cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do strong web passwords accomplish anything

We find that traditional password advice given to users is somewhat dated. Strong passwords do nothing to protect online users from password stealing attacks such as phishing and keylogging, and yet they place considerable burden on users. Passwords that are too weak of course invite brute-force attacks. However, we find that relatively weak passwords, about 20 bits or so, are sufficient to make brute-force attacks on a single account unrealistic so long as a "three strikes" type rule is in place. Above that minimum it appears that increasing password strength does little to address any real threat. If a larger credential space is needed it appears better to increase the strength of the userID's rather than the passwords. For large institutions this is just as effective in deterring bulk guessing attacks and is a great deal better for users. For small institutions there appears little reason to require strong passwords for online accounts.
Efficient Implementation of Prime Factor Fourier Transforms

The Winograd small factor Fourier transforms can be formed with a small number of common signal flow structures reminiscent of the butterfly in the Cooley Tuckey radix-2 fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm. This paper identifies these structures and describes a versitile and compact prime factor algorithm (PFA) which incorporates them. Running time and program code space requirements for this algorithm are presented and are compared to classic radix-2 and radix-4 FFT algorithms.
Domesticating physics: introductory physics textbooks for women in home economics in the United States, 1914–1955

AbstractTechnologies such as electrical appliances entered American households on a large scale only after many decades of promotion to the public. The genre of ‘household physics’ textbooks was one such form of promotion that was directed towards assumed white, female and largely middle-class home economics students. Published from the 1910s to the 1950s in the United States, the textbooks instructed future housewives and home economics professionals in the use of technology through an introductory physics education, and at the same time modelled an appropriately circumscribed relationship between female students and new technologies. Household physics textbooks also acted as moral tools, encouraging a certain aesthetic of progress in which model housewives confidently purchased and operated new household devices. By learning physics, the students learned to acquire and use appliances in a safer and more ‘scientific’ way, thus ameliorating fear of the technology, while not overstepping roles bounded by c...
Understanding as Knowledge of Causes

What happens when we move from knowing that something is the case to understanding why it is the case: e.g., from knowing that the eclipse occurred to understanding why it occurred? According to a long line of philosophers, the move from knowing that to understanding why is not the result of acquiring some sort of superknowledge but is rather simply the result of acquiring more knowledge: in particular, it is said, it is the result of acquiring a knowledge of causes. Although this is the traditional view of understanding, several recent philosophers have argued that it can no longer be sustained. According to Duncan Pritchard, Jonathan Kvanvig, and Catherine Elgin, for example, knowledge of causes is either not necessary for understanding, or not sufficient, or both. In this paper I consider some of the objections that have been made to the traditional view, and argue that what they show is not that the traditional view is mistaken, but rather that it needs to be understood in a particular way. More specifically, I argue that what the objections show is that the primary object of understanding is not a proposition or set of propositions, but rather the actual causal relationships (or, more broadly, modal relationships) that obtain in the world.
Multi-layer 3D Simultaneous Retinal OCT Layer Segmentation: Just-Enough Interaction for Routine Clinical Use

All current fully automated retinal layer segmentation methods fail in some subset of clinical 3D Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) datasets, especially in the presence of appearance-modifying retinal diseases like Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), and others. In the presence of local or regional failures, the only current remedy is to edit the obtained segmentation in a slice-by-slice manner. This is a very tedious and time-demanding process, which prevents the use of quantitative retinal image analysis in clinical setting. In turn, the non-existence of reliable retinal layer segmentation methods substantially limits the use of precision medicine concepts in retinal-disease applications of clinical ophthalmology. We report a new non-trivial extension of our previously-reported LOGISMOS-based simultaneous multi-layer 3D segmentation of retinal OCT images. In this new approach, automated segmentation of up to 9 retinal layers defined by 10 surfaces is followed by visual inspection of the segmentation results and by employment of minimally-interactive correction steps that invariably lead to successful segmentation thus yielding reliable quantification. The novel aspect of this “Just-Enough Interaction” (JEI) approach for retinal OCT relies on a 2-stage coarse-to-fine segmentation strategy during which the operator interacts with the LOGISMOS graph-based segmentation algorithm by suggesting desired but approximate locations of the layer surfaces in 3D rather than performing manual slice-by-slice corrections. As a result, the efficiency of the reliable analysis has been improved dramatically with more than 10-fold speedup compared to the traditional retracing approaches. In an initial testing set of 40 3D OCT datasets from glaucoma, AMD, DME, and normal subjects, clinically accurate segmentation was achieved in all analyzed cases after 5.3 ± 1.4 min/case devoted to JEI modifications. We estimate that reaching the same performance using slice-by-slice editing in the regions of local segmentation failures would require at least 60 min of expert-operator time for the 9 segmented retinal layers. Our JEI-LOGISMOS approach to segmentation of retinal 3D OCT images is now employed in a larger clinical-research study to determine its usability on a larger sample of OCT image data.
Exploiting the cyclostationarity of radar chirp signals with time-varying filters

A time-varying filter is proposed which improves by 5 dB upon traditional FRESH and Wiener filters when rejecting a pulsed radar signal. The filter is a Time-Varying FRESH (TV-FRESH) filter, which applies different sets of filter weights in a periodic manner, with the same periodicities of the received signal. Matching the periodicities of the filter to that of the signal improves the rejection of interference, producing a better estimate of the desired signal. The simulated results show mitigating the interference from a radar signal to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal.
Sexual Dimorphism in the Selenocysteine Lyase Knockout Mouse

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient known for its antioxidant properties and health benefits, attributed to its presence in selenoproteins as the amino acid, selenocysteine. Selenocysteine lyase (Scly) catalyzes hydrolysis of selenocysteine to selenide and alanine, facilitating re-utilization of Se for de novo selenoprotein synthesis. Previously, it was reported that male Scly−/− mice develop increased body weight and body fat composition, and altered lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, compared to wild type mice. Strikingly, females appeared to present with a less severe phenotype, suggesting the relationship between Scly and energy metabolism may be regulated in a sex-specific manner. Here, we report that while body weight and body fat gain occur in both male and female Scly−/− mice, strikingly, males are susceptible to developing glucose intolerance, whereas female Scly−/− mice are protected. Because Se is critical for male reproduction, we hypothesized that castration would attenuate the metabolic dysfunction observed in male Scly−/− mice by eliminating sequestration of Se in testes. We report that fasting serum insulin levels were significantly reduced in castrated males compared to controls, but islet area was unchanged between groups. Finally, both male and female Scly−/− mice exhibit reduced hypothalamic expression of selenoproteins S, M, and glutathione peroxidase 1.
Risk Taking and Self-Regulation in Children: Cross-sectional and repeated assessments using a computer-based gambling game

Risk-taking, when unregulated by good executive function, may predispose youth to potentially dangerous behaviors such as substance abuse, unsafe sex practices, and criminal activity. The computer-based Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) has been widely used to study risk-taking propensity and predict real-world risky behaviors. We administered the youth version BART-Y to 6,929 children between grades K-8 and hypothesize that executive function, a cognitive skillset for self-regulation controlled by the frontal lobe, improves risk tolerance. Our preliminary results show that BART Total Points increased across grades and also significantly improved (p
Open-air spray plasma deposited UV-absorbing nanocomposite coatings

We demonstrate the deposition of mechanically robust UV-absorbing nanocomposite coatings with a newly developed dual-source deposition method involving ultrasonic spraying and open-air plasma deposition. Nanoparticles and the coating matrix are independently deposited which eliminates difficulties associated with preparing composites with high mass fraction of well-dispersed nanoparticles in the matrix. Nanocomposite coatings containing different concentrations of silica, ceria, and both titania and ceria nanoparticles were successfully deposited with good nanoparticle dispersity, high transparency over the visible range, effective absorption in the UV wavelength, and enhanced mechanical properties. Moreover, films were successfully deposited on several substrates including polycarbonate to demonstrate the low processing temperature of this dual-source deposition method. Coatings with different nanoparticle concentrations and film thicknesses were systematically studied in terms of their surface morphology, optical properties and mechanical properties. Accelerated photostability testing of the UV-absorbing nanocomposites demonstrates significantly enhanced performance compared to existing coatings with either a polymeric matrix or organic UV-absorbers.
GLOBAL IMPROVEMENTS IN TARDIVE DYSKINESIA AND PATIENT SATISFACTION WITH VALBENAZINE IN OLDER AND YOUNGER PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM AN OPEN-LABEL, ROLLOVER STUDY

Introduction Older adults have an increased risk of developing tardive dyskinesia (TD), a persistent and often debilitating movement disorder that is associated with antipsychotic treatment. Valbenazine is currently approved to treat TD in adults of all ages, with no dose adjustment required for older patients. Valbenazine has been evaluated in 2 long-term Phase III studies (KINECT 3, KINECT 4) in which adults with TD (18 to 85 years) received once-daily treatment (40 or 80 mg) for up to 48 weeks. Completers from these studies were eligible to enter a long-term, open-label rollover study (NCT02736955) in which global improvements and patient satisfaction were assessed. Data from the rollover study were analyzed post hoc to further investigate the long-term effects of valbenazine in participants categorized by age ( Methods Completers from KINECT 3 or KINECT 4 were re-initiated at 40 mg following washout of prior valbenazine treatment. Dose was escalated after 4 weeks to 80 mg based on tolerability and clinical assessment of TD. Reduction to 40 mg was allowed if 80 mg was not tolerated; participants unable to tolerate 40 mg were discontinued from the study. The study was designed to include 72 weeks of treatment, but few participants reach Week 60 and none reach Week 72 because valbenazine became commercially available. Both doses of valbenazine (40 and 80 mg) were pooled. Analyses were conducted at Week 48 and end-of-treatment (EOT), based on the last available post-baseline value. Assessments included the Clinical Global Impression of Severity-TD (CGIS-TD: range, 1 [normal/not at all ill] to 7 [extremely ill]) and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ: range, 1 [very satisfied] to 5 [very dissatisfied]). All outcomes were analyzed descriptively in age subgroups (younger, Results The study included 51 younger participants (mean age, 47.9 years; range, 34-54 years) and 109 older participants (mean age, 62.5 years; range, 55-83 years). A total of 56 participants reached the Week 48 visit ( Conclusions A clinician-based global assessment indicated ongoing, meaningful TD improvements with once-daily valbenazine in both younger and older adults. Patient satisfaction rates remained high, even in patients treated for >1 year. These results, along with the safety results presented separately at this meeting, indicate that valbenazine is an effective long-term treatment for TD. This research was funded by This research was fully funded by Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
Cloaking as a Community: Re-imagining the White Coat Ceremony With a Medical School Learning Community.

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Learning Community-White Coat Ceremony (LC-WCC) is held each spring as a learning community (LC) event. Learning communities (LCs) connect people to learn and work across boundaries to achieve a shared goal. The LC-WCC invites first-year students to collaborate with school leaders, define the class professional values, and innovate with community members. Class-elected student leaders recruit peers to join committees to plan and lead several aspects of the ceremony, including a class-nominated speaker, a personal statements presentation, a patient inclusion presentation, a class-authored statement of values, and artistic performances. Student cloaking is performed by LC advisors in their LC small groups. A 2015 post-LC-WCC survey asking students to compare experiences of a traditional Stethoscope Ceremony (SC) with the LC-WCC found that the latter significantly increased students' sense of accomplishment (38% vs 68%, P < .001), sense of connection to the school (59% vs 82%, P < .001), to classmates (71% vs 93%, P < .001), and to the event (42% vs 76%, P < .001). Cloaking as a community is an effective way for a medical school LC to instill a greater sense of community and student leadership in this milestone celebration of humanistic values in medicine.
Evaluating historical trends and influences of meteorological and seasonal climate conditions on lake chlorophyll a using remote sensing

AbstractHansen CH, Burian SJ, Dennison PE, Williams GP. 2019. Evaluating historical trends and influences of meteoorological and seasonal climate conditions on lake chlorophyll a using remote sensi...
Does the size and developmental stage of traits at fledging reflect juvenile flight ability among songbirds

Morphological traits can influence the ability of animals to perform ecologically relevant tasks that are essential for their growth, survival and fitness. Understanding such links in juvenile animals is of particular importance, as periods of juvenile life are often associated with high rates of mortality and can be critical with respect to evolution of life histories and viability of populations. To study such links, an important first step is to assess relationships between juvenile morphologies and measures of performance. Altricial songbirds can provide novel insights into morphology–performance relationships owing to the high locomotor demand placed on juveniles after they leave the nest. Therefore, we examined the relationships between the size and developmental stage of juvenile traits and juvenile flight ability among 13 coexisting songbirds in east‐central Illinois. Among potential traits, we focused on relationships between flight ability and four measures of wing development at fledging as well as two body measures thought to reflect an individual's overall quality and musculature. Among measures of wing development, wing emergence was the strongest, most consistent predictor of ability within and among species. Relative wing length and wing emergence‐loading were often good predictors of flight ability as well, while relative wing‐loading was rarely a good predictor. Estimates of body mass and body condition were poor, inconsistent predictors of flight ability both within and among species. Our results highlight the importance of wing development for flight performance of juvenile songbirds. Furthermore, our evaluation of different wing characteristics suggests that the importance of macro‐scale transmissivity and wing/disc loading towards flight ability changes with respect to juvenile ontogeny. Though mass likely interacts with wing characteristics in determining flight ability, our results suggest that body mass and condition are likely reflective of other, non‐flight measures of fledgling performance. Few studies on altricial songbirds have examined morphology–performance relationships in juveniles. By linking wing emergence with juvenile flight ability, our research has taken a first step in assessing the adaptive significance of variation in wing development for juvenile songbirds. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Unraveling the Role of Corporate Responsibility Coalitions in Sustainability Issues Management

Business collective action is often necessary to address sustainability issues. However, issues management is commonly considered to be an internal function of firms that uses their own resources. ...
Virological Failure and Acquired Genotypic Resistance Associated With Contemporary Antiretroviral Treatment Regimens

Background There are few descriptions of virologic failure (VF) and acquired drug resistance (HIVDR) in large cohorts initiating contemporary antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods We studied all persons with HIV (PWH) in a California clinic population initiating ART between 2010 and 2017. VF was defined as not attaining virologic suppression, discontinuing ART, or virologic rebound prompting change in ART. Results During the study, 2315 PWH began ART. Six companion drugs were used in 93.3% of regimens: efavirenz, elvitegravir/c, dolutegravir, b-darunavir, rilpivirine, and raltegravir. During a median follow-up of 36 months, 214 (9.2%) PWH experienced VF (2.8 per 100 person-years) and 62 (2.7%) experienced HIVDR (0.8 per 100 person-years). In multivariable analyses, younger age, lower CD4 count, higher virus load, and b-atazanavir were associated with increased VF risk; lower CD4 count, higher virus load, and nevirapine were associated with increased HIVDR risk. Compared with efavirenz, dolutegravir, raltegravir, and b-darunavir were associated with reduced HIVDR risk. Risks of VF and HIVDR were not significantly associated with ART initiation year. Of the 62 PWH with HIVDR, 42 received an non-nucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI), 15 an integrase-strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), and 5 a protease inhibitor (PI). Among those with HIVDR on an NNRTI or first-generation INSTI, 59% acquired dual class resistance and 29% developed tenofovir resistance; those receiving a PI or dolutegravir developed just M184V. Conclusions Despite the frequent use of contemporary ART regimens, VF and HIVDR continue to occur. Further efforts are required to improve long-term ART virological responses to prevent the consequences of ongoing HIV-1 replication including virus transmission and HIVDR.
Introduction: Linking Philosophy and Cultural Psychology

Cultural psychology has multiple points of intersection with central themes and issues of philosophy, especially a philosophy informed by a broad-based semiotics. The shared problems of philosophy and of cultural psychology are our problems, vitally important issues embedded in what John Dewey called the ‘problematic situations’ that are the defining matrices for the conduct of life. This chapter foregrounds the links and themes taken up in the following chapters: (a) human beings as multileveled embodied agents and sign-users; (b) the relations between descriptive analyses and normative reflection; and (c) the diverse analytical resources, taken from different traditions, that philosophy can put at cultural psychology’s disposal in determining the thresholds and frames of meaning-making and self-formation that make up the cultural world and their effects upon the felt qualities of our lives.
Effects of clinic-level implementation of One Key Question® on reproductive health counseling and patient satisfaction.

Abstract Objective We evaluated the effect of clinic level implementation of the One Key Question (OKQ) intervention, including physician and staff training and workflow adjustments, on reproductive counseling and patient satisfaction in primary care and ob/gyn. Study design We implemented the OKQ intervention in one primary care and one ob/gyn practice, while observing another primary care and ob/gyn practice that each provided usual care (control practices). We surveyed separate patient cohorts at two time points: 26 before and 33 after the primary care practice implemented OKQ, 38 before and 36 after the ob/gyn practice implemented OKQ, 26 and 37 at the primary care control practice, and 31 and 37 at the ob/gyn control practice. We used chi square tests to assess OKQ’s effects on counseling rates and patient satisfaction, comparing intervention to control practices across time points. Results In primary care, from before to after implementation, the intervention practice did not significantly increase reproductive counseling (69–76%, p = 0.58), but increased patient satisfaction (81–97%, p = 0.04) while the control practice demonstrated a decrease in patient satisfaction over the same time periods. In the ob/gyn clinics, no significant change in reproductive counseling or patient satisfaction was seen in the intervention practice, while the control practice demonstrated a decrease in patient satisfaction. Conclusions Implementing OKQ appears to increase patient satisfaction. Larger studies are needed to assess whether this clinic-level intervention may increase reproductive counseling. Implications Further studies of the impact of clinic-level implementation of OKQ are needed.
Elevated levels of extracellular vesicles in progranulin-deficient mice and FTD-GRN Patients

Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of progranulin insufficiency on extracellular vesicles (EVs), a heterogeneous population of vesicles that may contribute to progression of neurodegenerative disease. Loss-of-function mutations in progranulin (GRN) are a major cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and brains from GRN carriers with FTD (FTD-GRN) exhibit signs of lysosomal dysfunction. Lysosomal dysfunction may induce compensatory increases in secretion of exosomes, EVs secreted from the endolysosomal system, so we hypothesized that progranulin insufficiency would increase EV levels in the brain. Methods We analyzed levels and protein contents of brain EVs from Grn-/- mice, which model the lysosomal abnormalities of FTD-GRN patients. We then measured brain EVs in FTD-GRN patients. To assess the relationship of EVs with symptomatic disease, we measured plasma EVs in presymptomatic and symptomatic GRN mutation carriers. Results Grn-/- mice had elevated brain EV levels and altered EV protein contents relative to wild-type mice. These changes were age-dependent, occurring only after the emergence of pathology in Grn-/- mice. FTD-GRN patients (n = 13) had elevated brain EV levels relative to controls (n = 5). Symptomatic (n = 12), but not presymptomatic (n = 7), GRN carriers had elevated plasma EV levels relative to controls (n = 8). Interpretation These data show that symptomatic FTD-GRN patients have elevated levels of brain and plasma EVs, and that this effect is modeled in the brain of Grn-/- mice after the onset of pathology. This increase in EVs could influence FTD disease progression, and provides further support for EVs as potential FTD biomarkers.
Bilateral Knee Dislocations Treated with Acute, Single-Stage Multiligament Reconstructions

Bilateral knee dislocations are exceedingly rare in orthopaedics. Managing these injuries presents a difficult task given their high complication rate and guarded prognosis. We report the case of a 21-year-old male who presented to our institution with bilateral knee dislocations sustained in a motor vehicle collision. The patient subsequently underwent multiligament knee reconstruction surgeries for each knee at one and three weeks following the initial injury. At one-year follow-up, the patient has achieved a successful outcome and has returned to regular activities which include hiking and exercising at the gym.
Generation of Genetically Engineered Livestock Using Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer.

Genetic engineering (GE) of livestock initially has been accomplished primarily using pronuclear microinjection into zygotes (1985-1996). The applications of the technology were limited due to low integration efficiency, aberrant transgene expression resulting from random integration and the presence of genetic mosaicism in transgenic founder animals. Despite enormous efforts to established embryonic stem cells (ESCs) for domestic species, the ESC GE technology does not exist for livestock. Development of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has bypassed the need in livestock ESCs and revolutionized the field of livestock transgenesis by offering the first cell-based platform for precise genetic manipulation in farm animals. For nearly two decades since the birth of Dolly (1996-2013), SCNT was the only method used for the generation of knockout and knockin livestock. Arrival of CRISPRS/Cas9 system, a new generation of gene-editing technology, gave us an ability to introduce precise genome modifications easily and efficiently. This technological advancement accelerated production of GE livestock by SCNT and reinstated zygote micromanipulation as an important GE approach. The primary advantage of the SCNT technology is the ability to confirm in vitro that the desired genetic modification is present in the somatic cells prior to animal production. The edited cells could also be tested for potential off-target mutations. Additionally, this method eliminates the risk of genetic mosaicism frequently observed following zygote micromanipulation. Despite its low efficiency, SCNT is a well-established procedure in numerous laboratories around the world and will continue to play an important role in the GE livestock field.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Impact on Retinal Neurovascular Integrity and Function.

This is an Editorial and does not have an abstract. Please download the PDF or view the article HTML.
Effects of the Onset of Differential Reinforcer Quality on Skill Acquisition.

Differential reinforcement of a target response is a necessary component of stimulus control transfer procedures. Recent research has further considered the timing (i.e., onset) of differential rei...
Adjuvantation of Influenza Vaccines to Induce Cross-Protective Immunity

Influenza poses a huge threat to global public health. Influenza vaccines are the most effective and cost-effective means to control influenza. Current influenza vaccines mainly induce neutralizing antibodies against highly variable globular head of hemagglutinin and lack cross-protection. Vaccine adjuvants have been approved to enhance seasonal influenza vaccine efficacy in the elderly and spare influenza vaccine doses. Clinical studies found that MF59 and AS03-adjuvanted influenza vaccines could induce cross-protective immunity against non-vaccine viral strains. In addition to MF59 and AS03 adjuvants, experimental adjuvants, such as Toll-like receptor agonists, saponin-based adjuvants, cholera toxin and heat-labile enterotoxin-based mucosal adjuvants, and physical adjuvants, are also able to broaden influenza vaccine-induced immune responses against non-vaccine strains. This review focuses on introducing the various types of adjuvants capable of assisting current influenza vaccines to induce cross-protective immunity in preclinical and clinical studies. Mechanisms of licensed MF59 and AS03 adjuvants to induce cross-protective immunity are also introduced. Vaccine adjuvants hold a great promise to adjuvant influenza vaccines to induce cross-protective immunity.
EMBED: a low dimensional reconstruction of subject-specific gut microbiome dynamics based on ecological normal modes

The gut microbiome ecosystem is a significant driver of host health and disease. High-throughput Longitudinal studies have begun to unravel the complex dynamics of these ecosystems, and quantitative frameworks are now being developed to understand their organizing principles. Dimensionality reduction offers unique insights into gut bacterial dynamics by leveraging collective abundance fluctuations of multiple bacteria across multiple subjects driven by similar underlying ecological factors. However, methods providing lower-dimensional representations of gut microbial dynamics both at the community and individual taxa level are currently missing. To that end, we develop EMBED: Essential Microbiome Dynamics. Similar to normal modes in structural biology, EMBED infers ecological normal modes (ECNs), which represent the unique set of orthogonal dynamical trajectories capturing the collective behavior of microbial communities across subjects. We show that a small number of ECNs accurately describe gut microbiome dynamics across multiple data sets. Importantly, we find that ECNs reflect specific ecological behaviors, providing natural templates along which the dynamics of individual bacteria may be partitioned. Moreover, the multi-subject treatment in EMBED systematically identifies subject-specific and universal dynamical processes. Collectively, our results highlight the utility of dimensionality reduction approaches to understanding the dynamics of the gut microbiome and provide a framework to study the dynamics of other high-dimensional systems as well.
Brain lesions and hypertension: chronic lability and elevation of arterial pressure produced by electrolytic lesions and 6-hydroxydopamine treatment of nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) in rat and cat.

Publisher Summary This chapter attempts to produce experimental neurogenic-hypertension in laboratory animals by electrolytic and chemical lesions of the brain. It demonstrates that it is possible to produce chronic hypertension by lesions of nucleus of the tractus solitarii (NTS), thereby validating the hypothesis that central neural imbalances can result in hypertension. The chapter also presents the studies demonstrating that selective destruction of the noradrenergic innervation of NTS by the drug 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which selectively destroys noradrenergic terminals, can result in the development of marked lability of the arterial pressure. This would suggest that the defects of chemical neurotransmission within the central nervous system (CNS) could possibly contribute to the conditions favoring the development of hypertension. It is concluded that chronic neurogenic hypertension can result from imbalances in the CNS that result in disinhibition of sympathetic vasomotor outflow. Specific biochemical defects of neurotransmitter systems, particularly of the noradrenergic innervation of the NTS, could possibly lead over time to the development of hypertension.
Special Masters in Complex Cases: Extending the Judiciary or Reshaping Adjudication

In recent years, courts have used special masters to help manage complex civil cases.' But this use has raised serious questions of efficacy and ethics. This paper first identifies the needs and ambitions that inspire courts to appoint masters, in order to demonstrate why recourse to this tool can be so rich in potential yet so controversial. Then, in describing some recent roles masters have played, it assays their potential contributions as well as the risks attending their use. It concludes that as masters are used more ambitiously, the potential benefits and risks increase. Masters can bring significant new skills and flexibility to bear on cases whose complexity threatens to overwhelm our traditional system. However, a correlative danger exists that using masters will fundamentally alter that system in ways we find troubling: by making adjudication too informal, by removing it from public scrutiny and challenge, and by encouraging judges to rely on masters to a degree incompatible with appropriate exercise of the judicial function.
Ultrasonic detection and measurement of fatigue cracks in notched specimens

An ultrasonic technique was developed and used to observe the formation and growth of fatigue cracks in notched cylindrical specimens subjected to reversed axial cyclic loading. Fatigue curves of life-to-initial detectable cracks as well as life-to-fracture were obtained for an aluminum-, a titanium- and a cobaltbase alloy, as well as a maraging steel. Depth of initially detectable cracks ranged between approximately 0.0005 and 0.004 in. (0.013 and 0.10 mm). Curves were also obtained relating ultrasonic system output voltage to crack depth up to 0.030 in. (0.76 mm) for three materials. These curves were used to demonstrate the capability of the device for monitoring crack growth.
Continuity and Change in Cameroon's Education

This study, based on archival and secondary sources, argues that between 1919 and 1972 there was more continuity than change in West Cameroon's educational system. The period of study includes part of the colonial and post-colonial era; during which time Cameroon achieved independence and reunification, and made the decision to make education a top priority in the development plans. Because the colonial educational structure was designed to achieve specific objectives for the European colonizers, this study argues that radical educational reform must be a prerequisite if Cameroon hopes to advance beyond its present stage of development. The author suggests that similar reforms should be carried out by other African nations. The failure to reform the educational system has slowed Cameroon's development and has continued to contribute to the current drift of the nation.
Influence of changes in lactase activity and small-intestinal mucosal growth on lactose digestion and absorption in preterm infants.

Background: Feeding intolerance (ie, achieving and maintaining full enteral feedings) is a significant problem in preterm infants. A relation exists between feeding intolerance and incomplete lactose digestion. Objectives: We sought to identify the factors relating to lactose digestion and absorption, lactase activity, and small-intestinal mucosal growth. Design: Lactose digestion and absorption, lactase-specific activity, and lumen-to-mucosa water flux as a measure of small-intestinal mucosal surface area were determined by using the triple-lumen perfusion technique on 2 occasions 3 wk apart in 10 preterm infants (x± SEM gestational age: 28.0 ± 0.2 wk). Results: Lactose digestion and absorption and lactase activity doubled between studies (P = 0.035 and P = 0.041, respectively). The change in digestion and absorption was related to lactase activity (P = 0.034, R 2 = 0.38). Lactase activity correlated with gestational age at birth (P = 0.012, R 2 = 0.51). The number of days of feeding explained 80% of the variability in small-intestinal mucosal surface area (P = 0.001). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure directly lactose digestion and absorption, lactase activity, and small-intestinal surface area in preterm infants. Changes in lactose absorption relate primarily to lactase activity rather than to mucosal growth. We showed directly a relation between enteral feeding and small-intestinal mucosal growth.
Testing long-distance modifications of gravity to 100 astronomical units

A proposed space mission would precisely measure deviations from Newtonian gravity on a scale of 100 astronomical units.
Particle image velocimetry for characterizing the flow structure in three-dimensional gas-liquid-solid fluidized beds

Abstract A particle image velocimetry (PIV) system is developed to measure local flow properties of a three-dimensional gas-liquid-solid fluidized bed. Both qualitative visualization and quantitative results on a flow plane including instantaneous velocity distribution of different phases, velocity fluctuations, accelerations, gas and solids holdups, bubble sizes and their distributions, and statistical flow information are obtained with this method. Sample results concerning the freeboard phenomena are presented. The use of PIV system in conjunction with the refractive index matching technique for the measurement of flow structural under high solids holdup conditions is discussed.
Mind the gap: A survey of how cancer drug carriers are susceptible to the gap between research and practice

With countless research papers using preclinical models and showing the superiority of nanoparticle design over current drug therapies used to treat cancers, it is surprising how deficient the translation of these nano-sized drug carriers into the clinical setting is. This review article seeks to compare the preclinical and clinical results for Doxil®, PK1, Abraxane®, Genexol-PM®, Xyotax™, NC-6004, Mylotarg®, PK2, and CALAA-01. While not comprehensive, it covers nano-sized drug carriers designed to improve the efficacy of common drugs used in chemotherapy. While not always available or comparable, effort was made to compare the pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and efficacy between the animal and human studies. Discussion is provided to suggest what might be causing the gap. Finally, suggestions and encouragement are dispensed for the potential that nano-sized drug carriers hold.
Regional Energetics Over the North Pacific, South China Sea and the Indonesian Seas During Winter

The energy equation was applied to four limited regions to investigate the basic mechanisms through which area-averaged eddy kinetic energy is maintained during the northern winter. The regions selected for this study are as follows: extratropical North Pacific (24.2°N–44.6°N, 130°E–150°W), tropical eastern North Pacific (0°–19.6°N, 170°W–110°W), South China Sea and Bay of Bengal (0°–19.6°N, 80°E–140°E), and Timor Sea and eastern Indian Ocean (0°–19.6°S, 80°E–140°E). The zonally averaged upper flows over the first region were found to be barotropically stable. In contrast, they were barotropically unstable over the second region; namely, eddy motions over the tropical eastern North Pacific are maintained by receiving energy from zonal flows via barotropic interaction. The third and fourth regions are characterized by the importance of the conversion process between eddy available potential and eddy kinetic energy.
Direct impingement cooling of LED by Piezo fan

In this paper, an innovative heat management solution for the Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) based on direct impingement cooling by Piezo fan has been proposed and evaluated. Round Piezo fans with 26 to 30 mm blade diameter, 1 to 5 mm fan thickness and narrow flow orifice (∼ 3 to 7.5 mm) were developed which could provide very high velocity air jet (> 10 m/s) for impinging heat source footprint directly. These fans were driven at high operating frequency (300 to 550 Hz) and voltage (40 to 50 V rms ) to get high impact air jet at fan outlet. Different test cases have been studied to demonstrate and characterize the cooling capability of the Piezo fan based thermal solutions. Direct impingement cooling of the 5 × 5 mm2 heat source with Piezo fan (30 mm diameter, 1.1 mm thickness and 7.5 mm orifice width) inclined at 35° to horizontal was tested which was able to reduce source temperature by 3 to 4 times as compared to natural convection cooling. Similarly, incorporation of Piezo fan for cooling multiple chips (x5) LED package with 9 W output heat load reduced the source temperature by more than 42 °C. Automotive headlamp with two LED packages and single heat sink was impinge cooled by two dedicated Piezo fans which reduce the source temperature by 7.6 °C and enhance the heat sink heat dissipation capacity by 48% due to improvement in the enclosure heat transfer coefficient. Piezo based impingement cooling can therefore increase the heat removal from heat source as well as can reduce the size of the heat sink designed for natural convection cooling. Based on these results, impingement type Piezo fan can be classified as standalone as well as heat sink integrated cooling solution for LED packages.
Effect of temperature on the thermodynamic properties, kinetic performance, and stability of polybutadiene-coated zirconia.

This article describes the results of a study of the effect of temperature on the performance of a reversed-phase material prepared by coating polybutadiene (PBD) on porous zirconia. We examined the effect of temperature on retention, efficiency, and stability of this phase. The thermodynamic properties were evaluated via the separation of alkylbenzenes and a set of tricyclic antidepressant drugs at different temperatures, while the intrinsic kinetic performance of the PBD phase at elevated temperatures was examined by using alkylbenzenes as probe solutes. Moreover, the thermal stability was determined by measuring the drift in k‘ while continuously pumping a mobile phase at 100 °C. We found that enthalpy changes were between −2 and −4 kcal/mol and that changes in selectivity varied with the type of solute. High temperatures improved the column efficiency by 30%, mainly by accelerating the solute diffusion rate in the stationary phase. Finally, the PBD-coated zirconia phase was very stable at a temperatur...
Cloning and characterization of the rat and human phosducin-like protein genes: structure, expression and chromosomal localization

We isolated and characterized the rat gene encoding phosducin-like protein (PhLP), a putative heterotrimeric G protein modulator. The transcription start site was mapped by primer extension. The putative promoter region lacked a TATA sequence but contained a potential initiator element. Two splice variants were identified by RT-PCR of rat brain RNA, potentially generating either the full length or an amino-truncated protein. Only the full-length protein was immunodetected in all mouse tissues surveyed. Comparison of the conceptual translation product of the rat PhLP gene with those from human and Drosophila clones shows a striking conservation in the amino-terminal region of PhLP from these species. This contrasts with the relatively low degree of homology between PhLP and phosducin in this region, suggesting a functional role for this portion of the PhLP protein. Finally, we mapped the human PhLP gene by PCR analysis of somatic cell hybrids and the Stanford G3 radiation hybrid panel. The human PhLP gene (PDCL) is located on chromosome 9, linked to the polymorphic markers D9S1876 and D9S1674 (66-71 cM).
“The play is the thing…”: Comments on Ben Fine's “playing the consumption game”

(1997). “The play is the thing…”: Comments on Ben Fine's “playing the consumption game”. Consumption Markets & Culture: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 297-302.
Wildfire effects on forest carbon and nutrient budgets

Abstract A wildfire burned through previously established research plots, allowing comparisons of pre- and post-fire nutrient pools and fluxes. The Gondola fire resulted in the loss of 30.9 mg ha−1 of C and 510 kg ha−1 of N, mostly by the combustion of forest floor and vegetation. Mineral N leaching was accelerated for 3 years after the fire, but accounted for only 19 kg ha−1 of the total N loss. Potential inputs of P by ash were small relative to soil extractable pools and no significant changes in soil extractable P were noted. No changes in exchangeable K+ were noted, even though inputs by ash could have been detected, suggesting that K was lost either during or after the fire. Similarly, decreases in soil exchangeable Mg2+ were noted even though ash inputs should have caused notable increases, suggesting Mg loss either during or after the fire. The increases in soil-exchangeable Ca2+ were large, but only marginally significant (P = 0.09) and fell within the error bounds of what could have been input from ash. Comparisons with a nearby site that burned >20 years previously suggest that ecosystem C pools will not be made up for until trees are re-established at the Gondola fire, whereas N losses could be more than made up for within 20 years if N-fixing vegetation colonized the site.
Evaluation and management of pituitary-adrenal function after pituitary surgery

Selective adenomectomy is the preferred treatment option for most pituitary adenomas, other than prolactinomas. Its safety and efficacy in the management of secreting or nonsecreting micro- or macroadenomas are well established. Pre- and postoperative endocrine management include, among other things, evaluation of pituitary function with particular attention to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-A). Published data involving a large number of patients demonstrate that when the HPA-A is normal preoperatively, corticosteroids are not necessary before, during, or after surgery. However, patients should be monitored postoperatively to document adequate adrenal function. In contrast, patients with preoperative impairment of HPA-A function as well as those with pituitary tumor apoplexy are given glucocorticoids before, during, and immediately after surgery. Thereafter, corticosteroids can be discontinued abruptly and patients monitored for possible recovery of HPA-A. The latter is conveniently done by measuring serum cortisol levels twice daily. Alternatively, glucocorticoids can be continued for several weeks when HPA-A can be assessed in detail. We prefer the former option because it provides rapid assessment of HPA-A without jeopardizing the patient's well being. Patients with ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas are not given steroid during or after surgery. Instead, they are closely monitored after adenomectomy for clinical and/or biochemical evidence of adrenal insufficiency. Once the latter is documented, glucocorticoid replacement therapy is initiated and continued until HPA-A returns to normal. The latter approach provides rapid assessment of the completeness of adenomectomy without jeopardizing patient care.