by a variable number of workstations is given.
“Database of the Week”: Successfully Promoting Business Databases to Faculty

This article examines an initiative to increase the awareness and usage of the business databases available at Purdue University among the faculty and graduate students. When users are not aware of the databases that are available to them through library endeavors, they look elsewhere for the information they need. That lack of awareness and subsequent nonuse of subscription databases affect faculty, student, and even librarian success. The ensuing low usage statistics result in high cost-per-use figures and can result in the cancellation of high-quality online resources. With the objective of raising faculty awareness to increase usage of these databases, a simple marketing strategy was undertaken wherein a weekly e-mail highlighting one database at a time was sent to faculty throughout the academic year. The faculty's positive reactions and increased usage demonstrate the effectiveness of this kind of promotion. Examination of the results also proves to be an aid in collection analysis and supports furt...
Recent advances in MS methods for nicotine and metabolite analysis in human matrices: clinical perspectives

Tobacco smoking is a major global health issue and represents the leading cause of preventable death in the developed countries. Nicotine is a major alkaloid found in tobacco products and its detection with its metabolites in human matrices is generally used for assessing tobacco consumption and second hand exposure. Several analytical techniques have been developed for the detection of nicotine and its metabolites, and MS coupled with chromatography is considered the standard reference method because of its superior sensitivity and specificity. In this work, we reviewed nicotine metabolism, clinical MS and the latest (2009–2014) development of MS-based techniques for measurement of nicotine and metabolites in human matrices. Appropriate biomarker and matrix selection are also critically discussed.
Chronic mycotic meningitis with spinal involvement (arachnoiditis): a report of five cases

Five patients developed mycotic spinal arachnoiditis-meningitis causing signs and symptoms of spinal cord neoplasm. Four had cryptococcal infection, the fifth had aspergillosis. In three patients, diagnosis was made at surgery; all three developed acute fungal meningitis postoperatively and two died. The diagnosis was made nonsurgically in two patients and was followed by medical cure. These five and twelve other reported patients with mycotic spinal arachnoiditis shared features that suggested the diagnosis. In contrast to most patients with spinal tumors, those reported here tended to be young (mean age, 32 years), to lack evidence for a primary tumor, and to have a fluctuating history of spinal symptoms for several months. Frequent associated findings were recent pregnancy; the abuse of alcohol, narcotics, or both; and the presence of headache and fever. Plain roentgenograms of the spine were normal. No single finding was diagnostic, but the combination of several would be rare with spinal tumor.
Interactions between infection by endophytic fungi and nutrient limitation in the grasses lolium perenne and festuca arundinacea

SUMMARY Although grasses infected by fungal endophytes often exhibit increased growth relative to uninfected plants, the results of infection may be manifested as decreased growth in plants growing under stressful conditions. A preliminary experiment compared perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) infected by Acremonium lolii Latch, Christensen & Samuels with uninfected plants grown at three soil moistures and three nutrient concentrations. Total biomass, tiller number, and relative tillering rate were significantly affected by nutrient concentration and moisture. Although major differences between infected and uninfected plants were not apparent, relative growth rates of infected plants were significantly greater than uninfected plants in three of nine treatment combinations. Interactions between infection and nutrient limitation were examined in seedlings and adults of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb., infected by A. coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Gams). A significant nutrient x infection interaction for tall fescue seedlings indicated that, compared to uninfected seedlings, infected seedlings had greater biomass at the high nutrient level but a significantly lower biomass at the low nutrient level, suggesting a metabolic cost to the host due to competition with the fungus for nutrients or photosynthate. Infected perennial ryegrass seedlings had significantly more biomass at high and intermediate nutrient levels, but not at low nutrient levels. Although infection did not significantly affect total biomass in perennial ryegrass adults, in tall fescue adults the benefits of endophyte infection to host plants (recorded as greater biomass) became increasingly greater with increasing nutrient availability.
African American Men’s Beliefs About Mental Illness, Perceptions of Stigma, and Help-Seeking Barriers

Little is known about African American men’s beliefs about mental illness. A descriptive qualitative study, using the common sense model (CSM), examined African American men’s beliefs about mental illness, perceptions of stigma associated with mental illness, and barriers to help-seeking. A total of 17 community-dwelling African American men participated in individual interviews. Dimensional analysis guided by the CSM showed most of the men identified mental illness causal factors consistent with the biopsychosocial model of mental disorders. They believed mental illness is a chronic disorder having negative consequences and reported experiencing barriers to help seeking. In contrast with previous studies, most men in the present study did not perceive stigma associated with mental illness and did not identify stigma as a barrier to help seeking. They were open to help seeking, were optimistic about professional treatment, encouraged others to seek treatment, and expressed strong interest in mental health...
What costs nothing is worth nothing!: Is it okay to treat a benign lesion for free as part of an examination that involves treatment of several nonbenign lesions?

Dr Freshman is a dermatologist in a small group physician practice. He has been following up Ms Dunne for her psoriasis at the office since he first started with the practice a few years ago. During Ms Dunne’s most recent appointment, Dr Freshman noticed a suspicious lesion on her forehead, biopsy specimen of which showed a hyperplastic actinic keratosis. Dr Freshman had Ms Dunne return for a follow-up appointment to treat the lesion with cryosurgery. As he is performing the procedure, Ms Dunne asks Dr Freshman to take a look at an additional lesion on her back that had been present for many years. She asks, ‘‘Since I am already here, maybe you can zap this ugly thing on my back too?’’ Dr Freshman examines the lesion and tells Ms Dunne not to worry about it because it is a benign seborrheic keratosis. Ms Dunne persists, however, highlighting that she really does not like the appearance of the lesion. She states she ‘‘cannot’’ come back for an additional visit because the cost is prohibitively high.
Benthic flux of biogenic elements on the Southeastern US continental shelf: influence of pore water advective transport and benthic microalgae

Abstract In situ, paired light and dark benthic flux chamber incubations were used to estimate the exchange of nutrients, oxygen and inorganic carbon across the sediment – water interface of the South Atlantic Bight (SAB) continental shelf. The results indicate that physically forced non-diffusive pore water transport and benthic primary production (BPP) by sea floor microalgae exert a major influence on benthic exchange rates on the mid- and outer-continental shelf (depths of 14–40 m). Light fluxes to the sea floor and sediment photosynthetic pigment distributions determined on two, widely spaced cross-shelf transects suggest that BPP may occur over 84% of the SAB continental shelf area. Microalgal gross BPP rates at all study sites averaged 400±260 mg C m−2 d−1 between May and September 1996 while water column primary productivity averaged 682±176 mg C m−2 d−1, implying a total primary productivity for this region of approximately 1100 mg C m−2 d−1 (1.6 times the water column productivity alone). The results are also consistent with the advective transport of pore waters. Benthic flux chambers appear to retard this exchange, affecting the accuracy of derived net fluxes. Given our inability to relate pore water gradients to fluxes in non-diffusive regimes and to mimic natural advective transport in intact core incubations, traditional techniques such as pore water gradient diffusion calculations or shipboard core incubations also may not provide accurate flux estimates. Because of these limitations, fundamental questions remain concerning the processes that control nutrient inventories in pore waters and the magnitude of the net benthic flux of nutrients on the sandy SAB shelf.
Subcellular Distribution of Calcium-binding Proteins and a Calcium-ATPase in Canine Pancreas

Using a 45Ca blot-overlay assay, we monitored the subcellular fractionation pattern of several Ca binding proteins of apparent molecular masses 94, 61, and 59 kD. These proteins also appeared to stain blue with "Stains-All." Additionally, using a monoclonal antiserum raised against canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase, we examined the subcellular distribution of a canine pancreatic 110-kD protein recognized by this antiserum. This protein had the same electrophoretic mobility as the cardiac protein against which the antiserum was raised. The three Ca binding proteins and the Ca-ATPase cofractionated into the rough microsomal fraction (RM), previously shown to consist of highly purified RER, in a pattern highly similar to that of the RER marker, ribophorin I. To provide further evidence for an RER localization, native RM were subjected to isopycnic flotation in sucrose gradients. The Ca binding proteins and the Ca-ATPase were found in dense fractions, along with ribophorin I. When RM were stripped of ribosomes with puromycin/high salt, the Ca binding proteins and the Ca-ATPase exhibited a shift to less dense fractions, as did ribophorin I. We conclude that, in pancreas, the Ca binding proteins and Ca-ATPase we detect are localized to the RER (conceivably a subcompartment of the RER) or, possibly, a structure intimately associated with the RER.
Report on a multiple regression method for making population estimates.

A new method of making population estimates is introduced and contrasted to the standard ratio-correlation method. The new method, called the “difference-correlation method,” produced population estimates for the counties of Michigan which had a smaller mean percentage error than estimates produced by the ratio-correlation method. The differences of proportions which are used in the difference-correlation method will always have means of zero, while the ratios used in the ratio-correlation method have means which vary. Higher intercorrelations among the variables and increased temporal stability of the intercorrelations are two advantages of using differences rather than ratios.
Racial Disparities in Age at Time of Homicide Victimization A Test of the Multiple Disadvantage Model

This study sought the factors associated with race/ethnicity disparities in the age at which homicide deaths tend to occur. We used the multiple disadvantage model to take race into account as we evaluated associations between age at time of homicide victimization and several social structural, mental health-related, and lifestyle factors. Data were derived from the 1993 National Mortality Followback Survey, a cross-sectional interview study of spouses, next of kin, other relatives, and close friends of individuals 15 years and older who died in the United States in 1993. Our results showed age at time of homicide mortality to be related to the three types of factors; race moderated some of these relationships. In general, being employed, married, and a homeowner appeared associated with reduced victimization while young. The relationship of victimization age and employment was not uniform across racial groups, nor was the relationship of victimization age and marital status uniform across groups. Among Blacks, using mental health services was associated with longer life. Homicide by firearm proved important for our Black and Hispanic subsamples, while among Whites, alcohol's involvement in homicide exerted significant effects. Our results suggest that programs and policies serving the various racial/ethnic groups can alleviate multiple disadvantages relevant in homicide victimization at an early age.
Enhancement of Oxygen Mass Transfer Using Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles

Venue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Oxygen-transfer enhancement has been observed in the presence of colloidal dispersions of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles coated with oleic acid and a polymerizable surfactant. These fluids improve gas-liquid oxygen mass transfer up to 6-fold (600%) at nanoparticle volume fractions below 1% in an agitated, sparged reactor and show remarkable stability in high-ionic strength media over a wide pH range. Through a combination of experiments using physical and chemical methods to characterize mass transfer, it is shown that (i) both the mass transfer coefficient (kL) and the gas-liquid interfacial area ( a) are enhanced in the presence of nanoparticles, the latter accounting for a large fraction of the total enhancement (80% or more), (ii) the enhancement in kL measured by physical and chemical methods is similar and ranges from 20 to 60% approximately, (iii) the enhancement in kL levels off at a nanoparticle volume fraction of approximately 1% v/v, and (iv) the enhancement in kLa shows a strong temperature dependence. These results are relevant to a wide range of processes limited by the mass transfer of a solute between a gas phase and a liquid phase, such as fermentation, waste treatment, and hydrogenation reactions.
A Realization Algorithm Using Three-Input Majority Elements

A modification of Akers' method of realizing Boolean functions with three-input majority gates is presented. One of the fundamental parts in Akers' procedure is the construction of a logically passive self-dual, or LPSD. This paper presents a more precise construction of the LPSD. In addition, a procedure is described to adapt the method to minimization of the number of delay elements. A delay element table is introduced to aid in the selection of majority gates. A second factor in reducing delay elements is limiting the number of levels of logic in the realization. Examples illustrate the substantial reduction in delay elements when these methods are employed.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis and pulmonary hypertension: how the breeze affects the squeeze

The current World Health Organization (WHO) classification of pulmonary hypertension (PH) categorises PH due to chronic lung disease under group 3 [1]. There are many reports of PH complicating the course of the more common interstitial lung diseases (ILD), such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), connective tissue disease associated-ILD and conditions within WHO group 5, such as sarcoidosis. What is surprising though is the relative paucity of data on PH complicating the course of other forms of ILD. The study in this issue of the European Respiratory Journal by Oliveira et al. [2] is the largest to date of right heart catheterisation (RHC) documented PH associated with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP). The authors documented the presence of PH in 50% of their cohort, most of whom (22 out of 25) had group 3 PH, with the three remaining patients having evidence of group 2 PH. Similarly to IPF, they found that the presence of PH was associated with worse functional impairment [3]. This study raised a number of important issues. The first point of interest does not pertain to PH, but rather the broad spectrum of ILD. Specifically, the authors evaluated 1023 consecutive patients with ILD, of whom 95 were documented to have CHP. This equates to a prevalence of just below 10%, which is informative to the ILD community; although, this prevalence is likely to vary regionally and internationally based on many economic, environmental and cultural differences. The somewhat high prevalence of PH is in keeping with what has been described previously in IPF …
Mindfulness training for smoking cessation: moderation of the relationship between craving and cigarette use.

a b s t r a c t Background: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the US, while abstinence rates remain modest. Smoking has been shown to be perpetuated by operant conditioning, notably negative reinforce- ment (e.g., smoking to relieve negative affective states). Mindfulness training (MT) shows promise for smoking cessation, by potentially altering an individual's tendency to smoke in response to craving. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of MT and mindfulness practice on the relationship between smoking and craving after receiving four weeks of MT. Methods: 33 adults received MT as part of a randomized trial for smoking cessation. Individuals in the MT condition recorded formal and informal mindfulness practice during treatment using daily diaries. Results: Analyses showed that strong correlations between craving and smoking at baseline (r = 0.582) were attenuated at the end of treatment (r = 0.126). Mindfulness home practice significantly predicted cigarette use (formal: B = −1.21, p = 0.007; informal: B = −1.52, p < 0.0001) and informal practice moder- ated the relationship between craving and smoking at the end of treatment (B = 0.52, p = 0.03). Conclusions: These findings suggest that MT may be effective as a treatment for smoking cessation and that informal mindfulness practice predicts a decoupling of the association between craving and smoking.
Epileptic activity influences the speech organization in medial temporal lobe epilepsy

Factors influencing atypical speech lateralization have theoretical importance in understanding the organization and reorganization of higher cognitive functions, as well as having practical implications, especially in brain surgery and neurorehabilitation. Atypical (right‐sided or bilateral) language representation is more frequent in focal epilepsy than in healthy people. This difference is thought to be related to early childhood brain injuries localized in the neighbourhood of speech centres. The effect of epileptic activity on speech lateralization has not been investigated, although much data suggest that epileptic activity may interfere with higher brain functions. It can only be evaluated in a homogeneous human population with epilepsy having the same lesion type in the same localization. For these reasons, we investigated 184 patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) due to unilateral hippocampal sclerosis (HS), but without other epileptogenic lesions. All patients underwent comprehensive presurgical evaluation. In MTLE, the influence of age at the time of brain damage, i.e. the initial precipitating injury (IPI), could be evaluated separately from the other timing factors. Of 100 patients in whom a Wada test was performed, left‐sided speech occurred in 76% of the left‐sided and in 100% of the right‐sided MTLE patients ( P < 0.05). For further evaluation, we included only the 83 left‐sided MTLE patients. The mean age at seizure onset was 10.1 ± 7.8 years (range 1–37 years); the mean age at evaluation was 35.7 ± 9.8 years. Based on the Wada test, left‐sided speech was present in 63 patients, while in 20 (24%) patients the Wada test revealed atypical speech dominance. We found that atypical speech representation in left MTLE was associated with higher spiking frequency ( P < 0.05) and with sensory auras representing an ictal involvement of the lateral temporal structures ( P < 0.01). Psychic auras suggesting limbic seizure spread showed a significant association with left‐sided speech dominance in left MTLE ( P < 0.05). Neither age at epilepsy onset, nor age at IPI was associated with atypical speech in left MTLE. Conclusively, we found that in patients with focal epilepsy, not only the known factors, i.e. the age at which the brain injury occurred and its localization, but also the epileptic activity itself, i.e. interictal discharges and seizure spread, may influence speech reorganization. Our findings also suggest that not only structural elements but also functional factors have an effect on the language organization of the brain.
A surgery sequence in dimension four; the relations with knot concordance

We present a systematic treatment of the classification problem for compact smooth 4-manifolds M. It is modeled on the surgery exact sequence, the central theorem in the classification of n-manifolds n>5. The price for the extension to dimension=4 is a hole in M where a (homotopy) 1-skeleton should be. There is no homotopy theoretic or surgical obstruction to complet- ing M with a wedge of circles so that the completion has the topology of a compact smooth manifold. This point-set problem is all that stands between 4- manifolds and the tranquility that prevails in higher dimensions. When M is simply connected only a point is missing from the model. The applications of this are discussed in (F) and (FQ 1). The general theory has application to knot and link theory. In particular, knots with Alexander polynomial= 1 are characterized geometrically as knots admitting a certain
Reactive ballistic deposition of α-Fe2O3 thin films for photoelectrochemical water oxidation

We report the preparation of alpha-Fe2O3 electrodes using a technique known as reactive ballistic deposition in which iron metal is evaporatively deposited in an oxygen ambient for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. By manipulating synthesis parameters such as deposition angle, film thickness, and annealing temperature, we find that it is possible to optimize the structural and morphological properties of such films in order to improve their PEC efficiency. Incident photon to current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) are used to calculate an AM1.5 photocurrent of 0.55 mA/cm(2) for optimized films with an IPCE reaching 10% at 420 nm in 1 M KOH at +0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl. We also note that the commonly observed low photoactivity of extremely thin hematite films on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates may be improved by modification of annealing conditions in some cases.
Aligned, electrospun topography for use with external stimulus systems

Variations in fiber density, diameter, and orientation can be used to direct cell migration and guide neurite growth. The characterization of electrospun fibers is essential prior to conducting further research that utilizes electrospun scaffolds to control the magnitude and direction of cell migration and neurite growth. The goal of this study is to create highly aligned, electrospun fibers on poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) films in parallel and perpendicular orientations to the long axis of rectangular cover slips. Fibers were electrospun into scaffolds and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize fiber density and orientation. The construction of electrospun scaffolds with aligned fibers is important in guiding cell behavior.
A Review of: “Lessons of Disaster: Policy Change After Catastrophic Events by Thomas A. Birkland”

Disasters are chaotic events that disrupt the normal routines of society. The new circumstances created by disasters alter people's perceptions, often prompting individuals and political actors to ...
A Survey of the Foliar and Soil Arthropod Communities in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Fields of Central and Eastern South Dakota

Abstract The long coevolutionary history between sunflowers (Helianthus annuus, Asterales: Asteraceae) and arthropods in the northern Great Plains has resulted in a commonly grown oilseed crop that harbors a large diversity of insects. A bioinventory of foliar and subterranean arthropods was performed in 22 sunflower fields over a period of three site years in central and eastern South Dakota. Overall, 467 morphospecies were collected. From foliage, 15 arthropod orders were observed. Those containing the greatest species diversity were Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera and Araneae with 80; 53; 53; 40 and 30 morphospecies each, respectively. Subterranean arthropods from 19 orders were collected. The five orders containing the highest number of morphospecies were Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Araneae and Diptera containing 77; 17; 14; 11 and nine morphospecies respectively. Although bioinventories can be expensive and time consuming, information gathered from them has many uses, including ef...
Robot Assistance in Medication Management Tasks

A robot in the home of an elderly person providing assistive care will face many difficult decisions. I focus on a set of tasks that are very common and often stressful. Medication management tasks are ideal for a robot to assist in, but even a task with straightforward guidelines and goals can have numerous moral issues brought about by the social interaction between the human and the robot. Building on artificial intelligence work in production systems, decision theory, and analogical reasoning I am developing the architectural components necessary for these interactions. These components are based on computational models that have been informed by work in psychology and occupational therapy. It is my goal that by bringing these disciplines together I will be able to help design robots that are more morally acceptable, safer, and overall do a better job at assisting those in need.
Remained or Repealed of Penal Code 306:Listen to the Legal Professional Persons' Opinions

Penal Code 306 has been faced with controversy which should be remained or be repealed all the times from its birth which is from theories or interests groups in practice.This controversy is made from backstage to stage because of case of Li Zhuang which happened from late 2009 to early 2010.We can deeply explore the social factors behind the controversy : misunderstanding of judicial organization;unreasonable of criminal structure;and defect of prosecution procedure through investigating the legal professional persons' attitude to Penal Code 306 to find a reasonable way for the Penal Code 306' s future——remained and applied cautiously.
Upending Stock Market Structure Using Secure Multi-Party Computation.

The stock markets have two primary functions, that of providing liquidity and price discovery. While the market micro-structure was mostly ignored or assumed to function ideally for the purpose of asset pricing, M. O’Hara (Journal of Finance, 2003) has established that both liquidity and price discovery affect asset pricing, and in particular asset returns. While the cost of liquidity provision is borne by investors, and is clearly detrimental to asset returns, periodic price discovery has both positive and negative consequences for asset pricing. In this work we propose using cryptography, and in particular multi-party secure computation, to setup a novel stock market structure that, to a large extent, removes the negative consequences of liquidity costs and periodic price discovery. Interestingly, the proposed market structure takes us back to the early days of stock markets, i.e. periodic call markets, but with the not so “trusted” auctioneer replaced by secure distributed computing where no individual party (or small coalition) gets to know the order book.
FORTRAN programming techniques

Suggestions are given for writing clear, correct code and for writing code that minimizes the computer run time of the program.
Case 50: Is the Title of a Paper or Grant Important?

You are writing a case report. It deals with an unusual capnograph tracing that developed during a general anesthetic in an otherwise healthy adult. The trace is triphasic with an initial lower plateau, followed by a higher plateau (hump) and then followed by a lower plateau. This has not been described before. Your medical student tells you it looks like a dromedary.
- Using ice-nucleating bacteria to reduce winter survival of Colorado potato beetles: Development of a novel strategy for biological control

Publisher Summary Most insects are not able to survive internal ice formation. Thus, a key factor in their winter survival is the regulation of the temperature at which they freeze. This temperature is termed the supercooling point (SCP) or the temperature of crystallization. A major factor in the overwintering survival of insect pests is their ability to seasonally enhance their cold tolerance by increasing their capacity to supercool and, thus, avoid the lethal effects of internal ice formation. Any agent that limits the supercooling capacity of a freeze-intolerant insect will increase the likelihood of injury or death following exposure to subzero temperatures. In the 1970s, a unique class of biological nucleators, icenucleating active (INA) bacteria, was discovered. These bacteria are remarkable for their ability to catalyze ice nucleation at temperatures as high as -1 to -2°C. Ice-nucleating activity is conferred by the presence of ina genes, which code for ice nucleating proteins localized on the bacterium's outer membrane. This chapter reviews a paper that uses Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) as a model system to address basic questions regarding the seasonal regulation of cold tolerance and insect–microbial interactions. These studies provide a foundation for novel approaches in biological control by manipulating insect cold-hardiness and overwintering survival using INA microorganisms.