cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Letter from the Editor-in-Chief: Time in international business

Issue 40.4 consists of eight articles, seven of which were acceptedfor publication by former JIBS Editor-in-Chief Arie Y. Lewin andone under my watch. While each of the articles makes importantcontributions to our knowledge of international business (IB)studies, I would like to highlight those that are related to time.TIME IN IBEconomists think of time in terms of statics, comparative staticsand dynamics. Static analyses focus on equilibrium situations (e.g.,the price where quantity demanded equals quantity supplied).Comparative statics focuses on pre- vs post-situations when anexogenous change affects behavior and outcomes (e.g., changes inincome or tastes affect market price). Dynamic analyses trace thepath or processes for beginnings, transitions and endings, whetheralone or in a coevolutionary framework.Much, and perhaps most, IB research either ignores time orfocuses solely on the comparative statics of predicting how achange in the business environment (or government policies) attime ‘‘t’’ affects MNE strategies and performance at time ‘‘t
Hemodynamic Comparisons Between Different Anastomotic Configurations in Dialysis Access Fistulae

Arteriovenous fistulae are created surgically to provide an adequate access for dialysis in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease. Producing an autogenous shunt linking an artery and a vein in the peripheral circulation bypasses the high resistance capillary bed in order to provide the necessary flow rates at sites easily accessible for dialysis. In successful fistulae, venous flow rates can easily exceed 1000 mL/min. It has long been recognized that the hemodynamics constitute the primary external influence on the remodeling process [1, 2]; The high flow rate, together with the exposure of the venous tissue to the high arterial pressure, leads to a rapid process of wall remodeling that may end in a mature access or in stenosis and failure. Given the high failure rate of dialysis access (up to 50% require surgical revision within one year [3]), understanding the dynamics of blood flow within the fistula is a necessary step in understanding the remodeling, and ultimately, in improving clinical outcomes.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Race Differences in Criminal Sentencing

Race differences in criminal court sentencing outcomes have been of long–standing interest to sociologists. The findings about this topic are conflicting. Among the several explanations offered for...
Case of Recurrent Exophthalmos: Angioedema Versus Idiopathic Orbital Pseudotumor

FIGURE 2. Left orbital swellingwith exophthalmos, right lateral view. A 67-year-old white woman with a medical history of aspirinexacerbated respiratory disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia presented to the clinic with painless, isolated left orbital swelling and exophthalmos. The orbital swelling began a week before presentation and progressed, as depicted in Figures 1-3. Swelling was unassociated with aspirin and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, other medications, trauma, urticaria, or angioedema; there were no visual defects. The swelling resolved with prednisone 20 mg three times daily for 7 days, followed by a taper over 1 month. However, orbital swelling recurred within a week, and she again was placed on prednisone, 20 mg three times daily, tapered to a dose of 5 mg daily with complete resolution over a year. Ten years later, the swelling and exophthalmos reappeared in the same eye. Again, a similar history was obtained, and a complete history and physical examination were normal. Her nasal polyps were controlled with mometasone 50 mg two sprays/nostril twice daily, and her asthma was controlled with budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 mg two puffs twice daily and albuterol metered-dose inhaler 90 mg two puffs every 6 hours as needed. She is also on irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide 300 mg/12.5 mg one tablet by mouth daily, Diltiazem CD (Lexicomp) 240 mg one tablet by mouth daily, and rosuvastatin 10 mg one tablet by mouth daily. There was no family history of urticaria, angioedema, or orbital swelling. There was no history of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug use. A complete blood cell count, comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid function tests, and the C1 esterase deficiency evaluation were negative. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbits revealed a left isolated proptosis, swelling of the medial and inferior rectus muscles with mild hypertrophy, and swelling of the left lacrimal gland. Prednisone 20 mg three times daily until resolution was followed by a slow taper and a maintenance of 5 mg daily, with complete resolution over a year. Idiopathic orbital pseudotumor (IOP) is usually a nongranulomatous inflammatory orbital mass without an identified local or systemic etiology. It represents 4.7% to 6.3% of orbital disorders, with an age range from 2.5 weeks to 92 years. The
Stationary forecasting : using Holt-Winter and a modification of Holt-Winter

The mean square error of the best (projection) linear predictor and some approximation methods are compared. Some analytical results concerning the optimal ‘smoothing constant’ for Holt-Winter in Moving Average (1), model MA(1), and Autoregressive Moving Average (1,1), model ARMA(1,1), have been derived. A modified Holt-Winter technique has been proposed and it is shown for MA(1) and ARMA(1,1) it coincides with the best linear predictor. Finally, we considered flow prediction for the Niger River and the performance of modified Holt-Winter graphically.
The Conductivity of Flames for Rapidly Alternating Currents

Conductivity of salted flames for high frequency currents.---Theory. Expressions are developed for the capacity and series resistance of a parallel plate condenser in a flame, which enable certain constants to be computed from the measurements of Bryan given in the preceding paper. Calculated density of positive ions increases from.03 e.s.u. in the unsalted flame to 1.5 e.s.u. for the flame sprayed with a solution of 10 gm/liter ${\mathrm{K}}_{2}$C${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. For the smaller concentration, it varies about as the square root of the potassium present, as was to be expected. The variation with frequency and electric field is slight. Calculated mobility of electrons is found to diminish from 200 to 60 m/sec. per volt/cm as r.m.s. field increases from 9 to 64 volts/cm, in good agreement with values found by Loeb for electrons in pure nitrogen at room temperatures. It decreases markedly as the concentration of potassium increases.
Might the Survey Be the Intervention? Participating in Ethnicity-Related Research as a Consciousness-Raising Experience

The purpose of this study was to examine how the act of participating in a study about ethnicity may encourage individuals to reflect on the role ethnicity plays in their lives. The participants were 528 ethnically diverse college students from two public universities in California. The survey included Likert-type items and open-ended questions that facilitated personally expressive writing about ethnicity. Results indicated that how participants responded to the survey was conditional on their current developmental level of ethnic identity, particularly ethnic identity exploration. The findings provide initial evidence for the utility of participating in ethnicity-related research for raising college students’ awareness about their ethnic identities, and suggest that the form of awareness is moderated by individual differences in ethnic identity development.
Short Duration Studies of Turbine Heat Transfer and Film Cooling Effectiveness

Short duration studies of heat transfer and film cooling effectiveness were made using a shock tunnel and a blowdown facility. In these short duration tests, flow and temperature modeling were used to determine the Nusselt number for a given set of Reynolds number, Mach number and temperature ratios representative of turbine operating conditions. Shock tunnel techniques were used to determine the isothermal effectiveness of coolant injection through slots and patterns of holes located in flat and curved surfaces. In the turbine blowdown facility, the Nusselt number at the shroud (engine seal) was determined for a wide range of operating conditions. Strong secondary flow and centrifugal effects were found to increase the Nusselt number significantly over the level associated with one-dimensional convectional heat transfer for a turbulent flow. Using shock tunnel and uncooled turbine data, a particular film cooling configuration was selected for the turbine shroud under investigation. The investigation on the film cooled stationary shroud gave encouraging results as to the applicability of two-dimensional film cooling data to the three-dimensional heat transfer at the shroud and as to the use of film cooled shrouds in advanced turbines.Copyright © 1974 by ASME
SU-C-217A-01: Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Is the Room Shielding a Need?

Purpose: With FDA approval of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT), a question on its room shielding is raised. According to NCRP147, standard gypsum wallboard construction is adequate to shield the walls of a conventional mammographic unit. This recommendation may not be valid for DBT which acquires data from multiple angles therefore potentially leads to larger scattered radiation. The DBT room shielding may be reconsidered. This study is to investigate if additional room shielding is necessary for DBT. Methods: Room shielding was first calculated following NCRP147 by adjusting recommended air kerma with the ratio of acquisition numbers. We assumed that comparable techniques were used for data acquisition of DBT and conventional mammography.Scattered radiations at locations inside and outside of the door were then measured with Ludlum 9DP survey meter for comparison with shielding design goal, e.g. 0.02 mGy/week. CIRS breast biopsy training phantom was used for the measurements. Two phantoms were overlapped (approximately 6 cm) to simulate a relatively large breast thickness. 150 patients/week was assumed for calculations. Results: Based on both calculation and measurements, the current room without any special shielding is adequate for conventional mammography with 4 images/patient. DBT with 30 to 34 (per patient, tomosythesis vs. combo) radiographic acquisitions requires approximately 20 mm of gypsum wallboard. Standard gypsum wallboard construction may still meet this requirement. However, DBT requires the thickness of solid wood door of approximately 170 mm according to the calculation and approximately 60mm based on the measurements, respectively, with a full occupancy factor. Most current solid wood door cannot meet this requirement. The measurement outside the door also shows high scattered radiation, approximately 0.09mGy/week, which is only acceptable for less occupied areas. Conclusions: With the increasing data acquisitions of DBT, the room shielding needs reconsideration, although both calculation and measurements are very conservative.
An Investigation of the Eighteenth-Century Achromatic Telescope.

Summary The optical quality and properties of over 200 telescopes residing in museums and private collections have been measured and tested with the goal of obtaining new information about the early development of the achromatic lens (1757–1770). Quantitative measurements of the chromatic and spherical aberration of telescope objective lenses were made and are discussed within the context of John and Peter Dollond's description of their efforts to overcome these two optical defects inherent in any single lens. Their work was chronicled in the Philosophical Transactions of 1758 and 1765. An important finding of this investigation is that a particular form of the achromatic lens that has been suggested as being a rare and early form by some investigators, and presumably introduced by Chester Moor Hall, was in fact found to be numerous and present in most museums and many private collections. It is shown that the colour correction of an early eighteenth-century doublet telescope objective is very sensitive t...
Predictive value of clinical, laboratory, pathologic, and treatment variables in steroid/lmmunosuppressive resistant lupus nephritis

Twenty-seven patients with lupus nephritis and nephrotic syndrome had persistent disease activity despite an adequate trial of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs; 30% were Asians, compared with 7% of our overall SLE population. Two years later, seven had a very good outcome and seven a poor outcome. Thirty clinical, pathological, laboratory, and treatment variables were analyzed in a good versus poor responder subset comparison in an effort to determine which factors were associated with favorable outcome. Administration of pulse steroids (P = .069) and a low biopsy chronicity index (P = .048) were associated with the good responder subset. Serum creatinine, biopsy class, blood pressure, complement, and anti-DNA values at entry as well as the choice of immunosuppressive drug were not helpful in predicting outcome. All seven good responders were plasmapheresed (P = .026). Patients with refractory lupus nephritis who have a low biopsy chronicity index may benefit from the use of pulse steroids or plasmapheresis, and controlled studies are suggested.
Pathology: cancer cells compress intratumour vessels.

Pressure from proliferating cells impedes transport of therapeutic drugs into tumours. The delivery of therapeutic drugs to solid tumours may be impaired by structural and functional abnormalities in blood and lymphatic vessels1. Here we provide evidence that proliferating cancer cells cause intratumour vessels to compress and collapse. By reducing this compressive mechanical force and opening vessels, cytotoxic cancer treatments have the potential to increase blood perfusion, thereby improving drug delivery.
Management of Anastomotic Stricture After Artificial Urinary Sphincter Placement in Patients Who Underwent Salvage Prostatectomy

Objective To report on a safe endoscopic management technique for the treatment of an anastomotic stricture (AS) in patients with an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). Methods Five patients with a history of salvage prostatectomy after radiation therapy that developed an AS after AUS placement were treated with a rigid ureteroscope and a Holmium YAG (Ho: YAG) laser to incise the AS. The AUS was opened and deactivated but not decoupled or removed during the procedure. The rigid ureteroscope allowed complete control of the laser fiber to incise the stricture at the 3 and 9 o' clock positions and then circumferentially. Results There were no intraoperative complications and the mean operative time was 42.6 minutes. Of the 5 patients who underwent holmium laser incision of an AS after AUS placement, none developed AUS malfunction or required device replacement. No patients reported worsening of urinary incontinence after treatment. Two patients required repeat holmium laser incision for AS recurrence. Conclusion Using a rigid ureteroscope and a holmium laser to incise an AS after AUS placement seems to be a safe management option that does not damage the AUS or result in worsening incontinence. This treatment strategy provides an endoscopic alternative to using open surgical technique to uncouple or remove the AUS while treating the AS.
Convergent Evolution of Hearing

How do human ears work? The textbook explanation starts by dividing the ear into three separate anatomical entities that have equally separate functions in converting airborne sound (pressure waves outside the ear) into fluid-borne traveling waves inside the ear, a conversion that makes long-distance hearing on dry land possible ( 1 , 2 ). On page 968 of this issue, Montealegre-Z. et al. ( 3 ) show that although the hearing organ of a rainforest insect looks very different from a human ear, it can be divided into the same three functional entities, providing evidence for convergent evolution.
Study of distribution of organic dopants in TGS crystal using micro-probe Raman spectroscopy

Abstract Micro-probe Raman spectroscopy is used for studying positional inhomogeneity in valine and alaninedoped TGS crystals. The 20 data points are measured along the c- and a-axes in b-plate in alaninedoped TGS. The valine-doped TGS case, few points are selected for just comparison. Several known Raman peaks are observed unchanged, but most other peaks are found to be changed remarkably. The major difference in spectra are found to be related to SO4 vibrations. The vibrational frequencies are found to be lowered near the seed position. The most unstable spectra are detected in the vicinity of the seed region.
Universal Patterns of Equilibrium Cluster Growth in Aqueous Sugars Observed by Dynamic Light Scattering.

Dynamic light scattering performed on aqueous solutions of three sugars (glucose, maltose and sucrose) reveal a common pattern of sugar cluster formation with a narrow cluster size distribution. In each case, equilibrium clusters form whose size increases with increasing sugar content in an identical power law manner in advance of a common, critical-like, percolation threshold near 83 wt % sugar. The critical exponent of the power law divergence of the cluster size varies with temperature, increasing with decreasing temperature, due to changes in the strength of the intermolecular hydrogen bond and appears to vanish for temperatures in excess of 90 °C. Detailed analysis of the cluster growth process suggests a two-stage process: an initial cluster phase formed at low volume fractions, ϕ, consisting of noninteracting, monodisperse sugar clusters whose size increases ϕ(1/3) followed by an aggregation stage, active at concentrations above about ϕ=40%, where cluster-cluster contact first occurs.
Low-Temperature Oxidation of Methane

Since automobile emissions standards were written into the U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970, methane has been absent from the list of pollutants covered by such regulations ( 1 – 4 ) because it is unreactive in photochemical smog-generating reactions. Today we understand that methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Future transportation emission standards are therefore expected to include methane. On page 713 of this issue, Cargnello et al. ( 5 ) report a new approach in catalyst structure that may help to address methane emissions in the automobile exhaust within the temperature range required for emission control. Low-temperature methane combustion is also important for catalyst-assisted combustion in gas turbines fueled with natural gas.
Abstract 3982: Immuno-sensitization of malignant gliomas by natural polyphenols.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Malignant gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors with approximately 22,000 cases per year. In spite of aggressive surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic regimens, the median survival of patients with malignant gliomas is a dismal 15 months. The objective of our study was to explore the adjuvant therapeutic potential and associated molecular mechanisms of natural polyphenols stilbenes in malignant gliomas. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of stilbenes in extracranial tumor models. Stilbenes, including resveratrol, were bioavailable in the brain even after low dose oral administration and there was no toxicity to normal tissue. On the contrary, these compounds were found to be neuroprotective in Alzheimer's disease models. Mechanistically, stilbenes modulate NF-κB, STAT3, wnt/β-catenin signaling and also inhibits antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xl. While these molecules are critical in imparting chemoresistance, they are also pivotal in inducing immune-resistance and pro-tumor immune infiltration in gliomas. We hypothesized that stilbenes enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy while also inhibiting immune-suppression and -resistance in malignant gliomas via overlapping molecular mechanisms. We observed significant positive interaction between Temozolomide and Resveratrol for inhibition of glioma proliferation. Resveratrol induced apoptosis in gliomas via inhibition of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, while STAT3 activity was also inhibited. Importantly, Resveratrol significantly enhanced the expression of TRAIL-R2 and MIC A/B in gliomas, making them vulnerable to lysis by CTLs and NK cells. Studies are underway to determine combined effect of DC-based immunotherapy and stilbenes against malignant gliomas using syngeneic, orthotopic mouse glioma models. The results can have significant impact in developing novel adjuvant studies to improve survival in patients with malignant gliomas. Citation Format: Chandramouli Mandalaparty, Andrew Huang, Sandeep Mittal, Agnes M. Rimando, Q. Ping Dou, Prahlad Parajuli. Immuno-sensitization of malignant gliomas by natural polyphenols. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3982. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3982
Optical phase conjugation: principles, techniques, and applications

Abstract Over the last three decades, optical phase conjugation (OPC) has been one of the major research subjects in the field of nonlinear optics and quantum electronics. OPC defines usually a special relationship between two coherent optical beams propagating in opposite directions with reversed wave front and identical transverse amplitude distributions. The unique feature of a pair of phase-conjugate beams is that the aberration influence imposed on the forward beam passed through an inhomogeneous or disturbing medium can be automatically removed for the backward beam passed through the same disturbing medium. To date there have been three major technical approaches that can efficiently produce the backward phase-conjugate beam. The first approach is based on the degenerate (or partially degenerate) four-wave mixing processes, the second is based on various backward simulated (Brillouin, Raman, Rayleigh-wing or Kerr) scattering processes, and the third is based on one-photon or multi-photon pumped backward stimulated emission (lasing) processes. Among these three different approaches, there is a common physical mechanism that plays the same essential role in generating a backward phase-conjugate beam, which is the formation of the induced holographic grating and the subsequent wave-front restoration via a backward reading beam. In most experimental studies, certain types of resonance enhancements of induced refractive-index changes are desirable for obtaining higher grating-refraction efficiency. The momentum of OPC studies has recently become even stronger because there are more prospective potentials and achievements for applications. OPC-associated techniques can be successfully utilized in many different application areas: such as high-brightness laser oscillator/amplifier systems, cavity-less lasing devices, laser target-aiming systems, aberration correction for coherent-light transmission and reflection through disturbing media, long distance optical fiber communications with ultra-high bit-rate, optical phase locking and coupling systems, and novel optical data storage and processing systems.
Free-Radical Polymer Science Structural Cancer Model: A Review

Polymer free-radical lipid alkene chain-growth biological models particularly for hypoxic cellular mitochondrial metabolic waste can be used to better understand abnormal cancer cell morphology and invasive metastasis. Without oxygen as the final electron acceptor for mitochondrial energy synthesis, protons cannot combine to form water and instead mitochondria produce free radicals and acid during hypoxia. Nonuniform bond-length shrinkage of membranes related to erratic free-radical covalent crosslinking can explain cancer-cell pleomorphism with epithelial-mesenchymal transition for irregular membrane borders that “ruffle” and warp over stiff underlying actin fibers. Further, mitochondrial hypoxic conditions produce acid that can cause molecular degradation. Subsequent low pH-activated enzymes then provide paths for invasive cell movement through tissue and eventually blood-born metastasis. Although free-radical crosslinking creates irregularly shaped membranes with structural actin-polymerized fiber extensions as filopodia and lamellipodia, due to rapid cell division the overall cell modulus (approximately stiffness) is lower than normal cells. When combined with low pH-activated enzymes and lower modulus cells, smaller cancer stem cells subsequently have a large advantage to follow molecular destructive pathways and leave the central tumor. In addition, forward structural spike-like lamellipodia protrusions can leverage to force lower-modulus cancer cells through narrow openings. By squeezing and deforming even smaller to allow for easier movement through difficult passageways, cancer cells can travel into adjacent tissues or possibly metastasize through the blood to new tissue.
Body temperatures and heart rates of laboratory rats and Belding squirrels (Spermophilus beldingi) during behavioral thermoregulation.

1. Rats and squirrels, placed in an operant chamber that was heated and cooled by convection, regulated air temperature (Ts) between 4–50°C by pushing a lever. 2. Abdominal temperatures (Tb) of rats increased to relatively high levels (higher than 38·8°C) following placement in the chamber and were maintained relatively stable (changing less than 0·2°C/hr) for at least 1 hr. 3. Tb's of the squirrels rapidly peaked, usually to values greater than 40°C, then declined linearly with time at a rate of 0·4–1·2°C/hr, but transiently varying 1°C or more in a 10 min period accompanying behavioral manipulation of the heaters. 4. Tb's during operant thermoregulation were higher during the night than during the day in the rats. 5. Heart rates varied during themoregulatory behavior in ways which suggest a metabolic component to the thermoregulation in the rats and changes of peripheral vasomotor tone in the squirrels.
Positive ion mobility in normal3He

Abstract The mobility of positive ions in pure 3 He and in a solution with 300 ppm 4 He are reported for a pressure of 60 torr.
Database for validation of design load extrapolation techniques

Extrapolation techniques used for predicting long-term wind turbine loads have produced highly variable loading estimates dependent on the individual designer implementation. To reduce such variability, more precise definition and validation of these techniques are necessary. As part of a wider effort to test loads extrapolation techniques used in wind turbine design, two data sets were created. The first data set was created as an example typical of what designers use to extrapolate loads according to wind turbine design standards. The second data set was a series of year-long simulations that could be used to quantify the accuracy of extrapolation methods. Due to the large number of simulations, care was taken not to reproduce random samplings in individual time series. Additionally, a grid computing architecture was used to run the simulations in a reasonable time frame. The wind speeds where loads were highest were identified, which varied with loading type. The identification of dominant wind speeds is important to ensure an adequate number of simulations at such speeds, which often influence extrapolated loads. In-plane loads and deflections tended to be dominated by high wind speeds near cut-out wind speed. Out-of-plane loads and deflections were most influenced by winds that were nearmore » the rated wind speed. Some loads were influenced by a range of wind speeds. The loads dominated by high wind speeds had greater variability in the extreme values, which could be a reflection of the greatly varying wind and also greater sensitivity to higher energy content of the wind at such speeds.« less
Core biopsy versus surgical tumor specimens for microarray analysis of gene expression profiles

Core biopsy versus surgical tumor specimens for microarray analysis of gene expression profiles
Polymorphic tetranucleotide repeat site within intron 7 of the β-amyloid precursor protein gene and its lack of association with Alzheimer’s disease

Mutations found in the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene in a small subset of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with the development of the disease. Several lines of evidence indicate that specific isoforms of APP generated by alternative splicing of the primary transcript may contribute to the etiology of AD. One of the isoforms, APP695, lacks the Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI) domain and is produced predominantly in neurons by skipping exon 7 of the APP gene. Previous studies imply that the controlling elements for exon 7 skipping exist in the flanking sequences of the exon. Therefore, we have sequenced the human intron 7 of the APP gene and found a polymorphic tetranucleotide (ATTT)n repeat site within the intron 7. In 183 genetically unrelated subjects (97 AD patients and 86 controls), we found four alleles by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the repeat site. Although no particular alleles are associated with AD, this newly identified polymorphic site may be useful in other genetic analyses since preliminary evidence suggests allele frequency differences between African Americans and Caucasians.
The effect of forage species on performance and gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs

An experiment was designed to determine the effect of forage species on growth rate and gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs. Southdown lambs (n = 20; 26 ± 4.28 kg initial BW) stratified by weight, sex and FAMACHA© score were assigned to graze either bermudagrass [BG; Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] or chicory [CH; Cichorium intybus L.]. Lambs grazed for 80 d from July 7, 2009 to September 25, 2009. Lambs were weighed and FAMACHA© scored every 14 d. Fecal samples were taken on d 14, 42, 56, and 69 for modified McMaster fecal egg counts. Ultrasound measures of subcutaneous fat thickness (FT) over the 12th and 13th rib and longissimus dorsi muscle depth (MD) were taken on d 80. Lambs grazing CH had lower (P < 0.01) FAMACHA© scores by d 69 than lambs grazing BG (2.4 ± 0.43 and 3.1 ± 0.59, respectively). By d 80 FAMACHA© scores were 2.0 ± 0.22 and 3.9 ± 0.64 (P < 0.01) for CH and BG, respectively and fewer (P < 0.01) CH lambs than BG lambs required anthelmintic treatment (0/10 and 7/10, respectively). CH lambs also exhibited lower (P < 0.01) FEC than BG lambs. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.01) in lambs grazing CH than those grazing BG (0.28 ± 0.04 and 0.08 ± 0.02 kg/d, respectively). At the end of 80 d, weights were 49.2 ± 3.53 and 33.1 ± 3.82 kg (P < 0.01) for CH and BG, respectively. On d 80, FT and MD were greater in CH lambs than those grazing BG (P < 0.01). Lambs grazing CH had increased performance and reduced GIN infection compared to those grazing BG.
Family Contexts and Schooling Disruption among Orphans in Post-Genocide Rwanda

This study examines the relationship between orphan status and schooling disruption in post-genocide Rwanda. The results indicate that while non-orphans have more favorable schooling outcomes in two-parent than in single-parent families, the reverse is true among Rwandan orphans. In single-mother households, paternal orphans, i.e. orphans with only a living mother, have better outcomes than their orphan and non-orphan counterparts. In contrast, paternal orphans have worse outcomes than other children in two-parent households, especially in households headed by males. Maternal orphans are more likely to experience schooling disruptions than non-orphans regardless of family structure. The maternal-orphan disadvantage is nevertheless greater in female-headed than in male-headed households. As expected, non-related orphans are more disadvantaged than orphans related to their household heads. However, non-related orphans have a greater disadvantage in two-parent than in single-parent households. The results also suggest that within households, the provision of childcare to children below schooling age is an impediment to orphan’s schooling. These impediments are, however, greater for double-orphans than paternal or maternal orphans.
In vitro flexural properties of hydroxyapatite and self‐reinforced poly(L‐lactic acid)

Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) has been used for fracture fixation devices, but its use is limited because of its poor biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The effects of extrusion, incorporation of hydroxyapatite (HA) and self-reinforced composites (SRCs) on the resultant mechanical properties of PLLA were examined. Samples were conditioned for up to 52 weeks in PBS at 37°C. Extrusion did not adversely affect the mechanical properties of PLLA. After in vitro conditioning, a slight but significant reduction in the strain to failure and modulus was seen. HA (10–40%) by weight was evenly distributed into PLLA using an intermeshing twin-screw extruder. As ceramic content increased, the initial modulus increased but flexural strength decreased. After immersion, the modulus of all HA-PLLA blends was lower than PLLA. HA particles did not form a strong bond with the PLLA, which promoted easier degradation of the HA-PLLA matrix. SRCs showed a higher modulus and strength when compared to all materials except the modulus of 30 and 40% HA-PLLA composites before immersion. Water preferentially attacked the matrix of the composite, leading to more fiber pullout, but the fiber orientation maintained the advantages in strength and modulus up to 24 weeks in vitro. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
NQR study of the α-β ordering transition in solid nitrogen as a function of pressure

The α-β phase boundary for solid nitrogen has been measured with high precision between zero and 3.32 kbar using nuclear quadrupole resonance to detect the transition. From an application of the Clapeyron-Clausius equation, the volume discontinuity at zero pressure is deduced to be 0.311±0.025 cm3/mole. The variation of the nuclear quadrupole resonance frequency along the phase boundary reveals that the transition occurs for a nearly constant value of the order parameter characterizing the molecular librations.
The calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is involved in strontium ranelate-induced osteoblast proliferation

Abstract Strontium ranelate has several beneficial effects on bone and reduces the risk of vertebral and hip fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. We investigated whether Sr2+ acts via a cell surface calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) in HEK293 cells stably transfected with the bovine CaR (HEK-CaR) and rat primary osteoblasts (POBs) expressing the CaR endogenously. Elevating Cao2+ or Sr2+ concentration-dependently activated the CaR in HEK-CaR but not in non-transfected cells, but the potency of Sr2+ varied depending on the biological response tested. Sr2+ was less potent than Cao2+ in stimulating inositol phosphate accumulation and in increasing Cai2+, but was comparable to Cao2+ in stimulating ERK phosphorylation and a non-selective cation channel, suggesting that Ca2+ and Sr2+ have differential effects on specific cellular processes. With physiological concentrations of Cao2+, Sr2+-induced further CaR activation. Neither Sr2+ nor Cao2+ affected the four parameters just described in non-transfected cells. In POB, Sr2+ stimulated cellular proliferation. This effect was CaR-mediated, as transfecting the cells with a dominant negative bovine CaR significantly attenuated Cao2+-stimulated POB proliferation. Finally, Sr2+ significantly increased the mRNA levels of the immediate early genes, c-fos and egr-1, which are involved in POB proliferation, and this effect was attenuated by overexpressing the dominant negative CaR. In conclusion, Sr2+ is a full CaR agonist in HEK-CaR and POB, and, therefore, the anabolic effect of Sr2+ on bone in vivo could be mediated, in part, by the CaR.
Increased sensitivity of Zucker obese rats to naloxone is present at weaning

Increased pituitary and plasma concentrations of opioid peptides in genetically obese rodents may be a cause or consequence of obesity. It has been shown that food intake is decreased more in adult genetically obese rats and mice than lean rats and mice by administration of naloxone, an opiate antagonist. Evidence for an opiate-mediated component in the development of rather than the consequence of obesity would be provided if young, not yet obese, genetically obese rats were more sensitive than lean rats to naloxone. In the present experiment two groups of male and female obese and lean Zucker rats, fasted for 2 hr before the onset of the dark portion of the 12-hr light-dark cycle, were administered 0.125 to 0.5 mg/kg naloxone or 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg naloxone subcutaneously and 30- and 60-min food intakes were measured. In the group administered the lower doses of naloxone, obese rats of the three ages tested responded more than the lean rats after 30 min (70 vs. 79% of control, p<0.02). However, increased sensitivity occurred during the 0–60 min period in rats 4–5 weeks old and 0–30 min period in rats 8–9 and 12–13 weeks old. In the second group tested with the higher doses, the obese responded less than the lean rats (73 vs. 66% of control, p<0.05) and there was no difference in response after 0–60 min (66 vs. 61% of control, NS). Thus, increased sensitivity to threshold doses of naloxone occurs before the development of substantial obesity and therefore opiate peptides may play a causal role in obesity
The kinetics of solute clearance by a single tissue capillary of limited permeability: explicit solutions of two models and their bounds.

To describe stationary-state kinetics of solute clearance from an interstitial space with an initial uniform concentration, an explicit solution of the Sangren-Sheppard model and a stratagem for an explicit solution of the Johnson-Wilson model are presented. In both cases expressions for computing the exact intravascular and extravascular concentrations at any time and location are complicated and inconvenient. Simpler and far more convenient formulae for determining upper and lower bounds on solute concentrations and on the pseudo-first-order clearance rate ‘constant’ (k) are derived. For the Johnson-Wilson model, the bounds are so tight thatk, for example, can be estimated with considerable accuracy whenever the capillary blood flow exceeds the permeability-surface area product.
The Representational Inadequacy of Ramsey Sentences1

: We canvas a number of past uses of Ramsey sentences which have yielded disappointing results, and then consider three very interesting recent attempts to deploy them for a Ramseyan Dialetheist theory of truth, a modal account of laws and theories, and a criterion for the existence of factual properties. We think that once attention is given to the specific kinds of theories that Ramsey had in mind, it becomes evident that their Ramsey sentences are not the best ways of presenting those theories.
Bumblebees Do Not Respond to Variance in Nectar Concentration

Worker bumblebees (Bombus fervidus) were given repeated binary - choices between two colors of artificial flowers with the same associated mean nectar concentration (X = 20 %), but with different variances in nectar concentration. Flowers of one color, yellow or blue, rewarded a bee with 1 μl of 20 % sucrose solution (low-variance flower type) on each visit (p = 1) and flowers of the other color rewarded a bee on each visit with 1 μl of either 10 % or 30 % sucrose (p = 0.5 ; high-variance flower type). Of the 10 bees tested, nine showed no preference for either the high- or low-variance flowers (indifferent or risk-insensitive). This result is similar to honeybee responses to variation in nectar concentration, despite differences in foraging ecology between bumblebees and honeybees. Flower-choice behaviour in the presence of variance in nectar concentration is a response to the expected concentration of the alternative flower types. Possible mechanisms of risk-sensitive foraging behaviour in bees are discussed.
Vortex states of rapidly rotating dilute Bose-Einstein condensates

We show that, in the Thomas-Fermi regime, the cores of vortices in rotating dilute Bose-Einstein condensates adjust in radius as the rotation velocity, Omega, grows, thus precluding a phase transition associated with core overlap at high vortex density. In both a harmonic trap and a rotating hard-walled bucket, the core size approaches a limiting fraction of the intervortex spacing. At large rotation speeds, a system confined in a bucket develops, within Thomas-Fermi, a hole along the rotation axis, and eventually makes a transition to a giant vortex state with all the vorticity contained in the hole.
Ethics and the Christian lives of clinicians

While ethics is a very important aspect of medical care, it is important to note that ethical mistakes are most liable to be made when ethics becomes a pure abstraction. Reality comes before ethics. Ethics results from the encounter between free persons and the reality around them. Illness and injury are an important part of the human reality. Medical ethics is rooted in the encounter that one free person (the clinician) has with the reality of another person (the patient), whose freedom is limited by the stark realities of illness, injury, and death. Attending to the cry of the real is the surest road to truly good medical care. In fact, the Parable of the Good Samaritan can be interpreted not so much as a story about people’s failure to obey moral rules as a story about the need to attend to the real and to respond appropriately. Good clinicians, like the Good Samaritan, begin by paying attention to reality.
Recombination on fractal networks: Photon and electron emission following fracture of materials

We report measurements and analysis of fracture-induced photon and electron emissions from several polymeric and inorganic systems on time scales of 10−2 to 103 s following fracture. The dominant mechanism for postfracture emission involves the recombination of mobile free carriers (usually electrons) with immobile recombination centers. The emission decays were modeled as (pseudo)unimolecular and bimolecular recombination on fractal lattices as described by Zumofen, Blumen, and Klafter.1 Although the decay kinetics shows a great deal of variability from material to material, this random walk description of the recombination process provides an excellent description of the emissions over long time scales. This analysis shows a strong correlation between the local structure at the fracture surface and the resulting decays.
Direct renin inhibition: an evaluation of the safety and tolerability of aliskiren.

ABSTRACTBackground: Aliskiren, an antihypertensive drug approved in the United States and Europe, is the first in a new class known as direct renin inhibitors. Aliskiren has been evaluated for safety and tolerability in more than 6400 patients. It has demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile alone or in combination with other drugs.Objective: This article reviews the currently available safety and tolerability data for aliskiren.Methodology: Using the search term aliskiren, MEDLINE (no timeframe set) and major cardiovascular congresses (2005–2008) were searched. Articles and abstracts with safety and drug interaction data were included.Findings: Aliskiren may share common adverse effects observed with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy. In placebo-controlled trials, those commonly reported for aliskiren at the approved dosage were headache, diarrhea, and fatigue, with incidences similar to those of placebo. Aliskiren has been well t...
The Pits of OR/MS and Gamesmanship to Skirt the Rim

The implementation of OR/MS techniques and methodologies requires a profound knowledge of systems, mathematics, and numerous other disciplines which lend themselves to the particular problem at hand. In most academic endeavors the burgeoning analyst is barraged with analytical complexities considered pertinent in attacking relevant OR/MS problems. Unfortunately, this acquired knowledge is normally lacking a major ingredient paramount to most successful applications. This skill is left to assimilation through years of “Trial by ordeal” vs formal training. Specifically, we speak of that segment of our profession unrelated to our analytical capabilities but dealing with the recognition of human behavior or organizational interactions and the associated practicality of complex analytical tools. Five such “pits” and their implications are discussed, along with the basic nature of pit excavation. The opinions and material presented herein are those of the authors and are detached from any organizations to which they are or have been associated.
Aesthetic crown lengthening: classification, biologic rationale, and treatment planning considerations.

UNLABELLED The rationale for crown lengthening procedures has progressively become more aesthetic-driven due to the increasing popularity of smile enhancement therapy. Although the biologic requirements are similar to the functionally oriented exposure of sound tooth structure, aesthetic expectations require an increased emphasis on the appropriate diagnosis of the hard and soft tissue relationships, as well as the definitive restorative parameters to be achieved. The development of a clinically relevant aesthetic blueprint and attendant surgical guide is of paramount importance for the achievement of successful outcomes. LEARNING OBJECTIVES This article provides a classification system that clinicians can use when treatment planning for aesthetic crown lengthening. Upon reading this article, the reader should have: A clear understanding of the involved biological structures. Didactic instruction on the classification and treatment planning for aesthetic crown lengthening procedures.
Average case completeness

Abstract We explain and advance Levin's theory of average case completeness. In particular, we exhibit examples of problems complete in the average case and prove a limitation on the power of deterministic reductions.
Assessing symptom distress in cancer patients: The M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory

BACKGROUND The purpose of this project was to develop the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), a brief measure of the severity and impact of cancer-related symptoms. METHODS A list of symptoms was generated from symptom inventories and by panels of clinicians. Twenty-six symptoms and 6 interference items were rated by a validation sample of 527 outpatients, a sample of 30 inpatients from the blood and bone marrow transplantation service, and a cross-validation sample of 113 outpatients. Clinical judgment and statistical techniques were used to reduce the number of symptoms. Reliability, validity, and sensitivity of the MDASI were examined. RESULTS Cluster analysis, best subset analysis, and clinical judgment reduced the number of symptoms to a “core” list of 13 that accounted for 64% of the variance in symptom distress. Factor analysis demonstrated a similar pattern in both outpatient samples, and two symptom factors and the interference scale were reliable. Expected differences in symptom pattern and severity were found between patients with “good” versus “poor” performance status and between patients in active therapy and patients who were seen for follow-up. Patients rated fatigue-related symptoms as the most severe. Groups of patients classified by disease or treatment had severe symptoms that were not on the “core” list. CONCLUSIONS The core items of the MDASI accounted for the majority of symptom distress reported by cancer patients in active treatment and those who were followed after treatment. The MDASI should prove useful for symptom surveys, clinical trials, and patient monitoring, and its format should allow Internet or telephone administration. Cancer 2000;89:1634–46. © 2000 American Cancer Society.