cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a situational judgment test to assess ACPE Standards 3 and 4.

Objective. To successfully meet competencies related to ACPE Standards 3 and 4, it is essential for pharmacy programs to assess student progression in the affective domain. The purpose of this study was to develop and assess evidence of validity for a situational judgment test (SJT) that encompasses Standards 3 and 4.Methods. A multi-institutional faculty team developed an 18-item SJT (scenarios asking the respondent to rank the effectiveness of four approaches) mapped to Standards 3 and 4. The group systematically reviewed the literature, , created items, and iterated until consensus was achieved. Subject matter experts (SME) reviewed and provided feedback on the instrument. Students from two institutions were recruited for cognitive interviewing on the finalized instrument. Cognitive interview data were analyzed for themes.Results. After edits to the instrument based on SME feedback, students (n=18) in the cognitive interviews. identified item length as a concern and commented on item/response clarity and comprehensiveness . Data from the cognitive interviews were used to modify the SJT to reduce length and clarify items. The result was two shorter versions of the instrument both with similar mapping to all elements in Standards 3 and 4.Conclusions. Early steps of validating an SJT suggest the instrument may be a promising tool to assess student progression in the affective domain. The SJT instrument is intended to provide evidence of the development that occurs in didactic, experiential, and co-curricular education as part of a comprehensive assessment plan. Further validation is in progress to establish this instrument.
Author’s reply to Brown

As Brown notes, my article was not intended to be an exhaustive review of opposing positions on e-cigarettes.1 Rather, I wanted to show the divided nature of the debate, and the fact that evidence for and against e-cigarettes is contradictory and—clearly—controversial. Thus Brown dismisses studies cited as credible evidence by other equally respected scientists, who fear that e-cigarettes are a Trojan horse for the tobacco industry. It …
Metastases: the glycan connection

An association between protein glycosylation and tumorigenesis has been recognized for over 10 years. Associations linking the importance of glycosylation events to tumor biology, especially the progression to metastatic disease, have been noted over many years, Recently, a mouse model in which β1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (a rate-limiting enzyme in the N-glycan pathway) has been knocked out, was used to demonstrate the importance of glycosylation in tumor progression. By crossing mice lacking this enzyme with a transgenic mouse model of metastatic breast cancer, metastatic progression of the disease was dramatically reduced. These experiments provide in vivo evidence for the role of N-linked glycosylation in metastatic breast cancer and have significant implications for the development of new treatment strategies.
Assurance of Medical Device Quality with Quality Management System: An Analysis of Good Manufacturing Practice Implementation in Taiwan

The implementation of an effective quality management system has always been considered a principal method for a manufacturer to maintain and improve its product and service quality. Globally many regulatory authorities incorporate quality management system as one of the mandatory requirements for the regulatory control of high-risk medical devices. The present study aims to analyze the GMP enforcement experience in Taiwan between 1998 and 2013. It describes the regulatory implementation of medical device GMP requirement and initiatives taken to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in compliance with the regulatory requirement. Based on statistical data collected by the competent authority and industry research institutes, the present paper reports the growth of Taiwan local medical device industry after the enforcement of GMP regulation. Transition in the production, technologies, and number of employees of Taiwan medical device industry between 1998 and 2013 provides the competent authorities around the world with an empirical foundation for further policy development.
Kwasinaboo Puha (Snake Medicine)

This article is part historical narrative and part personal memoir. The author begins by explaining the Comanche tribal history of kwasinaboo puha (snake medicine). She then discusses the knowledge of kwasinaboo puha that is passed down to Comanche children through an intergenerational process that combines empirical knowledge of snake taxonomy with cultural knowledge of the kwasinaboo puha story. The author then turns to her own initiation into Comanche tribal life by listening to her grandfather’s oral performance of the kwasinaboo puha story. Finally, the author reveals her adult memories of crossing paths with snakes and how kwasinaboo puha presents itself in her poetry. As a result, this article provides readers with an insight into the empirical and metaphorical practices necessary for the continuance of Comanche communal identity and survival in the Lawton area of Oklahoma.
Exploring the Use and Measurement of Web Advertising: Korean Perception of U.S. State Tourism Organizations

This article presents a discourse on Web advertising usage in travel and tourism marketing. The Interactive Advertising Model (IAM) is adopted, modified, and tested as a potential tool for evaluating Website advertising effectiveness. The model is tested using data gathered from an independent evaluation by 31 Korean natives on five state U.S. tourism organization Websites. The data are analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques. The article concludes with a discussion on the study findings along with recommendations on how state tourism organizations can improve their Website effectiveness.
Assessing and Scaffolding Collaborative Learning in Online Discussions

In this paper we present two computational approaches that can be used characterize and measure online threaded discussions and demonstrate that they can objectively validate student-reported differences in collaborative learning between tutor-scaffolded and non-scaffolded discussion activities. The first approach, thread profiling, is used to characterize user interactions that tend to broaden and deepen discussions, and gives insight into how tutors participate in discussions. The second approach, which uses a natural language discourse processor, is used to compare the rhetoric of tutors and students, and shows that tutors consistently use more attributions, elaborations, and enablements to scaffold discussions. To test these ideas we processed twenty-four online activities, constituting over one thousand message posts, during a course at the British Open University. These computational methods and findings have application in virtual tutoring systems and the automated assessment of discussions.
Rhizobium meliloti suhR suppresses the phenotype of an Escherichia coli RNA polymerase sigma 32 mutant.

Abstract sigma 32, the product of the Escherichia coli rpoH locus, is an alternative RNA polymerase sigma factor utilized to express heat shock genes upon a sudden rise in temperature. E. coli K165 [rpoH165(Am) supC(Ts)] is temperature sensitive for growth and does not induce heat shock protein synthesis. We have isolated a locus from Rhizobium meliloti called suhR that allows E. coli K165 to grow at high temperature and induce heat shock protein synthesis. R. meliloti suhR mutants were viable and symbiotically effective. suhR was found to have no DNA or derived amino acid sequence similarity to the genes of previously sequenced sigma factors or other data base entries, although a helix-turn-helix DNA-binding protein motif is present. suhR did not restore the phenotypic defects of delta rpoH E. coli; suppression of the E. coli K165 phenotype is thus likely to involve E. coli sigma 32. Western immunoblots showed that suhR caused an approximately twofold elevation of sigma 32 levels in K165; RNA blots indicated that rpoH mRNA level and stability were not altered. Stabilization of sigma 32 protein and increased rpoH mRNA translation are thus the most probable mechanisms of suppression.
GDBDICT: a program to extract GDB schema information into a relational database.

GDBDICT synthesizes the information present in the two schema files and produces three tab-delimited files that can be imported directly into a relational database without further processing. These files are: (i) DIAG, a list of the functional categories into which an individual GDB table may belong; (ii) TABLES, a description of the GDB tables in each category; and (iii) FIELDS, a detailed description of the fields for each GDB table. After import, FIELDS will be related many-to-one to TABLES, which in turn will be related many-to-one to DIAG. This is because GDBDICT creates, for the FIELDS and TABLES files, the appropriate foreign key (i.e., the field linking that table to the table higher in the hierarchy). GDBDICT will report all discrepancies between GDB-DICTIONARY and TABLE-DICTIONARY as it processes them. Running GDBDICT on the current (February 1993) schema files showed 18 discrepancies, none of which, on closer inspection, turned out to be of significant consequence. 2 refs., 1 fig.
Calculations on tissue equivalence for stopping π− mesons☆

Calculations have been made of the energy deposition in tissueequivalent plastic (Shonka type A-150) and tissue when both are placed in the stopping region of a negatively charged pion beam. The configuration considered is that of relatively small pieces of tissue-equivalent plastic (thicknesses of 50 and 3000 microns) placed in a large pi /sup -/ capture region. The multiplicities and energies of the pi /sup -/ capture products were determined using an intranuclear-cascade-evaporation model, and the energy deposition was obtained using computed stopping powers and ranges. (auth)
Scanning calorimetry reveals a new phase transition in L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine

We report a new phase transition in fully hydrated dispersions of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). This new transition, called the sub-subtransition, exhibits a transition enthalpy of 0.25 kcal/mol with a Tm at 6.8 degrees C. Unlike the subtransition, no extended low temperature incubation is required to observe the sub-subtransition. This new sub-subgel (SGII) phase may be a precursor to the subgel (SGI) phase, and this discovery is discussed in relation to the current knowledge regarding the polymorphic gel phases of both ester- and ether-linked lipids with identical acyl chains.
Identification versus discrimination of distinctive features in speech perception.

Dichotically presented CV syllables were presented to 24 normal subjects under two contrasting performance requirements: consonant identification and consonant discrimination. In the identification task, subjects made more errors identifying stimuli distinguished by two as opposed to one distinctive feature. Conversely, in the discrimination task, subjects made more errors for stimuli distinguished by one as opposed to two distinctive features. It was proposed that the results of the identification task reflect the degree of information load in short-term memory. The results of the discrimination task, on the other hand, reflect the degree of perceptual similarity between contrasting stimuli. Both results were accounted for within a distinctive feature framework. Analyses of the individual features which comprised one and two feature distinctions demonstrated the perceptual prominence of the feature [voice] in contrast to the two place features [compact] and [grave].
Can information systems concepts be assimilated into non-IS courses?

The American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is encouraging schools to teach core topics across a spectrum of courses. Subjects would not be artificially forced into a certain course because of departmental boundaries but would be introduced according to their relevance to the topic being presented. Information systems (IS) topics have received attention possibly because the wording of the current AACSB curriculum standards no longer implies that a separate course is required for information systems.Many discussions about curriculum changes affecting IS have been made without quantitative information. Evidence has not been gathered about the qualifications of non-IS faculty to teach IS topics or even faculty preferences for delivery of IS topics. The questionnaire used to gather data for this article revealed that non-IS faculty strongly prefer a separate, required IS course over integrating IS topics into non-IS courses. The introductory IS course provides the bulk of knowledge that most business students receive about information systems. If students are not well taught by qualified faculty then their ability to use and assimilate IS and IS technology is diminished. This article brings some quantitative evidence to the debate and argues that IS topics beyond computer literacy are best taught by IS faculty.
Molecular modeling of the interaction of iodinated Hoechst analogs with DNA: implications for new radiopharmaceutical design

Abstract Molecular modeling and energy minimization calculations were performed to investigate the interaction of iodoHoechst 33342 analogs with DNA. The Lamarckian genetic algorithm (AutoDock 3.0) was used to model the interaction/binding between m-iodo-p-methoxyHoechst (IMH), a ligand available in the Protein Data Bank whose binding to the minor groove of DNA has been demonstrated (crystal structure), and the oligonucleotide d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2. Since the predicted complex compared well with the crystal structure, m-iodo-p-ethoxyHoechst (IEH), a radioligand we had previously synthesized and characterized, was then docked onto DNA, the IEH–DNA complex minimized, and the binding free energy and inhibition constant (Ki) estimated and compared with those for IMH–DNA. Using the protocol, several novel iodoHoechst analogs were designed. Finally, Insight II was used to measure the distances between the iodine atom of these Hoechst analogs and the central axis of the targeted DNA, and these values were correlated with the expected (Monte Carlo calculations) and measured (experimental data) double-strand-break yield following 125I decay. The approach is general and can be applied to the interaction of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals with DNA and other macromolecular targets.
Preliminary examination of psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Specific Interpersonal Trust Scale.

Summary The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Specific Interpersonal Trust scale of Johnson-George and Swap in Korean samples as a part of the process of providing an exemplary tool for intercultural studies of trust. A translated version of the original scale was administered to 337 university students (157 males, 180 females) in Seoul, Korea. Data were subjected to a principal components analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis. In principal components analysis for the Korean sample (n = 167), three factors were identified and labeled: Overall Trust (Cronbach α = .89), Emotional Trust (Cronbach α = .88), and Reliableness (Cronbach α = .84). A confirmatory factor analysis (n = 170) showed that the three-factor model was valid for the sample (χ2/df = 1.78, RMR = .06, RMSEA = .07, TLI = .92, CFI = .93). Internal consistency reliability and factorial validity were satisfactory in the case of the Korean sample. The Korean version of the Specific Interpersonal Trust Sc...
Individual differences in concept learning and brain event-related potentials

Abstract An irrelevant auditory probe procedure was employed to evoke brain event-related potentials (ERPs) in 56 males while they learned concepts presented to them in study booklets. A mastery test was administered to assess concept acquisition. S s were divided into two groups according to whether or not their achievement test results were above or below the average score for all learners. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was computed for each presentation page employing as multiple dependent measures ERP amplitudes which corresponded to specific concepts. MANOVAs and their subsequent statistics revealed that, as theorized, ERPs evoked at the right frontal, temporal and parietal, as well as the left parietal, regions, significantly distinguished below-from above-average concept learners. As hypothesized, poorer concept learners engaged these hemispheric sites less, and manifested more variability at them, than better learners. It was established that the frontal, temporal and parietal areas which are chiefly implicated in crystallized intelligence are engaged during the actual process of concept learning itself.
Modeling the Merensky Reef, Bushveld Complex, Republic of South Africa

The Merensky pegmatoid (normal reef) in the western Bushveld Complex is commonly characterized as a pyroxene-rich pegmatoidal unit with a base that is enriched in chromite and platinum-group element-bearing sulfides overlying a leuconorite footwall. Models for its formation have ranged from those that view it as entirely a magmatic cumulate succession to those that have suggested that it is a zone of volatile-induced remelting. The consequences of the latter interpretation are investigated using the numerical modeling program IRIDIUM, which links diffusive and advective mass and heat transport with a phase equilibration routine based on the MELTS program. The initial system consists of a simple stratigraphic succession of a partially molten leuconorite overlain by a partially molten pyroxenite, both initially at 1,190°C and 2 kbar. 2 wt% of a volatile fluid composed of 75 mol% H2O, 20 mol% CO2 and 5 mol% H2S is then added to the lower 20 cm of the pyroxenite. The system is then allowed to evolve under conditions of chemical diffusion in the liquid. The addition of the volatile components results in a modest increase in the amount of melt in the pyroxenite. However, chemical diffusion across the leuconorite–pyroxenite boundary leads to more extensive melting at and below the boundary with preferential loss of opx from the underlying leuconorite, preferential re-precipitation of sulfide and chromite and concentration of the PGE at this boundary. These results mimic actual mineral and compositional profiles across the Merensky pegmatoid and illustrate that long-term diffusion process can effectively produce mineralogical and compositional layering not present in the original assemblage.
Techniques for the Chemical Identification of Micron and Submicron particles

Chemical methods are presented for routine identification and size estimation of water- or acid-soluble particles of a number of chemical species, using spot test techniques and light or electron microscopy. Although the work reported here is primarily that of the authors and their co-workers, a brief literature survey of work in other laboratories is included. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1956.tb01209.x
Prompt Fission γ-rays Measured Using Liquid Scintillators

Abstract The prompt γ-ray spectra from 235U(n,f) at incident energies of 1 to 20 MeV and for 235Cf(s.f.) were measured up to 4 MeV in coincidence with two parallel plate avalanche counters and the liquid scintillator array FIGARO. The unfolded γ-ray spectra from 1–4 MeV using the single value decomposition and iterative Bayesian techniques for the incident neutron energy regions corresponding to the first, second and third chance fissions were found to nearly identical and similar to the distribution from the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. General agreement with the γ-ray distributions from fission was also found with previous measurements.
Triple Resonance Phenomenon in Plasmas

INTERACTIONS between electromagnetic waves and weakly ionized plasmas in the presence of a steady magnetic field have been widely investigated1. The Appleton–Hartree formula for the equivalent complex dielectric constant of the plasma is partially reproduced in graphical form in Figs. 1 and 2. These graphs are restricted to the case that the propagation vector and E-polarization of the electromagnetic wave are both perpendicular to the direction of a uniform steady magnetic field. With these restrictions, the relative dielectric constant can be written: in which where ω is the radian frequency of the wave, ν is the collision frequency, ωb = eB/m is the cyclotron frequency, ωp = √(ne2/mɛ0) is the plasma frequency, e and m are the charge and mass of an electron. B is the strength of the steady magnetic field, n is the volume density of free electrons in the plasma, and ɛ0 is the permittivity of free space. A dependence on time of ejωt has been assumed.
What Price Smalltalk

In anticipation of the promise of tremendous hardware advances, software researchers have fashioned expansive programming environments to improve programmer productivity. Even with the march of technology, exploratory programming environments such as Smalltalk-80 require such expensive computers that few programmers can afford them. With the hope of increasing that community, a research project at the University of California created a reduced instruction set computer for Smalltalk called SOAR, which stands for Smalltalk on a RISC. The authors are now able to estimate the performance implications of the Smalltalk-80 programming environment. In the next section the authors list the demands that Smalltalk-80 places on traditional computer systems, then present software and hardware ideas that answer those demands.
superior mesenteric artery syndrome: a unique complication following carboplatin-based chemotherapy

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is an uncommon condition, attributable to vascular compression of the third part of the duodenum between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta. It can present in patients due to mechanical compression or severe weight loss. We present a unique case of SMAS in a patient undergoing carboplatin-based chemotherapy for mesothelioma. An 81-year-old male with mesothelioma was treated with carboplatin-based chemotherapy. He subsequently suffered a progressive, unintentional 18 kg weight loss and presented acutely with intense epigastric pain, severe nausea, and vomiting. Diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal computed tomography and esophagogram with upper gastrointestinal series, which revealed gastric and duodenal distention and a narrow angle between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta, causing compression of the duodenum. Prompt recognition of this syndrome allowed us to treat our patient successfully and avoid the risks of operative interventions. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SMAS in patients receiving carboplatin. Furthermore, this case of SMAS was unique in that it was due to weight loss as compared with mechanical obstruction. Our experience illustrates the importance of considering SMAS in chemotherapy patients, especially those with substantial weight loss. A high index of suspicion for this potential complication coupled with appropriate radiographic studies are necessary for early diagnosis and can prevent severe consequences.
Evolution of fault systems at a strike-slip plate boundary: A viscoelastic model

A viscoelastic model of crustal deformation suggests that the formation and evolution of strike-slip fault systems are strongly influenced by rheologic contrasts between the upper and lower crust. When deformation is driven by a narrow zone of high shear in the mantle, the presence of a low-viscosity lower crustal layer underlying a primarily elastic upper crust widens the deformation zone with time and promotes the formation of a broadly distributed network of interacting faults within the upper crust. In contrast, the deformation zone in a primarily elastic crust is narrow, encompassing a single, plate-bounding fault. Patterns of surface strain rate and seismicity are thus significantly more complex in the presence of a low-viscosity lower crust, due to interactions between faulting in the upper crust at short time scales and viscous behavior in the lower crust at long time scales.
Spin injection and accumulation in inhomogeneous semiconductors

Abstract We present a study of spin transport in charge and spin inhomogeneous semiconductor systems. In particular, we investigate the propagation of spin-polarized electrons through a boundary between two semiconductor regions with different doping concentrations. We use a theoretical and numerical method, presented in this paper, based on a self-consistent treatment of a two-component version of the Boltzmann transport equation. We show that space–charge effects strongly influence the spin transport properties, in particular giving rise to pronounced spin accumulation and spin density enhancement.
Sequentially administered ethinyl estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate in the treatment of refractory epithelial ovarian carcinoma in patients with positive estrogen receptors

The activity of sequentially administered hormonal therapy was investigated over 25 days in 25 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma who had estrogen receptor (ERc)-positive tumors. Patients received ethinyl estradiol (EE) (50 micrograms/d) on days 1 to 7 and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (400 mg/d) on days 8 to 25. Twenty-three patients completed one or more courses of treatment. There were no complete responses (CR). Four partial responses (PR) with durations of 9, 4, 3, and 1 months were seen. Two incomplete responses with durations of 6 and 4 months were also seen. Six patients had stable disease (SD), and 11 patients had progression. The overall response rate was 17% and may represent a modest improvement in response over those in previously published studies conducted with MPA alone. No significant toxic effects were noticed, and some patients reported an improved sense of well-being. However, two patients experienced depression with this treatment. The mean ERc values in responders, patients with SD, and nonresponders were 70.0, 36.7, and 47.9 fmol/mg cytosolic protein, respectively. Future studies of hormonal therapy in patients with ovarian carcinoma should attempt to identify more reliable indices for determining sensitivity to these agents.
Traitement endovasculaire des anévrysmes de l'aorte abdominale: 1ère partie

Le traitement endovasculaire des anevrysmes de l'aorte sous-renale est devenu une modalite therapeutique bien etablie et sure. Depuis son developpement par Juan Parodi en 1991, un nombre croissant de procedures a ete realise a travers le monde. Les avantages de la voie endovasculaire incluent une diminution des pertes sanguines, de la duree d'hospitalisation, et de la morbi-mortalite precoce. Le traitement endovasculaire est particulierement bien adapte aux patients âges, a ceux au plus haut risque operatoire, et a ceux ayant deja ete opere de l'aorte. Cette revue resume sous la forme de tableaux la litterature internationale publiee a ce jour concernant le traitement endovasculaire des anevrysmes aortiques et devrait servir d'outil de recherche litteraire pratique et rapide.
Effects of α- and β-adrenergic receptor antagonists on retrograde amnesia produced by frontal cortex stimulation

This study assessed the effects of adrenergic antagonists on the development of retrograde amnesia. Animals were trained on either a one-trial inhibitory (passive) avoidance task or a visual discriminated avoidance Y-maze. Thirty minutes prior to training animals received an injection of the β-adrenergic antagonists propranolol (0.5 mg/kg), saline, or one of the following α-adrenergic antagonists: phentolamine (10 mg/kg), piperoxane (5 mg/kg), or phenoxybenzamine (2 mg/kg). Shortly after training, the animals received frontal cortex stimulation (5 mA/1 sec) through implanted cortical screw electrodes. The results indicate that pretreatment of rats with any of these α- and β-adrenergic antagonists attenuates the production of retrograde amnesia. These findings add further support to the view that an adrenergic response to amnestic treatments may be a component of a restricted set of biological systems that are involved in retrograde amnesia.
Using Genetic Admixture to Study the Biology of Obesity Traits and to Map Genes in Admixed Populations

Differences among ethnic and racial groups in obesity-related traits have been clearly established in the scientific literature. To explore the genetic component underlying these differences, the genetic admixture approach has been used. In this approach, ancestry informative genetic markers are used to estimate a quantitative value representing the degree of ancestral background in individuals of admixed genetic background. Genetic admixture has been successfully used to explain racial and ethnic variation in obesity related traits; however, the understanding and measure of cultural and environmental components that also influence these phenotypes still requires further exploration.
Effect of adjuvants and route of immunizations on the immune response to recombinant plague antigens

In this study, we compare four different adjuvants, LT(R192G), CpG ODN, MPL((R))TDM, and alum, for their ability to affect the magnitude, distribution, and duration of antibody responses against F1-V, the lead-candidate antigen for the next generation vaccine against plague, in a murine model. In addition, three different routes of immunization-intranasal (IN), transcutaneous (TC), and subcutaneous (SC) were compared with each adjuvant. Since aerosol exposure to biological warfare agents is of primary concern, both serum and bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL) were analyzed for antigen-specific antibody responses. The most significant findings of the study reported here are that (1) the adjuvant influences the Type 1/Type 2 balance of the antibody response in both the serum and BAL, (2) mucosal immunization is not necessary to obtain F1-V-specific BAL responses, (3) non-traditional adjuvants such as LT(R192G) work when delivered subcutaneously, (4) the route of immunization affects the magnitude of the immune response, and (5) F1-V is highly immunogenic by some routes even in the absence of an exogenously applied adjuvant. These studies provide important insights into the influence of different classes of adjuvants on the immune outcome in biodefense vaccines and for development of new-generation vaccines against other pathogens as well.
A natural food aversion in rats rendered hyperphagic by hypothalamic knife cuts

Eight hungry rats previously rendered hyperphagic via hypothalamic parasagittal knife cuts did not differ reliably from eight sham-operated controls in their tendencies to feed upon the intact carcasses of freshly sacrificed conspecifics. The ventromedial hypothalamus is not an essential link in the neural circuit mediating the aversion of rats to feed on conspecific flesh.
Molecular dynamics simulations of tri-n-butyl-phosphate/n-dodecane mixture: thermophysical properties and molecular structure.

Molecular dynamics simulations of tri-n-butyl-phosphate (TBP)/n-dodecane mixture in the liquid phase have been carried out using two recently developed TBP force field models (J. Phys. Chem. B 2012, 116, 305) in combination with the all-atom optimized potentials for liquid simulations (OPLS-AA) force field model for n-dodecane. Specifically, the electric dipole moment of TBP, mass density of the mixture, and the excess volume of mixing were computed with TBP mole fraction ranging from 0 to 1. It is found that the aforementioned force field models accurately predict the mass density of the mixture in the entire mole fraction range. Commensurate with experimental measurements, the electric dipole moment of the TBP was found to slightly increase with the mole fraction of TBP in the mixture. Also, in accord with experimental data, the excess volume of mixing is positive in the entire mole fraction range, peaking at TBP mole fraction range 0.3–0.5. Finally, a close examination of the spatial pair correlation f...
Water Activity – Concentration Models for Solutions of Sugars, Salts and Acids

A semi-empirical model of water activity changes due to solute concentrations increase in solutions of electrolytes and nonelectrolytes was developed based on an extension of Raoult's law. Comparisons between predicted and observed aw data for a variety of sugars, salts and acids indicated the proposed model fitted the a” data with accuracy to ±0.001 aw up to 4–14 molalities depending upon the solutes. Percent weight concentrations of some solutes for various a” values at 25°C were presented for practical applications.
Physical model for indium-rich InGaN/GaN self-assembled quantum dot ridge-waveguide lasers emitting at red λ∼630 nm)

We present a physical model for recently demonstrated indium-rich self-assembled In 0.4 Ga 0.6 N/GaN quantum-dot-based ridge-waveguide lasers emitting at red wavelengths. Our modeling results match well with the measured Hakki-Paoli gain spectrum and the L-I-V curves.
Modulation of DNA Methylation by a Sesquiterpene Lactone Parthenolide

Hypermethylation of 5′-cytosine-guanosine islands of tumor suppressor genes resulting in their silencing has been proposed to be a hallmark of various tumors. Modulation of DNA methylation with DNA methylation inhibitors has been shown to result in cancer cell differentiation or apoptosis and represents a novel strategy for chemotherapy. Currently, effective DNA methylation inhibitors are mainly limited to decitabine and 5-azacytidine, which still show unfavorable toxicity profiles in the clinical setting. Thus, discovery and development of novel hypomethylating agents, with a more favorable toxicity profile, is essential to broaden the spectrum of epigenetic therapy. Parthenolide, the principal bioactive sesquiterpene lactone of feverfew, has been shown to alkylate Cys38 of p65 to inhibit nuclear factor-κB activation and exhibit anti-tumor activity in human malignancies. In this article, we report that parthenolide 1) inhibits DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) with an IC50 of 3.5 μM, possibly through alkylation of the proximal thiolate of Cys1226 of the catalytic domain by its γ-methylene lactone, and 2) down-regulates DNMT1 expression possibly associated with its SubG1 cell-cycle arrest or the interruption of transcriptional factor Sp1 binding to the promoter of DNMT1. These dual functions of parthenolide result in the observed in vitro and in vivo global DNA hypomethylation. Furthermore, parthenolide has been shown to reactivate tumor suppressor HIN-1 gene in vitro possibly associated with its promoter hypomethylation. Hence, our study established parthenolide as an effective DNA methylation inhibitor, representing a novel prototype for DNMT1 inhibitor discovery and development from natural structural-diversified sesquiterpene lactones.
Attenuation of malonate toxicity in primary mesencephalic cultures using the GABA transport blocker, NO-711.

Cultured rat mesencephalic neurons were used to assess the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transport blockers on toxicity caused by malonate, a reversible, competitive inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase. Previous studies utilizing an ex vivo chick retinal preparation have shown that GABA release and cell swelling are early consequences of acute energy impairment and that GABA transport blockers attenuate this toxicity. The present results demonstrate that the nonsubstrate GABA transport blocker, NO-711 (1 nM–1 μM), dose-dependently protected cultured mesencephalic dopamine (DA) and GABA neurons from malonate-induced toxicity. Similar protection was demonstrated with nipecotic acid (1 mM) and SKF89976A (100 nM), substrate and nonsubstrate GABA transport blockers, respectively. These compounds by themselves produced no signs of toxicity, although nipecotic acid caused a long-term decrease in GABA uptake not associated with toxicity. Compounds which decrease intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) are protective in this model, but NO-711 did not prevent the rise in intracellular ROS induced by malonate, indicating its protective effects were downstream of ROS production. Supplementation of malonate treated cultures with the GABAA agonist, muscimol (10 μM), increased the toxicity toward the DA and GABA neuron populations. Antagonists at the GABAA and glycine receptors provided partial protection to both the GABA and DA neurons. These findings suggest that the GABA transporter, GABAA, and/or glycine channels contribute to cell damage associated with energy impairment in this model. J. Neurosci. Res. 64:43–52, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Some possible effects of Jupiter's rings on the Jovian inner plasmasphere

The ionospheric plasma density on magnetic field lines threading the Jovian rings which are located inside approximately 1.8 Jupiter radii on the jovigraphic equatorial plane is calculated by using a rotating ion exosphere model. It is found that the bulk of the ionospheric particles on these field lines are on ballistic trajectories. On field lines approximately symmetric with respect to the jovigraphic equator, the ring, which to a first approximation would absorb the population of trapped particles, consequently has little effect. On field lines which are made asymmetric by the higher-order multipoles of Jupiter's field and the tilt of the dipole axis, the rings may have a significant effect. It is suggested that better definition of the rings' atmospheric and ionospheric properties is required to model these localized effects. If the rings are found to be an important plasma source for the inner magnetosphere, the present exospheric model will have to be revised.
An improved procedure for the enzymatic analysis of prostaglandins in the nanogram range

Abstract Prostaglandin dehydrogenase is purified from beef lung and optimal storage conditions are established for the enzyme. Improved assay conditions are worked out for the stoichiometric enzymatic analysis of prostaglandins in the nanogram range. The method appears to be applicable to all naturally occurring prostaglandins.
How prepared are medical students to diagnose and manage common ocular conditions

It is essential that primary care physicians have a solid fund of knowledge of the diagnosis and management of common eye conditions as well as ocular emergencies, as management of these diseases commonly involves appropriate referral to an ophthalmologist. Thus, it is crucial to receive comprehensive clinical knowledge of ophthalmic disease in the primary care setting during medical school. This study investigated how well prepared medical students are to diagnose and manage common ocular conditions. The study used scores from a standardized 12-question quiz administered to fourth-year medical students (N = 97; 88% response rate) and second-year medical students (N = 97; 97% response rate). The quiz comprising diagnosis and referral management questions covered the most frequently tested ophthalmology topics on board exams and assessed students’ ability to recognize when referral to an ophthalmologist is appropriate. Fourth-year medical students had quiz scores ranging from 0%-94.5% with an average score of 68.7%. Second-year students had quiz scores ranging from 27.2%–86.4%, with an average score of 63.8%. Passing rate was 70%. Student’s t-test showed fourth-year students had a significantly higher quiz average (P = 0.003). In general, both classes performed better on diagnostic questions (fourth-year, 73.7%; second year, 65.8%) rather than on management questions (fourth-year, 64.8%; second year, 61.8%). Both second-year and fourth-year students on average fell short on passing the ophthalmology proficiency quiz, and in general students were more adept at diagnosing rather than managing ocular conditions and emergencies.
Generation of point scatterer models for simulating ISAR images of ships

This paper addresses the problem of simulating inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) images of ship targets. The motivation for generating simulated images is primarily related to the training of radar operators whose task it is to interpret images for target classification. Simulated images therefore offer the most flexible way to achieve this, conditional upon the quality of the resulting output. The approach taken is to generate a point scatterer model for the target of interest from the results of an electromagnetic prediction code called GSC (general scattering code), developed in-house. The point scatterer model is then used in an interactive simulation program called ISARLAB, where the radar returns from a user defined scenario are generated and processed to form ISAR images. Example results from simulating a generic ship target are presented to demonstrate the validity of the technique for the intended purpose.
The combined effect of wave–current interaction and mud-induced damping on nonlinear wave evolution

Abstract The development of a phase-resolving nonlinear frequency-domain model with both wave–current interaction and viscous mud-induced energy dissipation is discussed. The model is compared to dissipation rates deduced from experimental data, with favorable results. The model is then run with cnoidal waves over a finite mud patch with both opposing and following currents. It is determined that wave height dissipation by mud is exacerbated by opposing currents and reduced by following currents, in agreement with previous work. It is shown that mud-induced damping affects the cnoidal wave shape; under significant damping, the resulting waveform resembles a sine wave, with some short-scale variability as phase-locking between the harmonics breaks down. In addition, the effect of uncompensated subharmonic interactions, a cause of high frequency damping over mud, is also evident with wave–current interaction. Finally, random wave spectra are used to initialize the model and allowed to evolve over a flat bottom with a mud patch, with and without co-flowing currents. As before, the dissipation of the random waves is enhanced by opposing currents and reduced by following currents. The degree of spectral broadening seen in wave–current interaction in non-dissipative environments is also seen here with mud-induced dissipation. High spectral frequencies strongly damped by bottom mud recover some energy (at the expense of low frequencies) in the lee of the finite mud patch. This recovery is evident even with substantial damping across the majority of the frequency range of the spectrum.
Menarche, menopause, years of menstruation, and the incidence of osteoporosis: the influence of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol.

Context: Estrogen is critical for bone formation and growth in women. Estrogen exposures occur throughout life, including prenatally, and change with reproductive events, such as menarche and menopause. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between age at menarche, age at menopause, and years of menstruation with incidence of osteoporosis and assess the impact of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen, on such associations. Design, Setting, and Participants: Participants were 5573 women in the National Cancer Institute Combined Cohort Study of DES (1994–2006). Data on reproductive history and medical conditions were collected through questionnaires at baseline in 1994 and subsequently in 1997, 2001, and 2006. Age-stratified Cox regression models were used to calculate multivariable incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Effect measure modification by prenatal DES exposure was assessed using cubic restricted spline r...
Effects of sediment slurry enrichment on salt marsh rehabilitation: Plant and soil responses over seven years

In deltaic marshes, mineral sediment promotes positive elevation change and counters subsidence and sea level rise. In many such marshes sediment deficits result in wetland loss. One new way to address sediment deficiency is to supply marshes with sediments in a slurry that deposits the sediment in a thin layer over a large area. The long-term effects of this strategy are poorly understood. In a rapidly submerging,Spartina alterniflora salt marsh, we tested how different amounts of sediment ameliorated the effects of sea level rise and subsidence over 7 yr (1992–1998). Sediment slurry enrichment likely affected plants and soils by two mechanisms. It increased elevation and soil bulk density, leading to increased plant vigor and soil condition. These effects were long lasting, such that by 1998 areas receiving moderate amounts of sediment (5–12 cm relative elevation) had better plant vigor and soil condition compared to areas not receiving sediment (55% cover versus 20%; bulk densities of 0.4–1.0 g cm−3 versus 0.2 g cm−3; 0 mM hydrogen sulfide versus > 1.0 mM). The sediment slurry also had high nutrient content, which resulted in a pulse of growth, especially in areas receiving the most sediment (areas > 12 cm relative elevation initially had >90% cover and canopy heights >1.6 m). This nutrient-induced growth spurt was short lived and faded after 3 yr, at which point the long lasting effects of increased elevation probably became the dominant factor promoting plant vigor and soil condition. Moderate levels of sediment generated the most beneficial and long lasting effects to the vegetation and soils. This degree of sediment slurry addition countered the effects of subsidence and sea level rise, but not so much as to surpass the intertidal position to whichS. alterniflora is best adapted.
Nitrogen Utilization of Selected Cropping Systems in the U.S. Northeast: II. Soil Profile Nitrate Distribution and Accumulation

High rates of N fertilizers and limited crop uptake of N during the growing season can result in excessive accumulation of soil nitrate (NO - 3 ). Soil NO - 3 can be decreased with efficient cropping systems. Experiments were conducted in Connecticut from 1987 through 1990 on a Paxton fine sandy loam soil (coarse-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Dystrochrept) to determine the effects of N rate and cropping system on soil NO - 3 . Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), a double-crop system of oat (Arena sativa L.) followed by tyfon [Brassica rapa L. × B. pekinensis (Lour.) Rupr.], maize (Zea mays L.) followed by a cover crop of winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and a fallow system received preplant N at 0, 112, 224, 336, and 448 kg ha -1 . Each system was evaluated for two consecutive growing seasons and repeated three times. Nitrogen was applied only in the first growing season. Soil NO - 3 at the first autumn sampling generally increased for all systems as N rate increased. Mean spring soil NO - 3 levels were only 23 % of previous autumn NO - 3 levels. By the second autumn sampling, soil NO - 3 values were near background levels except in the fertilized fallow system. At the two highest N rates, oat-tyfon produced the smallest over-winter change in soil NO - 3 storage, An oat-tyfon double crop, orchardgrass, or red clover system should decrease soil NO - 3 more effectively than maize or a noncropped fallow when soil NO - 3 accumulations are greater than those produced from N inputs equivalent to 224 kg ha -1
Transport modelling of packed-tube reactors—III. Initial data-based functions and application

A new, data-based approach to packed-tube reactor modelling is demonstrated in a steady-state simulation of an o-xylene oxidation reactor with a tube/particle diameter ratio of 2.02. The simulation is based on a preliminary correlation of data from thermal experiments performed in a unique packed-tube gas flow apparatus. A finite-element orthogonal collocation scheme is developed for efficient solution of the resulting particulate reactor model.
The University College: A NACADA Research Grant Report

The author summarizes the results of a survey of 68 institutions with a university college or undergraduate division and 68 institutions without, highlighting (a) the major responsibilities of these entry units, (b) changes that have occurred in them since a 1985 survey, and (c) the advantages of such units to students and institutions.