cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Save the Perineum! A Protocol to Reduce Perineal Trauma

Paper Presentation Purpose for the Program Perineal trauma, including a third‐degree or fourth‐degree laceration, is a serious adverse outcome of a vaginal delivery, which can lead to chronic pain, urinary or bowel disturbances, and sexual dysfunction. The third‐degree and fourth‐degree laceration rate at this large university hospital was noted to be in the high range based on the University Health System Consortium database. The Obstetric Quality and Safety Committee identified the rate of third‐degree and fourth‐degree lacerations and charged a multidisciplinary team composed of physicians, nurses, and nurse–midwives to investigate potential causes that could be addressed to make positive improvements on the issue. Proposed Change To implement a perineal safety bundle for management of the second stage of labor. There are practices with some evidence thought to decrease perineal trauma; however, the team was not confident that one particular change alone would affect the rate of third‐degree and fourth‐degree lacerations. Therefore, a bundle was created composed of the following: (a) “Labor down” for at least 1 hour or until the urge to push is felt (but no longer than 2 hours); (b) use of warm packs to the perineum applied every 30 minutes during the second stage of labor; (c) change position every 15 to 20 minutes to help facilitate fetal descent and rotation; (d) foot position should rest on the bed or in foot rests instead of being held by the nurse or support person (avoidance of McRobert position except for the shoulder dystocia maneuver); and (e) avoidance of manual perineal stretching during the second stage of labor. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Nurses, physicians, and residents were educated about the bundle protocol. Physicians were given the option to opt‐in or opt‐out of the bundle. The protocol used during this 6‐month time frame concluded in January 2013. Data on differences between use of the bundle versus nonuse will be compared with third‐degree and fourth‐degree laceration rates. Implications for Nursing Practice The implementation of evidence‐based practice related to the second stage of labor is a process. Varied techniques of leg holding positions, perineal massage and manipulation, and passive management of the “labor down” phase have been thought to add to the perineal trauma and use of operative vaginal delivery techniques. Introduction of the bundle has provided direction to the nursing and medical staff in use of evidence‐based practice.
Student and employer evaluations of unpaid work experience in a Nigerian vocational teacher education programme

ABSTRACT A certain period of work experience is required in most programmes of teacher preparation before individuals are certified as vocational teachers. Students who do not meet this requirement prior to enrolling in degree programmes do so before graduation through a cooperative work experience programme. For such students, earning an income while meeting a college requirement is an incentive for active participation. However, given Nigeria's present economic crisis, most employers are unwilling to provide paid work experience to students. This study investigated the outcomes of an unpaid work experience programme. The results showed that positive outcomes were achievable, in spite of the absence of income and the problems associated with it. Implications for more effective work experience programmes are discussed.
Probing Cholesterol-Lipid Interactions and Chemical Activity of Cholesterol in Bilayers via Cyclodextrin Depletion

Mammalian cells regulate the concentration of cholesterol in their plasma and endoplasmic reticulum membranes (1). That regulation may be triggered by changes in the chemical activity of cholesterol in those membranes. Determining the activity of cholesterol, even in a model system, is a difficult task. In 2000, Radhakrishnan and McConnell investigated lipid monolayers at an air-water interface and presented evidence that lipids and cholesterol form complexes with a particular stoichiometry (2). By using cyclodextrin to remove cholesterol from the monolayer, they found that the chemical activity of cholesterol changed dramatically at the stoichiometry of the complex. Inspired by their work and the work of others (3), we use cyclodextrin to remove cholesterol from supported lipid bilayers that we image by fluorescence microscopy. We measure the rate at which the area of three types of bilayers decreases. The bilayers are composed of a binary mixture of cholesterol and one of three different phospholipids for which the area condensation of lipid and cholesterol in bilayers is known (4). Combining these data, we determine the rate of cholesterol depletion, and from these rates we calculate the chemical activity of cholesterol as a function of each membrane's mole fraction of sterol. We compare results from the three bilayer types to elucidate how lipid tail structure impacts cholesterol-lipid interactions. Our ultimate goal is to compare our measured cholesterol chemical activities with recent theories based on cholesterol-lipid complexes and the umbrella model.1. Sokolov and Radhakrishnan, JBC, 2010, 29480-29490.2. Radhakrishnan and McConnell, Biochemistry, 2000, 8119-8124.3. Ali et al. PNAS, 2007, 5372-5377.4. Hung et al. BJ, 2007, 3960-3967.
DAFOSYM: A Dairy Forage System Model for Evaluating Alternatives in Forage Conservation

Abstract The dairy forage system model, DAFOSYM, is a simulation model designed to evaluate technologies and management strategies on representative dairy farms. The model integrates crop growth, harvest, storage, feeding, animal utilization, and economic analysis. Corn and alfalfa growth are simulated using historical weather data. Alfalfa harvest includes mowing, field curing, raking, baling, and chopping; losses and quality changes are modeled as functions of the mechanical treatment, field curing time, and weather. Storage losses and quality changes are functions of the type of storage and the crop moisture content. Stored feeds are supplemented with soybean meal, distiller's grain, corn grain, and purchased hay to provide balanced diets for a given herd. Costs of crop production, machinery, storage facilities, labor, and purchased feeds are subtracted from the income of milk and excess feed sales to determine a measure of return. Simulation over many years of weather conditions is used to evaluate the long-term benefit and risk of a technology or strategy on a representative dairy farm. The model helps identify the best strategy for forage production and allocation to a dairy herd. The most appropriate type, size, and number of storage facilities, and the appropriately sized forage harvesting equipment are determined for a representative dairy farm.
Enriching student concept images: Teaching and learning fractions through a multiple-embodiment approach

This study investigated how fifth-grade children’s concept images of the unit fractions represented by the symbols $$ \frac{1}{2} $$ , $$ \frac{1}{3} $$ , and $$ \frac{1}{4} $$ changed as a result of their participation in an instructional intervention based on multiple embodiments of fraction concepts. The participants’ concept images were examined through pre- and post-teaching written questions and pre- and post-teaching one-to-one verbal interview questions. Results showed that at the pre-teaching stage, the student concept images of unit fractions were very narrow and mainly linked to area models. However, after the instructional intervention, the fifth graders were able to select and apply a variety of models in response to unit fraction tasks, and their concept images of unit fractions were enriched and linked to capacity, perimeter, linear and discrete models, as well as to area models. Their performances on tests had improved, and their conceptual understandings of unit fractions had developed.
Selective sparing of Betz cells in primary motor area in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Two cases of postoperative hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are described in which Betz cells of the primary motor area were selectively spared. In one patient the hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy led to a vegetative state and in the other patient to a spastic quadriparesis and cortical blindness. In contrast to the relative sparing of Betz cells, Purkinje cells of the cerebellar cortex were totally destroyed. These two cases suggest that Betz cells are relatively resistant to hypoxic-ischemic insult under certain conditions.
Cell injury and regeneration of human epithelium in organ culture.

Human esophageal, tracheal, and pancreatic ductal fragments were collected at autopsy after a postmortem interval of 12 hours or less and maintained in explant organ culture for 30 days. The viability and growth of the explants was assessed by morphology, LDH enzyme release, and cellular outgrowth. The viability and growth of the bronchial explant epithelium was directly related to the postmortem interval. Esophageal epithelial regeneration followed the desquamation of the superficial cell layers. Pancreatic epithelia appeared to grow more slowly and with less outgrowth than the other tissues. Epithelial cell growth along the explant surface and onto the culture dish appeared to proceed through the well-characterized process that follows cell injury, i.e., flattening, migration, replication, and differentiation. Thus, sufficient numbers of viable epithelial cells capable of regeneration were present in routine autopsy epithelium, but there was considerable variation from tissue to tissue and case to case. The most effective and accurate approach to follow when evaluating and predicting the growth and viability of these explants is by using a combination of morphologic, enzymatic and biologic assays. Errors in the interpretation of viability are possible when only one assay method is utilized. These tissues grown in explant organ culture are suitable for studies on the mechanism and response of epithelia to cell injury, recovery and wound healing.
Virtual art volant

We describe the creation of virtual "Art Volant" ("flying art"), a virtual reality extension of kite art by Jackie Matisse. Past exhibitions of Matisse's kites have involved either static real-world kites, or pre-recorded films of the kites in motion. Through the use of VR, gallery patrons are able to fly kites themselves, enhancing their appreciation of the work.
Nondestructive Evaluation Technique Utilizing Embedded Thermal Fiber Optic Sensors

We investigated a thermal nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique based on thermography that uses optical fiber thermal sensors to detect damage within a laminated graphite epoxy composite specimen. Two sets of composite samples were used for testing, one set had fiber optic sensors embedded between the layers while the other relied on thermocouple sensors attached to the exterior. A simulated impact system was used to induce damage of varying degrees into the samples. The damage was confirmed either with X-ray or C-scan imaging. The test apparatus in addition to the test data obtained from both sets of samples are presented. The data confirms that the fiber optic thermal sensors can not only detect the presence of damage, but can measure the severity of damage as well. This is the first known attempt to use in situ fiber optic point sensors with thermography to detect damage.
The radula of the chaetodermatidae (Mollusea, Aplaeophora)

1. Members of the aplacophoran family Chaetodermatidae (genera Falcidens and Chaetoderma) have a radula consisting of a single cone-shaped structure associated with a pair of teeth. In the genus Falcidens there also occurs a plate with two pairs of apophyses that wrap around the paired teeth. 2. One species of each genus is known to feed on foraminifera. 3. The buccal mass bears many similarities to the gastropod buccal mass: it lies in a buccal cavity; it is covered distally by a membrane connected to the radula, apparently the subradular membrane; it contains a pair of bolsters, from which run muscles to the radula and subradular membrane; and it has a blood sinus surrounding a sac of epithelial cells which secrete the cone-shaped radula. This sac appears to be homologous to the radula gland of other mollusks. It lies above and between the bolsters, and at its ventral, blind end are four large cells, the odontoblasts. 4. The cone-shaped median structure appears to be a fused, permanent, continuously secreted radula. The structures seen with scanning electron microscopy, the increase in size with size of animal, and the indication of tanning by the radula gland support this view.
Does physical activity reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese individuals

For individuals considered overweight or obese, physical activity or more structured exercise is recommended to facilitate weight loss and reduce risk of long-term disease. Physical activity and structured exercise programs, however, rarely result in significant loss of body weight or body fat, especially in women. Despite the minimal effect of exercise on weight loss, exercise has multiple health benefits for overweight and obese individuals, including skeletal muscle adaptations that improve fat and glucose metabolism and insulin action; enhanced endothelial function; favorable changes in blood lipids, lipoproteins, and hemostatic factors; and reductions in blood pressures, postprandial lipemia, and proinflammatory markers. These exercise-induced adaptations occur independently of changes in body weight or body fat. Thus, physically inactive individuals considered at increased risk for cardiovascular disease due to both sedentary lifestyle and a high body mass index should be encouraged to engage in regular physical activity, regardless of whether a more active lifestyle leads to weight loss.
Numerical Analysis and Design of Single-Source Multicoil TMS for Deep and Focused Brain Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a tool for noninvasive stimulation of neuronal tissue used for research in cognitive neuroscience and to treat neurological disorders. Many TMS applications call for large electric fields to be sharply focused on regions that often lie deep inside the brain. Unfortunately, the fields generated by present-day TMS coils diffuse and decay rapidly as they penetrate into the head. As a result, they tend to stimulate relatively large regions of tissue near the brain surface. Earlier studies suggested that a focused TMS excitation can be attained using multiple nonuniformly fed coils in a multichannel array. We propose a systematic, genetic algorithm-based technique for synthesizing multichannel arrays that minimize the volume of the excited region required to achieve a prescribed penetration depth and maintain realistic values for the input driving currents. Because multichannel arrays are costly to build, we also propose a method to convert the multichannel arrays into single-channel ones while minimally materially deteriorating performance. Numerical results show that the new multi- and single-channel arrays stimulate tissue 2.4 cm into the head while exciting 3.0 and 2.6 times less volume than conventional Figure-8 coils, respectively.
Turbo-Machinery Monitoring Measures for Propulsion Safety and Affordable Readiness

The US Department of Defense initiative for propulsion safety and affordable readiness (P-SAR) has been engaged by all three services as a means to mitigate the operational and environmental hazards to aircraft propulsion system integrity, dependability and life cycle cost in military service. This paper focuses on the turbo-machinery of military propulsion systems and addresses the options available to manage turbo-machinery health and life cycle cost. 1 Three primary turbo-machinery integrity and performance degraders are identified: foreign object damage, erosion and corrosion, and high cycle fatigue due to aero-elastic response of turbo-machine blades & vanes. A variety of sensors have been proposed as measures to monitor and mitigate the hazards created by such degradation. Many of these were developed as tools for use in component models & design verification, such as non-intrusive stress measurement systems [NSMS] - an indirect means to supplement direct on-blade strain measurements. Others tools have been defined specifically for in service monitoring, such as the use of miniature radar to detect blade motion. This paper follows a systems engineering analysis identifying alternative functional hazard mitigations and a qualitative reliability centered maintenance (RCM) view to assess alternative approaches to mitigation of each hazard. Finally, synergies across the three priority degraders are considered to recommended topics for research.
A String Correction Algorithm for Cursive Script Recognition

This paper deals with a method of estimating a correct string X from its noisy version Y produced by a cursive script recognition system. An accurate channel model that allows for splitting, merging, and substitution of symbols is introduced. The best estimate X is obtained by using a dynamic programming search which combines a known search strategy (stack decoding) with a trie structure representation of a dictionary. The computational complexity of the algorithm is derived and compared with that of a method based on the generalized Levenshtein metric. Experimental results with the algorithm on English text based on a dictionary of the 1027 most commonly occurring words are described.
Feedback significantly influences the simulated effect of CO2 on seasonal evapotranspiration from two agricultural species

Summary The direct effect of elevated carbon dioxide on evapotranspiration over a growing season was investigated by scaling up single-leaf gas exchange measurements on soybean and corn plants grown and measured at three carbon dioxide concentrations. Stomatal conductance decreased markedly with increasing carbon dioxide in these species under most conditions. Coupled soil–vegetation–atmosphere models were used to scale up these single-leaf level measurements to simulate evapotranspiration at the regional scale from planting to harvest. The coupled modelling system introduced feedbacks over the season that are not present at the measurement level, which decreased the effect of carbon dioxide on evapotranspiration. Four sets of simulations were performed to evaluate specifically the magnitude of four feedbacks; two resulting from scale, surface layer and mixed layer feedback, one resulting from soil evaporation and one resulting from the interactions of stomatal conductance and the simulated canopy microclimate (physiological feedback). The feedbacks occurring from scale were consistent with previous analytical work indicating that transpiration becomes less dependent on stomatal conductance at larger scales. Evaporation from the soil has been generally neglected in past studies on carbon dioxide effects, but was especially important in decreasing the effects of carbon dioxide on evapotranspiration and showed a seasonal dynamic. The feedback resulting from physiological responses has also received less attention than the feedbacks from scale, but was only moderately important in these simulations. We also investigated the seasonal dynamics of how the observed increase in leaf area at elevated carbon dioxide affects evapotranspiration. Considering all the feedbacks and the observed increase in leaf area at elevated carbon dioxide, the simulated decrease in evapotranspiration was not negligible but was much less than the decrease in stomatal conductance. At the regional scale and maximum complexity in our model, the simulated decrease in seasonal evapotranspiration at doubled carbon dioxide (700 μmol mol–1) was 5.4% for soybeans and 8.6% for corn.
The operation of the city-manager plan in wichita

In our series of subjects of city-manager plan studies Wichita, Kansas, occupies an interesting place because it is the leading case of a city that has changed from the commission plan.
Lack of Change in MnSOD During Ischemia/Reperfusion of Isolated Rat Heart

Decreased endogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity has been implicated in free radical-mediated reperfusion injury of the ischemic myocardium. Antioxidant enzymes have been added to the modalities of reperfusion therapy of acute myocardial infarction based on this observation. We measured the content of MnSOD specific protein, activity of Mn and Cu, ZnSODs, and MnSOD mRNA in the working isolated rat heart subjected to various durations of ischemia and reperfusion. Recovery of mechanical function was monitored and lactate and lactic dehydrogenase released in the coronary effluent before and after ischemia were measured. In this model with reversible or irreversible myocardial injury, we noted no change in the myocardial MnSOD specific protein content and, contrary to some previous observations, no change in the activity levels of Mn or Cu,ZnSODs. Our results suggest that free radical-mediated damage in the heart during ischemia and reperfusion is probably not due to impaired activity or degradation of native SODs.
Rate constants at 295 K for the reactions of atomic chlorine with H2O2, HO2, O3, CH4 and HNO3

Abstract The rate constants of the reactions of Cl with H 2 O 2 , HO 2 , O 3 , CH 4 , and HNO 3 were measured at 295 K using a flow discharge-mass spectrometric method. The rate constants are, respectively, (6.2 ± 1.5) × 10 −13 , (3 +4.5 −1.8 × 10 −11 , (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10 −11 , (1.2 ± 0.3) × 10 −13 , and (6.8 ± 3.4) × 10 −15 cm 3 /s.
Regulation of flavoprotein enzymes in hypothyroidism and in riboflavin deficiency

Abstract Evidence is reviewed that hypothyroidism and riboflavin deficiency have in common (1) reduced hepatic levels of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and riboflavin, (2) reduced activities of flavoprotein enzymes and (3) similar alterations in the activities of enzymes metabolizing FMN and FAD. Changes in riboflavin deficiency are generally in the same direction as the changes in hypothyroidism, but are of much greater severity. Riboflavin deficiency differs from hypothyroidism in that in the former condition the activity of FAD pyrophosphorylase, which converts FMN to FAD, is increased, whereas in the latter condition it is unchanged. This finding is consistent with the observations that hepatic FMN levels decline to a greater extent than do FAD levels in riboflavin deficiency, and that both FMN and FAD are reduced similarly but less impressively in hypothyroidism. Adaptation of FAD pyrophosphorylase activity in riboflavin deficiency may represent a physiological mechanism for conserving FAD at the expense of FMN. A study of the induction of mitochondrial α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, an FAD-linked enzyme, by thyroid hormone reveals that in riboflavin-deficient rats, increases in activity are markedly less than in either normal or hypothyroid animals similarly treated. This finding is compatible with the hypothesis that the diminished supply of FAD available in riboflavin deficiency imposes a restriction upon the accumulation of the flavoprotein enzymes. With progressive riboflavin deficiency, the decreases in levels of FAD and decreases in induction of α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase occur together. Hepatic FAD cannot be increased in deficient rats by treatment with thyroid hormone. The results of these experiments provide additional evidence that the rate of synthesis of the coenzymes FMN and FAD may regulate the activities of flavoprotein enzymes. It is suggested that diminished synthesis of FMN and FAD may account in large part for the similarity between hypothyroidism and riboflavin deficiency in the hepatic profile of flavoprotein enzyme activities.
The Design of a Wireless Access for Vehicular Environment (WAVE) Prototype for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and Vehicular Infrastructure Integration (VII)

Inspired by the overwhelming popularity of nowadays wireless local area networks (wireless LAN, or Wi-Fi), researchers and developers have uncovered their wide application perspectives in a vehicular environment. Currently, several prototypes of dedicated short range communications (DSRC) for vehicular networks have been developed by some companies for both intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and vehicular infrastructure integration (VII). However, most of the designers simply apply the existing indoor wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, into a vehicular environment without redesigning them for a vehicular environment. The vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) channels feature with doubly selective fading due to the high mobility of vehicles. Both theoretical analysis and experiments have verified that the indoor wireless technologies are unable to achieve optimized and robust performance when applied to a vehicular environment. Industry is calling for new physical and MAC layer protocols for ITS and VII. The IEEE 802.11p workgroup is currently working on standardizing the wireless access for vehicular environment (WAVE), which is anticipated to be ratified in 2009. In this paper, we brief the design of a WAVE prototype based on the IEEE 802.11p protocol, which allows us to implement and evaluate the performance of the IEEE 802.11p standard in a practical approach.
AXAF synchrotron witness mirror calibrations 2 to 12 keV

We have completed another full year of reflectance calibrations of AXAF witness mirrors at the National Synchrotron Light Source. At the NSLS, we have used beamlines X8C (5 - 12 keV) and X8A (2 - 6 keV), sponsored by Los Alamos National Laboratory. All of the flats have been calibrated in the 5 - 12 keV range, and approximately 1/4 of all our flats have been calibrated in the 2 - 6.2 keV range. The repeatability in the coating processes reported in Denver has continued with the measurement of additional mirrors. Optical constants from reflectances have been derived for six of the eight AXAF mirror elements, and a degree of spatial uniformity information exists for three of these six. The addition of a semitransparent monitor has markedly increased efficiency of measurements in the 5 - 12 keV range, and efforts are being made to provide such a monitor detector for the lower energy ranges. We report the progress in reflectance data acquisition and optical constant derivations, and discuss implications of the results for the AXAF program.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Market Volatility Is the Highest Since Hoover‐FDR Transition

As British Prime Minister Gordon Brown notes in this section, we are witnessing the birth pangs of a new global order in this deepest financial and economic crash since the Great Depression. There will be plenty of pain all around for a while. And when the quarter-century leveraged-debt bubble of the United States—the explosion of which detonated the crash—is finally unwound, the new global balance will favor an Asia flush with cash. The G-20 will replace the G-7 as the executive committee of globalization. And, if wise leadership stays the course, there will be a “green lining” to the recovery as the fiscal stimulus is imbued with an environmental sensibility.
Generalized holonomy of M-theory vacua

Abstract The number of M-theory vacuum supersymmetries, 0 ⩽ n ⩽ 32 , is given by the number of singlets appearing in the decomposition of the 32 of SL ( 32 , R ) under H ⊂ SL ( 32 , R ) where H is the holonomy group of the generalized connection which incorporates non-vanishing 4-form. Here we compute this generalized holonomy for the n = 16 examples of the M2-brane, M5-brane, M-wave, M-monopole, for a variety of their n = 8 intersections and also for the n > 16 pp-waves.
Efflux of amino acid neurotransmitters from brain slices: role of membrane transport.

Abstract When the efflux of 3H-GABA and 14C-glutamate was maximally stimulated by exchange diffusion with unlabeled amino acids, electrical stimulation was incapable of producing further release. This suggests carrier mediated membrane transport may be a limiting factor in the release of amino acid neurotransmitters from brain slices.
Fluorine oxidation of high-temperature superconductors

Abstract Both YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and EuBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x starting materials were treated with fluorine gas at 350°C. YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x F z exhibits a 2–4 K enhancement of the superconducting critical temperature T c for z = 0.04−0.2. For 0.2 c enhancement of the yttrium compound is about 2 K, and for z 0.5 the T c and the fraction of superconducting material decrease. For EuBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−x F z , T c decreases by about 2 K after fluorine treatment for z =0.12−0.54. Powder x-ray diffraction patterns for both compounds reveal no structural difference between the fluorine-treated and untreated samples for F 2 treatment yielding less than 0.5 mole F - /mole compound. At greater than 0.5 mole F - /mole compound, additional phases and destruction of the perovskite structure are evident. Heat treatment (300–950°C for 1–24 h) of F 2- treated samples in an air or oxygen environment causes the samples to regain their original, untreated superconducting properties. Fluoride ion analysis of these F 2- , then O 2- or air-treated samples shows that little or no F - remains in the samples.
How to Frame Mobility

There are few topics more timely than population dynamics and infectious disease in Asia. Avian influenza, SARS, Nipah virus, Enterovirus, E. coli 0157H7, Cholera el tor, and others comprise a continuing rhythm of infections that have emerged within and from the region in recent years. The influences on these emergent infections are numerous. This volume is a compendium of papers that were first presented at a conference in Singapore in 2004. Bringing such a broad variety of topics and authors together in a single volume is tricky. As with all edited volumes, there is some unevenness of quality and thoughtfulness among the papers. Thus, the key for such work is to provide a clear framework in which to consider these diverse contributions. The editors of this volume chose ‘‘mobility of populations’’ to provide a framework, and through this theme the editors have succeeded in creating a useful reference text. The editors present the general themes of urbanization, migration, and infectious disease as key concepts in the introductory chapter, but I would have appreciated a more thorough synthesis of the five subsequent framing chapters in this initial piece. These framing chapters are a rich variety of optics through which to view the ongoing emergence and transmission of infectious diseases. McMichael brings a combination of historical and ecological perspectives, and Bradley brings us landscape epidemiology: ecotones and Published online: February 13, 2008
On stochastic integral representation of stable processes with sample paths in Banach spaces

Certain path properties of a symmetric a-stable process X(r) = Is h( t, s) d&f(s), to T, are studied in terms of the kernel h. The existence of an appropriate modification of the kernel h enables one to use results from stable measures on Banach spaces in studying X. Bounds for the moments of the norm of sample paths of X are obtained. This yields definite bounds for the moments of a double a-stable integral. Also, necessary and suflicient conditions for the absolute continuity of sample paths of X are given. Along with the above stochastic integral representation of stable processes, the representation of stable random vectors due to R. LePage, M. Woodroofe, and J. Zinn (1981, Ann. Probab. 9, 624632) is extensively used and the relationship between these two representations is discussed. ( 1986 Academic Press. Inc.
ABSORPTION BY RATS OF IRON IN WINE.

SummaryAbsorption of iron from water, wine, and other alcoholic beverages administered by gastric tube to fasting rats was studied using Fe-59 and whole body counting. Wine was prepared from grapes grown to contain ferrous sulfate Fe-59 and Fe-55, and ferrous sulfate Fe-59 was added to commercially obtained wines. Absorption of iron was similar from tap water, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
Influence of Dietary Energy Restriction on Yield and Quality of Broiler Parts

Abstract A total of 768 broilers were used in two studies to investigate the effect of dietary energy restriction on yield, fat and moisture contents, and organoleptic characteristics of broiler parts. Four dietary treatments were used with six replications of each sex. Energy intake was restricted during the last 12 days of the finishing period with full minimum daily requirements of all other nutrients maintained. Energy restriction reduced the live and ready-to-cook (RTC) weight of the whole carcass. Percentage distributions of the cut-up parts of RTC broiler carcasses were also changed due to restriction. Energy restriction changed fat composition of the RTC broiler parts. A 15% dietary restriction did not significantly affect flavor, tenderness, or juiciness of dark meat based on organoleptic tests. Higher levels of dietary restriction, however, resulted in a significant reduction (indicating an adverse effect) in juiciness scores of broiler meat.
Systematic review: pancreatic enzyme treatment of malabsorption associated with chronic pancreatitis.

Summary Background Pancreatic enzyme supplementation is standard treatment for malabsorption caused by chronic pancreatitis. The FDA recently required all manufacturers to submit New Drug Applications to continue to market these agents because published data demonstrated variation in formulation, bioavailability and shelf-life while providing limited data about efficacy and safety. Aim To review systematically the design and results of randomized, parallel-design trials of pancreatic enzyme supplements in chronic pancreatitis patients with steatorrhea. Methods A computer-assisted search of MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed to identify relevant studies. Two authors performed duplicate data extraction on study design, improvement in coefficient of fat absorption (CFA), diarrhoea and adverse events using pre-specified forms. Agreement between investigators for data extraction was greater than 95%. Results Of 619 articles found through literature searching, 20 potentially relevant articles were identified and four manuscripts met inclusion criteria. No studies performed head-to-head comparisons of different supplements. Enzyme supplementation is more likely to improve CFA compared with placebo, but fat malabsorption remained abnormal. Important differences in patient population, study endpoint, study design, pancreatic enzyme dosage and measurement of CFA were present across trials, which precluded comparison of different agents. Conclusions Enzyme supplementation improves CFA compared to placebo, but may not abolish steatorrhoea.
The effect of reserpine upon gastrointestinal serotonin in the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Der Serotoningehalt der Schleimhaut von 14 gastrointestinalen Geweben von Sprague-Dawley Rattenmannchen und -weibchen wurde nach i.p. Injektion von Reserpin spektrophotofluorimetrisch gemessen. Die Verteilung von Serotonin im Magendarmkanal 4 und 16 h nach der Reserpininjektion zeigte, dass Magengewebe und Kolongewebe nach 16 h mehr entleert waren als nach 4 h, wahrend Dunndarm und Appendix nach 4 h mehr entleert waren als nach 16 h.
Analysis of optical attenuators on proton-exchanged and annealed LiNbO 3 waveguides

ABSTRACT Optical attenuators for protonexchanged and annealed waveguides in LiNbO3 are modeled by the matrix effective refractive index (MERI) method. It is shown theoretically and experimentally that an attenuation of 1.6dB/mm can beexpected for a titanium-gold metallic overlay. The theory indicates that thisattenuation can be increased to nearly 4.5dB/mm by placing a titanium dioxidelayer between the waveguide surface and the metallization. 2. INTRODUCTION Optical attenuators are useful for absorbing light at an unused directional coupler port on an integrated-optical-circuit (IOC) [1]. Attenuators can be fabricated by applying dielectric/metallic overlays to the waveguides. The matrix effective refractive index (MERI) method is used here to model theoverlays on proton-exchanged and annealed waveguides in LiNbO3. The MERItechnique was chosen because of its accuracy and flexibility. It can also be used to model directional couplers [2] and phase modulators [3]. The predicted andmeasured attenuations are compared.
Recurrent right ventricular takotsubo syndrome in a diabetic patient with dysautonomia.

I read with interest the abstract by Sta. Cruz and Codolosa 1 published recently in CHEST (March 2014), about a diabetic patient with recurrent isolated right ventricular Takotsubo syndrome in the setting of diabetic ketoacidosis and pulmonary aspiration. The authors ascribe the recurrent Takotsubo syndrome in their patient to dysautonomia, as inferred from the bradycardia and the “elevated pressures of the upper and lower esophageal sphincters suggestive of increased vagal tone.” 1 Do the authors imply that there was diminished autonomic sympathetic activity and a resultant increased influence of the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system? If this is the position of the authors, why was there an enhanced “hypercontractility of the basal segments” of the right ventricle, a response that customarily should be attributed to the contractilityenhancing sympathetic component of the autonomic nervous system? Alternatively, one could hypothesize that the different parts of the right ventricle were under the influence of the two different components of the autonomic nervous system.
Core Mutations That Promote the Calcium-Induced Allosteric Transition of Bovine Recoverin†

Recoverin is a small calcium binding protein involved in regulation of the phototransduction cascade in retinal rod cells. It functions as a calcium sensor by undergoing a cooperative, ligand-depen...
Exaggerating Environmental Health Risk: The Case of the Toxic Dinoflagellate Pfiesteria

Despite mounting evidence that Pfiesteria picicida, a marine organism that releases a neurotoxin, poses no serious threat to public health, its threat continues to be exaggerated by journalists, popular writers, politicians, and scientists. After presenting evidence against the public health threat that the organism poses, the author discusses four reasons that such evidence was initially questioned, rejected and vehemently opposed by journalists, politicians, and scientists engaged in research on Pfiesteria. The argument contains several implications for past and current trends in anthropological research, analysis, and reporting.
Gamete behaviour in Chlamydomonas.

Chlamydomonas Moewusii is a heterothallic species showing a difference in behaviour between the gametes of the two mating-types, of a kind not previously recorded.
Effect of the pre-weaning environment on subsequent reproduction in prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster

. Long-term effects of the pre-weaning environment on prairie vole pups were investigated. Two hypotheses were proposed to explain potential consequences to individuals reared with or without older siblings: (1) siblings affect an individual's subsequent reproduction by affecting size at independence or (2) older siblings increase the tendency of younger siblings to engage in affiliative behaviour with their own offspring. Experiment 1 tested whether size at separation from parents affects reproduction. All voles were reared only with parents to eliminate effects of differential pre-separation social experience. Weight at separation from parents was highly correlated with peripubertal weight, suggesting compensatory growth is not complete. Larger females produced pups that grew faster than pups from smaller females. Experiment 2 examined size at separation and pre-weaning social experience. No effect of male weight at separation from parents was found. On average, females that were large at separation from parents produced litters at shorter intervals and had pups that gained more weight prior to day 20 than did pups reared by small females. Contrary to the expectations, males reared with older siblings brooded pups less frequently than did males reared without older siblings. Maternal behaviour was not affected by pre-separation social experience. The presence of older siblings resulted in increased separation weight of prairie vole pups. In the present study, the direct benefit to pups from large size at separation suggests an important mechanism promoting indirect fitness benefits to philopatric prairie voles.
Effects of monovalent cations and insulin on glucose metabolism of the isolated rat diaphragm.

Abstract The effects of monovalent cations on glucose utilization, glycogen synthesis and lactate formation of rat diaphragm incubated in vitro were studied in the presence and absence of insulin. It was found that the monovalent ions markedly influenced glucose metabolism and the action of insulin in this tissue. Sodium and particularly lithium ions promoted glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis, while in the presence of a high concentration of potassium, glucose utilization and glycogen synthesis were low and lactate formation increased. The maximal effect of insulin was obtained in media high in sodium or lithium ions. The sulfhydryl reagent, 2,2'-dithiodipyridine (DTP), inhibited glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis to the same extent. Lactate production was unchanged by DTP when the tissues were incubated in a sodium medium and was increased by DTP in the presence of lithium. The monovalent cations strongly influence the metabolic action of insulin in the diaphragm preparation and appear to act by affecting an early rapid reaction catalyzed by the hormone.
Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predictive Value Concepts for Clinicians

The concepts of sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value are defined and discussed within the context of clinical practice.
Design of Wide-Band (and Narrow-Band) Band-Pass Microwave Filters on the Insertion Loss Basis

A method for design of band-pass microwave filters is described that combines the image and insertion-loss points of view to give an approximate design method having simplicity, but also high precision. This method is applicable for filter designs ranging from narrow to very wide bandwidths (2 to 1 or more). The desired insertion loss characteristic is obtained by use of a lumped-element, Tchebycheff, or maximally flat (or other) low-pass prototype. With the aid of the concept of impedance inverters, the prototype is converted into a cascade of symmetrical (but differing) sections. The image properties of symmetrical sections of the band-pass microwave filter structure are then related to those of corresponding sections of the prototype. Straightforward design equations are given for filters using short-circuited or open-circuited stubs, and also for filters using parallel-coupled lines. Mapping functions are derived that permit accurate prediction of the microwave filter cutoff characteristic from that of the prototype. The responses of a number of filter designs were computed, and a Tchebycheff filter with a 2.2 to 1 band-width was built and tested. The reponses of all of the filter designs were in close agreement with the prescribed characteristics, and the accuracy of the mapping functions was verified.
A NATURALISTIC TEST OF TWO FUNDAMENTAL PROPOSITIONS: CORRESPONDENCE BIAS AND THE ACTOR-OBSERVER HYPOTHESIS

This research examines factors which influence the lay-explainer in everyday life. Correspondence bias (cf. Gilbert & Jones, 1986) and Jones and Nisbett's (1971) actor-observer hypothesis are reviewed. Descriptions and explanations of behavior were obtained in everyday life via experience sampling. Traits as explanations were accessed minimally. The only significant difference between actor and observer was that actors used the person explanation more than observers did. Whether actor or observer, situational explanations were preferred most, then person, and finally purpose. Actions were explained significantly more by purpose and somewhat less by situation than were emotions. Reasons for such findings are discussed, along with the importance of description (e.g., an action-emotion descriptive contrast, cf. McArthur, 1972) and explanatory purpose, the purpose explanation, and everyday life for studies of correspondence bias and the actor-observer hypothesis.
A high-speed multimodulus HBT prescaler for frequency synthesizer applications

A high-speed variable modulus prescaler that divides the input clock frequency by 128 up to 255 with unit step increment has been implemented with heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology. A maximum operating frequency of 9.72 GHz with power consumption of 650 mW has been measured. The high-speed performance is attributed to the circuit design, which minimizes the critical path delay, and the intrinsic high-speed characteristics of HBT technology. The phase noise of the prescaler is important for frequency synthesizer applications. With 6.24-GHz input frequency, the phase noise was -110 dBc/Hz at 100-Hz offset frequency and -120 dBc at 1-kHz offset frequency. The noise floor decreases as the input frequency decreases. Phase noises of -125 dBc/Hz at 100-Hz offset and -135 dBc/Hz at 1-kHz offset were obtained for a 1.2-GHz input frequency. >
Nursing Diagnosis: A Study of Quality and Supportive Evidence

This study focused on the difference in number and quality of diagnostic statements generated by nurses using a medical or nursing database and the supportive evidence for the diagnoses. The results revealed no statistical difference in the number or quality of nursing diagnoses generated from the databases; 12 (44%) of the 34 diagnoses were not supported by assessment data. Nurses had difficulty writing etiologies that were supported by assessment data and for which nurses can intervene independently. The findings support the conclusion that nursing diagnosis is a weak component of the nursing process.
Structural diversity in the small heat shock protein superfamily: control of aggregation by the N‐terminal region

The small heat shock protein superfamily, extending over all kingdoms, is characterized by a common core domain with variable N- and C-terminal extensions. The relatively hydrophobic N-terminus plays a critical role in promoting and controlling high-order aggregation, accounting for the high degree of structural variability within the superfamily. The effects of N-terminal volume on aggregation were studied using chimeric and truncated proteins. Proteins lacking the N-terminal region did not aggregate above the tetramers, whereas larger N-termini resulted in large aggregates, consistent with the N-termini packing inside the aggregates. Variation in an extended internal loop differentiates typical prokaryotic and plant superfamily members from their animal counterparts; this implies different geometry in the dimeric building block of high-order aggregates.
Oblivious equilibrium for large-scale stochastic games with unbounded costs

We study stochastic dynamic games with a large number of players, where players are coupled via their cost functions. A standard solution concept for stochastic games is Markov perfect equilibrium (MPE). In MPE, each player's strategy is a function of its own state as well as the state of the other players. This makes MPE computationally prohibitive as the number of players becomes large. An approximate solution concept called oblivious equilibrium (OE) was introduced, where each player?s decision depends only on its own state and the "long-run average" state of other players. This makes OE computationally more tractable than MPE. It was shown that, under a set of assumptions, as the number of players become large, OE closely approximates MPE. In this paper we relax those assumptions and generalize that result to cases where the cost functions are unbounded. Furthermore, we show that under these relaxed set of assumptions, the OE approximation result can be applied to large population linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) games.