cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P61: Quality of life improvement after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: Long-term SF-36 data

Background: The current literature is scant regarding quality of life amongst obese patients and in particular with regards to longterm implications of bariatric surgery. The aim of this study is to understand quality of life changes that occur post-bariatric surgery. Methods: 1,255 prospectively collected SF-36 questionnaires were analyzed from 902 consecutive patients undergoing RYGBP.Preop (n 902) & yearly thereafter: 1yr (n 725), 2yrs (244), 3yrs (135), 4yrs (98), 5yrs (48), 6yrs (5). SF-36 responses were normalized to 1998 US norms.Statistics analyzed with SAS:Univariate analysis, Kruskal-Wallis,Turkey’s HSD posthoc analysis. All data presented as means SEM. Results: Demographics: Race (137 African Americans, 585 Caucasians, 2 Hispanics, 1 other), Sex (83%women, 17%men), Age (40.9 0.34), BMI (48.72 0.27), ASA (2 31%, 3 68%, 4 1%), Short Vs Long-limb bypass (63% vs 37%). Preoperative values measured on the following 10 scales (Physical function (PF 30.92), Role physical (RP 36.65), Bodily pain (BP 42.44), General Health (GH 45.26), Vitality (VT 49.31), Social function (SF 35.52), Role emotional (RE 42.29), Mental health (MH 42.93), Physical & Mental Cumulative Score (PCS 36.74 & MCS 46.06), demonstrated significant improvement postoperatively for PF, RP, BP, GH, RE, PCS, MCS (p 0.001).1yr & 5yr SF-36 data (PF 52.42 & 48.44), (RP 53.3 & 49.92), (BP 26.03 & 29.72), (GH 41.14 & 43.95), (VT 48.11 & 49.31), (SF 34.57 & 34.96), (RE 52.53 & 49.51), (MH 43.01 & 43), (PCS 43.56 & 43.35), (MCS 44.73 & 44.72). Preop SF-36 data for obese patients that did and did not undergo surgery was not statistically different across categories. Conclusion: Although obese patients score lower on all scales compared to the normal standardized population, health-related quality of life significantly improves post-bariatric surgery. The most significant improvements in quality of life are seen within the first 18 months after RYGBP, which prove durable long term. PII: S1550-7289(08)00234-7
Excitation Properties of Er-Doped GaP from Photoluminescence and High Pressure Studies

The photoluminescence properties of MOCVD GaP: Er were investigated as a function of temperature, applied hydrostatic pressure, and excitation wavelength. Four sharp peaks are observed on the high energy side of the 1.54 μm Er3+ emission. These peaks are selectively excited by below-gap energies and have a significantly shorter lifetime than the main Er3+ emission, suggesting that at least two distinct Er3+ centers contribute to the luminescence. The low temperature photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectrum of the 1.54 μm emission was also measured. Strong broad excitation of the Er3+ centers occurs with energies well below the indirect bandgap energy. In fact, the Er3+ emission intensity is significantly stronger when excited with below-gap wavelengths than with above-gap wavelengths. This result has been explained in terms of competition between Er3+ excitation and nonradiative deep level recombination for free carriers under above-gap excitation. With below-gap excitation, carriers are promoted directly into the Er3+ excitation pathway via absorption at an erbium-related trap. At 42 kbar, below-gap excitation is no longer more efficient than above-gap excitation, suggesting that competitive capture of free carriers by deep levels has been reduced.
Synthesis and X-ray Structures of Elusive Imine/Oxime-Type Organocobalt B(12) Complexes. NMR Study Suggesting Steric Strain within the Axially Ligated Benzimidazole.

Organocobalt B12 model complexes of the imine/oxime-type containing R groups with good trans influence were prepared using the isolated CoI reagent (CO)CoI((DO)(DOH)pn). Complexes were of the type ...
Reactive intermediates: Radicals with multiple personalities

A combined theoretical and experimental approach has revealed that radicals can be significantly stabilized by the presence of a remote anionic site in the same molecule. This finding has implications for understanding and potentially controlling the reactivity of these important reactive intermediates.
Optimal cuts to extract the third-order piezoelectric constants and electrostictive constants of langasite single crystals through the electroelastic effect

Optimal cuts to determine the third-order piezoelectric constants and electrostrictive constants of langasite single crystals by the resonator method are proposed. By selecting several langasite resonators with optimal cut angles and measuring their electroelastic effects, third-order piezoelectric constants and electrostrictive constants of langasite single crystals may be extracted. The numerical method to search these optimal cut angles is presented. The methodology has been validated by finite element analysis. This method will simplify traditional methods used to determine the third-order piezoelectric and electrostrictive constants for langasite single crystals and could potentially produce more accurate results. The method could also be used to determine the third-order piezoelectric and electrostrictive constants for other crystals with trigonal 32 symmetry.
The effect of pyloromyotomy on serum and luminal gastrin in infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Previous studies of the pathogenesis of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (CHPS) have implicated immunoreactive gastrin, although no consistent relationship has been demonstrated. In this study we have examined the effect which pyloromyotomy has on serum and luminal gastrin concentration after a mechanical and protein stimulus. Seventeen infants were examined preoperatively, and 1 week after pyloromyotomy. On each occasion, samples of serum and gastric contents were collected from fasting infants. Sixty cubic centimeters of water was placed into the stomach and further samples collected 20 min later. The water was then aspirated and replaced by 60 cc of 10% peptone broth and a third set of samples collected after 20 min. All samples from each patient were analyzed for immunoreactive gastrin in the same assay. Pyloromyotomy did not alter fasting serum gastrin (119.3 pg 2 11.9 preop vs 164.7 f 29.9 postop) nor did it alter the gastrin response to water. Pyloromyotomy decreased the incremental serum gastrin response to peptone broth (66.6 + 16.9 preop vs 18.9 + 11.7 postop). Luminal gastrin concentration was not significantly affected by pyloromyotomy. When the pre- and postoperative serum gastrin increments for water and peptone were plotted against the fasting gastrin levels, an inverse relationship was apparent which was statistically significant by regression analysis. Seen in this way, intragastric water and peptone have a dual effect on serum gastrin; a rise if the fasting serum gastrin concentration is low; a fall or lesser rise if the fasting serum gastrin concentration is high. The data suggest that the direction and magnitude of serum gastrin response to intragastric water or peptone is set by the fasting level, and is independent of pyloromyotomy.
The Inspector-Instrument Interface in Portable NDA Instrumentation

Recent electronics technology advances make it possible to design sophisticated instruments in small packages for convenient field implementation. This report describes an inspector-instrument interface design which allows communication of procedures, responses, and results between the instrument and user. The interface has been incorporated into new spent-fuel instrumentation and a battery-powered multichannel analyzer.
The effect of apprehensive behavior on communication apprehension and interpersonal attraction

This study examined the effect behavior associated with communication apprehension (CA) has on a person's interaction partner in initial dyadic interactions. Persons interacting with confederates exhibiting high communication apprehension behavior (HCAB) experienced higher levels of self‐reported state CA and judged their interaction partners as less socially and task attractive than persons interacting with a confederate exhibiting low communication apprehension behavior (LCAB). These and other results are discussed at the conclusion of the paper.
Diversity and social cohesion

The issue of diversity, in its broadest sense, is discussed here in its relation to social cohesion, cross-cultural relations, ingroup–outgroup relations and educational interventions. The main thesis of the paper is that real social cohesion in an ingroup rests on the acknowledgment of and the dialog with the diversities of the members of the ingroup itself. And that diversity relating to the outgroup and to the various members of the outgroup is understood and accepted, given that diversity among the members of the ingroup is also understood and accepted. This way, cross-cultural relations within an ingroup and between the ingroup and outgroups are fostered, which partly contradicts some traditional assumptions in social psychology research, according to which social cohesion in the ingroup is accompanied by hostility toward the outgroup. A study we conducted in Italian schools on youths’ attitudes toward multiculturalism with the use of focus groups indicated that most participants have lost or have ne...
Effectiveness of current technology in the diagnosis and management of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage is a common clinical problem for which multiple diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions have been developed but no optimal approach has been established. We reviewed 107 consecutive patients admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital for management of acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage to determine the effectiveness of diagnostic and management technologies, with particular attention to urgent colonoscopy. Colonoscopy yielded a diagnosis in 90% of patients, provided the opportunity for successful therapy in 9 of 13 patients (69%), and shortened hospital stay. Angiography performed after a scan positive for bleeding was often diagnostic, and angiography provided the means for successful therapy in 5 of 10 patients (50%). Barium enema and sigmoidoscopy had lower clinical yields. Although roles exist for other technologies, colonoscopy is the most convenient and effective first test in the evaluation of patients with significant lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Diagnostic yield, therapeutic opportunity, and cost effectiveness are maximized in early studies.
Sensor localization using helicopter acoustic and GPS data

In this paper we present an algorithm to determine the location of an acoustic sensor array using the direction of arrival (DOA) estimates of a moving acoustic source whose ground truth is available. Determination of location and orientation of sensor array based on the statistics of errors in the DOA estimation is a nonlinear regression problem. We formulate and derive the necessary equations to solve this problem in terms of the bearing estimates of the acoustic source and its location. The algorithm is tested against helicopter data from three acoustic sensor arrays distributed over a field.
Two-dimensional generalizations of the Korteweg-de Vries equation in the vortex dynamics of ultraclean high-temperature superconductors

Abstract In an ultraclean type-II superconductor in the absence of pinning and the Hall force, the nonlinear Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation governs the evolution of the first-order electrodynamic field corrections for one-dimensional vortex motion. Here two-dimensional (2D) vortex motion is investigated in the ultraclean regime, in the long-wavelength, small-amplitude limit. The effects of nonlocal vortex interaction and vortex inertia are included, using London theory. Using different orderings for the transverse coordinate and associated velocity component, 2D generalizations of the KdV equation are obtained, including the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation. These equations possess soliton solutions, stable to 2D perturbations. These results provide the basis of modelling solitonic behavior in more complex type-II superconductors.
Synthesis and molecular structure of the first inorganic quadruply-bridged Ir(II) dimer (Ir―Ir)

Abstract Interaction of (COD)Ir(μ-form)2Ir(OCOCF3)2(H2O) (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; form = N,N′-di-p-tolylformamidinate ion) with two equivalents of Hform in toluene affords Ir2(form)4, the first inorganic Ir(II) dimer to be crystallographically characterized. The reaction involves a formal electron redistribution from a dative Ir(I) → Ir(III) to a covalent Ir(II)-Ir(II) bond. The compound crystallizes in the cubic space group Pn 3 n with a = 21.300(9) A. The metal-metal separation, 2.524(3) A, is the shortest ever reported for a bonding interaction between iridium atoms.
T-cell adjuvants.

T-cell adjuvancy involves the use of agents to stimulate preferentially delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). Traditional adjuvants like Alum, Freunds, muramyl peptides, and endotoxins are not selective. Natural infection (e.g. vaccinia) may yield selective DTH. Low dose cyclophosphamide (CY) with mycobacteria was the first experimental T-cell adjuvant. New adjuvant formulations (ISCOMS, MAPS, etc.) with synthetic T-cell epitopes offer improved formulations. Upregulation of TH-1 helper cells and their actions with interleukins like IL-2, IL-12, and gamma IFN or antibodies to IL-4 and IL-10 may augment potently pathogen and tumor resistance. Similarly, transfection of tumor target cells with genes for IL-2, IL-12, gamma IFN, etc., offers novel vaccine treatment approaches. Finally, "thymomimetic" peptides like thymosin alpha 1 or drugs like levamisole or isoprinosine alone or in conjunction with interleukins may augment TH-1 and DTH responses. These approaches are seeing increasing emphasis in new treatment strategies for cancer and infections like HIV.
Comparative anatomy and phylogeny of the cloacae of salamanders (Amphibia: Caudata). II. Cryptobranchidae, Hynobiidae, and Sirenidae.

Cloacae were examined from salamanders representing the three families in which fertilization of eggs is known or inferred to occur externally. The cloacae of male and female sirenids are aglandular and lack cilia. Sexual dimorphism in sirenid cloacae occurs only in the extent of epithelial stratification in the cloacal chamber in females (entire chamber) versus males (posterior angle of the vent). Both male and female Cryptobranchus alleganiensis possess ventral glands that secrete an acid mucopolysaccharide and have ciliated cloacal linings. The ventral glands are more numerous and hypertrophied in breeding male than female C. alleganiensis, but in males, ventral glands secrete only onto the surface of the cloacal lips along the anterior three-fifths of the cloacal orifice, whereas in females, the glands secrete onto the border of the entire cloacal orifice. Except for male Onychodactylus japonicus, male and female hynobiids also possess only ventral glands and have ciliated cloacal linings. Hynobiid ventral glands secrete a glycoprotein. Much variation occurs, however, among these hynobiids in cloacal conformation, extent of epidermis into the cloaca, and anatomy of the ventral gland. Male O. japonicus possess an unciliated cloaca in which three types of cloacal glands occur, each giving unique reactions to tests for carbohydrates and proteins. The glands in male O. japonicus do not seem to be homologous to those found in spermatophore producing salamanders in the Salamandroidea, but this does not negate the possibility that O. japonicus makes spermatophores. Examination of cloacal characters in additional species of hynobiids may be useful in resolving intrafamilial phylogenetic relationships.
Hypnosis in the treatment of anxiety- and stress-related disorders

Self-hypnosis training represents a rapid, cost-effective, nonaddictive and safe alternative to medication for the treatment of anxiety-related conditions. Here we provide a review of the experimental literature on the use of self-hypnosis in the treatment of anxiety and stress-related disorders, including anxiety associated with cancer, surgery, burns and medical/dental procedures. An overview of research is also provided with regard to self-hypnotic treatment of anxiety-related disorders, such as tension headaches, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome. The tremendous volume of research provides compelling evidence that hypnosis is an efficacious treatment for state anxiety (e.g., prior to tests, surgery and medical procedures) and anxiety-related disorders, such as headaches and irritable bowel syndrome. Although six studies demonstrate changes in trait anxiety, this review recommends that further randomized controlled outcome studies are needed on the hypnotic treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and in documenting changes in trait anxiety. Recommendations are made for selecting clinical referral sources.
Incompressible slip flow past a semi-infinite flat plate

An asymptotic solution to the Navier-Stokes equation is obtained for the incompressible flow of a viscous fluid past a semi-infinite flat plate when a slip boundary condition is applied at the plate. The results for the shear stress (and hence the slip velocity) on the plate differ basically from those obtained by previous authors who considered the same problem using some form of the Oseen equations.
Treatment of the Immature Tooth with a Non–Vital Pulp and Apical Periodontitis

Traditional methods of treatment of immature root with necrotic pulp and apical periodontitis pose multiple challenges. These challenges include disinfection of the root canal with standard protocols that aggressively use endodontic files, filling the root canal with an open apex that provides no barrier for stopping the root filling material before impinging on the periodontal tissues, and the susceptibility of the teeth to fracture because of their thin roots. Disinfection using sodium hypochlorite, apical barrier formation using calcium hydroxide as well as mineral trioxide aggregate, and pulp revascularization of fractured tooth with the help of blood clot and collagen-enhanced matrix has been discussed in detail in this article.
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To review circadian rhythm sleep disorders, including underlying causes, diagnostic considerations, and typical treatments. METHODS: Literature review and discussion of specific cases. RESULTS: Survey studies (1,2) suggest that up to 3% of the adult population suffers from a circadian rhythm sleep disorder (CRSD). However, these sleep disorders are often confused with insomnia, and an estimated 10% of adult and 16% of adolescent sleep disorders patients may have a CRSD (3-6). While some CRSD (such as jet lag) can be self-limiting, others when untreated can lead to adverse medical, psychological, and social consequences. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders classifies CRSD as dyssomnias, with six subtypes: Advanced Sleep Phase Type, Delayed Sleep Phase Type, Irregular Sleep Wake Type, Free Running Type, Jet Lag Type, and Shift Work Type. The primary clinical characteristic of all CRSD is an inability to fall asleep and wake at the desired time. It is believed that CRSD arise from a problem with the internal biological clock (circadian timing system) and/or misalignment between the circadian timing system and the external 24-hour environment. This misalignment can be the result of biological and/or behavioral factors. CRSD can be confused with other sleep or medical disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Circadian rhythm sleep disorders are a distinct class of sleep disorders characterized by a mismatch between the desired timing of sleep and the ability to fall asleep and remain asleep. If untreated, CRSD can lead to insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, with negative medical, psychological, and social consequences. It is important for physicians to recognize potential circadian rhythm sleep disorders so that appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and referral can be made. Language: en
Homeobox genes, fossils, and the origin of species

Ever since Darwin there has been a history of debate on the tempo and mode of evolution. Is speciation a gradual process involving the accumulation of minute variations extant within a species, or is it rapid, the result of major organismal reorganization? Does one define a species on the basis of genes, morphology, or geographic or reproductive isolation? In this communication I present a model of evolutionary change that is based on the Mendelian inheritance of mutations in regulatory genes and the fact that most nonlethal mutations arise in the recessive state. Since the new recessive allele will spread through many generations without expression until there is a critical mass of heterozygotes capable of producing homozygotes for the mutation, the novel feature thus produced will appear abruptly in the population and in more than one individual. This picture of punctuation is consistent with the fossil record, which typically fails to provide evidence of smoothly transitional states of morphological change. Given that the first of their kind in the fossil record are organisms in which their novel characteristics are often more fully expressed or complex than in their descendants, it would seem that, after the mutation involving a regulatory gene is introduced, the general tendency is for its effects to become diminished. Among the implications for speciation is that this process does not depend on either reproductive isolation or genetic incompatibility. Rather, barring effects on reproductive organs or behavior, homozygotes for a novelty should be able to breed with heterozygotes and homozygotes for the wild state of the original population. This, in turn, suggests that the species barrier between individuals is probably a matter of mate recognition. Anat Rec (New Anat): 257:15‐31, 1999. r 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Analysis of induced electrical currents from magnetic field coupling inside implantable neurostimulator leads

Background: Over the last decade, the number of neurostimulator systems implanted in patients has been rapidly growing. Nearly 50, 000 neurostimulators are implanted worldwide annually. The most common type of implantable neurostimulators is indicated for pain relief. At the same time, commercial use of other electromagnetic technologies is expanding, making electromagnetic interference (EMI) of neurostimulator function an issue of concern. Typically reported sources of neurostimulator EMI include security systems, metal detectors and wireless equipment. When near such sources, patients with implanted neurostimulators have reported adverse events such as shock, pain, and increased stimulation. In recent in vitro studies, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been shown to inhibit the stimulation pulse of an implantable neurostimulator system during low frequency exposure at close distances. This could potentially be due to induced electrical currents inside the implantable neurostimulator leads that are caused by magnetic field coupling from the low frequency identification system. Methods: To systematically address the concerns posed by EMI, we developed a test platform to assess the interference from coupled magnetic fields on implantable neurostimulator systems. To measure interference, we recorded the output of one implantable neurostimulator, programmed for best therapy threshold settings, when in close proximity to an operating low frequency RFID emitter. The output contained electrical potentials from the neurostimulator system and those induced by EMI from the RFID emitter. We also recorded the output of the same neurostimulator system programmed for best therapy threshold settings without RFID interference. Using the Spatially Extended Nonlinear Node (SENN) model, we compared threshold factors of spinal cord fiber excitation for both recorded outputs. Results: The electric current induced by low frequency RFID emitter was not significant to have a noticeable effect on electrical stimulation. Conclusions: We demonstrated a method for analyzing effects of coupled magnetic field interference on implantable neurostimulator system and its electrodes which could be used by device manufacturers during the design and testing phases of the development process.
Does Wealth Imply Secularization and Longevity

We develop a simple life cycle model with endogenous longevity where religious firms influence religious beliefs using donations as an input. The model suggests that either wealth and economic development or competition by religiousfirms can explain cross- countryvariationinreligiousbeliefs, buttoexplaincross-countryvariationinreligiousbeliefs, longevity, and consumption both development and competition are required. Our results depend on the wealth and substitution effects that accompany economic development and religious market competition.
Dimensional Analysis and the Pi Theorem

A new version of the Buckingham pi theorem is presented which reveals the underlying mathematical structure of that classical result. In this context it becomes a theorem in linear algebra, and it is formulated without reference to physical quantities, units, dimensions, and so on. Also, the classical approach of Birkhoff is reviewed and some points in his proof are expanded.
Four-wave mixing spatial soliton interaction dynamics

Three-color spatial optical solitons created by third-order nonlinear mixing of light at a central frequency with two sidebands through both cross-phase modulation and four-wave mixing are presented. Stability and interaction dynamics of these solitons are investigated.
Peer influences on college drinking: A review of the research

Peer pressure is consistently implicated in the excessive drinking of college students. However, both theory and empirical findings suggest that peer pressure is a combination of three distinct influences: overt offers of alcohol, modeling, and social norms. Overt offers of alcohol can range from polite gestures to intense goading or commands to drink. Modeling occurs when the student's behavior corresponds to another student's concurrent drinking behavior. Perceived social norms can serve to make excessive alcohol use appear common and acceptable to the student. This review critically examines the literature on each form of peer influence and provides suggestions for future research.
Towards Scalable One-Pass Analytics Using MapReduce

An integral part of many data-intensive applications is the need to collect and analyze enormous datasets efficiently. Concurrent with such application needs is the increasing adoption of MapReduce as a programming model for processing large datasets using a cluster of machines. Current MapReduce systems, however, require the data set to be loaded into the cluster before running analytical queries, and thereby incur high delays to start query processing. Furthermore, existing systems are geared towards batch processing. In this paper, we seek to answer a fundamental question: what architectural changes are necessary to bring the benefits of the MapReduce computation model to incremental, one-pass analytics, i.e., to support stream processing and online aggregation? To answer this question, we first conduct a detailed empirical performance study of current MapReduce implementations including Hadoop and MapReduce Online using a variety of workloads. By doing so, we identify several drawbacks of existing systems for one-pass analytics. Based on the insights from our study, we conclude by listing key design requirements and arguing for architectural changes of MapReduce systems to overcome their current limitations and fully embrace incremental one-pass analytics and showing promising preliminary results.
Adaptive Responses to Low-Dose/Low-Dose-Rate γ Rays in Normal Human Fibroblasts: The Role of Growth Architecture and Oxidative Metabolism

Abstract de Toledo, S. M., Asaad, N., Venkatachalam, P., Li, L., Howell, R. W., Spitz, D. R. and Azzam, E. I. Adaptive Responses to Low-Dose/Low-Dose-Rate γ Rays in Normal Human Fibroblasts: The Role of Growth Architecture and Oxidative Metabolism. Radiat. Res. 166, 849–857 (2006). To investigate low-dose/low-dose-rate effects of low-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation, we used γ-irradiated cells adapted to grow in a three-dimensional architecture that mimics cell growth in vivo. We determined the cellular, molecular and biochemical changes in these cells. Quiescent normal human fibroblasts were irradiated with single acute or chronic doses (1–10 cGy) of 137Cs γ rays. Whereas exposure to an acute dose of 10 cGy increased micronucleus formation, protraction of the dose over 48 h reduced micronucleus frequency to a level similar to or lower than what occurs spontaneously. The protracted treatment also up-regulated the cellular content of the antioxidant glutathione. These changes correlated with...
Modeling and control of formations of nonholonomic mobile robots

This paper addresses the control of a team of nonholonomic mobile robots navigating in a terrain with obstacles while maintaining a desired formation and changing formations when required, using graph theory. We model the team as a triple, (g, r, H), consisting of a group element g that describes the gross position of the lead robot, a set of shape variables r that describe the relative positions of robots, and a control graph H that describes the behaviors of the robots in the formation. Our framework enables the representation and enumeration of possible control graphs and the coordination of transitions between any two formations.
Environmental Hazards and the Public

Effective management of environmental hazards requires knowledge of both physical environmental systems and the psychosocial processes affecting responses to environmental conditions. This journal issue focuses on understanding individual and social group responses to environmental hazards. This article suggests that hazard managers and others are often perplexed by the diversity of people's conclusions about environmental hazards because they adopt an objectivist perspective, which views risk only as a physical characteristic. The constructivist perspective adopted by the social sciences holds that risk assessment reflects human judgments, which are influenced by various psychological and social factors reviewed herein. We conclude that the effective management of many environmental hazards depends on reconciliation of the objectivist and constructivist perspectives. This can be accomplished by recognizing that risk communication, the exchange of information and opinions about hazards, should integrate technical information about hazards with the interests and values of affected parties including the public, in order to develop common solutions to environmental problems.
A modification of the Park and Johnson reducing sugar determination suitable for the assay of insoluble materials: its application to bacterial cell walls.

Abstract A modification of the Park and Johnson procedure for reducing sugar determination is described which permits determination of the reducing power of insoluble materials such as bacterial cell wall components. After heating with alkaline ferricyanide solution and acidification, insoluble material is removed by centrifugation. Ferric ferrocyanide colloid is formed in the supernatant and measured spectrophotometrically. Addition of Carbowax 20M greatly reduces the tendency of the colloid to precipitate in the presence of soluble oligosaccharides.
Functioning and Health Service Use Among Elderly Nursing Home Residents With Alcohol Use Disorders: Findings From The National Nursing Home Survey

Objective The author asked whether older nursing home residents with alcohol use disorders differ from demographically-matched residents without alcohol use disorders on functioning, admission characteristics, and health services use. Method National Nursing Home Survey data were used to compare nursing home residents with alcohol use disorders (N = 216) with demographically-matched residents without alcohol use disorders (N = 216) on functioning, admission characteristics, and health services use. Results Residents with alcohol use disorders functioned somewhat better than did residents in the demographically-matched sample group, as indicated by performance of basic activities of daily living. However, they were significantly more likely to have lived alone before admission and to have obtained mental health and social services. There was a significant group × gender interaction on length of stay: men with alcohol use disorders had shorter lengths of stay than did men without alcohol use disorders; women with alcohol use disorders had longer lengths of stay than did women without such disorders. Conclusions Having fewer social resources may contribute to elevated admission risk and need for mental health and social services among older nursing home residents who have alcohol use disorders. Duration and severity of alcohol problems may help explain gender differences in length of stay among these residents.
Sex-specific plant responses to two light levels in the liverwort Marchantia inflexa (Marchantiaceae)

In seed plants, the occurrence of spatial segregation of the sexes (SSS) along environmental gradients is well documented. SSS in bryophytes is usually more extreme than in seed plants, yet few bryophyte studies have explicitly linked SSS to environmental variables. For Marchantia inflexa, in which males are found beneath more tree-canopy openness than are females, we tested whether morphological, physiological and life history patterns are consistent with this sex-specific association to canopy openness. To accomplish this, we quantified morphology, physiology and life history differences between two light conditions for each sex. Responses to light levels were mostly analogous to sun and shade leaves of seed plants. However, we found that males had lower chlorophyll a:b ratios (indicative of low-light plants) than females, contrary to our prediction.
Models of Statehood in the German Nuclear Energy Debate

This article analyzes the role of the state in the development of, and controversy over, civilian nuclear energy in West Germany. The static and uniform categories of state strength and state weakness are found insufficient to account for the capacity or incapacity of the state to formulate and implement nuclear policy. Instead, the analysis uncovers the existence of conflicting and contradictory models of statehood in postwar German politics. They shaped the particular contours of nuclear development and conflict.
Critical Issues: Bringing Scholarly Dialogue to the Surface: A View of the JLR Review Process in Progress:

In many respects, the production of a scholarly journal such as JLR is the proverbial iceberg. Above the waterline is the clearly visible, final published product which typically arrives in the mail, is read wholly or in part, and then is archived for future reference. Below the waterline is a much less visible but remarkably extensive and intensive range of activities that support the visible product and that are an integral part of it. In fact, to extend the metaphor, this less visible activity in the production of a journal, particularly the review process (and particularly for new scholars), represents all the mystery and navigational hazards that icebergs do to inexperienced sailors traveling in uncharted waters.
Tax Treatment Of U. S. Companies Participating In The Maquiladora Industry: Recent Developments Involving The Intergovernmental Agreement On Transfer Pricing And Other Issues

The relationship between U.S. companies and Mexican maquiladoras has been evolving for more than thirty years. The original advantages of lower taxes, cheaper labor, quick delivery and special tariff treatments enabled U.S. companies to increase cost-effectiveness and remain competitive worldwide. The arrangement also brought employment opportunities and prosperity to the border region of Mexico. Over time, however, many of the original advantages for both the United States and Mexico have either eroded or disappeared completely. As political and economic changes have occurred, so have changes within the maquiladora industry. In addition, the maquiladoras now face increasing competition from other foreign countries for U.S. business once reserved for the maquiladoras. This paper will examine these issues and the implications of recent changes for both the maquiladora industry and for the U.S. companies who use their services.
rotl: an R package to interact with the Open Tree of Life data

Summary While phylogenies have been getting easier to build, it has been difficult to reuse, combine and synthesize the information they provide because published trees are often only available as image files, and taxonomic information is not standardized across studies. The Open Tree of Life (OTL) project addresses these issues by providing a digital tree that encompasses all organisms, built by combining taxonomic information and published phylogenies. The project also provides tools and services to query and download parts of this synthetic tree, as well as the source data used to build it. Here, we present rotl, an R package to search and download data from the Open Tree of Life directly in R. rotl uses common data structures allowing researchers to take advantage of the rich set of tools and methods that are available in R to manipulate, analyse and visualize phylogenies. Here, and in the vignettes accompanying the package, we demonstrate how rotl can be used with other R packages to analyse biodiversity data. As phylogenies are being used in a growing number of applications, rotl facilitates access to phylogenetic data and allows their integration with statistical methods and data sources available in R.
Canonical Equation K9 for Random Matrices whose Entries have Identical Variances

Chapter 9 contains some simple examples for which it is possible to obtain the exact value of the limit solution of the canonical equation K 7.
Students’ Perceptions of the Importance of the Introduction to Marketing Course & Topics in Meeting their Career Objectives

The perceived importance of both the beginning marketing course and the marketing principles themselves to students was studied at a midwestern university. Key differences were found among majors with regards to the importance of various topics, with marketing and management majors rating topics higher in importance than accounting and finance majors.
This gun for hire: Concealed weapons legislation in the workplace and beyond

This Article considers select concealed weapons statutes and focuses on liability and practical implementation concerns that arise in the employment and business contexts once concealed weapons laws are enacted.
Effect of pre-drilling, loading rate and temperature variation on the behavior of railroad spikes used for high-density-polyethylene crossties

The University of Illinois at Chicago conducted a series of studies to assess the feasibility of implementing High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) crossties in both conventional and high speed rail applications. In this report, an investigation aiming to understand and assess the performance of typical railroad spikes used with recycled HDPE crossties is presented. The objectives of this report were to: (1) Understand the behavior of rail spikes under pure pullout forces and their interactions with the HDPE crosstie; (2) Assess the effect of temperature, rate of loading and type of spike on the spike pullout behavior; (3) Investigate the behavior of rail spikes when subjected to lateral forces; and (4) Develop accurate finite element modeling techniques, which accurately portray the behavior of the fastening system using the experimental data.
Shocks: the whole truth, the partial truth, or nowhere near the truth.

In this edition of Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology , Elayi and colleagues1 examined mortality in patients from the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) study who received external (transthoracic) cardioversion shocks for atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with those who had not received cardioversion shocks. The AFFIRM trial studied 4060 patients with a history of AF and compared a strategy of rhythm control versus rate control.2 The strategy of using antiarrhythmic drug therapy to maintain sinus rhythm did not improve all-cause mortality when compared with rate control. In this substudy analysis of AFFIRM, the association of cardioversion shocks and subsequent risk of death was determined using Cox proportional hazards modeling. The primary finding was that patients who received cardioversion shocks were not at higher risk of death compared with the patients who did not receive cardioversion shocks. Other than an association of cardioversion with cardiac hospitalizations, these neutral findings were independent of ejection fraction, numbers of cardioversion episodes, or history of permanent versus paroxysmal AF. Article see p 465 It is important to emphasize that a Cox proportional hazards model examines association of variables and does not establish “cause and effect.”3 The finding in the study by Elayi et al that there was an association of having had a cardioversion episode and having been hospitalized for cardiac reasons illustrates this principal. For instance, the hospitalization could have been for the purpose of medical management of the …
Multivariable Response of Semiconductor Nanocrystal-Dye Sensors: The Case of pH

Emissive semiconductor nanocrystals can be efficient FRET donors to chemically responsive organic fluorophores; conjugating the two creates a ratiometric (or self-calibrating) sensor. Given that the organic component engenders chemical and/or biological sensitivity, it is natural to assume that the NC−dye response is reflective of the photochemical properties of the neat dye. In the case of a pH sensor like fluorescein, the dye emission can be analytically described by the Henderson−Hasselbalch equation. Our research demonstrates that the ratiometric sensing response of CdS/ZnS−fluorescein pH sensors, however, does not directly reflect the Henderson−Hasselbalch relationship and is difficult to predict. The reasons for this complexity are the alternations of the dye microenvironment within the nanoscale architecture and the nature of energy transfer from the NC donor to the acceptor dye.
Mathematics Is Only One Tool That Statisticians Use

(1988). Mathematics Is Only One Tool That Statisticians Use… The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 30-32.
Reading and misreading Habits of the Heart

Habits got a most propitious launching. Peter Steinfels reviewed the book on the front page of the New York Times Book Review. The same week Ken Woodward gave the book a big play in Newsweek. We were told that that is the perfect one/two combination to send off a book that will sell well. Perhaps even more important, the Los Angeles Times reported a talk based on Habits that I gave at Claremont College just weeks before publication. The account was accurate enough but the headline (not written by the reporter) said, "New Book Attacks Christian Right." This inaccurate headline assured that the article would be very widely reprinted, not only in the U.S. but in the European Herald-Tribune, the Singapore Times, etc. You can't buy that kind of publicity. As the book reviews began to come in, they were not by any means all posi tive. An ideological pattern developed: both the right and the left hated the book. The neo-conservative right-Richard Neuhaus, Robert Nisbet, et al.-had nothing but contempt for us. Michael Novak's review was entitled "Habits of the Left-Wing Heart." We were really surprised by this reaction. Neo-conservatives, especially religious ones, were always talking about family, neighborhood and intermediate associations. These figured prominently in our book. What we learned was that none of that mattered if you attacked the free market. In the end, that was where neo-conservatives had all their chips. Only later did we learn that in some right-wing circles the book was seen as pro-homosexual because of a couple of side-comments that most readers never noticed. The Nation had a review symposium with six reviewers, five of whom hated the book. Barbara Ehrenreich, in the funniest of all the reviews, asked why five
A biomechanical study of anterior thoracolumbar screw fixation.

STUDY DESIGN The pullout strength of unicortical and bicortical screws in thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies was measured as a function of bone mineral density. OBJECTIVES To determine the influence of bone mineral density and screw insertion technique on the stability of anterior thoracolumbar spine screw fixation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA No previous study has addressed the specific technique of screw insertion or stability of screw fixation in the anterior spine. METHODS Fifty-one human thoracic vertebral bodies were tested in pullout with 6.55-mm cancellous screws inserted using unicortical and bicortical techniques. RESULTS Pullout force increased exponentially with increasing bone mineral density for unicortical and bicortical screws. Bicortical screws were significantly stronger in resisting pullout than unicortical screws. CONCLUSION Advancing an anterior vertebral body screw to engage the second cortex increases resistance to pullout by 25-44%, depending on vertebral bone mineral density. The difference in resistance between unicortical and bicortical techniques was smaller in specimens with low mineral densities.
Laser-Enabled Fabrication Technologies for Low-Cost Flexible/Conformal Cutaneous Wound Interfaces

Laser-enabled fabrication methods, in particular laser surface modification of low-cost materials such as paper, is an attractive technology for fabrication of flexible sensors and microsystems. Such devices are uniquely suited for cutaneous wound interfaces in which one has to sense multiple parameters and deliver drugs using a disposable low-cost platform. In this chapter, we discuss our recent efforts towards using laboratory scale CO2 lasers to modify commercial hydrophobic papers (e.g., parchment paper, wax paper, palette paper, etc.) and thermoset polymers (e.g., polyimide) by controlled surface ablation. Such treatment imparts unique physical and chemical properties (hydrophilicity, extreme porosity, carbonization, etc.) to the material and allows for selective surface functionalization. Using this method, we fabricated a variety of sensors (pH, oxygen, silver, strain) and chemical delivery (oxygen) modules on low-cost commercial substrates for chronic wound management.
Synthetic Proteins Potently and Selectively Bind the Oncoprotein Gankyrin, Modulate Its Interaction with S6 ATPase, and Suppress Gankyrin/MDM2-Dependent Ubiquitination of p53

Overexpression of the ankyrin repeat oncoprotein gankyrin is directly linked to the onset, proliferation, and/or metastasis of many cancers. The role of gankyrin in multiple disease-relevant biochemical processes is profound. In addition to other cellular processes, gankyrin overexpression leads to decreased cellular levels of p53, through a complex that involves MDM2. Thus, inhibition of this interaction is an attractive strategy for modulating oncogenic phenotypes in gankyrin-overexpressing cells. However, the lack of well-defined, hydrophobic, small-molecule binding pockets on the putative ankyrin repeat binding face presents a challenge to traditional small-molecule drug discovery. In contrast, by virtue of their size and relatively high folding energies, synthetic gankyrin-binding proteins could, in principle, compete with physiologically relevant PPIs involving gankyrin. Previously, we showed that a shape-complementary protein scaffold can be resurfaced to bind gankyrin with moderate affinity (KD ∼6 μM). Here, we used yeast display high-throughput screening, error-prone PCR, DNA shuffling, and protein engineering to optimize this complex. The best of these proteins bind gankyrin with excellent affinity (KD ∼21 nM), selectively co-purifies with gankyrin from a complex cellular milieu, modulates an interaction between gankyrin and a physiological binding partner (S6 ATPase), and suppresses gankyrin/MDM2-dependent ubiquitination of p53.