cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Provision of Palliative and Hospice Care to Children in the Community: A Population Study of Hospice Nurses

Abstract Context Approximately 500,000 children in the United States suffer from life-limiting illnesses each year, many of whom are hospice eligible each year. Few hospice agencies, however, offer formal pediatric programs. Objective To determine the levels of experience and comfort of hospice nurses who provide care to children and families in the community. Methods A cross-sectional survey was developed to assess hospice nurse experience/comfort across the domains of symptom management, end-of-life care, goals of care, family-centered care, and bereavement. The survey was pilot tested and distributed to hospice nurses across a tristate region. Results A total of 551 respondents across 71 hospices completed surveys. The majority of nurses reported no training in pediatric palliative or hospice care (89.8%), with approximately half reporting Conclusion Children with serious illness who receive care from local hospices often interface with nurses who lack training, experience, and comfort in the provision of palliative and hospice care to pediatric patients. These findings should inform future development and investigation of educational resources, training programs, and child- and family-centered policies to improve the delivery of palliative and hospice care to children in the community.
International Indeterminacy: George Maciunas and the Mail

The term “network” has often been used to characterize Fluxus's internationalism and to identify its membership. This has led a number of scholars to argue that Fluxus anticipated forms of artistic...
New sources on trade and dealings between Christians and Muslims in the Mediterranean region (ca.1440–1500)

Since the time of the Crusades the church had placed an embargo on the delivery, to Muslims, of material vital for war (especially metal and wood, but also foodstuffs) under the threat of excommuni...
Effect of a Pharmacist-Driven Medication Management Intervention Among Older Adults in an Inpatient Setting.

Older adults have a seven times greater risk than younger adults of being hospitalized due to an adverse drug event. The objective of this study was to compare the number of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) on admission to the number of PIMs on discharge following pharmacist intervention. This was a prospective, single-center pilot study performed at a tertiary medical center. Eighty-two adults aged 65 years or older on five or more medications who were admitted to the general medicine floor between December 2016 and May 2017 were included in the analysis. Pharmacists completed a review of prior admission medications and identified PIMs. Recommendations for PIMs were communicated to the medical team and documented in the patient’s electronic medical record. PIMs were measured by the use of validated screening tools and an assessment of patient-specific parameters. Fifty-two percent of our patients were taking at least one PIM. The average number of PIMs on admission was found to be 0.84 ± 1.12. Pharmacist intervention resulted in a statistically significant reduction to an average of 0.56 ± 0.91 PIMs (P < 0.01). The mean time to complete the medication therapy management (MTM) process was 49.39 ± 16.2 min per patient. While pharmacist-driven MTM significantly reduced PIMs in our study, the implementation of this model in the inpatient setting faces several challenges.
Co-administration of Selenium with Inorganic Mercury Alters the Disposition of Mercuric Ions in Rats

Mercury (Hg) is a common environmental toxicant to which humans are exposed regularly through occupational and dietary means. Although selenium supplementation has been reported to prevent the toxic effects of Hg in animals, the mechanisms for this prevention are not well understood. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of selenium on the disposition and toxicity of Hg. Wistar rats were injected intravenously with a non-nephrotoxic dose (0.5 μmol kg−1) or a nephrotoxic dose (2.5 μmol kg−1) of HgCl2 (containing radioactive Hg) with or without co-administration of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3). Twenty-four hours after exposure, rats were euthanized, and organs were harvested. Co-administration of SeO32− with HgCl2 reduced the renal burden of Hg and the urinary excretion of Hg while increasing the amount of Hg in blood and spleen. We propose that Hg reacts with reduced selenite in the blood to form large Hg–Se complexes that are unable to be filtered at the glomerulus. Consequently, these complexes remain in the blood and are able to accumulate in blood-rich organs. These complexes, which may have fewer toxic effects than other species of Hg, may be eliminated slowly over the course of weeks to months.
Hidden similarities in the dynamics of a weakly synchronous marine metapopulation

Populations of many marine species are only weakly synchronous, despite coupling through larval dispersal and exposure to synchronous environmental drivers. Although this is often attributed to observation noise, factors including local environmental differences, spatially variable dynamics, and chaos might also reduce or eliminate metapopulation synchrony. To differentiate spatially variable dynamics from similar dynamics driven by spatially variable environments, we applied hierarchical delay embedding. A unique output of this approach, the “dynamic correlation,” quantifies similarity in intrinsic dynamics of populations, independently of whether their abundance is correlated through time. We applied these methods to 17 populations of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) along the US Atlantic coast and found that their intrinsic dynamics were broadly similar despite largely independent fluctuations in abundance. The weight of evidence suggests that the latitudinal gradient in temperature, filtered through a unimodal response curve, is sufficient to decouple crab populations. As unimodal thermal performance is ubiquitous in ectotherms, we suggest that this may be a general explanation for the weak synchrony observed at large distances in many marine species, although additional studies are needed to test this hypothesis.
Identification of a calcium phosphoserine coordination network in an adhesive organo-apatitic bone cement system

Calcium phosphate-based bone cements have been widely adopted in both orthopedic and dental applications. Phosphoserine (pSer), which has a natural role in biomineralization, has been identified to possess the functionality to react with calcium phosphate phases, such as tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) and α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP), and form a uniquely adhesive cement. This study investigated the chemical composition and phase evolution of a heterogeneous calcium phosphate (56% TTCP and 15% α-TCP) and pSer cement system with respect to pH. The coordination network of calcium phosphoserine monohydrate was discovered as the predominant crystalline phase of this adhesive apatitic cement system. Furthermore, it was determined that pH has a significant effect on the reaction kinetics of the system, whereby a lower pH tends to accelerate the reaction rate and favor products with lower Ca/P ratios. These findings provide a better understanding of the reaction and products of this adhesive organo-ceramic cement, which can be compositionally tuned for broad applications in the orthopedic and dental spaces. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The application of self-setting calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) in hard tissue regeneration has been a topic of significant research since their introduction to the field 30 years ago. Traditional CPCs, however, are limited by their suboptimal mechanical properties due to their solely inorganic composition. Recently, it was discovered that monomeric phosphoserine (pSer) is capable of serving as a setting reagent for a subset of CPC systems, resulting in an adhesive organo-ceramic composite. Despite its adhesive functionality and biomedical potential, its reaction chemistry and product composition were not well characterized. The present study identifies a calcium phosphoserine coordination network as the primary crystalline phase of this apatitic cement system and further characterizes compositional tunability of the products with respect to pH.
Linear Instability of Stably Stratified Down-Slope Flows

Fluid instabilities in the Prandtl model for down-slope flows are studied using linear modal analysis as well as direct numerical simulations. Given Prandtl’s analytical solution for uniformly cooled down-slope flows, we determine the point of instability initiation and the corresponding unstable flow modes. We show that down-slope flows are susceptible to transverse and longitudinal instability modes. The transverse mode consists of stationary longitudinal rolls whose axes are aligned parallel to the base flow direction, whereas the longitudinal mode emerges as transverse waves travelling along the streamwise direction. The emergence of these instabilities are controlled by the Prandtl number, the slope angle, and the stratification perturbation parameter, which is a measure of the strength of the surface buoyancy flux relative to the background stratification. When the other two dimensionless parameters are held constant, the stratification perturbation parameters determines whether the imposed surface buoyancy flux can overcome the stabilizing effect of the background stratification and give rise to dynamically unstable flow. Beyond the linear stability thresholds, these two type of instabilities coexist to form complex flow structures. The absence of strong non-normality of the operator is shown by calculating the pseudospectra for both types of instabilities.
Timing Jitter from Optical Phase Noise in Quantum Dot Coherent Comb Laser at C-Band

Timing jitter obtained from optical phase noise is investigated in InAs/InP quantum dot Fabry-Perot coherent comb lasers with 11, 25, and 34.5 GHz pulse repetition rates. These lasers exhibit ultra-low timing jitter making them excellent sources for tens terabit optical networks.
Youth Culture, Sociology of

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by M. Buchmann, volume 24, pp. 16660–16664, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Influence of obesity on pulmonary function and inflammatory factor in children with bronchial asthma

目的 探讨肥胖对支气管哮喘(简称哮喘)患儿肺功能和炎性因子的影响。 方法 将哮喘急性发作期患儿128例分为肥胖组53例和非肥胖组75例。2组均予硫酸特布他林雾化液＋布地奈德混悬液联合雾化吸入。比较2组患儿治疗前后用力肺活量(FVC)、第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)、用力呼气25%肺活量时的呼气流速(FEF25)、用力呼气50%肺活量时的呼气流速(FEF50)、白细胞介素－4(IL－4)、IL－5、IL－10水平和儿童哮喘控制测试(C－ACT)评分变化。 结果 治疗前肥胖组患儿FVC、FEV1、FEF25、FEF50、IL－10和C－ACT评分[(1.53±0.12) L、(1.42±0.18) L、(1.98±0.36) L/s、(1.88±0.33) L/s、(16.36±3.06) ng/L和(14.12±2.23)分]均显著低于非肥胖组[(1.72±0.17) L、(1.58±0.15) L、(2.65±0.32) L/s、(2.35±0.27) L/s、(22.52±2.24) ng/L和(16.61±2.90)分](P<0.01)，IL－4、IL－5[(145.23±22.56) ng/L、(154.24±58.24) ng/L]均显著高于非肥胖组[(119.53±20.27) ng/L、(118.33±40.25) ng/L](P均<0.01)，且非肥胖组各时间段FVC、FEV1、IL－4、IL－5、IL－10和C－ACT评分的改善幅度显著大于肥胖组(P均<0.01)。 结论 肥胖可导致哮喘患儿促炎性因子水平升高和抗炎性因子水平降低，增加肺功能损害，降低药物疗效。
Are Book-Tax Differences Mispriced?

I examine whether book-tax differences (BTDs) are mispriced. Using time-series asset pricing tests, I provide evidence of hedge returns to trading on BTDs consistent with prior evidence from security-level return predictability tests. BTDs are a function of accruals and growth, so I consider whether BTD mispricing is accrual and growth mispricing, two economically significant asset pricing anomalies. Using operating cash flows-to-price (CFO/P), which jointly captures accrual and growth mispricing, I provide consistent evidence that the returns to trading on BTDs are subsumed by the returns to trading on CFO/P. My findings suggest that BTD mispricing is the accrual and growth anomalies in disguise, rather than a distinct anomaly. Overall, the evidence casts doubt on the ability of BTDs to provide unique, unpriced information for future earnings and their usefulness as a mispricing signal. This study provides useful evidence to investors and informs calls for additional tax-related disclosures.
Affluence and Congruence: Unequal Representation Around the World

Do elected representatives reflect the preferences of the citizens they represent? Recent studiesfrom the U.S. and a number of other democracies have found that legislators tend to representbetter the preferences of affluent citizens. But we still know little about how widespread this biasis. To answer this question, we gathered every publicly available survey of elected representativesin the world and matched it with mass survey data. Our dataset consists of 92,000 eliteobservations and 3.9 million citizen observations spread across 565 country-years, 52 individualcountries, and 33 years. Using a variety of methods, we find that around the world, legislators’preferences are consistently more congruent with those of affluent citizens. However, we also findthat this inequality varies substantially by issue domain: while the affluent are better representedon economic issues, the poor seem to be over-represented on cultural issues.
Centrifugal Equator in Jupiter's Plasma Sheet

We thank Marissa Vogt for assistance with magnetic field code. The work by FB at the University of Colorado was supported as a part NASA's Juno mission supported by NASA through contract 699050X with the Southwest Research Institute. The work by PP was supported in part by NASA Award 80NSSC19K0818.
Early Adolescent Predictors of Violent Behavior: Child and Contextual Risk, and Moderation by Rejecting Parenting:

The current study explored early adolescent child-level predictors (physical aggression, impulsivity, empathy) and contextual-level predictors (peer deviance, neighborhood dangerousness) of violent...
Effects of Friendship among Same-Sex Attracted Youth on Sexual Minority Identity Development in Young Adulthood.

Using data from Waves 1 and 3 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study investigated the interactive impact of adolescent friendship network characteristics and s...
Adherence to urgent eye visits during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population characteristics study

Purpose : The rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed the way eye care practitioners provide care. As an early response to the pandemic, the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois at Chicago created a tele-triage system to screen patients requesting an urgent visit. The aim of this study was to explore demographic and community factors associated with adherence of patients scheduled for recommended urgent eye visits. Methods : Surveys of all individuals requesting an acute same day in-person visit between April 6, 2020 and June 6, 2020 were reviewed, and medical chart review was completed for patients recommended an urgent visit. Demographic data and adherence to visit were examined. Using ArcGIS, address was geocoded and census tract level variables were appended from the U.S. Census American Community Survey between 2014 and 2018. COVID-19 related death data during the study period were also included from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. Descriptive statistics, t-tests and binary logistic regression were used to compare variables. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data was analyzed using SAS Institute Inc. 2018 (SAS 9.4M6, Cary, NC, USA). Results : A total of 229 patients were recommended an urgent visit. Of 216 patients with matching criteria on chart review, mean age was 46.6 ± 18.6 years. The majority of patients were female (55.6%) and Black or African American (40.3%), and most common insurance was Medicaid (36.6%). 192 patients (88.9%) reported for their scheduled visit. When comparing personal characteristics by adherence to visit, there was no difference based on gender (p=0.94), race (p=0.56), insurance status (p=0.28), nor new versus established status (p=0.20). Community level data showed that individuals who did not adhere to their visit more commonly came from neighborhoods with a greater proportion of Blacks or African Americans (59.4% vs. 33.4%;p=0.03), greater unemployment rates (17.5% vs. 10.7%;p<0.01), and greater cumulative deaths from COVID-19 (56 vs. 31;p=0.01). Conclusions : The findings from this study suggest that, in our patient population, COVID19 itself disproportionately affects black communities in terms of mortality, but also affects adherence to appointments which, in return, increases gaps in health equity.
Systematic Review Methodologies and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Improving Evaluations of the Plastic Monomer Bisphenol A.

Background Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are found in plastics, personal care products, household items, and other consumer goods. Risk assessments are intended to characterize a chemical's hazards, identify the doses at which adverse outcomes are observed, quantify exposure levels, and then compare these doses to determine the likelihood of risk in a given population. There are many problems with risk assessments for EDCs, allowing people to be exposed to levels that are later associated with serious health outcomes in epidemiology studies. Objective In this review, we examine issues that affect the evaluation of EDCs in risk assessments (e.g., use of insensitive rodent strains and absence of disease-oriented outcomes in hazard assessments; inadequate exposure assessments). We then review one well-studied chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA; CAS #80-05-7) an EDC found in plastics, food packaging, and other consumer products. More than one hundred epidemiology studies suggest associations between BPA exposures and adverse health outcomes in environmentally exposed human populations. Findings We present support for the use of systematic review methodologies in the evaluation of BPA and other EDCs. Systematic reviews would allow studies to be evaluated for their reliability and risk of bias. They would also allow all data to be used in risk assessments, which is a requirement for some regulatory agencies. Conclusion Systematic review methodologies can be used to improve evaluations of BPA and other EDCs. Their use could help to restore faith in risk assessments and ensure that all data are utilized in decision-making. Regulatory agencies are urged to conduct transparent, well-documented and proper systematic reviews for BPA and other EDCs.
High-efficiency low LCOE combined cycles for sour gas oxy-combustion with CO2 capture

Abstract The growing concerns over global warming and carbon dioxide emissions have driven extensive research into novel ways of capturing carbon dioxide in power generation plants. In this regard, oxy-fuel combustion has been considered as a promising technology. One unconventional fuel that is considered is sour gas, which is a mixture of methane, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. In this paper, carbon dioxide is used as the dilution medium in the combustor and different combined cycle configurations were considered and analyzed, each with a different way of dealing with the harmful sulfur products in the working fluid. Out of these options, which included acid resistance, no-condensation and SO x removal cycles, it is found that the cycle using acid resistant materials to have the best efficiency at 45.2%. However the cost of electricity (COE) of the cycle incorporating SO x removal is about 3% lower. Comparing these combined cycles to the sour gas water cycles discussed in our previous paper ( Chakroun and Ghoniem, 2015 ), it is evident that sour gas based oxy-combustion combined cycles generally perform better in terms of both technical and economical performance. Therefore, it is concluded that the best process cycle to use for this sour gas fuel to be the combined cycle with the SO x removal system. This high-efficiency cycle has the lowest COE out of all of the five cycles studied.
Dual task interference during walking: The effects of texting on situational awareness and gait stability

Dual-task interference caused by mobile phone use while walking increases safety risks by increasing attentional and cognitive demands. Situational awareness, important for control of walking and safety, has been examined previously but measured only by the awareness of visually noteworthy objects in the environment or the number of times the person looked up from the phone. This study systematically investigated the effects of texting on situational awareness to different environments and its consequent impact on gait kinematics. Twenty healthy volunteers walked on a treadmill while texting and attending to visual tasks simultaneously. Gait parameters and situational awareness examined under dual-task conditions (walk and text or walk, text, and visual task) were compared with those of single-task conditions (text, walk or visual task only). The size of the visual field, display duration of the visual cue, and visual acuity demand were varied across the visual task conditions. About half of the visual cues provided during walking and texting were not perceived (48.3%) as compared to the visual task only condition. The magnitude of this loss of situational awareness was dependent upon the nature of visual information provided. While gait parameters were not different among visual task conditions, greater total medial-lateral excursion of the pelvis was observed in the walk and text condition compared to the walk only condition, showing the dual-task effects of texting on gait kinematics. The study provides further evidence of dual-task effects of texting on situational awareness as well as gait kinematics.
The Quantitative Gravimetric Determination of Sebum Production

The accuracy of measurement of skin lipids has progressed considerably from the days when our forefathers extracted the lipid collected in long-Johns worn for varying periods of time (1-3). Unfortunately, in the past, many methods have not distinguished between the amount of lipid normally found on the skin surface and lipid production, the amount of sebum elaborated per unit area per unit time. The present report is is concerned with a simplified quantitative tech-nic for measuring sebum production adapted from the technics of Miescher and Schonberg (4), and Kligman and Shelley (5). The principle is simply to absorb the sebum on paper as soon as it reaches the surface, thus trapping the sebum before it can flow away.
Superior laryngeal nerve quantitative intraoperative monitoring is possible in all thyroid surgeries.

Objectives/Hypothesis To report normative electromyography (EMG) data on the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) and to compare this to analogous data of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and vagus nerve (VN) during intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) using both the standard monopolar stimulator probe and a novel bipolar stimulator probe. Study Design Prospective multiple tertiary care center study. Method A prospective study of EBSLN, RLN and VN EMG data in 22 thyroid surgeries was performed. Subjects with preoperative vocal fold paralysis were excluded. Postoperative laryngoscopy was normal in all subjects. Normative EMG data were acquired using both a standard monopolar and a novel bipolar stimulator probe, as well as a novel endotracheal tube. Cricothyroid muscle (CTM) twitch response during EBSLN stimulation was analyzed. Results In 100% of cases, EBSLN was identified and quantifiable EMG response was observed. EMG amplitude did not change despite extensive nerve dissection and multiple nerve stimulations. EBSLN amplitude was similar for left and right sides for patients under age 50 and aged 50 or older, for both genders, and with monopolar and bipolar stimulators. Conclusions Intraoperative neural monitoring may be used to safely assist in EBSLN identification during thyroid surgery in 100% of patients. A novel endotracheal tube allows for quantifiable EBSLN EMG activity in 100% of cases. Monopolar and bipolar stimulator probes produce similar EMG data. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 124:1035–1041, 2014
Descriptional Complexity of Concurrent Processes (preliminary version)

This paper compares several algebraic software description techniques which were proposed recently. Using language theoretic tools we show that some of the most handy concurrent behavior descriptors (inverse shuffle and cancellation) when combined with the operations of shuffle, shuffle iteration and the regular operations yield the full power of Turing Machines. Specifically, the flow expressions of Shaw and Kimura's D-and E-expressions are all universal in this sense.
Training trends and practices

Abstract Organizations are spending millions for training and upgrading employee skills. This paper will address the following questions: Who is being trained? Who is doing the training? What are people being trained to do? How is the training being done?
Outcomes of multiple microvascular toe transfers for reconstruction in 2 patients with digitless hands: 2- and 4-year follow-up case reports

Two farmers who sustained amputations of all digits in the dominant hand had hand reconstructions with 3 toes from both feet. Both patients were monitored with hand function tests and validated outcomes questionnaires (Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire and Short Form-36). Long-term follow-up data showed that both patients were able to use the reconstructed hands for activities of daily living and heavy manual farm labor. Until the immunologic problems associated with hand transplantation are solved, multiple toe transfer for total hand reconstruction is a reliable surgical treatment for these patients.
The internal ‘slithering’ dynamics of supercoiled DNA

Abstract DNAs in bacteria are usually circular and supercoiled in the manner of a twisted telephone cord. Supercoil dynamics, in addition to usual Zimm relaxation, include a long relaxation time corresponding to the ‘slithering’ of DNA sequence around inside the supercoil; this is believed to be important in brining distant DNA sequences together in bacterial cells. Simple ‘repton’ models of slithering are proposed and numerically investigated for unbranched and branched supercoils. The first passage time by slithering for two distant sites on a N-monomer molecule with no branches is found to be ∼N3, as for conventional reptation. Allowing supercoil branching and branch motion, effects expected for large DNAs, reduces this time to ∼N2.
Is it the athlete or the equipment? An analysis of the top swim performances from 1990 to 2010.

O'Connor, LM and Vozenilek, JA. Is it the athlete or the equipment? An analysis of the top swim performances from 1990 to 2010. J Strength Cond Res 25(12): 3239-3241, 2011-Forty-three world record swims were recorded at the 2009 Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) World Championship meet in Rome. Of the 20 FINA recognized long-course (50-m pool) swimming events, men set new world records in 15 of those events, whereas women did the same in 17 events. Each of the men's world records and 14 of the 17 women's records still stand. These performances were unprecedented; never before had these many world records been broken in such a short period of time. There was much speculation that full-body, polyurethane, technical swimsuits were the reason for the conspicuous improvement in world records. Further analysis led the FINA to institute new rules on January 1, 2010, that limited the types of technical swimsuits that could be worn by athletes. No long-course world record has been broken since then. We sought to understand this phenomenon by analyzing publicly available race data and exploring other possible causes including improvements in other sports, improvements in training science, changes in rules and regulations, gender differences, anaerobic vs. aerobic events, unique talent, and membership data.
Germicidal Action of Some Benzyl Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Having Substituents in the Aromatic Nucleus

The bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties of a homologous series of benzyl quaternary ammonium compounds having substituents in the aromatic nucleus are described. The influence of the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups and the introduction of one or two chlorine atoms in the aromatic nucleus on germicidal activity is described. The effect of carbon chain lengths in the alkyl groups of certain benzyl quaternary ammonium compounds upon the surface tension of solutions is also reported. No correlation between surface tension values and antibacterial activity was found.
The Electrical Conductivity and Hall Coefficient of Bismuth Telluride

ABSTRACT This paper describes the variation of the electrical conductivity and Hall coefficient of a number of specimens of Bi2Te3 over a wide range of doping concentration. A detailed examination of these quantities, over the temperature range 1-3 to 660°K, has revealed the oxistence of trends which vary systematically with the degree of doping, although anomalies oxist within this scheme. It is shown that an impurity band mechanism may operate in n-type Bi2Te3.
Quantum physics: Atomic doughnuts from single photons.

Analysis of the interaction between a photon and an ensemble of some 3,000 atoms trapped between two mirrors has revealed a form of multi-atom quantum entanglement that has no counterpart in classical mechanics. See Letter p.439
The effects of physostigmine on acetylcholinesterase activity of CSF plasma and brain. A comparison of intravenous and intraventricular administration in beagle dogs.

The effects of various doses of physostigmine (Phy) on the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain were studied in beagle dogs. Two routes of administration were compared: intravenous (i.v.) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.). With intracerebroventricular administration, over 90% inhibition of the activity of AChE in CSF was reached within 5 min of injection at all doses (10-120 micrograms). Even at the smallest dose (10 micrograms), 50% inhibition of activity of the enzyme in CSF was still present at 90 min. The activity of AChE in plasma was only minimally inhibited by intraventricular administration of physostigmine. A different response was obtained following intravenous administration of physostigmine (250-1000 micrograms). The activity of AChE in plasma was inhibited but the activity of AChE in CSF was increased (36-80% at 180 min). This increase was dose-dependent and was blocked by pretreatment with atropine (1.5 mg i.v.) which suggests the involvement of a muscarinic receptor mechanism. The time course of the accumulation and regional distribution of [3H]physostigmine in brain also varied with the route of administration. At 5 min, with intravenous administration, physostigmine (1000 micrograms) reached greater concentrations and caused greater inhibition of AChE in the cortex. With intraventricular administration, physostigmine (80 micrograms) reached greater concentrations in two regions adjacent to the ventricular surface: the striatum and hippocampus. These regions also showed greater inhibition of the activity of AChE. Moderate to severe symptoms of cholinergic hyperactivity were seen only with the largest intraventricular dose (120 micrograms). This study suggests that intraventricular administration of physostigmine, a reversible inhibitor of cholinesterase (ChE), may offer distinct advantages over intravenous administration. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in CSF was more pronounced and persisted longer when physostigmine was administered directly into the CSF than when given intravenously. The implications of this study for a cholinergic therapy of Alzheimer's disease are discussed.
Tumor necrosis factor-α is elevated in plasma and amniotic fluid of patients with severe preeclampsia☆☆☆★

Objective : Our purpose was to investigate whether markers for activation of the immune system are present in patients with preeclampsia by assessing maternal plasma and amniotic fluid for tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. Study Design : Twenty-one patients with severe preeclampsia composed the study group (group A). An antepartum comparison group was composed of healthy nulliparous patients not in labor and matched for gestational age (group B). Another control group consisted of term nulliparous patients in labor with uneventful pregnancies (group C). Maternal plasma samples were collected from all patients at recruitment and from patients in groups A and C immediately after delivery and again 20 to 24 hours post partum. Amniotic fluid was also collected from patients in groups A and C during labor. All samples were collectively assayed for tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β by specific enzyme-linked immunoassays. Results : Before labor tumor necrosis factor-α was detected more frequently in the plasma of preeclamptic patients than in the plasma of patients in group B (12/16 vs 5/16, p p p Conclusions : Tumor necrosis factor-α is increased in the plasma and amniotic fluid of patients with severe preeclampsia. These data are suggestive of a role for abnormal immune activation in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of preeclampsia.
The use of unmanned aircraft in oil, gas and mineral E+P activities

Unmanned Aircraft are re-usable robotic aircraft. There has been a huge upsurge in the development and deployment of these aircraft, primarily by the military services, in many countries. The US military, in particular, has allocated massive resources to UA development and production. Many of the technological advances that have been created by the huge investment made by the military can be applied in the development of civilian Unmanned Aircraft. Indeed, the primary activities in Unmanned Aircraft at Barnard Microsystems are in the military area.
Effects of stimulus order and novelty on orienting responses.

The effects of stimulus order and novelty upon habituation and dishabituation of the GSR component of the OR were investigated. The numbers 21 to 60 were presented in serial order (Ordered-Novel group), and in random order (Random-Novel group), and the number 21 was repeated 40 times (Similar group). The number 600 was occasionally interpolated among each series. No group differences in magnitude of OR to the first stimulus or in habituation of the OR during the series of numbers were found. Dishabituation due to the interpolated stimulus was found primarily in the Similar group. The results were related to Sokolov's concept of neuronal models used in his theory of habituation.
NOTES ON GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION AND THE ANNUAL CYCLE IN PATAGONIAN POPULATIONS OF THE RUFOUS‐COLLARED SPARROW ZONOTRICHIA CAPENSIS

Summary Zonotrichia capensis australis inhabits Argentina from the northernmost limits of the Patagonian steppe south through Tierra del Fuego, and extends westward to the Pacific slope in southern Chile. At least part of the population has a north-south migration along the Andean foothills of Argentina as far north as southwestern Bolivia. The breeding range of australis is bounded on the north and northwest by subspecies of Z. capensis (chilensis, choraules, and possibly hypoleuca) having conspicuous black lateral crown-stripes. Topotypical australis (Tierra del Fuego) have plain grey crowns, but the frequency of black nuchal markings and faint lateral crown-lines increases northward in the coastal populations. In inland populations (Andean piedmont) the frequency of black crown markings is apparently reversed, increasing southward. The size (wing-length, tarsus, bill, and probably body-weight) of australis decreases northward in both coastal and inland samples. The nesting season of australis begins in late November and early December and extends to mid January and early February. Postnuptial moult begins from mid December to early January. Moult proceeds while the testes are apparently still functional. Postnuptial moult terminates from late January through mid March. There is no evidence in the current data of geographical trends in the chronology of nesting and postnuptial moult. The calendars appear to be about the same throughout the range of australis. Postjuvenal moult begins about 4–5 weeks later than the onset of postnuptial moult and terminates in the latest birds in about mid March. Northward migration begins at about this time.
Heterodiffusion model for the activated sintering of molybdenum

Abstract Sintering studies were conducted on a 2.2 μm Mo powder in the temperature range 1000–1350°C. The influence of thirteen transition metal additions on the sintering kinetics was determined by shrinkage measurements. On the basis of a grain boundary heterodiffusion model it is shown that Ni and Pd are the best sintering activators when present as coatings approximately 10 monolayers thick on the powder surface. Calculated activation energies are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. In addition, the sintering of pure Mo was found to be controlled by a volume diffusion process with an apparent activation energy of 405 ± 20 kJ mol −1 .
Gang Brooding in Canada Geese: Role of Parental Condition and Experience

Abstract. Some Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) raise their broods by themselves (two-parent families), while others raise them in gang broods, defined as two or more broods amalgamated into a single cohesive unit and shepherded by four or more parents. From 1984 to 2005, I individually marked Canada Geese in New Haven County, Connecticut, so that I could compare the characteristics of adults that raise their goslings in gang broods to those of adults that raised their goslings in two-parent families. I wanted to determine if a parent's decision to form a gang brood was influenced by its age or body mass, its own parents (indicating either that the behavior has a genetic component or that the behavior is learned while a gosling), its prior experiences raising broods, or the loss of its mate. Parents tended to use the same brood-rearing approach from one year to the next: 61% of parents of gang broods (i.e., gang-brooders) during one year also were gang-brooders the next year they had goslings; likewise, 6...
Hepatic Binding and Michaelis-Menten Metabolism of Drugs

Certain drugs with metabolism that obeys Michaelis-Menten kinetics are extensively bound in the liver. During the initial distribution phase after a single dose, the binding sites act as a “sink” and compete with the metabolizing enzymes for the drug. After this phase is completed, the bound sites act as a source of drug for the enzymes. Computer simulations of a perfused liver system, with well-stirred reservoir and hepatic compartments, were performed to assess whether or not such binding, as measured by the partition coefficient (Kp) between the liver and the emergent venous blood, affects the tendency to saturate metabolism. Metabolism was assumed to follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics and only unbound drug was assumed to have access to the enzymes. The value of Kp was varied to determine the effect of binding (instantaneous equilibrium) on the tendency to saturate metabolism. The effect of binding rate was also determined by adjusting the association and dissociation rate constants while maintaining a constant value of the equilibrium partition coefficient. Input into reservoir and liver were done to simulate “intravenous” and “oral” dosing, respectively. The average clearance (dose divided by the area under the reservoir concentration-time curve) of the “intravenous” dose increased and the bioavailability of the “oral” dose decreased when the value of Kp was increased, indicating that the tendency to saturate metabolism was reduced by hepatic binding. This effect diminished as the binding rate constants were made smaller, but was still substantial, when association was slower than metabolism.
Gamma Delta T Cell Receptors Confer Autonomous Responsiveness To The Insulin Peptide B:9–23

The range and physical qualities of molecules that act as ligands for the γδ T cell receptors (TCRs) remain uncertain. Processed insulin is recognized by αβ T cells, which mediate diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Here, we present evidence that γδ T cells in these mice recognize processed insulin as well. Hybridomas generated from NOD spleen and pancreatic lymph nodes included clones expressing γδ TCRs that responded specifically to purified islets of Langerhans and to an insulin peptide, but not to intact insulin. The γδ TCRs associated with this type of response are diverse, but a cloned γδ TCR was sufficient to transfer the response. The response to the insulin peptide was autonomous as demonstrated by stimulating single responder cells in isolation. This study reveals a novel specificity for γδ TCRs, and raises the possibility that γδ T cells become involved in islet-specific autoimmunity.
Dermatomyositis in childhood

Summary Five cases of dermatomyositis encountered at the Harriet Lane Home have been described. There were two deaths and three recoveries. Four cases were complicated by calcinosis universalis. Two patients had intercurrent attacks of erysipelas; another had streptococcic cellulitis. They recovered from these complications. Suppurative myositis was the cause of one death. Muscle involvement was widespread and severe in each instance. Skin manifestations varied. Gingivitis occurred in three cases. Hematologic findings were essentially normal, except for eosinophilia of varying degree in three cases and severe anemia in one. There is no specific treatment for dermatomyositis. Efforts should be directed toward maintenance of nutrition, protection from infection, and prevention of contractures. The death rate is high, but patients who are fortunate enough to survive overcome contractures and muscular weakness practically completely. Calcium deposits, in cases so involved, disappear in time by absorption, sloughing out, or both. The danger of intercurrent pyogenic infection in this disease cannot be stressed too greatly. Apparently, minor trauma may be the opening wedge for serious or even fatal infection. The relationship of dermatomyositis to generalized scleroderma has been discussed. The writer agrees with Langmead and others who feel that the underlying pathology is probably identical. There is no adequate proof that dermatomyositis is of infectious origin.
Use of radiolabeled hexadecyl cholesteryl ether as a liposome marker

Radiolabeled hexadecyl cholesteryl ether can serve as an effective marker for liposomes in a variety of studies. This paper demonstrates the use of a cholesteryl ether marker in the assay of phospholipid transfer protein activity and in assessing phospholipid vesicle-cell interactions. The cholesteryl ether has the advantages of ease of synthesis, metabolic inertness, lipid solubility and nonexchangeability.
Multinucleate giant cells, granulomata, and “myoblastomas” in annelid worms

Abstract Multinucleate giant cells, granulomata, and “myoblastomas” were observed in the annelids Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia foetida . The giant cells were found in the coelomic cavity singly or in groups associated primarily with the nephridial tubules but also with other structures. They showed as many as 40 nuclei, were acidophilic, and could have resulted from the fusion or amitotic division of phagocytic coelomic cells. The granulomas were likewise composed of many acidophilic cells which may have proliferated in response to foreign material in the coelomic cavity that occurs normally or that may have been introduced during xenografting. Similarly, many acidophilic cells contributed to “myoblastoma” formation where destruction of the muscle layers was apparently a result of their invasion. No cell division was observed in any of the cells involved in the three pathologic phenomena.
Reinforced mindlin plates with extremal stiffness

For a prescribed area fraction of stiffeners, we characterize the set of stiffener reinforced Mindlin plates with extremal overall stiffness. The method rests upon the derivation of optimal bounds of the Hashin-Shtrikman type. Our method is distinct from the usual Hashin-Shtrikman approach. We make use of the underlying variational structure behind the Hashin-Shtrikman method to show that the use of a comparison material is redundant. We do this by proceeding directly and express the equilibrium equations in terms of positive definite integral operators. The positivity of the operators is used to obtain a new Hilbert space variational principle for the effective stiffness. The associated bounds are shown to be realized by effective rigidities associated with hierarchical laminar arrangements of stiffeners.
Constructivism and technology use: findings from the IMPACTing Leadership project

This study used two surveys, the Activities of Instruction 2.0 (AOI 2.0) and the School Technology Needs Assessment (STNA) to assess the relationship between teachers’ level of constructivism and their level of technology use. Results indicate that constructivist practices and beliefs were significant predictors of technology use, after accounting for the contribution of other individual level demographic variables, and school‐level environmental factors. Teachers with more constructivist instructional practices were more likely to report using technology; similarly, teachers who believed more strongly that IT was a useful tool for student‐centered/constructivist teaching were more likely to use technology. Konstruktivismus und Gebrauch von Technologie: ergebnisse des IMPACTing Leadership Projekts Dieser Beitrag verwendete zwei Studien: Activities of Instruction 2.0 (AOI 2.0) und das School Technology Needs Assessment (STNA), um das Verhaltnis zwischen dem Kenntnisstand der Lehrer bzgl. Konstruktivismus u...
PD detection and recognition based on UHF method for typical models in air

The UHF method can not only be used in gas insulation substation-GIS and transformer, but also can be used to detect PD happening in air or other insulation dielectric. On account of the three kinds of PD happening in dielectric, out of dielectric and surface of dielectric respectively, four typical PD models were designed and manufactured with aluminium, namely, air gap, air void in epoxy, needle-flat and surface of epoxy, by which the PD experiments were carried out in air. The UHF PD signals were detected by the developed twin-spiral UHF coupler and amplifier with band of 100MHz–1500MHz. For every model, 50 UHF PD records were stored by digital storage oscilloscope with sampling rate 20GHz. After denoising with the improved wavelet adaptive threshold method, and envelope extraction, 19 features parameters were extracted in time domain and frequency domain to recognize the PD source type. Finally, a classifier was designed with 3-layers back propagation artificial neural networks, and the test results show that the extracted features and classifier are sufficient to recognize the PD source correctly with high robustness.
(6,6 * )⊕(6 * ,6) Representation of SU(3)⊗SU(3) and the Breaking of Chiral Symmetry

The $(6,{6}^{*})\ensuremath{\bigoplus}({6}^{*},6)$ representation of $\mathrm{SU}(3)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}(3)$ is presented and its use in breaking chiral symmetry is discussed in terms of its contribution to meson masses, pion-pion scattering lengths, baryon masses, and the nucleon $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ term. We include singlet, octet, and 27-plet SU(3) pieces in the symmetry-breaking Hamiltonian, and also discuss the possible $\mathrm{SU}(2)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}(2)$ classifications of the Hamiltonian.
Synthetic 3 -O -methylmannose -containing polysaccharides (sMMPs) : Design and synthesis

With the hope of mimicking the chemical and biological properties of natural 3-O-methylmannose-containing polysaccharides (MMPs), synthetic 3-O-methylmannose-containing polysaccharides (sMMPs) were designed and synthesized in a convergent manner. With little modification of the Mukaiyama glycosidation, high α-selectivity (>50:1∼>20:1) and yields (79∼74%) were achieved for the key glycosidation steps. The exceptionally high α-selectivity observed was shown to be consequent to the selective anomerization of β- to α-anomer under the glycosidation conditions. This glycosidation is well suited for a highly convergent oligosaccharide synthesis, particularly because of excellent chemical yields even when using approximately equal-sized donors and acceptors in an approximately 1:1 molar ratio. An iterative reaction sequence allowed the growing oligosaccharide to double in size after each cycle and led to an efficient synthesis of sMMP 8-, 12-, and 16-mers 18−20.