cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can an interactive case-based activity help bridge the theory-practice gap in operative dentistry?

Introduction A theory-practice gap in pre-doctoral dental education is a common source of stress for dental students. An interactive, small-group, case-based activity was designed to bridge the gap between pre-clinical and clinical experiences. The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of the case-based activity by evaluating students' comfort level in operative procedures. Materials and methods Over 5 years, a total of 172 second-year students from the classes of 2017 through 2021 participated in the case-based activity delivered after the completion of the core operative dentistry course. The exercise included a pre-activity online quiz, an in-class case-based session and a laboratory exercise. Students' self-reported comfort levels in performing operative procedures were collected by surveys at three different times. They included the post-course survey distributed after the completion of the core operative dentistry course, the post-activity survey distributed after the completion of the case-based activity, and the follow-up survey distributed after students completed their first operative procedures in clinic. Results There was a 93% response rate. The average rating of all eight statements revealed statistically significant increase in students' comfort level after completing the case-based activity and after performing their first operative procedures in the teaching practice. Conclusion This observation suggests that the case-based activity was effective in raising students' comfort levels. The activity may serve as an important tool in bridging the theory-practice gap between pre-clinical and clinical operative experiences.
Evaluating the relative contribution of physiochemical and biological factors in ameliorating a saline–sodic soil amended with composts and biochar and leached with reclaimed water

Abstract The mechanisms that assist in the reclamation of salt-affected soils in arid and semi-arid regions when treated with organic amendments have not been well characterized. In this experiment, the relative importance of biological and physiochemical mechanisms that aid in the reclamation of physical and chemical properties of a saline–sodic soil amended with composts and biochar were evaluated. Unsterilized and pre-sterilized soil and amendment mixtures were used to test the effects of biological and physiochemical factors. Soil and organic amendments were initially subjected to sterilization by autoclaving and gamma irradiation before incubation. Amendments were applied at a rate of 75 t ha − 1 and treated soils were incubated for a month and then leached with reclaimed water. Soil physical and chemical characteristics such as wet aggregate stability, hydraulic conductivity, cumulative Na + , Ca 2 + , and Mg 2 + leached, soil pH, SAR, EC e , and ESP were analyzed. Results indicate that pre-sterilization significantly affected soil physical properties such as aggregate stability and hydraulic conductivity only in compost-treated soils. Unsterilized compost-treated soils had significantly higher soil aggregate stability and saturated hydraulic conductivity than pre-sterilized soils. Soil pH was significantly lower in unsterilized soils that received composts, but other chemical properties were not affected by pre-sterilization. No significant effect of initial sterilization was observed in biochar treated soils in remediating their physical and chemical properties. Irrespective of sterilization, composts and biochar successfully remediated a saline–sodic soil leached with reclaimed water. It appears that the mode of action of biochar is physiochemical while composts provide a comprehensive reclamation when biological and physiochemical factors act together.
A Complex Case of Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in 2020

Though community acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a common source of respiratory failure, recent changes to disease incidence have given increased concern to other pathologies, notably COVID-19 and e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI). When all other diagnoses are exhausted, there is a turn to consideration of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), an idiopathic disease. We describe an unexpected finding in a young, otherwise healthy woman who was initially treated for presumed COP when all other diagnoses were ruled out. Case report: A 49-year-old female with no past medical history presented with dyspnea, cough, and progressive weakness for two weeks. Social history was significant for daily vaping. Vitals revealed a fever of 103.3°F, heart rate of 108 bpm, and respiratory rate of 18 with an oxygen saturation of 89% on room air. Physical exam was notable for decreased breath sounds at the lung bases and poor inspiratory effort. CT angiogram was negative for pulmonary embolism but demonstrated bilateral multifocal consolidates and ground-glass opacities concerning for COVID-19 or pneumocystis pneumonia. Labs showed elevated c-reactive protein, d-dimer, and liver function tests. Testing was negative for HIV and COVID-19, at which point isolation precautions were discontinued. Given that other diagnoses were likely ruled out and alternative explanations for her findings were inconclusive, treatment was initiated and directed towards COP. Diagnostic bronchoscopy was performed and complicated by blood clots in the posterior subsegmental lobes, requiring intubation and ICU transfer, by which time bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) returned positive for COVID-19. With concern for COP due to COVID, treatment was shifted towards management of both disease states with initiation of solumedrol and remdesivir per hospital-specific protocol at the time. Her condition improved with treatment, allowing for extubation and discharge home on low flow supplemental oxygen. Discussion: A patient who presents with nonspecific respiratory complaints without COVID-19 exposure, multiple negative tests, and bloodwork inconsistent with typical infection can pose a significant challenge to healthcare workers. This case was initially treated as COP with differentials including pneumocystis or eosinophilic pneumonia, CAP, and EVALI. After finding COVID-19 in the BAL of a low suspicion case with multiple negative nasal swabs, it is clear that the exclusion of this disease was premature despite guideline-based testing. It also proposes the possibility of developing COP from COVID. This infection must continue to be considered in the setting of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in spite of local disease patterns and negative PCR tests.
Savitri: The Timeless Traveler

Named after the principle of eternal life represented by Savitur (sun) invoked in the most important verses of the Rigveda (the Gayatri), Savitri represents the continuing cycle of life and hope. In the process of her journeys, she travels to the forests as well as the other world (the world of death in this case) successfully returning her husband to life. Festivities and vows celebrating and recollecting her life are common across India. This chapter examines Savitri’s journey in the Mahabharata and Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri.
La Debida Diligencia en las Universidades (Human Rights Due Diligence in the University)

Spanish Abstract: Esta ponencia se divide en un encuentro con tres temas relacionados (en forma de preguntas por los cuales se pueden organizar investigaciones). Los consideramos en esta orden: la primera pregunta, la pregunta fundamental, se trata de si se puede encajar la universidad dentro de las normas y el proyecto regulatorio de los Principios Rectores de las Naciones Unidas. El segundo procede del primer tema, se trata de implementacion. Si se puede encajar las varias operaciones de la universidad dentro del sistema de los Principios Rectores, ?de que manera se puede realizar? ?que se necesita hacer para avanzar el proyecto de integracion de la universidad y los Principios Rectores, es decir, en la totalidad de las actividades variadas de la universidad? Este no es un problema exclusivo de las universidades; hay muchas empresas que se han notado cumplen con sus debes simplemente con una declaracion que circula ampliamente y un folleto bonito ; lo bonito es investigar como se traslada la idea a la accion. El tercero y el mas dificil se concentra en los enfoques institucionales para la implementacion de sistemas de debida diligencia. Es facil tener las ideas, pero es menos facil, pero posible, avanzar en el proyecto de integracion de una manera simple. Es mucho mas dificil implementar estas normas de una manera eficaz. Este sera el mayor desafio para una organizacion universitaria compleja que se involucra en muchas actividades diferentes. English Abstract:These remarks are divided into encounters among three related topics (in the form of questions for which future research can be organized). We will consider them in this order: the first question, the fundamental question, is whether the university can fit into the norms and the regulatory project of the United Nations Guiding Principles. The second comes from the first topic, it is about implementation. If one can fit the various operations of the university within the system of the Guiding Principles, in what way can implementation be realized? What needs to be done to advance the project of integration of the university and the Guiding Principles, that is, in the totality of the varied activities of the university? This is not a problem unique to universities; there are many companies that have been noticed to comply with your obligations simply with a widely circulated statement and a nice brochure; the beautiful thing is to investigate how the idea is transferred to action. The third and the most difficult question focuses on institutional approaches to the implementation of due diligence systems. It is easy to have the ideas, but it is less easy, but possible, to advance in the integration project in a simple way. It is much harder to implement these rules in an effective way. This will be the biggest challenge for a complex university organization that gets involved in many different activities.
ΔGunfold leaderless, a package for high-throughput analysis of translation initiation regions (TIRs) at the transcriptome scale and for leaderless mRNA optimization

BackgroundTranslation initiation is an essential step for fidelity of gene expression, in which the ribosome must bind to the translation initiation region (TIR) and position the initiator tRNA in the P-site (1). For this to occur correctly, the TIR encompassing the ribosome binding site (RBS) needs to be highly accessible (2-5). {Delta}Gunfold is a metric for computing accessibility of the TIR, but there is no automated way to compute it manually with existing software/tools limiting throughput. Results{Delta}Gunfold leaderless allows users to automate the {Delta}Gunfold calculation to perform high-throughput analysis. Importantly,{Delta} Gunfold leaderless allows calculation of TIRs of both leadered mRNAs and leaderless mRNAs which lack a 5 UTR and which are abundant in bacterial, archaeal, and mitochondrial transcriptomes (4, 6, 7). The ability to analyze leaderless mRNAs also allows one additional feature where users can computationally optimize leaderless mRNA TIRs to maximize their gene expression (8, 9). ConclusionsThe {Delta}Gunfold leaderless package facilitates high-throughput calculations of TIR accessibility, is designed to calculate TIR accessibility for leadered and leaderless mRNA TIRs which are abundant in bacterial/archaeal/organellar transcriptomes and allows optimization of leaderless mRNA TIRs for biotechnology.
Z axis follies

This document will detail the nature of performance / object interaction, and the roles of documentation and language in this interaction. In addition, I will explore the body / object as a site of multiplicities, the quality of simultaneity in the appearance and apprehension of such multiplicities, and traverse the triumphs and travails of the body / object’s journey from one state of being to the next. Within this text there are windows Within the window of how text performs there are windows Within the window of windows there are windows Wonder of wonders: a wellspring of windows most mast moist master measure muster miss move massage mauve masseuse muff mousse miffed mouse move muse must This document is performance. Not performance document. You are performing the act of looking and reading, however your experience tells you, and with what equipment your culture provides. We are not in the same place at the same time, but we are performing together.
Properties of Geographic Data: Requirements for Spatial Access Methods

Spatial access methods and the corresponding data structures are necessary to achieve the expected overall performance of Geographic Information System (GIS) and are currently a prominent topic for research in spatial databases. Their performance is influenced by the properties of spatial data. This paper details the specific properties of spatial data in a Geographic Information system. It concentrates on Geographic Information Systems that store data describing objects with a distinct identity and does exclude image and remote sensing databases from consideration — given that the characteristics of the data are very different.
High-Temperature Substrates and Washcoats for Auto Exhaust Emission Control

The performance of a new monolith-type automobile exhaust catalyst is described. The catalyst under development employs a high-melting ceramic substrate (with about 200/sup 0/C margin over cordierite). The washcoat's performance was found to be sufficient to permit a reduction of the catalyst's volume by about 30% while still showing competitive performance versus a full-size commercial catalyst. Engine dynamometer and vehicle emission test data are discussed for illustration. The new ceramic has a higher density than cordierite; the paper discusses the effects of catalyst density on emission performance in the heat-up and cool-down portions of emission cycles. The results show no density penalty in FTP tests with the new ceramic.
Calculation of Hypersonic Flow over Bodies of Revolution at Small Angles of Attack

A method-of-characteristics computer program is used to study the first-order effects of angle of attack on the flow about bodies of revolution moving through air at speeds for which real-gas effects arising from dissociation and ionization need to be considered. First-order perturbations of the surface pressure, density, enthalpy, and crossflow velocity are presented for several body shapes to illustrate differences between perfect-gas and equilibrium real-gas flows. The body shapes considered are pointed cones, a pointed ogive, and a spherically tipped cone. Ambient conditions correspond to those at 100,000-ft alt. Flight velocities range from 5000 to 75,000 fps for the pointed cones; ogive and sphere-cone results are presented for 20,000 fps flight velocity.
High-frequency transformation of Staphylococcus aureus by electroporation

Plasmids carrying resistances for a variety of antibiotics were successfully transformed intoStaphylococcus aureus by electroporation. When frozen cell preparations were used, the procedure could be carried out in as little as 30 min. Frequencies as high as 7.6 × 105 transformants/µg of DNA were obtained with DNA isolated from both large-scale plasmid preparations and from minilysate preparations. A procedure was also developed for preparation and freezing (−70°C) of electrocompetent cells. These preparations have remained electrotransformable for 2 months without loss of activity.
ACE Inhibition and Heart Failure

To the Editor: The 2 articles by Spinale et al1 2 represent an important contribution by demonstrating that combination therapy with both ACE inhibitors (ACEI) and AT1 angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blockers provided greater improvement of left ventricular function and isolated myocyte contractile processes than either therapy used alone. Although further studies are necessary, they provided experimental data that may serve as an impetus to modify the clinical therapy of congestive heart failure. There are a few points that require clarification. The authors stated on page 2400 that “There was no significant difference in steady-state myocardial contractile function between the ACEI-alone group and the combined ACEI and AT1 Ang II blockade group.”2 This statement is contradicted by Table 1 (page 2401), which notes that both time to peak contraction and total contraction duration were significantly shorter in the combination treatment group than in the ACEI-alone group.2 It is also stated on page 2400, “In the AT1 Ang II receptor blockade and rapid pacing group, the absolute change in myocyte velocity of shortening with β-receptor stimulation was unchanged from rapid pacing–only values.”2 However, Figure 2 (page 2402) seems to indicate that the AT1 Ang …
Evaluating the mixing performance of a ribbon blender

This paper investigates the effects of processing and equipment parameters of a ribbon blender (i.e. loading method of lubricant, fill level, blade speed and blade design) on magnesium stearate homogeneity. A core sampling technique is used to obtain at least one hundred samples per sampling event, which are extracted throughout the blender and yield a thorough characterization of the entire bed. The results presented here can be used as a guideline to develop appropriate blending processes and characterization protocols for ribbon blenders.
Simultaneous moving and uncovered-background pixel detection and parameter estimation in video sequences

Two essential aspects of uncovered-background prediction and motion compensation for image sequence coding are the segmentation of an image frame in a sequence of images into regions of uncovered- and covered-background, moving, and stationary pixels and the estimation of motion parameters. We have developed and investigated a method which simultaneously estimates motion and sequence parameters and provides image segmentation from noisy image sequences. The method segments an image frame in an image sequence into regions of moving, stationary, covered-background, and uncovered-background pixels relative to a reference frame. The basis of our method is the expectation-maximization algorithm for maximum-likelihood estimation. We previously presented our method under assumptions which imposed sever restrictions on the image composition and the object motion and did not consider covered-background pixels. These cases, though unrealistic, were illustrative of the mathematical formulation of our method. In this paper we remove the limiting restrictions on the image composition, and we introduce a region for covered-background pixels.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Greenhouse gas impact of dual stream and single stream collection and separation of recyclables

Abstract Over the past decade communities and municipalities have been increasingly switching their recycling systems from dual stream (DS) to single stream (SS). Accordingly, material recovery facilities (MRF) have been constructed and retrofitted in order to accommodate fully commingled input streams. This transition has been driven by a variety of factors, including a general understanding that SS tends to result in increased waste diversion rates for participating communities. This paper examines the greenhouse gas emissions, or “carbon footprint,” of recycling systems before and after the transition from DS to SS. This investigation aims to assess the environmental impact of trends in the recycling industry from a holistic perspective. In our analysis we consider several communities around the U.S. on the bases of tonnage and type of material recycled, fuel and electricity consumed in collection and separation, and avoided virgin materials consumption. By examining data from a small range of communities and MRF, we arrive at three main conclusions. First, a change from DS to SS results in approximately a 50% increase in production of recyclable commodities. Second, the net result of the DS–SS transition is approximately 710 kg CO2-equiv. avoided per metric ton of collection. Third, the emissions associated with collection and MRF operation are small in comparison to avoided emissions from avoided consumption of virgin materials.
Severe inhibition of the diffusion and electroactivity of Cu(bpy)2+2 complexes incorporated in Nafion® coatings on electrodes

The Cu(bpy)2+2 complex (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) is readily incorporated by Nafion® coatings in amounts that can exceed the normal cation exchange capacity of the Nafion®. The voltammetric responses of the incorporated complex are unusual in that, after the usual initial increases, the currents for reduction of Cu(bpy)2+2 to Cu(bpy)2+2 diminish as the quantity of complex incorporated in the Nafion® grows. Quartz crystal microbalance measurements indicate that ca. 25 H2O molecules are expelled from Nafion® coatings for every Cu(bpy)2+2 complex that is incorporated. The inhibition of the voltammetric response is attributed to large decreases in the physical diffusion rates of Cu(bpy)2+2 in the resulting highly loaded, dehydrated Nafion® coatings. The contrasting behavior of Os(bpy)2+3, Ru(bpy)2+3 and Co(bpy)2+3 complexes are noted and possible reasons for the behavioral differences are suggested.
Update in oncology

This Update in Oncology focuses on new treatments for 4 common tumors in patients: prostate cancer, non–small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. The hot topics in 2004 were doc...
Testing for sunspot equilibria in the German hyperinflation

In this paper I investigate whether the 1923 German hyperinflation was driven by market fundamentals or sunspots in the context of a linear rational expectations model. The theory suggests that hyperinflations can be explained as movements along the slippery side of a stochastic Laffer curve. Data from the German episode provide some overall support for the cross-equation restrictions of the model and its Laffer curve characterization. However, market fundamentals, not deterministic bubbles or sunspots, are found responsible for the explosiveness in the data.
Digital free-space optical interconnections: a comparison of transmitter technologies

We investigate the performance of free-space optical interconnection systems at the technology level. Specifically, three optical transmitter technologies, lead-lanthanum-zirconate-titanate and multiple-quantum-well modulators and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, are evaluated. System performance is measured in terms of the achievable areal data throughput and the energy required per transmitted bit. It is shown that lead-lanthanum-zirconate-titanate modulator and vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser technologies are well suited for applications in which a large fan-out per transmitter is required but the total number of transmitters is relatively small. Multiple-quantum-well modulators, however, are good candidates for applications in which many transmitters with a limited fan-out are needed.
Overweight concerns and body dissatisfaction among third-grade children: The impacts of ethnicity and socioeconomic status

Abstract Objective: To examine the prevalence of overweight concerns and body dissatisfaction among third-grade girls and boys and the influences of ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). Study Design: Nine hundred sixty-nine children (mean age, 8.5 years) attending 13 northern California public elementary schools completed assessments of overweight concerns, body dissatisfaction, and desired shape, height, and weight. Results: The sample was 44% white, 21% Latino, 19% non-Filipino Asian American, 8% Filipino, and 5% African American. Twenty-six percent of boys and 35% of girls reported wanting to lose weight, and 17% of boys and 24% of girls reported dieting to lose weight. Among girls, Latinas and African Americans reported significantly more overweight concerns than Asian Americans and Filipinas, and Latinas reported significantly more overweight concerns than whites. White and Latina girls also reported greater body dissatisfaction than Asian American girls. Some differences persisted even after controlling for actual body fatness. Higher SES African American girls reported significantly more overweight concerns than lower SES African American girls, but higher SES white girls reported less overweight concerns than lower SES white girls. Conclusion: Overweight concerns and body dissatisfaction are highly prevalent among third-grade girls and boys, across ethnicity and SES. Young Latina and African American girls manifest equivalent or higher levels of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors as white and Asian American girls. (J Pediatr 2001;138:181-7)
Endovascular Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Port-Access Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Port-Access (Heartport, Inc, Redwood City, CA) mini mally invasive cardiac surgery systems with the EndoCPB (Heartport, Inc) endovascular cardiopulmo nary bypass (CPB) system allow a variety of car...
Finding optimum branchings

Chu and Liu, Edmonds, and Bock have independently devised an efficient algorithm to find an optimum branching in a directed graph. We give an implementation of the algorithm which runs in 0(m logn) time if the problem graph has n vertices and m edges. A modification for dense graphs gives a running time of 0(n2). We also show that the unmodified algorithm runs in 0(n(log n)2 +m) time on an average graph, assuming a uniform probability distribution.
The effect of diphosphonate on calcium phosphate crystallization in urine in vitro.

The effect of diphosphonate on calcium phosphate crystallization in urine in vitro . Disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) was added to human urine in vitro and tested for its effect on nucleation, crystal growth and crystal dissolution of brushite (CaHPO 4 · 2H 2 O), the probable nidus for certain calcium-containing renal stones. The EHDP (0.5 to 8mg of P/liter) increased the formation product of brushite, indicating an inhibition of nucleation of brushite. It inhibited the crystal growth of brushite in every urine specimen tested. Finally, it facilitated the crystal dissolution of brushite in some urine specimens. Thus, EHDP might be clinically useful in the prevention of renal stone formation. Effet du diphosphonate sur la cristallisation du phosphate de calcium dans l'urine in vitro . Du disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) a ete ajoute in vitro a de l'urine humaine et l'on a etudie ses effets sur la nucleation, la croissance cristalline et la dissolution cristalline de la brushite (CaHPO 4 · 2H 2 O), le germe probable de certains calculs urinaires contenant du calcium. L'EHDP (0,5–0,8mg P/litre) augmente le produit de formation de la brushite, ce qui indique une inhibition de sa nucleation. Il inhibe la croissance cristalline de la brushite dans toutes les urines etudiees. Enfin, il facilite la dissolution cristalline de la brushite dans quelques echantillons d'urine. Ainsi, l'EHDP peut peut-etre avoir une utilite clinique dans la prevention des calculs urinaires.
Modeling and validation of a cross flow turbine using free vortex model and a modified dynamic stall model

Abstract This work details the implementation of a modified Beddoes Leishman model into a Free Vortex Method (FVM) to predict the performance of Darrieus turbines. The model uses Sheng's consideration of the reduced pitch rate influence on the dynamic loads over the foil and revised Kirchhoff flow equations to calculate lift and drag at extended ranges of angles of attack. A simple consideration of the Reynolds number cyclic variation on the blades characteristic of the Darrieus turbines is also implemented. Comparison with published and experimental data at a range of chord to radius ratio shows good agreement.
One-Electron Oxidation of Metalloporphycenes As Studied by Radiolytic Methods

One-electron and two-electron oxidations of 2,7,12,17-tetrapropylporphycene (H2TPrPc) and its Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Sn complexes in CH2Cl2, CCl4, and 2-PrOH solutions have been studied by radiolytic techniques. Formation and decay of intermediates formed upon one-electron oxidation have been followed by kinetic spectrophotometric pulse radiolysis, and the absorption spectra of stable oxidation products have been recorded following γ-radiolysis. H2TPrPc is oxidized to the π-radical cation and then to the dication, which is stable in aprotic solvents but is transformed to a different product in 2-PrOH. Similar oxidation to the π-radical cation and then to the dication was observed for the CuII, SnIV, CoIII, and FeIII porphycenes. CoII and NiII porphycenes underwent radiolytic oxidation to form stable CoIII and NiIII products. The stability of the latter is in contrast with previous electrochemical observations, and the difference is ascribed to the effect of the axial ligand.
Impact of specific medical interventions on reducing the prevalence of mental retardation.

Objective To explore the impact of medical interventions on reducing the prevalence of mental retardation (MR) in the United States over the last 50 years. Design We reviewed the medical literature and other data from 1950 to 2000 to construct estimates of the general and condition-specific prevalence of MR in the United States over time. We further explored the existing literature to document historically important influences on condition-specific prevalence, including the year that an effective intervention was introduced, the likelihood of success of the intervention, and the availability of such interventions nationwide. Specific conditions included congenital syphilis, Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn, measles,Haemophilus influenzaetype B meningitis, congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, and congenital rubella syndrome. Setting Twentieth-century North America. Participants Children with MR or 1 of the 7 specific conditions listed earlier. Main Outcome Measures Case-specific and general prevalence of MR from 1950 to 2000. Results The prevalence of MR caused by a number of specific medical conditions has decreased sharply over the last 50 years. However, the incidence of each of these conditions is relatively low, and cases of MR due to these conditions represent, at most, 16.5% of the total number of cases of MR in 1950. Conclusion Although specific medical interventions have prevented thousands of cases of MR, their contribution to the overall prevalence of MR is relatively small.
Glycine elicits release of acetylcholine from the nucleus tractus solitarii in rat.

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that cardiovascular responses elicited by injection of glycine into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) depend upon interactions between glycinergic and cholinergic neuronal elements in NTS. Release of acetylcholine in response to glycine is one such interaction that has been shown in slices of hippocampus and striatum. In this study we sought to test the hypothesis that glycine causes release of acetylcholine from neurotransmitter stores in NTS. We compared release from NTS with that from adjacent hypoglossal nucleus and from caudate nucleus. Release of radiolabeled acetylcholine was determinedin vitro after incubating NTS with [3H]choline. Exposure of NTS and caudate nucleus, but not hypoglossal nucleus, to glycine caused release of acetylcholine in a calcium-dependent manner that varied with concentration of glycine in the incubation medium. The maximally effective concentration (1 mM) of glycine elicited 136% increases over basal levels. Glycine did not elicit release of [3H]acetylcholine from tissue when calcium ion had been removed from the bath. Acetylcholine also was not released if tissue was incubated with either strychnine (10 μM) or hemicholinium-3 (1 mM) prior to exposure to glycine (1 mM). Thus, glycine, acting at strychnine-sensitive receptors in NTS, elicits release of acetylcholine from a portion of locally synthetized neurotransmitter stores.
Exploring a Model of HIV Prevention Using a Cognitive-Behavioral Skills-Building Framework with Black Immigrants

Abstract This paper addresses the burgeoning Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) crisis in the black community in the United States, particularly black women. A cognitive-behavioral skills-building HIV prevention intervention tailored to the realities of blacks in South Africa is presented as a model that may be modified and adapted for HIV prevention among blacks in the United States. This model of HIV prevention must view blacks as a heterogeneous group that includes African immigrants, and cognitive-behavioral skills-building HIV prevention interventions tailored to the realities of black women are needed for the prevention of heterosexually transmitted HIV infection. The implementation of HIV interventions within accessible sexually transmitted diseases (STD) testing and treatment programs will provide the combined clinical-behavioral approach that is missing in HIV prevention interventions among blacks in the United States.
Infant attachment security and maternal predictors of early behavior problems: a longitudinal study of low-income families

In a longitudinal study of 100 low-income, mother-infant dyads, assessments of infant attachment security and maternal responsivity, involvement, depressive symptomatology, and perceived infant difficulty were used to predict later behavior problems at age 3. Attachment insecurity was related to behavior problems at age 3 when all insecure classifications were combined into one group and when insecurity was maintained at 12 and 18 months. For boys only, maternal depressive symptoms and low maternal involvement were associated with age 3 behavior problems. For girls, perceived difficult temperament at ages 1 and 2 were associated with later problem behavior.
Causes of vertical stratification in the density of Cameraria hamadryadella

1. The density of Cameraria hamadryadella, a leaf-mining moth, is vertically stratified within the crown of oak trees. It occurs at higher densities on foliage in the lower crown. 2. Oviposition preference tests indicate that females display no preference to oviposit on foliage from the lower tree crown over foliage from the upper tree crown. 3. Experiments in which potted trees were placed at various heights indicate that foliage nearest ground level receives more oviposition, and that the higher rates of oviposition on foliage near the ground is not caused by differences in quality between foliage from low or high in the tree crown. 4. Host-plant- and natural-enemy-mediated juvenile mortality and the abundance of parasitoids did not differ between the upper and lower crown. 5. Vertical differences in the timing of leaf production within the tree crown are unlikely to account for the observed gradient in the abundance of C. hamadryadella. Furthermore, the mean date of leaf fall does not differ among heights within the tree crown. 6. It is argued that microclimatic gradients and interspecific competition are also unlikely to account for the observed gradients in the density of C. hamadryadella within the tree crown. 7. Because of the absence of effects of other potentially causal factors, the most likely explanation for the gradient in density of C. hamadryadella is a lack of movement by females into the upper tree crown from overwintering, emergence, or resting sites located in the lower tree crown, combined with egg depletion by females as they move from the lower to the upper tree crown. 8. It is suggested that the lack of movement and egg depletion hypothesis should serve as the null hypothesis in studies of vertical stratification of tree-feeding insects. In the absence of evidence of an effect of foliage quality, natural enemies, plant phenology, interspecific competition, or microclimate, the movement and egg depletion hypothesis is the most reasonable.
The Engineering Workstation. A User's Perspective

Pilot tests seem to be proving that a large corporate design group has solved its engineering workstation needs by custom-tailoring a sophisticated micro.
Faith based health policy: the urge to privatise

Who owns health systems matters less than that the various enterprises operate on a level playing field
Some elegant approximations and asymptotic formulass of Ramanujan

Abstract Three results from the unorganized pages of Ramanujan's second notebook are proved. The results provide asymptotic expansions and approximations for certain integrals and sums. They evince Ramanujan's extraordinary ability to discern beautiful and unexpected relationships.
Effect of polyphloretin phosphate and 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid on the vasoactive actions of prostaglandin E2 and 5-hydroxytryptamine on isolated human umbilical arteries.

Abstract Two prostaglandin antagonists, polyphloretin phosphate (PPP) and 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid (EC-I-148) were examined for their ability and selectivity to block the vasoactive actions of prostaglandin E 2 and 5-hydroxytryptamine on isolated human umbilical arteries. Polyphloretin phosphate was found to be a weak antagonist of prostaglandin E 2 and exhibited a low degree of selectivity since responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine were also blocked. EC-I-148 (3.25 × 10 −5 M ) demonstrated a strong and selective antagonism to the contractions produced by prostaglandin E 2 because contractions to 5-hydroxytryptamine were not altered. EC-I-148 contracted umbilical artery strips in concentrations which antagonized responses to PGE 2 .
Stability and emissions characteristics of a lean premixed gas turbine combustor

The effect of incomplete fuel-air mixing on NO x emission and combustion stability has been studied in an atmospheric pressure, optically accessible, laboratory-scale, premixed dump combustor. The degree of fuel-dimensional acetone fluorescence. Combustion stability was characterized both in terms of the level of combustion-generated noise during combustion oscillations and the lean blowouts limit. The structure of the flame zone was characterized using two-dimensional OH fluorescence measurements that were phase locked with the combustion-generated pressure oscillations. As has been observed previously, it was shown that incompletes fuel-air mixing results in increased NO x emissions at overall fuel-lean conditions. The results, however, indicate that “reaction zone” NO mechanisms, enhanced by superequilibrinm O-atom concentrations, are in part responsible for more than 50% of the increased NO production. It was also shown that incomplete fuel-air mixing in a premixed combustor can significantly reduce the stable operating range of the combustor both in terms of increasing the tendency for combustion oscillation and raising the lean blowont limit. Lastly, it was observed that during unstable combustion, the flame moves in a well-defined periodic manner: however, the details of the flame behavior and instability mechanism can vary significantly depending on the overall equivalence ratio and the degree of fuel-air mixing.
A Typical Participation of Visual Cortex during Word Processing in Autism: An fMRI Study of Semantic Decision.

Language delay and impairment are salient features of autism. More specifically, there is evidence of atypical semantic organization in autism, but the functional brain correlates are not well understood. The current study used functional MRI to examine activation associated with semantic category decision. Ten high-functioning men with autism spectrum disorder and 10 healthy control subjects matched for gender, handedness, age, and nonverbal IQ were studied. Participants indicated via button press response whether visually presented words belonged to a target category (tools, colors, feelings). The control condition required target letter detection in unpronounceable letter strings. Significant activation for semantic decision in the left inferior frontal gyrus (Brodmann areas 44 and 45) was found in the control group. Corresponding activation in the autism group was more limited, with smaller clusters in left inferior frontal areas 45 and 47. Autistic participants, however, showed significantly greater activation compared to controls in extrastriate visual cortex bilaterally (areas 18 and 19), which correlated with greater number of errors on the semantic task. Our findings suggest an important role of perceptual components (possibly visual imagery) during semantic decision, consistent with previous evidence of atypical lexicosemantic performance in autism. In the context of similar findings from younger typically developing children, our results suggest an immature pattern associated with inefficient processing, presumably due to atypical experiential embedding of word acquisition in autism.
Of the shared responsibility for civil commitment.

Procedures and standards for civil commitment of the mentally ill have undergone significant changes in recent years. A part of the reason for this phenomenon has been legal activism, and its challenges to psychiatry. This article examines the vicissitudes of the relationships between mental health professionals and attorneys, with particular reference to the impact on involuntary hospitalization. It is the author's position that active collaboration between disciplines with varying perspectives is both necessary and desirable, but that lawyers should develop a method of sharing accountability for the outcome of their interventions.
Early Experience and Depressive Disorders: Human and Non-Human Primate Studies

This paper reviews evidence from both human and non-human primate studies concerning the role of early adverse experiences in the onset and course of adult depressive disorders. Despite accumulating evidence that stressful life events can play a major role in precipitating the onset of depressive episodes in humans, the mechanisms by which early experiences mediate and moderate the risk for later affective illnesses are not fully understood. Experimental paradigms in primates have documented the important role of undeveloped (social deprivation) or disrupted attachment systems (social separation). Effects of early social deprivation can be seen in many domains. Behavioral effects include repetitive idiosyncratic behaviors, increased self-directed behaviors, inappropriate expression of aggressive behaviors, non-modulated patterns of consumption, and inappropriate sexual and maternal behaviors. Cognitively, such animals require longer habituation time for any task and demonstrate increased perseverance on tasks following non-reward. Physiological effects include an altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to stress, changes in diurnal temperature regulation, and alterations in immune function. Neurochemical effects include abnormalities in noradrenergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic systems. Even neuroanatomical changes following early social deprivation have been reported. Studies with primates have also confirmed that early maternal and peer separations are major behavioral and neurobiological events with both short- and long-term consequences that parallel human depression. Future utilization of experimental paradigms in non-human primates may assist in better understanding the role of early experiences in predisposing to the development of affective illnesses in humans. This review concludes by presenting a model for understanding a developmentally based vulnerability to adult depressions.
Sensitivity analysis in logic-based models

Abstract An important feature of the causal models used in most DSS is that they allow their users to perform sensitivity analyses. Most of these analyses are performed on continuous variables, which are the principal types of variables found in causal models. However, some of the models derived from artificial intelligence that are increasingly being used in DSS contain logic (or Boolean) variables. In this paper we exploit the notion of a ‘Boolean derivative’ developed for circuit design and apply it to the calculation of sensitivity measures in logic-based models.
Sequential appearance of inflammatory mediators in rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after oleic acid-induced lung injury.

The oleic acid (OA) model of rat lung injury was originally developed as a model of fat embolism syndrome. A single intravenous dose of pure OA causes an acute diffuse lung injury, which, in its initial stages, histologically and physiologically resembles human ARDS. Rat lungs acutely injured by intravenous OA manifest increased levels of ICAM-1 within 30-60 min. This study shows that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) can be used in a bioassay to reveal some of the adhesion molecule stimulating activities present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from post-OA-injected rats: (1) There is an as yet unidentified ICAM-1 and ELAM (E Selectin) inducing activity in BALF within 15 min of OA injection that is not TNFα; there is very little measurable tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) in 15 min BALF (BALF15). (2) BALF15 also stimulates cultured macrophage derived from BALF of normal rat lungs to produce TNFα. (3) By 60 min after OA injection, 50-75% of the ICAM-1 and ELAM inducing activity in BAL...
Hardy–Littlewood–Sobolev and Stein–Weiss inequalities and integral systems on the Heisenberg group

Abstract In this paper, we study two types of weighted Hardy–Littlewood–Sobolev (HLS) inequalities, also known as Stein–Weiss inequalities, on the Heisenberg group. More precisely, we prove the | u | weighted HLS inequality in Theorem 1.1 and the | z | weighted HLS inequality in Theorem 1.5 (where we have denoted u = ( z , t ) as points on the Heisenberg group). Then we provide regularity estimates of positive solutions to integral systems which are Euler–Lagrange equations of the possible extremals to the Stein–Weiss inequalities. Asymptotic behavior is also established for integral systems associated to the | u | weighted HLS inequalities around the origin. By these a priori estimates, we describe asymptotically the possible optimizers for sharp versions of these inequalities.
Low and marginal copper intake by postweanling rats: effects on copper status and resistance to carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity.

Abstract Copper feeding studies in rats are generally initiated at weaning. This study examined whether a 6-week feeding of low or marginal Cu levels (0.2 or 2.5 ppm) to rats initially weighing 135 g produced deleterious effects. Controls were fed 8 ppm Cu. Liver Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activities paralleled Cu intake. Plasma ceruloplasmin activities were very low for both low and marginal Cu consumption. Low but not marginal Cu intake caused a low body weight, high plasma cholesterol level, anemia, cardiac hypertrophy, and a high degree of hepatic plasma membrane injury 24 hours after CCI 4 injection (150 μL/kg intraperitoneally [IP]). In summary, low and marginal Cu intakes produced low Cu enzyme activities, while low Cu intake produced pathological symptoms and poor resistance to an oxidative stress.