cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Determination of Caffeine and Vitamin B6 in Energy Drinks by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

A high-performance liquid chromatography experiment to determine the concentration of caffeine and vitamin B6 in sports energy drinks has been developed. This laboratory activity, which is appropriate for an upper-level instrumental analysis course, illustrates the standard addition method and simultaneous determination of two species.
Revolutionary health psychology versus scientific health psychology – commentary on Murray (2012)

As one of the newest but most influential and consequential fields to emerge in the socio-behavioural sciences, health psychology balances centripetal and centrifugal forces that are constantly thr...
Corporations and the law: Historical lessons for contemporary practice

Abstract This article examines the role of the courts, especially the Supreme Court, in facilitating the development of a capitalist economy and enhancing corporate power. Theoretically, I employ an approach which treats the law as a constitutive process. I first survey key legal developments in the nineteenth century through which the courts fostered and nurtured the development of a capitalist economy. Then I analyze the post‐New Deal era, examining the transformation of economic doctrines by the Supreme Court to legitimate a newly emergent corporate‐administrative state. In the last part of the article I use this historical analysis to address contemporary issues for the Left of how to bring about fundamental change in the United States. I discuss the degree to which the law can be used as a means of progressive reform and how strategic legal choices are related to the debate about social movement, discourse, class‐based, and political strategies for change.
Observations of H2O2 and S(IV) in air, cloudwater and precipitation and their implications for the reactive scavenging of SO2

Abstract In-cloud oxidation of atmospheric SO 2 by H 2 O 2 to produce H 2 SO 4 has been demonstrated by several recent field studies. This reaction appears rapid and quantitative with the amount of sulfate determined by the concentration of either SO 2 or H 2 O 2 whichever reagent is present in lesser amount. We report here measurements of H 2 O 2 and S(IV) in air, precipitating clouds and in surface precipitation made in the several field studies conducted as part of the DOE PRECP program, and during a field study in southern Ontario in the winter of 1984. Clear air concentrations measured in the midwest during June 1987 were found to be quite variable from day to day, and even within days when different air masses were sampled. The SO 2 /H 2 O 2 vertical profiles show that while SO 2 is largely confined to the boundary layer, H 2 O 2 is present over a much wider range of altitudes. The H 2 O 2 in the boundary layer was seldom present at concentrations sufficient to completely oxidize the available SO 2 . This implies that mixing processes associated with clouds may be an important factor in controlling the extent to which the reaction of these two species occurs. The mutual exclusiveness of H 2 O 2 and SO 2 previously found in non-precipitating clouds was not observed in precipitating clouds; substantial quantities of these two species frequently coexisted. This is attibuted to material dissolved in falling hydrometeors which has not had time to react with SO 2 . Analysis of the seasonal dependency of cloudwater and precipitation H 2 O 2 concentrations shows a strong seasonal trend with concentrations much higher in summer than winter, consistent with a photochemical source for H 2 O 2 .
The structural and electrical properties of Zn–Sn–O buffer layers and their effect on CdTe solar cell performance

Thin films of zinc-tin-oxide (ZTO) have been deposited on SnO 2 :F coated glass substrates by co-sputtering of SnO 2 and ZnO. The deposition conditions for ZTO were controlled in order to vary film stoichiometry. The electro-optical and structural properties of ZTO have been studied as a function of their stoichiometric ratio and post-deposition annealing conditions. The same films were subsequently utilized as part of a bi-layer transparent front contact for the fabrication of CdTe solar cells: glass/SnO 2 :F/ZTO. The performance of these devices suggested that the ZTO deposition and cell processing conditions can be optimized for enhanced device performance in particular for devices with thin CdS. Specifically, high blue spectral response (>70% at 450 nm), accompanied by high open-circuit voltages (830 mV), and fill factors (70 + %) have been demonstrated. Best solar cell performance was obtained for multi-phase ZTO films deposited at substrate temperatures of 400°C and a Zn/Sn ratio of 2.0, and which contained the binary phase of ZnO 2 .
Defining the post-operative morbidity index for distal pancreatectomy

Background Accurate assessment of complications is critical in analysing surgical outcomes. The post-operative morbidity index (PMI), derived from the Modified Accordion Severity Grading System and American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), is a quantitative measure of post-operative morbidity. This study utilizes PMI to establish the complication burden for a distal pancreatectomy (DP).
Aversive CS control of instrumental avoidance as a function of selected parameters and method of Pavlovian conditioning

Abstract Effects of aversive CSs upon dogs' instrumental avoidance responding were assessed as a function of the Pavlovian conditioning parameters using off-baseline (Experiment 1) and on-baseline (Experiment 2) conditioning procedures. In each experiment, three UCS intensitites (2, 6, and 10 mA) were crossed factorially with two CS-UCS intervals (10 and 90 sec) yielding six groups. After 4 days of conditioning, the CS-produced effects on avoidance were determined primarily by an interaction between Pavlovian procedure (off- versus on-baseline) and UCS intensity. With off-baseline conditioning, CS-produced facilitation of avoidance was an increasing function of the UCS intensity. However, with on-baseline conditioning, only the CS paired with weak UCS facilitated avoidance, and the CS paired with the strong UCS suppressed responding. This reversing parametric function poses problems for two-process motivational theories of avoidance.
NUCLEOTIDE AND AMINO ACID SEQUENCE ALIGNMENT FOR HUMAN KILLER CELL INHIBITORY RECEPTORS (KIR), 1998

We present alignments of nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences for all currently identified killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIR). The genes for these receptors have been localized to human chromosome 19q13.4 and constitute a large gene family. They all encode structures typical of type I transmembrane molecules belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ig-SF). Extensive polymorphism exists within the genes and many of the currently identified cDNA clones represent alternatively spliced forms of previously reported full-length clones. The sequence alignments have been posted on the World Wide Web and are accessible at the Tissue Antigens web site at: http://www.tissue-antigens.dk/kir-align.html. The alignments will be updated at intervals.
Large-scale health outcomes evaluation: How should quality of life be measured? Part I—Calibration of a brief questionnaire and a search for preference subgroups

More than six years have passed since Paul Ellwood first introduced the term “outcomes management” to the health policy debate [l]. Ellwood envisioned the creation of a “permanent national medical data base that uses a common set of definitions for measuring quality of life.” Patients would regularly supply information concerning their health-related quality of life as part of a large-scale quasi-experiment designed to determine the outcomes of care and the effectiveness of medical and surgical services. Responses to the outcome questionnaires would be linked to medical records containing information about patients’ conditions and treatments. This activity, Ellwood believed, would provide a “central nervous system” for a health care system increasingly characterized by “uninformed patients, skeptical payers, frustrated physicians, and besieged health care executives.” Ellwood’s vision helped launch what is now commonly referred to as the “outcomes movement” [2]. In an editorial published a few months after Ellwood’s article, Arnold Relman heralded the dawn of the “third revolution in health care, the Era of Assessment and Accountability” [3]. Relman endorsed the idea of “linking medical management decisions to
Contact Systems in Infectious Disease

The current state of knowledge of contact coagulation pathways activated by exposure of blood to foreign surfaces such as occur with endothelial damage is reviewed. Changes in the contact proteins in normally occurring and experimentally induced infections in humans are summarized. The use of mutant alpha 1-antitrypsin to inhibit activation of this pathway in experimental porcine sepsis is also described. The principles developed may be applicable in studies of the pathogenesis and treatment of viral hemorrhagic fevers.
Autonomic versus cortical arousal in schizophrenics and non-psychotics.

ONE of the more provocative experimental studies in the recent literature on schizophrenia was the report by VENABLES~ in this journal that the two-flash fusion threshold (TFT) and tonic palmar skin potential (SP), psychophysical and psychophysiological indicants, respectively, of arousal, were correlated strongly but with opposite sign in schizophrenic and normal subjects. In two samples of non-paranoid schizophrenics, the TFT and the concurrent level of palmar SP were correlated -0.79 and -0.72 in contrast to correlations of $0.45 and $0.61 (all highly significant) found in two normal groups. Because low TFTs are associated with high levels of cortical arousal (vi& infra), the expected correlation with SP is negative and Venables provides a somewhat complicated rationale to account for the inversion of this relationship in his normal subjects. The TFT is an estimate of the shortest interval between two brief flashes of light which still allows the subject to perceive a double rather than a single flash. LINDSLEY~J and his students had demonstrated in the cat and monkey that two flashes separated by 100 msec, easily resolved by human subjects, yield two distinct evoked responses in the visual cortex while a 50 msec separation, seen as a single flash by humans, produces only a single cortical evoked response. Following brief electrical stimulation of the ascending reticular arousal system, however, this same 50 msec interflash interval evoked two distinct responses in the visual projection area, suggesting that reticular activation had increased the temporal resolving power of the cortex and, presumably, that a similar effect in a human subject might allow him to perceive the 50 msec pair as a double flash. Using averaging techniques to abstract the evoked response from the EEG, VAUGHAN and COSTAR have confirmed that, for human subjects, as the interflash interval is increased the evoked response to the second flash appears at the same interval at which some pairs begin to be seen as double. KOPELL, NOBLE and SILVERMANS found that the TFT is raised by a barbiturate and lowered by a stimulant, and ROSEN reports a correlation of -0.63 between the TFT and a forced-choice * This study formed a part of a doctoral dissertation submitted by the junior author to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Minnesota. It was supported in part by a grant to the senior author from the Graduate Medical Research Fund of the University. The authors are indebted to the Department of Psychiatry of the Minneapolis VA Hospital and especially to Dr. HAROLD GILBERSTADT and Dr. GAIL LUMRY for their generous support and cooperation.
Tipping the Scales of Selection with BAFF

Abstract Two recent Immunity papers (Lesley et al., 2004; Thien et al., 2004) link peripheral tolerance with the ability of developing B cells to capture BAFF. These findings suggest that an increase in effective BAFF levels leads to autoreactive B cell maturation.
PD35-07 EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RENAL FOSSA RECURRENCE FOLLOWING NEPHRECTOMY FOR RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

after surgical resection a flexible cystoscope is inserted into the vena cava for direct visual inspection of the caval lumen with high flow heparinized saline irrigation. Perioperative outcomes including estimated blood loss, transfusion requirements, residual tumor, changes in management due to findings at cavoscopy, and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients underwent endoscopy of the vena caval lumen without complications. 8 of 32 patients were found to have residual tumor thrombus upon visualization of the lumen. Of these, six patients were noted to have tumor invasion of the intraluminal wall resulting in cavectomy. Residual intraluminal tumor was noted in 2 patients which was bluntly resected with no residual tumor visible on repeat endoscopy. Median estimated blood loss was 3L (0.5-16) with a median intraoperative transfusion requirement of 14 units (0-63 units). Median Pringle Maneuver time was 15 minutes (3-30 minutes). Median length of stay was 10 days (4-73 days). Postoperative lower extremity edema was noted in 5 patients (3 following cavectomy) with resolution in all patients and a median resolution time of 52 days (30-322 days). There were no complications associated with vena cavoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Vena Cavoscopy using a flexible cystoscope is an expedient and feasible technique that may be utilized intra-operatively in order to ensure clearance of residual thrombus burden within the inferior vena cava or hepatic veins and to assess for caval wall invasion.
The problem of the missing intangible

Professor Baruch Lev’s life-time quest concerns the accounting treatment of intangibles and research development (R&D). His argument, in a nutshell, is that the current treatment of intangibles and R&D in financial statements misinforms investors regarding the value income and assets. The consequence is to destroy financial statement comparability for investors and cause a misallocation of society’s economic resources. This paper contends that it is time to take Professor Lev’s project to the next level. Advocacy and indignation are no longer sufficient to effect the kind of changes that Professor Lev seeks. This paper explores new paths to bring these changes about.
Childhood Emotional Maltreatment and Later Intimate Relationships: Themes from the Empirical Literature

Within the last three decades, researchers have begun to investigate the long-term consequences of childhood emotional maltreatment on interpersonal and intrapersonal functioning. These investigations have led to the realization that survivors of childhood emotional maltreatment suffer from myriad psychological and social difficulties. These difficulties influence the quality and nature of intimate relationships formed by emotional abuse survivors. The empirical literature looking at the effect of childhood emotional maltreatment on intimate relationships is summarized and discussed. Implications of the current body of research for future research and clinical practice are addressed.
Lability of Metabolic Processes in Laying Hens

Abstract AN INVESTIGATION of seasonal metabolic rhythms in hens showed relatively large variations in individual birds from one semi-monthly, or monthly, period to the next. In order to study the magnitude of these variations during a relatively short period, normal heat production, heart rate, respiratory quotient, body temperature, and body weight of four 2-year-old laying New Hampshire hens were measured frequently during a period of a month. It is of interest to note that Benedict and Ritzman (1935), and Ritzman and Benedict (1938) have called attention to lability in basal metabolism observed in cows, and that Dukes (1937) reported relatively large variability in heat production of hens. The respiratory exchange of the fowls used in this investigation was measured with a multiple-chamber, closed-circuit, respiration apparatus. This apparatus consists of a constant-temperature cabinet housing four independent respiration chambers each connected to an oxygen burette and a rocking battery containing an alkaline solution . . .
3D laptop for defense applications

Polaris Sensor Technologies has developed numerous 3D display systems using a US Army patented approach. These displays have been developed as prototypes for handheld controllers for robotic systems and closed hatch driving, and as part of a TALON robot upgrade for 3D vision, providing depth perception for the operator for improved manipulation and hazard avoidance. In this paper we discuss the prototype rugged 3D laptop computer and its applications to defense missions. The prototype 3D laptop combines full temporal and spatial resolution display with the rugged Amrel laptop computer. The display is viewed through protective passive polarized eyewear, and allows combined 2D and 3D content. Uses include robot tele-operation with live 3D video or synthetically rendered scenery, mission planning and rehearsal, enhanced 3D data interpretation, and simulation.
Hypoglycemia associated with off-label sitagliptin use.

Purpose To describe a case of hypoglycemia induced by off-label use of sitagliptin in an adult patient with type 2 diabetes. Case summary Addition of sitagliptin to metformin, glimepiride, and NovoLog(®) 70/30 Mix induced hypoglycemia in a 55-year-old Caucasian female. Hypoglycemia improved, although still occurred periodically, following sulfonylurea discontinuation and a 28% insulin dose reduction. Hypoglycemic symptoms were absent during a 3-day dechallange but occurred again upon sitagliptin reinitiation. Discussion Although the mechanism of action of sitagliptin does not predispose patients to hypoglycemic events, when combined with hypoglycemia-inducing medications, eg, sulfonylureas or insulin, and possibly meglitinides, the incidence likely increases. Conclusions Caution should be used when combining sitagliptin with either sulfonylureas or insulin, and possibly meglitinides, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as hypoglycemia may ensue. Hypoglycemia due to off-label combinations with insulin and sitagliptin may be prevented by reducing meal-time insulin doses. Prescribers and patients should vigilantly monitor for hypoglycemic events when using sitagliptin off-label with similar pharmacologic combinations such as meglitinides and other rapid-acting insulin products. Additionally, clinicians may encounter resistance from insurance companies to cover such off-label combinations.
Rational approach to use of heparin during cardiac catheterization in children.

Objectives. We sought to determine an anticoagulation protocol for use during cardiac catheterization in children. Background. There are few data to indicate which dose of heparin represents adequate anticoagulation or how best to monitor its efficacy. In this study, adequate anticoagulation was defined as the amount of heparin needed to prevent a significant increase in serum fibrinopeptide A, a sensitive marker for thrombin activity. The degree of heparinization was estimated by the activated clotting time. Methods. Thirty-six children (1 month to 19.5 years old) with congenital heart disease underwent diagnostic cardiac catheterization; 13 of these 36 patients had an additional interventional procedure. Sheaths and catheters were flushed with heparinized saline (1 IU/ml); during the procedure, 33 of the 36 patients received either a 50- or a 100-IU/kg heparin bolus. Paired fibrinopeptide A and activated clotting time samples were obtained throughout each procedure. Results. Increasing the activated clotting time with heparin resulted in a dose-related decrease in fibrinopeptide A levels. A single heparin bolus of either 50 or 100 IU/kg elevated the activated clotting time above baseline level (209 ± 52 s after 50 IU/kg, 270 ± 57 s after 100 IU/kg vs. 133 ± 20 s at baseline [p Conclusions. Administration of a heparin bolus to maintain an activated clotting time >200 s prevented a significant increase in thrombin activity. Heparin flush alone did not provide adequate anticoagulation. Patients undergoing an interventional procedure did not require more heparin than that needed for a diagnostic procedure.
Elective conversion from cyclosporine to azathioprine in sensitized patients following cadaveric renal transplantation.

The safety of conversion from cyclosporine to azathioprine following renal transplantation in patients generally considered to be at immunologic risk for allograft loss has not been established. We examined a group of 59 patients who underwent cadaveric renal transplantation and elective conversion from cyclosporine to azathioprine 8.3 ± 3.8 months following transplantation. Forty-three of these patients received a first transplant and had panel-reactive antibodies (PRA) less than 40% (unsensitized). Sixteen patients received at least their second allograft or had PRA of 40% or more (sensitized). Average follow-up was 17.9 ± 8.2 months. Nine patients (15%) failed conversion as manifested by the need to restart cyclosporine 1 to 10 months following conversion. All were in the unsensitized group. Of those successfully converted, there were six allograft failures, two from patient death, one from acute rejection, one from recurrent diabetic nephropathy, and two from patient noncompliance. All were in the unsensitized group, although the difference from the sensitized group was not statistically significant ( P = 0.051). There were three rejection episodes, all successfully reversed, in the sensitized group and six rejection episodes in the unsensitized group, five of which were reversed. Overall renal function improved in both groups as shown by a significant decrease in serum creatinine. Neither group required increased doses of steroid to compensate for lack of cyclosporine. From these data we can recommend conversion from cyclosporine to azathioprine in patients with cytotoxic antibodies or those undergoing retransplantation.
Deciphering inflation with gravitational waves: Cosmic microwave background polarization vs direct detection with laser interferometers

A detection of the primordial gravitational wave background is considered to be the "smoking-gun" evidence for inflation. While superhorizon waves are probed with cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization, the relic background will be studied with laser interferometers. The long lever arm spanned by the two techniques improves constraints on the inflationary potential and validation of consistency relations expected under inflation. If gravitational waves with a tensor-to-scalar amplitude ratio greater than 0.01 are detected by the CMB, then a direct-detection experiment with a sensitivity consistent with current concept studies should be pursued vigorously. If no primordial tensors are detected by the CMB, a direct-detection experiment to understand the simplest form of inflation must have a sensitivity improved by two to 3 orders of magnitude over current plans.
Efficiency of a New Straight Cooling Fin

In 1926 E. Schmidt [1] discovered his optimum parabolic straight cooling fin. The most critical premise used in his analysis was the “length-of-arc” assumption that consists of neglecting the curvature of the fin exposed surface. The problem of optimum straight cooling fin design without the “length-of-arc” assumption was solved in [2] which led to the discovery of the optimum circular fin. In the present work, thermal efficiency of this new optimum straight cooling fin is computed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Effects of Type of Payoff and Instructions on Individual Risk-Taking Behavior

32 subjects were presented 4 items involving decisions either to take a certain amount of money or select a probability level for winning a larger amount. In a 2 × 2 design, subjects either made these decisions hypothetically or actually played out their choices for money. For half of each group, the items described a fixed payoff regardless of the probability level selected, while for the other half there were variable payoffs where the amount won increased as the probability of success decreased. Data indicated that subjects were more conservative when playing for real money with a fixed payoff but not when there was a variable payoff. These results suggest that the presence of conservatism in real risk-taking situations may be a function of the type of payoff.
Marx, economics and consumer response

Due to the political rivalries of the past, Karl Marx has usually been viewed as a partisan figure. With the demise of the Eastern block, however, it becomes possible to view Marxist thought in more objective and non‐partisan ways. Marx was a pioneering economic determinist. Since his death in 1883, furthermore, others have refined his views and the techniques with which economic determinism can be analyzed. As a result, Marx and the economic determinism he pioneered cannot be legitimately ignored by business thinkers.
Indicators of flourishing in anxious preschool-aged children

Anxiety disorders in the preschool-age population can cause behavioral, social and community concerns. Identifying factors related to flourishing may limit long-term consequences related to the experience of anxiety. The first goal of this study was to examine a national data-set from the 2011/2012 National Survey of Children's Health to determine the frequency of caregivers reporting that their preschool-aged child (between 2 and 5 years) experienced anxiety. The second aim was to detect predictors related to caregiver perceptions of flourishing in children who were described as anxious. Flourishing was a composite measure that included curiosity about learning, resilience, attachment with a caregiver, experiencing contentment and overall positive health status. Findings indicated that 262 children were experiencing moderate to severe anxiety. A regression analyses was used to examine factors that could be related to well-being in children who were anxious. Results indicated that positive behavior and pe...
Adaptive robust optical fiber receiver/transmitter

In the next decade, data transmission with speeds at several tens of gigabits per second (Gb/s) and beyond in short-haul local area and metropolitan area computer networks, as well as long- haul telecommunications networks, will be necessary to satisfy the ever increasing demands on bandwidth. Time division multiplexing based transmission systems become increasingly difficult to implement at higher speeds due to the speed limitations of electronics. In addition, these networks based on single wavelength transmission, use the available bandwidth inefficiently. As a result, both timing synchronization and bandwidth sharing among large numbers of users become major challenges. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) eases most of these problems; but introduces wavelength synchronization as the primary technical hurdle. The adaptive robust WDM receiver adjusts dynamically to the sources and thus alleviates many of the most serious and costly disadvantages of WDM. The technical burdens of WDM transmission are shifted to the receiver which is designed to accommodate the manufacturing and operating imperfects of the transmitter sources. Consequently, the receiver has then to be more sophisticated, but the added complexity in the receiver is in VLSI, simple PIN diodes, and passive guided wave optics. These components are inherently among the least expensive components in an optoelectronic system. Commercial WDM systems, especially in local area computer network environments, can thus be produced at significantly lower cost.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Influence of hormones and x-rays upon the tissue mast cell.

Diverses hormones sexuelles et pituitaires etaient sans effet sur les labrocytes du mesentere et de la peau du rat. L'irradiation partielle du rat et du hamster provoquait des alterations signifiques dans les tissus irradies mais etait sans effet dans les tissus non irradies.
Delayed application of MK-801 attenuates development of morphine tolerance in rats.

Abstract To investigate the possible involvement of enduring or delayed changes at theN-methyl- d -aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor in the mechanisms of morphine tolerance, rats were treated with the specific NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg) 2 h after morphine injection (20 mg/kg) during a 4-day induction period of tolerance. On the fifth day rats were injected only with morphine (15 mg/kg), and analgesia was assessed using the hot-plate test. Morphine tolerance was significantly reduced by MK-801. These findings suggest that long-lasting or delayed changes at the NMDA receptor underlie the development of morphine tolerance Moreover, because MK-801 was delivered 2 h after morphine and therefore could not serve as a cue for morphine administration, these findings indicate that the attenuating effect of MK-801 on the development of morphine tolerance is not attributable to state-dependent learning.
Active suppression of distractors that match the contents of visual working memory.

The biased competition theory proposes that items matching the contents of visual working memory will automatically have an advantage in the competition for attention. However, evidence for an automatic effect has been mixed, perhaps because the memory-driven attentional bias can be overcome by top-down suppression. To test this hypothesis, the Pd component of the event-related potential waveform was used as a marker of attentional suppression. While observers maintained a colour in working memory, task-irrelevant probe arrays were presented that contained an item matching the colour being held in memory. We found that the memory-matching probe elicited a Pd component, indicating that it was being actively suppressed. This result suggests that sensory inputs matching the information being held in visual working memory are automatically detected and generate an “attend-to-me” signal, but this signal can be overridden by an active suppression mechanism to prevent the actual capture of attention.
Complicated femoral shaft fractures

The treatment of femoral shaft fractures has become safe and reproducible since the advent of popularization of intramedullary nailing, however, many femoral shaft fractures are complicated by associated fractures, extensive comminution, extensive contamination, and arterial injury compartmental syndrome. Other conditions associated with the use of femoral nailing include femora nonunions, broken hardware, acute fractures with prior implants, and infections. The management of these complex femoral shaft fractures demands special techniques for successful outcome.
‘Pirate Utopias’: From the Archive to Homeless Writing in Edmundo Paz Soldán's Novels

This article addresses three of Edmundo Paz Soldan's novels, Suenos digitales (2000), El delirio de Turing (2003), and Palacio Quemado (2006), to argue that they dismantle the archive, regarded by Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria to be the epistemological cornerstone of Latin-American literature. These texts embrace an aesthetics of homeless writing which, rejecting the archive's legacy, expresses itself through a grammar immanent in the present and, hence, shorn of all prior conceptual frameworks. The essay further asserts that in these novels the past, the public and the private spheres and the body operate as containments that reinforce the archive's legacy. Accordingly, Paz Soldan's narratives work towards disencumbering writing from the confines of these three ‘archival’ paradigms in order to project homeless writing as the ebb and rise of ‘pirate utopias’ that constantly allude to a future community wherein any discursive home is chipped away even while it is being traced.
Optimal Target Heart Rate for Exercise-Induced T-Wave Alternans

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the optimal target heart rate (HR) for the use of exercise-induced T-wave alternans (TWA) as an index for risk of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Background: Rate-dependent TWA is an index of vulnerability to ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, false positive TWA was reported to occur in normal subjects at high HR. Methods: Two groups were evaluated: Group I: 50 patients with malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias, who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD); and Group II: 55 agematched normal subjects. In both Groups, TWA was evaluated during symptom-limited bicycle exercise test. Results: Peak HR during exercise test was 103 ± 17 beats/min in Group I, versus 124 ± 18 beats/min in Group II (P 115 beats/min, while two out of four in Group II had TWA at HR > 115/minutes. However, 13 patients in Group I who had no TWA were unable to exercise to a peak HR > 115 beats/min, compared to nine subjects in Group II. Conclusions: A target HR of 115 beats/min was highly sensitive and specific for determination of exercise-induced TWA as an index of risk of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, a significant number of patients may not be able to achieve this target HR, resulting in an indeterminate test. The value of pharmacologic testing in this group should be assessed. A.N.E. 2001;6(2):123–128
Probabilistic modeling and reliability analysis for validating geomagnetically induced current data

Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) cause half cycle saturation of transformers, which increases harmonic currents and reactive powers in the grid. This paper presents the least-squares (LS) estimation of the geoelectric field using the GIC measurements for model validation purposes. To account for more realistic noise scenarios, a general probabilistic GIC measurement model has been developed. Using the proposed model, the accuracy of the LS estimator and its reliability in assessing the geoelectric field are available analytically. The analytical results are verified through numerical simulations using a practical 20-bus test case.
Stable proofs of stable splittings

V. P. Snaith's theorem giving splittings of the suspension spectrum of ΩnΣnX for a connected space X (8) has been exploited in several areas of homotopy theory. (See (2), (5) and (6), for instance.) Although this is a theorem about spectra, Snaith's proof (as well as a subsequent proof of Cohen, May, and Taylor (4)) proceeds unstably, on the space level. While the methods employed in these proofs are useful, they are somewhat complicated. The purpose of this note is to give a simple proof of this theorem, using only spectrum level arguments.
Temporal distribution of Kootenai River white sturgeon spawning events and the effect of flow and temperature

Summary We examined the temporal distribution of endangered Kootenai River white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus spawning, its relation to flow and temperature, and both natural and manmade variations thereof. We believed this information would be helpful because a Technical Management Team as well as the Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Team manage flows, and, to a lesser degree, temperature thereof during each spawning season. Spawnings from 1994 to 2000 were monitored by egg collection using artificial substrate mats and subsequent microscopic examination of the eggs to estimate age and timing of spawning. The strength of our study was in correlation to observed spawning events with corresponding temperature and flow. We estimated that the number of white sturgeon spawning events ranged from nine to 20, with spawning days ranging from 17 to 31 days. Average daily temperature during spawning ranged from 7.5 to 14 °C, with the highest probability of spawning (48 %) at 9.5-9.9 °C. Average daily flow for spawning events ranged from 141 to 1265 m 3 s-1, but most (63%) spawning took place above 630 m 3 s -1 . Initial spawning by Kootenai River white sturgeon during spring may be synchronized with the arrival of females from downstream staging reaches. After the onset of spawning, the temporal distribution of spawning events appears to be dependent on the shape and stability of flow and temperature. We found a water temperature decrease of ≥0.8 °C could disrupt white sturgeon spawning. Our analysis suggests for optimum spawning in the Kootenai River that flows should be held above 630 m 3 s -1 , ideally 1200 m 3 s -1 , with a temperature range of 9.5-12 °C. Given the available flows, we found no evidence to suggest a need above 1300 m 3 s -1 for white sturgeon spawning, but there may be secondary benefits associated with higher flows.
The effects of maternal stress and child language ability on behavioral outcomes of children with congenital hearing loss at 18-24months.

Abstract Background Prior studies have shown that children with congenital hearing loss have increased rates of behavior disorders. Child hearing loss has also been reported to be associated with increased maternal stress. Little is known about the behavior or the predictors of behavioral outcomes of children with hearing loss identified early and receiving Early Intervention services. Aim The objective of this study was to identify the behavioral outcomes in early identified children with hearing loss and control hearing children at 18–24 months of age and to examine the impact of stress on early behavior development. It was hypothesized that children with hearing loss will have more behavior problems, and maternal stress will be associated with child behavior problems. Study design Prospective observational. Subjects Children with and without congenital hearing loss and their mothers. Outcome measures The Parenting Stress Index and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results Children with hearing loss had increased scores for withdrawn and internalizing behavior. In multivariate analyses after adjusting for hearing loss, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stay, and socioeconomic status, maternal stress independently contributed to higher scores for internalizing behavior, externalizing behavior, and total behavior problems. Conclusion Maternal stress is an important correlate of behavior problems for children with hearing loss and should be considered by Early Intervention providers.
Isolated Diastolic Hypertension: A Favorable Finding Among Young and Middle-aged Hypertensive Subjects

Abstract To identify pretreatment characteristics associated with subsequent myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged previously untreated hypertensive individuals, we examined the experience...
The dilemmas of inter-professionalism in health and social care: The role of professions in collaborative working

Introduction At my higher education institution, University Campus Suffolk based in Ipswich in the United Kingdom, we educate a variety of professional groups from social workers to nurses. We also have a tradition of inter-professional education in health and social care going back to the 1990s and are affiliated to the Council for the Advancement of Inter-Professional Education. As such, we are strongly committed to interprofessionalism, not least in health and social care.
Adhesive and mechanical properties of soft nanocomposites: Model studies with blended latex films

We used a unique approach based on contact mechanics to quantify the adhesive and linear viscoelastic properties of latex films approximately 100 μm thick. The latex films were formed from a mixture of two particle types and form stable films consisting of rigid and compliant regions. We used atomic force microscopy to verify that these regions remained well dispersed on the length scale of the original particle size. The properties of the films were determined by ϕh, the volume fraction of the stiffer component. For ϕh < 0.45, the films were quite adhesive, with viscoelastic properties determined by the compliant matrix material. Adhesive interactions between the film and indenter enabled us to oscillate the indenter in the direction normal to the film surface while maintaining a constant contact area, allowing us to determine the frequency dependence of the dynamic moduli of the films. Stiffer films with higher volume fractions of hard particles were characterized by indentation measurements, from which we were able to determine the time dependence of the relaxation modulus of the latex films. All results were consistent with a power-law form of the relaxation modulus with an exponent of 0.25. The magnitude of the relaxation modulus increased by a factor of 3000 as the volume fraction of hard particles increased from 0 to 0.89. For low values of ϕh, the composition dependence of the film stiffness was similar to the concentration dependence of the viscosity of spherical particle suspensions. A much weaker concentration dependence was observed for the highest values of ϕh, where the properties of the films were dominated by the stiffer component. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 3090–3102, 2001
Changes in free amino acid profile of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus, eggs, and developing larvae

The free amino acids (FAA) profile was determined for newly fertilized eggs and resultant larvae from wild-caught red snapper Lutjanus campechanus induced to spawn with hCG. Yolk sac and oil globule volumes of eggs and larvae were monitored over time from digital photographs. FAA profiles of the eggs and larvae were measured in picomoles (pmol) of FAA/mg of eggs by HPLC. Newly fertilized eggs had a mean total FAA content of 21.72 ± 3.55 nmoles/egg (92.81 ± 9.71 nmoles/mg eggs). Leucine, valine, lysine, and isoleucine were the most abundant essential FAA comprising 35.9% of the total FAA. Alanine, serine, asparagine, and glycine were the most abundant non-essential FAA comprising 34.2% of the total FAA. At 24 h post-hatch (hph) the mean total FAA had decreased by 81% since egg fertilization. The bulk of the FAA decrease was between the time of hatch and 12 hph. Only 8.5 ± 1.5% of the initial concentration in fertilized eggs of isoleucine, 9.7 ± 2.5% of arginine, and 9.9 ± 2.0% of threonine remained at 12 hph. Among the non-essential FAA, alanine dropped the most by 12 hph with 4.6% of the concentration found in a recently fertilized egg remaining, while cysteine had increased 254.7 ± 26.2%. The yolk sac volume decreased rapidly in the first 12 hph and was further reduced 77.0 ± 2.5% from 12 to 24 hph. The oil globule depletion rate was a more linear decline from fertilized egg to 36 hph.
Comparison of teenaged video gamers vs PGY-I residents in obstetrics and gynecology on a laparoscopic simulator.

Abstract Study Objective To compare the performance of teenaged video gamers verses postgraduate year I (PGY-I) residents in obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) on our video trainer laparoscopic simulator. Design Randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force Classification I). Setting Medical school university. Participants Teenaged video gamers and PGYI Ob/Gyn Residents. Intervention Laparoscopic simulator. Measurements and Main Results Fifteen teenaged experienced video gamers and 15 PGYI Ob/Gyn residents without video gaming experience were timed performing 3 laparoscopic simulator assessment procedures. Each drill was timed using a stopwatch. Pretest instructions were given as to how to perform each task. No warm-up was allowed, and each participant was tested during his or her initial performance of each assessment drill. Compared with the PGYI Ob/Gyn residents, the teenaged experienced video gamers completed the Bean and Pom-Pom Drop 27% faster (p = .05), the Checkerboard Drill 41% faster (p = .03), and the Bead Manipulation 31% faster (p = .43). Conclusion Virtual reality skills of teenaged video gamers seem to translate into improved video trainer laparoscopic skills. Previous teenage video gaming experience may favorably affect future residents’ ability to develop laparoscopic skills.
Black Immigrants and School Engagement Perceptions of Discrimination, Ethnic Identity, and American Identity

School engagement is an important contributor to students’ academic success; however, the available literature on the school engagement of Black immigrants is limited. This study examined the assoc...
Leaf expansion of soybean subjected to high and low atmospheric vapour pressure deficits

Vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is considered an important environmental factor that might affect leaf expansion and transpiration rate (TR) in plants. Two slow-wilting soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) genotypes PI 416937 and PI 471938 along with commercial cultivar Hutcheson were subjected to low (1.2–1.6 kPa) and high VPD (2.8–3 kPa) environments to study their leaf expansion and TR over five days. Among the three genotypes, PI 416937 had the lowest increase in its TR (34%) at high VPD compared with low VPD and the greatest decrease in leaf area (31%). In contrast, Hutcheson had the highest increase in TR (87%) under high VPD and the lowest decrease in leaf expansion rate (18%). Expansin and extensin genes were isolated in PI 416937 to determine if changes in leaf expansion were associated with changes at the molecular level. The four studied genes were all suppressed after five days in the high VPD environment.
Guess who? : an empirical study of gender deception and detection in computer-mediated communication

In an online conversation, the verification of partners' identity is a challenge due to the lack of verbal and visual cues typical of e-commerce and computer-mediated communication. People must constantly assess the identity of whomever they are communicating with based on limited interaction. This poster describes an empirical study that identifies how people attribute gender and detects gender deception in online text-based communication. Data has been collected through an interactive social media game platform and designed as a quasi-experiment. Our study confirms that gender does not have an impact on the success of gender deception and gender detection. In fact, it is domain knowledge, as well as the perceived trustworthiness of the speaker, along with the trustfulness of the recipients, and self-efficacy that are determining factors associated with the success of gender deception and attribution.
Load management and high availability in the Medusa distributed stream processing system

Medusa [3, 6] is a distributed stream processing system based on the Aurora single-site stream processing engine [1]. We demonstrate how Medusa handles time-varying load spikes and provides high availability in the face of network partitions. We demonstrate Medusa in the context of Borealis, a second generation stream processing engine based on Aurora and Medusa.
The Normal Breast Epithelium of Women with Breast Cancer Displays an Aberrant Response to Estradiol

Breast epithelial response to estradiol may play an important role in breast cancer etiology. We have examined the relationship between serum estradiol and progesterone levels and normal breast epithelial expression of estrogen receptor (ER) α, progesterone receptor (PgR), and epithelial proliferation (as reflected by the Ki-67 labeling index) in 121 women (50 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases and 71 benign breast disease controls). Simultaneous samples of grossly normal breast tissue and venous blood were obtained from women undergoing breast surgery. Serum estradiol and progesterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay; breast epithelial ER, PgR, and Ki-67 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry. Linear regression, controlled for patient age and ductal and lobular composition of the tissue, showed that the breast epithelium of control women displayed an inverse correlation between serum estradiol and ER-α, which was not seen in case women (P for the difference in regression slopes = 0.001). PgR expression displayed a significant positive correlation with serum estradiol in cases, but not in controls. Epithelial proliferation had no relationship to either estradiol or progesterone in both cases and controls but showed an inverse relationship with ER in controls and a direct relationship in cases (P for the difference in regression slopes = 0.066). These results suggest a dysregulation of hormonal response in the normal breast epithelium of high-risk women, with lack of regulation of ER by estradiol, increased estrogen responsiveness as reflected by PgR expression, and a dissociation of ER expression and proliferative response.