cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supercritical Fluid Chromatography with Evaporative Light Scattering Detection (SFC-ELSD) for Determination of Oligomer Molecular Weight Distributions

Ultraviolet curable polyureas and polyurethanes enjoy a wide range of applications in the coatings industry. They demand less energy for curing compared to thermal processes that offer relatively low viscosities before photocuring, and provide mechanical property improvements due to hydrogen bonding physical crosslinks. Mechanical properties of the coatings are dependent on a variety of factors, including chemical composition, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution. Formulations are designed for a wide variety of end use applications, ranging from soft, elastomeric coatings to harder, nonflexible sealants. This report demonstrates that the thermomechanical behavior of photocured coatings is a function of molecular weight distribution. Step-growth polymerization and endcapping afforded a variety of acrylate-terminated, urea-/urethane-containing photocurable oligomers from amine-terminated poly(propylene glycol), dicyclohexylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate (HMDI), and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) at various stoichiometric ratios. The state-of-the-art supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with evaporative light-scattering detection (SFC-ELSD) enabled the elucidation of oligomeric molecular weight distributions as a function of reaction stoichiometry. SFC-ELSD demonstrated the efficient separation of oligomeric species with single repeat unit resolution (i.e., n = 2 vs. n = 3). Dynamic mechanical analysis probed thermomechanical response of photocured films as a function of molecular weight distribution and demonstrated that the presence of a hydrogen-bonding, small molecule photoactive reaction byproduct, i.e., HEA doubly-endcapped HMDI, had a much more profound effect on thermomechanical response as compared to changes in oligomer molecular weight in the molecular weight range investigated. This combination of chromatographic technique and thermomechanical analysis afforded an in-depth investigation of the structure–property relationships of urea-/urethane-containing photocurable oligomers.
Critical Perspectives on US Foreign Communication Policy

The underdevelopment of a theory of culture among both critical international political economists and agents of US foreign policy is remarkable. In these pages I begin to redress this gap by focusing on the role of the American state in shaping cultural capacities as a method of constructing and maintaining international consent. This effort is pursued through a critique of aspects of the cultural imperialism paradigm - something of a staple among students of international communications since the late 1960s - and some discussion of ‘knowledge’ as a neglected concept among students of political economy. In what follows, the practical nature of culture in the dialectical construction, maintenance or annihilation of a hegemonic order is pursued. More than a critique, this chapter also presents theoretical tools of use both in this book’s analysis of DBS and US foreign communication policy and, it is hoped, in the more general theoretical and strategic efforts of critical social scientists.
George M. Smith, ‘Charlotte Brontë’ (1847–1855), in Cornhill Magazine, New Series, vol. ix (December 1900), pp. 778–95

the ten years from 1840 to 1850 were a very eventful decade to me. In 1844 my father fell into ill health, and went to live at Box Hill near Dorking, where he died in August 1846. Mr Elder had never taken a leading part in the business, and when my father’s health broke down the general management to a great extent fell on me. At this time I was twenty years of age. In the year 1845 we had to face the fact that my father’s condition was hopeless, and he retired from the firm. Mr Elder deciding to retire at the same time, a new partnership was constituted by the remaining partner (whose name I prefer not to mention) and myself. The partnership lasted only about two years, after which time I was under the painful necessity of dissolving it. The entire control of the business now fell upon my rather youthful shoulders. My condition was a very anxious one: nearly every penny my father possessed had been invested in the business; the provision for my mother and my young brothers and sisters was absolutely dependent on its success; and although the business was a profitable one, I had the gravest reasons for anxiety as to its financial position, which had been cruelly undermined. It will be seen that the situation was one to bring out whatever there was in me, and I worked with all the intensity and zeal of which I was capable. The work I got through may be described as enormous. In addition to my previous responsibilities, I had to take in hand the Indian and Colonial correspondence, of which my partner had previously been in charge. This work was, of course, more difficult for me at first, as the details of it were new, but I quickly mastered it. I must in those days have had great powers of endurance; the correspondence was heavy, the letters were often both very long and very important; I used to dictate to a clerk while two others were occupied in copying. It was a common thing for me and many of the clerks to work until three or four o’clock in the morning, and occasionally, when there was but a short interval between the arrival and departure of the Indian mails, I used to start work at nine o’clock of one morning, and neither leave my room nor cease dictating until seven o’clock the next evening, when the mail was despatched. During these thirty-two hours of continuous work I was supported by mutton-chops and green tea at stated intervals. I believe I maintained my health by active exercise on foot and horseback, and by being able after these excessive stretches of work to sleep soundly for many hours; on these occasions I generally got to bed at about eleven, and slept till three or four o’clock the next afternoon.
Abstraction hierarchy in deep learning neural networks

We develop a methodology to assess knowledge representation in deep neural networks trained to recognize classes of objects. We measure the abstraction level by studying correlations between the neuron activation levels of different layers based on image class. The approach is developed and tested using CIFAR-10 dataset and MatConvNet toolbox. The results show that different kinds of layers, convolutional or pooling, have different effect on the representation. The observations also point to a tendency for incremental increase in the abstraction measure, sometimes interrupted by more significant jumps, which may indicate a qualitative transition between abstraction levels. We describe and interpret current results and outline the direction of future work.
Instrata Fungicide Evaluated for Control of Cercospora Leaf Spot on Crapemyrtle

Efficacy of Instrata™ 3.61E at rates of 0.54, 0.74, and 1.11 g ai·liter−1 was compared with recommended rates of the its component fungicides Daconil Ultrex 82.5WDG (chlorothalonil), Banner MAXX 1.3MEC (propiconazole), and Medallion 50W (fludioxonil) as well as Eagle 40W, Heritage 50WDG, and 3336 4.5F fungicide standards for the control of Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum) on field grown ‘Byer's Wonderful White’ crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) in 2007 and 2008. Efficacy of Instrata 3.61E for the control of Cercospora leaf spot on crapemyrtle was significantly impacted by application rate. Cercospora leaf spot intensity and defoliation AUDPC values as well as final disease ratings usually were lower for the 1.11 compared with the 0.54 g ai·liter−1 rates of Instrata 3.61E, while those of the 0.74 g ai·liter−1 rate were intermediate. The 1.11 g ai·liter−1 but not lower rates of Instrata 3.61E gave superior Cercospora leaf spot control in both study years when compared with the Daconil Ultrex ...
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY WITH USING ANFIS TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF A MODIFIED CLOSED WET COOLING TOWER

The present study involves experimental and computational analysis to investigate the thermal performance of modified closed wet cooling tower in perspective of first and second law of thermodynamics (analysis of energy and exergy) according to Iraqi weather. The experimental study includes design, manufacture and testing prototype of a modified counter flow forced draft closed wet cooling tower. The modification based on addition packing to the conventional closed wet cooling tower. To assess the thermal performance of cooling towera progression of tests was done at various operational and conformational parameters.The theoretical study included developed six models by an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System to anticipating various execution parameters of the tower including the cooling range, tower approach, thermal efficiency, cooling capacity, evaporation losses and exergy destruction. After simulating, three dimensional surface viewers obtained for future behavior of the thermal performance of cooling tower involves interactions between all operational parameters. Comparison of the output values obtained using the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System model and those obtained experimentally for other cases not included in the training data, indicates high compatibility with maximum percentage error of (5%).
Wilms tumor screening in diffuse capillary malformation with overgrowth and macrocephaly-capillary malformation: A retrospective study.

Background CLOVES (congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevi, and skeletal anomalies) syndrome is associated with regional bony and/or soft tissue overgrowth, capillary malformation, and an increased risk for Wilms tumor. Objective To evaluate the frequency of Wilms tumor in patients with 2 similar conditions: diffuse capillary malformation with overgrowth (DCMO) and macrocephaly–capillary malformation (M-CM). Methods Culling our Vascular Anomalies Center database, we retrospectively reviewed patients in whom DCMO and M-CM had been diagnosed and who were evaluated between 1998 and 2016 for possible development of Wilms tumor. Patients younger than 8 years of age at their last visit and not seen in more than 2 years were contacted for follow-up. Results The study comprised 89 patients: 67 with DCMO, 17 with M-CM, and 5 with an indeterminate diagnosis. No case of Wilms tumor was found in these groups. Limitations Some patients were younger than 8 years of age at last follow-up visit and the sample size was small. Conclusion Patients with DCMO do not appear to be at increased risk for Wilms tumor. Screening is probably unnecessary in DCMO unless there is associated hemihypertrophy. Although there were no cases in our cohort, there are 2 reports of M-CM associated with Wilms tumor in the literature.
Farmland Preservation: Land for Future Generations, edited by Wayne Caldwell, Stew Hilts, and Bronwynne Wilton

For U.S. planning scholars, farmland preservation is closely linked to the smart growth movement, which calls for preservation of rural landscapes in tandem with robust urban policy. Yet the mostly...
High-performance near-field electroluminescent refrigeration device consisting of a GaAs light emitting diode and a Si photovoltaic cell

We consider a near-field electroluminescent refrigeration device. The device uses a GaAs light emitting diode as the cold side, and a Si photovoltaic cell as the hot side. The two sides are brought in close proximity to each other across a vacuum gap. The cooling is achieved by applying a positive bias on the GaAs light emitting diode. We show that the choice of GaAs and Si here can suppress the non-idealities for electroluminescent cooling purposes: GaAs has a wide bandgap with low Auger recombination, and Si is a non-polar semiconductor which leads to significantly reduced sub-bandgap heat transfer. We show that by using this configuration in the near-field regime, the cooling power density can reach 105 W/m2 even in the presence of realistic Auger recombination and Shockley-Read-Hall recombination. In addition, with photovoltaic power recovery from the Si cell, the efficiency of the device can be further improved. Our work points to the significant potential of combining near-field heat transfer with a...
Polarized Exosome Release from the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium

The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) forms the outer blood-retinal barrier and provides nutrients and recycling of visual pigment to the photoreceptors, among many other functions. The RPE is also a key site of pathophysiological changes in age-related macular degeneration, making it an important focus of study in both visual health and disease. Exosomes are nanometer-sized vesicles that are released by cells in a controlled fashion and mediate a range of extra- and intercellular activities. Some key exosome actions include cell-cell communication, immune modulation, extracellular matrix turnover, stem cell division/differentiation, neovascularization, and cellular waste removal. While much is known about their role in cancer and cardiovascular disease, exosome function in the many specialized tissues of the eye is just beginning to undergo rigorous study. Here we review current knowledge of the functions and roles of exosomes and other small extracellular vesicles released from the RPE. In particular, we discuss the potential role and importance of polarized exosome release from the RPE.
Nonlinear Hyperbolic Surface Waves

We describe examples of hyperbolic surface waves and discuss their connection with initial boundary value and discontinuity problems for hyperbolic systems of PDEs that are weakly but not uniformly stable.
Police Militarization: Understanding the Perspectives of Police Chiefs, Administrators, and Tactical Officers

The increased militarization of the police in the United States has been a topic of controversy for decades, brought to the public eye in notable events such as the Los Angeles Police Department’s use of battering rams in the 1980s and the siege of the Weaver family at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in the 1990s, among others. The issue of police militarism has been back at the forefront of criminal justice policy discussions in the wake of the militaristic police response to the protests that took place after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. This book examines the issue of militarization in a post-Ferguson environment from the perspective of those inside policing.Drawing from a variety of data—including historical analysis of newspaper articles to examine the use of firearms in policing; original data from police respondents attending the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in Quantico, Virginia; interviews with police chiefs and tactical officers regarding their direct experiences; and a sample of National Academy attendees reporting on the deployment of patrol rifles in policing—this work provides a nuanced look at police militarization that will inform future conceptual discussions and empirical research into the phenomenon. Considerations identified for police policy-makers include politics, media, leadership, and marketing. These themes are explored in detail, suggesting multiple dimensions, both theoretical and empirical, to better understand policing and policy, making this book an excellent resource for students, scholars, and professionals in law enforcement, political science, and public administration.
Ethnic disparities in the frequency of cancer reported in family histories.

This study was designed to observe whether disparities exist between ethnicities in reporting a family history of cancer in a cancer genetic counseling clinic. Four hundred sixty-nine pedigrees collected between 2015 to 2017 from a cancer clinic at the University of California, Irvine, were analyzed. Pedigrees were separated by ethnicity into the following categories: non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, Asian, or Ashkenazi Jewish. The number of first- and second-degree relatives was calculated for each pedigree, and the total number of relatives reported with cancer. The total reported with cancer was divided by total number of relatives to derive a percentage of cancer reporting for each pedigree. The percentages of cancer reporting were analyzed using column proportions, nonparametric tests, and a Poisson regression. Cancer reporting in first- and second-degree relatives was highest among non-Hispanic Whites and Ashkenazi Jewish individuals, with median percentages of 22% and 27%, respectively. The median percentage of cancer reporting in first- and second-degree relatives in both Hispanics and Asians was 10%. Cancer reporting medians were significantly lower in Hispanics and Asians when compared to non-Hispanic Whites and Ashkenazi Jewish individuals (p < .001). Ethnicity was a significant factor for predicting the number of relatives reported to have cancer when analyzed with a Poisson regression. This study concluded that cancer is reported less frequently in families when the proband and their families are Hispanic or Asian. Hispanics and Asians have lower cancer incidence rates; however, incidence rates alone may not explain the reporting disparity observed. Hence, family cancer histories in minority populations may be truncated. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this disparity when assessing cancer risks so appropriate modifications can be made accordingly for recommended cancer screening and/or cancer genetic testing. Further efforts are warranted to disseminate information to minority populations about the value of family health history regarding cancer risk assessment.
TAVR FOR ACQUIRED BICUSPID AORTIC VALVES: A COMPARISON OF ANNULAR VERSUS SUPRA- ANNULAR SIZING STRATEGIES

The optimal valve sizing strategy for patients undergoing TAVR for an acquired bicuspid aortic valve remains unknown. As leaflet fusion may inhibit the transcatheter heart valve's ability to fully circularize, a supra-annular measurement of valve area may account for the anatomical point of maximal
Generalized tonic seizures with autonomic signs are the hallmark of SCN8A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.

Abstract Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) due to SCN8A gene variants is characterized by drug-resistant early onset epilepsy associated with severe intellectual disability. Different seizure types have been reported, and a sequence of autonomic manifestations such as brady-/tachycardia, irregular breathing, and cyanosis. Nevertheless, an exhaustive video-polygraphic documentation is still lacking. In this study, we reviewed the ictal electroencephalograms (EEGs) of five patients with SCN8A-DEE followed-up at the Neuroscience Department at Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital in Rome. We identified generalized tonic seizure as the major seizure type at epilepsy onset. Seizure severity could vary from subtle to marked clinical manifestations, depending from the extent and groups of muscles involved and association with autonomic modifications. We found autonomic signs in 80% of seizures in our cases, and we were able to identify a stereotyped sequence of ictal events for most of seizures. Autonomic signs occurred in rapid sequence: flushing of the face, sometimes associated with sialorrhea, bradycardia, and hypopnea appeared within the first 1–2 s. Tachycardia, polypnea, perioral cyanosis, and pallor occurred later in the course of the seizure. Generalized tonic seizures are rarely described in other genetic epileptic conditions of early infancy because of ion channel mutations, such as in DEE due to KCNQ2 or SCN2A gene mutations, where seizures are most frequently reported as focal to bilateral tonic. Therefore, generalized symmetric tonic seizures with autonomic signs can be considered a clinical hallmark for diagnosis of SCN8A-related DEE and relevant for therapeutic implications.
Adult Flat Foot With Multiple Accessory Navicular Bones Treated Surgically: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Multiple accessory navicular bones is an extremely rare condition. To the best of our knowledge, only 8 cases in 2 imaging studies have been published. We report a case of a patient with flat foot with 2 accessory navicular bones. This patient needed to be treated surgically, and the surgery was successful, with short-term follow-up. We believe this is the first case of multiple accessory navicular bones to be treated surgically in English literature. The incidence of multiple accessory navicular bones might be higher. There is a risk to remaining ossicles without resection or fixation during surgery; therefore, we strongly recommend using not only radiographs, but also 3-dimensional computed tomography scans or magnetic resonance imaging scans to confirm the type of accessory navicular bone, at least before surgery, for both painful accessory navicular bone and flat foot with accessory navicular bone.
Exercise and Cancer Prevention: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Establishment of the strong putative relationship between exercise and risk of virtually all non-communicable diseases prompted several research groups over the past two decades to investigate a question of significant public health concern: whether exercise lowers the risk of certain forms of cancer. In this Opinion review I first overview studies of exercise in cancer prevention summarizing evidence from observational studies and available clinical trials. In the final section, I consider the next steps in the continued development of exercise as a cancer prevention strategy.
The Roach Equation: value of “old” clinical tools in the era of new molecular imaging

In the January 2020 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Koerber et al. present a single-institution retrospective analysis of the incidence of nodal involvement in 280 men with newly diagnosed intermediate- and (mostly) high-risk prostate cancer who underwent prostate-specific membrane antigen
Evaluation of P wave dispersion as a predictor of atrial arrhythmias in dystrophinopathies

PURPOSE: Arrhythmias are one of the manifestations of cardiac involvement in dystrophinopathies. P-wave dispersion (PWD) has been known to be associated with inhomogeneous and discontinuous propagation of sinus impulses. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of PWD in patients with Duchenne (DMD) and Becker (BMD) muscular dystrophies. METHODS: It is a retrospective cohort study. The study population consisted of 68 patients with dystrophinopathy and age and sex matched 68 healthy control subjects. Patients with diabetes …
Nonlinear H∞ Feedback Control Design Using the Ode Model

This chapter will solve the mixed sensitivity isolated ramp metering problem using nonlinear H∞ control theory. We will design the control law so that we achieve some optimization of an appropriately chosen criterion that is based on the traffic density on the highway and the queue lengths. We will also present simulation software and results.
Neural and computational mechanisms of analogical reasoning

Summary High-level cognition inevitably involves multiple component processes, which are difficult to distinguish at the neural level. We apply model-guided componential analysis to disaggregate components of verbal analogical reasoning, a hallmark of human intelligence. This approach integrates a sequential task design with representational and encoding analyses of fMRI data. The analyses were guided by three computational models of lexical and relation semantics that vary in the specificity of their relation representations. Word2vec-concat is nonrelational (based solely on individual word meanings); Word2vec-diff computes the generic relation between any word pair; and BART derives relational similarity from a set of learned abstract semantic relations (e.g., synonym, antonym, cause-effect). The predictions derived from BART, based on its learned relations, showed the strongest correlation with neural activity in regions including the left posterior parietal cortex (during both relation representation and relation comparison) and rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (during relation comparison). Model-guided componential analysis shows promise as an approach to discovering the neural basis of propositional thought.
Risk of Non-infectious Uveitis with Metformin Therapy in a Large Healthcare Claims Database.

To determine if metformin is associated with noninfectious uveitis (NIU).Patients in an insurance claims database who initiated metformin (n = 359,139) or other oral anti-diabetic medications (n = ...
Impact of Restricting Sugar-Sweetened Beverages From the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Children's Health.

Introduction Children enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are at higher risk of poor diet, including higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages than non–Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants. This study aims to identify the impact of restricting sugar-sweetened beverage purchases with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits on children's consumption and health. Methods Using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation and dietary data of children (aged 2–19 years) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2016), a microsimulation model was constructed to assess expected changes in daily sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, total calorie intake, BMI, incidence of dental caries, and obesity prevalence of 2019 U.S. children over a 10-year period, incorporating differences in food consumption and disease risks between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the general U.S. populations. Sensitivity analyses were conducted with various food substitution patterns and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation characteristics. Analysis was performed in 2019. Results Sugar-sweetened beverage restriction in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was estimated to reduce daily sugar-sweetened beverage intake by 112.5 g/person (95% CI= −115.9, −109.2), which was estimated to decrease the number of decayed teeth by 0.53/person (95% CI= −0.55, −0.51), an 8.0% decline from the baseline. If sugar-sweetened beverages were substituted with fruit juice and milk, the restriction would be expected to reduce daily total calorie intake by 39.2 kcal/person (95% CI= −39.8, −38.7), resulting 2.6 kg/m2 (95% CI= −2.9, −2.4) decrease in BMI and a 6.2 percentage point (95% CI= −6.5, −5.8) decrease in obesity prevalence among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants. Estimated changes in total calorie intake and obesity were subject to food substitution patterns. Conclusions Restricting sugar-sweetened beverage purchases in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could promote a healthier diet and significantly lower the incidence of dental caries and potentially obesity prevalence in children.
The Statistical Fragility of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Rotator Cuff Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background:The practice of evidence-based medicine relies on objective data to guide clinical decision-making with specific statistical thresholds conveying study significance.Purpose:To determine ...
Functional traits provide new insight into recovery and succession at deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Investigation of communities in extreme environments with unique conditions has the potential to broaden or challenge existing theory as to how biological communities assemble and change through succession. Deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems have strong, parallel gradients of nutrients and environmental stress, and present unusual conditions in early succession, in that both nutrient availability and stressors are high. We analyzed the succession of the invertebrate community at 9°50' N on the East Pacific Rise for 11 yr following an eruption in 2006 in order to test successional theories developed in other ecosystems. We focused on functional traits including body size, external protection, provision of habitat (foundation species), and trophic mode to understand how the unique nutritional and stress conditions influence community composition. In contrast to established theory, large, fast-growing, structure-forming organisms colonized rapidly at vents, while small, asexually reproducing organisms were not abundant until later in succession. Species in early succession had high external protection, as expected in the harsh thermal and chemical conditions after the eruption. Changes in traits related to feeding ecology and dispersal potential over succession agreed with expectations from other ecosystems. We also tracked functional diversity metrics over time to see how they compared to species diversity. While species diversity peaked at 8 yr post-eruption, functional diversity was continuing to increase at 11 yr. Our results indicate that deep-sea hydrothermal vents have distinct successional dynamics due to the high stress and high nutrient conditions in early succession. These findings highlight the importance of extending theory to new systems and considering function to allow comparison between ecosystems with different species and environmental conditions.
Coupled Analysis of Low-Velocity Impact Damage and Compression after Impact Strength of Composite Laminates

AbstractA coupled analysis of impact damage and compression-after-impact (CAI) strength of laminated composite plates was conducted using efficient analytical and semianalytical models with the goa...
He’s Working from Home and I’m at Home Trying to Work: Experiences of Childcare and the Work–Family Balance Among Mothers During COVID-19

This article captures mothers’ experiences of the work–family balance and division of household labor during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. Interviews were conducted with twenty-five academics and ...
Chylopericardium due to Subclavian Vein Thrombosis in the Setting of Protein S Deficiency

Background. Chylopericardium is the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pericardial cavity. It can be idiopathic or secondary to trauma, cardiothoracic surgery, neoplasm, radiation, tuberculosis, lymphatic duct dysfunction, thrombosis, or other causes. We present a case of chylopericardium due to subclavian vein thrombosis in a patient with protein S deficiency. Clinical Case. A 48-year-old man with a history of protein S deficiency presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath and a productive cough. CT of the chest showed pulmonary emboli, moderate pericardial effusion, and a large thrombus of the superior vena cava, brachiocephalic vein, and subclavian veins. He developed echocardiographic evidence of cardiac tamponade so he underwent pericardiocentesis with drainage of milky-appearing fluid. Analysis of the fluid showed elevated triglycerides consistent with chylopericardium. The pericardial effusion reaccumulated, likely secondary to lymphatic duct obstruction due to his subclavian vein thrombus. Catheter-assisted thrombolysis was performed with resolution of the patient’s effusion and symptoms. Conclusion. Chylopericardium is a rare but important complication of subclavian vein thrombosis. Management is typically with surgical intervention, although our case represents successful treatment with catheter-assisted thrombolysis.
Postoperative hyperglycemia and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing colorectal surgery: results from the Michigan surgical quality collaborative database

Purpose Our objective was to assess the relationship between high blood glucose levels (BG) in the early postoperative period and the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs), sepsis, and death following colorectal operations.
HCI in Business: A Collaboration with Academia in IoT Privacy

The Internet of Things (IoT) integrates communication capabilities into physical objects to create a ubiquitous and multi-modal network of information and computing resources. The promise and pervasiveness of IoT ecosystems has lured many companies, including Intel, to devote resources and engineers to participate in the future of IoT. This paper describes a joint effort from Intel and two collaborators from academia to address the problem of IoT privacy.
Viral marketing on the internet

Viral marketing includes a broad range of online word-of-mouth strategies aimed to encourage peer-to-peer communication about a brand. The origination of this tactic dates back to 1996 and has gained increased popularity since then. Unique to viral marketing is its focus on the message (vs the product) and emotional (vs informational) appeals. Viral marketing has unique benefits and drawbacks. Advantages include reduced cost of promotion, increased credibility, increased visibility, decreased interruption, and improved format flexibility. Disadvantages include reduced control of the marketer, increased reliance on consumers' motivation, and increased risk of negative reactions. Keywords: viral; eWOM; word-of-mouth; peer-to-peer; buzz
Introduction: corporate communication and strategic adaptation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenges facing corporate communication professionals and researchers, and to introduce the issues presented in the papers from the CCI Conference on Corporate Communication 2008 published in this special issue.Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents a discussion of the issues raised in the special issue papers.Findings – Discussion of the future of the corporate communication profession in the wake of the global fiscal crisis.Research limitations/implications – This paper implies several areas for further research.Practical implications – This paper implies strategic knowledge of business processes and practice for effective corporate communication.Originality/value – This paper articulates complex challenges facing corporate communicators.
“Into the Middle of the Thing” (With Apologies to Horace): Developing a System to Manage a Grant-Funded Digital Collection Project

Temple University Libraries received an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant in 2000 for the development of a digital image collection. Based on this experience, the authors discuss a computer and manual tracking system developed to control and manage the collection building effort. The need to accurately track the progress of materials and the workflow in the digitization project was not fully understood at the beginning of the project. Thus, after the tracking system was designed, it was necessary to populate it with information reflecting work on the project from the beginning.
Genomic multiple sequence alignments: refinement using a genetic algorithm.

Background: Genomic sequence data cannot be fully appreciated in isolation. Comparative genomics – the practice of comparing genomic sequences from different species – plays an increasingly important role in understanding the genotypic differences between species that result in phenotypic differences as well as in revealing patterns of evolutionary relationships. One of the major challenges in comparative genomics is producing a high-quality alignment between two or more related genomic sequences. In recent years, a number of tools have been developed for aligning large genomic sequences. Most utilize heuristic strategies to identify a series of strong sequence similarities, which are then used as anchors to align the regions between the anchor points. The resulting alignment is globally correct, but in many cases is suboptimal locally. We describe a new program, GenAlignRefine, which improves the overall quality of global multiple alignments by using a genetic algorithm to improve local regions of alignment. Regions of low quality are identified, realigned using the program T-Coffee, and then refined using a genetic algorithm. Because a better COFFEE (Consistency based Objective Function For alignmEnt Evaluation) score generally reflects greater alignment quality, the algorithm searches for an alignment that yields a better COFFEE score. To improve the intrinsic slowness of the genetic algorithm, GenAlignRefine was implemented as a parallel, cluster-based program. Results: We tested the GenAlignRefine algorithm by running it on a Linux cluster to refine sequences from a simulation, as well as refine a multiple alignment of 15 Orthopoxvirus genomic sequences approximately 260,000 nucleotides in length that initially had been aligned by MultiLAGAN. It took approximately 150 minutes for a 40-processor Linux cluster to optimize some 200 fuzzy (poorly aligned) regions of the orthopoxvirus alignment. Overall sequence identity increased only slightly; but significantly, this occurred at the same time that the overall alignment length decreased – through the removal of gaps – by approximately 200 gapped regions representing roughly 1,300 gaps. Conclusion: We have implemented a genetic algorithm in parallel mode to optimize multiple genomic sequence alignments initially generated by various alignment tools. Benchmarking experiments showed that the refinement algorithm improved genomic sequence alignments within a reasonable period of time.
Rings: Applications of the integers

In this chapter we assemble some results on rings which we obtain by using a specific knowledge of the natural numbers and the integers. We begin the chapter with some work refining our knowledge of finite and infinite sets. We then routinely study some theorems extending the associative, commutative, and distributive laws to any finite number of elements of a ring. We then extend to the integers the division algorithm earlier established for the natural numbers and discuss briefly prime numbers. After this we study the use in rings of the integers to indicate repeated additions and repeated multiplications: multiples and exponents. We consider in Section 4.5 the important result that every integral domain is included in some field. We show the existence of such a field and call it the field of fractions of the given integral domain. We specifically apply the theorem to the integers to construct the ordinary fractions or rational numbers. We finally, in Section 4.6, study the characteristic of a ring.
Scalable and transparent approach to media archive using digital object architecture

The blooming age of the Internet and technology advancement in hardware and software infrastructure has introduced a major shift from text-based to media-based information, from static web pages or small text files to interactive media-rich representation. The exploding number of media files yield a challenge in storage, management and ownership; the rapid technology advancements impose potential integration and scalability problems. This paper proposes an architecture for media archival that supports scalability and transparency by adopting the components of Digital Object Architecture, a powerful open-source architecture for information management developed by Corporation for National Research Initiative. We design and deploy a small-scaled system on Windows Azure Cloud Service and fork a client application to demonstrate the interaction between clients and the system. We also mount several tests against the system to verify its functionality and measure its performance under increasing load. Experimental results demonstrate the ability of our architecture to support transparent media storage, access and management over a very long time frame, and also the ability to scale to handle large load. However, our results also indicate that the storage component yields low utilization rate due to non-optimal load-balancing mechanism.
Prospective Validation of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Score in the Emergency Department Chest Pain Population

Study objective The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score is a 7-item tool derived from trials of patients with unstable angina/non–ST segment elevation myocardial infarction for risk stratification with respect to outcomes. It has been retrospectively evaluated in emergency department (ED) patients with potential acute coronary syndrome but has not been prospectively validated in this patient population. To validate the use of the TIMI risk score in the ED, we prospectively assess its potential utility in a broad ED chest pain patient population. Methods This was a prospective observational cohort study of consecutive ED chest pain patients enrolled from July 2003 until October 2004. Data included demographics, medical and cardiac history, and components of the TIMI risk score. Investigators followed the hospital course daily for admitted patients, and 30-day follow-up was performed on hospitalized and discharged patients. The main outcome was death, acute myocardial infarction, or revascularization as stratified by TIMI risk score at 30 days. Results There were 1,481 eligible patient visits; 30-day follow-up was completed on 1,458 (98.4%) patients. Patients had mean age of 53.2±14 years and were 40% men, 66% black, and 30% white. Myocardial infarction occurred in 95 patients. The incidence of each TIMI risk factor was age greater than 65 years 21%, known coronary stenosis 18%, 3 or more risk factors 26%, ST-segment deviation 6%, 2 or more anginal events in the previous 24 hours 33%, aspirin use in the previous 7 days 35%, and elevated markers 6%. The incidence of 30-day death, acute myocardial infarction, and revascularization according to TIMI score is as follows: TIMI 0, 1.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42 to 2.95); TIMI 1, 8.2% (95% CI 5.27 to 11.04); TIMI 2, 8.6% (95% CI 5.02 to 12.08); TIMI 3, 16.8% (95% CI 10.91 to 22.62); TIMI 4, 24.6% (95% CI 16.38 to 32.77); TIMI 5, 37.5% (95% CI 21.25 to 53.75); and TIMI 6, 33.3% (95% CI 0 to 100). This relationship was highly significant. Conclusion Among ED patients with chest pain, the TIMI risk score does correlate with outcome. However, in our study the TIMI risk score failed to stratify these patients into discrete groups according to risk score. Also, patients with the lowest risk as defined by a TIMI score of zero had a 1.7% incidence of adverse events. Therefore, the TIMI risk score should not be used in isolation to determine disposition of ED chest pain patients.
Vortex phases and dissipation in high-temperature superconducting oxides.

An ({ital H},{ital T}) phase diagram is proposed to illustrate various vortex phases in the high-temperature superconducting oxides. Two types of vortices (thermally and magnetic field induced) are studied phenomenologically as a function of the temperature ({ital T}), magnetic field ({ital H},{bold H}{parallel}{ital c} axis), and current density ({ital J}). It is concluded that the quasi-two-dimensional nature of the high-temperature superconductors results in a vortex plasma'' phase above {ital H}{sub {ital c}1} and below a crossover field {ital H}{sub {ital x}}. Between {ital H}{sub {ital x}} and {ital H}{sub {ital c}2} and for {ital T}{lt}{ital T}{sub {ital M}}, where {ital T}{sub {ital M}} is the two-dimensional melting temperature, the superconductors are in the flux-solid phase. The irreversible line {ital T}{sub irr}(H) is attributed to the melting of a flux-solid to a flux-liquid phase. Dissipation occurs in the flux-liquid phase, and the ({ital H},{ital T}) dependence of the dissipation is determined by the pinning mechanism. Above {ital T}{sub KT} and below {ital T}{sub {ital c}0}, flux entanglement may take place near {ital H}{sub {ital c}1}, and the entangled-flux-liquid phase'' proposed by Nelson is compatible with the flux-liquid phase near {ital H}{sub {ital c}2}. The proposed phase diagram provides a consistent picturemore » for the experimental results in both YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} and Bi{sub 2.2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 0.8}Cu{sub 2}O{sub 8} single crystals.« less
On the Coulomb displacement energy

Abstract The Coulomb displacement energies of the T = 1 2 mirror nuclei (A = 15, 17, 27, 29, 31, 33, 39 and 41) are re-examined with the best available HF wave functions (the DME and the Skyrme II interaction), with the inclusion of all electromagnetic corrections. The results are compared with the experimental s.p. charge dependent energies extracted from the experimental data taking into account admixtures of core-excitation corrections with the help of present shell-model and co-existence model calculations. Although the so-called Nolen-Schiffer anomaly is not removed by these improvements, it is found that the remaining observed anomalies in the ground states of s.p. and s.h. systems can be resolved with the introduction of a simple, phenomenological charge symmetry breaking nucleon-nucleon force. This force can also account for the observed anomalies in the higher excited s.p. states, while those of the deeper s.h. states need further explanation.
Bicycle-helmet use evaluation using comparison-site observation

The Texas Transportation Institute (TT1) conducted observational surveys of bicycle-helmet use in six cities. Three of the cities (Austin, Houston, and San Antonio) were targeted by a Texas Office of Disabilities and Prevention program to increase bicycle-helmet use among 5 to 14 year-olds. Three control cities (Fort Worth, Dallas, and El Paso) were selected. Target-city and control-city observation zones were designated using census data for school attendance zones merged with county geographic files. School attendance zones in target and control cities were matched for ethnicity and socioeconomic characteristics. Observations were conducted in succession from July through September 1994. Helmet use data was collected through mobile surveillance. Observations in school areas were made in at least two socioeconomi-cally diverse neighborhoods whenever such neighborhoods existed in an attendance zone. Observers canvassed each observation zone, traveling by car on as many public roads as possible during each...
Association of DNA methylation and epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A and beta-catenin with metastasis in small bowel carcinoid tumors.

We analyzed promoter methylation of RASSF1A, CTNNB1, CDH1, LAMB3, LAMC2, RUNX3, NORE1A, and CAV1 using methylation-specific PCR in 33 cases of small bowel carcinoid with both matched primary and metastatic tumors. The methylation status of RASSF1A and CTNNB1 were also determined in six primary appendiceal carcinoid tumors. Two neuroendocrine cell lines, NCI-H727 and HTB-119, were analyzed for promoter methylation. Immunohistochemical analyses for RASSF1A and beta-catenin were performed in 28 matched primary and metastatic tumors. Western blot analysis for RASSF1A and beta-catenin was also performed. Normal enterochromaffin cells were unmethylated in all eight genes examined. RASSF1A and CTNNB1 were unmethylated in appendiceal carcinoids. Methylation of RASSF1A and CTNNB1 promoters was more frequent in metastatic compared to primary tumors (p=0.013 and 0.004, respectively). The NCI-H727 and HTB-119 cells lines were methylated in the RASSF1A promoter region, and after treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AZA), RASSF1A mRNA was expressed in both cell lines. Western blot results for RASSF1A and beta-catenin supported the methylation-specific PCR findings. The other six genes did not show significant differences. These results suggest that increased methylation of RASSF1A and CTNNB1 may play important roles in progression and metastasis of small bowel carcinoid tumors.