cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liquid phase conversion of lignocellulosic biomass using biphasic systems

Abstract Lignocellulosic biomass, such as corn stover, pulp and paper mill waste, and switchgrass, is a readily available feedstock for the production of monomeric sugars and platform chemicals that can then be transformed into valuable organic molecules. However, efficiently fractionating lignocellulosic biomass is difficult due to the recalcitrance of lignin at mild reaction conditions and the reactive sugars/platform chemicals at more severe conditions. Biphasic systems present a possible solution to creating an economically viable biomass upgrading process since sugars prefer the aqueous phase while the lignin and furans partition to the organic phase. This review focuses on recent work to fractionate biomass using biphasic reactions as well as monophasic reactions that use biphasic systems to separate products. The use of different biphasic media, heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, and reaction conditions are reviewed and trends in isolating the fractions found in biomass are discussed.
Real-Time Avatar Pose Transfer and Motion Generation Using Locally Encoded Laplacian Offsets

We propose a human avatar representation scheme based on intrinsic coordinates, which are invariant to isometry and insensitive to human pose changes, and an efficient pose transfer algorithm that can utilize this representation to reconstruct a human body geometry following a given pose. Such a pose transfer algorithm can be used to control the movement of an avatar model in virtual reality environments following a user’s motion in real time. Our proposed algorithm consists of three main steps. First, we recognize the user’s pose and select a template model from the database who has a similar pose; then, the intrinsic Laplacian offsets encoded in local coordinates are used to reconstruct the human body geometry following the template pose; finally, the morphing between the two poses is generated using a linear interpolation. We perform experiments to evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of our algorithm. We believe our proposed system is a promising human modeling tool that can be used in general virtual reality applications.
Synthetic Pathways to 2,2-Dimethyl-6-oxo-1-cyclohexaneacetic Acid, a Useful Isoprenoid Building Block

Six new synthetic routes to 2,2-dimethyl-6-oxo-1-cyclohexaneacetic acid (1) from readily available starting materials have been evaluated. The most efficient method (yield 35%) involves alkylation of Hagemann's ester with ethyl bromoacetate followed by hydrolysis of the resultant ethyl 3-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-methyl-6-oxo-1-cyclohexeneacetate to unsaturated keto acid 2-methyl-6-oxo-1-cyclohexeneacetic acid (19) and then treatment of 19 with Me2CuLi. A method from mesityl oxide is longer and slightly less efficient (30%). These two methods are suitable for a large-scale preparation of 1.
Post-operative dysphagia in patients undergoing a four level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Abstract Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a commonly performed procedure for cervical spine pathologies, with excellent arthrodesis and symptom resolution. Post-operative dysphagia is a significant concern for patients undergoing this procedure because it can significantly affect their quality of life. Studies have shown that the incidence of post-operative dysphagia increases with an increase in the number of levels performed. A retrospective chart review was performed by interrogating our procedure log system and the key words “anterior cervical discectomy and fusion” was inserted in to the search bar. All patients with a four level ACDF were selected. Chart review was performed for their speech evaluation immediate after surgery and three months post operatively. A total of 28 patients were identified for the study. Speech evaluation records were available for 21 of the 28 patients. Two of the patients had posterior instrumentation and were eliminated. There were 11 females and 8 males, average age was 62 (range 47–73), and all the patients had a C3–C7 ACDF. 2 out of the 19 (11%) patients had dysphagia diagnosed via barium swallow evaluation immediately after surgery, which persisted for 3 months. Both patients diagnosed with dysphagia were females. The Two patients were 72 and 73 years old. The incidence of post-operative dysphagia in patients undergoing 4 levels ACDF at our institution was found to be lower than the current literature quotes. Age and gender were more predictive of developing dysphagia in this study.
Developing a Monte Carlo model for MEVION S250i with HYPERSCAN and Adaptive Aperture™ pencil beam scanning proton therapy system

Aim: As the number of proton therapy facilities has steadily increased, the need for the tool to provide precise dose simulation for complicated clinical and research scenarios also increase. In this study, the treatment head of Mevion HYPERSCAN pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy system including energy modulation system (EMS) and Adaptive Aperture™ (AA) was modelled using TOPAS (TOolkit for PArticle Simulation) Monte Carlo (MC) code and was validated during commissioning process. Materials and methods: The proton beam characteristics including integral depth doses (IDDs) of pristine Bragg peak and in-air beam spot sizes were simulated and compared with measured beam data. The lateral profiles, with and without AA, were also verified against calculation from treatment planning system (TPS). Results: All beam characteristics for IDDs and in-air spot size agreed well within 1 mm and 10% separately. The full width at half maximum and penumbra of lateral dose profile also agree well within 2 mm. Finding: The TOPAS MC simulation of the MEVION HYPERSCAN PBS proton therapy system has been modelled and validated; it could be a viable tool for research and verification of the proton treatment in the future.
LCCL-LC Resonant Converter and Its Soft Switching Realization for Omnidirectional Wireless Power Transfer Systems

Recently, omnidirectional wireless power transfer (WPT) systems have been studied intensely, due to their improved flexibility as compared to their planar counterparts. The LCCL-LC resonant converter topology is selected due to its current source characteristics in this article. The system frequency is pushed to megahertz (MHz) to increase the spatial charging freedom. In a megahertz WPT system, the reactance of the full bridge rectifier can no longer be neglected; therefore, an analytical model of the full bridge rectifier input impedance is built. Furthermore, zero-voltage switching (ZVS) of the switching devices is essential in reducing the switching loss and noise in a megahertz system. A design methodology of the LCCL-LC circuit is proposed to achieve the ZVS operation in the case of one transmitter and one receiver. Then, the ZVS analysis is extended to the scenario of multiple transmitter coils and one receiver coil. Finally, a 6.78-MHz wireless charging system is built according to the proposed design methodology. Experimental results validate the accuracy of the ZVS analysis, and the ZVS operation is well achieved under different coupling and load conditions. The peak system efficiency of 82% at 5-W output power is achieved.
Improving Robustness of a Popular Probabilistic Clustering Algorithm Against Insider Attacks

Many clustering algorithms for mesh, ad hoc and Wireless Sensor Networks have been proposed. Probabilistic approaches are a popular class of such algorithms. However, it is essential to analyze their robustness against security compromise. We study the robustness of EEHCA, a popular energy efficient clustering algorithm as an example of probabilistic class in terms of security compromise. In this paper, we investigate attacks on EEHCA through analysis and experimental simulations. We analytically characterize two different attack models. In the first attack model, the attacker aims to gain control over the network by stealing network traffic, or by disrupting the data aggregation process (integrity attack). In the second attack model, the inducement of the attacker is to abridge the network lifetime (denial of service attack). We assume the clustering algorithm is running periodically and propose a detection solution by exploiting Bernoulli CUSUM charts.
Understanding moisture durability of wood-based composites using crack propagation fracture toughness

A persistent issue in adhesively bonded wood-based composites is their moisture durability. A key question, therefore, is: what is the best approach to assessing moisture durability of wood composi...
The Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Pregnancy (L-ZIP) study—carotenoid supplementation during pregnancy: ocular and systemic effects—study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), collectively called the macular pigment (MP), are dietary carotenoids that preferentially localize in the macula of the human eye. MP protects the macula from photo-oxidative damage and enhances visual function. Inadequate maternal intake of carotenoids, coupled with the placental transfer of maternal carotenoids to support fetal brain and retina development, potentially put mothers at risk of depletion systemically and in their ocular tissues. Presently, maternal carotenoid status throughout pregnancy remains poorly characterized, and no prospective randomized controlled trial of L and Z supplementation via prenatal vitamins has assessed maternal and infants’ systemic and ocular carotenoid status during pregnancy. We hypothesize that prenatal maternal carotenoid supplementation will counteract maternal carotenoid depletion during pregnancy and will improve biomarkers of carotenoid status of both mothers and infants. Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Pregnancy (L-ZIP) is a phase 2, single-center, prospective, double-masked, randomized active-controlled clinical trial conducted at the John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Participants consume a daily standard prenatal multivitamin with no added carotenoids and are randomized (1:1 allocation) to receive either a capsule containing 10 mg L and 2 mg Z in safflower oil (Carotenoid group) or a capsule containing only safflower oil with no added carotenoids (Control group) for a period of 6 to 8 months. Skin, serum, and ocular carotenoids are measured at every study visit (i.e., within the first trimester [baseline], second trimester, third trimester, and 0–2 weeks postpartum). Skin carotenoid assessment is by resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS); serum carotenoid status is quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); and MP is measured with the dual-wavelength autofluorescence. Infants’ MP and foveal anatomy are assessed using RetCam retinal camera and Bioptigen SD-OCT, respectively. The primary outcomes are changes in maternal systemic and ocular carotenoid status during pregnancy. L-ZIP is the first prospective RCT to investigate maternal carotenoid status throughout pregnancy and to determine whether prenatal maternal carotenoid supplementation will offset maternal carotenoid depletion and improve biomarkers of maternal and infant’s carotenoid status. Findings from L-ZIP will strengthen recommendations regarding prenatal carotenoid supplementation and consequently inform policy decisions. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03750968 . Registered on November 23, 2018
Power by Design

This article examines the role of royal architectural design in strategies to promote political order in the Kingdom of Dahomey, a major West African state which emerged in the era of the transAtlantic slave trade. Historical and ethnographic sources are marshaled to identify an underlying normative architectural tradition in Dahomean palace construction, a tradition defined by distinct zones devoted to public ritual and semi-public political negotiations. Analysis of the ground plans of six royal palace complexes from the precolonial city of Cana is then deployed to trace the evolution of the latter zone over the course of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of spatial patterns reveals an overall rise in the spatial complexity of, as well as a radical expansion in the control of movement through, royal palace complexes over time. This pattern, I argue, was part of broader material attempts to promulgate a sense of social and political order in a period defined b...
Enzymes of acetylcholine metabolism in the rat inferior colliculus.

Abstract Although there is strong evidence for cholinergic projections to the rat inferior colliculus, especially from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (Noftz et al., 2020), there is a lack of information about the quantitative prevalence of the enzymes of acetylcholine metabolism in its various portions. We have used microdissection of freeze-dried sections combined with radiometric assays to map the distributions in the rat inferior colliculus of the activities of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), which catalyzes synthesis of acetylcholine, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which catalyzes its breakdown by hydrolysis. Both enzyme activities were present throughout the inferior colliculus. Average ChAT activity was consistently somewhat higher in the external cortex, excluding its most superficial layer, than in the dorsal cortex or central nucleus. Within the external cortex, ChAT activity was about half as high laterally in its most superficial layer as elsewhere. The distribution of AChE activity was more uniform than that of ChAT. Overall, ChAT activity in the rat inferior colliculus was relatively low, about a fifth of that in whole brain of rat and lower than in other central auditory regions, whereas AChE activity was about two-thirds that of rat whole brain and about average for central auditory regions. The results are compared to previous measurements for cat and hamster inferior colliculus. They are consistent with a modest role for cholinergic neurotransmission in the inferior colliculus, to modulate the activity of its major neuronal types.
Modeling Reflection-Free One-Way Edge Modes Using Foldy-Lax Multiple Scattering Theory

The Foldy-Lax multiple scattering theory is applied to compute the reflection-free topological one-way edge modes induced by wave interactions with periodic gyromagnetic scatterers. The electromagnetic field response arising from a point source at the interface of two photonic crystals, one comprised of gyromagnetic scatterers, - yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) scatterers, and the other of alumina scatterers, is studied. The T-matrices of a single cylindrical scatterer of circular cross-section, of both YIG and alumina materials, are derived and utilized to formulate the Foldy-Lax multiple scattering equations. The fields inside and outside the scatterers are derived. Field results of both single-scatterer scattering and multiple-scatterer scattering are compared with results from the method of moments (MoM) and from COMSOL simulations. The comparisons confirm the accuracy of the proposed method and show that the Foldy-Lax multiple-scattering theory is far more efficient than MoM and COMSOL. The proposed approach can be a useful tool for topological wave device analysis and design.
Reasons for Preoperative Opioid Use Are Associated with Persistent Use following Surgery among Patients Undergoing Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty.

Objective Most studies on preoperative opioid use only describe whether or not patients use opioids without characterizing reasons for use. Knowing why patients use opioids can help inform perioperative opioid management. The objective of this study was to explore pain specific reasons for preoperative opioid use prior to total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) and their association with persistent use. Methods This is a prospective study of 197 patients undergoing THA (n = 99) or TKA (n = 98) enrolled in the Analgesic Outcomes Study between December 2015 and November 2018. All participants reported preoperative opioid use. Results Reasons for preoperative opioid use were categorized as surgical site pain only (81 [41.1%]); pain in other body areas only (22 [11.2%]); and combined pain (94 [47.7%]). Compared to patients taking opioids for surgical site pain, those with combined reasons for use had 1.24 (p = 0.40) and 2.28 (p = 0.16) greater odds of persistent use at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, adjusting for relevant covariates. Conclusions This study provides novel insights into the heterogeneity of reasons for presurgical opioid use in patients undergoing a THA or TKA. One key take away is that not all preoperative opioid use is the same and many patients are taking opioids preoperatively for more than just pain at the surgical site. Combined reasons for use was associated with long-term use, suggesting non-surgical pain, in part, drives persistent opioid use after surgery. Future directions in perioperative care should focus on pain and non-pain reasons for presurgical opioid use to create tailored post-operative opioid weaning plans.
Mapping Preservice Teachers' Metaphors of Teaching and Learning

This study explores preservice teachers’ metaphors of teaching and learning. Specifically, it uses social cartography and critical dis-course analysis to map the beliefs of 20 preservice teachers at a large ur-ban university. The results suggest a split between those who share pos-itivist metaphors, which depict teaching and learning as a unidirectional process, and those who share constructivist metaphors, which depict teaching and learning as a more dynamic social process. Considering the increasingly diverse population of students in the United States, learner-centered metaphors are framed as the most pedagogically appropriate, and the implications of replacing positivist ways of thinking with more constructivist views are discussed.
Emerging Coronaviruses: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are two highly pathogenic viruses that recently emerged from zoonotic sources. In 2002, SARS-CoV was identified as the agent that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in the Guangdong province of China (Drosten et al., 2003; Marra et al., 2003; Rota et al., 2003). Almost 10 years later in 2012, MERS-CoV was identified as the cause of Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (Coleman and Frieman, 2014). There have been no new infections of SARS-CoV reported since 2004, but it is possible that this virus could re-emerge, as it is capable of spreading to humans again from its zoonotic source (Yang et al., 2013). In 2015, MERS-CoV continues to spread throughout the Middle East and to other neighboring countries. Here, we review the epidemiology, clinical disease and virology of these disease-causing viruses. Key Concepts Emerging Coronaviruses are serious threat to global public health. Infection control in outbreak setting is crucial for containing Coronavirus spread. Coronavirus genome structures are conserved between known and newly identified family members. Therapeutic development is crucial for front line healthcare worker protection. Animal model development is essential to understand the underlying pathology of each virus. Comparisons between SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and other human coronaviruses will give us insights into disease progression and therapeutic direction. Keywords: Coronavirus; emerging; SARS ; MERS ; zoonotic
Analysis of the Optical Spectra of Wolf-Rayet Galaxies

Wolf-Rayet (W-R) galaxies are a subset of emission-line galaxies in whose integrated spectra a broad (i.e., stellar in origin) He II λ 4686 emission feature has been detected. This line is a prominent emission feature in the spectra of WN stars. The presence of 102 to 105 W-R stars in these galaxies has been inferred from a comparison of the luminosity and equivalent width of this feature in the integrated galaxy spectra with those of the corresponding line in the spectra of Galactic and LMC WN stars. Most W-R galaxies exhibit other properties indicative of a very young starburst population, such as a relatively “blue” continuum and a strong nebular emission line spectrum due to photoionization by large numbers of hot, early-type stars. Their spectra are therefore very similar to to those of giant H II regions. There are currently about 40 W-R. galaxies known.
Purification and characterization of S-adenosylhomocysteine deaminase from streptonigrin-producing Streptomyces flocculus.

Abstract An S-adenosylhomocysteine deaminase has been isolated and purified from streptonigrin-producing Streptomyces flocculus ATCC 13257. Deamination represents the major metabolic route of S-adenosylhomocysteine in this organism. The protein was found to be monomeric with a molecular weight of 56,100 +/- 1,600. The activity was optimal at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C, and the deaminase was inactivated by p-chloromercuribenzoate but not by metal chelators. The Km for S-adenosylhomocysteine is 2.5 mM, and the Ki for inhibition by deoxycoformycin is 1.6 nM.
Expanding Europe through Memory: The Shifting Content of the Ever-Salient Past

Collective memories of war and suffering have been crucial to the development of European integration since 1945. My basic thesis is that remembrance has also played an important role in the accession of new states to the organization that has come to be known as the European Union (EU). As the EU has expanded into new regions of Europe, particularly the post-dictatorial south and the post-communist east, continental institutions and existing member-states have been confronted by conflicting understandings of the past. Although the past has continued to push states towards membership in the EU, the nature of these remembered experiences has changed through the various rounds of expansion. In addition to tracing the role that memory has played in the widening of Europe, I argue that these confrontations have sparked important debates about the meaning of the past for Europe today.
Regulation of alternative splicing in Drosophila by 56 RNA binding proteins

Alternative splicing is regulated by RNA binding proteins (RBPs) that recognize pre-mRNA sequence elements and activate or repress adjacent exons. Here, we used RNA interference and RNA-seq to identify splicing events regulated by 56 Drosophila proteins, some previously unknown to regulate splicing. Nearly all proteins affected alternative first exons, suggesting that RBPs play important roles in first exon choice. Half of the splicing events were regulated by multiple proteins, demonstrating extensive combinatorial regulation. We observed that SR and hnRNP proteins tend to act coordinately with each other, not antagonistically. We also identified a cross-regulatory network where splicing regulators affected the splicing of pre-mRNAs encoding other splicing regulators. This large-scale study substantially enhances our understanding of recent models of splicing regulation and provides a resource of thousands of exons that are regulated by 56 diverse RBPs.
Novel method of high-accuracy wavefront-phase and amplitude correction for coronagraphy

Detection of extra-solar, and especially terrestrial-like planets, using coronagraphy requires an extremely high level of wavefront correction. For example, the study of Woodruff et al. (2002) has shown that phase uniformity of order 10(exp -4)lambda(rms) must be achieved over the critical range of spatial frequencies to produce the approx. 10(exp 10) contrast needed for the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) mission. Correction of wavefront phase errors to this level may be accomplished by using a very high precision deformable mirror (DM). However, not only phase but also amplitude uniformity of the same scale (10(exp -4)) and over the same spatial frequency range must be simultaneously obtained to remove all residual speckle in the image plane. We present a design for producing simultaneous wavefront phase and amplitude uniformity to high levels from an input wavefront of modest quality. The design uses a dual Michelson interferometer arrangement incorporating two DMs and a single, fixed mirror (all at pupils) and two beamsplitters: one with unequal (asymmetric) beam splitting and one with symmetric beam splitting. This design allows high precision correction of both phase and amplitude using DMs with relatively coarse steps, is substantially achromatic and permits a simple correction algorithm.
Higher-frequency wavenumber shift and frequency shift in a cracked, vibrating beam

Abstract Explicit wavenumber shift and frequency shift expressions are derived for the resonances of a cracked, transversely vibrating beam. These explicit expressions apply to beams with both shallow and deeper cracks. The explicit expressions are approximate, however, and are therefore generally inaccurate for the fundamental beam mode, and for a crack located in a boundary near field. The explicit expressions indicate that wavenumber shift and frequency shift are approximately proportional to the potential energy in the uncracked beam at the (future) crack location. Experimental results are presented for a freely vibrating, free–free beam with a midspan, single-edge slot. Data was collected for bending about both the strong axis and the weak axis. The experimental wavenumber shift curves generally agree well with the theoretical wavenumber shift curves.
Recurrence of Primary Headache Disorders After Emergency Department Discharge: Frequency and Predictors of Poor Pain and Functional Outcomes

Study objective We determine the frequency of moderate or severe headache during the first 24 hours after an emergency department (ED) visit for a primary headache disorder (such as migraine or tension-type headache), determine the burden of headache during the 3 months after the ED visit, and identify predictors of poor pain and functional outcomes after ED discharge for each of these periods. Methods In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled headache patients during their initial ED visit, interviewed them by using a standardized questionnaire, and followed them by telephone 24 hours and 3 months after ED discharge. Two emergency physicians classified all headaches according to criteria established by the International Headache Society, using a valid questionnaire and a reproducible technique. Results During an 18-month period, we enrolled 309 primary headache disorder patients in the cohort. The most common primary headache diagnoses assigned to patients were migraine, tension-type headache, and unclassifiable recurrent headache disorder. We successfully obtained follow-up in 94% of patients 24 hours after ED discharge and in 94% 3 months after ED discharge. Moderate or severe headache was present within 24 hours of ED discharge in 31% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25% to 38%) of migraine patients, 19% (95% CI 9% to 36%) of tension-type headache patients, and 27% (95% CI 18% to 38%) of the unclassifiable headache patients. Multiple functionally impairing headaches occurred during the 3 months after ED discharge in 37% of migraine patients (95% CI 30% to 44%), 38% of tension-type headache patients (95% CI 23% to 54%), and 26% of the unclassifiable headache patients (95% CI 17% to 37). After multivariate adjustment, independent predictors of poor 24-hour outcomes were severe baseline pain, baseline nausea, screening positive for depression, and longer duration of headache; the independent predictor of poor 3-month outcomes was Medicaid insurance. Conclusion Regardless of type of primary headache disorder, ED headache patients frequently experience pain and functional impairment during the hours and months after discharge.
Pericardial fat masquerading as tumor.

A 65-year-old woman was evaluated for fatigue, malaise, and atypical chest pain. One year prior she had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and jejunostomy in treatment of a large gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed, which showed a small circumferential pericardial effusion with a soft tissue echo density attached to the right atrial/right ventricular junction that extended over the right ventricle. Because of concern about possible malignant disease, thoracoscopy and biopsy of the pericardial mass were recommended. Normal fibro-adipose tissue was found with no evidence of neoplasm. Pericardial fat deposition is common in multiple conditions. It can be found in any location but is most common over the anterior portion of the heart. In this case, the concomitant presence of a small pericardial effusion and prominent fat pad at the right atrial/right ventricular junction gave the appearance of pericardial tumor. (Echocardiography 2010;27:E18-E20)
The influence of valley aggradation and listric normal faulting on styles of river avulsion: A case study of the Brazos River, Texas, USA

Abstract The Holocene avulsion history of the lower Brazos alluvial valley of east Texas, USA, was studied using 10 drill cores, 26 radiocarbon dates, aerial photos, and a digital elevation model. This study shows that two long-term processes, aggradation and localized valley tilting (along a normal listric fault), are responsible for generating two styles of avulsion. The first process precedes avulsion-by-progradation, while the second process precedes avulsion-by-annexation. As valley aggradation migrated updip over the last 7.5 ka, three regional backstepping avulsions occurred along the lower 140 km of the valley and each generated sizable deposits. A pattern emerges of landward stepping progradational avulsions tracking the locus of valley aggradation and of valley aggradation migrating inland even after the rate of sea level rise diminishes. At the same time, several local nodal avulsions occurred between 50 and 55 km updip of the current highstand shoreline but generated no observable deposits. Geomorphic evidence indicates that, since the late Pleistocene, active movement along a previously undocumented normal listric fault has occurred at the location of the nodal avulsion. These two long-term processes do not operate mutually exclusive of each other to promote avulsions; rather, they operate concurrently. Only aggradation promotes avulsions that affect floodplain alluviation, although the total volume of these deposits comprises a small portion of the valley fill.
Structural changes induced in capillary endothelial cells by growth factors: Altered distribution of cytoskeletal elements and organelles in cells spreading in the presence of tumor conditioned medium and hypothalamus derived growth factor

Using high-voltage and conventional electron microscopy of cell whole mounts, we have investigated the effects of tumor-conditioned medium and hypothalmus-derived growth factor on the structure of capillary endothelial cells during their attachment and spreading in tissue culture. Cells were cultured in A, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and 10% calf serum; B, equal parts of A and 48 hr mouse sarcoma conditioned medium; and C, A containing 10 units of hypothalamus-derived growth factor. Cells cultured in all three media were fully spread, and to the same extent, by 4 hr after plating. While spreading, cells cultured in DMEM alone developed prominent stress fibers and contained numerous bundles of microtubules which formed radical tracts along which mitochondria and other organelles rapidly moved to the cell periphery. Stress fibers were thinner and microtubule tracts fewer in number in cells cultured in tumor-conditioned medium. In 4 hr, organelles moved only part of the distance to the cell margin. Stress fibers were rudimentary and microtubules randomly orientated in cells exposed to hypothalamus-derived growth factor. Most organelles remained near the cell nucleus. The dramatic decrease in stress fibers and microtubule tracts in cells grown in tumor-conditioned medium and hypothalamus-derived growth factor and the subsequent decreased capacity of the cells to move organelles toward their periphery could have some functional significance relative to the growth-promoting activity of these substances.
A Pathography Collection for the Hospital Library

As the delivery of health care evolves toward a more patient-centered model and patients are increasingly empowered to be active participants in their own care, a collection of pathographies is a v...
Laparoscopic hysterectomy with morcellation vs abdominal hysterectomy for presumed fibroid tumors in premenopausal women: a decision analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to model outcomes in laparoscopic hysterectomy with morcellation compared with abdominal hysterectomy for the presumed fibroid uterus and to examine short- and long-term complications and death. STUDY DESIGN: A decision tree was constructed to compare outcomes for a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 premenopausal women who underwent hysterectomy for presumed fibroid tumors over a 5year time horizon. Parameter and quality-of-life utility estimates were determined from published literature for postoperative complications, leiomyosarcoma incidence, death related to leiomyosarcoma, and procedure-related death. RESULTS: The decision-tree analysis predicted fewer overall deaths with laparoscopic hysterectomy compared with abdominal hysterectomy (98 vs 103 per 100,000). Although there were more deaths from leiomyosarcoma after laparoscopic hysterectomy (86 vs 71 per 100,000), there were more hysterectomy-related deaths with abdominal hysterectomy (32 vs 12 per 100,000). The laparoscopic group had lower rates of transfusion (2400 vs 4700 per 100,000), wound infection (1500 vs 6300 per 100,000), venous thromboembolism (690 vs 840 per 100,000) and incisional hernia (710 vs 8800 per 100,000), but a higher rate of vaginal cuff dehiscence (640 vs 290 per 100,000). Laparoscopic hysterectomy resulted in more quality-adjusted life years (499,171 vs 490,711 over 5 years). CONCLUSION: The risk of leiomyosarcoma morcellation is balanced by procedure-related complications that are associated with laparotomy, including death. This analysis provides patients and surgeons with estimates of risk and benefit on which patient-centered decisions can be made.
Coupled Hydro-Mechanical Elastoplastic Constitutive Model for Unsaturated Sands and Silts. II: Integration, Calibration, and Validation

AbstractFollowing the comprehensive model formulation given in Part I, a fully implicit integration procedure for the rate equations using a closest point projection method is presented in this paper. The stress-update algorithm and calibration procedure for all the model parameters are discussed in detail. Two sets of laboratory test results, one from unsaturated Minco silt and another one from Toyoura sand, are used to validate the proposed model. The model is shown to have the ability to capture the coupling effects between hydro- and mechanical behavior and predict the laboratory tests reasonably well.
Longitudinal Influences of Educational Aspirations and Romantic Relationships on Adolescent Women's Vocational Interests.

Abstract The influence of educational aspirations and romantic relationships on the development of vocational interests in adolescent women in a single-sex educational environment was investigated. A sample of 92 high school students from a private high school for young women was followed from freshman year until senior year in high school. Contrary to expectations, over time all students endorsed more strongly interests in traditionally female-dominated occupations. Students with relatively lower educational aspirations who engaged in relatively more dating, however, had an overall lower and less differentiated interest profile by senior year than was true for other students. As was expected, students with relatively higher educational aspirations expressed more investment in work roles than family roles, but students with relatively lower educational aspirations expressed equivalent investment in work and family roles.
A distributed problem-solving framework for probabilistic software effort estimation

Distributed problem-solving (DPS) systems use a framework of human organizational notions and principles of intelligent systems to solve complex problems. Human organizational notions are used to decompose a complex problem into sub-problems that can be solved using intelligent systems. The solutions of these sub-problems are combined to solve the original complex problem. In this paper, we propose a DPS system for probabilistic estimation of software development effort. Using a real-world software engineering dataset, we compare the performance of the DPS system with a neural network (NN) and show that the performance of the DPS system is equal to or better than that of the NN with the additional benefits of modularity, probabilistic estimates, greater interpretability, flexibility and capability to handle incomplete input data. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
“If you don't have it, you can't find it”: a close look at students' perceptions in using technology

Rarely do adults ask students to reflect on their learning. This study looks closely at a sample of eighth-grade students' perceptions about their experiences with technology, especially the use of the World Wide Web. Employing a phenomenological methodology of both examining a single student story and analyzing a collection of student voices, several themes and questions emerge. Students' personal attributes of self confidence, resilience, and openness to learning about the new technologies, and their skills in reading the Web and managing information, may offer new questions for teachers and information professionals.
Vaginal Redox Potential in Bacterial Vaginosis (Nonspecific Vaginitis)

To explore of the association of bacterial vaginosis with anaerobic bacterial growth in the vagina, we measured the redox potential (Eh) at the vaginal epithelial surface of women with this syndrome. Among normal women, the value for Eh in the vagina ranged from +322 mV to +137 mV (mean, +170 mV); whereas among women with bacterial vaginosis, the Eh ranged from +71 mV to as low as -257 mV (mean, -92 mV). Following successful treatment of the vaginosis with metronidazole, the vaginal Eh increased to a mean of +208 mV. Thus, the low redox potential in the vagina during bacterial vaginosis appears to be due to microbial metabolism in the vagina and does not represent a persistent host factor responsible for the anaerobic vaginal flora. Any host factors responsible for bacterial vaginosis remain to be elucidated.
THE MEASUREMENT OF DYNAMIC NUCLEAR REACTOR PARAMETERS USING THE VARIANCE OF THE NUMBER OF NEUTRONS DETECTED

A mathematical model is developed for the ratio of the variance to the mean number of neutrons detected in a point, unloaded reactor as a function of counting time. The model includes the effect of delayed neutrons. An experiment is performed which measured this statistic for counting times between one millisecond and ten seconds. The predictions of the modei and the results of the experiment are compared. It is shown that a reduced two-delay group model predicts the experimental results fairly well. (auth)
Electrically evoked knee flexion torque increases with increased pelvifemoral angles

This study was designed to determine the extent to which knee flexion torques would differ when submaximal hamstring muscle contractions were evoked by constant levels of electrical stimulation and when the pelvifemoral angle was increased. Nineteen healthy subjects (ten women and nine men) underwent electrical stimulation of the hamstring muscles while randomly positioned either supine, sitting upright, or sitting leaning forward. The pelvifemoral angle for each position was measured from lateral photographs: the knee flexion torque was calculated from the knee flexion force, and lever arms measured directly at a constant knee angle. A repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated significant differences for pelvifemoral angles (F = 485·00, P < 0·001) and knee flexion torques (F = 21·97, P < 0·001) among the positions. The mean torques in the upright and leaning forward positions were 2·2 and 3·7 times greater, respectively, than mean torques in the supine position. The increase between the supine and leaning forward positions exceeded the increase previously reported in the literature for subjects performing maximal voluntary knee flexion efforts.
Therapy Insight: management of hepatitis C in patients coinfected with HIV

Infection with HCV is common in HIV-infected patients and is an increasingly important public health problem. The medical management of hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients is complicated by immune suppression, potential drug interactions and toxicities, and the relative paucity of health-care providers with expertise in the management of both diseases. Nonetheless, there are now data to support the safety, tolerability and efficacy of hepatitis C treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin in HIV-infected patients, and the impetus to treat these patients is, therefore, strong. Although the standard of care for the treatment of hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients has been more clearly defined, the delivery of care for hepatitis C remains inconsistent in many settings. The development and implementation of single-center multidisciplinary programs that combine the expertise of HIV specialists, hepatologists, gastroenterologists, psychiatrists, and addiction specialists, are needed to improve hepatitis C treatment outcomes in HIV-infected patients. This review considers the management of HCV infection in HIV-infected patients.
More on RIASEC and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: Direct Assessment of Prediger's (1982) and Hogan's (1983) Dimensions.

Abstract The purpose of the current study was to respond to researchers’ calls to further illuminate the relations of the domains of vocational interests and personality (e.g., Lowman, 1991; Spokane, 1991; Waller, Lykken, & Tellegen, 1995). Specifically, we extended the empirical literature in this area by directly relating the RIASEC dimensions hypothesized by Prediger (1982; i.e., data/ideas and things/people) and by Hogan (1983; i.e., sociability and conformity) to the five-factor model of personality in a sample of 490 employed adults (mean age = 37). Results indicated strong links between personality and both sets of RIASEC dimensions, as well as somewhat different links for men and women in terms of both magnitude and pattern. Consistent with theory and related research, RIASEC dimensions were associated particularly strongly with the Big-Five dimensions of extraversion and openness, especially for men.
Death Effector Domain-Containing Proteins

Death effector domains (DEDs) are protein-protein interaction structures that are found in proteins that regulate a variety of signal transduction pathways. DEDs are a part of the larger family of Death Domain structures that have been primarily described in the control of programmed cell death. The seven standard DED-containing proteins are fas associated death domain protein (FADD), Caspase-8 and 10, cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), death effector domain containing DNA binding (DEDD), DEDD2 and phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes 15-Kda (PEA-15). These proteins are particularly associated with the regulation of apoptosis and proliferation mediated by the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) receptor family. Consequently DED-containing proteins are reported to regulate transcription, migration, and proliferation, in addition to both pro and anti-apoptotic functions. Moreover, DED proteins are essential in embryonic development and homeostasis of the immune system. Here we focus on the role of DED-containing proteins in development and the pathologies arising from abnormal expression of these proteins.
Organization of Krebs tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes.

Abstract Binding of enzymes of the Krebs TCA cycle to biological membranes was characterized with respect to intracellular location, susceptibility to various chemical and physical treatments, and extractability as a macromolecular component of the mitochondrial inner membrane. It was shown that citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase bind to the inner membrane in an ionic strength-sensitive, saturable, and specific manner to a relatively thermostabile component manifested on the inner (matrix) surface of the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. From these data several arguments in support of the physiological applicability of these processes were educed, and the question of whether these two enzymes bind to the same or different membrane components was considered. Also, experiments preliminary to purification of the citrate synthase binding component were presented.
Relation between pole-placement and linear quadratic regulator for discrete-time systems

Abstract The relation between the pole placement technique and the optimal regulator technique of discrete time system is presented. It is shown that the closed loop system based on both techniques, and under certain conditions, has a common Lyapunov function. It bridges the gap between these two methods for discrete-time systems, and makes them more understandable.
Perceived Weight Discrimination and Obesity

Weight discrimination is prevalent in American society. Although associated consistently with psychological and economic outcomes, less is known about whether weight discrimination is associated with longitudinal changes in obesity. The objectives of this research are (1) to test whether weight discrimination is associated with risk of becoming obese (Body Mass Index≥30; BMI) by follow-up among those not obese at baseline, and (2) to test whether weight discrimination is associated with risk of remaining obese at follow-up among those already obese at baseline. Participants were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of community-dwelling US residents. A total of 6,157 participants (58.6% female) completed the discrimination measure and had weight and height available from the 2006 and 2010 assessments. Participants who experienced weight discrimination were approximately 2.5 times more likely to become obese by follow-up (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.58–4.08) and participants who were obese at baseline were three times more likely to remain obese at follow up (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 2.06–4.97) than those who had not experienced such discrimination. These effects held when controlling for demographic factors (age, sex, ethnicity, education) and when baseline BMI was included as a covariate. These effects were also specific to weight discrimination; other forms of discrimination (e.g., sex, race) were unrelated to risk of obesity at follow-up. The present research demonstrates that, in addition to poorer mental health outcomes, weight discrimination has implications for obesity. Rather than motivating individuals to lose weight, weight discrimination increases risk for obesity.