cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Echocardiographic features of patients with heart failure who may benefit from biventricular pacing.

Background: Recent studies suggest that cardiac resynchronization therapy through biventricular pacing (BVP) may be a promising new treatment for patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF). This method involves implantation of pacer leads into the right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), and coronary sinus (CS) in patients with ventricular dyssynchrony as evidenced by a bundle branch block pattern on electrocardiogram (ECG). Clinical trials are enrolling stable patients with ejection fractions (EF) ≤ 35%, left ventricular end-diastolic diameters (LVIDd) ≥ 54 mm, and QRS duration ≥140 msec. We compared echocardiography features of these patients (group 1) with other patients with EF ≤ 35%, LVIDd ≥ 54 mm, and QRS < 140 msec (group 2 = presumably no dyssynchrony). Methods: Nine hundred fifty-one patients with CHF, LVID 54 mm, EF 35% by echocardiography were retrospectively evaluated. One hundred forty-five patients remained after those with primary valvular disease, prior pacing systems, or chronic atrial arrhythmias were excluded. From this group of 145 patients, a subset of 50 randomly selected patients were further studied (25 patients [7 females, 18 males] from group 1, and 25 patients [7 females, 18 males] from group 2). Mean age group 1 = 75 years old, mean age group 2 = 67 years old. Mean QRS group 1 = 161 msec, mean QRS group 2 = 110 msec. Each group was compared for presence of paradoxical septal motion, atrial and ventricular chamber sizes, LV mass, LVEF, and RV systolic function. Results: Of the initial group of 951 patients, 145 (15%) met inclusion criteria. In the substudy, 20/25 (80%) of group l and 7/25 (28%) of group 2 subjects had paradoxical septal motion on echo (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.0005). The t-tests performed on the other echocardiography variables demonstrated no differences in chamber size, function, or LV mass. Conclusions: Cardiac resynchronization therapy with BVP appears to target a relatively small population of our advanced CHF patients (15% or less). Although increasing QRS duration on ECG is associated with more frequent paradoxical septal motion on echo, it is not entirely predictive. Paradoxical septal motion on echo may therefore be more sensitive at identifying patients who respond to BVP. Further prospective studies are needed. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, April 2003)
Optimal placement depth for air–ground heat transfer systems

Heat transfer between the air and the ground is important for a variety of applications including buried pipes and cables, ground source heat pumps, and building insulation. A recent application considered a ground-source heat engine using a thermoelectric module sandwiched between two heat exchangers to produce a very small amount of electricity from the daily temperature difference between the air and the ground. For a given device, the power produced is proportional to the square of the temperature difference across the module and it is desirable to maximize the power. For a sinusoidal (in time) temperature boundary condition, the solution to the heat equation for a semi-infinite body yields an attenuated sinusoid shifted in phase from the boundary condition. The phase shift and attenuation both increase with depth, so while the phase shift may be exploited to increase the temperature difference, the attenuation tends to reduce this effect. In this paper, an optimal depth for the ground side heat exchanger is derived which maximizes the square of the difference between the surface temperature and the ground temperature. The maximum temperature difference in the optimized case is 7% higher than what would be obtainable from an infinitely deep heat exchanger. The range of depths in which the temperature difference is an improvement over the infinitely deep case is derived and presented. The improvement is asymmetric so that away from the optimum depth, it declines rapidly with decreasing depth while it declines slowly with increasing depth. An alternative optimization that reflects the temperature drop through the heat engine device is derived and presented. The optimal depth decreases by slightly more than half in this case. The effect of a convection boundary condition at the free surface is explored in terms of a Biot number for the ground. The Biot number affects both the attenuation and the phase shift. The attenuation is approximately doubled for Biot of order unity, and becomes inversely proportional to Biot number if it is much less than unity. The phase shift varies from an additional shift of 45° for Biot much less than unity to an additional shift of 27° for Biot of order unity. For Biot much greater than unity, the temperature boundary condition applies.
Reservoir characterization, porosity, and recovery efficiency of deeply-buried paleozoic carbonates: Examples from Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico

Capillary-pressure data from the Early Ordovician Ellenburger Dolomite (west Texas and New Mexico) and the Late Ordovician-Early Devonian Hunton Group carbonates (Oklahoma) are used to calculate or infer petrophysical characteristics, such as median pore-throat size, pore-throat size distribution, effective porosity, and recovery efficiency (RE). For both data sets, porosity and RE are inversely related. A positive relationship between RE and porosity has been reported by other workers, but the relative importance of these opposed trends is unknown. The ability to accurately predict which relationship will hold in a given reservoir unit would be of great value for predicting reservoir performance.
Response of the Intervertebral Disk of the Rhesus Monkey to P-A Shear Stress

The relative functions of spinal elements in resisting P-A shear stress are determined from measurements of force and displacement. The response of intact, enucleate and degenerate disks are presented, as well as stress-strain characteristics of the intervertebral disk and the roles of the articular facets and the nucleus pulposus.
Deaths associated with snow skiing in Colorado 1980–1981 to 2000–2001 ski seasons

Abstract Objectives : To investigate the trend and injury patterns of deaths associated with snow skiing in Colorado between 1980 and 2001. Methods : Death certificates were searched electronically and reviewed manually. Total skier ticket sales were used to calculate death rates. Types of injuries and characteristics of those who died were investigated. Results : A total of 274 skier deaths occurred between 1980 and 2001 in Colorado. Death rates ranged from 0.53 to 1.88 per million skier visits. The majority of deaths were among males (>81%). Ages ranged from 7 to 77 years with an average of 32 years. The greatest number of deaths associated with downhill skiing (76 deaths) occurred between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. while the greatest number of deaths associated with cross-country skiing happened between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. About 65% of deaths associated with downhill skiing (133 cases) died of traumatic injuries resulting from collisions. Conclusions : A slight increase in the rate of ski-related deaths was observed. The role of collisions in ski-related deaths warrants further investigation to reduce the risk of this activity for all skiers. Further work is needed to determine the efficacy of helmet use to reduce the risk of head injuries in the skiing population.
Generation of chemical potentials by analysis of phase diagrams part III: Eutectic systems

Abstract The method of determination of thermodynamic properties of alloys from phase equilibria data1 is extended and applied to several different types of eutectic systems: AgSi, AgCu, CdZn and PbSn. Good agreement with experimental data (when available) is shown in all cases.
Compensation of atmospheric optical distortion using a synthetic beacon

ATMOSPHERIC turbulence limits the resolution of a ground-based astronomical telescope to much worse than the diffraction limit of the instrument. An adaptive-optics system, in which some part of the optical train of the telescope can be adjusted in real time, can compensate for atmospheric turbulence, but a beacon or guide-star is needed to allow measurement of the atmospheric optical distortion. It has been suggested1 that the measurement could be achieved by means of a synthetic beacon (also called an artificial beacon, and sometimes a laser guide-star) formed by atmospheric backscatter from a ground-based laser. We have performed an experiment to demonstrate atmospheric compensation using a synthetic beacon. With a pulsed dye laser to generate the beacon and a 241-channel adaptive-optics system to perform the phase correction, we obtained almost diffraction-limited resolution of star images in the visible part of the spectrum. Our results indicate that there are no technical barriers to atmospheric compensation using synthetic beacons at ground-based observatories.
Context adaptation in interactive recommender systems

Contextual factors can greatly influence the utility of recommendations for users. In many recommendation and personalization applications, particularly in domains where user context changes dynamically, it is difficult to represent and model contextual factors directly, but it is often possible to observe their impact on user preferences during the course of users' interactions with the system. In this paper, we introduce an interactive recommender system that can detect and adapt to changes in context based on the user's ongoing behavior. The system, then, dynamically tailors its recommendations to match the user's most recent preferences. We formulate this problem as a multi-armed bandit problem and use Thompson sampling heuristic to learn a model for the user. Following the Thompson sampling approach, the user model is updated after each interaction as the system observes the corresponding rewards for the recommendations provided during that interaction. To generate contextual recommendations, the user's preference model is monitored for changes at each step of interaction with the user and is updated incrementally. We will introduce a mechanism for detecting significant changes in the user's preferences and will describe how it can be used to improve the performance of the recommender system.
Toxicity of L-asparaginase in children with advanced leukemia

A total of 105 patients with advanced acute leukemia in relapse received 123 trials of L-asparaginase. Three different schedules were used, two of which involved simultaneous administration of vincristine and prednisone. Treatment was temporarily interrupted because of toxicity in 14 patients, and permanently discontinued in an additional 31. In 13 patients, this occurred before 10 doses of L-asparaginase were given, while in the remaining 18 patients, therapy was stopped after remission was attained. The major toxicities were pancreatitis (fatal in four patients), hypersensitivity reactions, disturbances of liver function (fatal in two patients), and clinical and laboratory manifestations of central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Diabetic keto-acidosis was encountered in two patients and was fatal in one. Severe leukopenia ascribed to L-asparaginase occurred in two patients, in one of whom it was the contributory cause of death. Toxicity was not clearly different with any of the three treatment schedules. Most of the patients with only laboratory evidence of toxicity had no associated clinical manifestations, and this did not appear to decrease the likelihood of obtaining a remission.
Profoundly diminished gastric mucus production during Naprosyn administration as a potential factor contributing to mucosal injury

Profoundly diminished gastric mucus production during Naprosyn administration as a potential factor contributing to mucosal injury
Promotion of physical activity in children.

Purpose of review Promotion of physical activity continues to be recommended as an essential component of obesity treatment and prevention interventions. This review explores recent updates in the area of physical activity promotion and its impact on the physical and mental health consequences of childhood obesity. Recent findings Despite the availability of opportunities for physical activity in the school environment, namely recess and physical education classes, students do not appear to be meeting activity recommendations at school alone. Access to neighborhood parks may increase levels of physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors at home. Less time spent watching television and in other sedentary behaviors such as playing videogames may contribute to higher rates of physical activity. Frequency of physical activity also appears to be related to improved mental health status, although the direction of this relationship warrants further exploration. Summary Physical activity is an evidence-based intervention that offers benefits to both physical and mental health. Pediatric health care providers are encouraged to engage in discussions with patients and families on the topic of physical activity and to assist them in finding ways to incorporate activity into daily life.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: hemodynamic and angiographic assessment after initial reconstructive surgery and relevance to modified Fontan procedure

After undergoing initial reconstructive surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome performed between August 1985 and March 1989, 59 patients (age range 3 to 27 months, mean 13.8 +/- 4.5) underwent elective cardiac catheterization in anticipation of a modified Fontan procedure. Five important hemodynamic and anatomic features considered to be components of successful reconstructive surgery were specifically addressed. 1) Interatrial communication: Only two patients had a measured pressure difference of greater than 4 mm Hg across the atrial septum. 2) Tricuspid valve function: Angiography demonstrated significant tricuspid valve regurgitation in only five patients (moderate in two and severe in three). 3) Aortic arch: Pressure tracings from the right ventricle to the descending aorta revealed a gradient greater than 25 mm Hg in only two patients. 4) Pulmonary vasculature: Ten patients had a calculated pulmonary vascular resistance greater than 4 U.m2; 51 (86%) of the 59 patients had no evidence of distortion (stenosis or hypoplasia) of either the left or the right pulmonary artery. 5) Right ventricular function: Five patients had an end-diastolic pressure in the right ventricle greater than 12 mm Hg and two patients had qualitative assessment of decreased ventricular function. Comparison of catheterization data between survivors and nonsurvivors of the subsequent modified Fontan procedure showed that only significant tricuspid regurgitation is a possible predictor of poor outcome. After first stage reconstructive surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, most survivors have favorable anatomy and hemodynamics at follow-up cardiac catheterization for a subsequent Fontan procedure.
Collaborative issues in cross-national research☆

Abstract Although the topic of research collaboration receives infrequent comment, a well functioning collaborative process is crucial to the substantive success of intercultural research enterprises. The present report addresses this topic and focuses on two major sets of collaborative issues, the personal/ personnel and the structural/organizational. The issues are organized around the phases of the project at which they optimally should be considered and resolved.
Preparation, thermal change and dielectric properties of cubic perovskites A(B14Nb34)O3 (A = Ba or Sr, B = Na or Li)

Abstract Cubic Perovskites A(B 1 4 Nb 3 4 ) O 3 ( A = Ba or Sr , B = Na or Li ) were prepared by solid state reaction at 1000°C for 3 hours, starting with oxides or carbonates of the various elements. Ba(Li 1 4 Nb 3 4 ) O 3 transformed sluggishly from a cubic into a hexagonal form above 900°C. Cubic Ba(Li 1 4 Nb 3 4 ) O 3 , Sr(Na 1 4 Nb 3 4 ) O 3 and Sr(Li 1 4 Nb 3 4 ) O 3 decomposed at high temperature without transformation into a hexagonal form to give Ba5Nb4O15 or Sr5Nb4O15. When K2CO3 was used as a source of B+ ion, only Sr6Nb2O11, Sr5Nb4O15 and Ba5Nb4O15 appeared at 1000°C. It is difficult for potassium to enter into the octahedral sites of the perovskite structure because of its large ionic size. Dielectric constants of the cubic A(B 1 4 Nb 3 4 ) O 3 ceramics sintered at 1450°C for 1 hour were not large (38–53), but were independent of temperature (−80 to +200°C) and frequency (103−107 Hz).
Gap size dependence of the dielectric strength in nano vacuum gaps

We study the dielectric strength of vacuum gaps of under 100 nm. We find their dielectric strengths to have a power law dependence on the gap size. We apply this power law to find that the dielectric strength of a vacuum gap of 10 nm between two tungsten electrodes is 6.5 V/nm. The dielectric strength can be used to compute the maximum energy density, charge density, and power density. For tungsten, the maximum volumetric energy density is 190 MJ/m3. Nano vacuum gaps can discharge in 10 nanoseconds, giving a maximum gravitometric power density of 1012 W/kg. While the external discharge time is a few nanoseconds, the self-discharge time can be hours or days. The specific capacitance of a vacuum gap of size d is C = e0/ d2. If d = 10nm then C = 8.85×104 F/m3.
Impact of a pharmacy-based glucose management program on glycemic control in an inpatient general medicine population.

AbstractObjective: A pharmacy-based glucose management program was evaluated to determine whether improved glycemic control could be achieved in an inpatient general medicine patient population. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 151 patients with blood glucose (BG) values outside the range of 70 to 180 mg/dL within a 24-hour period was conducted. Observations for the baseline group with no pharmacy program in place were collected from admissions during July 2010 and for the intervention group in October 2010. The primary goal of the study was to determine if the pharmacy program improved patient days within the BG range of 70 to 250 mg/dL. The odds of poor glycemic control for patients in the intervention versus baseline groups were assessed by multivariate generalized estimating equations. These methods were also used to assess patient characteristics associated with poor glycemic control. Results: No evidence was observed that the pharmacy program decreased the number of days spent out of the tar...
Fourth ventricular injection of the bombesin receptor antagonist [d-phe6]bombesin(6–13)methyl ester, but not BW2258U89, increases food intake in rats

Abstract To investigate the role of endogenous bombesin-like peptides in the caudal brainstem for the short-term control of food intake, we evaluated the effects of fourth-ventricular injections of two different bombesin (BN) receptor antagonists, [ d -Phe 6 ]BN(6–13) methyl ester and BW2258U89, on intake of sweetened, condensed milk in male rats. Although fourth-ventricular administration of BW2258U89 (0.125–20 ng) had no effect on food intake, fourth-ventricular injections of 1.0–20.0 ng of [ d -Phe 6 BN(6–13) methyl ester resulted in an inverted U-shaped, dose-response curve with a maximal effect at 2.5 ng. Microstructural analysis of the licking behavior indicated that the increase in intake was primarily the result of an increased number of licks and an increase in lick efficiency. Behavioral time sampling demonstrated that these changes in intake occurred without the appearance of any competing behavior or significant change in the overall pattern of behavior. Because [ d -Phe 6 BN(6–13) methyl ester appears to be a preferential antagonist at the GRP-preferring receptor, the increased intake that occurred after its administration suggests that an endogenous GRP-mechanism in the caudal brainstem is necessary for the normal, short-term control of sweet milk intake under these conditions.
Infrared imaging of temperature distribution in a high-temperature x-ray diffraction furnace

High Temperature X-ray Diffraction (HTXRD) is a very powerful tool for studies of reaction kinetics, phase transformations, and lattice thermal expansion of advanced materials. Accurate temperature measurement is a critical part of the technique. Traditionally, thermocouples, thermistors, and optical pyrometers have been used for temperature control and measurement and temperature could only be measured at a single point. Infrared imaging was utilized in this study to characterize the thermal gradients resulting from various sample and furnace configurations in a commercial strip heater furnace. Furnace configurations include a metallic strip heater, with and without a secondary surround heater, or a surround heater alone. Sample configurations include low and high thermal conductivity powders and solids. The IR imaging results have been used to calibrate sample temperatures in the HTXRD furnace.
Repair of pyrimidine dimers in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of yeast irradiated with low doses of ultraviolet light.

The repair of damage induced by ultraviolet light has been examined in both the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The sensitive assay used in this study is based on the capacity of the bacteriophage T4 u.v. endonuclease to produce single-strand breaks in DNA that contains pyrimidine dimers, thus permitting the use of low fluences (doses) of u.v. The results demonstrate that virtually all of the dimers induced in the nuclear DNA of a repair-proficient strain ( RAD +) are removed following dark incubation for four hours in growth medium. In contrast, the dimers induced in mitochondrial DNA by the same u.v. fluence are retained under the same conditions. In the excision-deficient mutant, rad1-2 , no evidence was obtained for removal of pyrimidine dimers from nuclear DNA. Photoreactivation of both RAD + and rad1-2 cultures resulted in decrease of dimers from both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. We conclude that an excision-repair mechanism operates on nuclear but not mitochondrial DNA in repair-proficient yeast, and that the rad1-2 mutant is defective in this process.
Backward associative strength determines source attributions given to false memories

Source attributions for falsely remembered material were investigated in two experiments. A male and a female speaker each presented either an entire word list or half of the items from each of multiple Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) lists commonly used in this paradigm. In the latter condition the tendency of each list half to activate a nonpresented, critical list theme item was manipulated. All of the list halves differed in backward associative strength (BAS), and each was presented by one or the other of the two speakers. In these correlated conditions, when critical items were falsely recognized (Experiments 1 and 2) or recalled (Experiment 2), source attributions were more frequently made to the speaker of the list items with the higher average BAS. This source attribution effect appears to result from the binding of list item source characteristics to activated critical items during encoding, as opposed to being the result of a biased retrieval process. The results are interpreted as consistent with an activation/monitoring account of false memory in the DRM paradigm.
A review of employee evaluation procedures and a description of “high potential” executives and professionals

This article reviews standard personnel selection procedures with a focus on the personal interview, the assessment center, and standard psychological tests. A testing system is described that has been used by companies to select executives and professionals. Finally, psychological characteristics of “high potential” executives and professionals are described.
Role of the inflammasome in defense against venoms

Venoms consist of a complex mixture of toxic components that are used by a variety of animal species for defense and predation. Envenomation of mammalian species leads to an acute inflammatory response and can lead to the development of IgE-dependent venom allergy. However, the mechanisms by which the innate immune system detects envenomation and initiates inflammatory and allergic responses to venoms remain largely unknown. Here we show that bee venom is detected by the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome and can trigger activation of caspase-1 and the subsequent processing and unconventional secretion of the leaderless proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in macrophages. Whereas activation of the inflammasome by bee venom induces a caspase-1–dependent inflammatory response, characterized by recruitment of neutrophils to the site or envenomation, the inflammasome is dispensable for the allergic response to bee venom. Finally, we find that caspase-1–deficient mice are more susceptible to the noxious effects of bee and snake venoms, suggesting that a caspase-1–dependent immune response can protect against the damaging effects of envenomation.
Epidemiology of Pregnancy-induced Hypertension

Mounting evidence clearly indicates an immunologic basis for PIH, parity being the most convincing factor. Genetic susceptibility, physiologic change, and environmental influence may also modulate an individual's risk of developing PIH. Pathologic and follow-up studies further suggests further suggest that currently diagnosed PIH may actually be a heterogeneous entity comprising several disorders of different etiologies (150), such as chronic renal disease, borderline chronic hypertension, genetic susceptibility to hypertension, and genuine PIH. For many diseases, etiologic research and clinical management often go hand in hand. Unfortunately, in the case of PIH, etiologic research may have followed clinical steps too closely and have been misled. For clinical management, genuine preeclampsia and preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension are treated as virtually the same: The ultimate goal is to prevent eclampsia. Because a sizable portion of PIH is probably due to chronic renal disease or latent chronic hypertension (33), and late-onset gestational hypertension is of less concern than preeclampsia, one could argue that it may not be clinically important to separate the subtypes of PIH. In etiologic research, however, by focusing on a heterogeneous outcome we have confused ourselves and hampered our progress. On the other hand, one should also realize that currently available techniques are unlikely to substantially improve our proficiency in differential diagnosis. Besides renal biopsy, which is impractical, especially in epidemiologic research, there are virtually no measures available that can distinguish genuine PIH from hypertension due to latent renal disorder, chronic hypertension, or genetic susceptibility. Until noninvasive measures with acceptable-sensitivity and specificity are available for differential diagnosis, frustration in etiologic research on PIH is likely to continue. One clue that may potentially advance our knowledge of the pathogenesis and future prevention of PIH is the finding that smoking reduces risk of PIH. Epidemiologists should transfer this knowledge to laboratory scientists.
Overlooking the merits of the individual case: an unpromising approach to the right to die.

. One of the strongest arguments against the legalization of voluntary euthanasia is that even though a given suffering or comatose patient may have a moral right to die, legal recognition of the right would lead inevitably to mistakes and abuses in other cases. The flaw in this argument is the assumption that it is always and necessarily a greater evil to let someone die by mistake than to keep a person alive by mistake. In fact, we cannot plausibly say that one of these two kinds of mistake is in itself, isolated from other factors, always more serious than the other. This point is illustrated by an examination both of a terminal patient whose prospect is a full year of intolerable pain (Matthew Donnelly) and of a patient in a “persistent vegetative state” (Nancy Cruzan). Moreover, it is untrue that legalization would necessarily lead to greater numbers of mistakenly approved discontinuances of treatment than of mistakenly approved refusals of termination, and numbers, it is argued, do matter.
DNA dynamics by using highly luminescent phosphine complex of osmium (II)

A new highly luminescent 'molecular light switch' has been prepared using osmium (II) metal and nonchromophoric phosphine (dppe) and chromophoric (dppz) ligands to study the dynamics of DNA, where dppe is cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ethylene and dppz is dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine. The complex, [Os(dppe)2(dppz)]2+, shows a quantum yield in acetonitrile about twofold larger than analogous ruthenium compound, [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+. The anisotropy of [Os(dppe)2(dppz)]2+ was found to be near 0.2 at -60 degrees Celsius in glycerol. This compound emits at 610 nm on exciting at metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) band (390 nm). The lifetimes are 550 and 315 ns in argon and air equilibrated acetonitrile samples respectively. This new class of fluorophore using MLCT complex is useable for measurement of DNA dynamics over a larger time scales, which is not possible with conventional DNA dyes, such as ethidium bromide or acridine derivatives.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cannula design reduces particulate and gaseous emboli during cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary revascularization.

Purpose: The incidence of neurocognitive deficits after coronary bypass surgery remains problematic, with atheroembolism being one of the major causes. External manipulation of aorta and the “sandb...
Phase relationships and structural, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties of the Yb 5 Si 4 − Yb 5 Ge 4 pseudobinary system

The crystallography, phase relationships, and physical properties of the ${\mathrm{Yb}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{4\ensuremath{-}x}$ alloys with $0\ensuremath{\leqslant}x\ensuremath{\leqslant}4$ have been examined by using single crystal and powder x-ray diffraction at room temperature, and dc magnetization and heat capacity measurements between $1.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and $400\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ in magnetic fields ranging from 0 and $7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{T}$. Unlike the majority of ${R}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{4\ensuremath{-}x}$ systems studied to date, where $R$ is the rare earth metal, all Yb-based germanide-silicides with the 5:4 stoichiometry crystallize in the same ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{4}$-type structure. The magnetic properties of ${\mathrm{Yb}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{4\ensuremath{-}x}$ materials are nearly composition independent, reflecting the persistence of the same crystal structure over the whole range of $x$ from 0 to 4. Both the crystallographic and magnetic property data indicate that ${\mathrm{Yb}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{4\ensuremath{-}x}$ alloys are heterogeneous mixed valence systems, in which the majority (60%) of Yb atoms is divalent, while the minority (40%) is trivalent.
The mixed mode crack problem in an FGM layer bonded to a homogeneous half-plane ☆

Abstract In this paper, the plane elasticity problem of an arbitrarily oriented crack in a FGM layer bonded to a homogeneous half-plane is considered. The problem is modeled by assuming that the elastic properties of the FGM layer are exponential functions of the thickness coordinate and are continuous at the interface of the FGM layer and the half-plane. The Fourier transform technique is used to reduce the problem to the solution of a system of Cauchy-type singular integral equations, which are solved numerically. The stress intensity factors are computed for various crack orientations, crack locations and material parameters. The results show that crack length, crack orientation and the non-homogeneity parameter of the strip material have significant effect on the fracture of the FGM layer.
Targeted albumin-based nanoparticles for delivery of amphipathic drugs

We report the preparation and physical and biological characterization of human serum albumin-based micelles of approximately 30 nm diameter for the delivery of amphipathic drugs, represented by doxorubicin. The micelles were surface conjugated with cyclic RGD peptides to guide selective delivery to cells expressing the α(v)β(3) integrin. Multiple poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) with molecular weight of 3400 Da were used to form a hydrophilic outer layer, with the inner core formed by albumin conjugated with doxorubicin via disulfide bonds. Additional doxorubicin was physically adsorbed into this core to attain a high drug loading capacity, where each albumin was associated with about 50 doxorubicin molecules. The formed micelles were stable in serum but continuously released doxorubicin when incubated with free thiols at concentrations mimicking the intracellular environment. When incubated with human melanoma cells (M21+) that express the α(v)β(3) integrin, higher uptake and longer retention of doxorubicin was observed with the RGD-targeted micelles than in the case of untargeted control micelles or free doxorubicin. Consequently, the RGD-targeted micelles manifested cytotoxicity at lower doses of drug than control micelles or free drug.
American crows cache less preferred walnuts

Abstract Animals that can cache food are faced with the options of hiding or eating each food item they encounter. Empirical evidence from a few bird and mammal species suggests that the likelihood of caching may be influenced by a number of factors, including perishability, handling time, food value and the presence of potential cache robbers. American crows,Corvus brachyrhynchos , forage in large flocks for walnuts, and each nut must be either eaten immediately or transported elsewhere for caching. To examine which factors influence caching behaviour in this species, I observed free-living crows foraging for two species of walnuts at naturally occurring and provisioned sites, and documented characteristics of preferred and less preferred walnuts in dichotomous choice tests. The majority of crows flew off with their nuts and cached them in agricultural fields 1–2 km away, but others stayed near the walnut trees and cracked their nuts open by dropping them repeatedly on the ground. Nuts that were transported to agricultural fields and cached were significantly smaller than those eaten on site, indicating that crows were being selective about whether to consume or cache nuts. In dichotomous choice tests crows preferred English over black walnuts, which is unsurprising as English walnuts have higher energy value and are easier to crack. When choosing within-nut species, crows preferred cracked over intact and large over small nuts, also consistent with preferences based on minimizing handling costs or maximizing energy content. When provisioned with nuts of different species, sizes and condition (intact or slightly cracked), crows were more likely to cache black and intact walnuts. They were also more likely to cache nuts later in the day. When they did cache the more preferred English walnuts, crows spent more time hiding each nut. These results suggest that crows consumed preferred nuts immediately and cached less desirable nuts.
Free T4 index and clinical outcome in patients with depression

Abstract Introduction Many studies of patients with major depression have reported that a significant decrease in serum free T 4 index is associated with specific treatments; what has been unanswered is whether these observations are generalizable. This study evaluated baseline thyroid function and its relationship to rapidity of treatment response as measured by hospital length of stay (HLOS). Methods Admission thyroid indices and HLOS data were harvested from the medical record of patients hospitalized for depression, both unipolar and bipolar. The relationship between admission thyroid indices and HLOS was evaluated using survival models. Results Controlling for age and year of discharge, an inverse relationship between FT 4 index (FT 4 I) and HLOS was present in men, but not in women. The mean HLOS stratified by gender and median FT 4 I was 50% shorter in men with a relatively high FT 4 I in comparison to the other three groups. Limitations This is a retrospective study limited by the absence of a structured diagnostic psychiatric interview and prospective controlled antidepressant evaluation. Conclusion These data would suggest that a relatively elevated FT 4 index in depressed men is associated with a faster antidepressant response time. Prospective study is encouraged to further clarify this potential thyroid/gender relationship and whether thyroid supplementation can accelerate the improvement in depression as measured by HLOS.
Lexical development in Mandarin–English bilingual children*

Two groups of Mandarin–English bilingual children (3–5-year-olds, 6–8-year-olds) participated in a picture identification task and a picture naming task in both languages. Results revealed age-related growth in English, but not Mandarin vocabulary. Composite vocabulary was larger than either single-language vocabulary in the younger children but was similar to English vocabulary in the older children. Furthermore, children showed a larger receptive–expressive modality difference in their weaker language (Mandarin) than in their stronger language (English). These patterns indicate rapid growth in English vocabulary along with early stabilization of Mandarin vocabulary despite considerable Mandarin input in the home setting.
Computer Science Enrollments Drop

Topics covered include a report on the 2007 CRA Taulbee Survey, the Society's new CSDA certification program, and a new series of webinars produced by the Society.
Praxis and the right hemisphere

Abstract We report our observations on praxis in a strongly right-handed man following a massive stroke that resulted in virtually complete destruction of the left cerebral hemisphere. Our patient was severely impaired in pantomiming transitive gestures with the left hand and in reproducing navel non-symbolic hand and arm movement sequences. However, overlearned habitual actions like actual object use and intransitive gestures were relatively spared. Performance of axial commands was intact. Gesture recognition and discrimination were also preserved. Based on these findings, we propose that the praxis system of the right hemisphere is strongly biased toward "concrete" or context-dependent execution of familiar, well-established action routines. The right hemisphere is critically dependent on transcallosal contribution from the left hemisphere for control of the left hand in "abstract" or context-independent performance of transitive movements and in learning novel movement sequences. At least in some individuals, the right hemisphere can recognize and discriminate gestures. Possible implications of our findings for the cerebral control of praxis and for recovery from apraxia are discussed.
2-step purification of the Ku DNA repair protein expressed in Escherichia coli

The Ku protein is involved in DNA double-strand break repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), which is crucial to the maintenance of genomic integrity in mammals. To study the role of Ku in NHEJ we developed a bicistronic Escherichia coli expression system for the Ku70 and Ku80 subunits. Association of the Ku70 and Ku80 subunits buries a substantial amount of surface area (approximately 9000 A2 [J.R. Walker, R.A. Corpina, J. Goldberg, Structure of the Ku heterodimer bound to DNA and its implications for double-strand break repair, Nature 412 (2001) 607-614]), which suggests that herterodimerization may be important for protein stability. N-terminally His6-tagged Ku80 was soluble in the presence, but not in the absence, of bicistronically expressed untagged Ku70. In a 2-step purification, metal chelating affinity chromatography was followed by step-gradient elution from heparin-agarose. Co-purification of equimolar amounts of His6-tagged Ku80 and untagged Ku70 was observed, which indicated heterodimerization. Recombinant Ku bound dsDNA, activated the catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent kinase (DNA-PKcs) and functioned in NHEJ reactions in vitro. Our results demonstrate that while the heterodimeric interface of Ku is extensive it is nonetheless possible to produce biologically active Ku protein in E. coli.
Visions and voices on emerging challenges in digital business strategy

This section is a collection of shorter �Issue and Opinions� pieces that address some of the critical challenges around the evolution of digital business strategy. These voices and visions are from thought leaders who, in addition to their scholarship, have a keen sense of practice. They outline through their opinion pieces a series of issues that will need attention from both research and practice. These issues have been identified through their observation of practice with the eye of a scholar. They provide fertile opportunities for scholars in information systems, strategic management, and organizational theory. "Leadership in a Digital World: Embracing Transparency and Adaptive Capacity" Warren Bennis (pp. 635-636) "Transparency Strategy: Competing with Information in a Digital World" Nelson Granados and Alok Gupta (pp. 637-641) "Value Architectures for Digital Business: Beyond the Business Model" Peter Keen and Ronald Williams (pp. 642-647) "Commoditized Digital Processes and Business Community Platforms: New Opportunities and Challenges for Digital Business Strategies" M. Lynne Markus and Claudia Loebbecke (pp. 649-653) "Revealing Your Hand: Caveats in Implementing Digital Business Strategy" Varun Grover and Rajiv Kohli (pp. 655-662)
Bodies Impolitic? Reading Cadavers

The manuscript considers Body Worlds, Bodies: The Exhibition, and other contemporary displays of plastinated cadavers as communicative museum “texts.” It employs five hermeneutic frames through which these exhibitions might be viewed, and through which the museum objects might be transmogrified into meaningful content in a viewer’s mind: specimens, education, profits, consent, and—intertwined with consent—dignity.
The design and field implementation of the Detroit Exposure and Aerosol Research Study

The US Environmental Protection Agency recently conducted the Detroit Exposure and Aerosol Research Study (DEARS). The study began in 2004 and involved community, residential, and personal-based measurements of air pollutants targeting 120 participants and their residences. The primary goal of the study was to evaluate and describe the relationship between air toxics, particulate matter (PM), PM constituents, and PM from specific sources measured at a central site monitor with those from the residential and personal locations. The impact of regional, local (point and mobile), and personal sources on pollutant concentrations and the role of physical and human factors that might influence these concentrations were investigated. A combination of active and passive sampling methodologies were employed in the collection of PM mass, criteria gases, semivolatile organics, and volatile organic compound air pollutants among others. Monitoring was conducted in six selected neighborhoods along with one community site using a repeated measure design. Households from each of the selected communities were monitored for 5 consecutive days in the winter and again in the summer. Household, participant and a variety of other surveys were utilized to better understand human and household factors that might affect the impact of ambient-based pollution sources upon personal and residential locations. A randomized recruitment strategy was successful in enrolling nearly 140 participants over the course of the study. Over 36,000 daily-based environmental data points or records were ultimately collected. This paper fully describes the design of the DEARS and the approach used to implement this field monitoring study and reports select preliminary findings.
A Typology of Spatial and Temporal Scale Relations

A simple typology of relations between any two geographical scales is established by qualitatively comparing their respective grains and extents. This typology is applied to spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal scales. It describes seven relations between any two scales in either space or time. These basic relations yield a set of 169 qualitatively different spatiotemporal scale relations, a subset of which is portrayed diagrammatically. If it is possible to transform processes or patterns from one scale in the relation to the other, up to four scaling methods may need to be simultaneously applied, depending on the relation. Scaling methods might be classified as forms of grain generalization, grain decomposition, extent extrapolation, or extent selection. This typology may also provide a framework for investigations of dependencies between scales, as well as a reference scheme for observations of scale nonstationarity. The possibility is offered that any relation that forms a nonintersecting hierarchy in either space or time is a relation between essentially independent scales. However, the use of this typology is contingent on a number of factors, and it is offered as a tool, rather than a solution, for problems of scale.
Stress, depression, and cardiovascular dysregulation: A review of neurobiological mechanisms and the integration of research from preclinical disease models

Bidirectional associations between mood disorders and cardiovascular diseases are extensively documented. However, the precise physiological and biochemical mechanisms that underlie such relationships are not well understood. This review focuses on the neurobiological processes and mediators that are common to both mood and cardiovascular disorders. The discussion places an emphasis on the role of exogenous stressors in addition to: (a) neuroendocrine and neurohumoral changes involving dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, (b) immune alterations including activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, (c) autonomic and cardiovascular dysregulation including increased sympathetic drive, withdrawal of parasympathetic tone, cardiac rate and rhythm disturbances, and altered baroreceptor reflex function, (d) central neurotransmitter system dysfunction involving the dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin systems, and (e) behavioral changes including fatigue and physical inactivity. The review also discusses experimental investigations using preclinical disease models to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the link between mood disorders and cardiovascular disease. These include: (a) the chronic mild stress model of depression, (b) a model of congestive heart failure, (c) a model of cardiovascular deconditioning, (d) pharmacological manipulations of body fluid and sodium balance, and (e) pharmacological manipulations of the central serotonergic system. In combination with an extensive human research literature, the investigation of mechanisms underlying mood and cardiovascular regulation using animal models will enhance understanding the association between depression and cardiovascular disease. This will ultimately promote the development of better treatments and interventions for individuals with co-morbid psychological and somatic pathologies.
Social cohesion at the global level: The roles of science and technology

Technology enables globalization, through falling transportation and communication costs. Multi-national firms, which act as integrators in the global economy, are by definition technology-intensive and often innovate in technology-intensive businesses. The global elite, including scientists and engineers, are much more likely to feel integrated into global society than those at the bottom of the pyramid, since the Black Holes of the Information Society are characterized by lack of access to the integrating technologies. Civil society reaches out to disconnected people in the global technological order better than other institutions. If science and engineering want to contribute to global social cohesion rather than exacerbating exclusion, they also need to reach out. Copyright The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com, Oxford University Press.