cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Change processes in development: The concept of coactive scaffolding

Abstract The concept of scaffolding is generally invoked to refer to the ways in which a more expert individual assists a child by performing a part a task or by otherwise directing or supporting a child's task-related actions. A coactive systems model of development provides a framework for examining other ways in which person-environment relations may scaffold development. From a coactive systems view, the unit of analysis for understanding development is the coactive person-environment system. Within such a system, although individual actors exert control over their actions, thoughts and feelings, action is the product of coactions among each element of the system over time. From this view, coactive scaffolding refers to any process outside of an individual's direct control that functions to direct individual action toward novel or higher-order forms. Three broad categories (and subtypes) of coactive scaffolding are proposed and illustrated: ecological scaffolding, social scaffolding, and self -scaffolding.
Edta titrations without metal indicators

Abstract A general method ot estimating metals whose EDTA complexes have log K values of 15 or higher has been proposed. The metals are complexed with excess EDTA, and the excess is titrated with standard cobalt solution in acetone-water system containing ammonium thiocyanate and adjusted to pH 7.
Religion as Political Resource: Culture or Ideology?

While empirical studies of religion's involvement in political life abound, there remains a great deal of fuzziness about the concepts that best capture it. Two often-used approaches are "religion as culture" and "religion as ideology." In some perspectives culture and ideology are treated as mutually exclusive modes of religio-political phenomena; in other perspectives the two concepts are conflated. This article argues for an analytic distinction between culture and ideology that still preserves their interactive and often complementary natures. Examples from empirical studies of religion in politics demonstrate the different ways in which religion acts as a political resource, and the usefulness of the proposed analytic distinction.
Clarification or Confusion? A Review of Rogers, Bender, and Johnson’s A Critical Analysis of the MND Criteria for Feigned Cognitive Impairment: Implications for Forensic Practice and Research

Rogers, Bender, and Johnson (in press) purport to identify the limitations of the Slick, Sherman, and Iverson (Clin Neuropsychol, 13:545–561, 1999) criteria for malingered neurocognitive dysfunction (MND) by claiming that the diagnostic algorithm has not been adequately tested and overestimates the presence of malingered cognitive symptoms. The criticisms leveled at various MND criteria include concerns regarding the appropriateness of including external incentives in the model, claims that variability in cognitive symptom validity test hit rates compromises their use, and assertions that discrepancies between self-report and medical/psychosocial records are widespread in credible patients, and the authors ultimately argue that the MND criteria do not meet the Daubert standards. In this commentary in response to the Rogers et al. manuscript, the merits of the claimed criticisms are carefully evaluated, with the conclusion that the authors have overstated the failings of the MND criteria, which remain an accurate method for identifying noncredible patients in research and clinical settings.
Ecology of Abortions in the United States Since 1973: a Replication and Extension

This research examined changes in the distribution of abortions among states following the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 decision invalidating most state laws restricting abortions, and compared that distribution with the distribution that would have been observed if all state abortion rates had been equal, and with the actual and equal rate distributions of divorces. After 1973 the influence of pre-decision abortion laws on the distribution of abortions decreased and the ecological correlations between the characteristics of states and the number of abortions changed toward a more "natural" or expected pattern. Little change was observed in the distribution of hospitals performing abortions, an indication that the decision influenced individual behavior more than it influenced existing social institutions. Restrictions enacted since 1973 had little influence on the distribution. Results are interpreted as supporting theoretical approaches that emphasize environmental control of behavior over those that emphasize individual autonomy in person-environment interactions.
Changes in Nearest-Neighbor Associations in a Captive Group of Western Lowland Gorillas After the Introduction of Five Hand-Reared Infants

The successful management of a captive gorilla population often necessitates the hand-rearing of infants and their subsequent re-integration into social groups of conspecifics. In the present study we quantified the changes in nearest-neighbor associations in a group consisting of a silverback male, three adult females, and two sub-adult females after the introduction of five hand-reared infants. Additionally, we examined the associations among kin and non-kin group members to determine whether genetic relatedness was a factor influencing the integration of the infants into the group and the subsequent patterns of association among infants and adults. Results showed that after the introduction, the silverback male spent >60% of his time in close proximity to an infant and 10% of his time within a “cluster” of infants. There was a significant change in a female's nearest-neighbor associations; however, the change did not include an infant. The most significant finding among infants was a strong bias by each to associate with another infant. When the infants associated with an adult, three of the five associated most with the silverback male (P < 0.001), whereas the other two infants distributed their time among all the adults. The most significant change in behavior patterns was exhibited by one of the sub-adult females who displayed parental behaviors 18% of the time compared to <1% for all other females. Adults and one sub-adult female associated significantly more often with related infants compared to unrelated infants (P < 0.025), and the infants showed a bias to associate with another related infant (P < 0.0001). Results of an infant's association with an adult showed that three of the five infants preferred to associate with a related adult (P < 0.0001). An individual's age, sex, and behavioral profile may have also influenced association patterns among group members. These findings lend strong support to the importance of peer groups and the presence of a silverback male for facilitating the integration of hand-reared infants into established adult groups. Zoo Biol 18:261–278, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Effects of Tokenism on Work Alienation among Urban Public School Teachers

Existing theories of the effects of relative numbers, and especially tokenism, on worker behaviors and attitudes are reviewed. Despite the absence of specific reference in the literature to worker alienation as an outcome of token status, an argument is presented drawing upon this research tradition and discussions of marginality to link this dependent variable to tokenism. In addition, often neglected status considerations are included to predict directionality in that linkage. Findings suggest that relative numbers play a minimal role in worker alienation. Some limited support for the relevance of status concerns is found, but only in sex tokenism. Absolute size appears to have negligible effects. It is suggested that theories of tokenism may need to define more narrowly the occupations to which they apply and also delineate other, more social psychological variables that may intervene between numbers and attitudes.
Body weights in mixed species troops of Saguinus mystax mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis nigrifrons in Amazonian Peru

An investigation of body weights of members of mixed species troops of Saguinus mystax mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis nigrifrons was conducted at the Rio Blanco Research Station in northeastern Peru. A total of 107 adult and subadult tamarin monkeys were trapped, measured, and re- leased. Data collected indicate that mean body weights for adult male and female moustached tamarins are 564 gm and 626 gm, respectively, whereas for adult saddle-back tamarins these values are 412 gm and 411 gm. Subadults weighed 11-27% less than adults. Body weights recorded in this study are significantly greater than those previously reported for tamarins of the same species and age living in other areas of Amazonian Peru. We hypothesize that, in the case of moustached and saddle-back tamarins, advantages associated with feeding and foraging in mixed species troops facilitate greater efficiency in resource monitoring and result in the maintenance of larger body weights.
The prospective assessment of self-concept in neglectful and physically abusive low income mothers☆

Maternal self-esteem has long been associated with the quality of maternal-child interactions and many assume that low self-esteem contributes to the cause of maltreatment. Assessments of the self-concepts of maltreating parents, however, have been done only after maltreatment has occurred. Prospective measurement of self-concept would help to clarify its role in the etiology of maltreatment. In this study, 471 pregnant women completed the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS). State protective services' records were reviewed 3 years after these children were born. When records of the 459 women with a known live-born child were reviewed, 29 were found to have maltreated their children (neglect n = 22; physical abuse n = 11; four women found to have both neglected and abused their children). Neglectful mothers had lower scores on scales measuring overall self-esteem, moral self-worth, personal and social adequacy, and perception of self-worth in family relationships than matched nonreported mothers. They described their identity and behavior more negatively and had greater general maladjustment and neurotic symptoms. Physically abusive mothers had lower scores on self-worth in family relationships. When measured prospectively, low self-esteem appears to be a risk factor for child neglect, but is not a strong predictor for physical abuse. Implications for prevention programs are discussed. Language: en
The Dispersion of Supersonic Waves in Cylindrical Rods of Polycrystalline Silver, Nickel, and Magnesium

The velocities of elastic waves in polycrystalline rods of silver, nickel, and magnesium were measured at supersonic frequencies ranging from 120 to 750 kc. This was done by mounting the rods in a horizontal position so that one end was supported by a loop of silk thread and the other end passed through a diaphragm into a special box which was filled with transformer oil and which contained the quartz crystal source of supersound. Lycopodium powder scattered along the rod formed wave patterns when the rod was vibrating resonantly and hence wave-lengths could be measured directly. The products of these wave-lengths and the corresponding frequencies as read on the wave meter yield the required velocities. The dispersion theory of Giebe and Blechschmidt was tested by calculating theoretical curves for four of the six rods and comparing these with the corresponding experimental curves. The theory is found adequate to account satisfactorily only for the low frequency dispersion. One reason for its failure in other respects is discussed.
The influence of surface topography and angle of adatom incidence on growth structure in sputtered chromium

Abstract The influences of the substrate surface topography and the angle of adatom flux on the growth structure of thick sputter-deposited chromium were investigated using a single “point” source for adatom incidence angles of 0, 7.5, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90°. Two types of columnar growth were observed. (1) A columnar defect structure was associated with geometric shadowing of substrate surface asperities and was always parallel or nearly parallel to the flux of incident atoms. This observation indicates that atomic self-shadowing, as described by the well-known tangent law, does not control defect growth. The results of the present study support a simple geometric shadowing mechanism. The open boundaries of the columnar growth units (defects) in this type of structure are generally associated with reduced corrosion resistance and other (local) degradations of coating properties. (2) A columnar solidification texture was always perpendicular to the substrate surface, with the size of individual columnar regions being related to the topography of the substrate surface.
Systemic Hypertension and the Relaxation Response

The relaxation response is defined as a set of integrated physiologic changes that may be elicited when a subject assumes a relaxed position, often with closed eyes, within a quiet environment, eng...
An update on the role of leukotrienes in asthma.

Purpose of review Leukotrienes (LT)s are lipid mediators involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. There is significant new information about the actions of LTs in asthma, and the evolving role of anti-LT therapies. We review recent findings on regulation of LT synthesis, biological function of LTs in disease models, and use of LT modifiers in clinical practice.
Properties of Real-World Digital Logic Diagrams

Despite the growing number of sketch recognition systems for education, little attention has been paid to how students actually draw in practice. We examine freely-drawn digital logic diagrams created by students in an electrical engineering class in order to inform the design of a sketch recognition digital circuit simulation tool. Our analysis reveals considerable drawing style variation between students and that standard drawing style restrictions made by sketch recognition systems to aid recognition generally do not match the way students draw. We identify drawing behaviors that can aid recognition while placing fewer unnatural constraints on students' drawing styles, and we describe specific recognition tasks whose solutions will lead to more robust free-sketch recognition systems.
Ethyl pyruvate ameliorates liver ischemia-reperfusion injury by decreasing hepatic necrosis and apoptosis.

Background Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) occurs in the settings of transplantation, trauma, and elective liver resections. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to play a major role in organ I/R injury. Pyruvate, a key intermediate in cellular metabolism, is an effective scavenger of ROS. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ethyl pyruvate (EP), a soluble pyruvate derivative, is effective in preventing hepatic I/R injury. Methods Lewis rats underwent 60 minutes of partial warm hepatic ischemia. Three doses of EP dissolved in lactated Ringer's solution or lactated Ringer's solution (LR) alone were given by intravenous injection. Serum and tissue samples were obtained at 1 to 24 hours postreperfusion. Results Serum transaminases, degree of hepatic necrosis, and neutrophil infiltration were all significantly decreased in the EP-treated rats compared with control animals. The amount of hepatic lipid peroxidation was also significantly decreased in EP-treated animals. Both circulating levels and hepatic expression of inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased in the EP-treated animals. Furthermore, EP inhibited activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein kinases, as well as nuclear factor-kappaB, signaling pathways involved in cytokine release. Treatment with EP also inhibited hepatic apoptosis. Conclusion EP has a protective effect on hepatic I/R injury, mediated in part by decreasing lipid peroxidation, down-regulation of inflammatory mediators, and inhibition of apoptosis. Strategies using this additive to LR solution should be considered in clinical settings of ischemic liver injury to decrease organ damage.
Social and institutional factors associated with land use and forest conservation along two urban gradients in Massachusetts

With the rate of suburban development now surpassing the amount of land protected nationally for conservation, the act of preserving land from development becomes a crucial need to support critical ecosystem services and human quality of life. While previous studies have quantified the loss of forest lands and open spaces along urban gradients, rarely have they quantified the connections between land use policies, actions and land use change. We examined social and institutional factors positively influencing land conservation efforts across two urban gradients in Massachusetts, one surrounding the large, economically growing city of Boston and the other surrounding the smaller, economically depressed city of Springfield. Despite their differences, the metropolitan areas of these two cities are both growing rapidly. We measured forest and open space protection for a sample of 15 towns, comparing this with quantitative assessments of town-level open space policies, investment in conservation planning, wealth, and social capital, in the form of local land trusts. We found significant differences between the two urban gradients, with greater land protection occurring in the Boston area towns. The towns with the largest proportion of protected land were at the urban end of both gradients. We found that land trusts played a significant role in the conservation of open spaces, and wealthier towns were more likely to have longstanding, active land trusts. This result suggests that fostering land trusts in lower-income communities could have a lasting positive impact on land conservation in the face of rapid suburbanization.
Microstructure of block copolymer/precursor assembly for Si–C–N based nano-ordered ceramics

Abstract Synthesis of polymer-derived ceramics was explored to build nano-order in a Si–C–N system. The polymeric precursor that leads to the desired ceramic composition was self-assembled using block copolymers as structure-directing agents. This paper summarizes our research in the system polybutadiene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PB- b -PEO) with a polysilazane as the ceramic precursor. Microstructures ranging from classic lamellar to cylindrical as well as more complicated morphologies are described, and their evolution is shown to vary sensitively with precursor chemistry, loading and heat-treatment history. The ordered nano-scale structure created in the block copolymer/precursor hybrids can be preserved through the pyrolysis process, thereby leading to ordered nanostructures in the final ceramic.
Systemic anti-tumour effects of local thermally sensitive liposome therapy

AbstractPurpose: There were two primary objectives of this study: (1) to determine whether treatment of a tumour site with systemically administered thermally sensitive liposomes and local hyperthermia (HT) for triggered release would have dual anti-tumour effect on the primary heated tumour as well as an unheated secondary tumour in a distant site, and (2) to determine the ability of non-invasive optical spectroscopy to predict treatment outcome. The optical end points studied included drug levels, metabolic markers flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD(P)H), and physiological markers (total haemoglobin (Hb) and Hb oxygen saturation) before and after treatment.Materials and methods: Mice were inoculated with SKOV3 human ovarian carcinoma in both hind legs. One tumour was selected for local hyperthermia and subsequent systemic treatment. There were four treatment groups: control, DOXIL® (non-thermally sensitive liposomes containing doxorubicin), and two differ...
Teaching Statistics in US — An Alien's s-eye View

Summary This article discusses the author's initial experience of teaching statistics in an American university, and the sort of way he thinks the subject should be taught. (Specifically, he looks at the assumption of normality, and indicates how conventional treatment in the area of hypothesis testing might be modified.) His comments primarily apply to elementary service courses, and particularly to those provided for business students.
Bruton's tyrosine kinase is essential for hydrogen peroxide-induced calcium signaling.

Using Btk-deficient DT40 cells and the transfectants expressing wild-type Btk or Btk mutants in either kinase (Arg525 to Gln), Src homology 2 (SH2, Arg307 to Ala), or pleckstrin homology (PH, Arg28...
Perioperative glucocorticoid prescribing habits in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A call for standardization

Importance High-dose glucocorticoids (GCs) are routinely given to surgical patients with a history of GC exposure to prevent perioperative acute adrenal insufficiency, but this practice is not well supported. Objective To evaluate the variability of perioperative GC dosing among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a retrospective study of 49 patients with IBD undergoing colorectal surgery at a single institution between July 2010 and August 2011. Data on patient comorbidities, intraoperative risk factors, surgical site infections, and 30-day readmission rates were prospectively collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Preoperative GC exposure at the time of the index admission and perioperative GC therapy during admission were collected by review of the medical records. Patients were divided into 3 groups at the time of surgery: (1) 1 week or more of prior GC exposure, not receiving maintenance therapy (n = 15); (2) currently receiving budesonide (n = 10); and (3) currently receiving oral prednisone (n = 24). Main Outcomes and Measures Perioperative GC exposure was the main outcome. Qualitative comparisons of perioperative exposure stratified by preoperative GC exposure were done. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine significant differences in surgical site infection and 30-day readmission rates among patients with and without perioperative GC exposure. Results Overall, 38 of 49 patients (78%) received perioperative GCs; intraoperative GCs were administered to 35 of 49 patients (71%), and 33 of 49 patients (67%) received postoperative GCs. Patients received intraoperative and postoperative GCs, respectively, as follows: 8 patients (53%) and 7 (47%) in group 1, 7 (70%) and 3 (30%) in group 2, and 20 (83%) and 23 (96%) in group 3. The median intraoperative GC dose was 100 mg (range, 50-267 mg of hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone equivalent for dexamethasone); the median total postoperative GC dose for the first 5 days after surgery was 485 mg (range, 50-890 mg of hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone equivalent for prednisone). The median duration of postoperative GC administration was 3 days for group 1, 6 days for group 2, and 7 days for group 3. No statistically significant difference in surgical site infection and 30-day readmission rates was detected in the GC exposure vs no-exposure groups. Conclusions and Relevance Perioperative GC dosing among patients with IBD undergoing colorectal surgery is highly variable even within a single center. Additional studies are needed to define the risk of postoperative adrenal insufficiency and establish standardized practices for perioperative GC therapy, which may have the benefit of reducing GC overuse.
Hayden White: The Historical Imagination

Herman Paul, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2011, 208 pp., £15.99 (pbk), ISBN-13 978-0-7456-5014-2 Eric Auerbach's Mimesis (literary studies), Richard Rorty's Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature (philoso...
Transcriptional and translational control of the biphasic increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity in liver

Abstract The requirements for protein and RNA synthesis for each of the two increases in liver ornithine decarboxylase activity after the injection of unoperated rats with a solution containing glucagon and after 70% hepatectomy were studied with cycloheximide and actinomycin D. Protein synthesis is required for both increases whereas RNA formation is essential for the first elevation only. The second increase appears to be dependent upon RNA that is made during the period of the first rise in activity. The two rises in the decarboxylase activity may be caused by different stimuli. After the injection of the mixture with glucagon, the first elevation is accompanied by increases in hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase activity and in the rate of transport into liver cells of the model amino acid, α-aminoisobutyrate. Neither an increase in the aminotransferase activity nor in amino acid uptake occurs, however, during the period of the second elevation in the decarboxylase activity.
Calcium metabolism, renin activity, and the antihypertensive effects of calcium channel blockade.

Abstract Although abnormalities of calcium metabolism have been described in various hypertensive states, the specific manner in which these abnormalities contribute to the increased pressure remains unclear. Our own group, in attempting to resolve the seemingly contradictory evidence thus far obtained, has adopted an approach emphasizing the clinical as well as biochemical heterogeneity among hypertensive subjects. We have observed the following: (1) broadbased deviations of calcium ionic and hormonal indices in patients with essential hypertension; (2) these deviations are linked with concurrent deviations in the renin-aldosterone system. Thus, low-renin subjects exhibit a calcium ionic and hormonal profile suggestive of calcium deficiency, whereas high-renin subjects have an opposite metabolic profile suggestive of calcium excess; (3) blood pressure responses to dietary salt loading may also differ among renin subgroups of essential hypertension and may be mediated by salt-induced alterations of calcium metabolism. In the absence of these alterations, dietary salt intake results in little or no change in blood pressure; and (4) calcium as a dietary supplement may itself possess antihypertensive properties in targeted subgroups of essential hypertensive patients, preferentially in low-renin, lower ionized calcium subjects. Interestingly, calcium channel blockade also preferentially lowers pressure in low-renin, lower serum ionized calcium forms of hypertension and may define those subjects whose elevated pressure is most dependent on extracellular calcium. Conversely, renin profiling or serum ionized calcium measurements may be used clinically to help target subjects most likely to benefit from calcium channel antagonists. Lastly, unlike other antihypertensive drug classes, high salt intake does not blunt, and may even enhance, the hypotensive effects of calcium channel blockade, lessening the need for stringent dietary recommendations. Altogether, these heterogeneous alterations of calcium metabolism in essential hypertension suggest that the linkage between the regulation of calcium metabolism, renin system activity, and blood pressure in essential hypertension is of pathophysiologic as well as therapeutic relevance.
Health Risks Due to Radon in Drinking Water

Following more than a decade of scientific debate about the setting of a standard for 222Rn in drinking water, Congress established a timetable for the promulgation of a standard in the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. As a result of those Amendments, the EPA contracted with the National Academy of Sciences to undertake a risk assessment for exposure to radon in drinking water. In addition, the resulting committee was asked to address several other scientific issues including the national average ambient 222Rn concentration and the increment of 222Rn to the indoor-air concentration arising from the use of drinking water in a home. A new dosimetric analysis of the cancer risk to the stomach from ingestion was performed. The recently reported risk estimates developed by the BEIR VI Committee for inhalation of radon decay products were adopted. Because the 1996 Amendments permit states to develop programs in which mitigation of air-producing health-rsik reductions equivalent to that which woul...
Hes1 but not Hes5 regulates an astrocyte versus oligodendrocyte fate choice in glial restricted precursors.

To determine the role of Hes genes in the differentiation process of neuroepithelial (NEP) cells to glial restricted precursor cells (GRPs) and subsequently GRPs to oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, we have examined the effects of Hes1 and Hes5 on glial differentiation. We find that both Hes1 and Hes5 are expressed by GRPs and that Hes1 can drive GRPs to an astrocyte cell fate at the expense of oligodendrocyte differentiation. Overexpression of Hes1 in GRPs results in the up-regulation of the astrocyte markers glial fibrillary acidic protein and CD44 and the down-regulation of oligodendrocyte markers myelin proteolipid protein/DM20, GalC, and CNPase. Transcription factors involved in oligodendrocyte differentiation, such as Nkx2.2, Olig1, and Mash1, are also down-regulated in Hes1-overexpressing cells. The effect of Hes1 on gliogenesis is stage-specific as Hes1 does not direct NEP cells to an astrocytic fate. In contrast to Hes1, Hes5 does not promote astrocyte differentiation. Instead, it inhibits both astrocyte and oligodendrocyte differentiation. Overexpression of Notch1 has an effect on gliogenesis similar to that of Hes1 and the mRNA levels of Hes1 are up-regulated in cells overexpressing Notch1, suggesting that Notch1 could be an upstream activator of Hes1.
ESR Studies on Reactivity of Protein-Derived Tyrosyl Radicals Formed by Prostaglandin H Synthase and Ribonucleotide Reductase

Using ESR spectroscopy, the ability of enzyme inhibitors to quench protein-derived tyrosyl radicals was studied in two different enzymes, prostaglandin H synthase and ribonucleotide reductase. The prostaglandin H synthase inhibitors indomethacin, eugenol, and MK-410 effectively prevent the formation of tyrosyl radicals during the oxidation of arachidonic acid by prostaglandin H synthase from ram seminal vesicles. A direct reaction with preformed tyrosyl radicals was observed only with eugenol. The other prostaglandin H synthase inhibitors were ineffective. The ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors hydroxyurea and 4-hydroxyanisole, which effectively inactivate the tyrosyl radical in the active site of ribonucleotide reductase present in tumor cells, exhibit a different reactivity with tyrosyl radicals formed by prostaglandin H synthase. Hydroxyurea quenches preformed tyrosyl radicals in prostaglandin H synthase weakly, whereas 4-hydroxyanisole does not quench tyrosyl radicals in prostaglandin H synthase at all. Eugenol, which quenches preformed prostaglandin H synthase-derived tyrosyl radicals, also quenches the tyrosyl radical in ribonucleotide reductase. The results suggest that the reactivity of protein-linked tyrosyl radicals in ribonucleotide reductase and those formed during prostaglandin H synthase catalysis are very different and have unrelated roles in enzyme catalysis.
Coronary artery bypass graft and/or valvular operations following prior pneumonectomy: report of four new patients and review of the literature.

Background: The reported experience is sparse for patients with prior pneumonectomy who are undergoing surgery for ischemic or valvular heart disease. Such surgery poses special technical challenges. To expand the experience with this challenging clinical intervention, we reviewed the reported patients with prior pneumonectomy who were undergoing cardiac surgery as well as the experience at the Cleveland Clinic. Methods: A MEDLINE search of the literature for articles published in the English language from 1966 to August 2006 was conducted using the search terms "pneumonectomy" and "cardiac surgery." We included all available individually described patients and also reviewed the Cardiovascular Information Registry at the Cleveland Clinic from 1972 to 2006. Results: A total of 19 individually described patients in 13 reports were available, 15 of which had previously been reported and 4 that were newly reported from our institution (1 of whom had undergone two operations separated by 8 years). Of the 20 operations performed in these 19 patients, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) alone was performed in 15 patients (75%), valve replacement or repair was performed in 4 patients (20%), and CABG with both aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair was performed in 1 patient (5%). Most patients (13; 68%) had undergone left pneumonectomy. For these 19 patients, the postoperative mortality rate was 16%. Postoperative complications followed 10 of the operations (50%). Conclusions: Although complications and postoperative deaths occurred more frequently than in other high-risk patient groups (eg, those with COPD undergoing cardiac surgery), this experience suggests that cardiac surgery can be undertaken with a reasonable likelihood of a favorable outcome in this challenging population, justifying the approach in appropriately selected and counseled patients.
Physiological convergence amongst ant-eating and termite-eating mammals

Ant- and termite-eating are among the few food habits common to monotremes, marsupials, and eutherians. Data are reported on the rate of metabolism and temperature regulation of 14 species of mammals having these food habits, including two monotremes, one marsupial and 11 eutherians. Small mammals with these habits have comparatively high body temperatures and high basal rates of metabolism, but ant- and termite-eaters that weigh more than 1 kg generally have low body temperatures and low basal rates of metabolism. The higher basal rates in small species ensure effective temperature regulation. Low body temperatures in large species principally result from low rates of metabolism. Rates of metabolism are low in these mammals because they use a food that has a limited availability and a low energy density, the density being further decreased in large species by the ingestion of non-nutritive material during feeding. Burrowing habits in some large species also contribute to low rates of metabolism. The combination of body size, food habits, and presence or absence of burrowing behaviour can account for all but about 6% of the range in basal rate in ant- and termite-eaters. Ants and termites, because of their locally clumped distributions, permit a larger mass in terrestrial predators than do other invertebrate prey. The reason why so many “primitive” mammals feed on ants and termites is that, once evolved, mammals with these habits are nearly impossible to displace ecologically, because much of ecological replacement is associated with high rates of reproduction, which are themselves correlated with high rates of metabolism in eutherians. Consequently, the ecological replacement of ant- and termite-eaters is inhibited, because this food habit does not permit high rates of metabolism, except at small masses.
On the Stochastic Euclidean Travelling Salesperson Problem for Distributions with Unbounded Support

We study the asymptotic behavior of the shortest tour Tn through n points X1, ', Xn in ℝdd â¥ 2, where Xiiâ¥1 are i.i.d. random variables, whose density fx has an unbounded support. Beardwood et al. [2] conjectured that Tn/n1-1/d converges a.s. if and only if â« fx1-1/ddx < ∞ and â« fxâxâd/d-1dx < ∞. We disprove this conjecture, and we show that the second integrability condition is not strong enough. We give a stronger condition that is optimal but not necessary.
Adoption of the Sports Program, 1906–39: The Role of Accommodation in the Transformation of Physical Education

(1969). Adoption of the Sports Program, 1906–39: The Role of Accommodation in the Transformation of Physical Education. Quest: Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 34-46.
Beliefs About Time: Cross-Cultural Comparisons

Abstract Block, Saggau, and Nickol (1983-1984) investigated beliefs about time and temporal experience in a sample of American college students. In the present study, the same questionnaire was administered to students in Japan and Malawi. Factor analysis revealed similarities and differences in the structure of beliefs reported by students in the three countries. Belief structures and beliefs concerning physical time and personal time were somewhat different across the three groups, suggesting cultural influences. However, belief structures and beliefs about experienced duration and remembered duration were similar across cultures.
Identification of tissue-specific nuclear antigens transferred to nitrocellulose from polyacrylamide gels

Nonhistone protein antigens resolved by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate were identified immunochemically after being transferred to nitrocellulose. Use of antiserum to dehistonized chromatin from Novikoff hepatoma revealed numerous protein antigens specific to the chromatin of Novikoff hepatoma in comparison to that of normal rat liver.
Consumer knowledge and expectations of restaurant menus and their governing legislation: a qualitative assessment

Many consumers feel that it is the social responsibility of restaurants to inform them of the nutritional content of food items that may be detrimental to their health or contrary to their beliefs. Current legislation, through the Truth-in-Menu Law, protects consumers from misleading advertisements, but does not mandate that restaurant establishments provide nutritional information. This qualitative study aims to assess how much consumers really know about menu labeling legislation and what information they consider to be most important on restaurant menus. This study found that consumers feel consistency between item description and actual presentation, accuracy of claims, disclosure of ingredients, nutritional information, value and the availability of competent servers to explain any ambiguities were most important. The article concludes with recommendations on where legislation should go and what restaurants can do to provide menus that meet customer expectations.
Epigenomics reveals a functional genome anatomy and a new approach to common disease

Epigenomics provides the context for understanding the function of genome sequence, analogous to the functional anatomy of the human body provided by Vesalius a half-millennium ago. Much of the seemingly inconclusive genetic data related to common diseases could therefore become meaningful in an epigenomic context.
Pressure broadening of the blue cesium doublet produced by argon and helium

The shift and broadening of the second member of the principal series of cesium produced by argon and helium were observed for pressures up to 170 and 90 atmospheres, respectively. The shift produced by argon was linear throughout the entire range of relative densities and was nearly the same for both doublet components. The average slope was 2.7 cm−1/relative density with the short-wavelength component ( P232) having a slightly higher value. For helium the shift obeyed a linear relationship for relative densities above 8 and 16 with slopes of 3.5 and 4.4 cm−1/relative density for the P212 and the P232 components, respectively. The broadening for both lines in the case of argon appeared to be linear up to a relative density of 45 beyond which there was a marked increase in slope, changing from 2.0 to 5.1 cm−1/relative density. The broadening of the P232 component was consistently higher than that of the P212 component. For helium the P212 component was broadened more than the P232 component at relative densities less than 12.5. Beyond this value the broadening of the P232 component was considerably higher.
A Source of Error in the Measurement of Radiated Harmonics

A source of error known to be present in vhf field-intensity meters employing broadband radio-frequency input circuits, has been briefly investigated. The error is caused by harmonic generation in the receiver resulting from insufficient selectivity, and nonlinearity of rf or mixer stages in the presence of a strong fundamental. The magnitudes of the second and third harmonics generated internally were determined as a function of the level of the applied rf fundamental for a receiver having one particular type of rf input circuit. Errors in the measurement of the fundamental, caused by intermodulation occurring in the presence of a stronger interfering carrier of different frequency, are also briefly discussed.
Time evolution of the chiral phase transition during a spherical expansion.

We examine the nonequilibrium time evolution of the hadronic plasma produced in a relativistic heavy ion collision, assuming a spherical expansion into the vacuum. We study the O(4) linear $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ model to leading order in a large-$N$ expansion. Starting at a temperature above the phase transition, the system expands and cools, finally settling into the broken symmetry vacuum state. We consider the proper time evolution of the effective pion mass, the order parameter $〈\ensuremath{\sigma}〉$, and the particle number distribution. We examine several different initial conditions and look for instabilities (exponentially growing long wavelength modes) which can lead to the formation of disoriented chiral condensates (DCC's). We find that instabilities exist for proper times which are less than 3 fm/c. We also show that an experimental signature of domain growth is an increase in the low momentum spectrum of outgoing pions when compared to an expansion in thermal equilibrium. In comparison to particle production during a longitudinal expansion, we find that in a spherical expansion the system reaches the "out" regime much faster and more particles get produced. However the size of the unstable region, which is related to the domain size of DCC's, is not enhanced.
Long Time Behavior of the Ginzburg-Landau Superconductivity Equations

Abstract The existence, uniqueness and asymptotic behavior of the solutions of a nonstationary Ginzburg-Landau superconductivity model are discussed without assumption on the L ∞ norm of the initial data. Under a suitable choice of gauge, it is proved that, as t tends to infinity, the semigroup determined by the system of equations admits a global attractor. The structure of the attractor is also discussed.
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies initiative: the road to implementation in the surgical specialties.

In 2001, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) refocused the attention of graduate medical training programs away from process criteria of program success to program outcomes by introducing the six ACGME competencies. This article reviews reports of efforts by surgical training programs to realign their resources and approaches around these six competencies, and provides the outcomes of those experiences when available. The second part of the article includes an in-depth case study of one program's efforts and the lessons learned. The overall goal of the article is to provide readers with instructive, concrete examples of surgical program initiatives to address the ACGME competencies, and to point readers to resources that may facilitate their own efforts.
Phantom Sources for Linear Circuit Analysis

The analysis of many linear circuits would be simplified if coupling terms associated with a critically located node or branch could be specified. The use of phantom sources allows arbitrary specification of node voltages or branch currents in exchange for the introduction of more tractable alternative variables.
Oligonucleotide and Water Self-Diffusion in Systems of Pluronic Triblock Copolymers and in Buffer Solutions by Pulsed Field Gradient Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFGNMR) measurements of oligonucleotide (poly-thymidine, T1 to T30) self-diffusion coefficients in gels of Pluronic [poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)−poly(propylene oxide) (PPO)−poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)] micelles follow the Zimm scaling theory that predicts the diffusion coefficient to vary with solute molecular weight to the −0.5 power. The ratio of the diffusion coefficients in a 20% Pluronic gel-like liquid crystal phase to those in buffer solutions (without Pluronics) was approximately equal to 0.5 for all molecule sizes tested. PFGNMR water self-diffusion coefficient measurements in the gel phase and the solution phase of Pluronic micelles were interpreted within the context of volume averaging theory and known structural features of Pluronic micelles for various Pluronic concentrations. The result of combining the volume averaging theory and measurements of water and oligonucleotide self-diffusion indicates that the geometrical constraints of the Pluroni...
Quality Assurance and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Clinical Trials

Abstract Background Peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) is often used as an outcome measure in clinical trials. The purposes of this study are (a) to report the outcomes of a quality assurance (QA) procedure instituted in multisite clinical trials by a CPX data core laboratory and (b) to report a normative VO 2 reference dataset for future use. Methods The CPX laboratory at each site participating in a multisite clinical trial in which Henry Ford Hospital served as the CPX data core laboratory was required to pass a standardized QA procedure before site activation and regularly thereafter. Data were compared with a VO 2 reference dataset (pilot data) and assessed for test–retest reproducibility. VO 2 data that represented a normal physiologic response were used to develop a final normative VO 2 reference dataset. Results Between 2003 and 2006, 81 laboratories submitted 144 baseline QA tests. Of these, 34% did not initially meet the passing criteria, largely because of poor test–retest reproducibility. Among all QA tests submitted to the core laboratory, 159 unique volunteers had exercise data that met the criteria to be entered into the final normative VO 2 reference dataset. Within this dataset, the mean coefficient of variation for VO 2 between the test and retest was 5.1%. Conclusion A standardized QA procedure can be used to identify aberrant data and minimize the variability of VO 2 measured in a clinical trial or the routine evaluation of patients.
Combination of the steric mass action and non-ideal surface solution models for overload protein ion-exchange chromatography

A model has been developed for protein ion-exchange equilibria under overloaded chromatographic conditions. This model combines the steric mass action model with the non-ideal surface solution model and accounts for steric hindrance and nearest neighbor interactions between protein-protein, protein-salt and salt-salt in a single formalism. Using the model on protein ion-exchange data, the importance of obtaining ion-exchange heat measurements in addition to adsorption isotherms has been demonstrated. It has been shown that small inaccuracies in the heat of ion-exchange data can lead to large differences in predictions of elution behavior. Additionally, it has also been shown that salt-salt interactions on the surface can strongly influence protein adsorption and that in the presence of these interactions, the shape and orientation of the molecule on the surface are important.
Computational 3D and reflectivity imaging with high photon efficiency

Capturing depth and reflectivity images at low light levels from active illumination of a scene has wide-ranging applications. Conventionally, even with single-photon detectors, hundreds of photon detections are needed at each pixel to mitigate Poisson noise. We introduce a robust method for estimating depth and reflectivity using on the order of 1 detected photon per pixel averaged over the scene. Our computational imager combines physically accurate single-photon counting statistics with exploitation of the spatial correlations present in real-world reflectivity and 3D structure. Experiments conducted in the presence of strong background light demonstrate that our computational imager is able to accurately recover scene depth and reflectivity, while traditional maximum likelihood-based imaging methods lead to estimates that are highly noisy. Our framework increases photon efficiency 100-fold over traditional processing and thus will be useful for rapid, low-power, and noise-tolerant active optical imaging.