cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multivariate correlation between concentrations of selected herbicides and derivatives in outflows from selected U.S. Midwestern reservoirs

Multivariate correlations between the concentrations of selected herbicides and herbicide derivatives in outflows from selected reservoirs in the Midwestern United States for April 1992 through September 1993 were investigated using principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate curve resolution (MCR). Two independent sources for alachlor ethanesulfonic acid, one major source related to spring flush and seasonal runoff and another minor source related to groundwater, were identified using PCA. Results of MCR provided a semiquantitative interpretation of the environmental sources of the observed herbicide concentrations in reservoir outflows and allowed the examination of their temporal and geographical distributions. Samples with higher herbicide concentrations were collected from reservoirs in Indiana and Ohio, especially during the late spring and summer.
Linezolid therapy for pediatric thoracic spondylodiscitis due to Staphylococcus aureus sepsis

We report the case of an immunocompetent child with spondylodiscitis as a result of staphylococcal sepsis, which was successfully treated with linezolid. The patient was admitted with fever and circumferential swelling in the paradorsal region, which was evident only in the flexed back position. A chest X-ray showed a pleural effusion with pneumonitis and dorsal kyphosis. Following the yield of Staphylococcus aureus from blood cultures, the initial therapy of ceftriaxone and amikacin was changed to vancomycin. However, the dorsal swelling increased further and imaging investigations showed destruction of the vertebral bodies D8–D10 and surrounding tissue swelling. Vancomycin was changed to linezolid, and the patient began to improve; a full recovery was made. Our case suggests that even if spondylodiscitis is rare in the pediatric age-group, particularly as a complication of staphylococcal sepsis, early diagnosis and prompt and appropriate therapy are important to prevent severe complications.
Computer‐assisted tomography: Sinus lesions with orbital involvement

Computer-assisted tomography (CAT) is superior to other roentgenographic modalities in evaluation of paranasal sinus lesions whenever extension into the orbit is suspected. CAT not only demonstrates the orbital involvement, its location, and extent, but also the nature of the sinus lesion. Conclusions based on 43 cases of paranasal sinus lesions with orbital involvement are presented. The entities include sinusitis and orbital cellulitis, mucocele, polyposis, ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, cylindroma, osteoblastoma, lymphoma, carcinoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma.
Radio Interference from HVDC Converter Stations

Radio interference (noise) is generated in HVDC converter stations due to the rapid breakdown of the voltage between anodes and cathodes of the converter valves during valve ignitions. These breakdowns cause steep current pulses to be injected in the system resulting in high frequency radiation from the valves, from the equipment in the switchyard and from the outgoing lines. Factors influencing the radio interference level and means for its reduction are discussed in the paper. Interference in the frequency range from 0.1 to 10 MHz is analyzed.
A High-Stability MEMS Frequency Reference

Silicon MEMS resonators with high levels of frequency stability are demonstrated in an oscillator system suitable for use as a frequency reference. The use of resonator quality factor (Q) as a temperature sensor allows us to control the temperature of the resonator with milli-degree precision, thus stabilizing the output frequency of the resonator to ~0.1 ppm. Composite Si/SiO2 resonator design has reduced the inherent frequency sensitivity of the resonator. The combination of Q(T) temperature stabilization and composite resonator design has reduced the frequency variation to ~0.01 ppm, a level that is competitive with high-performance commercial devices.
CLASSIFICATION OF LAGRANGIAN SURFACES OF CONSTANT CURVATURE IN THE COMPLEX EUCLIDEAN PLANE

One of the most fundamental problems in the study of Lagrangian submanifolds from a Riemannian geometric point of view is the classification of Lagrangian immersions of real-space forms into complex-space forms. In this article, we solve this problem for the most basic case; namely, we classify Lagrangian surfaces of constant curvature in the complex Euclidean plane $\mathbb{C}^2$. Our main result states that there exist 19 families of Lagrangian surfaces of constant curvature in $\mathbb{C}^2$. Twelve of the 19 families are obtained via Legendre curves. Conversely, Lagrangian surfaces of constant curvature in $\mathbb{C}^2$ can be obtained locally from the 19 families.
Renal nerves dynamically regulate renal blood flow in conscious, healthy rabbits

Despite significant clinical interest in renal denervation as a therapy, the role of the renal nerves in the physiological regulation of renal blood flow (RBF) remains debated. We hypothesized that the renal nerves physiologically regulate beat-to-beat RBF variability (RBFV). This was tested in chronically instrumented, healthy rabbits that underwent either bilateral surgical renal denervation (DDNx) or a sham denervation procedure (INV). Artifact-free segments of RBF and arterial pressure (AP) from calmly resting, conscious rabbits were used to extract RBFV and AP variability for time-domain, frequency-domain, and nonlinear analysis. Whereas steady-state measures of RBF, AP, and heart rate did not statistically differ between groups, DDNx rabbits had greater RBFV than INV rabbits. AP-RBF transfer function analysis showed greater admittance gain in DDNx rabbits than in INV rabbits, particularly in the low-frequency (LF) range where systemic sympathetic vasomotion gives rise to AP oscillations. In the LF range, INV rabbits exhibited a negative AP-RBF phase shift and low coherence, consistent with the presence of an active control system. Neither of these features were present in the LF range of DDNx rabbits, which showed no phase shift and high coherence, consistent with a passive, Ohm's law pressure-flow relationship. Renal denervation did not significantly affect nonlinear RBFV measures of chaos, self-affinity, or complexity, nor did it significantly affect glomerular filtration rate or extracellular fluid volume. Cumulatively, these data suggest that the renal nerves mediate LF renal sympathetic vasomotion, which buffers RBF from LF AP oscillations in conscious, healthy rabbits.
CD36 Regulates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Hypercholesterolemic CKD

Scavenger receptors play a central role in atherosclerosis by processing oxidized lipoproteins and mediating their cellular effects. Recent studies suggested that the atherogenic state correlates with progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD); therefore, scavenger receptors are candidate mediators of renal fibrogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of CD36, a class B scavenger receptor, in a hypercholesterolemic model of CKD. We placed CD36-deficient mice and wild-type male mice on a high-fat Western diet for 7 to 8 wk and then performed either sham or unilateral ureteral obstruction surgery. CD36-deficient mice developed significantly less fibrosis compared with wild-type mice at days 3, 7, and 14 after obstruction. Compared with wild-type mice, CD36-deficient mice had significantly more interstitial macrophages at 7 d but not at 14 d. CD36-deficient mice exhibited reduced levels of activated NF-kappaB and oxidative stress (assessed by measuring fatty acid-derived hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid and protein carbonyl content) and decreased accumulation of interstitial myofibroblasts compared with wild-type mice. These data suggest that CD36 is a key modulator of proinflammatory and oxidative pathways that promote fibrogenesis in CKD.
Steady-State Flow in Marble at 500° to 800°C: Discussion

Should creep parameters determined by constant strain-rate experiments be considered constant? For this discussion, a Weertman-type creep equation is used, and it is suggested that the final internal structure is not the same for all final stress, temperature, and strain-rate values. It is shown that, if the pre-exponential factor is allowed to vary by a factor of less than two over a set of final states, then the creep energy will differ significantly from the constant pre-exponential value.
Mitochondrial DNA variation in Tajiks living in Tajikistan

This study aimed to characterize mtDNA control region (positions 16,024–576) of unrelated Tajiks living in Tajikistan. DNA was isolated from saliva specimens stored on FTA cards. The mtDNA fragments were amplified and directly sequenced in forward and reverse directions. Haplogroups were determined using HaploGrep and the diagnostic polymorphisms in the coding region of mtDNA. The Tajik mtDNA pool was characterized by substantial admixture of western and eastern Eurasian haplogroups, 62.6% and 26.4% sequences, respectively. It also contained 9.9% of South Asian and 1.1% of African haplotypes. The Tajik mtDNA sequences belonged to 90 different haplotypes defined by 148 transitions and 13 transversions in 156 of 1122 nucleotide sites. The Tajik mtDNA pool demonstrated the high genetic variation with genetic diversity of 0.999 ± 0.002, nucleotide diversity of 0.014 ± 0.007, and the mean number of pairwise nucleotide differences of 15.38 ± 6.93. The random match probability and the power of discrimination were 0.0112 and 0.9888, respectively. Ethno-territorial groups of Tajiks demonstrated significant genetic differentiation with 2.67% of the genetic variance explained by differences between subpopulations. This study provides the insight into the mtDNA pool of Tajiks living in Tajikistan. The data should be taken into account in forensic identifications based on mtDNA.
SLE and APS

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) represents 15-20% of all SLE cases and is in general associated with a more aggressive disease course and more rapid damage accrual than adult-onset SLE. Disease expression varies according to ethnicity, with more severe disease course in non-Caucasian ethnic groups. The majority of patients with cSLE develop damage within 5-10 years of disease onset, most frequently involving the musculoskeletal, ocular, renal and central nervous systems. Premature atherosclerosis and osteoporosis have become increasingly prevalent comorbidities in cSLE patients. Treatment of cSLE is challenging and is further complicated by an unpredictable disease course, adolescent noncompliance and long requirement for therapy. New therapeutic regimens combining immunosuppressive agents and targeted B-cell depletion often provide improved disease control and follow the oncologic model of remission induction and maintenance therapy. Management of children with SLE must include also prevention of medication side effects on growth, delayed puberty, development and fertility. Optimal management of an adolescent with SLE should take into account also patient’s quality of life, psychosocial development and organization of successful transition from pediatric to adult care. The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease characterized by thromboembolic events, pregnancy morbidity, hematologic, dermatologic, neurologic and other manifestations in the presence of elevated titers of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). APS may occur as an isolated clinical entity (primary APS) or in association with autoimmune diseases, infections and malignancies. Multiple pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed by which aPL may predispose to thrombosis including interaction between aPL and endothelial cells, platelets, monocytes, activation of the complement system, and interaction with the proteins involved in the regulation of the coagulation cascade. Management in all patients with APS include avoidance of additional risk factors for thrombosis. Patients with persistently positive aPL, in particular those with lupus anticoagulants (LA), have a high risk for recurrent thrombosis and should receive long-term anticoagulation with warfarin. The standard treatment in APS patients with venous or non-cerebral arterial thromboembolism consist of oral anticoagulation at a target INR of 2.0-3.0. However, it is essential to individualize treatment according to the presence of additional thrombophilic risk factors and the aPL profile (multiple aPL antibodies, high titers of aCL and/or anti-β2GPI, presence of LA). An improved understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms by which aPL induce thrombosis has suggested some innovative treatments such as new anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, hydroxychloroquine, statins, complement inhibitors, rituximab and other targeted therapies.
Metacognition: examining the components of a fuzzy concept

Metacognition loosely refers to one’s “thinking about thinking” and is often defined by its accompanying skills (such as monitoring and evaluating). Despite the tendency for researchers to use metacognition as an overarching umbrella term, cognitive and educational theorists argue as to whether metacognition is a single construct or made up of distinct, differentiable factors. Given the lack of clarity in the definition of metacognition and its potential components, the purpose of this investigation is to determine whether a two-factor model, representing knowledge and regulation of metacognition, or five-factor model, representing metacognitive knowledge, planning, monitoring, regulation/control, and evaluation, emerges following both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Participants (N =644) from a select number of classes at a large Midwestern university we selected to complete the Metacognition Questionnaire, a 30 item survey designed to measure five components of metacognition that are rarely measured concurrently. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed a two-factor model resembling metacognitive knowledge and regulation. This two-factor model had Further confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) showed that the two-factor model outperformed the five-factor model based on the fit indices. This study confirms that the componential view of metacognition should be based on the same two-factor model that has been used in previous literature. Educational implications of this study are discussed.
Optical content-addressable parallel processor : architecture, algorithms, and design concepts

Associative processing based on content-addressable memories has been argued to be the natural solution for nonnumerical information processing applications. Unfortunately, the implementation requirements of these architectures when one uses conventional electronic technology have been cost prohibitive; therefore associative processors have not been realized. Instead, software methods that emulate the behavior of associative processing have been promoted and mapped onto conventional location-addressable systems. However, this does not bring about the natural parallelism of associative processing, namely, the ability to access many data words simultaneously. Optics has the advantage over electronics of directly supporting associative processing by providing economic and efficient interconnects, massive parallelism, and high-speed processing. The principles of designing an optical content-addressable parallel processor (OCAPP) for the efficient support of parallel symbolic computing are presented. The architecture is designed to exploit optics advantages fully in interconnects and high-speed operations. Several parallel search-and-retrieval algorithms are mapped onto an OCAPP to illustrate its capability of supporting parallel symbolic computing. A theoretical performance analysis of these algorithms is presented. This analysis reveals that the execution times of the parallel algorithms presented are independent of the problem size, which makes the OCAPP suitable for applications in which the number of data sets to be operated on is high (e.g., massive parallel processing). A preliminary optical implementation of the architecture with currently available optical components is also presented.
The selective oxide system™: Acid drainage treatment that avoids the formation of sludge

The feasibility and economics of this technology for AMD is yet to be established through pilot-scale studies, but it offers the potential of compact, economical treatment suitable for concentrated AMD seeps, drainage from acidic tailings ponds, active mine effluent, and acidic iron-rich industrial wastewater. Applicability to other contaminated waters is being investigated.
Biomolecular computing and programming

Molecular computing is a discipline that aims at harnessing individual molecules at nanoscales for computational purposes. The best-studied molecules for this purpose to date have been DNA and bacteriorhodopsin. Biomolecular computing allows one to realistically entertain, for the first time in history, the possibility of exploiting the massive parallelism at nanoscales inherent in natural phenomena to solve computational problems. The implementation of evolutionary algorithms in biomolecules would bring full circle the biological analogy and present an attractive alternative to meet large demands for computational power. The paper presents a review of the most important advances in biomolecular computing in the last few years. Major achievements to date are outlined, both experimental and theoretical, and major potential advances and challenges for practitioners in the foreseeable future are identified. A list of sources and major events in the field has been compiled in the Appendix, although no exhaustive survey of the expanding literature is intended.
Temporal Privacy in Wireless Sensor Networks

Although the content of sensor messages describing "events of interest" may be encrypted to provide confidentiality, the context surrounding these events may also be sensitive and therefore should be protected from eavesdroppers. An adversary armed with knowledge of the network deployment, routing algorithms, and the base-station (data sink) location can infer the temporal patterns of interesting events by merely monitoring the arrival of packets at the sink, thereby allowing the adversary to remotely track the spatio-temporal evolution of a sensed event. In this paper, we introduce the problem of temporal privacy for delay- tolerant sensor networks and propose adaptive buffering at intermediate nodes on the source-sink routing path to obfuscate temporal information from an adversary. We first present the effect of buffering on temporal privacy using an information-theoretic formulation and then examine the effect that delaying packets has on buffer occupancy. We evaluate our privacy enhancement strategies using simulations, where privacy is quantified in terms of the adversary's estimation error.
Microscale Thermal Transport and Electromechanical Microfluidic Actuation

This paper summarizes recent advances in fundamental research on microscale thermal transport in phase-change processes and developments in novel microfluidic actuation methods using electromechanical effects. The research topics covered include thin-film transport, pool boiling heat transfer enhancement, convective flow boiling in microchannels, microscale ionic winds, micropumping using electrohydrodynamic effects including ion induction and dielectrophoresis, and electrowetting-based control of liquid droplet motion. Progress in microscale flow characterization and non-intrusive temperature measurement is also discussed.
Establishment and impact of Galerucella calmariensis L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Lythrum salicaria L. and associated plant communities in Michigan.

Abstract Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria L. (Lythraceae) is an invasive wetland perennial plant of Eurasian origin that is widely established in North America and is considered a threat to native wetland flora and fauna. Two European beetles, Galerucella calmariensis L. and Galerucella pusilla Duft. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) have been introduced and widely distributed in North America for biological control of Lythrum salicaria . Experimental releases of Galerucella spp. beetles were made in three locations in Michigan in 1994. In 1997 we initiated a project to rear, redistribute, and evaluate the impacts of Galerucella calmariensis in 19 additional sites throughout Michigan. G. calmariensis became established at 100% of the 24 release locations monitored in these studies and have persisted for up to seven years while G. pusilla apparently failed to establish. Large populations of G. calmariensis developed from each of the 1994 releases and caused 100% defoliation of L. salicaria. From 1995 to 2000, L. salicaria stem height was reduced 73–85%, percent plant cover was reduced 61–95%, and richness of nontarget plant species increased significantly at four out of five sites. By 2001, L. salicaria stem height and percent cover were reduced 38–81% and 32–74%, respectively, and nontarget plant species richness increased significantly at all five sites in contrast to the situation in 1995. Beetles have spread 3–10 km from these original release sites. Of the 19 additional sites monitored for 3–5 years post-release, 50% (4/8) of the 1997 releases have developed into large G. calmariensis populations and produced severe damage to L. salicaria . Thirty-three percent (2/6) of the 1998 releases have generated moderate impacts while all 1999 releases (5/5) remain without clear impacts. The successful establishment, spread, and impacts of G. calmariensis indicate the critical need for additional research on its role in the restoration of desirable plant communities in areas formerly dominated by L. salicaria .
Experimental and computational study of perforated floor tile in data centers

Current CFD simulation studies of large data centers cannot model the detailed geometries of the perforated tiles due to grid size limitation. These studies often assume that the tile flow can be modeled as constant velocity based on a fully open tile. In this case, mass flux is enforced at the expense of under-predicting momentum flux; the error in momentum flux can be as high as a factor of four for a 25% open perforated tile. Since jet entrainment is a strong function of its initial momentum flux, this error can be significant with respect to predicting the mixing of the surrounding room air into the tile flow. Combined experimental and computational studies were carried out to quantify the importance of the detailed tile geometry, and it was found that proper prediction of the mixing process must account for the tile opening patterns. Suggestions of how to model the floor perforated tiles in data center CFD simulations are then presented.
Being the Only One: Integration Experiences of Underrepresented Newcomer Students

Diverse groups of newcomer immigrant students enter high schools in the United States each year. When their numbers are small, their unique journeys to integration in school and in the receiving country remain often invisible. Focusing on six newcomer-underrepresented students, this paper examines elements of their complex pathways to social integration in one urban high school. Attention is provided to the barriers that they face and the ways in which they counteract those. The distinctive characteristics of their engagement in cross-cultural encounters are examined in relation to intercultural capital formations. In the discussion, suggestions are offered for the creation of responsive practices in schools that serve underrepresented newcomer students.
HYDROLOGY AND NUTRIENT EFFECTS ON FOOD-WEB STRUCTURE IN TEN LAKE SUPERIOR COASTAL WETLANDS

ABSTRACT We examined the effects of hydrology and nutrients on the food webs of ten coastal wetlands on Lake Superior, using published stable isotope food web data for three wetlands and original data from seven additional systems in order to span regional hydrologic and nutrient enrichment gradients. We used a dual-source isotope mixing model to estimate the proportion of carbon in fish that originated from planktonic versus periphytic invertebrates, and we related carbon source to 1) nutrient enrichment, 2) hydraulic residence time, and 3) an index of nutrient loading that incorporates residence time and nutrient concentrations. There was no relationship between nutrient enrichment and the proportion of planktonic versus periphytic C in fish. Proportion of planktonic C in fish increased significantly with hydraulic residence time (F = 5.68, R2 = 0.42, p = 0.044). Riverine wetlands generally had lowest proportions of planktonic C in fish, dendritic wetlands were intermediate, and lagoon wetlands ha...
An A for Effort

This paper uses a unique and rich administrative data set to analyze the impact of the introduction of a new grading policy on graduations rates at Benedict College, a Historically Black College in Columbia, South Carolina. According to the new grading policy, grades for underclassmen are determined in part by performance on tests and in part by measures of "effort" such as attendance and class participation. This paper finds that while graduates graduate at a faster rate under the policy, there is no significant difference between graduation rates before and after the policy was implemented.
Does Parenting Style Influence the Internalization of Moral Values in Children and Adolescents

The present study examines the relationship between parenting style and internalization of moral values of children and adolescents. The stratified sample comprised 250 children of 9–16 years from government aided schools of Kolkata. Parental Authority Questionnaire and Moral Values Internalisation Questionnaire were used to assess the parenting style and moral value internalization, respectively. Three types of parenting style (authoritative, authoritarian and permissive) and four types of value regulation (external, introjected, identified and integrated) were assessed in this study. For adolescents, authoritarian parenting style is positively linked to external and introjected regulation and authoritative parenting style is positively associated with identified and integrated regulation. The reverse trend is evident for children. Implications for parenting and moral socialization in families are discussed.
The T-cell receptor recognizes nominal and self antigen independently. A theoretical alternative to the modified self concept.

We explore the thesis that the T-cell receptor (TCR) interacts with nominal antigen and MHC antigen separately rather than with a complex formed by both antigens (Hoffmann 1984). The TCR has an innate specificity for MHC and its autoreactive potential is exercised during the maturation of the T cell in the thymus. We propose that mature T cells retain this reactivity for self.
A Numerical Investigation of Swirling Turbulent Buoyant Jets at Transient Reynolds Numbers

The effects of swirl and buoyancy on laminar and moderately turbulent jets are explored. A literature review of similarity solutions is presented and summarized. Three dimensional direct numerical simulations are performed to solve the time dependent, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, with Reynolds numbers ranging between 100 and 2000. We use a body fitted grid system and employ the finite volume method to discretize the governing equations. A second-order central difference scheme is employed for all spatial derivative terms. The numerical simulation is advanced in time by a fractional step method with second-order Adams-Bashforth scheme for explicit-convection terms and the CrankNicholson scheme for implicit-diffusion terms. Future plans to extend our work to the high Reynolds number regime are discussed.
265 DIFFERENT EXPRESSION OF ZINC TRANSPORTERS BETWEEN FETAL HUMAN (SMALL INTESTINE) (FHs) AND ADULT HUMAN INTESTINAL CELLS RESULTS IN DIVERGENT EFFECTS OF ZINC EXPOSURE.

Zinc (Zn) homeostasis in adults is primarily regulated by changes in intestine expression and localization of Zn-specific transporters such as Zip4 (primary Zn importer), ZnT-1 (Zn efflux), ZnT-2 (vesicular Zn sequestration), and MT-1 (intracellular metal-chelator). However, Zn absorption and excretion are higher and less regulated, respectively, in premature infants, suggesting that mechanism-regulating intestinal Zn homeostasis may be immature. We used cultured fetal (FHs) and adult (Caco-2) intestine cell lines to determine difference in Zn uptake, Zn transporter expression (MT-1, ZnT-1, ZnT-2, and Zip4), and effects of acute (1 h) Zn exposure (50 μM). Zn supplementation induced higher Zn uptake (3-fold) in fetal cells, which were also more sensitive to Zn exposure than adult cells (FHs, LD50 = 70 μM; Caco-2, LD50 = 120 μM). Our data suggest that these differences may be a result of differential expression of Zn-specific transporters as fetal cells do not express Zip4 but have higher Zip1 (2-fold) and Zip3 (3-fold) and lower ZnT-1 (20%) and ZnT-2 (50%) expression compared to adult cells. While acute Zn exposure post-transcriptionally increased Zip4 and ZnT-1 protein levels, resulting in no effects on MT-1 (an indicator of cellular stress or Zn levels) in adult cells, Zn exposure increased MT-1, ZnT-1, and ZnT-2 mRNA and ZnT-1 protein levels in fetal cells. We speculate that this difference is due to the inability of fetal cells to tightly regulate Zn uptake as a result of absence of Zip4 expression. In conclusion, our data suggest that the lack of Zip4 expression in fetal intestine cells may be responsible for the difference in Zn absorption observed between preterm infants and adults, resulting in the lack of sensitive regulation at this age.
Evaluation and management of dyspepsia

Dyspepsia, often defined as chronic or recurrent discomfort centered in the upper abdomen, can be caused by a variety of conditions. Common etiologies include peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux. Serious causes, such as gastric and pancreatic cancers, are rare but must also be considered. Symptoms of possible causes often overlap, which can make initial diagnosis difficult. In many patients, a definite cause is never established. The initial evaluation of patients with dyspepsia includes a thorough history and physical examination, with special attention given to elements that suggest the presence of serious disease. Endoscopy should be performed promptly in patients who have "alarm symptoms" such as melena or anorexia. Optimal management remains controversial in young patients who do not have alarm symptoms. Although management should be individualized, a cost-effective initial approach is to test for Helicobacter pylori and treat the infection if the test is positive. If the H. pylori test is negative, empiric therapy with a gastric acid suppressant or prokinetic agent is recommended. If symptoms persist or recur after six to eight weeks of empiric therapy, endoscopy should be performed.
Adaptive control of chemical distributed parameter systems

Abstract The adaptive output feedback control problem of chemical distributed parameter systems is investigated while the process parameters are unknown. Such systems can be usually modeled by semi-linear partial differential equations (PDEs). A combination of Galerkin's method and proper orthogonal decomposition is applied to generate a reduced order model which captures the dominant dynamic behavior of the system and can be used as the basis for Lyapunov-based adaptive controller design. The proposed control method is illustrated on thermal dynamics regulation in a tubular chemical reactor where the temperature spatiotemporal dynamic behavior is modeled in the form of a semi-linear PDE.
A Chinese Christian Leader Revisited: The John Sung Papers at Yale Divinity Library

ABSTRACTJohn Sung (1901–1944) was a prominent Chinese Christian evangelist whose enduring influence is still recognized through China and Southeast Asia. His reputation has long been based primarily on his autobiography and excerpts from his diaries that his daughter Levi Sung selected and published. The correspondence, writings, and extensive diaries of Sung recently acquired by the Yale Divinity Library shed new light on his life and work. This article gives a detailed account of provenance, content, and format of all the materials included in the Sung papers. They are invaluable to the study and rediscovery of Sung's life, thought, and ministry as well as the history and development of indigenous Christianity and churches in China and Southeast Asia. This article also examines Sung's English diaries from the period of his hospitalization in a psychiatric facility to reveal complexities in Sung that have been less evident in published biographies and writings. Five additional original diary entries will...
Some properties of solutions of a scalar Riccati equation with complex coefficients

We give the definition of normal and limit solutions of the Riccati equation with complex coefficients and study some properties of these solutions. We prove the minimality property of a solution of a system of two linear first-order ordinary differential equations.
Many Mornings After: Campus Sexual Assault and Feminist Politics

In 1994, the feminist journalist Katie Roiphe published a book titled The Morning After in which she argues that the women's movement had become obsessed with victimization. With many of her case examples centered on campus sexual politics, Roiphe laments college women's demands for the very forms of patriarchal protections that second-wave feminists fought to overturn. In the two decades since the publication of this book, campus activists have gained considerable ground in bringing sexual assault into public awareness, insisting (contra Roiphe) that victims have been all too silent. This article presents an appraisal of this historical legacy and draws out key lessons to be learned from the history of feminist organizing around sexual assault on campuses. The author explains how radical, liberal, and socialist feminist politics offer different lenses for framing sexual assault and discusses the value of a psychoanalytic feminist optics for thinking through dilemmas at the level of political practice.
Graph-Regularized Generalized Low-Rank Models

Image data is frequently extremely large and oftentimes pixel values are occluded or observed with noise. Additionally, images can be related to each other, as in images of a particular individual. This method augments the recently proposed Generalized Low Rank Model (GLRM) framework with graph regularization, which flexibly models relationships between images. For example, relationships might include images that change slowly over time (as in video or surveillance data), images of the same individual, or diagnostic images which picture the same medical condition. This paper proposes a fast optimization method to solve these graph-regularized GLRMs, which we have released as an open-source software library. We demonstrate that the method outperforms competing methods on a variety of data sets, and show how to use this method to classify and group images.
What drives the relationship between combat and alcohol problems in soldiers? The roles of perception and marriage.

While the relationship between combat exposure and alcohol problems is well-established, the role of perceptions of trauma is less understood. The goal of this study was to explore associations between National Guard (NG) and reserve soldiers’ perceptions of combat experiences as traumatic and alcohol problems, and to examine marital satisfaction as a possible protective factor. The Operation: SAFETY study recruited US Army Reserve and NG soldiers and their partners to complete a questionnaire covering many physical and mental health, military service, and substance use topics. Negative binomial regression models examined the impact of perceived trauma of combat experiences on alcohol problems (N = 198). The potential role of marital satisfaction as a resiliency factor was also examined. The perception of combat experiences as traumatic was associated with increased risk of alcohol problems (risk ratio [RR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01, 1.12; p = 0.024). Combat exposure itself showed no relationship. Marital satisfaction had a significant interaction with perceived combat trauma on alcohol problems (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.81, 0.99, p = 0.046), such that soldiers who perceived combat exposure as moderately-highly traumatic were less likely to have alcohol problems when they rated their marital satisfaction highly. Our results demonstrate that the perception of combat experiences as traumatic may be a greater contributor to adverse outcomes, such as alcohol problems, than mere combat exposure. They also demonstrate the importance of marital satisfaction as a resiliency factor, particularly at the highest levels of trauma.
Ethylene Perception in Tomato: Lots of Genes, Lots of Functions

Significant progress has been made in characterizing the components of ethylene signal transduction in plants in recent years. The tomato is an excellent model for studying developmental regulation of ethylene perception. Several ethylene-mediated developmental processes including fruit ripening, floral abscission and floral senescence exhibit differential hormone sensitivity. We have focused on characterization of the family of genes encoding ethylene receptors in tomato. To date, we have identified five members of this family. The proteins display major structural differences, suggesting that they may not be entirely functionally redundant. Further, expression of each gene family member is spatially distinct. The differential expression of these quite divergent proteins suggests several levels at which regulation of ethylene perception is possible.
Controlled Delivery Systems for Proteins Using Polyanhydride Microspheres

A method to provide near-constant sustained release of high molecular weight, water-soluble proteins from polyanhydride microspheres is described. The polyanhydrides used were poly (fatty acid dimer) (PFAD), poly(sebacic acid) (PSA), and their copolymers [P(FAD-SA)]. P(FAD-SA) microspheres containing proteins of different molecular sizes—lysozyme, trypsin, heparinase, ovalbumin, albumin, and immunoglobulin—were prepared by a solvent evaporation method using a double emulsion. The microspheres containing proteins were spherical, with diameters of 50–125 µm, and encapsulated more than 80% of the protein, irrespective of the protein used. Enzymatic activity studies showed that encapsulation of enzymes inside polyanhydride microspheres can protect them from activity loss. When not placed inside polyanhydride microspheres, trypsin lost 80% of its activity in solution at 37°C at pH 7.4 in 12 hr, whereas inside the polyanhydride microspheres the activity loss was less than 10% under these conditions. About 47% of the enzymatic activity of heparinase encapsulated in the microspheres was lost at 37°C in 24 hr, while in solution it lost over 90% of its activity. The protein-loaded microspheres displayed near-zero-order erosion kinetics over 5 days as judged by the release of sebacic acid (SA) from the microspheres. The microspheres degraded to form SA and FAD monomers. All proteins were released at a near-constant rate without any large initial burst, irrespective of polymer molecular weight and protein loading. The period of protein release was longer than that of SA and continued protein release was observed even after the microsphere matrix had completely degraded. Differential scanning calorimetric studies demonstrated an interaction between protein and the FAD monomers produced with microsphere degradation. It is likely that the protein interaction with FAD monomers permits formation of water-insoluble protein aggregates which slowly dissolve and diffuse out of the matrix, leading to delayed protein release. For trypsin-loaded microspheres, trypsin lost 40% of its activity during microsphere preparation. Activity studies demonstrated that the sonication process was primarily responsible for activity loss. A reduction in the period of ultrasound exposure decreased the loss of protein activity to around 20%.
Food Chain Profiles

Several examples of food chain changes in PCB residue composition have been introduced in Chapter 5. Factors favoring accumulation of specific congeners have been interspersed throughout the text. These factors include air transport and herbage uptake (Chapter 4) and air H water H sediment exchanges as they influence the accumulation by aquatic and marine biota (Chapter 5). Individual organism metabolism and toxicokinetics were discussed in Chapters 5, 6 and 7. Aquatic and marine biota bioconcentrate PCBs and other POPs through contact with sediments and waters as well as through food chains. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification through dietary sources, however, are more important for terrestrial organisms. Each dietary source has a unique profile of specific PCB congeners. For example, the CBs and other POPs present in fish influence the profiles accumulated in fish-eating birds. Birds feeding mainly on invertebrates retain a somewhat different mixture, including a CB 101/118 ratio higher than most other homeotherms (Section 7.5.2). PCB-exposed insects, at least, also transfer complex mixtures of retained metabolites (Chapter 6; Section 7.5.3). Perhaps of greater importance, certain observed responses in bird populations have been correlated with diet and the CAs dominating the burdens of the different food types (Arenal, 1997; Fox et al., 1997; Fry, 1995; Kubiak et al., 1989). Omnivores accumulate a more balanced mixture of toxicants and may be only briefly and sporadically challenged. Fish have long been considered to provide the greatest food-borne toxicant challenge to omnivores.
Overestimation of liquefaction hazard in areas of low to moderate seismicity due to improper characterization of probabilistic seismic loading

Abstract This study evaluates the impact of characterizing probabilistic ground motions for liquefaction hazard analysis (defined and quantified in this paper as liquefaction triggering and free-field post-liquefaction settlements) in areas of low to moderate seismicity. Both pseudo-probabilistic and probabilistic (i.e., performance-based) methods are assessed and compared. Results of the comparative study suggest that pseudo-probabilistic methods can significantly overestimate liquefaction hazards in areas of low seismicity. Performance-based probabilistic methods are shown to predict between 5.2 cm and 16.5 cm (approximately 36–47%) less post-liquefaction free-field settlement on average than pseudo-probabilistic methods in areas of low seismicity at a return period of 2475 years, and to predict 9 cm to 19.7cm (approximately 96%) less post-liquefaction free-field settlement on average than pseudo-probabilistic methods at a return period of 475 years. Soil site classification is shown to have substantial impact on the estimated liquefaction hazards in areas of low seismicity due to soil amplification, potentially increasing design accelerations by up to 56%. Consequences of inconsistencies regarding design ground motions in current seismic design provisions are also discussed. To avoid potential for overpredicting liquefaction hazards, engineers should apply a performance-based approach when assessing liquefaction triggering and its effects in areas of low to moderate seismicity.
Subtle scales: An avenue for identification of prescription drug abuse.

Abstract Prescription drug abuse and diversion behavior is sustained by overprescribing of abuse-liable substances. Individuals who intend to abuse or divert prescriptions can feign symptoms easily and effectively. Efforts to identify such faking behavior have been lacking because most drug abuse screening tools and self-reported symptom inventories are known to have poor sensitivities to faking. This paper makes the case for the potential of subtle scales in the identification of faking behavior. Subtlety in scale development is the degree to which the psychopathological meaning of an item can be determined in an a priori fashion. Scales containing subtle items, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory, have traditionally shown only moderate sensitivity to faking due to the lack of a tailored and focused approach. This paper provides a guide for the development of a subtle scale that is tailored to a specific condition and using sound measurement theory, a theoretical framework, and knowledge derived from literature. The Accuracy of Knowledge framework proposed by Lanyon is presented along with its application to the development of a subtle scale. Further, specific recommendations have been provided for the various steps involved in the development of a subtle scale including item development, sample selection, item refinement, and scale scoring. Use of well-developed subtle scales can present opportunities to reduce overprescribing, over-diagnosis, and help in the early identification of abuse behavior for targeted interventions. We conclude by presenting opportunities, scope, and possible avenues for research within the cultural context of the United States.
Natural Antibodies and Left Ventricular Assist Device Complications

Purpose Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are widely used as a bridge to heart transplantation or destination therapy for advanced heart failure. However, hemocompatibility-related complications such as pump thrombosis, stroke and bleeding remain frequent. We previously reported that LVAD implantation is followed by a sharp increase in serum levels of IgG natural antibodies (Nabs) recognizing oxidation-specific epitopes (OSE). Nabs have been implicated in inflammatory reactions related to atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke and primary graft dysfunction following heart transplantation. However, the consequence of IgG Nabs production following LVAD is not known. We hypothesized that Nabs generated following implant may contribute to LVAD complications by modulating the coagulation cascade. Methods We studied a cohort of adult patients who received a continuous flow LVAD at Columbia University/NewYork Presbyterian Hospital. Nabs and anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) were measured in pre- and post-LVAD sera at 1, 6 and 12 months by assessing IgG reactivity to the OSE malondialdehyde (MDA) or β2-glycoprotein complexes by ELISA. In a subset of patients, Nabs were measured at day 1 to 7 post-implant. The effect of IgG Nabs on hemostasis was tested by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) by adding IgG purified from pre- and post-LVAD serum to ABO blood type-matched donor blood. Wilcoxon's signed rank test for matched pairs or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare measurements. Results Mean IgG Nabs levels were significantly increased in post-LVAD sera at 1 (7040±1680 ELISA units, p Conclusion Our studies revealed that serum IgG Nabs reactive to oxidized epitopes are elevated following LVAD implant. Appearance of Nabs was not accompanied by aPL increase. IgG Nabs prolonged the clotting time of donor whole blood, suggesting that Nabs modulate the coagulation pathway. These findings suggest that IgG Nabs may contribute to hemocompatibility-related complications in LVAD recipients.
Ibrexafungerp: A novel oral glucan synthase inhibitor

Ibrexafungerp is a novel glucan synthase inhibitor currently undergoing phase II and phase III clinical trials. This compound has demonstrated in vitro activity against clinically important fungal pathogens including Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. It is able to retain activity against many echinocandin-resistant strains of Candida due to differential avidity for the target site compared to echinocandins. In vivo animal models have demonstrated efficacy in murine models of invasive candidiasis, aspergillosis, and pneumocystis. Due to high bioavailability, it can be administered both orally and intravenously. A favorable drug interaction and tolerability profile is observed with this compound. This review summarizes existing data that have either been published or presented at international symposia.