cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vehicle Familiarity and Relative Risk of Fatal Crash Involvement

Lack of familiarity with a vehicle has been associated with increased crash risk independent of overall driving experience (Perel, 1983). This may pose an underappreciated safety risk in the context of complex and rapidly evolving driver assistance technologies and driver-vehicle interfaces, especially when people drive newly purchased, rented, or borrowed vehicles. The current study estimates the relationship between vehicle ownership and responsibility for crashes using data from 231,056 drivers involved in fatal crashes in the United States in years 2008-2017. A driver was considered responsible for the crash if police indicated that the driver’s pre-crash actions contributed to the occurrence of the crash, and non-responsible otherwise. Driver-, vehicle-, and roadway factors that might also influence crash risk were controlled using logistic regression. Drivers of vehicles registered to another person and drivers of rental vehicles had 1.15 and 1.20 times the odds of responsibility for their crashes, respectively, compared with drivers of their own vehicles. If non-responsible drivers approximate a random sample of all drivers present at the times and places of fatal crashes, these results approximate ratios of responsible involvement in fatal crashes per unit of driving exposure. While ownership is an imperfect proxy for familiarity and may be associated with crash risk by other mechanisms unrelated to familiarity, results are consistent with the hypothesis that drivers of unfamiliar vehicles experience elevated crash risk.
What Is A Military Innovation And Why It Matters

The study of military innovation is one of the most important topics in the strategic studies arena, but when it comes to defining the term “military innovation,” there is a remarkable lack of consensus. Lack of agreement on a definition makes it harder to advance knowledge beyond specific cases and for ongoing research to have policy relevance. Currently, what one might consider an innovation another might call an adaptation of an existing technology or tactic, or neither. To move forward, we survey dozens of existing studies and review articles for proposed definitions and examples of military innovation. We locate common and differentiating themes across a wide range of definitions and (at times) conflicting conceptual terminology. We then propose a new framework for thinking about military innovation that builds on existing research and suggests a path forward for future research. Finally, in an appendix, we demonstrate the plausibility of the framework applied to prominent cases.
A systematic review protocol on small/kiddie cigarette packaging size and its impact on smoking

Small/kiddie cigarette packs consist of less than 20 cigarette sticks. Kiddie packs were recently proposed to be reintroduced by the tobacco industry with an excuse to prevent consumers from buying illicit cigarettes. By reintroducing kiddie packs, cigarettes will inevitably be more affordable and this would appeal to lower-income consumers especially teens. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify the impact of kiddie packs on smoking, specifically on smoking initiation, the urge/tendency to buy cigarettes and attempts to reduce cigarette consumption. This systematic review will be based on the review of original articles on the impact of kiddie packs on smoking. There is no restriction on the publication dates. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus will be searched to retrieve potential original articles. Additional records identified through other sources: Google Scholar, as well as Journal of Substance Use and Tobacco Control, are also to be searched. These will include original articles in any language which included all study designs (randomised controlled trials, quasi experimental and experimental studies, observational cross-sectional and cohort studies) comparing kiddie packs with regular cigarette packs. The primary outcomes of interest will be initiation of smoking and urge/tendency to buy cigarettes in the general population and attempts to reduce cigarette consumption among current smokers. Secondary outcomes will be the prevalence of smoking using kiddie packs among the current smokers. This systematic review will provide evidence to support the impact of kiddie packs on smoking in terms of smoking initiation, smoking prevalence, urge/tendency to purchase cigarettes and attempts to reduce cigarette consumption. The findings from this review could be helpful to policymakers in regulating kiddie packs to control the consumption of tobacco. PROSPERO CRD42018102325
Impact of Mucin Cellularity and Distribution on Survival in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMN) are tumors that frequently present with peritoneal spread of either acellular mucin (AM) or cellular mucin (CM). We aim to determine how mucin types and distribution affect survival. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a prospective database. Newly diagnosed LAMN patients with AM versus CM treated with cytoreductive surgery/hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) were compared. Postoperative pathology reports were reviewed to assess each involved abdominal zone. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Of 121 identified patients, 50 (41%) had peritoneal lesions with AM and 71 (59%) with CM. Peritoneal cancer index was lower in AM versus CM (mean: 19 ± 13 vs 28 ± 10, p = 0.004), but complete cytoreduction (CC) rates were similar (98% vs 96%, p = 0.642). The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was higher in AM versus CM (96% vs 69.8%, p = 0.002). CM patients had zones with both types of lesions: with and without cells. The CM subgroup analysis showed significant differences in 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with 1–3, 4–7, and 8–10 zones with cells (95.2%, 68.4%, and 35.7%, respectively, p < 0.001), but PFS was not affected by the number of zones with any lesion type. There was no difference in overall survival (OS) between groups. Despite comparable CC rates after CRS/HIPEC, CM patients have shorter PFS than AM patients. In CM patients, more zones with cells, but not the total number of involved zones, negatively impact PFS. Mucin type does not impact OS. It is important to assess and report mucin cellularity in LAMN specimens.
From weak antilocalization to Kondo scattering in a magnetic complex oxide interface

Quantum corrections to electrical resistance can serve as sensitive probes of the magnetic landscape of a material. For example, interference between time-reversed electron paths gives rise to weak localization effects, which can provide information about the coupling between spins and orbital motion, while the Kondo effect is sensitive to the presence of spin impurities. Here, we use low-temperature magnetotransport measurements to reveal a gradual transition from weak antilocalization (WAL) to Kondo scattering in the quasi-two-dimensional electron gas formed at the interface between $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and the Mott insulator $\mathrm{Nd}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. This transition occurs as the thickness of the $\mathrm{Nd}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ layer is increased. Analysis of the Kondo scattering and WAL points to the presence of atomic-scale magnetic impurities coexisting with nanoscale magnetic regions that affect transport via a strong magnetic exchange interaction. This leads to distinct magnetoresistance behaviors that can serve as a sensitive probe of magnetic properties in two dimensions.
Ultrasound in the Neurointensive Care Unit

Bedside ultrasound plays an important role in the neurointensive care unit. Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are at risk for cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). The use of transcranial Doppler to detect and monitor vasospasm is well established. Transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS) permits B-mode imaging of cerebral parenchyma and duplex imaging of intracranial vessels. The use of TCCS permits angle correction for more accurate determination of mean cerebral blood flow velocities (mCBFV). Measured mCBFV greater than 200 cm/s is highly suggestive of severe vasospasm with the consequent risk for cerebral infarction. Other recognized applications for TCCS include confirmation of brain death and assessment of recanalization following thrombolysis for ischemic stroke. Distension of the optic nerve sheath (ONS) identified on ocular ultrasound may be useful for the detection of raised intracranial pressure (ICP), with an ONS diameter ≥0.50 cm predicting ICP > 20 mmHg in the ventilated patient. The use of B-mode imaging of cerebral parenchyma to detect intracerebral hematomas, measure midline shift, and monitor lateral ventricle size in hydrocephalus is under investigation. The use of bedside echocardiography in aSAH patients may be useful for the identification of a Takotsubo pattern of cardiomyopathy as well as for titration of hemodynamic augmentation therapy for DCI. The use of thoracic ultrasound in aSAH may be useful for the detection and monitoring of neurogenic as well as cardiogenic pulmonary edema through the presence of B-lines. Other applications of ultrasound in the neuroICU include assessment of shock, the BLUE protocol for acute respiratory failure, eFAST in trauma, detection of deep venous thrombosis, and performance of bedside procedures.
Trends and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Rates of Pre-eclampsia by HIV Status in the US.

Preeclampsia and HIV account for a significant proportion of the global burden of disease and pose severe maternal–fetal risks. There is a dearth of literature regarding racial/ethnic disparities in preeclampsia associated with HIV/AIDS in the US. We retrospectively analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2002 to 2015 on a cohort of hospitalized pregnant women with or without preeclampsia and HIV. Joinpoint regression models were used to identify trends in the rates of preeclampsia among pregnant women living with or without HIV, stratified by race/ethnicity over the study period. We also assessed the association between preeclampsia and various socio-demographic factors. We analyzed over 60 million pregnancy-related hospitalizations, of which 3665 had diagnoses of preeclampsia and HIV, corresponding to a rate of 0.61 per 10,000. There was an increasing trend in the diagnosis of preeclampsia among hospitalized, pregnant women without HIV across each racial/ethnic category. The highest prevalence of preeclampsia was among non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks, regardless of HIV status. The increase in rates of pre-eclampsia between 2002 and 2015 was mostly noted among pregnant women without HIV. Regardless of HIV status, NH-Blacks experienced the highest discharge prevalence of preeclampsia.
RiboTag-Seq Reveals the Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response in Striatal Microglia Induced by Ethanol Withdrawal

Repeated cycles of alcohol intoxication and withdrawal both induce profound changes in gene expression that can contribute to the physiological and behavioral consequences of ethanol. Since neuroinflammation is an important consequence of these changes, we used a novel strategy to investigate the impact of repeated cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol vapor and withdrawal on the RNAs actively undergoing translation in striatal microglia. RiboTag was selectively expressed in the microglia of transgenic mice and was used to immunopurify the RNA translatome from striatal microglia, yielding a snapshot of RNA translation during alcohol intoxication and after 8 hours of withdrawal. We obtained highly enriched microglial RNAs and analyzed these in individual animals by deep sequencing. We found a dramatic shift in gene expression during acute intoxication compared to air-exposed controls, with increases in genes and pathways associated with cytokine signaling, indicating increased neuroinflammation and microglial activation. After 8 hours of ethanol withdrawal, many inflammatory pathways remained upregulated but phagocytotic and proapoptotic pathways were increased. Using an unbiased bioinformatic method, weighted gene coexpression network analysis, multiple differentially expressed gene modules were identified. One in particular was differentially expressed in ethanol intoxicated vs. withdrawing animals, and there was a strong correlation between the centrality of the genes to this gene network and their individual statistical significance in differential expression. The unfolded protein response was over-represented in this network after withdrawal. The induction of this pathway in microglia is important since this cellular stress response can either lead towards restoration of normal function or apoptosis.
A comparison of safe sleep violations in child care and family child care learning homes in Georgia.

BACKGROUND High rates of infant death associated with sleeping practices continue to persist in the United States. Infants spend a large portion of their day with child care and family child care learning home providers. Safe sleeping practices continue to be an area of need for care providers of young children. METHOD The current study examines data drawn from a publicly available database of child care licensing reports in Georgia (n = 3,501), which contained data on child care centres and family child care learning homes. Information in the database included characteristics of the centres, year of data collection and the specific violations by child care provider type. RESULTS Results indicated clear differences in the prevalence of violations between child care centres and family child care learning homes. Within the overall sample, 13.3% of centres and family child care learning homes were cited for safe sleeping practice violations with higher prevalence in licensed child care centres and unaccredited centres. Violations were consistent with those commonly found in child care environments and inconsistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations. CONCLUSIONS Data from the current study suggest a continued need for professional learning on safe sleep practices.
Immigraντ Poetics: Play as Performativity of the Liminal Self

Yiorgos Anagnostou’s essay is a hybrid between reflection and poetry by means of a playful juxtaposition between essay and poetics.
Urban Runoff and Ocean Water Quality in Southern California: What Tools Does the Clean Water Act Provide?

are well known. Urban and suburban development, with the creation of buildings and roads, and the innumerable related activities, turns the rain and snow into unwitting agents of damage to our nation’s waterways. This urban and suburban runoff, legally known as stormwater, is—with agricultural runoff—one of the most significant water pollution problems in the United States.2 One significant victim of urban runoff pollution is coastal water quality. The nation’s coastal waters are far from pristine. In January 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its second National Coastal Condition Report,3 concluding, as it had in the original 2001 report,4 that the overall condition of the nation’s coastal waters was somewhere between “fair” and “poor,”
Multi-Objective Optimization for FDM Process Parameters with Evolutionary Algorithms

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) based three-dimensional (3D) printing process has become a popular and economical alternative to produce complex 3D structures without the necessity of expensive tooling. There are a set of process parameters involved in the FDM process that should be appropriately set to ensure the desired 3D part properties are achieved. The relationships between these process parameters are often complicated, conflicting, and interdependent. The selection of optimum process parameters combination is essential. Many approaches can be taken to optimize FDM process parameters. Although experimental methods are exhaustive, they are often expensive and time-consuming. Alternatively, numerical methods have gained a lot of traction in the application of optimizing FDM process parameters. This chapter will introduce multi-objective optimization and review the state-of-the-art optimization methods based on evolutionary algorithms that can be employed in optimizing FDM process parameters. Multi-objective optimization involves optimizing more than one objective function simultaneously and often results in many optimal solutions known as Pareto-optimal solutions. This Pareto-optimal set of solutions can help decision-makers make a robust optimal selection for FDM process parameters.
Azole resistance in Aspergillus species: promising therapeutic options.

Azoles are the first-line antifungal agents used for the treatment of Aspergillus infection. There is an increasing concern for azole resistance all over the world mainly from agricultural fungicid...
Self, Philosophical Considerations

The debate between the proponents of realism and antirealism about the self has played an important role in philosophy, and, though less directly, in clinical psychology. Realism has two fundamental commitments about the world posited by scientific theories: existence and evaluation-independence. According to the existence claim, both the everyday world of objects and their properties—the subject of scientific theorizing—do exist. According to the evaluation- independence claim, the objects and properties posited by a scientific theory exist independent from what human beings think about them or how they are linguistically articulated. Realists argue that the self exists as an evaluation-independent phenomenon. Antirealists, on the other hand, argue that there is no such thing as the self. What is conventionally conceived of as the self is contingent on our evaluations; that is, it is a mere artifact of cultural, social, and linguistic conventions. Keywords: Dennett, Daniel Clement; James, William; self and identity; anti-realism; identity; realism; self
Origins of Behavior in Pavlovian Conditioning

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the origins of conditioned behavior and learning abilities of organisms in Pavlovian conditioning, which reveals an adaptive mechanism by which organisms adjust to relatively short-term variations in their environments, specifically relations among events. It is best served by an appreciation of the views, methods, and data of both associative and functional-evolutionary perspectives. The theories of learned behavior are consistent with ecological and ethological considerations. Pavlovian conditioning plays an important part in the life and adaptation of organisms because the current theories of conditioning offer little information about the involvement of conditioning in behavior and make little contact with the methods, attitudes, and concepts of other students of animal behavior. Although most of the current theories of conditioning are largely silent on the nature of the conditioned response, that silence is not universal. Perhaps the most frequently held view of conditioning has its roots in the physiological study of reflexes in the 19th century. Within this tradition, Pavlovian conditioning is described as the substitution of a previously neutral stimulus into an existing reflex system, which is the transfer of control of an unconditioned reflex from an unconditioned stimulus (US) to a conditioned stimulus (CS).
MAD2 haplo-insufficiency causes premature anaphase and chromosome instability in mammalian cells

The mitotic checkpoint protein hsMad2 is required to arrest cells in mitosis when chromosomes are unattached to the mitotic spindle. The presence of a single, lagging chromosome is sufficient to activate the checkpoint, producing a delay at the metaphase-anaphase transition until the last spindle attachment is made. Complete loss of the mitotic checkpoint results in embryonic lethality owing to chromosome mis-segregation in various organisms. Whether partial loss of checkpoint control leads to more subtle rates of chromosome instability compatible with cell viability remains unknown. Here we report that deletion of one MAD2 allele results in a defective mitotic checkpoint in both human cancer cells and murine primary embryonic fibroblasts. Checkpoint-defective cells show premature sister-chromatid separation in the presence of spindle inhibitors and an elevated rate of chromosome mis-segregation events in the absence of these agents. Furthermore, Mad2+/- mice develop lung tumours at high rates after long latencies, implicating defects in the mitotic checkpoint in tumorigenesis.
DESIGNING ORDER‐BOOK TRANSPARENCY IN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

A significant fraction of trade in stock exchanges (e.g., Euronext and NASDAQ) involves ‘iceberg orders’, which are orders to sell or buy a certain number of shares with the caveat that only a part of that number be made public. This paper provides a normative justification for the lack of transparency in this kind of order: imperfect disclosure is shown to be a necessary feature of any optimal mechanism when the asset's potential buyers must incur a cost in order to become active and learn their valuations for the asset. This finding raises a caveat for regulation that seeks to mandate the open order book or otherwise increase the pre-trade transparency of stock exchanges.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 and CCR2 Interactions Are Required for IFN-α/β-Induced Inflammatory Responses and Antiviral Defense in Liver

IFN-alpha/beta-mediated functions promote production of MIP-1alpha (or CCL3) by mediating the recruitment of MIP-1alpha-producing macrophages to the liver during early infection with murine CMV. These responses are essential for induction of NK cell inflammation and IFN-gamma delivery to support effective control of local infection. Nevertheless, it remains to be established if additional chemokine functions are regulated by IFN-alpha/beta and/or play intermediary roles in supporting macrophage trafficking. The chemokine MCP-1 (or CCL2) plays a distinctive role in the recruitment of macrophages by predominantly stimulating the CCR2 chemokine receptor. Here, we examine the roles of MCP-1 and CCR2 during murine CMV infection in liver. MCP-1 production preceded that of MIP-1alpha during infection and was dependent on IFN-alpha/beta effects for induction. Resident F4/80(+) liver leukocytes were identified as primary IFN-alpha/beta responders and major producers of MCP-1. Moreover, MCP-1 deficiency was associated with a dramatic reduction in the accumulation of macrophages and NK cells, as well as decreased production of MIP-1alpha and IFN-gamma in liver. These responses were also markedly impaired in mice with a targeted disruption of CCR2. Furthermore, MCP-1- and CCR2-deficient mice exhibited increased viral titers and elevated expression of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase in serum. These mice also had widespread virus-induced liver pathology and succumbed to infection. Collectively, these results establish MCP-1 and CCR2 interactions as factors promoting early liver inflammatory responses and define a mechanism for innate cytokines in regulation of chemokine functions critical for effective localized antiviral defenses.
Computational study of compressive loading of carbon nanotubes

A reduced-order general continuum method is used to examine the mechanical behavior of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under compressive loading and unloading conditions. Quasi-static solutions are sought where the total energy of the system is minimized with respect to the spatial degree of freedom. We provide detailed buckled configurations for four different types of CNTs and show that, among the cases studied, the armchair CNT has the strongest resistance to the compressive loading. It is also shown that the buckled CNT will significantly lose its structural strength with the zigzag lattice structure. The unloading post-buckling of CNT demonstrates that even after the occurrence of buckling the CNT can still return to its original state making its use desirable in fields such as synthetic biomaterials, electromagnetic devices, or polymer composites.
2012 State of Entrepreneurship Address: 'A Roadmap for State Growth'

At the 2012 State of Entrepreneurship Address, held February 9, 2012, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation interim president and CEO Benno C. Schmidt, along with National Governors Association (NGA) leaders Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and Delaware Governor Jack Markell, called for state and local government policy changes to foster entrepreneurship and accelerate economic growth. During the third annual address, titled "A Roadmap for State Growth," Schmidt focused on reducing state and local legal and regulatory barriers to startups and young companies, which play a significant role in U.S. new job creation.
Heterogeneity of human very low density lipoproteins by gel filtration chromatography

Very low density lipoproteins were separated by gel filtration on Sepharose 4B. A decrease in mean particle diameter and flotation rate was seen with increasing elution volumes. The smaller lipoproteins had relatively more protein and phospholipid and less triglyceride than the larger ones. No differences were noted in the relative contents of the various phospholipids or partial glycerides between small and large lipoproteins. Fatty acid patterns of triglycerides and cholesteryl esters were also similar for the various lipoproteins. Relatively more lecithin containing linoleoyl acyl groups was found in smaller lipoproteins of some subjects. More of the protein of smaller lipoproteins was apo-LDL protein. Apo-HDL peptide was lost from the very low density lipoprotein as a consequence of the gel filtration.
Black chrome solar selective coatings optimized for high temperature applications

Abstract A statistical design approach has been used on a specified set of plating parameters to optimize the thermal stability of electrodeposited black chrome solar coatings. Plating parameters studied included the bath composition (chromic acid, acetic acid, trivalent chromium and iron), current density, plating time, substrate and bath temperature. The optimization procedure consisted of maximizing the solar absorptance values after thermal aging at high temperatures (up to 450°C in air). The estimated functional dependence of the thermally aged solar absorptance values on the four bath constituents was determined in the region of most stable coatings. This relationship was used to specify a range of bath compositions that provide coatings with optimum thermal stability. It was also found that chloride ion contamination of the black chrome plating solution significantly degraded the thermal stability of plated coatings. Fortunately, the chloride ions could be effectively removed through the addition of silver oxide, which precipitates silver chloride. When the plating variables were properly controlled, electrodeposited black chrome coatings were obtained which should maintain solar absorptance values of 0.96 or higher during years of operation at 300°C in air.
Nidamental gland precursor of the egg capsule protein of the gastropod mollusc Busycon carica

Abstract 1. 1. A precursor of the egg capsule protein was isolated from the nidamental gland of Busycon carica. 2. 2. The soluble nidamental gland precursor (precapsulin) and the egg capsule protein (capsulin) had similar birefringence with polarizing microscopy, similar electron microscopic appearance (1050 A, repeats), and similar amino acid composition. 3. 3. Precapsulin had a molecular weight of 49,000, and was cross-linked into dimers, trimers, and tetramers by dimethyl suberimidate. 4. 4. Capsulin contained a borotritide reducible compound and differed from precapsulin in lysine content suggesting that lysine derived cross-links may be important in the conversion of precapsulin to insoluble capsulin.
A bi-stable branch model for energy-based cascading failure analysis in power systems

In an electric power network, initial loss of a transmission line may create transient overloads in other lines, inducing cascading failures, and possibly system wide outage. Full time domain simulations to credibly predict the wide range of possible switching actions that can lead to cascading failure events under transient conditions is extremely costly. As an alternative, this work proposes a bi-stable branch model that approximates transient line overload outages in a smooth dynamic model, amenable to analytic stability analysis. In this context, partially degraded network configurations appear as multiple equilibria in an augmented transient stability model, and vulnerability to transit to any degraded configuration may be quantified via a closed form energy function. This work develops the model, demonstrates the construction of the associated energy function, and confirms the energy to be non-increasing along system trajectories that include line overload driven failure. This work is intended as a first step to demonstrate the potential for energy function methods to contribute to cascading failure analysis. In particular, it is envisioned that short duration simulation be augmented with a computationally inexpensive energy function threshold test, to obtain (when possible) a sufficient condition for a post-disturbance state to be “captured” in the energy well about a (partially degraded network) stable equilibrium, thereby ensuring no further line outages can occur along the remaining transient trajectory.
The physiology and pathophysiology of intraocular fluids.

The chemical composition of intraocular fluids (IOFs) is determined by the composition of the freshly secreted fluid and by solute exchanges with each of the intraocular tissues. Most intraocular tissues, the cornea, the trabeeular meshwork and the lens, depend on the IOFs for all their metabolic exchanges. The anangiotic retina, or avascular retinal regions, of some species, and even the euangiotic retina of primates must depend on the vitreous for some solute exchanges under normal conditions and all solute exchanges during acute episodes of ischemia. The vitreous may in fact serve as the lymphatic drainage route, and under ischemic conditions as an “emergency reservoir”, for the retina. Most intraocular pathologies can be expected to alter the chemical composition of IOFs; thus, detailed analysis of these fluids could have diagnostic and prognostic value if appropriate controls can be established. Any abnormalities in the composition of IOFs can, in turn, be expected to affect the surrounding intraocular tissues. Most forms of rapidly developing cataracts, for example, are associated with changes in intraocular fluid composition, while senile cataracts and slowly developing degenerative diseases of the cornea, trabecular meshwork, and retina may be associated with more subtle, as yet undetermined, changes in IOF composition.
Ge-GaAs (110) Interface: A Self-Consistent Calculation of Interface States and Electronic Structure

Self-consistent calculations allowing electron redistribution in a wide region around a Ge-GaAs(110) interface reveal six types of interface states. The charge densities and local density of states at the interface indicate Ge-Ga bonding states in the gap (but below the valence-band maximum) and a variety of other states at lower energy. Some estimates based on these pseudopotential results give information on band-edge discontinuities and the character of bonds across a nonpolar interface.
A New in Vitro Model to Study Endothelial Injury

Abstract Background. Endothelial dysfunction or “endothelialitis” is a prominent feature in several disease states ranging from atherosclerosis to transplant rejection. This dysfunction is also caused by drugs such as cyclosporin A (CyA) and leads to allograft vasculopathy and eventual graft loss. Despite the frequency and importance of this injury, there is no model to study the morphological effects of endothelial injury and dysfunction in vitro . Methods. We utilized a model in which mouse endothelial cells (SVEC 4–10) can be induced to form capillary tubes by culturing on a laminin-rich matrix (Matrigel). In this morphological model of endothelial cell function, we studied the effect of varying doses of CyA on two parameters of tube formation: initiation of tube formation and disruption of mature capillary tubes. As a positive control we used IFN-γ, which inhibited capillary tube formation. We developed this assay in 96-well culture plates to test several samples simultaneously. Results. The assay could be adapted to a 96-well format by optimizing the cell density. Endothelial dysfunction was seen when the endothelial cells were incubated with cyclosporin A, which affected both morphological parameters of tube formation. At higher doses (2–20 μg/ml) CyA both inhibited capillary tube formation and disrupted mature capillary tubes. At lower doses CyA only inhibited the initiation of tube formation; it did not disrupt mature capillary tubes. IL-2 (400–1000 pg/ml) and IFN-γ (10–400 pg/ml) inhibited initiation of tube formation but did not disrupt mature capillary tubes. None of these agents, including high doses of CyA, impaired endothelial cell viability. Conclusion. CyA-induced endothelial dysfunction can be modeled in vitro by this novel morphological assay of capillary tube formation. This assay can discern mild and severe degrees of endothelial dysfunction. The different effects of low and high levels of CyA on capillary tube formation imply that similar dysfunction in vivo may be responsible for allograft vasculopathy caused by CyA. This novel model can also be utilized to study other forms of vasculitis.
Electrochemical studies of thioxanthene, thioxanthone, and related species in nonaqueous media

Summary Electrochemical oxidation of thioxanthene in nonaqueous and mixed media is described. The thioxanthylium carbonium ion initially produced is shown to react in a variety of ways depending on water concentration and subsequent adjustments in applied potential. Hydrolysis of thioxanthylium and subsequent homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions is shown to lead to thioxanthone. An electrolytic preparation of the elusive thioxanthone sulfoxide is shown to be superior to previously described chemical procedures. Reduction of electrogenerated thioxanthylium produces a dimer (dithioxanthyl) in high yields which can passivate further electrolysis under certain circumstances. Steric influences on the voltammetric behavior of this dimer as well as its unsaturated analog, dithioxanthylene, are described and generation of the dithioxanthylium dication from the latter in aprotic media is reported for the first time.
Structural studies of biarylpyridines fluorophores lead to the identification of promising long wavelength emitters for use in fluorescent chemosensors

Abstract Fluorescent chemosensors—molecules whose fluorescence emission changes in response to a reversible binding event—require both a substrate binding domain and a reporting fluorophore. Our approach to chemosensor development is based on a combination of a new signaling mechanism and a modular fluorophore synthesis. The latter feature has facilitated detailed study of the properties of polyarylpyridine fluorophores, and has led to the identification of a visibly-emissive pyridine as a promising lead structure for chemosensor development. The results of this study are described herein.
Azathioprine-Induced Comorbidity Network Reveals Patterns and Predictors of Nephrotoxicity and Neutrophilia

We sought to examine the frequencies and patterns of nephrotoxicity and neutrophilia due to azathioprine (AZA), and to develop a prototype method for using large de-identified electronic health record (EHR) data to aid in post-market drug surveillance. We leveraged a de-identified database of over 10 million patient EHRs to construct a network of comorbidities induced by administration of AZA, where comorbidities were defined by baseline-controlled laboratory values. To gauge the significance of the identified disease patterns, we calculated the relative risk of developing a comorbidity pair relative to a control cohort of patients taking one of 12 other anti-rheumatic agents. Nephrotoxicity as gauged by elevations in creatinine was present in 11% of patients taking AZA, and this frequency was significantly higher than in patients taking other anti-rheumatic agents (RR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.04-1.43). Neutrophilia was highly prevalent (45%) in the population and was also unique to AZA (RR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.17-1.28). Using a comorbidity network analysis, we hypothesized that the joint consideration of anemia (hemoglobin 190 IU/L) may serve as a predictor of impending renal dysfunction. Indeed, these two laboratory values provide approximately 100% sensitivity in predicting subsequent elevations in creatinine. Furthermore, the predictive power is unique to AZA, for jointly considering anemia and an elevated LDH provides only 50% sensitivity in predicting creatinine elevations with other anti-rheumatic agents. Our work demonstrates that the construction of comorbidity networks from de-identified EHR data sets can provide both sufficient insight and statistical power to uncover novel patterns and predictors of disease.
The labia minora as a pedicle graft to cover the defect of simple vulvectomy: A new method

A simple technique of closing the defect following simple vulvectomy is described. The labia minora as a pedicle graft avoids the problems encountered by conventional methods.
Progressive severe anemia due to copper deficiency five years after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Abstract Patients with neurological illnesses often require prolonged enteral or parenteral nutrition. The complications of this type of feeding may be unfamiliar to neurosurgeous and neurologists, however, these complications may be an important source of ongoing morbidity. We present a case of severe anemia due to copper deficiency in a patient requiring enteral nutrition after SAH. The anemia resolved with copper supplements. A high index of suspicion is needed to recognise and treat complications of enteral nutrition.
Newer Insights into the Pathogenesis of Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), produced in the mouse by immunization with murine thyroglobulin plus complete Freund's adjuvant, represents a valuable model for studying the pathogenesis of human chronic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis. A major issue requiring clarification is the difference between benign autoimmunity, characterized solely by production of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin, and pathogenic autoimmunity where injury occurs to the thyroid cells. In this article, we describe the role of two key cytokines, IL12 and IFNγ, in modifying the pathogenic immune response. EAT, defined by cellular infiltration of the thyroid and the development of thyroglobulin-specific autoantibodies, is a dynamic process. Consequently, a cytokine may exert a different effect at different times during the disease process. For purposes of discussion, we propose that there are three stages in the development of EAT: priming; initiation; and progression. Administration of anti-IL12 during the priming stage and initi...
Single dose of gentamicin in combination with metronidazole versus multiple doses for prevention of post-caesarean infection at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania: a randomized, equivalence, controlled trial.

Background Caesarean section(C/S) has been found to increase rates of maternal infectious morbidities five times more than vaginal delivery. The provision of intravenous prophylactic antibiotics 30 to 60 minutes prior to C/S has been found to substantially reduce post-caesarean infection. At Bugando Medical Centre, there is no consistent protocol for the administration of antibiotic prophylaxis to patients who are undergoing emergency C/S. Providing repeated dosages of antibiotic prophylaxis after C/S is the common practice. This study aimed to determine the comparative efficacy of a single dose of gentamicin in combination with metronidazole versus multiple doses for prevention of post-caesarean infection.
Eating Expectancies in Relation to Eating Disorder Recovery

This study examined the relation between eating expectancies, assessed via the Eating Expectancy Inventory, and eating disorder recovery. Individuals formerly seen for an eating disorder were categorized as having an active eating disorder (n = 53), as partially recovered (n = 15), or as fully recovered (n = 20). The expectancies of these groups were compared to each other and to 67 non-eating disorder controls. Results revealed that three of the five eating expectancies differed across groups. Non-eating disorder controls and fully recovered individuals endorsed similar levels of the expectancies that eating helps manage negative affect, eating is pleasurable and useful as a reward, and eating leads to feeling out of control. Partially recovered individuals looked more similar to active eating disorder cases on these expectancies. The other two expectancies did not differ across groups. Results provide some indication that certain eating expectancies may be associated with eating disorder recovery.
Impact crater experiments for introductory physics and astronomy laboratories

Activity-based collisional analysis is developed for introductory physics and astronomy laboratory experiments. Crushable floral foam is used to investigate the physics of projectiles undergoing completely inelastic collisions with a low-density solid forming impact craters. Simple drop experiments enable determination of the average acceleration, force, collision time, impulse, and work done on simulated meteorites by the floral foam during crater formation.
A gas holdup model for cocurrent air–water–fiber bubble columns

Abstract A gas holdup model is developed for cocurrent air–water–fiber bubble column flows using the drift–flux model. The model coefficients are estimated using a nonlinear least square method and systematically acquired experimental data. The model correlates gas holdup with superficial gas and liquid velocity, and fiber type and mass fraction. The model reproduces most experimental data within ± 10 % error and all but 3 of the 3839 experimental data points within ± 15 % error. It also accurately predicts air–water bubble column gas holdup data; these data were not used in estimating the model coefficients. The physical implications of the model coefficients are also discussed.
Multiple exportins influence thyroid hormone receptor localization

The thyroid hormone receptor (TR) undergoes nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and regulates target genes involved in metabolism and development. Previously, we showed that TR follows a CRM1/calreticulin-mediated nuclear export pathway. However, two lines of evidence suggest TR also follows another pathway: export is only partially blocked by leptomycin B (LMB), a CRM1-specific inhibitor; and we identified nuclear export signals in TR that are LMB-resistant. To determine whether other exportins are involved in TR shuttling, we used RNA interference and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching shuttling assays in transfected cells. Knockdown of exportins 4, 5, and 7 altered TR shuttling dynamics, and when exportins 5 and 7 were overexpressed, TR distribution shifted toward the cytosol. To further assess the effects of exportin overexpression, we examined transactivation of a TR-responsive reporter gene. Our data indicate that multiple exportins influence TR localization, highlighting a fine balance of nuclear import, retention, and export that modulates TR function.
Macroalgae in marine soft-sediment communities: effects on benthic faunal assemblages

Abstract Algal removal experiments were conducted in 1984 and 1986 to measure the effects of algal cover on the structure of an intertidal benthic assemblage. Cover by the green alga, Ulva expansa (Setchell) Setchell et Gardner, had no affect on total density or species richness of small fauna, compared to removal plots, during the algal season in either year, although diversity indexes (h′ and D) were slightly greater in removal plots. Epifauna had consistantly greater densities in algal plots, while infaunal densities were not different in 1984, and greater in algal plots in 1986. Mobile, sediment-water interface feeding taxa were the numerically dominant infauna, and along with predators, exhibited the same patterns as infauna in general. Sedentary sediment-water interface feeders had lower densities under algal cover, while the density of deep deposit-feeders was not different between treatments. Large bivalves, principally the tellinid Macoma nasuta (Conrad), were significantly reduced by algal cover in both years. Post-algal season samples in the 1986 experiment revealed that after a season of algal cover, the densities of small, mobile, sediment-water interface feeding infauna were significantly greater, and those of sedentary species, particularly bivalves and tubicolous suspension-feeders were significantly lower, in plots which had supported an algal mat. The increased abundance of small deposit-feeding fauna was likely a result of an increase in food resources due to in situ burial and decomposition of macroalgae. These experiments indicate that, like other submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), macroalgae can play an important functional role in structuring benthic faunal assemblages. However, in contrast to other SAV, the presence of macroalgae, particularly laminar forms such as Ulva , can have a mixed effect on the density of benthic fauna. Mobile sediment-water interface feeding species can have greater densities, while the densities of sedentary species, especially bivalves and tube-dwellers, can be much lower with algal cover.
Highly luminescent, polyaryl mesobenzanthrones

Abstract Several highly luminescent, aryl-substituted mesobenzanthrones (7H-benz[de]anthracen-7-ones) were prepared by a simple, two-step synthesis: addition of a carboxylated benzyne to a cyclopentadienone followed by an intramolecular Friedel–Crafts acylation. These compounds exhibit brilliant, yellow-green luminescence with quantum yields ranging from 0.01 to 1, depending on the aryl substituents present, and their photophysical behavior was elucidated by experimental and computational methods.
Molecular Layering Effects on Friction at Ni(100)/Ni(100) Interfaces

The combined use of an ultrahigh vacuum tribometer and a variety of surface science techniques has enabled us to explore the tribological properties of interfaces between Ni(100) surfaces and to observe phenomena attributable to molecular layering. Friction measurements have been made between a pair of clean Ni(100) surfaces, modified by the presence of adsorbed atomic sulfur with and without adsorbed ethanol. Friction measurements made with ethanol coverages ranging from 0 to 10 monolayers (ML) on each Ni(100) surface reveal that the friction coefficient is discontinuous in coverage and can be correlated to the coverage dependence of the ethanol desorption energy. During shearing, sliding never commences between clean Ni(100) surfaces or sulfided Ni(100) surfaces without adsorbed ethanol. In the submonolayer coverage regime of either atomic sulfur or adsorbed ethanol, the behavior is characterized by a high friction coefficient (μs > 5.5) accompanied by high adhesive forces (μad = 1.5 ± 0.7). An abrupt d...
Planning in a Continuous Domain—An Introduction

Abstract : This paper concerns the development of a model for planning over a domain of continuous actions. The envisioned world model consists of a set o piecewise defined functions of time, with critical points that are represented symbolically as instantaneous discrete events. The goal is represented as a point through which the world function must thread at some point in time. World functions are transformed by adding events at various points in time which transform the trajectories in the direction of the goal. As events are added, formulas relating the event times are added to the description of the world. The result is a partial order of events which represent a plan for 'forcing' the world function to achieve the goal. (Author)