cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of cognitive decline after cardiac operation.

Despite major advances in cardiopulmonary bypass technology, surgical techniques, and anesthesia management, central nervous system complications remain a common problem after cardiopulmonary bypass. The etiology of neuropsychologic dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass remains unresolved and is probably multifactorial. Demographic predictors of cognitive decline include age and years of education; perioperative factors including number of cerebral emboli, temperature, mean arterial pressure, and jugular bulb oxygen saturation have varying predictive power. Recent data suggest a genetic predisposition for cognitive decline after cardiac surgery in patients possessing the apolipoprotein E -4 allele, known to be associated with late-onset and sporadic forms of Alzheimer's disease. Predicting patients at risk for cognitive decline allows the possibility of many important interventions. Predictive power and weapons to reduce cellular injury associated with neurologic insults lend hope of a future ability to markedly decrease the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass on short-term and long-term neurologic, cognitive, and quality-of-life outcomes.
Ground state of half-metallic zinc-blende MnAs

In this paper we investigate theoretically the ground-state NiAs-type structure of MnAs and we compare the magnetic and structural properties with a hypothetical zinc-blende structure. A zinc-blende structure can be obtained, in principle, from the diluted magnetic semiconductor ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}\mathrm{As}$ in the limit $x=1.$ Using density-functional calculations within the local spin-density approximation, we show that the zinc-blende structure, although showing half metallic behavior that is very attractive for spintronics, cannot be stabilized at equilibrium. We perform a tight-binding analysis of the Mn-As bond in the tetrahedral coordination to investigate the nature of the bonding in diluted magnetic semiconductors.
An ionic model of the crystal chemistry in the superconducting copper oxides of stoichiometry (RE)2CuO4

Abstract The mixed rare earth systems La 2− x RE x CuO 4 (RE = NdY) have been investigated in an effort to understand the crystal chemistry and phase stability of the related K 2 NiF 4 ( T )-, Nd 2 CuO 4 ( T′ )-, and hybrid T∗ -type structures. The crystal chemistry of these (RE) 2 CuO 4 phases is then discussed on the basis of a simple ionic model. A definitive correlation between the size of the RE cation and structure is found, and the stability limits of the T , T ′, and T∗ phases are defined in terms of a perovskite-like tolerance factor ( t ). The T structure is found to exist for 0.87 ≤ t ≤ 0.99, while the T ′ structure occurs for 0.83 ≤ t ≤ 0.86. The smallest rare earths, or t ≤ 0.83, do not form stable (RE) 2 CuO 4 compounds. The T∗ structure occurs in a very narrow region adjacent to the boundary of the T T′ stability field and is seen as resulting from a thermodynamic competition between the T and T ′ structures, due to a tendency toward T T′ - site ordering. Metastable T∗ phases are observed for the larger rare earths Nd, Eu, and Gd, but the structure becomes quite stable for RE = Tb, Dy. Where both T ′ and T∗ are of comparable thermodynamic stability, high oxygen activity is found to stabilize T∗ , whereas low oxygen activity favors T ′. The role of RE coordination preferences and the influence of the REO framework upon the structure and properties of these materials are discussed.
Perceptually Significant Spatial Pooling Techniques for Image Quality Assessment

Spatial pooling strategies used in recent Image Quality Assessment (IQA) algorithms have generally been that of simply averaging the values of the obtained scores across the image. Given that certain regions in an image are perceptually more important than others, it is not unreasonable to suspect that gains can be achieved by using an appropriate pooling strategy. In this paper, we explore two hypothesis that explore spatial pooling strategies for the popular SSIM metrics. 1, 2 The first is visual attention and gaze direction - 'where' a human looks. The second is that humans tend to perceive 'poor' regions in an image with more severity than the 'good' ones - and hence penalize images with even a small number of 'poor' regions more heavily. The improvements in correlation between the objective metrics' score and human perception is demonstrated by evaluating the performance of these pooling strategies on the LIVE database 3 of images.
When the Earth is Female and the Nation is Mother: Gender, the Armed Forces and Nationalism in Indonesia

This article examines how, through militarism, masculine imaginings of Indonesian nationalism construct a ‘national feminine’. Whether through popular song, national war heroines, or the institutionalization of feminine roles in the military, the positioning of the ‘national feminine’ is always contradictory. On the one hand, it is gendered and domesticized, while, on the other, it is employed as confirmation that Indonesia has already achieved gender equality. In most instances, once the national crisis is over, and before a new crisis emerges, both the rhetoric of equality and the representation of the nation used to mobilize women's participation in the popular armed struggle are once again adjusted to fit the heterosexual familial model. However, in the Indonesian military, discursive constructions of the ‘national feminine’ are not enough; the military must further define the ‘national feminine’ through institutionalized practices.
SU‐FF‐I‐91: Diagnostic Medical Physics Characterization of a High Field MR Scanner Using a State of the Art MR Head Coil

Purpose: To discuss design characteristics of state of the art “multi‐element” coil technology and performance testing of 3.0T MRimager. Method and Materials: All tests were conducted on a Siemens Trio 3.0T imager using a 12 element head coil. ACR accreditation phantom and manufacturer provided phantoms were used. With the development of new imaging techniques such as parallel imaging, manufacturers have developed multi‐element coils for advanced imaging capabilities. These receive only coils can be applied independently or subsets of elements can be used for a particular exam. The signals are combined by a hardware called Mode‐Matrix. Multi‐element coils, however, have associated problems such as drop in signal uniformity across the image. Further image distortion can be more significant with high performance gradients. Various processing filters are available to address these issues. Our tests included: a. Operational characterization of MRscanner at the coil element level. b. Effect of image quality filters available. Image quality in parallel imaging.Results: ACR tests passed without the application of image quality filters except for uniformity, for which pre‐scan normalize was used. Raw filter reduced truncation artifact with loss of spatial resolution. No major impact on SNR or distortion correction when using Elliptical and LargeFOV filters, respectively. With GRAPPA based parallel imaging, low contrast detectibility decreased along with slight reduction in maximum uniformity (around 99%, 98% and 96%) for acceleration factors of 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Number of spokes visible varied as 8, 5, and 0, for acceleration factors of 2, 3 and 4, respectively, in slice number 11 (ACR recommended phantom and slice prescription). Spatial resolution remained unchanged at 0.9 mm. Uncombined images showed individual coil elements with different SNR values while noise remained approximately constant. Conclusion: System design and application‐based testing of magnetic resonanceimagers provide valuable insight into scanner capabilities.
CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN NORTH AMERICAN LORANTHACEAE: (ARCEUTHOBIUM, PHORADENDRON, PSITTACANTHUS, STRUTHANTHUS)

A B S T R A C T Chromosome numbers are reported from 67 populations of 36 taxa, mostly in Phoradendron. The basic number is 14 in Phoradendron and probably also in Arceuthobium. The 4 species of Struthanthus for which chromosome numbers are recorded suggest that the basic number is 8. Numbers of n = 8 and n = 10 have been reported for Psittacanthus. In Phoradendron the 22 taxa examined are all diploid, although 1 instance of polyploidy was discovered. Objects interpreted as supernumerary chromosomes were discovered in a number of species of Phoradendron; no evidence of sex chromosomes previously reported in Phoradendron was observed. The Loranthaceae have chromosomes comparable in size to the largest in the plant kingdom. THE LORANTHACEAE iS composed essentially of woody, pan-tropical plants parasitic on the aerial portions of vascular plants. Some genera, however, have representatives extending well into the temperate regions, e.g., Phoradendron and Viscum. Arceuthobium occurs essentially in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Psittacanthus and Struthanthus are restricted primarily to the American tropics. The known information on chromosome numbers in the Loranthaceae has been summarized by Gill and Hawksworth (1961), who list the chromosome numbers of 22 species occurring in
Sperm mobility phenotype not determined by sperm quality index

We tested the capacity of the AviMate sperm quality analyzer to predict sperm mobility phenotype. A preliminary experiment was performed to determine a sperm concentration that afforded maximal sperm quality index (SQI) values with sperm from males with high sperm mobility. In order to facilitate comparison of sperm motility indexes, semen was diluted to aconstant concentration of 1.25 million sperm/mL rather than a constant ratio of 1:75 as recommended for the sperm quality analyzer. Thereafter, sperm mobility, motile concentration, and SQI were measured from a single ejaculate collected from each of 70 broiler breeders. Coefficients of variation were 60, 37, and 30%, respectively. Neither sperm mobility (r = 0.01) nor motile concentration (r = 0.14) was highly correlated with SQI. Neither motile concentration nor straight line velocity (VSL) differed (P > or = 0.05) among roosters whose SQI values were below or above one standard deviation from the population mean (n = 10 per group). In contrast, both motile concentration (P < or = 0.01) and VSL (P < or = 0.05) differed between roosters whose sperm mobility values were below or above a standard deviation from the population mean (n = 10 per group). Sperm mobility was a function of the size of a highly motile subpopulation of sperm. A replicate experiment was performed with a flock of New Hampshire roosters (n = 126). Neither the properties of motile sperm nor fertility differed among males characterized by extreme SQI scores. We concluded that variation in SQI scores was enigmatic because sperm concentration was controlled in our experiments, sperm viability was invariant, and motile concentration did not differ among roosters characterized by extreme SQI scores. In summary, the AviMate sperm quality analyzer did not predict sperm mobility phenotype.
Partitioning of trace elements between carbonate melt and clinopyroxene and olivine at mantle P-T conditions

In order to further assess the potential of molten carbonate as a transport agent in the mantle, gamma-ray spectroscopy was used to determine partition coefficients (Ds) for several trace elements (Ba, Cs, Sr, Be, Ce, Gd, and Yb) between lherzolite phases (Cr-diopsidic clinopyroxene, Fo90 olivine) and synthetic carbonate melt at 1150°C and 1.5 GPa. Trace elements were added as radiotracers, and D values were determined either by mass balance involving whole-sample and acid-washed mineral activities or by combining the latter with the activity of carbonate melt leachate. Results from 2–4 day forward experiments as well as from reversal experiments involving pre-doped minerals and radiotracer-free melt are in general accord and indicate mineral/melt equilibrium was closely approached. Average clinopyroxene/melt D values from mass balance are 0.00047 (Ba), 0.00023 (Cs), 0.043 (Sr), 0.17 (Be), 0.16 (Ce), 0.50 (Gd), and 0.30 (Yb). Ytterbium and strontium were the only elements for which olivine melt D values were determined, and averages of 0.10 (Yb) and 0.00020 (Sr) are reported. Partition coefficients determined in these experiments show an overall similarity to D values from studies involving low-Si melt compositions. This is an expected result in light of the near unity of two-liquid (carbonate/silicate) partition coefficients determined for some of these elements in the high-pressure experiments of Hamilton et al. (1989). The apparent lack of melt compositional preference among the trace elements examined in this study indicates that the levels of those elements in the spectrum of melts that can be produced from volatile-bearing lherzolite (i.e., carbonatites through to more Si-rich compositions) may be adequately modelled with a single set of D values. We illustrate that carbonate melt interaction with depleted lherzolite may markedly raise levels of large ion lithophile (LIL) elements in clinopyroxene from such rocks with only subtle mineralogical change. This result further substantiates the suggestion of Green and Wallace (1988) that ephemeral carbonatites may account for the LIL element-enriched character of otherwise refractory mantle xenoliths.
Radioactive fragmentation of N7+ ion beam observed in a beryllium target

Abstract 280 MeV/nucleon nitrogen ion beam was stopped in a beryllium target. Radioactive isotope 11 C (half life 20.34 min) has been produced by the fragmentation of the incident ion. We call this phenomenon “auto activation”.
A Pelvic Floor Fitness Program for Older Women With Urinary Symptoms: A Feasibility Study

Objective To determine the feasibility of an adapted pelvic fitness and educational program to control urinary incontinence (UI) and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in women older than 65 years. Design Feasibility study. Setting Residential independent-living facilities. Participants Forty-three study subjects, limited to women 65 years and older residing in or using an independent-living facility, who self-reported that they had symptoms of UI or OAB. Methods Study participants volunteered to participate in a 6-week pelvic fitness class. Classes were held at 3 different independent-living sites. Forty-three women in 4 different treatment groups with 9-15 women per group completed the adapted group pelvic fitness and education instruction, which was provided twice a week for 6 weeks. At one site, in addition to the treatment group, an education-only group met; in this group, 14 women received an alternate intervention consisting of only one educational session and a booklet presenting the didactic content without specific muscle isolation or training. Main Outcome Measurements In addition to demographics, standardized assessments using validated instruments were obtained before the first class and after the last class, including general health, self-reported bladder function, quality of life, and the timed up-and-go test. Results Most participants (97%) were white, with a mean age of 83 years (range, 67-95 years). Most participants in the treatment groups (83%) reported symptom improvement. Statistically significant improvements in OAB and bladder symptoms were found after 6 weeks in the treatment groups, based on visual analog scale scores ( P = .0058) for bothersomeness of bladder symptoms, the total score of the Urogenital Distress Inventory, Short Form ( P ≤ .0001), and the total score of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, Short Form ( P = .0036). Conclusions A group pelvic floor fitness program combined with pelvic health education is a promising approach to reduce urinary symptoms and improve the quality of life of older women living with OAB or UI symptoms.
Hints to an Effective Personalized Course

Since its initial development, PSI (or the Keller Plan) has undergone substantial growth and is now used as a teaching technique by several thousand teachers in higher education worldwide. Five basic features are emphasized in its operation: written materials (i.e., study guides) specifically designed to supplement existing traditional texts; a “mastery” philosophy of learning which allows the learner to progress only after he or she has successfully demonstrated complete knowledge of the previous material; self‐pacing ‐ an essential feature in any instructional system which allows individual learning rates; the use of lectures for learner motivation instead of learner information; and the use of students to help tutor other students in a “peer‐proctor” relationship. The PSI system produces a very different classroom environment with the teacher and student interacting quite differently than has been true in the past.
More or Less Grace

N his provocative work, The Doctrine of Grace in the Apostolic Fathers, Thomas F. Torrance argues that the use of the word plithunO in the Salutatio of First Clement "might imply that one can have more or less of grace."' He then tells us that in Pauline doctrine the idea that one can have more or less of grace is impossible.2 In this way he tries to strengthen his thesis about the great divergence of the apostolic fathers from New Testament teaching.3 We shall not, however, concern ourselves here with Torrance's interpretation of First Clement, although it may be noted that his position is not altogether unassailable. Rather, we shall examine what he says about St. Paul.
Metal-dependent reactions of bulky metal(II) amides M[N(SiMe3)2]2 with 3,3'-disubstituted binaphthols (HO)2C20H10(SiR3)2-3,3': selective conversion of one equivalent -OH group to a silyl ether -OSiMe3.

The outcome of the reaction of the bulky metal(II) amides M[N(SiMe3)2]2·nTHF (M = Be, Zn, Ge, Sn, n = 0; M = Mg, Ca, n = 2) with (R)-3,3′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,1′-bi-2,2′-naphthol ((R)-1) or (S)-3,3′-bis(dimethylphenylsilyl)-1,1′-bi-2,2′-naphthol ((S)-9) depends on the identity of the metal and the nature of the 3,3′-substituents. When M = Be, Zn, or Ge, these amides serve as useful silylation agents that convert only one of the equivalent hydroxyl groups of the binaphthol (R)-1 to a trimethylsilyl ether, whereas the reactions of (R)-1 with the Mg, Ca, or Sn amides generate a polynuclear complex. The reaction pathway for these interconversions was qualitatively monitored using NMR (1H and 9Be) spectroscopy. Treatment of Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2 with (S)-9 yields both a silyl ether and the chelated germanium(II) binaphthoxide (S)-[Ge{O2C20H10(SiMe2Ph)2-3,3′}{NH3}], which was structurally characterized.
MOTHER, CHILD, AND FAMILY FACTORS RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT OF SINGLE MOTHERS WITH LBW PRESCHOOLERS

The purpose of this study was to identify maternal, child, and family factors related to the employment status and employment history of single mothers of low-birth-weight (LBW) and full-term preschoolers. A sample of 121 female-headed, single-parent families with 3-, 4-, and 5- year-old LBW and full-term children was recruited through admission records to three Level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and birth records of two normal newborn nurseries. Results show that the birth of an LBW infant was not related to employment status, number of hours employed per week, or employment history for single mothers. Employed mothers had significantly more education and more positive attitudes toward employment. Controlling for other factors, never being married, and having more children, more federal income, and less positive employment attitudes were predictive of nonemployment. Both employed and nonemployed women expressed preference for employment.
THE STATE OF DIRECT SERVICES TO BUSINESS IN COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLEGES

(1993). THE STATE OF DIRECT SERVICES TO BUSINESS IN COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLEGES. Community College Journal of Research and Practice: Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 193-200.
The utility of technetium 99m pertechnetate scintigraphy in the evaluation of patients with Meckel's diverticulum.

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the utility of technetium (Tc) 99m pertechnetate scintigraphy in the diagnostic workup of the pediatric patient with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and a suspected Meckel's diverticulum. Methods: The charts of 235 consecutive patients evaluated with a Meckel's scan (n = 165) or with the discharge diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum (n = 70) between January 1975 and October 1997 were reviewed for presenting symptoms, bleeding characteristics, diagnostic studies and pathological diagnosis. Those patients with lower GI bleeding and a serum hemoglobin level less than 11.0 g/dL who underwent a 99m Tc pertechnetate scan (n = 43) were assessed for utility of the scan. Results: In all patients the Meckel's scan had a positive and negative predictive value of 0.93. However, in patients with lower GI bleeding and a hemoglobin less than 11.0 g/dL the Meckel's scan had a sensitivity of 0.60, a positive predictive value of 1.0, a specificity of 0.96, but only a negative predictive value of 0.74. As such, the probability that a child who presents with GI bleeding and a serum hemoglobin less than 11 g/dL will have a Meckel's diverticulum despite a negative Meckel's scan of 0.26. We further evaluated the eight patients with a false-negative scan: ectopic gastric mucosa was present on pathological examination in all eight patients. Pentagastrin stimulation was performed at the time of scintigraphic study in three of eight. Six of these eight patients had duplicate scans that also were negative. Patients with a false-negative (FN) scan had significantly increased hospital charges when compared with those with a true positive (TP) scan (TP = $5012 ± 1992; FN=$8554 ± 1506; P = .0001). Clinical suspicion had a major effect on the decision-making process in these patients independent of the results of the Meckel's scan, and all eight patients ultimately underwent exploratory laparoscopy-laparotomy with Meckel's diverticulectomy despite the scan results. Conclusions: The relatively low negative predictive value of the Meckel's scan may result in the need for operative evaluation despite the scan data. As such, the contribution of the scan to clinical decision making is low. These findings suggest that exploratory laparotomy or laparoscopy may be indicated instead of scintigraphic scanning in the assessment of the anemic (hemoglobin less than 11 g/dL) pediatric patient with lower GI bleeding, especially in patients in whom a high suspicion for a bleeding Meckel's diverticulum exists.
Synthesis and evaluation of copper radiopharmaceuticals with mixed bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligands

Abstract Four “mixed” bis(thiosemicarbazone) derivatives of pyruvaldehyde were synthesized that incorporate two dissimilar thiosemicarbazone functions. The corresponding [67Cu]copper(II) complexes were prepared and evaluated as possible copper radiopharmaceuticals. The pyruvaldehyde-based mixed bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligands, CH3C[=NNHC(S)NHMe]CH[=NNHC(S)NHEt] (1), CH3C[=NNHC(S)NHMe]CH[=NNHC(S)NEt2] (2), CH3C[=NNHC(S)NHMe]CH[=NNHC(S)-cyclo-N(CH2)5] (3), and CH3C[=NNHC(S)NHMe]CH[=NNHC(S)-cyclo-N(CH2)6] (4), were obtained by reaction of the appropriate thiosemicarbazide derivative with pyruvaldehyde-2-N4-methylthiosemicarbazone (CH3C[=NNHC(S)NHMe]CHO). The 67Cu-labeled copper(II) complexes of ligands 1-4 were prepared and screened in a rat model to assess the potential of each chelate as a 62Cu-radiopharmaceutical for imaging with positron emission tomography. The 67Cu-complexes of ligands 1–4 exhibit significant uptake into the brain and heart 1 min following intravenous administration to rats. For the 67Cu-complexes of ligands 2, 3, and 4, the cerebral and myocardial uptake of 67Cu is two-to-threefold lower at 2 h than at 1 min postinjection, due to significant biological clearance of these 67Cu-chelates. However, the 67Cu-complex of 1 affords cerebral and myocardial uptake and retention comparable to that of [67Cu]Cu-PTSM in this model. Although the kinetics of this new agent appear attractive, ultrafiltration studies using solutions of dog and human serum albumin reveal that the 67Cu-complex of ligand 1, like Cu-PTSM, interacts more strongly with human albumin than dog albumin. Thus, this new agent would appear to offer no advantage over Cu-PTSM as a 62Cu-labeled tracer for evaluation of regional tissue perfusion.
Reduction of Sodium Chloride in Cheddar Cheese: Effect on Sensory, Microbiological, and Chemical Properties

Abstract AbsractCheddar cheese containing selected levels of added NaCl ranging from 0 to 1.44% was evaluated for various chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties over a 7-mo ripening period. Cheese with the least NaCl showed an increase in proteolysis and water activity. Cheese with less salt supported higher lactic acid bacteria populations. Trained panel evaluation of the experimental cheese with reduced levels of NaCl showed an increase in adhesiveness, cohesiveness, acidity, bitterness, unpleasant aftertaste, and a concomitant decrease in firmness and saltiness. Consumers were unable to detect flavor and texture differences in cheese containing 1.44 and 1.12% NaCl. Although consumers noted a difference between 1.12 and .73% NaCl, cheese with .73% salt received acceptable overall desirability ratings.
Antibodies reacting with ribosomal ribonucleoprotein in connective tissue diseases

Precipitating antibody to an antigen present in cytoplasm was detected in the sera of 7 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 1 patient with an overlap syndrome of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, and 1 patient with mixed connective tissue disease. By physicochemical and enzymatic studies, the antigen was shown to have the properties of ribosomal ribonucleoprotein (r-RNP). Cytoplasmic staining in immunofluorescence was observed with all the 9 sera containing antibodies to r-RNP. In certain cases, cytoplasmic staining was associated with nucleolar staining. Antibody to r-RNP is different in immunologic specificity and clinical significance from antibody to nuclear RNP and is present primarily in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Brand NFL: Making and Selling America's Favorite Sport by Michael Oriard

Brand NFL: Making and Selling America's Favorite Sport Michael Oriard. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 2007. Although there have been many books written about the National Football League, this study is unique in that the author not only played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1970 through 1973 but currently is Distinguished Professor of American Literature and Culture at Oregon State University. Thus, he can view professional football as an insider and student of American culture. The study is composed of six chapters, an introduction, and conclusion. In chapter one Oriard devotes most of the chapter to 1960s NFL Commissioner Alvin "Pete" Rozelle and his successful efforts to popularize the game and expand its audience. Under Rozelle's leadership the first national television contract was signed, NFL Properties were acquired, and a merger agreement with the rival American Football League was negotiated. Two leagues were created, the American and National Leagues, and the championship game between the two leagues evolved into a national cultural phenomenon, "the Super Bowl." Rozelle, as a former director of public relations and then general manager for the Los Angeles Rams, saw professional football as entertainment. Players and coaches became media stars, particularly icons such as old-school, successful coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers and the 1960s' free spirit Joe Namath, successful quarterback of the New York Jets. Oriard also details Rozelle's great public relations coup to team up with Roone Arledge of ABC to create the popular television show for over a decade, "Monday Night Football." Oriard's personal insights really are helpful in chapters two and three where he provides a balanced account of the strife between the NFL Players Association and management including strikes or work stoppages in 1974,1982, and 1987. Although the strikes were unsuccessful, and alienated most of the media and the public, they started the process of contract negotiations which led to a series of union and player victories against the League in the courts. Labor strife was Rozelle's weakness Oriard maintains and led to his resignation in 1989. His replacement, Paul Tagliabue benefited from the labor conflicts, as he had been the NFL's chief outside attorney. In Chapter Four the author details the 1993 labor contract modeled on the player-management NBA contract which provided players with the possibility of free agency after three or four years among a number of benefits. In the same chapter he discusses Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' successful efforts to obtain more revenues for his club by selling stadium seat licenses and luxury boxes, by expanding the stadium and by signing separate licensing agreements with such corporations as Pepsi, Nike and American Express. The NFL sued the Cowboys charging breach of contract with NFL Properties, but they soon realized they could not win in court and dropped the suit after the Cowboys countersued. …
Spin Finishes for Cotton1

Cotton has an exceptional natural finish, but under adverse conditions of weathering, this finish may deteriorate to the extent that processing quality is altered. Changing technologies involving higher processing speeds and new spinning systems have placed increased demands on the fiber properties of all cottons. Spin finishes could reasonably improve the processing qualities of both damaged cottons and cottons in general. The history of effective finish usage (additives) in both ginning and textile processing of cotton has been reviewed. Cottons harvested both before and after significant weathering in the Mississippi Delta, with and without added finishes, were evaluated for spinning quality. The cottons harvested before and after weathering had similar traditional fiber properties of length, strength, and micronaire, but the weathered cottons were poorer in grade, color, and trash. The processing performance of the unweathered cottons was superior to that of the weathered cottons. A hydrocarbon plus s...
The Need for PGY2-Trained Clinical Pharmacy Specialists

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy and other stakeholder organizations seek to advance clinical pharmacist practitioners, educators, and researchers. Unfortunately, there remains an inadequate supply of residency-trained clinical specialists to meet the needs of our health care system, and nonspecialists often are called on to fill open specialist positions. The impact of clinical pharmacy specialists on pharmacotherapy outcomes in both acute care and primary care settings demonstrates the value of these specialists. This commentary articulates the need for postgraduate year two (PGY2)-trained clinical specialists within the health care system by discussing various clinical and policy rationales, interprofessional support, economic justifications, and their impact on quality of care and drug safety. The integrated practice model that has grown out of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) could threaten the growth and development of future clinical specialists. Therefore, the ways in which PGY2-trained clinical pharmacist specialists are deployed in the PPMI require further consideration. PGY2 residencies provide education and training opportunities that cannot be achieved in traditional professional degree programs or postgraduate year one residencies. These specialists are needed to provide direct patient care to complex patient populations and to educate and train pharmacy students and postgraduate residents. Limitations to training and hiring PGY2-trained clinical pharmacy specialists include site capacity limitations and lack of funding. A gap analysis is needed to define the extent of the mismatch between the demand for specialists by health care systems and educational institutions versus the capacity to train clinical pharmacists at the specialty level.
A random world is a fair world

A preference for fairness or equity in the distribution of resources influences many human decisions (1). The origin of this preference is a topic that has consumed philosophers (2), social scientists (3), and biologists (4) for centuries. However, although we feel a sense of fairness deeply and intuitively, it has so far been difficult to explain from first principles how such a feeling might have evolved. How could natural selection allow for the survival of “fair” individuals who sometimes give things away to equalize resources when they must compete with self-interested individuals who keep everything for themselves? In PNAS, Rand et al. (5) provide a unique and compelling solution to this puzzle: it’s all because of dumb luck.
The contribution of self-help groups to the mental health/substance use services system

Self-help groups provide an immense amount of service, which mental health professionals do not adequately understand or coordinate with their services. Epidemiological surveys have documented the profiles of self-help users, the amount of self-help use, and the association between self-help use and professional services. The large majority of self-help users use professional services sometimes as a gateway into professional services, other times concurrently with professional service or as aftercare following a course of professional services. The hallmark features of self-help groups: their use of the experiential perspective, referent power, and reciprocal helping relationships are contrasted with professional mental health services. The essential elements of effective referrals to self-help groups are discussed. At another level, the chapter also discusses the organizational supports necessary for effective collaboration between self-help groups and professional services. While the boundaries between mental health services and self-help groups must be respected, both parties have much to gain by entering into more extensive community partnerships.
Tree-ring isotope records of tropical cyclone activity

The destruction wrought by North Atlantic hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 dramatically emphasizes the need for better understanding of tropical cyclone activity apart from the records provided by meteorological data and historical documentation. We present a 220-year record of oxygen isotope values of α-cellulose in longleaf pine tree rings that preserves anomalously low isotope values in the latewood portion of the ring in years corresponding with known 19th and 20th century landfalling/near-coastal tropical storms and hurricanes. Our results suggest the potential for a tree-ring oxygen isotope proxy record of tropical cyclone occurrence extending back many centuries based on remnant pine wood from protected areas in the southeastern U.S.
EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION AND SUBPRIMAL STORAGE TIME ON PALATABILITY OF HOT‐BONED BEEF

Sides from 33 forage-fed steers were electrically stimulated and hotboned (ESHB) and muscles were vacuum-packaged either within 2 h (17 sides) or at 24 h (16 sides). Opposite sides were not electrically stimulated and were cold-boned (NESCB) and vacuum-packaged at 24 h. For ESHB muscles, packaging time did not affect (P<0.05) palatability. Longissimus steaks from ESHB sides (pooled across packaging treatments) had lower (P<0.05) shear force values than steaks from NESCB sides. As storage time of muscles increased from 7 to 21 days, shear force values generally decreased. Combining electrical stimulation with hot-boning enabled the removal of muscles without detrimental effects on beef palatability.
Normal hearing is not enough to guarantee robust encoding of suprathreshold features important in everyday communication

“Normal hearing” is typically defined by threshold audibility, even though everyday communication relies on extracting key features of easily audible sound, not on sound detection. Anecdotally, many normal-hearing listeners report difficulty communicating in settings where there are competing sound sources, but the reasons for such difficulties are debated: Do these difficulties originate from deficits in cognitive processing, or differences in peripheral, sensory encoding? Here we show that listeners with clinically normal thresholds exhibit very large individual differences on a task requiring them to focus spatial selective auditory attention to understand one speech stream when there are similar, competing speech streams coming from other directions. These individual differences in selective auditory attention ability are unrelated to age, reading span (a measure of cognitive function), and minor differences in absolute hearing threshold; however, selective attention ability correlates with the ability to detect simple frequency modulation in a clearly audible tone. Importantly, we also find that selective attention performance correlates with physiological measures of how well the periodic, temporal structure of sounds above the threshold of audibility are encoded in early, subcortical portions of the auditory pathway. These results suggest that the fidelity of early sensory encoding of the temporal structure in suprathreshold sounds influences the ability to communicate in challenging settings. Tests like these may help tease apart how peripheral and central deficits contribute to communication impairments, ultimately leading to new approaches to combat the social isolation that often ensues.
Monte-Carlo simulation of inert gas elimination data

Monte-Carlo simulation allows a theoretical evaluation of the Va/Q distributions recovered from inert gas elimination data. However, when the underlying distribution is narrow, or when significant experimental error is present in the data, Monte-Carlo simulation becomes computationally impossible. An algorithm is presented which avoids these limitations by directly producing randomly distributed data points lying within the column space of the defining inert gas model. >
Reducing Dose Uncertainty for Spot-Scanning Proton Beam Therapy of Moving Tumors by Optimizing the Spot Delivery Sequence

Purpose To develop and validate a novel delivery strategy for reducing the respiratory motion–induced dose uncertainty of spot-scanning proton therapy. Methods and Materials The spot delivery sequence was optimized to reduce dose uncertainty. The effectiveness of the delivery sequence optimization was evaluated using measurements and patient simulation. One hundred ninety-one 2-dimensional measurements using different delivery sequences of a single-layer uniform pattern were obtained with a detector array on a 1-dimensional moving platform. Intensity modulated proton therapy plans were generated for 10 lung cancer patients, and dose uncertainties for different delivery sequences were evaluated by simulation. Results Without delivery sequence optimization, the maximum absolute dose error can be up to 97.2% in a single measurement, whereas the optimized delivery sequence results in a maximum absolute dose error of ≤11.8%. In patient simulation, the optimized delivery sequence reduces the mean of fractional maximum absolute dose error compared with the regular delivery sequence by 3.3% to 10.6% (32.5-68.0% relative reduction) for different patients. Conclusions Optimizing the delivery sequence can reduce dose uncertainty due to respiratory motion in spot-scanning proton therapy, assuming the 4-dimensional CT is a true representation of the patients' breathing patterns.
Thermal death kinetics of Mediterranean, Malaysian, melon, and oriental fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) eggs and third instars.

The late-aged egg and third-instar life stages of laboratory-reared Malaysian fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel); Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann); melon fly, B. cucurbitae Coquillett; and oriental fruit fly, B. dorsalis (Hendel), (Diptera: Tephritidae); and the third instars of wild Mediterranean fruit fly were exposed to thermal treatments. A heating block system was used to determine the thermal death kinetics of the four fruit fly species. Treatments consisted of heating the fruit fly life stages to 44, 46, 48, and 50°C and holding for different times ranging from 0 to 120 min depending on the thermal mortality response and time required to obtain 100% mortality for each species and life stage. The 0.5-order kinetic model had the best fit to the survival ratio for all the treatment temperatures and was used to predict lethal times. The thermal death time (TDT) curves showed a tolerance order of Mediterranean fruit fly eggs ≤ third instars at 44, 46, and 50°C, third instars ≤ eggs at 48°C, and wild third instars < the laboratory-reared third instars. Comparison between Mediterranean fruit fly third instar thermotolerance from Hawaii and Israel showed that Israel Mediterranean fruit fly was more thermotolerant. A comparison of minimum treatment times at a given temperature required to obtain 100% mortality of laboratory-reared Malaysian, Mediterranean (Hawaii and Israel strains), melon, Mexican, and oriental fruit fly eggs or third instars and wild Mediterranean fruit fly (Hawaii strain) eggs or third instars showed that oriental fruit fly was the most thermotolerant among the third instars, and the difference in heat tolerance between third instars and eggs was negligible at 50°C.
A fast method for combining palettes of color quantized images

The authors consider the use of a vector quantization algorithm-the pairwise nearest neighbor algorithm-as a means of quickly combining the palettes of multiple images into a single shared palette that can be used for simultaneous display. This approach yields an efficient and practical method of managing palettes that adds little distortion to the images being displayed. The implementation and results of this work are described. >
The efficacy of fibrin sealant in prevention of anastomotic leak after laparoscopic gastric bypass.

Background. Anastomotic leak after laparoscopic gastric bypass (GBP) can result in significant morbidity, mortality, and consumption of healthcare resources. Fibrin sealant has been used clinically in the prevention of leak; however, its efficacy has not been clearly demonstrated. The aims of this study were to (1) develop an iatrogenic leak model in swine, (2) examine the efficacy of fibrin sealant in sealing iatrogenic anastomotic leak, and (3) review our experience with the use of fibrin sealant in 66 patients who underwent laparoscopic GBP. Methods. This study was performed in three phases. In phase 1, laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy was performed in adult swine with iatrogenic disruption of the anastomotic staple line. The size of disruption was sequentially increased (6- to 12-F opening) until a leak model was developed. In phase 2, 16 animals underwent laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy with a 12-F disruption of the anastomosis; 10 animals (study group) had fibrin sealant (Tisseel® VH) applied on the disrupted anastomosis and 6 animals (control group) did not receive fibrin sealant. Animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 5 or earlier if peritonitis developed and were examined for sealing of the anastomotic disruption and the presence of intraabdominal abscess. In phase 3, the outcome of 66 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic GBP with fibrin sealant applied at the gastrojejunostomy was reviewed. Results. In phase 1, an anastomotic leak model was developed with a 12-F disruption of the staple line. In phase 2, two control animals required early sacrifice for bile peritonitis; three control animals had intraabdominal abscess discovered at sacrifice and one animal did not have any evidence of intraabdominal abscess or leak. Of the 10 animals in the study group, all survived until sacrifice and none of these animals had evidence of intraabdominal abscess or persistent leak. Therefore, 83% of animals in the control group developed either leak or abscess compared to 0% in the study group (P < 0.01, Fisher's exact test). Clinically, no leak or intraabdominal abscess developed in 66 patients who underwent laparoscopic GBP with the use of fibrin sealant. Conclusions. An anastomotic leak model was developed in swine with disruption of the stapled gastrojejunostomy to a 12-F opening. The use of fibrin sealant significantly reduces leak and abscess complication. Our results support the tissue sealing property of fibrin sealant and its use on high-risk gastrointestinal anastomosis.
Descartes and the Bologna affair

Descartes is well known as a mathematician and natural philosopher. However, none of Descartes's biographers has described the invitation he received in 1633 to fill a chair in theoretical medicine at the University of Bologna, or the fact that he was already sufficiently known and respected for his medical knowledge that the invitation came four years before his first publication. In this note I authenticate and contextualize this event, which I refer to as the ‘Bologna affair’. I transcribe the letter written to the Bolognese Senate announcing efforts to bring Descartes to the university and explain the events that led to Descartes receiving the invitation. While many questions about the Bologna affair cannot be answered because of the paucity of the historical record, I conclude that the event invites us to consider again the larger historiographical issue of how best to integrate the history of medicine with the history of science and philosophy during the early modern period.
Cyanide Toxicosis in Goats after Ingestion of California Holly (Heteromeles Arbutifolia)

Cyanogenic glycosides are found in many native and naturalized plants throughout North America. The glycosides themselves are not toxic, but they yield hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic or prussic acid) when they are hydrolyzed by beta-glycosidases, either as a result of injury to the plant cells or by microbial action in the rumen. Hydrogen cyanide is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Cyanide ion binds with iron in cytochrome oxidase, interfering with cellular respiration. The clinical effects are peracute, often resulting in death less than 1 hour after ingestion. This study describes a case that resulted in significant morbidity and mortality in a herd of goats after exposure to California holly (Heteromeles arbutifolia).
Spectral measurement of the noise in continuous-wave mode-locked laser pulses

A theoretical analysis of the noise of a periodic optical pulse train is presented. It is shown that the amplitude fluctuation, the pulsewidth fluctuation, the pulse timing jitter, and the cross correlations between any two of these three noise parameters can be separately quantified by comparing the noise power spectra of the fundamental pulses and those of the second-harmonic pulses. The noise characteristics of an actively mode-locked Nd:YLF laser are presented to demonstrate this technique.
Sleep and reported daytime sleepiness in normal subjects: the Sleep Heart Health Study.

Study objectives To describe the distribution of nocturnal sleep characteristics and reports of daytime sleepiness in a large well-defined group of healthy adults. Design The Sleep Heart Health Study is a multicenter study examining sleep and cardiopulmonary parameters through nocturnal polysomnography in adults enrolled in geographically distinct cardiovascular cohorts. Setting Community setting. Participants 470 subjects enrolled in the Sleep Heart Health Study (n = 6440) were selected as a 'normative' group based on screening of health conditions and daily habits that could interfere with sleep. Measurements and results Home-based nocturnal polysomnography was obtained on all participants and centrally scored for sleep and respiratory parameters. Demographic and health-related data were obtained and updated at the time of the home visit. Sleep efficiency decreased by 1.6% for each 10 years of increased age. Sleep time decreased by 0.1 hours (6.0 minutes) for each 10-year age increase and was longer in women. The arousal index increased by 0.8 for each 10-year increase in age and was lower by 1.4 in women. Women had a lower mean percentage of stage 1 and stage 2 sleep. Mean percentage of slow-wave sleep was higher in women (by 6.7%). Percentage of slow-wave sleep decreased with increased age for men only (by 1.9% for each 10-year age change). Conclusions Data suggest a clear lessening in the quantity and quality of sleep with age that appears to be more rapid in males compared to females.