cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scope of Attention, Control of Attention, and Intelligence in Children and Adults

Recent experimentation has shown that cognitive aptitude measures are predicted by tests of the scope of an individual’s attention or capacity in simple working memory tasks and also by the ability to control attention. However, these experiments do not indicate how separate or related the scope and control of attention are. An experiment with 52 children (10 to 11 years old) and 52 college students included measures of the scope and control of attention, as well as verbal and nonverbal aptitude measures. The children showed little evidence of using sophisticated attentional control, but the scope of attention predicted intelligence in that group. In adults, both the scope and control of attention varied among individuals and accounted for considerable individual variance in intelligence. About one third that variance was shared between scope and control, and the rest was unique to one or the other. Scope and control of attention appear to be related but distinct contributors to intelligence.
Perspectives in cancer chemoprevention.

Cancer chemoprevention can be defined as prevention of cancer by the administration of one or more chemical entities, either as individual drugs or as naturally occurring constituents of the diet. ...
Ultra-high dose trimethaphan in an infant with severe hypertension.

Background: Trimethaphan camsylate is a potent antihypertensive drug used to induce systemic arterial hypotension in patients undergoing major surgery and to treat severe systemic hypertension. The...
The Importance of Being Big

The ultimate stem cell, the oocyte, is frequently very large. For example, Drosophila and Xenopus oocytes are ∼10 5 times larger than normal somatic cells. Importantly, once the large oocytes are fertilized, the resulting embryonic cells proliferate rapidly. Moreover, these divisions occur in the absence of cell growth and are not governed by normal cell cycle controls. Observations suggest that mitogens and cell growth signals modulate proliferation by upregulating G1-phase cyclins, which in turn promote cell division. Like embryonic cells, the proliferation of cancer cells is largely independent of mitogens and growth factors. This occurs, in part, because many proteins that are known to modulate G1-phase cyclin activity are frequently mutated in cancer cells. Interestingly, we have found that both the expression and the activity of G1-phase cyclins is modulated by growth rate and cell size in yeast. These and other data suggest that proliferative capacity correlates with cell size. Thus, a major goal of our laboratory is to use yeast to investigate the relationship between proliferation rate, G1-phase cyclins, growth rate, and cell size. The elucidation of this relationship will help clarify the role of cell size in promoting proliferation in both normal and cancer cells.
Interplanetary Deceleration of Solar Cosmic Rays

Observations of solar-flare proton fluxes of low energies (1-10 MeV) during the 7 June 1969 event have been used to study the effects of energy-change processes on particles propagating in interplanetary space. It is found that the proton energies are decreasing with time at a rate which is consistent with an exponential-decay time constant of 210±10 h. Since adiabatic deceleration in a uniform solar wind would result in a faster decay (78±4 h), additional processes such as Fermi acceleration or a more general deceleration process must be considered.
Competition for priority in processing increases prefrontal cortex's involvement in top-down control: an event-related fMRI study of the stroop task.

Prior work indicates that various aspects of task-irrelevant information (e.g. its salience, task-relatedness, emotionality) can increase the involvement of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in top-down attentional control. In light of these findings, we hypothesize that PFC's involvement increases when task-irrelevant information competes for priority in processing. In an event-related fMRI study using an oddball variant of the Stroop task, we examine the generality of this hypothesis using three manipulations designed to increase the ability of task-irrelevant information to compete for priority in processing. First, we investigated how the frequency of occurrence of task-irrelevant information affects PFC activity. Second, we examined whether conflicting color information (i.e. incongruent trials) increases activity in regions of PFC that are similar to or distinct from those sensitive to infrequently occurring task-irrelevant information. Finally, we examined the impact of the number of levels at which conflict could occur (e.g. non-response only, non-response and response). Activity in posterior-dorsolateral and posterior-inferior PFC increased for infrequently occurring task-irrelevant information, being largest when the task-irrelevant information contained conflicting color-information. In contrast, increases in mid-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex's activity were only noted when conflicting color information was present, being largest when conflict occurred at multiple levels. The anterior cingulate was primarily sensitive to the occurrence of conflict at the response level with only a small sub-region exhibiting sensitivity to non-response conflict as well. From these findings we suggest that posterior DLPFC and PIPFC are involved in biasing processing in posterior processing systems, mid-DLPFC is involved in biasing the processing of the contents of working memory, and ACC is primarily involved in response-related processes.
The xanthophyll cycle and NPQ in diverse desert and aquatic green algae

It has long been suspected that photoprotective mechanisms in green algae are similar to those in seed plants. However, exceptions have recently surfaced among aquatic and marine green algae in several taxonomic classes. Green algae are highly diverse genetically, falling into 13 named classes, and they are diverse ecologically, with many lineages including members from freshwater, marine, and terrestrial habitats. Genetically similar species living in dramatically different environments are potentially a rich source of information about variations in photoprotective function. Using aquatic and desert-derived species from three classes of green algae, we examined the induction of photoprotection under high light, exploring the relationship between nonphotochemical quenching and the xanthophyll cycle. In liquid culture, behavior of aquatic Entransia fimbriata (Klebsormidiophyceae) generally matched patterns observed in seed plants. Nonphotochemical quenching was lowest after overnight dark adaptation, increased with light intensity, and the extent of nonphotochemical quenching correlated with the extent of deepoxidation of xanthophyll cycle pigments. In contrast, overnight dark adaptation did not minimize nonphotochemical quenching in the other species studied: desert Klebsormidium sp. (Klebsormidiophyceae), desert and aquatic Cylindrocystis sp. (Zygnematophyceae), and desert Stichococcus sp. (Trebouxiophyceae). Instead, exposure to low light reduced nonphotochemical quenching below dark-adapted levels. De-epoxidation of xanthophyll cycle pigments paralleled light-induced changes in nonphotochemical quenching for species within Klebsormidiophyceae and Trebouxiophyceae, but not Zygnematophyceae. Inhibition of violaxanthin-zeaxanthin conversion by dithiothreitol reduced high-light-associated nonphotochemical quenching in all species (Zygnematophyceae the least), indicating that zeaxanthin can contribute to photoprotection as in seed plants but to different extents depending on taxon or lineage.
Rapid and Approximate Hydrologic Analysis Using Web-Based Data and Tools

AbstractPreliminary site design, emergency response, or engineering operations in remote locations may require a rapid hydrologic analysis to provide decision-support information on a site’s suitability for various improvements. This paper describes a procedure for conducting such analyses using widely available Internet-based data and tools. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to the steps necessary to execute a hydrologic analysis remotely. The analysis presented was conducted using programs typically found on any computer or that can be downloaded on short notice from the Internet. Freely available online geospatial data were used to create a database of hydrologic conditions at remotely identified points of interest. These points of interest were compared to actual hydrologic databases for sections of Interstate 25 in New Mexico and State Route M-131 in Michigan. The results of the remote hydrologic analysis correctly identified and analyzed 78% of actual physical locations of culvert...
Tryptophan 1093 is largely responsible for the slow off rate of calmodulin from plasma membrane Ca2+ pump 4b.

Abstract Tryptophan 1093 resides in the 28-residue calmodulin-binding/autoinhibitory domain of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump (PMCA). Previous studies with the isolated calmodulin-binding/autoinhibitory peptide from PMCA have shown that mutations of the tryptophan residue decrease the affinity of the peptide for calmodulin and its affinity as an inhibitor of proteolytically activated pump. In this study, the PMCA mutation in which tryptophan 1093 is converted to alanine (W1093A) was constructed in the full-length PMCA isoform 4b. The mutant pump was expressed in COS cells, and its steady state and pre-steady state kinetic properties were examined. The W1093A pump exhibited an increased basal activity in the absence of calmodulin, so the activation was ∼2-fold (it is 10-fold in the wild type). The W1093A mutation also lowered the steady state affinity for calmodulin from K 0.5 of 9 nm for wild type to 144 nm (assayed at 700 nm free Ca2+). Pre-steady state measurements of the rate of activation by Ca2+-calmodulin revealed that the W1093A mutant responded 2.5-fold faster to calmodulin. In contrast to these relatively modest effects, the half-time of inactivation of the mutant was reduced by more than 2 orders of magnitude from 41 min to 7 s. We conclude that tryptophan 1093 does not play a substantial role in Ca2+-calmodulin recognition; rather it functions primarily to slow the inactivation of the calmodulin-activated pump.
Verbal-discrimination learning and transfer with verbal and pictorial materials.

Abstract Groups of fourth-grade children learned a six-pair discrimination list involving either word or picture materials, followed by discrimination-reversal transfer lists consisting of either picture-equivalent or word-equivalent pairs. The words lists were easier than picture lists in acquistion. On List 2, positive transfer was found on the initial practice trials, with an inhibitory (negative transfer) effect apparent on later trials. The transfer data were in direct accord with predictions generated from the frequency theory of verbal-discrimination learning and support the extension of the theory to discrimination tasks involving nonverbal materials. Transfer functions were highly similar whether the class of materials was the same (Word-Word or Picture-Picture) or was changed (Word-Picture or Picture-Word) on Lists 1 and 2.
Induction of thioltransferase and thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase systems in cultured porcine lenses under oxidative stress

Purpose In view of the important antioxidant roles of thioltransferase (TTase), thioredoxin (Trx), and thioredoxin reductase (TR) in the lens, the present study was conducted to investigate the induction of these cytosolic enzymes in response to H(2)O(2) stress in cultured lenses. Methods Porcine lenses were cultured, exposed to H(2)O(2) for various lengths of time between 0 and 24 hours, and photographed to detect morphologic changes. The lenses were then harvested; dissected into epithelial layer, cortex, and nucleus; and homogenized for the determination of the glutathione (GSH) level. Pooled epithelial layers were used to examine TTase, Trx, and TR protein or mRNA levels. Results Treatment of lenses with H(2)O(2) caused distinct morphologic changes. Lower concentrations of H(2)O(2) (0.2 mM) caused the lens to be hazy after 6 hours and to worsen progressively between 12 and 24 hours. Higher levels of H(2)O(2) (0.5 mM) induced similar morphologic changes, but sooner (within 1 hour) and more severe. Both H(2)O(2)-treated groups showed a dramatic and gradual GSH depletion during the 24-hour incubation, but the GSH level at 50% or above appeared to be essential in maintaining lens clarity. However, TTase, Trx, and TR activities, protein expressions, and mRNA transcriptions in the epithelial layers of these lenses were increased, but each enzyme had a distinct pattern. Under mild H(2)O(2) stress, a slow and transient activation of TTase, Trx, and TR was observed. However, under stronger H(2)O(2) stress, all three enzymes showed a very rapid increase and then a steady decline in activity. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that this increase in activity in all three enzymes was due to the induction of protein and mRNA expression. In the control group (no oxidative stress) all three enzyme activities and their respective expressions remained constant throughout the experimental period. Conclusions The data show that TTase, Trx, and TR activity and expression are induced in lens cells under oxidative stress, probably to protect and maintain the health of the lens.
Making Race and Nation: A Comparison of South Africa, the United States, and Brazil

Preface and acknowledgements 1. Introduction Part I. Historical and Cultural Legacies: 2. Trajectories from colonialism 3. Lessons from slavery 4. The uncertain legacy of miscegenation Implications Part II. Racial Domination and the Nation-State: 5. 'Wee for thee, South Africa': the racial state 6. 'To bind up the nation's wounds': the United States after the Civil War 7. 'Order and progress': inclusive nation-state building in Brazil Comparative racial domination: an overview Part III. Race Making from Below: 8. 'We are a rock': Black racial identity, mobilization and the new South Africa 9. Burying Jim Crow: Black racial identity, mobilization and reform in the United States 10. Breaching Brazil's pact of silence 11. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index.
Intramachine and intermachine variability in transesophageal color Doppler images of pulsatile jets. In vitro studies.

BACKGROUNDColor Doppler flow mapping is widely used as a marker of severity of valvular regurgitation, and the transesophageal approach has provided high-quality images in patients with poor acoustic windows. However, different instruments produce significantly variable images. Techniques that use jet spatial information to determine the severity of the lesion may need to be derived specifically for the instrument used. Given a lack of standardization of the many commonly used instruments, the goal of this study was to quantify variability between instruments by imaging well-defined jet flow fields created in vitro.METHODS AND RESULTSPulsatile jets were created in vitro using a blood analogue fluid through physiological orifice diameters and imaged from a distal window using six commonly used color Doppler instruments. Transesophageal transducers (5.0 MHz) were used with all instruments studied. Peak jet areas were planimetered and averaged with systematic variations in Nyquist limit, color filter, and se...
Variants of the CD40 gene but not of the CD40L gene are associated with coronary artery calcification in the Diabetes Heart Study (DHS)

Background CD40/CD40L signaling is known to play an important role in immune response. The proteins are expressed in a variety of cell types and ligation causes cells to produce inflammatory cytokines and cellular adhesion molecules. These processes are implicated in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Animal models demonstrate that interruption of CD40/CD40L signaling produces a more fibrous and stable atherosclerotic lesion. Methods We investigated the role of genetic variation in CD40 and CD40L genes in subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by coronary artery calcification (CAC) and carotid intima-media thickness in 620 individuals from 230 families in the DHS. Results Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CD40 gene (rs1535045 and rs3765459) were significantly associated with decreased CAC ( P ≤ .02) in this population. CD40L single nucleotide polymorphisms were not significantly associated. In addition, no associations with carotid intima-media thickness, carotid artery calcification, or C-reactive protein levels were detected for either gene. Conclusion Genetic variation in the CD40 gene is associated with CAC in diabetic families.
Comparison of gap junction expression in the adrenal gland

The presence of alpha 1 (Cx43) gap junction protein was demonstrated in rat, mouse, guinea pig, and bovine adrenal glands with immunocytochemical techniques. The presence of six other connexin species was not detected in the adrenal glands studied. The gap junction stain within the adrenal cortex was punctate and located at sites of cell-cell contact. While little gap junction, alpha 1, staining was detected at sites of cell contact in the zona glomerulosa (ZG), the zona fasciculata (ZF) and zona reticularis (ZR) had intense staining at cell contacts in all rodent species studies. In the bovine adrenal, ZG cells were connected by large gap junctions as were the cells of the ZF and ZR. The variations in alpha 1 distribution within the adrenal cortex may correspond with the different division rates and hormone functions within the adrenal gland as well as species differences between rodent and bovine adrenal gland.
Relationship between nutritional status and fatty acid synthesis by microsomal and soluble enzymes of pigeon liver

Abstract The in vitro synthesis of fatty acids by the microsomal and the soluble enzymes derived from the livers of fed, starved, and refed pigeons have been studied. It was shown that there was a marked difference in the response of these two systems to starvation. The elongation of acyl-CoA moieties by the microsomal enzyme was not impaired in starvation. However, analysis of the fatty acids formed showed that the long-chain acyl desaturase activity was eliminated by 72 hours of starvation. The de novo synthesis of fatty acids by the fatty acid synthetase system, on the other hand, was reduced by a factor of five on starvation. This loss of activity was shown to be due to a reduction in the absolute level of enzyme protein in the livers of the starved pigeons. When the pigeons were refed, the level of enzyme protein returned almost to that found before starvation. The factors which are thought to contribute to the drop in the level of enzyme protein on starvation are discussed.
Characterization of the guinea pig adipocyte thyrotropin receptor

125I-TSH binding to porcine thyroid and guinea pig fat resulted in curvilinear Scatchard plots with similar dissociation constants for the high and low affinity binding components. Antibodies from the sera of patients with Graves' disease inhibited binding to the high and low affinity binding components of both tissues. Covalent cross-linking of 125I-TSH to membranes from each tissue resulted in the specific labeling of two protein bands. The guinea pig fat receptor subunits have Mr values of 52,000 and 38,000, whereas the porcine thyroid receptor subunits have values of 46,000 & 35,000. The labeling of the receptor subunits was inhibited by preincubation with Graves' autoantibodies. Despite possessing a different subunit composition, the receptors from these tissues exhibit similar affinity for TSH and share similar antigenic determinants for Graves' autoantibodies.
Analysis and transformation in the ParaScope editor

The ParaScope Editor is a new kind of interactive parallel programming tool for developing scientific Fortran programs. It assists the knowledgeable user by displaying the results of sophisticated program analyses and by providing editing and a set of powerful interactive transformations. After an edit or parallelism-enhancing transformation, the ParaScope Editor incrementally updates both the analyses and source quickly. This paper describes the underlying implementation of the ParaScope Editor, paying particular attention to the analysis and representation of dependence information and its reconstruction after changes to the program.
Diagnosis using a first-order stochastic language that learns

We have created a diagnostic/prognostic software tool for the analysis of complex systems, such as monitoring the ''running health'' of helicopter rotor systems. Although our software is not yet deployed for real-time in-flight diagnosis, we have successfully analyzed the data sets of actual helicopter rotor failures supplied to us by the US Navy. In this paper, we discuss both critical techniques supporting the design of our stochastic diagnostic system as well as issues related to its full deployment. We also present four examples of its use. Our diagnostic system, called DBAYES, is composed of a logic-based, first-order, and Turing-complete set of software tools for stochastic modeling. We use this language for modeling time-series data supplied by sensors on mechanical systems. The inference scheme for these software tools is based on a variant of Pearl's loopy belief propagation algorithm [Pearl, P. (1988). Probabilistic reasoning in intelligent systems: Networks of plausible inference. San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufmann]. Our language contains variables that can capture general classes of situations, events, and relationships. A Turing-complete language is able to reason about potentially infinite classes and situations, similar to the analysis of dynamic Bayesian networks. Since the inference algorithm is based on a variant of loopy belief propagation, the language includes expectation maximization type learning of parameters in the modeled domain. In this paper we briefly present the theoretical foundations for our first-order stochastic language and then demonstrate time-series modeling and learning in the context of fault diagnosis.
Methods for systematic reviews of administrative database studies capturing health outcomes of interest

This report provides an overview of methods used to conduct systematic reviews for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Mini-Sentinel project, which is designed to inform the development of safety monitoring tools for FDA-regulated products including vaccines. The objective of these reviews was to summarize the literature describing algorithms (e.g., diagnosis or procedure codes) to identify health outcomes in administrative and claims data. A particular focus was the validity of the algorithms when compared to reference standards such as diagnoses in medical records. The overarching goal was to identify algorithms that can accurately identify the health outcomes for safety surveillance. We searched the MEDLINE database via PubMed and required dual review of full text articles and of data extracted from studies. We also extracted data on each study's methods for case validation. We reviewed over 5600 abstracts/full text studies across 15 health outcomes of interest. Nearly 260 studies met our initial criteria (conducted in the US or Canada, used an administrative database, reported case-finding algorithm). Few studies (N=45), however, reported validation of case-finding algorithms (sensitivity, specificity, positive or negative predictive value). Among these, the most common approach to validation was to calculate positive predictive values, based on a review of medical records as the reference standard. Of the studies reporting validation, the ease with which a given clinical condition could be identified in administrative records varied substantially, both by the clinical condition and by other factors such as the clinical setting, which relates to the disease prevalence.
Organizational Diseconomies of scale

Private information creates a cost of operating a hierarchy, which becomes larger as the hierarchical distance between the information source and the decision maker increases. When information about a firm's capabilities is dispersed among the individuals in the firm, production is inefficient even though everyone behaves rationally. Because hierarchies need rents in order to function, a firm with a long hierarchy may not be viable in a competitive industry.
IRRADIATION PERFORMANCE OF U-Mo MONOLITHIC FUEL

High-performance research reactors require fuel that operates at high specific power to high fission density, but at relatively low temperatures. Research reactor fuels are designed for efficient heat rejection, and are composed of assemblies of thin-plates clad in aluminum alloy. The development of low-enriched fuels to replace high-enriched fuels for these reactors requires a substantially increased uranium density in the fuel to offset the decrease in enrichment. Very few fuel phases have been identified that have the required combination of very-high uranium density and stable fuel behavior at high burnup. UMo alloys represent the best known tradeoff in these properties. Testing of aluminum matrix U-Mo aluminum matrix dispersion fuel revealed a pattern of breakaway swelling behavior at intermediate burnup, related to the formation of a molybdenum stabilized high aluminum intermetallic phase that forms during irradiation. In the case of monolithic fuel, this issue was addressed by eliminating, as much as possible, the interfacial area between U-Mo and aluminum. Based on scoping irradiation test data, a fuel plate system composed of solid U-10Mo fuel meat, a zirconium diffusion barrier, and Al6061 cladding was selected for development. Developmental testing of this fuel system indicates that it meets core criteria for fuel qualification, including stable and predictable swelling behavior, mechanical integrity to high burnup, and geometric stability. In addition, the fuel exhibits robust behavior during power-cooling mismatch events under irradiation at high power.
Age-related changes in protein phosphorylation by rat hepatocytes

Abstract The qualitative and quantitative changes in the phosphorylation of specific proteins in hepatocyte suspension from 5-, 12- and 22-month-old male Fischer F344 rats were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No qualitative changes in phosphorylation of individual proteins were observed with age. In addition, very few quantitative changes (less than 2% of proteins studied) in protein phosphorylation were detected. The phosphorylation of two acidic proteins decreased (50%) with age while the phosphorylation of one basic protein increased (300%) with age. The two acidic proteins and one basic protein that showed quantitative changes with age were found predominately in the microsome and nuclear fractions of hepatocytes, respectively. The effect of dietary restriction on the phosphorylation of proteins in male Fischer F344 rats was also studied. Although, dietary restriction alters the age-related incident of disease and prologs longevity, it did not have any significant effect on phosphorylation of individual proteins in the liver.
Pretend Play as a Life-span Activity

Arguing against the dominant developmental theories (e.g., Piaget, 1945; Vygotsky, 1978) stating that pretend play is limited to early childhood, we illustrate that pretend play is an adaptive human activity of adulthood as well as childhood. We advance this argument on three levels. First, we offer an analysis of why the discipline of developmental psychology in the Western world considered play only as an activity of childhood by neglecting to explore whether or how pretend play exists during adulthood. Second, we discuss the similarities between adult improvisational theater and children’s pretend play in illustrating our thesis that pretend continues to exist during adulthood. In this discussion, we focus on similarities in the definitions, psychological origins, social functions, and developmental consequences of pretend play and adult improvisation. Finally, we end the article with educational implications of conceptualizing pretend play as a life-span activity and offer directions for future research.
Metal CVD for microelectronic applications: An examination of surface chemistry and kinetics

Abstract We review the surface chemistry and kinetics relevant to the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of metals used for microelectronic applications. Our efforts focus on the surface chemistry of aluminum, tungsten, and copper CVD, which have received the most recent interest for metallization. We first briefly review a variety of topics concerning the applications and the chemistry and kinetics of metal CVD. We also give a brief overview of the application of surface science techniques to the study of CVD-related surface chemistry.
Low Rayleigh Number Thermal Convection in a Vertical Cylinder Filled With Porous Materials and Heated From Below

Low Rayleigh number (R < 500) thermal convection is examined experimentally and analytically for a vertical circular cylinder filled with saturated porous materials. The cylinder is heated from below and cooled from above. The upper boundary is permeable to flow. Results are reported for the critical Rayleigh number at the onset of convection (Rc) and the Nusselt (Nu) vs. Rayleigh (R) number correlation. The convective structure is deduced from temperature measurements. The lateral walls have a stabilizing effect and tend to increase Rc relative to the case of a laterally unbounded porous layer. The preferred convective patterns in the cylinder tend to be nonaxisymmetric. The experimental results are in good agreement with analytic predictions. A linear stability analysis is used to calculate Rc and the structure of the convective modes for a range of aspect ratios (radius/height). An integral technique is applied to obtain heat transfer rates for 1 < R/Rc < 5.5. 20 references.
A study of the partitioning of phenols by use of spectroscopy and gas chromatography.

Abstract A study was made to determine if the results of quantitative analysis of phenols extracted into an organic phase could statistically be affected by the analytical technique used for the assay. One point noted is the importance of determining time to reach equilibrium in an extraction system. The results indicated that it is better to report extraction data in terms of percent extracted rather than distribution constant unless one is certain of the species existing in each phase and the kinetics of the extraction process.
Western Culture, Scientific Method and the Problem of Ethics

The endeavor in this paper is not to solve problems but to state a point of view. For emphasis, this has been done fervently, somewhat dogmatically, and without great circumspection. The analysis of Western culture is certainly incomplete and probably exposes traits common to all cultures. Many of the points here made have recently been presented more forcefully and with better documentation by Professor F. S. C. Northrop.1 The last part of this paper, however, departs markedly from Northrop’s thesis. In it I take a position which will, I fear, incur the criticism of many readers, since it affirms the belief that ethics is a verifiable discipline and that its formal structure should be that of a science. But my intensity of conviction on this point has grown rather than diminished as a result of discussions with fellow scientists and others.
An online bookstore using JSP technology

The 'Pandora's World' online bookstore follows the first principle for large software systems and utilizes the Model View Controller (MVC) model and diagram for its design and the newest JavaServer Pages technologies for its implementation. It is much more unique than those implemented in the old version of JSP.
Immune cholangitis: liver allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease.

A pronounced similarity exists between liver allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in the damage and eventual destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts. Although an immunologic reaction has an important role, precisely identifying the target antigens or reason for persistence of the immune response has been difficult. An important difference between GVHD and liver rejection is the development of obliterative arteriopathy only in rejection. The three main histopathologic features of acute rejection are a predominantly mononuclear but mixed portal inflammation, subendothelial inflammation of portal or terminal hepatic veins (or both), and bile duct inflammation and damage. In acute rejection, a controversial issue is determining when therapeutic intervention is needed. The recommended approach is to base treatment on a combination of histopathologic changes and liver injury or dysfunction. Chronic rejection, which usually does not occur before 2 months after transplantation, is characterized by two main histopathologic features: (1)damage and loss of small bile ducts and (2) obliterative arteriopathy. Acute GVHD begins within the first month after transplantation and most commonly involves the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and liver, whereas chronic GVHD usually develops more than 80 to 100 days after liver transplantation and affects 30 to 50% of long-term survivors. Recognition of the early, cellular stages of chronic GVHD is important in preventing irreversible damage.
The estimated national burden of physical ergonomic hazards among US workers

Purpose To estimate the national burden of physical ergonomic hazards among working adults in the US. Methods We estimated the population prevalence of and the total number of workers who are exposed to physical ergonomic hazards, such as vibration, working in cramped space, kneeling, body bending or twisting, climbing, and repetitive motions using Occupational Information Network (O*NET) data and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stratified by occupation title. Results Repetitive motion was the most prevalent of all ergonomic hazards (27% of US workers are estimated to be exposed continually). Bending or twisting of the body more than half their time at work was also common, involving over 32 million US workers (25% of US workforce). Kneeling, crouching, stooping, or crawling was another ergonomic hazard that 14 million US workers perform more than half their time at work. Almost 4 million workers climb ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc. for more than half their time at work. We estimate that over 13 million workers (10% of US workforce) were exposed to cramped workspace that requires getting into awkward positions every day. Finally, about 3.5 million workers (2.7% of US workforce) were estimated to be exposed to whole body vibration every day. Conclusion A large portion of the US work force is exposed to ergonomic hazards known to be associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The occupations with the highest prevalence of each ergonomic hazard may be deserving of prompt efforts toward prevention of MSDs. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:395–404, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Infectivity of viral nucleic acid.

Abstract A method of preparation of infectious nucleic acid from TMV is described. The material is of similar infectivity at 10 γ/ml as is TMV at 0.02 to 0.5 γ/ml. No significant number of virus particles can be found in the ultracentrifuge sediment of such preparations, while TMV added to nucleic acid is quantitatively sedimented under the same conditions. The instability in 0.1 M salts, the remarkable sensitivity to ribonuclease, and the resistance to anti-TMV-γ-globulin clearly differentiate the nucleic acid infectivity from that of intact or detergent-damaged virus. From the behavior in a centrifungal field and other evidence it is concluded that the activity is associated with the bulk of the nucleic acid in the preparations (Mol. wt. = 200,000 to 300,000) and not with a small fraction of high molecular weight.
Thermodynamics of the [CoCl(iPrOH)3]+ to [CoCl(iPrOH)2(MeOH)3]+ Reaction: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise

In this general chemistry laboratory exercise, the absorbance of [CoCl(iPrOH)3]+, where iPrOH is isopropyl alcohol, is used to determine the equilibrium constants for its reaction with methanol to form [CoCl(iPrOH)2(MeOH)3]+ in the temperature range ∼10 to 20 °C. The absorbance versus concentration calibration plot is determined by sequential additions of a concentrated [CoCl(iPrOH)3]Cl standard to iPrOH. The equilibrium mixture is cooled in a CaCl2–ice bath, and measurements of temperature and absorbance are made at various time intervals as the solution warms to room temperature. The variation in the equilibrium constant as a function of temperature is used to determine the Gibbs energy, enthalpy, and entropy.
Results of a Randomized Trial of Allomap vs Heart Biopsy in the 1st Year after Heart Transplant: Early Invasive Monitoring Attenuation through Gene Expression Trial

Purpose Previously, the IMAGE trial showed that Allomap blood test (ABT) was non-inferior to the endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) for patients (pts) between 6 mos and 60 mos after heart transplant (Htx). As most rejections occur within the first 6 mos after Htx, an earlier randomized trial of ABT vs EMB was performed. Methods and Materials Between 2009 and 2011, we randomized 60 Htx pts beginning at 2 mos after Htx (when ABT is valid) to routine EMB or ABT in the 1st year. If ABT was > 30 in the first 6 mos, or > 34 in the second 6 mos then a biopsy was performed. Primary endpoint included a composite of death or re-Htx, hemodynamic compromise w/rejection or graft dysfunction. A co-primary endpoint included intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) changes at 12 mos post-Htx. Planned steroid weaning was also assessed. Results There was no significant difference in the primary endpoint between ABT and EMB groups (p = 0.45). Components of the composite primary endpoint and 1-year echo LV ejection fraction were also similar. Pt satisfaction score for method of surveillance at 1-year was higher in ABT vs EMB group (p=0.003). Steroid weaning and 1st year IVUS results are pending. Conclusions In this pilot study, ABT (starting at 2 mos post Htx) appears comparable to EMB for detection of rejection and does not compromise cardiac function in the 1st year. Pending IVUS data may confirm longterm safety w/ABT. Total Events ABT EMB p-value Composite primary end point (rejection with hemodynamic compromise, graft dysfunction due to other causes, or death) 3 (10%) 5 (17%) 0.45 Death or Retransplant 0 0 Rejection with hemodynamic compromise as first event 2 1 Graft dysfunction (hemodynamic compromise without histologically confirmed rejection) as first event 1 4 First-year Echo % LV Ejection Fraction (mean ± SD) 59 ± 7 57 ± 10 0.453 Total # of biopsies in months 3 to 12 post HTx 40 251 Patients satisfaction score for method of surveillance at 1-year 9.7 ± 1.0 8.3 ± 2.2 0.003
Uncertainty Analysis Using a Constraint Reliability Index

This work proposes an uncertainty metric to capture and encode parametric uncertainty information that will enable engineering decision analyst to combine and compute probabilities of expected outcomes through mathematical constructs of joint probability functions. Its integration in a mechanical design system can be expected to facilitate simulation-based design under uncertainty. Specifically, the proposed technique helps to study the impact of the probabilistic nature of the input design or state variables and by applying the concept of failure probability aims to generate the corresponding probabilistic information of the output performance function. This work is based on evaluating a series of probabilities that the output cannot exceed a certain value for a given perturbed value of the design point. In this context, this paper reviews the First Order Second Moment (FOSM) reliability theory where the random parameters influencing the design appear only through their means and co-variances. Building on these works, an alternate approach is presented taking into account the fact that the system output is all the more influenced by functional constraints in the system, which if ignored can lead to inaccurate or irrelevant error estimation and could seriously affect subsequent posterior decision analysis. This work includes a reliable and efficient error estimation procedure to identify design points that violate boundary conditions through methodical constraint evaluations and subsequent adjusting of output estimation values. The proposed method is illustrated with the aid of a constrained optimization case study and an I-beam design problem.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
New Irregular Rhythm in a Patient with Baseline Left Bundle Branch Block

CLINICAL PRESENTATIONA 63-year-old man with a history of Reitersyndrome, nonischemic idiopathic cardiomyop-athy, and baseline left bundle branch block(LBBB) had a syncopal episode and episodes ofnonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). Heunderwent biventricular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement. Four months later,the patient presented with fatigue and episodesof palpitations. He was admitted for furthermanagement. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms(ECGs) recorded during his initial presentation areshown in Fig. 1.CLINICAL QUESTIONWhat is the rhythm in this patient with baselineLBBB pattern?ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY STUDY AND CLINICALCOURSEThe patient had an irregular tachycardia at 138beats/min with QRS complexes much narrowerthan his baseline LBBB QRS. The QRS durationwas generally 105 milliseconds, but there weresome occasional wide complex beats. P wavescould not be clearly identified on the baselineECG. The rhythm on the initial 12-lead ECG wasdiagnosed as atrial fibrillation with occasionalaberrantbeatsorprematureventricularcomplexes(PVCs). This diagnosis was later proved to bewrong.The true diagnosis was VT, which was deter-mined from the ICD interrogation that clearlyshowed atrioventricular dissociation (Fig. 2). Theatrial beats march out at about 65 beats/min,whereas the ventricular beats are occurring at
Nurse Satisfaction and the Implementation of Minimum Nurse Staffing Regulations

In 1999, California passed the first legislation in the United States to establish minimum staffing levels for licensed nurses in hospitals. Implementation of the regulation began in 2004. This article examines whether nurses who work in hospitals in California have perceived improvements in their working conditions. A statewide sample survey of registered nurses is used, and the survey data are linked with regional data to learn whether changes in satisfaction are associated with the degree to which regional employers were expected to increase nurse staffing when the ratios were implemented. Nurse satisfaction improved between 2004 and 2006, particularly with the adequacy of RN staff, time for patient education, benefits, and clerical support. There was a significant increase in overall job satisfaction between 2004 and 2006. However, improvements in satisfaction with the adequacy of RN staff were not associated with the degree to which regional hospitals were expected to increase staffing.
Calibration of a Multi-Modal 3D Scanner

Collecting dense range measurements in uncontrolled environments is a challenging problem as lighting and surfaces' texture significantly influence the quality of the measurements. Instead of concentrating on improving a specific type of range sensors, the overall quality of the sensing can also be enhanced through the development of a mechanism that combines various range sensing technologies to form a multi-modal range sensor. Although many different multi-modal systems have been investigated, the problem of merging datasets have hinder engineers from producing unified data. Two major approaches have been used to rectify this problem: system calibration of the multi-modal system and data fitting of all datasets into a single model, which the latter is more widely used. The lack of multi-modal system calibration approaches is due to their complicated and lengthy nature, where individual calibration approaches must be applied to each subsystem and then applied between subsystems of the multi-modal range sensor. To alleviate the problems in multi-modal system calibration, straightforward and generic guidelines for calibration are defined and applied to an in-house multi-modal system built from a laser range finder system, two active triangulation systems using structured lighting, and a stereovision system. This paper addresses the system's intra- and inter-calibration processes and presents renderings of datasets collected with the calibrated multi-modal range sensor without the use of data fitting. From these results, the potential benefits of multi-modal calibration that reduces the need of data fitting and the advantages of merging subsystem's strengths to complement other subsystem's weaknesses are put in evidence
Family-Based Approaches to Juvenile Delinquency: A Review of the Literature:

The increasing effects of juvenile crime on society have caused attention to shift toward efficacy of offender treatment programs. Traditional methods of treatment with this population have failed ...
Epidural analgesia in vascular surgery patients actively taking clopidogrel

The administration of anti-platelet agents to surgical patients with a history of coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease represents an everyday challenge to anaesthesiologists when epidural anaesthesia or analgesia is to be considered. Practice guidelines suggest stopping clopidogrel at least 7 days before placing an epidural catheter. Withholding anti-platelet drugs represents a great risk to many of these patients. On the other hand, withholding perioperative epidural analgesia denies the patients its benefits including faster resolution of postoperative ileus, earlier ambulation, decreased risk of thromboembolism and vascular graft thrombosis, and decreased hospital stay. The charts of 306 vascular surgical patients who received epidural analgesia without withholding clopidogrel perioperatively were reviewed for the presence of any postoperative complications related to the continued intake of clopidogrel. No postoperative neurological complications resulting from the use of epidural analgesia were found in any of these patients. The point estimate (95% confidence limits) for the risk of epidural haematoma or other complications for this study is 0 (0–1)%. No neurological complications were found as a result of placing an epidural catheter in patients actively taking clopidogrel. Owing to the small sample size, we cannot recommend the liberal use of epidural analgesia with ongoing clopidogrel administration at this time. Further prospective studies, with larger sample size, are needed in order to substantiate our findings.
Evidence for Sire, Dam, and Family Influence on Operant Learning in Horses

To evaluate potential sire and dam effects on learning performance in horses, 102 ponies ranging in age from 47 days to 17 years received a single standard positive reinforcement–based operant “target training” session in their home environment. These animals were from a semi-feral herd of known parentage that had had standard minimal previous handling. Based on quantitative measures of latency to reach criterion and rate of correct responses, subjects were ranked into five levels of learning efficiency. Learning efficiency levels of various sire lines (sires and their offspring), dam lines (dams and their offspring), and sire/dam lines (mating pairs and their full sibling offspring) were compared. Learning efficiency level differed significantly among certain sire lines, dam lines, and sire/dam lines (P < .05, median test). Learning efficiency level also tended to differ among age groups as well as between males and females. Frustration/avoidance response frequency during training was negatively associated with learning efficiency and differed among sire and dam lines. Frustration/avoidance response frequency during training also differed significantly among age groups but not among males and females. These data provide evidence of sire, dam, and sire/dam effects on learning performance in horses in simple operant tasks analogous to those inherent in the training of domestic horses.