cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Model of Production with Supply Management for the Canadian Agricultural Sector: Comment

In a recent paper Moschini (1988) claims to prove that cost complementarities between outputs do not exist when outputs are joint because of fixed allocatable factors which are normal inputs. This comment demonstrates that Moschini's proposition is incorrect, shows where the proof of the proposition is faulty, and identifies the additional condition that must hold in order for Moschini's proposition to be true. Correct derivation of this proposition is important because technology with fixed allocatable factors and multiple outputs is common in agriculture and standard analyses of multiple output cost functions, such as Sakai's or Lau's, do not apply directly to this technology. Consider the multiple output cost function used in Moschini (1988) to characterize production which is joint in outputs because of constraints on allocatable fixed factors. Jointness is not present in the primal representation of this technology. The production possibility set can be represented with individual production functions for each output. But outputs are joint in the dual cost and profit functions because they must compete for a constrained quantity of some allocatable input. The joint cost function is defined by Moschini's equation (15), which is reproduced here as equation (1):
Inactivation of Two Arboviruses and their Associated Infectious Nucleic Acids

Abstract : The inactivation of 2 distinct but related arboviruses (Eastern and Venezuelan equine encephalitis) by heat (50 C), nitrous acid (HNO2), and ultraviolet light was studied in relation to the infectious ribonucleic acid (RNA). The 2 viruses could be distinguished by their heat inactivation curves. Although the curves for both viruses were approximately biphasic, their phases were reversed. The heat inactivation rates of recoverable RNA (from the heated virus particle) and of extracted RNA (from unheated virus) were less than those for the virus. The results suggested that heat acts first on the surface (lipoprotein) component and then on the nucleic acid. The kinetics of inactivation of the 2 viruses and their RNA's by HNO2 suggested that inactivation of both surface protein and necleic acid began simultaneously but that the latter inactivation was slower. The respective viruses and their recoverable RNA could be distinguished by their rates of inactivation. The results with ultraviolet irradiation agreed with the concept of primary damage to the nucleic acid.
Mothers’ unresolved trauma blunts amygdala response to infant distress

While the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder has been extensively researched, much less attention has been paid to the neural mechanisms underlying more covert but pervasive types of trauma (e.g., those involving disrupted relationships and insecure attachment). Here, we report on a neurobiological study documenting that mothers' attachment-related trauma, when unresolved, undermines her optimal brain response to her infant's distress. We examined the amygdala blood oxygenation level-dependent response in 42 first-time mothers as they underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning, viewing happy- and sad-face images of their own infant, along with those of a matched unknown infant. Whereas mothers with no trauma demonstrated greater amygdala responses to the sad faces of their own infant as compared to their happy faces, mothers who were classified as having unresolved trauma in the Adult Attachment Interview (Dynamic Maturational Model) displayed blunted amygdala responses when cued by their own infants' sadness as compared to happiness. Unknown infant faces did not elicit differential amygdala responses between the mother groups. The blunting of the amygdala response in traumatized mothers is discussed as a neural indication of mothers' possible disengagement from infant distress, which may be part of a process linking maternal unresolved trauma and disrupted maternal caregiving.
Evolution of optical coatings in Earth orbit

High-resolution medium-energy backscattering analyses have been performed on SiO and SiO2 optical coatings that were exposed to the space environment aboard the NASA long-duration experiment module flight. The data show an increase in areal density of 1 percent (resolved at the 10 sigma level) in the SiO film as a result of this exposure. It appears that this effect has been produced by the incorporation of atomic oxygen from the ambient environment. Data on the SiO2 film are less compelling but are consistent with some loss of material from the surface. These analyses set a new standard for profiling film thicknesses by ion backscattering.
Effects of selective forebrain depletions of norepinephrine and serotonin on the activity and food intake effects of amphetamine and fenfluramine.

Abstract Selective forebrain depletions of either norepinephrine or serotonin were produced in separate groups of rats by placement of lesions in the brainstem noradrenergic area and in the dorsal and median raphe´nuclei respectively. Rats with norepinephrine depleting lesions exhibited an attenuation relative to intact animals of both the anorexic and locomotor stimulatory effects of amphetamine. In contrast, depletion of serotonin by the raphe´lesion enhanced the locomotor stimulation induced by amphetamine but did not affect the anorexic efficacy of amphetamine. Neither brain lesion, however, reliably altered the animal's response to either the anorexic or activity effects of fenfluramine.
A RESILIENT ELITE. SURVIVAL AND DECADENCE

The French nobility offers the peculiar case of a category that in a very short period of time went from the envied position of unquestioned natural elite of the kingdom to complete political irrelevance, passing through outright detestation during the Revolution. The Revolution destroyed the political power of the nobility but it can hardly be argued that it destroyed the nobility itself. In fact, the French nobility managed to survive as a separate and significant category in French society. Even in the absence of actual political control, elements specific to the nobility remained strongly associated with the notion of elite in every regime that followed the Revolution. This paper reviews the status of the nobility before, during, and after the Revolution. It argues that, paradoxically, the nobility owes its survival in large part to a reconstructed mystique which grew more attractive as the aristocracy was losing its actual political power. Finally, images of profligacy and decadence, very popular in ...
Postoperative Opioid Requirements following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Patients Receiving Continuous Bupivacaine through a Pump System: A Retrospective Review:

BackgroundPatients who undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery have self-reported considerable postoperative pain, often requiring opioid administration.ObjectiveTo determine whether contin...
THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL CONDITIONS ON THE INDUCTION OF APOGAMY IN PTERIDIUM GAMETOPHYTES

Apogamous sporophytes formed on Pteridium gametophytes in response to concentrations of certain sugars which supported gametophytic growth. High osmotic concentration of the medium inhibited apogamy, while variations in the basic medium were not stimulatory. Agar, autoclaving, the ammonium ion, and dry media were not required for apogamy. Renewing the medium during an experiment enhanced the apogamous response. Changing the medium at set intervals facilitated the separation of apogamous plant development into gametophytic, initiative, and developmental phases, thus enabling testing of various factors at each of these stages. Apogamy was light-initiated, while the actual development of apogamous sporophytes was caused by light, succinic acid or sugar. SPOROPHYTE formation from the vegetative cells of a gametophyte without the intervention of sex organs is called apogamy. Although some plants are obligately apogamous, others with normal sexual reproduction can be induced artificially to form apogamous sporophytes. Such induced apogamy in plants with typical alternation of generations affords a rare opportunity to investigate and learn some of the conditions regulating the periodic expression of gametophytic and sporophytic phases. Early investigators (Heim, 1896; Lang, 1898, 1929; Heilbronn, 1910; Duncan, 1941) studied induced apogamy in soil-growrn gametophytes, while more recent studies have employed sterile cultures of gametophytes grown on nutrient media. Steeves, Sussex and Partanen (:1955), in a study on abnormal prothalli of Pteridium, reported that usually the coralloid proliferation had vascular strands and occasionally apogamous leaves and sporophytes arose from this proliferation on media containing sugar. Dry media which were due to high agar concentrations promoted
Quantum corrections and locally supersymmetric inflationary models

Abstract One-loop quantum corrections to the scalar potential in N = 1 supergravity inflationary models with flat Kahler metric are considered. It is also shown that these corrections can be important in the slow-rollover region where the potential must be very flat to provide for inflation. It is shown that quantum corrections can be used to produce a successful slow-rollover phase transition in a model which, at tree level, does not exhibit a phase transition.
BoB: an interactive improvisational music companion

paper introduces a new domain for believable agents (BA) and presents novel methods for dealing with the unique challenges that arise therein. The domain is providing im- provisational companionship to a specic musician/user, trad- ing real-time solos with them in the jazz/blues setting. The ways in which this domain both conflicts with and benets from traditional BA and interactive computer music system approaches are discussed. Band-out-of-the-Box (BoB), an agent built for this domain, is also presented, most novel in that unsupervised machine learning techniques are used to automatically congure BoB's aesthetic musical sense to that of its specic user/musician.
Contextual and auditory fear conditioning continue to emerge during the periweaning period in rats.

Anxiety disorders often emerge during childhood. Rodent models using classical fear conditioning have shown that different types of fear depend upon different neural structures and may emerge at different stages of development. For example, some work has suggested that contextual fear conditioning generally emerges later in development (postnatal day 23–24) than explicitly cued fear conditioning (postnatal day 15–17) in rats. This has been attributed to an inability of younger subjects to form a representation of the context due to an immature hippocampus. However, evidence that contextual fear can be observed in postnatal day 17 subjects and that cued fear conditioning continues to emerge past this age raises questions about the nature of this deficit. The current studies examine this question using both the context pre-exposure facilitation effect for immediate single-shock contextual fear conditioning and traditional cued fear conditioning using Sprague-Dawley rats. The data suggest that both cued and contextual fear conditioning are continuing to develop between PD 17 and 24, consistent with development occurring the in essential fear conditioning circuit.
Characterization of Ge5R4 (R = CH(SiMe3)2, C6H3-2,6-Mes2): Germanium Clusters of a New Structural Type with Singlet Biradical Character

Reduction of the bulky organogermanium(II) halides Ge(Cl){CH(SiMe3)2} and Ge(Cl)C6H3-2,6-Mes2 (the former in the presence of GeCl2·(dioxane)) afforded the clusters Ge5R4 (R = CH(SiMe3)2 (1), C6H3-2,6-Mes2 (2)), which have an unsubstituted germanium atom capping a butterfly Ge4R4 array. The bonding involves six two-center−two-electron Ge−Ge bonds and a lone pair at the unsubstituted germanium as well as nonbonded electron density at two of the substituted germaniums that indicates possible biradical character.
Pharmacist initiation of postexposure doxycycline for Lyme disease prophylaxis

OBJECTIVES To enhance public access to prophylaxis for Lyme disease following an identified Ixodes scapularis tick bite through pharmacist-initiated antibiotic therapy and to assess patient satisfaction with the pharmacy-based service provided. SETTING Independent community pharmacy in Charlestown, RI, from May to October 2012. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION Under a collaborative practice agreement, trained pharmacists at an independent pharmacy identified patients eligible for postexposure antibiotic prophylaxis following attachment and removal of an I. scapularis tick (commonly known as a deer tick) and dispensed two 100 mg tablets of doxycycline. Patients were included if they were 18 years or older, provided informed consent, had an estimated time of tick attachment of 36 hours or more, had the tick removed within 72 hours of visit, denied contraindications to doxycycline therapy, and reported telephone access for follow-up. Patients enrolled in the study protocol were given counseling related to doxycycline, signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, and future tick prevention strategies. PRACTICE INNOVATION Pharmacist initiation of doxycycline prophylaxis has not been described in the literature previously. Successful pharmacist initiation of antibiotic prophylaxis may have broader implications for states with endemic Lyme disease or other infectious disease public health concerns. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient self-reported adverse outcomes and satisfaction with the pharmacy-based service. RESULTS Eight patients enrolled in the study and completed the follow-up survey. The results indicated a high level of satisfaction with the pharmacy services provided, with no reports of the subsequent development of Lyme disease symptoms or major adverse events. CONCLUSION The project has expanded to three community pharmacy sites in southern Rhode Island based on this experience. Similar pharmacy-based collaborative practice models should be considered in highly endemic Lyme disease areas.
Overexpression of integrin αv promotes human osteosarcoma cell populated collagen lattice contraction and cell migration

Cells attach and interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) through heterodimeric alphabeta integrin receptors. Specifically, the promiscuous alphavbeta3 integrin and the alpha2beta1 integrin receptors engage numerous matrix components to influence cell adhesion, cell motility, and matrix organization. However, the role of alphav integrin mediating cell-collagen interactions is not clear. In the in vitro cell populated collagen lattice (PCL), a model of cell-matrix interaction, integrin receptors play a role in lattice contraction. To elucidate alphav integrins' effects on cell-collagen interactions, human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells were transfected with alphav integrin (alphav-pcDNA 3.1+). Control HOS cells were transfected with pcDNA 3.1+ vector alone. HOS-alphav cell PCLs contracted to a greater degree than control HOS cell PCLs (P < or = 0.0001). RT-PCR revealed that HOS-alphav cells express both beta1 and beta3 integrins, indicating that alphav has the potential to form a partnership with either beta1 or beta3 integrin. The alphavbeta3 specific inhibitory antibody LM609 significantly retarded HOS-alphav cell PCL contraction (P < or = 0.001), suggesting that alphavbeta3 promotes enhanced HOS-alphav cell PCL contraction. When plated on plastic, control HOS cells show greater elongation compared to HOS-alphav cells. In addition, HOS-alphav cells migrated faster and to a greater degree than control HOS cells (P < or = 0.0001). The possibility that enhanced HOS-alphav cell migration and HOS-alphav cell PCL contraction was caused by increased myosin ATPase activity was examined. HOS-alphav cells showed less myosin ATPase activity than control HOS cells, by an ATP cell contraction bioassay. The enhancement of HOS-alphav cell migration and lattice contraction appears unrelated to increased myosin ATPase activity.
The metabolism of lead in isolated bone cell populations: Interactions between lead and calcium☆

Abstract Previous studies of lead metabolism in bone organ culture have defined, in part, an exchangeable bone lead compartment regulated by the same ions and hormones that normally control bone cell metabolism. This study was undertaken to further characterize this subcompartment of exchangeable lead and to examine possible interactions between lead and calcium in isolated bone cell populations. Bone cells, derived from mouse calvaria, were enriched for osteoclasts (OC) and osteoblasts (OB) by a sequential collagenase digestion. We found that (1) the uptake of 210 Pb by OC cells was rapid, and OC cells had greater avidity for lead, compared to OB cells, at concurrent time points of incubation, (2) OB cells showed very little increase in lead uptake as medium lead concentrations were increased from 6.5 to 65 μ m , in contrast, the uptake of lead by OC cells was almost linear, (3) after loading OC cells with 210 Pb, significant release of label (∼ 15 to 30%) occurred within short time periods (≦2 hr) during incubations in chase medium, (4) parathyroid hormone (PTH) at physiological concentrations effected a marked increase in 210 Pb and 45 Ca uptake in OC cells, after 5 min of incubation, Pb accumulation into OC cells continued as calcium uptake markedly decreased, (5) this PTH effect on 210 Pb uptake was linear over PTH concentrations of 50 to 250 ng/ml, and (6) rising medium concentrations of lead (≧26 μ m ) markedly enhanced/exaggerated calcium uptake by OC cells, far above that produced by physiological concentrations of PTH. These data indicate that (1) quantitatively, OC cells are the predominant cell type in the metabolism of lead in this in vitro system of OC and OB cell monolayers, (2) mediated incorporation of lead into OC cells occurs and likely involves changes in membrane permeability effected by hormonal stimuli, such as PTH, and (3) modulations in cellular calcium metabolism induced by lead at low concentration may have the potential of disturbing multiple cell functions of different tissues that depend upon calcium as a second messenger.
Environmental causes of cancer: endocrine disruptors as carcinogens

Environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including pesticides and industrial chemicals, have been and are released into the environment producing deleterious effects on wildlife and humans. The effects observed in animal models after exposure during organogenesis correlate positively with an increased incidence of malformations of the male genital tract and of neoplasms and with the decreased sperm quality observed in European and US populations. Exposure to EDCs generates additional effects, such as alterations in male and female reproduction and changes in neuroendocrinology, behavior, metabolism and obesity, prostate cancer and thyroid and cardiovascular endocrinology. This Review highlights the carcinogenic properties of EDCs, with a special focus on bisphenol A. However, humans and wildlife are exposed to a mixture of EDCs that act contextually. To explain this mindboggling complexity will require the design of novel experimental approaches that integrate the effects of different doses of structurally different chemicals that act at different ages on different target tissues. The key to this complex problem lies in the adoption of mathematical modeling and computer simulations afforded by system biology approaches. Regardless, the data already amassed highlight the need for a public policy to reduce exposure to EDCs.
Lanthanide Clusters with Internal Ln: Fragmentation and the Formation of Dimers with Bridging Se2- and Se22- Ligands

Reactions of “LnIx(SePh)3-x” (Ln = Dy, Ho) with elemental S/Se give (THF)14Ln10S6(Se2)6I6. The compounds are composed of a Ln6S6 double cubane core, with two twisted “Ln2(SeSe)3” units condensed onto opposing rectangular sides of the Ln6S6 fragment. This deposition of Ln2Se6 totally encapsulates the two central Ln's with chalcogen atoms (four S and four Se atoms), excluding neutral THF donors or iodides from the two primary coordination spheres. Reactions of Ln10 clusters with a stronger Lewis base result in fragmentation and, in the case of Ln = Er, the isolation of (py)6Er2(Se2)(S0.8Se0.2)I2, with two Ln(III) ions spanned by E2- and (EE)2- ligands. The related homochalcogen dimers (py)6Ln2(Se2)(Se)Br2 (Ln = Ho, Yb) were prepared to establish that such molecules could be prepared rationally, and to confirm the isolability of E2- ligands coordinated to only two sterically unconstrained Ln ions.
Hypergraphs and Whitney's theorem on edge-isomorphisms of graphs

Abstract This paper presents a new proof of Whitney's theorem on edge-isomorphisms of graphs and extends Whitney's theorem to hypergraphs. Whitney's theorem asserts that any two edge-isomorphic graphs of order at least 5 have their edge-isomorphism induced by a node-isomorphism isomorphism. Previous results of Gardner and of Berge and Rado are used.
Compressive neuropathies of the foot and ankle

Subtle compressive neuropathies of the foot and ankle can cause weakness in the foot that affects athletic performance, especially in runners or jumpers. Detection of these syndromes requires a knowledge of the sensory distribution and anatomic course of the peripheral nerves in the foot and ankle. Most compressive neuropathies can be treated with standard conservative measures; however, if chronic pain causes significant disability, surgical treatment may be indicated.
Water spectral libraries for the interpretation of image spectrometric data

This paper reports the assessment of water reflectance spectra measured under controlled condition for analysis of the imaging spectrometry data of inland waters. The application of imaging spectrometry to the study of inland waters depends on a better understanding of the optical properties of the water components. To increase this understanding, a collection of water spectra has been measured under laboratory and ground control conditions as a part of an EOS interdisciplinary investigation. The radiometric measurement derived from those experiments is known as the Bidirectional Reflectance Function (BRDF). R was simulated using variations of a model derived from the two stream approximation of the radiative transfer equation (RTE) and compared to the BRDF. BRDF was also measured 'in situ' from a boat based spectrometer (BoaR) and from an helicopter based spectrometer (HeIR). Modelled R (MoIR), laboratory measured (BRDF) (LabR) and ground measured BRDF (BoaR and HeIR) were compared. They were also used to unmix the spectra of two different aquatic systems. Preliminary results show that at low chlorophyll and gilvin concentration, there is a good agreement between ModR and LabR, regardless of the model variation used. For both low and high inorganic matter concentration, the agreement between ModR and LabR is poor. All sets of data present the main features which characterize the high chlorophyll concentration reflectance spectra, but the amount of reflectance displayed by LabR and ModR is 50 times smaller than that measured in situ. When the different sets are used as input to unmixing algorithms they also yield different results.
Cockroach and other inhalant allergies in infantile asthma

Background Infantile asthma is commonly thought to be caused by viral respiratory infections and exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke. Allergy has not been felt to be a major cause of infantile asthma and infants and small children are not commonly skin tested. Objective To determine the frequency of skin test reactivity in asthmatic children less than 3 years of age. Methods We evaluated 196 (50 female/146 male) children with infantile asthma for allergy. Infantile asthma was defined as three or more episodes of wheezing in a child less than 3 years of age. A careful environmental history was obtained on all children. All were skin tested to alternaria, cat, dog, cockroach, and house dust mites (HDM) extracts using the prick technique with the Greer Dermapik. Results Forty-five percent of the infants and children tested had at least one positive skin test. 51/196 (26%) of the children were skin test positive to cockroach, 17.3% to HDM, 13.8% to cat, 6.6% to alternaria, and 6.1% positive to dog. For the 49 children who were less than 1 year of age, 28.5% were positive to cockroach, 10.2% to HDM, 10.2% to cats, 4% to alternaria, and 0% to dog. Conclusions Allergy to cockroach and other indoor allergens may be a significant contributor to infantile asthma in a rural setting. Skin testing children with infantile asthma may provide useful information for institution of environmental controls measures in the child's home.
Scoring decisions in the context of economic uncertainty

We consider methods for incorporating forecasts of future economic conditions into acquisition decisions for scored retail credit and loan portfolios. We suppose that a portfolio manager is faced with two possible future economic scenarios, each characterised by a known probability of occurrence and by known performance functions that give expected profit and volume. We suppose further that he must choose in advance the scoring strategy and score cutoffs to optimise performance. We show that, despite the uncertainty of performance induced by economic conditions, every efficient policy consists of a single cutoff, provided the expected profit and volume performance curves in each scenario are concave. If these curves are not concave, efficient operating points can be characterised as cutoffs on a redefined score. In cases in which two scorecards are available, we show that it may be advantageous to randomly choose the scorecard to be employed, and we provide methods for selecting efficient operating points. Discussion is limited to cases with two scorecards and two economic scenarios, but our approach and results generalise to more scorecards and more economic scenarios.
Collagen fibers as a temporary scaffold for replacement of ACL in goats.

ACL substitutes made of braided or plied purified collagen fibers and cross-linked with hexamethylenediisocyanate were implanted into a total of 14 adult goats to achieve resorption within 8 to 10 months. Two types of collagen fiber prostheses differing in degree of collegen purification were tested. The implants were harvested 2 to 11 months postimplantation, tested for mechanical strength, and evaluated by morphological methods. In the first group (n = 5), the less purified and less crosslinked collagen fiber ACL implant induced fast connective tissue ingrowth. At 6 months postimplantation, 40 to 60% of the collagen implant was resorbed. No studies on breaking strength were done in this group. In the second group, highly purified and more crosslinked ACL implants were less infiltrated by cells and were resorbed only by 10 to 20%. Still, the breaking strength was decreased to 10% of the original implant strength. In the second group, the fixation of the ACL implant in the bone tunnel with a bone wedge was insufficient (n = 6); however, additional fixation with metal screws was successful (n = 3). We conclude that cross-linked collagen fibers alone cannot be used as a safe ACL substitute as they quickly lose mechanical strength despite limited biodegradation. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Chiral two-loop-finite supersymmetric theories

Abstract Any globally supersymmetric theory in four dimensions that is one-loop finite is automatically (at least) two-loop finite. We classify all such theories that are chiral and have a simple gauge group.
Functionally tailored nanoparticle-based self-assembled thin films

Molecularly-ordered thin-films comprised of nanosized inorganic particles and ionic polymer molecules have been fabricated on single crystal silicon, quartz and glass substrates by a novel molecular self-assembly process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the formed cationic inorganic particles only adsorb on negatively charged and not on positively charged surfaces. Contact angle measurements demonstrate that the water contact angle oscillates regularly according to which ions form the outermost layer of the films. Thin-films ordered at the molecular level have been fabricated up to several hundred layers in thickness and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy. Incorporation of different nanoparticles and polymer molecules allows tailoring of physical properties.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Distribution and dynamics of laser-polarized 129Xe magnetization in vivo

The first magnetic resonance imaging studies of laser-polarized (129)Xe, dissolved in the blood and tissue of the lungs and the heart of Sprague-Dawley rats, are described. (129)Xe resonances at 0, 192, 199, and 210 ppm were observed and assigned to xenon in gas, fat, tissue, and blood, respectively. One-dimensional chemical-shift imaging (CSI) reveals xenon magnetization in the brain, kidney, and lungs. Coronal and axial two-dimensional CSI show (129)Xe dissolved in blood and tissue in the thorax. Images of the blood resonance show xenon in the lungs and the heart ventricle. Images of the tissue resonance reveal xenon in lung parenchyma and myocardium. The (129)Xe spectrum from a voxel located in the heart ventricle shows a single blood resonance. Time-resolved spectroscopy shows that the dynamics of the blood resonance match the dynamics of the gas resonance and demonstrates efficient diffusion of xenon gas to the lung parenchyma and then to pulmonary blood. These observations demonstrate the utility of laser-polarized (129)Xe to detect exchange across the gas-blood barrier in the lungs and perfusion into myocardial tissue. Applications to measurement of lung function, kidney perfusion, myocardial perfusion, and regional cerebral blood flow are discussed. Magn Reson Med 42:1137-1145, 1999.
A novel temperature-step method to determine the glass transition temperature of ultrathin polymer films by liquid dewetting

A novel temperature-step experimental method that extends the Bodiguel-Fretigny liquid dewetting method of investigating polymer thin films is described and results presented from an investigation of thickness effects on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of ultrathin polystyrene (PS) films. Unlike most other methods of thin film investigation, this procedure promises a rapid screening tool to determine the overall profile of Tg versus film thickness for ultrathin polymer films using a limited number of samples. Similar to our prior observations and other literature data, with this new method obvious Tg depression was observed for PS thin films dewetting on both glycerol and an ionic liquid. The results for PS dewetting on the two different liquids are similar indicating only modest effects of the substrate on the Tg-film thickness relationship. In both instances, the Tg depression is somewhat less than for similar PSs supported on silicon substrates reported in the literature. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1343–1349
Does postacute care site matter? A longitudinal study assessing functional recovery after a stroke

Patients with stroke may receive postacute rehabilitation services from one or more types of postacute care providers. An article in this issue of Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation compares the outcomes of patients who received rehabilitation care from an inpatient rehabilitation facility, a skilled nursing facility, a home health agency, or did not receive any postacute care. This commentary discusses challenges in conducting this type of observation study.
Industrial Marketing and Medical Ethics

The subject of industrial marketing and medical ethics has concerned thoughtful physicians and medical educators for several years. Medical-service companies that offer bonuses — cash or travel and lodging or both — for attendance at what are primarily events to promote their products are one cause for concern. Another is the active participation of physicians in promotional exercises for which they receive compensation. The American Surgical Association aimed a resolution at these practices in 1987: It is the opinion of the American Surgical Association that it is unethical for a surgeon to accept remuneration or material reward for participating in . . .
The Extension of Holland's Occupational Classification to All Occupations in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

Abstract Two methods are presented for extending Holland's occupational classification to include all occupations in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). Holland's classification is based on a theory of personality types; occupations in the classification are organized into six major categories (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional) and subcategories using the same concepts. The methods given in this article enable translation from any DOT occupational code (a six-digit number) into the corresponding Holland occupational code. The first method is essentially an application of Bayesian statistics using 399 occupations in Holland's Occupational Classification. The second method was developed by using the definitions of each DOT group (first three DOT digits) and assigning the Holland code which seems theoretically consistent with the DOT definition. The conversion methods are tested and compared on four occupational samples. An evaluation of the usefulness of the methods is given.
Effects of the past and the present on species distribution: land-use history and demography of wintergreen

Summary 1 Past land use can have long-term effects on plant species’ distributional patterns if alterations in resources and environmental conditions have persistent effects on population demography (environmental change) and/or if plants are intrinsically limited in their colonization ability (historical factors). 2 We evaluated the role of environmental alteration vs. historical factors in controlling distributional patterns of Gaultheria procumbens, a woody, clonal understorey species with a pronounced restriction to areas that have never been ploughed, and near absence from adjoining areas that were ploughed in the 19th century. The demographic study was conducted in scrub oak and hardwood plant communities on an extensive sand plain, where it was possible to control for the effect of variation in environment prior to land use. 3 The observed demographic effects were contrary to the hypothesis that persistent environmental alteration depressed demographic performance and limited the distribution of G. procumbens. We observed no overall effect of land-use history on stem density, stem recruitment or flower production. In fact, some aspects of performance were enhanced in previously ploughed areas. Populations in previously ploughed areas exhibited less stem mortality in scrub oak transitions, an increase in germination, seedling longevity and proportion of potentially reproductive stems in both plant communities, a trend for slower observed rates of population decline in both plant communities, and a higher projected rate of population growth in the scrub oak transitions. Thus, particularly in scrub oak communities, the lower abundance of G. procumbens in formerly ploughed than in unploughed areas contrasted with its performance. 4 The limited occurrence of G. procumbens in formerly farmed areas was explained instead by its slow intrinsic growth rate, coupled with limited seedling establishment. Lateral population extension occurred exclusively through vegetative growth, allowing a maximum expansion of 43 cm year−1. 5 We conclude that inherent limitations in the colonizing ability of some plant species may present a major obstacle in the restoration or recovery of plant communities on intensively disturbed sites, even in the absence of persistent environmental effects that depress population growth.
Beyond the Liberal Peace Project: Toward Peace with Justice

L'A. critique le projet de paix liberal selon lequel le liberalisme politique et la democratie capitaliste portent l'espoir de maintenir la paix dans le monde. L'A. montre que ce projet ne repond pas a l'exigence de regulation sociale de l'economie mondiale, ni a la volonte d'un marche juste fonde sur la democratisation des institutions internationales.
A contribution toward rational modeling of the pressure–strain‐rate correlation

A novel method of obtaining an analytical expression of the ‘‘linear part’’ of the pressure–strain‐rate tensor in terms of the anisotropy tensor of the Reynolds stresses has been developed, where the coefficients of the seven independent tensor terms are functions of the invariants of the Reynolds‐stress anisotropy. The coefficients are evaluated up to fourth order in the anisotropy of the Reynolds stresses to provide a guidance for development of a turbulence model.
P04.86. Socio-demographic variations in barriers to participation in an acupuncture clinical trial

Purpose As breast cancer survivors (BCS) increasingly use complementary and alternative medicine, randomized controlled trials (RCT) are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of these therapies to guide appropriate clinical use. However, many RCTs face poor patient accrual, especially among populations at risk for health disparities. The purpose of this study is to quantify the barriers to participation in an acupuncture clinical trial among BCS, and to identify the socio-demographic factors associated with these barriers.
A new instrumentation system for training rowers

A dry-land rowing system was developed to provide the coach and/or athlete with quantitative information about the athlete's kinetics and kinematics while the athlete trains. This system consists of a Concept II rowing ergometer instrumented with a force transducer and potentiometer, four electrogoniometers attached to the athlete's ankle, knee, hip, and elbow, and a data acquisition computer. The force transducer is used to quantify the athlete's pulling force. The potentiometer signal is used to locate the position of the handle. The electrogoniometers provide signals proportional to joint angles. A link segment model of the human body is used to locate joint centers based on limb lengths and joint angles. The computer is used to collect and process all the transducer signals, perform the link segment calculations and provide feedback to the coach or athlete in the form of a stick figure animation overlaid with kinematic and kinetic information. This system allows the coach and athlete to quickly study a rower's mechanics, to evaluate the effects that technique changes have on the power produced by the athlete, and to identify technique differences between athletes.
A New Method for the Quantification of Rhizoctonia solani and R. oryzae from Soil

Paulitz, T. C., and Schroeder, K. L. 2005. A new method for the quantification of Rhizoctonia solani and R. oryzae from soil. Plant Dis. 89:767-772. Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG) 8 and R. oryzae are important root pathogens on wheat and barley in the dryland production areas of the inland Pacific Northwest. R. solani AG-8 is difficult to isolate from root systems and quantify in soil because of slow growth and low population densities. However, both pathogens form extensive hyphal networks in the soil and can grow a considerable distance from a food base. A quantitative assay of active hyphae was developed, using wooden toothpicks as baits inserted into sample soils. After 2 days in soil, toothpicks were placed on a selective medium, and the numbers of colonies that grew after 24 h were counted under a dissecting microscope. R. solani and R. oryzae could be distinguished from other fungi based on hyphal morphology. This method was tested in natural soils amended with known inoculum densities of R. solani AG-8 and R. oryzae. Regressions were used to compare the inoculum density or toothpick colonization curves to a predicted curve based on the volume of the toothpicks. The slopes and y intercept of log-log transformed regressions did not differ from the predicted curves in most cases. This technique was used to assess the hyphal activity of R. solani AG-8 and R. oryzae from soil cores taken from various positions in and around Rhizoctonia bare patches at two locations. Activity of R. solani was highest in the center and inside edge of the patch, but there was no effect of patch position on R. oryzae. This simple and inexpensive technique can be used for detection and diagnosis in grower fields and to study the ecology and epidemiology of Rhizoctonia spp.
183 CT planning of HDR breast implants: A contribution to quality assurance

The purpose of this presentation is to describe the procedure of the interstitial boost therapy planning in breast cancer irradiation in the Hospital of Sisters of Mercy in Linz, Austria. The use of a boost irradiation at the primary tumour site is associated with an increased local control. Maximum effectiveness of the boost irradiation depends on accurate location of the target volume which is the surgical tumour bed. There are some reports about localization techniques of the boost volume for external irradiation. Less has been reported about the target volume localization of HDR interstitial implants of the breast. We have introduced the development of a treatment planning method to obtain accurately located interstitial implants and homogenous dose distributions and therefore full coverage of the target volume. At the time of the boost irradiation, treatment planning is started in the simulator room, to define the needle position and therefore the target volume represented by the implanted clips. Then the implantation is done in the afterloading room. A device for patient transportation between Indium unit, simulator and CT scanner has been constructed. The implanted needles and the clips are visualized by means of the CT-scanner. So the source dwell position and therefore the length to be irradiated can be determined in order to provide adequate coverage of the clipped tumour bed. The isodose distribution and the relationship to the surrounding tissues is obtained by the planning compute of the remote afterloading device. So the source dwell times can be determined if there will be an overdosage for the normal tissues. We conclude that this procedure with careful attention to the source position by CT planning results in an accurate treatment of the target volume. The implant and the dose distribution to the surrounding normal tissues are documented by the CT images. The planning procedure is made feasible by the use of the special transportation device and has the advantage of patient immobilization.
Brain tumor demarcation with liquid-crystal tunable filter spectral imaging

Past studies have demonstrated that combined fluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy can successfully discriminate between normal, tumor core, and tumor margin tissues in the brain. To achieve efficient surgical resection guidance with optical biopsy, probe-based spectroscopy must be extended to spectral imaging to spatially demarcate the tumor margins. This paper describes the design and testing of a combined fluorescence and diffuse reflectance imaging system which uses liquid-crystal tunable filter technology. Experiments were conducted to quantitatively determine its linearity, field of view, spatial and spectral resolution, and wavelength sensitivity. For functional testing, spectral images were acquired from tissue phantoms, mouse brain in vitro, and rat brain cortex in vivo. The spectral imaging system is characterized by measured intensities which are linear with sample emission intensity and integration time, a one-inch field of view for a seven-inch object distance, spectral resolution which is linear with wavelength, spatial resolution which is pixel-limited, and sensitivity functions which provide a guide for the distribution of total image integration time between wavelengths. Functional testing demonstrated good spatial and spectral constrast between brain tissue types, the capability to acquire adequate fluorescence and diffuse reflectance intensities within a one-minute imaging timeframe, and the importance of hemostasis to acquired signal strengths and imaging speed.
Deconvolving blood‐alcohol concentration and alcohol beverage consumption from sensor measurements of transdermal alcohol

We utilize mathematical, statistical and deconvolution techniques to estimate blood alcohol concentration and alcohol ingestion rate from vapor alcohol measurements coming from a new electro-chemical transdermal alcohol bio-sensor. A protocol suggesting how this can be done and a theoretical framework for the convergence of the method are also shown. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Histamine's effect on pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance at elevated tone

Histamine's effect on the longitudinal resistance and compliance distribution in the canine pulmonary circulation was determined under control and elevated vascular tone using the thromboxane analogue U46619. The arterial-, venous-, and double-occlusion techniques were used in isolated blood-perfused dog lungs at both constant flow and constant pressure. Large and small blood vessel resistances and compliances were studied in lungs given the following treatments: 1) histamine; 2) histamine in lungs pretreated with the H1-receptor antagonist diphenhydramine, and 3) histamine in lungs pretreated with the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine. The results of this study indicate that histamine constricts small and large veins through H1-receptor mediation at both normal and elevated vascular tone. When vascular tone was elevated, H2-receptor vasodilatation was also apparent in all blood vessel segments. Histamine decreased total, middle compartment, and large vessel vascular compliances by an H1-receptor effect. When vascular tone was elevated, histamine's H1-receptor-mediated vasoconstrictor effect on compliance vessels was less due to the presence of an H2-receptor-mediated vasodilatory system.
Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-3 Gene (NPR3) Nonsynonymous Polymorphism Results in Significant Reduction in Protein Expression Because of Accelerated Degradation

Background—The primary role of natriuretic peptide receptor-3 (NPR3) or NPR-C is in the clearance of natriuretic peptides that play an important role in modulating intravascular volume and vascular...
Alterations of the ECM in ovarian carcinogenesis studied by second harmonic Generation imaging microscopy

We have used Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging microscopy to quantify alterations in the fibrillar collagen assembly in ex vivo human malignant and normal ovarian tissues. We integrate 3D imaging measurements, bulk optical parameter measurements, and Monte Carlo simulations to isolate the structural factors that are different in these tissues.
Operating characteristics of the low energy accelerator

The main purpose of this work is to describe the construction and operation of the low energy accelerator with energy in the range from (zero to 100 KeV). This accelerator includes an ion source of the cold cathode Penning type (with pierce geometry for ion beam extraction), an accelerating tube (with 8 electrodes) and Faraday cup (FC) for measuring ion current. A vacuum system which gives vacuum of the order 3.0 × 10 -8 Torr is used. A palladium tube is used to supply the source with pure hydrogen atoms. It was possible to operate this accelerator with an energy 50 KeV at minimum hydrogen pressure, 6.3 × 10 6 Torr. The total resistance applied between the accelerating electrodes R T = 31.5 MΩ. These data include the influence of the pressure in the accelerating tube, the magnetic field of the ion source, the extraction potential and the accelerating potential on the collector ion current. It was possible to accelerate protons with an energy 50 KeV with current about 100 μA at pressure 6.3 × 10 6 Torr, the source magnetic field = 110 G (I B = 2A), the are current = 0.4 A and the extraction potential = 10 KV.