cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrating energy transferability into the connection-detail of coastal bridges using reinforced interfacial epoxy-polyurea reaction matrix composite

Abstract A new Carbon-fiber Interfacial Epoxy-Polyurea Matrix (C-IEPM) composite is investigated as a potential retrofit option for vulnerable girder-to-cap connection-details in coastal highway bridges . IEPM is a reaction of cross-linking epoxy with functional groups of pre-polymerized polyurea, producing an energy-transfer mechanism inherently absent in conventional carbon-fiber reinforced epoxy (CF/E) that drastically reduces the serviceability limit state during extreme hurricane events. IEPM is a covalently bonded interface, produced as a reaction of migrating epoxy species (epoxide and amine-based hardener), controlled as a function of their curing time ( tc ), with highly reactive isocyanate and amine polyurea moieties. To demonstrate IEPM effectiveness, six scaled concrete girders were tested using a modified simulated storm surge and slamming wave force function, derived using regional maps for a 100-year return-period Hurricane Katrina . Two girders, designed using current AASHTO field connection-details, failed catastrophically (concrete shear failure) in less than one-half load cycle. The CF/E-strengthened girder , failing in less than one load cycle, experienced severe damage to its girder-to-cap connection, including fiber and epoxy matrix breakage, delamination , unsustainable girder-end rotations, and transient force-displacement hystereses loops . However, after 12 load cycles, the C-IEPM-strengthened girder, providing substantial energy transferability (material damping) through its connection-details, experienced only local cracking.
Well-posedness in Sobolev spaces of the full water wave problem in 2-D

. We consider the motion of the interface of 2-D irrotational, incompressible, inviscid water wave, with air above water and surface tension zero. We show that the interface is always not accelerating into the water region, normal to itself, as rapidly as the normal acceleration of gravity, as long as the interface is nonself-intersect. We therefore obtain the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the full water wave problem, locally in time, for any initial interface which is nonself-intersect, including the case that the interface is of multiple heights.
Activity, speech, and change: Progressive politics and regressive fantasies

This essay examines convictions about the importance of speech and activity with reference to an ideal of change, where change may be understood in at least two ways: first, as a process by which persons or things become new or different in reality, and, second, as a grandiose fantasy in which change represents an end in itself and is aligned with ideals such as eternality, centrality, and significance. The essay compares analytic and political situations without suggesting that analytic and political arenas are identical, or that individuals or groups involved in either sort of activity ought to behave identically. Rather, it maintains that much of the dedication to speech and activity relies on a fantasy of change that may be orthogonal, if not antithetical, to a goal shared by psychoanalysis and progressive politics: the facilitation of the capacity to be, to act, and to generate meaningful change for the self and others.
ConfAdvisor: A Performance-centric Configuration Tuning Framework for Containers on Kubernetes

Configuration tuning of software is often a good option to improve application performance without any application code modifications. Although we can casually change configurations, it is not easy to apply optimal configurations, as optimal configurations require deep knowledge of the underlying system. This is problematic because applications with suboptimal configuration result in poor performance. As container and container management systems have emerged as an application platform on the cloud, configuration tuning becomes even more challenging because containers add more complexity to the application performance. We need to consider not only fundamental misconfiguration but also container image verification, deployment configuration, application characteristics awareness based on metrics and logs. Although previous knowledge regarding how we should tune configurations for a system software is sometimes available, knowledge about performance tuning practices is neither normalized nor reusable to expand on any advice for misconfiguration to the containers. Even in the cloud-native environment, there is no centralized service to deliver knowledge continuously to application containers nor a framework to develop a misconfiguration fix rule for a container throughout its lifetime. In this paper, we propose a performance-centric configuration tuning framework for containers on Kubernetes, named ConfAdvisor, that enables containers to achieve a higher performance by validating various misconfigurations adaptively. ConfAdivsor gives config tuning advice to application containers, images, and Kubernetes specs and also provides a development framework to build configuration validation rules. We present the design of ConfAdvisor and provide several case studies to tune application containers in the real world.
Assessing the Short-Term Stability of Financial Well-Being in Low- and Moderate-Income Households

Much of the literature on household finance tends to focus on relatively objective measures of financial security (e.g., savings, income, financial knowledge), and there has been less research on measures of subjective financial well-being. This gap is due in part to the absence of a common understanding on defining and measuring subjective financial well-being. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recently developed a new Financial Well-Being Scale that provides a comprehensive way to measure this construct. The research on this scale is still scarce and little is known about how subjective financial well-being evolves over time. This paper uses a two-wave survey of low- and moderate-income tax filers to present among the first longitudinal analyses of this scale. Through descriptive analysis and lagged dependent variable regressions, we assess (1) the stability of financial well-being over a six-month period; (2) the extent to which relatively stable household characteristics predict volatility in subjective financial well-being; and (3) the relationship between adverse financial events, including financial shocks and material hardships, and subjective financial well-being. We find that financial well-being scores are extremely stable over the short-term, and that relatively stable household characteristics are not strong predictors of subjective financial well-being changes. We also find that, while adverse financial events like job loss are significantly associated with lower subjective financial well-being scores, the magnitude of these relationships is not large. These results have implications for the use of the financial well-being scale in evaluations of financial security interventions.
Design and Formulation of a Completely Biobased Epoxy Structural Adhesive

We have successfully engineered a fast-curing, completely biobased epoxy adhesive that can exhibit lap shear strengths of above 20 MPa. The rigid, fast-curing, biobased epoxy monomer was co-polymer...
Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover

While radiographic approaches such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) remain a primary diagnostic modality to assess for osteoporosis and fracture risk, radiographic methods have several limitations. Radiographic methods tend to respond relatively slowly to disease processes or therapeutics that influence bone metabolism, and there is commonly an interest in assessing therapeutic or disease-mediated impact on bone before radiographic changes are detectable. Moreover, it has become apparent that radiographic measures of total bone mass only capture a portion of fracture risk, thus spurring interest in complimentary alternative approaches such as serum or urine biomarkers that reflect the dynamics of bone turnover (hereafter, bone turnover markers, BTMs).
Patterns of failure after adjuvant stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer with close or positive margins.

755Background: There is no consensus on treatment volumes for stereotactic body radiation (SBRT) in patients with pancreatic cancer (PCa). Herein, we report patterns of failure following adjuvant S...
Association Between Pain, Blood Pressure, and Medication Intensification in Primary Care: an Observational Study

Treating hypertension is important but physicians often do not intensify blood pressure (BP) treatment in the setting of pain. To identify whether reporting pain is associated with (1) elevated BP at the same visit, (2) medication intensification, and (3) elevated BP at the subsequent visit. Retrospective cohort Integrated health system Adults seen in primary care Pain status based on numerical scale: mild (1–3), moderate (4–6), or severe (≥ 7). We defined elevated BP as ≥ 140/80 mmHg and medication intensification as increasing the dose or adding a new antihypertensive medication. Multilevel regression models were used to find the association between pain and (1) elevated BP at the index visit; (2) medication intensification at the index visit; and (3) elevated BP at the subsequent visit. Models adjusted for demographics, chronic conditions, and clustering within physician. In the third model, we adjusted for initial systolic BP as well. Our population included 56,322 patients; 3155 (6%) reported mild pain, 5050 (9%) reported moderate pain, and 4647 (8%) reported severe pain at the index visit. Compared with no pain, the adjusted odds ratios of elevated BP were 1.38 (95% CI: 1.28–1.48) for severe pain, 1.06 (95% CI: 0.99–1.14) for moderate pain, and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.93–1.12) for mild pain. Adjusted odds ratios of medication intensification at the index visit were 0.65 (95% CI: 0.54–0.80) for mild pain, 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52–0.72) for moderate pain, and 0.55 (95% CI: 0.47–0.64) for severe pain. Among patients with elevated BP at the index visit, reporting pain at the index visit was not associated with elevated BP at the subsequent visit. When patients reported pain, physicians were less likely to intensify antihypertensive treatment; nevertheless, patients reporting pain were not more likely to have elevated BP at the subsequent visit.
Mechanistic Origins of Regioselectivity in Cobalt-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H Borylation of Benzoate Esters and Arylboronate Esters.

Summary Synthetic and mechanistic investigations into the C(sp2)-H borylation of various electronically diverse arenes catalyzed by bis(phosphine)pyridine (iPrPNP) cobalt complexes are reported. Borylation of various benzoate esters and arylboronate esters gave remarkably high selectivities for the position para to the functional group; in both cases, this regioselectivity was found to override the ortho-to-fluorine regioselectivity, previously reported for (iPrPNP)Co borylation catalysts, which arises from thermodynamic control of C(sp2)-H oxidative addition. Mechanistic studies support pathways that result in para-to-ester and para-to-boronate ester selectivity by kinetic control of B-H and C(sp2-H) oxidative addition, respectively. Borylation of a particularly electron-deficient fluorinated arylboronate ester resulted in acceleration of C(sp2)-H oxidative addition and concomitant inversion of regioselectivity, demonstrating that subtle changes in the relative rates of individual steps of the catalytic cycle can enable unique and switchable site selectivities.
Gaining insight from survey data: an analysis of the community of inquiry survey using Rasch measurement techniques

This article presents the results of evaluating a dataset collected with the Community of inquiry (CoI) survey (Arbaugh, The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning 9:1–21, 2008) using Rasch psychometric techniques to evaluate instrument functioning. Data were collected over a two-year period yielding a sample of 704 survey responses from students who were enrolled in a blended online graduate program. The purpose of this article is to present a Rasch analysis of the CoI survey to provide insight into the functioning of the instrument beyond other statistical analyses of the CoI that have been conducted to date. The results of the analysis provide new insights into the functioning of this measurement instrument and demonstrate the usefulness of Rasch techniques. The rationale for using Rasch techniques as well as the implications of this technique when using the CoI survey when conducting research or evaluations of practices in blended online courses are discussed.
An investigation into the impact of next generation sequencing on the use of targeted treatments in glioblastoma.

2035Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) provides clinicians immense amounts of information about a patient’s cancer. NGS allows the detection of a wide range of gene alterations undetectab...
Mass functions of dark matter halos from maximum entropy distributions for self-gravitating collisionless flow

The halo-mediated inverse mass cascade is a key feature of the intermediate statistically steady state for self-gravitating collisionless flow (SG-CFD). A broad spectrum of halos and halo groups are necessary to form from inverse mass cascade for long-range interaction system to maximize its entropy. The limiting velocity ($\textbf X$), speed ($\textbf Z$), and energy ($\textbf E$) distributions of collisionless particles can be obtained analytically from a maximum entropy principle. Halo mass function, i.e. the spectrum of halo mass, is a fundamental quantity for structure formation and evolution. Instead of basing mass functions on simplified spherical/elliptical collapse models, it is possible to reformulate mass function as an intrinsic distribution to maximize system entropy during the everlasting statistically steady state. Starting from halo-based description of non-equilibrium collisionless flow, distributions of particle virial dispersion ($\textbf H$), square of particle velocity ($\textbf P$), and number of halos ($\textbf J$) are proposed. Their statistical properties and connections with the limiting velocity distribution ($\textbf X$) are well studied and established. With $\textbf H$ being essentially the halo mass function, two limiting cases of $\textbf H$ distribution are analyzed for large halos ($\textbf H_\infty$) and small halos ($\textbf H_s$), respectively. For large halos, $\textbf H_\infty$ is shown to also be a maximum entropy distribution. For small halos, $\textbf H_s$ approximates the $\textbf P$ distribution and recovers the Press-Schechter mass function. The full solution of $\textbf H$ distribution depends on the limiting distribution ($\textbf X$) that maximizes system entropy and the exact models of halo velocity dispersions.
Conditioned reflex and the problem of thalamo-cortical interrelations.

Publisher Summary The experiments on destruction of cortico-subcortical, and in particular thalamocortical, connections showed that the manifestation and the volume of analyticosynthetic activity might depend on structural and functional peculiarities of unconditioned reflexes, which form the basis for conditioned reaction. The experiments showed that deep disconnection of dogs analyzer cortical ends, if it involved the cortex and the white matter at the level of anterior sylvian gyrus, resulted in destruction of the fibers of the central auditory pathway and in subsequent nearly complete damage of the medial geniculate body. Certain differences in the character of conditioned reflex activity were found in animals in which disconnection of analyzers was accompanied by interruption of the connections running from the ventral complex of the thalamic nuclei to the brain cortex and/or by profound changes in the cellular structure of the somatosensory cortex. The observations suggest that one effector reaction is insufficient to permit a full judgment of the character and volume of the conditioned reflex activity. Disturbances of the conditioned reflex activity after destruction of the cortical projection zones of the conditioned and unconditioned representation, or of their connections with corresponding formations of the diencephalon, may manifest themselves in various ways, depending on the methods applied.
Intracranial pressure monitoring in severe head injury: compliance with Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines and effect on outcomes: a prospective study

Object The Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) has established guidelines for intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study assessed compliance with these guidelines and the effect on outcomes. Methods This is a prospective, observational study including patients with severe blunt TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 8, head Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥ 3) between January 2010 and December 2011. Demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory profile, head CT scans, injury severity indices, and interventions were collected. The study population was stratified into 2 study groups: ICP monitoring and no ICP monitoring. Primary outcomes included compliance with BTF guidelines, overall in-hospital mortality, and mortality due to brain herniation. Secondary outcomes were ICU and hospital lengths of stay. Multiple regression analyses were deployed to determine the effect of ICP monitoring on outcomes. Results A total of 216 patients met the BTF guideline criteria for ICP ...
Analysis of mid-tropospheric carbon monoxide data using a three- dimensional Global atmospheric Chemistry numerical Model

Carbon monoxide is an important atmospheric trace species. It has long been recognized as a major contributor to urban air quality and in high concentrations is known to adversely affect health (Seinfeld, 1986). CO is the third most abundant carbon-containing species in the atmosphere and its reaction with hydroxyl radical (OH) represents a 2000–3000 Tg/yr (1 Tg = 1012 g) source of carbon dioxide. On a global basis, through its reaction with OH, CO plays a significant role in the troposphere’s overall oxidative capacity (Crutzen and Zimmerman, 1991). Furthermore, depending on the local abundance of nitrogen oxides, CO can participate in reactions that either increase or decrease the formation of tropospheric ozone (Logan et al., 1981).
Computer-based instruction for the fire services

Firefighters and paramedics in the fire services offer an excellent audience for computer-based instruction (CBI). They are on call for fixed amounts of time, some of which is available for self-paced study. These individuals also must take many hours of mandated courses (e.g. on blood borne pathogens) for which they meet in classrooms and are not available for their regular jobs. Many mandated courses could be covered by CBI at fire stations for substantial savings. Only limited CBI materials for the fire services have reached the commercial market. To meet this need, we are developing a series of CBI packages and testing them working with major fire departments in the Central Florida area. The programs described are: (1) "Spanish for Public Safety" an interactive program for PCs which uses digitized voice recordings to provide instruction in key Spanish language phrases useful for public safety personnel; (2) "Positive Pressure Ventilation" (PPV) a simulation to educate firefighters about PPV techniques; (3) "Fire Command Operations"-a PC-based simulation which offers dynamic interaction and positive feedback; (4) "Fire Departments Lessons Learned"-a database program which catalogs critical incidents; and (5) the "Situational Awareness Training System" (SATS) which provides training for small and mid-sized fire emergencies.
Striking a Balance: Students’ Tendencies to Oversimplify or Overcomplicate in Mathematical Modeling

With the adoption of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM), the process of mathematical modeling has been given increased attention in mathematics education. This article reports on a study intended to inform the implementation of modeling in classroom contexts by examining students’ interactions with the process of creating mathematical models and analyzing the types of models so generated. Results indicate students’ tendencies to oversimplify or overcomplicate the modeling process. Implications of the study are discussed, especially for understanding which aspects of the modeling cycle might be most helpful for teachers to focus on in order to develop students’ modeling abilities.
A Simple Batch Fermentation Model: Theme and Variations

Exemples: production d'exopolysaccharides, production d'ethanol, production d'exotoxine insecticide, production d'endopolyosides
DEVA: distributed ensembles of virtual appliances in the cloud

Low upfront costs, rapid deployment of infrastructure and flexible management of resources has resulted in the quick adoption of cloud computing. Nowadays, different types of applications in areas such as enterprise web, virtual labs and high-performance computing are already being deployed in private and public clouds. However, one of the remaining challenges is how to allow users to specify Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for composite groups of virtual machines and enforce them effectively across the deployed resources. In this paper, we propose an Infrastructure as a Service resource manager capable of allocating Distributed Ensembles of Virtual Appliances (DEVAs) in the Cloud. DEVAs are groups of virtual machines and their network connectivities instantiated on heterogeneous shared resources with QoS specifications for individual entities as well as their connections. We discuss the different stages in their lifecycle: declaration, scheduling, provisioning and dynamic management, and show how this approach can be used to maintain QoS for complex deployments of virtual resources.
Health care fraud and abuse laws.

Abstract Context.—Health care fraud and abuse enforcement actions have significantly expanded in number and scope during the past several years. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General named review of in-office pathology services a critical priority in its 2005 Work Plan. As providers of pathology and laboratory medicine services, pathologists need to be aware of the potential impact of these laws on their practices. Objectives.—To review the major statutes and regulations underlying most federal investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud, with a special emphasis on their relationships to pathology practice. Design.—The authors reviewed pertinent federal statutes, regulations, and other documents, along with relevant legal literature. Results.—The health care fraud and abuse laws are complicated and potentially impact pathology practice in unforeseen ways. Conclusions.—The health care fraud and abuse laws are complex and often counterintuitive. The penalties for v...
Air‐sea gas exchange of CO2 and DMS in the North Atlantic by eddy covariance

We report the first simultaneous eddy covariance flux measurements of CO2 and dimethylsulfide (DMS) over the open ocean for two North Atlantic cruises. After normalization for Schmidt number, the two gases give essentially identical gas transfer coefficients and wind speed dependences for the wind speed range 2–10 ms−1. The data indicate a linear relationship between the gas transfer coefficient and mean wind speed, with measured gas transfer coefficients slightly above the Wanninkhof (1992) parameterization, particularly at low wind speeds.
Eliminative signaling by Janus kinases: role in the downregulation of associated receptors.

Activation of cytokine receptor-associated Janus kinases (JAKs) mediates most, if not all, of the cellular responses to peptide hormones and cytokines. Consequently, JAKs play a paramount role in homeostasis and immunity. Members of this family of tyrosine kinases control the cytokine/hormone-induced alterations in cell gene expression program. This function is largely mediated through an ability to signal towards activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (STAT) as well as towards some other pathways. Importantly, JAKs are also instrumental in tightly controlling the expression of associated cytokine and hormone receptors, and, accordingly, in regulating the cell sensitivity to these cytokines and hormones. This review highlights the enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms of this regulation and discusses the importance of the ambidextrous nature of JAK as a key signaling node that integrates the combining the functions of forward signaling and eliminative signaling. Attention to the latter aspect of JAK function may contribute to emancipating our approaches to the pharmacologic modulation of JAKs.
Cyanogen bromide cleavage of methionin residues as a control method for enkephalin immunocytochemistry

Serial semithin sections of rat neurohypophysis were immunostained with 2 antibodies to enkephalins using the peroxidase antiperoxidase method. One of the antibodies (R133) recognizes both met- and leu-enkephalin whereas the other (R26) reacts with met-enkephalin only. After cyanogen bromide pretreatment of the sections the antibody R133 stained only a subpopulation of nerve endings that were distinct from those stained with the latter antibody. R26-(met-enkephalin-like) immunoreactivity was totally abolished by cyanogen bromide pretreatment. This preincubation method which selectively interferes with the staining of met-enkephalin terminals may help to discriminate the two enkephalins in immunocytochemical preparations.
Physicochemical changes in erythrocyte membranes during cold storage in the presence of progesterone.

Abstract Red cells were stored for 42 days, with and without added progesterone, and at 14-day intervals stroma was prepared from these red cells for analysis by various physicochemical methods. Progesterone appears to bind to the erythrocyte membrane proteins, causing a change in their structure which “locks” them into a stabilized state that is more or less constant for at least 28 days, then starts to wear off or dissociate.
High molecular weight copolymers of vinylferrocene and 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dimethylene with various N-substituted maleimides

Abstract Two series of ferrocene-containing polymers have been synthesized from various N-substituted maleimides with 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dimethylene (3A–C) or vinylferrocene (4A–C). These copolymers exhibit high molecular weights and 4A–C formed free standing films. Electrochemical studies with copolymers 3A–C and 4A–C in dimethylacetamide show chemical reversibility for all of the materials but only copolymers 4A–C show electrochemical reversibility. These copolymers were also electrochemically deposited from methylene chloride onto a platinum electrode to form chemically modified electrodes (CMEs). The CMEs show desorption of the ferrocene polymers in acetonitrile solutions but exhibited good stability in aqueous solution. The thermal stabilities of the copolymers 4A–C are typical for a ferrocene containing polymer with 10% weight loss occurring at ca. 385 °C. Copolymers 3A–C exhibit higher thermal stabilities with 10% weight loss at 438 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements of the copolymers showed melt transitions just before the onset of thermal decomposition.
Mutational Analysis of Protein Splicing, Cleavage, and Self-Association Reactions Mediated by the Naturally Split Ssp DnaE Intein

The ability to separately purify the naturally split Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Ssp) DnaE intein domains has allowed detailed examination of both universal and Ssp DnaE intein-specific steps in the protein splicing pathway. By engineering substitutions at both the +1 and penultimate intein positions, we have further characterized intein reaction kinetics in this system. Replacement of the crucial +1Cys with serine decreased N-terminal cleavage and trans-splicing rates; however, this substitution did not prevent splicing or the ability of ZnCl2 to inhibit it. Substitution of the penultimate intein residue (alanine) with a typically conserved histidine did not increase the rate or extent of trans-splicing or cleavage under typical assay conditions. Despite the observation that this histidine aids in asparagine cyclization for other inteins, it did not encourage C-terminal cleavage for the Ssp DnaE intein or uncouple it from N-terminal cleavage. Both the +1Ser and Ala to His mutants were insensitive to ZnCl2...
From Global to National Comprehensive Models: A Developing Country Perspective on Global Modelling in Transition

This paper examines experience with two decades of global model-building efforts, focusing on their impact and on methodological issues. Adopting a developing country perspective, the paper then explores what may be considered as a next stage in their evolution: the development of comprehensive policy-oriented models at the national level. The models developed at GRADE in Lima, Peru are used as an illustration of what can be achieved with national comprehensive models as policy exploration tools. The paper ends with a review of the difficulties and challenges that will be faced in the transition from global to national comprehensive models.
Effects of obesity, diabetes, and prior abdominal surgery on resource utilization in liver transplantation: A single-center study†

Obesity, diabetes, and prior abdominal surgery are generally considered to increase the risk of liver transplantation. The aim of the present study was to define the effects of these factors on the immediate outcome after transplantation. Two hundred twenty-one consecutive liver transplants were analyzed. Twenty-eight patients were excluded. In the remaining 193 patients [mean age = 52 ± 19 years, body mass index (BMI) = 28.5, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score at listing = 18.7], the risk from obesity was graded as follows: (0) BMI ≤ 30, (1) BMI = 30-34.9, (2) BMI = 35-39.9, and (3) BMI ≥40. The presence of diabetes and prior abdominal surgery were each given 1 point. All the individual scores for obesity, diabetes, and prior surgery were added to produce a composite risk score for each patient. Patients were categorized into 6 risk groups, group 0 having the least risk and group 5 having the highest risk (none of the patients were in group 5). The outcome measures were death, reoperation, readmission within 90 days of transplantation, intensive care unit length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and packed red blood cell requirement in 48 hours. The 5 risk score groups with patients were similar in demographics and calculated MELD scores. The outcome measures in high-risk groups were similar to those in the lowest-risk group (score = 0). In the Cox regression model for LOS and survival, the composite risk score was not associated with poor survival or prolonged LOS (>3 weeks). Kaplan-Meier survival curves with log rank testing failed to show any difference in survival among different risk groups. In conclusion, patients with multiple risk factors for poor surgical outcomes can undergo successful transplantation with perioperative outcome and mortality comparable to those of low-risk patients. Liver Transpl 15: 1519–1524, 2009. © 2009 AASLD.
Computer simulation of particle transport processes in flow through porous media

In this paper we develop a Monte Carlo computer simulation model for a class of particle transport processes in flow through a porous medium. This class of problems includes transport of macromolecules in porous media, fines migration, flow of stable emulsion, deep-bed filtration and size-exclusion chromatography. The porous medium is represented by a three-dimensional network of interconnected cylindrical pores with nonuniform (possibly fractal) surfaces. The effective radii of the pores are distributed according to an experimentally-measured pore size distribution. The paths of the particles throughout the pore space are determined rigorously, taking into account the effect of various forces that contribute to the interaction of the particles with the pore space. The model can also take into account the effect of possible pore plugging, particle deposition and macromolecular adsorption on the surface of the pores, in which case such phenomena are percolation processes and are characterized by a percolation threshold which is the volume fraction of the open pores below which the medium loses its macroscopic connectivity. When the model is applied to the problem of fines migration in flow through a porous medium, the predictions are in quantitative agreement with the available experimental data.
QoP and QoS Policy Cognizant Module Composition

Component-based software engineering is generally recognized as one of the best methods to develop, deploy, and manage increasingly complex software systems. To enable the dynamic composition of software modules, it is often required to expose their functionality dependencies. This results the a well-known requires-provides specifications’ model. In this paper, we introduce a framework that enables individual software components to specify their requires-provides interfaces in a policy dependent way. Our framework specifies policies as combinations of Constraint Logic Programming (CLP) based rules. Moreover, our policies are flexible and expressive, allowing the enforcement of multiple aspects for the requested composition including security and quality of service. We apply our framework to specify Quality of Protection (QoP) and Quality of Service (QoS) policies. We demonstrate the applicability of our policy language using as an example a teleconferencing application with diverse requirements for the specification of security and resource policies.
Hot flashes: Phenomenology, quality of life, and search for treatment options

Abstract Menopausal hot flashes are a significant problem for women. Hot flashes can impact on daily functioning, particularly when they disrupt sleep, leading to fatigue and irritability during the day. However, our knowledge about this primary complaint of menopausal women is far from complete. It is known that a hot flash is associated with thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and endocrine changes. However, much is unknown about the phenomenology of hot flashes, such as the range of variability in the pattern and longitudinal course of hot flashes. Although estrogen plays a role in the etiology of hot flashes, the mechanism by which its withdrawal precipitates hot flashes and its replacement relieves them is not understood. Nor do we know what it is that triggers individual hot flash episodes. We are beginning to learn about factors, such as ambient temperature, that modulate the frequency or severity of hot flashes. And very new data suggest that the ingestion of certain foods may influence hot flashes via estrogenic substances present in the food plants. Although there is much anecdotal information about herbs and other nonconventional remedies, little or no research had been done to assess the efficacy or safety of these methods for the treatment of hot flashes. An immediate focus on some of the most promising of these therapies could broaden the available treatment options and should provide new insights into the mechanism underlying hot flashes.
Helping Those with Dementia to Live at Home

A four part educational series has been developed at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Westchester Division, for caregivers of persons with dementia living at home. The four consecutive sessions provide caregivers with practical solutions in home safety, activities of daily living, adaptive equipment, leisure, communication, and accessing community resources. The goal of the series is to promote effective caregiving strategies and to improve the quality of life for the person with dementia living at home.
The abundance and source of mercury-binding organic ligands in Long Island Sound

Abstract The abundance and strength of mercury (Hg)-complexing organic matter was measured in samples collected from Long Island Sound (LIS) and related locations. A range in ligand-equivalent concentrations was found in LIS (0.3–6 nN). Rivers, lakes, sewage effluent, and marine porewaters were also sampled. When the ligand concentrations were normalized to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, the samples fell into broad groups. Offshore and sewage effluent samples were relatively ligand-poor, while river, lake, and porewater samples were ligand-rich. Normalized ligand abundance in LIS water was intermediate. A first-order mass balance for ligand and DOC suggests that terrestrial organic matter and phytoplankton exudates are the dominant sources of ligand to LIS, while tidal exchange and an unknown term are the dominant sinks. Concentration distributions through the Connecticut River (CTR) estuary suggest pseudo-conservative mixing of the ligand derived from the Connecticut River watershed. The identity of the material is unknown, but ligand-to-DOC ratios are well below the ratio of bulk reduced sulfur to DOC.
Synthesis of titania photocatalysts dispersed with nickel nanosized particles

Titania super fine particle photocatalysts containing dispersed nickel nanosized particles were synthesized. The synthesis method was as follows. First, an W/O type emulsion was made with non-ion surfactant. Titania powder with dispersed nickel oxide or nickel hydroxide was synthesized using a solution of nitric acid, nickel and titanium tetra butoxide (TIB). The titania photocatalyst was formed by reduction caused by heat treatment under a suitable reduction condition. Nickel nano-sized particles were distributed in the titania photocatalysts and the amount of hydrogen generated increased in proportion to the surface area of the distributed nickel. The nickel particles dispersed in titania photocatalysts accelerated the generation of rutile as compared to the photocatalyst without nickel.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, cyclooxygenase polymorphisms, and the risk of developing breast carcinoma among women with benign breast disease.

BACKGROUND Biopsy-proven benign breast disease (BBD) is a risk factor for developing breast carcinoma; however, to the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding factors related to progression to carcinoma. A cohort study was conducted to examine the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) polymorphisms and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the progression of BBD to breast carcinoma. METHODS Among participants in an ongoing cohort study, 1467 women underwent a breast biopsy for BBD. Of these women, 91 subsequently developed breast carcinoma. Medication data were collected in 1989 and in 1996. COX genotypes were determined using DNA extracted from blood specimens collected in 1989. RESULTS A decrease in breast carcinoma risk was observed among women who reported using aspirin in 1989 (odds ratio [OR] of .46; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], .22–.98) and in 1996 (OR of .47, 95% CI, .18–1.21). Furthermore, a higher frequency, dose, and longer duration of aspirin use were associated with a decrease in the odds of developing breast carcinoma. Overall, no association was observed between COX genotypes and the subsequent development of breast carcinoma. However, among women not using NSAIDs, one COX-2 polymorphism (rs2143416) was found to be significantly associated with the development of breast carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS Findings from the current study suggest that inflammation through COX-2 pathways may play a role in the progression of BBD to breast carcinoma and that aspirin may help to lower the risk of progression to breast carcinoma among women with BBD. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Nitric oxide for the treatment of postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema

Inhaled nitric oxide, a selective pulmonary vasodilator, has been used to improve arterial oxygenation in adult respiratory distress syndrome. To our knowledge, it has not been successfully used to treat this syndrome after major lung resection. We used nitric oxide to treat postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema with immediate and sustained improvement in oxygenation. The patient was successfully weaned from nitric oxide and extubated after 3 days of supportive therapy.
Household Assets and Food Stamp Program Participation Among Eligible Low-Income Households

This study examines the association between asset ownership and Food Stamp Program participation among eligible households using a sample from a longitudinal national survey. This study employs two approaches: a multinomial logit regression on the level of program participation and an event history analysis on the duration of eligible nonparticipation spells. Analysis results show that asset ownership, especially vehicle ownership, is negatively related to program participation, suggesting that asset ownership may reduce the chance that eligible low-income households receive food assistance. It is recommended that program administrators simplify procedures and expand outreach to facilitate program participation among low-income asset owners.
What Are The Complex Operations and Why

Introduction Surgeons are often judged by their ability to perform complex surgical procedures.
Testing accelerated weathering tests for appropriate weathering chemistry: Ozone filtered xenon arc

Ftir spectroscopy has been used to follow the weathering chemistry of a HALS and UVA free polyester/urethane and a HALS and UVA free acrylic/melamine clearcoat cured on silicon wafers and subjected to exposure in Florida, Arizona, and in a number of accelerated weathering tests. All accelerated tests except EMMAQUA-NTW, ozone filtered xenon arc, and 3M Proprietary exposures distort the polyester/urethane’s weathering chemistry relative to its Florida and Arizona exposure weathering chemistry. Distorted weathering chemistry was attributed primarily to spectral power distribution mismatch between artificial radiation and sunlight. Experiments were initiated with an ozone filtered xenon arc radiation source whose spectral power distribution matches sunlight with great fidelity in the 290–400 nm region.
Probability graphs resolve components with buoyant-density differences of 0.001 g/cm3 in equilibrium density gradients

Abstract A method derived from DNA melting-curve analysis has been modified for determining homogeneity of DNA species centrifuged to equilibrium in a CsCl gradient. DNA species of known density were purified, centrifuged to equilibrium in a Spinco Model E analytical ultracentrifuge, and analyzed by probability distribution. In order to determine the limits of resolution by this procedure, samples with varying buoyant-density separations were obtained by mixing different DNA species. Results indicate this method can detect overlapping mixtures of DNA in relative amounts of 9:1 and resolve two species of DNA of equal concentrations with a buoyant-density separation of 0.001 g/cm3.
Extending the scope of chiral separation of basic compounds by cyclodextrin-mediated capillary zone electrophoresis

Abstract In a previous paper on cyclodextrin-mediated capillary zone electrophoresis, it was shown that the use of short-chain tetraalkylammonium cations leads to a reversal in the direction of the electroosmotic flow without an adverse effect on enantioselectivity. As a result, enantiomeric resolution of basic (cationic) compounds can be improved as the electroosmotic flow counteracts the migration of solute enantiomers. It is demonstrated in this report that the scope of chiral separation of basic compounds can be further extended by a combination of reversing the electroosmotic flow and enhancing enantioselectivity through the chemical modifications of β-cyclodextrin. Therefore, β-cyclodextrin and its derivatives were evaluated as chiral recognition agents for the chiral separations of 22 basic compounds with rather complex molecular structures. The differences in enantioselectivity displayed by β-cyclodextrin and derivatives are discussed in order to achieve a better understanding of the chiral interactions involved in the discrimination of solute enantiomers.
Pr and Cu magnetism in (Pr 1.5 Ce 0.5 )Sr 2 Cu 2 MO 10-δ st(M=Nb, Ta): Correlations with a suppression of superconductivity

The magnetic properties of nonsuperconducting (${\mathrm{Pr}}_{1.5}$ ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{0.5}$ )${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{MO}}_{10\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ with M=Nb, Ta are characterized with dc magnetization, specific-heat, and neutron-diffraction experiments. Data for (${\mathrm{Pr}}_{1.5}$ ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{0.5}$ )${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{NbO}}_{10\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ reveal complex Cu magnetism marked by antiferromagnetic order below 200 K, spin structure transitions at 130 and 57 K, both collinear and noncollinear antiferromagnetic spin structures, and weak ferromagnetic behavior below 130 K. The data also indicate an anomalous ordering of the Pr spins near 10 K, a large linear contribution to the low-temperature specific heat, and a Pr 4f crystal-field ground state similar to that found in ${\mathrm{PrBa}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$ ${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ . Furthermore, there is evidence that the weak ferromagnetic behavior couples to the Pr ordering near 10 K. Identical Pr magnetism and similar Cu magnetism are found in (${\mathrm{Pr}}_{1.5}$ ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{0.5}$ )${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{TaO}}_{10\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ , deoxygenated (${\mathrm{Pr}}_{1.5}$ ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{0.5}$ )${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{NbO}}_{10\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ , and deoxygenated (${\mathrm{Pr}}_{1.5}$ ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{0.5}$ )${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{TaO}}_{10\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ . These results indicate that superconductivity is suppressed in these compounds in the same phenomenological manner as in ${\mathrm{PrBa}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$ ${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ . We interpret this as evidence that superconductivity is suppressed by the same mechanism in both structures and propose that a general correlation exists between anomalous Pr magnetism and a lack of superconductivity in these Pr-based high-${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{C}}$ cuprates. The significance of these results and analyses to understanding and modeling the suppression of superconductivity by Pr in high-${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{C}}$ cuprates is discussed.
Northern Bobwhite and Lead Shot Deposition in an Upland Habitat

We estimated total lead shotshell pellets expended, resultant pellet availability near soil surface, and the frequency of pellet ingestion by northern bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus) attributable to nearly a quarter century of bobwhite hunting on a 202-ha upland habitat at Tall Timbers Research Station, Leon County, Florida. A total of 7776 shots were fired, resulting in the expenditure of approximately 4.5 million pellets (approximately 22519/ha). Sixteen of 235 (6.8%) soil samples collected in 1989 and 1992 contained one or two pellets. Soil samples indicated that approximately 7800 pellets/ha (about 35% of the projected 24-year deposition) were within 2.54 cm of the soil surface. Pellet ingestion by bobwhites was evaluated by examining 241 gizzards collected from 1989-92. Three bobwhites (1.3%) had ingested pellets ( x = 1.3 pellets). No instances of suspected lead poisoning were noted in bobwhites over the 24-year period. Sport hunting of wild bobwhite populations on upland habitats appears to produce a low potential for lead poisoning compared to lead deposition in association with waterfowl and dove hunting.