cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functionalization of ginger derived nanoparticles with chitosan to design drug delivery system for controlled release of 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) in treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases: An in vitro study

Abstract The present study aimed at synthesising chitosan bound ginger nanocarriers for slow and controlled release of the drug 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) against inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The chitosan, extracted from naturally occurring biopolymer chitin, was reacted to ginger extract (Zingiber officinale) to prepare chitosan-bounded ginger derived nanocarriers (C-GDNC) and further loaded with 5-ASA drug. The as-obtained drug loaded chitosan coated ginger derived nanocarriers (D-C-GNDC) were studied for controlled release of 5-ASA. In vitro experimental data implied slow and controlled release of 5-ASA and were kinetically justified by applying different kinetic models. The obtained percent drug loading capacity and entrapment efficiency were more than 50%. Various experimental factors affecting swelling controlled drug release of 5-ASA, such as change in pH of release medium, chemical composition of nanocarriers, percent drug loading, and simulated biofluids as release media, were investigated. The prepared nanomaterials were well characterized and examined for chemical stability and in vitro cytotoxicity to check their biocompatible nature. The overall studies concluded that the controlled release of 5-ASA was favourable at the gastrointestinal pH which is desirably beneficial against inflammation of bowl.
Do Preoperative and Postoperative Glenoid Retroversion Influence Outcomes After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

BackgroundThere are limited data on the effect of glenoid retroversion in clinical outcomes following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate if surgic...
Contextualizing Map and Geography Library Collections as FAIR Research Data: A Case Study of Historical Landscape Photographs

Collection management techniques used in map and geography libraries to describe and provide access to materials ensure researchers can engage with collections as viable sources of research data. M...
Prospects for Developing Absorptive Capacity Through Internal Information Provision

Theories of absorptive capacity propose that knowledge gained from prior experience facilitates the identification, selection, and implementation of related profitable practices. Researchers have investigated how managers may develop absorptive capacity by building internal knowledge stocks, but few have focused on the distribution of this knowledge within the firm and the role managers play in administering information to organizational subunits. In this paper, we explore the degree to which managers can develop absorptive capacity by directly providing information to agents in the organization that might potentially adopt a new practice. We find that the effectiveness of managerial information provision depends on the degree to which potential adopters have information from other sources. We find that information from previous adopters and past events reduces the effect of information provision, while experience with related practices amplifies it. Our research helps clarify when absorptive capacity may provide a sustained competitive advantage.
Once Upon an Economics Course: Using Fairy Tales to Teach Economics

Are fairy tales merely bedtime stories that offer amusement and wisdom for children, or are they stories about how rational individuals (in a world of magic) make choices to allocate scarce resources and maximize utility? This paper proposes that fairy tales serve both purposes, therefore providing educators—specifically undergraduate instructors—with an opportunity to impart economic concepts in the classroom through the tales. As most students have been acquainted with fairy tales from childhood, incorporating them into an economics class allows the students to read the stories through a new lens of understanding making applications to concepts including scarcity, opportunity costs, utility, technology, and risk.
Velocity of electrocardiographic potentials I. Method using an electronic analog computer unit.

Abstract An electronic analog differentiator was used in conjunction with an electrocardiographic recorder to obtain tracings of the rate of change of the cardiac potentials from various surface leads. These correspond to the first derivative (with respect to time) of the conventional electrocardiographic potential variations. The derivative functions as calculated by the electronic differentiator were recorded instantaneously with an accuracy of better than 1 per cent. Conventional electrocardiograms and derivative curves were recorded simultaneously on a two channel recorder from 38 normal subjects. The derivative curves were analyzed in terms of three predominant peaks—D 1 , D 2 , D 3 —as they appear in the conventional 12 lead electrocardiogram. In normal subjects, the major QRS potential variations occur at rates of ±5 to ± 150 mv./sec. Records of the rate of change of cardiac potentials reflect, in part, the velocity of cardiac excitation and recovery, and, in part, the rate of change in direction of the mean potential gradient. This provides information not readily available in conventional electrocardiograms and only partially represented in planar or spatial vectorcardiograms. Certain theoretical aspects of this method of recording have been developed on the basis of the vector theory although the temporal analysis of the ECG, as represented by the derivative tracings, is not dependent upon the validity of the equivalent dipole hypothesis. A method of standardization was developed. Tracings of conventional electrocardiograms and derivatives were also recorded from over 40 patients; most of these tracings showed chronic types of abnormalities. A few cases were presented to show the potentialities of the method in diagnosis from electrocardiograms.
SRASS - A Semantic Relevance Axiom Selection System

This paper describes the design, implementation, and testing of a system for selecting necessary axioms from a large set also containing superfluous axioms, to obtain a proof of a conjecture. The selection is determined by semantics of the axioms and conjecture, ordered heuristically by a syntactic relevance measure. The system is able to solve many problems that cannot be solved alone by the underlying conventional automated reasoning system.
Use of Coating to Protect Lyophilized Bacillus popilliae from Moisture

Lyophilized cells of Bacillus popilliae were protected from moisture when suspended in pellets of tung oil polymer which were then coated with paraffin wax. The survival of the protected cells at various levels of relative humidity (RH) and under various storage conditions was determined. During 6 months of storage, moisture appeared to have little effect on survival of the cells when the RH level was 22% or less; but, at higher RH levels, survival declined upon storage. Viable cells were recovered when pellets were stored for 3 months at 33% RH, 2 months at 42% RH, 1 month at 50% RH, and 4 days in distilled water. Under field conditions, some cells survived at least 1 week of storage.
Ten generations of selection for predicted weight of testes in swine: direct response and correlated response in body weight, backfat, age at puberty, and ovulation rate.

Selection for predicted weight of testes at 150 d of age (PWT) was practiced for 10 generations to determine the effect on reproductive and growth traits in swine. Mass selection among boars (line TS) or random selection (line C) was practiced beginning with the F3 generation of a Large White x Landrace composite population. Population size in each line was 40 to 45 litters by 15 sires per generation. Responses were estimated by regressions on cumulative selection differentials for PWT and on generation number and by mixed-model derivative-free REML procedures. The realized heritability of PWT was .35 +/- .02 and the response per generation was 19 g (P < .01). Correlated responses in body weight were .95 +/- .37 (140 d) and 1.13 +/- .42 kg (160 d) per generation for boars and .70 +/- .32 (130 d) and .64 +/- .46 kg (180 d) per generation for gilts. Response in backfat was .08 +/- .14 mm per generation in boars and .16 +/- .14 mm in gilts. Negative genetic trends occurred in age at puberty in both lines, but the difference between lines was not significant. At Generation 10, ovulation rate was .76 +/- .43 eggs more for gilts of the TS line than for C gilts. Genetic correlations of PWT with other traits are presented. Heritability of PWT was moderately high and its phenotypic variance was large; therefore, a high rate of response of 5.5% per generation occurred. Selection for PWT was not effective in decreasing age at puberty or increasing ovulation rate of daughters.
Inhibition of Candida albicans—induced lymphocyte proliferation by lymphocytes and sera from women with recurrent vaginitis☆

Abstract To investigate whether there was an immunologic basis for recurrent Candida albicans —induced vaginitis, peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from six women with this disorder and from six healthy control women. No differences were observed in the proliferative responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes to mitogens. However, only the control peripheral blood lymphocytes proliferated in response to a C. albicans extract. Furthermore, patients' lymphocytes or serum suppressed the proliferative response of control lymphocytes to C. albicans but not to mitogens. Women with recurrent C. albicans vaginitis appear to produce Candida -specific suppressor lymphocytes which block the cellular immune response to this organism.
Problems of Projection: The Role of Language Change in Labeling Paradoxes

Chomsky's latest linguistic work has problematized projection and labeling. With the earlier Phrase Structure Grammar and X’-bar theory, it is taken for granted that a phrase contains a specifier, head, and complement; the current work only assumes a labeling algorithm to meet requirements of the conceptual-intentional interface. Such an algorithm automatically rules out particular configurations, for instance, ones with a specifier unless they share certain features. In this brief paper, I point out how regular patterns of language change can be seen as resolutions to the labeling paradox and how they themselves can possibly shed light on the precise nature of this labeling algorithm. I focus on the change where specifiers are reanalyzed as heads
Palabras de contención

Angeles clandestinos: una memoria oral de Raul Gomez Jattin. Jose Amonio de Ory. Grupo Editorial Norma. Bogota. 2004, 421 pags.
Lethal synergism of phencyclidine with a precursor and contaminant, 1-piperidinocyclohexanecarbonitrile.

Abstract The acute median lethal dose (LD50) was determined in rats (p.o.) and mice (i.p.) for phencyclidine (PCP) or 1-piperidinocyclohexanecarbonitrile (PCC) individually and in combination. The LD50 (mg/kg) of PCP was 2.3 or 2.5 times higher than the LD50 of PCC in mice or rats, respectively. For mice, combinations (8:1 or 4:1) of PCP + PCC showed additive synergism, while in rats a 2:1 combination caused sub-additive synergism. Dogs receiving an intravenous infusion of PCP + PCC (4:1) died at a one-third lower dosage of PCP than when PCP was given alone. Prior treatment with NaNO2 significantly elevated the i.p. LD50's in mice for PCC alone or PCP + PCC (3:1) as it did for KCN. These data support the inference that toxicity from PCC arises primarily from the cyanide ion which it releases. The possibility of a toxic synergism in the course of human exposure to PCC-contaminated “street PCP” is raised.
Experimental Study of Thermomigration in Lead-Free Nanoelectronics Solder Joints

The study of thermomigration on Sn-Ag-Cu solder sphere subjected to a high thermal gradient of 1100°C/cm is presented. After 286 hours, the hot end showed a thin and flat intermetallic compound (IMC) while the cold side showed a scallop-like Cu6 Sn5 IMC. Small voids can be seen within the Cu6 Sn5 IMC after 712 hours on the cold side, while the IMC on the opposite side showed no observable changes.© 2006 ASME
Progress Towards a Cartesian Cut-Cell Method for Viscous Compressible Flow

We present preliminary development of an approach for simulating high Reynolds number steady compressible flow in two space dimensions using a Cartesian cut-cell finite volume method. We consider both laminar and turbulent flow with both low and high cell Reynolds numbers near the wall. The approach solves the full Navier-Stokes equations in all cells, and uses a wall model to address the resolution requirements near boundaries and to mitigate mesh irregularities in cut cells. We present a quadratic wall model for low cell Reynolds numbers. At high cell Reynolds numbers, the quadratic is replaced with a newly developed analytic wall model stemming from solution of a limiting form of the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model which features a forward evaluation for flow velocity and exactly matches characteristics of the SA turbulence model in the field. We develop multigrid operators which attain convergence rates similar to inviscid multigrid. Investigations focus on preliminary verification and validation of the method. Flows over flat plates and compressible airfoils show good agreement with both theoretical results and experimental data. Mesh convergence studies on sub- and transonic airfoil flows show convergence of surface pressures with wall spacings as large as approx.0.1% chord. With the current analytic wall model, one or two additional refinements near the wall are required to obtain mesh converged values of skin friction.
Study of combustion processes of single-perforated stick propellants

Abstract : This paper addresses flame-spreading, combustion, and grain-rupture processes associated with unslotted single-perforated stick propellants, both theoretically and experimentally. A coupled finite-difference and finite-element code was developed for solving the property variations in gas- and solid-phase regions. Tests were conducted using a windowed chamber for observation of the transient combustion and fracture phenomena. Test data indicate that higher pressurization rate causes earlier propellant ignition and faster flame- spreading rate. Critical pressure differential across the propellant ignition and grain rupture was found to increase monotonically with the internal pressurization rate. Recovered propellant samples showed that longitudinal slits were formed at low pressurization rates, while at rapid pressurization rates (higher than 3.5 GPa/a), the grains shattered into many small pieces. Depending upon the internal pressurization rates, SEM microstructure of fractured surfaces of recovered grains exhibited ductile tensile, ductile shear, or brittle- cleavage phenomena.
Ectoparasitic infestations in homeless children.

Abstract Most human ectoparasites live on the surface of their host and depend on that host to complete their life cycle. The most common ectoparasitic infestations of medical importance in humans include pediculosis, scabies, myiasis, and tungiasis. Different host factors are related, with increased risk of acquiring ectoparasitic infestation occurring among the homeless. Although these ectoparasitic infections can be found worldwide, their prevalence is affected significantly by environmental conditions in different geographical areas. This review focuses on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of common ectoparasitic infestations among homeless children and their families. The most frequent bacterial infections associated with these infestations also are discussed. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Mission investigates tropical cirrus clouds

It has been 18 months since NASA conducted the highly successful Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers-Florida Area Cirrus Experiment Study (CRYSTAL-FACE). The measurement campaign was designed to investigate the physical properties and formation processes of tropical cirrus clouds. CRYSTAL-FACE was sponsored by NASA's Earth Science Enterprise as an integral component of its Earth observation research strategy and included substantial collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the Naval Research Laboratory. During July 2002, the mission's six aircraft (NASA ER-2, NASA WB-57, Scaled Composites Proteus, University of North Dakota Citation, NSF-supported NRL P-3,and NRL Twin Otter) operated from the Key West Naval Air Facility.
Structural and evolutionary analysis of the two chimpanzee α-globin mRNAs

Two distinct alpha-globin mRNAs were detected in chimpanzee reticulocyte mRNA using a primer extension assay. DNA copies of these two mRNAs were cloned in the bacterial plasmid pBR322, and their sequence was determined. The two alpha-globin mRNAs have obvious structural homology to the two human alpha-globin mRNAs, alpha 1 and alpha 2. Comparison of the two chimpanzee alpha-globin mRNAs to each other and to their corresponding human counterparts revealed evidence of a recent gene conversion in the human alpha-globin complex and a marked heterogeneity in the rate of structural divergence within the alpha-globin gene.
The effect of magnesium sulfate on bleeding time in pregnancy

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The bleeding time is one of the most commonly used diagnostic tests to evaluate platelet-related hemorrhagic disorders. Magnesium has been shown in vitro to be a platelet antiaggregant. This study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that magnesium sulfate has no effect on the template bleeding time. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of 24 women who required magnesium sulfate in pregnancy. A blood cell count, platelet count, magnesium level, bleeding time, and mean arterial pressure were obtained before and 2 hours after magnesium sulfate infusion. Magnesium sulfate was infused beginning with a 6 gm intravenous bolus followed by 2 gm/hr. A template bleeding time was performed with a Simplate-II (Organon Teknika, Durham, N.C.) device. Two of the authors performed all the bleeding times. Data were analyzed with a paired t test and Wilcoxon rank test. RESULTS: Fifteen (63%) patients received magnesium sulfate for tocolysis or before external cephalic version and nine (37%) for preeclampsia prophylaxis. No differences were found between the normotensive and hypertensive groups regarding maternal age, gestational age, initial bleeding time,or platelet count. Analysis of the entire study group revealed a prolongation of the bleeding time after magnesium sulfate (5.7 ± 1.8 vs 6.6 ± 1.9 minutes, p p p 9 minutes. CONCLUSION: Magnesium sulfate appears to prolong the bleeding time in pregnancy. The clinical significance remains to be determined.
Lead distribution in rats following respiratory exposure to lead-contaminated soils

Two preliminary experiments were performed to explore the use of an intratracheal instillation technique as a cost-effective method of determining the biokinetics of lead (Pb) following respiratory exposure to Pb-contaminated soils. A novel intratracheal instillation procedure was refined and used to deliver a defined dose of Pb-contaminated soil or PbAc to the lower respiratory tract of rats. In the first experiment, rats were sacrificed at numerous time intervals post-dosing, and liver, kidney, blood, and bone tissues were collected for Pb analysis. In the second experiment, rats were dosed with Pb-contaminated soil or PbAc via intratracheal instillation or gastric gavage. All rats were sacrificed 96 h after dose administration and tissues were collected for lead analysis. Data from these experiments indicate Pb is well-absorbed following intratracheal instillation of Pb-contaminated soil, and the intratracheal instillation technique could be used as a cost effective method for exploring the biokinetics...
The structure of the skyrmion-skyrmion interaction

Abstract The structure of the skyrmion-skyrmion interaction is investigated. Using a zero-range boson-exchange interpretation, Skyrme models can be related to models including explicit boson stabilization. The structure of the potential can be understood in terms of conventional boson-exchange pictures and corrections to the conventional Skyrme model are made to estimate mesonic effects known to be important in the nucleon-nucleon interaction. The effects of soft-pion fluctuations and a sixth order term on the skyrmion-skyrmion interaction are assessed and interpreted in terms of ω and σ mesons. The modifications to the Skyrme model produce interactions in qualitative agreement with phenomenological models of the nucleon-nucleon interaction.
Task-specific serial position effects in comparisons of multiletter strings.

Several recent studies of multiletter matching have included pairs in which the two letter strings have the same letters but in different orders. The latency of responses and the error rates to these rearranged pairs vary as a function of the total number of positions by which the letters in one string are displaced in the other. When order is relevant, and the rearranged pairs are classified as “different” (the order task), both response measures decrease as displacement increases. Similar, but mirror-image, displacement functions are obtained when order is irrelevant and the rearranged pairs are classified as “same” (the item task). The present experiments compared displacement with other measures of permutation and included a systematic examination of serial-position functions for the two tasks. Displacement, rather than the other measures of permutation, best predicted performance on both the order and item tasks, and the order task consistently showed a greater left-to-right weighting of serial positions than did the item task. Thus, even though the displacement functions are qualitatively similar for the two tasks, the difference in serial-position functions indicates that subjects exert some strategic control over the comparison of multiletter strings.
Measurements of bromine containing organic compounds at the tropical tropopause

The amount of bromine entering the stratosphere from organic source gases is a primary factor involved in determining the magnitude of bromine catalyzed loss of ozone. Thirty two whole air samples were collected at the tropical tropopause during the NASA STRAT Campaign in Feb., Aug., and Dec., 1996 and were analyzed for brominated organic compounds. Total organic bromine was 17.4±0.9 ppt with 55% from methyl bromide, 38% from the Halons, 6% from dibromomethane, and 0.8% from bromochloromethane and dichlorobromomethane. One flight showed the presence of 0.42 ppt of additional organic bromine from bromoform and dibromochloromethane.
3D heart model guides complex stent angioplasty of pulmonary venous baffle obstruction in a Mustard repair of D-TGA

a Children's National Medical Center, Division of Cardiology, 111 Michigan Avenue NW Suite W3-200, Washington, DC 20010, United States b Children's National Medical Center, Sheik Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Room M777, Washington, DC 20010, United States c National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory, Building 10, B1D416, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
OR Practice-The Status of Nonlinear Programming Software: An Update

This paper reports on progress in nonlinear programming software since 1979. Developments in the computer industry have had a significant impact on the design of mathematical software and the expectations of users. Microcomputers in particular are changing the software industry to an extent that was not anticipated in the last survey. Continuing refinements in NLP algorithms have enabled users to solve larger and more complicated problems, even some with integer variables. Modeling systems with nonlinear programming capabilities have now become available. Interest and improvements in computational experimentation have increased the rigor and objectivity of studies assessing software quality. This report surveys these important developments and speculates on the future.
A Mere Footnote? An American Dilemma and Supreme Court School Desegregation Jurisprudence

This article provides historical and legal context for recent U.S. Supreme Court school desegregation decisions. The Supreme Court's race-based and race-neutral arguments from Brown (1954) to Parents Involved (2007) are examined within their broader context. Policy implications and potential support for diversity goal arguments given the Obama administration's appointments of Sonia Sotomayor and Elana Kagan as the 111th and 112th Supreme Court Justices are considered in light of enduring issues and guiding ideals delineated over half a century ago in Gunnar Myrdal's landmark study of race in the United States, An American Dilemma.
Programming with an intelligent agent

The large number of growing class libraries presents a huge learning challenge for Java programmers. CodeBroker is an intelligent software agent that autonomously delivers previously unknown library components relevant to the programming task at hand.
Recurrent solar wind structures in the outer heliosphere

The paper presents recent work on evolution of recurrent solar wind structures in the outer heliosphere. Corotating shocks, corotating interaction regions, and merged interaction regions are studied, and an MHD simulation model in which the jump conditions at all shock crossings satisfy the Rankine-Hugoniot solution is examined. Simulation results which describe the evolution of idealized recurrent solar wind structures between 14 AU and the termination shock are reported which show that merged interaction regions belonging to two to four consecutive solar rotations coalesce with each other between 30 AU and the termination shock to reshape the heliospheric structures. In the outer heliosphere, forward and reverse interplanetary shocks which continuously heat the solar wind plasma are investigated.
Mathematics and culture: a unique liberal arts experience

To introduce students to the beauty and utility of mathematics in a way that will change negative attitudes, give students a sense of accomplishment, and broaden perspectives, we have developed a M...
Memorability judgments for high- and low-frequency words

Five experiments were conducted in order to examine subjects’ judgments of the memorability of high- (HF) and low-frequency (LF) words in the context of a recognition memory task. In Experiment 1, the subjects were provided study/test experience with a list of HF and LF words prior to making memorability judgments for a new list of HF and LF items. The findings were consistent with previous evidence (Greene & Thapar, 1994; Wixted, 1992) suggesting that subjects are not explicitly aware of the greater recognition memorability of LF words. Experiments 2–5 embedded the memorability judgment task within the recognition test itself. In these experiments, the subjects consistently gave higher memorability ratings to LF items. The contrast between the pattern of results found when the subjects made their judgments at the time of list presentation (Experiment 1) and that when they made their judgments during the recognition test (Experiments 2–5) is consistent with recent evidence that even seemingly highly related metamnemonic judgments (e.g., ease of learning judgments vs. judgments of learning for the same items) may be based on very different factors if they occur at different points in the study/test cycle. The present findings are also consistent with the possibility that very rapid retrieval of memorability information for HF and LF words may affect recognition decisions and may contribute to the recognition memory word frequency effect.
Slaves And Slave Trading In Shi'i Iran, AD 1500-1900

In 1501, the Safavids proclaimed themselves the new rulers of the Iranian plateau establishing Shi'ism as a "state" religion and a "new" economic and political order. The Safavid "new order," however, was an impossibility without the slaves, forced urban and rural labor, and periodic population transfers. This paper examines the changes in slave labor practices and slave trading in Iran from 1500 to 1900. The establishment of an Islamic empire did little to diminish the numbers and uses of slaves in Iranian society and economies. Indeed, slaves and the peddling trade in slaving greatly expanded during and after the Safavid rulers assumed power. By the nineteenth century, shortages of Iranian peasant labor, the expansion of land holdings in Central and Southern Iran, and the boom in Iran's trade through the Persian Gulf altered the older slave trade in several significant ways in particular the numbers, ages and usages of African slaves. Between 1840 and 1880, Iran's participation in the Indian Ocean trade surpassed all previous slave-trading practices including the pre-Safavid era.
High‐Temperature Environmental Strength Degradation of a Hot‐Pressed Silicon Nitride: An Experimental Test

High-temperature environmental strength degradation of hot-pressed silicon nitride ceramics is postulated to occur as a consequence of the properties of the noncrystalline inter-granular phase being altered by cation diffusion from the environment. The model proposed is tested by comparing the strength before and after prolonged high-temperature exposures to a calcium-rich magnesium silicate. Two high-temperature degradation regimes are identified, one in which the intergranular phase alone is affected, and the other, at still higher temperatures, where actual corrosion of the silicon nitride grains occurs.
Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Titanium Alkoxides Using UV Excitation

The use of Raman spectroscopy can be greatly hindered by the presence of fluorescing impurities. Even at low concentrations, fluorescence can completely obscure the Raman signal. In the current study, Raman spectra were recorded for various titanium alkoxides (ethoxide, isopropoxide, isobutoxide) as a function of concentration and laser excitation wavelength. It has been shown that fluorescence can be avoided by using uv-excitation (363.8 nm). In addition, titanium alkoxides exhibit a preresonance Raman enhancement as the excitation wavelength appreaches the UV. This result is confirmed by a uv-visible absorption spectrum of the isopropoxide.
THE LATEST LAUREATE OF THE GONCOURT ACADEMY

FRENCH writers from the authors of the early fabliaux to Daudet satirized the corpulent, especially monks and the clergy. But time alters manners. Thus Henri Beraud, the latest laureate of the Goncourt Academy, has come out as an ardent champion of such "martyrs"-including himself, for he weighs 230 pounds. This revolution in literary tradition, wrought by Beraud with his novel, "Le Martyre de l'Obese," is the sensation of the season in Paris.
Social adjustment of family members and significant others (FSOs) of drug users

This study investigated the social adjustment of female family members and significant others (FSOs) of illicit drug users in order to gain insight into the impact of drug use upon those close to the user. Using the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report (SAS-SR), we examined the social adjustment self-ratings (overall and in seven specific role areas) of 41 female partners and 24 mothers of drug users. We compared these ratings to the ratings they reported for their drug-using partners or children, to each other, and to self-ratings drawn from community comparison samples. As expected, results showed that the female FSOs reported significantly better social adjustment than the drug users in most role areas. However, their social adjustment was compromised relative to the community samples. Partners of drug users reported poorer adjustment than parents of drug users overall and in the specific areas of marital and economic functioning. Further inquiry is needed to improve our understanding of the impact of drug use on the users' family members.
448 TREATMENT OF PERSISTENT PUBERTAL GYNECOMASTIA WITH DEHYDROTESTOSTERONE HEPTANOATE (DHT-hp)

448 TREATMENT OF PERSISTENT PUBERTAL GYNECOMASTIA WITH DEHYDROTESTOSTERONE HEPTANOATE (DHT-hp)
Crystallization and magnetic properties of melt-spun neodymium-iron alloys

Abstract The magnetic and crystallization properties of melt-spun Nd 1− x Fe x alloys are reported. By using high purity constituents and an extremely fine orifice (100–150 μm), amorphous alloys were prepared over the interval 0.4 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.8. Their magnetic properties, taken between 20–850 K in fields up to 95 kOe, are interpreted on the basis of a sperimagnetic structure; at high field the alloys from collinear ferromagnetic structures. Room temperature coercivities of the amorphous alloys are relatively low (1.5–2.0 kOe) but increase substantially at reduced temperatures; at 20 K, a maximum coercivity of 52 kOe was found for a Nd 0.4 Fe 0.6 alloy. X-ray diffraction indicates that the melt-spun alloys crystallize by the precipitation of Nd metal and an unidentified Nd-Fe phase. Changes in magnetization and coercivity during crystallization are reported.
Longitudinal Effects of a Universal Family-Focused Intervention on Growth Patterns of Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms and Polysubstance Use: Gender Comparisons

This study evaluated effects of the Iowa Strengthening Families Program, a family-focused universal preventive intervention, on growth patterns of adolescent internalizing (anxiety and depressive symptoms) and monthly polysubstance use (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants, and other illicit drugs), as well as the association between internalizing and polysubstance growth factors. The sample consisted of rural Midwestern adolescents (N = 383), followed from sixth through twelfth grade. Compared to the control group, the intervention group adolescents showed a slower rate of increase in internalizing symptoms and polysubstance use. Intervention effects on internalizing symptoms were similar for boys and girls; however, girls demonstrated a higher overall level and a greater rate of increase across time. The intervention slowed the rate of increase in polysubstance use significantly more for girls than for boys, although overall levels of use were lower in the intervention group for both genders. Associations between internalizing and polysubstance use growth factors were found for girls, but not for boys, suggesting gender differences in psychosocial development.
Interim succession: Temporary leadership in the midst of the perfect storm

Abstract The corporate governance environment has changed. The rate of CEO successions is naturally trending up, succession planning is in dire need of repair, and boards are under increasing pressure to focus on oversight. This confluence of events creates a ‘perfect storm.’ Within this new environment, interim successions are on the rise. But is it all bad news? This article explores the decision of corporate directors to use temporary chief executive officers (CEOs) and the roles served by these interim leaders. We include a typology of interim CEOs and prescribe the contexts in which organizations can strategically pursue this type of succession. We conclude with a list of recommendations for how boards can most effectively manage interim leadership in the new corporate governance environment.
SYNTHESIS OF AMORPHOUS SiOx NANOSTRUCTURES

Various amorphous SiOx nanotube structures nucleated by GeOx nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal evaporation method. The presence of Ge does not only nucleate the growth of the SiOx nanomaterials, but also dopes them. The nanostructure morphology is affected by the substrate temperature, source temperature and GeOx vapor density through their effect on the size and lifetime of the nucleation center. In general, low substrate temperature promotes the formation of the nanotube bundle structure with 2–3% atomic ratio of Ge doping, and high temperature produces Ge-free much less bundled nanotubes.
A physiological theory of sex differences in suicide

Skutsch has proposed a theory of depression based on the presence of high levels of dopamine in the central nervous system. The present paper uses Skutsch's theory to explain the fact that males complete suicide more than females whereas females attempt suicide more than males.
Graphene/Polypyrrole Nanocomposite as Electrochemical Supercapacitor Electrode: Electrochemical Impedance Studies

Graphene-Polypyrrole (G/PPy) was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization method, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis was employed to study the frequency response characteristics of supercapacitors based on G/PPy conducting polymer nanocomposite. It is found that a uniform G/PPy nanocomposite is formed with polypyrrole (PPy) being homogeneously surrounded by graphene nanosheets. The porous structure allowed electrolyte and ions diffusion in synthesized G/PPy nanocomposite. The metallic conductivity of Graphene-polypyrrole exhibited higher knee frequency at 125 Hz than the knee frequency of pristine PPy at 36 Hz. The high knee frequency of G/PPy supercapacitor is indicative of high power application and long cycle life. The G/PPy nanocomposite based supercapacitor with 1MH2SO4 as the electrolyte showed specific capacitances of 270 F/g at 0.1 Hz and112 F/g at 125 Hz.
A Nonorthogonal Analysis of Variance Program

Abstract A general computer program for univariate and multivariate nonorthogonal analysis of variance is described. Its use is illustrated with a two-factor problem with missing cells. It is pointed out that the criticisms of Francis regarding this program are unwarranted.
Transesophageal magnetic resonance imaging.

The purpose of this study was to develop a non-invasive method of imaging the thoracic aorta that would provide both morphological detail within the aortic wall and information about regional aortic wall motion. An esophageal probe is described that allows transesophageal MR imaging (TEMRI) of the thoracic aorta and has several potential advantages over the competing non-vasculoinvasive techniques of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or standard MRI. The probe consists of a loopless antenna housed inside a modified Levin gastric tube, with external matching and tuning circuitry. Using this probe, the thoracic aorta has been imaged in longitudinal and crosssectional views. Details of the aortic wall were readily seen. Tissue tagging for measurement of focal stress/strain relationships was demonstrated to be feasible. TEMRI avoids the risks inherent in intravascular MRI yet provides comparable image quality. Potential applications of the device are discussed. Magn Current standard techniques for imaging the thoracic aorta include computed tomography (CT), standard MRI, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and contrast aortography. Each of these techniques suffers from some important limitation in its ability to allow detailed mapping of the aortic wall and its anatomic and functional lesions. Standard MRI and CT lack adequate resolution of the aortic wall for precise characterization of aortic atheromata and are not able to provide measurements of focal variations in
Propagation of shear bands through obstacles in atactic polystyrene

High speed cinematography (up to 6000 frames sec−1), as well as optical and electron microscopy, was used to study the formation and propagation of thin and thick shear bands in atactic polystyrene, with and without obstacles in their paths of propagation. Three different kinds of obstacles were studied, an existing thick band, a fully recovered thick band and a region dispersed with 2 to 6 μm rubber particles (a strip of high impact polystyrene). Except for the fully recovered thick band which behaved like undeformed polystyrene, the other two obstacles effectively reduced the speed of propagation of the shear band packets and changed their mode of operation by dispersing them into thin bands and spreading them out into larger spaces. However, the original localized mode of operation resumed after the shear band packet passed through the obstacles.
Learned fuzzy rules versus decision trees in classifying microcalcifications in mammograms

Screening mammograms for microcalcifications is important labor intensive work for an expert physician. A fatigued or inexperienced person might miss an abnormal mammogram, which is why the practice of having two readers for mammograms is not uncommon. A set of 63 features extracted from 40 mammograms, each with ground truthed microcalcifications, are used for learning and testing a set of rules to classify pixels as microcalcification or normal. A decision tree is used to learn these rules. Results from applying the rules to unseen mammograms are discussed. We also discuss a method of fuzzifying the decision tree which should lead to improved classification accuracy.
Anticonvulsant profile of an anesthetic steroid

Abstract The synthetic steroids alphaxalone and alphadolone are combined for use as a veterinary anesthetic and marketed under the trade name Saffan. This study evaluated the anticonvulsant activity of Saffan in 2 rat models of epilepsy; maximal eleotroshock and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol seizures. Neurological deficit was tested in each animal just prior to the seizure test to differentiate selective antiepileptic effects from nonselective anticonvulsant or anesthetic activity. In both seizure models Saffan induced anticonvulsant activity only at doses associated with neurological deficit.
Structural biology: a high-tech tool for biomedical research.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Structural biology is one of the most informative disciplines available to biochemical research. It unites technologies that can reveal high-resolution (often atomic) details of the inner workings of biochemical systems. These insights are crucial for an understanding of basic life processes, such as the reaction mechanism of a drug-converting enzyme, signal transduction from one protein to another, activation of a metabolic pathway by a gene effector, action modes of drugs, or the consequences of a mutation on the function of an enzyme. Structural biology is also vital for characterizing the molecular basis of many diseases and often provides a starting platform for the development of specifically tuned therapies, for example by designing drugs that bind to particular targets in order to affect their functionality. An overview of the main techniques as well as some selected case studies are presented. RECENT FINDINGS Recent advances in the three major structure determination techniques (X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electron microscopy) have made it possible to obtain three-dimensional structural information on larger systems, at higher resolution and with much less effort than in the past. Because these techniques often provide complementary information, combining them is particularly powerful for gaining comprehensive insights into complex systems, as illustrated by the recent structure determinations of the low-density lipoprotein receptor and the ribosome. SUMMARY Structural biology is no longer exclusive to a few dedicated specialists. Many of its techniques are now easily accessible and can be used as tools in general life science research.
A Proposed Design for the Business Capstone Course with Emphasis on Improving Students' Information Competency

Business school accrediting agencies and employers increasingly demand evidence that students are mastering information competency (IC) skills. The authors present an innovative approach to inculcate IC skills in the strategic management “capstone” class, integrating cross-departmental student training in using electronic information sources, pretests and posttests of student familiarity with such resources, an externally judged team case presentation sequence, and a unique research log component. Their results from the pretests and posttests show preliminary evidence of IC mastery, supported by anecdotal evidence from participants and judges. The authors also offer guidance for implementing and evaluating this exercise.
Landscape dynamics at the public–private interface: A case study in Colorado

Abstract The Rocky Mountain West is experiencing rapid land use change in the form of residential development. Public land managers, like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service are increasingly concerned with ecological and management implications of private land use adjacent to public lands. Using fine-grain land use data, collected from high resolution aerial photographs, we quantify human land use composition, patterns, and trends at the interface of public and private land in the Southern Rocky Mountain Ecoregion (SRE) of Colorado. We developed two metrics for assessing land use impacts. The first quantifies the amount of land cover modified (HM c ) by human land use and the second estimates the amount of wildlife habitat that is functionally modified (HM fd ). In 2005, we estimate that human land use modifies 8% of the total land cover in the Colorado SRE and that 13% of the study area was functionally modified. Agriculture had the greatest impact in terms of area of modified land cover (282,305 ha). Residential (exurban) land use had a smaller footprint (HM c ) but the close proximity to public lands, dispersed spatial pattern (high HM fd ), and rapid increase in rural and exurban housing density observed in the SRE have important implications. This research demonstrates how fine scale land cover data can be used to examine land use pattern and composition as well as track land use change.
Transitory behavioral effects of interpeduncular nucleus damage.

Abstract Previous research on rats has shown that the interpeduncular nucleus is implicated in retention of various learned habits. The present study tested whether the deficit in retention resulting from lesions in it is subject to diminution by lengthening the postoperative recovery period from 1 week to 3 weeks. Prolongation of the recovery period abolishes the deleterious effects of interpeduncular nucleus damage on retention of both an avoidance conditioning task and a visual discrimination habit. In contrast, experiments on other brain-stem areas (posterior thalamus and lateral hypothalamic area) found to be critical for visual retention showed that the consequent deficits are largely unaffected by variations in the length of the recovery period.
Inhalation carcinogenesis from various forms of asbestos.

Abstract Rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, and mice were exposed to the inhalation of chrysotile, crocidolite, or amosite for 2 years. Mean atmospheric concentrations were 47.9–50.2 mg/m3, but only 0.08–1.82% of the dusts retained fibrous morphology during the dissemination procedure which involved hammer milling. Trace contamination especially by chromium and nickel was also increased. Light microscopic fiber counts per ml chamber air were 54 (chrysotile), 1105 (crocidolite), and 864 (amosite). A fibrogenic response to these dusts was observed in all five animal species, the severity corresponding to the extent of exposure (with reaction to chrysotile frequently very slight). Gerbils developed frequent alveolar proteinosis. Mice developed spontaneous papillary carcinomas in the lungs. Disregarding the latter species, carcinogenic response to asbestos inhalation was restricted to rats and occurred in all three exposure groups. There were 2 lung cancers and 1 pleural mesothelioma after chrysotile inhalation; 4 lung cancers after crocidolite inhalation; and 1 lung cancer and 2 pleural mesotheliomas after amosite inhalation. These cases constituted 7–9% incidence of malignancy among rats with adequate survival record. Hypotheses of asbestos carcinogenesis are reviewed and it is suggested that different etiologic principles may be involved in the causation of lung cancer and of pleural mesothelioma.