cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intralobar sequestration in the middle-aged and elderly adult: recognition and radiographic evaluation.

Intralobar sequestration is a rare cause of recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, or hemoptysis that is often misdiagnosed both because of a lack of recognition of radiologic findings and a low expectation of the disease, particularly in middle-aged and elderly adults. Definitive therapy is surgical, and preoperative delineation of anatomy is essential. We present 2 cases from our institution that were atypical in presentation and used different radiographic imaging modalities. A review of the literature pertaining to presentations in older adults and radiographic delineation of these lesions follows.
Protective immunity against Newcastle disease: The role of cell-mediated immunity

SUMMARY. The role of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in protection of birds from Newcastle disease was investigated by two different strategies in which only Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-specific CMI was conveyed without neutralizing antibodies. In the first strategy, selected 3-wk-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) birds were vaccinated with either live NDV (LNDV), ultraviolet-inactivated NDV (UVNDV), sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated NDV (SDSNDV), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (negative control) by the subcutaneous route. Birds were booster vaccinated 2 wk later and challenged with the velogenic Texas GB strain of NDV 1 wk after booster. All vaccinated birds had specific CMI responses to NDV as measured by a blastogenesis microassay. NDV neutralizing (VN) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody responses were detected in birds vaccinated with LNDV and UVNDV. However, birds vaccinated with SDSNDV developed antibodies that were detected by western blot analysis but not by the VN or HI test. Protection from challenge was observed only in those birds that had VN or HI antibody response. That is, birds with demonstrable CMI and VN or HI antibody response were protected, whereas birds with demonstrable CMI but no VN or HI antibody response were not protected. In the second strategy, birds from SPF embryos were treated in ovo with cyclophosphamide (CY) to deplete immune cells. The birds were monitored and, at 2 wk of age, were selected for the presence of T-cell activity and the absence of B-cell activity. Birds that had a significant T-cell response, but not a B-cell response, were vaccinated with either LNDV, UVNDV, or PBS at 3 wk of age along with the corresponding CY-untreated control birds. The birds were booster vaccinated at 5 wk of age and were challenged with Texas GB strain of NDV at 6 wk of age. All birds vaccinated with LNDV or UVNDV had a specific CMI response to NDV, VN or HI NDV antibodies were detected in all CY-nontreated vaccinated birds and some of the CY-treated vaccinated birds that were found to have regenerated their B-cell function at 1 wk postbooster. The challenge results clearly revealed that CY-treated birds that had NDV-specific CMI and VN or HI antibody responses to LNDV or UVNDV were protected, as were the CY-nontreated vaccinated birds. However, birds that had NDV-specific CMI response but did not have VN or HI antibodies were not protected from challenge. The results from both strategies indicate that specific CMI to NDV by itself is not protective against virulent NDV challenge. The presence of VN or HI antibodies is necessary in providing protection from Newcastle disease.
Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 21

This evaluation of A = 21 has been updated from previous evaluations published in 2004Fi10, 1998En04, 1990En08, and 1978En02. Coverage includes properties of adopted levels and γ-rays, decay-scheme data (energies, intensities and placement of radiations), and cross reference entries. The following tables continue the tradition of showing the systematic relationships between levels in A = 21. Much of the new data in this evaluations were taken directly from the xundl database, compiled under the direction of Balraj Singh, McMaster University. The evaluator is particularly appreciative of the efforts of the xundl compilers.
SOME NEW PENTACOORDINATED COPPER (II) COMPLEXES

Abstract Various pentacoordinated complexes of the general class M(bidentate) (tridentate) have been reported recently, using a simple but little-used strategy for the synthesis of pentacoordinated complexes. 1–5 While nickel (11) and cobalt(I1) readily form complexes of the type MAB by the sual 3,4 reactions, copper(I1) fails to react in an analogous fashion.' We wish to report the synthesis and the probable structure of two CuAB complexes.
The roles of homonuclear line narrowing and the1H amide chemical shift tensor in structure determination of proteins by solid-state NMR spectroscopy

The seminal contributions of Ulrich Haeberlen to homonuclear line narrowing and the determination of1H chemical shift tensors are crucial for protein structure determination by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The1H chemical shift is particularly important in spectra obtained on oriented samples of membrane proteins as a mechanism for providing dispersion among resonances that are not resolved with the1H-15N dipolar coupling and15N chemical shift frequencies. This is demonstrated with three-dimensional experiments on uniformly15N-labeled samples of Magainin antibiotic peptide and the protein Vpu from HIV-1 in oriented lipid bilayers. These experiments enable resonances in two-dimensional1H-15N dipolar coupling/15N chemical shift planes separated by1H chemical shift frequencies to be resolved and analyzed. These three-dimensional spectra are compared to one-dimensional spectra of full-length Vpu, the cytoplasmic domain of Vpu, and Magainin, as well as to two-dimensional spectra of fd coat protein and Colicin El polypeptide. The1H amide chemical shift tensor provides valuable structural information, and this is demonstrated with its contributions to orientational restrictions to one of the in-plane helical residues of Magainin.
Impediments to the Estimation of Teacher Value Added

Abstract This article considers potential impediments to the estimation of teacher quality caused primarily by the purposeful behavior of families, administrators, and teachers. The discussion highlights the benefits of accounting for student and school differences through a value-added modeling approach that incorporates a student's history of family, school, and community influences. Unfortunately, the value-added framework does not address all potential impediments to the consistent estimation of teacher quality of instruction, even when focused solely on within-school differences. Of particular importance is the nonrandom assignment of students to classrooms on the basis of unobservable characteristics and parental and school responses to teacher quality. Evidence from studies that take extensive measures to mitigate the influence of purposeful classroom assignment nonetheless supports the existence of substantial within-school variation in the quality of instruction.
Peripheral desmoplastic ameloblastoma: report of a case and literature review

The desmoplastic variant of ameloblastoma is a rare, locally invasive, benign tumor of the jaws, typically found in the anterior regions of the maxilla and mandible. This ameloblastoma variant has been described as an intraosseous tumor; to our knowledge, there have been no published cases of a peripheral desmoplastic ameloblastoma. The purpose of this case report is to describe a patient with a desmoplastic ameloblastoma localized to the soft tissue of the palate with no osseous involvement.
Metrology for Comparison of Displacements at the Picometer Level

An apparatus capable of comparing displacements with picometer accuracy is currently being designed at NIST. In principle, we wish to compare one displacement in vacuum to a second, equal displacement in gas, in order to determine gas refractive index. If the gas is helium, the refractive index is expected to be amenable to high-accuracy ab initio calculations relating refractive index to gas density or to the ratio of pressure and temperature (P/T); the measured refractive index can then be used to infer (P/T) with an accuracy goal of about 1×10-6 (relative standard uncertainty). If either the pressure or temperature is known, the refractive index measurement will allow us to determine the second quantity. Our goal is to achieve an uncertainty limited primarily by the uncertainty of the Boltzmann constant (before redefinition of SI units, which will give the Boltzmann constant a defined value). The technique is an optical analog of dielectric constant gas thermometry and can be used in a similar manner. The dimensional metrology is uniquely challenging, requiring picometer-level uncertainty in the comparison of the displacements.
The Priesthood of Genius: A Study of the Medieval Tradition

The difficulty with Gower's Genius is his dual role as instructor of both love and virtue. How can Genius be a servant of Venus, and yet repudiate her in his role as orthodox priest? After a review of the criticism (highlighting studies by Knowlton, Lewis, Economou, and Schueler) Baker suggests the need for renewed study of Genius' allegorical meaning. Baker argues that Gower's Genius is "a complex and sophisticated assimilation of his two precursors in the literary tradition" (291) – namely Jean de Meun and Alain de Lille. In Alain de Lille, Genius does not simply embody the procreative (or, more broadly, generative) function, but is also a tutelary spirit who acts as a moral guide to mankind. This moral role (which Baker traces back to Bernardus Silvestris, Apuleius, and Martianus Capella), is subverted by Jean de Meun: "divorced from Raison, Natura and Genius become servants of Venus scelestis" (285). It is Gower, then, who seeks to reconcile the "dual priesthood" (286) of his sources. As "a priest of Venus, Gower's character is similar to Jean's; he is Genius as natural concupiscence, the amoral law of kinde" (287). But Gower's Genius also embodies reason, and Baker shows that the frequent distinction between "kinde" and "reson" in the CA mirrors Genius' dual role. In Book 3, for instance, we gradually see Genius assume his role as priest of reason and demonstrate the limitations of natural lust. For instance, in the tale of "Pyramus and Thisbe," Genius has Thisbe denounce the blindness of love. While early on, in the story of "Canace and Machaire," Genius may be "curiously sympathetic" (288) to the incest that comes about through "kinde," by the time of the story of "Orestes" Genius is willing to reverse his earlier position. Since Climestre's sin of homicide is incited by lust, Genius "teaches Amans that obeying the law of kinde can, paradoxically, lead to unkinde acts; through this tale the priest reveals the inadequacy of the natural law as a moral guide" (290). Gower thus "uses the dual priesthood of Genius to correct the unorthodox position enunciated by the false priest in Jean de Meun's poem and to restore to this figure the moral authority exercised by Alain's true priest" (290). Gower does not condemn all forms of love, for sexuality can be subject to reason. However, at a "psychomachic" (291) level, where the figure of Genius can be seen to represent some aspect of Amans' psychology, Genius is Amans' inner voice of reason, and not of love. [CvD]
RNA synthesis and coding capacity of polyadenylated and nonpolyadenylated mRNA from cultures of differentiating Drosophila melanogaster myoblasts.

Abstract We have investigated the synthesis and coding capacity of RNA isolated from cultures of differentiating Drosophila embryonic muscle cells. We find that following muscle cell fusion, the sedimentation profile of newly synthesized polyadenylated RNA becomes somewhat lighter. In vitro translation products analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicate that the coding capacity of translatable myogenic mRNA changes during differentiation. A group of several muscle-specific proteins (including the contractile proteins) is translated only from mRNA isolated after the initiation of fusion. This pattern coincides with proteins synthesized in vivo during differentiation. Additionally, we find that polyadenylated and nonpolyadenylated myogenic mRNA from a given developmental stage in culture have extremely similar coding potentials.
Modern values and fertility ideals in Brazil and Mexico.

627 men in Brazil in 1960 and 740 men in Mexico in 1963 were interviewed on fertility behavior. The mean number of children was 2.6 among the Brazilians and 3.9 among the Mexicans. Middle class status is a main influence towards small family size in Mexico while metropolitan residence is the main factor in Brazil. There is a larger rural/urban differential in Brazil than in Mexico reflecting a declining urban birth rate and a stationary high rural rate in Brazil. Modern values are useful in predicting ideal family size in both coutries but more so in Mexico. The relaxed style of interpersonal relationships greater confidence in nonfamily ties lesser dependence on relatives and less emphasis on male dominance in Brazil leads to a conjugal family structure similar to the modern mode resulting in the desire for fewer children.
EFFECT OF SELF-CARE ADLs ON SELF-ESTEEM OF INTACT NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

This 26-week repeated measures designed study was conducted on two units of a nursing home in a southern U.S. state. Two nursing approaches were compared on their effectiveness to foster self-care activities of daily living (ADLs) and improve self-esteem in dependent residents who, upon admission, were cognitively and physically intact and able to perform ADLs independently (intact residents). Twenty subjects, 10 on each unit, participated in the study. Each unit was randomly assigned to a nursing condition: a combination of the educative-supportive system of care and behavior modification (Condition 1) and routine nursing care (Condition 2). Inservice training was provided to staff in Condition 1 but not in Condition 2. Following a 2-week baseline period, nursing staff encouraged subjects to do their targeted ADLs independently. When the groups were compared on self-care ADLs and self-esteem at the end of the study, subjects in Condition 1 did significantly more self-care and had significantly higher sel...
Leisure Travel Expenditure Patterns by Family Life Cycle Stages

Abstract This study examines travel expenditure patterns by family life cycle (FLC) stages and identifies characteristics that influence the likelihood and level of travel expenditures in the U.S. The 1999–2000 Consumer Expenditure (CE) survey is used and a two-stage tobit regression analysis is performed. Across the FLC, families maximize their utility through different allocations of resources among leisure travel goods and services as shown by the results of this study. Marrieds without children are more likely to spend on leisure travel than singles, whereas single parents and solitary survivors are less likely to spend on leisure travel than singles. Moreover, Marrieds without children, full nesters II, and empty nesters spend significantly more than singles, whereas solitary survivors spend significantly less on leisure travel. Constraint factors (time and money) and various sociodemographic characteristics are significantly associated with the likelihood of spending on leisure travel and total expe...
Quantitative studies on salivary blood group substances. 3. In identical twins.

With the use of a quantitative automated method, the concentrations of blood group substances A, B, H and Lea have been measured in salivas from 100 pairs of identical twins. Titers of Leb substance were determined manually. When the sample is grouped according to types, highly significant independent interactions of ABO blood types on the concentration of H and Leb activity and of secretor type on Lea activity are shown. It is also brought out in discussion that concentrations of salivary A and B substances are significantly higher in Lewis-negative individuals. However, no influence of ABO type is shown on Lea activity in cell types Le(a+b-) or Le(a-b+). Highly significant allelic interactions are shown to influence the concentrations of A and B substances in A and B types and A subtypes. Thus, a major contribution to good intra-pair correlations in the concentration of blood group activity in related individuals, particularly in identical twins, will be made by their similarity in ABO, secretor and Lewis types. However, when analyses of the twin data are restricted to pairs of the same ABO, secretor and Lewis types, intra-pair correlations for A, B, H, Lea and Leb substance are highly significant in the majority of groupings except in the Lewis-positive nonsecretors. This concordance is shown to be independent of sex, age or environment. It is concluded, therefore, that the concentration of salivary blood group substances A, B, H, Lea and Leb in secretors is under close genetic quantitative regulation. The suggestion is made that a series of quantitative Se alleles could be the source of such control.
Accumulation and Disjunction in Ethnographic Method

The usual relationship between research and organization of field data is one of accumulation; frame of reference affects investigation, and investigation produces a sharpening of the conceptualized problem. Alternatively, disjunction between frame of reference and field of investigation can cause major shifts in theory, rather than accumulative refinement. Village research in Maharashtra, India, entailed two methodological disjunctions in applying Wittfogel's "hydraulic theory" to social organization—1) the observed situation could be better explained by a multiplicity of economic and political factors, and 2) the difference between the administrative "village" and the sociallydefined village virtually imposed upon the research a functionalist outlook. With an emphasis on group solidarity as the defining attribute of "village," the author focused on leadership and interpersonal conflict. The Maharashatrian data supported the functionalist notion that some conflicts foster group solidarity, and this outlo...
Safety Profile of Subjects Treated to Very Low Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels (<30 mg/dl) With Rosuvastatin 20 mg Daily (from JUPITER)

Recent US guidelines expand the indications for high-intensity statin therapy, yet data on the safety of attaining very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are scarce. Among 16,304 participants in the Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) with on-treatment LDL-C levels, we identified 767 who did and 7,387 who did not achieve LDL-C
Global — local processing in children prenatally exposed to alcohol

Abstract Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is associated with a wide variety of cognitive deficits and behavioral problems. Little is known, however, about the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on visuospatial processing. Alcohol-exposed and normal control children were presented with visual hierarchical stimuli consisting of large (global) letters or shapes constructed from the arrangement of numerous smaller (local) letters or shapes. The children were asked first to recall the global-local stimuli and different single-level stimuli from memory and then to copy them. Alcohol-exposed children were impaired in recaliing local features relative to global features. When the alcohol-exposed children attempted to copy the same stimuli, there was also a selective deficit in local but not global reproduction. A control condition indicated that the selective deficit in local processing was not due to a size effect per se. These results suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure does not resuit in a unitary visual-spat...
Stronger, faster… brainier?

Hitting the gym regularly could be the surest way to boost your IQ – whatever your age. Athleticism might even explain the evolution of our species' complex brains says Christie Aschwanden
Tongue–Palate Contact Pressure, Oral Air Pressure, and Acoustics of Clear Speech

Purpose The authors compared articulatory contact pressure (ACP), oral air pressure (Po), and speech acoustics for conversational versus clear speech. They also assessed the relationship of these m...
The effect of international licensing agreements on domestic shareholder wealth

Abstract International licensing enhances shareholder wealth for domestic licensors. Moreover, technology licensors earn greater mean abnormal returns than licensors of other goods and services. Announcement period returns are also inversely related to the fraction of total sales derived from foreign sources. These findings are consistent with the hypotheses that U.S. managers act in shareholders' interests in negotiating licensing contracts and that licensing announcements convey more information about potential investment opportunities abroad for firms with less international exposure. We also find that domestic licensees earn only competitive announcement period returns, but that returns are higher for technology licensees and for licensees with smaller fractions of total sales derived from foreign sources. Thus, both domestic (and by implication foreign) licensors and licensees can benefit from licensing agreements.
Organic and inorganic sulfur constituents of the Sediments in three New York lakes: Effect of site, sediment depth and season

Water and sediment parameters, with emphasis on S constituents, were compared among lakes (Oneida, South, Deer), seasons, sites and sediment depths. The three lakes differed in size, morphometry, productivity and acid neutralizing capacity and none of the lakes had anoxia in the water column. Redox potentials (Eh) were higher for oligotrophic South and mesotrophic Deer than cutrophic Oneida within the sediment. In the water column, the only S constituent measured was sulfate which was higher in nutrient rich Onieda (110 to 490 μmol I−1) than South (30 to 70 μmol I−1) or Deer (10 to 60 μmol −1) Total S in sediment was higher for South than for either Deer or Oneida. For Deer and South sediment, total S was greatest in the 5 to 15 cm layer, and this was likely due to historical changes in anthropogenic inputs through atmospheric deposition. The high S concentration in South sediment can be accounted for by particulate deposition of S through the water column. Organic S constituents constituted major forms of S in the sediments of the three lakes. Non-HI reducible S, of which carbon-bonded S was a dominant constituent, comprised a major portion of total S in Oneida, South and Deer. Ester sulfate was the next largest S constituent in South and Deer. As a percent of total S, sulfide (HCL digestion) and sulfate was higher in Oneida than South or Deer. There was an inverse relationship between sediment Eh and sulfide. Pyritic S was measured on bulk samples and constituted 37, 12, and 6% of total S in Oneida, South and Deer. Both inorganic and organic S forms showed seasonal variation and the transformation and translocation of these forms play an important role in the S dynamics of lakes.
Self-normalization for Spatial Data.

This paper considers inference for both spatial lattice data with possibly irregularly shaped sampling region and non-lattice data, by extending the recently proposed self-normalization (SN) approach from stationary time series to the spatial setup. A nice feature of the SN method is that it avoids the choice of tuning parameters, which are usually required for other non-parametric inference approaches. The extension is non-trivial as spatial data has no natural one-directional time ordering. The SN-based inference is convenient to implement and is shown through simulation studies to provide more accurate coverage compared with the widely used subsampling approach. We also illustrate the idea of SN using a real data example.
Mutations in Tap Uncouple RNA Export Activity from Translocation through the Nuclear Pore Complex

Interactions between transport receptors and phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats on nucleoporins drive the translocation of receptor-cargo complexes through nuclear pores. Tap, a transport receptor that mediates nuclear export of cellular mRNAs, contains a UBA-like and NTF2-like folds that can associate directly with FG repeats. In addition, two nuclear export sequences (NESs) within the NTF2-like region can also interact with nucleoporins. The Tap-RNA complex was shown to bind to three nucleoporins, Nup98, p62, and RanBP2, and these interactions were enhanced by Nxt1. Mutations in the Tap-UBA region abolished interactions with all three nucleoporins, whereas the effect of point mutations within the NTF2-like domain of Tap known to disrupt Nxt1 binding or nucleoporin binding were nucleoporin dependent. A mutation in any of these Tap domains was sufficient to reduce RNA export but was not sufficient to disrupt Tap interaction with the NPC in vivo or its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. However, shuttling activity was reduced or abolished by combined mutations within the UBA and either the Nxt1-binding domain or NESs. These data suggest that Tap requires both the UBA- and NTF2-like domains to mediate the export of RNA cargo, but can move through the pores independently of these domains when free of RNA cargo.
"There is No Black or White": Scientific Community Views on Ethics in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research

From an ethical standpoint, there are questions about the best ways to include adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in research. Scholarship reflects divergent responses to these enduring questions and values that can be at odds with one another. To deepen our understanding of beliefs in the scientific community about how to conduct ethically strong research with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we examined the views of researchers who conduct this research and ethics review board members on ethical principles and practices. We conducted four focus groups with 17 researchers and ethics review board members. We asked participants to discuss how to ethically conduct research, relevant factors to consider, appropriate ways to address ethical concerns, and the role of ethical and civil rights principles. Findings indicate support for the use of ethical principles and newer models of disability to promote inclusion in research, a focus on researchers' interpersonal skills and relationships to participants, questions about the best approaches to recruitment, consent, and compensation, and strategies to promote participation in research. These findings reflect the socio-ecological model of disability, civil rights-based interpretations of ethical principles, the provision of accommodations as an ethical imperative, the potential benefits of promoting relationships between researchers and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the need for dialogue between researchers and ethics review board members.
Shape recognition elicited by microsecond flashes is not based on photon quantity.

It is generally thought that the perceptual impact of a brief flash of light is determined by the quantity of photons the flash delivers. This means that only the total quantity of photons is important below a critical duration of about 30–100 ms. Recent findings have challenged this concept and the present work provides additional evidence that it is not correct. The first experiment reported here delivered a given quantity of photons in under 200 μs, either as a single threshold-intensity flash or as multiple flashes at the same intensity. The single flash was ineffective at eliciting recognition, but multiple flashes became progressively more effective as the number of flashes was increased. A second experiment varied the number of 10 μs flashes. The effectiveness of multiple flashes was far higher than would be expected on the basis of the total quantity of photons being delivered. The results of both experiments suggest that the brief transitions of intensity provided by the flashes are far more important than the quantity of photons. A final experiment examined the combined impact from two threshold-intensity flashes as the interstimulus interval was increased. The pair members were able to combine their influence for at least 100 ms. These results call for more attention to how very brief light flashes generate signals that convey image content.
Continuous assessment of perfusion by tagging including volume and water extraction (CAPTIVE): A steady-state contrast agent technique for measuring blood flow, relative blood volume fraction, and the water extraction fraction

A new technique, CAPTIVE, that is a synthesis of arterial spin labeling (ASL) blood flow and steady-state susceptibility con trast relative blood volume imaging is described. Using a single injection of a novel, long half-life intravascular magnetopharma-ceutical with a high tissue:blood susceptibility difference (Δ χ) to ΔR1 ratio, changes in tissue transverse relaxivity (ΔR2 or ΔR2*) that arise from changes in blood volume were measured, while preserving the ability to measure blood flow using traditional T1 -based ASL techniques. This modification permits the contin uous measurement of both blood flow and blood volume. Also, because the contrast agent can be used to remove the signal from intravascular spins, it is possible to measure the first-pass water extraction fraction. Contrast-to-noise is easily traded off with repetition rate, allowing the use of non-EPI scanners and more flexible imaging paradigms. The basic theory of these measurements, several experimental scenarios, and validating results are presented. Specifically, the PaCO2-reactivity of mi-crovascular and total relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), ce rebral blood flow (CBF), and the water extraction-flow product (EF) in rats with the new contrast agent MPEG-PL-DyDTPA is measured, and the values are concordant with those of previous literature. As an example of one possible application, continuous flow and volume measurements during transient focal ischemia are presented. It is believed that CAPTIVE imaging will yield a more complete picture of the hemodynamic state of an organ, and has further application for understanding the origins of the BOLD effect.
‘Epipen’ training: a survey of the provision for parents and teachers in West Lothian

Objectives To examine the training given to parents and teachers caring for children in West Lothian with an EpiPen®. Design Questionnaires relating to training in EpiPen® use and provision for an anaphylactic emergency were sent to the children’s parents and another questionnaire to the head teachers of the school they were attending. Subjects All 44 children of school age in West Lothian identified as having been prescribed an EpiPen® were included in the study. Eighty percent of parents and 84% of head teachers responded. Results Of the parents who responded, 23% had received no training in the use of EpiPen®. Of those parents who had received training, only 11% had been offered a training review. Forty-two percent of the schools surveyed had no named person responsible for the care of the child with the EpiPen®. Only 62% of schools had a member of staff who had received EpiPen® training, and only 35% of schools had a health care plan for the allergic pupil. Both parents and head teachers expressed concerns about the lack of information received. Conclusions Parents and school staff caring for children in West Lothian with an EpiPen® do not receive adequate training in how to use the device in an emergency. The authors suggest changes to clinical practice aimed at improving the training provided and make specific recommendations relevant to West Lothian.
High aspect ratio microelectromechanical systems: A versatile approach using carbon nanotubes as a framework

We recently developed a fabrication process for carbon nanotube templated MEMS. The fabrication process involves growing a three dimensional pattern from carbon nanotube forests and filling that forest by chemical vapor infiltration to make a solid structure. This templating process allows us to fabricate extremely high aspect ratio microscale structures from a wide variety of materials. The nanotube structures can be hundreds of microns tall with lateral pattern dimensions down to a few microns. The chemical vapor infiltration has been shown with silicon and silicon nitride but could be extended to many other materials. In this paper, we investigate the microstructure of the filling material and extend the process to the fabrication of comb actuators.
Message delay and queue-size analysis for circuit-switched TDMA systems

A multiple-access communications channel which is shared among network stations using a circuit-switched time-division multiple-access (CS-TDMA) scheme is examined. Each station is allocated a fixed number of slots (N) during each frame. The authors carry out queue-size message delay analysis for CS-TDMA systems. They derive the generating function of the queue size and of the waiting time distribution for a discrete-time Geom/sup (x)//Geom/N queuing system. This result is used to obtain the generating function of the system size for the CS-TDMA scheme. The associated computation requires the solution of (N+1)2/sup N/ linear equations. To derive a more computationally effective procedure, tight lower and upper bounds are obtained, requiring the solution of at most 3N linear equations. The authors prove that a slot allocation scheme which distributes station slots uniformly over the frame yields a message delay lower bound. The application of the results to the analysis of demand-assigned CS-TDMA systems is also discussed. >
Combined effects of virus, pesticide, and predator cue on the larval tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum).

Emerging diseases and environmental contamination are two of the leading hypotheses for global amphibian declines. Yet few studies have examined the influence of contaminants on disease susceptibility, and even fewer have incorporated the role of natural stressors such as predation. We performed a factorial study investigating the interaction of the insecticide carbaryl, dragonfly predator cue, and the emerging pathogen Ambystoma tigrinum virus (ATV) on fitness correlates and disease susceptibility in tiger salamander larvae. Four week old larvae were exposed for 22 days in a 2 (0, 500 μg/l carbaryl) × 2 (control, predator cue water) × 2 (0, 1 × 104 pfu ATV) factorial designed laboratory study. Results show significant impacts to survival of larvae for both virus and predator cue treatments, as well as an interactive effect between the two, in which predator cue strongly exacerbated disease-driven mortality. There was a clear pattern of reduced survival with the addition of stressors, with those where all three stressors were present exhibiting the worst effects (a decrease in survival from 93 to 60%). On those that survived, we also detected several sub-lethal impacts in mass, SVL, and development. Predator cue and pesticide treatments significantly reduced both SVL and mass. Virus and predator treatments significantly slowed development. Stressors also exhibited opposing effects on activity. Predator cue caused a significant reduction in activity, whereas virus caused a significant increase in activity over time. These results highlight the importance of examining combined natural and introduced stressors to understand potential impacts on amphibian species. Such stressors may contribute to the emergence of ATV in particular regions, raising concerns about the influence of pesticides on disease emergence in general.
Kinetics of the Homopolymerization of Vinylidene Fluoride and Its Copolymerization with Hexafluoropropylene in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide: The Locus of Polymerization

In previous studies, the continuous polymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VF2) and mixtures of VF2 with hexafluoropropylene (HFP) was carried out in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) using a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). Most of the polymerizations were heterogeneous; i.e., polymer particles precipitated during the reaction. However, some were homogeneous, especially at higher HFP concentrations. In this study, the data from the earlier experiments have been tested against three kinetic models to determine the primary locus of the heterogeneous polymerizations. The first model, the “solution polymerization” model, is based on the assumption that all of the polymerization reactions take place in the continuous, CO2-rich phase, with no reaction in the polymer phase. In the second model, the “surface polymerization” model, chain initiation occurs in the continuous phase, while chain propagation and termination occur in a thin zone on the surface of the polymer particles. The third model, the “i...
Philosophical Sources of Nursin Theory

This article analyzes the philosophical roots of four contemporary nursing theories, Rogers' science of unitary human beings, Newman's theory of expanding consciousness, Watson's theory of caring, and Parse's theory of man-living-health. It is shown that these theories share many common philosophical views, but also maintain some significant differences. With the purpose of contributing to the development of a single metaparadigm for nursing, the following commonly shared themes are identified as forming an appropriate philosophical foundation for the discipline: process, evolution of consciousness, self-transcendence, open systems, harmony, relativity of space-time, pattern, and holism. Views of causality show some divergence between Watson and the other three theorists. Also of particular interest is the finding that Eastern philoso phy has provided an important influence, both direct and indirect, on nursing theory. It is recommended that further philosophical exploration of Indian and Chinese world vi...
The effects of carbon-in-ash on mercury capture from flue gas

Mercury, although only a trace element in coal, is an important pollutant because coal burning is increasing around the world for manufacturing and energy production. In addition, coal-fired plants are the largest anthropogenic source of mercury emission to the environment. Mercury capture mostly occurs under heterogeneous conditions between sorbent particles and gaseous mercury, and this study is mainly devoted to understanding the role of carbon-in-ash on mercury capture from flue gas. Coal flyash samples are characterized by loss-on-ignition (LOI) carbon content, surface area (BET) tests, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphology. Flyash sorbents are injected using an in-flight configuration and then mercury concentration is measured by Hg continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS). The unburned carbon in ash is found to be one main factor for capturing mercury. In addition, mercury capture increases when flyash samples have more surface area. Carbon in ash is also positively correlated with surface area within coal rank. This suggests that unburned carbon plays a formative or structural role in surface area increase on flyash. However, mercury uptake is shown to be relatively low when using flyash from high rank coal such as anthracite because of the small surface area coming from its non-porous structure. Therefore, when flyash is used as a sorbent for mercury capture, quantitative surface area should be compared and coal rank also should be considered. Carbon content in ash as mercury capture sorbents is a good indicator for mercury capture, but its surface area should also be considered for predicting mercury uptake.
Short‐Term Effects of Fire and Other Fuel Reduction Treatments on Breeding Birds in a Southern Appalachian Upland Hardwood Forest

Abstract We compared the effects of 3 fuel reduction techniques and a control on breeding birds during 2001–2005 using 50-m point counts. Four experimental units, each >14 ha, were contained within each of 3 replicate blocks at the Green River Game Land, Polk County, North Carolina, USA. Treatments were 1) prescribed burn, 2) mechanical understory reduction (chainsaw-felling of shrubs and small trees), 3) mechanical + burn, and 4) controls. We conducted mechanical treatments in winter 2001–2002 and prescribed burns in spring 2003. Tall shrub cover was substantially reduced in all treatments compared to controls. Tree mortality and canopy openness was highest in the mechanical + burn treatment after burning, likely due to higher fuel loading and hotter burns; tree mortality increased with time. Many bird species did not detectably decrease or increase in response to treatments. Species richness, total bird density, and some species, including indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea) and eastern bluebirds (Sialia...
Prevention of Work-Related Disability

Abstract Introduction: The cost of work-related injury is large and is rising in many states. Managed care providers are being asked to assist with solutions, particularly in the area of facilitating return to work. Kaiser Permanente of the Northwest responded by developing the Kaiser on-the-job program, which includes processes to facilitate the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of work-related disability. Methods: This paper describes the role that managed care can play in the prevention of work-related disability through consultation, training, immunization programs, and targeted screening and case management interventions. A quality and case management system is described, which gives physicians feedback on modified work and time-off authorization by diagnosis. Results: The results demonstrate statistically significant decreasing physician-authorized average time loss for low back cases from 1991 through 1995 (17.8 disability days per case in 1991 and 15 per case in 1995, P = .01). According to Oregon State Accident Insurance Fund (SAIF Corporation) data, the Kaiser on-the-job average total claims cost was reduced 33% for disabling cases as compared to two other health care organizations (P = .002). Conclusion: The methods utilized here to prevent work-related disability appear effective. They are relevant to many managed care program models and their efforts to improve workplace health and productivity.
Self-Silencing, Emotional Awareness, and Eating Behaviors in College Women

Self-silencing (or the suppression of expressing one’s thoughts, feelings, and needs) can have a negative impact on the mental health of women, from depression to disordered eating behaviors. The a...
Design limitations in deep sub-0.1μm CMOS SRAM

Leakage effects in deep sub-0.1μm CMOS technologies are of critical concern to designers of high-performance integrated circuits. Recent estimates [1] of a 7.5x increase in leakage current per chip generation; along with several proposals for energy-efficient cache architectures that unfortunately do not address static leakage-energy issues [2], [3], [4], have heightened concerns over the functionality and stability of future high-performance SRAM cache designs. Each of these future technology generations, in addition to having increased short-channel effects (SCEs) will now also suffer from gate leakage currents across physically and electrically thin (1.5nm) SiO2 gate dielectrics. In this paper we demonstrate the limits of this scaling on the operational behavior of on-chip SRAM cache designs, and briefly discuss the impact of these results on high-performance memory architectures.
Pseudoscalar-Meson-Nucleon Scattering and Regge Cuts

A simultaneous fit to the data on the four charge-exchange reactions ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}n$, ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\overline{K}}^{0}n$, ${K}^{+}n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{0}p$, and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\eta}n$ is made, using a Regge-pole model modified by the inclusion of the lowest-order Regge cuts produced, by means of the impact-parameter representation.
A HIGH-ORDER SPECTRAL (FINITE) VOLUME METHOD FOR CONSERVATION LAWS ON UNSTRUCTURED GRIDS

A time accurate, high-order, conservative, finite volume method named Spectral Volume (SV) method has been developed for conservation laws on unstructured grids. The concept of a "spectral volume" is introduced to achieve high-order accuracy in an efficient manner similar to spectral element and multi-domain spectral methods. Each spectral volume is partitioned into control volumes (CVs), and cell-averaged data from these control volumes is used to reconstruct a high-order polynomial approximation in the spectral volume. Riemann solvers are used to compute the fluxes at spectral volume boundaries. Then cell-averaged state variables in the control volumes are updated independently. Furthermore, TVD (Total Variation Diminishing) and TVB (Total Variation Bounded) limiters are introduced in the SV method to remove spurious oscillations near discontinuities. A very desirable feature of the SV method is that the reconstruction is identical for cells of the same type with similar partitions, and that the reconstruction stencil is always non-singular, in contrast to the memory and CPU-intensive reconstruction in a high-order k-exact finite volume (FV) method. The high-order accuracy of the SV method is demonstrated for several model problems with and without discontinuities.
Variation in brook and brown trout survival within and among seasons, species, and age classes

The Program MARK was used to generate and test a plausible set of survival models for brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and brown trout Salmo trutta to determine whether survival differed by season, species or age class. Apparent survival varied with time and age, but not by species. For the older (1999) age class, survival was lowest during the autumn of their age 1+ year whereas survival was lowest for the younger (2000) age class during the early summer of their age 1+ year. Additionally, estimates of survival for the younger age class exceeded those of the older age class in all but one interval (early summer 2001) but significant differences were observed in only one of these intervals (autumn 2000). To determine whether the observed seasonal differences in survival were related to seasonal differences in movement rates, multi-strata spatial models were used within Program MARK to determine the probability of moving for each interval. In-site movement rates were found to be low regardless of season (average for all cohorts combined was 5%). The ability of the multi-strata modelling approach to detect temporal variability in movement, however, was potentially limited by spatial scale of the study reach (c. 1 km). Differences in survival between different aged fishes could lead to selection acting on age at maturity or reproductive effort at a given age.
Linear thermoelastic characterization of anisotropic poly(ethylene terephthalate) films

All nine independent elastic constants have been determined for a biaxially stretched poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film using novel mechanical methods. The orthotropic directions and the in-plane Poisson's ratios were first characterized using vibrational holographic interferometry of tensioned membrane samples. The out-of-plane Poisson's ratio was obtained by measuring the change in tension with the change in pressure for constant strain conditions. Pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) equipment was used to measure the bulk compressibility as well as the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient (TEC). The in-plane Young's moduli were obtained by tensile tests, while the out-of-plane modulus was calculated from the compressibility and other elastic constants that describe the in-plane behavior. The in-plane TECs in the machine and transverse directions were determined using a thermal mechanical analyzer (TMA). The out-of-plane TEC was determined using these values and the volumetric TEC determined via PVT. The resulting compliance matrix satisfies all of the requirements of a positive-definite energy criterion. The procedure of characterization utilized in this article can be applied to any orthotropic film. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2937–2947, 2002