cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychometric Properties of the Patient Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background and purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Patient Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory (PAOFI) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods The PAOFI was completed by 182 participants 3 months after verified aSAH. Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the underlying factor structure of the PAOFI and reliability and concurrent validity were evaluated for each subscale. Results A three-factor structure accounted for 58.9% of the extracted variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for extracted factors ranged from .867 to .924. The PAOFI subscales demonstrated concurrent validity with neuropsychological tests measuring similar constructs. Conclusion There is evidence of reliability and validity of the PAOFI following aSAH. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.
Consideration of spatial and temporal scales in stream restorations and biotic monitoring to assess restoration outcomes: A literature review, part 2

Stream and river restoration practices have become common in many parts of the world. To answer the question whether such restoration measures improve freshwater biotic assemblages or functions over time, and if not, can general reasons be identified for such outcomes, we conducted a literature survey and review of studies in which different types of stream restorations were conducted and outcomes assessed. In the first paper, we reviewed studies of culvert restorations, acid mine drainage or industrial pollution restoration; and urban stream restoration projects. Here, we review studies of restoration via dam removal, changes in dam operation or fish passage structures; instream habitat modification; riparian restoration or woody material addition; channel restoration and multiple restoration measures and develop some general conclusions from these reviews. Biomonitoring in different studies detected improvements for some restoration measures; other studies found minimal or no statistically significant increases in biotic assemblage richness, abundances or functions. In some cases, untreated stressors may have influenced the outcomes of the restoration, but in many cases, there were mismatches in the temporal or spatial scale of the restoration measure undertaken and associated monitoring. For example, either biomonitoring to measure restoration effects was conducted over a too short a time period after restoration for effects to be observed, or the sources and stressors needing remediation occurred at a larger catchment scale than the restoration. Also, many restoration measures lack observations from unimpaired reference sites for use in predicting how much of a beneficial effect might be expected.
Post‐Keynesian Public Budgeting & Finance: Assessing Contributions From Modern Monetary Theory

While Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) offers contributions that are worthy of serious consideration, some additional theory‐building and synthesis with existing theory may be in order to tie MMT into the established budgeting literature. MMT focuses primarily on monetarily sovereign governments. These are governments that face extremely “soft” budget constraints insofar as they: issue and regulate the value of their own currencies, possess central banks that function as the fiscal agents of their government treasuries, are able to issue sovereign debt denominated in their domestic currency, and operate in a system of freely‐floating currency exchange rates, with a minimum of currency and capital controls. National governments that are sovereign according to these criteria are able to make all debt service payments as they come due, virtually without regard to their level of outstanding debt; they cannot be forced to default against their will. They are also macroeconomically‐autonomous. It is the collective position of the symposium papers that these conditions describe, in precise terms, the fiscal position of the U.S. federal government. As such, the existence of an ultra‐soft U.S. government budget constraint is grounded in the extremely favorable conditions of money and credit that the federal government is subject to, and which in fact it has created and nurtured for itself since the Second World War. An important implication is that the federal level budgeting literature cannot ignore the macroeconomics and the administration of a sovereign currency regime, nor the monetary economics that ungirds it, without sustaining charges of unrealism.
On Spiritualist Workers: Healing and Divining through Tarot and the Metaphysical:

In the following article, I explore how tarot card readers (and other spiritualist workers) “control the future” to heal and empower their clients, emphasizing the porous roles of therapy and advoc...
Motivational network intervention to reduce substance use and increase supportive connections among formerly homeless emerging adults transitioning to housing: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Studies indicate high rates of substance use among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH). Further, the social networks of YEH, although multi-dimensional in composition, are largely comprised of other YEH, substance users, and individuals who do not provide the youth with tangible or emotional support. For YEH who have the opportunity to enter a housing program, helping them to reduce their substance use and strengthen their prosocial supportive connections during this critical transition period may increase their stability and reduce their risk of re-entering homelessness. The goal of this study is to pilot test a brief motivational network intervention (MNI), delivered by case managers, to help former YEH who have recently transitioned to a housing program reduce their substance use and strengthen their prosocial supportive connections. Up to 60 residents of housing programs in the Los Angeles area will be randomized to receive four sessions of usual case manager support or four sessions of case manager support + MNI. Each MNI session consists of three parts: (1) identifying two goals that are most important for the resident over the next year (e.g., get or keep a job, finish or stay in school, reduce substance use); (2) a network interview with the resident to capture network data pertaining to their interactions in the past 2 weeks; and (3) a discussion between the case manager and the resident of the resulting network visualizations, conducted in a Motivational Interviewing (MI) style, and what role the resident’s network may play in reaching their most important goals over the next year. This study addresses a critical gap by pilot testing a computer-assisted MNI, delivered using MI techniques, that can help case managers work with recent YEH to reduce substance use and increase permanent supportive connections during the critical transitional period from homelessness to housing. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04637815. Registered November 10, 2020.
Feasibility of Simulated Postcontrast MRI of Glioblastomas and Lower-Grade Gliomas by Using Three-dimensional Fully Convolutional Neural Networks.

Simulated postcontrast T1-weighted brain MR images derived from precontrast images by using a three-dimensional deep convolutional neural network closely resembled real postcontrast images of patie...
First Amendment Speech: Violence | Brown V. Entertainment Merchants Association (Presentation Slides)

These slides cover the First Amendment and its relationship to graphic violence. The case covered is Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association and it deals with a facial challenge to a California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors. The Supreme Court of the United States struck down the law as both over and under-inclusive and a violation of strict scrutiny.
Multidisciplinary Clinic Models: A Paradigm of Care for Management of NAFLD

The complex nature and comorbidities of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) highlights the need for a multidisciplinary care model. These multidisciplinary patient-centered models deliver personalized specialty care and improve efficiency and efficacy of therapy. In this paper, we review current models of multidisciplinary care teams and introduce a framework for building a comprehensive NAFLD program based on real-world experience within our institution.
Multiple Correspondence Analysis of Wrong-Way Driving Fatal Crashes on Freeways

The objective of this study is to identify clusters of contributing factors associated with the occurrence of wrong-way driving (WWD) fatal crashes on freeways using the multiple correspondence ana...
Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assays

Abstract The non-covalent biological bonds that constitute protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions play crucial roles in many cellular functions, including mitosis, motility, and cell-cell adhesion. The effect of external force (F) on the unbinding rate (koff(F)) of macromolecular interactions is a crucial parameter to understanding the mechanisms behind these functions. Optical tweezer-based single-molecule force spectroscopy is frequently used to obtain quantitative force-dependent dissociation data on slip, catch, and ideal bonds. However, analyses of this data using dissociation time or dissociation force histograms often quantitatively compare bonds without fully characterizing their underlying biophysical properties. Additionally, the results of histogram-based analyses can depend on the rate at which force was applied during the experiment and the experiment’s sensitivity. Here, we present an analytically derived cumulative distribution function-like approach to analyzing force-dependent dissociation force spectroscopy data. We demonstrate the benefits and limitations of the technique using stochastic simulations of various bond types. We show that it can be used to obtain the detachment rate and force sensitivity of biological macromolecular bonds from force spectroscopy experiments by explicitly accounting for loading rate and noisy data. We also discuss the implications of our results on using optical tweezers to collect force-dependent dissociation data.
Plague as an Emerging Disease

This chapter reviews the changing epidemiology of plague over the past several decades and discusses factors of plague emergence or re-emergence. Three biotypes of Yersinia pestis, classified according to their ability to ferment glycerol and reduce nitrate, are correlated with the three major plague pandemics of history. Effective strategies to prevent and control the spread of plague were made possible by an understanding of its ecology and epidemiology. Epidemiologic investigations revealed that, with rare exception, human-to-human plague transmission occurs only as a result of close contact of persons with a case of pneumonic plague and that contagious spread could be interrupted by isolating plague patients. Many of the natural foci of plague are being increasingly invaded by humans and are undergoing dramatic man-made environmental changes. Under some circumstances, a changing rural environment such as suburbanization in the southwestern United States may increase human risk. An important factor today in the epidemiology of plague is its entrenchment in natural rural cycles. The ability to detect, monitor, and respond to plague is based on a solid public health infrastructure. In addition to routine laboratory studies, there is an important role for advanced genetic techniques to define the molecular epidemiology of plague and to detect and characterize newly evolving traits, such as virulence factors and factors associated with antimicrobial resistance.
Genomic: Evolving Sound Treatments Using Genetic Algorithms

There are many systems for the evolution of creative musical material, that create and/or manipulate musical score data or synthesis parameters with a variety of techniques. This paper aims to add the technique of corpus-based sound sampling and processing to the list of applications used in conjunction with genetic algorithms. Genomic, a simple system for evolving sound treatment parameters, is presented, along with two simple use cases. Finally, a more complex process is outlined where sound treatment parameters are evolved and stored in a database with associated metadata for further organization and compositional use.
Water Clarity Simulant for K East Basin Filtration Testing

This document provides a simulant formulation intended to mimic the behavior of the suspended solids in the K East (KE) Basin fuel storage pool. The simulant will be used to evaluate alternative filtration apparatus to improve Basin water clarity and to possibly replace the existing sandfilter. The simulant was formulated based on the simulant objectives, the key identified parameters important to filtration, the composition and character of the KE Basin suspended sludge particles, and consideration of properties of surrogate materials.
A Knowledge Management Ontology

Knowledge-based organizations are hosts for multitudes of knowledge management episodes. Each episode is triggered by a knowledge need (or opportunity) and culminates with the satisfaction of that need (or its abandonment). Within an episode, one or more of the organization’s processors (human and/or computer-based) manipulate knowledge resources in various ways and subject to various influences in an effort to meet the need or take advantage of the opportunity. This chapter presents an extensive ontology of knowledge management. The ontology identifies and characterizes basic components of knowledge management episodes, the knowledge resources an organization uses in these episodes, a generic set of elemental knowledge manipulation activities that manifest within knowledge management episodes, and categories of influences on the conduct and outcomes of these episodes. This ontology was developed using conceptual synthesis and a collaborative methodology involving an international panel of researchers and practitioners in the knowledge management field. The ontology can serve as a common language for discourse about knowledge management. For researchers, it suggests issues that deserve investigation and concepts that must be considered in explorations of knowledge management episodes. For practitioners, the ontology provides a perspective on factors that need to be considered in the implementation of an organization’s knowledge management initiatives.
Recruitment in a pediatric clinical research trial targeting underserved populations: efforts and challenges (828.9)

Purpose: To describe recruitment difficulties in a pediatric clinical research trial targeting underserved populations. Methods: We planned a 6-month randomized clinical trial of glutamine and placebo to reduce HOMA_IR and weight gain in obese 12-19 yo adolescents. An estimated 264 patients had to be screened to recruit 66 with insulin levels 蠅15 microU/L. Participants were asked to come to 5 visits at the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) for 2-3 hrs at 8am and received cash incentives at each visit. Increased recruitment efforts were put in place with the help of trained student volunteers for 14 weeks (6/10-9/10). Subjects were recruited from BMC’s pediatric outpatient clinics including the pediatric obesity program which was staffed by members of the research team. Results: 2002 adolescents had scheduled clinic visits at BMC. 546 met initial BMI and age criteria. After further exclusions, 179 were eligible; of which 4 made an appointment for a screening visit (SV) and 175 were either not approac...
Commentary: “The Lake Wobegon Effect, a Natural Human Tendency to Overestimate One's Capabilities” (Wikipedia)

H aving read the article by Wolf and Wolf in this issue of The Milbank Quarterly, the oncologist part of me asks, “Where’s the beef?” This is typical care: Mrs. Wolf, an eightyyear-old former smoker but healthy woman, is found (serendipitously) to have a resectable lung cancer and is treated with a curative resection based on her physiological age rather than her chronological age, as suggested by most guidelines (Hurria 2013). Indeed, based on the evidence available when she was diagnosed (Henschke et al. 2006), screening is now recommended by the U.S. Preventive Health Services Task Force (Humphrey et al. 2013). Appropriately, Mrs. Wolf declined adjuvant chemotherapy, based on a somewhat informed choice. Then when her cancer recurred, she had a good response to chemotherapy, which lasted for at least four months. We have known for twenty years that compared with the best supportive care, chemotherapy gains the average person a few months of life and increases, from about 20 percent to about 50 percent, the chance of being alive one year later (ASCO 1997). The chemotherapy that Mrs. Wolf received, carboplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta R ©), is as successful as any other (Incollingo 2013; Patel, Socinski, and Garon 2012), and she likely did not have any nausea or lose her hair. Her recurrence was treated with FDA-approved erlotinib (Tarceva R ©) for second-line use in her type of lung cancer (NCI 2013). She got brain radiation and neck spine radiation, with fairly typical side effects. In
10 – TWO-WAY ANOVA

This chapter focuses on the two-way ANOVA design. Two-way ANOVA design means that there are two independent variables or factors, which are explained in this chapter with the example of a study to understand the effect of diet on weight gain in rats. The first factor is source of protein, which has two levels: beef and cereal. The second factor is amount of protein, which also has two levels: low and high. A more precise description is that there is 2-by-2 design that has two levels. The first factor is method and the second is diet. The first factor is method of teaching and the second is previous training. The main reason for describing the extension of the F-test to a two-way design is that it is commonly used, but its practical problems are relatively unknown and many popular computer programs have not yet added more modern methods to their library of techniques. Another reason for describing the conventional method is to be sure that readers understand the basic concepts and goals associated with two-way designs. There is one other important feature of a two-way design by considering again a 2-by-2 design where the goal is to compare high- and low-protein diets in conjunction with two protein sources.
Continuous monitoring and mini-environments: closing the environmental-control loop

A photolithography process has been designed for use at IBM's semiconductor manufacturing facility, in Essex Junction, Vermont that incorporates the use of mini-environments with continuous, real-time environmental monitoring and control. The goals for this system were to significantly reduce human contact with the process and product, isolate the tool environment, and continuously monitor all relevant environmental parameters, including airborne particle contamination, ambient air temperature, and relative humidity. Implementing this system has provided a new level of isolation between product and the operator. With this isolation and tight environmental control, an improvement in cleanliness of two orders of magnitude relative to the, clean room aisle has been achieved. Continuous monitoring of environmental parameters adds a means of maintaining and optimizing the systems performance. Investigations made into the correlations between a variety of environmental factors and process performance are discussed. >
So Many Recalls, So Little Research: A Review of the Literature and Road Map for Future Research

Although the literature on product recalls is informative, our understanding of these events is still in its infancy. To promote and guide future research in this nascent area, we engaged in a two-step process that included a systematic review and categorization of product recall-related literature and interviews with executives from along the entire supply chain. By oscillating between findings in the literature and themes that emerged during our interactions with executives, we discovered several research opportunities that have yet to be systematically examined by scholars. We also highlight four underutilized theories in supply chain management research—upper echelons theory, punctuated equilibrium theory, enactment theory, and justice theory—that could help guide future research in this area. For managers, this study reveals insights related to four key aspects of product recalls: (1) recall precursors (factors that may lead to recalls); (2) the recall process; (3) the impact of recalls; and (4) mitigation approaches (mechanisms firms can employ to reduce the impact of recalls). For scholars, our study identifies several emergent research opportunities and theoretical lenses in the same four areas and thus serves as a road map for future product recall research
Surgery of chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive disease of multiple etiologies. Surgery is frequently indicated for relief of debilitating pain as well as to address other complications, and three operations have proven effective. The pancreatico-duodenectomy (Whipple) procedure results in excellent long-term pain relief, but is associated with a low mortality rate and a persistent risk of early and late complications. The duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) introduced by Beger et al, and the local resection of the pancreatic head with longitudinal pancreatico-jejunostomy (LR-LPJ) devised by Frey, achieve the same high rate of pain relief long term but are associated with lower rates of perioperative complications and a decreased incidence of diabetes long term. All 3 operations address the head of the pancreas as the nidus of persistent inflammation, and all 3 achieve success with both dilated and nondilated duct disease. The LR-LPJ has a lower risk of perioperative problems and may be easier to perform.
Imaging the flanks of the salt dome

One of the first problems to be solved while exploring salt domes is the determination of the steeply dipping salt-sediment interface [the salt flank). This is perhaps the most important feature of a salt dome. Until recently seismic methods to locate salt flanks have ranged from velocity-contrast-based (nonreflection) techniques to inverse-ray-tracingbased (reflection) techniques. In this paper, new solution for a constant velocity gradient sedimentary section is demonstrated. Plane-wave propagation in a constant-velocity medium is generalized to planewave propagation in a constant-gradient medium. Central to this technique is an exact solution for wave front propagation. Based on this solution, a forward modeling algorithm using the exploding reflector concept has been developed. Next, the inverse problem (migration) is attacked with a “reverse operation” to the forward modeling calculations. This procedure is found to handle t,he turning rays that result from refraction in the presence of strong vertical velocity gradients. While the example in this paper uses a salt dome model, the technique is general and can be applied to any complex subsurface with steep or overhanging interfaces.
RGS17: an emerging therapeutic target for lung and prostate cancers

Ligands for G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent approximately 50% of currently marketed drugs. RGS proteins modulate heterotrimeric G proteins and, thus, GPCR signaling, by accelerating the intrinsic GTPase activity of the Gα subunit. Given the prevalence of GPCR targeted therapeutics and the role RGS proteins play in G protein signaling, some RGS proteins are emerging as targets in their own right. One such RGS protein is RGS17. Increased RGS17 expression in some prostate and lung cancers has been demonstrated to support cancer progression, while reduced expression of RGS17 can lead to development of chemotherapeutic resistance in ovarian cancer. High-throughput screening is a powerful tool for lead compound identification, and utilization of high-throughput technologies has led to the discovery of several RGS inhibitors, thus far. As screening technologies advance, the identification of novel lead compounds the subsequent development of targeted therapeutics appears promising.
Hedge funds: Omniscient or just plain wrong☆

Abstract The objective of this paper is to set a framework for a reasoned discussion of hedge funds. I shall first describe what they are and what they do. The compensation arrangements for hedge funds would appear to encourage risk-taking behavior that generates extraordinary returns. Interestingly enough, hedge fund returns are not extraordinary. They are not the gunslinging risk-takers of public perception. In fact, an analysis of the events of 1997 suggest, if anything, that they were somewhat gun-shy. We shall examine why this is the case. We shall conclude by examining their widely publicized role in the Asian currency crisis.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: treatment outcomes for a Kuwaiti child

Children who experience political violence and wars are vulnerable to different sorts of psychological reactions. Unfortunately, cultural constraints and the stigma attached to therapy may prevent these children from receiving needed treatment. This study presents a case of a child with PTSD where a single subject design was used to measure treatment outcomes. The design enabled the social worker to assess, monitor and measure the course of treatment. The advantages of applying the design in clinical intervention in other cultures are highlighted.
High-Frequency Domain-Wall Motion and Magnetization Rotation of Patterned Permalloy Films under External Magnetic Field Excitation

The incorporation of ferromagnetic materials into integrated microwave devices is a promising approach for the development of on-chip high-performance circuit components. Therefore, high-frequency domain-wall motion and magnetization rotation, which yield permeability, are of primar interst. However, so far it has not been attempted to physically separate high-frequency domain-wall motion and magnetization rotation that are under high-frequency magnetic field excitation. Nor have there attempts for the corresponding characterizations. In this work, patterned permalloy films are integrated with on-chip microstrip lines. Domain-wall motion and magnetization rotation are separated through aspect ratio and dimension control. The measured results show that high-frequency-field driven domain-wall motion is fast, different from current driven domain-wall motion. It is also shown that coupling effects are not important when the distance between two adjacent permalloy films is ∼ 1 μm despite their large lateral dimensions. The experimental results agree with simulation results.
Tuning the optical properties of a water-soluble cationic poly(p-phenylenevinylene): surfactant complexation with a conjugated polyelectrolyte.

In this work, we investigate the emission and absorbance properties of the novel water-soluble cationic conjugated polymer poly{2,5-bis[3-(N,N,N-triethylammonium bromide)-1-oxapropyl]-1,4-phenylenevinylene}, denoted here as P2, in the presence of varying amounts of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). We show that the absolute photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE), the absorption wavelength, and the emission wavelength of an aqueous solution of P2 can be adjusted according to the surfactant/polymer ratio in aqueous solution. In particular, we show that the addition of SDS to P2 increases the polyelectrolyte's PLQE to ∼40%. An observed red shift in the emission spectra upon addition of the surfactant is attributed to the reduction in electrostatic repulsive interactions between side chains that minimize the benzene ring twisting along the backbone structure. At the surfactant's critical micelle concentration, the P2 chains wrap around the outer surface of the SDS micelles. This work ha...
Leading in the innovation zone

Innovation can no longer be relegated to one isolated part of the organization or to any one group of people. Innovation is not just a matter of encouraging more ideas when times are tough or when capital is abundant. Innovation is a matter of encouraging and quickly capturing ideas from wherever and whenever they may appear in an organization. Here's how to think in terms of delineating an Innovation Zone - a protected space in an organization, an industry, or even a geography where the process of ideation can flourish no matter what the context.
Role of Pregastric Esterase in the Abomasal Hydrolysis of Milk Fat in the Young Calf

Summary The hydrolysis of milk fat in the abomasum of the young calf was studied. Whole milk either was nipple-fed (oral feeding) or was placed directly into the abomasum (abomasal feeding). The purpose of the latter system was to minimize the entrance of pregastric esterase. At 1, 2, and 3 hr. after feeding, the contents of the abomasum were sampled and analyzed for total free fatty acids (FFA). The FFA from the oral-fed samples were also separated into three fractions: butyric, valeric, and higher fatty acids. The mean concentrations of total FFA (μ M /5g. contents) were as follows for the oral and abomasal systems of feeding, respectively: 1 hr., 86, 19; 2 hr., 101, 20; and 3 hr., 120, 30. For the oral-fed samples, the mean concentrations of butyric, valeric, and higher fatty acids were as follows, respectively: 1 hr., 34, 7, 53; 2 hr., 19, 4, 77; and 3 hr., 11, 3, 119.
Performance of stock assessments with misspecified age- and time-varying natural mortality

Abstract Natural mortality ( M ) in fish likely varies with age (size) and among years, and while M is often assumed constant over these factors in stock assessments, several methods have been applied to estimate age- or year-specific values. Including age- or time-varying M in stock assessments, however, may not produce less biased parameter estimates, despite the increased realism. Two generic fish populations (long- and short-lived) subject to size- and year-varying M were simulated, along with data used to fit statistical catch-at-age (SCAA) models. The SCAA models assumed M was constant, age-varying, or year-varying, and the bias in estimates of spawning stock biomass ( SSB ), fully selected fishing mortality ( F ), and recruitment was recorded. The scale and trends among years in the bias of parameter estimates were generally driven by how the true values of M varied among years and how M was treated in the SCAA model. Bias was unaffected by how fishing mortality rates varied among years. The scale and trends among years in the bias of parameter estimates were generally similar when specifying a constant M and an age-varying M in the SCAA model. Using an annually varying M in the SCAA model generally improved the scale, and reduced trends among years in the bias of parameter estimates relative to constant M and age-varying M . Trends among years in bias were generally more pronounced for estimates of SSB than recruitment for long-lived life history simulations, but the opposite was true for short-lived life history simulations. These results suggested that the biases induced by not accounting for age-variation in M are likely secondary to those caused by the misspecification of temporal trends (trend and annual fluctuations in this case) in M . More time should be dedicated to accounting for temporal shifts in M than accounting for age-variation in M . The consequences of misspecification of M may also partially depend on life history.
Activity of pulmonary intravascular macrophages in cats and dogs with and without adult Dirofilaria immitis

Pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs), large (20-80 microm diameter) monocytes are present in sheep, pigs, and horses, but not in dogs, rats, rabbits, or primates. The present study evaluated the phagocytic activity of various organs in cats and dogs and determined the influence of Dirofilaria immitis infections on PIM activity. Live or dead adult heartworm (HW) was transplanted via jugular venotomy into cats and dogs. Cats (four per group) were allocated to five groups: surgical controls--no HW, dead HW for 1 week, live HW for 1 week, dead HW for 3 weeks, or live HW for 3 weeks. Radioactive technetium (Tc-99m, 1.2mCi in 0.3ml) sulfa-colloid was injected intravenously. All cats with HW were clinically asymptomatic and developed radiographic pulmonary parenchymal changes. No gross changes were visible at necropsy for cats with HW; inflammatory changes were less severe in cats with live HW. In cats with dead HW for 3 weeks, worms were present but folded, flattened, and located in distal pulmonary arteries. Uninfected control dogs and those with dead HW did not demonstrate any PIM activity. In control cats, lungs were the primary phagocytic organ after systemic IV colloid injection (72.5% of the total recovered radioactive dose). The lung and liver together represented over 95% of the recovered Tc-99m colloid in all cats. In each group of cats with HW, phagocytic activity of the lung was significantly less (p < 0.001) than the PIM activity of controls. Cats with dead HW at 1 week (50.1%) had a significant (p < 0.019) decrease in PIM activity compared with cats with dead HW at 3 weeks (59.5%). The PIM activity in cats with live HW was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) from that in groups with dead HW, but there was no significant difference between the two groups infected with live worms. There were no significant differences in recovery between any groups in pairwise analysis of the spleen, heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, bone marrow, or blood. Significant increases (p < 0.001) in liver activity for each group inversely reflected the decreased lung activity; consistent with increased hepatic uptake of Tc colloid "escaping" a relatively suppressed lung macrophage system. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed PIM glycocalyx changes and vacuolization, moderate Type 1 cell damage and Type II cell hypertrophy in cats with dead HW. There was no evidence of PIM death. The significant decrease in PIM activity in groups with dead HW and a greater decrease in groups with live HW are consistent with a down-regulation of PIM function in cats with live HW.
The Effect of Advertising Appeals in Activating Self-Construals: A Case of Bicultural Chinese Generation X Consumers

Adopting a dynamic constructivist approach to culture (Hong and Chiu 2001), this project examined the effect of advertising appeals in activating self-construals among Chinese Generation X consumers. In Study 1, the bicultural disposition of this generation was evident when its salient self-construals were found to shift toward independence or interdependence in response to individualistic versus collectivistic advertisements. Study 2 demonstrated further that this self-shifting effect emerged only among bicultural Generation X individuals. Specifically, compared to when exposed to collectivistic ads, when exposed to individualistic ads, low biculturals (low in both individualistic and collectivistic orientation measures) responded with more independent self-construals, whereas high biculturals (high in both orientation measures) responded with more interdependent self-construals. Overall, these results are consistent with the theoretical expectation about the impact of globalization on biculturalism. Mor...
The crystal and molecular structure of 9-methylphenanthro[4,3-a]dibenzothiophene

The crystal structure of 9-methylphenanthro[4,3-a]dibenzothiophene, C25H16S, Mr = 348.47, has been determined. Monoclinic, P21/c, a = 11.364(3), b, = 14.257(3), c = 11.575(2)A, β = 116.26(2)°, V = 1681.9(7)A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.38 g/cc, MoKα radiation λ = .71069 A, F(000) = 728, T = 163K, R = .0458 for 2330 reflections. The structure compares favorably with that of hexahelicene and methylated derivatives. The thiophene moiety increases the helical core radius and decreases the pitch with respect to hexahelicene and its derivatives.
45°/0° Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Standard Development

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is a white fluoropolymer resin that can be represented by the chemical expression [CF2-CF2]fl. These resins are internationally used in the field of diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry. Many applications, such as 450/0° Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) standards, are dependent on a specialized method of sample preparation. An experimental method has been developed which includes a technique for transforming aggregates of PTFE resins into a fine high quality aerated powder. This paper documents our progress in the characterization of the properties of pressed PTFE powders for potential use in BRDF standards developement: selecting PTFE resins, pulverizing PTFE resins, pressing PTFE powders, and measuring the BRDF's of samples with different surface conditions.
A Cyclic Microbend Study on LIGA Ni Microelectromechanical Systems Thin Films

This paper presents the results of recent studies of cyclic microbend experiments and their consequences for plasticity length-scale phenomena in LIGA Ni microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) thin films. The strain-life fatigue behavior of LIGA Ni thin films is studied by performing fully reversed cyclic microbend experiments that provide insights into cyclic stress/strain evolution and cyclic failure phenomena. The effects of cyclic deformation on the plasticity length-scale parameters are also considered within the context of strain gradient plasticity theories. The implications of the results are then discussed for the analysis of plasticity and cyclic deformation in MEMS structures and other microscale systems.
Changes in ribo- and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools within the cell cycle of a synchronized moused fibroblast cell line

Abstract Intracellular pool levels of ribo- and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates were monitored throughout the cell cycle of C3H10T1/2 mouse embryo fibrolast cells synchronized by isoleucine deprivation. Absolute pool sizes of ribonucleoside triphosphates were approximately 30 fold greater than those of the corresponding deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. Of the ribonucleoside triphosphates, pool sizes of ATP exhibited the greatest change, increasing from a low of 32.7 nmol/107 cells during G1 to a high of 81.6 nmol/107 cells 2 h prior to mid S-phase. Levels of ATP subsequently declined to 40.2 nmol/107 cells during late S-phase, followed by a second peak of 65.8 nmol/107 with the onset of cell division. No significant changes in the pool sizes of UTP and GTP were found throughout the cell cycle. Of the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, pool sizes of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates were approx. 5–10 fold greater than those of purine deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. Low levels of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates during G1 (0.3–1.3 pmol/107 cells) increased coordinately with the initiation of DNA synthesis to an initial peak during mid S-phase (0.5–6.4 pmol/107 cells). Decling levels of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates during late S-phase were followed by a subsequent larger second peak (1.7–10.7 pmol/107 cells) during G2-M.
Midazolam co-induction and laryngeal mask insertion

We have studied the effect of alfentanil and midazolam+alfentanil on the conditions for laryngeal mask airway insertion in patients receiving propofol for induction of anaesthesia. Ninety unpremedicated. ASA 1 or 2 adult patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups: group P received propofol only (2.5 mg.kg-1); group PA received alfentanil (10 micrograms.kg-1) followed by propofol (1.25 mg.kg-1); group PMA received midazolam (0.04 mg.kg-1) and alfentanil (10 micrograms.kg-1) followed by propofol (1.25 mg.kg-1). Further boluses of propofol (0.25 mg.kg-1 every 15 s) were given if the initial dose was inadequate for induction of anaesthesia. Patients in the midazolam+alfentanil group required less propofol (p < 0.001), had better mouth opening (p < 0.001) and fewer undesired responses to laryngeal mask airway insertion (p < 0.001) than the other two groups.
Implementation of a Lung Cancer-Screening Program

The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated that lung cancer screening with three annual low-dose CT scans has the potential to reduce lung cancer-specific mortality by 20 % among a population of older heavy smokers. Many questions should be raised to convert this efficacy into effective clinical practice. Screening for lung cancer will be most effective if it is conducted solely for high-risk individuals that can benefit from cancer treatment. Ongoing screening should be accompanied by continued research into risk modeling, communication strategies, and biomarkers. For clinicians establishing lung cancer screening programs, this should be done responsibly, adhering to practices specified in the design of the NLST, and with careful attention given to proper management of screen-detected abnormalities and maintenance of screening registries.
Nonveridical heart rate feedback and emotional attribution

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of nonveridical heart rate feedback on perceived affect and actual heart rate change. Dentally anxious subjects were presented with either increasing or decreasing nonveridical heart rate feedback while they were viewing a videotape of a provocative dental procedure. Dentally anxious males in the decrease condition responded to the dental procedure with less unpleasantness than did dentally anxious males in the increase condition. No comparable effect was found for females. In addition, subjects in the decrease condition demonstrated a small decrease in actual heart rate across dental segments, whereas subjects in the increase condition demonstrated a small increase in actual heart rate across dental segments. These findings are discussed in terms of a cognitive appraisal theory of emotion and a mechanism that may account for the effects of veridical feedback on perceived affect.
Development of an advanced electromagnetic gun barrel

An advanced electromagnetic gun (AEMG) barrel was developed for the US Air Force Wright Laboratory (Armament Directorate) to repetitively accelerate large mass projectiles. The AEMG barrel used 5-m rails, had a 50-mm square bore, and was designed to operate at a peak current of 1.5 MA (bore pressure 25 ksi). Key technical achievements included (1) an efficient barrel containment structure that weighs approximately 25% of a similarly rated clamped barrel; (2) an insulator material that retains surface resistivity after repeated firings; and (3) a high-velocity water cooling system designed to remove a peak heat flux of 5 MJ/m/sup 2/ per shot. A 2-m prototype of the AEMG barrel was tested in a 4-MJ electromagnetic launcher test facility. >
An Earlier Date for “Cramer's Rule”

Abstract Carl B. Boyer has shown that Colin Maclaurin published “Cramer's Rule” two years before Gabriel Cramer and conjectured that Maclaurin knew the technique as early as 1729. This note establishes Boyer's conjecture through a heretofore unpublished manuscript in the Edinburgh University Library. Copyright 1999 Academic Press. Carl B. Boyer demontre que Colin Maclaurin publia “la Regle de Cramer" deux ans avant Gabriel Cramer, et specule que Maclaurin fut en possession de la technique des 1729. Cette note-ci etablit la conjecture de Boyer grâce a un manuscrit qui se trouve dans la Bibliotheque de l'Universite d'Edimbourg et qui est jusqu'ici inedit. Copyright 1999 Academic Press. AMS Subject Classification: 01A50.
Tourismification of Historical Cities

Abstract This Department publishes research notes, conference reports, reports on the work of public agencies and associations, field (industry) reports, and other relevant topics and timely issues.
Urban Food Webs: Predators, Prey, and the People Who Feed Them

A prevailing image of the city is of the steel and concrete downtown skyline. The more common ex‐ perience of urban residents, however, is a place of irrigated and fertilized green spaces, such as yards, gardens, and parks, surrounding homes and business‐ es where people commonly feed birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. Within these highly human-modified environments, researchers are becoming increasingly curious about how fundamental ecological phenom‐ ena play out, such as the feeding relationships among species. While food webs have long provided a tool for organizing information about feeding relation‐ ships and energy flows through natural habitats, they have not been applied to urban ecosystems until re‐ cently (Faeth et al. 2005).
Serotonin decreases aggression via 5-HT1A receptors in the fighting fish Betta splendens

The role of the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) in the modulation of conspecific aggression in the fighting fish (Betta splendens) was investigated using pharmacological manipulations. We used a fish's response to its mirror image as our index of aggressive behavior. We also investigated the effects of some manipulations on monoamine levels in the B. splendens brain. Acute treatment with 5-HT and with the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT both decreased aggressive behavior; however, treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 did not increase aggression. Chronic treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine caused no significant changes in aggressive behavior and a significant decline in 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations. Treatment with the serotonin synthesis inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine resulted in no change in aggression, yet serotonergic activity decreased significantly. Finally, a diet supplemented with L-tryptophan (Trp), the precursor to 5-HT, showed no consistent effects on aggressive behavior or brain monoamine concentrations. These results suggest a complex role for serotonin in the expression of aggression in teleost fishes, and that B. splendens may be a useful model organism in pharmacological and toxicological studies.
Social and economic consequences of obstetric fistula: life changed forever?

Abstract Objectives To summarize the social, economic, emotional, and psychological consequences incurred by women with obstetric fistula; present the results of a meta-analysis for 2 major consequences, divorce/separation and perinatal loss; and report on improvements in health and self-esteem and on the possibility of social reintegration following successful fistula repair. Methods We conducted a review of the literature published between 1985 and 2005 on fistula in developing countries. We then performed a meta-analysis for 2 of the major consequences of having a fistula, divorce/separation and perinatal child loss. Results Studies suggest that surgical treatment usually closes the fistula and improves the physical and mental health of affected women. Conclusion With additional social support and counseling, women may be able to successfully reintegrate socially following fistula repair.
Higher-order subtyping and its decidability

We define the typed lambda calculus F^ω (F-omega-meet), a natural generalization of Girard's system Fω (F-omega) with intersection types and bounded polymorphism. A novel aspect of our presentation is the use of term rewriting techniques to present intersection types, which clearly splits the computational semantics (reduction rules) from the syntax (inference rules) of the system. We establish properties such as Church-Rosser for the reduction relation on types and terms, and strong normalization for the reduction on types. We prove that types are preserved by computation (subject reduction), and that the system satisfies the minimal types property. We define algorithms for type checking and subtype checking. The development culminates with the proof of decidability of typing in F^ω, containing the first proof of decidability of subtyping of a higher-order lambda calculus with subtyping.