cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Schizophrenia adoption studies.

Patrick Sullivan cites twin and adoption studies as justification for searching for schizophrenia genes [1]. In his words, “Both adoption and twin studies indicate that the familiality of schizophrenia is due mainly to genetic effects.” To support this he provides a table (Table 1 in [1]) briefly summarizing these studies. Under “Adoption,” he mentions, “Adoptees with schizophrenia: increased risk in biological vs. adoptive parents (OR = 5.0; 95% CI 2.4–10.4).” However, rather than making a comparison between biological and adoptive parents, the original investigators made comparisons between index biological relatives and control biological relatives. In the schizophrenia literature three studies have used this design; the lead author of all three was Seymour Kety (1968, 1975, and 1994). All three studied people who grew up as adopted children and were later diagnosed with a “schizophrenia spectrum disorder.” The goal was to examine the rate of schizophrenia spectrum disorders among those adoptees' biological family members (with whom they did not grow up) and compare that rate to the rate among the biological relatives of control adoptees, who were not diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder [2]. According to Kety himself, a comparison between index adoptees' biological and adoptive relatives is “improper” and “fallacious” [3,4]. Indeed, in Kety's first adoption study (1968) there was no significant elevation of chronic schizophrenia, or of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, among his index biological versus index adoptive relatives. (This is based on the data; the investigators did not make this comparison.) In addition, Kety and his colleagues did not limit themselves to looking at only parents. If they had done so, their conclusions would have been very different. For instance, in the 1975 study there were five index biological relatives diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia, but four of these five were half-siblings. The other diagnosis was given to a biological parent. In the 1968 Kety study, not a single index biological parent was diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia. In his conclusion, Sullivan says that the treatment of the mentally ill mirrors the humanity of a society. True, but it then becomes difficult to rationalize the treatment of schizophrenia in this country in light of the World Health Organization studies showing that doctors in developing countries use less medication yet have a higher success rate than doctors in America. This is well documented in Robert Whitaker's book Mad in America: Bad Medicine, Bad Science, and Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill [5].
An elasto-plastic analysis of the crack tip field in a compact tension specimen

Abstract The computer-assisted moire technique and finite element computations were used to determine displacements, strains and stresses in the neighborhood of a crack tip. The measurements were performed in an aluminum 6061-T6 compact tension specimen. The experimentally determined stresses were compared to the stresses obtained from the finite element calculations. Some important conclusions concerning the small scale yielding stress field can be obtained: (1) The presence of a HRR plastic field is not confirmed by experimental observations or numerical results, (2) A deep notch model fits the experimental observations better than the asymptotic singular solution, (3) The residual stresses generated during the fatigue loading to produce a sharp crack have a strong influence on the crack tip stress distribution, (4) The crack tip blunting and the residual stresses displace the maximum tangential stresses away from the crack tip of a distance larger than the currently accepted two crack opening displacements, (5) The experimental and numerical results support the view point that in small-scale yielding, the J -dominance is independent of the validity of the HRR solution.
An Investigation of the Restraints with Respect to Sample Size Commonly Imposed on the Use of the Chi-Square Statistic

Abstract This empirical study of the chi-square approximations as commonly encountered in behavioral research involved: (1) both tests of goodness-of-fit and of independence, (2) uniform distributions and two levels of departure from uniform, (3) sample sizes ranging from 10 to 100. Excellent approximations were obtained with average expected frequencies of one or two in tests of goodness-of-fit to uniform; slightly higher expected frequencies were required with the non-uniform cases. Tests of independence were strikingly robust with respect to Type I errors; in almost all cases the errors were in the conservative direction.
Integrating Culture and Second Language Teaching through Yorùbá Personal Names

Using Yoruba as a case study, this article demonstrates the fact that the languages of Africa and the cultures of its peoples are inseparable. Therefore, the study advocates that appropriate aspects of these cultures should form an integral part of African language teaching. This article discusses specifically how language teachers can transmit the cultural practices of the Yoruba people to students in the beginning foreign language classroom by teaching Yoruba personal names and the naming traditions of their culture. In other words, this study looks at the role that personal names play in understanding the culture of the Yoruba people. It argues that teaching Yoruba personal names should go beyond mere explanation of their meanings to include an exposition of the link between the names and their cultural content. Consequently, the study categorizes Yoruba personal names functionally, revealing the rules that govern the structure of these names and examining the cultural traits that are embedded in them. The article also recommends that teachers of beginning Yoruba explore the use of the tonal patterns in Yoruba personal names in order to introduce their students to the three tonal levels of the language.
T cells as mediators of protective immunity against liver stages of Plasmodium.

Abstract T cells from different subsets play a major role in protective immunity against pre-erythrocytic stages of malaria parasites. Exposure of humans and animals to malaria sporozoites induces (αβ CD8 + and CD4 + T cells specific for antigens expressed in pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium . These T cells inhibit parasite development in the liver, and immunization with subunit vaccines expressing the respective antigenic moieties confers protection against sporozoite challenge. γδ and natural killer T cells can also play a role in protective immunity. Recent studies with mice transgenic for the αβ T-cell receptor have revealed the existence of complex mechanisms regulating the induction and development of these responses.
Organizational Modes of Large-Scale Vortices in an Axisymmetric Turbulent Jet

Large vortices occurring in the axial plane of a self-similar axisymmetric turbulent jet are educed by spatially filtering PIV data. First, the instantaneous PIV frame is convolved with a Gaussian kernel to obtain a smooth (low-pass) field. Next, the low-pass field is Galilean transformed to expose the large vortices residing near the edges of the jet. Large vortices tend to organize them- selves in preferred modes; evidence of ring and helical modes is revealed by Galilean transformation of the low-pass filtered field. Both modes seem to occur prominently in jets, with the helical mode being the more frequent. The overall diameter of both ring and helical modes is comparable with the local jet width. The low-pass field occasionally exhibits arrowhead shaped structures with large entrainment at their downstream tips. Stochastic estimates computed from the Galilean-transformed low-pass filtered field indicate that jet meander and a sweep-in of ambient fluid are sufficient to reconstruct large vortices. The frequency of occurrence of modes agrees with previously quoted results.
Receptive Fields and Response Properties of Neurons in Layer 4 of Ferret Visual Cortex

The ferret has become a model animal for studies exploring the development of the visual system. However, little is known about the receptive-field structure and response properties of neurons in t...
An analysis of the rates of injury and fatal accidents in Michigan State police pursuits: a Michigan emergency response study

Compares accident injuries and fatalities occurring during a one‐year Michigan emergency response study (MERS) with figures for the state’s general population accidents over three and five years. Finds that significantly higher rates of accidents occur in pursuits than in the general population or in police non‐pursuit experience but that the MERS fatal accident rate was not significantly higher than in the general population. Suggests that this is partly explained by officers having the advantage of defensive driving training and by a Hawthorne effect; also alcohol consumption is a common factor in general accidents. Points out that non‐fatal injuries were significantly higher than comparable groups. Advocates the establishment of a database built on a mandatory police pursuit reporting system.
Trauma memories, mental health, and resilience: a prospective study of Afghan youth.

Background: Studies of war-affected youth have not yet examined how trauma memories relate to prospective changes in mental health and to subjective or social experiences. Methods: We interviewed a gender-balanced, randomly selected sample of Afghan child-caregiver dyads ( n= 331, two waves, 1 year apart). We assessed lifetime trauma with a Traumatic Event Checklist, past-year events with a checklist of risk and protective events, and several child mental health outcomes including posttraumatic distress (Child Revised Impact of Events Scale, CRIES) and depression. We examined the consistency of trauma recall over time, identified mental health trajectories with latent transition modeling, and assessed the predictors of posttraumatic distress and depression trajectories with multinomial logistic regressions. Results: From baseline to follow-up, reports of lifetime trauma significantly changed (p ≤ 0.01). A third of the cohort reported no trauma exposure; only 10% identified the same event as their most distressing experience. We identified four CRIES trajectories: low or no distress (52%), rising distress (15%), declining distress (21%), and sustained high distress (12%). Youth with chronic posttraumatic distress were more likely to be girls (OR = 5.78, p ≤ 0.01), report more trauma exposure at baseline (OR = 1.55, p ≤ 0.05) and follow-up (OR = 5.96, p ≤ 0.01), and experience ongoing domestic violence (OR = 4.84, p ≤ 0.01). The risks of rising distress and sustained distress showed a steady increase for youth recalling up to four traumatic experiences. Depression and CRIES trajectories showed weak comorbidity. Conclusions: Memories of violent events are malleable, embedded in social experiences, and present heterogeneous associations with posttraumatic distress. Our study provides insights on resilience and vulnerability to multiple adverse childhood experiences, highlighting research and clinical implications for understanding trauma in conflict-affected youth. Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences, trauma, violence, PTSD, depression, Afghanistan, Pakistan.
Mapping the Structural Determinants Responsible for Enhanced T Cell Activation to the Immunogenic Adeno-Associated Virus Capsid from Isolate Rhesus 32.33

ABSTRACT Avoiding activation of immunity to vector-encoded proteins is critical to the safe and effective use of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors for gene therapy. While commonly used serotypes, such as AAV serotypes 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9, are often associated with minimal and/or dysfunctional CD8 + T cell responses in mice, the threshold for immune activation appears to be lower in higher-order species. We have modeled this discrepancy within the mouse by identifying two capsid variants with differential immune activation profiles: AAV serotype 8 (AAV8) and a hybrid between natural rhesus isolates AAVrh32 and AAVrh33 (AAVrh32.33). Here, we aimed to characterize the structural determinants of the AAVrh32.33 capsid that augment cellular immunity to vector-encoded proteins or those of AAV8 that may induce tolerance. We hypothesized that the structural domain responsible for differential immune activation could be mapped to surface-exposed regions of the capsid, such as hypervariable regions (HVRs) I to IX of VP3. To test this, a series of hybrid AAV capsids was constructed by swapping domains between AAV8 and AAVrh32.33. By comparing their ability to generate transgene-specific T cells in vivo versus the stability of transgene expression in the muscle, we confirmed that the functional domain lies within the VP3 portion of the capsid. Our studies were able to exclude the regions of VP3 which are not sufficient for augmenting the cellular immune response, notably, HVRs I, II, and V. We have also identified HVR IV as a region of interest in conferring the efficiency and stability of muscle transduction to AAVrh32.33.
Service Life Analysis of Rocket Motors with Internal Gas Generation

Nomenclature aT = temperature-dependent shift function D =gas diffusivity, cmVday d = day of the year = 1 for Jan. 1 f ( x ) = distribution function for critical pressure h = hour of the day = 16 for 4p.m. P = internal gas pressure in grain, Pa P = time rate of change of internal pressure, Pa/day Pc = critical pressure, Pa Pf = induced pressure at the end of the /th cycle (Pf) i = probability of motor failure during /th cycle (Pf) N = probability of motor failure for Ncycles Q = gas generation rate, cc/g/day S = gas solubility, cc/g/Pa T = temperature, K t = time, day rair = ambient air temperature, K ^soiar = temperature component caused by solar radiation, K V 2 = Laplacian operator
What if Religion Isn't Special?

This Article argues that leading accounts of the First Amendment’s Religion Clauses fail to provide a coherent and morally attractive position on whether religion warrants special treatment as compared with secular ethical and moral doctrines. Focusing on two central issues involving whether laws must have a secular purpose and whether religious exemptions are constitutionally mandatory, this Article rejects existing theories as either theoretically inconsistent or substantively mistaken. If religion does not warrant special treatment, then it is important to ask what our attitude should be toward the Religion Clauses. Under originalist theories of constitutional interpretation, the Religion Clauses should be considered morally regrettable. Under non-originalist theories, there may be interpretations of the constitutional text that allow for the possibility of moral reconciliation. Either way, rejecting the idea that religion is special requires reassessing our understanding of the Religion Clauses.
An Extended Version of the Richardson Model for Simulating Daily Weather Variables

The Richardson model is a popular technique for stochastic simulation of daily weather variables, including precipitation amount, maximum and minimum temperature, and solar radiation. This model is extended to include two additional variables, daily mean wind speed and dewpoint, because these variables (or related quantities such as relative humidity) are required as inputs for certain ecological/vegetation response and agricultural management models. To allow for the positively skewed distribution of wind speed, a power transformation is applied. Solar radiation also is transformed to make the shape of its modeled distribution more realistic. A model identification criterion is used as an aid in determining whether the distributions of these two variables depend on precipitation occurrence. The approach can be viewed as an integration of what is known about the statistical properties of individual weather variables into a single multivariate model. As an application, this extended model is fitted to weather data in the Pacific Northwest. To aid in understanding how such a stochastic weather generator works, considerable attention is devoted to its statistical properties. In particular, marginal and conditional distributions of wind speed and solar radiation are examined, with the model being capable of representing relationships between variables in which the variance is not constant, as well as certain forms of nonlinearity.
Control of performance by short-term memory in honeybees

Individual honeybees foraging at a laboratory window were trained with a correction method to choose between blue and yellow targets, one of which contained sucrose solution. There were two trials on each visit, with the locus of the sucrose predictable only on the second. Animals differentially rewarded on Trial 2 for choosing the rewarded color of Trial 1, for choosing the alternative color, or for choosing the target in the rewarded position of Trial 1 independently of its color, all showed a small but persistent preference for the rewarded color, with no significant preference for the rewarded position. When the positions of the colored targets were the same on Trial 2 as on Trial 1 (color and position confounded), there was a more substantial but equally persistent preference on Trial 2 for the rewarded color-position of Trial 1, whether the animals were differentially rewarded for perseveration or for alternation. The results provide further evidence of unlearned control of performance by short-term memory in honeybees but no indication of learned control.
Transcription and processing of the rodent ID repeat family in germline and somatic cells

ID elements comprise a rodent SINE (short interspersed DNA repetitive element) family that has amplified by retroposition of a few master genes. In order to understand the important factors of SINE amplification, we investigated the transcription of rat ID elements. Three different size classes of ID transcripts, BC1, BC2 and T3, have been detected in various rat tissues, including brain and testes. We have analysed the nucleotide sequences of testes- and brain-derived ID transcripts isolated by size-fractionation, C-tailing and RACE. Nucleotide sequence variation of testes ID transcripts demonstrated derivation from different loci. However, the transcripts represent a preferred set of ID elements that closely match the subfamily consensus sequences. The small ID transcripts, T3, are not comprised of primary transcripts, but are instead processed polyA-transcripts generated from many different loci. These truncated transcripts would be expected to be retroposition-incompetent forms. Therefore, the amplification of ID elements is likely to be regulated at multiple steps of retroposition, which include transcription and processing. Although brain ID transcripts showed a similar pattern, with the addition of very high levels of transcription from the BC1 locus, we also found evidence that a single locus dominated the production of brain BC2 RNA species. BC1 RNA is highly stable in both germ line and brain cells, based on the low level of detection of the processing product, T3. This stability of BC1 RNA might have been a contributing factor in its role as a master gene for ID amplification.
The economic impact of shale gas extraction: A review of existing studies☆

Abstract Recent advances in drilling technology have allowed for the profitable extraction of natural gas from deep underground shale rock formations. Several reports sponsored by the gas industry have estimated the economic effects of the shale gas extraction on incomes, employment, and tax revenues. None of these reports has been published in an economics journal and therefore have not been subjected to the peer review process. Yet these reports may be influential to the formation of public policy. This commentary provides written reviews of several studies purporting to estimate the economic impact of gas extraction from shale beds. Due to questionable assumptions, the economic impacts estimated in these reports are very likely overstated.
Duration of Tick Bites in a Lyme Disease-endemic Area

Regression equations, based on scutal index (body length/scutal width), were developed to determine the duration of attachment for nymphal and adult female lxodes scapularis ticks. Feeding times were calculated for 444 nymphal and 300 female ticks submitted by bite victims between 1985 and 1989 in Westchester County, New York, an area where Lyme disease is highly endemic. Nymphs were attached for a mean of 34.7 hours, with 26.8% removed after 48 hours, the critical time for transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi. Attachment times increased with victim age class (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05). Mean duration of attachment for female ticks (28.7 hours) was significantly less (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05) than that for nymphs, with 23.3% attached for more than 48 hours. The 0- to 9-year age class had the highest proportion (37.1%) of females attached for more than 48 hours. Nymphs remain attached to adult tick-bite victims longer than they remain attached to children. However, children have a high risk of acquiring Lyme disease because they receive more nymphal bites and also because they are less likely to have female ticks removed in time to prevent transmission.
Delirium Associated with Zolpidem

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of an elderly woman sustaining an episode of delirium after one dose of zolpidem.CASE SUMMARY:An 86-year-old white woman was admitted to the hospital for headaches and diplopia. On hospital day 3, the patient received zolpidem 5 mg and, approximately two hours later, became restless, disoriented, and physically agitated. She was treated with haloperidol and was restrained for her safety. The patient's symptoms resolved by day 5, and she had no recollection of the incident. No rechallenge was attempted.DISCUSSION:Pharmacokinetic factors may play an important role in zolpidem-induced adverse drug reactions. Elderly women can achieve up to a 63% higher serum concentration than men. The patient in our report had factors such as age, gender, and hypoalbuminemia, which may have increased the maximum concentration and the AUC of zolpidem and possibly increased her risk of an adverse reaction.CONCLUSIONS:This case, along with previous reports, warrants the cautious use of zolpidem. Clin...
Adult Children's Helping Behavior to Elderly Parents The Influence of Divorce

Based on attachment theory, a path model was constructed in which adult children's feelings of attachment led to their attachment behaviors, and in turn to their present help to elderly mothers and commitment to provide future help. Also included in the model were marital status of the adult child, filial obligation, mother's dependency, and interpersonal conflict with the mother. Data were obtained from 134 adult children with intact marriages and 91 who were divorced. Results indicated that attachment behaviors, feelings of attachment, and present help had the strongest influence on commitment to help in the future. In the model, marital status had both direct and indirect effects on future help to elderly mothers, with divorce leading directly to greater commitment to future help, but indirectly to less future help through its effect on attachment behaviors and present help.
Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio predicts overall and recurrence‐free survival after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim The goal of this study is to evaluate whether an elevated neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) at the time of diagnosis predicts survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT). We hypothesize that the NLR is predictive of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with HCC who undergo LT. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of adult patients undergoing LT for HCC between 2000 and 2008 at our institution. We define an elevated NLR as a ratio of 5 or greater. Results We included 160 patients who underwent LT for HCC in the time period, of whom 28 had an elevated NLR. Seventeen subjects experienced recurrent HCC during the study period. The cumulative survival among subjects with an elevated NLR was significantly lower than among subjects with a normal NLR. On univariate analysis, several factors (including an elevated NLR) predicted decreased OS and RFS. However, after multivariate analysis, only three factors (including elevated NLR) remained significant as predictors of OS. Additionally, multivariate analysis revealed that an elevated NLR was the only significant independent predictor of RFS. Conclusion Preoperative NLR is a powerful independent predictor of OS and RFS in patients undergoing LT for HCC. Measurement of NLR could serve as a useful and easily obtained adjunct to the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score and Milan criteria when evaluating this patient population and determining which patients will gain the most survival benefit from transplantation.
Matched Pairs, Permutation Representations, and the Bol Property

The article examines Bol loops that are constructed from matched pairs of groups, including a new simple, non-Moufang Bol loop of order 120. Certain permutation representations of the loops under consideration provide nontrivial examples of doubly stochastic action matrices. A generalization of the matched-pair loop construction yields proper Bol actions of groups.
Interactive effects of methyl-deficiency and dietary restrictionon liver cell proliferation and telomerase activity in Fischer 344 rats pretreated with aflatoxin B1

Abstract The effects of methyl-deficiency and dietary restriction (DR) on hepatic cell proliferation and telomerase activity was studied in male Fischer 344 rats pretreated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Five-week-old rats were gavaged 5 days per week for 3 weeks with AFB1 (25 μg/rat per day) or solvent (100 μl 75% dimethylsulfoxide). Rats were then divided into four groups. Two groups were fed a methyl-sufficient (MS) diet either ab libitum (AL) or with DR. The other two groups were fed a methyl-deficient (MD) diet either AL or with DR. At 15, 20, and 32 weeks of age, hepatic cell proliferation, telomerase activity, and the number of glutathione S-transferase-P positive (GST-P+) foci were determined. DR reduced hepatic cell proliferation, while the MD diet and AFB1 pretreatment increased cell proliferation. Telomerase activity was decreased by DR and increased by the MD diet and AFB1 pretreatment. The same trend was observed with GST-P+ foci: in AFB1-pretreated rats, methyl deficiency increased the number of foci, while DR decreased the number. These results are consistent with a role of telomerase in hepatocarcinogenesis.
Palmitoylation of Cytoskeleton Associated Protein 4 by DHHC2 Regulates Antiproliferative Factor-mediated Signaling

Previously, we identified cytoskeleton-associated protein 4 (CKAP4) as a major substrate of the palmitoyl acyltransferase, DHHC2, using a novel proteomic method called palmitoyl-cysteine identification, capture and analysis (PICA). CKAP4 is a reversibly palmitoylated and phosphorylated protein that links the ER to the cytoskeleton. It is also a high-affinity receptor for antiproliferative factor (APF), a small sialoglycopeptide secreted from bladder epithelial cells of patients with interstitial cystitis (IC). The role of DHHC2-mediated palmitoylation of CKAP4 in the antiproliferative response of HeLa and normal bladder epithelial cells to APF was investigated. Our data show that siRNA-mediated knockdown of DHHC2 and consequent suppression of CKAP4 palmitoylation inhibited the ability of APF to regulate cellular proliferation and blocked APF-induced changes in the expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, and ZO-1 (genes known to play a role in cellular proliferation and tumorigenesis). Immunocytochemistry revealed that CKAP4 palmitoylation by DHHC2 is required for its trafficking from the ER to the plasma membrane and for its nuclear localization. These data suggest an important role for DHHC2-mediated palmitoylation of CKAP4 in IC and in opposing cancer-related cellular behaviors and support the idea that DHHC2 is a tumor suppressor.
Investigating the effect of corpus construction on latent dirichlet allocation based feature location

The software maintenance community has adopted text retrieval techniques to aid program comprehension tasks, e.g., feature location — the process of finding the source code entity or entities that implement a system feature. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and latent semantic indexing (LSI) are two such text retrieval techniques. However, little work exists to inform the configuration of these text retrieval techniques for software maintenance tasks. This work investigates the impact of highly configurable preprocessing techniques on LDA based feature location. These decisions affect the composition and quality of the corpus and thus the accuracy of the text retrieval technique. Source code extraction is based on a researcher's understanding of source code use. We decompose source code into three distinct lexicons: identifiers, comments, and literals. Many researchers choose the aggregation of the lexicons; however, some choose specific subsets. This work finds that the chosen text source(s) does impact the accuracy of the LDA based FLT. Conventional wisdom holds that identifier splitting improves the performance of a text retrieval based FLT. However, the decision to retain or remove the original identifier is unexplored. This work finds that identifier splitting does impact the accuracy of the LDA based FLT, but retaining or removing the original identifier does not have a significant impact. Stop words, words with little semantic value, are often removed from natural language corpora. This work explores the impact of stop word removal on source code corpora. The observations prove that few stop word configurations are significantly different from one another — even a null configuration is acceptable. The Porter stemming algorithm is a popular, light-weight, rule-based stemmer, often used in software maintenance preprocessing applications. We investigate the effects of two heavy stemmers, two light stemmers, four blended stemmers, and a null configuration. One light stemmer is morphological and the other stemmers are rule-based. The results indicate that no stemming algorithm significantly affects the performance of the FLT as compared to another stemming algorithm. We suggest basing preprocessing decisions on system structure and constraints. As such, these recommendations reduce the memory and/or processing time needed for LDA based feature location.
Hazardous Waste and Superfund: Few Changes and Little Progress

This book chapter, which appears in John C. Dernbach, ed., AGENDA FOR A SUSTAINABLE AMERICA (Environmental Law Institute, 2009), assays the ways in which U.S. domestic laws that pertain to hazardous waste have or have not conformed to norms of sustainable development in the years since 2002. After defining sustainability as it pertains to hazardous waste, and after exploring some critical features of current U.S. law and policy respecting the remediation and management of such waste, the chapter argues that, notwithstanding past progress, significant legal changes are need to move the U.S. toward sustainable development in this critical area. Specifically, the chapter contends that new legislation is needed to mandate phased decreases in the volume of hazardous waste generated at industrial facilities. Needed reforms must also encompass replenishment of the Superfund trust fund through renewal of the Superfund petroleum tax and modification of the statute's secured creditor exemption. The chapter also advocates U.S. ratification of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste, along with the enactment of new amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to clarify that Act's definition of hazardous waste, and to expand its regulatory coverage to include both hazardous waste-bearing domestic sewage and irrigation return flows.
Impact Printing

The behavior of nonlinear viscoelastic materials to low velocity impacts is described in terms of simple mathematical models which take into account the effects of nonlinear damping and deflection characteristics. An approximate analytical solution is given for the particular case of an impact printer (a typical piece of computer peripheral equipment). An expression for the impact ``contact time'' is derived; the contact time is shown to be inversely proportional to the square root of the initial hammer velocity. Conclusions, based on the approximate nonlinear analysis, are compared with published IBM experimental data. Results of this investigation serve as the basis for continuing studies of impact printing and impression controls.
Plasma and whole blood concentrations of ascorbic acid in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis.

Comparisons of concentrations of ascorbic acid in plasma and whole blood from patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis revealed losses of 41% of the vitamin in plasma and 18% in whole blood after a single dialysis treatment. These losses were compared with previous findings which confirmed losses of the vitamin during dialysis amounting to 40 and 26% of the predialysis plasma and leukocyte concentrations, respectively. Measurement of ascorbic acid concentration in whole blood is recommended for routine monitoring purposes.
Field Trapping of the Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella Using Synthetic Sex Attractants

Mixtures of Z-11-hexadecenal and Z-l1-hexadecenyl acetate used as lures were as attractive to males of Plutella xylostella as 10 virgin females, based on field trapping tests. The best binary lure tested was 100μg 7:3 aldehyde:acetate dispensed from red rubber septa and the optimal trap height was 0.3 m. Virgin females and synthetic lures both attracted Crymodes devastator males in addition to P. xylostella . Several olefins were tested as additives to synthetic lures; attraction of both species was inhibited by Z-9-tetradecenal and by Z-9-tetradecenyl acetate.
Development and Validation of a Subject-Specific Computational Human Knee Model in a Dynamic Knee Simulator

The complex loading of the knee is believed to play an extensive role in the development and advancement of joint disease and injury. Computational models provide a powerful tool in knee biomechanics, but validation of these models is difficult. The objective of this study was to develop a dynamic 3-D subject-specific computational knee model and to validate the model using experimental data from a dynamic knee simulator. The developed knee model was placed in a previously validated model of the Kansas Knee Simulator (KKS) dynamic testing machine [1]. The kinematics from walking and squat profiles simulated in the KKS model and performed on the knee specimen during KKS experimental testing were compared for model validation.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Effect of perphenazine on the secretion of prolactin in vivo and in vitro.

SummaryInjection (iv) of perphenazine, an antipsychotic tranquilizer, into rats produces a 10–fold increase in plasma prolactin levels as measured by radioimmunoassay; a similar response is seen when using adult male or female rats; plasma prolactin levels are increased significantly by 10 min post–injection and a maximal response occurs after 30 min. Ten micrograms of perphenazine is the minimal active dose that will cause an elevation in plasma prolactin levels. Addition of up to 10 μg/ml medium of perphenazine to in vitro cultures of enzymatically dispersed rat pituitary cells does not stimulate secretion of prolactin. Also (ip) injection of 1 mg perphenazine into rats bearing 2 pituitary transplants under the kidney capsule, causes only a marginal increase in prolactin secretion. These data indicate that perphenazine releases prolactin by acting on brain centers above the level of the pituitary.
Status and Recent Trends in Reliability for Civil Engineering Problems

Civil engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines and has over 5000 years of glorious history. However, only recently, in the mid 1960s, have attempts been made to consider the presence of uncertainty in civil engineering problems. Structural engineering has provided leadership in developing the necessary mathematics and the related design guidelines. Several reliability evaluation methods, including the Monte Carlo simulation technique, are discussed in this chapter and elaborated with the help of examples. A stochastic finite element approach is presented to estimate reliability, particularly when the limit state or performance function is implicit. Finally, recent trends in the the use of reliability techniques in civil engineering problems are discussed. It is necessary to have readily available sophisticated computer programs for reliability analysis. Cognitive sources of uncertainty also need to be incorporated. Developments of meshless methods, robust and stochastic optimization techniques, structural health assessment, monitoring, and maintenance programs, better prediction of future extreme events like earthquake, wind, draught, tornado and tsunami, and system reliability procedures are advocated.
Reduction of Rapid Eating in an Adolescent Female with Autism

Rapid eating, a potentially dangerous and socially inappropriate behavior, has received relatively little attention in the literature. This study sought to extend the research in this area by further evaluating the effectiveness of a vibrating pager combined with a rule for increasing inter-response time between bites in one adolescent female diagnosed with autism. Results indicated that inter-response time increased from baseline only after a vocal prompt to “wait” was introduced across clinic and home settings. Implications for promoting autonomy in individuals with developmental disabilities are discussed. This antecedent-based intervention can easily be generalized to caregivers The unobtrusive nature of the intervention allows for implementation in inclusive settings There are implications for promoting social skills in naturalistic environments The intervention can promote independence through teaching self-management
Space, the New Domain: Space Operations and Chinese Military Reforms

ABSTRACTThe Chinese military has embarked on a series of organizational and doctrinal reforms intended to better enable it to fight modern war. Prominent among these reforms is the growing emphasis on space to enable long-range precisions strikes and on counterspace to deny space capabilities to an adversary. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has officially designated space as a new domain and established an organization to command space forces. With this increased focus on space, the PLA may begin to develop a doctrine to govern the use of space in military operations. The higher priority given to space, especially space control, by the PLA coincides with similar actions by the US military, increasing the possibility of warfare in space and the risks of escalation.
THE NONSTRUCTURAL GENE SEGMENT OF INFLUENZA A VIRUS: EXPRESSION OF NS1 PROTEIN IN MAMMALIAN CELLS; ANALYSIS OF A DELETION MUTANT

Publisher Summary The RNA segment 8 of influenza A virus codes for two overlapping polypeptides that are synthesized during viral infection and are not present in mature virions. A number of influenza Viral proteins, including hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase, nucleoprotein (NP), and matrix (M) protein, have been successfully expressed in mammalian cells by viral vectors containing cloned influenza viral cDNA copies. This chapter discusses the analysis of a host range mutant of influenza virus with a deletion in the NS gene segment and the successful expression of NSl protein from cloned cDNA in CV-1 cells using an SV40 viral vector. In the analysis, each plasmid was digested to remove the pBR322 sequences and relegated to produce circular SV40-NS recombinant molecules. Each DNA molecule was then co-transfected into CV-1 cells along with a helper SV40 recombinant. This recombinant pSV-r-INS-7 is an SV40 vector that has the insulin gene replacing portions of the early region of SV40. After a two week incubation period, cells were freeze thawed three times and the supernatant was used as the viral stock.
Improving transitions of care across the spectrum of healthcare delivery: A multidisciplinary approach to understanding variability in outcomes across hospitals and skilled nursing facilities

Abstract Introduction Improving coordination during transitions of care from the hospital to Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)s is critical for improving healthcare quality. In 2014, we formed ( Improving Nursing Facility Outcomes using Real-Time Metrics , INFORM) to improve transitions of care by identifying structural and process factors that lead to poor clinical outcomes and hospital readmission. Methods Stakeholders from 10 SNFs and 4 hospitals collaborated to assess the current hospital and system-level challenges to safe transitions of care and identify targets for interventions. Results The INFORM collaborative identified areas for improvement including improving accuracy and timeliness of discharge information, facilitating congruent medication reconciliation, and developing care plans to support functional improvement. Discussion Hospital and SNF stakeholder engagement prioritized the challenges in patient transitions from inpatient to skilled nursing facility settings. Innovative solutions that address barriers to safe and effective transitions of care are critical to improving clinical outcomes, decreasing adverse events and avoiding readmission.
A Note on Market Definition, Segmentation, and Targeting: Three (of Four) Steps in Developing Marketing Strategy

Marketing strategy, part of the marketing planning process, flows directly from a company's goals and helps define how the marketing organization will help the firm achieve its objectives. Marketing strategy is guided by the goals and objectives of the organization, the business unit, or the particular product or service for which the plan is developed. The choice of which marketing strategy (or strategies) to pursue then guides the marketing mix decisions, which, taken together, become the value proposition offered to the target market segment(s). Marketing strategy involves four steps, and this note addresses the first three. Excerpt UVA-M-0895 Rev. Oct. 23, 2017 A Note on Market Definition, Segmentation, and Targeting: Three (of Four) Steps in Developing Marketing Strategy Marketing Strategy Marketing strategy, part of the marketing planning process, flows directly from a company's goals and helps define how the marketing organization will help the firm achieve its objectives. As a result, marketing strategy is guided by the goals and objectives of the organization, the business unit, or the particular product or service for which the plan is developed. The choice of which marketing strategy (or strategies) to pursue then guides the marketing mix decisions (i.e., the product, distribution, promotion, and price decisions), which, taken together, become the value proposition offered to the target market segment(s). Understanding how the plan impacts the firm financially is the last step in the marketing planning process. . . .
Efficiency of Finite Element Analyses of 55NiTi SMA Actuators: Solid Versus Beam and Shell Modeling

Abstract A generalized solution scheme was utilized to specialize a recently-developed 3D multi-mechanism SMA model, thus making it suitable for the kinematical/statical constraints needed for modeling two-dimensional continua, shell analysis, as well as planar and spatial beam assemblages. The accuracy and computational efficiency of the scheme were assessed in the context of two specific geometries of 55NiTi SMA actuators; i.e., multi-coil helical spring and honeycomb panel, operating under one-way or two-way shape memory conditions. The emphasis is placed on the thermomechanical response of these SMA actuators, varying in geometrical complexity, under multiple thermal cycles. In all cases investigated, the beam modeling was found to be very efficient in comparison to the shell and 3D solid elements, and this was achieved without any loss of accuracy.
Partial Truths: Adults Choose to Mention Agents and Patients in Proportion to Informativity, Even If It Doesn’t Fully Disambiguate the Message

How do we decide what to say to ensure our meanings will be understood? The Rational Speech Act model (RSA; Frank & Goodman, 2012) asserts that speakers plan what to say by comparing the informativ...
Opioids: Clinical Practice, Monitoring, and Medicolegal Considerations.

Background: In the past decade, opioid use in the general population of the US has increased dramatically. Concomitantly, opioid-related morbidity and mortality have also risen steeply. The causes of opioid over-prescribing are multifactorial, with pressure from medical agencies, patients, aggressive patient-directed marketing, and use of patient surveys as an evaluation tool to unduly influence medical providers9 decision-making. Providers also have significant concerns regarding scrutiny from their medical board and exposure to medicolegal liability. Content: To provide the basis for best practice recommendations, several aspects of modern opioid prescribing practice require review. The practicing clinician should be aware of: (a) the pervasiveness of current opioid prescribing within the US; (b) the availability and applicability of clinical tools used to assess patient risk; (c) the new guidelines designed to facilitate appropriate and safe medical use of opioids; (d) the incorporation of clinical tools and best documentation practices to reduce medicolegal exposure. Summary: On completion of this review, the reader should be able to recognize the magnitude of the problem of opioid over-prescribing in the US and identify several patient risk factors for opioid misuse, abuse, and/or diversion. Specifically, better familiarity with the recently published CDC guidelines for opioid prescribing will help ensure the adoption of best-use practices that maximize therapeutic efficacy while attenuating the possibility of harm to patients. A thorough review of the legal principles and risk-mitigation strategies relevant to opioid prescribing will also lessen the clinician9s exposure to medicolegal liability.
Polska Norymberga: siedem procesów przed Najwyższym Trybunałem Narodowym, 1946–1948

The Polish Supreme National Tribunal (NTN) was established in January 1946 for the purpose of bringing major Nazi perpetrators to justice. Between 1946 and 1948, the NTN heard the cases of forty-nine defendants charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. In sharp contrast to the numerous political trials carried out in the country during the same period, in which thousands of individuals accused of “hampering socialist reconstruction” were sentenced to death or long prison terms, the NTN’s proceedings applied conventional legal and moral standards comparable to those used in Western courts and investigated each case comprehensively on its own merits.
General Geology and Vertebrate Biostratigraphy of the Dunkard Basin

Vertebrate faunal successions in the Appalachian basin can be used to delimit biostratigraphic zones correlable with both Western United States, Noya Scotian and European sections. These zones are correlable with the Westphalian, Stephanian and Autunian of Europe, and the Missourian, Virgilian and Wolfcampian Lower Clear Fork beds of Texas. Although precise placement of the Carboniferous-Permian boundary is not possible, there is general acceptance of the Stephanian-Autunian (Virgilian-Wolfcampian) boundary for the systematic change as well. As good lower Wolfcampian vertebrate faunas are established in the Appalachian basin by the middle of the Monongahela group, Pittsburgh formation, a plausible place to draw this boundary would seem to be at the base of the Benwood carbonate, Pittsburgh formation.