cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heart rate-right ventricular volume relation with myocardial revascularization

Whether increasing pacing frequency in cardiac surgical patients effectively improves right ventricular cardiac index depends on the interrelationships between heart rate, stroke volume index, and end-diastolic volume index. If an inverse relation exists between heart rate and right ventricular volume then the decrease in right ventricular ejection fraction described after bypass may be due, in part, to changes in heart rate. We evaluated the effects of pacing at 80, 95, and 110 beats/min using a thermodilution volumetric catheter in 16 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. End-diastolic volume index, stroke volume index, and stroke work index were significantly greater after bypass than before bypass, whereas right ventricular ejection fraction remained constant. Before and after bypass, sequentially increasing pacing frequency from 80 to 110 beats/min decreased stroke volume index by 28% to 35% (p less than 0.001), end-diastolic volume index by 12% to 14% (p less than 0.001), and right ventricular ejection fraction by 18% to 24% (p less than 0.001). Right ventricular performance, assessed by comparing the stroke volume index to end-diastolic volume index and stroke work index to end-diastolic volume index relations generated during pacing, was not altered by bypass. We conclude that sequentially increasing heart rate from 80 to 110 beats/min fails to improve stroke volume index and consequently cardiac index before or after cardiac operations. Intraoperatively, in patients with normal left ventricular function, increasing pacing frequency decreases right ventricular ejection fraction due to simultaneous reductions in stroke volume index and end-diastolic volume index.
Snowpack albedo and snow density

Abstract Because snow is an aggregation of many small particles, its albedo might be expected to be a function of density and grain size. However, Bohren and Barkstrom assumed that snow grains act independently and predicted theoretically that snow albedo will be independent of density for fixed grain size at low densities. Snow albedo was measured before and immediately after compaction by snowmobile. An analysis of variance for the albedo data showed an average decrease of 1 percentage point in the snowpack albedo (from 74.2% to 73.2%) as a result of compaction, a change which is not significant at the 90% level of confidence. Thus, it appears that snowpack albedo is, at most, weakly dependent upon snow density for constant grain size and densities less than about 0.45 Mg/m3. Reciprocal correlation between albedo and density is probably is probably the result of other changes that occur in the aging process.
Contemporary results of open aortic arch surgery.

Objectives The success of endovascular therapies for descending thoracic aortic disease has turned attention toward stent graft options for repair of aortic arch aneurysms. Defining the role of such techniques demands understanding of contemporary results of open surgery. Methods The outcomes of open arch procedures performed on a single surgical service from July 1, 2001 to August 30, 2010, were examined as defined per The Society of Thoracic Surgeons national database. Results During the study period, 209 patients (median age, 65 years; range, 26-88) underwent arch operations, of which 159 were elective procedures. In 65 the entire arch was replaced, 22 of whom had portions of the descending thoracic aorta simultaneously replaced via bilateral thoracosternotomy. Antegrade cerebral perfusion was used in 78 patients and retrograde cerebral perfusion in 1. Operative mortality was 2.5% in elective circumstances and 10% in emergency cases (P = .04). The stroke rate was 5.0% when procedures were performed electively and 11.8% when on an emergency basis (P = .11). Procedure-specific mortality rates were 5.5% for elective and 10% for emergency procedures with total arch replacement, and 1.0% for elective and 10% for emergency procedures with hemiarch replacement. Stratified by extent, neurologic event rates were 5.5% for elective and 10% for emergency procedures with total arch and 4.8% for elective and 12.5% for emergency procedures with hemiarch replacement. Conclusions Open aortic arch replacement can be performed with low operative mortality and stroke rates, especially in elective circumstances, by a team with particular focus on the procedure. The results of novel endovascular therapies should be benchmarked against contemporary open series performed in such a setting.
An in vitro comparison of new irrigation and agitation techniques to ultrasonic agitation in removing bacteria from a simulated root canal.

Abstract Introduction This in vitro study compared 3 agitation and 2 irrigation devices to ultrasonic agitation at mechanically removing bacteria from a plastic simulated canal, instrumented to 35/.06. Methods The plastic blocks were divided into seven groups. The control (C) group with brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth (sterile) received only needle irrigation. The remaining groups were incubated with BHI inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis . Irrigation and agitation techniques were ultrasonic, needle irrigation, EndoVac irrigation (Smart Endodontics; Discus Dental, Culver City, CA), EndoActivator (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK), F-File (Plastic Endo, Lincolnshire, IL), and sonic. Sterile water was the irrigant in all treatments. Remaining bacteria were stained with 0.1% crystal violet. The crystal violet was extracted using a detergent and measured spectrophotometrically. Results The results of this study show that ultrasonic agitation was not significantly different (p > 0.05, Tukey test) from the control. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05, Tukey test) between the ultrasonic agitation and the use of EndoActivator, F-File, and sonic agitation. Ultrasonic agitation was significantly more effective at removing bacteria than needle irrigation and EndoVac irrigation (p Conclusion In a plastic simulated canal, ultrasonic agitation was significantly more effective than needle irrigation and EndoVac irrigation at removing intracanal bacteria. Ultrasonic, EndoActivator, F-File, and sonic agitation are similar in their ability to remove bacteria in a plastic simulated canal.
River-reef connectivity in the Meso-American Region

The accumulation and seasonal impact of riverine discharge on coral reefs of the Meso-American Region (MAR) were estimated using a numerical simulation of river runoff dispersion. River-reef connectivity, or source-sink dynamics of terrestrial runoff was further assessed from more than 400 watersheds of the region onto discrete coral reef areas. Using land use for 2003 and 2004 in the MAR, this work builds upon a Regional Ocean Modeling System simulation of the MAR validated by ocean color satellite data, and on the monthly river nutrient and sediment load and discharge provided by the World Resources Institute using the N-SPECT model. Analysis of the variability of simulated runoff transport to the reefs showed that reefs of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) were mostly impacted from June to September, following the peak time of river discharge. At that time, the coastal and oceanic circulations contribute quickly to expel the runoff from the MBRS. High runoff concentration waters leaving the eastern coast of Honduras during the months of October to December return to the southwestern MAR in March as they are entrained in a cyclonic gyre. Coral reefs of the MAR are thus impacted twice, first from the coastal side with runoff of local origin and later from the oceanic side with runoff from mixed origin. High probability of connectivity between rivers and remote reefs is established as this study revealed that river runoff from the north shore of Honduras has a wide-spread impact on most of the coral reefs of southern Belize, while watersheds on the Gulf of Honduras are mostly connected to coral reefs in the northern shore of Honduras. Although the level of remote influence (or runoff concentration reaching the reef) is lower than the local, the cumulative effect of numerous remote river-reef connections remains significant.
Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in channel catfish pond and holding tank water

Abstract Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ), pond and holding tank water was investigated. Water from three channel catfish ponds was inoculated with ampicillin/nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli O157:H7 transformed with a plasmid encoding for green fluorescent protein at 10 5 , 10 6 , and 10 7 CFU/ml. Samples were taken from surface, internal organs, and skin scrape of fish and pond water for E. coli O157:H7 enumeration on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar containing ampicillin and nalidixic acid. To determine the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in catfish holding tank water from two farmers markets, the water was inoculated with 10 7 E. coli O157:H7 CFU/ml. E. coli O157:H7 were detected by direct plating for 33 and 69 d in pond and holding tank water, respectively. A rapid decrease of the pathogen was observed in the first 2 weeks to reach 2 log CFU/ml. When E. coli O157:H7 was not recovered by direct plating, the pathogen was isolated by enrichment in TSB for approximately another 30 d from pond and holding tank water. The populations of E. coli O157:H7 found in the internal organs and skin scrape were 5.5 log and 2.5 log CFU/ml, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 from internal organs and water were recovered for at least 12 d. Results suggest that E. coli O157:H7 can survive in channel catfish pond and holding tank water and channel catfish may become a potential carrier of the pathogen.
Absence of Pulmonic Valve Associated with Double-Outlet Right Ventricle

The case of double-outlet right ventricle with absence of the pulmonic valve described illustrates well the problems inherent in the differentiation of this condition from Fallot's tetralogy.
The distribution of the sequence { nξ}( n = 0, 1, 2, …)

Introduction and statement of results. We shall describe how, for successive integers N, the points {nξ}, with n = 0, 1, …,N – 1, are distributed in the closed unit interval U = [0, 1]; by showing how successive points {Nξ,} modify the partition of U produced by the previous points. The simple generalization to the k-dimensional sequence {nξ} = ({nξ(1)},{nξ(2)}, …,{nξ(k)}), in the unit hypercube Uk, is also made.
Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov Calculations of Heavy-Element Fusion and Fission Phenomena

Time-dependent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations in three dimensions are reported for the fusion of two Pd118 isotopes and subsequent fission of the compound nucleus U236. Constant-strength pairing, and simplified Skyrme plus Yukama and Coulomb interactions were included. A new result is the appearance of (nonaxial) surface oscillations in the compound or fissioning systems.
Strength of Religious Faith and Psychological Adjustment in Intercollegiate Athletes

In light of recent research examining the distress buffering properties of religion in intercollegiate athletes' lives, the present study investigated associations among religious faith and depressive symptoms, trait anxiety, and loneliness. Using self-report questionnaires, religious faith was not correlated with depressive symptoms, trait anxiety, and loneliness in 57 intercollegiate athletes.
Lower bounds for zero-dimensional projections

Let I be an ideal generated by polynomials P1, ...Pm, ∈ Z[X1,...,Xn], and β be an isolated prime component of I. If the projection of ZERO(β)⊆Cn onto the first coordinate is a finite set, and ¶=(¶1,...,¶n) ∈ZERO(β) where ¶1 0, then we prove a lower bound on |¶| in terms of n, m and the maximum degree D and maximum height H of the polynomials.
Disentangling the confounding effects of PAR and air temperature on net ecosystem exchange at multiple time scales

Abstract Net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) in temperate forests is modulated by multiple microclimatic factors. The effects of these factors vary across time scales, with some correlated to produce confounding effects. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and air temperature (Ta) are among the two most important drivers of NEE in temperate forests and are highly correlated because of their similar diel and annual cycles. In this study, we attempted to disentangle the confounding effects of them on NEE at multiple time scales. We applied innovative spectral analysis techniques, including the continuous wavelet transformation (CWT), cross wavelet transformation (XWT), wavelet coherent (WTC), and partial wavelet coherence (PWC), on a seven-year time series (2004–2010) of PAR, Ta, and NEE from the Ohio Oak Openings Ameriflux site (N 41.5545°, W 83.8438°), USA. We found that PAR was the primary driver at short time scales (e.g., multi-hour and daily), while Ta dominated NEE at long time scales (e.g., seasonal to annual). At the daily scale, PAR co-varied with NEE without time lag, while Ta lagged PAR for 2–3 h during growing seasons, which could be explained by the strong dependence of NEE on photosynthesis, which has a similar time lag of 2–3 h of Ta to PAR. At the daily scale, during the non-growing seasons, NEE varied little and co-varied with Ta and PAR with no high common power. At the annual scale, Ta co-varied with NEE with no time delay, but PAR led NEE by about one month. This can be explained by the strong dependence of leaf area index (LAI) on Ta as well as the lag between the LAI/biomass development and the progress of sunlight. We also found that NEE distributes most of its variation at seasonal and annual scales, suggesting that Ta is more important than PAR in determining the annual and long-term carbon budget.
Improving yield of PZT piezoelectric devices on glass substrates

The proposed SMART-X telescope includes adaptive optics systems that use piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films deposited on flexible glass substrates. Several processing constraints are imposed by current designs: the crystallization temperature must be kept below 550 °C, the total stress in the film must be minimized, and the yield on 1 cm 2 actuator elements should be < 90%. For this work, RF magnetron sputtering was used to deposit films since chemical solution deposition (CSD) led to warping of large area flexible glass substrates. A PZT 52/48 film that wasdeposited at 4 mTorr and annealed at 550 °C for 24 hours showed no detectable levels of either PbO or pyrochlore second phases. Large area electrodes (1cm x 1 cm) were deposited on 4” glass substrates. Initially, the yield of the devices was low, however, two methods were employed to increase the yield to near 100 %. The first method included a more rigorous cleaning to improve the continuity of the Pt bottom electrode. The second method was to apply 3 V DC across the capacitor structure to burn out regions of defective PZT. The result of this latter method essentially removed conducting filaments in the PZT but left the bulk of the material undamaged. By combining these two methods, the yield on the large area electrodes improved from < 10% to nearly 100%.
Non-linear optical effects in thin organic polymeric films

Abstract In this paper a comprehensive account is presented of research work carried out in the author's laboratory in the areas of design of polymeric thin films, investigation of their ultrastructure and studies of non-linear optical effects. Thin film design and fabrication involve two approaches: electrochemical polymerization and the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Application of laser Raman optical wave-guides, inelastic electron tunneling, picosecond transient gratings and surface plasmon coupling techniques for the study of ultrastructure is discussed. Results are presented from picosecond and subpicosecond degenerate four-wave mixing, time-resolved coherent Raman spectroscopy, surface plasmon non-linear optics and optical bistability behavior at a non-linear interface to ellucidate the nature of third-order non-linear optical effects in thin films of π electron conjugated polymeric systems.
Treatment options in IgA nephropathy

Summary: IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease), the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide, leads to end-stage renal failure in 20–40% of patients after 20 years of clinical disease. No consensus has emerged about treatment to slow or prevent the loss of renal function, and in large part this has been due to a critical lack of understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms. Several approaches that reduce glomerular scarring and inflammation in other renal diseases, including fish oil supplements, anti-inflammatory agents and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, have been used, with variable results. For patients reaching end-stage, transplantation has shown excellent long-term outcomes.
Inflammasomes as microbial sensors

Members of the Nod-like receptor family and the adaptor ASC assemble into multiprotein platforms, termed inflammasomes, to mediate the activation of caspase-1 and subsequent secretion of IL-1β and IL-18. Recent studies have identified microbial and endogenous molecules as well as possible mechanisms involved in inflammasome activation.
Non-Newtonian fluid dynamics of a porous thrust bearing

Abstract A study was made of the behavior of an externally pressurized circular porous thrust bearing using a non-Newtonian fluid lubricant. The governing Nayier-Stokes equations were reduced to a non-linear ordinary differential equation. The solution is presented in terms of a series expansion for small crossflow Reynolds numbers and matched asymptotic expansions for large crossflow Reynolds numbers. The pressure distribution and the lift force are evaluated. The effects of cross-viscosity and viscoelastic coefficients on the characteristics of the bearing are determined.
Multicultural videos: an interactive online museum based on an international artistic video database

Multicultural Videos (MCV), www.multiculturalvideos.org, is an Interactive Online Museum based on an Online Video Database developed by an International Community of Artists from many creative disciplines and cultural heritage. MCV is an online space where people share, create, learn and promote culture, arts, cultural heritage and self-expressions through on-line videos. The project is designed initially to support two vibrant applications: a Virtual Video Gallery to collect Multicultural Heritage & a Collaborative Video Festival titled "Art Without Borders: The Babel Remix", about similarities and differences on creative processes around the World.
Unintended Migration Consequences of US Welfare Reform

Researchers have analyzed whether US welfare reform has induced interstate migration. Empirical results are inconclusive because methodologies are based on pre-reform thinking. This paper presents a post-reform migration model. We find that recipients move to avoid harsh sanction policies, seek lenient work requirements, and extend time limits. Unlike the first two behavioral responses, the latter is controversial. Critics will argue that such moves are illegal, and violators can be prosecuted because states share data. However, only active cases are being shared, meaning violators cannot be caught. Our model produces testable hypotheses which are consistent with (and reconcile) previous empirical results.
Involvement of programmed cell death in morphogenesis of the vertebrate inner ear

An outstanding challenge in developmental biology is to reveal the mechanisms underlying the morphogenesis of complex organs. A striking example is the developing inner ear of the vertebrate, which acquires a precise three-dimensional arrangement of its constituent epithelial cells to form three semicircular canals, a central vestibule and a coiled cochlea (in mammals). In generating a semicircular canal, epithelial cells seem to ‘disappear’ from the center of each canal. This phenomenon has been variously explained as (i) transdifferentiation of epithelium into mesenchyme, (ii) absorption of cells into the expanding canal or (iii) programmed cell death. In this study, an in situ DNA-end labeling technique (the TUNEL protocol) was used to map regions of cell death during inner ear morphogenesis in the chicken embryo from embryonic days 3.5-10. Regions of cell death previously identified in vertebrate ears have been confirmed, including the ventromedial otic vesicle, the base of the endolymphatic duct and the fusion plates of the semicircular canals. New regions of cell death are also described in and around the sensory organs. Reducing normal death using retrovirus-mediated overexpression of human bcl-2 causes abnormalities in ear morphogenesis: hollowing of the center of each canal is either delayed or fails entirely. These data provide new evidence to explain the role of cell death in morphogenesis of the semicircular canals.
Role of non-immune mechanisms of muscle damage in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) comprise a group of autoimmune diseases that are characterized by symmetrical skeletal muscle weakness and muscle inflammation with no known cause. Like other autoimmune diseases, IIMs are treated with either glucocorticoids or immunosuppressive drugs. However, many patients with an IIM are frequently resistant to immunosuppressive treatments, and there is compelling evidence to indicate that not only adaptive immune but also several non-immune mechanisms play a role in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Here, we focus on some of the evidence related to pathologic mechanisms, such as the innate immune response, endoplasmic reticulum stress, non-immune consequences of MHC class I overexpression, metabolic disturbances, and hypoxia. These mechanisms may explain how IIM-related pathologic processes can continue even in the face of immunosuppressive therapies. These data indicate that therapeutic strategies in IIMs should be directed at both immune and non-immune mechanisms of muscle damage.
Nature of Motivation for Educational Achievement among African American Female College Students.

The purpose of this article is to explore the nature of motivational factors that have influenced the educational achievement of 11 African American female college students. It also investigates the extent to which these students' educational achievements are related to individual socioeconomic advancement versus collective socioeconomic advancement of African Americans. Sources used were transcripts from semi structured interviews and field notes from participant observations. The findings suggest that these women generally perceive the collective socioeconomic advancement of African Americans as a possible outcome of their individual socioeconomic achievement.
Production of transgenic mice from cryopreserved fertilized ova

Cryopreserved fertilized mouse ova were used to generate transgenic mice via micromanipulation. Five-DNA constructions were injected into a total of 1,052 cryopreserved ova, of which 683 (65%) survived the injection and were transferred into recipients. Of 35 recipients, 66% became pregnant and littered a total of 88 pups. As controls, these DNA constructions were also injected into 1,123 fresh ova, of which 744 (66%) survived and were transferred. Of 42 recipients, 79% became pregnant and littered a total of 167 pups. That is, 22% of fresh ova that were transferred developed into live pups, whereas only 13% of cryopreserved ova did so. Of the pups born, 42 of the 167 (25%) produced from fresh ova were transgenic, and 28 of the 88 (32%) produced from cryopreserved ova were transgenic. In terms of the injected ova that had been transferred, 5.6% of the 744 fresh and 4.1% of the 683 frozen ova developed into transgenic mice. These data indicate that the efficiency of production of transgenic mice from cryopreserved ova is close to that from fresh ova. That observation and the fact that cryopreserved ova allow more efficient utilization of animals suggest that cryopreserved ova can be used instead of fresh ova to produce transgenic mice.
From Ashkenaz to Zionism: Putting Eastern European Jewish Life in (Alphabetical) Order

The publication of the YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe is a monumental achievement. It is the type of text that can transform a discipline, providing easily accessible and reasonably accurate answers to common reference questions and summarizing the state of the field in an evenhanded and inclusive manner. As one of the nearly 450 contributors to the encyclopedia, I personally feel a great deal of pride in its outcome. The two-volume, 2,400-page encyclopedia includes more than 1,800 entries, almost 1,200 illustrations, 57 color plates, and 55 maps. Editor in chief Gershon David Hundert of McGill University has succeeded in producing, as YIVO claims, “the definitive reference work on all aspects of the history and culture of Jews in Eastern Europe from the beginnings of their settlement in the region to the present.”
Using Flow Field Divergence For Obstacle Avoidance: Towards Qualitative Vision

The use of certain measures of flow field divergenee is investigated as a qualitative cue for obstacle avoidance during visual navigation. It is shown that a quantity termed the directional divergence of the 2-D motion field can be used as a reliable indicator of the presence of obstacles in the visual field of an observer undergoing generalized rotational and translational motion. Moreover, the necessary measurements can be robustly obtained from real image sequences. A procedure for robustly extracting divergence information from image sequences which can be performed using a highly parallel architecture is described. Experimental results are presented showing that the system responds as expected to divergence in real world image sequences, and the use of the system to navigate between obstacles is demonstrated.
IDENTIFYING LOCAL DEFORMATION PHENOMENA DURING WOVEN FABRIC UNIAXIAL TENSILE LOADING

Experimental methods are presented for observing local fabric deformation during uniaxial tensile loading of a woven fabric. These experiments include the traditional ravel strip test as well as the use of video taping, encapsulation, and photographing fabrics varying in weave texture, yarn type (ring and rotor spun), and yarn size. Through these techniques, changes in yarn curvature and cross-sectional area ( shape ) are monitored along with the global stress-strain response of the fabric. Fabric response depends on both fabric structure and constituent yarn properties. By choosing fabrics in which single parameters, such as picks per inch, vary systematically, trends in fabric behavior can be tracked.
Language Ideology and the Transmission of Phonological Change Changing Indexicality in Two Situations of Language Contact

The authors consider the changing indexicality of phonological variants in two different contact situations—Corby, United Kingdom, and Kingston, Jamaica. While quite different sites of contact, they suggest that similar sociolinguistic phenomena may be observed in both places. Using a language ideology framework, acoustic and auditory phonetic data are interpreted through respondents’ own metalinguistic comments about their dialect. This socially embedded interpretation of the data reveals that in both Corby and Kingston, one phonological variant may in fact index distinct and different identities for speakers in the respective communities. In particular, in both Corby and Kingston, features associated with historically stigmatized varieties have apparently been adopted by the younger generations as a means of marking local identity and pride. This method of interpretation offers an alternative method of analyzing variationist data and follows earlier work conducted in language ideology.
Fractal framework: finding sub-themes and implementing sub-frameworks

Application frameworks implement the part of the customer's requirements that remains stable: the implicit problem domain, as described by the analysis model and called the Enduring Business Theme. Specific solutions or applications are built by extending the framework (using object-oriented techniques) with relatively small and stable code fragments and relatively volatile configuration or scripting fragments. At Hewlett-Packard, the author and the software team he leads have discovered with ongoing application development experience hat sub-frameworks can be used to implement the relatively stable extensions to super-frameworks, further simplifying application development and speeding the reintegration of performance and other enhancements.
Conformational isomerization kinetics of pent-1-en-4-yne with 3,330 cm-1 of internal energy measured by dynamic rotational spectroscopy.

We demonstrate the application of molecular rotational spectroscopy to measure the conformation isomerization rate of vibrationally excited pent-1-en-4-yne (pentenyne). The rotational spectra of single quantum states of pentenyne are acquired by using a combination of IR–Fourier transform microwave double-resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution, single-photon IR spectroscopy. The quantum states probed in these experiments have energy eigenvalues of ≈3,330 cm−1 and lie above the barrier to conformational isomerization. At this energy, the presence of intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) is indicated through the extensive local perturbations found in the high-resolution rotation–vibration spectrum of the acetylenic C–H stretch normal-mode fundamental. The fact that the IVR process produces isomerization is deduced through a qualitatively different appearance of the excited-state rotational spectra compared with the pure rotational spectra of pentenyne. The rotational spectra of the vibrationally excited molecular eigenstates display coalescence between the characteristic rotational frequencies of the stable cis and skew conformations of the molecule. This coalescence is observed for quantum states prepared from laser excitation originating in the ground vibrational state of either of the two stable conformers. Experimental isomerization rates are extracted by using a three-state Bloch model of the dynamic rotational spectra that includes the effects of chemical exchange between the stable conformations. The time scale for the conformational isomerization rate of pentenyne at total energy of 3,330 cm−1 is ≈25 ps and is 50 times slower than the microcanonical isomerization rate predicted by the statistical Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory.
Clinical ligation forces and intraoral friction during sliding on a stainless steel archwire

The efficiency of tooth movement associated with some orthodontic mechanics can be compromised by friction between archwire and bracket. This study examined the effects of bracket ligation forces (F(N Ligation)) and mastication on friction when sliding a bracket along an archwire. Preliminary data from 5 orthodontists and 5 orthodontic residents characterized average tight and loose stainless steel F(N Ligation). These values were reproduced by a calibrated operator in a custom device used to estimate changes in the measurement of ex vivo and intraoral frictional forces, represented by mu(a), the apparent coefficient of static friction. Ten subjects chewed gum with the device in place to determine whether vibration eliminated friction when compared to ex vivo measurements. Nested analysis of variance and Tukey HSD tests determined the effects of ligation type and environmental variables. No significant differences (P >.01) were found between ex vivo and intraoral mu(a) values for tight and loose stainless steel ligation. Intraoral mu(a) values for elastic ligation were significantly greater than ex vivo mu(a) values (P <or=.001). The results suggested that vibration introduced by mastication did not eliminate friction when sliding a bracket along an archwire. In addition, there was considerable intraoperator variation in F(N Ligation), although ligation techniques were well controlled. Variations in clinical ligation forces are likely to be equal or greater than these experimental data. These variations could affect treatment efficiency.
Bioavailability of Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate in Pediatric Patients

A parallel treatment group bioavailability study was undertaken in children 6 to 65 months of age, comparing fasting and nonfasting erythromycin serum levels after a single oral dose of erythromycin ethylsuccinate granules. Results demonstrated significantly higher levels in the nonfasting than in the fasting state, while fasting state levels were comparable to those found in studies of adult subjects receiving recommended doses of the same compound.
A note on commutative weakly nil clean rings

In this paper we discuss some properties of abelian (weakly) nil clean rings. We prove that any subring of an abelian (weakly) nil clean ring is (weakly) nil clean (Theorem 2). We also show that the tensor product of commutative (weakly) nil clean rings is also (weakly) nil clean and give sufficient conditions for the converse to be true (Theorems 3–6).
Somitic Mesoderm: Modulation of Chondrogenic Expression by Retinoic Acid

Somites are mesodermal structures that appear transiently along both sides of the neural tube in a repetitive manner. Embryologically, somites are the first segmented structures to form, and possibly these are aggregates of cells (mesodermal) in part arising from the primitive streak (“pre-somite clusters”-Bellairs, 1985). There is now extensive evidence that somitomeres in the segmental plate exist in all the vertebrate groups and that these presomitic collections of cells are arranged in a characteristic rosette-like pattern (see Jacobson and Meier, 1986 and references therein). When first formed from the unsegmented mesoderm, somites appear as epithelial vesicles consisting of one cell type (Trelstad, et al., 1967). After segmentation, the medial portion of the somite soon becomes mesenchymal. This is the sclerotome, the cartilage forming part of the somite. The rest of the somite, the dermamyotome remains a compact mass for a longer time. Subsequently, the sclerotome cells disperse and migrate medially towards the notochord and neural tube.
Economic Development and Competition for Land Use in the United States

IN THE following discussion I propose to examine the ways in which current developments in the American economy are altering the pattern of competition for agricultural land. In so doing I intend to draw upon the experiences of other developed economies, notably those of western Europe, where the process of competition for land has gone on longer and reached levels more intense than those experienced in the New World. The conclusion will contain some frankly speculative observations on the role of land in the future of American agricultural enterprise.
Competent and Incompetent Defendants Referred to a Court Psychiatric Clinic: A Clinical Comparison

Psychiatric evaluation of a defendant's present state of mind is required by criminal courts whenever the question of competency to proceed in the face of criminal charges is raised. From the examination of court-ordered psychiatric evaluations conducted during a seven-year period, a comparison was made of demographic, clinical, and diagnostic differences between a group of defendants evaluated as incompetent to stand trial and a group evaluated as competent. Findings showed the incompetent defendant to be older, more likely to be female, and more often intellectually impaired. Psychiatric diagnoses revealed more severe symptoms of disabling mental illness and a greater likelihood of psychosis. Because a finding of competency or incompetency dictates different legal dispositions, frequently bringing the legal proceedings to a halt and diverting the defendant into the mental health system, clear behavioral and symptomatic criteria for incompetency to stand trial are needed.
Sensitive Structural Control of Macrocycle Threading by a Fluorescent Squaraine Dye Flanked by Polymer Chains

A macrocyclic tetralactam is threaded by a complementary squaraine dye that is flanked by two polyethylene glycol chains to produce a pseudorotaxane complex with favorable near-infrared fluorescence properties. The association thermodynamics and kinetics were measured for a homologous series of squaraines with different N-alkyl substituents at both ends of the dye. The results show that subtle changes in substituent steric size have profound effects on threading kinetics without greatly altering the very high association constant.
Processing of Graphite Reactor Fuels Containing Coated Particles and Ceramics

Potential processing methods for graphite-matrix nuclear reactor fuels which contain coated particles and/or ceramics are discussed. Both nonaqueous and aqueous processing methods are being develop...
Technical Refinements in Endoscopic Correction of Vesicoureteral Reflux

AbstractSubureteral polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) injection (the Sting) was used for endoscopic correction of vesicoureteral reflux in more than 400 patients since March 1984. The basic principle involves injection of 0.2 to 0.8ml. of polytetrafluoroethylene paste under the intravesical portion of the affected ureter. The refinements of the technique and the various types of equipment used are described. A protocol for followup is outlined. (J. Urol, part 2, 140:1101-1102, 1988)
Unpacking the “Diaspora-Development” Mantra: Does Punjabi Diaspora Have the Potential to Contribute to the Rejuvenation of Punjab’s Economy?

Punjabi diaspora is now over 2 million strong and ranks as one of the oldest of the “free” Indian regional diasporas with a history of over 125 years. Given this long history, large segments of this diaspora are economically, socially and politically well settled and positioned in their adopted countries. This paper tries to unpack the current economic relationship between Punjab and its diaspora. An attempt is made to assess the current and potential contribution that Punjabi diaspora makes or can make to the Punjab economy by examining the motives, aspirations and abilities of the main factors involved. It will also consider, taking examples from other diasporas, how and why Punjabi diaspora’s potential contribution continues to be poorly mobilised and underutilised. It is argued that a major reason for this is the absence of a constructive engagement between the state government and diaspora communities, despite the populist rhetoric emanating from both.
Effective nonlocal potential at small distances

In making dynamical calculations with the Blankenbecler-Sugar equation (which is actually just a way of rewriting the Schrodinger equation with a specific type of nonlocal energy-independent potential), one generally approximates the potential with one-particle exchange diagrams. In the present approach, the potential is, instead, constructed so as to give exactly the imaginary parts of the low partial waves in the crossed channel; these serve as the inputs in the calculation. It can then be argued that repulsive contributions should appear at small distances, making it possible to obtain well-defined solutions to our equations without any cut-offs or other arbitrary parameters. This is true even if we exchange higher-angular-momentum systems which would have led to attractive singularities, and hence divergences, in the conventional approach. All our arguments can be extended in a straightforward manner to the Bethe-Salpeter equation.
Rhythmic Behavior Generated by Ensembles of Neurons

A method for analyzing the rhythmic behavior ofbiological neural networks is developed. Themathematical foundation, based on group theory and graphtheory, is explicitly constructed, and examples are given to clarify the method. An application ismade to the brainstem circuitry of the vestibularsystem. The physiological mechanisms involved ingenerating vestibular nystagmus are characterized, andpredictions are made about the phase relations ofidentified vestibular neurons with eye movements.Comparisons with other models of vestibular circuitryare discussed and suggestions are made for improvementsto previous models.
Becoming a normal democracy: Israel

What are the consequences for Israel's security of the many changes occurring in its society, its threat spectrum, and its military doctrine? How did these changes contribute to the flawed reconciliation of Israel's strategic ends and means in its fight against Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War of 2006? What can we learn about the democratic way of war from Israel's recent experience? Students of democratic grand strategy and civil-military relations often treat Israel as an exceptional case because of its sizable military, compulsory draft, reliance on reserves, strong war industry, and largely military-based national culture (Peri, 2006, 22). Israel is, however, undergoing profound and related shifts in its society, politics, and military. These shifts appear to draw it closer in line with other developed and well-established democracies due to reductions in threat levels, increases in liberalism and economic inequality among its citizens, and an increasingly professionalized military (Bar-Joseph, 2001). Since the Cold War's end, Israel's perceived security problems have changed, even as many other democracies such as the United States have focused on threats – terrorism and missiles – that more closely resemble Israel's. The traditional fear of a conventional attack on Israel's “wasp-waisted” mid-section has largely disappeared. On the other hand, Israel faces ballistic missile threats from neighboring state and non-state actors, and a potentially nuclear Iran in the future. It has experienced sporadic terrorism, rocket fire, and insurgency from the occupied Palestinian territories.
An accelerated release study to evaluate long-acting contraceptive levonorgestrel-containing in situ forming depot systems

Biodegradable polymer-based injectable in situ forming depot (ISD) systems that solidify in the body to form a solid or semisolid reservoir are becoming increasingly attractive as an injectable dosage form for sustained (months to years) parenteral drug delivery. Evaluation of long-term drug release from the ISD systems during the formulation development is laborious and costly. An accelerated release method that can effectively correlate the months to years of long-term release in a short time such as days or weeks is economically needed. However, no such accelerated ISD system release method has been reported in the literature to date. The objective of the current study was to develop a short-term accelerated in vitro release method for contraceptive levonorgestrel (LNG)-containing ISD systems to screen formulations for more than 3-month contraception after a single subcutaneous injection. The LNG-containing ISD formulations were prepared by using biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and polylactic acid polymer and solvent mixtures containing N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and benzyl benzoate or triethyl citrate. Drug release studies were performed under real-time (long-term) conditions (PBS, pH 7.4, 37 °C) and four accelerated (short-term) conditions: (A) PBS, pH 7.4, 50 °C; (B) 25% ethanol in PBS, pH 7.4, 50 °C; (C) 25% ethanol in PBS, 2% Tween 20, pH 7.4, 50 °C; and (D) 25% ethanol in PBS, 2% Tween 20, pH 9, 50 °C. The LNG release profile, including the release mechanism under the accelerated condition D within two weeks, correlated (r2 ≥ 0.98) well with that under real-time conditions at four months.
Single-dose intravenous iron for iron deficiency: a new paradigm

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common hematologic problem in the world. Although oral iron is often viewed as front-line therapy, extensive published evidence has accumulated that IV iron is superior, in both efficacy and safety, to oral iron in many clinical situations and should be introduced much sooner in the treatment paradigm of iron-deficient patients. In this chapter, we will review the formulations of IV iron that allow total complete replacement doses in 1 or 2 sessions including practical tips for administration. We realize safety concerns abound and therefore will analyze evidence based overstated concerns regarding serious adverse events highlighting unnecessary interventions for minor, self-limiting infusion reactions, which infrequently occur with intravenous iron administration. Recent data for the use of IV iron in a variety of clinic situations will be reviewed including women with heavy uterine bleeding, pregnancy, bariatric surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, and restless legs syndrome. Briefly discussed is the new frontier of IV iron's use in the prevention of acute (high altitude) mountain sickness. It is clear that in many clinical situations IV iron is a new and improved standard of care offering advantages over oral iron in efficacy, toxicity, and convenience to patients and health care providers.
Co-authors are responsible too

When it emerged last year that scientific misconduct had occurred at two renowned US physics labs, the news sent shock waves through the physics community. Both cases involved the deliberate falsification and fabrication of scientific data. The first case concerned the alleged "discovery" of element 118 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. The other centred on a series of papers on semiconducting organic crystals that had been published by researchers at Bell Labs in New Jersey.
A Report on Molecular Diagnostic Testing for Inherited Retinal Dystrophies by Targeted Genetic Analyses.

Aim: To test the utility of targeted sequencing as a method of clinical molecular testing in patients diagnosed with inherited retinal degeneration (IRD). Methods: After genetic counseling, periphe...
Why Big Data Needs the Virtues

In this paper I offer a critical reflection on Big Data through the lens of “the virtues” in an attempt to separate much of the “hype” from reality. Part 1 defines what is meant by Big Data and describes why it is valuable. I examine its ethical issues in the context of the characteristics of Big Data as exemplified by the 4V’s: volume, velocity, variety (traditional 3V’s) and a 4th, veracity. Part 2 considers whether Big Data Science is really a “theory free” science based only on statistical correlations. In Part 3, I explore the role of the “Big Data Scientist” and her responsibilities as virtuous epistemic agent. Part 4 applies both virtue ethics and virtue epistemology to Big Data, focusing on how it can be used in an ethically responsible way to benefit society. Finally, I will explain why thinking in terms of the virtues is helpful in the analysis of Big Data because when a Data Scientist habitually acts in accordance with the virtues, she will be better able to cope with the “messiness” and dynamic flux of Big Data with open-mindedness and intellectual courage.