cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-consistent cluster theories for alloys with diagonal and off-diagonal disorder

The molecular coherent-potential approximation (MCPA) and other, simpler cluster approximations for disordered alloys are studied both analytically and numerically for alloys with diagonal and off-diagonal disorder (ODD). First, the MCPA for alloys with only diagonal disorder is rederived within the interactor formalism of Blackman, Esterling, and Berk. This formalism, which simplifies the numerical implementation of the MCPA, is then used to generalize the MCPA so as to take account of ODD. It is shown that the analytic properties of the MCPA are preserved under this generalization. Also, two computationally simple cluster approximations, the self-consistent central-site approximation (SCCSA) and the self-consistent boundary-site approximation (SCBSA), are generalized to include the effects of ODD. It is shown that for one-dimensional systems with only nearest-neighbor hopping the SCBSA yields Green's functions which are identical to those given by the MCPA and thus are analytic, even in the presence of ODD. Finally, the results of numerical calculations are reported for one-dimensional systems with only nearest-neighbor hopping but with both diagonal and off-diagonal disorder. These calculations were performed using the single-site approximation of Blackman, Esterling, and Berk and three different cluster approximations---the multishell method previously proposed by the authors, the SCCSA, and the SCBSA. The results of these calculations are compared with exact results and with previous results obtained using the truncated -$t$-matix approximation and the recent method of Kaplan and Gray. These comparisons suggest that the multishell method and the generalization of the SCBSA given in this paper are more efficient and accurate for the calculation of densities of states for systems with ODD. On the other hand, as expected, the SCCSA was found to yield severely nonanalytic results for the values of band parameters used.
The Chinese hospital: A socialist work unit

her husband, Myron Cohen, was a fellow in infectious diseases. They describe and discuss their infectious disease ward as a medical facility and their hospital as an example of a modern Chinese social/political/economic "work unit" (danwei). Their general social commentary extends well beyond medicine. Although the heavily footnoted academic style is not the stuff of Steven Spielberg films, the subject and the observations are fascinating. The book alternates between two distinct modes. Approximately 60 pages present data from the hospital and experiences from the ward. Detailed summaries explain administration, finances, patient load, and personnel practices at this institution. A survey of 82 patients referred for admission to the infectious disease ward covers such information as diagnosis, length of stay, and type of insurance. In several specific exam¬ ples, the authors marvel at the clini¬ cal acumen of Chinese physicians who have access to few diagnostic tests. At the same time, they criticize the fre¬ quent overuse of unnecessary or inef¬ fectual treatments without critical evaluation. This kernel of information and insightful personal experience is em¬ bedded in the book's other mode, a cocoon of alien sociology. Illuminat¬ ing anecdotes on job assignments or personal privacy are entangled in repetitive interpretations regarding "voice-exit options" or group dynam¬ ics. Concrete descriptions of Chinese reality are strangely juxtaposed to Western sociological constructs. The "data" and the "theory" seem immis¬ cible. The authors obviously had an enthralling experience and a good relationship with their hosts, judging by the quality of information that their danwei shared with them. This account of their experiences is a piece of the chronicle of our rediscovery of China. To generalize from their Chi¬
Developmental trends in reading behavior.

(1950). Developmental Trends in Reading Behavior. The Pedagogical Seminary and Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 76, No. 2, pp. 291-312.
In vitro transcription of Drosophila ribosomal genes using Drosophila RNA polymerases.

Abstract Drosophila RNA polymerases I & II were used to transcribe a recombinant bacterial plasmid containing one copy of Drosophila ribosomal DNA. Both supercoiled and relaxed, closed circular plasmids were used. With Mg +2 as the divalent cation, enzyme I is much more active on both forms of the plasmid; the relaxed form in particular supports almost no RNA synthesis by enzyme II. When Mn +2 is present, differences in template efficiencies are minimal. The differences observed in the absence of Mn +2 seem to depend only on different preferences for the physical state of the template and not on recognition of specific promotor sequences, since enzyme I shows no strand selection when transcribing these plasmids.
Resonance Raman scattering in Cu2O at the blue and indigo excitons

Abstract The resonance enhancement of five Raman lines of Cu 2 O has been measured in the vicinity of the blue and indigo excitons. The experimental results show qualitative agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Point Mutations in Anthrax Protective Antigen That Block Translocation

The protective antigen (PA) moiety of anthrax toxin delivers the toxin's enzymatic moieties to the cytosol of mammalian cells by a mechanism associated with its ability to heptamerize and form a transmembrane pore. Here we report that mutations in Lys-397, Asp-425, or Phe-427 ablate killing of CHO-K1 cells by a cytotoxic PA ligand. These mutations blocked PA's ability to mediate pore formation and translocation in cells but had no effect on its receptor binding, proteolytic activation, or ability to oligomerize and bind the toxin's enzymatic moieties. The mutation-sensitive residues lie in the 2β7-2β8 and 2β10-2β11 loops of domain 2 and are distant both in primary structure and topography from the 2β2-2β3 loop, which is believed to participate in formation of a transmembrane β-barrel. These results suggest that Lys-397, Asp-425, and Phe-427 participate in conformational rearrangements of a heptameric pore precursor that are necessary for pore formation and translocation. Identification of these residues will aid in elucidating the mechanism of translocation and may be useful in developing therapeutic and prophylactic agents against anthrax.
Analysis of magnetic amplifiers using a resistive reactor model

The lack of a simple and reasonably accurate model for the behavior of magnetic materials has been the major source of difficulty in all the attempts to analyse and predict the behavior of magnetic amplifiers. In several cases, even a qualitative understanding of the operation of certain circuits was impossible to achieve because of the lack of such a model.
A network study exploring factors that promote or erode interaction among diverse community health workers in rural Ethiopia

Task shifting in response to the health workforce shortage has resulted in community-based health workers taking on increasing responsibility. Community health workers are expected to work collaboratively, though they are often a heterogeneous group with a wide range of training and experience. Interpersonal relationships are at the very core of effective teamwork, yet relational variables have seldom been the focus of health systems research in low resource, rural settings. This article helps fill this knowledge gap by exploring the dyadic level, or relational, characteristics of community maternal and newborn health workers and the individual and collective influence of these characteristics on interaction patterns. Network data were collected from community health workers (N = 194) in seven rural kebeles of Amhara region, Ethiopia from November 2011 to January 2012. Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure was used to fit regression models for frequency of work interactions, a proxy for teamwork. Strong and consistent evidence was found in support of Trust and Past training together as important relational factors for work interactions; less consistent evidence was found across sites in support of Homophily, Distance and Shared motivations. Our findings also point to a typology of network structure across sites, where one set of networks was characterized by denser and stronger health worker ties relative to their counterparts. Our results suggest that the development of interventions that promote trust and incorporate cross-cadre training is an important step in encouraging collective action. Moreover, assessing the structure of health worker networks may be an effective means of evaluating health systems strengthening efforts in rural, low-resource settings.
An effective methodology for teaching service operations management

Teaching operations management from a service perspective using only the traditional lecturing techniques can be very challenging. This subject can be boring and students may not appreciate the importance of service operations management, especially if their major is not management. Field projects can be powerful teaching tools as many service operations are accessible and familiar to students. This paper defines an effective methodology to teach service operations management. The methodology is based on conducting real-world projects in local businesses for every major topic covered in the course. The students in a survey rated the real-world projects as the best learning activity followed by the instructor presentations that included extensive pictures and personal experiences. The students also reported that they enjoyed the class and believed that it will be helpful for them in their capstone courses and future career.
Duty, Honor, Country, Disparity: Race/Ethnic Differences in Health and Disability Among Male Veterans

Given their unique occupational hazards and sizable population, military veterans are an important population for the study of health. Yet veterans are by no means homogeneous, and there are unanswered questions regarding the extent of, and explanations for, racial and ethnic differences in veterans' health. Using the 2010 National Survey of Veterans, we first documented race/ethnic differences in self-rated health and limitations in Activities of Daily Living among male veterans aged 30-84. Second, we examined potential explanations for the disparities, including socioeconomic and behavioral differences, as well as differences in specific military experiences. We found that Black, Hispanic, and other/multiple race veterans reported much worse health than White veterans. Using progressively adjusted regression models, we uncovered that the poorer self-rated health and higher levels of activity limitations among minority veterans compared to Whites was partially explained by differences in their socioeconomic status and by their military experiences. Minority veterans are a vulnerable population for poor health; future research and policy efforts should attempt to better understand and ameliorate their health disadvantages relative to White veterans.
Visual and Auditory Sequence Learning in Hearing-Impaired Children

Two hearing impaired groups, one diagnosed as deaf, the other as aphasic, at two age levels, CA 6–7 and CA 10–11, with 8 subjects in each group, were compared to a control hearing group of 16 subje...
Fear and Prejudice in U.S.—Japan Relations

At the time of writing, Dower observed mounting tension in U.S.-Japan relations. He identified two factors as contributing to mutual fear: differences in capitalism on national and international levels, and stereotypical perceptions based on racial phobias. The author describes major characteristics inducing pessimism based on rational fears concerning economic well-being, national pride, and “cultural values.” While densely intertwined economically, financially, militarily, and personally, both actors' abiding suspicion of one another has created a sense of impending crisis.
Characterization of grafting in the emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate using poly(vinyl alcohol) as stabilizer

Emulsion polymerizations of vinyl acetate (VAc) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as emulsifier were carried out by both batch and semicontinuous processes. The extent of grafting of vinyl acetate onto the PVA chains was investigated by a new method for separating the various polymer fractions in high solids content latexes. The quantification was carried out by a three-step separation and selective solubilization of the PVAc latexes. After the separation, the water-soluble PVA and the solvent-soluble PVAc components were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and 13C–NMR, from which the accuracy of this method was verified. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1739–1747, 2001
The Gran Poder and the Reconquest of La Paz

En este articulo se analizan las enormes transformaciones en el uso del espacio publico occuridas en La Paz, Bolivia, en los ultimos anos y los variados significados atribuidos a las mismas En primer lugar, una revision de la historia colonial de la ciudad revela una geografia de tipo racial impuesta por los espanoles, afectando sobre todo a la comunidad aymara de Chuquiago. Seguidamente, se analiza el impacto de la masiva migracion indigena desde el campo a la capital a principios del siglo XX, tomando como foco la festividad del Gran Poder y su ambivalente relacion a las fuerzas dominantes de la sociedad boliviana de la epoca. Esta fiesta se convirtio en vehiculo poderoso de movilizacion de la nueva poblacion urbana; en complejo aparato discursivo que reflejaba las identidades raciales y etnicas en formacion. En consecuencia, el Gran Poder no fue simplemente un barometro de cambio de la sociedad boliviana, sino tambien un evento constitutivo de la misma. Finalmente, este articulo demuestra que la "indianizacion" de La Paz que ha acompanado la aceptacion gradual de la susdicha fiesta ha crecido paralelamente al indigenismo resurgente, el cual ha culiminado en la eleccion de Evo Morales a la presidencia del pais en el 2005.
Emergency department discharges against medical advice.

Abstract A retrospective chart review was performed on 52 consecutive discharges against medical advice (AMA) from an emergency department. The study's objective was to assess documentation of the medical record as well as the patients' perceptions of their experience. Sixty-seven percent of the charts reflected the competence of the patient. The physicians documented that the patients understood their diagnosis (36%), proposed treatment (44%), alternative therapy (2%), and the clinical consequences of refusal (57%). The discharge instructions included a referral to a physician 62% of the time. A post-visit survey contacting 46% of the group revealed that 82% of these respondents left because they didn't agree with the physician's management plan, although 70% of the patients were either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their interaction with the physician. These results suggest that more attention and better documentation needs to be directed to the patient who is leaving the emergency department against medical advice.
Comparison of duplex scanning and contrast arteriography: A community hospital experience

In this study the results of ultrasonic scanning combined with spectral analysis (duplex scanning) are compared with contrast arteriograms. From an initial experience of more than 1000 duplex examinations 78 patients were identified who had independently interpreted carotid arteriograms within 1 month of their duplex study. Duplex and arteriogram reports were then compared on 156 individual carotid arteries. This study demonstrated that duplex scanning can identify hemodynamically significant carotid lesions with a high degree of accuracy. These lesions of greater than 50% diameter reduction were recognized with a sensitivity and specificity of 95%, compared with contrast radiography. We were also able to distinguish carotid occlusion with an accuracy of 93% (10 of 11). These results independently confirm the findings of other investigators and demonstrate the validity of duplex scanning in a community hospital as an accurate noninvasive examination in cerebral vascular disease.
Forbidden matrix proton spin flip satelites in 70 GHz ESP spectra of solvated electrons. A geometrical model for the solvated electron in Methanol glass

Abstract Proton spin flip satellites have been observed for the first time in the ESR spectrum of solvated electrons in methanol glass at 70 GHz and ≈ 1.5 K. Analysis indicates a solvated electron structure characterized by an electron to OH proton distance of 2.28 ± 0.15 A and 4 ± 2 equivalent first solvation shell methanol molecules. A geometrical model for the solvated electron in methanol glass is suggested.
Polymer-protected palladium nanoparticles. Morphologies and catalytic selectivities

Colloidal palladium nanocatalysts prepared by in situ reductions of palladium chloride were immobilized and protected by either of two water-soluble polymers. The particle sizes and size distributions of the palladium colloids were determined by transmission electron microscopy. Their selectivities as catalysts were determined by comparing the extents of hydrogenation of carefully chosen pairs of small-molecule olefins. There was found to be high hydrogenation selectivity with regard to cyclic vs. noncyclic olefins. Selectivity was relatively low, however, among olefins that differed only in size (such as hexene vs. octene), or olefins differing only with regard to the positions of the double bonds (such as 1-octene vs. 3-octene). Selectivity could be improved by careful choice of the immobilizing polymer, and by its use at relatively high concentrations.
Stress dependence of the mechanism of the olivine–spinel transformation

OLIVINE, α-(Mg,Fe)2SiO4, is the most abundant phase in the Earth's upper mantle. It transforms to high-density polymorphs (α, with the spinel structure and β, with a modified spinel structure) under pressure and temperature conditions appropriate to explain the discontinuity in seismic velocities that defines the base of the upper mantle at 400km depth; the transformation is generally believed to be responsible for that discontinuity1. Knowledge of the mechanism and kinetics of the transformation is important for understanding certain aspects of mantle dynamics, and extensive experimental and theoretical work has been conducted on both natural olivine and several analogous chemical systems. Previously, conflicting results have suggested a reconstructive transformation mechanism2–10, a martensitic mechanism11, 12 and a mechanism that is not entirely consistent with either13–16. The conflicts cannot be explained as different mechanisms operating in different systems17. Here we show that the transformation can proceed by two different mechanisms, depending on the level of nonhydrostatic stress; under hydrostatic pressure or low stresses (at sufficiently high temperatures), nucleation occurs by an incoherent, diffusion-dependent, intercrystalline mechanism proposed by Sung and Burns2, 3 and first demonstrated by Vaughan et al.4 (Fig. 1), whereas under high stresses, nucleation of the high-pressure (γ) polymorph (spinel) occurs by a coherent, shear-induced, intracrystalline mechanism predicted by Poirier18. Thus we are able to reconcile the previously conflicting results, and consideration of the stress levels likely in natural situations leads us to conclude that both mechanisms are geologically relevant.
Convection Initiation Associated with a Sea-Breeze Front, a Gust Front, and Their Collision

Abstract The initiation of convection associated with a sea-breeze front, a gust front, and their collision is analyzed using data collected in east-central Florida during the Convection and Precipitation/Electrification project. In conjunction with satellite, surface, and rawinsonde information, dual-Doppler radar-derived winds are used to determine the three-dimensional kinematic factors critical to storm development. The gust front, which emanated from storms on the western half of the peninsula, propagated more rapidly and was deeper than the sea-breeze front, which originated from the east coast and was characterized by a distinctly scalloped appearance. Convection associated with the sea-breeze front appeared to develop preferentially at the vertices of this scalloped pattern where there were enhanced regions of convergence and upward motion. On the gust front, a Helmholtz shearing instability produced an organized configuration of convergence and updraft maxima along its length. However, these were...
Adiabatic temperature of combustion synthesis of Al–Ni systems

Abstract The adiabatic reaction temperature of stoichiometric Ni+Al and 3Ni+Al elemental mixtures and non-stoichiometric Ni/Al reaction systems under various initial conditions are calculated and compared with experiments. The experiments are based on the measurement of temperature–time profiles of the combustion reactions carried out in a nearly adiabatic condition. The adiabatic reaction temperature changes with the fraction of Ni with a maximum at about equal atomic ratio. The experimental results are in good agreement with the calculations.
Therapists' sexual values for self and clients: Implications for practice and training.

Therapists may be confronted with clients whose sexual values and behaviors are different from their own. To understand more about therapists' sexual values and how these values may affect therapy, the current study assessed therapists' sexual values for both themselves and their clients in the areas of premarital, casual, and extramarital sex, open marriages, sexual orientation, and sex in adolescence and late adulthood. Therapists differed selectively in their sexual values depending on their gender, religious involvement, and political affiliation. Therapists appeared comfortable working with a variety of sexual issues in therapy, and it appears that training in sexual issues is helpful in clinical work.
Recurrence of Sarcoidosis Following Bilateral Allogeneic Lung Transplantation

We report the first case of recurrent sarcoidosis manifested by clinical symptoms, radiographic abnormalities, and pathologic changes in a patient following sequential double allogeneic lung transplantation. A 40-year-old male patient underwent bilateral allogeneic lung transplantation for end-stage pulmonary sarcoidosis. Thirteen months posttransplantation, he developed fatigue, shortness of breath, and bilateral upper lobe pulmonary infiltrates. Transbronchial biopsy specimens revealed noncaseating granulomata. The patient's symptoms and radiographic abnormalities resolved with an increased dose of oral prednisone.
Small Bowel Obstruction—Who Needs an Operation? A Multivariate Prediction Model

Background Proper management of small bowel obstruction (SBO) requires a methodology to prevent nontherapeutic laparotomy while minimizing the chance of overlooking strangulation obstruction causing intestinal ischemia. Our aim was to identify preoperative risk factors associated with strangulating SBO and to develop a model to predict the need for operative intervention in the presence of an SBO. Our hypothesis was that free intraperitoneal fluid on computed tomography (CT) is associated with the presence of bowel ischemia and need for exploration.
A developmental program drives aggressive embryonal brain tumors

Embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes (ETMRs) are primitive neuroectodermal tumors arising in infants. A new study shows that these tumors are universally driven by fusion of the promoter of a gene with brain-specific expression, TTYH1, to C19MC, the largest human microRNA cluster, activating a fetal neural development program.
A simple method for decreasing the toxicity of polyethylene glycol in mammalian cell hybridization.

The yield of hybrid colonies after fusion of mammalian cells with polyethylene glycol (PEG) is increased if the cells are fused in Ca2+-free medium, and kept in Ca2+-free medium for at least 15 min after fusion. The protective effect of Ca2+-free medium is much more obvious when Baker PEG is used than when fusion is carried out with Koch- Light PEG. The increased yield of hybrid colonies is shown to be due to a reduced toxicity rather than to an increased efficiency of cell fusion. These improvements have been found to apply to a variety of cell lines, and also when cell fusion is carried out in suspension. This technique should be particularly useful in studies on mammalian cell hybridization using cell lines that are particularly sensitive to the toxic effect of PEG.
Generalized Gravis Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa: Case Report, Laboratory Evaluation, and Review of Recent Advances

A full-term infant with junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is described. The distribution and morphologic characteristics of generalized blistering in areas of pressure in conjunction with perioral and perinasal granulation tissue suggested the diagnosis of generalized gravis (Herlitz) JEB. The family history was consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance. Electron microscopy demonstrated a subepidermal cleft arising in the lamina lucida with hemidesmosomal hypoplasia, findings consistent with gravis JEB. Immunofluorescent antigenic mapping localized laminin and type IV collagen exclusively to the blister base and weak reactivity of bullous pemphigoid antigen to both the roof and the base. Type VII collagen (LH 7:2 epitope) was detected solely at the base of the cleavage plane, and abnormal staining of laminin 5 (kalinin, GB3, nicein) and 19-DEJ-1 antigen was observed. The patient died of sepsis at age 3 months. DNA extracted from cultured keratinocytes for molecular genetic analysis demonstrated a mutation with the LAMB3 gene encoding the β3 chain of laminin 5. We present the clinical and laboratory findings and briefly review recent advances in the diagnosis and management of JEB.
Beliefs and Practices of In-Service Preschool Teachers in Inclusive Settings: Implications for Personnel Preparation

This study examined the beliefs of in-service teachers working in inclusive classrooms regarding developmentally appropriate practices and how those beliefs affected their attitudes toward, knowledge of, and comfort levels regarding working with children with disabilities. A mixed-method approach was utilized and data were collected through the use of three survey instruments: Teacher Belief Scale and Instructional Activities Scale (Hart et al., 1990) and the In-service Teacher Self-Report Survey (Mitchell, 2002). Data were also collected through open-ended questions to assess Teachers' perceived level of preparation for the inclusive classroom. This study also examined whether education or experience levels had an influence on Teachers' perceptions regarding inclusive practices. Results of the study indicate that there is not a significant relationship between in-service Teachers' beliefs regarding developmentally appropriate practices and their attitudes toward, knowledge of, and comfort levels regardin...
The Effect of Feeding Cod-Liver Oil on the “Oxidized” and “Goaty” Flavors and Vitamin C in Milk

Summary The milk of each of the 4 cows in the first experiment was free from the oxidized and other off flavors at the beginning of the study. As the feeding of cod-liver oil progressed, the fresh milks lost their characteristic flavors of new milk. They became oily, but not the distinct cod-liver oil flavor. On standing, a "goaty" flavor appeared in the milks of cows 1, 2, and 3, whereas the oxidized flavor developed in the milks of cows 1 and 4. In the second experiment the milks of cows 3 and 4, with only slight exceptions, did not become oxidized. The milks of the other 4 cows, on the other hand, became oxidized apparently as the result of administering cod-liver oil either in the feed or by drenching. During a period of 41 days of drenching, the first milk from cow 1 showed a slightly oily flavor. It was not typically fishy. Later, however, a very strong oxidixed flavor developed which was of the fishy order. The goaty flavor appeared in this experiment only once. It lasted from November 25 to December 4 in the milk of cow 4. In this experiment, the goaty flavor appeared during the latter part of a feeding period and the first few days of the following rest period. This also was true in the three examples of the previous year. The vitamin C, however, was below average when the milk was "goaty" in this experiment, whereas during the first year this flavor was noticeable when the vitamin C was present in abundance. The following figures in the first experiment show the increases in reduced ascorbic acid in the milk from the check level when no cod-liver oil was fed, to the average of the three high readings when the amount of the oil was given at the highest level: Cow 1, 111 per cent; cow 2, 31.3 per cent; cow 3, 48.1 per cent; and cow 4, 38.3 per cent. The oil was given by drenching in this experiment. There was no increase in reduced ascorbic acid in the second experiment when the cod-liver oil was mixed with the feed. In case of cow 2, possibly there was a slight increase during the period of 16 days when she received her cod-liver oil by drenching. Cow 1, on the other hand, responded in the same way that she did the first year, for the reduced ascorbic acid in her milk increased from an average of 25.48mg. per liter during the 25 days preceding the drenching period to 66.43mg. per liter on the peak day, or an increase of 163 per cent.
REGRESSIONS AND MONOTONE CHAINS: A RAMSEY-TYPE EXTREMAL PROBLEM FOR PARTIAL ORDERS

Aregression is a functiong from a partially ordered set to itself such thatg(x)≦x for allz. Amonotone k-chain is a chain ofk elementsx 1<x 2 <...<x k such thatg(x 1)≦g(x 2)≦...≦g(x k ). If a partial order has sufficiently many elements compared to the size of its largest antichain, every regression on it will have a monotone (k + 1)-chain. Fixingw, letf(w, k) be the smallest number such that every regression on every partial order with size leastf(w, k) but no antichain larger thanw has a monotone (k + 1)-chain. We show thatf(w, k)=(w+1) k .
Opiate-induced Analgesia Is Increased and Prolonged in Mice Lacking P-glycoprotein

Background P-glycoprotein is a transmembrane protein expressed by multiple mammalian cell types, including the endothelial cells that comprise the blood-brain-barrier. P-glycoprotein functions to actively pump a diverse array of xenobiotics out of the cells in which it is expressed. The purpose of this study was to determine if P-glycoprotein alters the analgesic efficacy of clinically useful opioids. Methods Using a standard hot-plate method, the magnitude and duration of analgesia from morphine, morphine-6-glucuronide, methadone, meperidine, and fentanyl were assessed in wild-type Friends virus B (FVB) mice and in FVB mice lacking P-glycoprotein [mdr1a/b(-/-)]. Analgesia was expressed as the percent maximal possible effect (%MPE) over time, and these data were used to calculate the area under the analgesia versus time curves (AUC) for all opioids studied. In addition, the effect of a P-glycoprotein inhibitor (cyclosporine, 100 mg/kg) on morphine analgesia in both wild-type and mdr knockout mice was also determined. Results Morphine induced greater analgesia in knockout mice compared with wild-type mice (AUC 6,450 %MPE min vs. 1,610 %MPE min at 3 mg/kg), and morphine brain concentrations were greater in knockout mice. Analgesia was also greater in knockout mice treated with methadone and fentanyl but not meperidine or morphine-6-glucuronide. Cyclosporine pretreatment markedly increased morphine analgesia in wild-type mice but had no effect in knockout mice. Conclusions These results suggest that P-glycoprotein acts to limit the entry of some opiates into the brain and that acute administration of P-glycoprotein inhibitors can increase the sensitivity to these opiates.
Transvaginal NOTES hybrid cholecystectomy.

Background. Initial reports confirm the safety and feasibility of natural orifice transluminal eendoscopic surgery (NOTES) transvaginal hybrid cholecystectomy (TVC). Benefits of TVC include no visible scars, less pain, and shorter recovery. The authors describe a single surgeon’s initial experience with TVC through his first 20 cases. Method. Under direct visualization from a 5-mm umbilical trochar, a 12-mm trocar, or in 2 cases a SILS port was introduced through the posterior vagina into the cul-de-sac. The gallbladder was visualized using an endoscope introduced through the vaginal port. Using extracorporeal stay sutures for retraction, the cystic duct and artery were dissected free, clipped, and divided. The gallbladder was then removed through the vaginal port. Results. Twenty patients underwent a successful TVC. The average age was 34.9 years (21-55 years), average body mass index was 29.9 kg/m2 (18.3-38.1 kg/m2), and the mean operative time was 71.4 minutes (42-116 minutes). Conclusion. TVC is a saf...
Divergence Errors in Raman Depolarization Measurements of Liquids in Capillary Cells

The source of errors in depolarization measurements using laser excitation and their dependence on monochromator, image magnification, and cell geometry is considered. Two common ways of measuring these ratios are considered, and the extent of the expected divergence errors in capillary cells is calculated for the 90° scattering geometry. It is shown that the ratio ρn determined by rotating the laser polarization from perpendicular to parallel to the scattering direction is subject to errors which limit its usefulness for highly polarized lines but is acceptable for depolarized lines. Use of an analyzer gives depolarization ratios ρ3 with the highest accuracy.
Crosslinking strategies facilitate tunable structural properties of fibrin microthreads

Abstract A significant challenge in the design of biomimetic scaffolds is combining morphologic, mechanical, and biochemical cues into a single construct to promote tissue regeneration. In this study, we analyzed the effects of different crosslinking conditions on fibrin biopolymer microthreads to create morphologic scaffolds with tunable mechanical properties that are designed for directional cell guidance. Fibrin microthreads were crosslinked using carbodiimides in either acidic or neutral buffer, and the mechanical, structural, and biochemical responses of the microthreads were investigated. Crosslinking in the presence of acidic buffer (EDCa) created microthreads that had significantly higher tensile strengths and moduli than all other microthreads, and failed at lower strains than all other microthreads. Microthreads crosslinked in neutral buffer (EDCn) were also significantly stronger and stiffer than uncrosslinked threads and were comparable to contracting muscle in stiffness. Swelling ratios of crosslinked microthreads were significantly different from each other and uncrosslinked controls, suggesting a difference in the internal organization and compaction of the microthreads. Using an in vitro degradation assay, we observed that EDCn microthreads degraded within 24 h, six times slower than uncrosslinked control threads, but EDCa microthreads did not show any significant indication of degradation within the 7-day assay period. Microthreads with higher stiffnesses supported significantly increased attachment of C2C12 cells, as well as increases in cell proliferation without a decrease in cell viability. Taken together, these data demonstrate the ability to create microthreads with tunable mechanical and structural properties that differentially direct cellular functions. Ultimately, we anticipate that we can strategically exploit these properties to promote site-specific tissue regeneration.
Medical writing in transition: between ars and vulgus.

The form and content of vernacular medicine, particularly in translations from Latin writings, differ both from scholastic learning and from popular lore. As a Middle High German version of Bernard de Gordon's Lilium medicine shows, the translator aimed for broader intelligibility than teachers, by elucidating terms and simplifying theories. Nevertheless, he also evinced a bookish superiority to lay people by his concern with precision and disdain for illiteracy. At the same time, a greater closeness to a popular level was reflected in the admiration for masters and in the esthetic importance of emotions.
Československá Obchodní Banka, a.s.: Applying Business Risk Audit Techniques in an Emerging Market Economy

The case involves Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, a.s. (CSOB or “the bank”), which was the third largest bank in the Czech Republic in 1997 when the case initially takes place. The case is based on publicly available information relating to CSOB at a time when the bank was emerging from the state‐owned environment of the former Communist country of Czechoslovakia. You will serve in the role of an auditor who is trying understand how to assess the fairness of financial information related to one business process of the entity, based, in part, on the effectiveness of the bank in carrying out its strategy and, in part, on the performance of the business process. This case is designed to provide you with an opportunity to apply important aspects of a business risk audit approach similar to what is utilized to some extent by all major international accounting firms (e.g., Lemon et al. 2000; the Joint Working Group [JWG] Report 2000) in a unique business setting. The requirements of the case also involve assessi...
Electrocatalytic Interface Based on Novel Carbon Nanomaterials for Advanced Electrochemical Sensors

The rapid development of nanoscience and nanotechnology provides new opportunities for the sustainable progress of nanoscale catalysts (i.e., nanocatalysts). The introduction of nanocatalysts into electronic devices implants their novel functions into electronic sensing systems, resulting in the testing of many advanced electrochemical sensors and the fabrication of some highly sensitive, selective, and stable sensing platforms. In this Review, we will summarize recent significant progress on exploring advanced carbon nanomaterials (such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, highly ordered mesoporous carbons, and electron cyclotron resonance sputtered nanocarbon film) as nanoscale electrocatalysts (i.e., nanoelectrocatalysts) for constructing the catalytic nanointerfaces of electronic devices to achieve high-sensitivity and high-selectivity electrochemical sensors. Furthermore, different mechanisms for the extraordinary and unique electrocatalytic activities of these carbon nanomaterials will be also highlighted, compared and discussed. An outlook on the future trends and developments in this area will be provided at the end. Notably, to elaborate the nature of carbon nanomaterial, we will mainly focus on the electrocatalysis of single kind of carbon materials rather than their hybrid composite materials. As a result, we expect that advanced carbon nanomaterials with unique electrocatalytic activities will continue to attract increasing research interest and lead to new opportunities in various fields of research.
A Platform Independent Process Model for Smartphones Based on Invariants

Abstract— This paper introduces the concept of an extendable forensic process model applicable to smartphones regardless of platform. The intention is to develop the model using the property of invariance to construct a core components list which serves as the foundation of the proposed methodology. Given this list, an example of its application is specified using the components of the Verizon Samsung Omnia and the Blackberry Storm. The elements of each device are compared with the core components list. From this comparison, a forensic process model can be realized by addressing the items in this list.
Summer aridity in the United States: Response to mid‐Holocene changes in insolation and sea surface temperature

[1] We examine the response of summer precipitation to mid-Holocene insolation forcing and insolation-induced changes in sea surface temperature. Using a high-resolution nested climate modeling system, we find that mid-Holocene insolation forcing results in drier-than-present conditions over the central continental United States (U.S.) and northern Rocky Mountains, as well as wetter-than-present conditions over the Atlantic seaboard and northwestern Great Plains. We find that changes in summer precipitation are dominated by changes in large-scale processes, with similar patterns of change in the global and nested models. We also find that insolation-induced changes in sea surface temperature do not change the basic pattern of precipitation response, primarily because the dynamical response is very similar with and without sea surface temperature changes. Notably, drier-than-present conditions over the central U.S. are associated with enhanced anticyclonic circulation aloft over the mid-continent and reduced low-level moisture content over the Gulf of Mexico and south-central U.S., while wetter-than-present conditions over the Atlantic seaboard are associated with enhanced low-level cyclonic circulation and elevated low-level moisture content. The simulated patterns of precipitation and soil moisture agree with proxy moisture records from most regions, indicating both that insolation was the strongest determinant of mid-Holocene summer aridity in the continental U.S. and that high-resolution nested climate modeling systems are able to capture the basic response of midlatitude warm-season aridity to changes in external climate forcing.
The Role of Vocational Education and the Young Special Needs Child

Vocational education improves the quality of caregiving for the young special needs child in several ways: (a) Vocational education is a vehicle to train child care staff who work with the young special needs child; (b) vocational education is an ancillary service that provides child care for single parents who are enrolled in vocational education programs; and (c) vocational education trains future parents who may have a young special needs child. This article illustrates the relationship between vocational education and early childhood special education. The article outlines curriculum used in teaching child care, the purpose of the program, and the training experiences students enrolled in child care programs receive.
An ongoing search for potential targets and therapies for lethal sepsis

Sepsis, which refers to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting from a microbial infection, represents the leading cause of death in intensive care units. The pathogenesis of sepsis remains poorly understood although it is attributable to dysregulated immune responses orchestrated by innate immune cells that are sequentially released early (e.g., tumor necrosis factor(TNF), interleukin-1(IL-1), and interferon-γ(IFN-γ)) and late (e.g., high mobility group box 1(HMGB1)) pro-inflammatory mediators. As a ubiquitous nuclear protein, HMGB1 can be passively released from pathologically damaged cells, thereby converging infection and injury on commonly dysregulated inflammatory responses. We review evidence that supports extracellular HMGB1 as a late mediator of inflammatory diseases and discuss the potential of several Chinese herbal components as HMGB1-targeting therapies. We propose that it is important to develop strategies for specifically attenuating injury-elicited inflammatory responses without compromising the infection-mediated innate immunity for the clinical management of sepsis and other inflammatory diseases.
Breaking proteins with mutations: threads and thresholds in evolution.

Mol Syst Biol. 3: 76 A common high school science experiment involves anchoring one end of a rubber band to a desk and then attaching a small weight to the other end. The weight stretches the rubber band, and adding another weight causes the rubber band to dangle even lower. More weights can be added, and each one pulls the rubber band a little further towards the floor. Now, instead imagine attaching the weights to a thread. The thread stretches only slightly; so the first couple of weights have just a small effect. But if you add enough weights, the thread suddenly breaks and the weights fall to the floor. In the first case, each additional weight stretches the rubber band by the same amount, whereas in the second, it is the combination of several weights that breaks the thread. Mutating proteins is like adding weights, as mutations eventually ‘break’ the individual proteins, dragging down the fraction of proteins that still function (this fraction is the average fitness). The question becomes, does each mutation decrease the average fitness by the same amount (like weights on a rubber band), or are several mutations worse than their combined individual effects (like weights on a thread)? The latter situation is called ‘negative epistasis,’ and measuring the extent of epistasis is important for understanding evolution. If mutating a protein is like stretching a rubber band, then there is no epistasis and each random mutation has the same probability ν of leaving a protein's function intact. So the average fitness W (1) after each protein is mutated once is ν , as this is the fraction of proteins that are …
Climate variability, political crises, and historical population displacements in Ethiopia

El Nino events from the 1970s through the 1990s caused extended droughts in Ethiopia. These droughts were followed by famine and political turmoil that resulted in radical changes of government, secession, and a massive program of population redistribution. Cartographic analysis of Ethiopian census data from 1984 and 1994 shows changes in demographic patterns. The consequences of government-imposed migration policies, whose catalyst was the climate variability caused by repeated El Nino events, were changes in the ethnic composition of certain Ethiopian regions and changes in the geographic pattern of population growth. r 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition drives atherosclerosis progression

The molecular mechanisms responsible for the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions have not been fully established. Here, we investigated the role played by endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and its key regulator FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) in atherosclerosis. In cultured human endothelial cells, both inflammatory cytokines and oscillatory shear stress reduced endothelial FGFR1 expression and activated TGF-β signaling. We further explored the link between disrupted FGF endothelial signaling and progression of atherosclerosis by introducing endothelial-specific deletion of FGF receptor substrate 2 α (Frs2a) in atherosclerotic (Apoe(-/-)) mice. When placed on a high-fat diet, these double-knockout mice developed atherosclerosis at a much earlier time point compared with that their Apoe(-/-) counterparts, eventually demonstrating an 84% increase in total plaque burden. Moreover, these animals exhibited extensive development of EndMT, deposition of fibronectin, and increased neointima formation. Additionally, we conducted a molecular and morphometric examination of left main coronary arteries from 43 patients with various levels of coronary disease to assess the clinical relevance of these findings. The extent of coronary atherosclerosis in this patient set strongly correlated with loss of endothelial FGFR1 expression, activation of endothelial TGF-β signaling, and the extent of EndMT. These data demonstrate a link between loss of protective endothelial FGFR signaling, development of EndMT, and progression of atherosclerosis.
Reconsidering physical key secrecy: teleduplication via optical decoding

The access control provided by a physical lock is based on the assumption that the information content of the corresponding key is private --- that duplication should require either possession of the key or a priori knowledge of how it was cut. However, the ever-increasing capabilities and prevalence of digital imaging technologies present a fundamental challenge to this privacy assumption. Using modest imaging equipment and standard computer vision algorithms, we demonstrate the effectiveness of physical key teleduplication --- extracting a key's complete and precise bitting code at a distance via optical decoding and then cutting precise duplicates. We describe our prototype system, Sneakey, and evaluate its effectiveness, in both laboratory and real-world settings, using the most popular residential key types in the U.S.