cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A matrix methodology for spectral analysis of wave propagation in multiple connected Timoshenko beams

The dynamics of the Timoshenko beam is recast such that the description requires information only at the end points. This is then presented in the form of a dynamic stiffness relation suitable for assembling, as is done analogously for conventional finite elements. The analysis gives the exact frequency dependent response for the Timoshenko beam irrespective of the length of the element. The frequency domain response is converted to the time domain response using the Fast Fourier Algorithm (FFT). Examples of its use in wave propagation studies are given.
Variation of multifunctional surface binding proteins— a virulence strategy for group A streptococci?

Variation in surface antigens has been well recognized as a mechanism by which pathogenic organisms can avoid elimination and remain as potential pathogens in immunocompetent individuals. A variety of viral and parasitic organisms elude the immune system by varying their surface antigenic structures. Other persistent human pathogens, for example group A streptococci, are associated with cyclic variation in the severity of infections without any major change in their surface antigenic structures. Recent analysis of group A streptococcal proteins, in particular surface M and M-like proteins, has documented the existence of an array of multifunctional surface proteins which have the ability to bind to a variety of normal human plasma proteins, extracellular matrix components and human cells. The ability to change the functional activities of these surface molecules by genetic recombination among members of a closely related M protein supergene family has now been reported. In this paper, the potential importance of generating functional heterogeneity in surface binding proteins of group A streptococcus is discussed. The role of these proteins in enabling an organism to sense its environment and express the appropriate virulence factors is proposed as an explanation for the periodic changes in the frequency and severity of invasive group A streptococcal infections that can occur in the absence of a toxic-shock-like syndrome.
Cutaneous myiasis from Dermatobia hominis

We present a case report of cutaneous myiasis in a foreign traveler who was infected by Dermatobia hominis while visiting South America. This patient developed a painful furuncular lesion on the anterior scalp and noted that the lesion drained a serosanguinous fluid for more than a month before definitive treatment. Invasion of mammalian tissue by the larval forms of D. hominis typically results in the formation of a classic furuncular lesion. For persons who present with a lesion that contains a central draining stoma located on an exposed body surface, the diagnosis of myiasis should always be considered. In addition to the case report, we present a discussion of furuncular myiasis and describe the peculiar life cycle of the human botfly. We also describe the various therapies that may be employed for treating cutaneous myiasis, including surgical extraction of the larva and asphyxiation of the larva by application of petroleum jelly or other fat derivatives to the central stoma or breathing aperture.
Phenoxytriamine complexes of yttrium: synthesis, structure and use in the polymerization of lactide and ε-caprolactone

Reaction of the phenoxytriamine proligands 2,4-dimethyl-6-bis(2-(diethylamino)ethyl)aminomethlyphenol (HL1) and 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-bis(2-(diethylamino)ethyl)aminomethylphenol (HL2) with Y[N(SiMe2H)2]3(THF)2 in pentane gave the momomeric complexes L1Y[N(SiMe2H)2]2 (1) and L2Y[N(SiMe2H)2]2 (2). X-Ray structural analysis of 2 shows a 5-coordinate yttrium center. The complexes 1 and 2 catalyze the ring opening polymerization of D-L-lactide and e-caprolactone leading to narrow product polydispersities under mild conditions.
The value of animal test information in environmental control decisions.

Value of information (VOI) analytic techniques are used to evaluate the benefit of performing animal bioassays to provide information about the cancer potency of specific chemical compounds. These tools allow the identification of the conditions in which the cost of reducing uncertainty about potency, by performing a subchronic or chronic bioassay, is justified by the benefit of having improved information for making control decisions. The decision analytic results are readily scaled to apply to a range of human contact rates (exposures) and a variety of control strategies. The sensitivity of results to uncertainty about animal to human extrapolation and the design of the bioassay is explored. An evaluation of the possible gains in general understanding about the mechanisms of carcinogenicity resulting from chronic bioassays is beyond the scope of this approach. 40 refs., 3 figs.
The legendary superior strength of the Pfannenstiel incision: a myth?

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether there is a difference in the frequency of fascial dehiscence between midline vertical lower abdominal and Pfannenstiel incisions among women undergoing obstetric and gynecologic operations. Study Design: A case-control study of 48 cases of fascial dehiscence complicating 17,995 major operations (8950 cesarean deliveries and 9405 gynecologic procedures) during a 6-year period at Wayne State University Hutzel Hospital, Detroit, was performed. Univariate analysis identified significant independent variables related to fascial dehiscence. Stepwise logistic regression analysis then identified those risk factors that were independently associated with fascial dehiscence. Results: Among the 48 patients who underwent repair of fascial dehiscence after a major obstetric or gynecologic operation, 27 were from the obstetric service and 21 were from the benign and cancer gynecologic services. Wound dehiscence occurred in 10 vertical incisions and 17 Pfannenstiel incisions among the obstetric patients and in 12 vertical and 9 Pfannenstiel incisions among the gynecologic patients. The risk for dehiscence with vertical lower abdominal incisions was not increased with respect to that associated with Pfannenstiel incisions ( P =.39, 2-tailed). This finding was true for all patients (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-2.6), obstetric patients (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-3.4), and gynecologic patients (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-4.0). Forty-seven of the 48 case patients had documented wound infections, compared with 1 of the 144 control subjects ( P Conclusion: Wound infection was the most important risk factor for fascial dehiscence among women who underwent major obstetric and gynecologic operations. Our results do not support the long-held belief that Pfannenstiel incisions are stronger than lower abdominal vertical incisions and reduce the risk for fascial dehiscence. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:1446-51.)
Photon pairing instabilities: A microscopic origin for gravitation?

We show that general phase-space considerations permit the scattering amplitude for two interacting massless particles to develop a weak-coupling singularity in the ladder approximation. In the case of photon-photon scattering induced by electron vacuum polarization, spin factors prevent such singularities from actually occurring in unaccelerated flat spacetime. However, in the case of conformally flat Riemannian spacetimes, which can be studied using Feynman rules similar to those in the Minkowski-space case, a reevaluation of the photon-photon scattering ladder sum shows that weak-coupling singularities do occur. We conjecture that such instabilities are a general feature of the non-Minkowski case and may provide a microscopic basis for gravitation, with the gravitational fields identified with photon pairing amplitudes of a superconductive type. According to this conjecture, the ''graviton'' would not be described by a conventional local quantum field. (AIP)
Purification of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A rapid procedure for the purification of RNA polymerase II from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described. Total RNA polymerase activity was solubilized from whole cells by sonication in 0.32 M (NH4)2SO4 and RNA polymerase II purified by polyethylenimine fractionation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, DEAE-Sephadex, and phosphocellulose. The procedure may be completed in 2.5 days and the resultant enzyme is judged to be greater than 90% pure.
The expression of milligram amounts of functional human 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in a bacterial expression system.

Abstract We expressed milligram amounts of functional human 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in a bacterial expression system in which the cloned cDNA for the hVDR was expressed under the control of bacterial T7 polymerase. The hVDR protein comprised approximately 60% of total bacterial protein. It migrated on polyacrylamide-sodium dodecyl sulfate gels with an Mr of 48,000. It had the predicted amino acid composition and amino acid sequence analysis. The expressed protein was bound by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) with a Kd in the nanomolar range. It sedimented on sucrose density gradients at 3.5S. Furthermore, the expressed protein bound to the osteocalcin vitamin D response element (VDRE) as assessed by a gel mobility shift assay. The expression of large amounts of hVDR protein should allow for the use of this protein in structure-function and x-ray crystallography studies.
Mollaret's meningitis.

A 48-year-old man presented with a 2 day history of fever, headache, chills, neck stiff ness, and nausea and vomiting. He had a history of two episodes of viral meningitis, which occurred 30 and 13 years before this presentation. An examination confi rmed meningism without focal neurological defi cits. Results of CSF tests showed protein concentration of 120 mg/dL (normal 12–60 mg/dL), normal glucose concentration, red blood cells 26 cells/μL, and white blood cells 327 cells/μL (10% neutrophils, 84% lymphocytes, 6% monocytes). CSF Gram stain and cultures were negative. Diff -Quik stain of CSF showed many large activated monocytes with several deep nuclear clefts visible as so-called cloverleaf nucleus (green arrowhead, fi gure A), footprintshaped nucleus (white arrowhead, fi gure B), and beanshaped nucleus (green arrow, fi gure C), with a background of normal monocytes (black arrowheads, fi gure A, B) and lymphocytes (black arrows, fi gure A, B). The features of these activated monocytes were compatible with those of Mollaret’s cells, and CSF herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) PCR assay was positive. Large degenerated monocytes were present as ghost cells (asterisks, fi gure B), observed in the slide background. A diagnosis of Mollaret’s meningitis was made. The patient was discharged without antimicrobial therapy and recovered completely. Mollaret’s meningitis was fi rst described by the French neurologist Pierre Mollaret in 1944. The disease is characterised by recurrent (at least three episodes), benign (no long-term sequelae) and brief (2–5 day) episodes of aseptic lymphocytic meningitis, alternating with symptom-free interval, mostly caused by HSV2 infection. The disease is usually self-limited, and antiviral therapy is routinely not recommended. It is therefore also known as recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis. Typically, results of CSF studies show hypercellularity and predominantly lymphocytic pleocytosis with positive HSV2 DNA by PCR assay. Cellular cytomorphological features of CSF charac teristically show diagnostic Mollaret’s cells, which are multiple activated large monocytes with deep nuclear clefts giving rise to various convoluted, eye-catching shapes of nuclei, such as cloverleaf, bean, and footprint patterns. Usually degenerated monocytes known as ghost cells are present, scattered at the background of the slide. Recognition of these cells in the CSF is crucial for a timely and accurate diagnosis because it could prevent extensive and costly diagnostic studies and antimicrobial therapies.
Effects of corticipetal and corticifugal impulses upon single elements of the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus.

The purpose of this project is to investigate the functional properties of descending influences in a purely sensory system. This was carried out by studying the effects of stimulation of higher levels—visual and surrounding extravisual cortex—upon lower sectors—unitary elements of the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (LGD)—in the same sensory pathway. Experiments were performed on cats (cerveau isole), using optic tract and/or photic stimulation for “ascending” activation of single elements in the LGD. Stereotaxically oriented tungsten microelectrodes were used to record the activity from the latter. The effects of cortical stimulation, optic tract and photic stimulation, and of the combination of the various stimuli were analyzed. The behavior of the unitary activity in the LGD following the different stimuli is described and particular emphasis placed upon differences in latency. It was found that, while some units could be activated only by one given stimulus, others were activated by all of them. With combinations of different shocks, it was found that: (a) A cortical conditioning stimulus might inhibit or facilitate a spike produced by a test optic tract or photic stimulation; inhibitory effects generally predominate. (b) A conditioning optic tract or photic stimulus may facilitate or inhibit LGD spikes elicited by a test cortical stimulation; in this situation facilitatory effects slightly predominate. (c) Most of these interactions occur with fairly long inter-stimuli delays and generally take place in the absence of any spike activation by the conditioning stimulus. Although no systematic topographical study was carried out to establish the exact cortical areas from which the “corticifugal” effects might be elicited, it appears that the primary visual cortex, when stimulated, yields negative results, as a rule, while a portion of the visual area II (at the junction between middle and posterior portions of gyrus suprasylvius and nearby portions of gyrus lateralis) is the region from which effects are more often and more easily elicitable. The possible nature of these effects (direct antidromic, antidromic phenomena mediated through recurrent collaterals, and true orthodromic phenomena) is considered and discussed. The experimental evidence would appear to indicate that a large portion of our results are, indeed, interpretable as dependent upon corticifugal orthodromic effects. These findings provide some evidence for the existence of specific, probably extrareticular, corticifugal mechanisms in the visual system in analogy to what has been suggested for other sensory systems, which might help in better understanding the intimate essence of sensory perception.
CALPONIN AND MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE SIGNALING IN DIFFERENTIATED VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE

Abstract Contraction of smooth muscle cells is generally assumed to require Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the 20-kDa myosin light chains. However, we report here that in the absence of extracellular calcium, phenylephrine induces a contraction of freshly isolated ferret aorta cells in the absence of increases in intracellular ionized calcium or light chain phosphorylation levels but in the presence of activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. A protein at 36 kDa co-immunoprecipitated with the mitogen-activated protein kinase and was identified as the actin-binding protein, calponin, by immunoblot. An overlay assay further confirmed an interaction between the kinase and calponin, even though the kinase did not phosphorylate calponin in vitro. Calponin also co-immunoprecipitated from smooth muscle cells with protein kinase C-e. High resolution digital confocal studies indicated that calponin redistributes to the cell membrane during phenylephrine stimulation at a time when mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C-e are targeted to the plasmalemma. These results suggest a role for calponin as a signaling molecule, possibly an adapter protein, linking the targeting of mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C-e to the surface membrane.
Cerebrospinal fluid pressure during cerebroventricular infusion of angiotensin and vasopressin

Rationale exists for suspecting that angiotensin (Ang) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) given by the intracerebroventricular (IVT) route can affect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. This hypothesis was tested in conscious, unrestrained adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with IVT and left carotid arterial catheters. The rats were infused (IVT) for 30 min with artificial CSF followed by 30 additional minutes with CSF, Ang, (0.6 micrograms/h) AVP (5 or 50 ng/h), or AVP (5 or 50 ng/h) + Ang, (0.6 micrograms/h). Angiotensin evoked a central hypertensive effect (+ 16 mm Hg) and increased CSF pressure from 10 to 16 cm H2O (P less than 0.05). Neither dose of AVP affected blood or CSF pressures. The AVP (5 ng/h) prevented Ang-induced changes in blood and CSF pressures and AVP (50 ng/h) blocked only the Ang-induced rise in CSF pressure. These results raise the possibility that angiotensin and vasopressin participate in the regulation of CSF pressure.
The Effects of Self-Disclosure Given and Received on Affection for an Intimate Partner and Stability of the Relationship

The primary goal of this research was to determine if the affection experienced for a dating partner is affected to a greater degree by disclosure given or by disclosure received. A second purpose was to examine the effect of the overall level of self-disclosure by the couple on the stability of their relationship. These issues were examined with survey data collected from fifty dating couples. The results indicated that the degree of disclosure judged to be received from the partner ('perceived other disclosure') was generally more predictive of affection than disclosure given to the partner. `Actual other disclosure' (i.e. disclosure the partner reports that he/she gives) was positively related to affection felt for a partner by men, but not by women. The results also indicated that the amount of overall disclosure in the relationship was predictive of whether couples remained together over four years.
On the complexity-performance trade-off in code-aided frame synchronization

Next generation wireless communication systems are pushing the limits of both energy efficiency and spectral efficiency. This presents a challenge to other functions in the receiver such as frame synchronization. In this paper we examine the trade-off between increased complexity and the improvement in energy and spectral efficiency of code-aided frame synchronization. Parallel and serial approaches to the frame synchronization problem are considered as well as methods for minimizing their complexity. We identify regions over which code-aided frame synchronization improves performance, with respect to a conventional receiver, while maintaining reasonable complexity.
Rapid Transit and Community Power: West Oakland Residents Confront BART

Regional transportation planning shaped minority activism in the mid-1960s. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system encouraged West Oakland activists to create a strong local identity. BART supporters valued regional mobility and blamed ghetto poverty on the inaccessibility of suburban jobs. Minority activists blamed BART for harming the ghetto poor by encouraging job migration to the suburbs, and for displacing residents. As compensation, they demanded that BART hire minority workers and increase relocation payments. While West Oakland activists largely failed to influence BART, the newly unified community did gain local control of schools and urban poverty programs.
Elder respect among young adults: A cross-cultural study of Americans and Koreans

Abstract There has been little research on the way in which the young respect the elderly, let alone on the issue of cross-cultural differences in elder respect. This study, comparing young adults in the United States and young Korean adults in East Asia, explores the specific behavioral forms of elder respect that are cross-culturally equivalent and other forms that are culture specific. Samples of college students were surveyed at universities in the two countries by using the same questionnaire and measurement techniques. An inclusive set of forms of elder respect emerged. Both comparison groups cited care respect, acquiescent respect, linguistic respect, consultative respect, salutatory respect, and precedential respect as the most often practiced and highly important forms. The two groups were dissimilar in other forms. Differences and similarities regarding expressions of various forms and associated cultural traits are discussed. The study provides insights into how younger adults in the two different cultural contexts exhibit elder respect. The typology of the forms presented here can be used to explicate young people's propriety toward the elderly, as well as assess the quality of eldercare and the moral aspect of intergenerational relationships.
The Scholarship of Difference: A Scholarship of Liberation?

Recent decades have witnessed an explosion of new scholarship depicting the diverse experiences of men and women from different classes, races, and ethnicities. This article examines the implications of this new scholarship by comparing and contrasting its core assumptions with those of both Marxism and postmodernism. Particular attention is paid to its potential as a scholarship of liberation. Within this new scholarship of difference, two types of identity politics are critically examined: those that privilege the knowledge of the oppressed and those that focus on multiple realities and polyvocality. Shortcomings of this scholarship are discussed, including the naive pluralism of idealist multiple realities approaches, the underdevelopment of analyses of social class, and the problems that arise from rejecting scientific realism and from ignoring the importance of theory for analyzing structural relations of oppression. Of this new scholarship I ask: Whither social structure? Whither truth? And whither social class?
Structural evidence for perinuclear calcium microdomains in cardiac myocytes

At each heartbeat, cardiac myocytes are activated by a cytoplasmic Ca2+ transient in great part due to Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via ryanodine receptors (RyRs) clustered within calcium release units (peripheral couplings/dyads). A Ca2+ transient also occurs in the nucleoplasm, following the cytoplasmic transient with some delay. Under conditions where the InsP3 production is stimulated, these Ca2+ transients are regulated actively, presumably by an additional release of Ca2+ via InsP3 receptors (InsP3Rs). This raises the question whether InsP3Rs are appropriately located for this effect and whether sources of InsP3 and Ca2+ are available for their activation. We have defined the structural basis for InsP3R activity at the nucleus, using immunolabeling for confocal microscopy and freeze-drying/shadowing, T tubule “staining” and thin sectioning for electron microscopy. By these means we establish the presence of InsP3R at the outer nuclear envelope and show a close spatial relationship between the nuclear envelope, T tubules (a likely source of InsP3) and dyads (the known source of Ca2+). The frequency, distribution and distance from the nucleus of T tubules and dyads appropriately establish local perinuclear Ca2+ microdomains in cardiac myocytes.
Limestone fluidized bed treatment of acid-impacted water at the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, Maine, USA

Decades of atmospheric acid deposition have resulted in widespread lake and river acidification in the northeastern U.S. Biological effects of acidification include increased mortality of sensitive aquatic species such as the endangered Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a limestone-basedfluidized bed system for the treatment of acid-impacted waters. The treatment system was tested at the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery in East Orland, Maine over a period of 3 years. The product water from the treatment system was diluted with hatchery water to prepare water supplies with three different levels of alkalinity for testing of fish health and survival. Based on positive results from a prototype system used in the first year of the study, a larger demonstration system was used in the second and third years with the objective of decreasing operating costs. Carbon dioxide was used to accelerate limestone dissolution, and was the major factor in system performance, as evidenced by the model result: Alk = 72.84 � P(CO2) 1/2 ; R 2 = 0.975. No significant acidic incursions were noted for the control waterover the course of the study. Had these incursions occurred, survivability in theuntreated water would likely have been much more severely impacted. Treated water consistently provided elevated alkalinity and pH above that of the hatchery source water. # 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Excitotoxic preconditioning elicited by both glutamate and hypoxia and abolished by lactate transport inhibition in rat hippocampal slices

Ischemic preconditioning (PC) of heart and brain is a well-documented phenomenon. However, the mechanism underlying the increased resistance to severe ischemia by a preceding mild ischemic exposure remains unclear. Over a decade ago, we demonstrated the existence of hypoxic PC in the hippocampal slice preparation. Here we report the ability of a short exposure to toxic levels of glutamate to heighten the tolerance of hippocampal slices to a subsequent, longer exposure to the excitotoxin. Glutamate PC could also be induced by a short hypoxic exposure, suggesting a common mechanistic pathway for all PC stimuli. Since glutamate receptor activation and hypoxia increase tissue lactate production, a-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate was applied during the PC period to completely abolished PC. These results indicate that excitotoxic PC and hypoxic PC share similar mechanisms that possibly involve lactate production and its neuronal utilization.
CPN−1 MODEL WITH A CHERN-SIMONS TERM

The CPN−1 model in three Euclidean dimensions is studied in the presence of a Chern-Simons term using the 1/N expansion. The β-function for the statistics parameter θ is found to be zero to order 1/N in the unbroken phase by an explicit calculation. It is argued to be zero to all orders. Some remarks on the θ dependence of the critical exponents are also made.
IR spectroscope as a probe of bisulfate absorption at platinum electrodes under aqueous electrochemical conditions: elimination of bulk interference by using a thin layer flow cell

In recent years, several workers have examined the utility of IR spectroscopy to probe in situ the specific adsorption of electrolyte anions at metal electrodes [1-10]. There is interest in examining the behavior of electrolyte anions at metal electrodes to gain an insight into the structure of the electrical double layer and its effect on electrochemical reactivity. An early series of IR experiments aimed at probing electrolyte adsorption examined the interaction of sulfate and bisulfate at polycrystalline platinum electrodes under aqueous electrochemical conditions [3-6]. These studies explored electrolyte adsorption over a wide range of electrode potential and solution pH values. Potential-dependent alterations in the position of sulfate and bisulfate spectral features were observed and the vibrational bands were assigned to modes of adsorbed surface species on the basis of the perturbations observed [3-6]. More recent IR experiments examined bisulfate adsorption at P t ( l l l ) over the double layer and hydrogen adsorption potential regions and reported bisulfate spectral perturbations similar to those obseryed in experiments that employed polycrystalline platinum [10]. Studies which aimed to define the practical analytical limits of the in situ IR technique have indicated the importance of considering the effect of potential-dependent alterations in the composition of the thin layer cavity on the appearance of the sulfate and bisulfate spectral features [7-9]. In the thin layer spectroelectro-
Local electronic structure of amorphous metal alloys using cluster models. Evidence for specific metalloid-metal interactions

Although considerable effort has been expended over the past ten years on constructing structural models of amorphous metal alloys, mostly through the application of "dense random packing of hard spheres" ideas and extensions thereof, almost no theoretical effort has been devoted to understanding the local electronic structure and chemical interactions among the various components in such alloys. The present work is part of a substantial effort which is being made to rectify this situation. Detailed quantum-mechanical calculations are carried out on clusters of atoms which simulate possible local environments in amorphous metal alloys. The clusters used are based on simple Bernal polyhedra and distortions of these polyhedra. The materials being studied are the (Fe, Ni, B, P) alloys. In this paper, the simplest Bernal polyhedron, the tetrahedron, is considered as a first model for the local environment in ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{40}$${\mathrm{Ni}}_{40}$${\mathrm{B}}_{20}$ and ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{40}$${\mathrm{Ni}}_{40}$${\mathrm{P}}_{20}$ alloys. The tetrahedron contains two Fe atoms and two Ni atoms at the vertices with either a B atom or a P atom at the center. Spin-polarized self-consistent-field---$X\ensuremath{\alpha}$---scattered-wave calculations have been employed to investigate the electronic structure. It is found that there are considerable bonding interactions between the metalloid atoms (B or P) and the metal atoms of the clusters. Furthermore a detailed analysis of the charge densities of these models leads to the conclusion that the B atom should have a stronger interaction with the Ni atoms than with the Fe atoms, whereas the P atom should have a stronger interaction with the Fe atoms than with the Ni atoms. A brief discussion of recent experimental data which supports this conclusion is presented.
Do course evaluations truly reflect student learning? Evidence from an objectively graded post-test

Abstract It is difficult to assess the extent to which course evaluations reflect how much students truly learn from a course because valid measures of learning are rarely available. This paper makes use of a unique setting in which students take a common, high-stakes post-test which is centrally graded and serves as the basis for capturing actual student learning. We match these student-specific measures of learning to student-specific course evaluation scores from electronic records and a rich set of student-level covariates, including a pre-test score and other measures of skills prior to entering the course. While small in magnitude, we find a robust positive, and statistically significant, association between our measure of student learning and course evaluations.
I* kinetics of relevance to discharge-driven COIL systems

Singlet oxygen generators for COIL devices that utilize electrical or microwave discharge excitation are currently being investigated. A unique characteristic of these types of generators is that they deliver relatively high yields of O atoms. Dissociation of I2 will be facilitated by reaction with O atoms. However, a potential complication is that quenching of I* by O may be rapid. In recent studies using discharged oxygen to excite I* it was found that addition of NO2 to the output of the generator improved the yield of I*. In an attempt to understand the mechanism of the enhancement we have investigated the quenching of I* by O(3P) and NO2.
Hayek’s new ideas and present-day ones

This paper reexamines key themes in Friedrich Hayek’s work, including his early macroeconomics and work on overinvestment, as well as his critiques of socialism and corporatism. The paper argues that Hayek’s concern was over economic efficiency rather than innovation. Hayek viewed innovation as exogenous to the business sector, as did Schumpeter. A likely reason for his resistance to innovation as indigenous to the business world was his unease about a theory of the capitalist economy in which the future is indeterminate. Viewing innovation as rare and exogenous helped to minimize the problem of indeterminacy in his economic model. While Hayek’s great ideas will continue to be revered, economic scholarship must now build an economics that gives central place to indigenous innovation in determining a modern economy.
Toward detection of quantitative trait loci and marker‐assisted selection in fish

Abstract Genes affecting aquaculture performance, or quantitative trait loci (QTLs), can be mapped in relation to naturally occurring genetic markers. Knowledge of linkages between marker and QTL alleles can be used for marker‐assisted selection (MAS), increasing the rate of genetic progress above that for selective breeding alone. Although fish may provide an attractive system for detecting QTLs and executing MAS, QTL detection and MAS have not yet been practiced on an aquaculture species. We review the technical literature on QTL detection and MAS in other species in order to advance critical discussion of how best to pursue QTL detection and MAS in fish. Over 100 highly polymorphic markers would be needed for complete genome coverage, although a subset of QTLs might be detected with fewer markers. The need for cost‐effectively screening markers suggests polymerase chain reaction‐based screening of a collection of microsatellite loci or RAPDs (random amplified polymorphic DNAs). Experimental power calcu...
Evaluation of different methods of securing intravenous catheters : measurement of forces during simulated accidental pullout

The purpose of the study was to compare the relative effectiveness of several combinations of tapes and taping methods with respect to the force required to pull out intravenous catheters. A simulated forearm model consisting of a section of firm PVC pipe was used for the first and second series of experiments. In the third experiment, one method of taping catheters was compared in the PVC model and in volunteers. Pull-out forces were measured with a force transducer and recorded on paper. In the first experiment, catheters secured with Curity tape resisted pullout to a greater extent than those with Transpore tape and provided approximately twice the force advantage (P < 0.05). In the second experiment using Curity tape, minimum forces to dislodge the catheters were (means ± SD) 53 ± 13, 82 ± 13, 113 ± 29, 124 ± 24, 176 ± 29 and 141 ± 46 N, for methods 1–6, respectively. In the third series, the minimum pullout forces were higher for Curity than with Transpore tape for both the human and simulated PVC forearm surfaces (63 ± 11 and 55 ± 12 N vs 52 ± 7 and 44 ± 12 N, P < 0.01), and the pullout forces were higher for the simulated vs the human skin surface for both tape types (P < 0.01). Compared with Curity tape, Transpore tape was more likely to fail by tape fracture in both the simulated and human skin surfaces (P < 0.05). The data suggest that there are important differences in pullout forces and mechanisms of dislodgement depending on taping method and tape type. Curity tape, using method 5 or 6, was superior to Transpore tape and the other taping methods in resisting pullout.
Taxol- and okadaic acid-induced destabilization of bcl-2 mRNA is associated with decreased binding of proteins to a bcl-2 instability element.

Abstract The observation that overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 is associated with both cancer development and anti-cancer drug resistance suggests that factors which regulate bcl-2 expression may be important therapeutic targets. We report here that taxol or okadaic acid (OA) treatment of HL-60 cells reduced bcl-2 mRNA steady state levels to 50% of control cell levels in 20–24 hr of treatment. The 3′-untranslated region of bcl-2 mRNA contains four potential A+U-rich elements (AREs), which are associated with mRNA destabilization. RNA gel mobility shift assays revealed that HL-60 cell extracts contain proteins that bind to RNA transcripts containing the first bcl-2 ARE (ARE 1). ARE 1 binding activity was substantially reduced in extracts of cells treated for 20 hr with taxol or OA and was abolished after 32 hr of treatment. UV-induced RNA cross-linking assays revealed that untreated HL-60 cell extracts contain approximately eight proteins, ranging in size from 32 to 100 kDa, that bind to ARE 1 RNA. Following 20 hr of taxol or OA treatment, RNA cross-linking to ∼70 and ∼38 kDa proteins was greatly reduced, and cross-linking to four proteins of 45–60 kDa sizes was progressively reduced with 10–34 hr of OA or taxol treatment. Collectively, these results suggest a novel action of taxol and OA on bcl-2 expression, which involves bcl-2 mRNA downregulation through inactivation of bcl-2 mRNA stabilizing factors.
A comment on functional integrals and many-body systems

Green's functions for systems of non-interacting particles at T=0 are obtained through ab initio calculations using functional integral algorithms. It is shown in detail how the correct Green's functions are computed and how one recovers the structure of the ground state (which in the usual derivations is the starting point).
N, N-Dialkyl-dialkylenetriamines and corresponding imidazolines.

Abstract A convenient method has been found for the synthesis of N,N-dialkyl-diethyIenetriamine and its homologs. These substances can be used in synthesis of 1- (N,N-dialkylamino- alkyl)-2-aralkyl-2-imidazolines which are of pharmacologic interest because of their structural relationship to 2-benzyl-2-imid-azoline.
HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders: The Relationship of HIV Infection with Physical and Social Comorbidities

The prevalence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) will undoubtedly increase with the improved longevity of HIV-infected persons. HIV infection, itself, as well as multiple physiologic and psychosocial factors can contribute to cognitive impairment and neurologic complications. These comorbidities confound the diagnosis, assessment, and interventions for neurocognitive disorders. In this review, we discuss the role of several key comorbid factors that may contribute significantly to the development and progression of HIV-related neurocognitive impairment, as well as the current status of diagnostic strategies aimed at identifying HIV-infected individuals with impaired cognition and future research priorities and challenges.
International data on women and gender

Abstract The official document of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women— Platform for Action for Equality, Development and Peace— calls for the collection and improvement of gender-disaggregated data because of their importance for planning and evaluation toward achieving women’s empowerment. This article examines the resources available and discusses the persistent issues surrounding the definition, production, compilation, and use of international data on women and gender. We also present an example of our critical use of these problematic data—the Social Indicators of Gender Inequality. Only by using data critically—aware of problematic assumptions and irregular collection practices—will the data be improved for the benefit of women.
Cardiovascular effects of brevetoxins in dogs.

Abstract G. L. Johnson, J. J. Spikes and S. Ellis . Cardiovascular effects of brevetoxins in dogs. Toxicon 23, 505 – 515, 1985. — In anesthetized spontaneously breathing dogs, brevetoxin caused dose-dependent periods of apnea and, at high doses, respiratory arrest. In artificially ventilated dogs, i.v. brevetoxin caused complex dose-related cardiovascular changes consisting of: (1) bradycardia; (2) triphasic blood pressure changes, sequentially characterized by depressor/pressor/depressor phases; (3) cardiac arrhythmias including ventricular fibrillation; (4) muscle fasciculations. Prevention of bradycardia by atropine, vagotomy or ganglionic blockage unmasked a tachycardic action of the toxin. Ganglionic blockade, but not atropine or vagotomy, reduced the initial depressor effect of toxin. Phentolamine prevented the toxin-induced initial hypotension and secondary hypertension. Propranolol prevented the tachycardic and late depressor effects of toxin. In reserpinized dogs, low doses of toxin caused muscle fasciculations but none of the above cardiovascular effects; large doses caused bradycardia preventable by atropine, but not by vagotomy or chlorisondamine. These results suggest that brevetoxin: (1) elicits the Bezold - Jarisch effect, i.e. initial hypotension, bradycardia and apnea; (2) releases catecholamines, probably adrenal epinephrine, causing tachycardic, secondary pressor and late depressor effects; (3) in large doses, releases vagal acetylcholine; (4) -induced catecholamine and acetylcholine release is not nicotinic; (5) produces effects, like those reported for veratridine, attributable to a common action on excitable membranes.
Additional Scalarane Sesterterpenes from the Sponge Phyllospongia papyracea

A chemical investigation of the marine sponge Phyllospongia papyracea, collected in Papua New Guinea, initiated by the screening result of a β-catenin/Tcf4 disruption assay afforded six new bishomoscalarane sesterterpenes containing two rare scalaranes with a cyclobutane ring in the molecule, together with one known scalarane sesterterpene. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D spectroscopic techniques. The compounds isolated in this study did not show activity against the β-catenin and Tcf4 complex.
Age-related differences in lower-limb muscle cross-sectional area and torque production in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Abstract Mathur S, Lott DJ, Senesac C, Germain SA, Vohra RS, Sweeney HL, Walter GA, Vandenborne K. Age-related differences in lower-limb muscle cross-sectional area and torque production in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Objective To examine the relationship between lower-extremity muscle cross-sectional area, muscle strength, specific torque, and age in ambulatory boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) compared with controls. Design Observational cross-sectional study. Setting University research setting. Participants Volunteer sample of boys with DMD (n=22) and healthy control boys (n=10), ages 5 through 14 years. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Maximal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA max ) assessed by magnetic resonance imaging of quadriceps, plantarflexors (PFs) and dorsiflexors (DFs), peak isometric torque from dynamometry, and timed functional tests. Results The average CSA max of the triceps surae muscle group was approximately 60% higher in boys with DMD compared with controls (39.1±13.6 cm 2 vs 24.5±9.3 cm 2 ; P =.002), while the tibialis anterior muscle showed age-appropriate increases in CSA max . The increase in quadriceps CSA max was also distinctly different in boys with DMD compared with controls. Specific torque (ie, peak torque/CSA max ) was impaired in all 3 muscles groups, with the knee extensor (KE) and PF muscles showing 4-fold, and the DF muscles 2-fold, higher values in controls compared with boys with DMD. Large age-related gains in specific torque were observed in all 3 muscle groups of control subjects, which were absent in ambulatory boys with DMD. Correlations were observed between performance on functional tasks and quadriceps and PF torque production ( r =−.45 to −.57, P Conclusions Age-related changes in muscle cross-sectional area and specific torque production in lower-extremity muscles showed distinctly different patterns in the KE, PF, and DF muscles of boys with DMD compared with controls.
DEBAKEY TYPES I AND II ARE DISTINCT SUBSETS WITHIN TYPE A DISSECTION: A REPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY OF ACUTE AORTIC DISSECTION

The DeBakey classification divides Type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) into Type I and Type II; the latter limited to the ascending aorta. Differences between the groups are not known. We divided 1734 Type A patients from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection into Type I (N=1570,
Trajectory-based formal controller synthesis for multi-link robots with elastic joints

Multi-link robots with elastic joints are receiving a lot of interest because neglecting joint flexibility introduced in industrial robots due to presence of transmission elements results in poor control performances. Robots with elastic joints also play a pivotal role in making human-robot interaction more safe. In this paper, we discuss the problem of synthesizing provably correct controller for motion control of such robot in the presence of obstacles in the work space. For robots with multiple links, such task is difficult because the configuration space is high-dimensional. For example, for a robot with N links, the dimension of the configuration space is 2N, and the dimension of the state-space is 4N. To solve this problem, we built upon our previous results on trajectory-based formal controller synthesis for nonlinear systems. In this paper, we exploit the fact that the dynamics of the robot is feedback linearizable. We can then demonstrate that a provably correct controller for the robot can be obtained by using finitely many samples of valid execution trajectories. We demonstrate the validity of our results by simulating it on a multi-link robot.
A pilot study of distributed knowledge management and clinical decision support in the cloud

Objective: Implement and perform pilot testing of web-based clinical decision support services using a novel framework for creating and managing clinical knowledge in a distributed fashion using the cloud. The pilot sought to (1) develop and test connectivity to an external clinical decision support (CDS) service, (2) assess the exchange of data to and knowledge from the external CDS service, and (3) capture lessons to guide expansion to more practice sites and users. Materials and methods: The Clinical Decision Support Consortium created a repository of shared CDS knowledge for managing hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease in a community cloud hosted by Partners HealthCare. A limited data set for primary care patients at a separate health system was securely transmitted to a CDS rules engine hosted in the cloud. Preventive care reminders triggered by the limited data set were returned for display to clinician end users for review and display. During a pilot study, we (1) monitored connectivity and system performance, (2) studied the exchange of data and decision support reminders between the two health systems, and (3) captured lessons. Results: During the six month pilot study, there were 1339 patient encounters in which information was successfully exchanged. Preventive care reminders were displayed during 57% of patient visits, most often reminding physicians to monitor blood pressure for hypertensive patients (29%) and order eye exams for patients with diabetes (28%). Lessons learned were grouped into five themes: performance, governance, semantic interoperability, ongoing adjustments, and usability. Discussion: Remote, asynchronous cloud-based decision support performed reasonably well, although issues concerning governance, semantic interoperability, and usability remain key challenges for successful adoption and use of cloud-based CDS that will require collaboration between biomedical informatics and computer science disciplines. Conclusion: Decision support in the cloud is feasible and may be a reasonable path toward achieving better support of clinical decision-making across the widest range of health care providers.