cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed Leadership Globally: The Interactive Nature of Principal and Teacher Leadership in 32 Countries:

Purpose: This study provides cross-country evidence regarding the extent to which distributed leadership operates in schools globally and offers preliminary insights about country education policie...
MRI exploiting frequency-modulated pulses and their nonlinear phase.

Abstract Frequency-modulated (FM) pulses can provide several advantages over conventional amplitude-modulated pulses in the field of MRI; however, the manner in which spins are manipulated imprints a quadratic phase on the resulting magnetization. Historically this was considered a hindrance and slowed the widespread adoption of FM pulses. This article seeks to provide a historical perspective of the different techniques that researchers have used to exploit the benefits of FM pulses and to compensate for the nonlinear phase created by this class of pulses in MRI. Expanding on existing techniques, a new method of phase compensation is presented that utilizes nonlinear gradients to mitigate the undesirable phase imparted by this class of pulses.
Deference and delegation: What is the difference?

Delegating a policy question to a panel of experts is similar in some ways to deferring to an expert about the right answer to some personal decision, but also crucially distinct from it. Most importantly, delegation is compatible with understanding why the expert’s decision is correct or incorrect, whereas deference excludes such understanding. As a matter of administrative logic, however, delegating agents cannot be required to understand whether the policy questions they delegate are decided correctly. This has important implications for the role of moral experts in delegated policy-making. Notably, while conventional academic wisdom regards deference to moral experts as highly objectionable, no analogous objection applies when policy questions are delegated to panels that include moral experts.
Anesthesia for Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Approaches for Pediatric Urologic Surgery

Since its introduction at the turn of the century, robot-assisted surgery has exponentially increased to include a myriad of procedures and specialties. In the realm of pediatric urology, robotic technology is currently being utilized to perform procedures such as pyeloplasty, ureteral reimplantation, total and partial nephrectomy, pyeloureterostomy, excision of ureteral and ureteropelvic junction polyps, as well as transplant to native ureteroureterostomy of renal allografts. When faced with a robot-assisted urologic procedure, anesthesia providers must consider not only the nuances and physiologic changes related to the laparoscopic approach, but also the specific considerations related to the robot. These involve the hemodynamic, respiratory, and metabolic changes associated with the surgical technique, the specific nuances related to patient and robot positioning, as well as the potential complications the anesthesia provider may encounter during the perioperative care of these patients. This chapter will provide the pearls and pitfalls in the perioperative management of children undergoing robot-assisted urologic procedures in a concise yet comprehensive manner that will hopefully be of use to experienced providers, fellows, and residents alike.
Armed Drones for Law Enforcement: Why It Might BeTime to Re-Examine the Current Use of Force Standard

II. THE EVOLUTION OF DRONE TECHNOLOGY 546 A. Drones Used for War: What Else Are They Good For? 546 B. Drones for Law Enforcement: The New Frontier 547 1. Drones for Domestic Surveillance 547 2. Armed Drones for Law Enforcement 548
Factors leading to satisfaction with counseling for Labor after Cesarean among Latina women in the United States.

BACKGROUND Cesarean birth, especially repeat cesarean, is associated with significantly higher morbidity than vaginal birth. Appropriately counseling women who are candidates for labor after cesarean (LAC) has the potential to confer significant health benefits for women. Little guidance exists about optimal counseling techniques, especially for Latina women. The aim of this study was to evaluate satisfaction among Latinas about how LAC counseling is performed, specifically as it relates to shared decision making. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study of pregnant women at several clinics in a Federally Qualified Health Center system in Utah. We interviewed eleven Latina women about satisfaction with recent LAC counseling with a specific aim of obtaining rich, personal narratives rather than reaching data saturation. A codebook representing the most common themes was developed. RESULTS Three major themes emerged related to LAC counseling including influences on satisfaction, influences on the birth decision process, and preferences surrounding method and timing of counseling. Women experienced greater satisfaction from providers who used jargon-free communication, were perceived as trustworthy, cared about her experiences, and empowered her to make an informed decision. Women's decisions were influenced by prior birth experiences, desire for a safe delivery and easy recovery, and future family planning. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the aspects of LAC counseling that are most meaningful for Latina women can promote effective communication between patient and provider and improve patient satisfaction. Globally, our findings highlight the importance of evaluating the experiences and preferences of minority groups; majority populations cannot be assumed to speak for minority populations.
Cirrus clouds. I - A cirrus cloud model. II - Numerical experiments on the formation and maintenance of cirrus

A simplified cirrus cloud model is presented which may be used to investigate the role of various physical processes in the life cycle of a cirrus cloud. The model is a two-dimensional, time-dependent, Eulerian numerical model where the focus is on cloud-scale processes. Parametrizations are developed to account for phase changes of water, radiative processes, and the effects of microphysical structure on the vertical flux of ice water. The results of a simulation of a thin cirrostratus cloud are given. The results of numerical experiments performed with the model are described in order to demonstrate the important role of cloud-scale processes in determining the cloud properties maintained in response to larger scale forcing. The effects of microphysical composition and radiative processes are considered, as well as their interaction with thermodynamic and dynamic processes within the cloud. It is shown that cirrus clouds operate in an entirely different manner than liquid phase stratiform clouds.
Investigating the value of fusion energy using the Global Change Assessment Model

Abstract The availability of fusion energy could prove valuable in meeting carbon mitigation targets over the course of the century. We use recent cost estimates for future fusion power plants in order to incorporate fusion into the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM), a long-term energy and environment model used to study the interaction between technology, climate, and public policy. Results show that fusion's growth will depend on: the chosen carbon mitigation target (if any); the availability of competing carbon-neutral options for the provision of baseload electrical power, in particular nuclear fission as well as carbon capture and storage; the chosen discount rate; the initial year of availability; and the assumed costs of fusion electricity. We quantify the present value of the fusion option while varying the assumptions about these other parameters, and we find that it is, in general for our range of assumptions, significantly larger than the estimated cost of a comprehensive R&D plan to develop fusion energy. The results emphasize the wisdom in hedging against uncertainty in future technology availability by pursuing the development of multiple options that could feasibly play a major role in the latter half of the century.
Developing a Rare Butterfly Database for Conservation Purposes: An Example in Florida Using Citizen Scientists

While there are projects building comprehensive databases on changes in butterfly populations over time and space, there is still a need for building a rare butterfly database that can quickly be of value to land managers and decision-makers for whom long-term butterfly population data and trends are not yet available. The chapter provides a frame work for developing a database that can rapidly become useful for butterfly conservation efforts and decision-makers at different geographic scales and is based upon 6 years of developing a statewide rare butterfly database within Florida using citizen scientists. Topics covered include funding, staffing, long-term database support, recommendations for building an effective rare butterfly database, and organizational considerations in maximizing the effectiveness of project volunteers. The chapter relates each of these specific topics to the real-world experiences in developing Florida’s rare butterfly database and discusses the considerations, tradeoffs and rationale for the decisions that were made. This chapter is likely to be of special interest to zoo and museum directors starting up a butterfly conservation project, land managers, and government agencies.
Zonal centrifuge applied to the purification of Herpesvirus in the Lucké frog kidney tumor.

Abstract A series of “winter” and “summer” Lucke kidney tumors of the frog (Rana pipiens) were homogenized and fractionated by differential centrifugation into nuclear, mitochondrial, and mitochondrial supernatant fractions. Winter tumors often contained high concentrations of herpesvirus, whereas no virus was observed in any of the summer tumors. The crude tumor fractions were further purified by rate-zonal sucrose gradient centrifugation in a B-XV zonal rotor. Gradient fractions rich in an enveloped, nucleated form of the herpesvirus from certain winter tumors have induced renal tumors when injected into developing frog embryos. Zonal centrifugation was followed by isopycnic banding of the virus zones for further purification of the different morphological forms of the virus.
The importance of addressing social determinants of health at the local level: the case for social capital

Social determinants are gaining momentum in public health practice. Many proposed solutions for tackling social determinants are outside the scope of local public health professionals. This article reviews the literature to find possible moderating variables which may buffer the effects of the social determinants of health at the local level, and allow social determinants to be addressed within the purview of local health departments. The systematic approach employed for this article entailed searches of electronic academic databases (PubMed, EBSCO and Medline) and additional searches using Internet search engines and relevant websites for articles published between 1,975 and May 2010. The search revealed 2,554 articles, and 36 were determined appropriate for inclusion. The purpose of the search was to identify published articles relating to social determinants of health, social capital and effective approaches for addressing both at the level of the local health department. The search was then expanded to include unpublished material, to include the perspectives of local health departments. This process resulted in the inclusion of content from five sources. In this article, the case is made for focusing on social capital interventions to mitigate health problems associated with social determinants. Examples of successful interventions are provided to aid public health professionals in developing locale-specific solutions for addressing social determinants.
Chapter 37A Chemical spectrophotometric and polarographic methods

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses chemical spectrophotometric and polarographic methods. The unique chemical similarity of the rare earth group of elements makes the determination of individual members of this group by chemical methods of analysis exceedingly difficult with but only a few exceptions. Ce and Eu can readily be determined by various electrochemical methods with good sensitivity. Eu and Tb can be determined by their unique fluorescence spectra in aqueous solution. The individual rare earths can also be determined by separation on an ion-exchange column or by other chromatographic methods. These are generally quite tedious and lengthy procedures. The most important chemical procedure in the determination of the rare earths is the determination of total rare earths in a matrix, which usually involves the precipitation of the rare earth oxalates and ignition to the oxides, R 2 O 3 . This procedure also serves to separate the rare earth group from other elements present in solution prior to the determination of the individual rare earths by other methods, such as flame emission spectrometry. The chapter presents an overview of methods used for the separation and determination of the rare earths.
Composite quadratic Lyapunov functions

A Lyapunov function based on a group of quadratic functions is introduced. We call this Lyapunov function a composite quadratic function. Some important properties of this Lyapunov function are revealed. We show that this function is continuously differentiable and its level set is the convex hull of a group of ellipsoids. These results can be used to study the set invariance properties for linear systems with input and state constraints.
Morphological changes in the round window membrane associated with Haemophilus influenzae-induced acute otitis media in the chinchilla.

Abstract Objective The round window membrane (RWM) encloses the round window, the opening into the scala tympani (ST) from the middle ear. During the course of acute otitis media (AOM), structural changes of the RWM can occur that potentially affect sound transmission into and out of the cochlea. The relationship between such structural changes and conductive hearing loss during AOM has remained unclear. The focus of the current study was to compare the thickness distribution across the RWM surface between normal ears and those with AOM in the chinchilla. We assessed the occurrence of AOM-associated histological changes in this membrane compared to uninfected control animals after AOM of two relatively short durations. Material and methods AOM was induced by transbullar injection of the nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain 86-028NP into two groups of adult chinchillas (n = 3 each). Bullae were obtained from the two infected groups, at 4 days or 8 days post challenge. Structures and thickness of these RWMs were compared between the two infected treatment groups and to RWMs from uninfected control animals (n = 3) at seven different RWM locations. Results RWM thickness in infected chinchillas increased significantly at locations along the central line on the 4th day post bacterial challenge compared to values found for uninfected control animals. Lymphocyte infiltration and edema were the primary contributors to these thickness increases. No significant further increases in RWM thickness were observed when RWMs from chinchillas ears infected for 4 and 8 days were compared. Thickness and structural changes at the RWM lateral and medial areas were less visually obvious and not statistically significant among the three treatment groups. These latter RWM regions clearly were less affected during AOM than the central areas. Conclusions This histological study establishes that H. influenzae- induced AOM causes significant acute changes in chinchilla RWM structure that are characterized by region-specific increases in thickness. Our new morphological findings comparing normal and diseased chinchilla RWMs identify yet another biomechanical mechanism by which nontypeable H. influenzae may contribute to hearing loss in AOM.
Design and benefits of a non-electric air conditioner that combines compression and absorption cycles

The overall fuel efficiency in air conditioning systems can be improved by combining a system that requires high temperature, such as the compression cycle, with a system that requires low temperature heat, such as the absorption cycle. It is noted that this is the thermodynamic principle for electric cogeneration. The system can be considered cogeneration that bypasses the conversion of mechanical power to electricity, and thus avoids conversion losses, the additional costs of an electric generator and motor, the complications and issues of buy back rate by the electric utility grid, interconnect requirements, and peak demand charges. The system provides the maximum utilization of the heat that results from the burning of fuel over the entire temperature range by converting about 30% of the fuel energy to compressor input power. Most of the 70% of the fuel energy that is rejected by the engine is usefully recovered by the absorption cycle. The result is a virtual doubling of effective fuel efficiency and decreased need for new electric capacity for air conditioning on the hottest days of summer. The result can be a 50% energy cost saving to the user and up to a 90% capital cost savings for the air conditioning energy delivery system. >
A Profile of Double Victims: Sexual Coercion by a Dating Partner and a Stranger

Victim profiles of sexual coercion might differ based on the type of perpetrator that initiates the coercion—namely, a stranger versus a dating partner. Some victims experience coercion from both types of perpetrators—referred to here as “double victims.” Survey data from 2,322 undergraduates at two relatively large U.S. universities in the Midwest and Southeast revealed in a multinomial logistic regression analysis that victims of distinct types of perpetrators had unique predictors as part of their overall profiles. Background characteristics associated with each type were identified. In comparison to nonvictims, a profile of double victims emerged—a White female who had been abused as a child, who had cohabited with a partner, used alcohol or drugs, had been emotionally abused by a partner, had lied to a partner, used the Internet to find a partner, had dated interracially, and had engaged in sex in a noncommitted relationship. Implications and limitations of these findings are included in the discussion.
Tensor products of operator spaces

Abstract In this paper we lay the foundations for a systematic study of tensor products of subspaces of C∗-algebras. To accomplish this, various notions of duality are introduced and employed. Elementary proofs of the complete injectivity of the Haagerup norm, and of the extension theorem for completely bounded maps, are given. Pisier's gamma norms are examined and found to be special cases of the Haagerup norm. We identify the greatest operator space cross norm and show that the spatial tensor norm is the least operator space cross norm in an appropriate sense. Indeed most of the elementary theory of Banach space tensor norms generalizes to the category of operator spaces.
The determinants of the changes in fluorescence of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid induced in particle systems

Summary The rationale of the changes in fluorescence that ANS undergoes during energization and de-energization of membraneous particle systems can be recognized by systematically considering two parameters of the problem—the factors that control the partition of ANS between aqueous and membrane phase and the factors that control the fluorescence intensity of ANS in the membrane phase. On the basis of results obtained in a model system (a dispersion of asolectin) and in membraneous particle systems (mitochondria, ETP), the factors that control the partition of ANS between aqueous and membrane phases can be specified. The transfer of ANS between these two phases is accompanied by a huge augmentation in fluorescence intensity, and this augmentation provides an indicator of the partition of ANS. At neutral pH and at a fixed ratio of ANS to membraneous particle, the partition is largely in favor of the aqueous phase when the cation concentration of the suspending medium is minimal (2 mM in Tris-chloride). Divalent metals (Mg2+ and Ca2+) shift the partition markedly in favor of the membrane phase at concentrations (
Proposed generation of subfemtosecond VUV pulses from high-order harmonics

We propose a method for producing sub-femtosecond VUV pulses by compressing the high order harmonic radiation emitted from a nonlinear medium driven by an intense, ultrafast laser pulse. We present single atom calculations of the harmonic amplitudes and phases as well as simulations of a VUV compressor. Single harmonics from a 27 fs driving pulse can be compressed to less than 2 fs duration, and several adjacent harmonics with similar phase structure can be combined within the same compressor to produce an attosecond pulse.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Improved configuration and reduction of phase noise in a narrow linewidth ultrawideband optical RF source

In this Letter, we report on the improved configuration of a widely tunable optical RF generation system, particularly for the generation of low-frequency RF, as well as the reduction of phase noise in that same system. Using an amplitude modulator, a simplified system design was demonstrated with fewer components and improved phase noise performance, especially at RF frequencies below ∼36 GHz. Excess phase noise due to acoustic vibrations of the optical fibers was also successfully eliminated by mechanical isolation. A minimum phase noise of −124 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset was demonstrated at 4 GHz.
Purifying mRNAs with a high-affinity eIF4E mutant identifies the short 3′ poly(A) end phenotype

The use of DNA microarrays has revolutionized the manner in which mRNA populations are analyzed. One limitation of the current technology is that mRNAs are often purified on the basis of their 3' poly(A) ends, which can be extremely short or absent in some mRNAs. To circumvent this limitation, we have developed a procedure for the purification of eukaryotic mRNAs using a mutant version of the mRNA 5' cap-binding protein (eIF4E) with increased affinity for the m7GTP moiety of the cap. By using this procedure, we have compared the populations of mammalian mRNAs purified by oligo(dT) and 5' cap selection with oligonucleotide microarrays. This analysis has identified a subpopulation of mRNAs that are present with short 3' poly(A) ends at steady state and are missed or underrepresented after purification by oligo(dT). These mRNAs may respond to specific posttranscriptional control mechanisms such as cytoplasmic polyadenylation.
Age-related influences on the clinical characteristics of new-onset hallucinations in Parkinson's disease patients

The objective of this study was to determine the demographic influences on the sensory characteristics (pure visual vs. nonvisual or mixed visual/nonvisual) of new-onset hallucinations in Parkinson's disease (PD). We utilized 6-year longitudinal interview data from 60 PD patients who had never hallucinated at baseline and reinterviewed them at 6, 18, 48, and 72 months to assess the presence and type of hallucination that developed as the first form of hallucination. We analyzed data by Generalized Estimating Equations methods and by nonparametric tests. Over 6 years, 37 of 60 patients developed hallucinations, and the first hallucinations were pure visual in 18, pure nonvisual in 9, and mixed visual/nonvisual in 10. At the time of first onset of hallucinations, patients whose hallucinations were nonvisual or mixed were significantly older than those with purely visual hallucinations (mean age, 69.8+/-8.3 vs. 61.9+/-10.6; P=0.031). PD duration in the two groups, however, was statistically comparable (9.6+/-4.4 vs. 12.9+/-8.6 years). Though classically described as visual, hallucinations in PD frequently involve other sensory modalities. Age-related disinhibition may facilitate wider cortical activation in PD and potentiate aberrant signaling that invokes other types of hallucinations besides the classic visual forms.
Insulin Is a Stronger Inducer of Insulin Resistance than Hyperglycemia in Mice with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM)

Subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) eventually develop insulin resistance and other features of T2DM such as cardiovascular disorders. The exact mechanism has been not been completely understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that excessive or inappropriate exposure to insulin is a primary mediator of insulin resistance in T1DM. We found that continuous exposure of mice with non-obese diabetes to insulin detemir, which is similar to some current conventional treatment of human T1DM, induced severe insulin resistance, whereas untreated hyperglycemia for the same amount of time (2 weeks) did not cause obvious insulin resistance. Insulin resistance was accompanied by decreased mitochondrial production as evaluated by mitochondrial DNA and levels of transcripts and proteins of mitochondrion-associated genes, increased ectopic fat accumulation in liver and skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) evaluated by measurements of triglyceride content, and elevated oxidative stress detected by the GSH/GSSG ratio. Prolonged exposure of cultured hepatocytes to insulin induced significant insulin resistance, whereas the same length of exposure to a high level of glucose (33 mm) did not cause obvious insulin resistance. Furthermore, our results showed that prolonged exposure to insulin caused oxidative stress, and blockade of mitochondrion-derived oxidative stress by overexpression of manganese-superoxide dismutase prevented insulin resistance induced by the prolonged exposure to insulin. Together, our results show that excessive exposure to insulin is a primary inducer of insulin resistance in T1DM in mice.
Narcissism and Creativity in the Postmodern Era: The Case of Patrick Süskind's Das Parfum

(2000). Narcissism and Creativity in the Postmodern Era: The Case of Patrick Suskind's Das Parfum. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 75, No. 4, pp. 259-279.
Methodology for Evaluating Inlet Protection Practices Using Large-Scale Testing Techniques

AbstractMost roadway construction projects disturb existing vegetation exposing bare soil to environmental variables (i.e., precipitation, wind, and freeze and thaw) that cause erosion. Soil eroded during storm events is conveyed by storm water runoff and may become deposited in receiving waterways. Inlet protection practices (IPPs) are temporary erosion and sediment controls commonly used around inlet drainage structures to prevent erosion while also retaining sediment on-site. Effective IPPs impound storm water, prevent upstream channel erosion, and promote settling along the perimeter of a device. Stringent effluent regulations coupled with greater public awareness with regards to surface water pollution have created the need for understanding the performance of commonly used erosion and sediment control practices. This study developed a methodology and testing apparatus for large-scale reproducible performance-based testing of standard IPPs at the Auburn University Erosion and Sediment Control Testing...
Phase transitions in a confined quasi-two-dimensional colloid suspension

We have used digital video microscopy to study the equilibrium structure of quasi-two-dimensional suspensions of sterically stabilized uncharged polymethylmethacrylate spheres. The spheres are confined between the surfaces of a very thin glass cell. Our experiments reveal the existence of an equilibrium hexatic phase as well as strongly first order liquid-to-hexatic and hexatic-to-solid phase transitions. These observations are in agreement with the predictions of Bladon and Frenkel [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 2519 (1995)] for a confined colloid suspension in which the pair interaction potential between particles has a hard core, and either a very short-range attraction or a very short-range step repulsion.
Targeting HIV mRNA for degradation: 2,5-A antisense chimeras as potential chemotherapeutic agents for AIDS

Abstract We have identified a region within a 1 kb HIV gag RNA which can be ablated in vitro using a 2,5-A antisense chimera. The cleavage was specific and almost complete at a concentration of 100 nM chimera.
Tuning swelling pH and permeability of hydrogel multilayer capsules

We report on tuning swelling pH transitions of hydrogel hollow capsules that were derived from hydrogen-bonded multilayers via chemical cross-linking. The capsules were either of a single component – a weak poly(carboxylic acid), such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), or poly(ethacrylic acid) (PEAA) – or contained two hydrogen-bonding polymers, such as in poly(carboxylic acid)/poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone-co-NH2) (PVPON-co-NH2) or in poly(carboxylic acid)/poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-NH2) (PVCL-co-NH2) systems. By varying the acidity of weak polyelectrolytes, the capsule swelling can be tuned over a wide pH range from 5 to 10. We show that differently from one-component capsules, the swelling amplitude of two-component capsules is limited by the number of cross-links provided by amino-containing units of a PVCL-co-NH2copolymer. For two-component capsules with the same degree of cross-linking, permeability at the minimum swelling pH was decreased for PMAA–neutral copolymer capsules as compared to those of PAA–neutral copolymer. We also demonstrate that swelling pH of one-component capsules in the acidic region can be modulated via reversible association with a polycation. The fine control over the swelling pH transitions and permeability of hydrogel capsules enables their use in biomedical applications.
Current status of prophylaxis against rheumatic fever.

Summary In the general population, rheumatic fever can be prevented by the prompt identification and adequate treatment of Group A streptococcal pharyngitis. The increased use of accurate throat cultures in all forms of respiratory illness will enable symptomatic streptococcal infections to be recognized when they are present and will avoid unnecessary antibiotic therapy when they are absent. Since about half of streptococcal infections are asypmtomatic, they will escape detection because the patient does not seek medical attention. In the best of circumstances, therefore, it would be impossible to reduce the rate of first attacks of rheumatic fever by more than 50 per cent. Once an attack has occurred and the individual patient's susceptibility is noted, the prevention of recurrences becomes particularly important. This involves the adequate treatment of streptococcal infections whenever they are found, but also demands prophylactic measures to cope with the hazards of unrecognized infections. The prophylaxis can be accomplished by giving daily doses of oral antimicrobial agents, monthly injections of a repository penicillin preparation, or monthly courses of an oral antibiotic at therapeutic dosage. At the present time, the most effective method of prophylaxis is a monthly injection of 1.2 million units of benzathine penicillin, because the maintenance of prophylaxis is assured and because the medication both eradicates streptococci and produces a persistent penicillin blood level thereafter. The general applicability of the injections is reduced by their potential for sensitization, particularly in adults, and the 10 per cent incidence of severely uncomfortable local reactions to them. Of the daily oral prophylactic methods, sulfadiazine, I Gm., appears to prevent rheumatic recurrences at least as well as 200,000 units of penicillin. It is now being compared against a larger dose of oral penicillin. Greater awareness of the comparative prophylactic effectiveness of sulfadiazine and the absence of any significant reactions to it, may be followed by its increased use as an oral prophylactic agent, either in preference to oral penicillin or as an alternative to it. The role of long-acting oral sulfamethoxypyridazine has not yet been established. If its one-dose-per-week convenience is matched by its prophylactic effectiveness, it may become a highly useful oral agent. Although the continuation of prophylaxis is now recommended for an indefinite period of time, more finite durations can be rationally established in many situations. The major factors which influence this choice will be the age of the patient, clinical status, and the remoteness from the previous rheumatic attack. Before continuous indefinite prophylaxis is undertaken in any patient, a concerted attempt should be made to verify the diagnosis of rheumatic fever or the existence of rheumatic heart disease.
Elucidation of intestinal absorption mechanism of carvedilol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles using Caco-2 cell line as an in-vitro model

AbstractEnhanced oral bioavailability of poorly aqueous soluble drugs encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) via lymphatic delivery has been documented. Since no in-vitro lymphoid tissue is currently available, human excised Caco-2 cell monolayer could be alternative tissue for development of an in-vitro model to be used as a screening tool before animal studies are undertaken. Therefore, optimized carvedilol-loaded SLNs (FOPT-SLNs) were prepared, characterized, and evaluated using Caco-2 cell line as an in-vitro model. Physical mixture of components of FOPT-SLNs (FOPT-PM) and carvedilol solution were used as control groups. From the studies of effect of SLNs concentration and cells incubation time, suitable carvedilol concentration and incubation time were selected for the model in which cells were subjected to five pretreatments for 24 h or 1 h of cell incubation and then followed with treatment of FOPT-SLNs, FOPT-PM or 100 µg/mL solution of carvedilol, for additional 24 h of cell incubation. ...
Melanoma-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes recognize human melanoma antigens processed and presented by Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells.

While much emphasis has been placed on the role of MHC class I-restricted CDS+ T cells in the recognition of tumor-specific antigens (Ag), evidence has accumulated that CD4+ T cells also play a critical role in the anti-tumor immune response. However, little information exists on the nature of MHC class II-restricted human tumor Ag. In an attempt to develop in vitro systems to characterize such Ag, we examined the ability of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) transformed B cells to present melanoma-associated Ag to melanoma-specific CD4+ cells. CD4+ T cells cultured from lymphocytes infiltrating a s.c. melanoma metastasis secreted TNF-α and GM-CSF specifically in response to autologous cultured melanoma cells expressing MHC class II molecules. These CD4+ cells also recognized MHC class II-compatible EBV-B cells pulsed with extracts of autologous melanoma cells, but failed to recognize EBV-B cells pulsed with autologous non-transformed cells or a variety of allogeneic tumors or normal cells. B cells pre-fixed with paraformaldehyde were incapable of Ag presentation, suggesting that intracellular processing events were occurring. Antibody-blocking studies defined HLA-DR as the dominant if not exclusive restriction locus in this T-B interaction, and HLA-DR genocyping revealed DRBI 0404 to be the probable restriction element. In a second patient, a CD4+ T-cell clone cultured from a melanoma lesion recognized autologous tumor Ag presented by autologous EBV-B; no cross-reactivity was observed with the other tumor system investigated, nor with autologous CD4+ T cells specific for tetanus toxoid. These findings demonstrate that tumor Ag can be processed and presented by EBV-transformed B cells to MHC class II-restricted tumor-specific CD4+ T cells. They also provide a model system for direct identification of these tumor-derived antigens. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A structural perspective of the flavivirus life cycle

Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile and yellow fever belong to the Flavivirus genus, which is a member of the Flaviviridae family. They are human pathogens that cause large epidemics and tens of thousands of deaths annually in many parts of the world. The structural organization of these viruses and their associated structural proteins has provided insight into the molecular transitions that occur during the viral life cycle, such as assembly, budding, maturation and fusion. This review focuses mainly on structural studies of dengue virus.
Extraction of o-phenylphenol from silicone tubing by a sulfobutylether cyclodextrin formulation

Abstract During a compatibility study between a formulation containing sulfobutylether cyclodextrin (SBECD) and silicone tubing, an extraneous peak was observed in the HPLC chromatograms. The extraneous material was identified by LC/MS, MS/MS and UV as a previously unreported tubing extractable, o-phenylphenol (o-PP). Several studies were conducted to assess the impact of formulation and process-related variables on the amount of the o-PP extracted, including contact time, sulfobutylether cyclodextrin concentration, formulation pH, and tubing sterilization and storage conditions. Results show that the concentration of the SBECD, tubing processing and storage conditions and the duration of the study influenced the levels of o-PP extracted. However, the largest contributor to the amount extracted was the lot of tubing tested. The extracted levels varied widely from lot to lot (0.007–3.89 μg/cm2 of tubing surface area). A dynamic study conducted to simulate a manufacturing process also resulted in the extraction of o-PP by the formulation.
Congressional ‘drug warriors’ and U.S. policy towards Colombia

In the late 1990s, the Colombian National Police became the central channel for U.S. material and symbolic support to that country, thanks in large part to the work of a cohort of Republican members of Congress known as the 'drug warriors.' In the Congressional sphere, debates over the impact of illicit drug use often began with the abused bodies of American youth, but debates over the appropriate response frequently focused on the bodies of Colombian police and military as the site of suggested state intervention. Drawing on Judith Butler's analysis of what deaths are grievable in the public sphere, I examine how the Colombian National Police came to be positioned as the central object of policymaker solidarity. Travel played a central role in the construction of distinct sensory, affective and moral geographies: Congressional delegations focused on militarized technology, weaponry and enacted scenarios of counternarcotics operations. These excursions were channeled into larger political fields valorizing militarized expertise and delineating the boundaries of appropriate policy debates. This analysis illuminates the ways in which Congressional debate and practice played a central role in U.S. foreign policy during this period, through an examination of how Congressional expertise was constructed and deployed, which foreign policy actors were selected as the object of U.S. official solidarity, and how the boundaries of policy debate was constructed through a focus on military knowledge. Language: en
A channel-access protocol to utilize multiple heterogeneous channels for ad hoc networks

We introduce a new approach to channel access for ad hoc networks that utilize multiple heterogeneous channels. The radios of the ad hoc networks we investigate are frequency-agile allowing them the ability to change their carrier frequency and transmission rate over a wide range of possibilities. Our approach to channel access takes advantage of the multiple frequency bands available to the network to increase network-layer performance. We have previously found that in some network scenarios, the best network-layer performance is achieved if the channel-access protocol always selects the channel with the fastest data rate that is immediately available. However, in other network scenarios it is preferable to always wait for a channel with a faster data rate that is temporarily unavailable to become available rather than select a channel with a slower data rate that is immediately available. We show that our new channel-access protocol is able to adapt the strategy for selecting channels so that high network-layer performance is maintained in all scenarios compared to channel-access protocols that utilize either fixed strategy.
Aggressive antiplatelet strategies: time to reconsider?

The landmark second analysis of the CHARISMA trial strongly suggests that dual therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin in asymptomatic patients is associated with excess cardiovascular mortality when compared with those patients treated with aspirin alone.1 Indeed, based on the data from 3284 primary prevention patients, there was a highly significant ( P = 0.001) increase of cardiovascular death from 2.2% in the aspirin only group up to 3.9% in patients treated with clopidogrel and aspirin combination. The importance of the message, and perfect timing of publication, is impossible to underestimate. Hopefully, these data will be a ‘cold shower’ to the advocates of the uniformed aggressive antiplatelet strategies which are obviously dominant today. Unjustified by the randomized data on doubled and even tripled clopidogrel loading regimens, attempts to increase the maintenance clopidogrel dose based on low platelet responsiveness or even hypothetical ‘resistance’ cause extra bleeding risks with no definite evidence whatsoever of better vascular outcomes. In fact, the postulate … *Tel: +1 410 203 1665; fax: +1 410 601 9061. E-mail address: heartdrug{at}aol.com
RESPONSE ERRORS OF NON-PROPORTIONALLY LIGHTLY DAMPED STRUCTURES

In this letter we show that for flexible structures with small non proportional damping, neglecting the off diagonal terms of the modal damping matrix in most practical cases imposes negligible errors in the system dynamics. The Shahruz criterion, which allows neglecting the off diagonal terms of the modal matrix, was relaxed
Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus Effects on Fructan and Sugar Concentration in Winter Oat Crowns

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) significantly alters carbohydrate metabolism in cerealo leaf tissue. If carbohydrate accumulation in overwintering storage organs (crowns) is affected by the virus, winter survival and subsequent regrowth in spring could also be affected. To determine if BYDV alters carbohydrate accumulation patterns in winter oat (Avena sativa L.) crowns, 1-wk-old seddlings of two cultivars were infected with the PAV isolate of BYDV
Knowing what one wants

Katherine, a young woman, stands by her son's crib, watching him sleep. "Have another"-she hears the words in her head. She is startled. Was she thinking about that? She supposes she was, but she wonders: was that a directive from some part of her? Or was it a question? Or was it something else? When Katherine hears these words, have another, she realizes that she has been thinking on and off about the possibility. So, on hearing the words, she thinks perhaps she has already been deliberating, and here is the answer: have another. But then, if this is an answer, it does not feel decisive. And so she thinks perhaps she has not been deliberating, but merely entertaining a possibility without thinking squarely and focusedly about it here then is not an answer, but rather "the question is being called." A decision of some importance must be taken, and it is time to think squarely about it. What kind of question is being called? The question Katherine faces is not just the question of what her ends are to be, or of what she should all-things-considered pursue. She also faces the question, a distinct question, of what it is that she wants. That there are two distinct questions here may be difficult to discern. The question of what one wants often blurs into the question of what to want. The reasons for this are complex: often, the question of what one wants does not even arise outside the sphere of practical reflection. It is not until one asks oneself, "What end might I pursue here?" that the question of what one wants even takes shape. Nonetheless, these are distinct problems for us as human agents: knowing what to want, and knowing what one wants, plain and simple. The question Katherine faces is not only about what her ends are to be, but also about whether an impulse counts as a desire, as something that might even compete as a candidate end.
Demonstration of a Kamin-like effect after appetitive training

Rats were first trained for 18 trials in a three-choice discrimination apparatus with responses to the dark stimulus rewarded by food. After an interval of 5 min, 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, or 24 h, the Ss were given 18 trials of training with the discrimination reversed, the light stimulus becoming the rewarded cue. Memory of the original training, as indicated by errors made on the reversed discrimination (adjusted by analysis of covariance) was a U-shaped function of intersession interval. The reversal learning of rats tested 4 h after original training showed the least interference. These results are consistent with concepts of successive phases of memory but are inconsistent with explanations of the Kamin effect based on incubation of fear.
Thermal transient characteristics of zinc oxide solidly mounted resonators

Thin film bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators have been the subject of research for many years due to their uses in wireless communications and chemical sensing. Both the steady-state and dynamic temperature characteristics of quartz resonators, such as those used in biosensing, have been studied in the past. Information pertaining to the steady-state temperature characteristics of ZnO BAW resonators is available in the literature, but thermal transient characteristics do not appear to be the subject of as much investigation. In this paper, we demonstrate the existence of transient thermal effects in ZnO solidly-mounted resonators (SMR). Resonators are exposed to a gradual and rapid temperature increase and the changes in five resonator parameters are compared. All five parameters are shown to vary linearly with temperature when exposed to a gradual temperature increase and vary in a parabolic manner when exposed to a rapid temperature increase, indicating the existence of thermal transient effects in these devices.
Laser stabilization at the millihertz level

The main task of this paper is to identify a number of physical problems that must be successfully addressed to achieve stabilized laser linewidths well below 1 Hz. After presentation of the basic stability characteristics of available laser sources, it is shown that if any of these lasers were optimally locked to a high-finesse Fabry-Perot cavity it would be theoretically possible to obtain a laser linewidth in the millihertz domain. Problems of optical feedback, modulation waveform errors, mechanical support and isolation of the reference cavity, thermal stabilization of the environment, etc. are considered, and interim solutions are discussed. Experimentally, locking accuracy to successive cavity orders of less than 0.00002 linewidths (+ or - 1.5 Hz) was achieved; mirror birefringence pulled the lock point approximately 10-fold more. Relative phase coherence between two independent lasers locked onto adjacent cavity orders was preserved for 8 sec, corresponding to a linewidth of each optical source of about 50 mHz.
RNA metabolism in rabbit brain: study with neuron-glia and subcellular fractions.

—Uridine incorporation into RNA of rabbit brain was studied by using an in vitro system for incubation of brain slices for up to 180 min. Neuron-enriched and glia-enriched fractions were prepared by ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and various subcellular fractions were prepared by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Although the difference was not as great as in the case of l-leucine incorporation into protein, the neuron-enriched fraction consistently showed a higher specific radioactivity than the glia-enriched fraction. The specific radioactivity of the nuclei increased promptly and remained high at 180 min; the increase in the microsomes was gradual. Comparison of these data suggests that both neuron-enriched and glia-enriched fractions retain high radioactivities in their nuclei at 180 min when a considerable portion of the ribosomal RNA in these fractions is not labeled. The sharp diffusion gradient of nucleotides is discussed in relation to the acid-soluble radioactivity.