cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oral Immunotherapy (OIT)

Currently, there is no approved therapy for food allergies. Thus, treatment strategies are limited to avoidance of the allergic food and having emergency treatment available for reactions. An increasing amount of research into food allergy treatments has occurred in response to this void, with oral immunotherapy (OIT) being the most researched treatment strategy to date. From the multiple studies examining OIT for IgE-mediated food allergies, it appears that this treatment can lead to desensitization in the majority of patients who tolerate the therapy. Adverse effects to OIT are common and sometimes severe. Therefore, combination with other therapeutic approaches may be needed to improve the safety of OIT for many patients.
Clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality in venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

INTRODUCTION Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is utilized as a life-saving procedure and bridge to myocardial recovery for patients in refractory cardiogenic shock. Despite technical advancements, VA-ECMO retains high mortality. This study aims to identify the clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality after VA-ECMO to improve risk stratification for this tenuous patient population. METHODS The REgistry for Cardiogenic Shock: Utility and Efficacy of Device Therapy database is a multicenter, observational registry of ECMO patients. From 2013 to 2018, 789 patients underwent VA-ECMO. Bivariate analysis was performed on more than 300 variables regarding their association with in-hospital mortality. Logistic regression analyses were performed with variables chosen based upon clinical and statistical significance in the bivariate analysis. Tests were considered significant at a two-sided P < .05. RESULTS Although 63.5% patients were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO, in-hospital mortality was 57.9%. Nonsurvivors were older (P < .0001), had higher body mass index (P = .01), higher rates of hypertension (P = .02), coronary artery disease (P = .02), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .02), chronic liver disease (P = .008), percutaneous coronary intervention (P = .02), and surgical revascularization (P = .02). Multivariate predictors for in-hospital mortality include older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.019; P = .007), cardiac arrest (OR, 2.76; P = .006), chronic liver disease (OR, 8.87; P = .04), elevated total bilirubin (OR, 1.093; P < .0001), and the presence of a left ventricular vent (OR, 2.018; P = .03). Pre-ECMO sinus rhythm was protective (OR, 0.374; P = .006). CONCLUSIONS In a large study of recent VA-ECMO patients, in-hospital mortality remains significant, but acceptable given the severe pathology manifested in this population. Identification of pre-ECMO predictors of mortality helps stratify high-risk patients when deciding on ECMO placement, prolonged support, and prognosis.
Presidential Emergency Powers: In Search of a Definition of ‘Emergency’

To what extent can Congress provide statutory guidance to the President about what constitutes an emergency without infringing upon presidential authority? Are emergencies -- unexpected and unusual events – even capable of being defined legislatively in a manner that is neither vague and overbroad, nor under-inclusive? To date, Congress has not attempted to define the term “emergency” in a manner that might test these issues. The reasons why Congress didn’t provide a definition of the term “emergency” in the National Emergencies Act is yet another puzzling matter. After reviewing the legislative history of the National Emergencies Act, this paper will suggest an approach to defining an “emergency” based on separation of powers considerations. It will then consider whether this definition of the term “emergency” might survive scrutiny by the Supreme Court based upon its separation of powers jurisprudence.
The Transient Human Thyroid Progenitor Cell: Examining the Thyroid Continuum from Stem Cell to Follicular Cell.

Background: The development of the thyroid follicular cell has been well characterized as it progresses from the original stem cell, either embryonic or adult, through a series of transitions to fo...
Health care utilization and outcomes of sepsis in HIV versus non-HIV patients with Burkitt Lymphoma: A nationwide analysis.

e19561Background: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive AIDS-defining malignancy, the incidence of which has not declined over the last 2 decades despite use of antiretroviral therapy. HIV-BL is m...
Bowel Perforation After Treatment with Sorafenib: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Sorafenib, one of the multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, is currently FDA approved for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (2005), unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (2007), and differentiated thyroid carcinoma (2013) [1]. Prior studies have shown that bevacizumab therapy, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has significantly increased risk of gastrointestinal perforation with a relative risk of 2.14 (95 % CI 1.19–3.85; p=0.011) [2]. However, the association between gastrointestinal perforation and newer multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors that inhibit other pathways in addition to VEGF is not well established [3]. We describe a case of bowel perforation in a patient on sorafenib and review the literature on similar cases.
Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors for Time & Energy Resolved Single-Photon Counters and for Dark Matter Searches

This paper presents a review and recent progress using transition-edge-sensors (TES) for cryogenic particle detectors. First, by directly absorbing photons in tungsten TES devices, an instrument has been made which time stamps (0.1 microsec) and energy resolves (0.15 eV FWHM) each photon at rates > 10 kHz. Observations of the Crab pulsar are the first time-resolved and broad spectrum infrared through full optical data on any astronomical object. Second, in the CDMS (cryogenic dark matter search) experiment looking for weakly interacting massive particles or WIMPs, large crystals of silicon and germanium are instrumented with superconducting QET (quasiparticle-trap-assisted electrothermal-feedback transition-edge-sensors) phonon sensors which provide the recoil energy and location in x, y and z for each event. Together with an ionization readout, these detectors provide powerful discrimination capabilities against known backgrounds and they are now the most sensitive probes for WIMP dark matter.
History from Six‐feet Below: Death Studies and the Field of Modern Middle East History

This article explores the intersections between scholarship of the nascent field of Death Studies and that of modern Middle East history. Death is both present and absent in the field of modern Middle East history. Death is present in that it is omnipresent; the discipline of history requires an inquiry into the worlds of those who have died, and Middle East scholars have long spoken of death and used the archives of death (e.g. probate courts or death certificates) in their research. However, death is absent in that it usually plays a supporting role and is rarely the primary lens of analysis in Middle East scholarship. This article discusses some of the existing literature, including that of cemeteries, burials and funerals, public health, crime, and legal reform. I argue that increased and conscientious engagement between the fields of Death Studies and modern Middle East history is both possible and productive. Placing death at the center of historical analysis asks questions of power and space, such as who controls the body, where a body might be buried, how a death should be processed, and what impact the dead might have on the various domains of the living. Moreover, it requires the scholar to grapple ideas that cannot be disentwined such as the tangible (e.g. body) and the intangible (e.g. spirituality), or public space and political belonging, in the process of illuminating how the dead continue to make social, spatial, and political claims on the living.
Glycine Metabolism III. A FLAVIN-LINKED DEHYDROGENASE ASSOCIATED WITH THE GLYCINE CLEAVAGE SYSTEM IN PEPTOCOCCUS GLYCINOPHILUS

Abstract One of the four proteins involved in the cleavage of glycine to 1-carbon units and the transfer of electrons from glycine to diphosphopyridine nucleotide is a flavoprotein. Precipitation of the protein with acid ammonium sulfate in the presence of 1 m potassium bromide separated the coenzyme from the apoenzyme. The latter was fully reactivated by incubation with flavin adenine dinucleotide, but showed no activity with flavin mononucleotide. The flavoprotein could be reduced either by glycine or by reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide. When reduced by the latter, no protein other than the flavoprotein was required for the electron transfer, but to achieve a measurable rate of reduction by glycine it was necessary to add the three other proteins plus tetrahydrofolate. Dihydrofolate was entirely inactive in the system.
Yeast Aldehyde Dehydrogenase I. PURIFICATION AND CRYSTALLIZATION

Abstract The potassium-activated, pyridine nucleotide-linked aldehyde dehydrogenase from yeast has been purified to the stage of homogeneity as judged by ultracentrifugation and gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has been crystallized, although this is not a recommended step in purification because loss of catalytic activity is thereby incurred. At least three separable, active fractions were obtained with the large-scale purification procedure presented in this report. However, only one major fraction was found when precautions were taken to minimize proteolysis. The purified aldehyde dehydrogenase has a molecular weight of 200,000.
Robustness and Convergence of P-type Learning Control

The robustness and convergence of P-type learning control algorithms for a class of time-varying, nonlinear systems to state disturbances, measurement noise at the output, and reinitialization errors at each iteration is studied extensively. We present the uniform boundedness of the system states with respect to the existence of errors of initialization, measurement noises and fluctuations of system dynamics. Furthermore, the system output converges uniformly to the desired one whenever all disturbances tend to zero. Moreover, implication of our results to robot manipulator, and linear systems are presented.
Distribution of atmospheric ozone and how it is measured

The total amount of ozone in a vertical column has been measured spectroscopically at near ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, using ground- and satellite-based instruments. The vertical distribution of ozone from the surface up to approximately 100 km has been measured by a variety of techniques - chemical and optical - and from a number of observing platforms, including balloon, rocket, and satellite platforms. The various methods presently used for determining the atmospheric ozone distribution are reviewed, along with a discussion of their advantages and disadvantages. The observed average distribution of total ozone for the period 1958-1975 shows the expected geographic and seasonal variations. The variations of total ozone, including hemispheric differences, are clearly associated with large-scale circulation processes in the lower stratosphere. Approximately ten years of observations of the vertical ozone distribution, up through the ozone maximum, also show geographic and seasonal variations strongly related to the lower stratosphere circulation. The distribution above the maximum, however, results from the interaction of photochemistry and stratospheric motions.
Physical Attractiveness: An Adaptationist Perspective

How and why do our minds generate different levels of attraction to others? This chapter integrates life history, evolutionary psychology, and human biology approaches to address this question. Biological adaptations regulate a vast number of life history trade-offs that affect how we look, smell, sound, and behave. Selection produced adaptations that evaluate these cues and regulate our degree of attraction to others based on their relative probable social value to us in different contexts. This chapter outlinesthe alternative evolutionary explanations for the emergence of an attraction,basic components necessary for attraction systems to evolve, and sources of variation in attractiveness assessment. It identifies different domains of social value for which attractiveness assessment evolved, reviews evidence for some of the hypothesized attractiveness-assessment adaptations in those domains, and highlights avenues calling for increased attention. Finally, it calls for greater integration of evolutionary psychology, human biological research, and data from small-scale foraging societies to generate predictions about these domains of social value, the cues or signals associated with them, adaptations selected to regulate attraction to them, and the life history trade-offs involved in these processes. New research on body shape attractiveness is presented to illustrate these points. Keywords: attractiveness; life history; beauty; social value; waist-to-hip ratio; body shape
Preliminary analysis of age of illness onset effects on symptom profiles in major depressive disorder

OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is prevalent across the lifespan, but relatively little is known about how age of illness onset impacts the cognitive and affective presentation of MDD. METHOD: We explore depressive symptoms and cognition in 70 adults (30-89 years old) with MDD. Participants were divided into three groups on the basis of age of MDD onset: early ( 50 years). Symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; principal component analysis was used to create symptom component scores. Cognitive functions were measured. RESULTS: The late-onset group were significantly older than the early-onset and midlife-onset groups. Analysis controlled for age and hemoglobin A1c levels, as some participants had diabetes. The late-onset group demonstrated greater weight loss and gastrointestinal symptoms compared with the early-onset group. Suicidal thoughts and sleep disturbance were higher in both the early-onset and late-onset groups compared with the midlife-onset group. Correlations between symptom components and cognitive domains varied by age-of-onset group. DISCUSSION: This preliminary analysis demonstrates cognitive and affective profiles that are both unique to age of onset and common across MDD. Symptom profiles may assist in identifying factors influencing depression and enhance the clinical evaluation and care of individuals struggling with the effects of depression across the lifespan. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preliminary Characterization of “Immunogenic” Ribonucleic Acid Derived from Rat Peritoneal Exudate Cells

An “immunogenic” ribonucleic acid (Im-RNA) has been extracted from peritoneal exudate (PE) cells of rats that were immunized with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC). Following multiple phenol extractions and deoxyribonuclease treatment, the material obtained from PE cells was eluted from diethylaminoethyl-cellulose at 0.55 M NaCl concentration and partially purified in this procedure by a factor of 7- to 10-fold. After column chromatography, Im-RNA was found to be free of antigen based on results using 51Cr-labeled SRBC or 14C-dinitrophenol coupled to methylated bovine serum albumin as antigens. The Im-RNA showed a biphasic hyperchromicity curve when heated. The first phase, from 30 C to 90 C was gradual, accounting for 15.2% hyperchromicity suggestive of transfer RNA melting. No loss in immunogenic activity was observed when the Im-RNA was heated to 90 C. The second phase, from 90 C to 102 C, accounting for 15.2% further hyperchromicity, had a calculated Tm of 96 C. Heating above 90 C resulted in an irreversible loss of immunogenic activity. These results strongly suggested that the RNA fraction contained a highly ordered secondary structure such as might be found with double-stranded nucleic acid. The nature and function of the Im-RNA is discussed.
Hedonic product discounts: When is the price right?

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of price discounts on products perceived to provide hedonic value vs those perceived to evoke displeasure. Also examined were the effects of various discount levels on consumer intentions to purchase. Design/methodology/approach – The study design was a 2 (emotion-evoked) × 2 (price) × 3 (level of discount) mixed-factorial design. In this study, 182 participants were presented with several products and indicated whether they would shop with a competitor offering various price discounts on pleasure- vs displeasure-evoking products. Findings – ANOVA results indicated a significant main effect of price discounts on intention to purchase and a significant interaction between price discount and type/price of product. Discounts mattered more between certain levels (10 and 50 per cent) than others (50 versus 70 per cent). Discounts mattered more for hedonic products (pleasure-evoking) than those that evoked displeasure; however, price trumped all fac...
Biomechanics of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint

Abstract This article summarizes the kinematics of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint during locomotion at walk and trot. The patterns and ranges of motion in flexion and extension are very similar at walk (range of motion: 46±40) and trot (range of motion: 47±40). In both gaits there is a cucle of flexion that peaks in the first half of stance. The joint is extended through the remainder of stance in opposition to a palmar moment generated by the deep digital flexor tendon and its accessory ligament and the navicular ligaments. During locomotion in a straight line, small amounts of abduction/adduction (∼50) and internal/external rotation (5-60) occur, especially around the times of contact and breakover. Extra-sagittal motions increase as a consequence of hoof imbalance, during turning or when the horse moves over uneven terrain.
Kelvin Probe electrode for contactless potential measurement on concrete – Properties and corrosion profiling application

Abstract The practical feasibility of Kelvin Probe measurement of potential of the concrete surface was demonstrated. The measurements require no contact between the reference element and the concrete. Potential readings when placing the probe on dry concrete were nearly instantaneous and highly stable, in contrast with considerable potential drift with a conventional wet-tip electrode. The probe output was only modestly sensitive to the reference element working distance. The shape and range of potential profiles measured with the probe on concrete with locally corroding reinforcement were consistent with those using a conventional wet-tip reference electrode, both identifying the anode location.
Agglutination of erythrocyte stromata by myxoviruses in agar gel

Abstract A new procedure for studying interaction of viruses with erythrocyte receptors is described by demonstrating that myxoviruses diffusing in agar gel against erythrocyte stromata form distinct reaction lines. Reactions obtained with influenza viruses A, A2, and B as well as with Newcastle disease virus are described and discussed.
Synergy between 13C-metabolic flux analysis and flux balance analysis for understanding metabolic adaption to anaerobiosis in E. coli

Genome-based Flux Balance Analysis (FBA) and steady-state isotopic-labeling-based Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA) are complimentary approaches to predicting and measuring the operation and regulation of metabolic networks. Here, genome-derived models of Escherichia coli (E. coli) metabolism were used for FBA and ¹³C-MFA analyses of aerobic and anaerobic growths of wild-type E. coli (K-12 MG1655) cells. Validated MFA flux maps reveal that the fraction of maintenance ATP consumption in total ATP production is about 14% higher under anaerobic (51.1%) than aerobic conditions (37.2%). FBA revealed that an increased ATP utilization is consumed by ATP synthase to secrete protons from fermentation. The TCA cycle is shown to be incomplete in aerobically growing cells and submaximal growth is due to limited oxidative phosphorylation. An FBA was successful in predicting product secretion rates in aerobic culture if both glucose and oxygen uptake measurement were constrained, but the most-frequently predicted values of internal fluxes yielded from sampling the feasible space differ substantially from MFA-derived fluxes.
Preliminary Study of the Khatena-Morse Multitalent Perception Inventory

The Khatena-Morse Multitalent Perception Inventory has two forms of 50 items each designed to identify leadership, music, art, and creative talent of people age 10 yr. and over. It was developed on the basis of previous research and hypotheses about these areas of talent reported and used by the first author in the construction of earlier records for assessment of talent. Most subjects can complete the inventory in 10 to 30 min. Scoring is done by counting affirmative responses; the total serves as a versatility index. Internal consistency, alternate forms, and test-retest reliability, and indices of validity indicate the inventory is promising as a brief screening device for multitalent presently defined as versatility.
Brain-derived TNFα: involvement in neuroplastic changes implicated in the conscious perception of persistent pain

The pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) is implicated in the development of persistent pain through its actions in the periphery and in the central nervous system (CNS). Activation of the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor is associated with modulation of pain, possibly through its autoregulatory effect on norepinephrine (NE) release in the CNS. The present study employs a chronic constriction nerve injury (CCI) pain model to demonstrate the interactive role of presynaptic sensitivity to TNFalpha and the alpha(2)-adrenergic autoreceptor in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Accumulation of TNFalpha is increased initially in a region of the brain containing the locus coeruleus (LC) at day 4 post-ligature placement, followed by an increase in TNFalpha in the hippocampus at day 8 post-ligature placement, coincident with hyperalgesia. Levels of TNFalpha in the thoraco-lumbar spinal cord are also increased at day 8 post-ligature placement. Concurrently, alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor and TNFalpha-induced inhibition of NE release are increased, and stimulated NE release is decreased in superfused hippocampal slices isolated at day 8 post-ligature placement. Stimulated NE release is also decreased in spinal cord slices (lumbar region) from animals undergoing CCI, although in contrast to that which occurs in the hippocampus, alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor inhibition of NE release is not changed. These results indicate an important role that TNFalpha plays in adrenergic neuroplastic changes in a region of the brain that, among its many functions, appears to be a crucial link in the conscious perception of pain. We predict that neuroplastic changes, involving increased functional responses of alpha(2)-adrenergic autoreceptors and increased presynaptic sensitivity to TNFalpha, culminate in decreased NE release in the CNS. These neuroplastic changes provide a mechanism for the role of CNS-derived TNFalpha in the pathogenesis of persistent pain.
Authoritarian State Building and the Sources of Regime Competitiveness in the Fourth Wave: The Cases of Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine

This article explores the sources of regime competitiveness in the post–cold war era through a structured comparison of regime trajectories in Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine, for the period 1992–2004. An examination of these cases suggests the need for a fundamental rethinking of the commonly held view of the transition process—especially in countries that face relatively weak international democratizing pressures. Approaching these countries as unconsolidated autocracies rather than as simply emerging democracies draws attention to key sources of political competition that have largely been ignored in the literature on competitive regimes. Thus, competitive politics in Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine were rooted less in robust civil societies, strong democratic institutions, or leadership than in the inability of incumbents to maintain power or concentrate political control by preserving elite unity, controlling elections, and/or using force against opponents. Such "pluralism by default" has been the outgrowth of the strength of anti-incumbent national identity and incumbent weakness as defined by a lack of know-how, ineffective incumbent organization, and/or the weakness of certain dimensions of state power.
Modelling Dyadic Interaction with Hawkes Processes

We apply the Hawkes process to the analysis of dyadic interaction. The Hawkes process is applicable to excitatory interactions, wherein the actions of each individual increase the probability of further actions in the near future. We consider the representation of the Hawkes process both as a conditional intensity function and as a cluster Poisson process. The former treats the probability of an action in continuous time via non-stationary distributions with arbitrarily long historical dependency, while the latter is conducive to maximum likelihood estimation using the EM algorithm. We first outline the interpretation of the Hawkes process in the dyadic context, and then illustrate its application with an example concerning email transactions in the work place.
Cathode refunctionalization as a lithium ion battery recycling alternative

Abstract An approach to battery end-of-life (EOL) management is developed involving cathode refunctionalization, which enables remanufacturing of the cathode from EOL materials to regain the electrochemical performance. To date, the optimal end-of-life management of cathode materials is based on economic value and environmental impact which can influence the methods and stage of recycling. Traditional recycling methods can recover high value metal elements (e.g. Li, Co, Ni), but still require synthesis of new cathode from a mix of virgin and recovered materials. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) has been selected for study as a representative cathode material due to recent mass adoption and limited economic recycling drivers due to the low inherent cost of iron. Refunctionalization of EOL LiFePO4 cathode was demonstrated through electrochemical and chemical lithiation methods where the re-lithiated LiFePO4 regained the original capacity of 150–155 mAh g−1. The environmental impact of the new recycling technique was determined by comparing the embodied energy of cathode material originating from virgin, recycled, and refunctionalized materials. The results demonstrate that the LiFePO4 refunctionalization process, through chemical lithiation, decreases the embodied energy by 50% compared to cathode production from virgin materials.
Elements of prognosis in psychotherapy.

The present paper examined a number of elements which may be used to estimate patients' prognoses in psychotherapy. Since increased professional accountability requires therapists to deliver more c...
Technological aids for inclusive classrooms

aspect of the inclusion process is to determine whether or not new technological tools and techniques might be able to reduce the burden of these expanded responsibilities. This article explores some of the relevant features of the integration of technological tools into both regular and special education, seeking to determine those positive and negative features that would impact on the usefulness of new technologies as aids to inclusion.
Descriptive Analysis and U.S. Consumer Acceptability of 6 Green Tea Samples from China, Japan, and Korea

In the past, green tea has been one of the least popular nonalcoholic beverages for U.S. consumers. However, green tea has been receiving attention because of its potential health benefits. Knowing which green tea flavor attributes contribute to consumer liking will help the fast growing green tea business including green tea importers, tea shops, and beverage companies to understand which characteristics are most accepted by U.S. consumers. The objectives of this study were (1) to examine differences in acceptability of commonly available loose leaf and bagged green teas available from the major exporters to the U.S. (Japan, Korea, and China) and (2) to determine which green tea flavor characteristics are related to consumers' liking. In the study, consumers from the U.S. evaluated 6 green tea samples from China, Japan, and Korea for acceptability. A highly trained panel also evaluated the green tea samples to provide descriptive sensory attributes that might be related to acceptability. We found that U.S. consumers liked green tea samples with lower flavor intensity and lower bitterness intensity. Consumers' acceptability of green tea was negatively correlated with spinach and animalic flavor and bitterness and astringency of green teas evaluated using descriptive sensory analysis, but the correlation was only moderate. To learn what green tea flavor characteristics influence consumers' liking, future studies using more green tea samples with different flavor profiles are needed.
Perceived Group Status Differences and the Effects of Gender, Ethnicity, and Religion on Social Dominance Orientation.

Social dominance orientation (SDO) is a measure of general desire for group-based dominance. According to social dominance theory, the higher the status of one's group, the higher one's level of SDO should be. This study examined the extent to which between-group differences in SDO increase as the size of the perceived status gap between the groups increases. Data were collected in Israel, Northern Ireland, and the United States. In agreement with expectations, differences in SDO between arbitrary-set groups (e.g., ethnic and religious groups) were found to be greater when the status gap between the groups was perceived to be larger. In contrast, gender differences in SDO did not vary as a function of the size of the perceived status gap between men and women: Men had higher levels of SDO than women even when the gender status gap was perceived to be very small. These findings highlight the effects of perceived group status on SDO and the degree to which these effects vary depending on whether the salient group distinction is based on gender, ethnicity, or religion.
Energy efficient wireless sensor network for dynamic system monitoring

This paper presents a systematic approach to the design and implementation of an energy-efficient multi-sensor network. The nodes of the sensor network form the basis of a sectioned Bayesian network that can be used to determine the state of the system being monitored. A key issue in the design of Bayesian networks for monitoring engineering systems is to ensure that reliable inference scheme about the health state of the system can be made by combining information acquired from each sensor in the system into a single Bayesian network. As the size of the network increases, aggregating information made by all the sensors becomes computationally intractable. Hence, sectioning of the Bayesian network based on functional or logical constraints allows computational efficiency in aggregating information and reduces overall communication requirements. Furthermore, an in-network data processing scheme, motivated by the concept of Dynamic Voltage Scheduling, has been investigated to minimize computation energy consumption through dynamically adjusting the voltage supply and clock frequency of the individual sensors. As a result, the processor idle time can be better utilized for prolonged computation latency, leading to significantly reduced energy cost and increased computational efficiency.
“Who” is a “Topical Measuring” Postphenomenologist and How Does One Get That Way?

Gert Goeminne’s paper is primarily concerned with “the politics of sustainable technology,” but for good reasons he does not start with this topic. He knows that technology studies as he conceives it must clear a space for itself in a philosophical atmosphere that discourages its pursuit. He therefore begins with a critique of this objectivistic and technocratically defined atmosphere, before moving on to embrace a postphenomenology of technological multistabilities, and then further to introduce what he calls (in an adaptation of Rudolf Boehm) the “topical measure” of technoscientific life. The problem I raise is not about Goeminne’s aims, with which I mostly agree, but with his presentation of how to achieve them. I argue that if one were actually to follow his advice—that is, start with critique, move on to postphenomenology, and end with “political” evaluation of technoscientific life, the project would be doomed to failure. For in our world, no one Understands this pluralizing vision. According to the understanding we actually live through and speak from, some of postphenomenology’s multiple disclosures already arrive in our experience with significantly greater ontological power than others, and sincerity about topical measure notwithstanding, the very identification of something as an interest or “value,” especially if it allegedly comes from a “layperson,” already condemns it to secondary status.
Address of honored guest: The physiologic approach to the management of gastric esophageal reflux

0 VER THE PAST 20 years, we have conducted laboratory investigations into the physiology and pathophysiology of gastric esophageal reflux (GER) and had experience with the management of this disorder in more than 2,000 children. This had enabled us to develop a philosophy based on an understanding of the mechanisms of GER and the derangements of these mechanisms. A therapeutic plan based on physiologic principles was then developed. Many of the concepts are so simple that they are often forgotten. The purpose of this paper is to highlight these concepts and present our point of view and results.
Discussion: “A Critical Reexamination of Classical Metal Plasticity” (Wilson, C.D., 2002, ASME J. Appl. Mech., 69, pp. 63–68)

2 c 21 where I 1 and J 2 are the usual stress invariants and a5a/c, a is the pressure coefficient, and c is the strength coefficient. The strength-differential depends only on the parameter a, but pressure-dependence is affected by both a and c. While a and c were shown to be strain-dependent, a was not ~@1#!. In fact, a 5a/c for aluminum was approximately three times that of iron- based materials. Based on the tensile and compressive yield strengths reported by Wilson for 2024-T351 aluminum, presumably using the 0.2% offset strain definition; the yield function parameters can be cal- culated and compared with results from Spitzig and Richmond in Table 1. The pressure-dependence of 1100 and 2024-T351 is similar, but 2024-T351 exhibits a strength-differential (2 a) of 5.9%, while 1100 does not exhibit an appreciable strength-differential. While Wilson did not measure volume change, Spitzig and Richmond did, and found there to be no significant dilation; indicating that an associated flow rule will not correctly predict plastic strain. This is also the case for frictional materials, where it is common to employ a nonassociated flow rule. We have observed strength-differential in laboratory experi- ments using aged Inconel 718 ~a precipitation strengthened nickel- base alloy !~ @2,3#!, 6061-T6 aluminum and 6092/SiC/17.5-T6 ~a particulate reinforced aluminum alloy !~ @4#!. The Mises yield cri- terion does not apply well to these materials either. Our work on Inconel 718 ~@3#! indicates that a J 2-J 3 yield function, which we called a threshold function because we were working in the realm of viscoplasticity, along the lines of that proposed by Drucker @5# for an aluminum alloy was most suitable. Finally, while it is fairly obvious, it is worth pointing out that the Drucker-Prager yield criterion predicts more flow for the same tensile stress than the Mises yield criterion simply due to the presence of the positive I 1 term. Thus, the finite element results of Wilson for Mises and Drucker-Prager yield criteria are self- consistent. It would be interesting to know the range of I 1 for a particular notch geometry.
Bullying and Violence Issues in Children's Lives: Examining the Issues and Solutions.

(2008). Bullying and Violence Issues in Children's Lives: Examining the Issues and Solutions. Childhood Education: Vol. 84, International Focus Issue 2008: Bullying and Violence Issues in Children's Lives: Examining the Issues and Solutions, pp. 336-339.
The First Measurement of Radial Acceleration of Ionized Gas Near Sagittarius A

Motivated by the presence of a massive black hole coincident with Sgr A* at the center of our Galaxy, a number of observers have successfully detected proper motion of ionized gas and stars at the Galactic center. Here we compare the radial velocities of ionized gas in the inner parsec of the Galaxy in three epochs (1993, 1999 & 2002). VLA observations were carried out in the H92α radio recombination line from Sgr A West; each observation had identical velocity coverage as well as velocity and spatial resolutions. Accurate velocity fields were derived from Gaussian fitting the data from the three epochs; radial acceleration was determined by comparing the fitted velocity fields. In the Northern Arm of Sgr A West, we report the the detection of radial acceleration (+0.21 kms−1 yr−1) consistent with motion dominated by gravity. In the minicavity, the measured acceleration is too large to be the result of gravity alone and suggest that non-gravitational effects are significant. Additionally, we detect a single region that shows peculiar motion of +4.1 kms−1 yr−1 southeast of Sgr A*. The first evidence of the acceleration of ionized gas in the Galactic center is presented.
Leveraging loosely-tagged images and inter-object correlations for tag recommendation

Large-scale loosely-tagged images (i.e., multiple object tags are given loosely at the image level) are available on Internet, and it is very attractive to leverage such loosely-tagged images for automatic image annotation applications. In this paper, a multi-task structured SVM algorithm is developed to leverage both the inter-object correlations and the loosely-tagged images for achieving more effective training of a large number of inter-related object classifiers. To leverage the loosely-tagged images for object classifier training, each loosely-tagged image is partitioned into a set of image instances (image regions) and a multiple instance learning algorithm is developed for instance label identification by automatically identifying the correspondences between multiple tags (given at the image level) and the image instances. An object correlation network is constructed for characterizing the inter-object correlations explicitly and identifying the inter-related learning tasks automatically. To enhance the discrimination power of a large number of inter-related object classifiers, a multi-task structured SVM algorithm is developed to model the inter-task relatedness more precisely and leverage the inter-object correlations for classifier training. Our experiments on a large number of inter-related object classes have provided very positive results.
DNA damage induced via independent generation of the radical resulting from formal hydrogen atom abstraction from the C1′-position of a nucleotide

Abstract Background: Deoxyribonucleotide radicals resulting from formal C1′-hydrogen atom abstraction are important reactive intermediates in a variety of DNA-damage processes. The reactivity of these radicals can be affected by the agents that generate them and the environment in which they are produced. As an initial step in determining the factors that control the reactivity of these important radical species, we developed a mild method for their generation at a defined site within a biopolymer. Results: Irradiation of oligonucleotides containing a photolabile nucleotide produced C1'-DNA radicals. In the absence of potential reactants other than O 2 , approximately 90% of the damage events involve formation of alkaline-labile lesions, with the remainder resulting in direct strand breaks. The ratio of alkaline-labile lesions to direct strand breaks (∼ 9:1) is independent of whether the radical is generated in single-stranded DNA or double-stranded DNA. Strand damage is almost completely quenched under anaerobic conditions in the presence of low thiol concentrations. Competition studies with 02 indicate that the trapping rate of C1′-DNA radicals by β-mercaptoethanol is ∼ 1.1 x 10 7 M −1 s −1 Conclusions: The mild generation of the C1'-DNA radical in the absence of exogenous oxidants makes it possible to examine their intrinsic reactivity. In the absence of other reactants, the formation of direct strand breaks from C1′-radicals is, at most, a minor pathway. Competition studies between β-mercaptoethanol and 02 indicate that significantly higher thiol concentrations than those in vivo or some means of increasing the effective thiol concentration near DNA are needed for these reagents to prevent the formation of DNA lesions arising from the C1'-radical under aerobic conditions.
Concept definition and aerodynamic technology studies for single-engine V/STOL fighter/attack aircraft

The results obtained in the early stages of a research program to develop aerodynamic technology for single-engine V/STOL fighter/attack aircraft projected for the post-1990 period are summarized. This program includes industry studies jointly sponsored by NASA and the Navy. Four contractors have identified promising concepts featuring a variety of approaches for providing propulsive lift. Vertical takeoff gross weights range from about 10,000 to 13,600 kg (22,000 to 30,000 lb). The aircraft have supersonic capability, are highly maneuverable, and have significant short takeoff overload capability. The contractors have estimated the aerodynamics and identified aerodynamic uncertainties associated with their concepts. Wind-tunnel research programs will be formulated to investigate these uncertainties. A description of the concepts is emphasized.
Renal involvement in nail-patella syndrome: report of three cases.

Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) or hereditary onychoosteodysplasia (HOOD) was originally described in 1820 by Chatelian, a patient with a triad of abnormal nails, elbows, and knees. The first report describing the family cluster of the disease was published in 1969 by Beals and Eckhardt [1]. Case reports in the literature regarding the nephropathy observed in NPS are varied, including minimal change disease [2], recurrent urinary tract infections, nephrolithiasis vesicoureteral reflux, renal hypoplasia/atrophy, PAN-type vasculitis [3], and Goodpasture’s syndrome [4]. Here we report three cases with their respective pedigrees followed at our institution with evidence of different types of renal manifestations.
WMS-III Logical Memory Performance after a Two-Week Delay in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Control Groups

Conventional memory assessment may fail to identify memory dysfunction that is characterized by intact recall for a relatively brief period but rapid forgetting thereafter. This study assessed immediate memory and retention after 30-minute and two-week delays in a control group (n = 25) and a group of individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE, n = 25). For raw free recall, thematic unit, and recognition memory scores from the Wechsler Memory Scale-3rd ed. (WMS-III) Logical Memory (LM) subtest, there were no group x trial interactions and the TLE group performed significantly worse than the controls on all trials. At the individual level, none of the patients (0%) demonstrated isolated free recall impairment at the two-week delay when raw scores were analyzed, and one patient (4%) but also five controls (20%) did so when percent retention scores were examined. In summary, TLE patients did not demonstrate disproportionate forgetting over two weeks on a widely used story memory test.
“Noncognitive” symptoms of early Alzheimer disease: A longitudinal analysis

Objectives: To observe the natural time course of noncognitive symptoms before the onset of symptomatic Alzheimer disease dementia. Methods: Using the National Alzheimer9s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set from September 2005 to March 2013, data from cognitively normal individuals who were aged 50 years or older at first visit and had subsequent follow-up were analyzed. Survival analyses were used to examine the development of particular symptoms relative to each other on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), Functional Activities Questionnaire, and Geriatric Depression Scale, and to compare the development of individual symptoms for persons who did and did not receive a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) >0 (indicating abnormal cognition) during the follow-up period. Results: The order of symptom occurrence on the NPI-Q was similar for participants who remained at CDR 0 and for those who received a CDR >0 over the follow-up period, although the time to most NPI-Q symptoms was faster for participants who received a CDR >0 ( p Conclusions: We found a significantly earlier presence of positive symptoms on the NPI-Q in cognitively normal patients who subsequently developed CDR >0. Among participants with no depression symptoms at baseline, results suggest that depressive symptoms may increase with aging regardless of incipient dementia. Such findings begin to delineate the noncognitive course of Alzheimer disease dementia in the preclinical stages. Future research must further elucidate the correlation between noncognitive changes and distinct dementia subtypes.
Perspective: Putting Patients First Helps Business

Based on General Motors' experience, the managed care plans that put patients first are the winners.
Ultrasonic Creep Damage Detection by Frequency Analysis for Boiler Piping

Boiler piping of fossil-fuel combustion power generation plants are exposed to high-temperature and high-pressure environments, and failure of high-energy piping due to creep damage has been a concern. Therefore, a precise creep damage assessment method is needed. This paper proposes a nondestructive method for creep damage detection of piping in fossil-fuel combustion power generation plants by ultrasonic testing. Ultrasonic signals are transformed to signals in a frequency domain by Fourier transform, and a specific frequency band is chosen. To determine the creep damage, the spectrum intensities are calculated. Calculated intensities have a good correlation to life consumption of the weld joints, and this method is able to predict the remaining life of high-temperature piping, which has been already installed.
Effect of thermal conductance on water economy in the antelope jack rabbit, Lepus alleni

The heat and water balance of the antelope jack rabbit, Lepus alleni, was studied at various ambient temperatures. At high ambient temperature the animal primarily depends on evaporation for dissipation of the heat load. The use of water was, however, less than could be expected if only body size is considered. It was shown that, when the ambient temperature is below body temperature, there is a two- to three-fold increase in the conductance of the animal as ambient approaches body temperature. This facilitates dry heat loss and contributes to water economy. At ambient temperatures above body temperature the direction of heat flow is reversed, now being from the environment to the body. In this situation the heat flow inwards is impeded by a decrease in conductance to minimal values, thus achieving a considerable saving in the use of water for evaporation.