cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Replication of factors related to blackout incidence in U.S. high school students: A brief report.

Abstract Alcohol-related blackouts are a common, yet serious consequence that can result from heavy alcohol intake. This study tested a model examining whether factors identified in related samples (i.e., adolescents residing in the U.K. and U.S. college students) predicted blackouts in community-dwelling U.S. high school youth. Participants from a Northeastern U.S. high school with prior alcohol use (Mage = 16.0 years; 48.2% male, 78.0% White) completed a paper-and-pencil assessment including measures of demographics, alcohol and other substance use, externalizing behaviors, and injunctive norms about risky drinking behaviors. Hierarchical logistic regression examined which factors identified for U.K. residing adolescents (Block 1) replicated in the U.S. sample, and whether factors identified in samples of U.S. college students added additional explained variance (Block 2). Blackouts were reported by 35.6% of students. Regression results indicated that two variables previously identified in adolescents, female gender (OR = 3.26) and increased alcohol use (OR = 1.27) were associated with blackouts. College student risk factors of drinking game (DG) participation and, to a lesser degree injunctive norms for passing out, emerged as additional risk factors (ORs = 2.85 and 1.32, respectively), with the final model explaining 39% of the variance in blackouts. This study advances our understanding of blackouts in younger drinkers and identifies the importance of addressing blackouts within the context of intervention programming that addresses cognitions and high risk drinking practices like DGs.
Interaction of estradiol and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone on follicle stimulating hormone release in cattle

To study the mechanism by which estradiol induces a preovulatory surge of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), we concluded experiments designed to determine: (1) the time course of change in luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH)-induced FSH release after estradiol in vivo, and (2) whether LHRH is required to trigger the FSH surge. Steers were given 1 microgram LHRH at 20-min intervals for 10 h, beginning 2, 8, 12 or 20 h after estradiol. During this period, serum samples were collected every 2 h (just before every sixth injection). The magnitude of LHRH-induced FSH release from baseline to peak was 40 ng/ml in oil-treated controls and increased (P less than .05) to 77 ng/ml when estradiol was given 2 h earlier. When LHRH was given starting at 8, 12 or 20 h after estradiol, the FSH response to LHRH was further augmented (P less than .001) so that the increment from baseline was about 150 ng/ml. To determine whether estradiol alters LHRH-induced FSH release in ovariectomized (ovx) cows as it does in steers, we gave ovx cows 1 microgram LHRH every 20 min beginning 2 or 8 h after estradiol. Serum samples were collected every 80 min (just before every fourth injection). When LHRH treatment began 2 h after estradiol, LHRH-induced FSH release was blocked (P less than .025) at 80 min after LHRH, but increased thereafter. When LHRH was given starting at 8 h after estradiol, concentrations of FSH increased 156 ng/ml above baseline. This release of FSH exceeded (P less than .001) the comparable value for cows given LHRH after oil (37 ng/ml). Furthermore, the LHRH-induced FSH release initiated 8 h after estradiol resembled the preovulatory and estradiol-induced FSH surges in magnitude (greater than 180 ng/ml), duration (8 to 10 h) and general shape. These results demonstrate that estradiol initially inhibits, then augments the capacity of the pituitary to secrete FSH in response to LHRH stimuli. The pituitary attains peak sensitivity long before the expected surge. Thus, we hypothesize that increased LHRH secretion triggers the FSH surge.
iLoLeak-Detect: An IoT-Based LoRAWAN-Enabled Oil Leak Detection System for Smart Cities

In recent times the oil and gas industry is following the trend of digital transformation. The digital transformation includes implementing innovative solutions to improve and control the assets of the Oil and Gas companies with more reliable and cost-effective systems. Implementing Internet-of-Things (IoT) based monitoring systems can help in remote monitoring and offer better solutions to reduce potential failures and downtime by achieving a better and faster method to acquire information efficiently. The aim of this paper is to validate and prove that deploying IoT solutions in the midstream sector by building a leak detection monitoring system can minimize the non-productive time and help generate more revenue for the Oil and Gas companies. The novel solution is building a prototype from end to end that operates on a low power communication protocol called LoRaWAN® and conducting experimental procedures on an actual pipe using water. The proposed methodology yielded 90.83% accuracy in real-time leak detection.
Metal/Organosilicon Complexes: Structure, Reactivity, and Considerations for Catalysis

Complexes featuring metal–silicon bonds play a key role in many catalytic and stoichiometric transformations. As such, it is important to understand the underlying electronic structures of such uni...
Lithium-Ion Battery Charging Control Using a Coupled Electro-Thermal Model and Model Predictive Control

This paper presents a novel application of model predictive control (MPC) to the problem of managing lithiumion cell performance using a highly accurate low-order electrothermal equivalent circuit model and is experimentally validated via laboratory experiments. The proposed method uses MPC to ensure compliance with cell-level operational limits and has the potential to extend lifetime by mitigating certain mechanisms of cell degradation leading to capacity fade. A five-state electrothermal model is developed, characterized and validated. Implementation employs an extended nonlinear Kalman filter for state estimation and MPC for controlling charge/discharge current. The complete method is experimentally validated using a 26650 cylindrical format lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) cell. The new method: (i) develops a fully coupled electro-thermal model of cell dynamics; (ii) incorporates a dynamic hysteresis model to improve accuracy; (iii) employs a nonlinear Kalman filter for accurate state estimation to inform the MPC algorithm; and (iv) utilizes a modified form of MPC which correctly models direct feed-through behavior to characterize ohmic resistance.
Infectious Diseases and Government Growth

The result is that public officials, incentivized by people's beliefs regarding the appropriate and acceptable role of the state and its experts, are more willing to enact interventionist policies to address crises, which sets the stage for both short-term and long-term increases in the overall size of government THE INDFPENDENT REVIEW INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND GOVERNMENT GROWTH + 547 Expansions in government power are reversible but are often sticky due to corresponding changes in people's ideology regarding the appropriate role of the state in relation tx, the citizenry and to political economy factors such as vested interests and legal precedents regarding acceptable behaviors by the state (Higgs 1987) Experts in economics, political science, and international relations are currently voicing concerns about how policy measures enacted during the COVID pandemic may lead to bigger governments and more surveillance (see, e g , Walt et al 2020) + NATHAN P GOODMAN, CHRISTOPHER J COYNE, AND ABIGAIL DEVEREAUX ~ n response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, governments around the world adopted a variety of policies, including but not limited to stateimposed stay-at-home orders, the shuttering of nonessential businesses (as determined by government officials), and lockdowns of varying degrees [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Independent Review is the property of Independent Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )
Joint User Association and Resource Allocation in CoMP-Enabled Heterogeneous CRAN

In this paper, we consider jointly optimizing user association, resource allocation and power allocation in a two tier heterogeneous cloud radio access network (H-CRAN). Our objective is to utilize all the network resources in the most efficient way to maximize the network average throughput, while keeping some constraints such as the quality of service (QoS), interference protection to the devices associated with the Macro remote radio head (RRH), and fronthaul capacity. In our system, we propose using coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmissions to utilize any excess resources to maximize the network performance. In contrast to the literature, in which CoMP is usually used only to support edge users. We divide our joint problem into three sub-problems: user association, radio resource allocation, and power allocation. We propose matching game based low complexity algorithms to tackle the first two subproblems. For the power allocation sub-problem, we propose a novel technique to convexity the non-convex original problem to obtain the optimal solution. Given the conducted simulations, our proposed algorithms proved to enhance the network average weighted sum rate significantly, compared to the state of the art algorithms in the literature.
The impact of social vulnerability subthemes on postoperative outcomes differs by racial/ethnic minority status.

Abstract Introduction Social vulnerability is an important driver of disparate surgical outcomes, however the extent to which certain types of vulnerability impact outcomes is poorly understood. Methods Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older who underwent one of four operations were identified. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression was used to measure the association of four social vulnerability subthemes from the social vulnerability index (SVI) were assessed relative to the likelihood to achieve a textbook outcome (TO). Results Among 579,846 Medicare beneficiaries, median age was 74 years and most patients (536,455,92.5%) were White/non-Hispanic. On multivariable analysis, the overall impact of the composite SVI metric on the odds to achieve a postoperative TO was lower among White/non-Hispanic patients (Δ25%ile SVI:OR:0.98,95%CI:0.97–0.98) compared with ethnic/minority patients (Δ25%ile SVI:OR:0.93,95%CI:0.91–0.94). Increasing vulnerability in the subthemes of socioeconomic status (Δ25%ile SVI:ethnic/minority:OR:0.92, 95%CI:0.91–0.94) and household composition (Δ25%ile SVI:ethnic/minority:OR:0.92,95%CI:0.91–0.94) was associated with a greater likelihood not to achieve a TO among minority patients. Conclusions Worsening SES and household compositions & disability had a detrimental effect on odds of TO following surgery with the most pronounced effect on non-White minority patients.
Corrections to Kusnetz Method for Measurements of Radon Progeny Concentrations in Air.

In 1956, H.L. Kusnetz proposed a quick method for radon progeny concentration measurement in mine atmosphere using a single gross-alpha count of a membrane-filtered air. The method is still widely used today and is based on a number of impractical assumptions. An instantaneous sampling time (less than ten seconds), is one of these assumptions that ignores the build-up and decay of the progeny on the filter paper during the sampling period. Of special concern is the 214Bi decay during the sampling period, since 214Po alphas are lost during the sampling time and cannot be accounted for during the counting time. In addition, the method assumes that 214Bi activity during the counting period is constant. This inaccurate assumption can result in a smaller count rate, especially when counting times are long. Hence underestimated working levels are expected when using Kusnetz factors without correcting for the sampling and counting times. In this technical report, exact sampling and counting time corrections to the method are provided along with the updated Kusnetz factors that correspond to common equilibrium conditions to correctly estimate the Working Level in air. Additionally, time corrections to the commonly used self-absorption correction formula and the lower level of detectability (LLD) equation used for any sample measurement are given.
Score Tests for Intercept and Slope Parameters of Doubly Multivariate Linear Models with Skew-Normal Errors

We generalize the theory of linear models for doubly multivariate data from matrix-variate normally distributed errors to matrix-variate skew normally distributed errors. In addition, we assume that the covariance matrix $$\varvec{\varOmega }$$ defining the location-scale matrix-variate skew normal distribution has block compound symmetry structure. We derive the maximum likelihood estimators of the model’s parameters; the Fisher information matrix for the direct, working, and centered parametrizations; Rao’s score tests and likelihood ratio tests for model building tests of hypotheses; and a hypothesis test for the centered intercept. A profiling argument is used to reduce the dimensionality of the optimization method used to obtain the maximum likelihood estimators and a comprehensive discussion of initial values is provided. Finally, we provide a real-world example to illuminate these derivations and apply a goodness-of-fit test to validate the distributional assumption.
Spatial distributions and resource selection by mule deer in an arid environment: Responses to provision of water

In arid ecosystems free-standing water is a critical resource for both humans and wildlife. Understanding use of limiting resources by large mammals presents unusual challenges since body size is related to physiological needs and broad spatial distributions. We investigated effects of provision of water on patterns of space use and selection of resources by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), a medium-bodied ungulate with wide distribution across North America. We created 3 study areas with varying availability of permanent water. We hypothesized that daily movements and utilization distributions (UDs) would be smaller in areas with greater availability of water, and that we would observe strong selection for sources of water relative to other resources. We used resource selection functions to evaluate the importance of permanent water in selection of resources. Daily movements and areas of UDs were smallest in the water-provided area, especially during summer. Mule deer selected areas closer to water during all seasons relative to other available resources. Predicted changes in climate and increased likelihood of droughts will undoubtedly result in shifts in resource availability and selection of resources, which likely will make provision of water a key factor in maintaining viable populations of large mammals in arid ecosystems.
REALITY CHECK: HOW MALPRACTICE FACTS CHANGED MALPRACTICE LIABILITY THEORY

Empirical legal studies has transformed economic analysis of malpractice liability. Until recently, economic analysis of malpractice liability has been based on the traditional model of accidents. This model supports the conclusion that malpractice liability may not be needed if health insurers, not physicians, bear treatment costs. Moreover, this analysis implies that even when liability is welfare-enhancing, it need not be mandatory if patients are informed about the costs and benefits of liability. Empirical analysis of medical errors reveals that we cannot rely on the simple model of accidents to analyze optimal malpractice liability because patient safety depends on two different care decisions, only one of which is properly captured by the traditional model. Expanding the model to account for the two distinct ways that physicians protect patients reveals that malpractice liability is needed even when doctors want to select the right treatment. It also reveals why contractual malpractice liability is inefficient even when patients are informed about the costs and benefits of liability.
Impedance nadir values correlate with barium bolus amount.

Summary We examined the value of impedance monitoring in measuring bolus volume compared with videoesophagram. Eighty consecutive subjects were studied with simultaneous impedance-manometry-videoesophagram. A catheter with both an impedance electrode pair and a pressure transducer at four sites (5, 10, 15, 20 cm above lower esophageal sphincter) was passed per nares. Six 10-cc boluses of 45% barium mixed with 0.9% NaCl were swallowed at 20- to 30-second intervals. When impedance fell to below 1000 ohms, other than that occurring during administered swallows, the videofluoroscopic image corresponding to the time of impedance nadir was reviewed. If barium was present at the impedance site, barium area was calculated. The video was reviewed for the cause of abnormal barium transit causing barium presence. We found 38/80 subjects had a total of 169 impedance falls to below 1000 ohms. Ninety-seven percent (164/169) of impedance falls had barium present at the impedance site, and there was good correlation (r = 0.83, P 1000 ohms to a low nadir value from all forms of abnormal esophageal bolus transit imply a large bolus amount.
An Efficient Approximation Algorithm for Hypercube Scheduling

Given a set of m tasks, where each task has an execution time and a subcube requirement, the Hypercube Scheduling Problem (HSP) is to find an assignment of tasks which minimizes the total completion time. The general HSP is known to be NP-hard. In this paper, we present a O(m log m) time algorithm for HSP when all the m tasks have the same execution time. We also present a polynomial time approximation algorithm which generates a solution within \(\frac{2}{{(1 + \tfrac{1}{{2^n }})}}\)of the optimal solution for the general HSP, where n is the hypercube dimension.
Las grandes causas de muerteen la América precolombina.Una perspectiva hemisférica

In the last 20 years, diverse specialists have questioned the idyllic image that America has more than enough the native columnists they transmitted regar...
Our Changing Need to Preserve

This chapter explains how the ideas and activities of preservation leaders in the nineteenth and early twentieth century gave rise to the current historic preservation movement. The freedom available to European immigrants in the New World allowed them to express their ideas, and to improve individually and collectively. As the USA grew in population and moved from an agrarian to an industrial economy, this “improvement” was repeatedly expressed by building roads, canals, and railroads, and by developing adequate water supplies, better sanitation, and improved housing. These signs of progress mark the era.
Child care for children with special needs

During the 1990s, requirements for child care for children with special needs will increase substantially. Parents of children with special needs face particular challenges in finding suitable child care for their children. A major factor influencing future directions in child care for children with special needs is PL 99-457, the Early Intervention Amendments to the Education for All Handicapped Children Act.1 The component for 0- to 3-year-olds is Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).2 Almost all states have indicated their intent to provide early intervention services for children with disabilities and developmental delays. As each state moves toward implementation of its plan for 0- to 3-year-olds, federal fiscal incentives to expand such services will grow. The IDEA encourages integrated or inclusionary services for children with disabilities, as does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).3 As a result of this stream of legislation, there will be growing pressure to serve children with special needs in generic child-care settings. Less certain is whether children with identifiable biological or social risks will have a similar entitlement under Part H, because only 10 states have, thus far, included an "at risk" group in their legislative mandate for early intervention. WHO ARE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND HOW MANY ARE THERE? The Technical Panel on Children with Special Needs of the American Public Health Association9s and American Academy of Pediatrics9 (APHA/AAP) National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs4 defined the population with special needs as those children with developmental disabilities, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, and chronic illness, as well as those with sensory or motor impairments.
On the rheology of rock creep

On the Rheology of Rock Creep The standard (linear) rheological models and the experimental evidence on rock creep are reviewed and it is shown that a new rheological equation (“stress-strain relation”) must be found to describe the most common behavior of rocks. Such a rheological equation is deduced by a correspondence principle with a Kelvin material and is presented. It is nonlinear and of the form: $$\sigma ' = 2\eta \ddot \varepsilon + \beta \dot \varepsilon ^2 $$ wheree is shear strain,σ shear stress, dot denotes time derivation, andη andβ are constants. Some consequences of this equation are discussed.
Clinical Approach to Syncope in Children

Pediatric syncope is one of the most common neurological problems in the pediatric population in both the office setting and in the emergency department. The abrupt brief loss of consciousness is usually dramatic and alarming to patients, family, onlookers, and providers. The differential diagnosis of syncope is wide but most cases are benign. A comprehensive but focused history and a thorough clinical examination are usually the cornerstones in the diagnosis of high-risk patients. It should be noted that the evaluation of syncope in children is costly and testing provides a low diagnostic yield. This chapter reviews the various types of syncope and provides a succinct clinical approach to the diagnosis, investigation, and management of syncope in children.
TTT as rescue treatment for choroidal melanoma not controlled with iodine-125 brachytherapy.

Purpose: To describe the use of transpupillary thermotherapy in the management of two small choroidal melanomas that continued to grow following Iodine-125 brachytherapy. Methods: Case reports from a tertiary care center. Results: One small growing choroidal melanoma showed a partial response to Iodine-125 brachytherapy; four years later, it regrew to a thickness of 2.7mm. After transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT), the tumor regressed to a flat scar and has remained inactive for more than three years. A second small melanoma failed to show regression after Iodine-125 brachytherapy; it progressively grew to 3.6mm. TTT was used to treat the tumor on two successive occasions six weeks apart. The tumor regressed to a flat scar within three months and has remained inactive for 2.5 years. Conclusion: TTT may be considered as a rescue treatment for small choroidal melanomas that have failed to respond satisfactorily to brachytherapy.
Nanoscale growth factor patterns by immobilization on a heparin-mimicking polymer.

In this study, electrostatic interactions between sulfonate groups of an immobilized polymer and the heparin binding domains of growth factors important in cell signaling were exploited to nanopattern the proteins. Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (pSS-co-pPEGMA) was synthesized by reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using ethyl S-thiobenzoyl-2-thiopropionate as a chain transfer agent and 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. The resulting polymer (1) was characterized by 1H NMR, GPC, FT-IR, and UV−vis and had a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 24 000 and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1.17. The dithioester end group of 1 was reduced to the thiol, and the polymer was subsequently immobilized on a gold substrate. Binding of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to the polymer via the heparin binding domains was then confirmed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The inter...
Influence of temperature, strain rate and thermal aging on the structure/property behavior of uranium 6 wt% Nb

A rigorous experimentation and validation program is being undertaken to create constitutive models that elucidate the fundamental mechanisms controlling plasticity in uranium-6 wt.% niobium alloys (U-6Nb). These models should accurately predict high-strain-rate large-strain plasticity, damage evolution and failure. The goal is a physically-based constitutive model that captures 1) an understanding of how strain rate, temperature, and aging affects the mechanical response of a material, and 2) an understanding of the operative deformation mechanisms. The stress-strain response of U-6Nb has been studied as a function of temperature, strain-rate, and thermal aging. U-6Nb specimens in a solution-treated and quenched condition (ST/Q) and after subsequent aging at 473K for 2 hours were studied. The constitutive behavior was evaluated over the range of strain rates from quasi-static (0.001 sec -1 ) to dynamic (∼2000 sec -1 ) and temperatures ranging from 77 to 773K. The yield stress of U-6Nb was exhibited pronounced temperature sensitivity. The strain hardening rate is seen to be less sensitive to strain rate and temperature beyond plastic strains of 0.10. The yield strength of the aged material is less significantly affected by temperature and the work hardening rate shows adiabatic heating at lower strain rates (1/s).
Rotordynamics and design methods of an oil-free turbocharger

The feasibility of supporting a turbocharger rotor on air foil bearings is investigated based upon predicted rotordynamic stability, load accommodations, and stress considerations. It is demonstrated that foil bearings offer a plausible replacement for oil-lubricated bearings in diesel truck turbochargers. Also, two different rotor configurations are analyzed and the design is chosen which best optimizes the desired performance characteristics. The method of designing machinery for foil bearing use and the assumptions made are discussed.
Effect of amphotericin B and fluconazole on platelet membrane glycoproteins

BACKGROUND: Fever, chills, and reduced platelet recovery may result when platelets are transfused simultaneously with amphotericin B. Amphotericin B reportedly increases the pitting of membranes in stored platelets. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The effects of amphotericin B and another antifungal agent, fluconazole, on platelet membrane glycoproteins (GP) were examined by the incubation of split aliquots of fresh and stored platelet concentrates (PCs) with these drugs for 3 days in storage bags. To determine the effect of storage, PCs were stored for 5 days, and aliquots removed on Days 1 through 5 were placed in platelet storage bags with 4 micrograms per mL of amphotericin B for 2 to 6 hours. Membrane glycoprotein expression was assessed by flow cytometry with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed against the following antigens: GPIb (CD42b), CD63 (an activation protein), P-selectin (CD62), and GPIIb/IIIa (CD41a). RESULTS: Amphotericin B produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the surface binding of CD42b MoAb with no consistent changes in the binding of CD41a, CD63, or CD62 MoAbs after a 3-day exposure. Stored but not fresh PCs showed decreased binding of MoAb CD42b after a 6-hour exposure to amphotericin B (4 micrograms/mL). Fluconazole produced no changes. When the binding of MoAb CD42b to permeabilized platelets was used to measure total platelet content, amphotericin B (4 micrograms/mL) decreased MoAb CD42b binding to a similar degree in fresh and stored platelets. Inhibition of aggregation to ADP and collagen and ADP and epinephrine was seen in stored but not fresh PCs. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic levels of amphotericin B resulted in partial loss of total platelet GPIb in fresh and stored PCs, but decreased surface expression of platelet membrane GPIb only in stored platelets. This difference between fresh and stored platelets may be related to the limited reservoir of GPIb available for redistribution to the membrane in the previously stored PCs and may account for the decreased recovery of transfused platelets observed in some patients receiving amphotericin B.
A Computer Program Relating Solute Potential to Solution Composition for Five Solutes

Data required to prepare solutions with desired solute potentials at any temperature from 0 to 40 degrees C are scattered, often have inappropriate units, and usually require involved calculation or are not available. We wished to prepare a program so that anyone could obtain pertinent information simply. Adequate published data could be found only for mannitol, PEG 8000, NaCl, KCl, and sucrose, with water displacement by mannitol and PEG 8000 having to be measured. The program sends tabular output to the screen and it may be written in a disk file, making observation of relationships and preparation of graphical representation simple. A sequence of data may be generated over temperature, concentration, or potential ranges by specifying an initial value, interval size, and number of intervals. Values are given for temperature, water density, molal and molar concentrations, g solute g-1 water, osmotic coefficient, g and mL water displaced g-1 solute, solute potential (MPa), and g solute and g water needed for a requested volume of solution
The effect of intoxication induced in rat liver by carbon tetrachloride, ethionine and white phosphorus on the level of microsomal cytochromes b5 and P-450.

L'intossicazine di ratti Wistar con tetracloruro di carbonio (CCl4) causa nel fegato una marcata diminuzione dei citocromi microsomialib5 e P−450. L'etionina e il fosforo bianco, somministrati anch'essi ad una dose capace di determinare degenerazione grassa del fegato, non influenzano significativamente il livello dei due citocromi microsomiali.
Minimum standards of adequate prosthodontic service

Abstract Professional service must be the responsibility of the professional man who must stand on his professional reputation. Minimum standards for prosthodontic service require that dentists be responsible for and carry out the professional aspects of the service. The goal of prosthodontic service is not simply the production of prostheses, but rather the restoration of the function and appearance of a vital body part, and the maintenance of the patient's health. It must be remembered that the health service aspect of prosthodontics is of paramount importance. t;**
Abstract 3930: Radiation-induced dicentrics: Tracking by parallel sequencing

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Radiation and cytotoxic drugs exert much of their lethal effects by creating aberrations, such as dicentrics, that are lethal at a subsequent mitosis. Their accurate enumeration in experimental and clinical settings would provide valuable information on the efficacy of radiation and radiation/chemotherapy combinations. In this study a method was sought that could rapidly and efficiently quantitate this process using next generation sequencing. The use of modern molecular technology for aberration analysis has been restricted by the random nature of the breaks induced in individual chromosome that inhibit their detection. To overcome this problem, a common fragile site at 11q23 that is readily cleaved in response to a broad range of cytotoxic agents was used. Using irradiated human TK6 lymphoblastoid cells and blood samples taken from patients undergoing chemotherapy, partner chromosomes that are ligated to this location were detected using inverse PCR to capture the breakpoint. In order to enhance the efficiency of the process, amplified inverse PCR material was processed for Solexa type parallel sequencing. Here individual amplicons, representing the total content of a treated sample, are attached to a flow cell and their sequence recorded by sequential additions of fluorescent bases. Each aberration was then reconstructed with reference to a standard human genome database. In one specific sample of treated TK6 cells, two translocations involving Chr. 2 and 18 and two dicentrics involving Chr. 3 and 13 were found linked to the Chr 11q23 fragmentation site. In addition, aberrations were found in patients’ blood 6 months after initiation of therapy. Thus translocations that are rarely lethal could be readily discriminated from dicentric type rearrangements that are predominately lethal. The advantage of this analytical process is that all normal sequence is also recorded allowing the fractional content of all aberrations to be recorded in response to dose or time. In order to mitigate concerns over the arbitrary nature of aberrations induced at a common fragile site, a zinc finger nuclease was constructed targeting a region adjacent to the fragile site at 11q23. With this zinc finger system repetitive DNA breaks at the predicted site generated micro rearrangements (insertions/deletions) that were produced at far higher rates than translocations or dicentric type rearrangements measured by parallel processing. In summary, a novel analytical system for detecting a lethal class (dicentrics) of chromosome rearrangements has been described that is suitable for therapy monitoring both in-vitro and in-vivo. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3930.
Management of exposed total knee prostheses with microvascular tissue transfer.

Introduction: Exposure of a knee endoprosthesis represents a limb-threatening condition, requiring long-term antibiosis, irrigation, and serial debridement to avoid knee arthrodesis or amputation. Although traditional orthopedic surgical doctrine mandates removal of exposed hardware under a dehisced wound, salvage of exposed prostheses using local muscle flap coverage has been reported. However, the complex three-dimensional geometry of the soft tissue surrounding the knee as well as the requirement for sustained local tissue levels of antibiotics to re-sterilize the hardware suggest that microvascular tissue transfer may constitute an advantageous means of wound coverage, increasing both limb and prosthesis salvage rates. We report our experience with free tissue transfer reconstruction of these complex wounds. Methods: We treated 11 complex wounds with exposed total knee arthroplasty prostheses with free tissue transfer. Three of 11 patients had failed previous local muscular rotation flap coverage. Five latissimus dorsi muscle flaps and 6 rectus abdominis muscle flaps were used in our series. Wounds were closed after aggressive surgical debridement, antibiotic irrigation, and intravenous antibiosis. Results: Eleven of 11 free flaps were successful (100%), and we achieved limb salvage in 11/11 limbs (100%) and prosthesis salvage in 10/11 knees (91%), with one prosthesis removed at an outside facility followed by knee arthrodesis. Conclusion: The advantages of microvascular tissue transfer are well suited to the treatment of exposed knee endoprostheses. The reliable rectus and latissimus flaps provide robust local perfusion to the wound, fill complex three-dimensional contour defects around knee implants, and lead to a high rate of salvage of both limbs and prostheses. V C 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 28:617–622, 2008. A total knee prosthesis that becomes exposed constitutes a complex reconstructive problem, requiring long-term antibiosis, irrigation, and serial debridement to avoid knee
Synthesis and Characterization of Poly[(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)-co-(1-(4-azidobutyldimethylsilyl)-1-propyne)] Copolymers

Poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) copolymers with bromobutyl side chains were synthesized from 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne and 1-(4-bromobutyldimethylsilyl)-1-propyne using a TaCl5/Ph3Bi catalyst system in toluene. After polymerization, azide groups were introduced into the polymers by phase transfer catalysis to yield poly[(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)-co-(1-(4-azidobutyldimethylsilyl)-1-propyne)] copolymers. Results from thermal analyses, elemental analyses, and IR spectroscopy confirm that the azide content in the copolymers matches the original comonomer feed ratios. Films of the copolymers were thermally cross-linked in vacuo, with the rate of azide decomposition monitored by the loss of the azide absorption band in the IR. For a copolymer with 15 mol % azide content, an activation energy of 130 kJ/mol was calculated from IR data collected over the azide decomposition temperature range. For the copolymer with the highest azide content (20 mol %), DSC measurements give −1.2 kJ/g for the enthalpy of azide deco...
Space plasma charging - Lessons from Voyager

The Voyager spacecraft to Jupiter and beyond was designed with the intent that it would be immune to the deleterious effects of space plasma charging. Such effects include electrostatic fields disrupting science data, external electrostatic discharge (ESD) events, and also internal ESDs. This paper describes the design features incorporated into the Voyager spacecraft, the rationale for those features, the results in the Jovian environment, and present thinking about appropriate design to avoid ESD problems caused by space charging.
Late Cretaceous Marine Fishes from the Basal Greenhorn Limestone in Western Iowa

The Greenhorn Limestone is a rock formation composed primarily of chalky limestone and shale that was deposited in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America. Many dental and skeletal remains of fossil fishes were collected from the basal Greenhorn Limestone (early Turonian; ca. 93 Ma) at a locality along the western border (Plymouth County) of Iowa. The fish fauna consists of at least eight chondrichthyan and 12 osteichthyan taxa that are represented by diverse trophic forms, including durophagous forms, pelagic carnivores, and opportunistic feeders. Sedimentary particles of the basal Greenhorn Limestone at the locality include a relatively large quantity of quartz grams (e.g., compared to the basal Greenhorn Limestone in southeastern Colorado). This observation suggests that the deposition took place at a position closer to the shoreline than other Greenhorn localities.
The effects of pollination methods and auxin applications upon parthenocarpic fruit set and development in tomato

Abstract Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) flowers of parthenocarpic genotypes ‘Severianin’, ‘PSET-1’ and ‘RP75/79’, and non-parthenocarpic genotypes ‘Jet Star’, ‘Tiny Tim’ and ‘New Yorker’, were induced to set fruit naturally, by hand-pollination or with auxin. ‘Severianin’ did not require pollination to set fruit but auxin increased fruit set. Hand-pollination of ‘Jet Star’ increased fruit set but had no effect on ‘Severianin’. Hand-pollination increased the number of seeds per fruit in all genotypes, while auxin had no effect except in ‘Severianin’. Auxin induced more fruit per cluster in ‘PSET-1’, but auxin or hand-pollination treatments had no effect on the correlation of seed number or weight with fruit weight of the parthenocarpic genotypes. The development of these fruits were independent of seed formation, while ‘Tiny Tim’ and ‘New Yorker’ were dependent on the number of seeds to increase fruit weight.
Considering the Manufacturing Environment of Less-Developed Countries When Choosing Product Concepts

There is a noticeable lack of production of indigenously engineered products in Less Developed Countries (LDCs). Few products developed in these LDCs could be viable in competitive markets or even sold as components and supplies to other manufacturers of competitive goods. An appropriate product development process for LDCs would take into account aspects of the environment where the product is to be created and manufactured without compromising the product’s ability to compete globally. By effectively classifying designs and their compatibility in certain environments, patterns associated with manufacturability can be more readily seen and addressed. This paper will address two issues: First, it will address the potential role of manufacturing in developing economies by reviewing traditional approaches used to produce products in developing countries. Second, an approach to selecting a design concept (from a set of existing alternative designs) that would best match the conditions and resources of an enterprise in a specific restrictive environment will be introduced.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Chitin synthesis in cultivated cockroach blood

Abstract Blood of the cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa, has been cultivated in standard insect media for periods in excess of 1 year. Blood tissue proliferates slowly, and cultures show an accumulation of chitin aggregates of unknown origin in the form of irregular, birefringent strands and plates within, on, and extended from the surface of the tissue. Also unknown is the source of epidermal cells, which, once established, undergo mitoses and accumulate in isolated clusters amidst blood cells and a fibrous intercellular mat. However, chitin formations are well established in culture before epidermal cells are apparent. During this period blood cells constitute what is thought to be the only active system available in which the potential for chitin synthesis exists.
Impacts of information management on business performance

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to analyze and interpret some empirical results, obtained from an online survey, on the types of review and analysis approaches used by organizations in manufacturing, service, education, health care, and not‐for‐profit sectors and their relationships with business performance.Design/methodology/approach – Data were gathered using an online survey to capture basic information about the organization and its performance, the types of measures used in each of the five Baldrige results item groups, types and frequencies of review of the data, and types of analyses conducted. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistical analyses and tests for significant differences.Findings – The results suggest that a significant gap exists in the sophistication of analysis methods between higher and lower performing organizations in terms of customer, financial, and market performance, and that better performance is associated with more mature and sophisticated approaches to p...
Mechanical and thermal behavior of clay/epoxy nanocomposites

Abstract Clay/epoxy nanocomposites with concentrations of 1–10 wt.% of clay particles were prepared by shear mixing. The mechanical and viscoelastic behavior of nanocomposites was investigated using a servohydraulic testing machine and a dynamic mechanical analyzer, respectively. It was found that the addition of clay particles improved both the elastic modulus and storage modulus of pure epoxy significantly and the higher the clay content, the higher the modulus of the nanocomposite. The elastic modulus of the nanocomposites was also measured at elevated temperatures and was found to decrease gradually with temperature followed by a sudden drop at T g , which showed a monotonic drop with increasing clay content. However, the effect of thermal exposure above T g was found not to affect their room temperature elastic modulus. The thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of both pure epoxy and nanocomposites was measured using a thermomechanical analyzer and it was found that the incorporation of clay particles reduced the CTE of pure epoxy.
Beyond OFDM: best-effort dynamic spectrum access using filterbank multicarrier

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), widely recommended for sharing the spectrum among different nodes in a dynamic spectrum access network, imposes tight timing and frequency synchronization requirements. We examine the use of filterbank multicarrier (FBMC), a somewhat lesser known and understood alternative, for dynamic spectrum access. FBMC promises very low out-of-band energy of each subcarrier signal when compared to OFDM. In order to fully understand and evaluate the promise of FBMC, we first examine the use of special pulse-shaping filters of the FBMC PHY layer in reliably transmitting data packets at a very high rate. Next, to understand the impact of FBMC beyond the PHY layer, we devise a distributed and adaptive medium access control (MAC) protocol that coordinates data packet traffic among the different nodes in the network in a best-effort manner. Using extensive simulations, we show that FBMC consistently achieves at least an order of magnitude performance improvement over OFDM in several aspects including packet transmission delays, channel access delays, and effective data transmission rate available to each node in static, indoor settings. Using measurements of power spectral density and high data rate transmissions from a transceiver that we build using our National Instruments hardware platform, we show that while FBMC can decode/distinguish all the received symbols without any errors, OFDM cannot. Finally, we also examine the use of FBMC in a vehicular network setup. We find that FBMC achieves an order of magnitude performance improvement over large distances in this setup as well. Furthermore, in the case of multihop vehicular networks, FBMC can achieve about 20 × smaller end-to-end data packet delivery delays and relatively low packet drop probabilities. In summary, FBMC offers a much higher performing alternative to OFDM for networks that dynamically share the spectrum among multiple nodes.
A Recombinant Live Oral Cholera Vaccine

A pathogenic strain of Vibrio cholerae was attenuated by deletion of DNA sequences encoding the A1 subunit of the cholera enterotoxin. A restriction endonuclease fragment encoding the A1, but not the A2 or B sequences was deleted in vitro from cloned cholera toxin genes. The mutation was then recombined into the chromosome of V.cholerae Ogawa 395, a pathogenic strain that confers complete immunity to subsequent infection following an initial clinical infection. The resulting strain, which produces the immunogenic but nontoxic B subunit of cholera toxin and is unaltered in other critical antigens, represents a promising candidate for an attenuated live oral cholera vaccine.
Phytoremediation of Explosive-Contaminated Soils

In order to select appropriate plant species for phytoremediation of explosive compounds, phytotoxicity, uptake proficiency, capability of the plant to degrade/transform the compounds, and several environmental factors need to be considered. The environmental factors comprise climatic attributes, soil type, the water environment, root penetration depth, contaminant kinetics, and bioavailability. Out of the plant species that have shown efficient TNT uptake, there are only a few that can do so in a variety of environments, which is imperative in case of contaminants that are widespread, such as TNT and RDX. The two most effective species for TNT uptake reported to date are Eurasian water milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum and vetiver grass, Chrysopogon zizanioides. For RDX phytoremediation, reed canary grass, fox sedge, and rice have shown promise, although degradation of RDX in the plant tissue is limited. Over the past few decades, a considerable amount of information on phytotoxicity and metabolism of TNT and RDX in plants and microorganisms have been collected, which has led to the identification of potential plant species for use in TNT and RDX phytoremediation, as well as candidate genes for developing effective transgenic plants. Recent research has also revealed promising non-transgenic approaches, such as use of chaotropic agents for enhanced solubilization and uptake of TNT, which could prove to be practical and effective for military sites. Field trials of some of these promising new technologies are necessary for the development of effective, low-cost, and environmentally friendly phytoremediation of explosive-contaminated sites.