cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Sorry, We Have to Take You In:” Black Battered Women Arrested for Intimate Partner Violence

SUMMARY The purpose of the present effort is to examine the experiences of Black victim-defendants. To begin, an integration of both the family violence gender symmetry perspective and the contextual perspective is reviewed, with a particular focus on Black women's use of violence within heterosexual relationships. The concept of bidirectional asymmetric violence is then developed as a result of that integration. This is followed by an exploration of possible factors that may contribute to Black women's overrepresentation in the legal system, including the enactment of mandatory arrest laws. Because feminist scholars have used life histories to document the experiences of Black victim-defendants to good effect, a detailed description of the experiences of a one particular Black victim-defendant is then presented in order to provide a real-world example of such factors. Finally, strategies for advocacy and intervention are offered.
Early primary correction of tetralogy of Fallot.

As a record of achievement, the paper in this issue of The Annuls by Gustafson and colleagues entitled ”Early Primary Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot” is exemplary. There can be no faultfinding with an experience with repair of tetralogy of Fallot in 40 patients in which no deaths have occurred. The effectiveness of the paper in enabling readers (or the authors) to predict the results of the protocol described in future patients or to compare the results with those of other protocols is another matter. Yet these processes are quite necessary to the making of responsible recommendations to future patients and to colleagues. The ”concept” (as the authors put it) of early primary
Activation of the antioxidant response element by specific oxidized metabolites of linoleic acid

Linoleic acid is required for normal mammalian health and development, but is also prone to oxidation, yielding metabolites with biological effects. We screened linoleic acid, other fatty acids, and some of their derivatives and found that an epoxy-keto derivative of linoleic acid (but neither linoleic acid itself nor others of its oxidation products) strongly activates the antioxidant response element (ARE) in IMR-32 neuroblastoma cells and cerebro-cortical neurons. The active compound, 12,13-epoxy-9-keto-10(trans)-octadecenoic acid (EKODE), induces the expression of ARE-regulated cytoprotective genes such as NQO1 at the transcript and protein levels. EKODE requires transcription factor NRF2 and PI3-kinase for ARE activity. The results suggest that specific oxidation products of linoleic acid may initiate responses that lessen damage caused by oxidative stress.
Wind fluctuations near the ground during rain

Abstract Measurements of wind speed were made above short grass during periods of rainfall using hot-film anemometers. A filtering algorithm was used to identify spikes in the anemometer signal time series, induced by raindrop impacts on the hot-film sensors. A relatively small number of such spikes, comprising about 0.1–0.2% of the data points, were identified in signals recorded during rainfall with rates ranging from less than 0.1 to 7.2 mm h−1. After these spikes were removed from the time series by filtering, the resulting values of the first four moments of wind speed were very similar to those found above grass during fair weather. Values σ w u ∗ and σ u u ∗ determined during rain using a 3-D sonic anemometer (1.3 and 2.6, respectively) were also in good agreement with corresponding values found during conditions of fair weather and near-neutral atmospheric stability.
Carbonate Mineral Reactions During Combustion Retorting of Oil Shale: ABSTRACT

End_Page 685------------------------------Oil shale generally contains approximately 50% mineral carbonates by weight. During combustion retorting some or all of these carbonates decompose and/or react with other mineral species in the shale. Because the heat requirement for these reactions is large, they have a strong influence on the retorting process. Data on the kinetics of decomposition of the major carbonates in oil shale have been obtained with heating rates and gas environments (N2, CO2 and H2O) expected during typical combustion retorting. Activation energies and preexponential factors characterizing the rate constants for these reactions have been expressed in a form amenable for use in mathematical models of the retorting process. X-ray data on the final-product mineral phases in fully burned oil shale indicate them to be mainly members of the akermanite-gehlenite series, merwinite, and diopside. These products are formed by reactions between carbonates in the solid state and/or their oxides and other minerals in the shale. These results have implications for the processing and environmental aspects of oil shale retorting. End_of_Article - Last_Page 686------------
An Economic Assessment of Health Care Coverage for the Elderly

The current array of public and private health care coverages for the elderly is so complex and confusing that consumers are unable to make effective choices. The recent "medigap market" still further confounds the operation of "economic efficiency" in competitive insurance markets; consumers are uninformed about the extent and value of their basic coverage and even more so about the vulnerabilities against which supplementary insurance is purchased. This structural impediment to effectiveness and efficiency is most critical for long-term nursing care. Future changes in public programs must recognize that comprehensive benefits must also be made comprehensible.
Studying Culture Jamming to Inspire Student Activism

My interdisciplinary work now involves understanding arguments, media literacy, and economic literacy, as well as critical mathematics literacy. I am moving from teaching university students in an activist academic environment to teaching people in communities, in the streets, with the goal of education for activist participation in social justice. Part of this work will involve active, cultural intervention to change community discourse. To develop these ideas, I wrote a teacher resource guide for the film The Yes Men Fix the World http://theyesmenfixtheworld.com/guide/Main_Page. This chapter draws from that guide, focusing on the culture jamming and other artistic interventions that can be studied to inspire students to participate in struggles for justice. I will briefly discuss the work of The Yes Men, outline the structure of the teacher resource guide, and present a framework for thinking about the myriad kinds of artistic interventions that “jam up” our taken-for-granted assumptions and detail some specific interventions.
The occurrence and microbiology of otitis externa in the dog.

The occurrence of otitis externa in dogs in relation to ear types, age-group, sex, months and seasons of the year and microbiology of canine ears was studied.
Single Ryanodine Receptor Channel Basis of Caffeine's Action on Ca2+ Sparks

Caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) is a widely used pharmacological agonist of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) Ca(2+) release channel. It is also a well-known stimulant that can produce adverse side effects, including arrhythmias. Here, the action of caffeine on single RyR2 channels in bilayers and Ca(2+) sparks in permeabilized ventricular cardiomyocytes is defined. Single RyR2 caffeine activation depended on the free Ca(2+) level on both sides of the channel. Cytosolic Ca(2+) enhanced RyR2 caffeine affinity, whereas luminal Ca(2+) essentially scaled maximal caffeine activation. Caffeine activated single RyR2 channels in diastolic quasi-cell-like solutions (cytosolic MgATP, pCa 7) with an EC(50) of 9.0 ± 0.4 mM. Low-dose caffeine (0.15 mM) increased Ca(2+) spark frequency ∼75% and single RyR2 opening frequency ∼150%. This implies that not all spontaneous RyR2 openings during diastole are associated with Ca(2+) sparks. Assuming that only the longest openings evoke sparks, our data suggest that a spark may result only when a spontaneous single RyR2 opening lasts >6 ms.
Parents’ Problem Solving with Preadolescents and Its Association with Social Withdrawal at School: Considering Parents’ Stress and Child Gender

The early adolescent years are a critical period for social skill development, especially for children at risk for social failure. Data from the Adolescent Development Research Program (ADRP) were used to examine the interrelationship of parents’ stress, problem solving with their adolescent child, and youths’ social withdrawal. Data were collected from 231 families in the rural South, each of which included an 11- or 12-year-old child. Fathers’ but not mothers’ constructive problem solving with children was negatively associated with teachers’ reports of youths’ social withdrawal, with the association for fathers being especially strong for sons. Neither parents’ self-reported stress was associated with selfreported problem solving with children, nor was parents’ stress associated with children’s social withdrawal. Interventions with fathers that teach and encourage problem solving with children may benefit children’s social development, a benefit that may be especially helpful for socially withdrawn sons.
Bis(2,3-dimethylquinoxalinium) tribromocuprate(I).

The title compound, (C10H11N2)2[CuBr3], contains layers of planar monoprotonated cations. Isolated trigonal–planar [CuBr3]2− anions are hydrogen bonded to cations in adjacent layers, providing three-dimensional stability to the crystal structure.
The development of non-retinal afferent projections to the frog optic tectum and the substance P immunoreactivity of tectal connections

Accessibility in early development and the presence of a retinotopic map have made the amphibian optic tectum a popular system for exploration of the role of synaptic function in central map refinement. Although a great deal is known about the development of retinal innervation of the tectum, little information exists about the development of non-retinal tectal inputs. Since these other afferent systems may contribute to the synaptic drive of developing tectal cells and thereby be involved in the activity-dependent refinement of the retinotectal map, we sought to determine whether these inputs are present at the early tadpole stages when the first retinal axons refine their synaptic order within the tectal neuropil. Rhodamine-labelled latex beads, retrogradely transported from injection sites in the optic tecta, were used to identify tectal afferent projections. Projection patterns in very young tadpoles were identical to those found in juvenile frogs and heavily labelled regions included areas of the posteroventral tegmental field, the posterior tuberculum, the ventromedial thalamic nucleus, the ventral part of the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus, the suprachiasmatic nucleus and discrete regions within the central and anterior thalamic nuclei. Ipsilateral nucleus isthmi cells were also labelled, indicating the existence of an isthmo-tectal projection in even the youngest animals examined. Additionally, substance P-like immunoreactive tecto-isthmal fibers were traced from the optic tectum to the nucleus isthmi. The presence of these connections suggests that feedback from the nucleus isthmi and/or input from the other brain areas projecting to the tectum may play a role in modulating the cellular mechanisms that underlie the formation of the visual map.
Marathon damage testing of pellicles for 193-nm lithography

ABSTRACT We investigate the effect of 193-nm radiation on commercially available pellicles for 248-nm lithography. Pellicles from twosuppliers were irradiated at a realistic reticle plane fluence (0. 1 mJ/cm2/pulse) for 50millionpulses. Analysis of transmissionspectra revealed loss of pellicle material, decreased refractive index and increased absorption in various combinationsdepending on pellicle type and ambient. Although one of the two materials may be suitable for use at 193 nm, the othershowed unacceptable degradation. We also quantified outgassing rates of organic species during irradiation, and observedgreatly accelerated material loss in a pure nitrogen ambient compared with air. Yield rates of perfluorinated fragments andpolymer product exhibited two-photon scaling behavior.Keywords: pellicles, 193-nm lithography, ArF excimer laser 1. INTRODUCTION Pellicles are an established means of enhancing manufacturing yield in lithographic imaging. A pellicle is a membranemounted above the reticle with a sufficient gap that particles are well out of the focal plane and therefore have negligibleeffect on the pattern at the wafer. As the pellicle forms an integral part of the imaging system, its optical properties are
Poly(benzoxazine-co-urethane)s: A new concept for phenolic/urethane copolymers via one-pot method

Abstract Historically, applications for traditional phenolic resin/polyurethane materials are limited due to the inherently weak thermal stability of urethane-phenolic linkage and slow reaction rate. A novel concept has been developed to produce phenolic resin/polyurethane copolymers via benzoxazine chemistry. Through one-pot synthesis, a series of linear poly(benzoxazine-co-urethane) materials has been synthesized via the reaction of a newly developed dimethylol functional benzoxazine monomer with 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and poly(1,4-butyleneadipate). The structure of the copolymers has been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The copolymers in the film forms have been further thermally treated for crosslinking to produce crosslinked poly(benzoxazine-co-urethane) via the ring opening polymerization of cyclic benzoxazine moieties in the main-chain. The tensile properties of the films have been studied and compared with those of traditional high performance materials. The thermal properties of the crosslinked copolymers have also been studied by dynamic mechanical analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
The state of cell block variation and satisfaction in the era of molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine

Background: In the recent past, algorithms and recommendations to standardize the morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular classification of lung cancers on cytology specimens have been proposed, and several organizations have recommended cell blocks (CBs) as the preferred modality for molecular testing. Based on the literature, there are several different techniques available for CB preparation-suggesting that there is no standard. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey of CB preparation techniques utilized in various practice settings and analyze current issues, if any. Materials and Methods: A single E-mail with a link to an electronic survey was distributed to members of the American Society of Cytopathology and other pathologists. Questions pertaining to the participants' practice setting and CBs-volume, method, quality and satisfaction-were included. Results: Of 95 respondents, 90/95 (94%) completed the survey and comprise the study group. Most participants practice in a community hospital/private practice (44%) or academic center (41%). On average, 14 CBs (range 0-50; median 10) are prepared by a laboratory daily. Over 10 methods are utilized: Plasma thrombin (33%), HistoGel (27%), Cellient automated cell block system (8%) and others (31%) respectively. Forty of 90 (44%) respondents are either unsatisfied or sometimes satisfied with their CB quality, with low-cellular yield being the leading cause of dissatisfaction. There was no statistical significance between the three most common CB preparation methods and satisfaction with quality. Discussion: Many are dissatisfied with their current method of CB preparation, and there is no consistent method to prepare CBs. In today's era of personalized medicine with an increasing array of molecular tests being applied to cytological specimens, there is a need for a standardized protocol for CB optimization to enhance cellularity.
Vertebral and Total Body Bone Mineral Content by Dual Photon Absorptiometry

Single-photon absorptiometry has been widely accepted for biomedical research on bone (1, 4, 8). It has been apparent since the advent of single-photon absorptiometry that a dual-photon approach might be used to measure bone mineral content. The chief advantage of a dual-photon approach is the lack of the requirement for surrounding the measured bone in a constant thickness of soft-tissue. Concequently a dual-photon approach could be used on areas such as the hip or spine which are otherwise almost impossible to measure. Our initial work in this area consisted of definition of the various sources of error and their magnitude (2). Pioneering work on application of dual-photon absorptiometry to scanning of the spine was done by Reed (5) and greatly amplified by Roos and his co-workers (6, 7). We have done parallel work on spinal scanning, and have expanded to measure total body mineral as well.
Mapping broom snakeweed through image analysis of color-infrared photography and digital imagery

A study was conducted on a south Texas rangeland area to evaluate aerial color-infrared (CIR) photography and CIR digital imagery combined with unsupervised image analysis techniques to map broom snakeweed [Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh.) Britt. and Rusby]. Accuracy assessments performed on computer-classified maps of photographic images from two sites had mean producer’s and user’s accuracies for broom snakeweed of 98.3 and 88.3%, respectively; whereas, accuracy assessments performed on classified maps from digital images of the same two sites had mean producer’s and user’s accuracies for broom snakeweed of 98.3 and 92.8%, respectively. These results indicate that CIR photography and CIR digital imagery combined with image analysis techniques can be used successfully to map broom snakeweed infestations on south Texas rangelands.
A Quantitative Assay for Lycopene That Utilizes Reduced Volumes of Organic Solvents

Lycopene is a potent antioxidant found in watermelon, tomato, and red grapefruit and may exert positive effects on human health. Spectrophotometric and HPLC techniques are commonly employed for analysis of lycopene content in food sources. A rapid and inexpensive spectrophotometric assay for lycopene is presented. This method requires 80% less organic solvents for release and extraction of lycopene from watermelon than do the existing procedures. Comparative analyses for 105 watermelons from 11 cultivars yielded results equivalent to those provided by larger-volume spectrophotometric assay procedures. Limited numbers of assays suggest that this reduced volume method may be applicable for tomatoes and tomato products.
Predicting Survival in Patients With Recurrent Symptomatic Malignant Pleural Effusions: An Assessment of the Prognostic Values of Physiologic, Morphologic, and Quality of Life Measures of Extent of Disease

Purpose To determine the prognostic value of pleuralfluid pH, pleural fluid glucose, extent of pleural carcinomatosis (EPC)score, and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score in patients withrecurrent symptomatic malignant pleural effusions. Design Prospective 53-month study. Setting Referral center for interventionalpulmonology. Patients Eighty-five consecutivepatients (42 men and 43 women) with recurrent symptomatic malignantpleural effusions who were referred to the interventional pulmonaryservice for thoracoscopic pleurodesis. Measurements Pleural fluid pH, pleural fluid glucose, EPC score, and KPS score. Results The KPS score was the only statisticallysignificant predictor variable. Patients with a KPS score ≥ 70 had amedian survival of 395 days, as opposed to a median survival of only 34days for patients with a KPS score ≤ 30. No prognostic advantage wasevident when patients were categorized by pleural fluid pH, pleuralfluid glucose, or EPC score. Conclusion Whenassessing the prognosis of a patient with a recurrent symptomaticmalignant pleural effusion, only the KPS score at the time ofthoracoscopy is predictive of survival. Pleural fluid pH, pleural fluidglucose, and EPC scores are not as reliable as initially reported. Forpatients with a KPS score ≥ 70, it may be very reasonable to proceedwith thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis for management of their malignantpleural effusions.
Primary structure of peptides and ion channels. Role of amino acid side chains in voltage gating of melittin channels.

Melittin produces a voltage-dependent increase in the conductance of planar lipid bilayers. The conductance increases when the side of the membrane to which melittin has been added (cis-side) is made positive. This paper reports observations on the effect of modifying two positively charged amino acid residues within the NH2-terminal region of the molecule: lysine at position 7 (K7), and the NH2-terminal glycine (G1). We have synthesized melittin analogues in which K7 is replaced by asparagine (K7-N), G1 is blocked by a formyl group (G1-f), and in which both modifications of the parent compound were introduced (G1-f, K7-N). The time required to reach peak conductance during a constant voltage pulse was shorter in membranes exposed to the analogues than in membranes modified by melittin. The apparent number of monomers producing a conducting unit for [K7-N]-melittin and [G1-f]-melittin, eight, was found to be greater than the one for [G1-f], K7-N]-melittin and for melittin itself, four. The apparent gating charge per monomer was less for the analogues, 0.5–0.3 than for melittin, one. Essentially similar results were obtained with melittin analogues in which the charge on K7 or G1 or both was blocked by an uncharged N-linked spin label. These results show that the positive charges in the NH2-terminal region of melittin play a major but not exclusive role in the voltage gating of melittin channels in bilayers.
Asthma of luetic origin

Abstract 1.1. A case of true bronchial asthma of luetic origin is presented. 2.2. This form of asthma should not be confused with syphilis of the lung with which it may or may not be associated. 3.3. Asthmatoid symptoms, due to syphilis of the lung, belong to the obstructive groups and should not be classified under true asthma. 4.4. A suggestion is made that this case rightfully belongs under the classification of bacterial allergy and is probably due to hypersensitiveness to the toxic products of the Treponema pallidum.
A skeleton of physical ideas for the dynamics of complex systems

Abstract We define complex systems, from molecular ensembles and networks to galactic clusters, as fluid-plastic-elastic systems in which bulk/shear viscosity ratios are large, with the consequence that interactions among parts at any level lead to internalization of action (energy × time) and to variable process delays between external inputs and outputs. Living systems are notably complex by this measure. Complex systems can be comprehended dynamically through an extended statistical mechanics, irreversible thermodynamics, and nonlinear mechanics, in the form of an electrohydrodynamic field physics. Chemical reactivity (making, breaking, or exchanging bonds) is subsumed in the generalized mechanics as a diffusive process. In this paper we apply this physical construct to the problems of dynamic regulation and coordination among parts in the forms of life found in the more than 300 families of flowering plants. We choose to use these particular plants rather than vertebrates, mammals, or man, as exemplars of our theory to show how effective “chemical languages” can be, without the obfuscating arrangements of nervous systems and muscles designed to support locomotion.
An appraisal of smeared crack models for masonry shear wall analysis

Abstract Smeared crack models have been used in finite element analyses of concrete and masonry structures. While such an approach proved to be efficient and reliable in many instances, its capability in capturing the mechanical behavior for a vast variety of structural problems has not been thoroughly examined. The objective of this paper is to assess the capability of these models in capturing the strength and various failure mechanisms of reinforced masonry shear walls. To this end, a smeared-crack finite element formulation adopting the J2 plasticity model for uncracked masonry and nonlinear orthotropic constitutive models for cracked masonry has been developed. The performance of the model is evaluated with experimental data obtained from reinforced masonry wall panels. The objectivity of numerical results with respect to mesh size is considered. While the model has shown excellent performance with respect to flexure-dominated behavior, it has a major drawback in capturing the brittle shear behavior of lightly reinforced wall panels. The cause of the above problem is explained and possible solutions are discussed. Results of a parametric study that has been conducted to examine the influence of different modeling parameters and assumptions are also presented.
Biochemical, histological, and biomechanical analyses of canine tendon

To define the matrix composition and architecture of canine flexor tendon, and to correlate tissue structure with applied mechanical loading, five anatomical regions of flexor tendon were studied. Histologically, two prominent fibrocartilaginous areas were observed on concave aspects of the tendon. The location of the major fibrocartilaginous area at the metacarpophalangeal joint correlated well with the region predicted by biomechanical modeling to be under greatest compressive loads during standing and claw movement. Comparative biochemical analysis showed an elevated water content, a five-fold higher hexuronic acid content, and a larger hydroxylysine/hydroxyproline ratio in this region relative to that for more tendinous areas. The major glycosaminoglycan component of fibrocartilaginous areas was chondroitin sulfate, whereas in other areas dermatan sulfate and hyaluronic acid dominated. Cell density and DNA analyses indicated a slightly higher cellularity for fibrocartilaginous areas and the region of vinculum insertion. These data document the existence of discrete areas of specialization within the flexor tendon that appear to be an adaptation to nutritional and mechanical factors.
Nanoparticles Containing Anti-inflammatory Agents as Chemotherapy Adjuvants II: Role of Plasma Esterases in Drug Release

The pre-administration of the anti-inflammatory drugs dexamethasone (DEX) and cortisone acetate reduces toxicity and enhances efficacy of anticancer agents in murine models and in human clinical trials (1–5). We previously reported on the formulation of the lipophilic dexamethasone palmitate ester (DEX-P) in nanoparticles (NPs) employing a microemulsion template engineering technique to achieve tumor-specific delivery of dexamethasone (6). The nanoparticles exhibited significantly enhanced stealth properties as indicated by reduced macrophage uptake and decreased adsorption of opsonin proteins in in vitro assays (6). Unexpectedly, preliminary biodistribution studies of NPs containing [3H]-DEX-P in tumor-bearing mice showed that the radiolabel was cleared from the circulation rapidly and exhibited high liver uptake. Our previous in vitro release studies demonstrated that rapid release of the radiolabel from the NPs was observed when 10% mouse plasma was used as the medium, while nominal release was observed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer (6). Esterolysis of NP-associated DEX-P was presumed to be the main cause for the rapid drug release in plasma, as most of the released radioactivity was in the form of DEX and not DEX-P. High degradation rates of ester prodrugs in rodent plasma has been attributed to increased esterase activity, while only minimal degradation in human plasma has been observed (7–9). Based on our observation of the release of [3H]-DEX from NPs in mouse plasma, we studied the release of DEX from nanoparticles in various plasma sources as a guide for the design of future in vivo experiments.
The importance of international public relations

Good international public relations can greatly aid a firm and increase its profit. This article discusses the building of an I. P. R. program, the appropriateness of such programs, and the obligations of international corporations.
Two:one atrioventricular block in infants with congenital long QT syndrome.

Abstract Congenital prolongation of the QT interval is a rare but life-threatening disorder of the cardiac conduction system. 1–5 The disorder usually presents as syncope or sudden death due to complex polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsade de pointes) or ventricular fibrillation. 6 The major hypothesis explaining the disorder is an imbalance of sympathetic discharge between the right and left stellate ganglia resulting in inhomogeneity of ventricular refractoriness and a substrate for reentrant ventricular arrhythmias. 4–6 Although sinus bradycardia may be associated with the syndrome, abnormalities in atrioventricular (AV) conduction are rare. 4 In this report we present 3 infants with the congenital long QT syndrome and 2:1 AV block and provide support for the role of the long effective refractory period in producing the block.
9-nitrocamptothecin liposome aerosol: lack of subacute toxicity in dogs.

9-Nitrocamptothecin (9-NC) dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) liposome aerosol was evaluated for potential toxicity in an 8-wk, subacute toxicity study in dogs. Fourteen adult dogs were divided in...
Electrophoretic repair of impoundment leaks : Analysis and verification with experimental data

Sealing leaks which have developed in liquid surface impoundments with geomembrane liners may be difficult due to aged liner material. A technique utilizing electrophoresis which causes clay particles to be attracted toward leaks when an electric field is applied provides a cost-effective method for repair. This study presents an experimentally verified methodology to predict electrophoretic sealing of in-service geomembrane liners. The methodology includes a procedure to simulate axis-symmetric electrophoretic cake formation and a numerical technique to solve the electric field for voltage gradients. Path lines of solid particles are generated by superposing electrophoretic and Stokes' settling velocities. A numerical method to obtain a steady-state cake profile by conserving solids mass and an approach which uses path lines to simulate transient cake formation are described. For an initially uniform suspension, final and transient cake profiles are obtained under varying conditions. The effects of volta...
Measures of Agricultural Support Policies in Transition Economies: 1994-1997

In the pre-reform period, agriculture was heavily subsidized in most Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC's). Around 1989, most CEEC's began to open up their markets, liberalize prices, and reduce subsidies, and the level of support provided to agriculture declined drastically. While not questioning the direction of economic reforms, there was concern that the decline in profitability in farning would slow down the impetus for farm restructuring, in particular, the drive for privatization of land as demanded by potential new farmers. However, after pursuing rather liberal agricultural policies at the beginning of the transition period, some CEEC's in recent years have reintroduced higher levels of support (Stefan Tangerman, 1996). In this paper, based on estimates of various support indicators for the period beginning roughly in 1994, I will address some of the more important questions regarding agricultural support: What has been the impact of trade and price policy interventions on the net income of farmers and government budgets? How level has the playing field been since the reintroduction of support? Does the current economic environment provide an appropriate and sound basis for adjustment toward a more competitive agricultural sector? This analysis is part of a comparative study by the World Bank, which covers Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and Russia (in progress), plus Germany and Turkey, two reference cases geographically located at the border of the CEEC' s. For each country, employing the same methodology, the study considers approximately eight commodities which are representative of the country's major import-competing and export products.
Effects of boron and nitrate on hatching success of amphibian eggs.

As part of a land-application wastewater disposal system in central Pennsylvania, vernal ponds are commonly exposed to wastewater effluent containing high levels of boron and nitrate. We examined the individual effects of these compounds on the eggs of amphibians breeding in these ponds. Wood frog (Rana sylvatica), Jefferson salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum), spotted salamander (A. maculatum), and American toad (Bufo americanus) eggs were exposed to boron (0, 50, and 100 mg L−1) and nitrate (0, 10, 25, and 40 mg L−1) under laboratory conditions. There was no difference in the hatching success or proportion of deformed larvae among the four nitrate levels in any of the species. High boron concentrations reduced the hatching success of B. americanus and produced more deformed offspring in R. sylvatica, A. jeffersonianum, and A. maculatum. Deformed R. sylvatica and A. jeffersonianum hatchlings displayed a “curling defect” in which the larvae had a crescent body shape and expressed difficulty in swimming. A. maculatum larvae from high boron treatments displayed a different abnormality, possibly because of longer times to hatching, characterized by a swelling of the thoracic region and altered gill morphology. Although the concentrations of boron and nitrate tested were within the range measured in wastewater effluent, maximum levels of boron and nitrate in breeding ponds were only 1.5 mg L−1 and 26.7 mg L−1 respectively, likely due to rainwater dilution and biological and chemical processes reducing the levels of these compounds in vernal ponds. Nonetheless, these studies are the first to examine the effects of boron and nitrate on amphibian egg hatching success, and to demonstrate that elevated boron concentrations can detrimentally affect the development of amphibian embryos.
He Said I Was Out of Pocket: On Being a Caribbean Contextual Theologian in a Non-Caribbean Context

AbstractThis article emerges from a personal struggle to address the challenges associated with being a Caribbean, contextual theologian, operating outside of that region. The issue is problematized with the use of the expression "being out of pocket," used by an American theologian to question the legitimacy of my attempt to promote Caribbean theology in the United States. This problematic is engaged in light of similar critiques that could be raised by theologians operating in the Caribbean. In the process, there is explication of the conceptual grounding for a contextual approach to doing theology, showing that it is unavoidable and identifying its strengths and limitations. "Dialectical contextualism" is promoted as an approach to theologizing that enables a Caribbean, contextual theologian operating outside the region to acknowledge some alienation, and yet contribute relevantly, to the regional theological processes. One is able to bring to bear a perspective on Caribbean life that is not possible f...
Trans-Synaptic Plasticity: Presynaptic Initiation, Postsynaptic Memory

A novel mechanism of persistent facilitation induced by serotonin at Aplysia synapses depends upon rapid postsynaptic protein synthesis and increased responsiveness to glutamate; whereas the memory for this synaptic change is postsynaptic, the initiating signal may be an increase in spontaneous release of glutamate from the presynaptic terminals.
New food components and gastrointestinal health.

Apart from its main functions of digestion, absorption and faecal processing, the human gastrointestinal tract has a complex pattern of muscular activity regulated by a largely autonomous nervous system, and its various organs contain large concentrations of immune and endocrine tissues. Any failure of these closely-integrated systems can lead to diseases ranging from the mildly irritating to the life threatening. Food contains a huge variety of chemical species, many of which are biologically active, and the distal regions of the gut are colonised by a rich and metabolically-active commensal flora that depend on nutrients derived ultimately from the host’s dietary residues. The present paper explores the evidence for significant effects of food ingredients on functional bowel disorders, intestinal infections, and aspects of epithelial cell physiology involved in the development of colo-rectal neoplasia. Various strategies, including the manipulation of the colo-rectal microflora with pre- and probiotics, and the development of new products and plant varieties containing biologically-active constituents, have the potential to underpin the development of novel functional food products. However, these products will need to be based on proven biological principles, and fully tested for efficacy and safety. The rapidlydeveloping fields of functional genomics and cell biology will open up new experimental strategies to explore these possibilities, and emerging processing technologies seem likely to provide novel methods for their exploitation. Functional foods: Diet: Gut microflora: Irritable bowel syndrome: Colo-rectal cancer
Ein neuartiges Berylliumthiolat durch N-Si-Bindungsspaltung: Freisetzung von Ammoniak bei der Reaktion von Be[N(SiMe3)2]2 mit HSPh

Eine Nebenreaktion fuhrt zum Produkt: Bei der Synthese von [{Be(SPh)2(py)(NH3)}2([18]krone-6)] 1 (py=Pyridin) aus [Be{N(SiMe3)2}2] und HSPh entstehen die beiden koordinierenden Ammoniakmolekule (siehe Struktur von 1 im Kristall) in einer Konkurrenzreaktion durch eine N-Si-Bindungsspaltung aus freigesetztem Hexamethyldisilazan und nichtumgesetztem Thiol.
Advanced control rooms and crew performance issues: implications for human reliability

Recent trends in advanced control room (ACR) design are considered with respect to their impact on human performance. It is concluded that the effects of advanced technology on human performance cannot be assumed to be positive. Conducting human reliability analyses for advanced plants is made difficult by limitations in the general knowledge about the role of human operators in ACRs, the effects of specific design characteristics on human performance, the lack of available databases, and the lack of available subject matter expertise. Thus, there is a heightened need to precisely and thoroughly document the process of human action identification, evaluation, and quantification. In the longer term, research is needed on the effects of advanced technology on human performance, including the assessment of industry experience on a world-wide basis. The development of models to better understand the cognitive underpinnings of human errors appears to be an especially promising path. >
Physical vs. psychological dependence and tolerance in high-dose methamphetamine abuse.

(1969). Physical vs. Psychological Dependence and Tolerance in High-Dose Methamphetamine Abuse. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 99-103.
Can urban P conservation help to prevent the brown devolution

Achieving better understanding phosphorus (P) flows through urban ecosystems is needed to conserve P, as non-renewable phosphate rock deposits become depleted and the global human population increases. A baseline mass flow analysis (MFA) for P developed for the Twin Cities Watershed (TCW, which includes most of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan region) showed that most P input was stored in the system (65%) or leaked from it (31%); only 4% was deliberately exported as useful products. In a realistic, comprehensive conservation scenario P input was reduced by 15%; deliberate export of P in the form of sewage sludge, food waste, and landscape waste was 68% of P input. In this scenario, increased deliberate export was accomplished by decreasing leakage (to 9% of input) and storage (to 23% of input). If used as agricultural fertilizer, the deliberately exported P in the conservation scenario would support about half of the food production required by the TCW.
Medical Borders: Historical, Political, and Cultural Analyses

Scientific medicine carries within it an inherent contradiction. On the one hand, given its general scientific inquiry into health and disease, their conditions, etiologies, and treatments, it makes a claim for universality. To justify this claim, at different times and in different places, scientific medicine has prioritized techniques such as the medical gaze and autopsies to assure its diagnoses; it has applied numerical methods in order to have a better grasp of diseases and their possible treatments; it has used laboratory analyses in order to understand life at its molecular level; and more recently it has introduced Randomized Clinical Trials (RCT) in order to generalize clinical treatments. On the other hand, contrary to its universalistic claims, scientific medicine sets up and reifies boundaries. It creates distinctions between the healthy and the sick and defines categories, such as gender and race, that have deep political and social meanings.
A new nonlinear filtering approximation

A new technique for the finite dimensional approximation of the infinite dimensional filtering problem is presented. The original filtering problem is approximated by a stochastic control problem with fully observable state. A simple, one-dimensional example compares the described algorithm with the extended Kalman-filter approach.
Throughput and Energy-Efficiency-Aware Protocol for Ultrawideband Communication in Wireless Sensor Networks: A Cross-Layer Approach

In this paper, we propose an efficient MAC protocol: the throughput maximized MAC protocol (TM-MAC), inspired by the availability that a number of ultrawideband (UWB) transmission parameters can be tuned to better match the requirements of data flow. In TM-MAC, we implement a concurrent multiuser access scheme instead of a mutual exclusion method such as TDMA and random access. For multiuser interference, we establish a model to adaptively adjust the data transmission rate to generate the expected signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) at the receiver side for reliable communications. We also analyze the relationship among the theoretical maximum channel capacity, achievable maximum channel capacity, and data transmission rate. According to network topology, TM-MAC redivides each piconet into several subsets in which communication pairs can make communication simultaneously and achieve the maximum throughput using the highest data rate. In subset formation, we propose a general analytical framework that captures the unique characteristics of shared wireless channel and throughput variance, as well as allows the modeling of a large class of systemwide throughput maximization via the specification of the per-link utilization function. For algorithm essential parameters design, we consider the influence of traffic type on the system performance. Heavy tailed distribution, compared to Poisson distribution for most existing work, is exploited to accurately model the real traffic to achieve the adaptation of our algorithm. Simulation results show that our algorithm can maximize throughput to achieve short latency.
Fad Diets in the Treatment of Diabetes

Use of the term “fad diet” reflects the contentious nature of the debate in the treatment of diabetes and generally targets diets based on carbohydrate restriction, the major challenge to traditional dietary therapy. Although standard low-fat diets more accurately conform to the idea of a practice supported by social pressure rather than scientific data, it is suggested that we might want to give up altogether unscientific terms like “fad” and “healthy.” Far from faddish, diets based on carbohydrate restriction have been the historical treatment for diabetes and are still supported by basic biochemistry, and it is argued that they should be considered the “default” diet, the one to try first, in diseases of carbohydrate intolerance or insulin resistance. The barrier to acceptance of low-carbohydrate diets in the past has been concern about saturated fat, which might be substituted for the carbohydrate that is removed. However, recent re-analysis of much old data shows that replacing carbohydrate with saturated fat is, if anything, beneficial. The dialectic of impact of continued hemoglobin A1c versus effect of dietary saturated fat in the risk of cardiovascular disease is resolved in direction of glycemic control. Putting biased language behind us and facing the impact of recent results that point to the value of low-carbohydrate diets would offer patients the maximum number of options.
Long-Term Habituation of the Gill-Withdrawal Reflex in Aplysia Requires Gene Transcription, Calcineurin and L-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels

Although habituation is possibly the simplest form of learning, we still do not fully understand the neurobiological basis of habituation in any organism. To advance the goal of a comprehensive understanding of habituation, we have studied long-term habituation (LTH) of the gill-withdrawal reflex (GWR) in the marine snail Aplysia californica. Previously, we showed that habituation of the GWR in a reduced preparation lasts for up to 12 hr, and depends on protein synthesis, as well as activation of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A and postsynaptic glutamate receptors. Here, we have used the reduced preparation to further analyze the mechanisms of LTH in Aplysia. We found that LTH of the GWR depends on RNA synthesis because it was blocked by both the irreversible transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin-D and the reversible transcriptional inhibitor, 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside (DRB). In addition, LTH requires activation of protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin), because it was disrupted by ascomycin. Finally, LTH was blocked by nitrendipine, which indicates that activation of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels is required for this form of learning. Together with our previous results, the present results indicate that exclusively presynaptic mechanisms, although possibly sufficient for short-term habituation, are insufficient for LTH. Rather, LTH must involve postsynaptic, as well as presynaptic, mechanisms.
A Comprehensive Pediatric Inpatient Nutrition Support Package: A Multi-disciplinary Approach

Objective: To develop an easy-to-use system for initiating and monitoring enteral and parenteral nutrition support for pediatric inpatients. Design: A multidisciplinary pediatric nutrition support team developed a system to deliver appropriate nutrition support to pediatric inpatients. The package was devised and implemented to improve timeliness, safety, and efficacy of pediatric inpatient nutrition support. The goals included an easy to complete nutrition assessment, a system for early appropriate initiation of nutrition, advancement toward projected goal calories, and monitoring parameters for improved outcomes. Results The comprehensive evidence based package consisted of a four-sided laminated pocket reference with flow charts and tables; concise enteral and parenteral clinical nutrition support pathways; and computerized parenteral nutrition order form, a lab order set, and four one-page information sheets for initiation and advancement of age specific parenteral nutrition. A lecture summarizing this manuscript with handouts and bibliography heightened awareness in each department primarily responsible for the care for pediatric patients (Pediatrics, Family Practice, and Surgery) in our hospital. Conclusion: This package is a comprehensive educational tool for our housestaff. We believe it increases the likelihood of appropriate nutrition assessment and delivery by physicians working with pediatric inpatients at our hospital. It is easily adaptable to fit the needs of any inpatient pediatric nutrition support practice setting.