cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bromide and Hydroxide Conductivity–Morphology Relationships in Polymerized Ionic Liquid Block Copolymers

A polymerized ionic liquid (PIL) diblock copolymer, poly(MMA-b-MEBIm-Br), was synthesized at various compositions from an ionic liquid monomer, (1-[(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-3-butylimidazolium bromide) (MEBIm-Br), and a nonionic monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA), via the reverse addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique. A hydroxide-conducting PIL diblock copolymer, poly(MMA-b-MEBIm-OH), was also prepared via anion exchange metathesis of the bromide-conducting block copolymer. In a former study, the conductivity and morphology of the bromide- and hydroxide-conducting PIL diblock copolymer were examined at one fixed PIL composition: 17.3 mol %. In this study, additional PIL compositions of (6.6, 11.9, and 26.5 mol %) were explored to fully understand the previous unusual conductivity results. Both bromide and hydroxide conductivities were higher in the PIL block copolymer at PIL compositions of 11.9, 17.3, and 26.5 mol % compared to the PIL homopolymer under the same experiment...
A rare but morbid neurosurgical target: petrous aneurysms and their endovascular management in the stent/flow diverter era

Background/objective The rarity of petrous internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms has largely precluded analyses of their presentation and management in case series format. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of our endovascular database of patients treated from January 2001 to May 2016 to identify patients with petrous ICA aneurysms. We evaluated the treatment approach and results for patients managed in the era of dedicated intracranial stents and flow diverters, noting clinical and angiographic results. Results Our database search identified 10 patients with petrous ICA aneurysms. Six aneurysms were managed in the era of dedicated intracranial stents and flow diverters. Two patients presented with cranial nerve palsies, two with incidental but enlarging aneurysms that had completely eroded through the petrous bone, one with transient ischemic attacks, and one with pulsatile tinnitus. Five aneurysms were large and one was small but symptomatic. In three cases the aneurysm was treated by flow diversion with adjunctive coiling; two patients with at least 4-month follow-up had complete occlusion of their aneurysm and significant improvement of mass effect symptoms. In one case the aneurysm was treated with balloon-assisted coiling with resultant near-complete occlusion. In two cases, prior to the introduction of flow diverters, the aneurysm was treated via stent-assisted coiling with resultant near-complete obliteration; one patient had resolution of pretreatment pulsatile tinnitus. There were no intraprocedural or postprocedural complications; no patients underwent retreatment. Conclusions Endovascular treatment of large or symptomatic petrous ICA aneurysms, in the era of flow diversion, is associated with excellent angiographic and clinical outcomes.
What is so wicked about wicked problems? A conceptual analysis and a research program

The concept of wicked problems has become a fad in contemporary policy analysis, with any number of problems being labeled as “wicked”. However, if many of these problems are analyzed using a stric...
Determination and Optimization of Liver Function and Volume for Extended Hepatectomy

Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a major source of morbidity and mortality after major liver resections and appears to be related to the quality and volume of the future liver remnant (FLR). Assessment of liver quality and calculation of FLR using 3-D cross-sectional imaging modalities are essential before proceeding with any major live resection. Volume optimization strategies must be considered in all patients at high risk for PHLF. This chapter discusses the indications and details of the commonly used strategies of hepatic volume optimization. A proposed treatment algorithm is also included.
The landscape context of family forests in the United States: Anthropogenic interfaces and forest fragmentation from 2001 to 2011

Abstract The capacity of family owned forests to sustain ecological goods and services depends on the landscape context within which that forest occurs. For example, the expansion of a nearby urban area results in the loss of adjacent forest, which threatens the ability of the family forest to sustain interior forest habitat. Our objective was to assess the status and change of the landscape context of family forests across the conterminous United States, as measured by interior forest status and anthropogenic (urban and agricultural) interface zones. We combined circa 2005 forest inventory data with land cover maps from 2001 and 2011 to evaluate changes in the vicinity of 132,497 inventory locations. We compared family forests to nonfamily private and public forests, and evaluated regional conservation opportunities for family forests. Between 2001 and 2011, 1.5% of family forest area experienced a change of anthropogenic interface zone, and 46% was in an interface zone by 2011. During that same time, there was a net decrease of 9.7% of family owned interior forest area, such that 27% of family forest was interior forest by 2011. The rates of forest fragmentation and occurrence in anthropogenic interface zones were higher for family and nonfamily private forests than for public forest, yet family forests contained 31% of the extant interior forest area. The geography of landscape patterns suggested where aggregate actions by family forest owners may have relatively large regional effects upon extant interior forest conditions.
Finding the Stable Structures of N1-xWx with an Ab Initio High-Throughput Approach

Using density functional theory calculations, many researchers have predicted that various tungsten nitride compounds ${\text{N}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\text{W}}_{x} (xl\frac{1}{2})$ will be ``ultraincompressible'' or ``superhard,'' i.e., as hard as or harder than diamond. Necessary conditions for such compounds are that they have large bulk and shear moduli, greater than approximately 200 GPa, and are elastically and vibrationally stable. Compounds with such desirable properties also must be energetically stable against decomposition into other compounds. This test for stability can only be found after the determination of the convex hull for ${\text{N}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\text{W}}_{x}$, which connects the lowest enthalpy structures as a function of composition. Unfortunately, the experimental phase diagram of the N-W structure is uncertain, as it is difficult to break the ${\text{N}}_{2}$ bond to form compounds with tungsten. Experiment also indicates that there are a large number of partially filled sites in most N-W structures. This introduces computational difficulties since we cannot easily model randomly placed vacancies. In addition, van der Waals forces play a significant role in determining the structure of solid ${\text{N}}_{2}$ and the nitrogen-rich compounds. This makes it difficult to determine the relative energies of these compounds, as there is no universally accepted density functional incorporating van der Waals interactions. The exact shape and even composition of the convex hull is dependent upon the choice of density functional, even if we only chose between the local density approximation and a generalized gradient functional. Despite these difficulties, computations can determine much about the ground-state form of the convex hull. Here, we use high-throughput calculations to map out the hull and other low-energy structures for the N-W system. The lowest-energy structures all have vacancies, on the tungsten sites in hexagonal-based compounds, and on both the nitrogen and tungsten sites in cubic compounds. We find that most of the N-W structures proposed in the literature, both theoretical and experimental, are above the convex hull, in some cases by over $0.2 \mathrm{eV}/\mathrm{atom}$. One of the ground-state phases, N-W in the NbO structure, has relatively large bulk ($g300$ GPa) and ($g200$ GPa) shear moduli, and so is a candidate superhard material. This will require further investigation.
Extended Nonlinear Programming

Shortcomings of the conventional problem format in nonlinear programming suggest the need for a broader model that features composite terms. Such a model, promoting better representation of the problem structures found in applications, can be adopted with no real sacrifice in computing practicality.
The Revolution in Management Science Instruction: Implications for Teaching Public Affairs Students

A convergence of technological and institutional factors has driven rapid and dramatic change in the way introductory management science is taught, making it far more valuable for students preparin...
Global translation inhibition yields condition-dependent de-repression of ribosome biogenesis mRNAs

Ribosome biogenesis (RiBi) is an extremely energy intensive process that is critical for gene expression. It is thus highly regulated, including through the tightly coordinated expression of over 200 RiBi genes by positive and negative transcriptional regulators. We investigated RiBi regulation as cells initiated meiosis in budding yeast and noted early transcriptional activation of RiBi genes, followed by their apparent translational repression 1 hour (h) after stimulation to enter meiosis. Surprisingly, in the representative genes examined, measured translational repression depended on their promoters rather than mRNA regions. Further investigation revealed that the signature of this regulation in our data depended on pre-treating cells with the translation inhibitor, cycloheximide (CHX). This treatment, at 1 h in meiosis, but not earlier, rapidly resulted in accumulation of RiBi mRNAs that were not translated. This effect was also seen in with CHX pre-treatment of cells grown in media lacking amino acids. For NSR1, this effect depended on the -150 to -101 region of the promoter, as well as the RiBi transcriptional repressors Dot6 and Tod6. Condition-specific RiBi mRNA accumulation was also seen with translation inhibitors that are dissimilar from CHX, suggesting that this phenomenon might represent a feedback response to global translation inhibition.
Accelerated sarcopenia and outcomes in older adults with cancer: The Health ABC Study.

11526Background: Progressive loss of muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia) is a well-known phenomenon of aging; however, little is known about the contribution of a cancer diagnosis to sarcopenia a...
Forensic palynology and the search for geolocation: Factors for analysis and the baby doe case

First used over 50 years ago, forensic palynology is an important tool for law enforcement agencies. In most countries that use forensic palynology, microscopic pollen grains and spores are traditionally used in criminal investigations to link suspects to crime scenes or items. While still underutilized in many parts of the world, forensic palynology is increasingly being used to determine the region of origin, or geolocation, for persons and items of interest. Drawing upon the experience of the authors using trace pollen and spores to geolocate forensic samples, the types, methods, and variables of this type of analysis are discussed and demonstrated using the Baby Doe case from Massachusetts, USA as a case study. This is not an exhaustive list and every forensic sample is unique so the methods and experience presented here are intended to be a guide for future forensic and anti-terrorism investigations as forensic palynology becomes more commonplace in law enforcement agencies around the world.
Excess Pneumonia Mortality During a Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in Flint, Michigan

Abstract Introduction From June 2014-October 2015, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported a Legionnaires’ disease (LD) outbreak in Genesee County, Michigan, of which Flint is the county seat. MDHHS’ final case count for the outbreak was 90 cases, including 10 deaths among Genesee County residents. As LD is not routinely tested for as a cause of community-acquired pneumonia, the size of the outbreak may have been underestimated. Specifically, some LD cases may have been classified as pneumonias of other or unexplained etiologies. Objective To estimate excess pneumonia deaths in Genesee County during the 2014-15 LD outbreak and compare this with reported deaths due to LD. Methods We used data from the CDC WONDER database, which contains monthly county-level counts of death certificates, on all pneumonia deaths among residents of Genesee and a set of similar counties from 2011-2017. We calculated excess pneumonia deaths in Genesee during the period of the LD outbreak (May 2014-October 2015). We used data from the Genesee County Vital Records Division to map pneumonia deaths by census tract to assess geographic overlap with reported LD cases. Results We estimated 70.0 excess pneumonia deaths (90% uncertainty interval (UI): 36 to 103) in Genesee County during the LD outbreak. This is substantially higher than the 10 LD deaths among Genesee County residents reported by MDHHS. Areas of high pneumonia mortality overlapped with those with high LD incidence and were primarily located in western Flint and northwestern non-Flint Genesee County. Conclusions These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the LD outbreak was larger than reported. Earlier detection and response to this outbreak may have facilitated identification of these additional cases.
Living Under Someone Else's Law

This Feature takes a counterintuitive view on spillovers, which occur when citizens in one state pass a law that affects citizens in another state. Spillovers are all but universally condemned inside and outside the academy. It’s not hard to see why. It is unsettling when one state’s policies stretch beyond its territories. No one wants to live under someone else’s law, after all. We argue, however, that it’s quite useful for people to live under someone else’s law, and that spillovers should be understood as part of a well-functioning democracy.Those who condemn spillovers miss two important points. First, if you worry about spillovers, there’s a lot to worry about. Spillovers are ubiquitous in a highly integrated, tightly networked system like ours. When states regulate shoulder-to-shoulder in a tight policy-making space, they inevitably jostle one another. Regulatory overlap is a stubborn fact.Our second point is that, while spillovers undoubtedly involve real costs, they in fact generate substantial democratic benefits. Indeed, spillovers force us to engage with our opponents and search for common ground. They tee up national debates and prevent politicians from leaving all the hard questions to the states. They help us overcome gridlock by shifting the burden of inertia and pushing both sides to engage. They prod state lawmakers to cross party lines and broker a compromise solution. Spillovers, in short, force state and federal officials to do what they are supposed to do: politic, find common ground, and negotiate a compromise that no one likes but everyone can live with.
Are Industry Payments Associated With the Level of Evidence in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the industry payments in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) are associated with a study's level of evidence (LOE). Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study was designed and implemented to query the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from 2002 to 2016. The primary predictor variables were the presence of a self-reported conflict of interest (COI) and the type of COI. The outcome variable was the LOE. The secondary outcome variables investigated were the topic of the study and the inclusion of trainees. The inclusion criteria entailed contributions from domestic academic OMS training programs. Disclosure of the COIs and type of COI, the LOE, topic of the study, and inclusion of trainees were recorded for every report from January 2002 until December 2016. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and χ2 tests were performed to determine a significant relationship primarily between the COIs and LOE. Results The sample included 1455 reports, and 4.2% of the sample size had disclosed a COI. The studies that disclosed industry payments demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the LOE (P Conclusions The results have indicated that industry payments are associated with the LOE in the OMS literature. Further studies are needed to elucidate both the accuracy of the financial disclosures by comparing them with publicly available open payment databases and the perceptions of the OMSs, their trainees, and their patients regarding the influence of industry payments on the specialty's academic interests.
Want to Cut the Cost of Tax Reform? Don't Reward Companies that Shifted Profits Offshore

In connection with any transition to a new international tax system, we need an approach that effectively deals with the trillions of dollars of previously untaxed foreign income held by CFCs. There is logic and fairness in applying a rate on those earnings that is less than the 35 percent home country rate because the rules of the game are being changed significantly. Many U.S. multinationals have had legitimate commercial reasons for retaining their earnings overseas. For these, I can happily accept whatever rate Congress chooses. However, for those U.S. multinationals that have aggressively pushed the envelope to maximize their stateless income over the past decade and longer through convoluted tax structuring, we as a country cannot be rewarding such behavior with favorable lower-than-35 percent rates. In this non-technical article posted on the Forbes website for a non-tax expert audience, I explain the above and suggests two approaches to identifying CFC earnings that should be subject to the full 35 percent corporate tax rate when transitioning to a new tax system, with the remainder subject to whatever favorable transition rate Congress might choose.
Efficient removal of bacteria from aqueous media with kaolinite and diatomaceous earth products.

Aims To understand the relationships between physical and chemical parameters of kaolinite and diatomaceous earth, and their capacities to remove bacteria from aqueous media. To determine the optimal aqueous media parameters for use of these products in water disinfection processes. Methods and results Seven kaolinite and three diatomaceous earth products were evaluated. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus megaterium were used as proxy for bacterial pathogens. Fully calcined kaolin and amorphous diatomaceous earth demonstrated the highest extent and consistency in removing all the bacteria. The removal depended on ionic strength and pH of aqueous media with 100 mmol l-1 pH 5 potassium hydrogen phthalate buffer revealing the highest (2 log per gram) extent of the removal. Al3+ cations enhanced sorption up to 4 log per gram. Conclusions Calcined kaolin and amorphous diatomaceous earth are excellent sorbents for bacteria. Significance and impact of the study Fully calcined kaolin and amorphous diatomaceous earth are perspective tools for wastewater and water disinfection against waterborne bacterial pathogens.
Two conceptions of talent

In the liberal egalitarian literature, the concept of talent is inflected according to its use in broader arguments surrounding the nature of justice. In particular, sometimes talent is understood ...
Pediatric Residents’ Perspective on Residency Education and Role of the EHR in Addressing Tobacco Smoke Exposure

Purpose Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) causes significant health risks to children. Pediatricians should address TSE with patients and families, but may not be effectively trained to do so. A 2011 survey of pediatric residency Program Directors (PDs) found that only 65% of those surveyed included tobacco prevention in their curricula, and the majority of curricula had little emphasis on interactive or experiential learning. Furthermore, residency education is often focused on sequelae of TSE rather than primary interventions. Electronic health …
Use of cryoanalgesia as a postoperative pain management for open pectus carinatum repair.

Cryoanalgesia has shown to have safety and efficacy as an adjunct post-operative pain management for Nuss procedure. One retrospective study reported its efficacy for analgesia with the Ravitch procedure, with improved pain scores and decreased length of stay versus thoracic epidural. We describe our initial experience with the use of cryoanalgesia for an open repair of pectus carinatum. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who received cryoanalgesia during an open repair of pectus carinatum from 2016 to 2019 at our institution. We recorded pain scores at immediate post-operative and at 1-week follow up after hospital discharge. Length of stay and mean follow up time were also recorded. Five pediatric patients underwent open repair of pectus carinatum with cryoanalgesia. The median postoperative length of stay (LOS) was 1 (range 1–2) day. Only one patient reported a non-zero pain score during their hospitalization, and this was a 3 out of 10 in the post-analgesia care unit. At 1-week postoperative visit, all patients had a pain score of 0. Median follow up was 1 (0.5–2) year. No patients developed neuralgia. Cryoanalgesia is a safe and effective pain management strategy for pediatric patients undergoing open pectus carinatum repair.
Acute Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Associated With a High Ki-67 Proliferative Index.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HSP) is an interstitial lung disease caused by exposure to a large range of environmental antigens. Inhaling aerosolized particles leads to a heightened immune response. HSP comes in acute, subacute, or chronic forms, all with their own potential clinical and radiographic findings. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the most common nontuberculous mycobacteria and is known to cause HSP with certain exposures. However, although certain histologic findings can be seen with HSP, a high ki-67 proliferation index is unusual and more commonly associated with malignancy. In this report, we discuss a case of MAC that had acute HSP associated with a high ki-67 proliferative index.
Absent Posterior Belly of Digastric Muscle.

OBJECTIVE Report a unique case of absent posterior belly of digastric muscle, with a literature review and discussion of its clinical importance. METHODS Present a case report and review the current literature including PUBMED search terms; "absent posterior digastric", "digastric muscle", "posterior belly". RESULTS While there were multiple reports of accessory anterior and posterior bellies and absence of anterior belly, there is a paucity of literature on absence of posterior belly of digastric muscle. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first report of an absent posterior belly of the digastric muscle. The posterior belly of the digastric muscle is an important landmark in neck dissection, and its absence makes knowledge of other anatomic landmarks critically important. Laryngoscope, 131:1501-1502, 2021.
Clinical pearls in palliative medicine

An 82-year-old female with complex past medical history including systolic heart failure, stage III chronic kidney disease, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on 4 L home oxygen therapy presents to your outpatient clinic with ongoing severe dyspnea on exertion. She has struggled with repeated hospitalizations for her dyspnea, and notes that it is a significant impediment to her quality of life. She is now unable to play with her grandchildren due to the dyspnea of this minimal exertion. While reasonably comfortable at rest, she develops increasing dyspnea ambulating in your office, describing an inability to “catch my breath” associated with anxiety. Afterwards, she is visibly tachypneic and using accessory muscles of respiration. Vitals signs reveal a temperature of 37.9, respiratory rate of 32, heart rate of 104, and pulse oximetry at 93% on 4 L/min of oxygen by nasal cannula. Pulmonary examination exhibits a prolonged expiratory phase and intermittent scattered rhonchi throughout her lung fields, with hyperresonance to percussion. Jugular venous pressure is measured at 6 cm of water at 451 bed angle. Which one of the following interventions is most appropriate to treat her dyspnea?
Hacia una geografía cultural urbana: Madrid, 1925-1936

Towards an urban cultural geography: Madrid, 1925-1936 Quisiera agradecer tanto al Prof. Javier Perez Segura como al grupo de investigacion “Arte, Arquitectura y Comunicacion en la Ciudad Contemporanea” de la Universidad Complutense haberme invitado a estas V Jornadas de Arte y Ciudad para comentar algunas de las ideas aparecidas en mi reciente publicacion Constructing and Resisting Modernity, Madrid 1900-1936 (Construir y resistir la Modernidad, Madrid 1900-1936). Por ello, que mi intervencion se desarrolle tras la leccion dada por nuestro Profesor Baker no es casual, por cuanto su Materiales para escribir Madrid (1991) ha sido referencia para una generacion al haber sido pionero en EEUU en los estudios urbanos y culturales, razon por la que hoy me honra y satisface compartir mesa con el.
Solar and Climatic Implications of the Centennial and Millennial Periodicities in Atmospheric Δ14C Variations

Temporal changes in atmospheric 14 C require high precision calibration of the radiocarbon time scale. The calibration process also provides Δ 14 C which is the age and fractionated corrected deviation of past atmospheric 14 C relative to an international standard. The dominant cause of atmospheric 14 C fluctuation is changes in the geomagnetic dipole moment. Detrending yields residual Δ 14 C which can be related to solar activity and climate change. The biogeochemical cycle of 14 C acts as a lowpass filter that greatly attenuates the high frequency components of solar activity. This attenuation is compensated by higher production rate and higher measurement precision relative to other cosmogenic isotopes. The spectrum of Δ 14 C contains many periods, overtones and combination tones. We are concerned here with the millennial and centennial periods. The Suess cycle (208 yr) and Gleissberg (88 yr) are discrete solar cycles that can be related to forcing of climate change whereas the millennial cycles do not appear to have an independent existence but are required by Fourier analysis to reconstruct the variance of the century scale cycles. We find the most effective way of demonstrating the relationship between residual Δ 14 C and climate is to match the pattern of residual Δ 14 C with the pattern of climate change.
MILLIMETER WAVE HETERODYNE RECEIVERS AND FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS

This article is intended to provide a general background into the basics of heterodyne receivers, as used in radio astronomy. It is helpful to begin with some definitions. A receiver is any system which produces a large electrical response to a small signal incident upon it; that is, it makes detection of the signal easier through the process of amplification. All receivers respond to a limited bandwidth, and thus provide spectral selectivity. They also have a characteristic angular response, so that they only respond to signals coming from a certain range of directions.
Applications of Digital Micromirror Devices to Astronomical Instrumentation

MEMS devices are among the major technological breakthroughs of the last two decades. Besides finding widespread use in high-tech and consumer market electronics, MEMS enable new types of astronomical instruments. I concentrate on Digital Micromirror Devices, which have been already adopted in astronomy and can enable scientific investigations that would otherwise remain beyond our technical capabilities.
Defining Computational Thinking for Mathematics and Science Classrooms

Science and mathematics are becoming computational endeavors. This fact is reflected in the recently released Next Generation Science Standards and the decision to include “computational thinking” as a core scientific practice. With this addition, and the increased presence of computation in mathematics and scientific contexts, a new urgency has come to the challenge of defining computational thinking and providing a theoretical grounding for what form it should take in school science and mathematics classrooms. This paper presents a response to this challenge by proposing a definition of computational thinking for mathematics and science in the form of a taxonomy consisting of four main categories: data practices, modeling and simulation practices, computational problem solving practices, and systems thinking practices. In formulating this taxonomy, we draw on the existing computational thinking literature, interviews with mathematicians and scientists, and exemplary computational thinking instructional materials. This work was undertaken as part of a larger effort to infuse computational thinking into high school science and mathematics curricular materials. In this paper, we argue for the approach of embedding computational thinking in mathematics and science contexts, present the taxonomy, and discuss how we envision the taxonomy being used to bring current educational efforts in line with the increasingly computational nature of modern science and mathematics.
Monetary Policy in Low Income Countries in the Face of The Global Crisis: A Structural Analysis

We develop a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with a banking sector to analyse the impact of the financial crisis in developing countries and the role of the monetary policy response, with an application to Zambia. We view the crisis as a combination of three related shocks: a worsening in the terms of the trade, an increase in the country's risk premium and a decrease in the risk appetite of local banks. Model simulations broadly match the path of the economy during this period. We derive policy implications for central banks, and for dynamic stochastic general equilibrium modelling of monetary policy, in low-income countries.
Improved Values for the Tesseral Harmonics of the Geopotential and Station Coordinates

Baker-Nunn data on 24 close earth satellites, laser data from the five satellites with retroreflectors, and range and range-rate data from the GRARR system are combined in a global solution for gravity-field parameters and station coordinates. The data base represents a significant improvement on previous work, with increased accuracy and better distribution. The gravity field is given complete to 14th degree and order, and more than 29 station nets are determined.
Delayed vertebral body collapse after stereotactic radiosurgery and radiofrequency ablation: Case report with histopathologic-MRI correlation:

Stereotactic radiosurgery and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation are emerging therapies for pain palliation and local control of spinal metastases. However, the post-treatment imaging findings are not well characterized and the risk of long-term complications is unknown. We present the case of a 46-year-old woman with delayed vertebral body collapse after stereotactic radiosurgery and radiofrequency ablation of a painful lumbar metastasis. Histopathologic-MRI correlation confirmed osteonecrosis as the underlying etiology and demonstrated that treatment-induced vascular fibrosis and tumor progression can have identical imaging appearances.
Optimum design of multiresolutional hierarchical control systems

The theoretical foundations of optimum design based on complexity analysis are outlined for hierarchical control systems. Using analytical expressions for the complexity, the optimum design parameters are computed for a multiresolution hierarchical controller. It is demonstrated that hierarchies for multiresolution control should have a definite number of levels which in order to minimize the complexity of computations. The optimum number of levels is found analytically. It is shown that complexity has an asymptotic limit, as the number of levels grows. Two important interconnected design parameters are found: the ratio of level-to-level refinement, and the contraction factor for determining the subset of attention at the adjacent lower level. It is demonstrated that in optimal hierarchies the ratio between two consecutive resolutions is not generally a constant value, and it is shown how this value can be computed. >
Effect of crystal orientation on porosity evolution in a creeping single crystal

Abstract The effect of crystal orientation on porosity evolution in a face centered cubic (fcc) single crystal subject to tensile creep loading is analyzed. The matrix material is characterized by a rate power law viscous crystal plasticity constitutive relation. Three dimensional finite deformation finite element analyses of initially cubic unit cells containing a single initially spherical void are carried out for three crystal orientations of the main loading direction together with two other cases analyzed to study the effect of secondary orientations. The calculations are carried out for three values of the stress triaxiality and for each stress triaxiality value three values of the Lode parameter are considered. Two of the crystal orientations are significantly anisotropic orientations. Symmetry boundary conditions are imposed consistent with the crystal symmetry; the sides of the unit cell are not constrained to remain straight. For an anisotropic orientation, the Lode parameter can have a significant effect on the evolution of creep strain and porosity even at relatively high values of the stress triaxiality. An overall enhanced creep rate can occur with no void growth or even accompanying void collapse. Also, whether or not a stress concentration greater than the elastic stress concentration develops depends on crystal orientation.
Capacity Evaluations in Late-Stage Pregnancy

Consultation psychiatrists are often called upon to assess capacity for medical decision-making in the obstetrical setting. Although these assessments are similar to those in other clinical settings, there is one notable difference: the presence of a fetus who can suffer adverse outcomes due to decisions of the pregnant patient, particularly refusal of medical treatment. Specific questions of capacity vary with the stage of pregnancy. Evaluations in the first trimester (weeks 1–12) are often related to requests for elective termination, second trimester (weeks 13–28) assessments tend to focus onmanagement of nonviable pregnancies, including termination and delivery induction, and capacity evaluations in the third trimester (weeks 29–40) often center on consent for emergent or elective cesarean section. Assessments of medical decision-making capacity in the obstetrical setting have unique ethical and legal implications, both for the pregnant patient and for her treating physician. Questions of capacity during pregnancy are perhaps best approached using a framework that considers the ethically-based obligations that a pregnant woman potentially has toward her unborn child, the treatingphysician’s obligations to bothmother and child, and the conflicts that arise when these obligations go unfulfilled. In support of this, we present 2 obstetrical cases that involve questions of capacity during the third trimester of pregnancy, followed by a discussion of relevant bioethical and legal issues as well as recommendations for the consultation psychiatrist.
Infection prevention and control in home health care: the nurse's bag.

This study evaluates bacterial contamination rates of home health care nurses' bags and the patient care equipment found inside. Nurses' bags—a ubiquitous fomite in the home health care environment—may serve as a potential reservoir for multidrug-resistant organisms.
Priming the Philosophic Process

Abstract When preservice teacher candidates write their philosophies of education, the results are often relatively superficial statements filled with well‐intentioned truisms. As a result, the exercise does little to clarify beliefs about teaching and learning or direct future professional growth. The suggestions that follow grew out of an ongoing attempt to both guide and deepen the reflection that should go into a philosophy statement and, at the same time, connect the philosophy statement to the content of a social foundations course in a way that makes that content more relevant to classroom practice.
Direct Growth of γ-Glycine from Neutral Aqueous Solutions by Slow, Evaporation-Driven Crystallization

This study reports the selective growth of γ-glycine crystals via concentrating microdroplets of aqueous glycine solutions through slow evaporation of water using an evaporation-based crystallization platform. In prior studies, γ-glycine crystals could only be obtained from non-neutral pH solutions, by applying electromagnetic fields, or in the presence of impurities that suppress the formation of the kinetically favored α-glycine polymorph. Here in our work, pure γ-glycine crystals form below a certain rate of evaporation (i.e. below a certain rate of supersaturation). Below this rate the crystallizing solution stays close to equilibrium throughout the evaporating process, allowing the system to sample the lowest free energy state during the formation of nuclei. These results point to the interplay of kinetic and thermodynamic effects on selective crystallization of different polymorphs. Polymorphic analysis was performed by examining all samples as randomized polycrystalline particles. The resulting mul...
Crystal structures of 3-methyl-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1-oxide and 2-oxide

The compound 3-methyl 1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide (1) belongs to a new class of clinically promising, bioreductively-activated antitumor drugs. Reductive metabolism of these triazine di-N-oxides typically produces mixtures of mono-N-oxide analogues. As part of our efforts toward characterization of the in vitro metabolism of 1, we synthesized the 1-oxide (2) and 2-oxide (3) analogues and characterized these compounds using X-ray crystallography. Compounds 2 and 3 (C8H7N3O) crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c. Unit cell parameters for 2: a = 9.0466(7), b = 10.5959(8), c = 7.8981(6) A, β = 98.4940(10), and z = 4. Unit cell parameters for 3: a = 5.7193(4), b = 9.3774(7), c = 13.8427(11) A, β = 101.6370(10), and z = 4.
A New Project-Oriented Computer Engineerng Course in Digital Electronics and Computer Design

A one-quarter electrical and computer engineering design course in digital electronics and computer systems is described in this paper. It is primarily aimed at senior-level undergraduates. The course attempts to familiarize students with hardware-oriented logic design techniques, introduce them to recent technological advances, and provide hands-on experience of the computer hardware. Emphasis is placed on laboratory and project work, individual design and construction experience, the use of modern test equipment, and testing and documenting a system with moderate complexity. It carries five credits, with six lecture hours and six laboratory hours per week during the first six weeks and 20-30 h per week thereafter for students' projects. It demands intensive participation from students and instructors alike, and is continuously updated in response to both technological advances and student feedback. The enrollment has been limited to less than 30 students per quarter. The course has so far been offered for four quarters, and has received very encouraging response from not only students, but also their employers.
Host specificity of the colonization of murine gastric epithelium by lactobacilli

Strains of Lactobacillus isolated from animals of several species were examined for their capacity to colonize the lumens and form layers on the keratinized nonsecreting epithelium in the stomachs of monoassociated ex-germfree mice. All strains tested could be cultured at comparable population levels from the stomachs of the mono-associated mice. With one exception, however, only strains previously isolated from rodents were able to form thick continuous layers on the gastric epithelial surface. The exception was a strain isolated from calf feces. This strain formed a layer on the epithelial surface, comparable to layers seen in animals associated with strains from rodents.
Anti-immunoglobulin induced histamine release from naturally abundant basophils in the snapping turtle, chelydra serpentina

Abstract The dose response, temperature sensitivity, time course and calcium dependency of histamine release from snapping turtle basophils treated with rabbit anti-turtle immunoglobulin (RATIg) sera was explored. This investigation indicated that the level of histamine release induced by RATIg was dependent upon the concentration of RATIg with concentrations of 350 mcg/ml inducing optimal release. In addition, release was temperature dependent with release increasing over a temperature range of 10°C to maximal at 27°C. Release was also dependent on the length of exposure to RATIg. Release increased steadily over a time period of 0 to 30 minutes with the higher concentrations of RATIg inducing the most rapid release. Basophil-histamine release was also found to be calcium dependent. This study indicates that the snapping turtle basophil possesses similar characteristics to that of its mammalian counterparts. It is proposed that the very wide temperature range over which turtle basophils release histamine is an important feature in the immune resistance of this ectothermic animal.
Reactions of Cyclohexene Trithiocarbonate with Oxidants

LEAD tetraacetate oxidation of sugar derivatives containing a thiocarbonyl group was shown previously to give the corresponding carbonates, disulphides, or oxythiocarbonyl derivatives, depending on the structure of the parent compound1. To determine more fully the effect of oxidants on the thiocarbonyl group, the investigation has been extended to the reactions of cyclohexene trithiocarbonate (I) with lead tetraacetate, silver nitrate, and potassium permanganate.
Dynamic observation of dislocation sources at grain boundaries in ice

Abstract This Letter presents the first clear demonstration of a grain-boundary dislocation generation mechanism in ice. The dislocations generated as semihexa-gonal loops were observed to glide on the basal plane.
Effects of a New Hypolipidemic Agent, MK-185, on Serum Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG) and Dialyzable Fraction Thyroxine

MK-185 (halofenate) is a hypo-lipidemic agent which has been shown in short-term clinical trials in hyperlipidemic patients to decrease serum total thyroxine (T4) and to increase serum dialyzable fraction T4 (DFT4). In polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies reported here, MK-185 is shown to compete with T4 for binding sites on serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG); MK-185 (2.9 × 10−3M concentration n i serum) reduced TBG binding of tracer level T4 by 47%. The agent also has a small effect on albumin-binding of T4. The effects of MK-185 on T4 distribution in serum were seen in electro-phoretic studies both at pH 9.0 and pH 7.4. T-3 binding by TBG was also noted to be inhibited by MK-185. Radioactive MK-185 is bound discretely to albumin, but diffuse binding was also noted through the α- and β-globulin regions on electrophoresis. In equilibrium dialysis studies the in vitro addition of MK-185 (100 μg/ml) to serum led to 140% increase in DFT4, and as little as 2μg MK 185/ml produced a detectable increas...
Measures of entropy and fuzziness related to aggregation operators

We suggest some new measures for the calculation of the entropy of a probability distribution. One motivation for this is to provide tools for the application of the maximum entropy principle. The first class of entropy measures is based on the ordered weighted averaging operator. Another class of these measures is based on the distance of the probability distribution from the uniform distribution. A third class of entropy measures is based on the t-conorms. We then suggest some measures of fuzziness associated with a fuzzy set.
The US radon problem, policy, program and industry: achievements, challenges and strategies

US radon research, policy and programs have stalled since their start in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2005, more homes had radon above the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Reference Level than anytime in history since more homes were added to the housing stock that had indoor radon concentrations exceeding 150 Bq m −3 than had been mitigated. Funding for the US radon program has declined two-thirds from 1997 to 2007. Despite impressive goals for radon reduction, EPA lacks sound progress indicators especially in new construction radon control systems. School radon reduction has been at a standstill since the early 1990s. There has been no significant radon risk reduction in low-income sectors of the population. There is need for effective partnerships between the public and private sectors of the US radon professional communities as well as with the international programs and professionals.
Sacral abnormalities—computed tomography versus conventional radiography

Seventeen examples of different pathologic conditions, including malignant and benign tumors, and inflammatory, traumatic, and congenital lesions involving the sacrum, are presented. The value of computed tomography is compared with that of conventional methods with respect to diagnostic evaluation and clinical management of these patients. Computed tomography proved to be more accurate in delineating the extent of bony lesions, diagnosing adjacent soft tissue involvement, evaluating the progress of a lesion, and defining the approach for biopsy of a sacral lesion or determining the feasibility of surgery.
Energy requirement for nitrogen fixation in actinorhizal and legume root nodules

The ratio of respiration to nitrogenase activity was measured in five species of actinorhizal root nodules and eight species of legume nodules. The two types of nodules could not be distinguished on the basis of this ratio; this evidence thus indicates that the energy cost of nitrogen fixation is similar for both.
Power management in networked devices

Networks are one of the most significant developments in computing and a hallmark of modern society. However, along with increasing efficiency and productivity, both at home and in the workplace, networks have costs. One cost is the additional energy that electronic devices consume when attached to networks. Power management, a standard feature of modern PCs, was primarily developed to increase battery lifetime in laptop PCs, which historically were not network-connected when using battery power. Today, however, many laptops are connected to a network - typically a Wi-Fi network - as are the majority of desktop computers. Three key drivers of energy use are induced consumption by devices prevented by network connections from entering low-power states, increasing link data rates that inherently consume more energy for the network interfaces, and proliferation of network-connected displays that actively update and display data when no one is present.