cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rate of improvement during cognitive-behavioral group treatment for panic disorder

Abstract This study examined the rate of symptom improvement in patients receiving cognitive–behavioral group treatment for panic disorder in an outpatient clinic setting. Treatment was a standard program of 12 sessions that emphasized information, interoceptive and situational exposure, and cognitive restructuring, but also included diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation training as elements of treatment. Subjects were 37 patients selected from sequential admissions into an outpatient treatment program; all data were derived from ongoing quality assurance measures that are a standard part of clinical monitoring. Consequently, this study provides data not on the relative efficacy of cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT), but on rate of improvement and effectiveness of CBT for panic disorder in actual clinical practice. Patients achieved significant treatment gains on all panic disorder dimensions assessed, and the largest reduction in symptoms was during the first third of the treatment program, thereby challenging the notion that CBT delivers its gains slowly over time. Information on rates of symptom improvement is valuable for providing patients with accurate expectations about potential treatment benefits and for helping to maintain motivation during initial treatment sessions.
Introducing Subchromosome Representations to the Linkage Learning Genetic Algorithm

This paper introduces subchromosome representations to the linkage learning genetic algorithm (LLGA). The subchromosome representation is utilized for effectively lowering the number of building blocks in order to escape from the performance limit implied by the convergence time model for the linkage learning genetic algorithm. A preliminary implementation to realize subchromosome representations is developed and tested. The experimental results indicate that the proposed representation can improve the performance of the linkage learning genetic algorithm on uniformly scaled problems, and the initial implementation provides a potential way for the linkage learning genetic algorithm to incorporate prior linkage information when such knowledge exists.
Morphology of aggregates: VI. Effective volume of aggregates of carbon black from electron microscopy; Application to vehicle absorption and to die swell of filled rubber

Abstract Absorption of oil or dibutyl phthalate (DBP) to the critical pigment volume and point is a measure of the “structure” of carbon black; i.e., the average number ( N p ) of particles fused together per aggregate. This is shown to be due to an increase in the effective porosity of the aggregates with increasing N p . In a quantitative treatment, the volume of solid in an aggregate is computed from the particle size and projected area (as measured with the electron microscope), with the use of a relation based on floc simulation. The packing volume of an aggregate at the end point is taken heuristically as equivalent to that of a sphere of the same projected area; actually, the results indicate a small (8.5%) reduction in the diameter of the equivalent sphere. Due allowance is made for interparticle fusion, for the void volume between aggregates, and for the anisometry of aggregates. The void volume calculated from electron microscopic data is in good agreement with the experimentally measured DBP absorption, for eight carbon blacks of various “structure” levels and particle sizes. This treatment permits calculation of the effective volume of carbon black aggregates in other systems of arbitrary concentration from the DBP absorption values; in particular, the effect of carbon black on the die swell of rubber is shown to be related to the volume of the equivalent spheres.
Energy and climate: Today's, problem, not tomorrow's

The steadily rising price of a tankful of gas reminds us that the days of cheap and abundant energy are coming to an end. Nevertheless, a number of recent studies conclude that we can continue to meet our energy needs through judicious use of the world's ample remaining stocks of fossil fuels, mainly coal, during a long transition to a sustainable global energy system. Damage to the earth's climate may be the major flaw in this strategy. Burning of fossil fuels returns to the atmosphere carbon that was extracted by ancient plants many millions of years ago, and thus increases today's airborne concentration of carbon dioxide. We have already produced an estimated 13 or so percent increase over pre-industrial levels. Although a minor constituent of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide plays a significant role in the earth's heat budget, and increases in its concentration are expected to lead to a warmer earth. A typical scenario critically studied by a panel of the U.S. National Research Council chaired by the late Jule Charney in the summer of 1979 supposes that continued growth in fossil fuel combustion would lead to a doubling in airborne concentrations by some time in the first half of the next century. The panel concluded that a global wanning of about 3 degrees Centigrade would result, with significant regional changes in precipitation, temperature, and other climatic characteristics. The panel members tried but were unable to find any factors that could reduce these expected changes to negligible proportions. An international study group in November 1980 concluded that future growth in energy consumption and carbon dioxide concentrations would be somewhat slower; however, their conclusions were qualitatively the same as those of the Charney group. Another National Research Council panel chaired by Thomas C. Schelling of Harvard University discussed the economic and social implications of these changes. They concluded that the issue would " . . . pose exceedingly difficult and divisive policy questions for all the world's na t ions . . . " In essence, they supported the conclusion of an earlier Academy study that climate change might be " . . . the primary limiting factor on energy production from fossil fuels over the next few centuries." Still, these studies of energy and climate might lull us into concluding that we can put off worrying seriously about man-made climate change for a half century or so. For both physical and political reasons, both conclusions may be terribly wrong. Physically, a doubling of carbon dioxide is no magic threshold. If we have good reason to believe that a 100 percent increase in carbon dioxide will produce significant impacts on climate, then
Diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of dobutamine stress myocardial contrast echocardiography in patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Both early stress testing and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurements are useful in assessing the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We sought to determine the accuracy and prognostic value of wall motion analysis (WMA) and myocardial perfusion analysis (MPA) with real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RTMCE) during dobutamine stress in this patient population. Methods: We performed dobutamine stress RTMCE to assess perfusion in 158 consecutive patients (mean age: 61 ± 13 years) with chest pain and possible ACS. Of these, 119 had normal cTnI, while 39 had isolated elevations of cTnI (range: 0.5–9.0 ng/ml). Quantitative angiography was performed within 1 month of RTMCE in 61 patients. Patients were followed for 16 months (range: 6–46 months). Cardiac events included death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, recurrent unstable angina, or need for urgent revascularization. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MPA for detecting a >50% coronary stenosis were 92%, 77%, and 88%, respectively, while they were 62%, 85%, and 67% for WMA. Three-year event-free survival was 87% in patients with negative WMA and MPA, 49% in those with positive WMA and MPA, and 51% in patients with negative WMA but positive MPA. Age-adjusted multivariate analysis demonstrated that the only independent predictors of cardiac events were a positive MPA (hazard ratio = 3.23; 95% CI = 1.23–8.49) and male sex (hazard ratio = 3.29; 95% CI = 1.21–8.97). Conclusions: In patients suspected of having an ACS, RTMCE improved the accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography for detecting coronary artery disease, and was an independent predictor of outcome.
Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Targeted to Premotor Cortex Followed by Primary Motor Cortex Modulates Excitability Differently Than Premotor Cortex or Primary Motor Cortex Stimulation Alone

Objectives The excitability of primary motor cortex (M1) can be modulated by applying low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over M1 or premotor cortex (PMC). A comparison of inhibitory effect between the two locations has been reported with inconsistent results. This study compared the response secondary to rTMS applied over M1, PMC, and a combined PMC + M1 stimulation approach which first targets stimulation over PMC then M1. Materials and Methods Ten healthy participants were recruited for a randomized, cross-over design with a one-week washout between visits. Each visit consisted of a pretest, an rTMS intervention, and a post-test. Outcome measures included short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), and cortical silent period (CSP). Participants received one of the three interventions in random order at each visit including: 1-Hz rTMS at 90% of resting motor threshold to: M1 (1200 pulses), PMC (1200 pulses), and PMC + M1 (600 pulses each, 1200 total). Results PMC + M1 stimulation resulted in significantly greater inhibition than the other locations for ICF (P = 0.005) and CSP (P < 0.001); for SICI, increased inhibition (group effect) was not observed after any of the three interventions, and there was no significant difference between the three interventions. Conclusion The results indicate that PMC + M1 stimulation may modulate brain excitability differently from PMC or M1 alone. CSP was the assessment measure most sensitive to changes in inhibition and was able to distinguish between different inhibitory protocols. This work presents a novel procedure that may have positive implications for therapeutic interventions.
Superabsorbent alginate aerogels

Abstract Polysaccharides are biopolymers that have excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability and have been considered for a wide range of pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. In this work polysaccharide-based superabsorbent aerogels are prepared using a combination of sol-gel and supercritical fluid technology. The advantages of supercritical drying are the reduced gel shrinkage, higher porosity, and three-dimensional network of the aerogel morphology compared to the morphology obtained with conventional air or vacuum drying methods. The aerogel open-porous structure and high surface area promotes rapid water absorption into the aerogel matrix by capillary force. Aerogel structural properties are modified by using different cross-linking ions and different alginate molecular weights and the influence of the aerogel properties on water absorption capacity is presented. Scanning electron microscopy is used to characterize the aerogel surface morphology, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements are used to obtain information on the aerogel surface area, pore size, and pore volume. A unique feature of alginate aerogels is that they absorb more saline compared to distilled water, which is opposite to the behavior of regular superabsorbents. A gram of alginate aerogel absorbs as much as 120 g of saline (0.9 wt% aq. NaCl solution) solution compared to 20 g of distilled water. The results from these analytical methods highlight the improved product characteristics of the aerogels synthesized using sol–gel processing technology combined with supercritical fluid technology.
Liquid helium cooling of the MFTF superconducting magnets

During acceptance testing of the Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF), we measured these tests: liquid helium heat loads and flow rates in selected magnets. We used the data from these tests to estimate helium vapor quality in the magnets so that we could determine if adequate conductor cooling conditions had occurred. We compared the measured quality and flow with estimates from a theoretical model developed for the MFTF magnets. The comparison is reasonably good, considering influences that can greatly affect these values. This paper describes the methods employed in making the measurements and developing the theoretical estimates. It also describes the helium system that maintained the magnets at required operating conditions.
Production of Conidia of Alternaria cassiae with Alginate Pellets

Abstract Formulations of alginate-encapsulated mycelia are used to generate spores for mycoherbicidal application to weed-infested fields and for bulk production of spore-based products. Spore yield of such formulations is a primary determinant of product efficacy. A number of parameters of the alginate process were studied to develop an optimal alginate formulation for field application of Alternaria cassiae , a mycoherbicide for sicklepod ( Cassia obtusifolia ). The composition of the fermentation medium and of the filler used in formulation and the fermentation time were important variables. The addition of nutrients to the mycelial homogenate after fermentation increased sporulation but the amount and ratio of nutrients in the fermentation medium had a greater influence on spore yield from pellets. Optimal sporulation resulted from mycelia produced during a 60- to 70-h fermentation in 2.4% dehydrated potato dextrose broth and 14% V-8 vegetable juice and entrapped in pellets containing corn cob grits as the filler.
Retinoids synergize with interleukin-2 to augment IFN-gamma and interleukin-12 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

We have demonstrated previously that cells from both the skin and peripheral blood from patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) have elevated levels of protein and mRNA for Th2 cytokines, in...
Simulating the Nasal Cycle with Computational Fluid Dynamics

Objectives(1) To develop a method to account for the confounding effect of the nasal cycle when comparing preoperative and postoperative objective measures of nasal patency. (2) To illustrate this ...
Surgery, in the days of controversy.

My father was George Crile, a world-famous surgeon who participated in the founding of the American College of Surgeons and was one of its first presidents. I was his first son and I never had a chance of growing up to be anything but a surgeon. The years at Harvard Medical School (Boston, Mass), from 1929 to 1933, were exciting because in those days students were sent out to "the district" with no significant training to deliver babies. Although we had access to backup by residents, they were about an hour away. I had one tragedy after another, all the way from a tiny preemie, who barely made it, to a 15-lb baby of a diabetic who did not. Then and there I vowed not to go into obstetrics. Surgery at the Harvard Hospitals was unspecialized in those days. Mastectomies in Boston always were radical and took 3 to 4
Syntactic processing depends on dorsal language tracts

Frontal and temporal language areas involved in syntactic processing are connected by several dorsal and ventral tracts, but the functional roles of the different tracts are not well understood. To identify which white matter tract(s) are important for syntactic processing, we examined the relationship between white matter damage and syntactic deficits in patients with primary progressive aphasia, using multimodal neuroimaging and neurolinguistic assessment. Diffusion tensor imaging showed that microstructural damage to left hemisphere dorsal tracts--the superior longitudinal fasciculus including its arcuate component--was strongly associated with deficits in comprehension and production of syntax. Damage to these dorsal tracts predicted syntactic deficits after gray matter atrophy was taken into account, and fMRI confirmed that these tracts connect regions modulated by syntactic processing. In contrast, damage to ventral tracts--the extreme capsule fiber system or the uncinate fasciculus--was not associated with syntactic deficits. Our findings show that syntactic processing depends primarily on dorsal language tracts.
Cytotoxic granule-mediated apoptosis: unraveling the complex mechanism

The molecular details of cytotoxic granule-mediated apoptosis have been gleaned from the study of the effects of isolated granzymes and perforin on target cells. Recent evidence indicates that the physiological apoptosis-inducing form is a multi-component macro-complex consisting of cationic granule proteins non-covalently linked to the chondroitin-sulfate proteoglycan, serglycin.
Energy levels of isolated interstitial hydrogen in silicon

This paper first describes the quantitative determination of the static and dynamic properties of the locally stable states of monatomic hydrogen dissolved in crystalline silicon: ${\mathrm{H}}^{+},$ ${\mathrm{H}}^{0},$ and ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}.$ The monatomic hydrogens were created controllably near room temperature by using hole-stimulated dissociation of phosphorus-hydrogen (PH) complexes. Drift velocities and charge-change rates were studied via time-resolved capacitance-transient measurements in Schottky diodes under changes of bias. These data enable the donor level ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{D}$ of ${}^{2}\mathrm{H}$ to be located at \ensuremath{\sim}0.16 eV below the conduction band (confirming that the ${E3}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ center found in proton-implanted Si corresponds to interstitial H in undamaged Si), and the acceptor level ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{A}$ at \ensuremath{\sim}0.07 eV below midgap, so that hydrogen is a ``negative-U'' system. The experimental values of ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{D}$ and ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{A}$ are consistent with predictions from first-principles calculations, which also provide detailed potential-energy surfaces for hydrogen in each charge state. While the phonon-mediated reaction ${\mathrm{H}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{H}}^{+}{+e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ is fast, the reaction ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{H}}^{0}{+e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ has an activation energy \ensuremath{\sim}0.84 eV, well above the energy difference (\ensuremath{\sim}0.47 eV) between initial and final states. Our experiments also yielded diffusion coefficients near room temperature for ${}^{1}{\mathrm{H}}^{+},$ ${}^{2}{\mathrm{H}}^{+},$ and ${}^{2}{\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}.$ The asymmetrical positioning of ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{D}$ and ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{A}$ in the gap accounts for many previously unexplained effects. For example, it is shown to be responsible for the much greater difficulty of passivating phosphorus-doped than comparably boron-doped Si. And while modest hole concentrations dissociate PH complexes rapidly at temperatures where thermal dissociation takes years, we could not detect an analogous dissociation of BH complexes by minority electrons, a process that is expected to be frustrated by the rapid thermal ionization of ${\mathrm{H}}^{0}.$ The distribution of hydrogen in n-on-n epitaxial layers hydrogenated at 300 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C can be accounted for if the donor-hydrogen complexes are in thermal equilibrium with ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ complexes whose binding energy (relative to ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}{+\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}})$ is of the order of 1.75 eV. With this binding energy, the measured migration of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ at 200 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and below must be by diffusion without dissociation.
Prediction of drug and alcohol abuse in hospitalized adolescents: comparisons by gender and substance type.

Abstract The authors examined psychosocial correlates of drug and alcohol abuse in 462 hospitalized adolescents, and the extent to which these associations may be affected by gender or by substance type. Participants completed a battery of psychometrically-sound, self-report measures of psychological functioning, environmental stress, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse. Four multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the joint and independent predictors of drug abuse and alcohol abuse, for males and for females. Multiple regression analysis revealed that seven variables—age, depression, impulsivity, low self-esteem, delinquent predisposition, low peer insecurity, and history of child abuse—jointly predicted both drug and alcohol abuse, for both males and females. However, several differences were found with respect to which variables made independent contributions to the predictive models—with only delinquent predisposition making a significant independent contribution for all four conditions. We found distinct patterns of psychosocial predictor variables for drug and alcohol abuse, as well as distinct patterns for males and females. These results may reflect differing risk factors for drug abuse and alcohol abuse in adolescent psychiatric patients—and differing risk factors for males and females. Such differences have potential implications for prevention and treatment.
Effects of fiber orientation and anisotropy on tensile strength and elastic modulus of short fiber reinforced polymer composites

Abstract An experimental study was conducted to investigate anisotropy effects on tensile properties of two short glass fiber reinforced thermoplastics. Tensile tests were performed in various mold flow directions and with two thicknesses. A shell–core morphology resulting from orientation distribution of fibers influenced the degree of anisotropy. Tensile strength and elastic modulus nonlinearly decreased with specimen angle and Tsai–Hill criterion was found to correlate variation of these properties with the fiber orientation. Variation of tensile toughness with fiber orientation and strain rate was evaluated and mechanisms of failure were identified based on fracture surface microscopic analysis and crack propagation paths. Fiber length, diameter, and orientation distribution mathematical models were also used along with analytical approaches to predict tensile strength and elastic modulus form tensile properties of constituent materials. Laminate analogy and modified Tsai–Hill criteria provided satisfactory predictions of elastic modulus and tensile strength, respectively.
Functional assessment of disease-free saphenous vein grafts at redo coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract Background . Reoperations for coronary artery bypass grafting are on the rise. The general rule of replacing all saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) older than 5 years of age at the time of reoperation has recently been challenged on clinical grounds. This study provides functional data of endothelial behavior in long-term vein grafts. Methods . Previously placed SVGs were removed at the time of redo operations. Nitric oxide (NO) measurements in real time were carried out before and after stimulation with morphine. The measurements were compared to the angiographic appearance of the grafts obtained prior to operation. Grafts were categorized into 3 groups: disease-free, moderately diseased, and severely diseased. Results . Sixteen grafts were analyzed. Five were angiographically disease-free, 4 had moderate, and 7 severe disease. In the disease-free group, peak NO production after 10 −6 mol/L morphine stimulation was 35 mol/L, equivalent to the production of native saphenous vein. The severely diseased group did not demonstrate an increase in NO production, and the moderately diseased group produced a small rise in production. Conclusions . Measurement of NO release of old SVGs, when angiographically pristine, equals that of native saphenous vein. These findings support the recent clinical observations that long-term angiographically disease-free vein grafts are biologically privileged.
Block rotation in east-central Alaska: A framework for evaluating earthquake potential?

Geologic and seismic data reveal a set of parallel, active, strike-slip faults in east-central Alaska between the Denali and Tintina fault systems. The faults strike northeast to north-northeast, at a high angle to the bounding dextral fault systems, and exhibit sinistral slip. We hypothesize that this set of faults divides the crust into long blocks that are rotating clockwise in response to northerly compression resulting from Pacific–North American plate convergence. We suggest that these faults have produced most of the large historical earthquakes in east-central Alaska between the Alaska Range and the Yukon River.
Human service education‐teacher education comes out of the closet

Teacher education has been preparing human service professionals for generations, albeit in furtive and often unacknowledged ways. For decades, statistics emanating from national offices reported on the number and percent of candidates actually teaching upon completion of their programs. The rest were thought of as the lost, the people who had made less worthy choices. Inevitably we felt a level of professional guilt about those choosing other careers. Yet all know that many of these graduates assumed roles in social service agencies as dedicated to the public good as schools are. Sadly, we, as a profession, never acknowledged them. It is now time to come out of the closet. Teacher education must recognize the past it has tended to ignore and must create a future which broadens an understanding of what teaching means in a human service society. One fact frequently becomes obscured whenever we discuss entry level criteria in teacher education: most teachers-to-be enter the profession with a high sense of idealism, moral commitment, and a genuine desire to improve the quality of life for others. No matter that many teachers enter professional careers with naive social missions and inadequate skills to realize those ideals; what does matter is that a sense of idealism and moral vision remain present and that worthwhile outlets for these qualities exist. In the mid-70s, the old classroom arenas for teaching and learning are stretching to include a wider range of place and activity. Many educators now begin to realize they no longer can expect a lifetime of uninterrupted public school service in a specific role. Many persons will have teaching experiences in a variety of human service areas before they retire. Some will move horizontally as teachers within many human service careers-from classrooms, to counseling sites, to storefront action agencies, to nursing homes. Others will teach in industry, business, government, and the military. Still others will serve as teaching-learning trainers of such professional helpers as dental hygienists, social workers, and corrections personnel-all of whom are starting to define their tasks as primarily educational. Thus, as increasing numbers of students with social vision enter our programs to prepare for various human service teaching careers, certain fundamental structural and philosophical changes in training pro-
Simulating Microprocessor-Based Parallel Computers Using Processor Libraries

As the limits of sequential processing are being approached, the use of parallel architectures in the implementation of modern scientific computer systems grows in importance. The use of advanced and powerful microprocessors in these systems is a particularly effective approach. However, the costs associated with such systems make it critical to be able to forecast system behavior before an actual hardware proto type is constructed, in terms of such requirements as real-time performance, throughput, bandwidth, latency, reliability, availability, etc. Experience with the design and simulation of a new parallel computer is used as an example to illustrate a technique by which requirements can be accurately analyzed without the risk of premature hardware implementution. Using processor libraries, the complexities of the actual system are portrayed in the form of a software-based prototype system which provides significantly more accuracy than traditional simulation methods.
Use of Viscosity in Qualitative Analysis

There are many examples of undergraduate laboratory experiments that illustrate physical properties (i.e., melting point, boiling point, refractive index, density). There are relatively few examples of the use of viscometry in the freshman and sophomore laboratories. Moreover, the use of viscometry is usually treated in the same fashion as melting point determinations (comparison of the experimental viscosity to the literature value.)
Can Stalled Horses Provided Light Exercise and “Weekend” Turnout Maintain Bone Mineral Content?

Introduction Previous research suggests stalling may have a negative influence on bone mineral content (BMC). Yet slow, long-distance exercise has not been successful in improving BMC compared to free-choice exercise. Still, it is a common practice to stall horses with light exercise and minimal turnout. We hypothesized stalled horses, despite “weekend” turnout and light exercise, would have lower estimated BMC compared to pasture turnout. Methods Thirteen mature horses were split into two groups, Control (C, n = 6) and Stalled (S, n = 7). Digital radiographs were taken of the third metacarpal for estimation of BMC by radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). After a 42-d period (P1) additional radiographs were taken and S-horses stalled for 4-d (receiving light under-saddle exercise), followed by 72-h pasture turnout. This pattern repeated for an additional 42-d (P2) followed by radiographs. Radiographs were analyzed for optical density of bone cortices and total BMC compared to an aluminum step-wedge on each cassette. Changes in BMC were analyzed using PROC mixed in SAS with repeated measures. Results No treatment differences were observed in the medial (P = 0.72) or lateral (P = 0.46) cortices. Dorsal and palmar cortices exhibited a treatment by period interaction (P<0.01, P<0.02), remaining unchanged in C but S decreased over P1 and returned to baseline in P2. Total RBAE was not different by treatment or period. Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, horses stalled with light exercise and “weekend” turnout maintained BMC compared to themselves and controls at pasture. Such management may be considered for maintaining BMC when horses must be stalled for weekday riding or training. Further research is necessary to determine minimum turnout and exercise needs to maintain BMC when stalling. Ethical Animal Research The study was approved by the Middle Tennessee State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Sources of funding: The Horse Science Program and Office of Research at Middle Tennessee State University. Competing interests: none.
Plasmid Profiles of Rhizobia Used in Inoculants and Isolated from Clover Fields

The persistence of inoculant strains of Rhizobium is a factor determining the need for inoculation of legumes. Four pastures in east Texas, with known histories of arrowleaf [Trifolium vesiculosum Savi] and crimson [T. incarnatum L.] clover planting and inoculation with R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii, were used to investigate the prevalence of inoculant strains in clover root nodules. Three pastures had mixed stands of the two clover species, and the fourth had only arrowleaf clover. Using plasmid profiles as a means of identifying rhizobial strains, we analyzed 50 rhizobial isolates made from root nodules of each clover species in each of the pastures [...]
Microscopic Evaluation of Acid-Etched Optical Fibers

Abstract Optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the changes in the surface morphology of optical fibers as a result of acid etching. The resulting surface modifications are modeled and the resulting structures are considered as alternatives to conventional fibers for chemical sensor development. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching has been performed on the tips of flat-end graded index fibers, and spherical-end graded and step index fibers. The acid treatment caused the formation of a cone-shaped hollow in the center of graded index fiber tips. This structure provides a surface area enhancement of up to 5.3-fold over untreated fibers. In addition, this cone-shaped cavity provides a sub-nanoliter reservoir in which reagent can be held at the sensing tip of the fiber. Spherical-end fibers provide surface area increases of up to 35-fold compared to flat-end fibers. With spherical-end step index fibers, HF etches the cladding, but not the core, thereby providing an even greater surface area ...
US Army Chemical Corps Vietnam Veterans Health Study: Preliminary Results

The long-term health consequences of exposure to phenoxyherbicides used in Vietnam has been a great concern to the veterans. In addition to the Air Force Ranch Hand personnel, Army Chemical Corps personnel who served in Vietnam are thought to have had some of the highest herbicide exposures. The Department of Veterans Affairs commenced a study of veterans who served in Vietnam as members of the Army Chemical Corps and a comparison cohort of Army Chemical Corps personnel who served elsewhere. A total of 2872 Vietnam veterans and 2737 non-Vietnam veterans who served in the Army Chemical Corps were identified for inclusion in a telephone health interview survey with a random 20% sample of veterans receiving serum dioxin and other congeners assessments. In a feasibility study which included 284 Vietnam veterans and 281 non-Vietnam veterans, 100 serum assessments were conducted of which 95 were included in the analysis. Vietnam veterans with a history of spraying herbicides were found to have a statistically significant elevation in their current serum 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations compared to non-Vietnam veterans without a spray history (P = 0.05). Other 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxins levels were comparable to the levels found in the non-Vietnam veterans. This feasibility study demonstrated that serum dioxin concentrations from a sample of the study participants can be used to identify exposure variables in the health survey that can serve as a surrogate measure of phenoxyherbicide exposure.
Conjugated linoleic acid fails to worsen insulin resistance but induces hepatic steatosis in the presence of leptin in ob/ob mice.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) induces insulin resistance preceded by rapid depletion of the adipokines leptin and adiponectin, increased inflammation, and hepatic steatosis in mice. To determine the role of leptin in CLA-mediated insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis, recombinant leptin was coadministered with dietary CLA in ob/ob mice to control leptin levels and to, in effect, negate the leptin depletion effect of CLA. In a 2 × 2 factorial design, 6 week old male ob/ob mice were fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with CLA and received daily intraperitoneal injections of either leptin or vehicle for 4 weeks. In the absence of leptin, CLA significantly depleted adiponectin and induced insulin resistance, but it did not increase hepatic triglyceride concentrations or adipose inflammation, marked by interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression. Insulin resistance, however, was accompanied by increased macrophage infiltration (F4/80 mRNA) in adipose tissue. In the presence of leptin, CLA depleted adiponectin but did not induce insulin resistance or macrophage infiltration. Despite this, CLA induced hepatic steatosis. In summary, CLA worsened insulin resistance without evidence of inflammation or hepatic steatosis in mice after 4 weeks. In the presence of leptin, CLA failed to worsen insulin resistance but induced hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice.
NONLINEAR DYNAMICS OF LABORATORY COMBUSTOR PRESSURE OSCILLATIONS

The mechanisms responsible for driving and damping of pressure oscillations in a laboratory combustor have been investigated. The chamber contains a turbulent methane/hydrogen/air premixed flame stabilized behind a rearward-facing step. Shadowgraph cinematography reveals the shedding of large vortices from the step at frequencies of the system acoustic modes. Variations in the fuel equivalence ratio and the mean flow speed result in a wide variety of nonlinear dynamical behavior. Typically, large cycle-to-cycle variations are observed such that energy may be added or subtracted over one cycle of oscillation but zero net energy change occurs many cycles of oscillation. A quantitative version of Rayleigh's Criterion is constructed by using the cross-spectral-density of the measured flame radiation and pressure. The results under one set of operating conditions show that large driving near the flameholder is balanced by equally large damping further downstream. A second set of conditions results in large energy addition to an acoustic mode balanced by attenuation at the mode subharmonic.
Validation of an agent-based model of aircraft carrier flight deck operations

In this paper we discuss the validation of an agent-based model of aircraft carrier flight deck operations. This model is designed to explore the effects of introducing new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related safety protocols into flight deck operations. Validating the system has been challenging, as there is little published information on flight deck operations. Data was assembled from a variety of sources, with the validation process focusing on the simulation's ability to replicate real-world data and that its response to changes in input parameters aligned with observed data and subject matter expert expectations. This poster presents the results of this validation process and discusses features of the simulation that will be added in the future.
Hyperactivation of the cognitive control network in cocaine use disorders during a multisensory Stroop task.

Background It has been suggested that individuals with cocaine use disorders (chronic cocaine abusers, CCA) have impairments in cognitive control, which likely contribute to impairments in decision making around drug use and relapse. However, deficits in cognitive control have currently only been studied under conditions of unisensory stimulation, which may not be reflective of more realistic multisensory drug cues.
Tunability and synthetic lineshapes in high-Q optical whispering gallery modes

We demonstrate novel techniques to manipulate spectral properties of high quality factor (Q>107) whispering-gallery modes (WGM) in optical dielectric microresonators. These include permanent frequency trimming of WGM frequencies by means of UV photosensitivity of germanium doped silica resonators electro-optical tuning of WGM in lithium niobate resonators, and cascading of microresonators for obtaining second-order filtering function. We present theoretical interpretation of experimental results, and application example of techniques for photonic microwave filtering.
Of Stockfish and Stew: Feasting and Fasting in the Book of Margery Kempes

(2002). Of Stockfish and Stew: Feasting and Fasting in the Book of Margery Kempes. Food and Foodways: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 171-182.
Molecular Architecture of the Glucose 1-Phosphate Site in ADP-glucose Pyrophosphorylases

ADP-Glc pyrophosphorylase (PPase), a key regulatory enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of starch and bacterial glycogen, catalyzes the synthesis of ADP-Glc from Glc-1-P and ATP. A homology model of the three-dimensional structure of the Escherichia coli enzyme complexed with ADP-Glc has been generated to study the substrate-binding site in detail. A set of amino acids in the model has been identified to be in close proximity to the glucose moiety of the ADP-Glc ligand. The role of these amino acids (Glu194, Ser212, Tyr216, Asp239, Phe240, Trp274, and Asp276) was studied by site-directed mutagenesis through the characterization of the kinetic properties and thermal stability of the designed mutants. All purified alanine mutants had 1 or 2 orders of magnitude lower apparent affinity for Glc-1-P compared with the wild type, indicating that the selected set of amino acids plays an important role in their interaction with the substrate. These amino acids, which are conserved within the ADP-Glc PPase family, were replaced with other residues to investigate the effect of size, hydrophobicity, polarity, aromaticity, or charge on the affinity for Glc-1-P. In this study, the architecture of the Glc-1-P-binding site is characterized. The model overlaps with the Glc-1-P site of other PPases such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa dTDP-Glc PPase and Salmonella typhi CDP-Glc PPase. Therefore, the data reported here may have implications for other members of the nucleotide-diphosphoglucose PPase family.
The whistle‐blowing zone: applying Barnard's insights to a modern ethical dilemma

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to apply Chester Barnard's ideas about authority in organizations to the modern phenomenon of “whistle‐blowing” and highlight insights that can advance contemporary theory in business ethics. The paper coins a new term “the whistle‐blowing zone,” and uses it as a way to capitalize on Barnard's insights and to offer a conceptual framework that can help business ethics scholars explain the phenomenon.Design/methodology/approach – By comparing and contrasting Barnard's ideas with contemporary research, the authors argue that he provides a number of insights that can advance modern business ethical theory and research. Implications about the origin and mechanism of whistle‐blowing are discussed.Findings – First, it is found that Barnard's theory of authority, specifically the notion of a “zone of indifference” is applicable to the modern phenomenon of whistle‐blowing. Second, the paper coins a new term “the whistle‐blowing zone,” to explain why and how whistle‐blowing oc...
Screening for Parathyroid Hormone Resistance In Patients With Nonphenotypically Evident Pseudohypoparathyroidism

Objective: Hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in the setting of elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) and normal vitamin D metabolites, raises the possibility of PTH resistance. The idiopathic and inherited forms of PTH resistance are referred to as pseudohypoparathyroidism. Nonphenotypically evident pseudohypoparathyroidism can go undiagnosed for decades. We have designed a new test to diagnose PTH resistance and confirmed its clinical utility in the diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism.Methods: Our test consists of a subcutaneous injection of commercially available recombinant PTH and concomitant measurement of cyclic adenosine monophosphate in urine. We implemented the test in 2 patients with recalcitrant hypocalcemia and a healthy control subject.Results: Our test unequivocally demonstrated PTH resistance in both patients. One of the patients had phenotypically evident pseudohypoparathyroidism type-1a hence, PTH resistance was suspected. The other patient with nonphenotypically evident disease, also sho...
Effects of oral dipyridamole on coronary dynamics and myocardial metabolism at rest and during pacing-induced angina in patients with coronary artery disease

The effects of oral dipyridamole administration (150 mg) on coronary hemodynamics, myocardial metabolism, and pacing threshold were studied in 10 patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Following dipyridamole through 120 minutes, there was no significant change in resting heart rate, arterial pressure, coronary venous flow, coronary resistance, myocardial lactate extraction, or myocardial oxygen consumption. Rapid atrial pacing performed before and at 60, 90, and 120 minutes after dipyridamole failed to demonstrate any significant reduction in pacing threshold or evidence of increased ischemia after dipyridamole. Blood dipyridamole levels showed variable and slow absorption which probably explains the difference between intravenous and oral dipyridamole on coronary dynamics and myocardial response to pacing.
Intermediate Coronary Care: Observations on the Validity of the Concept

Recognition of significant mortality among hospitalized patients with myocardial infarction after dismissal from the coronary care unit (CCU) has led to the introduction of the intermediate coronary care unit (ICCU). It had been hoped that protracted monitoring during the convalescent phase of acute myocardial infarction might prevent sudden death, as in the CCU. Study of patterns of survival among 1,361 patients with acute myocardial infarction included 814 patients treated prior to the establishment of an ICCU and 557 managed in such a unit Analysis of the two groups (including such high-risk factors as congestive heart failure, tachyarrhythmias, previous infarction, cardiac enlargement, and other unfavorable manifestations) failed to reveal a reduction in mortality after introduction of the ICCU. Thus, the value of the ICCU cannot be demonstrated in terms of mortality. Other benefits of the ICCU are projected, which include more sophisticated evaluation of the patient prior to discharge from the hospital and expanded opportunities for education of patients. A definite role of the ICCU in the total management of the patient with coronary arterial disease is postulated.
Microstructure and 90° domain assemblages of Pb(Zr, Ti)O3//RuO2 capacitors as a function of Zr-to-Ti stoichiometry

Planar microstructure, 90° domain configurations, and cross-sectional perovskite grain morphology were characterized for a series of Pb(Zr, Ti)O3//RuO2 thin film capacitors. Perovskite grain size increased substantially with increasing Zr concentration of the Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 (PZT) films, being on the order of 0.15 μm for PZT 20/80 films and 2.5 μm for PZT 50/50 films. While PZT 20/80 and PZT 30/70 films were single phase perovskite, the PZT 40/60 and 50/50 films contained a second phase with fluorite structure. The second phase matrix consisted of two nanophases, one having fluorite structure while the other was amorphous. Both the amorphous nanophase and the fluorite nanophase were Pb deficient compared to the perovskite phase. Differences in cross-sectional perovskite grain morphology were substantial for these materials, with the PZT 40/60 film being almost entirely columnar and the PZT 20/80 film exhibiting almost entirely granular morphology. Differences in 90° domain wall density were essentially negligible among the films, suggesting that if 90° domains were responsible for the differences in electrical properties, it is not due to 90° domain population.
Promoting directional axon growth from neural progenitors grafted into the injured spinal cord.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition characterized by disruption of axonal connections, failure of axonal regeneration, and loss of motor and sensory function. The therapeutic promise of neural stem cells has been focused on cell replacement but many obstacles remain in getting neuronal integration following transplantation into the injured CNS. In this study we investigated the neurotransmitter identity and axonal growth potential of neural progenitors following grafting into adult rats with a dorsal column lesion. We found that using a combination of neuronal and glial restricted progenitors (NRP and GRP) produced graft-derived glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons within the injury site with minimal axonal extension. Administration of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with the graft promoted modest axonal growth from grafted cells. In contrast, injecting a lentiviral vector expressing BDNF rostral to the injury generated a neurotrophin gradient and promoted directional growth of axons for up to 9 mm. Analysis of animals injected with BDNF lentivirus (at 2.5 and 5.0 mm) showed significantly more axons and significantly longer axons than in control animals injected with GFP lentivirus. However, only the 5.0 mm BDNF group showed preference for extension in the rostral direction. We concluded that NRP/GRP grafts can be used to produce excitatory and inhibitory neurons while neurotrophin gradients can guide axonal growth from graft-derived neurons toward putative targets. Together, they can serve as a building block for neuronal cell replacement of local circuits and formation of neuronal relays.