cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening in the United States

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ruptures account for a high mortality rate in the United States. The Screen for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act in 2007 was implemented to prevent AAA ruptures and to benefit older US males using the Medicare system to initiate nationwide population-based AAA screening using United States Preventative Services Task Force screening criteria. After the first year of implementation, less than 1 % of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries were screened. A grassroots effort in 2009 sought to improve and modify the SAAAVE Act to include more Medicare enrollees through legislation. The largest integrated health systems, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and Kaiser Permanente, use an electronic medical record to implement their own population-based AAA screening programs. Despite an underutilization of AAA screening across the US, efforts are underway into improving AAA screening programs and the management of small AAAs with clinical trials and prospective studies.
Community-Based Upper Extremity Power Training for Youth with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study

Aim: To examine the effects of an upper-extremity, community-based, and power-training intervention.Methods: Twelve participants with cerebral palsy (CP) [8 males, 4 females; mean age 14 years 6 mo...
The Development of Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Pedagogical Identities in the Social Context of Classroom Interactions

Research demonstrates a disjuncture between the practices encouraged by teacher education programs and what teachers actually do in the classroom. It also informs us that the cognitive and social characteristics of individual teachers such as their attitudes, beliefs and knowledge contribute to their classroom practices. This qualitative study investigates how the teacher identity of mathematics teachers - the person's sense of who he/she is as a mathematics teacher - is related to the disjuncture between encouraged and actual classroom practices. Specifically, the study looks into how mathematics teachers form their teaching practices in the social context of their classroom interactions, and tries to understand the nature of the discomfort that teachers sometimes experience in the process of shaping their classroom role and teaching practices. The study takes a dialogical approach to identity, seeing the self as something that an individual develops through interactions between his or her core "substantial self" and context-dependent "situational selves." The qualitative data were collected from four in-service high school teachers in the United States. The study sheds light on the variability of the process of shaping teaching practices; it discusses factors in this variability, and explores how teachers develop and settle into their practices through negotiation between the substantial self and situational selves in the classroom context.
Long-term thermal stability of fluorescent dye used for chiral amino acid analysis on future spaceflight missions.

Future spaceflight missions focused on life detection will carry with them new, state-of-the-art instrumentation capable of highly selective and sensitive organic analysis. CE-LIF is an ideal candidate for such a mission due to its high separation efficiency and low LODs. One perceived risk of utilizing this technique on a future mission is the stability of the chemical reagents in the spaceflight environment. Here, we present an investigation of the thermal stability of the fluorescent dye (5-carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester) used for amino acid analysis. The dye was stored at 4, 25, and 60°C for 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. When stored at 4°C for 2 years, 25°C for 6 months, or 60°C for 1 month there was no effect on CE-LIF assay performance due to dye degradation. Beyond these time points, while the dye degradation begins to interfere with the analysis, it is still possible to perform the analysis and achieve the majority of amino acid biosignature science goals described in the science definition team report for the potential Europa Lander mission. This work indicates that thermal control of the dye at ≤4°C will be needed during transit on future spaceflight missions to maintain dye stability.
Did the DR-CAFTA Trade Agreement Affect the Exports of the Dominican Republic to the United States?

This paper evaluates the impact the DR-CAFTA had on the exports of the Dominican Republic to the United States. We estimate a gravity model for the DR exports to the 109 trade partners of the country during 1990-2014 and measure the marginal effects of the 2007 DR-CAFTA ratification. Our findings indicate that exports of the DR to the US fell after ratification, even after controlling for the detrimental effects of the global financial crisis. This suggests the agreement did not stop the increasing competition with Central American countries and other export oriented economies, like China, in the US market.
Ultrasound Echogenicity is Associated with Achilles Tendon Fatigue Damage in a Cadaveric Loading Model

Achilles tendon disorders are among the most difficult sports-related injuries to predict with current diagnostic tools. The purpose of this study was to identify a clinically useful marker for early tendon damage. We hypothesized that alterations in mean echogenicity are linked with changes in vitro tendon mechanics. To test our hypothesis, we harvested Achilles tendons from 10 fresh-frozen cadaveric feet and cyclically fatigued them using a universal test frame while we continuously acquired ultrasound images. Throughout this fatigue protocol, we applied 2 stress tests every 500 loading cycles to quantify changes in ultrasound imaging echogenicity. We continued this fatigue protocol until each tendon either failed completely or survived 150,000 cycles. Tendons that failed during the fatigue loading (6/10) underwent greater changes in mean echogenicity compared to tendons that did not fail (P = 0.031). These tendons that failed during fatigue loading demonstrated greater changes in mean echogenicity that surpassed 1.0%; whereas survivor tendons exhibited less than 0.5% changes in mean echogenicity. We found that changes in mean echogenicity measured with ultrasound increased proportionally with increased tendon damage. The magnitude of these changes was relatively small (<1.5% change in mean echogenicity) but may be an effective predictor of tendon failure. Mean echogenicity is a promising marker for quantifying fatigue damage in cadaveric Achilles tendons during a stress test. Although these changes cannot be detected with the naked eye, computer-based predictive models may effectively assess risk of tendon damage in physically active adults. Level of evidenceControlled laboratory experiment
Aquatic antagonists: stingray injury update

Stingrays cause more sting-related injuries than any other fish. Their venom and mechanism of injury lead to painful, poor-healing wounds that often become infected. Stingray injuries are further complicated by retained barbs and foreign bodies, which also may lead to considerable morbidity. Most stingray injuries can be treated with hot water immersion, wound debridement, and prophylactic antibiotics, while some may require more extensive treatment and surgical intervention at a tertiary care center. Educating patients about avoidance strategies, such as wading through water with a shuffling gait and wearing protective leg guards, may help decrease stingray injuries.
Clinical study of ACTH treatment in 55 children with infantile spasms

Objective To summarize efficacy, adverse effects, the EEG changes of children with infantile spasms before and after ACTH treatment. Methods Clinical datas of children with infantile spasms who accepted ACTH treatment from January 2006 to January 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Results (1) Spastic attack significantly declined by 54.7% ,improved by 15.1% ,30.2% were invalid,and the efficacy rate was related with onset age, disease course and etiology. (2) Adverse effects were change of sleep cycle (85.5%), skin becoming darker in color (81.8%), arrhythmia (65.5%), hypertension (38.2%), hypokalemia(21.8%), and infection (20.0%). (3) The majority of main EEG background before treatment was hypasarrhythmia,after two weeks of ACTH treatment,the EEG background of hypasarrhythmia disappeared in 41 cases(74.5% ) ,improved in 14 cases(25.5% ). Conclusion The efficacy of ACTH treatment for children with infantile spasms is centain, especially can significantly improve the background of hypasarrhythmia of EEG,during the period of drug use adverse effects maybe appear,which should be closely observed. Key words: Infantile spasms; ACTH; Hypasarrhythmia; Adverse effects
Postoperative delirium is associated with decreased recovery of ambulation one-month after surgery.

Abstract Background We hypothesized that postoperative delirium is associated with diminished recovery toward baseline preoperative ambulation levels one-month postoperatively. Methods Patients included were ≥60 years old undergoing inpatient operations. Ambulation was measured as steps/day using an accelerometer worn for ≥3-days preoperatively and ≥28-days postoperatively. Primary outcome was the percent recovery of preoperative steps. Results 109 patients were included; 17 (16%) developed postoperative delirium. Recovery of ambulation toward preoperative baseline at postoperative day-28 was decreased in delirium group (34% vs. 69%; p Conclusion Patients undergoing inpatient operations who develop delirium recover only one-third of their baseline steps one-month postoperatively. Postoperative delirium results in a decreased recovery towards baseline ambulation for at least 4-weeks following major operations in comparison to non-delirious patients. The decrease in ambulation in the delirium versus no-delirium groups occurred after the occurrence of postoperative delirium.
Eating disorder pathology and compulsive exercise during the COVID-19 public health emergency: Examining risk associated with COVID-19 anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty.

Objective COVID-19 has led to disruptions in daily living and increased uncertainty about physical, financial, social, and psychological consequences, which may contribute to anxiety, eating disorder (ED) pathology, and compulsive exercise. Individual factors, such as intolerance of uncertainty, may impact risk for ED pathology and CE in response to COVID-19 anxiety. The current study examined associations between COVID-19 anxiety, trait intolerance of uncertainty, and COVID-19 intolerance of uncertainty and ED pathology and compulsive exercise. Method Undergraduate participants (N = 295) completed a series of online questionnaires between March and April of 2020. Results COVID-19 anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty were associated with ED pathology, but not compulsive exercise. Additionally, both trait and COVID-19 intolerance of uncertainty moderated associations between COVID-19 anxiety and compulsive exercise and ED pathology. COVID-19 anxiety was more strongly related to compulsive exercise and ED pathology for individuals with lower intolerance of uncertainty. Discussion COVID-19 anxiety may increase risk for ED pathology and may be specifically important in determining risk for ED pathology and compulsive exercise among individuals with lower intolerance of uncertainty. These results contribute to a growing body of research aimed at understanding the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 and suggest that individual factors (e.g., anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty) are important in determining risk for ED pathology and compulsive exercise in the context of the pandemic.
The unsolved issue with out-of-plane bending frequencies for CC multiply bonded systems.

Abstract More than 30 years ago two groups independently identified a problem in the calculation of the out-of-plane bending (OPB) vibrational frequencies for the ethylene molecule using correlated electronic structure methods. Several studies have been done in the meantime to try and understand and resolve this issue. In so doing this problem has been found to be far more insidious than previously realized for acetylene-like and benzene-like molecules, which can become non-linear and non-planar, respectively. The one common feature that all molecules with this problem have is that they contain C C multiple bonds, and so this has been called the “C C multiple bond OPB frequency issue” or “the C C OPB problem.” Various explanations for this problem have been advanced such as basis set superposition error, basis set incompleteness error, linear dependences in the basis set, proper balancing of the basis set between saturation and inclusion of higher angular momentum functions, etc. and possible solutions have arisen from these suggestions. All of these proposed solutions, however, amount to one main point connecting them all: modifying the one-particle basis set in some way. None of the explanations that have been advanced, however, really fit all of the data for all of the molecules where this problem has been identified, and importantly, none of these diagnostic tests have been applied to similar molecules where this issue does not appear. In this review, the studies over the last 30 plus years are discussed and relevant data from each of these is compared and contrasted. It is hoped that by collecting and analyzing the data from these studies a path forward to understanding and resolving this issue will become evident.
Dielectrophoretic ultra-high-frequency characterization and in silico sorting on uptake of rare earth elements by Cupriavidus necator.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are widely used across different industries due to their exceptional magnetic and electrical properties. In this work Cupriavidus necator (C. necator) is characterized using dielectrophoretic ultra-high frequency measurements, typically in MHz range to quantify the properties of cytoplasm in C. necator for its metal uptake / bioaccumulation capacity. C. necator, a gram-negative bacteria strain is exposed to REEs like europium, samarium, and neodymium in this study. Dielectrophoretic crossover frequency experiments were performed on the native C. necator species pre- and post-exposure to the REEs at MHz frequency range. The net conductivity of native C. necator, C-europium, C-samarium, and C-neodymium are 15.95 ± 0.029 μS/cm, 16.15 ± 0.028 μS/cm, 16.05 ± 0.029 μS/cm, 15.61 ± 0.005 μS/cm respectively. The estimated properties of the membrane published by our group are used to develop a microfluidic sorter by modeling and simulation to separate REE absorbed C. necator from the unabsorbed native C. necator species using COMSOL Multiphysics commercial software package v5.5. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Further new species of the plant bug genus Campylomma Reuter from the Oriental Region (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Nasocorini)

Abstract The fauna of the nasocorine plant bug genus Campylomma Reuter from the Oriental Region, including subtropical Japanese Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa Island of Southwest Islands-group) and Taiwan is updated. Three new species are herein described, C. astica n. sp. (from Okinawa and Taoyuan, Taiwan), C. hibiscicola n. sp. (Bangkok, Thailand) and C. nanrenana n. sp. (Pingtung, Taiwan). Of these, C. astica and C. hibiscicola, were observed to have cryptic habitat-preference, inhabiting bracts, stipules or flower buds of the sea (or coastal) hibiscus, Hibiscus tiliaceus (L.) (Malvaceae), planted for landscaping at urbanized zones. An updated checklist of the 22 Oriental Campylomma species is provided.
Statistical Analysis of C–H Activation by Oxo Complexes Supports Diverse Thermodynamic Control Over Reactivity

Transition metal oxo species are key intermediates for the activation of strong C–H bonds. As such, there has been interest in understanding which structural or electronic parameters of metal oxo complexes determine their reactivity. Factors such as ground state thermodynamics, spin state, steric environment, oxygen radical character, and asynchronicity have all been cited as key contributors, yet there is no consensus on when each of these parameters is significant or the relative magnitude of their effects. Herein, we present a thorough statistical analysis of parameters that have been proposed to influence transition metal oxo mediated C–H activation. We used density functional theory (DFT) to compute parameters for transition metal oxo complexes and analyzed their ability to explain and predict an extensive data set of experimentally determined reaction barriers. We found that, in general, only thermodynamic parameters play a statistically significant role. Notably, however, there are independent and significant contributions from the oxidation potential and basicity of the oxo complexes which suggest a more complicated thermodynamic picture than what has been shown previously.
Elementary Mathematical Models: Order Aplenty and a Glimpse of Chaos

1. Overview 2. Sequences and difference equations 3. Arithmetic growth 4. Linear graphs, functions and equations 5. Quadratic growth models 6. Quadratic graphs, functions and equations 7. Polynomial and rational functions 8. Fitting a line to data 9. Geometric growth 10. Exponential functions 11. More on logarithms 12. Geometric sums and mixed models 13. Logistic growth 14. Chaos in logistic models.
The Replication of Bacteriophage MS2: IX. Structure and Replication of the Replicative Intermediate

Experiments are described to determine whether the ribonuclease-sensitive component of the replicative intermediate formed during RNA bacteriophage infection is the nascent strand (conservative replication), or is a displaced portion of the viral strand of the RNA duplex (semi-conservative replication). Appropriate labeling experiments indicate that this component arises in each replicative intermediate molecule, with equal probability, from either origin. Those replicative intermediate molecules in which the nascent strand is ribonuclease-sensitive are more readily denatured than those in which the viral strand is partially displaced. The two types of replicative intermediate can be distinguished on this basis. It is proposed that each replicative intermediate molecule replicates both conservatively and semi-conservatively, equally often.
The genesis of the trusts Rationalization in empty core markets

Motivated by a desire to understand the origin of the great consolidation movement at the turn of the last century, this paper examines the unique history of the American trusts and proposes a new interpretation of the motives and consequences of these consolidations. It is hypothesized that the same demand and supply conditions that made multiplant organization more efficient in these industries also made it impossible to obtain in a competitive environment. The theory of the core as applied to small numbers situations is used to show why competition had to be restricted before efficient industry configurations could be achieved and supportive historical data are presented.
Structure/function studies of human beta-cell glucokinase. Enzymatic properties of a sequence polymorphism, mutations associated with diabetes, and other site-directed mutants.

Abstract Glucokinase plays a key role in the regulation of glucose metabolism in insulin-secreting pancreatic beta-cells and in the liver. Recent studies have shown that mutations in this enzyme can lead to the development of a form of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus that is characterized by an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance and onset during childhood. Here, we report the catalytic properties of five additional missense mutations associated with diabetes (Glu70-->Lys, Ser131-->Pro, Ala188-->Thr, Trp257-->Arg and Lys414-->Glu), one polymorphism present in both normal and diabetic subjects (Asp4-->Asn), and three site-directed mutations (Glu177-->Lys, Glu256-->Ala, and Lys414-->Ala). The Trp257-->Arg mutation generated an enzyme that had an activity that was less than 0.5% of that for native human beta-cell glucokinase. By contrast, the Glu70-->Lys, Ser131-->Pro, Ala188-->Thr, and Lys414-->Glu mutations had a Vmax that was 20-100% of normal but a Km for glucose that was 8-14-fold greater than the native enzyme. There was no effect of the Asp4-->Asn polymorphism or the Glu177-->Lys substitution on glucokinase activity. The Lys414-->Ala substitution had no effect on Vmax but increased the Km for glucose 2-fold and the Glu256-->Ala substitution caused a approximately 200-fold decrease in Vmax. These studies have led to the identification of additional residues involved in glucokinase catalysis and substrate binding.
Nonlinear optics at the two-photon level

Nonlinear optical effects are normally limited to high-intensity fields containing a large number of photons because the electric field associated with a single photon is usually very weak. Nonlinear phase shifts at the two-photon level previously have been observed using high-Q cavities and atomic beams. The authors recently predicted that nonlocal effects involving pairs of atoms in a medium could enhance the nonlinear interaction between two photons to the point that nonlinear phase shifts could be obtained in an ordinary medium without the use of resonant cavities.
Relative Price Level of 99-Ending Prices: Image Versus Reality

Consumer research has indicated that the use of the 99 ending in a retail price creates the impression of a price that is relatively low. A comparative price survey of a wide assortment of general merchandise products indicates that this impression does not match marketplace reality. On the contrary, the price survey showed that retail prices with 99 endings were less likely than prices with other endings to be among the lower prices for an item. The finding of this discrepancy has implications for consumers, public policy-makers, and our understanding of how consumers make inferences from price information.
Workplace spirituality and employee work attitudes: An exploratory empirical assessment

One important question in the field of workplace spirituality concerns the relationship of this construct with employee work attitudes. This study attempts to make a rigorous empirical examination of the relationship between workplace spirituality and five prevalent employee job attitudinal variables. It assesses the validity and reliability of the measures used and discusses the results of the analysis, which indicate that each of the three dimensions of spirituality used has a significant relationship with two or more of the five job attitude variables examined. While acknowledging that spirituality at work is an abstract concept, this study attempts to provide some of the first empirical support that there is a positive association between spirituality at work and employee job outcomes. The paper concludes with a number of implications and research directions for both academics and business managers, including the need to investigate the comprehensive impact of spirituality at work on individuals and organizations.
Production of tumor necrosis factor alpha in human leukocytes stimulated by Cryptococcus neoformans

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a key mediator of inflammation and may promote human immunodeficiency virus replication in latently infected cells. Since cryptococcosis often is associated with aberrations in the host inflammatory response and occurs preferentially in persons with AIDS, we defined the conditions under which human leukocytes produce TNF-alpha when stimulated by Cryptococcus neoformans. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) produced comparable amounts of TNF-alpha following stimulation with C. neoformans and lipopolysaccharide. Detectable TNF-alpha release in response to C. neoformans occurred only when fungi with small-sized capsules were used and complement-sufficient serum was added. Fractionation of PBMC established that monocytes were the predominant source of TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha gene expression and release occurred significantly later in PBMC stimulated with C. neoformans than in PBMC stimulated with LPS. C. neoformans was also a potent inducer of TNF-alpha from freshly isolated bronchoalveolar macrophages (BAM). Upon in vitro culture, BAM and monocytes bound greater numbers of fungal cells, yet their capacity to produce TNF-alpha following cryptococcal stimulation declined by 74 to 100%. However, this decline was reversed if the BAM and monocytes were cultured with gamma interferon. These data establish that C. neoformans can potently stimulate TNF-alpha release from human leukocytes. However, several variables profoundly affected the amount of TNF-alpha released, including the type of leukocyte and its state of activation, the size of the cryptococcal capsule, and the availability of opsonins.
Effective haemostasis during cardiac surgery.

Excessive bleeding following cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP) remains one of the major potential problems in cardiac surgery. In addition to inadequate surgical haemostasis, pre-existing disease, heparin-protamine interaction, platelet quantity/quality deficiency, fibrinolysis, and malignant hypertension are the other major potential causes of excessive bleeding. In this issue Hardy and Desroches review the usefulness of natural and synthetic antifibrinolytics in cardiac surgery) While pharmacological intervention with these agents has been shown to decrease blood loss and, in some cases, homologous blood requirements, other methods or pharmacological agents are available. The best way to detect a haemorrhagic diathesis is a properly taken history. The haemostatic response to any previous surgery and current medications (e.g., aspirin, which inhibits platelet function at low doses) may suggest a need for additional tests. Furthermore, in major cases where bleeding is a potential problem a routine haemostatic screening profile is helpful in ruling out a pre-existing lesion when excessive bleeding ensues intraoperatively. With a negative history and a normal profile the absence of a pre-existing haemorrhagic diathesis is a legitimate assumption. Except for the use of ancrod to defibrinate the patient over a 24-hr period before surgery, a technique not likely to gain widespread acceptance due to the long preparation time preoperatively and the absolute need to administer an homologous source of fibrinogen postcardiopulmonary bypass, all patients who require use of the heart-lung machine must receive heparin prior to bypass and will require an antidote, usually protamine, post-bypass to neutralize the heparin. Residual heparin and excessive protamine have both been implicated as causes of excessive bleeding. Bull et al. demonstrated a threefold variation in sensitivity and a fourfold variation in duration for a given dose of heparin in a large patient population, indicating that there
Colorectal cancer in review: the role of the EGFR pathway

Importance of the field: The overexpression of EGFR has been documented in 30 – 90% of cases of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). An increased understanding of the EGFR pathway in CRC has paved the way for the development of other targeted agents to augment therapeutic efficacy as well as for efforts to circumvent tumor resistance to therapy.Areas covered in this review: Our aim is to discuss the recent progress in the role of the EGFR pathway, the status of anti-EGFR therapeutic agents currently in use and the rationale for the development of novel agents that work along the pathway for the treatment of CRC.What the reader will gain: The readers will learn about the development and evolution of mAbs directed against EGFR as well as tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the management of CRC patients. In the same vein, determination of optimal dosing and better methods of defining those subsets of patients most likely to benefit will be discussed.Take home message: All these data must encourage clinicians and bas...
Trapping model for thermal and nonthermal positrons in metals

In order to correct the discrepancies of the simple two-state trapping model currently being used to explain the temperature dependence of positron annihilatoin in metals, we have modified the standard trapping model to implicitly include nonthermal trapping of positrons in vacancies and divacancies. A positron-energy-loss function and energy-dependent trapping rates were used to calculate the mean lifetime and intensity of the trapped and untrapped positrons. We have fitted this model to the lifetimes for aluminum measured by Jackman /ital et/ /ital al/. Results obtained for the formation enthalphy of vacancies and divacancies show the feasibility of the model to fit the experimental data.
A 9.6 S protein is the third calcium-insoluble component of the sea urchin hyaline layer.

Abstract A third major, calcium-insoluble component of the sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) hyaline layer has been purified and physically characterized. In the absence of divalent cations, the native, soluble protein has a sedimentation coefficient of 9.6 S and a molecular weight of 4.5 ± 0.1 × 105. These data indicate that this large protein assumes an elongated, nonspherical conformation in solution. Its sedimentation behavior and its mobility on nondenaturing electrophoretic gels distinguish the 9.6 S protein from the 11.6 S and 6.4 S hyalin proteins we have previously characterized. That the 6.4 S, 9.6 S, and 11.6 S proteins are the major calcium-insoluble structural components of the hyaline layer is supported by the fact that we have found them in a variety of hyalin protein fractions prepared by a number of standard approaches. All three proteins are precipitated by calcium ions, thus fitting the operational definition of hyalin. Evidence is presented that the 11.6 S protein may overlie the 9.6 S protein in the hyaline layer.
Tactile hyperesthesia, altered epidermal innervation and plantar nerve injury in the hindfeet of rats housed on wire grates

The effects of wire grates on nerve injury and recovery were examined in rats housed in cages with sawdust-covered solid flooring. For the first 3 weeks of the study, 20 rats were housed on sawdust alone and 20 rats were housed in cages with wire grates placed over the sawdust. For the remaining 9 weeks, 10 animals housed on sawdust had wire grates added to their cages, while grates were removed from the cages of 10 animals. The effects of tactile stimulation on hindpaw plantar skin was measured weekly using the Von Frey filament test. Intraepidermal innervation using PGP 9.5 immunostaining and plantar nerve histology were assessed at the end of the 12-week study. After just 1 week on grates, hindpaw withdrawal thresholds were already markedly decreased and remained low until the grates were removed at 3 weeks. Thresholds returned to normal by 4 weeks after removal of the grates. Wire grates also induced increases in PGP 9.5 immunoreactive intraepidermal fine nerve endings that were normalized after grate removal. Demyelination, Wallerian degeneration and Renaut bodies were induced in the medial plantar nerve in rats housed in cages with wire-grate flooring. Nerve injury was largely resolved after 9 weeks on sawdust flooring. These data demonstrate that wire grates rapidly induce hindpaw tactile hyperesthesia and plantar neuropathy in rats and emphasize a risk of using wire-grate cage flooring in studies assessing hindlimb function and structure.
Abnormal extracellular matrix and excessive growth of human adult polycystic kidney disease epithelia

Human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) epithelia were grown in primary monolayer cultures and their properties compared with intact kidney epithelial cultures derived from individually microdissected normal human kidney proximal convoluted tubules (PCT), proximal straight tubules (PST), and cortical collecting tubules (CCT). In vivo, ADPKD cyst epithelia exhibited a thickened basement membrane, and immunofluorescence demonstrated the presence of laminin, fibronectin, type IV collagen, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan in basement membranes and type I collagen in the interstitium. ADPKD epithelia grown in culture synthesized and secreted basally a unique, extracellular matrix that took the form of proteinaceous spheroids when the cells were grown on dried, type I collagen. Incorporation of H2[S35O4] into basement membrane extracts was increased more than ten-fold in ADPKD epithelia by comparison to normal PST and CCT. In addition to incorporation into the normal tubular basement membrane 220 kD band, radioactivity was also seen at 175 kD and 150 kD in ADPKD extracts. Growth in culture of cyst-lining ADPKD epithelia was more rapid than normal tubules, and was abnormal since there was no absolute requirement for added extracellular matrix. However, when ADPKD epithelia were grown on different, exogenous matrix protein components, a profound influence on both structure and epithelial cell proliferation was seen. Growth on a complete basement membrane three-dimensional gel derived from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) sarcoma led to a reduction in the numbers of spheroids and increase in amorphous filaments. Incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into ADPKD epithelia was greater than into normal PCT, PST, and CCT and was also greatly modified by the type of extracellular matrix components provided. In studies using single matrix components, the strongest proliferative response was seen when ADPKD epithelia were plated on type I collagen greater than type IV collagen greater than fibronectin greater than laminin. These findings suggest that the excessive growth of cyst-lining epithelia may be, at least in part, a result of abnormal basement membrane and extracellular matrix production by ADPKD cells.
Specialization training programs for physician assistants: Symbolic violence in the medical field?

Postgraduate physician assistant (PA) programs designed to train individuals for the workplace have existed since the advent of the profession itself. These residency programs continue to grow in n...
Ontogeny of Ultrasonic and Locomotor Responses to Nest Odors in Rodents

SYNOPSIS. Rodents discriminate and prefer familiar odors early in life. Almost from birth young rats suckle in response to maternal odor, but suckle less when nipples are cleaned with organic solvents. In two-choice tests, young prefer familiar nest odors, whether naturally occurring or artificially presented, and can even be made to tolerate odors normally aversive or to avoid odors normally pleasant. Variations in maternal diet can alter odor preferences of theyoung. Nest odors can affect vocalization of young rodents. In contrast to the consistent effects of cold temperature and handling in the many rodents studied, nest odors may affect vocalization differently in different species. For example, familiar odors reduce calling in rats, but increase calling in pine voles. Nest odor also alters spontaneous activity in young rats, whichlocomote less when maternal odor is present. In this paper I report that home nest odors enhanced locomotion in rodents of three species (pine voles, Microtus pinetorum ; white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus ; and wild house mice, Mus musculus ), but that the age at which this pattern occurred and the relationships of nest odors to vocalizations differed among the species.
Including heterogeneous combustion in first-order and distributed activation energies models of coal nitrogen release

Abstract Models of fuel-nitrogen release in pulverized-coal flames are developed to account for 1. (1) the occurrence of parallel heterogeneous and homogeneous coal-N removal and 2. (2) the release of coal-N by numerous different first-order reactions characterized by a normal distribution of activation energies. These models are fitted to previously reported flat-flame, coal-dust burner data. Including heterogeneous combustion effects in a model of coal-N release during the early, largely devolatilization, stage of the flames results in a first-order coal-N devolatilization rate constant with an activation energy that is significantly, but not substantially, higher than the activation energy that is determined neglecting the effects of heterogeneous combustion. Allowance is made for coal devolatilization in excess of that predicted by the ASTM proximate analysis test. A distributed activation energies model is fitted to the combined coal-N release data for particular coals burnt at two different stoichiometries. The mean and standard deviation of the activation temperature for nitrogen devolatilization including the effects of heterogeneous combustion are 8200 ± 600 K for the bituminous coal studied and 5100 ± 2300 K for a subbituminous coal.
Studies on the synthesis and properties of copolyesterimide

A series of copolyesterimides was prepared from bisphenol A, diacid (terephthalic acid [TPA] or isophthalic acid [IPA]), and 4-carboxy-N-(p or m-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimide (M1 or M2) in the presence of diphenyl chlorophosphate (DPCP) and pyridine as the direct condensation agent. Copolyesterimides derived from M1 showed poorer solubility than that of M2 during polymerization; a lower M1 content should be employed to prevent precipitation of the resulting polymers. The inherent viscosities of copolyesterimides were in the range of 0.33–0.56 dL/g. Some of these copolyesterimides were completely soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), dimethylformamide (DMF), and m-cresol. The thermal properties of copolyesterimides were examined by DSC and TGA. These copolyesterimides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 173–220°C and a 5% weight loss was observed in the range of 435–482°C. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Stress-induced changes in the analgesic and thermic effects of opioid peptides in the rat.

Abstract Stress (e.g. restraint) potentiates analgesia and alters changes in body temperature induced by morphine administered either systemically or intercerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) in rats. In order to extend the generality of this phenomenon to opioid peptides, we determined whether the analgesic and thermic effects of i.c.v. D -Ala 2 - D -Leu 5 -enkephalin (DADLE) or D -Ala 2 -N-MePhe 4 -Gly 5 (ol)-enkephalin (DAGO), agonists selective for σ- and μ-opioid receptors, respectively, were affected by restraint stress. Analgesia was measured in the tail-flick test and core body temperature by rectal probe. The unstressed rats exhibited a dose-dependent increase in tail-flick latencies after administration of either DAGO or DADLE. Restrained rats treated with DAGO or DADLE had a greater analgesic response to each dose of peptide than did unstressed rats; both the magnitude and duration of the drug effect were increased. The unstressed group of rats responded to all doses of DAGO and DADLE with an increase of core temperature. In contrast, restrained rats showed a decrease of core temperature following injection with either DAGO or DADLE. Thus, restraint stress can significantly modify the effects of DAGO and DADLE on analgesia and body temperature in a manner that is qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that observed previously for morphine administered by the i.c.v. route.
The communicative functions of animation in user interfaces

To develop a model that relates the purpose of the communication to the nature of the animation, we surveyed existing user interfaces that use animation, analyzed these uses with respect to type of animation and communicative function, and considered ambiguous or otherwise difficult cases. From this analysis, we constructed a matrix with appropriateness/inappropriateness values for all combinations of communicative functions and animation types covered by our survey. To illustrate how the model could be applied to graphical user interfaces and to assess the model's plausibility, we used the model to develop two versions of a user interface for an MP3 player.
IJEE Soapbox: The Unraveling of Nature's Information Webs: The Next Depresing Frontier in Conservation?

After a lengthy transoceanic flight, you have arrived in a large city in a land that you have never visited, and even though it is late, you want to stretch your legs. After plotting an itinerary on the hotel tourist map, your walk first takes you through a lively, colorful, crowded urban environment. Then you turn a corner, and peer down a street, where no one is walking, as far as you can see, under the lonely streetlights. What do you do? Well, I know what I would likely do, which is shift my itinerary, map or no map, and not go down that deserted lane. What I have done is use a kind of behavioral indicator— the presence or absence of my conspecifics at a particular place, when I know there are conspecifics nearby—as an indirect source of information about the local environment. Maybe there has been a recent unpleasant incident, or maybe the neighborhood just has a bad reputation for late-night shenanigans. Whatever it is, I do not want any part of it. We humans do this all the time. The excellent set of papers in this special issue on behavioral indicators highlights how we as scientists can monitor the behaviors of individuals of other species to make inferences about the habitat quality they experience. By assuming that behavior is adaptive, and then recognizing that adaptation is always a joint function of the phenotype and the environment, we can carry out a kind of inverse optimality reasoning and make inferences about the environment from the behaviors we observe. And of course, if we can watch a swan bobbing its head and learn something about that swan’s immediate environment (see Nolet et al., 2007, this issue), so can other swans, who doubtless on average watch each other more keenly and with greater perception than does even the most avid birder or skilled avian ecologist. Information reduces uncertainty. From an evolutionary perspective, information also involves utility—it leads to actions that impact fitness (Dall et al., 2005). A broad and important emergent unifying theme at the interface of behavior and ecology is that animals use behavioral indicators provided by other animals to make decisions with fitness
A novel LCD (coal tar) solution for psoriasis does not discolor naturally light or color‐processed hair in an exaggerated exposure test model

Summary Background Scalp psoriasis is reported to occur in 50–80% of psoriasis sufferers. Treatment of scalp psoriasis requires special consideration of product esthetics and staining potential due to the presence of hair. Aim To evaluate the potential of a new, marketed liquor carbonis distillate (LCD; coal tar) solution to discolor naturally light or color-processed hair under exaggerated exposure conditions. Methods Samples of naturally light and color-processed hair from a single donor were exposed to LCD solution repeatedly over 14 days and via submergence for 24 h. Color of LCD-treated hair samples was compared with untreated control hair samples. Results LCD solution did not discolor naturally light or color-processed hair following repeated exposures and 24 h submergence. Conclusion The marketed LCD solution does not appear to discolor naturally light or color-processed hair.
CT screening for lung cancer is justified.

The evidence for use of spiral CT for lung cancer screening and the results and implications of the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program study are discussed in this Viewpoint.
Stereospecificity of pantoyl lactone formed by yeast cells and purified yeast ketopantoyl lactone reductases.

Abstract Two highly purified yeast ketopantoyl lactone reductases form d -(−)-pantoyl lactone from ketopantoyl lactone, but whole or broken yeast forms a mixture of d -(−)- and l -(+)-pantoyl lactone. Of three potential routes for formation of l -(+)-pantoyl lactone, direct reduction of ketopantoyl lactone seems most likely.
Vanquish the Haughty and Spare the Subjected: A Study of Bernard of Clairvaux’s Position on Muslims and Jews

Abstract The Jews and the Muslims drew the attention of the twelfth Century Cistercian abbot Bernard of Clairvaux, and his words and actions had consequences for both communities. Despite his many demeaning comments about Jews and Judaism, he defended Jews from Crusader attacks, and he believed that Jews would convert to Christianity prior to the end of the world. On the other hand, he promoted the Second Crusade for the purpose of defending Jerusalem from Muslim invasion. He had no interest in converting Muslims to Christianity, only killing them if they continued their threat on the Holy Land. A close examination of Bernard’s writings reveals that his position on Jews and Muslims was not merely a reflection of church policy, but a means to advance his personal spiritual desire of union with God.
On lattices with M: obius function ±1, 0

We provide simple arguments of a geometric nature to explain why the Mobius functions of certain lattices take only the values ?1, 0, 1.
Resolution of colloidal latex aggregates by sedimentation field-flow fractionation

Abstract The observation of a repetitive series of peaks while analyzing two different samples of poly(methyl methacrylate) colloidal latex spheres by sedimentation field-flow fractionation strongly suggests that part of the latex population has aggregated into doublets, triplets, and higher-order particle clusters. The aggregation hypothesis is confirmed for the two samples both by retention calculations and by electron microscopy. It is shown that the resolution of the latex clusters is influenced by flow velocity in a manner predicted by theory but that such resolution is limited by the polydispersities of the two latex samples. Polydispersity values are obtained using plate height versus flow velocity measurements and are shown to be consistent with the different resolution levels observed for the two colloids. A detailed analysis of the results shown that steric effects play an increasing role as cluster size increases. The steric role in this study is examined at some length.
Ri-Ri: assisting bus conductors in madras (chennai)

In this paper, we present a tool to increase the efficiency of public transport buses inside the metropolitan city of Madras (Chennai) in South India. The amount of people dropping out of the public bus system is growing at an alarming rate, and arresting this problem is at the root of our prototype. By increasing efficiency of the system, we hope that this problem will be stopped and will lead to more people entering the system, rather than abandoning it.
Triplet state properties of pyridinium

Abstract Pyridinium phosphorescence originates at 334 nm and has a lifetime of 3.5 s; the quantum yield is roughly 0.04. The ODMR spectrum gives a zero-field splitting of |D| = 0.134 cm −1 , |E| = 0.030 cm −1 . Implications for the lowest triplet state of pyridine are discussed.
Primitive Representations by Unimodular Quadratic Forms

Abstract Necessary and sufficient local conditions are given for the primitive representation of a lattice by a unimodular lattice. Global results are then obtained for indefinite lattices by using strong approximation.
Flavonoid and certain related phenolic compounds in parts of the tobacco flower.

Abstract Identification and distribution studies have been made of flavonoid and related phenolic compounds present in four kinds of floral appendages of tobacco. Stamens contained rutin, scopolin, esculetin, chlorogenic acid, glucose derivatives of p-coumaric and ferulic acids, and an unknown glucoside of kaempferol. The last three were found only in stamens. Corollas (petals) contained scopolin, esculetin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, nictoflorin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, rutin-7-glucoside, and nictoflorin-7-glucoside. The last five compounds named were found only in the petals. The last three have not been reported previously to be present in tobacco tissue. The calyxes or sepals contained esculetin, chlorogenic acid, scopolin, rutin, a quercetin-3-diglucoside, quercetin-3,3′-dimethyl ether, and quercetin-3-methyl ether. The last three were present only in the calyxes. The pistils contained esculetin and chlorogenic acid, but none of the above flavonol glycosides or methyl ether derivatives.