cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Antibiotics on Trachoma Virus in Tissue Cultures.

SummarySix antibiotic drugs were tested for inhibitory effect on trachoma virus in human tissue cells. Chlortetracycline hydrochloride and tylosin tartrate interrupted the cytochemical sequence which reflected maturation of the virus. Penicillin and sulfanilamide only delayed maturation and streptomycin had no effect on the virus. A cytochemical procedure for detection of trachomastatic drugs is described.
Development of a Scale to Measure Consumer Skepticism Toward Advertising

A 9-item Likert-type scale was developed to measure consumer skepticism toward advertising. Skepticism toward advertising, defined as the general tendency toward disbelief of advertising claims, was hypothesized to be a basic marketplace belief that varies across individuals and is related to general persuasability. A nomological network was proposed, unidimensionality and internal consistency of the scale were established, and a series of studies were conducted to establish the scale's validity and to investigate the effects of ad skepticism.
Harmonic maps from compact Kähler manifolds to exceptional hyperbolic spaces

It has been conjectured that a lattice in a noncompact group of real rank one, other than SU(1,n), cannot be isomorphic to the fundamental group of a compact Kahler manifold; moreover, it is known to be true for SO(1,n). In this note it is shown that this conjecture also holds for the case of uniform lattices in F4(−20), the group of isometries of the Cayley hyperbolic plane. The result is a consequence of a classification theorem for harmonic maps between Kahler and Cayley hyperbolic manifolds.
The role of magnetic loops in particle acceleration at nearly perpendicular shocks

The acceleration of superthermal ions is investigated when a planar shock that is on average nearly perpendicular propagates through a plasma in which the magnetic field is the superposition of a constant uniform component plus a random field of transverse hydromagnetic fluctuations. The importance of the broadband nature of the transverse magnetic fluctuations in mediating ion acceleration at nearly perpendicular shocks is pointed out. Specifically, the fluctuations are composed of short-wavelength components which scatter ions in pitch angle and long-wavelength components which are responsible for a spatial meandering of field lines about the mean field. At nearly perpendicular shocks the field line meandering produces a distribution of transient loops along the shock. As an application of this model, the acceleration of a superthermal monoenergetic population of seed protons at a perpendicular shock is investigated by integrating along the exact phase-space orbits.
Child Psychiatrists Seen through Pediatricians' Eyes: Results of a National Survey

A nationwide survey of pediatricians was undertaken to evaluate pediatricians' training experiences with child psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, and their current utilization preferences and practices concerning the mental health needs of their patients. Responses of 1,089 pediatricians (69% of those surveyed) are reported. The results indicate significant discrepancies between pediatricians' and child psychiatrists' views of their expertise with specific disorders. Pediatricians' attitudes toward mental health professionals vary widely, and collaboration patterns in practice are highly correlated with training experiences. The implications of these findings for both medical specialities are discussed.
Resistance to Cephus cinctus Norton, the wheat stem sawfly, in a recombinant inbred line population of wheat derived from two resistance sources

Several species of wheat stem sawflies (WSS) are pests of wheat, including Cephus cinctus Norton in North America. Larvae feed inside the stems and cut the stem near plant maturity. The primary means of control is resistance due to solid stems, largely controlled by a locus on chromosome 3B (Qss.msub-3BL). Cultivars that differed for WSS resistance, but with similar stem solidness, were crossed to determine the genetic basis for the differences. The cultivar ‘Scholar’ is susceptible, while ‘Conan’ shows resistance. Scholar and Conan possessed different alleles at Qss.msub-3BL. Both alleles conferred solidness, yet the Conan allele conferred higher WSS resistance. An allele from Conan on chromosome 4A also decreased infestation and stem cutting. The 3B and 4A alleles from Conan acted in an additive fashion to provide increased WSS resistance without increasing stem solidness. Stem solidness has long been used by breeders as a proxy for WSS resistance because of its simplicity. Our results suggest that other resistance mechanisms may complement solid stems.
A New Low-Liquid-Content Current Transformer [includes discussion]

The importance of continuity of service in modern power systems demands that current transformers for operation of meters and control devices be properly applied and designed to give high accuracy, trouble-free operation, and long life. Unlike most other types of apparatus, current transformers have negligible reactance to limit short-circuit currents and therefore are occasionally subjected to exceedingly high overcurrents. Under such conditions, an internal failure may result in excessively high pressures within a fraction of a cycle. Improved materials, new manufacturing and testing techniques, and novel features of design are utilized in a new liquid-filled current transformer to meet these exacting requirements. The new transformer is designed to be stronger mechanically than previous models, in addition to having high metering accuracy, improved sealing against entrance of moisture, and higher corona-starting voltages. One of the features of this design is its ability to relieve excessive internal pressure, should it occur. This feature is so combined with other component parts of the transformer that they mutually co-operate to insulate, to hold mechanically in position, to reduce expansion, and to relieve excessive pressure.
Observation of Fluctuation-Dissipation-Theorem Violations in a Structural Glass

The fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT), connecting dielectric susceptibility and polarization noise, was studied in glycerol below its glass transition temperature ${T}_{g}$. Weak FDT violations were observed after a quench from just above to just below ${T}_{g}$, for frequencies above the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ peak. Violations persisted up to ${10}^{5}$ times the thermal equilibration time of the configurational degrees of freedom under study, but comparable to the average relaxation time of the material. These results suggest that excess energy flows from slower to faster relaxing modes.
Automated patient identification and localization error detection using 2-dimensional to 3-dimensional registration of kilovoltage x-ray setup images.

Purpose To determine whether kilovoltage x-ray projection radiation therapy setup images could be used to perform patient identification and detect gross errors in patient setup using a computer algorithm. Methods and Materials Three patient cohorts treated using a commercially available image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) system that uses 2-dimensional to 3-dimensional (2D-3D) image registration were retrospectively analyzed: a group of 100 cranial radiation therapy patients, a group of 100 prostate cancer patients, and a group of 83 patients treated for spinal lesions. The setup images were acquired using fixed in-room kilovoltage imaging systems. In the prostate and cranial patient groups, localizations using image registration were performed between computed tomography (CT) simulation images from radiation therapy planning and setup x-ray images corresponding both to the same patient and to different patients. For the spinal patients, localizations were performed to the correct vertebral body, and to an adjacent vertebral body, using planning CTs and setup x-ray images from the same patient. An image similarity measure used by the IGRT system image registration algorithm was extracted from the IGRT system log files and evaluated as a discriminant for error detection. Results A threshold value of the similarity measure could be chosen to separate correct and incorrect patient matches and correct and incorrect vertebral body localizations with excellent accuracy for these patient cohorts. A 10-fold cross-validation using linear discriminant analysis yielded misclassification probabilities of 0.000, 0.0045, and 0.014 for the cranial, prostate, and spinal cases, respectively. Conclusions An automated measure of the image similarity between x-ray setup images and corresponding planning CT images could be used to perform automated patient identification and detection of localization errors in radiation therapy treatments.
An alternative parameterization of electron repulsion terms in mndo and amI

Abstract An alternative method of parameterizing the two electron coulomb integrals in MNDO and AMI is described Although the method is used to closely approximate the Dewar and Thiel integrals, the formalism and the resulting formulas are much simpler and computationally more efficient The method strictly obeys rotational invariance, gives integrals and their derivatives directly in space fixed cartesian coordinates, can be used with arbitrary basis sets and gives the correct behavior both at the large and small (united atom) limits of the inter-atomic distance The integrals are numerically compared with those of Dewar and Thiel
Communities Inferred from the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament of the Bible

The books of First and Second Samuel are part of historical books in the Old Testament of the Bible, which appear as a single book in Jewish scriptures. These two books record the critical transition of governing system in Israel from judges to kings and from 12 tribes to a centralized state. The three major characters in these books are Samuel priest, prophet and the last judge, Saul the first king of Israel, and David the second king, a man after God’s own heart. These books contain many fascinating stories that present the life of Samuel, the rise and fall of Saul, the long journal for David to become king, and the establishment of his kingdom. In this study, we constructed a sequence of social networks from these two books based on the interactions of many characters and their locations. Our aim was to apply a computational approach to identifying the communities in these networks, which summarized the interactions between the key figures and others, along with their locations. As a result, the rich information of this part ofIsraelhistory was encoded and visualized concisely through this sequence of networks of communities in time.
Effects of onion (Allium cepa) extract on platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis.

Abstract Oral administration of onion and garlic reportedly decreases platelet aggregation in both human and animal subjects. An oily chloroform extract of onion (Allium Cepa) was prepared and separated by column chromatography on silicic acid into six fractions by elution with solvents of increasing polarity. The least polar fraction contained most of the inhibitory activity towards platelet aggregation induced by either ADP or arachidonic acid. Further purification was afforded by thin-layer chromatography. The specific activity of this major active fraction (ISO per ml of PRP) was approximately 7 units per milligram. Platelets incubated in the presence of onion inhibitor and (1-14C)-arachidonic acid showed striking changes in the pattern of arachidonic acid metabolites formed. Thromboxane B2 synthesis was almost completely suppressed without significant decreases in total hydroxy fatty acid formation. It was concluded that the observed antiplatelet activity of onion relates to the presence of a non-polar, heat stable inhibitor of thromboxane synthesis. This appears to be the first demonstration of this type of inhibitor present in significant quantities in a common foodstuff.
Preparation of the metastable interstitial copper nitride, Cu4N, by d.c. plasma ion nitriding☆

Abstract A new copper nitride identified as Cu 4 N with the Ni 4 N(I)-type structure ( a 0 = 0.3193 nm ) has been prepared by d.c. plasma (ion) heating of copper sheet in a nitrogen and hydrogen atmosphere to 450–530°C. Cu 4 N is the first reported interstitial copper nitride and is probably metastable; it is isostructural with other M 4 N nitrides, where M  Mn , Fe , Co , Ni .
Surfactant secretion in a newborn rabbit lung slice model.

We describe a slice model for the study of pulmonary surfactant secretion in newborn rabbits. Full term rabbits were delivered by cesarean section and injected intraperitoneally with [Me-3H]choline. Four hours later they were killed, the lungs were perfused to remove blood, slices (0.5 mm thick) were prepared and incubated in buffer at 37°C. The composition of the lipids initially released into the medium resembled those of lung tissue rather than surfactant. Following 3 changes of medium, however, the composition of the lipids released was very similar to that of lung lavage. Phosphatidylcholine accounted for over 70% of the total while phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin accounted for only 7% and 4%, respectively. 52% of the phosphatidylcholine was disaturated. Less than 5% of the tissue lactate dehydrogenase was released into the medium. The rate of phosphatidyl[Me-3H]choline release during this period was, therefore, measured. Release of phosphatidyl[Me-3H]choline was linear with time and was temperature-dependent. Prostaglandin E2 stimulated its rate of release by 20% while indomethacin and flufenamic acid, inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis, inhibited it by 52% and 37%, respectively. The calcium ionophore A23187 in the presence of Ca2+ stimulated release by 40% while colchicine and cytochalasin B inhibited it by 36% and 32%, respectively. These data suggest that both prostaglandins and Ca2+ are involved in surfactant release and that intact microtubular and microfilament systems may also be necessary.
Temperature Oscillation Modulated Self-Assembly of Periodic Concentric Layered Magnesium Carbonate Microparticles

Intriguing patterns of periodic, concentric, layered, mineral microstructure are present in nature and organisms, yet they have elusive geneses. We hypothesize temperature oscillation can be an independent factor that causes the self-assembly of such patterns in mineral phases synthesized in solution. Static experiments verify that rhythmic concentric multi-layered magnesium carbonate microhemispheres can be synthesized from bicarbonate solution by temperature oscillation, without use of a chemical template, additive or gel-diffusion system. Appropriate reactant concentration and initial pH value can restrain the competitive growth of other mineral generations. Polarized light microscopy images indicate the microhemispheres are crystalline and the crystallinity increases with incubation time. The thickness of a single mineral layer of microhemisphere in microscale is precisely controlled by the waveform parameters of the temperature oscillation, while the layer number, which can reach tens to about one hundred, is constrained by the temperature oscillation period number. FT-IR spectra show that these microhemispheres synthesized under different conditions can be identified as the basic form of magnesium carbonate, hydromagnesite (Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2⋅4H2O). SEM images exhibit the characteristic microscopic texture of the alternating dark and light rings of these microhemispheres. TEM images and ED patterns suggest the nanoflakes of microhemispheres are present in polycrystalline form with some degree of oriented assembly. The temperature oscillation modulated self-assembly may offer a new mechanism to understand the formation of layered microstructure of minerals in solution, and provide a non-invasive and programmable means to synthesize hierarchically ordered materials.
Nano-engineering approaches to self-assembled InAs quantum dot laser medium

A number of nano-engineering methods are proposed and tested to improve optical properties of a laser gain medium using the self-assembled InAs quantum dot (QD) ensemble. The laser characteristics of concern include higher gain, larger modulation bandwidth, higher efficiency at elevated temperatures, higher thermal stability, and enhanced reliability. The focus of this paper is on the management of QD properties through design and molecular beam epitaxial growth and modification of QD heterostructures. This includes digital alloys as high-quality wide-bandgap barrier; under- and overlayers with various compositions to control the dynamics of QD formation and evolution on the surface; shape engineering of QDs to improve electron-hole overlap and reduce inhomogeneous broadening; band engineering of QD heterostructures to enhance the carrier localization by reduction of thermal escape from dots; as well as tunnel injection from quantum wells (QWs) to accelerate carrier transfer to the lasing state. Beneficial properties of the developed QD media are demonstrated at room temperature in laser diodes with unsurpassed thermal stability with a characteristic temperature of 380 K, high waveguide modal gain >50 cm−1, unsurpassed defect tolerance over two orders of magnitude higher than that of QWs typically used in lasers, and efficient emission from a two-dimensional (2-D) photonic crystal nanocavity.
Divergent Circulations on the 30 to 50 Day Time Scale

Abstract A brief review of some of the recent results on the 30 to 50 day time scale is presented in this paper. We have examined the divergent circulations on the time scale of 30 to 50 days during the FGGE year. The present study is based on two different data sets. These are the FGGE IIIb analysis from the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the Florida State University's analysis over the monsoon region during the FGGE year. The analysis clearly identifies a planetary-scale divergence wave that traverses around the globe eastward throughout the FGGE year. Its speed of eastward propagation is around 8° longitude day−1. The amplitude of this wave is largest during the summer season over the monsoon region and the western Pacific Oceans. The amplitude decreases somewhat as the wave traverses across the eastern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This wave appears to modulate the monsoon activity such that active, inactive spells seem to bear a close relationship to the divergence on t...
Oxide enthalpy of formation and band gap energy as accurate descriptors of oxygen vacancy formation energetics

Despite the fundamental role oxygen vacancy formation energies play in a broad range of important energy applications, their relationships with the intrinsic bulk properties of solid oxides remain elusive. Our study of oxygen vacancy formation in La1−xSrxBO3 perovskites (BCr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) conducted using modern, electronic structure theory and solid-state defect models demonstrates that a combination of two fundamental and intrinsic materials properties, the oxide enthalpy of formation and the minimum band gap energy, accurately correlate with oxygen vacancy formation energies. The energy to form a single, neutral oxygen vacancy decreases with both the oxide enthalpy of formation and the band gap energy in agreement with the relation of the former to metal–oxygen bond strengths and of the latter to the energy of the oxygen vacancy electron density redistribution. These findings extend our understanding of the nature of oxygen vacancy formation in complex oxides and provide a fundamental method for predicting oxygen vacancy formation energies using purely intrinsic bulk properties.
Texas Two-Step: A Framework for Optimal Multi-Input Single-Output Deconvolution

Multi-input single-output deconvolution (MISO-D) aims to extract a deblurred estimate of a target signal from several blurred and noisy observations. This paper develops a new two step framework-Texas two-step-to solve MISO-D problems with known blurs. Texas two-step first reduces the MISO-D problem to a related single-input single-output deconvolution (SISO-D) problem by invoking the concept of sufficient statistics (SSs) and then solves the simpler SISO-D problem using an appropriate technique. The two-step framework enables new MISO-D techniques (both optimal and suboptimal) based on the rich suite of existing SISO-D techniques. In fact, the properties of SSs imply that a MISO-D algorithm is mean-squared-error optimal if and only if it can be rearranged to conform to the Texas two-step framework. Using this insight, we construct new wavelet- and curvelet-based MISO-D algorithms with asymptotically optimal performance. Simulated and real data experiments verify that the framework is indeed effective.
Impaired response inhibition in ill Gulf War veterans

Poor performance on tasks requiring response inhibition has been observed among chronically ill veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Semantic difficulties have also been reported. We collected event-related potential (ERP) and behavioral data from 25 Gulf War veterans who complained of cognitive difficulties and from 23 matched controls, who were deployed but not symptomatic, while they performed a GO-NOGO task that required both a semantic decision and inhibitory processing. A significantly greater false-alarm rate among the ill veterans was accompanied in the ERP data by significantly reduced amplitude in the NOGO P3, consistent with previous ERP studies of other patient groups that have shown poor inhibitory response performance. This supports the contention that the ill veterans' deficit lies more in inhibiting than in detecting task-related differences in the stimuli.
GENERAL EVOLUTION AND DURKHEIM'S HYPOTHESIS OF CRIME FREQUENCY: A Cross-Cultural Test

This research tests and supports the hypothesis proposed by Durkheim which relates increasing crime frequency to social differentiation as a process of sociocultural evolution. Unlike past tests of...
Marine Sediments: Effects of a Tube-Building Polychaete

The marine tube-building polychaete, Owenia fusiformis, selects sand grains of tablet form for its tube. It can concentrate the mineral hornblende at least 25-fold and these concentrations may persist after the death of the worm. Owenia and a small anemone, Zaolutus actius, can act together to stabilize the sand surface against movement by wave surge. The result is the formation of an area of stabilized substrate, with which characteristic animals and plants are associated, in the midst of a region of shifting granular substrate.
Revision of the genus Paraseiulella Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract The genus Paraseiulella Muma is revised. Paraseiulella plumipilis Denmark n. sp., Paraseiulella profitai Denmark n. sp., and Paraseiulella valentii Denmark n. sp. described, Paraseiulella adjacentis (De Leon) new comb., Paraseiulella edwardi (Chant and Yoshida-Shaul), Paraseiulella corna (De Leon), and Paraseiulella elliptica (De Leon) redescribed. All species illustrated and a key to female species provided.
Effects of isoproterenol on the development of β-adrenergic receptors in brain cell aggregates

Abstract The development of binding sites for the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist [ 125 I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol in reaggregate cultures of fetal rat brain has been investigated. β-Adrenergic receptor density increased rapidly between 6 and 22 days in culture at which time maximal density was attained. When cultures were grown in the presence of the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol, the development of receptors was markedly inhibited. Cultures were also grown for 15 days in the presence of isoproterenol and then for 7–14 days in the absence of isoproterenol. Following the removal of the agonist, binding sites developed, but to only approximately 50% of the density seen in control cultures.
Effects of Recombinant Baculoviruses on a Nontarget Endoparasitoid ofHeliothis virescens

Abstract Our study evaluated the effect of wild-type and recombinant Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (AcNPVs) on an endoparasitoid of Heliothis virescens. The development time of the parasitoid Microplitis croceipes was shortened in AcNPV-infected hosts. However, parasitoid survival in hosts treated with recombinant NPVs did not significantly differ from survival rates in hosts infected with wild-type NPV or uninfected controls. Earlier emergence was recorded for parasitoid larvae developing in hosts infected with recombinant NPVs than parasitoid larvae from hosts infected with wild-type NPV. Adult parasitoids which had developed as larvae in hosts infected with recombinant NPVs were significantly smaller in size, suggesting a cost associated with more rapid development rates. PCR primers for AcNPV produced a predicted product in approximately 40% of F1 adults developing from NPV-infected hosts.
Diffusion of spherical probes in aqueous systems containing the semiflexible polymer hydroxypropylcellulose

Diffusion of polystyrene latex and the sodium salt of fluorescein represent the macroscopic and microscopic limits, respectively, of probe diffusion in aqueous hydroxypropylcellulose. In both cases, chemical complexities, such as surface interactions leading to probe aggregation or the solvation characteristics of the polymer matrix, can obscure the general physical information that can be extracted. But when these details are taken into account, a rational picture of probe diffusion in hydroxypropylcellulose begins to emerge. At the same time certain observations, especially the rapid decay mode present in some dynamic light scattering experiments, remain difficult to interpret.
Gender Differences in Characteristics Desired in a Potential Sexual and Marriage Partner

Abstract Only recently have researchers recognized that the qualities that are considered desirable in a short-term sexual partner may differ from those sought in a long-term marriage partner. To investigate this hypothesis, and to explore gender differences in what are considered to be sexually as opposed to maritally desirable characteristics, 70 men and women ranked a set of 23 characteristics in terms of desirability in a potential sexual and marriage partner. As hypothesized, results revealed that both men and women preferred a physically attractive potential sexual partner, and women showed no more preference than did men for a socially or financially powerful potential sexual partner. Also as predicted, men more than women preferred a physically attractive marriage partner; unexpectedly, women did not find such characteristics as social or financial power and a college degree as more desirable in a prospective spouse than did men.
Older boyfriends of adolescent girls: The cause or a sign of the problem?

Abstract Purpose There were two aims of this study: (a) to determine the causal relationship between adolescent girls' early sexual activity and the presence of an older boyfriend, and (b) theoretically and empirically contextualize the relationship between these two variables within a model of adolescent problem behavior. Methods Secondary analysis was conducted with the 670 adolescent girls of Waves I and II of the public use version of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Girls included in the analyses had not already had an older romantic partner in Wave I but did have a romantic partner in the 18 months before Wave II. Four alternative causal models are proposed and tested using structural equation modeling and a nested model comparison analysis strategy. Results The model with the best fit to the data depicted the presence of an older partner as a mediator of psychosocial risk factors and adolescent problem behaviors (including early sexual activity). Psychosocial characteristics of adolescent girls in Wave I predicted whether they would enter romantic relationships with older boyfriends by Wave II. In turn, though, the presence of an older boyfriend increased problem behavior in Wave II above and beyond the effects of the psychosocial risk factors. Conclusions These findings are discussed in terms of the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the unions between adolescent girls and older boyfriends before statutory rape policies are modified.
Selective dynamic nuclear spin polarization in a spin-blocked double dot

We study the mechanism of dynamical nuclear spin polarization by hyperfine interaction in a spin-blocked double quantum dot system. We incorporate the effects of the nuclear quadrupole coupling due to the doping-induced local lattice distortion and strain, and propose a new spin depolarization channel due to quadrupolar state mixing and hyperfine coupling. We calculate the hyperfine transition rates and solve the master equations for the nuclear spins. Our results show that nuclear quadrupole coupling induced by the 5% indium doping can lead to significant nuclear spin relaxation, and thus can be used to explain the recent experimental observation of missing arsenic NMR signal in the spin-blocked double dots.
Sustained Release of Vancomycin from Polyurethane Scaffolds Inhibits Infection of Bone Wounds in a Rat Femoral Segmental Defect Model

Infection is a common complication in open fractures that compromises the healing of bone and can result in loss of limb or life. Currently, the clinical standard of care for treating contaminated open fractures comprises a staged approach, wherein the wound is first treated with non-biodegradable antibiotic-laden poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) beads to control the infection followed by bone grafting. Considering that tissue regeneration is associated with new blood vessel formation, which takes up to 6 weeks in segmental defects, a biodegradable bone graft with sustained release of an antibiotic is desired to prevent the implant from becoming infected, thus allowing the processes of both vascularization and new bone formation to occur unimpeded. In the present study, we utilized biodegradable porous polyurethane (PUR) scaffolds as the delivery vehicle for vancomycin. Hydrophobic vancomycin free base (V-FB) was obtained by precipitating the hydrophilic vancomycin hydrochloride (V-HCl) at pH 8. The decreased solubility of V-FB resulted in an extended vancomycin release profile in vitro, as evidenced by the fact that active vancomycin was released for up to 8 weeks at concentrations well above both the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Using PUR prepared from lysine triisocyanate (LTI) (PUR(LTI)), the extended in vitro release profile observed for V-FB translated to improved infection control in vivo compared to V-HCl in a contaminated critical-sized fat femoral segmental defect. The performance of PUR(LTI)/V-FB was comparable to PMMA/V-HCl beads in vivo. However, compared with PMMA, PUR is a biodegradable system which does not require the extra surgical removal step in clinical use. These results suggest that PUR scaffolds incorporating V-FB could be a potential clinical therapy for treatment of infected bone defects.
Pressure-induced antifluorite-to-anticotunnite phase transition in lithium oxide

Using synchrotron angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction (ADXD) and Raman spectroscopy on samples of Li{sub 2}O pressurized in a diamond anvil cell, we observed a reversible phase change from the cubic antifluorite ({alpha}, Fm-3m) to orthorhombic anticotunnite ({beta}, Pnma) phase at 50({+-}5) GPa at ambient temperature. This transition is accompanied by a relatively large volume collapse of 5.4 ({+-}0.8)% and large hysteresis upon pressure reversal (P{sub down} at {approx} 25 GPa). Contrary to a recent study, our data suggest that the high-pressure {beta}-phase (B{sub o} = 188 {+-} 12 GPa) is substantially stiffer than the low-pressure {alpha}-phase (B{sub o} = 90 {+-} 1 GPa). A relatively strong and pressure-dependent preferred orientation in {beta}-Li{sub 2}O is observed. The present result is in accordance with the systematic behavior of antifluorite-to-anticotunnite phase transitions occurring in the alkali-metal sulfides.
Explicit finite element methods for scalar hyperbolic equations

Abstract We consider a class of finite element methods for scalar hyperbolic equations in which the approximate solution is developed “explicitly”, one element at a time. Numerical results are presented for the discontinuous Galerkin method and several methods which yield a continuous approximation. Of the continuous methods tested, only one—that analyzed in [1]—shows optimal order accuracy. We present a new, simpler analysis for this method and establish a close relationship between it and the discontinuous Galerkin method.
Network Rebonding Model for Metastability in Amorphous Silicon

We propose a new network rebonding model to describe light-induced metastability in hydrogenated amorphous silicon. This model involves global changes in both the silicon and hydrogen bonding sites. The first step in the process is the breaking of a weak silicon bond generating a dangling bond and floating bond pair. The mobile floating bond diffuses away leaving behind an isolated dangling bond in agreement with ESR measurements. Tight-binding molecular dynamics simulations show clear evidence for each of these processes. Floating bonds are an intermediate transient species that do not remain in the light-soaked steady state. Floating bonds annihilate by reacting with SiH bonds and locally displacing hydrogen atoms. This model provides a new explanation for several major experimental features of the Staebler-Wronski effect, including the t1/3 kinetics for the growth of defects, and the anticorrelation of dangling bonds with H. This new model provides a new platform for understanding the atomistic origins of light-induced degradation.
THE OBJECTIVE DEFINITION OF SIMPLE STRUCTURE IN LINEAR FACTOR ANALYSIS

Requirements for an objective definition of simple structure are investigated and a number of proposed objective criteria are evaluated. A distinction is drawn between exploratory factorial studies and confirmatory factorial studies, with the conclusion drawn that objective definition of simple structure depends on study design as well as on objective criteria. A proposed definition of simple structure is described in terms of linear constellations. This definition lacks only a statistical test to compare with possible chance results. A computational procedure is also described for searching for linear constellations. This procedure is very laborious and might best be accomplished on high-speed automatic computers. There is no guarantee that the procedure will find all linear constellations, but it probably would yield satisfactory results for well-designed studies.
Simple method for determining the need for sternotomy/manubriotomy with the anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction.

OBJECTIVE: Frequently, the cervicothoracic junction can be reached through a simple anterior approach. In some cases, access to this region requires a much more aggressive surgical intervention, such as manubriotomy or sternotomy. Information regarding the need for such interventions is particularly useful to have preoperatively to guide surgical planning as well as discussions regarding surgical risks and expected morbidities. Whereas methods utilizing magnetic resonance imaging have been proposed for determining the lowest level that can be accessed through a simple low cervical approach, we describe a simple technique using sagittal computed tomographic imaging. Our technique does not require any complex geometry and has given us very consistent results. METHODS: Computed tomographic sagittal reconstruction of the cervical and upper thoracic spine that includes the entire sternum is obtained. The lowest accessible disc space is determined by a straight line passing through and parallel to the disc space that also passes above the manubrium (the intervertebral disc line). RESULTS: Sagittal computed tomographic reconstructions obtained from 50 adult patients were reviewed, and the lowest disc space accessible from an anterior low cervical approach was determined. The most common accessible level was T1-T2 (23 patients), followed by C7-T1 (13 patients), T2-T3 (10 patients), and C6-C7 (4 patients). A 35-year-old man with T2-T3 compression fractures with kyphotic deformity was treated with T2 and T3 vertebrectomies and T1 -T4 fusion through an anterior approach. CONCLUSION: We propose a simple and consistent method for determining the need for manubriotomy or sternotomy for anterior approaches to the cervicothoracic junction.
Use of potassium meta bisulfite to control bacterial contaminants during fermentation of fodder beet cubes for fuel ethanol

Abstract Potassium meta bisulfite (PMB) was used to control bacterial contamination during batch (BDF) and sequential batch diffusion fermentation (SBDF) of fodder beets. For BDF, equal amounts of beet cubes (1·27–1·91 cm) and water were mixed with a yeast inoculum and 0–0·4% (wt/wt) PMB. At a PMB concentration of 0·25%, contamination was prevented and the ethanol yield (85% of theoretical; 4·55%, v/v) and fermentation efficiency (96%) were highest. In the SBDF process, five batches of fresh beet cubes were sequentially fermented to ethanol in the same yeast-liquid mixture. Makeup series of 0, 50, 75 and 100% were run. In the 75% (0·25% PMB in batch 1 and 0·188% in batches 2–5) and 100% (0·25% PMB throughout) series, contamination was checked or prevented while ethanol concentrations of 8·6–8·85% (v/v) were attained by the fifth batch. BDF and SBDF simulated start-up and operating conditions, respectively, in a pilot-scale, continuous diffusion fermentor which the authors are developing for commercial production of ethanol from fodder beets.
Mining complex models from arbitrarily large databases in constant time

In this paper we propose a scaling-up method that is applicable to essentially any induction algorithm based on discrete search. The result of applying the method to an algorithm is that its running time becomes independent of the size of the database, while the decisions made are essentially identical to those that would be made given infinite data. The method works within pre-specified memory limits and, as long as the data is iid, only requires accessing it sequentially. It gives anytime results, and can be used to produce batch, stream, time-changing and active-learning versions of an algorithm. We apply the method to learning Bayesian networks, developing an algorithm that is faster than previous ones by orders of magnitude, while achieving essentially the same predictive performance. We observe these gains on a series of large databases "generated from benchmark networks, on the KDD Cup 2000 e-commerce data, and on a Web log containing 100 million requests.
Use of phenylbutazone in sports medicine: understanding the risks:

Despite the widespread use of phenylbutazone, its safety is still a controversial issue. One example of its toxicity is the fact that phenylbutazone has now replaced chloramphenicol as the most common cause of fatal drug-related aplastic anemia. To evaluate the toxicity of phenylbutazone as it is commonly used in sports medicine, a group of 3,000 healthy young athletes was studied following 1-week courses of phenylbutazone for various sports-related inflammatory problems. No serious adverse re actions were encountered. Four percent of the patients expe rienced mild gastrointestinal disturbances with less than 1% of the patients being forced to discontinue the medication. Com piling the results of other studies, it is estimated that the risk of a serious reaction to phenylbutazone is less than 1 per 100,000 when the drug is used by healthy young individuals for periods of 1 week or less. This risk increases significantly in older patients and with longer periods of treatment. Although phenylbutazone is wid...
Going nuclear in metabolic and cardiovascular disease.

Estrogen receptors, PPARs, and liver X receptors are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors that regulate diverse aspects of development and homeostasis. Recent studies of the biologic roles of these receptors and their mechanisms of action have significantly advanced our understanding of transcriptional programs that control lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, immunity and inflammation, and wound repair. These findings provide insights into the therapeutic actions of existing drugs that target nuclear receptors and raise new possibilities for development of safer, more effective drugs for the prevention and treatment of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In this introduction to this Review series, underlying mechanisms that enable nuclear receptors to positively and negatively regulate gene expression are presented as background to the focused reviews on estrogen receptors, PPARs, liver X receptors, and the PPARγ coactivator-1 (PGC-1) family of coactivators.
Diversity, International Students, and Perceived Discrimination: Implications for Educators and Counselors:

This study assesses the experiences of international students in terms of perceived discrimination since entering an institution of higher learning in the United States. More specifically, the inve...
A comparative analysis of two external health care disaster responses following Hurricane Katrina.

Objective. Hurricane Katrina severely disrupted the health services in the U.S. Gulf Coast, necessitating an external health care response. The types andneeds of patients following such an extensive event have not been well described. The objective of this study was to analyze the types of patients treated in two temporary clinics andto identify differences between them. Methods. Two temporary sites were established: a disaster medical assistance team–based site in Mississippi anda volunteer-based site near New Orleans. Data were abstracted from patient charts for the two days of simultaneous operation: September 11 and12, 2005. Each patient's age group, disposition, andprimary discharge diagnosis was categorized andanalyzed with descriptive andcomparative statistics. Results. There were a total of 501 patient encounters. The most common presentation overall was for chronic health conditions such as medication refills (20.6%), immunizations (11.0%), obtaining community resources (6.0%). andmanagement of a...
Glutamate drugs and pharmacogenetics of OCD: a pathway-based exploratory approach

Introduction: Neuropharmacology research in glutamate-modulating drugs supports their development and use in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depression, Alzheimer's disorder and schizophrenia. Concomitantly, there is a growing use of these agents used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Areas covered: This article provides a review of glutamate-modulating drugs used in the treatment of OCD. Specifically, the authors examine riluzole, N-acetylcysteine, d-cycloserine, glycine, ketamine, memantine and acamprosate as treatments. Furthermore, recent genetic epidemiology research findings are presented with a focus on the positional candidate genes SLC1A1 (a glutamate transporter), ADAR3 (an RNA-editing enzyme), RYR3 (a Ca2+ channel), PBX1 (a homeobox transcription factor) and a GWAS candidate gene, DLGAP1 (a protein interacting with post-synaptic density). These genetic findings are submitted to a curated bioinformatics database to conform a biological network...
Long-Term Vegetation Change Provides Evidence for Alternate States in Silver Sagebrush

A key goal in land management is to prevent ecosystem shifts that affect human well-being. Like other types of sagebrush shrublands, large areas dominated by the common but little-studied mountain silver sagebrush may have shifted to a less productive shrub-dominated alternate state under heavy livestock grazing in the 19th century. The goals of this study are to 1) describe long-term vegetation change in a silver sagebrush mountain park and 2) evaluate evidence that these changes constitute alternate states. We examined vegetation change over the last 57 yr in California Park, Colorado, USA, using monitoring data from 15 permanent transects at six sites. We analyzed change in species composition over time and related it to management and climatic drivers using nonmetric multidimensional scaling. We found that management practices influenced species composition. Spraying herbicides resulted in decreases of sagebrush and a dominant, unpalatable forb (Wyethia amplexicaulis), but sagebrush recovered. Spraying also triggered a temporary increase in native palatable grasses and forbs. Native grasses have since decreased again, coinciding with increases in the cattle stocking rate and elk population. The nonnative pasture grass Phleum pratense has increased to become one of the dominant grasses in 2010. Sagebrush and herbaceous understory dynamics were not consistent with a shrub-dominated alternate state: changes were gradual and not persistent. However, historic Wyethia dominance and the widespread increase in the nonnative grass Phleum were persistent and may represent alternate states. We used these findings to update a state-and-transition model of high-elevation silver sagebrush shrubland dynamics for land management decision making. Our analysis differentiated gradual, nonpersistent changes from potentially irreversible changes, as is necessary for identifying alternate states that are important for land management and ecosystem function. The gradual but persistent increase in the nonnative grass Phleum reinforces others' observations that even incremental changes may lead to irreversible shifts.
Modeling of shape memory alloy pseudoelastic spring elements using Preisach model for passive vibration isolation

Advances in active materials and smart structures, especially in applications of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) as vibration isolation devices requires modeling of the pseudoelastic hysteresis found in SMAs. In general SMA hysteresis has been modeled either through constitutive models based on mechanics and material parameters or through system identification based models that depend only on input-output relationships, most popular being the Preisach Model. In this work, a basis is set forth for studying the effect of SMA pseudoelasticity on the behavior of vibrating systems. A Preisach Model is implemented to predict the component level pseudoelastic response of SMA spring elements. The model is integrated into a numerical solution of the non-linear dynamic system that results from the inclusion of Shape Memory Alloy components in a dynamic structural system. The effect of pseudoelasticity on a dynamic system is investigated for various loading levels and system configurations and the importance of large amplitude motion is discussed. Promising results are obtained from these investigations and the application of these studies to experimental work in progress by the authors is briefly discussed.
Grooming management graduates as leaders, entrepreneurs and chief executives

Purpose – Prepares management graduates to become leaders, entrepreneurs and chief executives. Design/methodology/approach – Offers leadership lessons based on the career of Jack Welch, former Chief Executive and Chairman of General Electric. Findings – Shows that becoming a chief executive requires consistent and persistent effort. Practical implications – Shows that the lessons can be applied in any industry to prepare management graduates as leaders, entrepreneurs and chief executives. Social implications – Shows how to groom management graduates as successful leaders, entrepreneurs and chief executives. Originality/value – Highlights what business schools do not teach. Emphasizes the importance of both classroom learning and corporate experience. Outlines tools and techniques to fast-track a career.