cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of the Liberalization of Investment Policies on Employment and Investment of Multinational Corporations in Africa

There has been a remarkable shift in the attitudes towards globalization. Specifically, the discussion among academics and policymakers has shifted from whether globalization should be encouraged to how countries can position themselves to benefit from globalization. This paper focuses on one aspect of globalization – the liberalization of investment policies – and analyzes its impact on employment and investments by multinational corporations in Africa. We use data for 33 countries over the period 1984– 2003 and employ a dynamic panel estimator for our analysis. There are two major findings. First, liberalization has a significant and positive effect on investment. Second, liberalization does not have a direct impact on multinational employment – the …/
Voluntary Controllability of the Implicit Association Test (IAT)

Greenwald, McGhee, and Schwartz showed that white participants indicated a more positive evaluative association with whites than with blacks in the Implicit Association Test (IAT), and were being neutral on explicit measures. Their results suggested that the IAT might resist self-presentational forces which can mask personally or socially undesirable racial attitudes. In the current study, two experiments tested whether participants could voluntarily suppress the tendency to appear (1) more favorable to flowers than to insects on the IAT of those attitudes, or (2) pro-white on the racial IAT of whites and blacks. Both experiments found that participants could not fake the IAT effectively when merely asked to do so; they could produce a faked implicit attitude only when they were instructed to respond slowly to a subset of the stimuli. Overall, participants did not spontaneously discover the apparently controllable strategy for faking the IAT; they had to be taught how to implement it.
The Role of Building Foundations in Seismic Retrofit

Abstract Existing buildings which do not satisfy modern seismic design requirements may be rehabilitated economically by the addition of steel bracing or reinforced concrete shear walls. However, steel bracing and concrete shear walls can place severe demands on the building foundation, and the existing foundations are likely to be inadequate. Strengthening of existing foundations may be exceedingly expensive, and the cost of the foundation work may dominate the seismic retrofit effort. Several foundation retrofit strategies are described and discussed. These strategies are invariably expensive, and the engineer may be tempted to place the major investment into strengthening or stiffening the structure with minimal work on the foundation. This concept may lead to increased potential for uplift and temporary overload of footings. In some cases this practice may have beneficial effect regarding the overall seismic response of the structure. It may reduce both seismic forces and maximum displacements experie...
Cost-effectiveness of Revascularization for Limb Preservation in Patients with Marginal Functional Status

Background Revascularization and limb salvage attempts are often offered to patients with foot wounds and chronic limb ischemia who are thought to be good-risk candidates, but some skepticism remains about the utility of these efforts for elderly patients with marginal functional status. We sought to determine whether limb preservation efforts in this population could be justified from a patient-centered, cost-effectiveness perspective. Methods A probabilistic Markov model was used to simulate the clinical outcomes, health utilities, and costs over a 10-year period with various management strategies. Clinical parameter estimates were obtained from previous clinical trials and large observational series. Cost estimates were obtained from cost literature and also a single-center study that reviewed total costs accumulated (including secondary amputations, wound care, outpatient nursing care, and nursing home costs). Cost (in 2011 U.S. dollars) per year of ambulation (with limb preservation or with a prosthesis after amputation) was the primary measure of cost-effectiveness. Results The total 10-year costs of revascularization—either endovascular or surgical—were lower than the costs of either local wound care alone or primary amputation. Revascularization strategies also produced more health benefits as measured in terms of years of ambulatory ability, years of limb salvage, or quality-adjusted life-years. In none of the scenarios modeled in deterministic sensitivity analyses did primary amputation prove to be cost-effective. Conclusions Revascularization and limb preservation attempts appear less costly and provide more health benefits than wound care alone or primary amputation, even among patients with marginal functional status at baseline.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptom clusters in Turkish child and adolescent trauma survivors

This study identified post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters in Turkish children and adolescents who experienced the 1999 Marmara Earthquake, which was classified as one of the world's six deadliest earthquakes in the 20th century. Two hundred ninety three children and adolescents (152 females and 141 males between the ages of 8 and 15) living in Izmit, the epicenter of the earthquake, participated in this study. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index for Children (CPTSD-RI) was administered to assess PTSD symptoms. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), using data from the CPTSD-RI, was conducted to determine whether the DSM-IV-TR symptom structure of PTSD was valid in Turkish children and adolescents. The CFA model supported the three-symptom cluster model. Limitations and implications for future research studies are included in the discussion.
Subgrid Modeling for Convection-Diffusion-Reaction in Two Space Dimensions Using a Haar Multiresolution Analysis

In this paper we study a subgrid model based on extrapolation of a modeling residual, in the case of a linear convection-diffusion-reaction problem Lu=f in two dimensions. The solution u to the exact problem satisfies an equation Lhu=[f]h+Fh(u), where Lh is the operator used in the computation on the finest computational scale h, [f]h is the approximation of f on the scale h, and Fh(u) is a modeling residual, which needs to be modeled. The subgrid modeling problem is to compute approximations of Fh(u) without using finer scales than h. In this study we model Fh(u) by extrapolation from coarser scales than h, where Fh(u) is directly computed with the finest scale h as reference. We show in experiments that a solution with subgrid model on a scale h in most cases corresponds to a solution without subgrid model on a mesh of size less than h/4.
Analytic Reviews : Acid-Base Abnormalities in Cardiopulmonary Arrest: Varying Patterns in Different Locations Within the Hospital

Arterial blood gas analysis performed in 67 episodes who suffered cardiopulmonary arrest revealed that the degree of acidemia correlated with the location of the patient within the hospital: emergency department (ED), general hospital bed (HB), or intensive care unit (ICU). Acidemia was most severe in patients who pre sented either in the ED (pH = 7.15) or in a HB (pH = 7.10) as a result of combined metabolic (bicarbonate ion [HCO 3-] = 20 ± 16 and 15 ± 10 mEq/L) and respiratory acidosis (arterial carbon dioxide tension [PaCO2] = 59 ± 30 and 50 ± 24 mm Hg). In contrast, patients in the ICU had only mild acidemia or even alkalemia (pH = 7.28); respiratory acidosis was un common in this setting (PaCO2 = 36 ± 18 mm Hg), and patients exhibited a degree of metabolic acidosis ([HCO3 - ] = 18 ± 8 mEq/L) similar to that seen in patients in EDS or HBS. This relative hypocarbia seen in patients in the ICU was attributed to the fact that most (14 of 22, 64% ) were already receiving mechanical ven tilation at the tim...
Structural materials use in a hydrogen energy economy

Abstract Many common structural alloys are subject to gross embrittlement by hydrogen. Since hydrogen-induced fracture in such cases can result in catastrophic failures of equipment, it is very important to consider appropriate design measures and alternative materials choices for hydrogen service. There are two areas of concern for hydrogen energy applications: systems to generate hydrogen or hydrogen-bearing gases at high temperatures and pressures, and high pressure hydrogen transmission and storage systems. It appears possible in each area to identify the desirable classes of structural materials for hydrogen service.
Metabolic Changes Associated with the Germination of Corn. I. Changes in Weight and Metabolites and their Redistribution in the Embryo Axis, Scutellum, and Endosperm.

There is a paucity of information in the literature concerning the metabolic changes that occur in the endosperm, scutellum, and embryonic axis during the germination of oorn. The work of Toole (20) constitutes a major exception, although this work was more concerned with morphological changes during germination than with changes in chemical constituents and metabolism. Although seed germination has been studied extensively (3, 13, 21) much of the work has been concerned with changes in the whole seed, which may obscure changes occurring in the embryo or embryonic parts. In other instances work has been conducted with an isolated organ or tissue, or has been concerned with a single constituent, or with a particular class of enzymes. In recent years major emphasis has been placed on the effect of light, inhibitors, or dormancy on germination. This investigation was prompted by the lack of data on the time sequence of metabolic changes, andl the interrelationship of these changes in the endlosperm, scutellum, and embryonic axis of germinating corn. Furthermore it was hoped that the results obtained would serve as a standard for further studies concerned with applied treatments. The changes in fresh and dry weight, nitrogen fractions, sugars, fats, and nucleic acids which occur in the endosperm, scutellum, and embryonic axis during a 5-day period of germination are presented. These changes are discussed in relation to the role of the endosperm and scutellum in supplying metabolic components to the developing embryo axis.
An Evaluation of the NIOSH Guidelines for Manual Lifting, with Special Reference to Horizontal Distance

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the percentage of subjects capable of lifting loads at the maximum permissible limit (MPL) and the corresponding energy expenditure, heart rate, compressive force on the L5/S1 disc, and ratings of perceived exertion. A second objective was to compare MPLs based on measured horizontal distances with those based on the rule of thumb proposed in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guide (H=15+w/2 cm). Thirteen male subjects were required to lift three different boxes (25, 38, and 51 cm wide) at four different frequencies (0.2,3,6, and 9 lifts/min) and at two heights (floor level to bench height [0.8 m] and bench height to 1.5 m). Each lift was performed for 1 hr, and horizontal distances for all 13 subjects were measured at the origin of the lifts. MPLs were computed for all lifting tasks. A psychophysical method was used to determine the maximum acceptable weight of a lift. This weight, however, was not allowed to exceed the corresp...
Three book-length studies of language evolution

Presentation de trois ouvrages, les trois premiers d'une nouvelle serie sur l'evolution du langage, publies par les Presses Universitaires d'Oxford. Chacun de ces ouvrages traite l'evolution du langage de maniere tres differente. «The origins of complex language: an inquiry into the evolutionary beginnings of sentences, syllabes, and truth» (Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy, 1999), concerne l'evolution biologique du langage, mettant en avant la these selon laquelle la structure syntaxique est modelee au cours de l'evolution par la structure syllabique. «Function, selection, and innateness: the emergence of language universals» (Simon Kirby, 1999) et «Linguistic diversity» (Daniel Nettle, 1999) traitent de l'evolution du langage au cours du temps historique, le premier discute le faconnement de la forme grammaticale par la fonction externe et le second l'evolution de la diversite spatio-temporelle des langues et des groupes linguistiques
Effects of angiotensin II on NaPi-IIa co-transporter expression and activity in rat renal cortex

The kidney plays a major role in reabsorption of phosphate with the majority occurring in the proximal tubule (PT). The type IIa sodium-phosphate co-transporter (NaPi-IIa) is the main player in PT. The purpose of current study was to determine the effect of angiotensin II (A-II) on membrane expression of NaPi-IIa in the rat renal cortex. A-II (500 ng/kg/min) was chronically infused into the Sprague-Dawley rats by miniosmotic pump for 7 days. The arterial pressure and circulating plasma A-II level along with urine output were markedly increased in A-II rats. There was diuresis but no natriuresis. The phosphate excretion increased sevenfold on day 4 and 5.7-fold on day 7. There was no change in Na-dependent Pi uptake in brush-border membrane (BBM) vesicles between A-II-treated group and control on day 4, however, there was a 43% increase on day 7. Western blot analysis of NaPi-IIa protein abundance showed a parallel pattern: no change after 4 days of treatment and a 48% increase after 7 days of treatment. However, Northern blot analysis of cortical RNA showed no change in NaPi-IIa mRNA abundance on day 7. A-II stimulation of Na/Pi co-transport activity is a result of increases in the expression of BBM NaPi-IIa protein level and that stimulation is most likely mediated by posttranscriptional mechanisms.
STEM: a tool for the analysis of short time series gene expression data

Time series microarray experiments are widely used to study dynamical biological processes. Due to the cost of microarray experiments, and also in some cases the limited availability of biological material, about 80% of microarray time series experiments are short (3–8 time points). Previously short time series gene expression data has been mainly analyzed using more general gene expression analysis tools not designed for the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in short time series gene expression data. We introduce the Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) the first software program specifically designed for the analysis of short time series microarray gene expression data. STEM implements unique methods to cluster, compare, and visualize such data. STEM also supports efficient and statistically rigorous biological interpretations of short time series data through its integration with the Gene Ontology. The unique algorithms STEM implements to cluster and compare short time series gene expression data combined with its visualization capabilities and integration with the Gene Ontology should make STEM useful in the analysis of data from a significant portion of all microarray studies. STEM is available for download for free to academic and non-profit users at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~jernst/stem .
A quick and efficient method for consistent initialization of battery models

Abstract Secondary batteries are usually modeled as a system of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. These models are typically solved by applying finite differences or other discretization techniques in the spatial directions and solving the resulting system of differential algebraic equations (DAEs) numerically in time. These DAEs are very difficult to solve even using popular DAE solvers. The complications arise partly due to the difficulty in obtaining consistent, or closely consistent, initial conditions for the DAEs. In this paper, a shooting method is proposed as an effective and rapid technique for the initialization of battery models. This method is built on a regionwise shooting approach with initial guess at one end of the electrode and physics based shooting criterion on the other end that can ultimately satisfy all the required conditions in a battery unit. Notably, the computation time required for the proposed method is only milliseconds in a FORTRAN environment for the case of initializing a standard physics based lithium-ion battery model. Also the initial values obtained are exact and can readily be fed into any DAE solver for achieving accurate solutions without solver failure. This rapid method will help in simulating batteries in hybrid environments in real-time (milliseconds).
MS-qFRET: A quantum dot-based method for analysis of DNA methylation

DNA methylation contributes to carcinogenesis by silencing key tumor suppressor genes. Here we report an ultrasensitive and reliable nanotechnology assay, MS-qFRET, for detection and quantification of DNA methylation. Bisulfite-modified DNA is subjected to PCR amplification with primers that would differentiate between methylated and unmethylated DNA. Quantum dots are then used to capture PCR amplicons and determine the methylation status via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Key features of MS-qFRET include its low intrinsic background noise, high resolution, and high sensitivity. This approach detects as little as 15 pg of methylated DNA in the presence of a 10,000-fold excess of unmethylated alleles, enables reduced use of PCR (as low as eight cycles), and allows for multiplexed analyses. The high sensitivity of MS-qFRET enables one-step detection of methylation at PYCARD, CDKN2B, and CDKN2A genes in patient sputum samples that contain low concentrations of methylated DNA, which normally would require a nested PCR approach. The direct application of MS-qFRET on clinical samples offers great promise for its translational use in early cancer diagnosis, prognostic assessment of tumor behavior, as well as monitoring response to therapeutic agents.
Effects of postoperative cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Restasis) following glaucoma surgery

Purpose: To determine if postoperative topical cyclosporine 0.05% has any beneficial effect following trabeculectomy Methods: This was an interventional, randomized, prospective, double-masked clinical trial of 44 consecutive patients with uncontrolled glaucoma requiring filtration surgery. Ocular surface disease index questionnaire and comprehensive ocular exam, including Schirmer's tear test 1, were performed. Patients underwent routine trabeculectomy, with or without phacoemulsification. The study group (n = 22) received cyclosporine 0.05%, and the control group (n = 22) received artificial tears. Patients were evaluated at 1 and 6 months post surgery. Outcome measures were intraocular pressure, success rate, bleb appearance, ocular surface disease index, Schirmer's tear test 1 and conjunctival inflammation. Results: Thirty-nine patients completed the study (19 in the study group, 20 in the control group). The mean baseline intraocular pressure was 23.8 ± 12.6 mmHg in the study group and 25.9 ± 10.6 mmHg in the control group (P = 0.513). Mean intraocular pressure at postoperative month 6 was 14.88 ± 6.2 and 14.62 ± 5.46 mmHg in the study group and control group, respectively (P = 0.837). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean values of Schirmer's tear test 1 and the level of conjunctival hyperaemia between the two groups at baseline, months 1 and 6 post surgery. The treatment group had a statistically significant decrease in ocular surface disease index score at 6 months (P = 0.003), indicating less severity of dry eye symptoms and significant reduction in ocular pain. Conclusions: Topical cyclosporine 0.05% had no effect on postoperative bleb function and intraocular pressure following trabeculectomy, but improved subjective ocular surface symptoms in these patients.
Identical Particle Correlations in STAR

Preliminary results of identical-particle correlations probing the geometric substructure of the particle-emitting source at RHIC are presented. An m T -independent scaling of pion HBT radii from large (central Au+Au) to small (p+p) collision systems naively suggests comparable flow strength in all of them. Multidimensional correlation functions are studied in detail using a spherical decomposition method. In the light systems, the presence of significant long-range non-femtoscopic correlations complicates the extraction of HBT radii.
Highly Oriented Diamond Films Grown at High Growth Rate

Highly oriented diamond (HOD) films were grown at a high growth rate on (100) silicon substrates by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD), following the standard bias-enhanced nucleation (BEN) process. The growth rate and diamond quality were investigated as a function of methane concentration in hydrogen (2-6%), and N2/CH4 ratio (0 to 0.12). A four-fold increase in the growth rate of HOD films and a three times faster expansion and coalescence of (100) facets was observed within the above process window. The films with the best quality were grown under an N2/CH4 ratio of 0.08 at methane concentration of 3.5%. The ratio of x-ray intensity between the first order twins and (111) poles was only 1%. A detailed study of the crystalline quality and phase purity as a function of methane concentration and nitrogen addition is presented.
When Does Curbing Health Costs Really Help the Economy

Prologue: If one pays any attention to the current debate on health care costs, it may seem counterintuitive to pose the question that is the title of this paper: “When does curbing health costs really help the economy?” Many persons both inside and outside the sphere of health policy take it for granted that cutting health care costs is an admirable—even necessary—pursuit. Nearly everyone, from the Clinton administration to policymakers on Capitol Hill to health industry executives, has gone on record in support of health care cost containment. The burgeoning managed care sector is based on the premise that a large part of managing care is managing its costs. However, Mark Pauly argues here that “the effect of containing or slowing medical spending growth is likely to be quite different—for American business, for savings rates, and for overall economic well-being—depending on whether what slows is growth in resources used or growth in their prices.” The paper intends to clarify a health policy paradox: T...
Thermal characterization of liquid core optical ring resonator sensors

The liquid core optical ring resonator (LCORR) has recently shown promise as a high-sensitivity label-free lab-on-a-chip biological-chemical sensor. We investigate experimentally and theoretically the temperature dependence of the LCORR to establish a noise baseline, which will enable us to implement a temperature stabilization mechanism to reduce the thermally induced noise and to improve the sensor detection limit. Our studies involve analysis of the thermo-optic and thermomechanical effects of fused silica and aluminosilicate glass as they impact LCORR performance. Both thick-walled and thin-walled LCORRs are investigated to elucidate the contribution of water in the core to the thermal response of the LCORRs. Theoretical calculations based on Mie theory are used to verify the experimental observations.
Grain Size Effect on Creep Deformation of Alumina‐Silicon Carbide Composites

A study of the flexural creep response of aluminas reinforced with 10 vol% SiC whiskers was conducted at 1,200 and 1,300 C at stresses from 50 to 230 MPa in air to evaluate the effect of matrix grain size. The average matrix grain size was varied from 1.2 to 8.0 {micro}m by controlling the hot-pressing conditions. At 1,200 C, the creep resistance of alumina composites increases with an increase in matrix grain size, and the creep rate (at constant applied stress) exhibits a grain size exponent of approximately 1. The stress exponent of the creep rate at 1,200 C is approximately 2, consistent with a grain boundary sliding mechanism. On the other hand, the creep deformation rate of 1,300 C was not sensitive to the alumina grain size. This was seen to be a result of enhanced nucleation and coalescence of creep cavities and the development of macroscopic cracks as the grain size increases. Observations also indicated that the prevalent site for nucleation and growth of creep cavities in coarse-grained materials is at two-grain junctions (grain faces), whereas in fine-grained materials cavities nucleate primarily at triple-grain junctions (grain edges). Electron microscopy studies revealed that the content of any amorphous phasemore » present at whisker-alumina interfaces is independent of alumina grain size (and hot-pressing conditions). In addition, the alumina grain boundaries are quite devoid of amorphous phase(s). This variation in amorphous phase content does not appear to be a factor in the present creep results.« less
Female adaptation to developmental plasticity in male calling behavior

The katydid Neoconocephalus triops exhibits in North America substantial developmental plasticity of male mating calls. The AM rate of the summer calls is significantly faster than that of the winter calls at the same temperature. In the tropics, where N. triops originated, males express only the fast summer-call phenotype. We tested two alternative hypotheses: (1) call plasticity in the population from North America evolved in response to selection by female preference after N. triops colonized North America, or (2) call plasticity evolved before N. triops expanded into North America and its expression in the novel environment led to adaptive change of female preferences. First, we tested whether call plasticity was present in tropical populations of N. triops. Tropical males expressed the winter-call phenotype when reared under winter conditions, indicating that call plasticity did not evolve in response to temperate climates. Second, we compared female preferences among temperate and tropical populations. We found that the temperature dependence of preferred AM rate was significantly steeper in temperate N. triops than in a tropical population of N. triops. Third, we compared temperature dependence of female preference of the N. triops populations to three Neoconocephalus species without call plasticity. Only temperate N. triops had significantly steeper temperature dependence than the other species. This steeper temperature dependence matched female preference to the fast summer call at high temperatures and to the slow winter call at low temperatures in temperate populations. These results support the hypothesis that female preference changed in N. triops in North America to compensate for the plasticity of male calls.
The Role of Identity in Acculturation among Immigrant People: Theoretical Propositions, Empirical Questions, and Applied Recommendations

The present paper advances theoretical propositions regarding the relationship between acculturation and identity. The most central thesis argued is that acculturation represents changes in cultural identity and that personal identity has the potential to ‘anchor’ immigrant people during their transition to a new society. The article emphasizes the experiences of nonwhite, non-Western immigrant people moving to Western nations. The article also calls for research on heretofore unexplored aspects of the relationship of acculturation to personal and social identity. Ideas are proposed for interventions to promote cultural identity change and personal identity coherence.
Time-dependent and tissue-specific effects of circulating glucose on fetal ovine glucose transporters

To determine the cellular adaptations to fetal hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, we examined the time-dependent effects on basal (GLUT-1 and GLUT-3) and insulin-responsive (GLUT-4) glucose transporter proteins by quantitative Western blot analysis in fetal ovine insulin-insensitive (brain and liver) and insulin-sensitive (myocardium, skeletal muscle, and adipose) tissues. Maternal glucose infusions causing fetal hyperglycemia resulted in a transient 30% increase in brain GLUT-1 but not GLUT-3 levels and a decline in liver and adipose GLUT-1 and myocardial and skeletal muscle GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 levels compared with gestational age-matched controls. Maternal insulin infusions leading to fetal hypoglycemia caused a decline in brain GLUT-3, an increase in brain GLUT-1, and a subsequent decline in liver GLUT-1, with no significant change in insulin-sensitive myocardium, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue GLUT-1 or GLUT-4 concentrations, compared with gestational age-matched sham controls. We conclude that fetal glucose transporters are subject to a time-dependent and tissue- and isoform-specific differential regulation in response to altered circulating glucose and/or insulin concentrations. These cellular adaptations in GLUT-1 (and GLUT-3) are geared toward protecting the conceptus from perturbations in substrate availability, and the adaptations in GLUT-4 are geared toward development of fetal insulin resistance.
“Log-Chipper” Turbulence in the Convective Boundary Layer

Abstract Turbulent fluctuations of a conservative scalar in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) can be generated by a scalar flux at the surface, a scalar flux of entrainment at the ABL top, and the “chewing up” of scalar variations on the mesoscale. The first two have been previously studied, while the third is examined in this paper through large-eddy simulation (LES). The LES results show that the scalar fluctuations due to the breakdown of mesoscale variations in advected conservative scalar fields, which the authors call the “log-chipper” component of scalar fluctuations, are uniformly distributed through the depth of the convective ABL, unlike the top–down and bottom–up components. A similarity function, similar to those for the top–down and bottom–up scalars, is derived for the log-chipper scalar variance in the convective ABL and used to compare the relative importance of these three processes for generating scalar fluctuations. Representative mesoscale gradients for water vapor mixing ratio and ...
Multiple covariance analysis by the general least squares regression method

The use of general least squares regression methods for accomplishing factorial type ANOVA has been described in several recent publications. This article extends application of general linear model analysis to problems that are ordinarily conceived as multiple covariance or multiple group regression analysis. A detailed example of the simplified computational method is provided.
Food Habits and Dietary Overap of Two Silversides in the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway: The Invasive Menidia audens Versus the Native Labidesthes sicculus

Abstract The Mississippi silverside (Menidia audens), now common throughout the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW) in Mississippi, apparently invaded this highly modified system from the Tennessee River, concurrent with TTW construction (1972–1985). Subsequent decline in distribution and abundance of the native brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus) led to speculation that dietary competition with M. audens might be occurring. Therefore, diet data from sympatric and allopatric collections of the two silversides at several sites in TTW were analyzed using multivariate statistics and null models to test for significant dietary differences, overlap and niche shifts potentially attributable to habitat alteration. Diet overlap between the two silversides at sites of co-occurrence was greater than expected under the null model. Moreover, intraspecific food habits did not differ between individuals occurring in sympatry and those occurring in allopatry for either silverside. Thus, significant portions of their ...
A Controlled Trial of Antepartum Glucocorticoid Treatment for Prevention of the Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Premature Infants, by G. C. Liggins, MB, PhD, FRCOG, and R. N. Howie, MB, MRACP, Pediatrics, 1972;50:515–525

A controlled trial of betamethasone therapy was carried out in 282 mothers in whom premature delivery threatened or was planned before 37 weeks9 gestation, in the hope of reducing the incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome by accelerating functional maturation of the fetal lung. A total of 213 mothers were in spontaneous premature labor. When necessary, ethanol or salbutamol infusions were used to delay delivery while steroid or placebo therapy was given. Delay for at least 24 hours was achieved in 77% of the mothers. In these unplanned deliveries, early neonatal mortality was 3.2% in the treated group and 15.0% in the control subjects. There were no deaths with hyaline membrane disease or intraventricular cerebral hemorrhage in infants of mothers who had received betamethasone for at least 24 hours before delivery. The respiratory distress syndrome occurred less often in treated babies (9.0%) than in controls (25.8%), but the difference was confined to babies of We conclude that this preliminary evidence justifies additional trials, but that additional work is needed before any new routine procedure is established.
The potential and carrier distributions of a p-n-p-n device in the ON state

The potential and carrier distributions of a p-n-p-n device in the ON state are measured by electrical and optical probing techniques. The measurements are compared with numerical calculations of the potential and carrier distributions and the current-voltage characteristics as a function of device temperature. The calculations are based upon an analysis of the p-n-p-n device at high current densities using an abrupt junction model and including the effects of carrier-carrier scattering, conductivity modulation, and the dependence of emitter efficiency upon current density. The conditions under which the p-n-p-n device may be approximated by a p-n-n+device are also considered. The range of applicability of the results includes all ON currents of practical interest in a p-n-p-n device.
Reliability of Peak Treadmill Exercise Tests in Mild Alzheimer Disease

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of treadmill peak exercise testing in people with very mild-to-mild Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods: Sixteen subjects with very mild-to-mild AD performed graded peak treadmill exercise tests twice within a 14-day period. Heart rate, oxygen consumption, and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were continuously monitored. Peak values were analyzed for absolute level of agreement. Results: Fourteen participants (87.5%) completed testing. Reliability was excellent with total peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) (ml/kg/min) highly correlated across the two tests (r = 0.94, p < .001) with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC[3,1]) of 0.92 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.78, 0.97). The standard error of measurement (SEM) for VO2peak was 1.29 (95% CI = 0.88, 1.89). Conclusions: These results indicate that peak exercise testing on a treadmill is reliable in the early stages of AD.
Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Resection of Intraparenchymal Brain Tumors

The endoscope in neurosurgery has at times been accused of being a tool looking for a purpose. In many applications, it has successfully refuted this accusation: it is hard to imagine a cogent argument against using endoscopy for a third ventriculostomy or intraventricular tumor biopsy in the right setting. Also, although the entire field of endonasal anterior skull base surgery has not yet reached full maturity, few would argue that the subspecialty does not have value. The endoscope works best in open spaces, either air or fluid, such as the ventricle or nose. Therein the illumination, magnification, and wide angles of visualization allow the endoscope to be used to its full advantage. In such spaces, the freedom of movement provided to the endoscopist overcomes much of the potential clumsiness that comes from working with a view that is not coaxial to the working angle. The cerebral parenchyma has no open cavity, and it is largely for this reason that the brain “space” itself has been left as the last great frontier for the endoscope. The bar to be reached for any technique used in the removal of intrinsic and metastatic brain tumors must be that the technique provides less neuroanatomical and neurological impact and equal or better efficacy than the traditional microscope-based approach. It is far from a foregone conclusion that the conditions for such success will be met with new endoscopic techniques. In the article in a recent issue of WORLD NEUROSURGERY by Plaha et al., a nontubular, endoscopic technique for resecting intraparenchymal brain tumors is applied and evaluated prospectively for safety and efficacy. Using this method, the authors demonstrated gross total resection (GTR) in 48% of cases and near-total (greater than 95%) resection in 70% of cases. They show that GTR rates in this study were comparable with those published by other groups that used standard microsurgical resection for highgrade gliomas (where most evidence demonstrates that extent of resection plays a significant prognostic role). The authors conclude that the procedure can be performed safely, with only one major complication recorded secondary to anomalous anatomy (left anterior cerebral artery infarct), and a reported infection rate lower than that for other nonendoscopic craniotomy procedures at their institution. They conclude by suggesting that although their study does not imply superiority, it does support a role for this method of intraparenchymal tumor removal.
Multidisciplinary, Interdisciplinary, and Transdisciplinary Educational Models and Nursing Education

Abstract In an effort to prepare health care professionals for the team-based work environment that exists in health care delivery systems today, some nursing faculty may consider collaborative, team-taught courses that integrate faculty and students from various disciplines. To assist nursing faculty in making an informed decision about integrated curriculum development and course implementation, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary educational teams are defined. Examples are offered that reflect these three integrated educational team models. Finally, the benefits and potential problem areas that result from team initiatives are briefly reviewed.
New styryl sulfones as anticancer agents

Abstract New styryl sulfone compounds have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity. Among the compounds synthesized, one compound ( 7k ) has shown 51% tumor growth inhibition in mice implanted with HT-29 human carcinoma at 400 mg kg −1 orally.
What Are We Learning and What Can We Learn from the Human Oral Microbiome Project

Extraordinary technological advances have greatly accelerated our ability to identify bacteria, at the species level, present in clinical samples taken from the human mouth. In addition, technologies are evolving such that the oral samples can be analyzed for their protein and metabolic products. As a result, pictures are the advent of personalized dental medicine is becoming closer to reality.
Sobre o Universo Literário Luso-Americano Actual – de Osmoses, Intersecções e Diferenças

Abstract. As a follow up to the publication of an article I published in Hispania (vol. 88.4, 2005), where I discussed two literary universes that intersect—the growing writings of Luso-American authors in English and the writings in Portuguese of the increasingly Luso-American osmotic universe (to a great extent Azorean-American)—I will attempt to frame that writing as well as some of the central problems it addresses, within the cultural context of a Luso-(North-)American community that has slowly affirmed itself within the vast North-American world. Resumo. Na sequencia de um artigo que publiquei na revista Hispania (vol. 88.4, 2005), em que falava de dois universos literarios que se interseccionam—a crescente escrita de autores luso‑americanos em lingua inglesa e a escrita em portugues do cada vez mais osmotico universo luso-americano (marcadamente acor-americano)—procurarei enquadrar essa producao, bem como alguma da problematica central por ela abordada, no contexto cultural em que se insere de uma comunidade luso-(norte-)americana que tem vindo a afirmar-se aos poucos no vasto mundo norte-americano.
A Minimum Spanning Forest-Based Method for Noninvasive Cancer Detection With Hyperspectral Imaging

Goal: The purpose of this paper is to develop a classification method that combines both spectral and spatial information for distinguishing cancer from healthy tissue on hyperspectral images in an animal model. Methods: An automated algorithm based on a minimum spanning forest (MSF) and optimal band selection has been proposed to classify healthy and cancerous tissue on hyperspectral images. A support vector machine classifier is trained to create a pixel-wise classification probability map of cancerous and healthy tissue. This map is then used to identify markers that are used to compute mutual information for a range of bands in the hyperspectral image and thus select the optimal bands. An MSF is finally grown to segment the image using spatial and spectral information. Conclusion: The MSF based method with automatically selected bands proved to be accurate in determining the tumor boundary on hyperspectral images. Significance: Hyperspectral imaging combined with the proposed classification technique has the potential to provide a noninvasive tool for cancer detection.
Helical-Type Surface Defects in GaN and InGaN Thin Films Epitaxially Grown on GaN Templates at Reduced Temperatures

The surface morphologies of GaN and InGaN films grown at 780°C by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy were determined using atomic force microscopy. A qualitative model is presented to explain observed instabilities in the step morphology of these films, namely, the formation of hillock islands and v-defects that give rise to surface roughening. The latter are a result of a boundary dragging effect, where interactions occur between the movement of homogeneous and heterogeneous steps and the tendency to form atom clusters in the terrace in the transition in kinetic growth regime. The tendency to form v-defects was associated with dislocation density. A delay in the formation of v-defects in InGaN was observed and associated with the ammonia partial pressure and the interactions between hillock islands and pure screw or mixed dislocations. Hillock island formation was attributed to a transition in thermodynamic mode to three-dimensional island growth. Explanations for the foregoing observations are based on growth model theory previously developed by Burton, Cabrera, and Frank (BCF) and on changes in the surface kinetics with temperature, In composition, and gas phase composition.
Cytodiagnosis of rheumatoid pleural effusion.

The characteristic cytologic features of rheumatoid pleuritis are described in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and pleural effusion.
Radiological outcomes of static vs expandable titanium cages after corpectomy: a retrospective cohort analysis of subsidence.

Background Mesh cages have commonly been used for reconstruction after corpectomy. Recently, expandable cages have become a popular alternative. Regardless of cage type, subsidence is a concern following cage placement. Objective To assess whether subsidence rates differ between static and expandable cages, and identify independent risk factors for subsidence and extent of subsidence when present. Methods A consecutive population of patients who underwent corpectomy between 2006 and 2009 was identified. Subsidence was assessed via x-ray at 1-month and 1-year follow-ups. In addition to cage type, demographic, medical, and cage-related covariates were recorded. Multivariate models were used to assess independent associations with rate, odds, and extent of subsidence. Results Of 91 patients, 44.0% had expandable cages and 56.0% had static cages. One-month subsidence rate was 36.3%, and the 1-year subsidence rate was 51.6%. Expandable cages were independently associated with higher rates and odds of subsidence in comparison with static cages. Infection, trauma, and footplate-to-vertebral body endplate ratio of less than 0.5 were independent risk factors for subsidence. The presence of prongs on cages and posterior fusion 2 or more levels above and below corpectomy level had lower rates and odds of subsidence. Infection and cage placement in the thoracic or lumbar region had greater extent of subsidence when subsidence was present. Conclusion Expandable cages had higher rates and risk of subsidence in comparison with static cages. When subsidence was present, expandable cages had greater magnitudes of subsidence. Other factors including footplate-to-vertebral body endplate ratio, prongs, extent of supplemental posterior fusion, spinal region, and diagnosis also impacted subsidence.
Selective Hemolysis of Adult Red Blood Cells: An Aid to Prenatal Diagnosis of Hemoglobinopathies

279 Prenatal detection of hemoglobinopathies is difficult if placental blood samples are contaminated by maternal cells. Since fetal red cells contain less carbonic anhydrase than adult erythrocytes, adult cells can be preferentially hemolyzed in NH4CI-NH4HCO3acetazolamide (the #{216}rskov-Jacobs-Stewart reaction). In the conditions used In our experiments, 50% of the adult cells were hemolyzed in 1.2 mm, while this occurred at 12.3 mm with fetal cells. When 2.5% fetal cells were mixed with adult red blood cells, an average of 2.3% of the cells was recovered after 3-6 mm of #{216}rskov-Jacobs-Stewart reaction. Analysis of cell size with the Coulter Channelyzer indicated that small adult cells had been hemolyzed and only large fetal cells remained. When the cells had been labeled with 3H-leucine, approximately 36% of the radioactIve protein was recovered. Enrichment for fetal compared to adult fi chain radioactivity was 100- to almost 1000fold in double-label experiments. In normal fetuses, the fl/y synthetic ratio is 0.07-0.11. In ten studies of mixtures of 2.5% fetal blood in adult blood, mean $1-v was 0.482 before and 0.082 after #{216}rskov-Jacobs-Stewart hemolysis. The ratio was 0.091 in pure fetal blood. Fetal phenotypes of sickle trait, fl-thalassemia trait, and fl-thalassemia major were also detected following #{216}rskovJacobs-Stewart hemolysis. Thus this hemoIytic procedure provides pure fetal blood from samples with only 2.5% fetal cells and enables the appropriate diagnoses to be made.
Unproven arthritis remedies. How to approach the problem.

PreviewMillions of Americans suffer from arthritis. The constant pain of this potentially disabling disease drives many patients to try any remedy that promises relief. Thus, arthritis quackery flourishes. In this article, Dr Wasner explains why arthritis patients are especially vulnerable to use of unproven remedies and suggests how physicians can deal with this problem. The overall goal, he contends, is improving the patient-physician relationship.
Medialized Clavicular Bone Tunnel Position Predicts Failure After Anatomic Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction in Young, Active Male Patients.

Background:Recent radiographic data have suggested that medialized conoid tunnel placement greater than 25% of absolute clavicular length is correlated with early failure after anatomic coracoclavicular ligament reconstructions. A comparison with a larger active duty military cohort of clinical and radiographic outcomes can serve as a basis for standardizing surgical technique.Purpose:To establish the ideal radiographic tunnel position for anatomic coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction and to elucidate variables associated with early loss of reduction and ability to return to active-duty military service.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A retrospective review of the military’s electronic medical record between the years 2000 and 2013 was performed. All anatomic coracoclavicular reconstructions at a single institution were included for analysis, and nonanatomic or revision reconstructions were excluded. Radiographic failure was defined as 6 mm of superior clavicle displacement on i...