cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond memorization: an intermediate-level paleontology activity that integrates anatomy, ecology, and macroevolutionary theory using trilobites

Here we present a stand-alone, upper level undergraduate laboratory exercise that integrates organismal ecology and evolutionary concepts and minimizes the need for student memorization. This laboratory seeks to integrate both anatomical and conceptual content into paleontology lab pedagogy by demonstrating how taxon-specific anatomical information are the fundamental data by which scientists evaluate big picture questions related to the study of macroevolution and ecology. Real specimen photos are provided to familiarize students with a relatively limited suite of anatomical terms and taxonomic detail while allowing schools lacking large paleontology collections to participate in specimen-based inquiry. A matching exercise requires students to assign various trilobite morphologies to their interpreted ecological niches, thus reinforcing the students’ new anatomical knowledge and helping students to distinguish between primary and secondary interpretation of scientific evidence. The use of trilobites as a macroevolutionary case study introduces students to questions still being actively investigated by scientists and provides an effective refutation of creationist arguments. By deemphasizing systematics and highlighting intriguing patterns from the recent published literature, this laboratory hopes to promote paleontology as a vibrant and relevant field, and avoid the misconception that paleontologists are simply stamp collectors, intent on naming and categorizing fossils. We hope that the broad implementation of this laboratory exercise will generate the data necessary to evaluate the validity of this approach and its ease of use in the classroom.
Heart rate of the land crab, Cardisomaguanhumi (Latreille), during aquatic and aerial respiration

Abstract 1. 1. EKG's were obtained on the land crab Cardisoma guanhumi . The heart rate after electrode implantation was initially high. (Rates up to 100/min were measured.) Within 1.5 hr after implantation, rates reached 80/min and 15 hr later, averaged 70/min. 2. 2. A diurnal rhythm in heart rate appeared, with rates highest in the late afternoon and evening. 3. 3. Periods of brief cardiac arrest were common and without known cause. Cardisoma were not particularly sensitive to tactile and visual stimuli; heart rate did not change with mild disturbances. 4. 4. Heart rate was not a function of body weight. 5. 5. Submergence of Cardisoma in normoxic water typically caused a brief tachycardia, followed by a bradycardia. Bradycardia may be a response to the relatively lower levels of oxygen in water compared to air. When crabs re-emerged from water, heart rates rapidly rose to resting levels or above, suggesting a possible response to payment of an O 2 debt. 6. 6. Heart rates of crabs submerged in 50% seawater were lower than those submerged in freshwater, 25% and 100% seawater.
New insights and challenges in mismatch repair: Getting over the chromatin hurdle

Abstract DNA mismatch repair (MMR) maintains genome stability primarily by repairing DNA replication-associated mispairs. Because loss of MMR function increases the mutation frequency genome-wide, defects in this pathway predispose affected individuals to cancer. The genes encoding essential eukaryotic MMR activities have been identified, as the recombinant proteins repair ‘naked’ heteroduplex DNA in vitro. However, the reconstituted system is inactive on nucleosome-containing heteroduplex DNA, and it is not understood how MMR occurs in vivo. Recent studies suggest that chromatin organization, nucleosome assembly/disassembly factors and histone modifications regulate MMR in eukaryotic cells, but the complexity and importance of the interaction between MMR and chromatin remodeling has only recently begun to be appreciated. This article reviews recent progress in understanding the mechanism of eukaryotic MMR in the context of chromatin structure and dynamics, considers the implications of these recent findings and discusses unresolved questions and challenges in understanding eukaryotic MMR.
High-Tc thermal bridges for space-borne cryogenic infrared detectors

The potential for using high-temperature superconductive elements, screen-printed onto ceramic substrates, as thermal bridges to replace the currently employed manganin wires is studied at NASA-LaRC. Substrate selection is considered to be the most critical parameter in device production. Due to the glass-like thermal behavior of yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) and fused silica substrates, these materials are found to reduce the heat load significantly. The estimated thermal savings for superconductive leads printed onto YSZ or fused silica substrates range from 6 to 14 percent.
Cell Wall Growth and Modulation Dynamics in a Model Unicellular Green Alga—Penium margaritaceum: Live Cell Labeling with Monoclonal Antibodies

Penium margaritaceum is a unicellular charophycean green alga that possesses cell wall polymers similar to those of land plants. Several wall macromolecules of this alga are recognized by monoclonal antibodies specific for wall polymer epitopes of land plants. Immunofluorescence protocols using these antibodies may be employed to label specific cell wall constituents of live cells. Fluorescent labeling persists for several days, and this attribute allows for tracing of wall epitopes in both long- and short-term studies of cell development. Quantitative analysis of surface area covered by cell wall polymers is also easily performed. We show that significant cell expansion caused by incubation of cells in low levels of osmotically active agents like mannitol, glucose, or sucrose results from the inability of cells to undergo cytokinesis but does not result in significant changes to the amount of new cell wall. We also demonstrate that cells can be maintained for long periods of time in culture medium supplemented with specific cell wall-degrading enzymes where notable changes to wall infrastructure occur. These results demonstrate the great potential value of Penium in elucidating fundamental events during cell wall synthesis and modulation in plant cells.
Nature, Sociology, and Social Justice: Environmental Sociology, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum

Environmental sociology remains on the periphery of the discipline because its traditional moment focuses on the material rather than social world and its synthetic moment looks as much like geography, anthropology, science studies, and cultural studies as it does sociology. This article will review contemporary visions of the history of nature and the environmental movement and their consequences of environmental sociological pedagogy. In doing so, it will suggest using O'Connor's political ecological theory of environmental problems to teach the range of problems and approaches associated with the subdiscipline. Two strategies are stressed. The first combines social and environmental history in coursework, nonclass exercises, and writing. The second pursues undergraduate research into the social and ecological history of “natural” places, such as woods and parks, and “social” places, such as blocks of student rentals and campus buildings.
Uncertainty Analysis Methods for Comparing Predictive Models and Biomarkers: A Case Study of Dietary Methyl Mercury Exposure☆

Biologically based markers (biomarkers) are currently used to provide information on exposure, health effects, and individual susceptibility to chemical and radiological wastes. However, the development and validation of biomarkers are expensive and time consuming. To determine whether biomarker development and use offer potential improvements to risk models based on predictive relationships or assumed values, we explore the use of uncertainty analysis applied to exposure models for dietary methyl mercury intake. We compare exposure estimates based on self-reported fish intake and measured fish mercury concentrations with biomarker-based exposure estimates (i.e., hair or blood mercury concentrations) using a published data set covering 1 month of exposure. Such a comparison of exposure model predictions allowed estimation of bias and random error associated with each exposure model. From these analyses, both bias and random error were found to be important components of uncertainty regarding biomarker-based exposure estimates, while the diary-based exposure estimate was susceptible to bias. Application of the proposed methods to a simple case study demonstrates their utility in estimating the contribution of population variability and measurement error in specific applications of biomarkers to environmental exposure and risk assessment. Such analyses can guide risk analysts and managers in the appropriate validation, use, and interpretation of exposure biomarker information.
NMDA, kainate, and AMPA depolarize nondopamine neurons in the rat ventral tegmentum

Abstract The possible existence of N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors on electrophysiologically identified nondopamine neurones in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was tested in rat midbrain slice preparations. NMDA, kainate (KA), and AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid) depolarized the membrane potential of nondopamine neurons in a dose-dependent manner. The NMDA effect was blocked by the selective NMDA receptor antagonist, CGS 19755 ( cis -4-phosphonomethyl-2-piperidine carboxylate), but not by the non-NMDA receptor antagonist, NBOX [2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo(F)quinoxaline]. In contrast, the effects of KA and AMPA were antagonized by NBOX, but not by CGS 19755. The rank order potency of the three agonists was AMPA > KA > NMDA, with thresholds of 0.1, 0.3, and 3 μM, respectively. These results provide clear electrophysiological evidence that nondopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area possess both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors.
Differential gene expression in primary colonic tissue from control, FAP and AFAP patients reveals unique signatures with diagnostic potential

Background Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a colon cancer syndrome with a prevalence of 1:10,000. Patients have 100's to 1000's of precancerous colonic polyps and nearly 100% risk of developing colon cancer at an average age of 39 years in the absence of colon surveillance and surgery. Mutations in the APC gene lead to FAP as well as an attenuated form (AFAP) which presents with variable phenotypic expression, reduced polyp numbers and reduced cancer risk as compared to FAP. Current methods for the clinical diagnosis of genetic diseases most commonly involve analysis of germline DNA. Germline DNA-based diagnosis can be incomplete, for example no mutation is found in approximately 20% of FAP and 50% of AFAP patients. The objective of this study is to determine a molecular profile of the colonic epithelia from patients with APC mutations leading to FAP or AFAP then to use this information to establish a gene expression signature for diagnosis and for better understanding of the disease in the primary affected tissue.
A rational approach to disorders of water balance in psychiatric patients.

Many mentally ill patients, particularly those with schizophrenia, have idiopathic or medication-induced disorders of water balance, which include excessive water intake, excessive water excretion, and impaired water excretion. Patients with these disorders manifest polydipsia and polyuria with or without symptomatic hyponatremia (low serum sodium concentration). Other serious sequelae include life-threatening water intoxication. The author reviews the physiology of normal water balance and the mechanism, causes, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of disorders of water balance. Interventions must first focus on identifying reversible factors. Medication-induced water imbalance can usually be reversed without compromising treatment of the underlying psychiatric disorder. A fully effective treatment for idiopathic polydipsia has not been found, although providing optimal treatment for the underlying psychiatric disorder often helps. Monitoring changes in body weight, in conjunction with measures of serum ...
Making Visible the Invisible: Strategies for Responding to Globalization's Impact on Immigrant Workers in the United States

This article explores the impact of globalization on immigrant workers in the United States. Although Congress created programs to provide vocational training services and cash allowances to workers who qualified by virtue of having lost their jobs as a result of the adverse impacts of trade, these programs have done little to assist many of the immigrant workers displaced by shifting labor markets. Through critical review of two case studies, the article pursues a more comprehensive understanding of the reasons the system failed these workers, in order to better respond to systematic barriers placed in the way of limited-English proficient immigrant workers seeking retraining and related services. Part I explores the experiences and legal claims of more than 125 limited-English proficient employees of a large mushroom operation in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Part II discusses the ongoing efforts of the members of the Asociacion de Trabajadores Fronterizos, a private organization fighting to achieve better working conditions and wages for workers displaced by El Paso's vanishing apparel and textile manufacturing industry. Part III delves further into how notions of citizenship serve as barriers to recognition of the workers as vital and permanent members of an integrated working class in the United States. Ultimately, the article argues for the development of a more comprehensive strategy to identify, evaluate, and overcome those barriers, to ensure that advocacy efforts undertaken are more successful.
A Study of Urban Effects on Radar First Echoes

Abstract The properties of 3 cm radar first echoes are used to study the effects of the St. Louis, Mo., metropolitan area on precipitation initiation in summer convective clouds. Based on a sample of 4553 first echoes, obtained on 82 echo-producing days of 1972–75, it is shown that the area-normalized frequency of first echo formation over the city and in the “near” downwind region is approximately a factor of 2 greater than for nearby rural regions. The maximum enhancement in first echo formation occurs over the downtown area and along the Mississippi River, which separates St. Louis from industrial suburbs to the east. The downwind extent of the region of first echo enhancement appears to be limited to about 1 h of wind travel. The enhancement occurs mainly on weekdays. Temperatures of first echo tops and bases indicate that precipitation initiation is most frequently through drop collection, though there is evidence that ice processes may contribute a small fraction of the first echoes. Urban first ech...
Inactivation of 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA Synthase and Other Acyl-CoA-Utilizing Enzymes by 3-Oxobutylsulfoxyl-CoA†

3-Oxobutylsulfoxyl-CoA has been produced by oxidation of S-3-oxobutyl-CoA, the thioether analog of acetoacetyl-CoA. Avian hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) synthase is inactivated by oxobutylsulfoxyl-CoA in a time-dependent fashion. Protection against inactivation is afforded by the substrate, acetyl-CoA, suggesting that inactivation involves modification of the enzyme's active site. Pretreatment of HMG-CoA synthase with the inactivator blocks the enzyme's ability to form Michaelis and acetyl-S-enzyme intermediates, supporting the hypothesis that modification is active-site directed. Incubation of enzyme with oxobutylsulfoxyl-[32P]CoA followed by precipitation with trichloroacetic acid indicates that inactivation correlates with stoichiometric formation of a covalent adduct between enzyme and a portion of the inactivator that includes the CoA nucleotide. The observation of reagent partitioning suggests that HMG-CoA synthase catalyzes conversion of oxobutylsulfoxyl-CoA into a reactive species that modifi...
Cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity in patients with atopic dermatitis: Reactivity to topical preservatives

Background Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have chronic dry skin to which they frequently apply skin care products containing preservatives, and they are predisposed to developing cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity. Objective We sought to compare the rates of positive patch test reactions to allergens on the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) standard tray among patients with and without AD and to assess whether atopic patients in our database were more likely to patch test positive to preservatives. Methods A total of 2453 patients underwent patch testing to the NACDG standard screening series. The incidence of positive patch test reaction among patients with AD (n = 342) and without AD (n = 2111) was assessed. Statistical analysis was done using a χ 2 test. Results Compared with nonatopic patients, patients with AD were statistically more likely to have positive patch tests. AD was associated with contact hypersensitivity to quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol but not to parabens, formaldehyde, or diazolidinyl urea. Limitations Only patients suspected of having allergic contact dermatitis were tested. Our population was geographically limited to metropolitan Kansas City, MO, and metropolitan New York City, NY. Conclusions Patients with AD should avoid the use of skin care products preserved with formaldehyde releasers.
Public Debt Management and Macroeconomic Stability: An Overview

Recent research suggests that management of the public sector debt can have important effects on a country macroeconomic performance. This Public debt management and macroeconomic stability article provides an overview of the factors that the recent literature has identified as important in determining the optimal composition of the public debt. Based on this analysis, it attempts to establish general guidelines for public debt management in emerging economies. To retain market access and promote domestic financial market development, governments should generally finance themselves at market rates using a wide variety of securities. Beyond this general principle, the optimal composition of the public debt involves a tradeoff between enhancing the government anti-inflationary credibility and reducing the vulnerability of its budget to macroeconomic shocks. Consequently, the optimal composition of the debt depends on a country circumstances. Debt should be heavily weighted toward long-term nominal securities for governments that have anti-inflationary credibility and toward long-term indexed debt for those that do not.
Cardiac troponin I and cardiac enzymes after electrophysiologic studies, ablations, and defibrillator implantations.

Our results indicate that diagnostic electrophysi- ologic studies and defibrillator implantations with sub- sequent test discharges from the defibrillator do not cause an elevation in cardiac troponin I. All 6 patients with an ablation had an elevated cardiac troponin I, whereas all total CK measurements were within the normal reference range, and 1 of the CK measure- ments had an elevation of CK isoenzyme. Cardiac troponin I is a highly specific marker for myocardial injury. The elevated cardiac troponin I results from these 6 patients demonstrate the occurrence of myo- cardial tissue destruction with ablation. Because cardiac troponin I is a highly specific indicator of myocardial injury, our results indicate that it can be used to differentiate patients with chest pain with acute myocardial infarction from patients with recent electrophysiologic studies or defibrillator implan- tations with subsequent discharges. These results are similar to the studies demonstrating no increase in the cardiac troponin I after external electrocardioversion. 6,7 Ablation does cause myocardial cell death and destruction of the contractile apparatus leading to an elevation of cardiac troponin I. Thus, cardiac troponin I would not differentiate patients with a small acute myocardial infarction near the time of an ablation.
Tying the knot that binds.

The recent determination of protein structures with knots in their backbone topology has defied previous conventional wisdom. How proteins can fold with a knot is an intriguing question that has been explored for YibK from Haemophilus influenzae in this issue of Structure (Mallam and Jackson, 2007a).
Separation of avian kidney tubules and glomeruli for in vitro culture

A combination of mechanical and enzyme treatments allows the separation of viable avian kidney tubule fragments and glomeruli.
Pulmonary effects due to subchronic exposure to oil fog.

Male and in some cases female rats were exposed to an oil fog generated by flash vaporization and subsequent condensation of lightweight lubricating oil. Exposures were for 3.5 h/d, 4d/wk for 13 wk. Males were exposed at concentrations of 1.5, 0.5, 0.2 or 0.0 mg/l (1500, 500, 200, and 0 mg/m3) and a particle size of approximately 1 μm (mass median aerodynamic diameter). A number of biologic end-points were assessed the day after the last exposure and, in some cases, after a 4 wk recovery period. Effects of 1.5 mg/l on male and female rats were compared. Diffuse accumulation of macrophages in the alveoli was observed in all oil fog exposed groups. The degree of severity was concentration dependent. Histopathologic changes were more prominent in males than in females and represented the most notable gender-related differences. Histologic effects observed one day and 4 wk post exposure were similar. Minimal histopathologic changes and minimal increase in lavage fluid protein were the only effects observed at...
Delayed depolarization in cat spinal motoneurons

The delayed depolarization (D-D) following antidromic or orthodromic AB spikes in motoneurons, described by others, has been studied by intracellular recording in cat motoneurons. The D-D was usually either present or absent in any particular cell, but in certain exceptional instances all-or-none appearance of a D-D was observed. The D-D could be decreased and in some instances completely blocked with IPSP conditioning, but there was little or no observable interaction between monosynaptic EPSP and the D-D. The “humped” appearance of the D-D appears to be explained by the time course of changes in the soma membrane conductance immediately following the passage of a B spike. The hypothesis that the D-D, when present, is generated by an active spike process propagated into the dendrites for a variable distance is supported, and the extent of propagation appears to be modified by some types of synaptic activity.
Progress on the Big Optical Array (BOA)

The Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI) is nearing the completion of the first phase of construction at the Lowell Observatory on Anderson Mesa, AZ. The NPOI comprises two sub- arrays, the Big Optical Array (BOA) and the USNO Astrometric Interferometer (AI), which share delay lines, the optics laboratory, the control system, and parts of the feed optics. We describe the design of and progress on the BOA, the imaging component of the NPOI. The AI is described elsewhere (Hutter, these proceedings). As of the date of this symposium, most of the civil engineering is complete, including the control and laboratory buildings and the concrete piers for the initial array. Three AI siderostats and associated feed pipes, three delay lines, the initial three-way beam combiner, and much of the control system are in place. First fringes are anticipated in April. By the end of 1994, four AI and two BOA siderostats, as well as three more delay lines, will be installed, making imaging with all six siderostats possible. The complete BOA will consist of six 50 cm siderostats and 30 siderostat stations in a Y with 251 m arms, with baseline lengths from 4 m to 437 m. Nearly redundant baseline lengths will allow fringe tracking on long baselines on which the visibilities are too low for detection in real time. A six-way beam combiner (Mozurkewich, these proceedings) will allow simultaneous measurements of 15 visibilities and nine of 10 independent closure phases. The output beams will feed 32-channel spectrometers covering the range from 450 to 900 nm. We anticipate tracking fringes on stars brighter than 10m, imaging surfaces of stars brighter than 4m, measuring stellar diameters to 0.18 milliarcsec (mas), and measuring binary orbits with major axes as small as 0.4 mas.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Determination of Sterol and Triterpene Content of Ocimum basilicum and Salvia officinalis at Various Stages of Growth

The sterol (β-sitosterol) and triterpene (ursolic acid I and/or II and oleanolic acid) content of O. basilicum and S. officinalis L. was determined quantitatively by a colorimetric method in various organs of the mature plants and in at least one prior stage of growth. In both plants the acidic triterpenes were absent from the seeds, but like the sterol, present in all stages of growth examined. There was an increase in concentration of both sterol and triterpene with increasing maturity of the plants, with leaves and flower parts containing the highest concentration.
Chemical composition of herbaceous grass and legume species grown for maximum biomass production

Abstract Chemical composition varies among herbaceous biomass species. As conversion processes are refined, it may be advantageous to select feedstocks based on compositional differences between or within species. Our objective was to characterize chemical composition in a range of herbaceous crops evaluated for biomass potential in the upper midwest region of the United States. Two legume and six grass species were evaluated under maximum economic yield management conditions. Although neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration ranged from 480 g kg −1 in the legumes to 740 g kg −1 in the grasses, year, site, harvest, or nitrogen (N) fertilization did not have a large effect on NDF. Lignin concentration was as low as 38 g kg −1 in the six grasses, and as high as 102 g kg −1 in the two legumes. Xylose concentration reflected differences in total hemicellulose for grasses and legumes, with a range of 55 g kg −1 in legumes to 200 g kg −1 in grasses. Concentrations of the alkali-labile phenolic monomer, p -coumaric acid, ranged from 0·2 g kg −1 in legumes to 11 g kg −1 in grasses. Species differences were more important than year, site, harvest, or N fertilization in determining composition of these herbaceous crops.
Aging in Place or Relocation: Perceived Awareness of Community-Based Long-Term Care and Services

ABSTRACT This study used data from the Community Partnership for Older Adults Program Survey (N = 4,611) to examine associations between the perceived awareness of community-based long-term care and supportive services and the anticipation for aging in place and relocation. Respondents varied substantially in their knowledge about services and anticipation for aging in place and relocation. Perceived availability and unavailability of a series of community services was associated with the likelihood of anticipating aging in place and relocation, and awareness of the lack of visiting nurses, personal assistance, or transportation was related to respondents reporting a younger age at which they anticipated needing help to age in place or anticipating a need to relocate. Findings have implications for raising the public awareness of community-based services in addressing the needs of community-dwelling elders for aging in place and relocation.
A Biomechanical Analysis Of Craniofacial Form And Function

In vivo measures of bite force and bone strain obtained in growing African green monkeys (Cercopeithecus aethiops) are being used to study skull biology and geometry. Strain values and distributional patterns seen in association with forceful jaw elevation are inconsistent with conventional explanations linking upper facial morphology with masticatory function and/or using beam models of craniofacial architecture. These results mandate careful use of notions about skeletal geometry based on static analyses that have not been experimentally verified using in vivo procedures.
A Search for B-->τν

We report results of a search for B→τν in a sample of 9.7 million charged B meson decays. The search uses both πν and decay modes of the τ, and demands exclusive reconstruction of the companion decay to suppress background. We set an upper limit on the branching fraction ℬ(B→τν)<8.4×10-4 at 90% confidence level. With slight modification to the analysis we also establish at 90% confidence level.
Manipulative Environmental Disclosure: Further Analysis of Corporate Projections of Environmental Capital Spending

ABSTRACT: Following Patten (2005), we focus on corporate disclosure of environmental capital expenditure projections and spending, and address two separate issues related to the corporate use of manipulative disclosure. First, we investigate whether potential increases in oversight and accountability due to the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in 2002 and the issuance of the Governmental Accountability Office's (GAO 2004) report on its investigation of corporate environmental disclosure may have induced firms to be less egregious in their use of overspending projections. Second, given the flexibility in the disclosure requirements, we explore whether, within the sample of companies providing projections of environmental capital spending, greater legitimacy exposures are associated with differences in the use of language within the disclosures. We find, first, that while the incidence and severity of over-projections of environmental capital spending decreased following the GAO (2004) report, the ch...
Physical properties of some organophosphazene copolymers. I. Structural aspects, transition temperatures, and stress-strain isotherms of the cross-linked networks

Analysis of several poly(organophosphazene) copolymers with variedmeta- andpara-substituted phenoxy repeat units indicated that the copolymers had random sequences, with compositions very close to the equimolar feed ratios used in their synthesis. DSC measurements indicated that they were semicrystalline in spite of this randomness. Networks prepared by cross-linking these copolymers were studied in elongation above their melting points, and stress-strain isotherms thus obtained showed the presence of strain-induced crystallization. Raising the temperature decreased their values of the modulus, presumably by melting some of these crystallites. Swelling the networks also decreased their values of the modulus (at least partly because of solvent-induced depression of the melting point) and decreased their values of the elongation at rupture (presumably because of the stretching-out of the chains by the imbibed solvent prior to the elongation measurements).
European Atherosclerosis Society Screening Recommendations for Lipoprotein(a) and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein: Double Standard or Failure of Evidence-Based Medicine?

While remaining silent on the role of high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP),2) the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) has issued a new consensus statement endorsing routine measurement of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] among patients at moderate to high risk of cardiovascular disease (1). The EAS took an even larger step in this consensus document and recommended prescription of niacin therapy (1–3 g) to lower Lp(a) concentrations to less than 50 mg/dL. This recommendation is exceptionally broad, because as many as 1 in 5 adults may have an LP(a) concentration that exceeds 50 mg/dL. Therefore, the EAS recommendations urging healthcare providers to screen for high concentrations of Lp(a) and advising treatment of high concentrations with niacin mark radical changes in policy. The role of Lp(a) as an independent biomarker of vascular risk has been investigated for more than 20 years. Problems with standardization and reporting of Lp(a) assays have persisted without resolution. Therefore, it is reasonable to inquire what new evidence has emerged to explain this seismic shift in thinking and to justify these new and far-reaching recommendations for screening and treatment in the field of cardiovascular disease prevention. Surprisingly, the impetus and rationale for these changes stem largely from recent observational studies using the techniques of mendelian randomization, which refers to the random assortment of gene variants passed from parents to offspring. Mendelian randomization is a method used by some epidemiologists in an attempt to understand causal pathways for intermediate phenotypes. With regard to Lp(a), results of 2 recently reported studies demonstrated that polymorphism in the lipoprotein, Lp(a) ( LPA ) gene is associated both with plasma Lp(a) concentrations and with subsequent vascular risk (2, 3). Proponents have suggested that these data define a causal relationship between Lp(a) and cardiovascular disease (4). However, the technique of mendelian randomization is itself highly controversial, and …
Clouds And The Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES): Instrument Design And Development

Measurements of the earth's reflected shortwave and emitted longwave energy and of the effect of clouds on these quantities are planned using a refined version of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) scanning instrument. The CERES instruments are being designed to accumulate earth radiance measurements with a repeatability of better than 0.5 percent over their five year life. Beginning in 1996, flights are planned on both polar and low earth orbit satellites to obtain the required temporal and spatial coverage. The design and development of CERES are discussed.
Beyond Corporate Liberalism

The theory of corporate liberalism has emerged as a key paradigm for critical analyses of American institutions. The theory emerged from analyses of the Progressive Era and of the Kennedy-Johnson years. The shift away from liberalism at the national political level since 1969 has resulted in a number of efforts to revise the theory of corporate liberalism. One argument is that the shift was caused by the depth of the economic crisis of United States capitalism. However, the theory suggests that corporate liberals would respond to crisis by increased use of the state to rationalize the economy. Yet there is good reason to believe that analysts who follow this logic have greatly exaggerated corporate support for some type of national economic planning, which reflects a fundamental weakness in the theory.
Shading models for realistic image synthesis

A tutorial that presents a technical-level chronology of illumination model development is provided. The basic techniques and capabilities of certain algorithms that changed the direction of computer graphics research are described. Included are treatments of Lambertian (constant) shading, Gouraud shading, Phong shading, the Torrence-Sparrow illumination model, Whitted's original ray-tracing based illumination model, and interreflections between diffuse surfaces (radiosity). >
Risk factors in patients undergoing major nonvascular abdominal operations that predict perioperative myocardial infarction

Background Perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) is an uncommon but serious complication of major abdominal surgery. Identifying the patients at risk may potentially reduce morbidity and mortality. In this study we determined risk factors associated with PMI in patients undergoing abdominal, nonvascular surgery (ANVS). Methods The utility of risk factors for PMI using Goldman's criteria and nine other variables were compared in patients diagnosed with PMI after ANVS (group I) and a control group (group II) matched for age, gender, and type of operation. Results Thirty-four patients, 21 men and 13 women, with a mean age of 70 years were diagnosed with PMI, which was associated with a 41% mortality rate (14 of 34). Risk factors for PMI included poor general condition, congestive heart failure, abnormal cardiac rhythm, smoking, previous myocardial infarction (MI), and emergent operation. Conclusion Although PMI following ANVS is uncommon, the mortality rate remains high. Patients classified as Goldman's class III and IV, or with a history of cigarette smoking, previous MI, or angina merit further evaluation in order to reduce the incidence of this complication.
“Them Ol’ Nasty Lesbians”—Queer Memory, Place, and Rural Formations of Lesbian

This article explores rural formations of lesbian subjects in non-metropolitan spaces. Employing autobiographical narrative within an interdisciplinary theoretical framework, the author offers a storying of constructions of sexual identity and gender roles within the specificity of working-class rural settings. The author draws from particularities of the local, including her perspective as a White, blue collar, rural Southern lesbian, raised a fundamentalist Christian. The article disrupts normative, unitary stories of queer migrations to urban utopias as the author narrates and theorizes her own story contextualized by race, social class, gender, sexuality, and religion--and by place.
Vitamin D and the Epidemiology of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Critical Analysis of the Current Evidence

Prospective analyses have yet to uncover a consistent relationship between vitamin D status and incidence and mortality of rarer cancers including esophageal and upper gastrointestinal cancers. We searched PubMed for literature regarding the epidemiology of upper gastrointestinal cancers and vitamin D published over the last decade and then summarized and critiqued the results of these studies in this review. The search yielded nine relevant studies. Overall, no consistent relationship was reported between serum vitamin D levels or a surrogate and upper gastrointestinal cancers. Four studies reported negative correlations between vitamin D status and upper gastrointestinal cancer, three reported positive correlations, one reported no correlation, and one reported both positive and negative correlations. No relationship has been established based on epidemiological data, but studies examining sun exposure consistently report an inverse association with esophageal cancer. The current literature is limited by the methods used to assess vitamin D status, lack of specific data for the types of upper gastrointestinal cancer, and failure to establish a temporal relationship between vitamin D status assessment and presentation of upper gastrointestinal cancer. It is possible that the lack of a consistent relationship is a consequence of inaccurate and imprecise assessment of vitamin D status.
Deriving sensible requirements for UAV sense-and-avoid systems

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming more prevalent in military applications and through the success of these applications, many commercial usages have been derived. However, due to the recent development of UAVs, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet been able to develop performance requirements for the Detect, Sense, and Avoid (DSA) system of UAVs. For this reason, this study serves to explore the current capabilities of human general aviation (GA) pilots with regards to their see-and-avoid abilities. The midair collision rate over the past ten years and the average traffic around an average airport are also explored. With the analyzed data, a model is developed in order to extract the grounds for performance requirement for DSA systems. The determined DSA performance number can be used to further aid in the development of overall performance requirements for DSA systems.
Failure Prediction Models for Proactive Fault Tolerance within Storage Systems

The increasingly large demand for data storage has spurred on the development of systems that rely on the aggregate performance of multiple hard drives. In many of these applications, reliability and availability are of utmost importance. It is therefore necessary to closely scrutinize a complex storage system's reliability characteristics. In this paper, we use Markov models to rigorously demonstrate the effects that failure prediction has on a system's mean time to data loss (MTTDL) given a parameterized sensitivity. We devise models for a single hard drive, RAID1, and N+1 type RAID systems. We find that the normal SMART failure prediction system has little impact on the MTTDL, but striking results can be seen when the sensitivity of the predictor reaches 0.5 or more. In past research, machine learning techniques have been proposed to improve SMART, showing that sensitivity levels of 0.5 or more are possible by training on past SMART data alone. The results of our stochastic models show that even with such relatively modest predictive power, these failure prediction algorithms can drastically extend the MTTDL of a data storage system. We feel that these results underscore the importance and need for complex prediction systems when calculating impending hard drive failures.
Ultra-wideband localization with collocated receivers

In this paper, a three-dimensional (3-D) ultra-wideband time-of-arrival localization scheme that employs a single cluster of receivers is studied. The receivers are placed on a two-dimensional plane within a few decimeters, and no wireless synchronization is required among the receivers. The optimum 3-D receiver placement is analyzed in the sense of minimum estimation variance defined by the Cramer-Rao lower bound. The position error bound as a function of the number of receivers and the distance between the source and the receiver unit is derived. An average position estimation error of 26.6 cm is achieved in experiments when the transmitter is within 10 meters of the receiver unit, where four receivers are placed in the same place within a circle of radius 50 cm.
A FIRO-B Analysis of Social Skill Preferences Among Auditors

Abstract: This study investigates the relative significance of both the social interaction index (SII) and demographic variables by analysing their association to the likelihood in classifying an auditor as internal or external to the firm. This study uses the psychometric technique of the fundamental interpersonal relationship orientation-behavior (FIRO-B) to analyse and compare the social interaction preference of certified internal auditors (CIAs) working for US corporations and certified public accountants (CPAs) employed by public accounting firms. Surveys were developed using the FIRO-B instruments and sent to internal auditors from US corporations located in the western and southeastern sections of the USA. The results of the study show that the scores of the two groups are significantly different. Internal auditors reported lower social interaction preferences than the public accountants
Primary T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma masquerading as a meningioma.

Abstract Primary dural lymphoma is rare, and few of the small number of cases reported to date have been classified using immunohistochemical techniques. To our knowledge, we report the first case of T-cell–rich B-cell lymphoma (diffuse mixed small cell and large cell) presenting as a solitary intracranial dural mass. Cytologic and frozen sections prepared during intraoperative consultation revealed a polymorphic population of lymphocytes suspicious for an inflammatory process. Permanent sections of the dura showed a diffusely infiltrating mass composed of mature lymphocytes peppered with large atypical lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical stains identified the small lymphocytes as T cells (CD3 and CD43) and the large atypical lymphocytes as B cells (CD20). Evidence of rearranged immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes demonstrated B-cell monoclonality. Differentiating between inflammatory and neoplastic lymphocytic masses of the dura obviously has important therapeutic and prognostic significance and may require im...
Finite Element Modeling of Segmented Active Constrained Damping Layers including Bonding Layer Effect

This paper presents a new research and design finite element tool to analyze segmented active constrained layer damping treatments applied in bending. This numerical tool is based on a new five-layer beam finite element that accounts for bonding layer strain energy. Preliminary studies have confirmed that strains in the bonding layers can have a significant effect on damping ratios at the fundamental modal frequencies. This effect is particularly strong when relatively thin compliant piezo materials are used for constraining layers. The frequency-dependent stiffness and damping properties in viscoelastic materials are modeled using anelastic displacement fields (ADF). The effectiveness of the finite element model is validated experimentally for both active and passive constraining layers.
Pluralism and the Value of Life

As an initial approximation, pluralism may be understood as the combination of four theses. First, there are many incommensurable values whose realization is required for living a good life. Second, these values often conflict with each other, and, as a result, the realization of some excludes the realization of others. Third, there is no authoritative standard that could be appealed to to resolve such conflicts, because there is also a plurality of standards; consequently, no single standard would be always acceptable to all fully informed and reasonable people. Fourth, there are, nevertheless, reasonable ways of resolving conflicts among incommensurable values.
Prevalence of undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy among inpatients with diabetes: the diabetic retinopathy inpatient study (DRIPS).

Objective To determine the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in the inpatient diabetic population in the USA and to determine the barriers to ophthalmic examinations and treatment among this population. Research design and methods A cross-sectional analysis of 113 inpatients with diabetes mellitus admitted to an inner city community teaching hospital in Pittsburgh. Digital fundus photographs of the posterior pole were taken of each eye after pharmacological dilation. Presence, absence and severity of diabetic retinopathy and macular edema were graded on the basis of internationally accepted criteria. An investigator-administered questionnaire and review of the medical record were used to obtain data about patient demographics, clinical characteristics and barriers to ophthalmic care. The association between these data and the presence of diabetic retinopathy was tested. Results The estimated prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the inpatient population was 44% (95% CI 34% to 53%). The prevalence of previously undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy and sight-threatening retinopathy was 25% (95% CI 17% to 33%) and 19% (95% CI 11% to 26%), respectively. Renal disease was independently associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy (OR, 3.86; 95% CI 1.22 to 12.27), as well as a longer duration of diabetes (OR, 1.08 per year; 95% CI 1.014 to 1.147). Diabetic retinopathy was seen in 15 of 17 patients admitted with diabetic foot ulcers or osteomyelitis. Frequently reported barriers to ophthalmic examinations included lack of transportation and physical disability. Conclusions The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in the inpatient population is likely significantly higher than in the general diabetic population in the USA. These patients have barriers to care that need to be addressed to make standard of care ophthalmic examinations and treatment possible in this population.
Research on Learning and Instruction: Implications for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

There is considerable rhetoric about the need for our educational system to promote deeper learning and the development of 21st-century skills. Missing from the discourse is recognition that much o...