cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting with Alveolar Hemorrhage.

Introduction. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a rare presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can improve outcome. Case Report. An 18- year-old male presented with hemoptysis and respiratory distress requiring orotracheal intubation. Laboratory tests showed positive anti-nuclear antibody and anti-dsDNA and low C3 and C4. Bronchoalveolar lavage became progressively hemorrhagic after each aliquot. He was treated with pulse methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchanges. Discussion. Alveolar hemorrhage is a rare initial presentation of lupus, with mortality rates reported at about 50%. Lupus should be considered in those presenting with alveolar hemorrhage since delay in therapy may cause a rapid deterioration of the patient. The diagnosis of SLE is illusive when DAH is the presenting symptom. Since early diagnosis and appropriate institution of treatment improve outcome, it is important to keep lupus in mind as an etiology of alveolar hemorrhage. Pulse methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, and plasmapheresis therapy resulted in rapid improvement of respiratory function in our patient.
Persistent peers and the rhetoric of state economic competition

Abstract State economic development agencies and politicians often express concern about their state's technology-based economic development (TBED) by framing it in terms of a competition with other states. States can focus their competitive efforts if they know who their peers are. Knowing a state's peers also allows development agencies to identify likely targets for borrowing or adapting development practices. This study examines the relative progress of the 50 states on a series of 53 TBED measures published by the National Science Foundation. All states report improvement in over more than half of the variables used in the study, with over 60% of the states moving in the same direction on 80% of the measures. Clusters based on self-organizing maps show 37 states change cluster membership over the measurement period of approximately 12 years, yet all states have at least one “persistent peer”—a state that they are similar with at both the beginning and the end of the period. The combination of large-scale similar movement and the presence of persistent peers sets limits on talk of TBED progress framed by a zero-sum or “leapfrog” rhetoric. Indeed, looking at TBED as a zero-sum game deflects attention from the state's particular strengths and masks the true progress the state has made on its citizens' behalf.
A Domains Approach to Perceived Problems and Solutions for Community Empowerment in an Urban Refugee Community in Kenya

Urban refugees resettled in low- and middle-income countries face diverse stressors exacerbating individual problems and stifling community empowerment. This study utilized a thematic analysis informed by the domains approach to community empowerment to better understand how urban Somali refugees in Kenya describe community functioning. This Somali community identified multiple beliefs, needs, and barriers related to communal and individual functioning, relating these to the intersection of community competence, engagement, and capacity. Intersections are cause and solution to mental health problems, psychosocial dysfunction, and impeded development of community structure, necessitating prioritization of community development in any interventional efforts with this community.
Patterns of Youth Cigarette Experimentation and Onset of Habitual Smoking.

Introduction Although research suggests that youth e-cigarette experimentation is associated with later combustible cigarette experimentation, it is unclear how this relates to habitual smoking. This study assesses how minors’ patterns of combustible cigarette and e-cigarette experimentation relate to habitual smoking at ages 18–21 years. Methods Between November 2016 and May 2017, a cross-sectional, online survey of current and retrospective cigarette use was fielded among individuals aged 18–21 years who had tried combustible cigarettes or e-cigarettes (n=1,424). Logistic regressions tested how experimentation patterns prior to age 18 years related to two indicators of current habitual smoking: daily smoking and current established smoking (past 30-day use among those who had smoked ≥100 cigarettes). Results Respondents who first tried combustible cigarettes or e-cigarettes as minors (n=1,096) were more likely to be current established users (64%) than those who first experimented at ages 18–21 years (41%). Experimentation patterns in individuals aged 17 years (n=328), trying only combustible cigarettes as a minor yielded a 175% increase in one's odds of being an established smoker (AOR=2.75, 95% CI=1.99, 3.79) and a 161% increase for daily smoking (AOR=2.61, 95% CI=1.75, 3.90). Trying combustibles and then e-cigarettes yielded sizable increases in both habitual smoking measures, whereas trying e-cigarettes before combustibles yielded smaller effects. Trying only e-cigarettes as a minor yielded a 78% decrease in both outcomes, relative to those who did not try either product as minors. Conclusions Minors who tried combustible cigarettes were more likely to be habitual smokers at ages 18–21 years than those who tried e-cigarettes alone.
Convergence of Sequences

This chapter covers convergence of numerical sequences in some detail. This is followed by a discussion of convergence of sequences of functions, in particular, of uniform convergence of a sequence of functions. Applications include, Leibnitz Integral Rule, Fubini’s Theorem, the Approximate Identity Lemma, and a proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra.
The intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring team

Abstract Surgical errors often result from dysfunctional teamwork. Improved operating room communication and situational awareness have been recommended. Studies of operating room team performance demonstrate improved error avoiding metrics and patient outcomes when teamwork is optimized. Accurate interpretation of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (ION) diagnostic tests is a necessary but insufficient indicator of clinical efficacy. Our systematic review indicates 37% reduced risk of adverse outcomes when operating room teamwork is optimized (odds ratio of 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.37–0.97, P=.04). Cognitive bias among expert peers (surgeon, anesthesiologist, and neurophysiologist) can impede teamwork optimization. Bias mitigation often depends upon antecedent establishment of trust among peers. The collaborative capability of the expert neurophysiologist to participate as a trusted and situationally aware team member varies among ION care delivery models. An ideal ION model places the expert neurophysiologist either in the room or nearby. Virtual care, enriched by robust audiovisual connectedness (telepresence), can be investigated.
Developing Species-Age Cohorts from Forest Inventory and Analysis Data to Parameterize a Forest Landscape Model

Simulating long-term, landscape level changes in forest composition requires estimates of stand age to initialize succession models. Detailed stand ages are rarely available, and even general information on stand history often is lacking. We used data from USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) database to estimate broad age classes for a forested landscape to simulate changes in landscape composition and structure relative to climate change at Fort Drum, a 43,000 ha U.S. Army installation in northwestern New York. Using simple linear regression, we developed relationships between tree diameter and age for FIA site trees from the host and adjacent ecoregions and applied those relationships to forest stands at Fort Drum. We observed that approximately half of the variation in age was explained by diameter breast height (DBH) across all species studied (r2 = 0.42 for sugar maple Acer saccharum to 0.63 for white ash Fraxinus americana). We then used age-diameter relationships from published research on northern hardwood species to calibrate results from the FIA-based analysis. With predicted stand age, we used tree species life histories and environmental conditions represented by ecological site types to parameterize a stochastic forest landscape model (LANDIS-II) to spatially and temporally model successional changes in forest communities at Fort Drum. Forest stands modeled over 100 years without significant disturbance appeared to reflect expected patterns of increasing dominance by shade-tolerant mesophytic tree species such as sugar maple, red maple (Acer rubrum), and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) where soil moisture was sufficient. On drier sandy soils, eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), red pine (P. resinosa), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), and white oak (Q. alba) continued to be important components throughout the modeling period with no net loss at the landscape scale. Our results suggest that despite abundant precipitation and relatively low evapotranspiration rates for the region, low soil water holding capacity and fertility may be limiting factors for the spread of mesophytic species on excessively drained soils in the region. Increasing atmospheric temperatures projected for the region could alter moisture regimes for many coarse-textured soils providing a possible mechanism for expansion of xerophytic tree species.
The transmission of global monetary and credit shocks on exchange market pressure in emerging markets and developing economies

Abstract There has been a great focus recently on the transmission of shocks from advanced economies to emerging and developing countries. This research considers how shocks in global monetary and credit conditions impact the exchange market pressure index (EMPI) in forty emerging markets and developing economies. It assesses the impact based on the degree of trade openness and capital account openness in these economies using a panel vector autoregression (PVAR) analysis from 1998 to 2016. Countries that are more open in trade and finance are less susceptible to shocks in global monetary liquidity and global credit conditions. Moreover, there is evidence that the response to these shocks changes in the post-2009 era, with the size and strength of the response becoming more significant in both highly open and less open economies. This indicates a greater transmission of these shocks onto exchange market conditions in emerging markets and developing economies in the period after the Global Financial Crisis.
COVID-19 vaccination rates vary by community vulnerability: A county-level analysis.

We used the COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index and 7 theme scores to assess associations between vulnerability and county-level COVID-19 vaccination (n = 2415 counties) through May 25th, 2021. When comparing vaccination rates among quintiles of CCVI scores, Theme 3 (housing type, transportation, household composition, and disability) was associated with the largest disparity, with the least vulnerable counties (Q1) having 33% higher rates of vaccination among individuals aged 18+ (53.5% vs 40.2%) compared to counties with the highest vulnerability (Q5). Using generalized linear models with binomial distributions and log links, we found that a 10-point increase in the CCVI index, socioeconomic vulnerability, housing type and composition, and epidemiological factors were associated with at least a 1.0 percentage point decline in county-level vaccination. The association between community vulnerability and lower vaccination rates suggests the need for continued efforts for equitable COVID-19 vaccination across marginalized communities.
Decentralized UAV Swarm Control for Multitarget Tracking using Approximate Dynamic Programming

We develop a decentralized control method for a UAV swarm for a multitarget tracking application using the theory of decentralized Markov decision processes (Dec-MDPs). This study develops a UAV control strategy to maximize the overall target tracking performance in a decentralized setting. Motivation for this case study comes from the surveillance applications using UAV swarms. Decision-theoretic approaches are very difficult to solve due to high dimensionality and being computationally expensive. We extend an approximate dynamic programming method called nominal belief-state optimization (NBO) to solve the UAV swarm control problem for target tracking application. We also implement a centralized MDP approach as a benchmark to compare the performance of the Dec-MDP approach.
Tuberculosis in the Intensive Care Unit: The North American Perspective

Global estimates suggest that one third of the world’s population has been infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Ten percent of infected individuals will progress to active disease, at least half of them within the first two years following infection. All together, there are an estimated eight to sixteen million new cases a year with two to three million deaths. Less than 10% of these patients have coincident human immunodeficiency viral infection, however, when this occurs the case fatality rate is over 50% and progression from infection to active disease occurs at a rate of at least 8% per year. Whereas the greatest number cases remain concentrated in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and eastern Europe, recent trends in global travel predict resurgence of disease outside of these regions (1).
Infosphere Project: An Overview

We describe the Infosphere project, which is building the systems software support for information-driven applications such as digital libraries and electronic commerce. The main technical contribution is the Infopipe abstraction to support information flow with quality of service. Using building blocks such as program specialization, software feedback, domain-specific languages, and personalized information filtering, the Infopipe software generates code and manage resources to provide the specified quality of service with support for composition and restructuring.
Hamiltonian Dynamic Equations for Fluid Films

Two-dimensional models for hydrodynamic systems, such as soap films, have been studied for over two centuries. Yet there has not existed a fully nonlinear system of dynamic equations analogous to the classical Euler equations. We propose the following exact system for the dynamics of a fluid film Here δ/δ t is the invariant time derivative, ρ is the two-dimensional density of the film, C is the normal component of the velocity field, Vα are the tangential components, Bαβ is the curvature tensor, and ∇α is the covariant surface derivative. The surface energy density e(ρ) is a generalization of the common surface tension and eρ is its derivative. The Laplace model corresponds to e(ρ) =σ/ρ, where σ is the surface tension density. The proper choice of e(ρ) in paramount in capturing particular effects displayed by fluid films. The proposed system is exact in the sense that neither velocities nor deviation from the equilibrium are assumed small. The system is derived in the classical Hamiltonian framework. The assumption that e is a function of ρ alone can be relaxed in practical physical and biological applications. This leads to more complicated systems, briefly discussed in the text.
Erratum to: The jurassic of the circum-pacific

In volume9, no. 1. p, 113–114, BOOK REVIEWS section, the book “THE JURASSIC OF THE CIRCUM-PACIFIC” was reviewed by Collette D. Burke, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.
AN ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF HUMAN ANTI-MURINE IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN THE PRESENCE OF CA125-ANTIGEN

A radioimmunoassay for the detection of human immunoglobulin response is described which is suitable for the screening of patients undergoing immunotherapy with murine monoclonal antibodies. The use and the sensitivity of the assay are illustrated in the case of patients undergoing diagnostic imaging for ovarian cancer with the monoclonal antibody, OC125. The method offers the distinct advantage of quantitating human anti-murine antibody in serum containing a high concentration of antigen recognized by the injected murine antibody. In addition, the assay may be generalized to screen patients undergoing immunotherapy with a variety of murine or other monoclonal antibodies.
Joint segmentation and classification of human actions in video

Automatic video segmentation and action recognition has been a long-standing problem in computer vision. Much work in the literature treats video segmentation and action recognition as two independent problems; while segmentation is often done without a temporal model of the activity, action recognition is usually performed on pre-segmented clips. In this paper we propose a novel method that avoids the limitations of the above approaches by jointly performing video segmentation and action recognition. Unlike standard approaches based on extensions of dynamic Bayesian networks, our method is based on a discriminative temporal extension of the spatial bag-of-words model that has been very popular in object recognition. The classification is performed robustly within a multi-class SVM framework whereas the inference over the segments is done efficiently with dynamic programming. Experimental results on honeybee, Weizmann, and Hollywood datasets illustrate the benefits of our approach compared to state-of-the-art methods.
Angular nerve: New insights on innervation of the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles

Summary Background Elimination of glabellar frown lines by direct denervation of the corrugator and procerus muscles has proven elusive. Furrows often persist after the frontal branch of the facial nerve has been divided. In order to find an explanation for these observations and to provide an anatomic basis for future surgical strategies, the pattern of innervation of these muscles was studied. Methods Two separate investigations were performed: (1) cadaveric anatomical dissection in 18 fresh cadaver hemi-faces utilizing loupe magnification, operating microscope, and template tracings; and (2) electrophysiologic testing performed in 12 healthy volunteers utilizing a Viking IIe ® nerve stimulator (Nicolet, Madison, WI). Results The corrugator was found to have a dual nerve supply with contributions from branches of the frontal, zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve. The frontal branch passes deep to the orbicularis at the level of the eyebrow; and the buccal branch, after receiving a contribution from the zygomatic, forms the angular nerve, which then passes superiorly in front of the medial canthus to supply both corrugator and procerus. The procerus muscle was found to receive contributions from the angular nerve exclusively. Conclusions Procedures designed to denervate the corrugator should be directed at both components of its redundant nerve supply, the frontal branch as well as the angular nerve. Division of the angular nerve will also denervate the procerus muscle. Both frontal nerve branches and angular nerve components are accessible through an upper blepharoplasty incision.
Is the complementary and alternative medicine intervention evidence-based? a users’ guide to the medical literature

Abstract As with conventional medical practices, the physician has the responsibility to assess the evidence related to safety and effectiveness for a complementary and alternative medicine treatment (CAMT) before recommending or implementing it. The same evidence-based steps used for the assessment and evaluation of conventional medical literature apply when considering the use of CAMT. These are as follows: 1) identifying why a CAMT is sought or being used; 2) finding relevant clinical data from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, or observational research; 3) assessing the quality of these data using a set of simple screening questions; 4) examining the population studied in these studies for its match to the patient being treated; 5) identifying those interventions that are potentially toxic and high cost; and 6) exploring the beliefs that physician and patient hold about the therapy. On the basis of the information from these six steps, the physician and patient then can decide whether a CAMT may be useful, is at least harmless or should be avoided.
Narrow-bandwidth operation of a free-electron laser enforced by seeding.

Narrow-bandwidth operation of a quasicontinuous free-electron laser by seed injection has been demonstrated. The pulse-to-pulse frequency bandwidth has been reduced from 1.6 to 0.16 GHz. An order-of-magnitude reduction of the sideband-mode beating in a single pulse and a 30% reduction in laser start-up time has been obtained. Numerical simulations of the multimode free-electron laser show that the sideband-mode suppression and the buildup of coherence are rather slow, underlining the importance of seeding to obtain single-mode operation for the available pulse length.
Boundary feedback control of a vibrating beam subject to a displacement constraint

The problem of controlling the dynamic response of a beam by means of boundary feedback is solved. The control is applied at one of the supports of the beam by means of a torque actuator in order to keep the maximum deflection within specified bounds. Since the location and time of the maximum deflection depend on the control itself, the feedback is determined by the solution of a min-max problem. The theory is illustrated by a numerical example involving an impulsively loaded beam, and the effectiveness of the proposed control is studied numerically.
Plasma fatty acids in pancreatic cystic fibrosis and liver disease.

The presence of a factor that regulates plasma arachidonic acid which is distinct from the pancreatic enzymes has been previously demonstrated in the external pancreatic secretion of the dog and pig. The present study was undertaken to determine if the factor is present in man. The fatty acid percentage composition of plasma total esterified, phospholipid, cholesterol ester, triglyceride and unesterified fatty acid fractions was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography, and the absolute levels (mg/100 ml) of each fraction were determined in patients with pancreatic cystic fibrosis, Laennec's cirrhosis and hepatitis. These were compared with the levels of groups of normal children and adults. Characteristic alteration of the percentage composition of the plasma fatty acids was observed in pancreatic cystic fibrosis. Palmitic, palmitoleic and oleic acids were elevated with concomitant depression of linoleic and arachidonic acids. Since hepatomegaly was noted in several of the children, the same study was done ...
Physical trajectories in an inclusive dual resonance model

Previous work on the dual resonance model in inclusive vector-meson production is extended to include both abnormally coupled trajectories and trajectories with positive intercept. Differential cross sections and density-matrix elements are obtained and compared to those of the previous calculation. The single-particle spectrum for spinless mesons is also obtained and compared with earlier results.
Why Don't American Cities Burn Very Often?:

Prompted by the 2005 urban riots in France, this article asks why, with very few exceptions, American cities have not experienced widespread civil disorders since the late 1970s, especially when many of the conditions underlying the earlier disorders persist or have worsened. The answer lies in three factors: the changing ecology of power, techniques for managing marginalization, and distinctive U.S. approaches to the incorporation and control of immigrants.
Irradiation of pigmented melanoma cells with high intensity pulsed radiation generates acoustic waves and kills cells

Photokilling of pigmented mouse melanoma cells (B-16) was investigated using pulsed high intensity visible radiation. Melanin acts as an endogenous chromophore, and 694 nm radiation with 40 nsec pulse duration and 0.5-3 X 10(7)w/cm2 intensity causes cell death. Irradiation of non-pigmented human melanoma cells (U1) or human squamous carcinoma cells (FaDu) under similar conditions did not kill the cells. Also, irradiation of B-16 cells with 300 microsec laser pulses (10(3)W/cm2) or with continuous wave (CW) radiation (10(-3)W/cm2) did not kill the cells. These data indicate that pigmented cell killing is due to absorption of radiation by melanin and that the pulsewidth and intensity of radiation play important roles in cell killing. The generation of acoustic waves due to absorption of the pulsed radiation by pigmented cells and by isolated melanosomes was demonstrated at 532 and 625 nm and 8.5 nsec pulse duration (10(7)-10(8) W/cm2); the amplitudes of the acoustic signals were approximately 2.5-3.0-fold higher at 532 nm compared with 625 nm, and they increased with increasing fluence. In contrast, irradiation of U1 or FaDu cells with comparable fluences and intensities did not generate acoustic waves. A possible correlation between the generation of photoacoustic waves and pigment cell death is proposed. Since the thermal relaxation time of melanosomes is 0.5-1.0 microsec, the mechanism proposed is that thermal confinement of high intensity, short-pulse visible radiation generates acoustic waves by thermal expansion, leading to mechanical damage to the cells.
Changes in actin filament organization during pseudopod formation.

Abstract Fluorescent phalloidin has been introduced intoDicytosteliumamoebae in order to visualize dynamic changes in the localization of F-actin during pseudopod extension. Phalloidin was initially localized to the peripheral cortex of the cell. Newly formed pseudopods were not fluorescent, indicating that phalloidin was tightly bound to existing F-actin filaments and could not rapidly relocalize to newly formed filaments. As pseudopod extension proceeded, the fluorescent signal disappeared from the region directly underlying the expansion zone, leaving a gap in the actin cortex. Similar results were obtained in both wild-type cells and those lacking myosin II heavy chain. The disappearance of the fluorescent signal from the cortical region underlying the new pseudopod is presumed to be due to breakdown of the actin cortex and dispersion of the remnants. These results suggest that new pseudopods are not built upon the existing actin cortex but rather that the cortex is locally solated as part of the construction of the new actin network.
Demand Learning and Dynamic Pricing under Competition in a State-Space Framework

In this paper, we propose a revenue optimization framework integrating demand learning and dynamic pricing for firms in monopoly or oligopoly markets. We introduce a state-space model for this revenue management problem, which incorporates game-theoretic demand dynamics and nonparametric techniques for estimating the evolution of underlying state variables. Under this framework, stringent model assumptions are removed. We develop a new demand learning algorithm using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to estimate model parameters, unobserved state variables, and functional coefficients in the nonparametric part. Based on these estimates, future price sensitivities can be predicted, and the optimal pricing policy for the next planning period is obtained. To test the performance of demand learning strategies, we solve a monopoly firm's revenue maximizing problem in simulation studies. We then extend this paradigm to dynamic competition, where the problem is formulated as a differential variational inequality. Numerical examples show that our demand learning algorithm is efficient and robust.
Spacial Compartmentalization of Ca2+ Signaling Complexes in Pancreatic Acini

Abstract Imaging [Ca2+]i at high temporal resolution and measuring the properties of Ca2+ signaling in streptolysin O (SLO)-permeabilized cells were used to study the spacial organization of signaling complexes. Sequential stimulation of single cells within pancreatic acini with several Ca2+-mobilizing agonists revealed an agonist-specific pattern and propagation rate of Ca2+ waves in the same cells, with CCK8 stimulating the fastest and bombesin the slowest waves. More importantly, each agonist initiated the wave in a different region of the same cell. On the other hand, repetitive stimulation with the same agonist induced Ca2+ waves of the same pattern that were initiated from the same region of the cell. The agonist-specific Ca2+ signaling does not appear to be the result of coupling to different G proteins as infusion of an anti-Gαq antibody into the cells through a patch pipette equally inhibited Ca2+ signaling by all agonists. Further evidence for compartmentalization of signaling complexes was developed in permeabilized cells. The time-dependent loss of Ca2+ signaling due to SLO permeabilization occurred in an agonist-specific manner in the sequence cabachol > bombesin > cholecystokinin. Signaling by all agonists could be completely restored with as low as 2 μM guanosine 5′-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTPγS). At this low concentration GTPγS recoupled inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production and Ca2+ release, rather than enhancing phospholipase C activity. Priming of Ca2+ signaling by GTPγS was agonist-specific. Guanosine 5′-O-(thio)diphosphate (GDPβS) uncoupled the ability of signaling complexes to release Ca2+ much better than stimulating inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production. The uncoupling of Ca2+ signaling by GDPβS was also agonist-specific. The combined findings of agonist-specific initiation sites of the Ca2+ wave and differential access of guanine nucleotides to signaling complexes suggest spacial compartmentalization of Ca2+ signaling complexes. Each complex must include a receptor, G protein, and phospholipase C that are coupled to a specific portion of the Ca2+ pool.
Pay satisfaction and organizational outcomes

Using multi level and multi method data, we investigated the relationship between pay satisfaction and outcomes at the organizational level of analysis. Individual-level survey data on pay satisfaction (including satisfaction with pay level, satisfaction with pay structure, satisfaction with pay raises, and benefits) were collected from 6,394 public school teachers. Organizational-level outcome data, both survey and archival, were collected from the 117 public school districts employing these teachers. With respect to its influence on organizational outcomes, pay satisfaction was positively related to school district-level academic performance and negatively related to average teacher intention to quit. We also explored the relationship between district-level union satisfaction and pay satisfaction, which was found to be positive. We discuss implications of our findings for for-profit companies that are knowledge based and human capital intensive (e.g., the service sector) and address possible future directions for research on pay satisfaction.
Design and fabrication of a hybrid nanofluidic channel

A hybrid micro-nanofluidic channel network is developed on a silicon wafer for bioanalytical applications, such as separation, concentration, and fractionation. The nanochannel is formed on the silicon wafer using surface micromachining techniques, while the microchannel is fabricated on the poly-di-methyl-siloxane utilizing soft lithography techniques. Microfluidic networks not only support the very thin wall of the nanofluidic channel, but also provide appropriate gateways for the fluid/sample flow. The thickness of the microchannels is kept below 10 µm by changing the spin rate and time during photolithography. On the other hand, nanochannel thickness is varied between 100 and 200 nm by controlling the sputtering time of the sacrificial copper layer. Electrochemical wet etching is employed to release the thin layer of copper from the silicon dioxide shell. Our etching technique demonstrates significant advantages over other existing methods, such as wet chemical etching and reactive ion etching, including relatively fast etching rate, good selectivity, less safety and environmental concerns, less monitoring and control issues, and low cost. The dimensions of our microfluidic channels are measured using a profilometer, while the nanochannel thickness is confirmed by the atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images.
Freeze-fracture appearance of the capillary endothelium in the cerebral cortex of mouse brain†

Extensive tight junctions are located between overlaps of plasma membranes of capillary endothelial cells. Micropinocytotic vesicles are few in number and are seen as invaginations on the A face and as protrusions on the B face. The freeze-fracture appearance of these cells is consistent with their thin section appearance and their role as the site of the blood-brain barrier.
Dietary factors that affect biological availability of trace elements

There are numerous dietary factors that affect the biological availability of trace elements (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn). Notable among these factors are solubility, adsorption and complexation with natural or synthetic chelating agents. Recently, the significance of chelation in promotion or inhibition of absorption has become widely recognized. The stability and solubility of trace metal complexes either present in the diet or formed in the gastrointestinal tract are important determinants in the absorption fate of a complexed ion. If the chelate is much more stable than the complex formed with specific proteins at the absorption site, or if the complex is insoluble, the ion will not be efficiently absorbed. If the complex is soluble and less stable than the absorption site complexes, it may promote absorption, particularly if an insoluble compound results from interaction of the ion with a competing chelating agent. Phytate forms insoluble complexes with iron and zinc and decreases their absorption. In the case of zinc, chelating agents such as EDTA and certain amino acids counteract the phytate effect. 41 references, 4 figures, 4 tables.
A Question about the Parisi Functional

We conjecture that the Parisi functional in the SK model is convex in the functional order parameter and prove a partial result that shows the convexity along one-sided directions. A consequence of this result is the log-convexity of $L_m$ norm for a class or random variables.
How Physical Education Teacher Education Majors Should Be Prepared to Teach Students With Hearing Loss: A National Needs Assessment

A national needs assessment survey is described that gathered information on current practices in physical education in both center-based schools for the deaf and mainstream programs serving deaf and hard of hearing students, grades K-12. The manner in which deaf and hard of hearing students are being served in physical education programs, the depth and breadth of curricula, and the credentials needed to teach are described. The study compares similarities and differences among physical education programs in center-based deaf institutions and mainstream schools. In summary, the study identifies areas of concentration needed in curriculum, and methods of teaching appropriate for student teacher candidates. This information has value for physical education programs that are considering revising their curricula to prepare teacher candidates who wish to work with deaf students.
Balancing responsiveness and economics in process supply chain design with multi‐echelon stochastic inventory

This article is concerned with the optimal design of multi-echelon process supply chains (PSCs) under economic and responsive criteria with considerations of inventory management and demand uncertainty. The multi-echelon inventory systems are modeled with the guaranteed service approach to handle the uncertain demands at each echelon. The maximum guaranteed service time of the last echelon of the PSC is proposed as a measure of a PSC's responsiveness. The problem is formulated as a bi-criterion mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP) with the objectives of minimizing the annualized cost (economic objective) and minimizing the maximum guaranteed service times of the markets (responsiveness objective). The model simultaneously predicts the optimal network structure, transportation amounts, and inventory levels under different specifications of the PSC responsiveness. An example on acetic acid supply chain is presented to illustrate the application of the proposed model and to comprehensively compare different measures of PSC responsiveness. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Restudying Cañamelar of The People of Puerto Rico

This article discusses an unknown restudy of one locale of the People of Puerto Rico Project–my own. From 1980 to 1982 the author did ethnographic fieldwork in Bo. Jauca, Santa Isabel, the research site of Sidney Mintz. Building on Mintz's work, my goal was to take our shared historical materialism further, into a broader analysis of capitalism, colonialism, class, politics, and power. Where Mintz framed his study within production units, such as Colonia Destino and Central Aguirre, my study began with analysis of the oligarchic structure of the United States sugar industry as a whole, and how it shaped colonial policy. Where the People of Puerto Rico Project reconstructed insular class and political patterns as context for local studies, the restudy took islandwide class structure and political positions as a focus of analysis in itself. Where the earlier work chronicled the rise of a plantation system and rural proletariat, the later study explored their decline—why did the Puerto Rican sugar industry c...
Utilizing cross‐cultural curricula to improve interpersonal job skills training

Presents a study that examined the effects of cross‐cultural instruction on the interpersonal job skills of students in secondary vocational programs. The population consisted of a treatment and a control group, with 65 students in each group. A pretest and posttest was administered. The experimental group received the intervention during a six‐week period. The dependent variable was generalizable interpersonal relations skills as measured by the generalizable interpersonal relations skills performance assessment. The independent variables included a cross‐cultural instructional intervention, gender, ethnicity, and school. The findings indicated that students receiving the cross‐cultural instructional intervention had significantly higher generalizable interpersonal relations skills achievement than students not receiving the intervention. Recommends that cross‐cultural instruction be integrated into vocational and industrial training curricula, including instructor preservice and inservice training. Also, trainers should closely link the benefits of cultural awareness to learners’ experiences at home and the work place; and to their personal and professional success.
The local tissue cooling coefficient: A unified approach to thermal washout and steady-state ‘perfusion’ calculations

Several investigators have attempted to utilize either transient 'thermal washout' and/or steady-state temperature data from standard hyperthermia thermometry to obtain information regarding both tumour and normal tissue perfusions, and transient data to measure SAR distributions. This paper reviews that literature, presents a unified theoretical basis for all of the temporal 'perfusion' approaches, and shows that both the steady-state and the 'washout' techniques actually measure the same quantity, which is related to, but not equal to, the tissue perfusion. A new nomenclature for the quantity measured by these techniques is proposed, the local tissue cooling coefficient, a name which avoids any use of the term 'perfusion', in order to avoid unwarranted inferences regarding this quantity. The requirements for relating this quantity to the true tissue perfusion are presented, and possible applications of the local tissue cooling coefficient are reviewed. Finally, the techniques used by various investigators for normalizing SAR data are summarized and discussed, and a standard approach suggested.
Risk taking in stochastic PERT networks

Abstract This paper studies a PERT problem which incorporates project managers' risk taking behavior in stochastic environments. In this stochastic PERT network, which we refer to as RISKPERT, activity durations are nonnegative random variables, and a project manager uses a disutility function to evaluate each path and chooses that path which maximizes his expected disutility as an ‘optimal’ (or critical) path. This path, as opposed to the classical critical path, is used as a basis to analyze the PERT network and to estimate the probability of completion time. The general RISKPERT is difficult to solve; however, special cases when activity durations are statistically independent and disutility functions are linear, exponential, quadratic, or linear-exponential, are solvable exactly. The illustrative examples demonstrate that RISKPERT captures managers' risk taking behavior and provides results that are more realistic than those of the classical PERT models. Furthermore, this paper extends some of the RISKPERT models to include multi-dimensional PERT networks.
Better to give and to compete? prosocial and competitive motives as interactive predictors of citizenship behavior

Research has returned mixed results concerning the relationship between prosocial motivation and citizenship behavior. Building from research suggesting that mixed motives might explain these equivocal findings, we conducted two field studies examining the interaction between prosocial and competitive motives and two types of citizenship behavior. Prosocial motivation, but not competitive motivation, was positively related to citizenship behavior directed at others, though this relationship was weakened when prosocial motives were accompanied by competitive motives. Prosocial motives compensated for weak competitive motives to predict citizenship behavior directed toward the organization. Our studies expand research on prosocial and competitive motivation, mixed-motives, and citizenship behavior. Further, they carry personnel implications given that many organizations seek to hire employees high on both competitive and prosocial motivation.
Analysis of undergraduate teaching evaluations in computer science

Undergraduate teaching evaluations are widely believed to be biased. We analyzed the evaluations from our department for all classes from 2000 through 2008, looking for specific biases. We looked for correlations between evaluation numbers and whether the course was required; how much time students spent on the course; student classification (freshman, sophomore, etc.), and expected grades. While all of these show correlations with teaching evaluation responses, the effect of each factor is not consistent over all questions and varied strongly depending on the evaluation question and the course level.
An experimental investigation of flow and diffusion in the disturbed boundary layer over a ridge—I. Mean flow and turbulence structure

Abstract The influence of a low ridge on the mean flow and turbulence structure of a boundary layer is investigated through experiments conducted in a large meteorological wind tunnel. A two-dimensional triangular ridge, having a slope of 2 to 1 and height (h) about 1 10 of the boundary layer thickness, was placed normal to the air flow. Observations were made of mean and turbulent flow in the boundary layer at various positions relative to the ridge and compared with measurements in flow without the ridge. The biggest effect of the ridge is to cause a separation bubble or cavity region of much reduced but recirculating mean flow and very intense turbulence; this region extends to a distance of 13 h downstream from the ridge top and to a maximum height of 2.5 h. In addition, there results an extended wake region in which mean velocity is reduced and turbulence is enhanced considerably to large distances (x) behind the ridge. Observations indicate that the thickness of the wake increases roughly in proportion to ( (x h ) 1 2 , while the perturbations in mean velocity, Reynolds stress and variances of velocity fluctuations decay as ( x h ) −1 . Other observations of wake flows behind square blocks and two-dimensional gentle hills also show the obstacle-caused perturbations to decay in proportion to ( x h ) −1 , although the proportionality constants are found to be strongly dependent on the obstacle shape. There is no satisfactory theory at present to explain all these experimental results.
Differences in hormone-sensitive lipase expression in white adipose tissue from various anatomic locations of the rat☆

Regional differences in lipolytic activity of isolated fat cells have been observed in rats, with internal fat depots displaying greater rates of lipolysis than subcutaneous fat. These differences in lipolysis have been attributed to a variety of mechanisms, including regional differences in adrenergic receptors, in adenosine sensitivity, and in regional blood flow. In the present study, we have explored whether differences in hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), the rate-limiting enzyme in lipolysis, might contribute to regional differences in lipolysis in the rat. Adipocytes were isolated from epididymal, retroperitoneal, and dorsalsubcutaneous fat depots, and HSL activity, HSL immunoreactive protein, the rate of HSL synthesis, and the steady-state levels of HSL mRNA were assessed. HSL activity was similar in epididymal and retroperitoneal adipocytes, but was twofold to 2.5-fold greater in these cells than in subcutaneous adipocytes (P < .01). The amount of immunoreactive HSL protein was also similar in epididymal and retroperitoneal adipocytes, but was twofold greater in these cells than in subcutaneous adipocytes (P < .001). The rate of incorporation of 35S-methionine into immunoprecipitable HSL was approximately 2.5-fold greater in epididymal than in subcutaneous adipocytes (P < .01). Finally, HSL mRNA levels were similar in epididymal and retroperitoneal fat depots, and were approximately 1.4-fold greater in these cells than in subcutaneous adipocytes (P < .001). These results demonstrate that site-related differences in the rate of basal lipolysis among various fat depots in the rat are in part due to variations in the expression of HSL.
Mechanisms of oligozoospermia: an oxidative stress perspective.

AbstractInfertile patients presenting with poor semen concentration, motility, and morphology have significantly higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this cross-sectional study, our goal was to: 1) determine how semen parameters such as concentration, motility, morphology, as well as ROS are altered in oligozoospermic men alone and those in combination with poor sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and compare these with three control groups; unproven donors, donors with proven fertility 2 years; 2) establish the cutoff, sensitivity, specificity for ROS, and see how it compared in the three donor groups compared to the patient groups, and 3) establish the reference range for the various semen parameters in these three donor groups compared to the oligozoospermic group by generating receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each parameter. Fifty-six donors and 101 infertile men were included in this study. The patient grou...
A/I: a synthesis

There has never been a serious effort made to produce a program which would pass Turing's well known test for artificial intelligence. The present paper describes a program which, although not intended to meet the test, is a tentative step in that direction. It is a synthesis of earlier work on emotions, purpose, conversation, knowledge/belief acquisition. Provision for the incorporation of additional aspects of A/I has been made.