cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temperature Effect on Ballistic Impact of Hybrid Woven Composites

This paper investigates the effect of temperature on the ballistic limit of hybrid woven composite panels (6in×4in×0.25in) at three different temperatures: R.T, 75°C and 125°C. Studies were also done on the stacking sequence and its effect on the ballistic limit at the above stated temperature. The studies were conducted by combining experimental and 3-D dynamic finite element approaches. The specimens tested were made of plain-weave hybrid S2 glass-IM7graphite fibers/toughened epoxy. The composite panels were impacted using an in-house gas gun. The time-histories of impact-induced dynamic strains was recorded. The damaged specimens were inspected visually and using the ultrasonic C-scan method. A 3-D dynamic finite element (FE) software, with Chang-Chang composite damage model, was then used to simulate the experimental results of the ballistic impact tests. Good agreement between experimental and FE results has been achieved.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Pharmacologic Treatment for Temporomandibular Disorders

Pharmacologic agents play an integral role in the overall management of temporomandibular joint disorder. The general dentist should be familiar with the different classes of drugs currently in use for dealing with this often complex medical/dental problem.
Factors in the Production of Chairs of Sociology Graduate Departments

The academic department and its chair are essential to the successful operation of the college or university. Scholars and educators alike agree that the department is at the core of the academic enterprise (Brann and Emmet 1972; McHenry et al. 1977; Fisher 1978; Tucker 1981). As Waltzer put it, the department is "the place where most teaching, service and research activities go on, where faculty members pursue profes sional and disciplinary interests . . and where students pursue their education ... The University's success depends on the success of its academic departments" (1975, Pp. 4-5). like Waltzer, Saunders (1980), Scott (1981) and Storer (1980) argue that the chairpersonship of a department is a key position, and indeed that the people who occupy those positions are crucial leaders in their institutions. However, relatively little is known about the characteristics of the people who occupy these key positions, where they come from, how long they stay in them and what happens to them when they leave. Given the importance of the chair, it is no surprise that the roles of the chair have been well documented. Some have focused on the inherent conflicts that exist in a position which is distinctly marginal ? one that is simultaneously "first among equals" and the lowest level of university administration (Ahmann 1972; Carrol 1974; Roach 1976; Tucker 1981; Bennett 1982). Still others have tried to characterize the assorted duties and tasks of the chairperson (Ravetch 1972; Smith 1972; Stull 1974; Tucker 1981). The selection and evaluation of departmental chairs has also been examined. Doyle (1953) produced a ranking of nine qualifications for the chair. Mobley (1971), Ehrle (1975) and Saunders (1980) focused on the selection process, identifying a num ber of different methods that have been used in various institutions. Others have con centrated their attention on the variation in length of the chair's term in office (Eisenberg 1969; Freligh 1973; Storer 1980), or on whether periodic performance reviews are advisable or necessary (Patterson 1966; Dressel, Johnson and Marcus 1970).
Cellular Oxygen Utilization During Multiple Organ Failure

Organ survival depends on adequate tissue oxygenation and normal metabolic function. In MSOF there are changes in O2 transport and cellular bioenergetics. These metabolic alterations may set in motion mechanisms of cellular damage that will affect microcirculatory control and the ability of the cell to maintain both function and homeostasis.
Development and Validation of Methodology to Model Flow in Ventilation Systems Commonly Found in Nuclear Facilities - Phase II

In this report we present the results of the Phase II analysis and testing of the flow patterns encountered in the Alpha Gamma Hot Cell Facility (AGHCF), as well as the results from an opportunity to expand upon field test work from Phase I by the use of a Class IIIb laser. The addition to the Phase I work is covered before proceeding to the results of the Phase II work, followed by a summary of findings.
Prayer and the Meaning of Ritual in the Dead Sea Scrolls

In a famous article published in 1979, the anthropologist Frits Staal argued for "The Meaninglessness of Ritual." For Staal, ritual is activity governed by rules, and can be understood only as such. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide us with "the only written collections of established prayer texts from the period before the destruction of the Temple." These include prayers for various occasions: for morning and evening of each day of the month, for festivals, for the Sabbath, and so forth. An example of theologically meaningful discourse in a ritual context is provided by the covenant renewal ceremony in 1QS 1:16-3:12. The covenant ceremony described in 1QS 1:16-3:12 departs from the model of Deuteronomy 27 by inserting a confession of sin. Such confessions of sin are ubiquitous in Second Temple Judaism. The significance of ritual in the Scrolls, however, cannot be properly appreciated by considering any one ritual on its own. Keywords:Dead Sea Scrolls; prayers; ritual; Second Temple Judaism
Efficient and selective heavy metal sequestration from water by using layered sulfide K2xSn4−xS8−x (x = 0.65–1; KTS-3)

Heavy metal ions (Cd2+, Hg2+, As3+ and Pb2+) are an important contributor to the contamination of groundwater and other water bodies in and around industrial areas. Herein, we demonstrate the rapid and efficient capacity of a layered metal sulfide material, K2xSn4−xS8−x (x = 0.65–1, KTS-3) for heavy metal ion removal from water. The effect of concentration, pH, kinetics, and competitive ions such as Na+/Ca2+ on the heavy metal ion removal capacity of KTS-3 was systematically investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analyses, and powder X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the heavy metal ion-exchange of KTS-3 is complete (quantitative replacement of all potassium ions) and topotactic. The heavy metal ion-exchange by using KTS-3 follows the Langmuir–Freundlich model with high exchange capacities, qm 205(17) mg g−1 for Cd2+, 372(21) mg g−1 for Hg2+ and 391(89) mg g−1 for Pb2+. KTS-3 retains excellent heavy metal ion-exchange capacity even in very high concentration (1 M) of competing ions (Na+/Ca2+) and also over a broad pH range (2–12). KTS-3 also exhibits very good ion-exchange capacity for precious Ag+ and toxic As3+ ions. The kinetics of heavy metal ion adsorption by KTS-3 are rapid (absorbs all ions within a few minutes). These properties and the environmentally friendly character of KTS-3 make it a promising candidate for sequestration of heavy metal ions from water.
Design of 3-D Printed Concentric Tube Robots

Concentric tube surgical robots are minimally invasive devices with the advantages of snake-like reconfigurability, long and thin form factor, and placement of actuation outside the patient's body. These robots can also be designed and manufactured to acquire targets in specific patients for treating specific diseases in a manner that minimizes invasiveness. We propose that concentric tube robots can be manufactured using 3-D printing technology on a patient- and procedure-specific basis. In this paper, we define the design requirements and manufacturing constraints for 3-D printed concentric tube robots and experimentally demonstrate the capabilities of these robots. While numerous 3-D printing technologies and materials can be used to create such robots, one successful example uses selective laser sintering to make an outer tube with a polyether block amide and uses stereolithography to make an inner tube with a polypropylene-like material. This enables a tube pair with precurvatures of 0.0775 and 0.0455 mm $^{-1}$ , which can withstand strains of 20% and 5.5% for the outer and inner tubes, respectively.
Stereospecific cholinesterase inhibition by O,S-diethylphenylphosphonothioate

Abstract The inhibition kinetics and stereospecificity of the chiral nerve agent derivative O , S -diethylphenylphosphonothioate (DEPP) were examined for two forms of acetylcholinesterase (human and eel) and equine butyrylcholinesterase. Both S- and R-DEPP are poor inhibitors of eel AChE (IC 50 150 μM), consistent with a large, nondiscriminatory binding interaction in the active site of this enzyme. However, S-DEPP is active against human and equine AChE with low μM IC 50 s. DEPP stereospecificities (S/R) toward these enzymes are moderate (20) relative to other cholinesterase-organophosphate (OP) systems. Pralidoxime, a common rescue agent, affects a modest recovery of both hAChE and eqBChE from treatment with S-DEPP. This result is consistent with expected chemical modification by DEPP and indicates that a measurable amount of the enzyme-phosphonate adduct does not undergo aging. Kinetic analysis of inhibition of both hAChE and eqBChE by S-DEPP yields K I values near 8 μM and k 2 values of about 0.10 min −1 . In both cases, the reaction is practically irreversible. Second order rate constants calculated from these values are similar to those obtained previously using other thio-substituted OPs with bulky groups. Since BChE has a more accommodating acyl pocket than AChE, the similar behaviors of both enzymes toward S-DEPP is notable and is likely a reflection of the weakened potency of DEPP relative to chemical warfare agents.
Role of c-Abl in cortactin phosphorylation

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 3749 Cortactin is an actin-binding protein and Src kinase substrate that activates the actin-related protein (Arp 2/3) complex and has been shown to facilitate actin cytoskeleton organization. Tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin is associated with increased motility and invasiveness of tumor cells. c-Abl is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that regulates cytoskeletal dynamics and tumor cell metastasis. Here we demonstrate that cortactin and c-Abl interact, and that cortactin is a potential c-Abl substrate. Screening of SH2 domain arrays with cortactin peptides phosphorylated at tyrosine 421 or 466 demonstrate a direct interaction with the c-Abl SH2 domain. Cortactin and c-Abl colocalize at the cell periphery and in dorsal waves in Src, Yes, and Fyn deficient fibroblasts (SYF) as determined by confocal microscopy. Expression of a kinase active c-Abl variant in SYF cells leds to increased phosphorylation of cortactin at tyrosine 421. This was not observed in cells expressing either wild type or kinase inactive c-Abl constructs. Treatment of SYF cells expressing activated c-Abl with the Abl inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, substantially diminished cortactin phosphorylation. c-Abl phopshorylates cortactin in vitro at tyrosines 421 and 466 in a concentration-dependent manner. Collectively, these results indicate that c-Abl activation leads to cortactin tyrosine phosphorylation without the involvement of Src-family kinases, with cortactin serving as a direct substrate. The role of c-Abl induced phosphorylation of cortactin on cellular motility and invasion is currently under investigation.
Categorization and Aging

Categorization is a fundamental cognitive skill that enables us to meaningfully store and process semantic knowledge, allowing us to connect with the world around us with ease and efficiency. This chapter focuses on categorization ability in later ages. We briefly examine literature on categorization ability and aging, drawing from studies involving normally aging individuals and individuals with dementia. We then consider the interrelationship between categorization and cognitive control. We review empirical evidence that suggests the role of cognitive control in categorization and discuss two studies that examined the effects of levels of taxonomic categorization on cognitive control.
Writing in Two Children With Autism: A Case Study for Assessment and Goal Development

Purpose Writing is an important consideration for children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), especially when included in general education environments. This case study of an inclusive clas...
Evaluation of Structureless Overwintering Systems for Container-Grown Herbaceous Perennials

Abstract Five structureless overwintering systems were evaluated for temperature moderation and protection of 18 container-grown herbaceous perennials from low-temperature injury. Two light-excluding treatments; 30 cm (1 ft) of straw between two layers of 4-mil white polyethylene and 18 cm (7 in) deep, in-ground beds protected with one layer of 4-mil white polyethylene and 30 cm (1 ft) of woodchips, provided the greatest moderation of winter low and early spring high temperatures, but also resulted in severe etiolation. A bonded white polyethylene/microfoam overwintering blanket (thermoblanket) with translucent properties provided comparable plant survival percentages despite dramatic temperature extremes recorded beneath this cover and, in late winter, created an environment conducive to moderate plant growth without formation of etiolated tissue.
Bank of China International in Hong Kong: Social Status and Network Access

Bank of China International (BOCI) is a subsidiary of the prestigious Bank of China (Beijing), but government ownership transmits that BOCI is subject to political influence. The chief executive officers (CEOs) of BOCI exemplify why the bank struggles to enter the ranks of top investment banks in Hong Kong. They possess high social status as an educated elite, but this does not transfer to BOCI. Prior to becoming CEO, few bankers had experience engaging with major global bankers. CEOs who had careers after completing their service are important financiers, but that does not retroactively benefit BOCI’s social status among Hong Kong’s investment banks. Most CEOs possessed ties to powerful Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cadres prior to taking the post, while they were CEOs, and/or subsequently in their careers. This raises the social status of the bank in the Party. Nevertheless, these CCP network ties do not enhance the social status of BOCI among Hong Kong’s banks. Instead, CCP ties confirm the low social status of the bank, because they signify that government and Party leaders may directly influence it. BOCI, therefore, is not well integrated into the networks of elite investment banks.
Evaluating the new teacher evaluation system in South Korea: Case studies of successful implementation, adaptation, and transformation of mandated policy:

Central to improving the quality of education is developing a teacher evaluation system that promotes teachers’ professional growth, the improvement of student learning, and educational equality fo...
Principles of Trauma

Orthopedic trauma surgeons play a pivotal role in the management of trauma patients. It is important to keep in mind the ABC’s of the trauma primary survey: Airway, Breathing and Circulation during evaluation. The secondary survey includes a comprehensive and focused physical exam, often identifying extremity injuries. Life-saving measures should be initiated prior to limb-saving interventions. Often in the polytrauma patient, damage control orthopedics may be necessary. Damage control orthopedics consists of the stabilization of non-life-threatening orthopedic injuries until the patient is adequately resuscitated and optimized for definitive fixation. Traumatic injuries place a burden on society in terms of disability, lost income potential, and healthcare expenditures. Orthopedic trauma can be a versatile entity, consisting of high energy injuries, fragility fractures in elderly patients, and infections.
Nonlinear Static Analysis

In the general case of thin-walled structures, we can have both large displacements and large strains. This renders the governing equations highly nonlinear and therefore they can only be solved using computational methods. Furthermore, because of the complicated load history dependence, this suggests a time or load incremental solution. We combine these two requirements into an incremental/iterative solution algorithm. The total Lagrangian and corotational schemes are introduced as specific examples of solution schemes. These are combined with a Newton-Raphson iteration scheme for the actual solution of the nonlinear equations.
American Society of Anesthesiologists Class as Predictor for Perioperative Morbidity in Head and Neck Free Flaps

ObjectiveTo evaluate outcomes of free flaps in low- versus high-risk American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classes utilizing a standardized perioperative clinical pathway.Study DesignCase ser...
Optically Transparent Water Oxidation Catalysts Based on Copper Nanowires.

Transparent catalysts for water oxidation are created by electrodeposition of nickel or cobalt around a conducting network of copper nanowires.
An ecological momentary episodic future thinking intervention on mother's weekly food purchases.

Background Imagining one's own future (episodic future thinking, EFT) has helped mothers with overweight purchase healthier groceries during an online shopping task in the laboratory. The present study explored whether delivering an EFT intervention to participants' devices via an ecological momentary intervention (EMI) tool would help mothers purchase healthier food at brick-and-mortar stores. Method Participants (N = 43, mothers 31-52 years of age, BMI ≥ 24.9 kg/m2) were randomized to EFT or standardized episodic thinking (SET). EFT cues include a positive and vivid description of future events while SET cues focus on the recent experience of playing games in the laboratory. Cues were uploaded to participant profiles on an EMI site. Participants were trained on how to read and listen to cues as well as how to detail purchases. Participants received text reminders to listen to cues before shopping and returned with receipts the following day. Receipt data was analyzed to derive dependent variables, calories, and nutrients purchased per person. Correlations were used to analyze associations between study variables of interest, and ANOVAs were conducted to compare dietary variables by group. Results Participants in the EFT group purchased fewer calories, fewer grams of fat, fewer grams of saturated fat, and fewer miligrams of sodium than participants in the SET control group. Conclusion Delivering EFT cues to participant devices may be a promising way to improve the calorie and nutrient content of food purchases. Future research should include a longer follow-up and analyze calorie changes over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Quality Preschool as Defined by Latina Mothers: A Qualitative Study Using a Funds of Knowledge Framework.

ABSTRACTThis study looked at the factors Latina mothers want to see in their children’s preschool centers, in order to provide a more holistic approach for defining high-quality preschools. A quali...
Chapter 13 – Organized Structures

The distance from global equilibrium appears as a new organizing factor, similar to the lowering of temperature, both of which can induce long-range correlations leading to phase transitions or self-organization phenomena. Some well-known autocatalytic reaction systems are periodic in time and sometimes are called biological clocks. Turing’s instabilities, published in 1952, suggested that the morphogens transported by diffusion and other mechanisms from a production site may cause the patterning of biological host tissues during the growth phase. When the uniformly distributed morphogens are disturbed and become unstable, the system may evolve to a stable nonuniform steady state from which may be observed the patterns of growth, differentiation of tissue, and pigmentation. Some reaction–diffusion systems represent many biological signaling processes and pharmacokinetic applications, such as growth promoter/inhibitor factors, extravascular drug delivery, and polymeric controlled-release drug codelivery design. The modeling of spatiotemporal evolution may serve as a powerful complementary tool to experimental medical analyses for assessing disease states and drug efficacy, enzyme systems, and two interacting biological cells. Spatial gradients may facilitate self-organization in time and space, and complicated kinetics, irreversible reactions, and different diffusivity coefficients are not prerequisites for this. This chapter briefly discusses some of the structured states in physical, chemical, and biological systems.
An Unexpected Lesson in Quality Improvement: High-reliability intervention intended for asthma guidelines reduces chest x-rays in bronchiolitis.

Purpose: Pediatric respiratory illnesses are the main causes of pediatric hospitalizations in the United States, resulting in significant morbidity and costs. Despite American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations against obtaining chest x-rays (CXRs) routinely for bronchiolitis, variation in practice and CXR over-utilization persists. Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) have had mixed success in reducing and sustaining unnecessary CXR utilization. Reliability theory and the use of high reliability interventions may improve the probability of successful guideline implementation. Our objective is to reduce CXR use for patients with a primary diagnosis …
Exploring childhood vaccination themes and public opinions on Twitter: A semantic network analysis

Abstract During the summer of 2018, a measles outbreak hit Europe, resulting in infections and deaths. Reports link the outbreak to increasing vaccine hesitancy fueled partly by anti-vaccine information propagated on social media. This study examines childhood vaccination themes on Twitter using semantic network analysis. Results showed the most prominent theme was HPV vaccination as a disease preventative. The MMR vaccine autism link was the second biggest theme, followed by measles outbreak rates. These themes reflect public opinions on popular vaccine topics and current issues. Results suggest social media may be an effective place to promote childhood vaccines.
What Is the Social Responsibility of Climate Scientists

Do scientists have a responsibility to act affirmatively to ensure that our findings are known, understood, and put to use to protect our fellow citizens, even if it means expanding our activities ...
Convergence Clubs: Some Further Evidence

This paper investigates convergence patterns among 113 market economies. Incorporating different grouping methods, both ADF and KPSS tests are used to examine whether countries converge to the group average. The test results support the finding of a "convergence club," specifically, that the highest income countries converge and the lowest income countries diverge.
Within-treatment clinical markers of dropout risk in integrated treatments for comorbid PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

Abstract Background Integrated interventions for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are effective, but many patients prematurely drop out from treatment. Little is known about within-treatment risk factors for dropout, limiting the ability during therapy to identify patients at risk for attrition. Methods We examined measures assessing PTSD (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), alcohol use (Substance Use Inventory; SUI), and patient satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire; CSQ-8) as potential within-treatment markers of dropout risk, administered to 110 veterans in a randomized clinical trial of integrated exposure therapy versus integrated coping skills therapy for comorbid PTSD + AUD. Hierarchical Cox proportional hazard models with dropout status as the endpoint assessed effects of PCL-5, SUI, and CSQ-8 on dropout risk, and whether effects differed by treatment modality. Results A significant interaction between treatment and changes in alcohol use was observed (HR = 2.86, p = .007), where between-session alcohol use was positively associated with dropout hazard rate for those receiving integrated exposure therapy (HR = 2.34, p = .004), but not coping skills therapy (HR = 0.73, p = .19). Specifically, an increase of one drink consumed per day in the interval since last assessment (typically 2–3 weeks) was associated with a 5-fold increase in dropout hazard rate. Conclusions The findings provide preliminary evidence of detectable within-treatment markers of dropout during integrated treatment for PTSD + AUD. Study of within-treatment indicators proximal to dropout may help identify at-risk patients and inform timely strategies to boost retention.
Frustration, the MAC Clause, and COVID-19

COVID-19’s impact on business has been exasperating—but is it Frustrating? The Frustration doctrine of contract law excuses a party from its contractual obligations when an extraordinary event completely undermines the principal purpose of making the deal. This doctrine has long been a marginal player in contract litigation, as parties rarely invoked it—and usually lost when they did. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, is precisely the type of extraordinary event that Frustration was designed to address, and the courts have been inundated over the past year by a wave of colorable Frustration claims. This timely Article describes the Frustration doctrine and explores its application to the countless contracts whose purpose was undercut by the pandemic, such as leases for restaurant spaces in cities that banned dining service. The caselaw that develops out of the COVID-19 pandemic will define the Frustration doctrine for the next fifty years, and this Article provides an early assessment of the reported cases. Similarly, the Material Adverse Change (MAC) clause, a standard term in corporate acquisitions, allows a buyer to back out of a deal if the target company suffers a ‘material adverse change’ between signing and closing. In prior work, the present author argued that the MAC clause should be understood as a liberalized version of the Frustration doctrine, and this claim was adopted in the first Delaware case to find that a MAC had occurred, Akorn v. Fresenius. Like Frustration claims, MAC clauses have rarely been litigated, and claimants were almost universally unsuccessful. The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the Akorn precedent, has led to numerous high-profile MAC claims, including one against jeweler Tiffany & Co. As with Frustration, the present wave of MAC litigation will establish the standards for MAC claims for years to come. This Article accordingly examines the merits of MAC claims premised on COVID-19 and reports on the one case decided to date.
Intracranial Vessel Wall Segmentation For Atherosclerotic Plaque Quantification

Intracranial vessel wall segmentation is critical for the quantitative assessment of intracranial atherosclerosis based on magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging. This work further improves on a previous 2D deep learning segmentation network by the utilization of 1) a 2.5D structure to balance network complexity and regularizing geometry continuity; 2) a UNET++ model to achieve structure adaptation; 3) an additional approximated Hausdorff distance (HD) loss into the objective to enhance geometry conformality; and 4) landing in a commonly used morphological measure of plaque burden - the normalized wall index (NWI) - to match the clinical endpoint. The modified network achieved Dice similarity coefficient of $0.9172 \pm 0.0598$ and $0.7833 \pm 0.0867$, HD of $0.3252 \pm 0.5071$ mm and $0.4914 \pm 0.5743$ mm, mean surface distance of $0.0940 \pm 0.0781$ mm and $0.1408 \pm 0.0917$ mm for the lumen and vessel wall, respectively. These results compare favorably to those obtained by the original 2D UNET on all segmentation metrics. Additionally, the proposed segmentation network reduced the mean absolute error in NWI from $0.0732 \pm 0.0294$ to $0.0725 \pm 0.0333$.
Death Penalty: A Perspective from the African American Young Adults in the Southern Georgia

This paper discusses the death penalty, how it has evolved, and why people support or oppose it. The paper reviews the history of the death penalty, examines some of the literature written about it, and then summarizes and analyzes research conducted by this author about the opinions of young people — mostly African American young adults in Southern Georgia — about the death penalty. The primary focus of this research is to determine who supports or opposes the death penalty within the African American population. For this research, I surveyed a total of 30 participants regarding their opinions about the death penalty. The survey consisted of six questions: two demographic questions and four questions about the death penalty. My original hypothesis was that females and African Americans are more likely to support the death penalty, and that those who support the death penalty also believe it is constitutional under the Eighth Amendment (and, vice versa, that those who oppose it believe it is unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment). As explained below, the results of the survey reveal that my original theories are not entirely accurate. With this research, I hope to help answer why people support or oppose the death penalty.
Ocular Vasculitis

Vasculitis is the inflammation of blood vessels that leads to loss of perfusion and ischemia with necrosis. When this occurs in the orbit, the consequences are typically very conspicuous and can be devastating with decreased quality of life and loss of vision. Systemic vasculitides are often related to ophthalmic disorders, which can serve as the first diagnostic manifestation of potentially life-threatening disease. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (e.g., granulomatosis with polyangiitis), Behcet’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus are a few of the diseases commonly associated with ocular vasculitis. Collaboration between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists is important in the successful diagnosis and treatment of patients with vasculitis.
Primitive Reflexes and Dementia in Adults With Down Syndrome

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine whether primitive reflexes serve as an indicator of dementia in adults with Down syndrome (DS), we collected neurologic examination data, cognitive and behavioral assessments, and clinical consensus diagnoses of dementia from 92 adults with DS. Methods: In a cross-sectional, observational study of a regional cohort, chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests examined individual reflexes across diagnostic group (No, Possible, or Probable Dementia). In 64 participants with all 8 reflexes assessed, the number of primitive reflexes was assessed as a predictor of diagnosis using age-controlled multinomial logistic regression and of performance on clinical assessments (Brief Praxis Test [BPT], Severe Impairment Battery [SIB], and the Dementia Questionnaire for People with Learning Disabilities [DLD] using age-adjusted linear regression. Results: Primitive palmomental, grasp, snout, and suck reflexes were more frequent in individuals with probable dementia, but all participants showed at least one primitive reflex. Multiple primitive reflexes in combination served as a better indicator of dementia, with each additional abnormal reflex tripling probability of Probable Dementia group membership controlling for age. Abnormal reflex count was not associated with direct assessment of cognition and praxis (SIB and BPT) but associated with informant ratings of cognitive and behavioral functioning (DLD). Conclusions: The presence of multiple reflexes serves as an indicator of dementia status in DS as a supplement to direct assessment of cognition and praxis. The reflex examination may serve as a tool in the multimethod evaluation for dementia in DS, as it appears unaffected by intellectual disability and language mastery.
Expression and Function of the Chemokine Receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 in Sepsis

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear neutrophils; PMN) and a redundant system of chemotactic cytokines (chemokines) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with sepsis. PMN express two cell surface receptors for the CXC chemokines, CXCR1 and CXCR2. We investigated the expression and function of these receptors in patients with severe sepsis. Compared with normal donors, CXCR2 surface expression was down-regulated by 50% on PMN from septic patients (p < 0.005), while CXCR1 expression persisted. In vitro migratory responses to the CXCR1 ligand, IL-8, were similar in PMN from septic patients and normal donors. By contrast, the migratory response to the CXCR2 ligands, epithelial cell-derived neutrophil activator (ENA-78) and the growth-related oncogene proteins, was markedly suppressed in PMN from septic patients (p < 0.05). Ab specific for CXCR1 blocked in vitro migration of PMN from septic patients to IL-8 (p < 0.05), but not to FMLP. Thus, functionally significant down-regulation of CXCR2 occurs on PMN in septic patients. We conclude that in a complex milieu of multiple CXC chemokines, CXCR1 functions as the single dominant CXC chemokine receptor in patients with sepsis. These observations offer a potential strategy for attenuating adverse inflammation in sepsis while preserving host defenses mediated by bacteria-derived peptides such as FMLP.
Task-technology fit and individual performance

A key concern in Information Systems (IS) research has been to better understand the linkage between information systems and individual performance. The research reported in this study has two primary objectives: (1) to propose a comprehensive theoretical model that incorporates valuable insights from two complementary streams of research, and (2) to empirically test the core of the model. At the heart of the new model is the assertion that for an information technology to have a positive impact on individual performance, the technology: (1) must be utilized and (2) must be a good fit with the tasks it supports. This new model is moderately supported by an analysis of data from over 600 individuals in two companies. This research highlights the importance of the fit between technologies and users' tasks in achieving individual performance impacts from information technology. It also suggests that task-technology fit when decomposed into its more detailed components, could be the basis for a strong diagnostic tool to evaluate whether information systems and services in a given organization are meeting user needs.
Die Ermittlung von realen Gefügezuständen mit Hilfe der technologischen Kalorimetrie — Aussagemöglichkeiten üblicher Abkühlungskurven. Vorläufige Mitteilung

The cooling curve of a casting, recorded by thermocouples, reflects the heat transfer during the solidification periods. E. g. during the intervall from point 3 5 (see fig. 1) the primary austenite crystallises. The more austenite there is in the cast iron, the more crystallisation heat from the austenite becomes free, and the larger is the intervall 3 5. Knowing the fusion heat (cal/g austenite), the specific heat (cal/°C g), and the square relationsship time/heat, it is possible to transform the cooling curve into a calorimeter curve (fig. 2). In the logarithmic scale system, the curve-inclination m ⋍ 1:2. This technological calorimeter curve shows the quantities of heat relatively exactly. From the above findings the quantities of primary austenite and the other texture components can be calculated. In every case we find considerably more austenite than in the equilibrium. With the aide of this mathematical artifice any cooling curve is the key for the quantitative determination of all texture components, as demonstrated here on the example of cast iron; in principle this is possible for other alloys too.
Some Touching Thoughts and Wishful Thinking

Abstract: I describe a recent touch tour I took at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and suggest that since sighted visitors do not enjoy the opportunity to touch works of art, museums should collect the observations of blind visitors to expand cultural knowledge by including tactile aesthetics. Key words: blindness, blind museum access, Museum of Modern Art, tactile aesthetics.
A Slow Algorithm for Computing the Gabriel Graph with Double Precision

When designing algorithms, time and space usage are commonly considered. In 1999, Liotta, Preparata and Tamassia proposed that we could also analyze the precision of an algorithm. We present our rst steps towards the goal of eciently computing the Gabriel graph of a nite set of sites, while restricting ourselves to only double precision.
Capturing Competitive, Cannibalistic, And Variety-Seeking Influences On Market Share: An Asymmetric Modeling Approach

This paper attempts to focus on the asymmetric source-of-share issue by building and calibrating a probabilistic choice model which estimates market share at the consumer level while also capturing the asymmetric influence of inter-brand competition, intra-brand cannibalism, and cross-form variety-seeking. The results suggest that the inclusion of asymmetric influences improves the fit to the data. Asymmetric variety-seeking is demonstrated to be a function of the dissimilarity between offerings. Managers who ignore asymmetric variety-seeking may be ignoring some of their closest competitors. The importance of asymmetric competition and symmetric cannibalism must also be taken into account. Both are demonstrated to be functions of the similarity between offerings. Managers who ignore asymmetric cannibalism may introduce offering extensions that leave the firm no better off financially. These extensions conceivably could have a negative impact on the financial viability of the firm given the extra cost of expanding their offering mix. In addition, asymmetric competition provides new insights as to the competitors most likely to be affected by a given firms actions.
Spinal cord mediation of the opioid analgesia of pregnancy.

It has been demonstrated that during pregnancy and labor in rats and humans there is an opioid-mediated elevation in the threshold for responsiveness to aversive stimuli which reaches a maximum at term. Acute administration of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone, into the lumbar intrathecal (i.t.) space of pregnant rats (day 20 of gestation) significantly reduces the threshold for reflexive jumping in response to electric footshock. The i.t. administration of the inactive stereoisomer of a closely related narcotic antagonist, (+)-naloxone, is devoid of any effect on pain threshold. No effect on the pain threshold is observed following intrathecal saline administration to pregnant rats, i.t. naltrexone administration to non-pregnant rats or following systemic administration of an intrathecally effective dose of naltrexone to pregnant rats. These data indicate that the analgesia observed during gestation is mediated, at least in part, via a spinal opioid pathway which is activated by some aspect of the pregnant condition.
Ligand-activated Ahr signaling leads to disruption of nephrogenesis and altered Wilms' tumor suppressor mRNA splicing.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), a member of the large basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) and PAS homology domain superfamily, is a highly conserved transcriptional regulator involved in mammalian development. In the present study, a murine metanephros organ culture system was employed to evaluate the role of the Ahr signaling in nephrogenesis in vitro. Ahr and Wilms' tumor suppressor (wt1) mRNAs were detected by in situ hybridization and RT–PCR during the course of renal development. Treatment with 3 M BaP, a hydrocarbon ligand of Ahr, inhibited glomerulogenesis and branching morphogenesis of metanephric kidneys. Deficits in the epithelialization of mesenchymal cells were evidenced by inhibition of the formation of podocyte foot processes and glomerular basement membranes. Hydrocarbon treatment markedly induced -KTS wt1 splice variants, although total wt1 mRNA levels remained unchanged. A significant decrease in total WT1 protein was observed by both immunocytochemistry and Western analysis in cultures challenged with BaP compared to controls. Comparison of metanephric cultures from Ahr+/+ and Ahr-/- mice showed that Ahr is involved in kidney development, and required for BaP-induced deficits in nephrogenesis. These results indicate that ligand activation of Ahr signaling disrupts nephrogenesis in vitro, and that this response involves modulation of wt1 alternative splicing and post-transcriptional control.
Long-term particulate matter exposure: Attributing health effects to individual PM components.

While most in the scientific community are of the opinion that the composition of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an important driver of resultant health effects, there is still some degree of uncertainty regarding those components considered to be most harmful. Reviews of the subject from several perspectives have been published, but to our knowledge a comprehensive review of the epidemiological and toxicological literature related to long-term exposure to PM2.5 components does not exist. We reviewed published epidemiological studies that were of a cohort design, included at least one PM component as well as PM2.5 mass, and included quantitative analysis to relate health outcomes to individual components. Toxicological studies were included if they were ≥5 months in duration and either included at least one PM component as well as PM mass or focused on a specific PM or emissions type. Overall, we find that epidemiological and toxicological evidence for long-term effects of PM components is limited, in...
Metabolites of vitamin D in normal and X-linked hypophosphatemic mice

Hyp mice are a model for human X-linked hypophosphatemia (vitamin D-resistant rickets.) To determine whether an abnormality of vitamin D metabolism exists in this disease, the profiles of the metabolites of vitamin D were determined in normal andHyp mouse plasma.Hyp and normal mice were fed a vitamin D-deficient diet and received 1,23H-vitamin D3 at 16 Ci/mmol by stomach tube at 5 ng/g body weight (0.21 µCi/g b.w.) on alternate days for 14 days. The dose of vitamin D given maintained near normal plasma 25-OH-vitamin D. Thus the mice were in a vitamin D-replete state with all metabolite pools labeled with3H. Plasma was collected from 4 normal and 4Hyp mice. The plasma was extracted, and the extracts were chromatographed separately for each mouse on an LH-20 column. Each major peak of radioactivity was rechromatographed using high performance liquid chromatography on a Zorbax-Sil column using solvent systems known to resolve several vitamin D metabolites. Twenty-one radioactive peaks were identified. The disintegrations per minute of3H in each peak were quantified and converted to plasma concentration using the known specific activity of the administered vitamin D. The 25-OH-vitamin D accounted for 55% of the circulating radioactivity, and 24,25-(OH)2-vitamin D accounted for 22%. The plasma levels of 24,25-(OH)2-vitamin D were similar to levels previously reported by us using protein binding assays. No peaks of radioactivity were missing in the plasma extracts of theHyp mice. Also there was no evidence that plasma 24,25-(OH)2-vitamin D was elevated in theHyp mice.
Studies on lymphoid tissue from HIV-infected individuals: implications for the design of therapeutic strategies

Lymphoid tissue is a major reservoir of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in vivo. In addition, the lymphoid microenvironment provides a replicative advantage to the virus in that it provides a milieu of activated target cells that allows for efficient virus spread. The process of mobilization and activation of immune competent cells directed against the virus paradoxically contributes to the propagation of virus replication. Disruption of the lymphoid microenvironment during the progression of HIV disease is a poorly understood process, which may be of considerable importance pathogenically. Studies of lymph node biopsy samples taken 8 weeks apart from individuals who did not undergo any change in their therapeutic regimen (i.e., patients who either remained untreated or remained on their ongoing nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor monotheraphy regimen) revealed little change in histopathology or viral load over the 8-week period. These results with successive lymph node biopsy accurately reflects the pathologic process associated with HIV infection and that this process diffusely involves the lymphoid system. Treatment with reverse transcriptase inhibator monotheraphy of patients in relatively early stage HIV disease had no detectable impact on the viral load in lymphoid tissue, suggesting the need to investigate more potent antiretroviral regimens during this stage of disease. Among patients with moderately advanced HIV disease, switching to combination theraphy from a monotheraphy regimen resulted in decreased viral replication in lymph nodes; this effect was associated with decreases in plasma viremia. Despite the fact that measures of viral replication decreased significantly, the net frequency of HIV-infected cells in peripheral blood and lymph nodes remained unchanged. Potent antiretroviral drug combinations may be capable of profound and long-term down-regulation of plasma viremia. It will be essential to monitor the status of viral trapping, viral burden, and viral replication within lymphoid tissue during treatment with such drugs to determine accurately their true potential for impact on these key features of HIV pathogenesis.
Petrology of Alkalic Gneiss in the Dahomeyan of Ghana

A layer of alkalic gneiss, 7 to 20 m thick, extends almost continuously for 60 km in the Precambrian Dahomeyan basement complex of southeastern Ghana. Leucocratic nepheline–syenitic gneiss predominates, whereas mafic nepheline syenitic gneiss and rare feldspar-poor nepheline gneiss occur locally. Silica-saturated leucocratic gneiss is intercalated with the undersaturated rocks throughout the layer, but oversaturated peralkaline types are rare. The alkalic rocks are chemically similar to phonolite, alkali trachyte, comendite, mugearite, and ijolite; the leucocratic rocks plot in the experimentally determined low-temperature region for salic magmatic liquids. The alkalic gneiss has been derived by the isochemical metamorphism of pre-existing alkaline igneous rocks; the parental alkalic rocks may have been of volcanic origin. Regionally associated with the alkalic rocks are mafic gneiss and amphibolite similar in chemical composition to basanite, alkali basalt, and hawaiite. Mafic nepheline gneiss, chemically similar to mugearite, forms a geochemical link between the mafic gneiss and amphibolite and the leucocratic alkaline gneiss. Petrochemical trends on variation diagrams and close field relations suggest that the parent igneous rocks of the alkalic gneiss were derived by fractionation from mafic magmas that were parental to the mafic gneiss and amphibolite. The alkalic gneiss, mafic gneiss, and amphibolite have undergone at least two stages of regional metamorphic recrystallization that were separated by a period of strong penetrative deformation. The latest recrystallization was in the epidote-amphibolite facies and probably was associated with the Pan-African thermotectonic event.