cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elective courses for medical students during the preclinical curriculum: a systematic review and evaluation

Objective : Preclinical medical student electives are prevalent at medical schools across the United States, but the range of electives available and their impact on medical student education are not well described in the literature. The objective of this article is to review the literature relating to preclinical medical student electives and their impact on medical student educational outcomes. Methods : We reviewed studies that met the following criteria: English-language articles describing preclinical US-based medical electives. We used PubMed journal databases and limited our search for the time period 1999–2014. We excluded electives based in other countries or electives designed for third or fourth year students. Data abstracted included the topic of the elective, qualitative descriptions of the electives, and any associated surveys or exam data associated with the electives. Data were synthesized using descriptive tables sorting electives by broad topic. Reported outcomes and statistical methods were analyzed to assess study quality. Results : We found a wide range of subjects taught in the form of preclinical medical school electives. We identified electives in clinical skills, the humanities, student lifestyle, specialty-specific electives, and an assortment of other miscellaneous electives. Surveys and exams administered to students showed that the electives were universally well received by students. Of the 37 electives identified, 15 electives used quantitative objective assessments, such as knowledge exams, while the remaining tended to use student self-reported results. Conclusions : Preclinical medical student electives are prevalent at medical schools across the United States and have a significant impact on medical student education. Keywords: humanities; education; medical student; electives; undergraduate; preclinical; curriculum (Published: 11 May 2015) Citation: Med Educ Online 2015, 20: 26615 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v20.26615 To access the supplementary material for this article, please see Supplementary files under ‘Article Tools’
Isotopic Labelling in Mass Spectrometry

The use of light element (H, C, N, O) isotopic labels and tracers is reviewed. Nomenclature, techniques and applications for performing qualitative and quantitative labelling experiments are discussed and illustrated. The following applications are reviewed: isotopic dilution; accelerator mass spectrometry for determination of 14 C as a biomedical tracer; tracers for studying reaction and fragmentation pathways and stereochemical effects; deuterium exchange via ion–molecule reactions; isotope-coded affinity tags and tandem mass tags; and isotope labelling as applied to infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy of gaseous ions.
Comment on “Strain effect and the phase diagram of La 1 − x Ba x MnO 3 thin films”

Recent experiments in ${\mathrm{La}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{x}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ thin films by Zhang et al. [Phys. Rev. B64, 184404 (2001)] showed that the ferromagnetic Curie temperature ${T}_{c}$ is enhanced (reduced) by tensile (compressive) strain. The results are regarded to be anomalous because it is generally understood by the authors that the tensile strain should lead to a reduction of the electron hopping $t$ (and thus also ${T}_{c}$) due to an elongation of the (in-plane) $\mathrm{Mn}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{O}$ bond length. In this comment such a general understanding of the strain effects is disapproved. It is argued that the tensile strain leads primarily to a larger $\mathrm{Mn}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{O}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Mn}$ bond angle (with the $\mathrm{Mn}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{O}$ bond length nearly unchanged), thus the pure geometric consideration on $t$ is already in the correct direction toward the experimental findings by Zhang et al. At the same time, an indirect strain effect under consideration of the dynamic electron-phonon coupling is proposed, which may improve the quantitative explanation.
A new modulation technique to reduce leakage current without compromising modulation index in PV systems

The transformerless grid-connected PV system suffers from leakage current and neutral voltage imbalance if three-level inverters are utilized. This paper first investigates the common-mode voltage (CM voltage) reduction/elimination methods in three-phase PV inverters, especially three-level inverters. Several mainstream common-mode voltage reduction/elimination methods, including AZSPWM, 2MV1Z, 3MV, 3MV120, are compared in terms of CM voltage reduction/elimination performance, switching losses, modulation index, linear region and neutral point voltage balancing ability. Then a new topology and modulation scheme are proposed, which reduce the frequency of the CM voltage to the order of line frequency and could reach a 100% modulation index. This method is discussed in detail and is verified by simulation.
A Virtual Reality Glovebox with Dynamic Safety Modeling for Improved Criticality Regulation Visualization

Technicians working in gloveboxes must vigilantly keep track of the locations of the radioactive materials they work with in order to make sure they do not inadvertently perform an action that can lead to a technical criticality safety violation. The administrative consequences of these mistakes can result in halting work in a facility and can be costly. The process currently used to ensure safe operations requires every two technicians to be monitored and documented by a third technician, thus resulting in large overhead costs. This work aims to help reduce the possibility of incurring an administrative criticality violation by tracking the dynamics of nuclear materials located inside a glovebox. Emerging technologies in sensing and virtual/augmented reality were combined with knowledge of nuclear criticality regulations to create a prototype Interactive Electronic Work Control System. Visual and depth sensors are used to detect the dynamically changing location of fissile materials in a glovebox during simulated working conditions. These measurements are then fed into a representative criticality safety model to determine appropriate separation distances between different materials. A visual depiction of these models is overlaid on representations of physical objects using virtual reality technologies to enhance the operator’s perception of criticality safety regulations.
Epstein-Barr virus RNA. VIII. Viral RNA in permissively infected B95-8 cells.

Abstract More than 50 RNAs expressed by Epstein-Barr virus late in productive infection have been identified. B95-8-infected cells were induced to a relatively high level of permissive infection with the tumor promotor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Polyadenylated RNAs were extracted from the cell cytoplasm, separated by size on formaldehyde gels, transferred to nitrocellulose, and hybridized to labeled recombinant Epstein-Barr virus DNA fragments. Comparison of RNAs from induced cultures with RNAs from induced cultures also treated with phosphonoacetic acid to inhibit viral DNA synthesis identifies two RNA classes: a persistent early class of RNAs whose abundance is relatively resistant to viral DNA synthesis inhibition and a late class of RNAs whose abundance is relatively sensitive to viral DNA synthesis inhibition. The persistent early and late RNAs are not clustered but are intermixed and scattered through most of segments UL and US. The cytoplasmic polyadenylated RNAs expressed during latent infection were not detected in productively infected cells, indicating that different classes of viral RNA are associated with latent and productive infection. Non-polyadenylated small RNAs originally identified in cells latently infected with Epstein-Barr virus are expressed in greater abundance in productively infected cells and are part of the early RNA class.
Characterization of Group B Streptococcal Invasion of Human Chorion and Amnion Epithelial Cells In Vitro

Group B streptococci (GBS) have been cultured from the chorioamnionic membrane of pregnant women, usually in association with chorioamnionitis and premature labor (K. A. Boggess, D. H. Watts, S. L. Hillier, M. A. Krohn, T. J. Benedetti, and D. A. Eschenbach, Obstet. Gynecol. 87:779-784, 1996). Colonization and infection of placental membranes can be a prelude to neonatal GBS infections even in the presence of intact membranes (R. L. Naeye and E. C. Peters, Pediatrics 61:171-177, 1978), suggesting that GBS cause chorioamnionitis or establish amniotic fluid infections by partial or complete penetration of the placental membranes. We have isolated and grown cultures of primary chorion and amnion cells from human cesarean-section placentas. This has provided a biologically relevant model for investigating GBS adherence to and invasion of the two epithelial barriers of the placental membrane. GBS adhered to chorion cell monolayers to a high degree. Pretreatment of GBS with trypsin reduced adherence up to 10-fold, which suggested that the bacterial ligand(s) was a protein. GBS invaded chorion cells at a high rate in vitro, and invasion was dependent on cellular actin polymerization. GBS could be seen within intracellular vacuoles of chorion cells by transmission electron microscopy. We also demonstrated that GBS were capable of transcytosing through intact chorion cell monolayers without disruption of intracellular junctions. GBS also adhered to amnion cells; in contrast, however, these bacteria failed to invade amnion cells under a variety of assay conditions. GBS interactions with the chorion epithelial cell layer shown here correlate well with epidemiological and pathological studies of GBS chorioamnionitis. Our data also suggest that the amnion cell layer may provide an effective barrier against infection of the amniotic fluid.
Translation of Synthetic and Endogenous Messenger Ribonucleic Acid In Vitro by Ribosomes and Polyribosomes from Clostridium pasteurianum

Ribosomes and polyribosomes from Clostridium pasteurianum were isolated and their activities were compared with those of ribosomes from Escherichia coli in protein synthesis in vitro. C. pasteurianum ribosomes exhibited a high level of activity due to endogenous messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA). For translation of polyuridylic acid [poly(U)], C. pasteurianum ribosomes required a higher concentration of Mg2+ and a much higher level of poly(U) than did E. coli ribosomes. Phage f2 RNA added to the system with C. pasteurianum ribosomes gave no significant stimulation of protein synthesis in a homologous system or with E. coli initiation factors. The 30S and 50S subunits prepared from C. pasteurianum ribosomes reassociated less readily than subunits from E. coli. The ability of the C. pasteurianum subunits to reassociated was found to be dependent upon the presence of a reducing agent during preparation and during analysis of the reassociation products. In heterologous combinations, E. coli 30S subunits associated readily with C. pasteurianum 50S subunits to form 70S particles, but C. pasteurianum 30S subunits and E. coli 50S subunits did not associate. In poly(U) translation, E. coli 30S subunits were active in combination with 50S subunits from either E. coli or C. pasteurianum, but C. pasteurianum 30S subunits were not active in combination with either type of 50S subunits. Polyribosomes prepared from C. pasteurianum were very active in protein synthesis, and well-defined ribosomal aggregates as large as heptamers could be seen on sucrose gradients. An attempt was made to demonstrate synthesis in vitro of ferredoxin.
MIND-WARPING: towards creating a compelling collaborative augmented reality game

Computer gaming offers a unique test-bed and market for advanced concepts in computer science, such as Human Computer Interaction (HCI), computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW), intelligent agents, graphics, and sensing technology. In addition, computer gaming is especially well-suited for explorations in the relatively young fields of wearable computing and augmented reality (AR). This paper presents a developing multi-player augmented reality game, patterned as a cross between a martial arts fighting game and an agent controller, as implemented using the Wearable Augmented Reality for Personal, Intelligent, and Networked Gaming (WARPING) system. Through interactions based on gesture, voice, and head movement input and audio and graphical output, the WARPING system demonstrates how computer vision techniques can be exploited for advanced, intelligent interfaces.
Emotional constraints on intentional forgetting

One way people control the contents of their minds is intentional forgetting—voluntarily forgetting events after they have happened. The events people would most like to forget are unpleasant and emotional. This study used a directed forgetting procedure with emotional and neutral pictures to examine whether people can intentionally forget emotional events as easily as mundane ones. When the to-be-forgotten list was neutral, participants showed successful intentional forgetting. But when the to-be-forgotten list was emotional, directed forgetting failed. Results contribute to understanding the ways that emotion constrains mental control by capturing mental processes including memory retrieval. Emotion may short-circuit attempts to forget those parts of the past people would most like to forget.
Random controls on semi-rhythmic spacing of pools and riffles in constriction-dominated rivers

Average pool spacing between five and seven bankfull widths has been documented in environments throughout the world, but has limited theoretical justification in coarse-bedded and bedrock environments. Pool formation in coarse-bedded and bedrock channels has been attributed to bedrock and boulder constrictions. Because the spacing of these constrictions may be irregular in nature, it is difficult to reconcile pool-formation processes with the supposedly rhythmic spacing of pools and riffles. To address these issues, a simulation model for pool and riffle formation is used to demonstrate that semi-rhythmic spacing of pools with an approximate spacing of five to seven bankfull widths can be recreated from a random distribution of obstructions and minimum pool- and riffle-length criteria. It is assumed that a pool–riffle couplet will achieve a minimum length based on dominant-discharge conditions. Values for the minimum-length assumption are based on field data collected in New England and California, while the theoretical basis relies on the demonstrated hydraulic response of individual pools to elongation. Results from the simulations show that the location of pools can be primarily random in character, but still assume an average spacing between four and eight bankfull widths for a variety of conditions. Field verification data generally support the model but highlight a highly skewed distribution of pool-forming elements and pool spacing. The relation between pool spacing and bankfull widths is attributed to the common geometric response of these features to dominant-discharge conditions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ma'Hadu, the Harbor of Ugarit

The Kingdom of Ugarit, after its expansion by Suppiluliuma ), controlled a shoreline from Mt. Casius in the north to Suksi (Tell Siikis) in the south 2). This stretch of coast has a limited number of anchorages 3), and since its nature must have been the same in the Late Bronze Age, it is possible to know the approximate sites of the Ugaritic coastal towns. Can we give to each of these sites its original name ? This can be done by combining the evidence of: (i) archaeological excavations and surveys, (z) international acts of delimitation, found at Ras Shamra, (3) references to ships based at, or arriving to, certain Ugaritic towns, (4) surviving Ugaritic place names in later and contemporary toponymy, (5) recognizable geographical pattern in Ugaritic lists of settlements. In this way, and without entering here into details of our investigation ), we arrive at the following list of Ugaritic maritime towns, from north to south (see map): i. Gr, class. Charadros, mod. Kara Duran. in a cove (Mina el Qesdb) between the massives of the Casius (Cebelakra) and the Anticasius (Cardtepe) 5).
Monocanalicular intubation with Monoka tubes for the treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Objective: Nasolacrimal duct intubation with Silastic tubes often is used for the treatment of congenital nasolarimal duct obstruction. The more established intubation technique uses tubing designed for bicanalicular intubation. A commercial product now is available for monocanalicular intubation (Monoka tube, FCI, Issy-Les-Moulineaux Cedex, France), made possible by a punctal anchor attached to the proximal end of the tubing. The authors evaluated the complications and results of their experience with Silastic tube monocanalicular intubation for treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Design: The study design was a retrospectively reviewed clinical trial with the results compared to a historic cohort treated with an alternative medical device. Participants: Thirty-nine pediatric patients with 48 obstructed congenital nasolacrimal ducts were available for treatment and postoperative follow-up. The historic cohort included 25 cases of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Intervention: The participants were treated with monocanalicular Silastic tube intubation. The historic cohort was treated with bicanalicular Silastic tube intubation. The tubes were left in place for 4 to 6 months before planned removal. Main Outcome Measures: Dye disappearance tests were performed before and after surgery after removal of the tube. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were noted. Results: Significant complications of the monocanalicular tubing included 1 case of bilateral preseptal cellulitis, 1 case of migration of the punctal anchor into the canaliculus that required surgical correction, 2 cases of a corneal abrasion, 1 case of a corneal ulcer, and 21 cases of premature removal of the tube. Of the 21 cases with premature tube removal, 13 (62%) of the eyes showed an improvement in the symptoms and results of dye disappearance test. Of the 27 cases that completed the full course of tube placement, all the tubes were removed successfully in an office setting, and 25 (93%) showed an improvement in the symptoms and results of dye disappearance test. Significant complications of the authors' bicanalicular intubation include stretching of the punctum, tube dislodgement, and tube removal requiring general anesthesia to the patient. Of the authors' 25 cases treated with bicanalicular intubation, 17 (68%) showed an improvement in the symptoms and results of dye disappearance test. Conclusion: The recently introduced Silastic monocanalicular tubing offers an alternative to bicanalicular tubing for treatment with intubation of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Complications due to intubation persist with the monocanalicular tube. However, some of the complications the authors encountered may be avoided by a recent change in the design of the tubing and by familiarity with recommended techniques. The overall success rate of 79% with the Monoka tube is lower than that for published reports of bicanalicular intubation.
A short proof of a theorem of M. Hashimoto

Abstract Recently M. Hashimoto announced that the resolutions of determinantal ideals depend on the characteristic of the base field. The purpose of this note is to give a short proof of this result. One should stress that even though the method we use is different from Hashimoto's, his result provided us with the clue where the additional relation exists.
Optimization of lipid nanoparticle formation for beverage applications: Influence of oil type, cosolvents, and cosurfactants on nanoemulsion properties

Abstract The influence of flavor oil composition, cosolvents (glycerol and propylene glycol), and cosurfactant (lysolecithin) on the formation and stability of lemon oil nanoemulsions stabilized by sucrose monoesters was examined. At ambient temperature, nanoemulsions containing 1-, 3-, and 5-fold lemon oils were stable to droplet growth, whereas those containing 10-fold lemon oil were unstable. For 10-fold lemon oil nanoemulsions, the droplet growth rate increased with increasing temperature, cosolvent addition, and decreasing lysolecithin concentration, which was attributed to the influence of these factors on the phase inversion temperature. Clear nanoemulsions could be formulated that maintained small mean particle diameters ( d ≈ 81 nm) during storage at ambient temperature for 1 month. The information generated in this study is useful for designing stable flavor nanoemulsions for applications in functional foods and beverages.
Vanishing pancreatic calcifications. A nonspecific finding in chronic pancreatitis.

PANCREATIC calcifications, an accepted marker of chronic pancreatic inflammation, are most often associated with high intake of ethanol in this country and with protein malnutrition in India and the African countries. A decrease in the size of these calcifications or their disappearance has rarely been described. 1 In the case described, change in pancreatic calcifications was related to the development of a pancreatic pseudocyst, and not to neoplasm as is sometimes thought. Report of a Case A 48-year-old, black alcoholic man first developed acute pancreatitis in May 1961. On admission, amylase level was 572 Somogyi units/100 ml (normal, less than 200), and lipase level was 6.8 Cherry-Crandall units/ml (normal, less than 1.5); levels of calcium, phosphorus, and fasting blood glucose were normal. A flat plate roentgenogram of the abdomen showed multiple calcific densities adjacent to the L1-2 intervertebral space, a finding consistent with chronic pancreatitis. An oral cholecystogram was normal.
Synchrobetatron Oscillation Driving Mechanism

Any cavity-like structure which supports modes that have both a finite accelerating field at the location of a particle beam passing through the structure and a transverse gradient in that accelerating field is capable of driving synchrobetatron oscillations. Such oscillations are incoherent, are substantially independent of the chromaticity, and do not depend explicitly on the ?-function. Methods of computing the amplitudes of such oscillations, which can be quite significant under some circumstances, are presented.
Fertilization practices and soil variations control nitrogen oxide emissions from tropical sugar cane

Nitrogen (N) fertilization of agricultural systems is thought to be a major source of the increase in atmospheric N2O; NO emissions from soils have also been shown to increase due to N fertilization. While N fertilizer use is increasing rapidly in the developing world and in the tropics, nearly all of our information on gas emissions is derived from studies of temperate zone agriculture. Using chambers, we measured fluxes of N2O and NO following urea fertilization in tropical sugar cane systems growing on several soil types in the Hawaiian Islands, United States. On the island of Maui, where urea is applied in irrigation lines and soils are mollisols and inceptisols, N2O fluxes were elevated for a week or less after fertilization; maximum average fluxes were typically less than 30 ng cm−2 h−1. NO fluxes were often an order of magnitude less than N2O. Together, N2O and NO represented from 0.03 to 0.5% of the applied N. In fields on the island of Hawaii, where urea is broadcast on the surface and soils are andisols, N2O fluxes were similar in magnitude to Maui but remained elevated for much longer periods after fertilization. NO emissions were 2–5 times higher than N2O through most of the sampling periods. Together the gas losses represented approximately 1.1–2.5% of the applied N. Laboratory studies indicate that denitrification is a critical source of N2O in Maui, but that nitrification is more important in Hawaii. Experimental studies suggest that differences in the pattern of N2O/NO and the processes producing them are a result of both carbon availability and placement of fertilizer and that the more information-intensive fertilizer management practice results in lower emissions.
Electrical acoustical response to click stimulation after section of the eighth nerve.

The source of the neural components of the electrical response to a click at the round window is investigated in cats.A method of severing the eighth nerve while leaving the blood supply to the cochlea intact is described.Both components of the neural response to click, the N1 and N2, are still recorded at the round window after section of the eighth nerve.The latency of N1 and N2 is not significantly changed after section of the eighth nerve.A new slow negative potential appears in the electric response to a click at the round window after section of the eighth nerve.An increase of the amplitude of the action potentials recorded on the peripheral end of the eighth nerve is observed following section of the nerve.
The molybdenum-molybdenum triple bond—XVII. Syntheses, spectroscopic and structural characterizations of Mo4F4(O—t-Bu)8 and Mo2F2(O—t-Bu)4(PMe3)2 (MoMo)

Abstract Hydrocarbon solutions of Mo2(O—t-Bu)6 and PF3 (2 equiv) yield Mo4F4(O—t-Bu)8, I, and PF2(O—t-Bu). Compound I contains a bisphenoid of molybdenum atoms with two short MoMo distances, 2.26 A, and four long MoMo distances, 3.75 A, corresponding to localized MoMo triple bonding and non-bonding distances, respectively. The tetranuclear compound may be viewed as a dimer, [Mo2(μ2-F)2(O-t-Bu)4]2, and addition of PMe3 to hydrocarbon solutions of I yields Mo2F2(O—t-Bu)4(PMe3)2, II, which contains an unbridged MoMo triple bond of distance 2.27 A. Each molybdenum atom is coordinated to two oxygen atoms, one fluorine atom and the phosphorus atom of the PMe3 ligand in a roughly square planar manner. The overall central Mo2O4F2P2 skeleton has C2 symmetry and NMR studies (1H, 19F and 31P) are consistent with the maintenance of this type of structure in solution. Infrared and electronic absorption spectral data are reported. These are the first compounds containing fluorine ligands attached to the (MoMo)6+ unit.
Studies evaluating current field triage: 1966-2005.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) field triage guidelines are used to determine which patients require prompt transport to a trauma center andwhich can be transported to a lower-level facility. The objective of this report was to conduct a literature review to determine the sensitivity andspecificity of the ACS field triage criteria andeach step of the criteria. The bibliographic database MEDLINE was used to conduct a literature search for relevant English-language articles published between 1966 and2005. The search was conducted by combining the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) “emergency medical services,” “triage,” and“wounds andinjury.” To ensure that the search was comprehensive, the reference sections of all selected articles were searched for additional relevant references andsearches by other organizations were reviewed to identify additional relevant articles. The MEDLINE search identified 542 titles. The author reviewed the titles, and107 abstracts were selected for further review. Through t...
Biologic Therapies and Personalized Medicine in Gynecologic Malignancies

Through advances in human genomic sequencing, the unique molecular biology that predisposes certain individuals to either health or disease has now been illuminated. Although many malignancies behave similarly on a phenotypic level, biologically there exist multiple layers of interconnected molecular and cellular pathways that may make each patient’s disease significantly more unique than previously appreciated. In gynecologic oncology, the most progress in developing targeted biologics has been in the treatment of ovarian cancers. Future investigations will see further development in endometrial and cervical cancers. Technology such as whole genome sequencing can theoretically identify the individual tumor’s genetic profile; however, identifying the priority pathways for therapeutic interventions and subsequent complex interactions remains a significant challenge. New therapeutic technologies such as siRNA and immune modulators will also play a promising role in the movement toward individualized therapies. It is hoped that the identification and use of targeted agents will lead to individualized care that in turn will lead to significantly improved outcomes manifested by more cures and better quality of life through amelioration of toxicities.
Quantum information with neutral atoms as qubits

One of the essential features of a quantum computer is a quantum 'register' of well-characterized qubits. Neutral atoms in optical lattices are a natural candidate for such a register. We have demonstrated a patterned-loading technique that can be used to load atoms into large arrays of tightly confined but optically resolvable lattice sites. We have also seen preliminary indications of the Mott-insulator transition, which provides a route for single-atom initialization of the individual sites. Combining the two experiments should allow for large arrays of individually addressable single atoms, a system which provides a starting point for further quantum computation studies.
Divided Attention in Bimanual Aiming Movements: Effects on Movement Accuracy

Abstract The role of focusing attention on one limb or both limbs in a bimanual aiming task was investigated in two experiments. Participants were prompted to focus attention on either limb (Experiment 1) or were free to choose their attentional strategy (Experiment 2). Fifty-two college-aged participants made quick, bimanual lever reversals in the sagittal plane over 20° and 60° in 210 ms to the reversal point. In both experiments, spatial accuracy was better when participants focused their attention on a single limb compared to the nonattended limb and when they paid attention to both limbs. However, no differences were shown on a no-knowledge of results (KR) retention test when participants paid attention to both limbs. In the second experiment, differences were maintained on a no-KR retention test when participants continued to select their own attentional strategy, although the statistical effect was smaller than in the first experiment. The findings suggested that the movement parameter selection pr...
MR-ccCA: A route for accurate ground and excited state potential energy curves and spectroscopic properties for third-row diatomic molecules

Abstract The potential energy curves for diatomic molecules containing third-row elements were examined using the multi-reference correlation consistent composite approach (MR-ccCA) to determine the applicability of the new approach for these systems. Remarkably smooth potential energy curves resulted, though the methodology was not designed, per se, for potential energy curves, particularly due to the additive nature of the methodology. A number of properties have been considered including the dissociation energy Do, well depth De, equilibrium bond length re, vibrational constants (ωe, ωexe) and rotational constants (Be, αe) and these properties have been compared with the experimental values for the ground state diatomics. Additionally, potential energy curves and spectroscopic properties of several of the lowest excited states of As2 have been determined, with the addition of transition energies Te and the determinations have been compared to experimental and theoretical values.
Microsomal N-demethylase activity in developing rat liver after administration of 3-methylcholanthrene.

Abstract Microsomal N -demethylase activity was examined during various stages of liver development. Its specifie activity in fetal and in 1-day neonatal liver was significantly lower than in the liver of the adult female. Between day 1 and 3 post partum , the sp. act. of N -demethylase rose to the adult female value. The enzymatic activity in the gravid and nonpregnant rat was similar; that of the adult male was 1·7-fold higher. 3-Methylcholanthrene administration was attended by an increase in liver enzyme activity in adult female, neonatal, preweanling and weanling rats. The enzyme activity could not be induced in fetal liver after administration of the drug to the pregnant rat or directly into the amniotic sac. In the former case, the possibility of the inability of the drug to be transported across the placenta was excluded. It was concluded that some aspect of the maternal environment prevented the elaboration of the drugmetabolizing enzymes after administration of 3-methylcholanthrene.
Cancer Risk Related to Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Radiation Exposure

Exposure to ionizing radiation is associated with an increased risk of cancer. With the growing use of diagnostic imaging studies, there is concern for increasing the risk of radiation associated malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this review is to summarize the existing literature for risk of gastrointestinal malignancy after ionizing radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging studies. Estimates of organ specific effective doses of radiation vary widely based on the method of measurement and patient factors. Most of the current data are based on calculations of organ effective doses from anthropomorphic phantoms and estimated cancer risk based on radiation exposure from environmental sources. Radiation associated cancer risk is dependent on both the cumulative radiation dose and the radiosensitivity of the particular organ. The majority of radiation exposure and risk associated with gastrointestinal malignancy comes from CT scans, especially of the abdomen/pelvis. Of the abdominal organs, the colon carries the highest lifetime attributable risk of radiation associated malignancy. The attributable risk of malignancy for an individual diagnostic imaging study is low, but measurable, and therefore imaging studies without radiation such as MRI and ultrasound should be considered, especially in patients who require repeated imaging studies. There is a shortage of epidemiological data and an absence of prospective data with adequate follow-up to describe accurate risk estimates of gastrointestinal cancers after diagnostic imaging. More studies are needed to better determine the risks of malignancy from diagnostic imaging.
Why recycle? A comparison of recycling motivations in four communities

Four Illinois communities with different sociode-mographic compositions and at various stages of planning for solid waste management were surveyed to determine the influence of sociodemographic variables and planning stages on the factors that motivate recycling behavior. A factor analysis of importance ratings of reasons for recycling and for not recycling yielded five factors interpreted as altruism, personal inconvenience, social influences, economic incentives, and household storage. The four communities were shown to be significantly different in multivariate analyses of the five motivational factors. However, attempts to explain these community differences with regression analyses, which predicted the motivational factors with dummy codes for planning stages, a measure of self-reported recycling behavior, and sociodemographic measures were unsatisfactory. Contrary to expectation, the solid waste management planning stages of the cities (curbside pickup, recycling dropoff center, and planning in progress) contributed only very slightly to the prediction of motivational factors for recycling. Community differences were better explained by different underlying motivational structures among the four communities. Altruistic reasons for recycling (e.g., conserving resources) composed the only factor which was similar across the four communities. This factor was also perceived to be the most important reason for recycling by respondents from all four communities. The results of the study supported the notion that convenient, voluntary recycling programs that rely on environmental concern and conscience for motivation are useful approaches to reducing waste.
Business Faculty Performance Evaluation Based on the New AACSB Accreditation Standards

Abstract In 1991 the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)—the major accrediting agency of collegiate business programs—adopted a new set of accreditation standards. The new standards, in contrast to the old ones, which were applied uniformly and distinguished only between undergraduate and graduate programs, place considerable emphasis on an institution's mission. This study attempts to determine how deans of business schools perceive, under the new standards, the relative importance of the three factors of instructional responsibilities, intellectual contributions, and service, as well as various subfac-tors, when evaluating business faculty. The determination of relative weights is made through the use of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Several comparisons of groups of schools are made on the basis of these factors.
A comparison of vancomycin and sulfated beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selectors for enantiomeric separations of selenoamino acids using capillary electrophoresis with UV absorbance detection

The enantiomeric separation of three selenoamino acids, D,L-selenomethionine, D,L-selenoethionine and D,L-selenocystine is described. Both sulfated β-cyclodextrin and vancomycin have been successfully used to separate all enantiomers of the compounds with UV detection. Reproducible separations, in terms of peak area and migration time were obtained using sulfated β-cyclodextrin with reversed polarity and UV detection. With vancomycin as a chiral selector, reversed polarity was found to be more reproducible than positive polarity in terms of peak migration times.
Analysis of the static mercury drop electrode below the limiting current

Abstract A model has been developed that describes the combined effects of electrochemical kinetics, ohmic potential drop, and mass transfer for a metal deposition reaction at a static mercury drop electrode. For a single drop, the system behavior is expressed in terms of three dimensionless parameters. Two additional parameters are needed to describe the characteristics of polarograms. Results are compared with experimental observations and with theoretical predictions for the dropping mercury electrode and the hanging mercury drop electrode.
Enhanced power factor of Indium co-doped ZnO:Al thin films deposited by RF sputtering for high temperature thermoelectrics

Abstract An improvement in the thermoelectric power factor of Al doped ZnO has been achieved by means of co-doping with indium using a dual magnetron sputtering system. The concentration of indium in the film was varied from 0 to 10 atomic % by varying the RF power of the In target, with the ZnO:Al target fixed at 100 W. It has been found that the films with In concentrations at or below 5 at.% have no significant change in microstructure, and yet a marked improvement in thermopower. At higher doping levels, the Seebeck coefficient continues to increase, however poly-crystallinity is induced in the ZnO matrix which results in a considerable decrease in electrical conductivity. This factor ultimately has a negative impact on the materials power factor. Taking into account the films studied, (ZnO)Al.03In.02 exhibited the best thermoelectric properties with an electrical conductivity of 5.88 × 102 S/cm and a Seebeck coefficient of −220 μV/K at 975 K, resulting in a power factor is 22.1 × 10−4 Wm−1 K−2, which is three times greater than for the film with no In doping. Film microstructure, composition, and thermal stability were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy.
Aldose Reductase Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation by Modulating G1/S Phase Transition of Cell Cycle

Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is a key feature of development of cardiovascular complications, atherosclerosis, and restenosis. Patients with diabetes have higher risk for restenosis after coronary angioplasty than nondiabetic patients due to hyperglycemia-induced release of cytokines such as TNF-α. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating VSMC proliferation remain unclear. Herein, we report that inhibition of the polyol pathway enzyme aldose reductase (AR) prevents high glucose (HG)- and/or TNF-α-induced VSMC proliferation by accumulating cells at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Treatment of VSMC with AR inhibitor sorbinil prevented HG- as well as TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein and activation of E2F-1. Inhibition of AR also prevented HG- and TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)-2 and expression of G1/S transition regulatory proteins such as cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk-4, c-myc, and proliferative cell nuclear antigen. More...
A model for enhanced fluid percolation in porous media by application of low-frequency elastic waves

[1] Numerous observations and laboratory experiments suggest that elastic vibrations can significantly enhance transport of nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in porous media. Our analyses suggest that in the low-frequency range, capillary forces and nonlinear rheology of the fluid may be predominant mechanisms of vibratory stimulation. Consequently, a model of these mechanisms is built to explain the effect of sonic waves on fluid percolation. The model shows that the low-frequency elastic waves of relatively low intensity can significantly enhance the flow rate of a yield stress fluid under small external pressure gradients and aid in the mobilization of entrapped NAPL blobs by reducing the value of the threshold gradient needed to displace the fluid. We estimate the intensity of a sonic field to be used in the possible field implementation of this method to be in the range of 0.2–125 W/m2.
Molecular orientation of highly drawn poly(p-2-methoxyphenylene vinylene)

Abstract Poly( p -2-methoxyphenylene vinylene) (MeOPPV) becomes preferentially oriented when its precursor polymer films are subjected to heating and uniaxial stretching. The orientation of the molecular chains is achieved as a result of both rigid unit formation and the transient plasticization by release of small molecules during stretching. The orientation of the aggregated chains was studied by infra-red dichroism. A high degree of orientation was observed, but the efficiency of orientation by drawing was found to be lower in MeOPPV than reported for poly( p -phenylene vinylene), indicating that the substituted methoxy group gives rise to disorder in the fully converted polymer.
Blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma catecholamines under resting conditions in rat strains selectively bred for differences in response to stress.

Maudsley Reactive and Maudsley Nonreactive rats exhibited clear differences in basal physiological function. Under resting conditions, Maudsley Reactive rats had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate and exhibited lower basal plasma NE levels than Nonreactive rats. These results and previous observations suggest that genetic selection for differences in behavioral reactivity has produced fundamental alterations of autonomic function with clear involvement of the sympathetic system. The finding that the strains differ in basal autonomic function as well as in autonomic reactivity suggests that both “basal” and “reactive” dimensions must be considered in attempting a satisfactory explanation of differences in physiological and behavioral response in the Maudsley strains.
The In Vivo Analysis Of Escherichia coli's SecA Membrane Topology In The Nucleotide Binding Domain I

In Eubacteria, the ATPase SecA transports secretory proteins across the inner membrane using the membrane embedded channel, SecYEG. SecA drives the preprotein through the channel in an ATP dependant manner that promotes a series of conformational changes associated with the insertion and deinsertion of a region of SecA during the translocation cycle. To gain additional insight into the interactions between SecA and SecYEG, an in vivo sulfhydryl labeling technique was developed to probe monocysteine SecA mutants through the channel during protein translocation using N-(3-maleimidylpropionyl)biocytin (MPB). Our lab demonstrated multiple residues of SecA that are exposed to the trans side of the membrane through the SecYEG channel. These residues, which were located throughout most domains of SecA, resided on a single face within the Bacillus subtilis SecA crystal structure. This provided some insight into the regions of SecA that are in fluid contact with the channel. Interestingly, two residues located on the opposite side of the labeled face of SecA in the nucleotide-binding domain I (NBD-I) also labeled. In the present study, the NBDI domain was further investigated to determine if there were other residues in fluid contact with the SecYEG channel. Additional monocysteine SecA mutants were created in the NBDI domain and analyzed using the same methodology. After looking at the crystal structure with the newly labeled residues, the labeled face of SecA seemed less apparent. These results emphasize the dynamic nature of SecA and identified regions of SecA that may interact with the channel. The NBDI mutants will be further analyzed using an in vivo photocrosslinking technique.
The Effect of Dust Loading on Penetration and Resistance of Glass Fiber Filters

ABSTRACT As glass fiber filters become loaded with solid particles, their resistance to airflow increases and penetration at a given flow rate decreases. In the present study, we measured the effect of loading on resistance and penetration for three types of loading dust with Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD) from 0.8 to 7.5 μm, and mass loading up to 2.2 mg/cm2. Penetration as a function of particle size and resistance measurements were made for five loading conditions, seven face velocities (0.04–3.38 cm/s), and 12 particle sizes (0.137–3.65 μm). As expected, loading modified filter performance to give greater resistance and lower penetration. Unit mass loading by the finer loading dust caused a greater increase in resistance and a greater decrease in penetration than did the coarser dusts. A computer model to predict the effect of loading on resistance and penetration was prepared. The model uses modified single-fiber filtration theory to estimate resistance and penetration. It assumes that solid...
Theory of energy dissipation in sliding crystal surfaces.

The average force of kinetic friction that occurs when layered compounds (which are commonly used as solid lubricants) are sheared in steady state is calculated for a model for such substances, assuming that the dissipation is caused by the excitation of lattice vibrations in one surface by the other. Because at slow speeds shearing is believed to be due to dislocation motion, a model for slow-speed shearing due to dislocation motion has been formulated. The force of friction is found to be inversely proportional to the sliding velocity for velocity small compared to the velocity of sound in the material and proportional to the area of the slipping surfaces. The dissipative stress at a sliding speed of 1 cm/s is calculated to be ${10}^{8}$ dyn/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The dissipative stress, calculated for slippage of two incommensurate surfaces, is found to be only ${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ dyn/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, however, which opens up the question of whether lubrication is caused by slippage of the lubricant relative to the sliding surfaces rather than by shearing of the solid lubricant crystal.