cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On The Crisis of the Crisis: Finance and the Bourgeois State

There is no crisis in capitalism, from a political standpoint, but a discourse of crisis that has been employed to concentrate more political power with the bourgeoisie while deepening the fusion o...
Epinephrine auto-injection radically increases risk for Clostridial infection and necrotizing fasciitis

Clostridial perfringens is a bacteria commonly found on skin flora. Due to the optimal growth environment intramuscular epinephrine injections predispose patients to the rapid development of clostridial myonecrosis. There have been only four cases, including this one, reported in the last 60 years of pediatric Clostridium perfringens infections post-epinephrine injection. We detail the successful management of a 16 year old, immunocompetent female who developed gas gangrene and necrotizing fasciitis on her thigh secondary to clostridial infection after utilization of an Epinephrine Auto-Injector and review the pediatric literature of patients with Clostridial perfringens secondary to epinephrine injection. We define common clinical signs and symptoms of clostridial infection from the review of the literature. The relevance of our findings is to raise awareness among emergency physicians when patients present following an injection in order to reduce diagnostic delay that could result in amputation or death.
An initial validation of the Virtual Environment Grocery Store.

Abstract Background Virtual reality-based neuropsychological assessments proffer the potential to address the limited ecological validity of pen-and-paper measures of memory. New method To investigate the construct validity of a newly developed virtual reality-based multiple errands task, the Virtual Environment Grocery Store (VEGS), two studies were performed. Comparison with existing method(s) In Study 1, we explored construct validity via comparison of traditional neuropsychological measures of memory and executive functioning with a low distraction condition of the VEGS. In Study 2, a new sample was used to compare traditional neuropsychological measures of memory and executive functioning with a high distraction condition of the VEGS. Results Performances on the VEGS memory tasks (in Study 1: low distraction condition) and the traditional neuropsychological assessments of memory were positively correlated, indicating that memory for VEGS content was similar to memory for traditional paper-and-pencil measures. Again, in Study 2, performances on the VEGS memory tasks correlated with the traditional neuropsychological assessments of memory, indicating that memory for VEGS content was similar to memory for traditional paper-and-pencil measures. As expected, though, the addition of distractors into the virtual environment resulted in significant correlations with traditional measures of inhibitory control. Conclusions The VEGS has the advantage over traditional measures of providing objective measurement of individual components of memory in simulations of everyday activities.
IDENTIFYING USABILITY ISSUES WITH AN ERP IMPLEMENTATION

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems hold great promise for integrating business processes and have proven their worth in a variety of organizations. Yet the gains that they have enabled in terms of increased productivity and cost savings are often achieved in the face of daunting usability problems. While one frequently hears anecdotes about the difficulties involved in using ERP systems, there is little documentation of the types of problems typically faced by users. The purpose of this study is to begin addressing this gap by categorizing and describing the usability issues encountered by one division of a Fortune 500 company in the first years of its large-scale ERP implementation. This study also demonstrates the promise of using collaboration theory to evaluate usability characteristics of existing systems and to design new systems. Given the impressive results already achieved by some corporations with these systems, imagine how much more would be possible if understanding how to use them weren’t such an
Model-Based Characterization of Planar and Focused Immersion Ultrasonic Transducers

Advanced ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation techniques require well characterized transducers. This need may arise, for example, because modern, cost-efficient fabrication procedures necessitate high reliability inspection through non-planar surfaces and for which careful control of the beam pattern in needed. An example of this is the developing procedure for inspection of titanium billet material for subtle flaws, such as hard-alpha inclusions [1]. Large aperture, bicylindrical focusing transducers are being developed, and characterization procedures are also being formulated for that activity. Methods are required to relate design parameters, such as crystal and lens shape, to the ultrasonic fields that will be generated in the billet. Advanced signal processing methods, such as characterization of noise due to ultrasonic scattering from grains, require precise knowledge of probe characteristics, as well. For example, model-based approaches to calculating a grain scattering “figure of merit” [2] require the ability to deconvolve transducer effects from measured noise signals. Knowledge of transducer characteristics is also essential for the application of ultrasonic measurement models [3,4] to the prediction of flaw signal amplitudes as measured through curved component surfaces and in a variety of materials. This geometry and material transferrability issue is of great importance in new methods applied to designing for inspectability.
Peripheral-foveal vision for real-time object recognition and tracking in video

Human object recognition in a physical 3-d environment is still far superior to that of any robotic vision system. We believe that one reason (out of many) for this--one that has not heretofore been significantly exploited in the artificial vision literature--is that humans use a fovea to fixate on, or near an object, thus obtaining a very high resolution image of the object and rendering it easy to recognize. In this paper, we present a novel method for identifying and tracking objects in multiresolution digital video of partially cluttered environments. Our method is motivated by biological vision systems and uses a learned "attentive" interest map on a low resolution data stream to direct a high resolution "fovea." Objects that are recognized in the fovea can then be tracked using peripheral vision. Because object recognition is run only on a small foveal image, our system achieves performance in real-time object recognition and tracking that is well beyond simpler systems.
The Homeopathic Scalpel: Contributions to Surgery from the World of Homeopathy

Homeopathic contributions to American surgery began with general surgeons like Edward Franklin and William Tod Helmuth in the mid-nineteenth century and continued into the mid-twentieth century with ophthalmic and otolaryngology (ENT) surgeons such as Ralph Lloyd, William McLean, and Joseph Dowling; the cardiothoracic surgeon Charles Bailey; and the gastrointestinal surgeon J. Emmons Briggs. Their accomplishments, if recognized, have been divorced from the context of homeopathy. This chapter describes homeopaths who contributed to progress in dental, urological, thoracic, ophthalmic, ENT, gynecological, and general surgery.
Proton—Deuteron Scattering and Reactions

The n—p—p system, comprised of a neutron and two protons, provides an excellent example of the diversity, complexity, and sophistication which is possible in the field of nuclear physics. A distinct subdiscipline of this field has developed around the n—p—p system and the n—n—p system, comprised of two neutrons and one proton.
Genetically Engineered Mouse Models in Drug Discovery Research

Genetically modified mouse models have been proven to be a powerful tool in drug discovery. The ability to genetically modify the mouse genome by removing or replacing a specific gene has enhanced our ability to identify and validate target genes of interest. In addition, many human diseases can be mimicked in the mouse and signaling pathways have been shown to be conserved. In spite of these advantages the technology has limitations. In transgenic animals there may be significant heterogeneity among different founders. In knock-out animals the predicted phenotypes are not always readily observed and occasionally a completely novel and unexpected phenotype emerges. To address the latter and ensure that a deep knowledge of the target of interest is obtained, we have developed a comprehensive phenotyping program which has identified novel phenotypes as well as any potential safety concerns which may be associated with a particular target. Finally we continue to explore innovative technologies as they become available such as RNAi for temporal and spatial gene knock-down and humanized models that may better simulate human disease states.
The Treatment of Energy-Loss Fluctuations in Surface-Layer Analysis by Ion Beams

The present paper proposes a modification of current energy-loss theory to improve the accuracy of predictions of the distributions of energy losses of low-energy protons in medium- and high-atomic-number materials. This paper also presents experimental measurements of the distributions of energy losses for 1-MeV protons after penetrating thin targets of nitrogen and xenon. The agreement between predicted and experimental distributions is good.
Optimization of Silicone 3D Printing with Hierarchical Machine Learning

Abstract Additive manufacturing of soft materials requires optimization of printable inks, formulations of these feedstocks, and complex printing processes that must balance a large number of dispa...
A Cross-Linking Approach to Stabilizing Stimuli-Responsive Colloidal Crystals Engineered with DNA.

Two DNA-cross-linking reagents, bis-chloroethylnitrosourea and 8-methoxypsoralen, are used to covalently cross-link interstrand base pairs in DNA bonds that, in part, define colloidal crystals engi...
Disk-driven flows and interface shape in vertical Bridgman growth with a baffle

Abstract In vertical Bridgman (VB) systems, the shape of the S-L interface greatly influences the yield and perfection of single crystal, because of the continuous contact with the crucible. The melt flows and the shape of the S-L interface are difficult to modify and control. Baffles are flow-directing or obstructing devices. In VB melts, the baffles are disk shaped, and positioned horizontally above the solid-liquid (S-L) interface. The role of the baffle is to: i) minimize the thermally-driven convection ii) control/reduce the axial heat transfer to the S-L interface and iii) generate the disk-driven flows. Furthermore, the baffle acts as a partition, splitting the melt into: the growth melt below the baffle and the feeding melt above the baffle. Forced convection is a practical alternative to the less feasible and reliable option of completely eliminating thermally-driven unsteady flows. In the Czochralski (CZ) process, the flow driven by crystal rotation is a key control parameter which the VB process lacks. Baffle rotation brings the CZ-like flow into the VB process. The disk-driven flows are optimal for various scientific and engineering applications because the laminar boundary layers at the disk surface are steady and have uniform thickness. In VB melts, the thermal conductivity of the baffle and its rotation rate dominate the interface shape and thus the yield and perfection of single crystals. Under the rotating baffle, the effects of natural convection can be made negligible in production size melts.
Techno-Economic Assessment of Mixed-Furan Production from Diverse Biomass Hydrolysates

We present techno-economic analyses of high-yield production of furans [5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural] from mixed-sugar hydrolysates via a novel hybrid enzyme-chemo-catalytic process. ...
Integrating the Assessment of Implicit Personality Factors into Clinical Practice.

Implicit measures are a broad class of instruments whose outcomes are based upon automatic processes and vary as a function of the target variable, typically with the examinee having little to no c...
Single and Double Mutations in Tomato Ripening Transcription Factors Have Distinct Effects on Fruit Development and Quality Traits

Spontaneous mutations associated with the tomato transcription factors COLORLESS NON-RIPENING (SPL-CNR), NON-RIPENING (NAC-NOR), and RIPENING-INHIBITOR (MADS-RIN) result in fruit that do not undergo the normal hallmarks of ripening but are phenotypically distinguishable. Here, we expanded knowledge of the physiological, molecular, and genetic impacts of the ripening mutations on fruit development beyond ripening. We demonstrated through phenotypic and transcriptome analyses that Cnr fruit exhibit a broad range of developmental defects before the onset of fruit ripening, but fruit still undergo some ripening changes similar to wild type. Thus, Cnr should be considered as a fruit developmental mutant and not just a ripening mutant. Additionally, we showed that some ripening processes occur during senescence in the nor and rin mutant fruit, indicating that while some ripening processes are inhibited in these mutants, others are merely delayed. Through gene expression analysis and direct measurement of hormones, we found that Cnr, nor, and rin have alterations in the metabolism and signaling of plant hormones. Cnr mutants produce more than basal levels of ethylene, while nor and rin accumulate high concentrations of abscisic acid. To determine genetic interactions between the mutations, we created for the first time homozygous double mutants. Phenotypic analyses of the double ripening mutants revealed that Cnr has a strong influence on fruit traits and that combining nor and rin leads to an intermediate ripening mutant phenotype. However, we found that the genetic interactions between the mutations are more complex than anticipated, as the Cnr/nor double mutant fruit has a Cnr phenotype but displayed inhibition of ripening-related gene expression just like nor fruit. Our reevaluation of the Cnr, nor, and rin mutants provides new insights into the utilization of the mutants for studying fruit development and their implications in breeding for tomato fruit quality.
Shelf Life and Simulated Gastrointestinal Tract Survival of Selected Commercial Probiotics During a Simulated Round-Trip Journey to Mars

To enhance the gastrointestinal health of astronauts, probiotic microorganisms are being considered for inclusion on long-duration human missions to the Moon and Mars. Here we tested three commercial probiotics-Bifidobacterium longum strain BB536, Lactobacillus acidophilus strain DDS-1, and spores of Bacillus subtilis strain HU58-for their survival to some of the conditions expected to be encountered during a 3-year, round trip voyage to Mars. All probiotics were supplied as freeze-dried cells in capsules at a titer of >109 colony forming units per capsule. Parameters tested were survival to: (i) long-term storage at ambient conditions, (ii) simulated Galactic Cosmic Radiation and Solar Particle Event radiation provided by the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory, (iii) exposure to simulated gastric fluid, and (iv) exposure to simulated intestinal fluid. We found that radiation exposure produced minimal effects on the probiotic strains. However, we found that that the shelf-lives of the three strains, and their survival during passage through simulations of the upper GI tract, differed dramatically. We observed that only spores of B. subtilis were capable of surviving all conditions and maintaining a titer of >109 spores per capsule. The results indicate that probiotics consisting of bacterial spores could be a viable option for long-duration human space travel.
Comparison of bincling of [3H]corticosterone and [3H]dexamethasone by rat brain cytosol

Publisher Summary This chapter compares the binding of [ 3 H] corticosterone and [ 3 H]dexametha by rat brain cytosol. A protein “receptor” for corticosterone (B k ) is demonstrated in cytoplasm and nuclei of rat brain. Because dexamethasone (D x ) has important central nervous system effects, it is important to determine whether there are specific receptor molecules for D x and whether these are the same as the receptors for B k. Adult male adrenalectomized (adrex) or non-adrenalectomized (intact) rats were perfused ventriculocisternally with [1,2,4- 3 H] D x. Data obtained from competitive binding experiments in vitro appear to indicate a difference in the binding characteristics of “receptor sites” for [ 3 H]D X and [ 3 H]B k . The cytosol from hippocampus bound more [ 3 H] D X and [ 3 H] B k than comparable fractions from other brain region. In addition, the chapter also deals with the influence of hypothalamic extract on the uptake of steroid hormones by the anterior pituitary gland in rats.
Multiple Contextual Task Recognition for Sharing Autonomy to Assist Mobile Robot Teleoperation

To efficiently facilitate autonomy sharing for assisting mobile robot teleoperation, in this paper we propose a method to recognize four contextual task types executed by the human operator: doorway crossing, object inspection, wall following and robot docking, which extends our previous approach, where only the first two task types were considered. We employ a set of simple but highly distinctive task features to efficiently describe each task type, which is adopted by a Gaussian Mixture Regression (GMR) model combined with a recursive Bayesian filter (RBF) to infer the most probable task the human operator executes across multiple candidates during operation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach with a variety of tests in a cluttered indoor scenario.
A platelet monoclonal antibody inhibition assay for detection of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-related platelet alloantibodies.

Abstract Post-transfusion purpura (PTP) and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAT) result from formation of alloantibodies to platelet membrane glycoprotein-associated antigens. The detection and identification of platelet-specific alloantibodies in patient sera is often complicated by the presence of co-existing HLA antibodies and/or more than one platelet specificity in the same serum. We describe a solid phase assay that specifically detects antibodies to platelet membrane associated alloantigens by measuring the ability of patient antisera to inhibit the binding of glycoprotein GPIIb or GPIIIa monoclonal antibodies to intact platelets. When tested in the GPIIIa assay against a panel of random platelet donors, the reactivities of two known PLA1 antisera that also contained different HLA antibodies were highly correlated (r = 0.99) and allowed PLA phenotyping of the population. A standard direct binding platelet ELISA, on the other hand, was unable to accurately PLA phenotype the same population. The reactivities of two known Baka antisera (one containing additional anti-PLA2 and the other anti-Brb specificities) were highly correlated (r = 0.95) in the GPIIb assay, and Bak phenotype determination was similarly accomplished for a random platelet panel. Furthermore, a comparison of platelet phenotype results (using the monoclonal inhibition assay) and genotype results (using DNA analysis) for the PLA and Bak systems showed a concordance of 98% for 146 alleles tested. In conclusion, the platelet monoclonal antibody inhibition assay: (1) allows determination of platelet-specific alloantibodies in the presence of contaminating HLA antibodies and/or in sera containing multiple platelet alloantibodies; (2) allows accurate platelet phenotyping for the GPIIIa-associated PLA and GPIIb-associated Bak antigen systems; and (3) may be applicable to the detection of other known or even novel platelet glycoprotein-associated antigens.
Using video modeling to teach complex play sequences to children with autism

Overcoming social skill deficits in children with autism is a challenge faced by educators and caregivers. Video modeling is a method of training that can promote generalization. This study extends the literature by investigating effects of video modeling on repetitive motor and vocal responses and skill generalization to other settings for children with low-functioning autism/ developmental disabilities. A multiple baseline across 3 play sequences was implemented with 3 males. Results indicate that 2 acquired vocal and motor responses and 1 acquired imitative noises and motor responses using video modeling alone. Generalization occurred with 2 participants. These findings have important implications for the field showing that video modeling can enable educators and caregivers to help children with autism overcome social skill deficits.
Subduing the Digital Dragon: Controlling the Internet in Asia

.01 Censorship in the West .02 Rogues and Rebels .03 Primer: What is Asia? .04 Mass Media in Asia .05 News and Information in Asia .06 Critical Incidents that Challenge Existing Media Control Structures
The Challenge of Asian Law

Several years ago, when U.S. trade across the Pacific finally surpassed that across the Atlantic, a small group of U.S. lawyers were already responding to the challenge of representing clients in transactions in Asia. While few had had the opportunity to take courses dealing with Asian law during their law school years, many entered the field because of undergraduate language and area studies courses. The challenges seem clear: improve the quantity, and especially the variety, of courses on Asian law; bring Asia into the mainstream of American teaching wherever possible hopefully as a result of having involved American non-specialist teachers in research about, or teaching in, Asia; continue to support teachers who want to move into an Asian specialization, recognizing the magnitude of the commitment to language study and in-country experience that at least a few scholars will make; and encourage the creation of an even better body of scholarship on Asia, including some sophisticated introductory texts.
Transformation to approximate independence for locally stationary Gaussian processes

We provide new approximations for the likelihood of a time series under the locally stationary Gaussian process model. The likelihood approximations are valid even in cases when the evolutionary spectrum is not smooth in the rescaled time domain. We describe a broad class of models for the evolutionary spectrum for which the approximations can be computed particularly efficiently. In developing the approximations, we extend to the locally stationary case the idea that the discrete Fourier transform is a decorrelating transformation for stationary time series. The approximations are applied to fit non-stationary time-series models to high-frequency temperature data. For these data, we fit evolutionary spectra that are piecewise constant in time and use a genetic algorithm to search for the best partition of the time interval.
Chiral absorbing material

The paper presents the analysis for plane wave scattering from a grounded chiral substrate that is loaded by an array of square patches for the sake of minimizing the radar cross section (RCS) for the equipment covered by them. The analysis includes a chiral substrate with different electromagnetic parameters. It shows moderate frequency bands of good absorption for the structures presented.
Photochemical charge transfer observed in nanoscale hydrogen evolving photocatalysts using surface photovoltage spectroscopy

The application of inorganic nanostructures for solar water splitting is currently limited by our understanding of photochemical charge transfer on the nanoscale, where space charge layers are less effective for carrier separation. Here we employ surface photovoltage spectroscopy to measure the internal photovoltages in single crystalline platinum/ruthenium-modified Rh-doped SrTiO3 nanocrystals for the first time. Voltages of −0.88 V and −1.13 V are found between the absorber and the Ru and Pt cocatalysts, respectively, and a voltage of −1.48 V for a Rh:SrTiO3 film on an Au substrate. This shows that the Pt and Ru cocatalysts not only improve the redox kinetics but also aid charge separation in the absorber. Voltages of +0.4 V, +0.6 V, and +1.2 V are found for hole injection into KI, K4[Fe(CN)6], and methanol, respectively, and a voltage of −0.7 V for electron injection into K3[Fe(CN)6]. These voltages correlate well with the photocatalytic performance of the catalyst; they are influenced by the built-in potentials of the donor-acceptor configurations, the physical separation of donors and acceptors, and the reversibility of the redox reaction. The photovoltage data also allowed the identification of a photosynthetic system for hydrogen evolution (80 μmol g−1 h−1) under visible light illumination (>400 nm) from 0.05 M aqueous K4[Fe(CN)6].
PlasmaKinetic bipolar vessel sealing: burst pressures and thermal spread in an animal model.

Background and Purpose: Laparoscopic bipolar instruments are commonly employed to cauterize and divide tissue. A next-generation bipolar device has been developed that employs vapor pulse coagulation energy. We assessed the vessel-sealing capability of this device and quantified thermal spread during application. Materials and Methods: Bilateral laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed on six common swine >25 kg. Five-millimeter clips and surgical staplers (US Surgical, Norwalk, CT) were utilized to perform nephrectomy on one side, while the Gyrus PlasmaKinetic bipolar device (Minneapolis, MN) was employed for the contralateral nephrectomy. Vessel-sealing capabilities were assessed via burst-pressure studies. The extent of thermal spread was measured after tissue fixation and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: Surgical clips/vascular staplers adequately controlled/sealed renal hilar vessels with burst pressures nearing 300 mm Hg. The Gyrus bipolar device reliably sealed and divided renal arteries ≤5 m...
Photolytic processing of secondary organic aerosols dissolved in cloud droplets

The effect of UV irradiation on the molecular composition of aqueous extracts of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was investigated. SOA was prepared by the dark reaction of ozone and d-limonene at 0.05–1 ppm precursor concentrations and collected with a particle-into-liquid sampler (PILS). The PILS extracts were photolyzed by 300–400 nm radiation for up to 24 h. Water-soluble SOA constituents were analyzed using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) at different stages of photolysis for all SOA precursor concentrations. Exposure to UV radiation increased the average O/C ratio and decreased the average double bond equivalent (DBE) of the dissolved SOA compounds. Oligomeric compounds were significantly decreased by photolysis relative to the monomeric compounds. Direct pH measurements showed that acidic compounds increased in abundance upon photolysis. Methanol reactivity analysis revealed significant photodissociation of molecules containing carbonyl groups and the formation of carboxylic acids. Aldehydes, such as limononaldehyde, were almost completely removed. The removal of carbonyls was further confirmed by the UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy of the SOA extracts where the absorbance in the carbonyln → π* band decreased significantly upon photolysis. The effective quantum yield (the number of carbonyls destroyed per photon absorbed) was estimated as ∼0.03. The total concentration of peroxides did not change significantly during photolysis as quantified with an iodometric test. Although organic peroxides were photolyzed, the likely end products of photolysis were smaller peroxides, including hydrogen peroxide, resulting in a no net change in the peroxide content. Photolysis of dry limonene SOA deposited on substrates was investigated in a separate set of experiments. The observed effects on the average O/C and DBE were similar to the aqueous photolysis, but the extent of chemical change was smaller in dry SOA. Our results suggest that biogenic SOA dissolved in cloud and fog droplets will undergo significant photolytic processing on a time scale of hours to days. This type of photolytic processing may account for the discrepancy between the higher values of O/C measured in the field experiments relative to the laboratory measurements on SOA in smog chambers. In addition, the direct photolysis of oligomeric compounds may be responsible for the scarcity of their observation in the field.
Interactions between the AC voltages and DC current in weak AC/DC interconnections

A dynamic model for weak AC/DC interfaces is developed. The response of the voltage is expressed in terms of the basic parameters of the interconnection, and the impact of these parameters on the voltage waveshapes is analyzed. Indexes describing the distortion of the magnitude and phase of the AC voltage during the transient period are defined, and their sensitivities to the system's parameters are evaluated. >
Vibrational spectra of 1,1,4,4-tetrafluoro-1,3-butadiene

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra of CF2:CHCH:CF2 have been obtained in the 200–3200 cm−1 range. The data are consistent only with a trans (C2h) structure for the molecule. This structure is supported by study of molecular models and by the lack of microwave spectrum. Twenty of the twenty-four fundamental vibrations have been observed, and most assigned as to symmetry species.
Death of a Salesman and The Glass Menagerie: A Phenomenological Reduction

Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller were two memory playwrights who searched the memory or the collective unconscious of their generation for the lost dreams of an unspoiled myth as well as the genuine ideals of love, humanity and dignity. These authors employed techniques and mechanisms such as poetic language and expressionistic stage directions to translate the inner workings of their characters into artistic projection. This paper employs the phenomenological principles of Geneva School of criticism with the aim of reducing the immediate consciousness of Williams and Miller, projected as stories of Tom and Willy, in search for the playwrights’ attitudes towards some basic concepts of life in the modern era.
Does hormone treatment alter arterial properties in postmenopausal women

Arterial elastic properties and wave reflections constitute left ventricular pulsatile afterload and are directly related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. During the aging process, elastic arteries stiffen and increase pulse wave velocity, causing the reflected pressure wave to arrive at the heart during systole, and augment systolic and pulse blood pressure, resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy. The incidence of cardiovascular disease is much greater in men aged 30–50 years compared with women of a similar age. Among women, the incidence of cardiovascular disease increases dramatically after menopause, which occurs at an average age of 52 years. This observation has lead to the belief that sex hormones produced premenopausally impede or delay the progression of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it appears logical that the administration of female sex hormones, hormone treatment (HT), estrogen alone or with progesterone should provide some degree of cardiovascular protection. This idea was...
Current Information Levels on Food Labels

Major regulatory changes will result in new labels for nearly every packaged food product by 1994.' In addition, many fresh products will begin to carry nutrition labels on a voluntary basis. These new labels are the joint product of legislative mandates and on-going initiatives undertaken by the regulatory agencies since 1990. The impact of these changes on the food system would likely be substantial under any circumstances. However, several forces are poised that may cause labeling reform to have far-reaching effects on food demand and marketing strategies. The forces include a critical mass of understanding by consumers of diet-health linkages, extensive public nutrition education efforts proposed to accompany introduction of new labels, and food processors' heightened focus on nutritional and health attributes in marketing products. Together, these forces may cause major shifts in the composition of the U.S. food supply. The impact's extent depends on how information changes, which in turn depends on the new regulatory environment; current levels of information on and use of food labels; and strategic responses of food producers, processors, and distributors.
Peer observation: a faculty initiative

Abstract In institutions of higher learning, concern for the process and outcomes of teaching continues to grow. The definition of successful teaching remains somewhat elusive. Excellent teaching has been described in the literature, and a number of behaviors have been identified as exemplifying quality teaching. At The University of Oklahoma Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Services-Tulsa (PCAS-T), student evaluations and activity reports were the primary means for faculty evaluations. The faculty recognized the limitations of both forms of evaluation and requested that the administration investigate a peer observation program. Peer observation of teaching became an additional component of the comprehensive assessment of teaching, in addition to self-assessment/reflection, administrator evaluation, and student assessment. The process of peer observation provides value for improvement of teaching and in the scholarship of teaching, thus elevating teaching to the same status as research at the university level. The purpose of this study was to document the peer observation process and make initial inferences with respect to its utility. The results of this study will serve as the first step in a comprehensive evaluation of the peer observation program. The peer observation process began as a faculty initiative to supplement student evaluations and has developed into a program with value to the faculty. The description of the process and future reports from the evaluation of the program will add to the primary literature that is currently missing evidence of value of peer observation to academic programs in colleges of pharmacy.
Implementation of peer review into a physical medicine and rehabilitation program and its effect on professionalism.

Objective To examine the effects of implementing a peer review evaluation system on residents' attitudes and perceptions of professionalism, a core competency of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), in a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) program. Design Four classes of residents were divided prospectively into a control and an intervention group. All residents were asked to complete a survey regarding their attitudes and perceptions on both peer review and professionalism. Only 2 of these classes participated in a newly adopted peer review evaluation system, after which time all participants were again asked to fill out the surveys. Setting Residents were from a PM&R residency program at an urban tertiary care medical center. Participants All residents who completed the entire survey preintervention and postintervention were included. Methods The intervention was the introduction of peer review into residents' evaluation assessments. All residents filled out a survey with questions relating to peer review and professionalism before and after this intervention. Main Outcome Measurements Outcomes include understanding how residents perceive various attributes of professionalism, peer review, and the interconnection of the 2. Results Data analysis using SPSS was performed using survey scores for 46 residents preintrodution and postintroduction of a peer review evaluation system. Analysis revealed that residents who participated in the peer review process were more likely to agree that certain aspects of daily patient care, behaviors, and concepts were components of professionalism. However, they continued to believe that residents are ultimately not responsible for their colleagues' professionalism and that peer review might be harmful to a residency program. Conclusion This study introduces an interesting dichotomy. Peer review clearly influences resident outlook on professionalism and yet there is a high suspicion regarding its implementation. If appropriately implemented, peer review may be a potent method of enhancing the education of this ACGME requirement.
“Tie-ing” down the Hematopoietic Niche

Interaction of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with their particular microenvironment, or niche, is critical for adult hematopoiesis in the bone marrow (BM). Arai et al. (this issue of Cell) demonstrate that HSCs that express the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2 are quiescent. Ang-1, the ligand for Tie2, enhanced the ability of HSCs to become quiescent and also induced their adhesion to bone, protecting them from stresses that suppress hematopoiesis. These data suggest that the Ang-1/Tie2 signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the maintenance of HSCs in a quiescent state in the BM niche.
Dilithium initiators based on 1,3-bis(1-phenylethenyl)benzene. Tetrahydrofuran and lithium sec-butoxide effects

The adduct (3) from 2 moles of sec-butyllithium with 1,3-bis(1-phenyl-ethenyl)benzene has been prepared and evaluated as a hydrocarbon-soluble, dilithium initiator for butadiene and styrene polymerization in cyclohexane or benzene solution. Under high vacuum conditions with purified reagents, bimodal molecular weight distributions are observed for polybutadienes with Mn < 150 × 103 g/mol and for polystyrenes with Mn < 50 × 103 g/mol; monomodal distributions are observed only for higher molecular weights. Addition of tetrahydrofuran ([THF]/[Li] = 14 to 32) or preformed lithium sec-butoxide ([LiOBu]/[3] = 1·1) produces narrow, monomodal molecular weight distributions even at Mn = 26·2 × 103 g/mol polybutadiene and at Mn = 10 × 103 g/mol for polystyrene. Added lithium sec-butoxide is the preferred additive since high 1,4-polybutadienes are obtained. These results provide an explanation for the contradictory results reported previously; under less rigorous experimental conditions, oxygen and hydroxylic impurities can form lithium alkoxides in situ.
Nonseparable, Compactly Supported Interpolating Refinable Functions with Arbitrary Smoothness☆

Abstract In this paper we construct families of compactly supported nonseparable interpolating refinable functions with arbitrary smoothness (or regularity). The symbols for the newly constructed scaling functions are given by a simple formula related to the Bernstein polynomials. The emphasis of the paper is to show that under an easy-to-verify geometric condition these families satisfy Cohenrs condition, and they have arbitrarily high regularity. Furthermore, the constructed scaling functions satisfy, under the same geometrical condition, the Strang–Fix conditions of arbitrarily high order, which implies that corresponding interpolating schemes have arbitrarily high accuracy.
Electron solvation dynamics in I-(NH3)n clusters

Femtosecond photoelectron spectroscopy (FPES) is used to monitor the dynamics associated with the excitation of the charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) precursor states in I−(NH3)n=4–15 clusters. The FPE spectra imply that the weakly bound excess electron in the excited state undergoes partial solvation via solvent rearrangement on a time scale of 0.5–2 ps, and this partially solvated state decays by electron emission on a 10–50 ps time scale. Both the extent of solvation and the lifetimes increase gradually with cluster size, in contrast to the more abrupt size-dependent effects previously observed in I−(H2O)n clusters.
Integration of GPS and vision measurements for navigation in GPS challenged environments

This paper investigates into the feasibility of a combined use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and vision-based measurements for navigation in challenged GPS environments such as urban canyons and indoors. In these environments, a GPS-only navigation solution fix is generally not feasible. However, limited GPS measurements (for example, for two or three satellites) may still be available. These limited measurements can be exploited to enhance the efficacy of alternative navigation aids such as vision-aided inertial. This paper presents a method for the combination of limited GPS carrier phase measurements with features that are extracted from images of a monocular video camera. An integrated GPS/vision solution estimates position changes and orientation of the camera's body-frame; and, initializes ranges to vision-based features. Simulation results and initial experimental results are presented to validate the proposed integration method and demonstrate its performance.
A preliminary comparative assessment by activation analysis of some of the materials and containers used in pharmaceutical manufacture

Neutron activation analysis has been used in a preliminary, comparative assessment of some of the materials and containers employed in pharmaceutical manufacture. Microgram and submicrogram amounts of manganese, copper, and sodium have been determined in water distilled and redistilled from stainless steel and pyrex glass stills. The leaching of these elements by distilled and doubly distilled water from stainless steel, pyrex glass, and polyethylene storage containers has also been studied. The Mn, Cu, and Na contents of polyethylene bottles were also determined. The same techniques were used to determined these impurities as well as As, Au, and Sb in adrenaline and vitamin C.
Cultivar and cultivar × environment effects on relative feed value of temperate perennial grasses.

Only cultivars of orchardgrass, ryegrass and timothy varied in relative feed value (RFV). Cultivar × environment interactions were species-specific. In orchardgrass and timothy, much of the variation was due to differences in cultivar maturity at first cutting. These maturity effects also carried over into second-cutting RFV for timothy. For perennial ryegrass, tetraploids ranked higher in Cut-1 RFV than diploids, but did not differ in Cut-2 RFV.
A N-terminal truncated intracellular isoform of matrix metalloproteinase-2 impairs contractility of mouse myocardium.

The full-length isoform of matrixmetalloproteinase-2 (FL-MMP-2) plays a role in turnover of the cardiac extracellular matrix. FL-MMP-2 is also present intracellularly in association with sarcomeres and, in the setting of oxidative stress, cleaves myofilament proteins with resultant impaired contractility. Recently, a novel N-terminal truncated MMP-2 isoform (NTT-MMP-2) generated during oxidative stress was identified and shown to induce severe systolic failure; however, the injury mechanisms remained unclear. In this study, cardiac-specific NTT-MMP-2 transgenic mice were used to determine the physiological effects of NTT-MMP-2 on: force development of intact myocardium; the function of cardiac myofilaments in demembranated myocardium; and on intracellular Ca2+ transients in isolated myocytes. We related the contractile defects arising from NTT-MMP-2 expression to the known intracellular locations of NTT-MMP-2 determined using immunohistochemistry. Comparison was made with the pathophysiology arising from cardiac-specific FL-MMP-2 transgenic mice. Consistent with previous studies, FL-MMP-2 was localized to myofilaments, while NTT-MMP-2 was concentrated within subsarcolemmal mitochondria and to sites in register with the Z-line. NTT-MMP-2 expression caused a 50% reduction of force development by intact myocardium. However, NTT-MMP-2 expression did not reduce myofilament force development, consistent with the lack of NTT-MMP-2 localization to myofilaments. NTT-MMP-2 expression caused a 50% reduction in the amplitude of Ca2+ transients, indicating impaired activation. Conclusions: Unlike FL-MMP-2, NTT-MMP-2 does not mediate myofilament damage. Instead, NTT-MMP-2 causes impaired myocyte activation, which may involve effects due to localization in mitochondria and/or to transverse tubules affecting Ca2+ transients. Thus, FL-MMP-2 and NTT-MMP-2 have discrete intracellular locations and mediate different intracellular damage to cardiac myocytes.
Campylobacter susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and corresponding fluoroquinolone concentrations within the gastrointestinal tracts of chickens

M.B. FARNELL, A.M. DONOGHUE, K. COLE, I. REYES-HERRERA, P.J. BLORE AND D.J. DONOGHUE. 2005. Aims: This study evaluated the relationship between Campylobacter susceptibility and enteric fluoroquinolone concentrations in chickens treated with different doses of enrofloxacin. Methods and Results: All chickens were challenged with seven fluoroquinolone sensitive Campylobacter jejuni (6AE6 · 10 6 CFU per bird) at 2 weeks posthatch. At 26 days of age chickens were treated with 0 (n ¼ 29 birds), 25 mg ml )1 enrofloxacin (Baytril� , Bayer Corp., Shawnee Mission, KS, USA) for 3 days (n ¼ 45 birds) or 50 mg ml )1 enrofloxacin for 7 days (n ¼ 65 birds) in the drinking water. The crop, upper ileum, lower ileum, ceca and colon contents were collected from both enrofloxacin treatment groups (n ¼ 5 birds per day per treatment group) and nonmedicated controls. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin for Campylobacter increased for isolates from both treatment groups within the first day of dosing and the daily average ranged from 1AE 4t o 6AE5 l gm l )1 throughout the study. Although enteric fluoroquinolone concentrations were higher (P <0 AE05) in birds dosed with 50 mg ml )1 vs 25 mg ml )1 enrofloxacin, there were no differences between the isolates collected from these groups for MIC values. Conclusion: These data indicate, for the doses used, differences in gut fluoroquinolone concentrations do not produce isolates of Campylobacter with differing susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Significance and Impact of the Study: Using the manufacturers lowest, shortest duration dose vs the highest, longest duration dose of enrofloxacin did not change Campylobacter susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. However, ciprofloxacin MIC values for Campylobacter determined in this study were lower than previously reported.
Treatment Paradigms in Neovascular AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects more than 7 million individuals in the USA, making it the most common cause of visual impairment among adults over 60 years of age. Although the precise mechanisms responsible for the development of AMD are not fully understood, it is well established that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role in the development and growth of the choroidal neovascular membrane. Anti-VEGF treatment has become the corner stone of management of this condition. In this article we discuss the current evidence for the various treatment paradigms presently in practical use, including the frequency of anti-VEGF injections as well as the use of combination treatments.
Shear and normal impact loadings on one face of a narrow slit

Abstract To gain insight into the transmission of impact load disturbances into elastic solids along narrow slits, the plane-strain problem of concentrated normal and shear forces applied suddenly to one face of a semi-infinite mathematical crack is treated. Exact solutions are obtained and the dynamic stress intensity factors and strain energy density intensity are studied. It is found that the dominant stress mode (I or II) near the crack edge changes rapidly with the arrival of the various waves from the concentrated forces. In particular, upon the Rayleigh wave arrival, the normal and shear forces cause, respectively, strong mode II and mode I behavior.