cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Video VS. audio as modes of promoting tourist destinations: The case of Hangzhou, China

This study tests the effects of predominantly verbal and predominantly visual advertisements on consumers’ knowledge, attribute beliefs, attitude toward the ad and toward the brand, and behavioral intentions about Hangzhou, a Chinese city being promoted as a tourist destination. An online experiment was conducted using a sample of 217 non-Chinese students who were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The results suggest that verbal elements showed a greater influence on the acquisition of knowledge. The visual stimulus, however, was more effective in producing more positive attribute beliefs and attitudes toward the ad and the city. It also generated higher intentions to search for more information and to visit the city. The findings provide support to the dual component model, which posits that verbal and visual components generate attitudes toward the ad and attribute beliefs about a product that have a substantial bearing on attitude toward the brand. Attitude toward the verbal ad and attribute beliefs resulting from exposure to the visual ad significantly affected attitude toward Hangzhou as a potential city to visit. Attitude toward the visual ad and attribute beliefs developed after seeing it also were significant predictors of attitude toward Hangzhou as a destination city. Exposure to the verbal ad produced significant changes in intention to look for more information and to visit the city some day. The visual ad influenced intention to visit Hangzhou, but not the desire to search for more information about the city. iii
Pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic elements of the neuroinflammatory response are activated in traumatic brain injury.

Background The inflammatory response may contribute to cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure and cellular loss in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Cytokines are biomarkers of this inflammatory response and new methods allow simultaneous measurement of multiple cytokines. Methods We examined the IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-12, TNFalpha, and IL-10 in arterial and jugular blood as well as cerebrospinal fluid in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Findings Multiple cytokines, particularly pro-inflammatory cytokines, are up-regulated following TBI. Cerebrospinal fluid and arteriovenous differences of some of the cytokines suggest production within the central nervous system. Antiinflammatory cytokines are not up-regulated. Conclusions Cytokine up-regulation may contribute to the neuroinflammatory reaction that follows traumatic brain injury and may contribute to secondary injury.
The Hexagonal Lattice Approach to Molecular Receptors

We have shown that the hexagonal lattice architecture may be used to construct hosts with high affinity for cations and neutral molecules. These planar receptors are easily synthesized, they form complexes rapidly and they show considerable potential for selectivity towards planar guest molecules.
Mining concept maps to understand university students’ learning

Concept maps, visual representations of knowledge, are used in an educational context as a way to represent students’ knowledge, and identify mental models of students; however there is a limitation of using concept mapping due to its difficulty to evaluate the concept maps. A concept map has a complex structure which is composed of concepts and their relationships that often have a weighted direction. This work explores the feasibility of the analysis of concept maps using data mining methods, and investigate the possibility of using concept maps as a research tool to understand college student’s learning. A total of 111 college students participated in this study. The findings from frequent concept mining and sub-concept map mining suggest that students expect a traditional way of learning. The study also shows a promising area of further study in the area of data mining in education.
Law and Legal Culture in Venezuela in Revolutionary Times (1999-2009)

The paper analyzes changes in the constitution, law and legal culture in Venezuela under the presidency of Hugo Chavez. In this period the main function of the constitution has been to express the political project of those in power. The 1999 constitution reflected a mixed project of democracy and socialism. Beginning in 2002 the government strengthened its socialist-authoritarian nature. This produced the need to change the constitution, as it was attempted in 2007. This attempted was defeated and the government introduced the changes trough legislation, profiting its tight control of the National Assembly. In 2009 the government won a referendum suppressing the limits for reelection of the President of the Republic, a part of the refused reform of 2007. The constitution and the legal system have become instruments for the actual implantation of a socialist regime in the country. All the branches of public power are controlled by Chavez and all contributed to his socialist project. The paper describes the way the legislation has been dominated by the executive branch and how the judges have become part of the political apparatus of the state.
“Younger People Want to Do it Themselves” - Self-Actualization, Commitment, and the Reinvention of Community

Current research indicates that younger Americans, driven by socioeconomic shifts and cultural trends prioritizing self-actualization, are increasingly disinclined toward traditional communal organizations. Yet a search for self-actualization may, in fact, lead religiously inclined young adults to traditional communal organizations, which are characterized by relatively strict organizational norms. To explore how such organizations respond to the tension between self-actualization and communal practices, this paper describes a multi-method study of an urban Jewish congregation that experienced a large influx of young adults. The paper demonstrates two related outcomes of the resultant tension: first, the strategic integration of self-expressive content into traditional organizational practices, in a manner that allows these practices to become vehicles for self-actualization; second, the leveraging of these young adults’ transience, in both formal and informal ways, in order to maintain organizational stability. These two seemingly paradoxical outcomes contribute to our understanding of how some communal organizations respond to young adults’ self-actualizing inclinations.
Entanglement of bosonic modes through an engineered exchange interaction

Quantum computation presents a powerful new paradigm for information processing. A robust universal quantum computer can be realized with any well controlled quantum system, but a successful platform will ultimately require the combination of highly coherent, error-correctable quantum elements with at least one entangling operation between them1,2. Quantum information stored in a continuous-variable system-for example, a harmonic oscillator-can take advantage of hardware-efficient quantum error correction protocols that encode information in the large available Hilbert space of each element3-5. However, such encoded states typically have no controllable direct couplings, making deterministic entangling operations between them particularly challenging. Here we develop an efficient implementation of the exponential-SWAP operation6 and present its experimental realization between bosonic qubits stored in two superconducting microwave cavities. This engineered operation is analogous to the exchange interaction between discrete spin systems, but acts within any encoded subspace of the continuous-variable modes. Based on a control rotation, the operation produces a coherent superposition of identity and SWAP operations between arbitrary states of two harmonic oscillator modes and can be used to enact a deterministic entangling gate within quantum error correction codes. These results provide a valuable building block for universal quantum computation using bosonic modes.
Reversible redox switching of magnetic order and electrical conductivity in a 2D manganese benzoquinoid framework

Materials with switchable magnetic and electrical properties may enable future spintronic technologies, and thus hold the potential to revolutionize how information is processed and stored. While reversible switching of magnetic order or electrical conductivity has been independently realized in materials, the ability to simultaneously switch both properties in a single material presents a formidable challenge. Here, we report the 2D manganese benzoquinoid framework (Me4N)2[MnII2(L2−)3] (H2L = 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxo-1,4-benzoquinone), as synthesized via post-synthetic counterion exchange. This material is paramagnetic above 1.8 K and exhibits an ambient-temperature electrical conductivity of σ295 K = 1.14(3) × 10−13 S cm−1 (Ea = 0.74(3) eV). Upon soaking in a solution of sodium naphthalenide and 1,2-dihydroacenaphthylene, this compound undergoes a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC–SC) reduction to give Na3(Me4N)2[Mn2L3]. Structural and spectroscopic analyses confirm this reduction to be ligand-based, and as such the anionic framework is formulated as [MnII2(L3−˙)3]5−. Magnetic measurements confirm that this reduced material is a permanent magnet below Tc = 41 K and exhibits a conductivity value of σ295 K = 2.27(1) × 10−8 S cm−1 (Ea = 0.489(8) eV), representing a remarkable 200 000-fold increase over the parent material. Finally, soaking the reduced compound in a solution of [Cp2Fe]+ affords Na(Me4N)[MnII2(L2−)3] via a SC–SC process, with magnetic and electrical properties similar to those observed for the original oxidized material. Taken together, these results highlight the ability of metal benzoquinoid frameworks to undergo reversible, simultaneous redox switching of magnetic order and electrical conductivity.
Integrating Soil Microbiology into Ecosystem Science

There has been an increasing effort to incorporate the inner workings of soil microbial communities into conceptual and quantitative models of processes at the ecosystem or global scale. Many studies show that the characteristics of microbial species and their interactions with each other and with plants strongly influence larger-scale processes and that explicitly including microbes can improve the performance of ecosystem models. We review the current understanding of how the physiology and community structure of soil microbial communities can impact cycling of carbon (C), nutrients, and greenhouse gases and recent progress in integrating this knowledge into quantitative models of ecosystems and climate change. Microbes can be characterized by ecological strategies that influence carbon use efficiency, stress physiology, elemental ratios (stoichiometry), production of extracellular enzymes, and responses to temperature. Competitive, synergistic, and trophic interactions within soil microbial communities influence process rates and responses to climate change. Plant-microbe interactions are central in climate change responses of ecosystems and can operate by changes in nutrient cycling or through alterations in the balance of mutualists and parasites. There are trends that connect broad-scale community structure with functioning and evidence that ecological roles of microbes can be mapped to phylogeny at the genus or species level. Models that explicitly simulate microbes have included their physiological limits, growth kinetics, interactions with plants, stoichiometry, dormancy, community structure, and community interactions. Given recent advances in conceptual frameworks for microbial ecology and in techniques for describing microbial communities and computing power, further progress will depend on increased interactions between microbiologists and modelers.
Adhesion Strength and Rolling Properties of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Grafts in a Rabbit Eye Model.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To investigate the optimal time for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) graft peeling, and to analyze the rolling properties of endothelial denuded grafts in a rabbit...
Affinity Purification of NF1 Protein-Protein Interactors Identifies Keratins and Neurofibromin Itself as Binding Partners.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is caused by pathogenic variants in the NF1 gene encoding neurofibromin. Definition of NF1 protein–protein interactions (PPIs) has been difficult and lacks replication, making it challenging to define binding partners that modulate its function. We created a novel tandem affinity purification (TAP) tag cloned in frame to the 3’ end of the full-length murine Nf1 cDNA (mNf1). We show that this cDNA is functional and expresses neurofibromin, His-Tag, and can correct p-ERK/ERK ratios in NF1 null HEK293 cells. We used this affinity tag to purify binding partners with Strep-Tactin®XT beads and subsequently, identified them via mass spectrometry (MS). We found the tagged mNf1 can affinity purify human neurofibromin and vice versa, indicating that neurofibromin oligomerizes. We identify 21 additional proteins with high confidence of interaction with neurofibromin. After Metacore network analysis of these 21 proteins, eight appear within the same network, primarily keratins regulated by estrogen receptors. Previously, we have shown that neurofibromin levels negatively regulate keratin expression. Here, we show through pharmacological inhibition that this is independent of Ras signaling, as the inhibitors, selumetinib and rapamycin, do not alter keratin expression. Further characterization of neurofibromin oligomerization and binding partners could aid in discovering new neurofibromin functions outside of Ras regulation, leading to novel drug targets.
Ice Sheets and Fresh Water Reservoirs as Natural Dielectric Resonators

One proxy for global climate change is the change in the total mass of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Several complementary techniques have been used to estimate these changes with varying degrees of success. In this article, we describe a new approach that relies on the resonant behavior of ice masses. For very low electromagnetic (EM) frequencies (i.e., ≤2 kHz), pure ice acts like a strong dielectric resonator. Resonances can be excited in ice sheets by ambient EM noise from, for example, distant thunderstorms. The EM frequency spectrum measured in the vicinity of the ice mass should exhibit corresponding resonant frequencies. The evolution of the resonant modes over time can be used to monitor changes in ice mass and shape. The same approach can be, in principle, applied to monitor changes in the volume of fresh water reservoirs.
Smart Surveillance: Chapter 3 - Quantifying Criminal Procedure

Since the inception of our criminal justice system, law enforcement officers and judges have relied primarily on experience, training, intuition, and common sense in making their predictions about whether reasonable suspicion or probable cause exists in a certain case. In response, courts have crafted broad standards to accommodate these subjective judgments and allow for flexibility in application. The broad, flexible nature of these standards is no accident: they have been intentionally left imprecise by generations of courts. One reason is the nearly infinite number of different facts that could arise in any criminal case, which make hard and fast rules rather impractical. But the main reason these rules have been kept ambiguous is that police and courts have historically lacked the necessary tools to evaluate the accuracy of their predictions with any precision. Thus, state actors have been forced to rely on their own subjective beliefs and anecdotal evidence in making their predictions. All of that is now changing. Big data analysis is providing police and judges with tools that can predict future behavior with greater precision than ever before. These tools hold out the promise of increased fairness and greater objectivity at many of the critical decision points in our criminal justice system. They also will be able to quantify the benefits of various forms of surveillance, allowing us to predict with much greater precision the success rate for each of these methods. This chapter argues in favor of adopting precise legal standards for different levels of surveillance in order to harmonize the analytical world of big data with the legal world of criminal justice. This chapter provides a road map for a transition from intuitive descriptive standards to empirically tested quantitative standards. It first explains why a move to quantified legal standards is an improvement over the descriptive standards now used by courts. It then examines the current set of descriptive standards and attempts to determine what level of certainty courts are applying when they use these standards – in other words, it seeks to translate the current standards of reasonable suspicion and probable cause into quantitative terms. In doing so, it calculates the de facto probability of reasonable suspicion and probable cause that has been applied by judges, and also draws on original empirical research into the views of federal magistrates. The chapter proposes that ultimately these descriptive standards should be jettisoned altogether in favor of a fully quantified system that could adjust more precisely to the productivity of different types of surveillance.
Infant blood lipids: a systematic review of predictive value and influential factors.

Blood lipid screening recommendations begin at ages 9–11 years, despite poor adherence and evidence of fatty streaks in coronary arteries by 3 years of age. For cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevent...
Public and forest landowner attitudes towards longleaf pine ecosystem restoration using prescribed fire

Once dominant across the United States (US) Southeastern Coastal Plain, the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem covers a fraction of its historic geographic range. Restoration efforts h...
Upsetting a Basket of Deplorable Words: Overcoming Dark Leadership

Dark leadership may be seen as a twisting of charismatic leadership or transformational leadership, or as a set of traits in the leader, including Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and psychopathy. Lewis contributes to a picture of dark leadership through his description of a deficient practical mind, leadership vacuums, social structures, and bureaucracy. In Lewis, dark leaders have limited power and meet ironic ends. In order to avoid dark leadership, leaders should maintain just pursuits of knowledge and engage in self-monitoring, attending to one’s words, deeds, and character.
Historical and Current Guidelines for Medical Trials

There have been a number of articles dealing with the medical trial, several of which have been selected for presentation in this chapter, which discusses guidelines for planning and conducting research. The time period represented by these examples, 1958 to 1977, is relatively short; however, that period in history witnessed an enormous outpouring of funds and effort directed to the study and solution of health problems.
Spatial prediction of soil properties for the Busia area, Kenya using legacy soil data

Abstract Legacy soil data often contains considerable agronomic information that can help revitalize agriculture in countries with poor spatial data infrastructures. The objective of this study was to determine whether existing legacy soil data could be used to quantitatively predict soil properties at a higher resolution than the original legacy soil map using digital soil mapping techniques without conducting additional field work. A dataset of 76 soil profiles mined from the Reconnaissance Soil Survey of the Busia Area in Western Kenya together with a total of 23 environmental covariates were used to capture the soil forming factors and test the effectiveness of the individual predictive soil mapping (iPSM) technique to predict soil organic carbon, clay, silt, and sand over large areas in cases where data is limited. iPSM was compared to the stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) under two scenarios and ordinary kriging. In scenario one, SMLR prediction was achieved using the 23 original environmental soil covariates as predictors whereas in scenario two, SMLR prediction was achieved using principal components, generated from the 23 original covariates, as predictors. Ordinary kriging used only the soil property data for prediction. Ordinary kriging outperformed all the prediction models (RMSE = 0.02) for SOC, (RMSE = 0.30) for clay, (RSME = 0.10) for silt, and (RMSE = 0.32) for sand. This was attributed to the proximity between the calibration and the evaluation datasets and that these two datasets were not entirely independent. Ordinary kriging maps, however, provided very little spatial detail. Considering only those prediction models that used soil covariates, iPSM did not perform well in predicting soil properties compared to SMLR under the two scenarios. Regardless of the poor performance from iPSM relative to the other prediction models, SMLR (under the two scenarios) and ordinary kriging, iPSM best captured soil properties' spatial variability. A combination of the four models, using model averaging methods, resulted in a better prediction using the equal weights method for clay (%) (RMSE = 14.31), silt (%) (RMSE = 9.00), and sand (%) (RMSE = 16.67). On the contrary, SOC content (%) prediction from SMLR under the two scenarios performed best (RMSE = 0.43). Predicted soil property maps were at a resolution of 30 m, better than the current soil property maps for the study area with a 250 m resolution. The ability of predicted soil property maps to capture the variability of soils in our study area, except for ordinary kriging, supports the overall objective of this study. The sample size within legacy soil data, however, limits the use of complex DSM techniques. Therefore, efforts should continue to ensure that information mined from legacy soil data can be used to bolster the efforts made by various soil agencies to create harmonized soil profile databases to increase their usefulness for complex DSM methods.
Occupational hazards of orthopaedic surgery and adult reconstruction: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Occupational injuries and hazards related to orthopaedic surgery are not well studied, and what is published on this topic is largely based on in vitro or in vivo animal studies. Objectives To evaluate the self-reported prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) overuse disorders and other conditions among orthopaedic surgeons, especially those performing total hip (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and report the factors placing these surgeons at higher risk for occupational health hazards. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 66 currently practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the Midwestern United States. An online survey was sent to the participants, and all responses were collected anonymously. The survey consisted of 18 multiple-choice questions. Results Almost 82% of surgeons surveyed had either a musculoskeletal (MSK) overuse disorder, kidney stones, cataracts, infertility, deafness, or a combination of the above. Fifty-three percent of these respondents believed their medical conditions arose due to their job demands or exposure. A majority of the orthopaedic surgeons surveyed wanted to retire at either 60–65 years of age (31.8%) or 66–70 years of age (47%). Nearly 88% of the survey respondents believed they will be able to meet the demands of their job until their intended retirement age. The prevalence of an overuse disorder was highest for those who have been in practice for 21–30 years (100%). There was a trend toward higher rate of surgery for overuse condition in Adult Reconstruction (AR) surgeons. Rotator cuff disease was the most common MSK disorder affecting AR surgeons. Conclusion A majority (>80%) of orthopaedic surgeons suffer from a musculoskeletal overuse disorder, kidney stones, cataracts, infertility, deafness, or a combination of these. A significant proportion (53%) of surgeons believe one or more of their medical conditions developed due to occupational exposure.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Sexual Minority College Undergraduate Students

Objectives The objective was to examine differences in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in sexual minority (SM) college undergraduate students compared to their heterosexual peers.
Brand Communities on Instagram: Exploring Fortune 500 Companies’ Instagram Communication Practices

To examine a more holistic communication landscape for companies on Instagram, this study conducted a content analysis of Fortune 500 companies’ official Instagram posts (N = 7,540) using the origi...
Malignancy Yield of Testis Pathology in Older Boys and Adolescents With Cryptorchidism

Purpose:To characterize the pathological findings of testis tissue specimens from older boys and adolescents with cryptorchidism.Materials and Methods:With Institutional Review Board approval, path...
SuperMICE: An Ensemble Machine Learning Approach to Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations.

Researchers often face the problem of how to address missing data. Multiple imputation is a popular approach, with Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations (MICE) among the most common and flexible methods for execution. MICE iter- atively fits a predictive model for each variable with missing values, conditional on other variables in the data. In theory, any imputation model can be used to predict the missing values. However, if the predictive models are incorrectly specified, they may produce biased estimates of the imputed data, yielding inconsistent parameter estimates and invalid inference. Given the set of modeling choices that must be made in conducting multiple imputation, we propose a data-adaptive approach to model selection. Specifically, we adapt MICE to incorporate an ensemble algorithm, Super Learner, to predict the conditional mean for each missing value, and a lo- cal kernel-based estimate of variance. We present a set of simulations indicating that this approach produces final parameter estimates with lower bias and better coverage than other commonly used imputation methods. These results suggest that using a flexible machine learning imputation approach can be useful in settings where data are missing at random, especially when the relationships among the variables are complex.
Volunteer Service in Health Promotion for the Elderly

Abstract The main purpose of this project was to help empower the ability of the clientele to explore social and personal resources as well as physical capacities for promoting their quality of life. Volunteer health promoters provided intensive care and guidance for ten needy elderly facing the deterioration of self-care capability and the unavailability of family support. The health promoter was responsible to carry out need assessment, develop a health education service model, train volunteers and evaluate the service output. The formation of a case management team also helped facilitate the service quality during the process. In this project, it was significant to illustrate that various disciplines could share with one another and to collaborate joint efforts to find new alternatives-the use of volunteer force-for the promotion and education of health service in Hong Kong. Also, it was expected to bring new insights for the professionals to explore new ways to examine and demonstrate the effect of he...
Union and Union Threat Premiums Among Graduate Student Stipends

To inform the ongoing debate over graduate student unionization, the author tests for the presence of union-related premiums among teaching and research assistant stipends using data from The Chronicle of Higher Education's survey of departments in six fields in 2000, 2001, and 2003. Ordinary least squares and instrumental variables methods reveal union and union threat premiums among teaching assistant stipends. There is little evidence of union-related premiums among research assistant stipends. Specifications controlling for union composition or using employment weights reveal that the teaching assistant only union premium is positive for teaching assistant stipends and negative for research assistant stipends. This suggests that collectively bargained contracts may yield benefits for teaching assistants at the expense of research assistants when the latter are excluded from the bargaining unit. There is a positive premium to joint teaching and research assistant unions for teaching assistant stipends and no effect for research assistant stipends.
Abstract W P294: Balancing Autonomy and Beneficence in Acute Stroke Therapy: Neurologist Attitudes Toward Delaying Thrombolysis in Order to Obtain Informed Consent

Background: In clinical practice, when no consent provider is immediately available to authorize start of thrombolytic stroke therapy, acute stroke physicians face a fundamental conflict between the ethical principles of autonomy (respect for persons) and beneficence (maximizing benefit). Delaying therapy to reach a consent provider maximizes autonomy but reduces benefit. Physician attitudes toward resolving this conflict have not previously been delineated. Methods: A 6 item internet-based survey was administered to US academic stroke neurologists. Respondents were asked to indicate how much time (minutes), patients (number who fail to benefit due to delay), and brain (neurons lost due to delay) they would spend trying to reach consent provider for an aphasic acute stroke patient before proceeding with treatment under the doctrine of presumed consent. Results: Survey responses were received from 103 of 332 academic stroke neurologists. All respondents were engaged in stroke clinical care, with cerebrovascular disease accounting for more than half of practice time in over 70%. Career duration was substantial, with over 72% having been in practice for more than 5 years. In the time tradeoff framework, respondents indicated they would spend a median of 1.75 minutes (interquartile range, IQR, 0 - 10.0 minutes) trying to contact a consent provider before proceeding with thrombolysis. In the patient tradeoff framework, they would accept a median of 0 (IQR 0-0) per 1000 treated patients failing to benefit from therapy before proceeding. In the brain tradeoff scenario, they would accept a median of 0 (IQR 0-1) neurons lost before proceeding. Converting all choices to time, respondents indicated they would trade off shorter times in the patient framework (0 minutes) and the neuron framework (0 minutes) than in the time framework (1.75 minutes). Conclusion: Vascular neurologists indicate they emphasize beneficence over autonomy in deciding when to forego further attempts to reach consent providers to proceed with thrombolytic therapy under the doctrine of presumed consent. Their preference for rapid intervention is magnified when decisions are framed in person failure to benefit and neuron loss, compared with simple chronologic time.
Excitation–contraction coupling gain in ventricular myocytes: insights from a parsimonious model

We present a minimal mathematical model of Ca2+ spark triggering under voltage-clamp conditions in ventricular myocytes. The model predicts changes in excitation–contraction coupling ‘gain’ that result from diverse experimental interventions. We compare model results to several sets of data, and, in so doing, place apparent constraints on physiologically relevant model parameters. Specifically, the analysis suggests that many L-type Ca2+ channel openings can potentially trigger each Ca2+ spark, but the probability that an individual opening will trigger a spark is low. This procedure helps to reconcile contradictory results obtained in recent studies; moreover, this new model should be a useful tool for understanding changes in gain that occur physiologically and in disease.
State Medical Reimbursement Lawsuits after Tobacco: Is the Domino Effect for Lead Paint Manufacturers and Others Fair Game?

In 1998 the tobacco industry reached a settlement with the government for $246 billion. The massive size and scope of the states' tobacco settlement will inevitably exert a powerful influence on tort litigation for decades. The proliferation of copycat lawsuits, such as lead paint claims, seeking to emulate the spectacular success of the tobacco lawsuits will be one of the first aftershocks. The appropriate legislative response to this copycat litigation is to enact legislation limiting mass tort claims by states and other government entities. Because politics and economics may be influencing the filing of these lawsuits, rather than a purer quest for justice, a political response is needed. The massive size of these claims and their enormous potential impact on society create complex policy issues that are better addressed by legislature than by courts. The extent to which state legislatures allow these copycat lawsuits to succeed in forcing large settlements without regard to the substantive merit will play a significant role in determining whether we are entering an era of "regulation through legislation."
Imaging of Nearly Uniform Os5C Clusters Dispersed on MgO Powder

[Os5C(CO)14]2- was synthesized in 65% yield on the surface of MgO by treatment of adsorbed [Os3(CO)12] in CO. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) indicated that the nanoclusters were nearly monodisperse and in the size range consistent with [Os5C(CO)14]2-. The supported [Os5C(CO)14]2- was decarbonylated in helium, giving supported nanoclusters that are well approximated as Os5C, as shown by HRTEM and EXAFS data. Decarbonylation in H2 gave larger clusters of osmium, as shown by HRTEM.
Cell-specific transcriptional regulation of the major sperm protein in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract The major protein found in nematode sperm exhibits a distinct pattern of developmental regulation. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans , the synthesis of the major sperm protein (15K) begins with the onset of spermatogenesis in both the male and hermaphrodite. Both spermatogenesis and 15K synthesis continue for the life of the male while in the protandrous hermaphrodite the major sperm protein is synthesized only during the fourth larval stage. Inhibitor studies using actinomycin D and α-amanitin as well as Northern blot analysis have shown that the primary regulatory mechanism of this gene is at the transcriptional level. Recombinant molecules have been selected bearing the 15K genomic sequence by a positive hybridization translation assay. Using one of these cloned fragments as a probe for in situ hybridization, 15K transcripts have been localized to a specific region of the male gonad. These studies indicate that the gene for the major sperm protein is regulated by a cell-specific transcriptional control mechanism coincidental with the onset of sexual differentiation in the nematode.
Growth and development of the term and premature pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina): Cardiovascular and respiratory changes during the first 3 weeks of life.

Growth and development of the infant pigtailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) over the first 3 weeks of life have been characterized by the variables of body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, ventilation, blood gas tensions, and lung mechanics. The effects of prematurity on postnatal developmental trends were assessed at gestational ages of 135-145 days (0.80 of term) and 150-155 days (0.91 of term). There was no indication that cesarean section, restraint, or instrumentation had any significant influence on the measurements. Gestational age at delivery had no effect on the minute ventilation per kilogram body weight, the hematocrit, or the heart rate; however, body weight, tidal volume, respiratory frequency, arterial gas tensions, blood pressure, and lung compliance did vary with gestational age at delivery. Postnatal maturational changes in these variables were similar between term and premature animals. The data for infant macaques and newborn humans were compared. The newborn macaque appears to be an excellent model of human developmental trends (and/or disease state) over the first 3 weeks of life, though some potentially important differences have been found.
Highly accurate fiber Bragg grating strain- sensing system

Fiber grating sensors are widely used in the strain measurements for smart structures such as composite materials, bridges, aircraft, etc. In this paper, three successful approaches implemented to improve the accuracy for the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensing system are described and followed by experimental results. Firstly, two reference FBGs and a specific algorithm are used for the automatic calibration function. Secondly, the newly developed amplified spontaneous emission light source using Erbium-doped fiber was adopted to eliminate the wavelength reading error caused by the ripple. Thirdly, the pair sensors formed by two FBGs with different reflected wavelength were designed to simultaneously measure the temperature and strain of the structure. The strain reading variation of the sensing system is found to be 3.3 (mu) (epsilon) .
A natural bond orbital analysis of hydrocarbon radicals

Abstract The methodology of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis has been applied to the study of alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals with the objective of finding relationships between donor/acceptor computed stabilization energies and isotropic Fermi contact couplings (HFCs). A linear correlation was found between computed β-C–H hyperfine coupling constants and 2nd order perturbation energies, i.e. hyperconjugation. A linear correlation was established between HFCs and the complete range of cos2 θ of dihedral angles defined by the orbital axes of 2pC-radicals with vicinal β-C–H* bonds. The dominant spin transmission mechanism is attributed to hyperconjugation with smaller contributions from spin polarization.
Problems encountered in the use of aluminum hydroxide gel by naso-gastric drip in the treatment of peptic ulcer

1. Problems in using the water drips were discussed briefly. 2. The new type drip developed, which was discussed, delivering a set amount without disturbing the system and using no valves, was proven to have distinct advantages over the other types. 3. Use of an electrical timing device for accurate delivery was proven to be more dependable, for once having been set, it needed no more adjustment. 4. A new type of Aluminum Hydroxide Gel was prepared, having distinct advantages because of lesser sedimentation, greater fluidity and slightly greater combining power. 5. Characteristics of a new preparation were discussed, and should have the consistency of Milk of Magnesia, a pH of 5.9, be a 5% suspension, and lastly have no more separation than 1.5 cc. when diluted for the drip method. 6. Retention of the naso-gastric tube and patient’s cooperation were discussed and an example is given. 7. Nursing care and its importance was discussed. 8. Constipation, fecal impaction, and intestinal obstruction were touched upon and the use of Vitamin B1, lubricants and enemas were found to be effective in combating them. 9. Coryza and sinusitis with their relation to the naso-gastric tube were mentioned briefly and an example given. 10. Use of Nylon as an obturator was thought to have greater advantage.
A human oviduct-specific glycoprotein: Synthesis, secretion, and localization during the menstrual cycle

The major objective of this study was to examine the hormonal regulation of a human oviduct-specific glycoprotein (huOGP) throughout the menstrual cycle and in all regions of the human oviduct. Regulation of synthesis and secretion was examined at both the protein (Western immunoblots and immunocytochemistry) and mRNA (Northern and slot blots) levels and correlated with changes in the morphological features of the oviductal epithelial cells throughout the cycle. Immunoblot analysis of oviductal fluid and explant culture media from all regions of the oviduct demonstrated that huOGP is primarily found during the follicular stage of the cycle and is not present in serum, follicular fluid, or uterine endometrium. Moreover, two-dimensional (2-D) immunoblots showed that all major isoelectric variants of huOGP observed on 2-D fluorographs are immunologically related. Light microscopic immunocytochemistry localized huOGP to oviductal secretory cells in both ampulla and isthmic regions, with the most intense immunoperoxidase staining seen in midcycle samples. Using an indirect immunogold technique at the electron microscopic level, huOGP was specifically localized to secretory granules of the ampullary and isthmic nonciliated epithelial cells. The ultrastructural characteristics of these secretory cells during the mid to late follicular phase of the cycle suggested elevated protein synthetic activity. In addition, mRNA expression for huOGP was elevated in all regions of the oviduct in midcycle specimens. Collectively, these data indicate that huOGP is a major tissue-specific, stage-specific secretory product of the human oviduct during the periovulatory stage of the cycle and support the hypothesis that huOGP synthesis and secretion may be regulated by fluctuations in the levels of estrogen and progesterone. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Particle kinematics in a dilute, three-dimensional, vibration-fluidized granular medium

We report an experimental study of particle kinematics in a three-dimensional system of inelastic spheres fluidized by intense vibration. The motion of particles in the interior of the medium is tracked by high-speed video imaging, yielding a spatially resolved measurement of the velocity distribution. The distribution is wider than a Gaussian and broadens continuously with increasing volume fraction. The deviations from a Gaussian distribution for this boundary-driven system are different in sign and larger in magnitude than predictions for homogeneously driven systems. We also find correlations between velocity components which grow with increasing volume fraction.
Continuous time universal filters using unity gain cells

Summary A new circuit configuration for continuous time universal filters using current and voltage followers is proposed. The new configuration employs small number of passive elements. It provides independent control over all filterdesign aspects mainly the natural frequency, ωo, quality factor, Q, and gain. It also allows complete MOS non-linearity cancellation, thus is suitable MOS-C continuous-time fully integrated filters. Analysis ofthe non-idealities associated with the active elements is included. HSpice simulations that confirm theoretical analysis are included.
Effects of dental laboratory processing variables and in vitro testing medium on the porcelain adherence of high-palladium casting alloys ☆ ☆☆ ★ ★★ ♢ ♢♢ ♦

Abstract Purpose. This study assessed the effects of dental laboratory processing variables and testing medium on porcelain adherence of representative high-palladium alloys. Material and methods. The processing variables were recasting two and three times, porcelain stripping with hydrofluoric acid and rebuilding, and changing the recommended oxidation procedures. The testing medium was air for these four groups and the nontreatment group. In the last group, the specimens were stored and tested in artificial saliva. The metal ceramic specimens were fractured with biaxial flexure in constant strain. The area fraction of adherent porcelain (%) was calculated with a standardized spectrometric technique. A gold-palladium alloy served as the control. Results. Recasting without adding new alloy negatively affected some high-palladium alloys. Porcelain stripping did not cause a decrease in adherence of the tested alloys. The alternate oxidation treatment reduced significantly the porcelain adherence of the Au-Pd and one Pd-Cu-Ga alloy. Storage and testing in artificial saliva did not significantly affect the porcelain adherence of the alloys. The Au-Pd alloy exhibited the highest porcelain adherence. (J Prosthet Dent 1998;79:514-9.)
Von der Quantenmechanik zum Materialdesign

Die enormen Fortschritte der theoretischen Festkorperphysik im 20. Jahrhundert sind eng verknupft mit der Entdeckung der Quantenmechanik und der Entwicklung von schnellen Verfahren zur Berechnung der elektronischen Struktur kondensierter Materie. Letztere bilden heute die Basis sowohl fur ein vertieftes Verstandnis grundlegender physikalischer Fragestellungen als auch die Herstellung neuer Materialien mit masgeschneiderten Eigenschaften.
A Delphi application health care, practice, education and education administration; circa 1992.

Exploration of the future is an essential component of effective long-range planning. Navigating the change process is the anticipated object. The author used the Delphi technique to identify the probable future events in health care and in nursing practice, education, and education administration. Concomitant strategies required by nursing education administrators to manage future programs are identified.
Telencephalic lesions and behavior in the teleost, Macropodus opercularis: reproduction, startle reaction, and operant behavior in the male.

Bilateral ablation of the telecephalon at the level of the anterior commissure blocked reproduction in male paradise fish. Lesioned males performed species typical displays at the start of the spawning trial but thereafter avoided the female, and they did not build nests. All the sham-operated males spawned and built nests. The reaction of the male to a startle stimulus and the rate of operant responding for visual reinforcement were used as additional, independent measures of the behavioral effects of the ablation. Removal of the telencephalon greatly increased startle reactivity and decreased the rate of operant responding. Hyperreactivity could account for long response latencies, reduced mobility, and other reported effects of telencephalic ablation in teleosts which have previously been attributed to impaired nonspecific arousal.
D-Cycloserine Facilitates Extinction of Cocaine Self- Administration in c57 Mice

Introduction: Cocaine is a highly addictive drug of abuse for which there are currently no medications. In rats and mice d-cycloserine (DCS), a partial NMDA agonist, accelerates extinction of cocaine seeking behavior. Since cues delay extinction here, we evaluated the effects d-cycloserine in extinction with and without the presence of cues. Methods: Two doses of DCS (15 and 30 mg/kg) were studied in C57 mice. Mice self-administered cocaine (1 mg/kg) for 2 weeks and then underwent a 20-day extinction period where DCS was administered i.p. immediately following each daily session. Extinction was conducted in some mice with the presence of cocaine-paired cues; while others were in the absence of these cues. Results: DCS treated mice (either dose) showed significantly reduced lever pressing during extinction with cue exposures when compared with vehicle treated mice. Without cues, animals showed much lower levels of lever pressing but the differences between vehicle and DCS were not significant. Conclusion: DCS accelerated extinction with the presence of cues, but there were no differences on extinction without cues as compared with vehicle. These findings are consistent with DCS disrupting the memory process associated with the cues. Since drug cues are significantly involved in relapse, these findings support research to assess the therapeutic potential of DCS in cocaine addiction. Synapse 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Electronics, development, and industrial growth

Developed since the middle of the century of engineering progress marked by the recent Centennial celebration, the electronics industry has shown remarkable growth. This amazing evolution of an industry, however, cannot be attributed to any specific invention or discovery, but to a continuous record of development and research.