cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Epistemology, Theory of Evidence, and Intelligent Design: Deciding What to Teach

Social epistemology is the normative theory of socioepistemic practices. Teaching is a socioepistemic practice, so educational practices belong on the agenda of social epistemology. A current question is whether intelligent design should be taught in biology classes. This paper focuses on the argument from “fairness” or “equal time.” The principal aim of education is knowledge transmission, but evidence renders it doubtful that giving intelligent design equal time would promote knowledge transmission. In making curricular decisions, boards of education should consult the experts. Are novices capable of identifying genuine experts? This social epistemological question is answered affirmatively.
Photokinetic responses and diel activity of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus ammocoete larvae

Twenty-four ammocoete larvae of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus were tested individually for 3-day periods in electronic shuttleboxes (Ichthyotrons) with natural lighting through windows, to determine their diel activity pattern in terms of hourly percentages of the 24-h total. Mean hourly activity was slightly greater during the day (4–7 % h−1) than at night (3·7% h−1). Peak hourly activity (7·2% h−1) occurred during the dawn crepuscular period as light levels were increasing, while the minimum hourly activity (1·6 % h-l) occurred during the dusk crepuscular period while light levels were decreasing. The observed activity pattern is atypical of other aquatic animals similarly tested, and might be explained as an extraptically mediated photoinetic response.
Use of smart materials technologies in radiation environments and nuclear industry

Application of smart materials technology in nuclear industry offer new opportunities in this industrial sector for safety enhancement, reduced personal exposure, life-cycle cost reduction, and performance improvement. However, the radiation environments associated with nuclear operations represent a unique challenge to the testing, qualification and use of smart materials. The present study assesses the physical limitations of smart materials applications to nuclear industry and identifies areas of where such technologies could be reliably used. In our investigation, we considered a spectrum of smart materials technologies and a variety of irradiation environments. A literature survey to identify prior experimental data related to irradiation effects on smart-materials showed significant irradiation induced alterations in performance. However, the available database was limited and additional tests will be required before smart materials technologies can be introduced in most radiation environments. This paper summarizes a test program that was developed for the Accelerator Production of Tritium project. This program was designed to identify specific irradiation areas where the application of smart materials technologies is practical.
Properties of isocitrate lyase fromEscherichia coli K12 grown on acetate or glycolate

Properties of isocitrate lyase fromEscherichia coli, the first enzyme of the glyoxylate bypass, have been compared from cells grown on either acetate or glycolate as the sole carbon source. Michaelis constants for isocitrate, isoelectric points, native and subunit molecular weights, antigenic properties, peptide mapping with V-8 or trypsin, and several other properties were examined. Our data suggest that only one isocitrate lyase form exists inE. coli regardless of carbon source used for growth.
Redox-dependent structural changes in an engineered heme-copper center in myoglobin: insights into chloride binding to CuB in heme copper oxidases.

The effects of chloride on the redox properties of an engineered binuclear heme−copper center in myoglobin (CuBMb) were studied by UV−vis spectroelectrochemistry and EPR spectroscopy. A low-spin heme FeIII−CuI intermediate was observed during the redox titration of CuBMb only in the presence of both CuII and chloride. Upon the first electron transfer to the CuB center, one of the His ligands of CuB center dissociates and coordinates to the heme iron, forming a six-coordinate low-spin ferric heme center and a reduced CuB center. The second electron transfer reduces the ferric heme and causes the release of the coordinated His ligand. Thus, the fully reduced state of the heme−copper center contains a five-coordinate ferrous heme and a reduced CuB center, ready for O2 binding and reduction to water to occur. In the absence of a chloride ion, formation of the low-spin heme species was not observed. These redox reactions are completely reversible. These results indicate that binding of chloride to the CuB cent...
A Greater Variability in the 3′ Flanking Region of the IL-6 Gene in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

The causes of the aberrant constitutive expression of cytokines in SLE have not been elucidated yet, but alterations in cytokine gene structure could be a contributing factor. By RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) analysis of genomic DNA, we found a higher incidence of allelic, higher MW XbaI bands in the IL-6 genes of 9/57 SLE patients vs 1/36 unrelated controls (p = 0.05) HLA DR/DQ typing of the polymorphic patients revealed they were all DQ beta 6. The study of one family indicated that the XbaI polymorphic patient and her polymorphic unaffected offspring had higher than normal levels of constitutive IL-6 mRNA. The SLE-associated IL-6 XbaI restriction alleles had duplications of AT-repeat sequences, approximately 500 bp downstream of the 2nd polyadenylation site, in an AT-rich mini-satellite with similarities to Matrix Associated Regions (MARs), that may be important in DNA replication and in gene expression. These are novel observations that suggest that, in SLE, there is increased variability in the 3' flanking region of the IL-6 gene. This variability may be related to the aberrant IL-6 expression that was reported by us and others in this disease.
Mini-cognitive testing in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE To compare Mini-Cognitive (Mini-Cog) Screening test results between patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-matched controls. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred and twenty-nine patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into 3 groups: 56 patients with exudative AMD, mean age of 76 ± 8 years; 82 patients with dry AMD, mean age of 77 ± 9 years; and 91 controls, mean age of 75 ± 8 years. METHODS The Mini-Cog test, used to screen patients with early cognitive impairment, was introduced to the three groups of patients at the settings of an ophthalmology outpatient clinic. Test scores were compared between the groups. RESULTS The mean for the Mini-Cog test scores was 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 3.15-3.85) for the dry AMD group, 3.95 (95% confidence interval, 3.51-4.39) for the exudative AMD group, and 4.63 (95% confidence interval, 4.45-4.80) for the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the scores of AMD groups, however, both AMD groups received significantly lower scores than controls (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Patients with age-related macular degeneration in this study demonstrated lower mean scores in the Mini-Cog test than age-matched controls. The Mini-Cog test may be easily applied at an office setting of ophthalmology outpatient clinics, and may help in the early diagnosis of cognitive impairment in the patients with AMD.
Antimicrobial activity and spectrum of SCH27899 (ziracin®) tested against gram-positive species including recommendations for routine susceptibility testing methods and quality control

Abstract SCH27899 is an oligosaccharide, everninomicin antibiotic with activity primarily against Gram-positive pathogens. The activity of SCH27899 was evaluated against 360 routine clinical isolates by the broth microdilution (BMD), agar dilution (AD), disk diffusion (DD), and Etest (AB BIODISK, Solna, Sweden) methods. In addition, results from a nine center SCH27899 quality control (QC) trial were used to establish QC ranges. SCH27899 MICs for 330 Gram-Positive strains, including multiply-resistant staphylococci and enterococci, ranged from 0.015 to 1 μg/ml with MIC 90 s of 0.12 to 0.5 μg/ml. SCH27899 had no measurable activity against the 30 selected Gram-negative strains tested (MICs, > 256 μg/ml), with the exception of Moraxella catarrhalis MICs, 0.12 μg/ml). Etest MICs for SCH27899 correlated well with AD and BMD results with > 90% of MICs within ± one log 2 dilutions of the reference test results. Three disk concentrations (2.5-, 5-, 10-μg) of SCH27899 were evaluated, but minimal difference of zone diameters between disk drug contents was observed (± 2 mm). SCH27899 disk zone diameters correlated poorly with reference MICs due to small zone diameters (range, 11 to 22 mm) attributed to poor diffusion through agar mediums, a product of this compound's high molecular weight and solubility. The use of the DD method for SCH27899 was not recommended. The proposed MIC quality assurance limits for SCH27899 using Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 was 0.06 to 0.25 μg/ml for both QC strains and methods. SCH27899 appears to be a eveminomicin-derivative widely active against important Gram-positive cocci, and in vitro dilution testing methods would be preferred for clinical use, validated by the recommended MIC control ranges cited in this report.
A Test of Structural Invariance of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Female Survivors of Sexual and/or Physical Abuse or Assault

Recent studies on the factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms tend to support one of two four-factor structures; however, little research has examined the structural invariance of PTSD structure across trauma groups. Five previously tested models of PTSD structure were compared in a large sample (N = 2,378) of female undergraduates who are survivors of sexual and/or physical abuse or assault, using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PTSD-Q). The four-factor model of PTSD that included correlated factors of reexperiencing, avoidance, dysphoria, and hyper-arousal exhibited the best fit for the data and was structurally invariant across the five abuse groups. Support for the four-factor dysphoria model may have important implications for revisions of the current PTSD diagnosis.
Enhanced antiopiate activity and enzyme resistance in a peptidomimetic of FMRFamide containing E-2,3-methanomethionine and E-2,3-methanophenylalanine.

Abstract FMRFamide is a molluscan peptide that has shown antiopiate activity in a number of mammalian test systems. Peptidomimetics of FMRFamide substituted with conformationally constrained stereoisomers of Z -2,3-methanomethionine or E -2,3-methanomethionine precipitated abstinence syndrome far more potently than FMRFamide itself. The current study determined the effect on antiopiate potency of an additional rigid substitution. A peptidomimetic containing a stereoisomer of E -2,3-methanomethionine was compared with a peptidomimetic additionally substituted at the C -terminal with E -2,3-methanophenylalanine. Morphine abstinence signs were observed after varying doses (0.125–25.0 μg) of these two peptidomimetics were injected into the third ventricle of morphinedependent rats. The peptidomimetic containing both rigid substitutions was far more potent than the peptidomimetic of FMRFamide containing methanomethionine alone. The increased potency appears to be related to enzyme resistance rather than receptor affinity.
Keynote Address to the AACSB International Deans Conference, February 10, 2003: The State of Affairs for Management Education and Social Responsibility

We now live in a time when the once astonishing M&A deals of the 1980s are surpassed and even dwarfed on a regular basis and when CEOs, having risen to the status of popular heroes in the late 1990...
Dynamic Object Tracking by Partial Shape Matching for Video Surveillance Applications

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for object tracking through frames of video using a fast partial shape matching technique. The tracking is divided into two modules: 1) moving object extraction followed by color/edge segmentation, and 2) tracking through frames using partial shape matching. The major challenges of object tracking, such as occlusions, splitting of one object and appearance and disappearance of objects, are effectively resolved. The proposed algorithm is tested on several synthetic and real life video sequences and has proven to be very effective in identifying and tracking moving objects independent of translations, rotations, scale variations and occlusions.
Mathematical modeling of molecular data in translational medicine: theoretical considerations

The amount of available molecular biological data has increased by several orders of magnitude over the past decades, and the quality and accessibility of these data continue to improve exponentially. The ensuing shift toward the "large-p, small-n" paradigm holds great promise for medical discovery, but it also presents unique analytic challenges. Translational medicine is focused on generating clinically relevant conclusions from these large-volume databases, but this goal will be achieved only if the present paradigm shift in data generation is accompanied by a similar paradigm shift in data modeling. Here, we propose five specific conceptual and theoretical changes in data modeling strategies that will facilitate improved translational analysis of large-volume molecular databases.
Magnetische Sauerstoff‐Messung mit Hitzdraht‐Anordnung

Nach einer Zusammenstellung der wichtigsten Anwendungsgebiete fur Sauerstoff-Mesgerate werden die bekannten O2-Mesverfahren erwahnt. Ausfuhrlich wird auf das sog. thermomagnetische O2-Mesverfahren, das auf dem Phanomen des magnetischen Windes beruht, und insbesondere auf die sog. Hitzdraht-Anordnung eingegangen. Auf Grund theoretisch-physikalischer Uberlegungen werden die Gesichtspunkte ermittelt, nach welchen ein optimales O2-Mesgerat dieser Art zu gestalten ist. Zum Schlus wird als Anwendungsbeispiel der Aufbau des magnetischen Sauerstoffschreibers MAGNOS 5 kurz erortert.
Novel photoresist thin films with in-situ photoacid generator by molecular layer deposition

Current photoresist materials are facing many challenges introduced by advanced lithographies, particularly the need for excellent compositional homogeneity and ultrathin film thickness. Traditional spin-on polymeric resists have inherent limitations in achieving a high level of control over the chemical composition, leading to interest in development of alternative methods for making photoresists. In this work, we demonstrate that molecular layer deposition (MLD) is a potential method for synthesizing photoresists because it allows for precise control over organic film thickness and composition. MLD utilizes sequential, self-limiting reactions of organic precursors to build a thin film directly on a substrate surface and grows organic films by depositing only one molecular layer at each precursor dose, which in turn allows for fine-tuning of the position and concentration of various functionalities in the deposited film. In this study, we use bifunctional precursors, diamine and diisocyanate, to build polyurea resist films via urea coupling reaction between the amine and isocyanate groups. Acid-labile groups and photoacid generators (PAGs) are embedded in the backbone of the resist films with a highly uniform distribution. The resist films were successfully deposited and characterized for both materials properties and resist response. E-beam patterning was achieved with the resist films. Cross-linking behavior of the resist films was observed, likely due to the aromatic rings in the films, which is undesirable for application as a positive-tone photoresist. Moreover, the in-situ polymer-bound PAGs had low sensitivity. It is suggested that this effect may arise because the PAG is cation-bound, leading to lower efficiency of sulfur-carbon bond cleavage in the sulfonium cation, which is needed to produce the photoacid, and consequently a lower photoacid yield. Further work is needed to improve the performance of the MLD resist films.
Estimating densities of liquid transition-metals and Ni-base superalloys

Abstract To estimate the densities of liquid Ni-base superalloys, the densities and temperature coefficients of density (dρ/dT) of the liquid transition-metals, which are used as alloy elements in Ni-base superalloys, were gathered, reviewed, and applied to a simple correlation. The correlation is particularly useful to estimate dρ/dT of many transition-metals for which there are no data available. To demonstrate how the results can be applied, the densities of liquid Ni-rich Ni-Al-Cr-Ta alloys were considered and regressed to yield the liquid density as a function of temperature and composition. As a verification of this approach, the liquid densities of five Ni-base superalloys were also estimated. By including a regression estimate of the molar mixing volume, the estimates of the liquid densities agreed with the measured values to ±2.5%.
African Americans’ Perceptions of Prostate-Specific Antigen Prostate Cancer Screening

Background. In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a hotly debated recommendation against prostate-specific antigen testing for all men. The present research examines African Americans’ beliefs about their susceptibility to prostate cancer (PCa) and the effectiveness of prostate-specific antigen testing in the context of the controversy surrounding this recommendation. Method. This study used a qualitative design to examine perceptions regarding susceptibility and screening. Data were collected at a community health center and three predominantly African American churches in North Carolina. Study participants were 46 African American men and women who attended one of four “listening sessions” for pretesting PCa educational materials (average age = 55 years). Listening sessions of 1.5-hour duration were conducted to pretest materials; while presenting the materials, researchers probed beliefs and knowledge about PCa screening. The sessions were recorded and transcribed, and the transcrip...
Structure study of cadmium tin oxide thin-films prepared by linear combinatorial synthesis

Thin films of transparent conducting cadmium tin oxide were produced by linear combinatorial synthesis using low-pressure metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Different decomposition temperatures of Sn and Cd metal-organic precursors were used to achieve the composition variation. The structural properties varied with the composition along the gas flow direction, cubic CdO, spinel Cd 2 SnO 4 , amorphous, and finally the tetragonal SnO 2 structure was observed with the optical bandgap of the films increasing from ∼2.7 to 3.65 eV. The highest electron mobility was achieved within the amorphous phase, at a composition range of Cd-to-Sn of 2-to-1∼1-to-1.
Performance and reliability of quantum cascade lasers

We present the burn-in behavior and power stability of multiple quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) that were measured to investigate their long-term performance. For these experiments, the current to the QCL was cycled every ten minutes, and the output power was monitored over time for durations as long as two months. A small increase in power for a given injection current is observed for almost all of the QCLs tested during the burn-in period. Although the amount and duration of the burn-in varied among the devices tested, we observed that QCLs that operated with a lower threshold current exhibited a smaller burn-in change from initial conditions for the first ten hours of operation. This correlation, however, disappeared at longer operation times. The effect of packaging the QCLs is also investigated to determine its impact on performance and reliability. The power stability is measured for the packaged QCLs along with changes in the operational conditions. Although the temperature of the QCL is kept constant with a thermistor and thermoelectric cooler (TEC) inside the package, the case temperature is varied to monitor its correlation with any changes in power or frequency. Power changes and small frequency shifts are observed under these conditions. One possible explanation for these changes is the influence of optical feedback from the anti-reflection (AR) coated window in the package. The data from all of these experiments is presented.
Monitoring the software test process using statistical process control: a logarithmic approach

Statistical Process Control (SPC) is a powerful tool to control the quality of processes. It assists management personnel in the identification of problems and actions to be taken to bring a process into a stable state. SPC has been applied in various fields, including the Software Development Process. However, some processes are better characterized by factors that exhibit an exponential behavior. The use of such factors for process control limits the application of traditional SPC techniques. The Software Test Process (STP) characterized by the decay in the number of remaining errors, failure intensity, and an increase in code coverage, is one such process.A variant of the traditional SPC technique is proposed. This variant uses logarithmic transformation to allow the statistical control of processes whose dominant behavior is best described by an exponential. An evaluation of the proposed transformation carried out using simulation and a case study from an industrial project, encourages the application of the proposed variant to the STP.
Quantum Monte Carlo Study of Inhomogeneous Bond Dilution in the Two-Dimensional Heisenberg Antiferromagnet

The problem whether a two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet on a square lattice can be driven through a quantum phase transition by either bond or site dilution has attracted a lot of recent interest. Such a diluted system is of direct relevance for antiferromagnetic layered cuprates compounds, doped with nonmagnetic impurities. Both experimental results and numerical analysis now give evidence that such systems with homogeneous site and bond dilution are driven through a classical percolation transition instead of a quantum phase transition. In this paper we show that inhomogeneous bond dilution introduces the different scenario of a percolative quantum phase transition. The ground state of the bond-diluted system can be a spin liquid characterized by an infinite percolating network with vanishing antiferromagnetic order parameter. This quantum disordered phase appears as an intermediate regime between the geometrically disordered phase and the antiferromagnetic ordered phase. Here we investigate this phenomenon using Stochastic Series Expansion Quantum Monte Carlo simulations.
Microtubules associated with simultaneous cytokinesis of coenocytic microsporocytes

Microtubule arrays associated with simultaneous cytokinesis in the coenocytic microsporocytes of Lonicerajaponica and Impatiens sultani were studied by indirect immunofluorescence. The future division planes are not predicted prior to meiosis by either a preprophase band of microtubules or cytoplasmic lobing. Cleavage planes appear to be determined by position of the four haploid nuclei and the development of postmeiotic microtubule systems. Perpendicular second division spindles in Lonicera result in tetrahedrally arranged tetrads while parallel spindles in Impatiens result in tetragonal arrangement. Immediately following meiosis bands of microtubules, the secondary spindles, develop between both sister and nonsister nuclei. These arrays give way to systems of microtubules that radiate equally from each of the four nuclei in the coenocytic sporocyte. Simultaneous cytokinesis is initiated by centripetal wall deposition at the periphery of the sporocyte and proceeds along planes marked by interaction of the opposing arrays of nuclear-based microtubules.
How much do you want to know

Hamiltonian Dynamical Systems. Compiled and introduced by R. S. MacKay and J. D. Meiss Adam Hilger, BristollTaylor & Francis, Philadelphia: 1987. Pp. 784. Hbk £49.50, $109; pbk£20, $44.
Some examples of unusual skeletal bonding topologies in metallaboranes containing two or three early transition metal vertices.

The metallaboranes (CpM)2BnHn+4 (M = Cr, Mo, W; n = 4, 5; Cp = η5-C5H5, η5-C5Me5), (CpW)2B7H9, (CpRe)2B7H7, and (CpW)3B8H9 have the 2v or 2v + 2 skeletal electrons for closo or isocloso deltahedra ...
Recurrent breast cancer: Factors influencing survival, including treatment

Factors influencing survival were reviewed in 464 patients with recurrent breast cancer. Site of first recurrence and rate of tumor progression governed prognosis more than choice of initial therapy. Overall median survival was 22--26 months for bone/soft-tissue disease, 10--12 months for pleura/lung, and 4--6 months for liver/brain recurrence. Patients with slow rates of tumor progression at each site had longer survival terms than did rapid progressors. About 50% of patients with bone or soft-tissue recurrence had slow progression and long survival, regardless of whether initial treatment was local or systemic. In visceral recurrence, the number of patients with slow progression was doubled with systemic therapy in comparison to local treatment (from 16--20% for the latter to 37--38% for the former). In addition, long-term survival in patients with similar progression rates was best using initial systemic therapy.
Broadband stable detector for ultraviolet (300-1700 A) plasma spectroscopy.

A CuI coating on the first dynode of a windowless photomultipler creates a broadband and stable detector for ultraviolet plasma spectroscopy with a quantum efficiency above 2% from 400 to 1600 A. The stability of this photocathode was tested in the environment of tokamak discharges; no degradation was found after one year’s use.
Initiation of responses in aleurone layers by gibberellic acid.

Abstract A new procedure for studying the action of gibberellic acid in barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Betzes) aleurone layers was utilized. Exposure of the layers to gibberellic acid for short periods of time followed by through washing and subsequent incubation in the absence of the phytohormone resulted in increased secretion of enzymes and metabolites. Increased secretion of soluble of soluble sugar (a typical hormonal response) by such treated and washed layers was linearly proportional to the time of exposure as well as to the concentration of hormone in the exposure medium. It was decreased by exposure under anaerobic conditions and was affected by the temperature of exposure. The hormone disappears from the medium during exposure but the results suggest that some of it can be removed from the layers by washing. Since cycloheximide and abscisic acid inhibited hormone-induced secretion when they were applied simultaneously and continuosly with gibberellic acid but had no effect on pretreated layers whereas secretion was inhibited by anaerobiosis in both instances, at least two steps appear to be involved in hormonal action on secretion.
L-thyroxine secretion rates and L-triiodothyronine equivalents in the opossum (Didelphis virginianus).

Abstract One hundred and eleven determinations of thyroid secretion rate (TSR) were made on 57 opossums trapped in Boone County, Missouri, from February 1961 to May 1964. It was found that the adult population had a mean TSR of 1.72 μg l -thyroxine ( l -T 4 )/100 gm b.w., and the juveniles (under 1 year of age) had a mean TSR of 2.66 μg T 4 /100 gm b.w. The adult population exhibited a seasonal pattern of thyroid activity. In spring, the mean adult TSR was 1.94 ± .37 μg/100 gm body weight (b.w.), summer 1.19 ± .24 μg/100 gm b.w., fall 1.33 ± .47 μg/100 gm b.w. and winter 1.92 ± .47 μg/100 gm b.w The juvenile animals had a mean TSR of 2.84 ± .72 μg/100 gm b.w. in summer, 2.04 ± 1.08 μg/100 gm b.w. in fall, and 3.58 ± 1.90 μg/100 gm b.w. in winter, but seasonal variation was not significant. Differences between male and female TSR's within populations were not statistically significant. l -Triiodothyronine ( l -T 3 ) was substituted in the TSR procedure for l -T 4 , and found to be approximately 1.1 times as effective as l -T 4 in blocking thyroidal I 131 release.
Exploring information chaos in community pharmacy handoffs

Abstract Background A handoff is the process of conveying necessary information in order to transfer primary responsibility for providing safe and effective drug therapy to a patient from one community pharmacist to another, typically during a shift change. The handoff information conveyed in pharmacies has been shown to be unstructured and variable, leading to pharmacist stress and frustration, prescription delays, and medication errors. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe and categorize the information hazards present in handoffs in community pharmacies. Methods A qualitative research approach was used to elicit the subjective experiences of community pharmacists. Community pharmacists who float or work in busy community pharmacies were recruited and participated in a face to face semi-structured interview. Using a systematic content data analysis, the study identified five categories of information hazards that can lead to information chaos, a framework grounded in human factors and ergonomics. Results Information hazards including erroneous information and information overload, underload, scatter, and conflict, are experienced routinely by community pharmacists during handoff communication and can result in information chaos. The consequences of information chaos include increased mental workload, which can precipitate problematic prescriptions “falling between the cracks.” This can ultimately impact patient care and pharmacist quality of working life. Conclusions The results suggest that handoffs in community pharmacies result in information hazards. These information hazards can distract pharmacists from their primary work of assessing prescriptions and educating their patients. Further research on how handoffs are conducted can produce information on how hazards in the system can be eliminated.
CAFFEINE AND THEOPHYLLINE METABOLISM IN OLDER PRETERM INFANTS

Because there has been a dearth of data regarding caffeine and theophylline pharmacokinetics in older preterm infants, we studied 17 premature infants with apnea at an age of 15-38 days (G.A.=29.7±1.9 wks, M±SD). They received oral or IV caffeine at a dose of 2.3 to 10.3 mg/kg/day (x=4.9±1.8) once or twice daily. To 25 μl of plasma an equal amount of acetonitrile was added. After vortex and ultracentrifugation, 15 μl of supernatant were injected into a reverse phase HPLC column and monitored at 280 nm. β-hydroxyethyltheophylline was the internal standard. Results are as follows: We found no correlation between gestational age, weight, age, or dose and caffeine or theophylline levels. It was significant that on similar doses, patients on a twice a day schedule had much higher peak and trough levels than on one dose/day. We now use BID doses for caffeine therapy because of the higher levels attained.
Assessing social–ecological coupling: Agriculture and hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Analysis and enhancement of “coupling” of social–ecological systems (SES) has emerged as a leading theme in sustainability studies. However, as an analytical concept that can support empirical research, coupling has not been adequately developed. This study synthesizes concepts from environmental sociology and ecological sciences to derive three criteria to assess adaptive coupling of an SES: prevention orientation, spatial targeting and temporal targeting. We apply our criteria to the case of nitrogen pollution from agriculture in the Mississippi River Basin (MRB) and resulting hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. We analyzed the federal agricultural research and development portfolio to assess the character of investments in knowledge creation and how patterns of investment have changed over time. While superficial assessment of the data suggests that public spending on nitrogen relevant research constitutes a substantive response to the problem of Gulf hypoxia, disaggregating the data highlights an ineffectual response. Specifically, we find that spatial and temporal targeting of investment of socioeconomic resources in the MRB is poorly aligned with the nature of ecological risks confronting the region. In addition to this policy relevant result, our study highlights the importance of geographically referenced data and attention to relevant scales of analysis. Further, the paper demonstrates opportunities to advance concepts and empirical understanding of social–ecological coupling through interdisciplinary research on interfaces that mediate interactions in SES, for example publicly funded research aimed at agricultural practice and environmental conservation in the MRB.
Three generations of crises, three generations of crisis models

Abstract This paper considers the three devaluation of the pound sterling in 1931, 1949 and 1967 as a window onto the recent theoretical literature of currency crises.
Least Squares-Based Estimation of Relative Clock Offset and Frequency in Sensor Networks with High Latency

Accurate clock synchronization is essential in the operation of Sensor Networks. Algorithms for clock synchronization generally rely on estimators of the relative offset and frequency of two different clocks. Sensor Networks have limited power resources so it is important that these estimators not be too computationally intensive. For this reason a number of least squares-based estimators have been proposed, however they are not appropriate for sensor networks with significant propagation latency. For these applications, the Time Synchronization for High Latency (TSHL) protocol was developed. We seek to improve the accuracy of TSHL and thus propose, study, and demonstrate the effectiveness of several alternative least squares-based estimators.
Duhem Feedback and Friction-Induced Staircase Hysteresis

In this paper we provide a system-theoretic picture of the hysteresis induced by friction. We study the hysteretic response of a linear system connected with a Duhem hysteretic model in the feedback. We then use the popular Dahl and LuGre Duhem friction models to model the mass-spring system with friction, as a linear system with Duhem feedback. We use the feedback model to study the hysteretic response between the external force applied on the mass and the displacement of the mass.
Pulsed Laser Annealing of Semiconductor Structures for Functional Devices

We review our progress on the laser processing of semiconductor microstructures and nanostructures for functional devices. Fundamental research conducted to understand the melt-mediated phase transformations induced by nanosecond laser irradiation in thin semiconductor films is presented. A detailed experimental study analyzed the physical mechanisms of the explosive crystallization in amorphous germanium that produces large area self-sustained crystal growth. The double laser crystallization method that combines a nanosecond laser pulse and a modulated microsecond laser beam was shown to produce ultra-large grain polycrystalline silicon, enabling fabrication of thin film transistor devices of high performance from amorphous silicon films. The crystal growth process was imaged by temporally resolved photography. Non-melt Excimer Laser annealing of thin silicon-on-insulator films for dopant activation was demonstrated. Applying multiple laser pulses below the melting threshold effected solid phase annealing of the single crystalline silicon films. Semiconductor nanowires are one-dimensional nanostructures that have displayed the potential to be used with low-cost flexible plastic substrates for applications such as large-area displays and sensor arrays. The excimer laser annealing of silicon nanowires is demonstrated as an alternative to conventional thermal annealing for dopant activation. The optical absorption of the nanowires is discussed and the effect of parameters such as fluence and number of pulses is investigated. The interaction of laser pulses with silicon nanowires is investigated through numerical simulations. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Biomarkers in Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and often lethal complication that is also associated with severe morbidity in hospitalized patients. During the last decade, the standardization of AKI diagnostic criteria has helped to facilitate several large-scale investigations of biomarkers of AKI. These studies have led to the international clinical implementation of several biomarkers of renal injury. This review summarizes the results of many of these multicenter investigations and discusses the clinical utility and interpretation of several of these new clinical tests. The merits of combining biomarkers of kidney function is also discussed.
Long-term Cognitive Impairment Associated With Caudate Stroke

Background and Purpose Neuropsychiatric findings were examined in 91 patients with acute focal subcortical lesions to determine whether cognitive outcome would differ depending on whether the head of the caudate or other subcortical structures were injured. Methods Patients were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and modified Present State Examination. Patients were reexamined at short-term (3 to 6 months) or long-term (1 to 2 years) follow-up. Results There were no significant intergroup differences in the MMSE scores at the initial evaluation or at short-term follow-up. At long-term follow-up, however, patients with either right or left caudate lesions had significantly lower MMSE scores than patients with other subcortical lesions. Conclusions A significant number of patients with caudate infarction deteriorate in their intellectual function between 1 and 2 years after stroke. This phenomenon could be mediated through disruption of cortical p...
Adaptive nest clustering and density‐dependent nest survival in dabbling ducks

Density-dependent population regulation is observed in many taxa, and understanding the mechanisms that generate density dependence is especially important for the conservation of heavily-managed species. In one such system, North American waterfowl, density dependence is often observed at continental scales, and nest predation has long been implicated as a key factor driving this pattern. However, despite extensive research on this topic, it remains unclear if and how nest density influences predation rates. Part of this confusion may have arisen because previous studies have studied density-dependent predation at relatively large spatial and temporal scales. Because the spatial distribution of nests changes throughout the season, which potentially influences predator behavior, nest survival may vary through time at relatively small spatial scales. As such, density-dependent nest predation might be more detectable at a spatially- and temporally-refined scale and this may provide new insights into nest site selection and predator foraging behavior. Here, we used three years of data on nest survival of two species of waterfowl, mallards and gadwall, to more fully explore the relationship between local nest clustering and nest survival. Throughout the season, we found that the distribution of nests was consistently clustered at small spatial scales (∼50–400 m), especially for mallard nests, and that this pattern was robust to yearly variation in nest density and the intensity of predation. We demonstrated further that local nest clustering had positive fitness consequences – nests with closer nearest neighbors were more likely to be successful, a result that is counter to the general assumption that nest predation rates increase with nest density.
CONSERVATION GENETICS OF THE SONOMA TREE VOLE (ARBORIMUS POMO) BASED ON MITOCHONDRIAL AND AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM MARKERS

We used a comparative, multimarker approach to investigate the conservation genetics of an arboreal vole (the Sonoma tree vole [Arborimus pomo]) in the Pacific Northwest of North America. We compared geographic patterns and overall levels of genetic diversity based on 55 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) loci with those based on a single, commonly used mitochondrial locus, the control region. Although examination of the control region data revealed the presence of 2 distinct mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) clades within A. pomo (1 in the north and 1 in the south of the species' range), the nuclear perspective provided by AFLP did not reveal a similar geographic division within the species, supporting instead that A. pomo consists of a single panmictic population. Genetic diversity estimates based on the mtDNA data (gene diversity = 0.79 and 0.80 for the 2 clades) were much greater than those based on AFLP (gene diversity = 0.31 and 0.19 for the 2 clades). These contrasting results reflect inherent differences between mitochondrial and nuclear loci in mutation rate, effective population size, expected time to monophyly, and mode of inheritance, and highlight the utility of using the combination of AFLP and mtDNA when assessing the genetic status of wild populations and species of mammals, especially those of conservation concern. In the case of A. pomo, our combined AFLP and mtDNA data support the recognition of the southern Sonoma tree voles as a distinct management unit within the species.
OCT imaging up to 760 kHz axial scan rate using single-mode 1310nm MEMS-tunable VCSELs with >100nm tuning range

We describe the first widely tunable, single-mode 1310nm MEMS VCSELs with >100nm tuning range, and the first application of these VCSELs to ultra-high-speed swept source OCT imaging at axial scan rates up to 760kHz.
Barriers to the Provision of Smoking Cessation Services Reported by Clinicians in Underserved Communities

Purpose: This qualitative study describes barriers to the provision of smoking cessation services among primary care providers serving medically underserved populations in the state of Georgia. Methods: Eighty-two health care professionals, including clinicians, nurses, administrators, and support staff, participated in 10 focus groups. All sessions were audiotaped and transcribed. A line-by-line analysis of each transcript was conducted. Results: Barriers were grouped into 5 major themes: lack of time, patient unreadiness to change, inadequate patient resources, inadequate provider resources, and inadequate cessation clinical skills. Within this framework, a number of barriers were identified that are of special importance when caring for the underserved. Examples included the tendency of patients to present in “crisis” rather than on an appointment basis; patients’ inability to pay out-of-pocket expenses for drug therapy; patients’ inability to take time from work for cessation services; limited prescribing authority for clinicians in certain settings; inadequate availability of patient education materials, especially non-English materials; and the need for additional training in smoking cessation for providers. Conclusion: “Safety net” providers encounter barriers to providing smoking cessation services that are similar to barriers faced by clinicians serving more affluent and nonminority populations, but also encounter additional barriers that apply most particularly to the underserved. (J Am Board Fam Med 2007;20:272‐279.)
Hardware Accelerated Segmentation of Complex Volumetric Filament Networks

We present a framework for segmenting and storing filament networks from scalar volume data. Filament networks are encountered more and more commonly in biomedical imaging due to advances in high-throughput microscopy. These data sets are characterized by a complex volumetric network of thin filaments embedded in a scalar volume field. High-throughput microscopy volumes are also difficult to manage since they can require several terabytes of storage, even though the total volume of the embedded structure is much smaller. Filaments in microscopy data sets are difficult to segment because their diameter is often near the sampling resolution of the microscope, yet these networks can span large regions of the data set. We describe a novel method to trace filaments through scalar volume data sets that is robust to both noisy and undersampled data. We use graphics hardware to accelerate the tracing algorithm, making it more useful for large data sets. After the initial network is traced, we use an efficient encoding scheme to store volumetric data pertaining to the network.
The association between severe obesity and characteristics of failed fertilized oocytes.

Study question Is the cytoskeletal and chromosomal organization of failed fertilized oocytes from severely obese patients (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) altered compared with that in patients with normal BMI (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m²)? Summary answer Compared with normal BMI patients, severe obesity was associated with a greater prevalence of spindle anomalies and non-aligned chromosomes in failed fertilized oocytes. What is known and what this paper adds Obesity is associated with poor reproductive outcomes, but little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms. To address potential mechanisms, our study compared the cytoskeletal and chromosome organization in failed fertilized oocytes from severely obese and normal BMI patients. Design The study population was drawn from IVF patients treated in a hospital-based infertility clinic between February 2010 and July 2011. The prevalence of meiotic spindle and chromosome alignment anomalies in failed fertilized oocytes from patients with severe obesity (i.e. Class II and III; BMI 35.0-50.1 kg/m²) was compared with those from patients with normal BMI (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m²). Oocytes were fixed and then labeled for tubulin, actin and chromatin. Spindle number and integrity, as well as chromosome alignment, were assessed using immunofluorescence microscopy and, in some cases, confocal microscopy. Generalized estimating equations were applied, which account for the correlation among oocytes from the same patient to estimate odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and two-sided Wald P-values. Models were adjusted for continuous age at cycle start, cycle type (IVF or ICSI) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) a priori. Participants and setting University-affiliated infertility clinic. A total of 276 oocytes that failed to fertilize from 137 patients were evaluated: 105 oocytes from severely obese women (n = 47) and 171 oocytes from normal BMI patients (n = 90). Main results and the role of chance (i) Significantly more oocytes from the severely obese group exhibited two spindles compared with those from the normal BMI group (58.9 versus 35.1%; OR = 2.68, CI = 1.39-5.15, P-value = 0.003). (ii) Among oocytes with a single spindle, those from severely obese patients showed a significantly higher prevalence of disarranged spindles with non-aligned chromosomes compared with those from normal BMI patients (28.6 versus 8.6%; OR = 4.58, CI = 1.05-19.86, P-value = 0.04). Bias, confounding and other reasons for caution Inclusion of only failed fertilized oocytes, small sample size, unknown factors such as non-PCOS comorbidity. Generalizability to other populations For this study, by design, it is unclear whether the findings are generalizable to successfully fertilized oocytes, and whether this oocyte-level influence of obesity is generalizable to infertile women who do not undergo stimulation or, more broadly, to spontaneous conceptions in fertile women. Study funding/competing interest(s) none. Trial registration number n/a.
Nonet symmetry and two-body decays of charmed mesons.

The decay of charmed mesons into pseudoscalar ([ital P]) and vector ([ital V]) mesons is studied in the context of nonet symmetry. We have found that it is badly broken in the [ital PP] channels and in the [ital P] sector of the [ital PV] channels as expected from the nonideal mixing of the [eta] and the [eta][prime]. In the [ital VV] channels it is also found that nonet symmetry does not describe the data well. We have found that this discrepancy cannot be attributed entirely to SU(3) breaking at the usual level of 20--30 %. At least one, or both, of nonet and SU(3) symmetries must be very badly broken. The possibility of resolving the problem in the future is also discussed.