cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The decision to donate: a model of decision making among individuals and families.

Fifty years ago, the first successful kidney transplantation was performed. Since then significant advances in transplantation have been made. Unfortunately, the number of people needing transplants far surpasses the number willing to donate. The literature addresses a plethora of variables influencing whether individuals will become donors themselves or whether family members will donate a loved one's organs. However, to date, no model has examined similarities and differences in the processes by which individuals and families go about making decisions to donate their own or another's organs. In this article, individual and family donation decisions are discussed using Janis' 5-stage model of decision making. We suggest that the weighty nature of donation decisions levels the playing field for decisions made for self and for others. Although the specifics (eg, micro-level) may vary slightly, the processes by which people go about deciding to donate their own organs or those of another individual are simi...
The effect of age on mean spatial QRS and T vectors.

The differentiation between normal and abnormal changes in conventional electrocardiography is substantially improved by consideration of normal age trends. For clinical application of spatial vectorcardiography, consideration of age trends is equally important. On the basis of statistical evaluation of magnitude, azimuth and elevation of mean spatial QRS and T vectors in 105 healthy young men and 178 healthy older men, upper and lower limits were determined for each age group. The age differences were highly significant for all items of vector analysis.
Immune recognition of botulinum neurotoxin type A: Regions recognized by T cells and antibodies against the protective HC fragment (residues 855–1296) of the toxin

Abstract Botulism toxicity is caused by botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), a group of protein neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum . Recent studies have shown that immunization with a C-terminal fragment (H C , residues 855–1296) of BoNT type A (BoNT/A) affords excellent protection against BoNT/A toxicity. The present work was carried out in order to map the molecular and cellular immunological recognition of H C . We have previously described the synthesis of 31 overlapping peptides encompassing the entire H C -fragment of BoNT/A. These peptides were employed in this study to localize the continuous regions recognized by T cells and by antibodies (Abs) generated in two mouse strains against H C . T cells from SJL that had been primed with H C gave a strong proliferative response to challenge in vitro with each of the six peptides spanning residues 897–985 and a lower response to peptide 1051–1069. While H C -primed T cells of BALB/c recognized three regions residing within residues 939–957, 1009–1027 and 1135–1153 (strong). Recognition regions by Abs in SJL or BALB/c anti-H C antisera essentially overlapped. However, the level of Abs bound to each region differed between the two strains. These common or similar recognition regions by the two strains were: 855–915 (SJL) or 855–901 (BALB/c); 939–957; 967–1013 (BALB/c) or 981–1013 (SJL); 1051–1069; 1079–1111 (BALB/c) or 1093–1125 (SJL); 1177–1195; and 1275–1296. In addition, BALB/c recognized region 1135–1153. Some of these regions show considerable sequence similarity in BoNT types B and E and, therefore, H C of these two BoNTs might offer protection against the correlate clostridial toxins
2.1.4 DEVELOPING A SYSTEMS ENGINEERING APPROACH FOR THE HANFORD RETRIEVAL, TREATMENT AND IMMOBILIZATION DIVISION BASED ON DOD STANDARDS

The DOE Systems Engineering effort is in the “Hot Seat” at the Hanford Nuclear Site. Hanford has been designated as the site at which the Systems Engineering approach for all DOE will be developed. Conditions are excellent for a major success or failure. Given that DOE does not have a standard in place defining Systems Engineering, and that the number of people with knowledge of Systems Engineering is limited, an overwhelming success will be difficult to come by. This paper describes the approach taken by the DOE Retrieval, Treatment and Immobilization (RTI) Division Systems Engineering group to overcome the odds against success and implement Systems Engineering at the Hanford facility.
The motivational significance of cognition

Abstract A review of An Attribution Theory of Motivation and Emotion by B. Weiner (1986). New York: Springer-Verlag, pp. xi, 304, ISBN 0-387-9612-X, $39.50, £36.
Expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and the PACAP-selective receptor in cultured rat astrocytes, human brain tumors, and in response to acute intracranial injury.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a bioactive peptide with diverse activities in the nervous system. In addition to its more classic role as a neurotransmitter, PACAP functions as a neurotrophic factor. PACAP exerts these activities by binding to PACAP-selective (PAC1) or nonselective (VPAC1, VPAC2) receptors (-R). Glial cells also exhibit PACAP binding, which is associated with the increased proliferation of astrocytes. The present report demonstrates a distinct spatiotemporal regulation of PACAP, PAC1-R, VPAC1-R, and VPAC2-R expression in primary cultured rat astrocytes. To determine the role of PACAP and PAC1-R expression on glial proliferation, two in vivo models were examined – human brain tumors of glial origin and the reactive gliosis induced by a penetrating stab wound to the mature rat brain. Relative to normal human brain, PAC1-R expression is significantly upregulated in glioma, particularly oligodendrogliomas. While similar polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis does not detect PACAP expression, in situ hybridization studies reveal PACAP expression in a limited number of cells within the tumor. In sharp contrast, neither PACAP nor PAC1-R expression are upregulated consequent to injury. These results suggest a distinct role for PACAP and PAC1-R in glioma development and nervous system response to injury.
Coupled channel distorted wave calculations for the three-dimensional H+H2 reaction

A method for determining cross sections and other dynamical information based on the use of accurate coupled channel nonreactive wave functions in an evaluation of the distorted wave reactive scattering amplitude is developed for three‐dimensional atom–diatom reactive collisions and applied to the H+H2 reaction. The nonreactive wave functions are obtained by using a truncated expansion in asymptotic vibration/rotation states to generate coupled channel equations in terms of the full Hamiltonian. Explicit reduction of the distorted wave scattering matrix expression to a real valued three‐dimensional integral is given and methods for simplifying the calculation through the use of parity decoupling, even/odd decoupling, and the coupled states approximation are introduced. The application to H+H2 considers the Porter–Karplus potential surface. Comparison of reaction probabilities, opacity functions, differential and integral cross sections with corresponding results from exact quantum calculations indicates t...
Factor analysis and body types.

A factorial analysis was made of a small battery of twelve anthropometric measurements. The correlations can be accounted for by four factors in a simple structure. This small battery has been used by the author for teaching purposes. Several of these factors seem to be meaningful, but their acceptance must depend on more comprehensive studies of body measurements with a larger number of measurements.
Treatment of post-dural puncture headache using epidural injection of fibrin sealant as an alternative to autologous epidural blood patch (case report).

Abstract Background Post dural puncture headache (PDPH) is an iatrogenic cause of patient morbidity in pain management after spinal or epidural anaesthesia, as well as after diagnostic lumbar puncture. Most patients respond to conservative treatment or to epidural blood patch, yet limited options for effective treatment are available for patients who fail these treatments or present with theoretical contraindication. Case report We present a case of a patient with previously diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C, who presented with signs of PDPH, which placed him at a theoretical risk of meningeal seeding of the virus during the blood patching procedure. Conclusion We successfully treated the post dural puncture headache and avoided the risk of viral seeding of the meninges by using a fibrin sealant.
Scaling of energy absorbing composite plates

The energy absorption response and crushing characteristics of geometrically scaled graphite-Kevlar epoxy composite plates were investigated. Two different trigger mechanisms including notch, and steeple geometries were incorporated into the plate specimens to initiate crushing. Sustained crushing was achieved with a new test fixture which provided lateral support to prevent global buckling. Values of specific sustained crushing stress (SSCS) were obtained which were lower than values reported for tube specimens from previously published data. Two sizes of hybrid plates were fabricated; a baseline or model plate, and a full-scale plate with inplane dimensions scaled by a factor of two. The thickness dimension of the full-scale plates was increased using two different techniques: the ply-level method in which each ply orientation in the baseline laminate stacking sequence is doubled, and the sublaminate technique in which the baseline laminate stacking sequence is repeated as a group. Results indicated that the SSCS has a small dependence on trigger mechanism geometry. However, a reduction in the SSCS of 10-25% was observed for the full-scale plates as compared with the baseline specimens, indicating a scaling effect in the crushing response.
An econometric study of illegal electricity connections in the urban favelas of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Abstract The data from the project “ Conviver ,” launched in 2006 in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), provides a unique opportunity to study illegal electricity connections. Based on an original dataset of 15,279 low-income households, this paper studies the incidence and determinants of illegality in the context of low-income urban favelas . The probability of engaging in illegal behavior is explained not just by low income, but by a combination of concurring factors: sub-standard energy provision and equipment; inefficient/incorrect use of domestic electric appliances and running an informal in-house business. These recurrent issues in the urban favelas aggravate a sense of exclusion from growth, which is generally recognized as a trigger of illegality. The impact of energy demand on energy-related illegality is carefully analyzed, and different empirical strategies adopted to circumvent some simultaneity problem between both decision processes. The effectiveness of consumption-based energy subsidies is also explored. In spite of some contrary arguments in the literature, in the context of peri-urban slums, such measures may exert a positive impact in mitigating illegal access and use of energy. Effectiveness will be enhanced by accompanying measures such as: perceivable improvements of equipment, metering and maintenance, promotion of beneficiaries’ awareness of energy usage, and energy-saving behaviors.
A finite element-based fictitious domain decomposition method for the fast solution of partially axisymmetric sound-hard acoustic scattering problems

We blend a fictitious domain decomposition method and the FETI-H substructuring algorithm to construct a fast finite element-based solver for exterior Helmholtz problems characterized by partially axisymmetric sound-hard scatterers. A key component of our method is an original idea for addressing a Neumann boundary condition in the general framework of a fictitious domain method. We demonstrate between one and two orders of magnitude reduction of the CPU time associated with the straightforward solution of such exterior Helmholtz problems, and highlight the added benefit of FETI-H to the proposed fictitious domain solution method.
Hierarchies and Textures in Supergravity Unification.

It is proposed that supergravity unified models possess, in addition to the hidden and the visible sectors, a third sector which contains exotic matter with couplings to the fields of both the visible and the hidden sectors, and that its elimination leads to quark-lepton textures at the grand unified theory (GUT) scale with a hierarchy in powers of ${M}_{G}/{M}_{P}$. Simultaneously the GUT mass is computed in terms of the Planck/string scale. Textures in the Higgs triplet sector are computed using a complete set of texture sum rules, and it is shown that they modify predictions of proton decay in unified models.
SU-DD-A3-03: How Accurately Can the Internal Target Volume (ITV) from a Free-Breathing Cone Beam Computed Tomography (FB-CBCT) Scan Be Used for Target Verification?

Purpose: An internal target volume (ITV) is often identified by acquiring a free‐breathing cone‐beam computed tomography scan (FB‐CBCT) to verify patient setup of tumors affected by respiratory motion. However, its accuracy is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to characterize the potential underestimation of the ITV when a FB‐CBCT is acquired with irregular respiratory cycles. Methods & Materials: Five patient respiratory profiles were programmed into a 4D Dynamic Thorax (CIRS Model 008) phantom containing a spherical target, 2cm in diameter. The superior‐inferior motion was 3cm with respiratory cycles approximately 5 seconds in length. Five 360° CBCT scans of each profile were acquired using a gantry mounted kV imaging system. A FB‐CBCT, as well as a 4DCBCT of 10 phase bins with 10% phase windows were reconstructed for each profile. Inspiration (0%) and expiration (50%) phase images were compared to FB‐CBCT images. The ITV of each FB‐CBCT displayed a sharp and a smeared region. The percent reduction in contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) between these regions was calculated, as well as the ratio of the average time spent in inspiration versus expiration. The relationship between contrast reduction and the ratio of time spent per phase was investigated. Results: For the five profiles studied, the CNR reductions ranged from 37% to 70%, corresponding to ratios of average time spent in inspiration versus expiration that ranged from 0.42 to 0.12, respectively. As the difference between time spent in expiration versus inspiration increased, the reduction in contrast also generally increased (r2=0.873). Conclusions: The observed loss of contrast in the ITV for irregular respiratory cycles may lead to the potential underestimation of this volume obtained from a FB‐CBCT. Extra caution is required when using an ITV for on‐board target localization when respiratory cycles exhibit large time differences between inspiration and expiration periods.
Kabuki make up syndrome in a Caribbean black child from Trinidad

The Kabuki make-up syndrome was first reported independently in 1981 by Niikawa and Kuroki. It is characterized by growth and mental retardation, dermatoglyphics abnormalities, and facial features resembling the stylized make-up worn by Kabuki actors. To date 100 cases have been reported, mostly of Japanese and Caucasian descent. Among these only two cases were of black ethnicity, one of which was mixed. We report the second case of Kabuki make-up syndrome in a non-mixed black male. He is a 5½ year old with growth deficiency in the first four years of life, which progressed to a low-normal percentile. He has moderate developmental delays, speech problems, some hyperactivity, mannerisms like hand flapping, cheerful behavior, out-toeing walk, stooped sitting posture with occasional drooling. He is on anticonvulsant medication for the past 6 months. Past medical history includes UTI, VUR, OME, diaphragmatic eventration, and submucose cleft palate. His craniofacial features show wide forehead and prominent occiput, long palpebral fissures, blue sclera, epicanthal folds, eyelid ectropion and ptosis of lower and upper eyelids respectively. Patient also presented with arching sparse eyebrows, short nasal septum, with depressed nasal tip, prominent firtrum, tented upper lip, and teeth abnormalities. The ears are prominent with bilateral tubes. Cardiothoracic abnormalities include pectus excavatum, I or II/VI systolic murmur due to an ASD confirmed by echo. On chest x-ray the cardiac silhouette was mildly enlarged, right hemithorax smaller than left with mild shifting of the heart and mediastinum to the right. Patient also has right undescended and left retractile testes. The finger pads are very prominent with excess loops, broad first toe, and nail hypoplasia Chromosomal analysis was normal. Our patient, like the other reported black case, did not present with short stature at the age of 5 years. Therefore it may be possible that an ethnic factor accounts for such variations in height as comparison to other groups. To our knowledge, the mannerism and cheerful behavior of our patient, except for the mixed black case, has not been emphasized in other studies.
Improved HEVC lossless compression using two-stage coding with sub-frame level optimal quantization values

Lossless video coding is used when perfect preservation of video data is required. In HEVC, lossless coding is accomplished by bypassing the transform and quantization stages. Prediction residuals are coded with the entropy coder in the spatial domain. In this paper, two-stage coding with sub-frame adaptive quantization is proposed. The DCT is firstly applied to the prediction residuals and the DCT coefficients are quantized. The quantized DCT coefficients and the quantization error are coded. Adaptive quantization parameters are used for each Coding Unit. Simulation results show that the proposed method significantly outperforms the HEVC lossless coding.
Effect of thyroid peroxidase antibodies on thyroid-stimulating hormone reference limits in a primarily Latina population.

The aim of the paper is to determine the prevalence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and assess its effect on the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) reference range during pregnancy in a primarily Latina population. Serum samples were collected from healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant controls. TSH reference ranges were calculated when TPOAb-positive patients were either included or excluded. A total of 134 pregnant women and 107 non-pregnant controls were recruited. Positive TPOAb titres were found in 23 (17.2%) of the 134 pregnant women, and in 14 (13.1%) of the 107 non-pregnant controls. When the TPOAb-positive women were included in the TSH analysis, the upper reference limit using two different methods was consistently higher: 0–2.2 fold in the non-pregnant women, 2.01–2.78 fold in the first trimester, 3.18–4.7 fold in the second and 1.05–1.42 fold in the third. The lower TSH reference limit was not affected by the inclusion of TPOAb-positive subjects. In conclusion, inclusion of TPOAb-pos...
Classification Of Bandlimited Data Using Level Crossings

In this paper we describe techniques for classifying a bandlimited signal based on properties computed from the signal's level crossings. We show that a Gaussian random process with a Gaussian shaped spectrum can be completely characterized using level crossings. For a non-Gaussian process we first construct a Markov model for the hard limited signal. We then show how this leads to the design of an efficient and useful classifier. The technique was applied to in vivo ultrasound liver data.
Assessment of Knowledge of Melanoma Risk Factors, Prevention, and Detection Principles in Texas Teenagers

Abstract Introduction. The incidence of melanoma has increased in the past 10 years more rapidly than any other cancer. Exposure to intense solar radiation in youth significantly increases the lifetime risk of developing melanoma. We postulate that teenagers have little awareness of melanoma prevention or detection principles. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of teenagers about melanoma and to identify which age groups are most receptive to altering their sun exposure behaviors. Methods. Two hundred and ten examinations testing general knowledge of sun exposure and melanoma were completed and returned by junior high and high school students ages 12 to 18 in Dallas and Houston, Texas. All students completing and returning the examination were provided with the correct answers to the test and a detailed explanation of each of the test items as part of an educational exercise. A second questionnaire was then administered to determine the effect of the educational exercise on future sun exposure practices. Students were divided into two age groups (12 to 15 and ≥16 years old) for comparison of scores on the knowledge examination and responses to behavioral items. Comparison of response rates between age groups was performed using χ 2 analysis. Results. The return rate was 100%, with 109 students age 12–15 years, and 101 students ≥16 years. Seventy-six percent of all respondents sunbathed outdoors, and 18% had used a tanning bed in the past 6 months. Thirty-three percent of students admitted to at least three blistering sunburns in the past. The average score on the knowledge assessment examination was 65% correct for students ≥16 years old and 54% correct for those 12–15 years old. Students 12 to 15 years old were significantly more likely to indicate they planned to change future behaviors regarding performance of skin self-examinations and limiting sun exposure as compared to the older students. Conclusion. A significant number of teenagers have already enhanced their risk for future melanoma by suffering severe sunburns. Students younger than 16 years of age were significantly more likely to indicate they planned to change future behaviors after receiving information about melanoma. The data from this pilot study support education aimed at younger age groups to most effectively achieve risk reduction and prevent future melanomas.
Animal Cognition: Monkeys Recall Previously Seen Images

A recent study has found that rhesus macaques can recall newly presented shapes: this demonstration of recall in non-human primates suggests that some animals have recollection processes similar to those of humans.
A Comparison of Discriminant Analysis versus Artificial Neural Networks

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) techniques have recently been applied to many different fields and have demonstrated their capabilities in solving complex problems. In a business environment, the techniques have been applied to predict bond ratings and stock price performance. In these applications, ANN techniques outperformed widely-used multivariate statistical techniques. The purpose of this paper is to compare the ANN method with the Discriminant Analysis (DA) method in order to understand the merits of ANN that are responsible for the higher level of performance. The paper provides an overview of the basic concepts of ANN techniques in order to enhance the understanding of this emerging technique. The similarities and differences between ANN and DA techniques in representing their models are described. This study also proposes a method to overcome the limitations of the ANN approach, Finally, a case study using a data set in a business environment demonstrates the superiority of ANN over DA as a method of classification of observations.
The impact of long-acting medications on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment disparities.

Abstract Objective: Long-acting stimulants have increased medication adherence for many children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but it is unknown whether the increase has been similar across racial/ethnic groups. Our objective was to determine whether differences in medication utilization and adherence among white, black, and Hispanic ADHD-diagnosed children and adolescents narrowed following the introduction of long-acting stimulants in the 1990s. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of Florida Medicaid claims data from fiscal years 1996–2005. At each of three cross sections, we identified children and adolescents 3–17 years of age with at least two claims with an ADHD diagnosis. We used linear regression to model disparities over the study period in utilization of any ADHD medications (utilization of long-acting medication specifically) and medication adherence, and identified patient level, treatment setting, and geographic contributors to disparities. Results...
Effects of Atropine on Platelet Structure and Function

The aggregation of blood platelets occurs in two phases. Primary clumping results from the action of aggregating agents on cell membranes, and the second wave is caused by adenosine diphosphate and catacholamines released from platelets. Several groups of drugs have been described which specifically inhibit the second wave of aggregation. The present report has explored the influence of atropine on platelet structure and physiology. Atropine had no effect on platelet fine structure, but inhibited the second wave of aggregation produced in citrate platelet rich plasma by small concentrations of adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine. In contrast to other agents which block secondary aggregation, atropine also prevents clot retraction. A possible basis for the action of atropine on platelets is discussed.
An interstitial deletion in mouse Y chromosomal DNA created a transcribed Zfy fusion gene.

Abstract The small portion of the mouse Y chromosome retained in the Sxra transposition is thought to carry at least five genes including, as demonstrated here, the entirety of the zincfinger genes Zfy-1 and Zfy-2. Sxrb, a derivative of Sxra, was previously thought to retain Zfy-1 but to be deleted for Zfy-2. Here we show that Sxrb differs from Sxra as the result of unequal crossing-over between Zfy-1 and Zfy-2. This unequal crossing-over created a transcribed Zfy- 2 1 fusion gene and an interstitial deletion. Our data and previous results together suggest that this deletion encompassed the 3′ portion of Zfy-2, the histocompatibility gene Hya, the spermatogenesis factor Spy, and the 5′ portion of Zfy-1. We suggest that not only Zfy but also other neighboring genes such as Spy and Hya may exist in two copies on the Y as the result of a large tandem duplication during rodent evolution.
Virtues, Skills, and Right Action

According to Rosalind Hursthouse’s virtue based account of right action, an act is right if it is what a fully virtuous person would do in that situation. Robert Johnson has criticized the account on the grounds that the actions a non-virtuous person should take are often uncharacteristic of the virtuous person, and thus Hursthouse’s account of right action is too narrow. The non-virtuous need to take steps to improve themselves morally, and the fully virtuous person need not take these steps. So Johnson argues that any virtue based account of right action will have to find a way to ground a moral obligation to improve oneself. This paper argues that there is an account of virtue that can offer a partial solution to Johnson’s challenge, an account where virtue is a type of practical skill and in which the virtuous person is seen as having expertise. The paper references the account of skill acquisition developed by Hubert and Stuart Dreyfus. Their research demonstrates that novices in a skill have to employ different strategies to act well than the strategies used by the experts, and so the ‘virtue as skill’ thesis provides support for Johnson’s claim that the actions of the non-virtuous will differ from the virtuous. On the other hand, their research suggests that there is no separating the commitment to improve yourself from the possession of expertise, and so the ‘virtue as skill’ thesis has the resources for grounding the obligation to improve oneself in an account of virtue.
Nonparametric semi-supervised learning for network intrusion detection: combining performance improvements with realistic in-situ training

A barrier to the widespread adoption of learning-based network intrusion detection tools is the in-situ training requirements for effective discrimination of malicious traffic. Supervised learning techniques necessitate a quantity of labeled examples that is often intractable, and at best cost-prohibitive. Recent advances in semi-supervised techniques have demonstrated the ability to generalize well based on a significantly smaller set of labeled samples. In network intrusion detection, placing reasonable requirements on the number of training examples provides realistic expectations that a learning-based system can be trained in the environment where it will be deployed. This in-situ training is necessary to ensure that the assumptions associated with the learning process hold, and thereby support a reasonable belief in the generalization ability of the resulting model. In this paper, we describe the application of a carefully selected nonparametric, semi-supervised learning algorithm to the network intrusion problem, and compare the performance to other model types using feature-based data derived from an operational network. We demonstrate dramatic performance improvements over supervised learning and anomaly detection in discriminating real, previously unseen, malicious network traffic while generating an order of magnitude fewer false alerts than any alternative, including a signature IDS tool deployed on the same network.
Component and Full Scale Tests for Suspension Model Validation

The National Crash Analysis Center (NCAC) at the George Washington University (GWU) has been developing and maintaining a public domain library of LS-DYNA finite element (FE) vehicle models for use in transportation safety research. The recent addition to the FE model library is the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado FE model. This FE model will be extensively used in roadside hardware safety research. The representation of the suspension components and its response in oblique impacts into roadside hardware are critical factors influencing the predictive capability of the FE model. To improve the FE model fidelity and applicability to the roadside hardware impact scenarios it is important to validate and verify the model to multitude of component and full scale tests. This paper provides detailed description of the various component and full scale tests that were performed, specifically, to validate the suspension model of the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado FE model.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Heme binding to human alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor.

Abstract Background Heme is a unique prosthetic group of various hemoproteins that perform diverse biological functions; however, in its free form heme is intrinsically toxic in vivo. Due to its potential toxicity, heme binding to plasma proteins is an important safety issue in regard to protein therapeutics derived from human blood. While heme binding by hemopexin, albumin and α 1 -microglobulin has been extensively studied, the role of other plasma proteins remains largely unknown. Methods We examined two acute-phase plasma proteins, haptoglobin (Hp) and alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (α 1 -PI) for possible interactions with heme and bilirubin (BR), the final product of heme degradation, using various techniques: UV/Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Results According to our data, Hp exhibits a very weak association with both heme and BR; α 1 -PI's affinity to BR is also very low. However, α 1 -PI's affinity to heme (K D 2.0 × 10 − 8 M) is of the same order of magnitude as that of albumin (1.26 × 10 − 8 M). The data for α 1 -PI binding with protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) suggest that the elimination of the iron atom from the porphyrin structure results in almost 350-fold lower affinity (K D 6.93 × 10 − 6 M), thus indicating that iron is essential for the heme coordination with the α 1 -PI. Conclusions This work demonstrates for the first time that human α 1 -PI is a heme binding protein with an affinity to heme comparable to that of albumin. General significance Our data may have important implications for safety and efficacy of plasma protein therapeutics.
Influence of dietary aflatoxin, zinc, and copper on bone size, organ weight, and body weight in hamsters and rats.

Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus have been shown to produce aflatoxins in stored foodstuffs such as peanuts, cottonseed meal, rice, and grains. Aflatoxin-treated animals, especially those that have not matured, fail to gain body weight as rapidly as controls and protein synthesis is reduced. Zinc is a necessary trace element in the diet. Slight deficiencies produce growth retardation, an inhibition of the animal's general well-being, and a reduction in feed efficiency. Many changes observed in bone of zinc deficient animals were similar to those observed with decreased feed intake. High levels of zinc are relatively non-toxic. Copper is required in the diet for prevention of anemia. It has been suggested to have a protective effect against several carcinogens, and is an essential component of many oxidative enzyme systems. In an effort to determine the potential effects of the interaction of metals and aflatoxins, these studies were initiated. Reported herein are body weights, organ weights, bone sizes and radiographic evaluations.
Geochemistry of arsenic

Abstract Chondrites contain an average of about 2 p.p.m. As, distributed as follows: metal phase 12 p.p.m., troilite roughly 10 p.p.m., and silicate phase less than 0.5 p.p.m. The common igneous rocks do not differ greatly in average arsenic content: granitic rocks 1.5 p.p.m., intermediate rocks 2.4 p.p.m., basalts and diabases 2.0 p.p.m., and gabbros 1.4 p.p.m. Silicic volcanic rocks (3.6 p.p.m.) and serpentines (3–5 p.p.m.) seem to run higher, and ultramafic rocks (1 p.p.m.) a little lower than igneous rocks as a whole. The average for the lithosphere may be taken as 2 p.p.m. As. Arsenic occurs in quartz, feldspar, and other aluminosilicates, and in iron-ore minerals. The feldspar of igneous rocks probably accounts for one-half or more of the total arsenic. Substitution of arsenic for silicon, aluminium, and iron in the crystal structure is indicated. Arsenic cannot be closely correlated with any major constituent. The average value for arsenic in shales probably lies in the range 5–15 p.p.m. Shales containing much carbonaceous material or sulphide tend to have more arsenic than others. Sandstones and limestones normally contain less arsenic than shales, and their average is probably not much different from that of igneous rocks. The deep-sea sediments examined average ~10 p.p.m. Because sedimentary material as a whole is richer than igneous rocks in arsenic, significant amounts have escaped from the interior of the earth in the water of thermal springs and as volcanic exhalations. The escaping tendency of arsenic is much smaller than that of H (as H2O), Cl, B, and C, but comparable to that of S. Arsenic is likely lost in the transformation of slates and graywackes into schists and gneisses in regional metamorphism.
Stress fractures: Current concepts

1. Stress fractures result from muscular activity on bones rather than from direct impact upon them. 2. The fatigue variety of stress fracture occurs in normal bone when abnormal muscular tension or torsion is placed upon it. 3. The insufficiency type of stress fracture results when normal muscular stress is placed upon a bone with deficient elastic resistance. 4. Most stress fractures are of the fatigue type, occurring in an individual who engages in repetitive vigorous activity to which he is unaccustomed. 5. The biomechanics, radiologic features, and differential diagnosis were discussed and the literature was reviewed.
A Novel Mechanical Method to Measure Shear Strength in Specimens Under Pressure

A new experimental apparatus has been developed for performing shear tests on specimens held under moderately high hydrostatic pressures (on the order of 4 GPa). This testing procedure experimentally determines the pressure-dependent shear strength of thin foil specimens. The experiments provide calibration data for models of materials subjected to extreme pressures such as the Steinberg-Guinan hardening model and can assist in model validation for discrete dislocation dynamics simulations, among others. This paper reports the development of the experimental procedures and the results of initial experiments on thin foils of polycrystalline Ta performed under hydrostatic pressures ranging from 1 to 4 GPa. Both yielding and hardening behavior of Ta are observed to be sensitive to the imposed pressure.
Clustering with power control

This paper proposes a stable, dynamic, distributed clustering for energy efficient networking. Via simulation, we evaluate the impacts of mobility and transmission power variation on network stability.
Serotonin shapes risky decision making in monkeys

Some people love taking risks, while others avoid gambles at all costs. The neural mechanisms underlying individual variation in preference for risky or certain outcomes, however, remain poorly understood. Although behavioral pathologies associated with compulsive gambling, addiction and other psychiatric disorders implicate deficient serotonin signaling in pathological decision making, there is little experimental evidence demonstrating a link between serotonin and risky decision making, in part due to the lack of a good animal model. We used dietary rapid tryptophan depletion (RTD) to acutely lower brain serotonin in three macaques performing a simple gambling task for fluid rewards. To confirm the efficacy of RTD experiments, we measured total plasma tryptophan using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Reducing brain serotonin synthesis decreased preference for the safe option in a gambling task. Moreover, lowering brain serotonin function significantly decreased the premium required for monkeys to switch their preference to the risky option, suggesting that diminished serotonin signaling enhances the relative subjective value of the risky option. These results implicate serotonin in risk-sensitive decision making and, further, suggest pharmacological therapies for treating pathological risk preferences in disorders such as problem gambling and addiction.
Embodying Civility: Civilizing Processes and Symbolic Citizenship in Southeastern China

IN THE SUMMER OF 1998, I returned to the village of Shanlin in Fujian's eastern Hui'an County, a site where I had conducted fieldwork for nearly two years in the mid1990s.1 As my hosts eagerly updated me on changes in the community since my last visit, I was struck by their vivid descriptions of a new statue that had been erected atop one of the nearby mountains. A towering twenty meters tall, this stone carving of a woman in local attire had been installed on International Women's Day earlier that year, part of a township initiative designed to attract greater numbers of tourists to this only recently accessible coastal area by highlighting the "appeal" of local folk culture. When I hiked up to view the statue, I found a figure that displayed many of the distinctive features of women's dress in the region: a headpiece and headscarf; loose, flowing cropped pants; a short, tight-fitting, side-buttoned top; and an exposed abdomen marked by a prominently carved navel. An inscription at the base of the
Identifying, Developing, and Quantifying Single-Day Quality Measures within the Neonatal ICU:

Assessing safety culture, while valuable, may neglect day-to-day variation in the experiences of individual care providers. Understanding day-to-day variation may be a key to understanding and improving the single-day quality (SDQ) of care providers. The goal of this study was to: (1) determine the variables that contribute to the quality of each day (SDQ), (2) determine the validity and perceived importance of each contributing variable, and (3) determine how well care providers can predict whether the variables will have an effect on their SDQ. Interviews of NICU nurses and literature reviews were used to identify six variables perceived to influence SDQ. A survey tool assessing the six variables and SDQ was developed. Nurses were then surveyed at the beginning and end of each shift, providing a prospective (pre) and retrospective (post) assessment of all six variables plus an overall SDQ rating. The results identified which variables predicted or contributed to SDQ. Although the predictive power of the...
Geomorphic structure of tidal hydrodynamics in salt marsh creeks

[1] This paper develops a geomorphological theory of tidal basin response (tidal instantaneous geomorphologic elementary response, or TIGER) to describe specific characteristics of tidal channel hydrodynamics. On the basis of the instantaneous unit hydrograph approach, this framework relates the hydrodynamics of tidal watersheds to the geomorphic structure of salt marshes and, specifically, to the distance traveled by water particles within the channel network and on the marsh surface. The possibility of determining the water fluxes from observations of geomorphic features is an appealing approach to the study of tidally driven flow rates. Our formulation paves the way to the application of recent results on the geomorphic structure of salt marshes and tidal networks to the determination of marsh creek hydrology. A case study shows how the asymmetry in the stage-velocity relation and the existence of velocity surges typical of the tidal hydrographs can be explained as an effect of the delay in the propagation of the tidal signal within the marsh area.
Direct Skin Friction Measurements with Shock -Impingement Compensation in Complex Turbulent Flows

Skin friction measurements are necessary to determine aerodynamic force impact on system performance. Direct and indirect methods are available to quantify skin friction, but only direct measurements eliminate the need for prior detailed understandi ng of the flow. One such direct measure gage uses a movable wall element or floating head, which is connected to some sort of flexure. A cantilever beam version of this gage allows the beam to flex to weaker wall shear forces while remaining stiff relati ve to stronger pressure forces normal to the head. Because shock impingement on or near the floating element has been shown to lead to major errors, this paper provides the results of employing a four -strain gage configuration into two separate Wheatstone bridges. This provides a way to separately measure the moment caused by any pressure differentials across the element surface, such as that produced by an impinging shock, in addition to the shear. Initial testing in a Mach 4 flow with and without shock impingement has demonstrated the utility of the approach. This design successfully measures shear and moment while obviating pressure and acceleration effects.
Osteoarthritis of the Wrist

Osteoarthritis of the wrist is one of the most common conditions encountered by hand surgeons. It may result from a nonunited or malunited fracture of the scaphoid or distal radius; disruption of the intercarpal, radiocarpal, radioulnar, or ulnocarpal ligaments; avascular necrosis of the carpus; or a developmental abnormality. Whatever the cause, subsequent abnormal joint loading produces a spectrum of symptoms, from mild swelling to considerable pain and limitations of motion as the involved joints degenerate. A meticulous clinical and radiographic evaluation is required so that the pain-generating articulation(s) can be identified and eliminated. This article reviews common causes of wrist osteoarthritis and their surgical treatment alternatives.
The neuronal endoplasmic reticulum: its cytochemistry and contribution to the endomembrane system. II. Axons and terminals

The morphology and cytochemistry of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in axons and terminals of a number of different types of neurons in brains from mice were investigated ultrastructurally. The neurohypophysis received particular attention because the morphology and enzyme cytochemical activities of many of the preterminal swellings of hypothalamo-neurohypophysial axons are altered by chronic salt-stress. Membrane contrast and enzyme cytochemical staining techniques were employed to characterize the axonal reticulum and to determine if organelles representing the lysosomal system in the axon and the tubular profiles participating in the anterograde axonal transport of native horseradish peroxidase (HRP) are associated with the ER. Potential enzyme cytochemical markers for the axonal ER included glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), thiamine pyrophosphatase, nucleoside diphosphatase, and acid hydroxylase activities. The anterograde transport of HRP was analyzed in undamaged hypothalamo-neurohypophysial neurons and in facial and hypoglossal motoneurons of mice receiving the protein in the lateral cerebral ventricle. The ER pervaded the axon and appeared as parallel, 20-40-nm-wide tubules interconnected by oblique anastomoses. Membrane thickness of the axonal reticulum measured 60-100 A, which is similar to that of the perikaryal ER. Enzyme cytochemical activities associated with the ER or lysosomes were not conspicuous in axons and terminals under normal conditions but became prominent in some axons and preterminal swellings manifesting an autophagic appearance within neurohypophyses from salt-stressed mice. Only G6Pase activity was a marker for the ER in these axons and preterminals. Many ER profiles in non-incubated sections and in G6Pase cytochemical preparations of salt-stressed neurohypophyses were wrapped around or interspersed among secretory granules, multilamellar bodies, and vacuoles that may represent forms of lysosomes involved in autophagy and crinophagy. Acid hydrolase activities were localized within the vacuoles as well as within 80-130-nm-wide, blunt-ended tubules in pituitary stalk axons; similar reactive tubules were confluent with large secondary lysosomes in neurosecretory cell bodies and may be derived from these lysosomes. Morphologically identical tubules transporting HRP in the anterograde direction were observed only in the salt-stressed hypothalamo-neurohypophysial neuron. The HRP-positive tubules very likely are affiliated with the lysosomal system.
An Evaluation of High-Voltage Cable-Coupler Performance for Underground Mine Power Systems

High-voltage cable couplers are convenient and widely used accessories in modern coal-mine power distribution systems for aiding in the extension and retraction of power-feeder cables throughout a mine. Coupler design has tried to keep pace with the industry's desire to move to higher distribution levels, but the increase in recorded failures of 15 kV-class couplers, which serve the distribution levels of 12.47 kV and above, have inhibited this transition. The problems associated with high-voltage cable couplers are analyzed. Manufacturing, testing, and mounting practices are reviewed. A discussion of a coupler's operating environment is also included. On the basis of the aforementioned conditions, a testing standard is developed and various coupler designs are subjected to its requirements. An analysis of the test results is provided. Although new couplers can satisfy the performance requirements of the cables to which they are mounted, partial discharge appears to be the failure mechanism of concern. The effects of partial discharge are magnified where voids, either in the insulation, cable termination, or potting compound, occur. In this regard, it is shown that the quality of installation of a coupler onto cable is quite critical. By slightly altering the mounting procedure, satisfactory partial-discharge readings are produced on a test coupler.