cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress–strain behavior of a polyurea and a polyurethane from low to high strain rates

Abstract The large deformation stress–strain behavior of thermoplastic–elastomeric polyurethanes and elastomeric-thermoset polyureas is strongly dependent on strain rate. Their mechanical behavior at very high strain rates is of particular interest due to their role as a protective coating on structures to enhance structural survivability during high rate loading events. Here we report on the uniaxial compression stress–strain behavior of a representative polyurea and a representative polyurethane over a wide range in strain rates, from 0.001 s−1 to 10,000 s−1, successively marching through each order of magnitude in strain rate using equipment relevant for testing at each particular rate. These results are further analyzed in association with recently reported compressive data on the same materials by Yi et al. [Polymer 2006;47(1):319–29] and intermediate rate tensile data on the same polyurea by Roland et al. [Polymer 2007;48(2):574–8]. The polyurea tested is seen to undergo transition from a rubbery-regime behavior at low rates to a leathery-regime behavior at the highest rates, consistent with the earlier compression study as well as the recent tension study; the polyurethane tested is observed to undergo transition from a rubbery-regime behavior at the low rates to a glassy behavior at the highest rates. The uniaxial compression data for the polyurea are found to be fully consistent with the recently reported uniaxial tension data over the range of rates studied, demonstrating the consistency and complementary aspects of testing at high rates in both compression and tension.
The intrusiveness of familiar nontarget information.

Two experiments required subjects to attend to one of two binaurally presented passages and, at the same time, perform a visual reaction time (RT) task. Mean RT measured the capacity expended on selective listening: Longer RTs imply greater capacity expenditure. The relative familiarity of target and nontarget passages and the cue by which they could be differentiated (sensory vs. semantic) were manipulated. The target passages were defined by the experimenter in Experiment 1 but chosen by the subjects in Experiment 2. Both experiments showed that expenditure of capacity increased from sensory to semantic selection and increased with non-target familiarity only for semantic selection. The data were interpreted in terms of a multi-mode theory of attention.
The environmental justice debate: New agendas for a third generation of research

Environmental justice has become a major focus of research within the environmental social sciences. Early studies mostly examined the unequal distribution of natural resource hazards in an advanced capitalist political‐economy. More recent studies have quantitatively gauged the relationship between sociodemographic factors and exposure to toxic chemical pollution. In this article, I use presentations at the recent meetings of the American Sociological Association (Toronto, August 1997) to suggest where the third generation of research into environmental justice may be heading. The literature is at a crossroads. We know enough to argue that there is a problem, but we cannot clearly articulate relationships, causation, or policy demands. New research techniques and social theories may begin to allow us to accomplish these more ambitious tasks.
Unfolding of two-dimensional spectra which are folded in the f1 dimension☆

Abstract To obtain the connectivity information of two-dimensional (2D) homonuclear correlated spectra with the same degree of resolution as chemical shift spin-coupling dispersed spectra normally requires much larger arrays of data. It is shown how two previously reported techniques may be modified and combined to yield this connectivity information with significantly smaller data arrays.
THE IMMUNOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF COLOSTRUM I. THE RELATION BETWEEN COLOSTRUM, SERUM, AND THE MILK OF COWS NORMAL AND IMMUNIZED TOWARDS B. COLI

The protective antibody content of normal cow serum is below that of colostrum of the same animal. The method used does not permit the titration of the actual amount of the antibody in serum. Quantities up to 2 cc. have no protective effect. The same limitations apply to the titration of milk owing to the introduction of large quantitites of foreign protein into the peritoneal cavity of the guinea pig. When cows were immunized and a serum of high titer obtained, the antibodies in the milk of such cows rose to within the range of the method of testing. The relation of the protective capacity of serum to that of milk was approximately 1/120 and 1/40 in the two animals. These figures do not differ much from those obtained by early investigators titrating the antitoxic content of serum and milk of animals undergoing immunization with diphtheria toxin. In the two experiments on calves, 2¼ and 18 days old respectively, fed a highly protective serum, no increase in agglutinins or protective antibodies could be demonstrated. The postponement of colostrum to the 12th and 18th hour, respectively did not prevent normal growth.
Characterization of plasmid pAZ1 and the type III dihydrofolate reductase gene

Abstract The plasmid pAZ1, which determines trimethoprim and sulfonamide resistance, was characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping. The restriction map was identical to that of the incQ plasmid RSF1010 over a 5.1-kbp region. The type III dihydrofolate reductase gene was cloned, and the DNA sequence was determined. The predicted protein had 162 amino acid residues, and it was more closely related to the gram-negative bacterial chromosomal dihydrofolate reductases than to other plasmid or vertebrate dihydrofolate reductases. Sequence identity was 51% with the Escherichia coli enzyme and 44% with the Neisseria gonorrhoea enzyme.
Reproductive strategies of an egg parasitoid, Trissolcus sp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on two different hosts

Reproductive strategies in relation to host diversity of a scelionid egg parasitoid,Trissolcus sp. onEupaleopada concinna Fab. andHomoeocerus prominulus (Tagus) are discussed, followed by the life table analysis of the parasitoid, indicating the preponderance of females due to solitary parasitism on the former host and a balanced sex ratio due to superparasitism on the latter.
Crystallization of polydimethylsiloxane end-linked networks

End-linked polydimethylsiloxane networks were synthesized, and used to quantify the reduction due to crosslinking of both the extent and thermodynamic stability of the crystalline phase. Networks of varying crosslink density were isothermally crystallized at various temperatures. The consequent melting points were found to be a linear function of the crystallization temperature, enabling equilibrium melting temperatures to be determined by extrapolation. From the dependence of the equilibrium melting point on crosslink density, it was determined that a network junction precludes roughly 8 adjoining chain units from incorporating into the crystal phase. This result is consistent with the measured degree of crystallinity suppression in the networks.
CHANGES IN POPLITEAL ANGLE MEASUREMENT IN INFANTS UP TO ONE YEAR OF AGE

The purpose of this study was to determine trends in the changes of the popliteal angle in 130 normal infants between one day and 12 months of age, for use in assessing infants with possible neuromuscular pathology. Using a 360 degree goniometer, the popliteal angle was measured with the hip held at 90 degree flexion, to indicate hamstring-muscle tightness. Limitation of knee extension was also measured with the hip extended (HEKE angle) to indicate capsular tightness. Both the popliteal and HEKE angle measurements showed greatest limitation of knee extension at birth, which decreased until eight months of age, when most infants showed no limitation. A highly significant negative correlation was found between age and mean popliteal and HEKE angles.
Properties and metabolism of soluble lipoproteins containing choline and ethanolamine phospholipids in rat brain.

— Choline and ethanolamine phospholipids in the 105,000 g supernatant fraction of rat brain exhibited density and electrophoretic properties consistent with their binding to protein. About 40% of these two phospholipids were bound to soluble lipoproteins, whereas the remainder appeared to be associated with particulate complexes. Following intracranial injection of [2-3H]glycerol, the specific radioactivities of the choline and ethanolamine phospholipids in the supernatant fraction were higher than those in the microsomal fraction at all time points examined, from 15 min to 12 h after injection. The properties of cytoplasmic lipoproteins containing choline and ethanolamine phospholipids have been compared with those which we have previously described containing sulphatide.
Immunolocalization of chick periostin protein in the developing heart

The process that cardiac cushions undergo to form the mature septa and valves of the adult heart is poorly understood. Periostin is an extracellular molecule that is expressed during cushion mesenchyme formation and throughout valvulogenesis. Once thought to be an osteoblast-specific factor, studies have shown this molecule is antiosteogenic. We have produced an antibody to chicken periostin and examined periostin's localization in the developing avian heart. This antibody recognized proteins from chick heart lysates around 90 kD molecular weight as predicted from the chick periostin mRNA and other periostin orthologs. Periostin immunolocalization was first evident as fibrous strands in the cushion mesenchyme. At HH25, periostin was detected on the basal surface of the trabecular endothelium and also on the endocardial epithelium of the atrioventricular cushion. We hypothesize that periostin may function in the organization of extracellular matrix molecules, providing cues necessary for attachment and spreading during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions of the endocardial epithelium. Enhanced secretion of periostin in the region of delamination may directly or indirectly promote change in the myocardium that precedes or mediates delamination of the leaflet. At later stages of development (HH34-38), periostin was seen predominantly in the fibrous regions of the heart, such as the left atrioventricular valve (LAV), annulus, cardiac skeleton, and adventitia. We propose that periostin is induced by sheer stress and may be an essential molecular component for structures of the heart that undergo mechanical stress or tension during the cardiac cycle.
Small bowel adaptation is dependent on site of massive enterectomy.

Background.Changes in amino acid transport after massive enterectomy occur in a nutrient-dependent fashion and may affect long-term outcome. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) can enhance nutrient transport and a defective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) has been noted to attenuate adaptation. Most animal studies, however, have examined only a single site of resection. This does not mimic the clinical situation where disease dictates the site of resection leading to proximal, middle, or distal enterectomies. We hypothesize that the site of massive enterectomy will alter nutrient transport and EGF-R levels in the residual gut. Materials and methods.New Zealand White rabbits were randomized to control, midgut division, or 70% resection (proximal, midgut, or distal). After 1 week, sodium-dependent transport of glucose, glutamine, alanine, and leucine into brush border membrane vesicles was quantitated. EGF-R protein was determined by Western blot analysis. Results.At baseline, amino acid transport was greater in ileum than jejunum. Surgery alone elevated glutamine and leucine jejunal transport by 130 and 97%, respectively, over controls (P< 0.05). Midgut resection increased jejunal glutamine transport 61% over control (P< 0.05). In contrast, distal resection increased jejunal alanine transport by 150% over controls with no change in glutamine (P< 0.05). After midgut resection, EGF-R was significantly greater (124%) in ileum then in jejunum in whole mucosa homogenates. Proximal resection significantly lowered ileal EGF-R compared to that seen in midgut resected residual ileum. Conclusions.Site of massive resection is important in determining postoperative changes in nutrient transport and EGF-R.
Insertional suppressors of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that restore growth of air-dier lcib mutants in low CO2.

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and other microalgae show adaptive changes to limiting CO2 conditions by induction of CO2-concentrating mechanisms. The limiting-CO2-inducible gene, LCIB, encodes a soluble plastid protein and is proposed to play a role in trapping CO2 released by CAH3 (thylakoid lumen carbonic anhydrase) catalyzed dehydration of accumulated Ci, especially in low CO2 (L-CO2; ~0.04% CO2) conditions. To gain further insight into the mechanisms of Ci uptake and accumulation in L-CO2 acclimated C. reinhardtii, we performed an insertional mutagenesis screen to isolate extragenic suppressors that restore the growth of lcib mutants (pmp1 and ad1) in L-CO2. Four independent suppressors are described here and classified by their photosynthetic affinities for Ci and expression patterns of known limiting-CO2-inducible transcripts. Genetic analysis of the four suppressors identified two allelic, dominant suppressors (su4 and su5), and two recessive suppressors (su1 and su8). Consistent with the suppression phenotype, both the relative affinities of photosynthetic O2 evolution and internal Ci accumulation in all four suppressors were substantially increased relative to pmp1/ad1 in L-CO2 acclimated cells. The relative affinities of pmp-su1 and ad-su8 for Ci were nearly the same as wild type, but that of pmp-su4/su5 was intermediate between pmp-su1 and pmp1. Also, the interactions between lcib mutations and each of the three suppressors varied over the range of CO2 acclimation states. Our results suggest complex contributions of LCIB-dependent and independent active Ci uptake/accumulation systems in various CO2 acclimation states and therefore provide new clues about the roles played by LCIB in limiting Ci acclimation.
Supramolecular Heteropentamers As Building Blocks for Metal Organic Materials: Synthesis and Characterization of 1D and 2D 2-Fold Interpenetrated Frameworks

Reactions between (Me4N)4[Nb6Cl12(CN)6], [Mn(ACEN)Cl] (ACEN2- = bis(acetylacetonato)ethylenediamine), and dpyo (dpyo = 4,4′-dipyridyl-N,N′-dioxide) in different ratios led to the crystallization of two cluster-based metal-organic materials (CMOMs): {[Mn(ACEN)]2[Mn(ACEN)(MeOH)]2(Nb6Cl12(CN)6)(dpyo)}·2MeCN (1) and {[Mn(ACEN)]4(Nb6Cl12(CN)6)(dpyo)2}·MeCN·2MeOH·3.5H2O (2). Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both materials are built of neutral heteropentamers {[Mn(ACEN)]4[Nb6Cl12(CN)6]} in which the edge-bridged hexacyano octahedral metal cluster [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- is functionalized by four [Mn(III)(ACEN)]+ complexes. The supramolecular assemblies are connected to each other by the ditopic ligand, dpyo. In 1, each heteropentamer is trans-bridged by two dpyo linkers to give a neutral chain. Hydrogen bonds between nonbridging cyanides and coordinated methanol ligands further connect the chains into layers which are separated by solvent molecules. In 2 each heteropentamer ...
Single-molecule fluorescence characterization in native environment

Single-molecule detection (SMD) with fluorescence is a widely used microscopic technique for biomolecule structure and function characterization. The modern light microscope with high numerical aperture objective and sensitive CCD camera can image the brightly emitting organic and fluorescent protein tags with reasonable time resolution. Single-molecule imaging gives an unambiguous bottom-up biomolecule characterization that avoids the “missing information” problem characteristic of ensemble measurements. It has circumvented the diffraction limit by facilitating single-particle localization to ∼1 nm. Probes developed specifically for SMD applications extend the advantages of single-molecule imaging to high probe density regions of cells and tissues. These applications perform under conditions resembling the native biomolecule environment and have been used to detect both probe position and orientation. Native, high density SMD may have added significance if molecular crowding impacts native biomolecule behavior as expected inside the cell.
Cumulative Incidence of Death and Rehospitalization Among the Elderly in the First Year after NSTEMI

Abstract Background Age is associated with outcomes in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; however, less is known about rehospitalization or death among elderly survivors. We aimed to evaluate mortality and cause-specific rehospitalization rates in this growing population of older adults with ischemic heart disease. Methods We linked 36,711 patients aged ≥65 years who survived an index non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction from the CRUSADE registry to Medicare claims data for follow-up. One-year survival estimates were compared by age group—65-79, 80-84, 85-89, and ≥90 years—and Cox models were used to analyze the association between age and 1-year mortality. Results Death at 1 year increased markedly with age (from 13.3% for 65-79 years to 45.5% for ≥90 years). In contrast, rehospitalization rates at 1 year were similar and high across ages (65-79 years, 52.7%; ≥90 years, 56.5%), with nearly as many noncardiovascular-related as cardiovascular-related rehospitalizations. At 1 year, nonagenarians had substantially higher rates of death with or without preceding rehospitalization and twice the adjusted mortality than the group aged 65-79 years. Conclusions Evolving care delivery models should consider the high mortality in older adults after a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Contrary to expectations, rehospitalization rates do not rise substantially with advancing age, and rehospitalization is often for noncardiac diagnoses.
Role of elevated EGFR phosphorylation in the induction of structural remodelling and altered mechanical properties of resistance artery from type 2 diabetic mice

Background Type 2 diabetes is associated with microvascular complications. We hypothesized that the sustained elevated EGFR phosphorylation produces structural wall remodelling and altered mechanical properties of mesenteric resistance artery (MRA) in type 2 diabetes. Methods Freshly isolated MRA (80–100 µm diameter) from type 2 diabetic (db−/db−, diabetic) and non-diabetic (db−/db+, control) mice were subjected to pressure-passive diameter and wall thickness relationships; western blot analysis and immunohistology. Results Data indicated that MRA from diabetic mice have a smaller passive diameter than MRA from control mice under intra-luminal pressure range from 25 to 125 mmHg. Measurements of wall thickness : lumen diameter ratios (21 ± 1.8 vs 14 ± 1.2 at 75 mmHg diabetic vs control, respectively), wall thickness and remodelling index (38 ± 5% vs control) revealed eutrophic structural remodelling of MRA from diabetic mice, which was strengthened with histology. Mechanical properties revealed a great strain-stress relationship in MRA from control versus diabetic mice indicating increased stiffness in MRA from diabetic mice. Western blot analysis showed increased collagen type 1 content in a freshly isolated MRA from the type 2 diabetic mice when compared to control mice. Diabetic mice treated with EGFR inhibitor (AG1478, 10 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks showed reduced EGFR phosphorylation, wall thickness, collagen type 1 content, and improved the altered mechanical properties of MRA. Conclusion These data provide evidence regarding the role of EGFR in morphological wall remodelling and altered mechanical properties of MRA from type 2 diabetic mice. This may identify new therapeutic targets for the control of vascular structure and therefore have important implications in type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Densely-Spaced, Polarization-Insensitive, Low-Noise, High-Saturation-Power Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Array

A 10-element SOA array with a pitch spacing of 33.8µm was fabricated. The array has fiber-fiber gain of 15.7dB, 3-dB saturation power >16dBm, noise figure <7.5dB and polarization dependence of gain <0.7dB.
Advection of plumes in mantle flow: implications for hotspot motion, mantle viscosity and plume distribution

Summary Because of their slow relative motion, hotspots, mainly in the Pacific, are often used as a reference frame for defining plate motions. A coherent motion of all Pacific hotspots relative to the deep mantle may, however, bias the hotspot reference frame. Numerical results on the advection of plumes, which are thought to cause the hotspots on the Earth’s surface, in a large-scale mantle flow field are therefore presented. Bringing the results into agreement with observations also leads to conclusions regarding the viscosity structure of the Earth’s mantle, as well as the sources and distribution of plumes. The abrupt change in direction of the Hawaiian–Emperor chain implies an upper-mantle viscosity under the Pacific of ∼ 1.5 × 1020 Pa s or less. Slow relative motion of hotspots requires high lower-mantle viscosity, unless hotspots are located at large-scale stationary upwellings that are currently unresolved by seismic tomography. For our preferred model, we obtain coherent motion of Pacific hotspots in a reference frame of no net rotation, as well as coherent motion relative to African hotspots, caused by return flow antiparallel to plate motion. Advection and regional differences in life expectancy can to a large part explain the distribution of plumes in relation to ridges, subduction zones (present and past) and seismic anomalies. Plume conduits are substantially tilted in the lower mantle. The surface motion of hotspots is often smaller than the advection rate of plume conduits in the lowermost mantle.
Response of chaparral shrubs to below-freezing temperatures: acclimation, ecotypes, seedlings vs. adults.

Leaf death due to freezing was examined for four, co-occurring species of chaparral shrubs from the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California, Rhus laurina ( 5 Malosma laurina), R. ovata, Ceanothus megacarpus , and C. spinosus. Measurements were made on seedlings vs. adults for all species, and for Rhus spp. in winter vs. summer, and at a warm vs. a cold site. We used four methods to determine the temperature for 50% change in activity or cell death (LT50) of leaves: (1) electrical conductivity (electrolyte leakage into a bathing solution), (2) photosynthetic fluorescent capacity (Fv/Fm), (3) percentage of palisade mesophyll cells stained by fluorescein diacetate vital stain, and (4) visual score of leaf color (Munsell color chart). In all four species seedlings were found to be more sensitive to freezing temperatures than were adults by 1 8‐ 38C. For adults the LT50 ranged from 258C for Rhus laurina in the summer to 2168C for Rhus ovata in the winter. The LT50 of R. ovata located at a colder inland site was 4 8 C lower than R. ovata at the warmer coastal site just 4 km apart, suggesting ecotypic differences between R. ovata at the two sites. Both R. laurina and R. ovata underwent significant winter hardening. At the cold site, R. ovata acclimated by 68C on average, while R. laurina acclimated by only 38C. These results were consistent with species distributions and with field observations of differential shoot dieback between these two congeneric species after a natural freeze‐thaw event in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Progesterone receptor membrane component 1/Sigma-2 receptor associates with MAP1LC3B and promotes autophagy

Autophagy resembles a recycling process in which proteins, organelles, or regions of the cytoplasm are enveloped and degraded. We have found that two of the central autophagy proteins, MAP1LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, also described as LC3) and UVRAG (UV radiation resistance associated/UV radiation associated gene), complex with PGRMC1/S2R (progesterone receptor membrane component 1, also known as sigma-2 receptor). PGRMC1 is a cytochrome that is induced in cancer and is essential for tumor formation, invasion, and metastasis. Autophagy contributes to the turnover of long-lived and/or ubiquitinated proteins and the clearance of damaged organelles, and we have shown that PGRMC1 promotes both processes. Inhibition of PGRMC1 by RNAi or small molecule inhibitors causes autophagy substrates to increase and aberrant mitochondria to accumulate. We propose that this disruption of autophagy upon PGRMC1 inhibition increases AMPK activation, elevating the levels of TSC1 (tuberous sclerosis complex) and TSC2 and inactivating MTOR and RPS6KB/p70S6K, causing cleaved MAP1LC3B levels to increase. Thus, PGRMC1 binds to key components of the autophagy machinery and is required for the degradative activity of autophagy.
Effect of electrostatic, hydrodynamic, and Brownian forces on particle trajectories and sieving in normal flow filtration

Particle deposition and fouling are critical factors governing the performance of microfiltration and ultrafiltration systems. Particle trajectories were evaluated by numerical integration of the Langevin equation, accounting for the combined effects of electrostatic repulsion, enhanced hydrodynamic drag, and Brownian diffusion. In the absence of Brownian forces, particles are unable to enter the membrane pores unless the drag associated with the filtration velocity can overcome the electrostatic repulsion. Brownian forces significantly alter this behavior, allowing some particles to enter the pore even at low filtration velocities. The average particle transmission, evaluated from the probability of having a particle enter the pore, increases with increasing filtration velocity due to the greater hydrodynamic drag force on the particle. These results provide important insights into particle behavior in membrane systems.
A 19DBM 5.8GHzz PA demonstrator with a novel low ron high FT RF LDMOS

In this paper, we introduce an isolated RF LDMOS NFET is for RF Power Amplifier (PA) and power management applications. The RF LDMOS NFET has demonstrated a drain-source turn-on resistance (R ds,on ) of 1.45ohm-mm, a cutoff frequency (Ft) greater than 40GHz and a drain-source breakdown down voltage (BV) in excess of 9V. For PA designs, the isolation layer is floating to reduce the parasitic and achieve high PAE/nonlinearity performance. RF power amplifier cores were fabricated and measured at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz to demonstrate the RF LDMOS performance in PAs. Under CW loadpull and 3.3V supply, 18dB and 12dB gains (Gt) are achieved at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz respectively, with 1dB compression point power density at 22dBm/mm gate width, and PAE > 63%, maximum PAE > 70%. Due to good model to hardware Pout correlation in a 5.8GHz PA cell, a fully matched PA last stage with the load-pull fundamental and harmonic impedances showed a less than 4° AM-PM phase distortion, meeting the 802.11n spectral mask requirement with 20MHz 64QAM modulated signal at 19dBm Pout.
Temporal Trends in the Utilization of Diagnostic Testing and Treatments for Cardiovascular Disease in the United States, 1993–2001

Background— Rates of invasive testing and treatment for coronary artery disease have increased over time. Less is known about trends in the utilization of noninvasive cardiac testing for coronary artery disease. The objective of this study was 2-fold: to explore temporal trends in the utilization of noninvasive and invasive cardiac services in relation to changes in the prevalence of cardiac disease, and to examine whether temporal increases have been targeted to potentially underserved populations. Methods and Results— We performed an annual cross-sectional population-based study of Medicare patients from 1993 to 2001. We identified stress testing, cardiac catheterization, and revascularization procedures, as well as hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction, during each year and calculated population-based rates for each using the total fee-for-service Medicare population as the denominator and adjusting for age, gender, and race. We observed marked growth in the utilization rates of cardiac serv...
Engaging God's Mission and Diakonia in Life of Public Spheres: Justification and Economic Justice

: This article approaches the theology of mission from the point of view of God's mission and diakonia, seeking a missional model of the grace of justification and economic justice in an age of World Christianity. The author engages a hermeneutical-prophetic side of evangelization—viva vox evangelii—in the public sphere, and demonstrates the intrinsic connection between missio and diakonia Dei in Jesus Christ using a trinitarian-hermeneutical perspective. The article shows that evangelization as God's mission occupies a central place by taking into account challenges from the postcolonial emancipation in the context of Empire.
METHOD FOR COMBINED ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF NEURAL TISSUE.

No significant change was found in the electrolytes and lipids of the brain analyzed after glutaraldehyde fixation by perfusion of laboratory animals; such fixation also satisfactorily preserves neural tissues for electron microscopy. The brains of normal and tumor-bearing C3H mice, Wistar rats, and New Zealand rabbits were studied. Little difference was found in the dry weight and the content of sodium, potassium, total lipid and lipid fractions, and in the sulfate space (S35O4) between specimens from unperfused and perfused animals, whether normal or tumor-bearing. The results suggest the possibility of using selected regions of the nervous system, dissected after fixation, for chemical study and at the same time characterizing similar regions morphologically with the electron microscope.
Avoiding Invalid Instruments and Coping with Weak Instruments

Archimedes said, "Give me the place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the Earth" (Hirsch, Kett, and Trefil, 2002, p. 476). Economists have their own powerful lever: the instrumental variable estimator. The instrumental variable estimator can avoid the bias that ordinary least squares suffers when an explanatory variable in a regression is correlated with the regression's disturbance term. But, like Archimedes' lever, instrumental variable estimation requires both a valid instrument on which to stand and an instrument that isn't too short (or "too weak"). This paper briefly reviews instrumental variable estimation, discusses classic strategies for avoiding invalid instruments (instruments themselves correlated with the regression's disturbances), and describes recently developed strategies for coping with weak instruments (instruments only weakly correlated with the offending explanator). As an example of biased ordinary least squares, consider whether incarcerating more criminals reduces crime. To estimate the effect of increased incarceration on crime, an economist might specify a regression with the crime rate as the depen- dent variable and the incarceration rate as an explanatory variable. In this regres- sion, the naive ordinary least squares regression could misleadingly indicate that high rates of incarceration are causing high rates of crime if the actual pattern is that more crime leads to more incarceration. Ordinary least squares provides a biased estimate of the effect of incarceration rates on crime rates in this case because the incarceration rate is correlated with the regression's disturbance term. As another example, consider estimating consumption's elasticity of intertem- poral substitution (which measures the responsiveness of consumption patterns to changes in intertemporal prices). To estimate this elasticity, economists typically specify a linear relationship between the rate of growth in consumption and the
Maintenance of health care teams: Internal and external dimensions

Historically, medical care has been a one-to-one transaction between the health care professional (usually a physician) and the patient. The changing nature of medical problems – from acute, infect...
Novel numerical method for acquiring a geometrical description of nanodielectrics

Nanodielectric electrical insulation has shown promising characteristics in recent years. Potential applications are numerous, ranging from advanced capacitors to optical sensors. To be able to tailor novel materials and determine their full potential, one needs to establish the structure-property-performance relationship in these materials. One such approach is laid out in this study. We have employed a widely used numerical method (the finite element method) to estimate the effective permittivity of an actual binary mixture (a clay-filled nanodielectric) from a two-dimensional transmission electron microscopy image. The obtained effective permittivity was then used to determine the spectral densities for various depolarization factors. We show explicitly that the spectral density resolves the geometrical description in the nanodielectric. As a result, low frequency impedance data can be used as a microscopy technique. We believe that the approach employed here has potential in several fields of science and engineering.
Fractal video coding by matching pursuit

Fractal image and video coders use redundancies present in different scales of natural images for compression. Motion compensation, on the other hand, is a powerful method for exploiting similarities at the same scale in frames of a video sequence. In this paper, a new method is proposed to take advantage of both interscale and intrascale self-similarities present in video sequences. A rate-distortion optimized orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm is used to seamlessly combine motion compensation and fractal techniques into an efficient video coding algorithm.
Conscious Sedation of Children With Propofol Is Anything but Conscious

Objective. To determine the depth of sedation required for bone marrow aspiration and intrathecal injection of chemotherapeutic agents in children using a bispectral (BIS) index monitor and clinical assessment by an independent observer. Methods. Sixteen children who were undergoing 19 intrathecal chemotherapy and bone marrow aspirations were enrolled in the study. Their ages ranged from 23 months to 190 months with a mean of 79 months. The BIS index was recorded every 5 minutes by an independent observer. The patients received only intravenous propofol for sedation. There were no complications during the procedures. Results. The mean BIS score was 62.8 ± 9.6. The mean low BIS score was 29.7 ± 13.7, indicating a level of deep sedation and/or general anesthesia was necessary to induce the desired stated of consciousness that would permit the practitioner to perform the procedure. The average dose of propofol was 166 ± 47 μg/kg/min. Mean Aldrete score for level of consciousness was 0.9 ± 0.4, indicating a depressed level of consciousness. The mean activity level was 1.0 ± 0.4, indicating impaired movement. Conclusions. Children who undergo conscious sedation with propofol for intrathecal chemotherapy and bone marrow aspiration demonstrate BIS values and clinical assessments consistent with deep sedation. Because of an increased risk of adverse events when children undergo deep sedation, appropriate parental informed consent, age-appropriate resuscitative equipment, and skilled anesthesia personnel should be present for rescue in the event of cardiovascular and respiratory complications from deep sedation.
Gradual entrainment of a chemical layer at the base of the mantle by overlying convection

SUMMARY A dense chemical layer may exist at the base of the mantle. The overlying convection tends to entrain some of this layer reducing its thickness through time. The lower more dense fluid is dragged into cusps beneath upwelling limits of the overlying convection and some material is entrained. It is obvious that a high density of intrinsically more dense material retards this entrainment. An upper limit, and probably a reasonable estimate for the amount of entrainment, is obtained by considering the carrying capacity of the vertical flow above cusps and ignoring the complications within the cusps themselves. Flow through conduits formed by the reduced viscosity of hot material is less effective at entrainment than broad-scale flow controlled by the background viscosity of the normal mantle. Cylindrical plumes are less effective at entrainment than 2-D flow. Intrinsic density contrasts of around 6 per cent are needed for the layer to persist through geological time (assuming the thermal expansion coefficients is 2 × 10-5). In addition, the chemical layer may convect internally. This causes the layer to entrain less dense material from above and thus aids entrainment from above by reducing the excess density of the layer. Convection in the chemical layer and stripping of the layer into cusps by the overlying flow also cause much of the temperature contrast to be in the overlying mantle rather than the chemical layer. The difficulty of having more than a few 100 °K temperature contrast across the layer, unless it is internally stratified, negates a reason for supposing the layer exists.
Glucuronidation of Drugs and Drug-induced Toxicity in Humanized UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 Mice

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyze glucuronidation of various drugs. Although experimental rodents are used in preclinical studies to predict glucuronidation and toxicity of drugs in humans, species differences in glucuronidation and drug-induced toxicity have been reported. Humanized UGT1 mice in which the original Ugt1 locus was disrupted and replaced with the human UGT1 locus (hUGT1 mice) were recently developed. In this study, acyl-glucuronidations of etodolac, diclofenac, and ibuprofen in liver microsomes of hUGT1 mice were examined and compared with those of humans and regular mice. The kinetics of etodolac, diclofenac, and ibuprofen acyl-glucuronidation in hUGT1 mice were almost comparable to those in humans, rather than in mice. We further investigated the hepatotoxicity of ibuprofen in hUGT1 mice and regular mice by measuring serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels. Because ALT levels were increased at 6 hours after dosing in hUGT1 mice and at 24 hours after dosing in regular mice, the onset pattern of ibuprofen-induced liver toxicity in hUGT1 mice was different from that in regular mice. These data suggest that hUGT1 mice can be valuable tools for understanding glucuronidations of drugs and drug-induced toxicity in humans.
The Efficacy of Teaching Creativity: Assessment of Student Creative Thinking Before and After Exercises

As the global environment becomes increasingly more turbulent and competitive, creativity becomes the focus when preparing current students and future citizens to deal with uncertainty and to adapt to continuous change both personally and professionally. The purpose of the study was to understand how student creative thinking could be increased in a university classroom. Creativity exercises that can be incorporated in various courses were developed. The exercises formed four learning modules: (a) what is creativity, (b) recognizing and identifying opportunities, (c) generating ideas, and (d) evaluating creative ideas. Four instructors administered the exercises in five courses. To evaluate effectiveness of the training, figural format of the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) was used to assess student creative thinking before and after completion of the exercises. Creative thinking, which was operationalized as the composite Creativity Index measured by the TTCT, was significantly higher for the ...
Local Television News Program Product Analysis: A Pilot Study

This paper reports the results of a product analysis using local news programs as the product. An after only with control group design was utilized and participants’ attitudes and opinions about specific product attributes and overall evaluations were analyzed. Results indicate that media management may gain valuable information to enhance decision making concerning product quality from this type of product analysis.
Hume's Constitutionalism and the Identity of Constitutional Democracy

Modern constitutional democracy entails a particular kind of political self-understanding that uniquely centers on a constitution. While many recent studies have focused on how constitutional text shapes this self-understanding, little attention has been paid to the implications of different views of constitutional authority. This is a critical consideration, however, because constitutional authority has always been intrinsically fragile within constitutional democracy, and never more so than at present. In this article, I explore the potential of constitutional science to generate a conception of constitutional authority and collective identity. I focus on David Hume's effort to use constitutional science to shape opinion about liberty and the nature of the political community. This analysis also provides a basis for reflecting on the problematic relation of democracy to constitutionalism and on the peculiar problem of constitutional opinion in constitutional democracy.
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCAN UTILIZATION IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS: A MULTI-STATE ANALYSIS

Abstract Background Increased utilization of computed tomography (CT) in emergency departments (EDs) has become a concern due to its expense and the potential risks associated with radiation exposure. Objective To describe the predictors of CT utilization based on patient, provider, and ED characteristics. Methods There were 3,217,396 ED patient visits during a 12-month period that were included in this retrospective analysis of a database from a single billing company that included 227 EDs in 41 states. Data were collected between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006 and included patient visit information, CT use for each patient visit, patient demographics, ED provider information, and ED volume. Results The CT utilization rate was 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.7–16.8%) for adults, whereas in pediatric patients ( 65 years of age. For the admitted patients, the CT utilization rate was 27.8% (95% CI 27.6–27.9%); for the patients transferred out of the hospital, the CT utilization rate was 23.2% (95% CI 22.9–23.6%). Discharged patients had a rate of 11.3% (95% CI 11.2–11.3%) and patients who left against medical advice had a scan rate of 20.2% (95% CI 19.6–20.7%). The CT utilization rate was 9.3% (95% CI 9.2–9.4%) in EDs with 40,000. The CT utilization rate was 16.1% (95% CI 16.1–16.2%) for emergency medicine boarded physicians vs. 11.3% (95% CI 11.3–11.4%) for non-emergency-medicine boarded physicians. Conclusions CT utilization by EDs seems to vary by a number of parameters, including patient age, ED volume, training background of the provider, and disposition status of the patient.
Noise reduction techniques used on the high power klystron modulators at Argonne National Laboratory

The modulators used in the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory have been redesigned with an emphasis on electrical noise reduction. Since the modulators are 100 MW modulators with >
Melarsoprol-associated multifocal inflammatory CNS illness in African trypanosomiasis

A 62-year-old woman was evaluated for an undiagnosed febrile illness. Four weeks after returning from an African safari to Kenya and Tanzania, she became symptomatic with intermittent high-grade fever that persisted despite a trial of quinine and antimicrobials (levofloxacin, azithromycin, metronidazole, doxycycline, and vancomycin). The fever was accompanied by an erythematous abdominal rash. She recalled an insect bite on her left foot while in Africa. East African trypanosomiasis was diagnosed based on the presence of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense on a peripheral smear. She was given one dose of IV pentamidine. Suramin was procured from the Centers for Disease Control and administered. CSF showed increased white cell count (164 cells/μL) and proteins (191 mg/dL). Though the patient did not have neurologic symptoms, because of CSF evidence of CNS involvement, therapy was changed to IV melarsoprol (week 1: 108 mg daily for 3 days, week 2: 144 mg daily for 3 days, week 3: 216 mg daily for 3 days). Melarsoprol was administered with prednisone to prevent encephalopathy. Clinical improvement was associated with resolution of the pyrexia, progressive decrease in the CSF cell count, clearance of parasitemia on serial blood smears, and continued absence of the parasite on CSF …
Lysophosphatidic Acid and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate: A Concise Review of Biological Function and Applications for Tissue Engineering

The presentation and controlled release of bioactive signals to direct cellular growth and differentiation represents a widely used strategy in tissue engineering. Historically, work in this field has primarily focused on the delivery of large cytokines and growth factors, which can be costly to manufacture and difficult to deliver in a sustained manner. There has been a marked increase over the past decade in the pursuit of lipid mediators due to their wide range of effects over multiple cell types, low cost, and ease of scale-up. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are two bioactive lysophospholipids (LPLs) that have gained attention for use as pharmacological agents in tissue engineering applications. While these lipids can have similar effects on cellular response, they possess distinct chemical backbones, mechanisms of synthesis and degradation, and signaling pathways using a discrete set of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). LPA and S1P predominantly act extracellularly on their GPCRs and can directly regulate cell survival, differentiation, cytokine secretion, proliferation, and migration--each of the important functions that must be considered in regenerative medicine. In addition to these potent physiological functions, these LPLs play pivotal roles in a number of pathophysiological processes. To capitalize on the promise of these molecules in tissue engineering, these lipids have been incorporated into biomaterials for in vivo delivery. Here, we survey the effects of LPA and S1P on both cellular- and tissue-level phenotypes, with an eye toward regulating stem/progenitor cell growth and differentiation. In particular, we examine work that has translational applications for cell-based tissue engineering strategies in promoting cell survival, bone and cartilage engineering, and therapeutic angiogenesis.
Fluid-structure coupled modeling for HYGE impact simulator

The HYGE impact simulator is designed to reproduce the crash pulse of a real world vehicle impact in the laboratory environment. When a crash pulse is given, it usually takes a substantial amount of works and costs to adjust operating parameters to create the desired pulse on the HYGE machine. To save the operational cost, a mathematical model of the impact simulator using Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE's) was established in the early 70's by Milan and Hegel 1 . This ODE modeling method provides predictions of the crash pulses generated by the HYGE impact simulator. However, during subsequent years of practice, it has been found that in some cases these predictions are inaccurate. It is because the ODE method oversimplifies the physics. To improve the prediction accuracy, more sophisticated model of the physical process must be developed. The Fluid-Structure Coupled (FSC) modeling technique was applied on this dynamics problem of the HYGE impact simulator output prediction. It was found that the FSC model predicts more accurately, comparing to the ODE method, the crash pulse the HYGE impact simulator generates.