cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Importance of Magnetostratigraphy for Studies of Tectonic Rotations: Examples from the Mio-Pliocene of California

Magnetostratigraphy provides a means of identifying paleomagnetic samples with a strong secondary overprint as well as a means of determining whether the time-averaged field can be assumed to be a geocentric axial dipole. Two Neogene sedimentary sequences in California provide examples of the application of magnetostratigraphy to studies of tectonic rotations. In the case of the Ridge Basin sediments of southern California, the magnetostratigraphic analysis leads to a new interpretation of previously published data. In the case of the Purisima Formation of coastal central California, it provides evidence that an observed rotation of 50° in less than 3.4 million years is due to tectonic rather than geomagnetic or paleomagnetic factors. The rate of rotation of the Purisima Formation is among the highest rates ever documented and demonstrates that for older rocks it may be impossible to distinguish clockwise rotations from counterclockwise rotations.
Dissemination of novel biostatistics methods: Impact of programming code availability and other characteristics on article citations.

Background As statisticians develop new methodological approaches, there are many factors that influence whether others will utilize their work. This paper is a bibliometric study that identifies and quantifies associations between characteristics of new biostatistics methods and their citation counts. Of primary interest was the association between numbers of citations and whether software code was available to the reader. Methods Statistics journal articles published in 2010 from 35 statistical journals were reviewed by two biostatisticians. Generalized linear mixed models were used to determine which characteristics (author, article, and journal) were independently associated with citation counts (as of April 1, 2017) in other peer-reviewed articles. Results Of 722 articles reviewed, 428 were classified as new biostatistics methods. In a multivariable model, for articles that were not freely accessible on the journal’s website, having code available appeared to offer no boost to the number of citations (adjusted rate ratio = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.74 to 1.24, p = 0.74); however, for articles that were freely accessible on the journal’s website, having code available was associated with a 2-fold increase in the number of citations (adjusted rate ratio = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.30 to 3.10, p = 0.002). Higher citation rates were also associated with higher numbers of references, longer articles, SCImago Journal Rank indicator (SJR), and total numbers of publications among authors, with the strongest impact on citation rates coming from SJR (rate ratio = 1.21 for a 1-unit increase in SJR; 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.32). Conclusion These analyses shed new insight into factors associated with citation rates of articles on new biostatistical methods. Making computer code available to readers is a goal worth striving for that may enhance biostatistics knowledge translation.
An update on cannabis use disorder with comment on the impact of policy related to therapeutic and recreational cannabis use.

Confusion and controversy related to the potential for cannabis use to cause harm, or alternatively to provide benefit, continues globally. This issue has grown in intensity and importance with the increased recognition of the public health implications related to the escalation of the legalization of cannabis and cannabinoid products. This selective overview and commentary attempt to succinctly convey what is known about one potential consequence of cannabis use, the development of cannabis use disorder (CUD). Such knowledge may help guide a reasonable and objective public health perspective on the potential impact of cannabis use and CUD. Current scientific data and clinical observation strongly support the contention that cannabis use, like the use of other substances such as alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and tobacco, can develop into a use disorder (addiction) with important clinical consequences. Epidemiological data indicate that the majority of those who use cannabis do not have problems related to their use, but a substantial subset (10–30%) do report experiencing symptoms and consequences consistent with a CUD. Treatment seeking for CUD comprises a substantial proportion of all substance use treatment admissions, yet treatment response rates show much room for improvement. Changing cannabis policies related to its therapeutic and recreational use are likely to impact the development of CUD and its course; however, definitive data on such effects are not yet available. Clearly, the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies is needed for those vulnerable to developing a CUD and for those with a CUD.
The Role of Manufacturing Variability on Environmental Impact

Additive manufacturing (AM) especially metal additive manufacturing (MAM) is expected to disrupt many industries. Besides being very flexible and allowing bespoke parts with little to no setup time, AM technology is able to fabricate parts with geometries which were previously impossible to create. This allows for dramatically better designs by making the product lighter or more efficient. However, despite these numerous and significant benefits, the uptake of functional additive manufactured parts is slow. A major barrier to expedited uptake of this technology is process control. It is not certain what the most important process parameters or the ideal process windows are and how this changes for different process/material combinations. As of yet, there is not a set process to certify an AM part or process. This makes quality assurance prohibitively longwinded and expensive. Furthermore, to ensure safety under such uncertain conditions, a high safety factor and therefore thicker parts must be used. As a result, uncertainty is also tied to increased material consumption and therefore higher environmental impact. We need to better understand the nature of variability in AM in order to alleviate some of these problems. This manuscript presents several examples of the influence of variability in manufacturing and its potential impact on environmental performance.
Treatment experience with a novel 30-mm hydrostatic balloon in esophageal dysmotility: a multicenter retrospective analysis.

Background and Aims The newest addition in the management of achalasia and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is a 30-mm hydrostatic balloon dilator that uses impedance planimetry technology. It allows for the measurement of the diameter and cross-sectional area to determine effective dilation. We aimed to (1) determine the clinical success (defined as a decrease in Eckardt score to ≤3) in the treatment of esophageal motility disorders and (2) report the safety (rate/severity of adverse events). Methods This retrospective multicenter study involved 4 centers. Patients with esophageal motility disorders who underwent hydrostatic balloon dilation between January 2015 and October 2018 were included. Results Fifty-one patients (mean age, 54.1 years; women, 49%) underwent hydrostatic dilation for achalasia (n = 37) or EGJOO (n = 14) during the study period. Forty-seven patients had a median baseline Eckardt score of 5 (range, 3-8; achalasia, n = 35, 6 [range, 3-8]; EGJOO, n = 12, 4 [range, 3.25-6.5]). Clinical success was achieved in 60% of cases (achalasia vs EGJOO: 68.4% vs 33.3%, P = .18). Dilation resulted in a significant decrease in the median Eckardt score from 5 (range, 3-8) to 1.5 (range, 1-4.75; P Conclusions The hydrostatic balloon dilator is a new tool in our armamentarium to treat esophageal motility disorders. This is the first multicenter study showing the device to be safe and moderately efficacious.
Enabling Smart Cities through V2X Communication

This paper provides a framework where autonomous vehicles (AV) enable better Smart Cities. Large amounts of data are constantly collected from AVs. To manage the constant influx of data, a real-time data model is proposed. To demonstrate how the database works, four use cases have been introduced as follows: (1) Detecting traffic congestion (2) Identifying empty parking spots (3) Determining weather conditions for a specific location, and (4) Detecting objects or dead animals on the road. The proposed data model will enable real-time data-driven decision-making. The framework can be easily expanded to include other use cases in the future.
This worksheet works: Making the DLS Standards work for you

The ACRL Standards for Distance Learning Library Services are increasingly used by librarians who are striving to provide adequate and equitable services to their online learning populations. In an environment where more fully online programs are springing up, more campus-wide strategic plans include moving general education requirements online, and more students than ever are enrolled in distance or online classes, these Standards can be useful for advocacy, communication to stakeholders, and driving goals and direction both for your library as a whole and for your distance or online learning librarian.
Critical behavior of tropical cyclones

Critical phenomena have previously been reported in rainfall patterns over the tropical oceans. Confirming and extending that discovery, we identify a critical temperature Tc, and a linear T-Tc power law dependence, typical of a continuous phase transition, in existing data and excellent fits for the power dissipation index (PDI) for Northern Hemisphere hurricanes vs sea surface temperature T. It is suggested that tropical cyclone formation can usefully be regarded as a phase transition of the warm ocean-atmosphere system, driven by disequilibrium in atmospheric water content. The related implication of this previously unrecognized, rapid temperature dependence of tropical cyclone strength is noted.
The Jewish Connection: Wagner and Heine

In these reflections on Der fliegende Hollander, I define the difference between Heine’s and Wagner’s versions of the legend in terms of disenchantment and re-enchantment; I show Senta, the “woman of the future,” to be the truly modern component of the drama; and I relate the erasure of the name of Heine in Wagner’s autobiographical accounts of the work’s genesis to his antisemitism.
Effect of Plasma Temperature and Nonlinearity of the Adiabatic Compressibility Index on Flow Parameters for Hypersonic Aerosol Expansion Following a Plasma Disruption

Future fusion reactors are expected to experience hard current disruptions that quench the confined plasma and depositing the energy on the plasma facing materials, thus causing surface ablation and the evolving aerosol expands into the reactor chamber. The plasma flow following a disruption event can be simulated experimentally and computationally using confined capillary discharges, which generate heat fluxes (up to ~80 GW/m2) typical to those expected in fusion reactors during a disruption. Computational technique to investigate the effect of plasma temperature on the adiabatic compressibility index has been investigated using a pulsed disruptive capillary electrothermal plasma source with a converging–diverging transition nozzle at the exit attached to the expansion regions. The plasma is formed in the capillary due to thermal decomposition of the ablating inner wall followed by subsequent ionization of the decomposed material. This work is particular to the cases where the ejected particulates coming out from a heat-load affected surface or arc-triggered plasma source orifice are at the sonic speed. The converging section in the nozzle provides a transition from the capillary exit subsonic condition to sonic state, which allows for observing the effect of temperature on the supersonic isentropic expansion. Mathematical model has been developed for effective atomic number (Z eff ) as function of the plasma temperature and has been used to model the adiabatic compressibility index (γ p ) of the plasma. Plasma parameters along the axial direction of the flow in the transition and the expansion regions are obtained.
La calidad de vida profesional y el orgullo de trabajar en la sanidad pública. Resultados de una encuesta

Objetivo. Conocer que factores explican mejor el orgullo de pertenecer a una empresa sanitaria publica. Diseno. Estudio descriptivo transversal. Emplazamiento. Ambito de una direccion de atencion primaria (DAP) del ICS. Sujetos. Plantilla de 363 trabajadores de la DAP de Tortosa. Mediciones y resultados principales. Se envio a todos los trabajadores un cuestionario autoadministrado de calidad de vida profesional (CVP). Cumplimentaron la encuesta 232 (63,9%), el valor medio de la CVP (5,40 ± 2,09), el perfil global corresponde al conjunto de percepciones siguientes: bastante motivacion intrinseca; en un lugar de trabajo de bastante responsabilidad, capacitacion y soporte social; asociado a bastante carga de trabajo; con algo de soporte emocional de los directivos, y con algunas incomodidades derivadas del trabajo. El orgullo de pertenencia al ICS (6,86 ± 2,50) es alto, los profesionales de mas de 45 anos tienen una respuesta media significativamente superior y en el grupo de medicos es significativamente inferior. El modelo de regresion multiple identifico 3 variables significativas que explican el 67,5% de la variabilidad del orgullo de pertenecer a la empresa: el reconocimiento del esfuerzo, la capacitacion para hacer el trabajo actual y la antiguedad. Conclusiones. a) Entre los profesionales hay bastante orgullo de pertenecer a la empresa, y b) la percepcion de la calidad de vida profesional es media.
Optimal Capital Utilization by Financial Firms: Evidence from the Property-Liability Insurance Industry

Capitalization levels in the property-liability insurance industry have increased dramatically in recent years—the capital-to-assets ratio rose from 25% in 1989 to 35% by 1999. This paper investigates the use of capital by insurers to provide evidence on whether the capital increase represents a legitimate response to changing market conditions or a true inefficiency that leads to performance penalties for insurers. We estimate “best practice” technical, cost, and revenue frontiers for a sample of insurers over the period 1993–1998, using data envelopment analysis, a non-parametric technique. The results indicate that most insurers significantly over-utilized equity capital during the sample period. Regression analysis provides evidence that capital over-utilization primarily represents an inefficiency for which insurers incur significant revenue penalties.
Analysis of error produced by truncated SVD and Tikhonov regularization methods

The paper considers regularization of inverse solutions to linear problems. We derive the relationship between the error due to regularization and the energy distribution in the observation vector across the width of the singular value spectrum of the linear model used. One result of the analysis is that conditions exist under which no close approximation to the true solution can be found. It follows that a check of these conditions to determine the success of the regularization is important and we feel it should be included in the regularization process. The presentation includes a series of simulations to illustrate the analysis. >
Are ‘Western’ Constitutions Relevant to Anything Other than the Countries they Serve?

This essay argues the universal relevance of the Western constitutional experience. It does so, however, not with reference to the commonalities of historical circumstance or the experience of specific states. Instead, we argue that just as events in the natural world must follow universal laws, the same it true about stable democracy, whether we are concerned with parliamentary or presidential systems, economically developed or undeveloped states, or whatever. We take as given that there necessarily exists universal principles of democratic constitutional design, even if those principles remain largely undiscovered. We argue further that discovery is more likely if we conceptualize constitutions as equilibrium selection devices and if we take as our starting point whatever understanding we possess about coordination and equilibrium selection in complex social processes, including the evolution and character of social norms and conventions.
The growing divide: the marginalisation of young Roma children in Bulgaria

This article evaluates how evolving social policies for very young children and their families affect the marginalisation of Roma children from mainstream Bulgarian society. The Roma (or ‘gypsies’) have long been ostracised by various societies and since the fall of communism in 1989 have become increasingly vulnerable to income poverty and social exclusion. The exclusion of Roma threatens Bulgaria's economic and political growth because the Roma constitute an increasing proportion of the population. The article compares the effects of current child and family policies on modifying the social and economic differences between very young Roma children under the age of three and those of majority Bulgarian children. It demonstrates how both universal social policies directed at helping all children and policies targeted on helping the most deprived children in a population, can, because of previous employment and other factors, further marginalise the most disadvantaged children in a population.
The automated fluorometric determination of serum magnesium. II. Procedure using 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid.

Two automated flow systems are presented for the fluorometric determination of serum magnesium. Each procedure is based on measurement of the fluorescence of magnesium 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonate. One method treats a serum dialysate; the other reacts serum directly with the aqueous reagent. Calcium interference is eliminated by sequestration.
A new mobile payment protocol (GMPCP) by using a new key agreement protocol (GC)

According to the advancement of mobile devices and wireless network technology, these portable devices became the potential devices that can be used for different types of payments. Recently, most of the people would rather to do their activities by their cellphones. On the other hand, there are some issues that hamper the widespread acceptance of mobile payment among people. The traditional ways of mobile payment are not secure enough, since they follow the traditional flow of data. This paper is going to suggest a new protocol named Golden Mobile Pay Center Protocol that is based on client centric model. The suggested protocol downgrade the computational operations and communications that are necessary between the engaging parties and achieves a completely privacy protection for the engaging parties. It avoids transaction repudiation among the engaging parties and will decrease replay attack s risk. The goal of the protocol is to help n users to have payments to each others'. Besides, it will utilize a new key agreement protocol named Golden Circle that is working by employing symmetric key operations. GMPCP uses GC for generating a shared session key between n users.
First demonstration of bistability in CaMKII, a memory-related kinase.

How do we learn? More specifically, what biochemical and structural changes occur in the brain during the processes of learning and memory? The truth is that, despite decades of research, we still do not have a satisfactory answer to this question. One of the leading theories, the Hebbian learning paradigm (1), proposes that memories are encoded by altering the strength of individual synaptic connections in response to certain stimuli. This process, termed “synaptic plasticity”, could allow a neuron to respond preferentially to some of its presynaptic partners while reducing its response to others, and in this way the neuron learns to respond to only particular stimuli.
An experimental study of interlaminar shear fracture toughness of a nanotube reinforced composite

Abstract This study demonstrated that fluorine functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) can be used to reinforce in the midplane of a fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminate for increasing the interlaminar shear fracture toughness. A spraying methodology was used to deposit the f-CNTs on the midplane carbon fabric to produce this through-thickness interlaminar reinforcement. The four-point end notch flexure (4ENF) specimen was used in the experiments to calculate the critical strain energy release rate, GIIc, to quantify a value for fracture toughness. Compared to the neat case (0.0 wt% CNTs) there was a 23% increase in the average initiation and 27% increase in the average propagation GIIc with only 0.5 wt% f-CNTs dispersed on the fabric and in the resin of the midplane region. High resolution microscopic examinations of the specimen fracture surfaces suggest that the functionalized carbon nanotubes are covalent bonding nanoscale tethers between the fibers and the epoxy resin, resulting in toughened fiber–matrix interfacial strengths to achieve these improved through-thickness mechanical properties for this nanocomposite laminate system. This nanotube technology could displace the need for using cross-fabric stitching or pinning, or using thickening interleaf layers at the midplane region of laminates in order to improve the interlaminar shear fracture toughness.
T = 32 states in 13N observed in the reaction 12C (p, p)12C☆

Abstract In addition to the previously reported first T = 3 2 state at E x = 15.068 MeV in 13 N, two higher T = 3 2 states at 18.43 and 18.98 MeV are observed in the reaction 12 C(p,p) 12 C which is “twice forbidden” by isospin conservation.
Immigrating for status in late life: Effects of globalization on Filipino American veterans

Abstract In this article we examine the late-life immigration of Filipino American veterans who have recently been awarded U.S. citizenship based on their military service to the United States during World War II. Based on data collected with 27 Filipino American veterans, we found that the primary motivation for veterans' immigration from the Philippines in late life is economic. When Filipino veterans decide to come to the United States, they do so to collect the financial benefits of citizenship and for the recognition and status it brings, especially within the family. In immigrating, Filipino American veterans live with considerable uncertainty about what the future holds, but at the same time they accrue power and status that ensures their continued centrality in their families. Such action enables them to maintain their independence in old age. The phenomenon of late-life immigration among Filipino American veterans is a case study in globalization and the fluid identities that elders maintain in moving back and forth between these linked worlds.
Orthogonal transfer arrays for the Pan-STARRS gigapixel camera

Recent development efforts on the orthogonal transfer array (OTA) for the Pan-STARRS gigapixel camera 1 (GPC1) are described. A redesign of the prototype OTAs has been completed, and fabrication and packaging of the devices for the GPC1 are nearly complete. We briefly review the final design features and the resolution of the performance issues that arose in the first prototype devices. We then describe the packaging of the device and the challenges arising in achieving the necessary flatness at the device operating temperature. Plans and schedule for deploying focal-plane arrays of these devices are described.
Ab initio simulation of physisorption: N2 on pregraphitic clusters

Abstract Application of activated carbon to air purification has spurred interest in characterizing microscopic factors that affect species-selective adsorption onto graphitic surfaces. This paper describes a correlated ab initio supermolecular study of N 2 interacting with pregraphitic surface models constructed as stacks of small planar aromatics. We have estimated effective adsorption diameters and sticking coefficients for nitrogen physisorbing onto flat graphitic surfaces, comparing results for a two-layer cluster model to behavior of several empirical potentials. Averaging over twelve different adsorbate orientations yields a mean adsorption diameter (3.610 A) and sticking coefficient (0.0592 eV), which deviate on average by +3.5 and −33.8%, respectively, from the empirical parametrizations. Mean adsorption diameters exhibit very little dependence on adsorbent model, but binding energy increases consistently with increasing adsorbent model size. Test calculations suggest that three-layer models bind N 2 7.7% more strongly than two-layer, while a one-layer pyrene model leads to 13.9% stronger binding than a one-layer naphthalene. In corroboration of empirical models, our results predict parallel N 2 adsorption to be more closely (3.411–3.485 A) and more strongly (0.0611–0.0749 eV) bound to the surface than perpendicularly oriented molecules (3.837–4.053 A; 0.0373–0.0431 eV). We also reproduce predictions that N 2 prefers to bind to surface hollow sites rather than to surface carbons. Contrary to the empirical models, however, we find surface bridging sites to provide the most strongly physisorptive locations.
Intuition and the Substitution Argument

Superman has a bad allergy to kryptonite. And since Superman is Clark Kent, it follows that Clark Kent is allergic to kryptonite. Which, indeed, he is. If you were to take some kryponite into the offices of the Daily Planet, Clark would soon be feeling quite poorly. Of course, not many people know that Clark is allergic to kryptonite. In particular, Superman’s nemesis Lex Luthor does not know that Clark is allergic to kryptonite, which is why he does not sneak into the newsroom and hide some kryptonite in Clark’s desk. But of course, Luthor knows perfectly well that Superman is allergic to kryptonite, and he frequently tries to expose him to it. That, at least, is the sort of thing one would usually hear people say. Familiarly, however, taking such remarks at face value generates problems. The most immediate of these is that it requires us to restrict the logical principle known as “substitution of identicals”:
NTP-entry routes in multi-subunit RNA polymerases.

The recent elucidation of crystal structures for multi-subunit RNA polymerases immediately revealed a mystery: how do nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) substrates reach an active site that is buried deep within the enzyme? The prevailing view is that NTPs enter through an ∼20Å-long secondary channel between the active site and the enzyme surface. Recently, an alternative view has been advocated; namely, NTPs enter the active site pre-bound to the DNA template from the downstream DNA portion of the main channel of the enzyme.
The Effect of the Rolling Mode on the Recrystallization Behavior of 2090 Al- Li Alloy

As- received 2090 Al- Li hot- rolled plate was homogenized at 482 °C for 10 h and cold worked to 95% reduction in thickness. The rolling modes were varied. One group of samples was rolled longitudinally parallel to the hot- rolling direction, the second transversely to the rolling direction, the third at 45° to the rolling direction, and the fourth in all three modes. All four groups were subsequently annealed at 456 °C for 24 h. The effect of varying the rolling mode on the ductility and strength was studied by examining the kinetics of softening as a function of the annealing time. All the groups recrystallized in less than 1 h with a coarse, elongated grain structure. Although the strengths of the different groups were similar, the ductilities varied significantly.
Naloxone and haloperidol reduce grooming occurring as an aftereffect of novelty

When the grooming of rats is scored in a novel environment it is substantially increased compared to that observed in familiar home cages. Rats pretreated with naloxone (0.2, 1.0, or 2.0 mg/kg) or haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg exhibited less grooming than controls scored after handling and transported to a novel environment. Later, the same rats were pretreated with these doses of naloxone or haloperidol and tested in an open field hole board. Locomotion, exploration, and rearing scores of the drug-treated animals were not different from those of control animals. In another experiment, animals were tested in their home cages in their familiar colony room after the moderate stress of handling, transport, and ip injection. The stress-enhanced grooming was blocked by naloxone (2.0 mg/kg). It was concluded that mild to moderate stress may induce grooming without novelty per se, and that this effect is likely mediated by ACTH acting in an agonist fashion on an opiate-sensitive system.
Comments on the origin of Mercury

The ratio between the mass of condensed matter in Mercury's nebular zone and the final mass of condensed matter in the planet is calculated, and the result suggests that condensed matter equal to more than 10 times the planet's mass was lost from that zone. Five hypotheses to account for this loss are considered: (1) the temperature in Mercury's zone was appreciably higher than the suggested value of 1400 K, (2) the excess was expelled by solar mass outflow, (3) the excess was dragged down by the sun during its contraction, (4) the excess was knocked out by Jupiter-perturbed planetesimals, and (5) the excess was knocked out by earth- and Venus-perturbed planetesimals. The plausibility of each hypothesis is examined, and it is concluded that only planetesimal scattering by earth and Venus appears to be ruled out
Improving urban women's health: Broadening our global view of interprofessional education, research, and practice.

The International Council on Women’s Health Issues 18th congress was cohosted by the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing and the Penn Institute for Urban Research this past April. The theme of the conference was Cities and Women’s Health: Global Perspectives. This congress brought together international leaders who are improving women’s health in their communities to dialogue on contemporary issues faced by women in urban settings. The goal was to analyze best practices and new strategies to enhance women’s health in cities as well as foster new paradigms of scholarship and practice the integrate environment and health care. It was only fitting that the School of Nursing cohosted this conference. Nursing has been at the forefront of recognizing the importance of the environment on health since the days of Florence Nightingale. Women’s health has not always been a primary focus in urban planning and research. Keynote speakers from across the globe came to share their experiences. Amy Gutmann, PhD, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, opened the conference, challenging conference attendees to continue to advocate and research the connections between women’s rights, health, and urbanization. Conference attendees were told that “when we improve healthcare, education and job opportunities for women we drive families, communities, cities, nations, and the world forward. Editorial
Mixing and Burning in Stars

: The role of hydrodynamic mixing in astrophysics is reviewed, emphasizing connections with simulations by computer and with laser physics experiments. Computer technology now allows two-dimensional (2D) simulations, with complex microphysics, of stellar hydrodynamics and evolutionary sequences, and holds the promise for 3D. Careful validation of astrophysical methods, by laboratory experiment, by critical comparison of numerical and analytical methods, and by observation are necessary for the development of simulation methods with reliable predictive capability. Recent and surprising results from isotopic patterns in presolar grains, 2D hydrodynamic simulations of stellar evolution, and laser tests and computer simulations of Richtmeyer-Meshkov and Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities are discussed and related to stellar evolution and supernovae.
The Heart Mountain break-away fault, northwestern Wyoming

The Heart Mountain break-away fault was the last of the four phases of the Heart Mountain detachment fault to be discovered and is the only fault of this type yet recognized and described. The descriptive term, “break-away fault,” was introduced in 1960 for the steep surface along which the rocks of the Heart Mountain decollement fault mass separated from the stationary block on the west. The break-away fault, located near the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, has a known linear extent of 37 km. The northern one-third trends north, and the remainder trends southeast and south. Rocks on its western side are Paleozoic carbonate rocks and Eocene volcanic rocks; the volcanic rocks are pre–Heart Mountain fault in age. The rocks on its eastern side are younger and consist of Eocene volcanic rocks which were deposited against and over the fault. Thus the break-away fault is unusual in that one side is a fault surface and the other side is a depositional surface, and in that respect is similar to parts of the bedding-plane phase of the Heart Mountain detachment fault. Slickensides and brecciation in the Madison Limestone adjoining the break-away indicate horizontally directed compressive shear. Movement was probably right lateral, and then laterally southeastward away from the fault at an angle of about 45°. To the north, in Wolverine Pass and in the valley of Soda Butte Creek, the break-away fault extends down to a bed in the basal part of the Bighorn Dolomite where it joins or terminates at the bedding plane phase of the Heart Mountain detachment fault; movement of upper-plate rocks away from the break-away fault increases from about 0.25 km at the northernmost trace of the fault to more than 1.5 km on the south side of Soda Butte Creek valley. Several kilometres southeastward, in Cache Creek valley, the Heart Mountain break-away fault terminates downward in volcanic rocks of the undivided Lamar River and Cathedral Cliffs Formations and joins a low-angle fault in those rocks. This low-angle fault probably steps downward to the east where it reaches the Heart Mountain detachment fault surface. Three kilometres farther to the southeast, the break-away fault is presumably represented by a low-angle fault in these volcanic rocks that probably also steps down to the northeast beneath the volcanic cover to join the Heart Mountain detachment fault. Erosion in this area probably has removed rocks that contained the high-angle part of the fault. The south end of the break-away fault is overlapped and concealed by the Wapiti Formation. It presumably continues southward, but it probably does not join a normal fault near Black Mountain, although Voight (1974) has suggested that it does.
Cognitive improvement during continuous sedation in critically ill, awake and responsive patients: the Acute Neurological ICU Sedation Trial (ANIST).

Most anxiolytics and sedative regimens in the intensive care unit (ICU) impair intellectual function, reducing patient autonomy, and often add to patient morbidity. Using an ICU-validated cognitive assessment tool Adapted Cognitive Exam (ACE), we performed a comparison between dexmedetomidine (DEX) and propofol (PRO) to evaluate which sedative regimen offered the least decrement in intellectual capacity. This was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study of 30 awake and intubated brain-injured (BI, n = 18) and non-BI (12) ICU patients. Each patient received fentanyl/PRO and fentanyl/DEX titrated to a calm, awake state using a crossover design. Cognitive testing was performed at each study period using the validated 100-point Hopkins ACE cognitive battery. Sedation with PRO diminished adjusted ACE scores (100-point exam) by a mean of −12.4 (95% CI −8.3 to −16.5, p < 0.001) while DEX, in contrast, improved ACE scores (6.8, 95% CI 1.2–12.4, p < 0.018). The difference in the change of ACE score between DEX versus PRO, our primary endpoint, was 19.2 (95% CI 12.3–26.1 p < 0.001) in favor of an improved ACE score on DEX. Patients with BI required less sedative, but effects of PRO and DEX on cognition were not changed. No serious adverse events occurred. Modest bradycardia was noted post hoc with DEX (−7.7 bpm, p < 0.01). ICU patients may be offered sedation without necessarily compromising arousal or cognition. Alleviation of anxiety and agitation can singly and effectively improve mental engagement and performance if overt forebrain dysfunction is avoided. Higher ACE scores with DEX may be a consequence of the intellect-sparing yet calming effect of this drug.
Stable color-center laser in K-doped NaCl tunable from 1.42 to 1.76 μm

Stable, broadly tunable cw lasing has been obtained from color centers in additively colored NaCl doped with K. The laser tunes from 1.42 to 1.76 μm with a peak output power of 530 mW when pumped by 6 W from a 1.06-μm Nd:YAG laser. Output power is strongly enhanced by exposing the crystal to an auxiliary UV light during lasing. No fading of output power has been observed over extended periods. The laser operates at 77 K; however, the crystals can be stored at room temperature. The active color center is tentatively identified as an (F2+)A center.
Excitotoxic injury induces monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in neonatal rat brain

Abstract Intra-hippocampal injection of NMDA (12.5 nmol) in postnatal day 7 (P7) rats results in neuronal necrosis and hippocampal atrophy; injury extends into the adjacent striatum, thalamus and cortex. NMDA-induced injury is marked by an acute microglial/monocyte response; the molecular signals that control this response and the role of activated microglia/monocytes in the progression of excitotoxic injury are unknown. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a well-characterized chemokine that regulates monocyte chemotaxis and activation, and contributes to the pathogenesis of monocyte-dependent tissue injury in several disease models. We hypothesized that MCP-1 could be a regulator of the microglial/monocyte response to excitotoxic injury in neonatal rat brain. To determine if intra-hippocampal NMDA injections induced MCP-1 mRNA expression, in situ hybridization assays were performed in brain samples obtained from 7-day-old rats, evaluated 0–24 h after intra-hippocampal NMDA injection. MCP-1 mRNA expression was first detected at 2 h after lesioning, in the choroid fissure, adjacent to the lesioned hippocampus; levels of expression increased markedly in the lesioned hippocampus and adjacent structures within the first 16 h after NMDA injection, and then rapidly declined. In control animals that received intra-hippocampal saline injections, only minimal MCP-1 mRNA was detected, along the injection track. These results demonstrate that excitotoxic injury transiently induces MCP-1 gene expression in neonatal rat brain. The functional role of MCP-1 in the injured brain remains to be determined.
A rapid method for the quantitative analysis of short-chain fatty acids in serum or plasma.

Abstract Quantitative analysis of short-chain fatty acids in serum or plasma can be performed within three hours by this method that utilizes gas-liquid chromatography. The method eliminates the need for extraction procedures and is more rapid and less technically involved than a non-extraction method previously described. Patients with at least one disorder, isovaleric acidemia, have been identified and studied by this method.
Lipopolysaccharide and platelet-activating factor stimulate expression of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase via distinct signaling pathways

Objectives This study was designed to investigate and characterize the ability of platelet-activating factor (PAF) to induce the expression of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH).
Characterization of swimming muscle in the Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus L

Both red and white muscle were removed from juvenile and adult Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus L., for histochemical characterization of the muscle fibre types. Staining of white muscle for myosin ATPase, SDH, NADH diaphorase, GPDH and LDH revealed that these fibres are homogeneous. Red muscle was shown to be heterogeneous, of at least two fibre types recognizable on the basis of myosin ATPase staining with preincubation at a pH of 9·8. These two red types are dispersed throughout the red muscle and are present in both juveniles and adults. Red muscle is located both deep within the myotomes and as a superficial layer of muscle fibres. A third group of muscle fibres, intermediate in nature, was distinguished at the apex of the red muscle ‘triangle,’ between the epaxial and hypaxial muscle, using NADH diaphorase and myosin ATPase stains. This paper discusses the possibility that functionally different muscle fibres occur in the red swimming muscle of the Atlantic mackerel.
PCV7: COST-UTILITY ANALYSIS OF DRUG THERAPY OPTIONS FOR INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION

Peripheral artery disease manifests as intermittent claudication in over 4 million people in the US. In people older than 60 years, intermittent claudication occurs in 5% of men and 3% of women. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a cost-utility model to compare cilostazol, pentoxifylline, and placebo based on published randomized control trial data. METHODS: In the trial, 698 patients received either cilostazol 100 mg twice a day, pentoxifylline 400 mg 3 times a day, or placebo. Quality of life was measured with the SF-36. Survival was projected to be similar between the three groups from this study of 24 weeks duration and SF-36 was converted to a single utility score using the regression formula published by Bosch. RESULTS: On SF-36, cilostazol was significantly better on the physical components over baseline. Pentoxifylline and placebo were not significantly different on either the physical or mental components over baseline. On the Bosch calculated single index, cilostazol was better than pentoxifylline and placebo. Pentoxifylline had a lower calculated QALY score than cilostazol or placebo. Based on this model, cilostazol had an incremental cost per QALY of $72,153 over placebo and $21,294 over pentoxifylline. As expected the model is sensitive to changes in price and utilities, and patients who have substantial improvements in QOL scores over baseline have better cost per QALY results. From a managed care perspective with a patient co-pay of 20%, the patient's incremental cost of cilostazol over placebo was $14,431 per QALY and the managed care plan cost is $57,722 per QALY. CONCLUSION: Based on this analysis of treatments for intermittent claudication, cilostazol had a reasonable incremental cost per QALY over pentoxifylline or placebo. Lower cost per QALY results can be obtained by continuing on therapy patients who attain higher than average gains in quality of life scores from baseline.
Assessing neurocognitive outcomes after critical illness: are delirium and long-term cognitive impairments related?

Purpose of reviewCritically ill patients have a high risk of developing neurologic dysfunction including delirium and long-term cognitive impairment. In this paper we examine possible relationships between delirium and long-term cognitive impairments and explore this in the context of critical illne
Acoustic Backscattering From a Sand and a Sand/Mud Environment: Experiments and Data/Model Comparisons

The results from two bottom backscattering experiments are described in this paper. These experiments occurred within about 1 km of each other but were separated by approximately five years (1999 and 2004). The experimental methods used in the second experiment were changed based on lessons learned in the first experiment. These changes and the motivation for them are discussed. The sediment at each experiment site would generally be classified as the same (as a well-sorted medium sand sediment) before the weather events (Hurricane Ivan and Tropical Storm Matthew) that occurred in late September and early October 2004. As a result of these weather events, the sediment present during the October 18, 2004 experiments was much more complicated than that in 1999 and in many places had a mud/sand surface layer. The environmental measurements in both experiments were sufficient to separate physical mechanisms responsible for scattering. For shallow grazing angles (less than 45deg), backscattering at frequencies between 20 and 150 kHz was attributable to sediment interface roughness in 1999, whereas volume scattering dominated in 2004. Furthermore, in 2004, volume heterogeneity within the mud/sand surface layer is a probable mechanism for the scattering feature seen in the data in the 20deg-30deg region. Above 200 kHz, the frequency dependence of both the 1999 data and the 2004 data indicates that a new scattering mechanism is coming into play. Other results within this issue [Ivakin, IEEE J. Ocean. Eng., vol. 34, no. 4, Oct. 2009] indicate that scattering from shells is a viable candidate for explaining the data above 200 kHz.
NMR study of the solution structure of curcumin.

Curcumin [1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione] is derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Although early studies concluded that curcumin exists predominantly as a keto−enol tautomer, 1b, in several recent articles the solution structure of curcumin has been represented as a β-diketone tautomer, 1a. We have investigated the structure of curcumin in solvents ranging in polarity from CDCl3 to mixtures of DMSO-d6 in water, and in buffered aqueous DMSO-d6 solutions with pH values varying from 3 to 9. The solution structure of curcumin was determined on the basis of NMR techniques, including DEPT, HMQC, HMBC, and COSY. The results of the NMR studies show definitely that curcumin exists in solution as keto−enol tautomers, 1b.
The role of ethylene oxide allergy in sterile shunt malfunctions

Failure of an intact ventriculoperitoneal shunt, in the absence of an overt infection, is often due to its occlusion by cellular debris and/or an abdominal pseudocyst. This failure is thought to be caused by an infection by an organism which is difficult to culture or by some poorly defined allergic response to the shunt materials. Little attention has been directed to the treatment that the shunts receive prior to implantation: specifically, their exposure to ethylene oxide as a means of sterilization. We have found ethylene oxide metabolites in the spinal fluid of children with shunt malfunction months after their systems were implanted. Many of these patients had coincident CSF eosinophilia. In addition, two of the children had detectable serum IgE antibody directed against an albumin-ethylene oxide conjugated protein. Both of these children had several shunt malfunctions within a short period, yet neither child could be shown to have a shunt infection despite multiple cultures. We therefore suggest th...
A Tale of Tweets: Analyzing Microblogging among Language Learners

Abstract In these days of ubiquitous tweeting, language teachers must consider whether microblogging is an activity that will bring benefits to the learning experience. Recent research ( Junco et al., 2010 , Messner, 2009 , among others) indicates that Twitter is becoming increasingly popular in classrooms, but few studies (see for example, Borau et al., 2009 , Junco et al., 2010 ) have empirically examined the linguistic, attitudinal or content-based outcomes of such implementation. This paper discusses the role of Twitter in an intermediate French class (4th or 5th semester of French at the University level), in which students tweeted weekly with each other and with native French speakers. The goal for using Twitter was to build community among learners in the U.S. and in France and to provide opportunities for creative language practice outside of class time. Data suggest that participants quickly formed a collaborative community in which they were able to learn, share and reflect. Attitudinal data and discourse analysis findings are presented to discuss the use of this medium in language learning.
Evidence of mobile ion correlation between conduction layers in β-alumina

Abstract The ordering of the mobile ions in the conducting layers to form an a √3 × a √3 superlattice has been investigated in K + , Ag + and Rb + β-aluminas by electron diffraction. In addition to the correlation of mobile ions within the conduction layer, the correlation between conduction layers has also been detected in Rb + β-alumina with periods of 68.4 A and 22.8 A, or three and one multiple of the c dimension. A possible mechanism for such long distance correlation through spinel blocks is discussed.