cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prognostic nutritional index (PNI), independent of frailty is associated with six-month postoperative mortality.

Abstract Introduction Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is associated with disease and overall survival in patients with cancer. We aimed to assess the relationship between PNI, frailty, and six-month postoperative survival in older patients with cancer. Methods In this retrospective study, patients with cancer aged ≥75 who underwent geriatric preoperative evaluation and then proceeded with elective surgery with hospital length of stay of ≥1 day and had six-month follow-up were included. PNI is measured by preoperative [10 × albumin(gr/dl)] + [0.005 × absolute lymphocyte count (per mm3)]. Higher PNI is suggestive of better nutritional status. Frailty was assessed by geriatric assessment. PNI among patients with and without each age-related impairment was evaluated. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between the number of age-related impairments and PNI. Multivariable regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between six-month mortality and PNI. Results PNI ranged from 19 to 49 (average 40) among 1025 patients (average age 80). Patients with impairment in Karnofsky Performance Status, falls in the past year, prolonged timed up and go test, limited social activity, significant weight loss, polypharmacy, polycomorbid conditions, depression, and dependent for basic and instrumental activities of daily living had lower PNI than fit patients. The correlation coefficient between PNI and number of aging impairments was −0.28 (p Conclusion PNI independent of frailty, age, American Society of Anesthesiologist Performance Scale (ASA-PS), and metastatic disease is associated with six-month postoperative mortality. Future studies should assess the interventions aimed at improving PNI and its impact on surgical outcomes.
Fairness in Learning-Based Sequential Decision Algorithms: A Survey.

Algorithmic fairness in decision-making has been studied extensively in static settings where one-shot decisions are made on tasks such as classification. However, in practice most decision-making processes are of a sequential nature, where decisions made in the past may have an impact on future data. This is particularly the case when decisions affect the individuals or users generating the data used for future decisions. In this survey, we review existing literature on the fairness of data-driven sequential decision-making. We will focus on two types of sequential decisions: (1) past decisions have no impact on the underlying user population and thus no impact on future data; (2) past decisions have an impact on the underlying user population, and therefore the future data, which can then impact future decisions. In each case the impact of various fairness interventions on the underlying population is examined.
Romantic Elements: An Introduction

This introduction outlines some conceptual and historical issues signaled by “Romantic Elements,” the conference theme of the 2019 annual meeting of the North American Society for the Study of Roma...
Racial Disparities at Mixed-Race and Minority Hospitals : Treatment of African American Males With High-Grade Splenic Injuries.

IntroductionRacial and socioeconomic disparities in health access and outcomes for many conditions is well known. However, for time-sensitive high-acuity diseases such as traumatic injuries, dispar...
Animal Behavior Prediction with Long Short-Term Memory

A foundational step in the study of any animal is the establishment of an accurate behavioral model. Building a model that is capable of defining and predicting an animal’s behavior is critical to advancing ethological theory and research, however many animal models fail to be sufficiently thorough or often do not exist at all. Great pools of data are available for improving these models through recorded video of animals posted on video hosting sites throughout the internet, however these sources are largely left unused due to their sheer quantity being too much for researchers to manually observe and annotate. This paper proposes a method for efficiently converting video of animals at any length into models capable of making accurate behavioral prediction. This predictive model is developed through a data processing pipeline merging an ensemble meta-algorithm for behavior classification with a long short-term memory network for temporal pattern recognition and prediction. The application of this pipeline produced results with a higher degree of predictive accuracy compared to more traditional autoregressive techniques. These findings suggest the method has significant potential as a tool for efficiently developing new models and findings in the study of animal behavior. The method's performance in prediction also suggests that it may have further application in building models for the prediction of events or failures in inorganic, semi-stochastic processes such as video monitored mechanical systems and equipment.
Association of parental cancer and school absenteeism, medical financial hardship, healthcare use, and psychological distress among minor children.

6544Background: A cancer diagnosis can affect the entire family, including minor children. However, little is known about the association of parental cancer on minor children’s school absenteeism, ...
Decisions, decisions, decisions: decision fatigue in academic librarianship

Abstract Decision fatigue is the phenomenon in which a large number of decisions or choices made over a period of time hinders the ability to competently make further decisions. While addressed in the literature of other professions, the concept has not been included in the inventory of phenomena that potentially affects librarians. This paper presents the results of a survey which draws attention to decision fatigue and allows academic librarians to recognize the symptoms while suggesting ways to overcome its effects.
Leukemia in AKR mice: II. Two modes of suppression of in vitro antibody formation by leukemic cells

Abstract Spleen and thymus cells of leukemic AKR mice suppress the in vitro anti-SRBC of normal spleen cells. We have demonstrated two types of leukemic cell suppression; a restricted suppression affecting only syngeneic or semi-allogeneic cells, and a nonrestricted suppression affecting both syngeneic and allogeneic cells. Restricted suppression is overcome by the presence of allogeneic cells, allogeneic supernates, or mitogens in the cultures. Nonrestricted suppression is not overcome by these factors. Restricted and nonrestricted suppression has been observed in two different leukemia systems; the Gross virus associated spontaneous leukemia of AKR mice and a Rauscher virus induced leukemia in B10.A mice. Although the leukemia is clonal, both restricted and nonrestricted suppressors have occasionally been found in the same mouse which may suggest that some modulation or selection of leukemic cell properties is occurring in response to specific host defense mechanisms.
Degradation of Lysine in Chicks

Lysine degradation in two strains of chicks selected for a high (HA) or low (LA) requirement of dietary arginine was investigated. These studies suggest that both an L-amino acid oxidase and lysine-ketoglutarate reduc A­aseare active in chick liver for the initial degradation of L-lysine, leading to the formation of pipecolic acid and saccharopine, respectively. Aerobic incubation of L-lysine-U-14C with liver homogenates or mitochondria led to 14COzproduc tion which was stimulated by Oi and a-ketoglutarate. Under these conditions, pipecolic acid accumulated as the major metabolite and was readily oxidized to 14COzby chick liver homogenates. When L-lysine-U-14C was incubated anaerobi- cally with liver homogenates or mitochondria along with o-ketoglutarate and NADPH, "C-saccharopine accumulated as the major metabolite. Both L-amino acid oxidase and lysine-ketoglutarate reducA­ase were affected by dietary treat ments in these studies. The activity of liver lysine-ketoglutarate reducA­ase was consistently lower in the HA strain than in the LA strain fed various lypes of diels, bui no difference in Ihe activities of liver L-amino acid oxidase could be detected in the HA and LA chicks. These data provide additional evidence thai Ihe saccharopine palhway may be Ihe major palhway for L-lysine degradation in vivo in chicks. The slrain differences in liver lysine-keloglutarate reducA­ase activity observed may account for variation in lysine metabolism and in part for the different dietary requirements of arginine of the two strains. J. Nutr. 102: 583-596, 1972.
Occupational sensitization to soy allergens in workers at a processing facility.

BACKGROUND Exposure to soy antigens has been associated with asthma in community outbreaks and in some workplaces. Recently, 135 soy flake processing workers (SPWs) in a Tennessee facility were evaluated for immune reactivity to soy. Allergic sensitization to soy was common and was five times more prevalent than in health care worker controls (HCWs) with no known soy exposure. OBJECTIVE To characterize sensitization to soy allergens in SPWs. METHODS Sera that were positive to soy ImmunoCAP (n=27) were tested in IgE immunoblots. Wild-type (WT) and transgenic (TG) antigens were sequenced using nanoscale Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (nanoUPLC MS/MS). IgE reactivity towards 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (CP4-EPSP), a protein found in TG soy, was additionally investigated. De-identified sera from 50 HCWs were used as a control. RESULTS Immunoblotting of WT and TG soy flake extracts revealed IgE against multiple soy antigens with reactivity towards 48, 54, and 62 kDa bands being the most common. The prominent proteins that bound SPW IgE were identified by nanoUPLC MS/MS analysis to be the high molecular weight soybean storage proteins, β-conglycinin (Gly m 5), and Glycinin (Gly m 6). No specific IgE reactivity could be detected to lower molecular weight soy allergens, Gly m 1 and Gly m 2, in soybean hull (SH) extracts. IgE reactivity was comparable between WT and TG extracts; however, IgE antibodies to CP4-EPSP could not be detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE SPWs with specific IgE to soy reacted most commonly with higher molecular weight soybean storage proteins compared with the lower molecular weight SH allergens identified in community asthma studies. IgE reactivity was comparable between WT and TG soy extracts, while no IgE reactivity to CP4-EPSP was observed. High molecular weight soybean storage allergens, Gly m 5 and Gly m 6, may be respiratory sensitizers in occupational exposed SPWs.
Emotions and Learning with AutoTutor

The relationship between emotions and learning was investigated by tracking the emotions that college students experienced while learning about computer literacy with AutoTutor. AutoTutor is an animated pedagogical agent that holds a conversation in natural language, with spoken contributions by the learner. Thirty students completed a multiple-choice pre-test, a 35-minute training session, and a multiple-choice post-test. The students reviewed the tutorial interaction and were stopped at strategically sampled points for emotion judgments. They judged what emotions they experienced on the basis of the dialogue history and their facial expressions. The emotions they judged were boredom, flow (engagement), frustration, confusion, delight, surprise, and neutral. A multiple regression analysis revealed that post-test scores were significantly predicted by pre-test scores and confusion, but not by any of the other emotions.
Action of a new synthetic antispasmodic in patients with gastrointestinal complaints.

Summary Used under controlled conditions, Centrine has previously been shown to be effective in controlling gastric acidity, secretory rate, and motility. 1 When used in the therapy of peptic ulcer patients it has proven to be of value in conjunction with routine basic therapy consisting of a Meulengracht diet, magnesium trisilicate, and phenobarbital. No adverse hematologic effects have occurred in 66 patients treated with Centrine. Side effects due to its atropinelike action have not been disturbing or of serious nature. The dosage is, in all respects, similar to that of atropine sulfate and it is 50 to 100 times as potent as Banthine.
Private Capital Flows to Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview of Trends and Determinants

The surge in private capital flows to developing countries during the 1990s has largely by-passed sub-Saharan Africa. In sharp contrast to the earlier lending boom of 1977-82, when sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 8.9 percent of total private flows to developing countries, the region accounted for only 1.6 percent of such flows during the period 1990-95.However, this low share of international private flows during the 1990s masks significant differences among countries and types of flows.This paper provides an overview of trends in private flows to highlight both common features and differences within the region, and undertakes an analysis of the macroeconomic factors that have influenced private flows to the region.
PREDICTING PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE

An approach using a new modeling technique (transfer function theory) was developed to predict the performance of a pavement system subjected to dynamic load inputs. The study indicated that the characteristics of flexible pavement could be represented by a series of time-dependent transfer functions obtained from dynamic tests using practically any prime mover. The time-dependent transfer functions contained some descriptors which could be related to the aircraft gear configurations, and other descriptors which were indicative of the pavement itself.
Characterization and expression of novel 60-kDa and 110-kDa EGFR isoforms in human placenta.

: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and related family members (ERBB2, ERBB3, and ERBB4) previously have been shown to play pivotal roles in the development of female reproductive tissues, in blastocyst implantation, and in placental differentiation. We have cloned and sequenced several naturally occurring alternative transcripts of the human and mouse EGFR genes, which encode novel receptor isoforms containing varying portions of the extracellular ligand-binding domain, but lacking the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain sequences. The human 1.8-kb and 3-kb alternative EGFR transcripts encode secreted 60-kDa and cell surface-associated 110-kDa EGFR isoforms, respectively. We have developed quantitative ribonuclease protection assays to study the expression of these alternative transcripts in human tissues. Similar to the full-length EGFR mRNAs, the highest expression level of these alternative transcripts occurs in placenta. We speculate that both of these EGFR isoforms may be important regulators of EGF-mediated cell growth and differentiation in human placenta.
The future of speech and audio in the interface

This workshop will explore current and future applications, research areas, and interaction techniques that use audio in the user interface. The emphasis of the meeting will be on a “CHI perspective” of using speech and sound, in appropriate interactive contexts, where the audio channel can be exploited for the user’s benefit. The workshop will encompass user interface areas including: speech input and output, non-speech audio, data sonification, spatial audio, and access to audio databases. The workshop will not address topics such as computer music, hardware/systems support for audio, or signal processing as these areas are better addressed in other forums.
Reliability for the law of comparative judgment

A variance-components analysis is presented for paired comparisons in terms of three components:s, the scale value of the stimuli;d, a deviation from the linear model specified by the law of comparative judgment; andb, a binomial error component. Estimates are given for each of the three variances, σs2, σd2, and σb2. Several coefficients, analogous to reliability coefficients, based on these three variances are indicated. The techniques are illustrated in a replicated comparison of handwriting specimens.
Application of a self-adaptive detector system on a triple quadrupole MS/MS to high explosives and sulfur-containing pyrolysis gases from oil shale☆

Abstract A totally computerized triple quadrupole MS/MS is being extended into a dynamic, self-adaptive chemical analysis system at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. These first efforts toward Artificial Intelligence guided instrumentation (i.e. Expert Systems) involve the implementation of a self-adaptive detector system and the interfacing of a Xerox 1100 (Dolphin LISP processor) to the instrument operation computer. This system is presently used for research into the chemical kinetics of high explosives and into the kinetics of formation of environmentally important sulfur species in oil shale pyrolysis gas with prospects ultimately for “expert system” control of the entire chemical analysis of these experiments.
SOPRA: Scaffolding algorithm for paired reads via statistical optimization

Background High throughput sequencing (HTS) platforms produce gigabases of short read (<100 bp) data per run. While these short reads are adequate for resequencing applications, de novo assembly of moderate size genomes from such reads remains a significant challenge. These limitations could be partially overcome by utilizing mate pair technology, which provides pairs of short reads separated by a known distance along the genome.
WHY WE ARE NOT MORALLY REQUIRED TO SELECT THE BEST CHILDREN: A RESPONSE TO SAVULESCU

The purpose of this paper is to review critically Julian Savulescu's principle of 'Procreative Beneficence,' which holds that prospective parents are morally obligated to select, of the possible children they could have, those with the greatest chance of leading the best life. According to this principle, prospective parents are obliged to use the technique of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to select for the 'best' embryos, a decision that ought to be made based on the presence or absence of both disease traits and non-disease traits such as intelligence. While several articles have been written in response to Savulescu's principle, none has systematically explored its philosophical underpinnings to demonstrate where it breaks down. In this paper I argue that the examples that Savulescu employs to support his theory in fact fail to justify it. He presents these examples as analogous to PGD, when in fact they differ from it in subtle but morally relevant ways. Specifically, Savulescu fails to acknowledge the fact that his examples evoke deontological and virtue ethics concerns that are absent in the context of PGD. These differences turn out to be crucial, so that, in the end, the analogies bear little support for his theory. Finally, I lay out the implications of this analysis for reproductive ethics.
Shaping solenoid fields to reduce emittance degradation of polarized H− ion beams

Abstract By properly shaping the solenoid field for the neutralizer cell of an optically pumped polarized H− ion source, the neutral beam can be made to f
Predictive Multiple Model Switching Control With the Self-Organizing Map

A predictive, multiple model control strategy is developed by extension of self-organizing map (SOM) local dynamic modeling of nonlinear autonomous systems to a control framework. Multiple SOMs collectively model the global response of a nonautonomous system to a finite set of representative prototype controls. Each SOM provides a codebook representation of the dynamics corresponding to a prototype control. Different dynamic regimes are organized into topological neighborhoods where the adjacent entries in the codebook represent the global minimization of a similarity metric. The SOM is additionally employed to identify the local dynamical regime, and consequently implements a switching scheme that selects the best available model for the applied control. SOM based linear models are used to predict the response to a larger family of control sequences which are clustered on the representative prototypes. The control sequence which corresponds to the prediction that best satisfies the requirements on the system output is applied as the external driving signal.
The rotordynamic forces on a centrifugal pump impeller in the presence of cavitation

An experiment in forced vabration was conducted to study the fluid-induced rotordynamic force on an impeller whirling along a trajectory eccentric to its undeflected position in the presence of cavitation. The prescribed whirl trajectory of the rotor is a circular orbit of a fixed radius. The force measured is a combination of a steady radial force due to volute asymmetries and an unsteady force due to the eccentric motion of the rotor. These measurements have been conducted over a full range of whirl/impeller speed ratios at different flow coefficients without cavitation for various turbomachines. A destabilizing force was observed over a region of positive whirl ratio. The range of flow conditions examined for a centrifugal impeller in a spiral volute has been enlarged to include cavitation. Compared to the non-cavitating condition, cavitation corresponding to a head loss of three percent did not have a significant effect upon the unsteady force. However, a lesser degree of cavitation at the design point increased the destabilizing force for a particular set of whirl ratios.
The effect of particle density on collisions between sinking particles: implications for particle aggregation in the ocean

Abstract A theory developed by Wacholder and Sather (1974, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 65, 417–437) for impermeable spheres moving at low Reynolds numbers predicts that the likelihood of collision between two sinking particles of different size may be essentially zero if the larger one settles faster but is less dense than the smaller. When the ratios of the settling velocity and the excess density of the two particles exceed critical values determined by the theory, the trajectory of the small particle is closed in a region of finite size surrounding the large particle. Small particles overtaken by the large one as it sinks are deflected around this region and collisions are impossible. These findings are confirmed by laboratory experiments utilizing model particles sinking in a viscous fluid. A review of measured sinking rates and densities of marine particles indicates that a substantial fraction of the particles in the oceanic water column exceed the critical values of settling velocity and excess density with respect to other particles within a factor of 10 or so in size. Thus, aggregation by differential sedimentation is probably significant only between very small and very large particles, for which the effect of particle porosity must also be considered.
Different precursor populations revealed by microscopic studies of bulk damage in KDP and DKDP crystals

We present experimental results aiming to reveal the relationship between damage initiating defect populations in KDP and DKDP crystals under irradiation at different wavelengths. Our results indicate that there is more than one type of defects leading to damage initiation, each defect acting as damage initiators over a different wavelength range. Results showing disparities in the morphology of damage sites from exposure at different wavelengths provides additional evidence for the presence of multiple types of defects responsible for damage initiation.
Size-controlled synthesis of Pd nanocrystals using a specific multifunctional peptide

Here we report a peptide-mediated synthesis of Pd NCs in aqueous solution with controllable size in the sub-10 nanometre regime. The specific multifunctional peptide Q7 selected using the phage display technique can bind to the Pd NC surface and act as a stabilizer to mediate Pd crystal nucleation and growth. At the nucleation stage, Q7 bound to and helped stabilize the different-sized small Pd NC nuclei achieved using different concentrations of the external reducing agent, NaBH4. At the growth stage, Q7 played the dual role of binding to and reducing the precursor onto the existing nuclei, which led to the further controllable growth of the Pd NCs. By using the variable sizes of nuclei as seeds, and by introducing different amounts of precursors Pd NCs with tunable sizes from 2.6 to 6.6 nm were achieved with good size distribution.
Visco-Elastic Behavior of a Filament Which Undergoes Impulsive Tension at its End

Numerical methods for the analysis of the behavior of a filament (i.e, displacement, stress, strain, etc.) which is pulled impulsively at constant velocity was derived.Three-element visco-elastic model was adopted as the dynamical model of the filament.An approximate solution by Laplace transform that is valid in a certain range was obtained. Comparison of its numerical results with those by the characteristic curve method and the direct difference method showed that they are practically in good agreement.
Breast cancer, stem/progenitor cells and the estrogen receptor

Recently, substantial progress has been made in the identification and characterization of stem and progenitor cells in the mouse and human mammary gland. Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence that these cells might be targets for transformation during mammary carcinogenesis. On the basis of this stem cell concept, we propose a model in which the transformation of different subsets of stem and progenitor cells results in the diversity of breast cancer phenotypes, including expression of the estrogen receptor in breast cancers subtypes. This model has important implications for understanding mammary carcinogenesis. Furthermore, the concept of breast cancer as a disease of mammary stem and progenitor cells has profound implications for the development of new strategies for breast cancer prevention and therapy.
An Extension of the Principle of the Diffraction Evolute, and Some of its Structural Detail

Diffraction Patterns inside Shadows due to Point Sources of Light.---(1) Conic section shadows. In confirmation and continuation of the results in the preceding article, the patterns are found to depend only on the shape of the shadow, the Arago spot being obtained at the center of the circular shadow even when this was cast by a spiral edge of large pitch ground to the form of a truncated cone, when the point source was placed at the apex. Patterns inside the shadows of hyperbolic and parabolic plates were also obtained and are reproduced. As in the case of the ellipse, the predominant figure in each case is the evolute of the edge of the shadow. (2) This general relation between diffraction caustic and shadow is found to hold even in the case of the shadow of the involute of a circle, when the diffraction figure was identical with the generating circle which was, of course, the evolute of the edge of the shadow. A series of photographs of elliptical shadows show that the diffraction caustics are not continuous curves. The changes of detail and of color in the patterns with change of ellipticity of the shadow are described at some length.
Making sense of housing disparities research: a review of health and economic inequities

Despite the recent recession and accompanying housing crisis, important gains have occurred in U.S. homeownership over the past several decades; however, wide inequalities among minority and immigrant populations remain. Understanding the role of several under-studied factors on housing outcomes, including health status and disability, and differences in financial capital, such as savings, investments, and other assets, remains a major policy initiative. Although past research has examined African American-White housing disparities, it is also important to explore disparities among Hispanics, Asians, and immigrants. This article reviews health and financial capital disparities in homeownership and home values between Whites and minority populations and offers suggestions for future policy research.
Accuracy of Food Portion Size Estimations By Bulimic Subjects

Abstract Dietary assessment is an integral component of the determination of medical, nutritional and educational needs of bulimic individuals. The ability to accurately assess portion size is an important aspect of dietary assessment, but may be altered in bulimics due to changes in visual perception and food beliefs. We surveyed 132 bulimic female subjects who were enrolled in an eating disorder treatment program to determine the accuracy with which they could estimate portion sizes of 25 commonly consumed foods. Subjects were also asked to provide data on their height, weight, previous food measurement experience and the "safety" factor with which they could eat each food item. The mean percent error was >50% for 20 foods and > 100% for 5 foods. Estimations of over 301% were made by 66 subjects. Estimations of greater than 500% were made by 20 subjects. No relationship of accuracy to age of subject was noted. Body Mass Index status was related to only one food (X 2 = 10.31, p=0.03). Previous experience in measuring foods was related to 2 food items (X 2 = 13.17, p=0.02; X 2 =29.84, p=0.00). There was a trend for those foods which were considered "dangerous" or unsafe to be overestimated by subjects. Our results suggest that the ability of bulimic subjects to estimate portion sizes may be affected by the psychological safety factor associated with that food and, to a lesser extent, any previous experience in measuring foods. These factors should be considered when assessing the dietary intakes of bulimic subjects.
Henry George's Challenge to the Economics Profession

. A session of the American Economic Association and the History of Economics Society commemorating the centennial of the publication of Progress and Poverty, while correctly assessing some of Henry George's writing as hyperbole, raised two important issues; George s legitimacy as an economist and his analysis's significance for economics. Our generation sins on the side of illogic too, but George's status has been questioned not only out of snobbishness but because he was perceived as unsafe; he raised “dangerous” fundamental issues. He questioned the terms of access to and use of land as channeled by real property and other rights and he asked whether the institution of landed property was anachronistically suited to the enjoyment and wealth of some as contrasted to all people.
Kinetic theory based modeling of Type II core collapse supernovae

Motivated by the success of kinetic theory in the description of observables in intermediate and high energy heavy ion collisions, we use kinetic theory to model the dynamics of core collapse supernovae. The specific way that we employ kinetic theory to solve the relevant transport equations allows us to explicitly model the propagation of neutrinos and a full ensemble of nuclei and treat neutrino-matter interactions in a very general way. With these abilities, our preliminary calculations have observed dynamics that may prove to be an entirely new neutrino capture induced supernova explosion mechanism.
Adsorptive removal of p-cresol using coconut shell-activated char

Abstract Swine farming is a major contributor to the United States’ animal agriculture industry. However, it is also associated with several environmental pollutants, among which, p -cresol is one of the most odorous. In order to make swine husbandry more sustainable, its environmental impacts have to be minimized. Among several available environmental control technologies, adsorptive removal is perhaps the most effective, practical, simple, and easiest to retrofit. Hence, in this research, a highly adsorptive activated char was synthesized using coconut shells. Batch experiments were systematically carried out to investigate the adsorption performance of the prepared activated char for the removal of p -cresol from aqueous solutions. Effects of initial adsorbate concentration (25–500 mg L −1 ), agitation speed (0–200 rpm), solution pH (2–12), and adsorbent dosage (0.50–3 g 100 mL −1 ) were also investigated. Results suggest that the kinetic data followed a pseudo-second-order model and intra-particle diffusion was rate limiting during the entire adsorption process. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm model, with maximum monolayer adsorption capacities of 30.23 mg g −1 at 293 K, 31.57 mg g −1 at 303 K and 32.77 mg g −1 at 313 K. Our results suggest that physiochemical-activated coconut char is highly effective in the mitigation of p -cresol.
Oxidative Effects of Meat Grinder Wear on Lipids and Myoglobin in Commercial Fresh Pork Sausage

Pork ground before and after the replacement of worn meat grinder plates and knives was formulated as commercial fresh pork sausage containing antioxidants and processed into 454-g chubs. The sausage was frozen at −15°C for 4, 8, 12, and 16 wk and monitored for oxidation after 1 day, 2 wk and 3 wk of postfrozen refrigeration at 1°C. Estimated average grinder metal in sausage was 136 ppb. Meat temperature rise during grinding was higher (P<0.05) with the worn hardware (2.3°C vs 1.6°C). Hunter “a” values were greater (P<0.05) with the sharp than with the worn equipment. 2-Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) numbers did not differ with equipment state of wear. Significant correlations (P<0.05) indicated in inverse relationship between the oxidation of lipids and myoglobin.
The RANK/RANKL/OPG triad in cancer-induced bone diseases.

The maintenance of skeletal integrity in a healthy individual requires a balanced regulation of the processes of bone formation, mediated by osteoblasts, and bone resorption, mediated by osteoclasts. This balanced process of bone remodeling becomes co-opted in the skeleton by tumor cells and this dramatically accelerates the process of remodeling and disrupts the normal equilibrium resulting in a spectrum of osteolytic to osteoblastic bone lesions. Certain tumor types, such as breast and prostate, frequently metastasize to the bone. It is now widely understood that the molecular triad—receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), its receptor RANK, and the endogenous soluble RANKL inhibitor, osteoprotegerin (OPG)—play direct and essential roles in the formation, function, and survival of osteoclasts. Osteoclastic bone resorption contributes to the majority of skeletal sequelae, or skeletal-related events (SREs), in patients with bone metastases. In addition, osteoclastic bone resorption also contributes to the establishment of tumors in the skeleton. Therefore, blocking osteoclast activity and differentiation via RANKL inhibition may not only provide a beneficial treatment for skeletal complications of malignancy, but may also prevent bone metastases. In this review, we will first describe the operative role of osteoclasts and the RANK/RANKL/OPG triad in the pathophysiology of cancer-induced bone diseases, specifically solid tumor metastases to the bone. Secondly, we will describe a therapeutic approach that specifically targets the RANKL molecule.
Diisopropylphosphorofluoridate and Tabun: Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Nerve Function

Squid nerve contains an enzyme that hydrolyzes the nerve gas Tabun at about one-tenth the rate it hydrolyzes diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP), and at about one-third to one-fourth the rate it hydrolyzes Sarin and Soman. Tabun is a more potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase than is DFP, is both lipid-and water-soluble, and penetrates readily into the squid giant axon in its inhibitory form. The failure of Tabun to block or markedly decrease the conducted action potential in the squid axon makes it likely that the blocking of conduction caused by DFP is probably not due to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Sub-strate specificity with regard to organophosphate metabolism by squid enzyme has possible implications for the disposal and detoxication of nerve gases in the ocean.
Latent class typology of nicotine withdrawal: genetic contributions and association with failed smoking cessation and psychiatric disorders

Background. Nicotine withdrawal is associated with failed smoking cessation and thus contributes to continuance of the habit and increases risk of smoking-related illnesses. Withdrawal is also associated with psychiatric disorders such as depression and alcoholism. However, relatively little is known about how to characterize the severity of withdrawal, including whether withdrawal subtypes exist in male smokers. If so, do these subtypes represent quantitative or qualitative differences? Method. Smoking and withdrawal data were obtained from 4112 male-male twin pairs of the Vietnam Era Twin Registry during a 1992 administration of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to derive significantly different nicotine withdrawal profiles, and their association with psychiatric disorders was assessed. Genetic and environmental contributions and the correlation between these contributions were evaluated using bivariate biometrical modeling of the withdrawal phenotype and failed smoking cessation. Results. The LCA model which best fit the data was a four-class severity continuum. Psychiatric disorders were significantly associated with more severe classes and the magnitude of the association increased as withdrawal severity increased. Genetics accounted for 31 % and 51 % of the variance in risk for withdrawal and failed cessation, respectively. The genetic contributions were significantly correlated (r=0.37). Conclusions. Nicotine withdrawal classes are characterized by quantitative differences. The strong association between psychiatric disorders and withdrawal severity and the significant genetic correlation between withdrawal and cessation highlight the importance of withdrawal severity. Further refinement of the DSM definition of withdrawal to incorporate severity ratings may be warranted.
ENERGY APPROACH FOR WEAR DISTRIBUTION IN SLURRY PIPELINES

The paper presents an approach to compute and scale-up the wear rate distribution in the cross-section of slurry pipelines. The wear rate is related to the energy dissipated by particle-wall interaction. The velocity and concentration distributions are determined with a multiphase turbulent flow model. The approach was tested for horizontal and inclined pipelines transporting solids with narrow and broad size distributions. A parametric study for a phosphate slurry pipeline is presented.
The gp120 glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 binds to sensory ganglion neurons.

Using immunofluorescence microscopy we found that gp 120 binds to the surface of rat dorsal root ganglia neurons and human neuroblastoma cells but not to rat fibroblasts or glial cells. The binding of gp 120 to neurons was eliminated by pretreatment with trypsin, which removes cell-surface proteins, but not with chloroform: methanol, which removes glycolipids. As control, neuronal staining by antisulfatide antibodies was eliminated by pretreatment with chloroform: methanol but not with trypsin. The gp 120 binding to neurons was also inhibited by the mouse monoclonal antibody 01, which binds to galactocerebroside and cross-reactive glycoproteins. These studies suggest that the receptor for gp 120 on the surface of the dorsal root ganglia neurons is a glycoprotein. This interaction may mediate the effects of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in sensory neuropathy.
Surgical management of duodenal injuries in children.

Abstract Background. The goal of this study was to review current injury characteristics, severity, intervention, and outcome of duodenal injuries from a single, pediatric trauma facility. Methods. A retrospective review was performed of duodenal injuries in children less than 16 years of age from 1990 to 2000. Results. Twelve children had duodenal injuries as a result of blunt abdominal trauma. Six injuries were the result of motor vehicle crashes. Nonaccidental trauma (2) and contact injury (4) provided the remaining cases. Diagnosis was achieved by abdominal computed tomography. Severity of duodenal injury included grade I (1), II (8), and III (3). Seven patients had associated visceral or neurologic injuries. Average Injury Severity Score was 18. Duodenal repair was required in 9 of the 10 patients explored. Treatment included observation (3); primary repair, alone, (2) or with proximal decompression (4); and pyloric exclusion with gastrojejunostomy (3). Exclusion techniques had fewer complications (0% vs 57%) and fewer hospital days (19 vs 23). Conclusions. Blunt abdominal trauma remains the most prevalent mechanism for pediatric duodenal injuries. Patients undergoing pyloric exclusion for severe duodenal trauma had a lesser morbidity and a shorter hospital stay in this small series. Pyloric exclusion remains an alternative for the treatment of severe duodenal injuries in selected children. (Surgery 2002;132:748-53.)
Chemically reinforced conditioned courtship in Drosophila: responses of wild-type and the dunce, amnesiac and don giovanni mutants.

SummaryTo test the hypothesis that associative learning is the basis for conditioned courtship, male Drosophila melanogaster were paired with virgin females in the presence of quinine, known to be a negative reinforcer in a learning paradigm independent of courtship. Such “experienced” wild-type males failed to court virgin females and remained refractory to them for 1-2 h. But experienced males from the learning-defective strain, dunce, continued to court females at high levels; and experienced males from the retention-defective strain, amnesiac, failed to demonstrate the wild-type refractory period. Finally, males from the don giovanni strain, defective with respect to fertilized-female conditioning, were conditioned by presentation of virgin females and quinine. Courtship-depressing effects of cis-vaccenyl alcohol, which can be recovered from fertilized females, were confirmed, but no evidence for its role as a negative reinforcer of male courtship was obtained.
Learning about light and optics in on-line general education classes using at-home experimentation.

College students are facing a constantly evolving educational system. Some still see mostly the traditional face to face lecture type classes where as others may never set foot on campus thanks to distance learning programs. In between they may enroll in a mix of face-to-face, two-way broadcasted interactive courses, streaming lecture courses, hybrid face-to-face/ on-line courses and the ominous MOOC! A large number of these non-traditional courses are general education courses and play an important role in developing non-science majors’ understanding of science in general, and of physics in particular. We have been keeping pace with theses modern modes of instruction by offering several on-line courses such as Physics for Computer Graphics and Animation and Light and Color. These courses cover basic concepts in light, color and optics.
Taxane Synthesis through Intramolecular Pinacol Coupling at C-1−C-2. Construction and Oxidative Transformations of a C-Aromatic Taxane Diene

A ten-linear-step construction of C-aromatic taxane diene 14 from ethyl isopropyl ketone, acryloyl chloride, and commercially available 8 is reported. This sequence concludes with an intramolecular pinacol coupling carried out on 13. 14 is oxidized by m-chloroperbenzoic acid and dimethyldioxirane to give 17 through intermediate epoxide 20 and by VO(acac)2−t-BuOOH and Mo(CO)6−t-BuOOH to give 13. 17 is converted efficiently into 22 upon treatment with Mo(CO)6−t-BuOOH, apparently through an unusual equilibration with isomeric 20, which is converted irreversibly to 22. While these oxidative transformations highlight some of the peculiar reactivity patterns characteristic of taxane-related structures, the formation of 14 through an intramolecular pinacol coupling that joins C-1 and C-2 demonstrates the potential of this strategy for stereoselectively delivering advanced taxane synthesis intermediates.
Ethyl 1-benzyl-1,2,3,3a,4,10b-hexa­hydro­pyrrolo­[2′,3′:3,4]pyrrolo­[1,2-a]benzimidazole-2-carboxyl­ate

The title mol-ecule, C(22)H(23)N(3)O(2), was obtained via an intra-molecular cyclo-addition of an azomethine ylide and an alkene tethered by a benzimidazole unit. The benzoimidazole unit is essentially planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0087 A from the nine constituent atoms. It has a cis fusion of the two pyrrolidine rings as well as a cis ester appendage. The two pyrrolidine rings rings have envelope conformations. The crystal packing is stabilized by aromatic π-π stacking of parallel benzimidazole ring systems, with a centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.518 (6) A. Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O contacts may also play a role in the stability of the packing.
Effects of prehafnizing on morphological development of a chemical vapor deposition aluminide coating formed on single-crystal Ni-based superalloy

We examined a sequential Hf doping procedure, which consisted of (1) “prehafnizing” the surface of a single-crystal Ni-based superalloy (RENE N5) with HfCl4 and H2, and (2) aluminizing with AlCl3 and H2, as a means of incorporating Hf as a dopant in the aluminide coating matrix. The prehafnized layer on RENE N5 substrate significantly altered the growth behavior and therefore the morphology of the resulting aluminide coating. With the prehafnizing step, the coating layer became much thinner with a significant amount of Hf incorporated as Hf-rich phases (Hf2Ni7, Hf3Ni7, and/or Hf8Ni21). However, the Hf-rich phases segregated to the coating surface and retarded the inward Al diffusion required to form the β-NiAl coating matrix. The sequential Hf doping procedure provided a mechanism to incorporate a significant amount of Hf in the coating, but did not produce a uniform distribution of Hf as a dopant. The results were compared to those observed for a continuous doping procedure that was previously studied, and were discussed in the context of understanding the limitations of these procedures.
Experimental investigation of resonantly forced oscillations of a two-degree-of-freedom structure

Abstract An experimental study of the response of a two-degree-of-freedom structure with quadratic non-linearities and a two-to-one internal resonance to an external harmonic excitation is presented. When the excitation frequency was close to the lower natural frequency of the structure, periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic responses were observed. Fourier spectra, time-dependent modal decompositions, and Poincare maps were used to analyze the amplitude- and phase-modulated motions of the structure.
The geometry problem for photocarrier drift mobilities in a-Si:H☆

Abstract Experiments sensitive to the anisotropy of electrical transport in amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) are reviewed. While steady-state conductance measurements are ambiguous, photocurrent transient experiments present a “geometry problem;” orders of magnitude separate mobility-lifetime product estimates measured parallel and perpendicular to the growth axis. An experiment is proposed to ascertain whether this difference is due to microscopically anistropic photocarrier transport.