cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How to Assess the Learning of Executives Enrolled in Your Managerial Communication Course

In this article, I provide you, the instructor of a graduate level communication course, with an example of a take-home comprehensive final exam, which for me has proved to be practicable, and enjoyable for students. I started using this assessment in fall 2013 because students enrolled in our Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program at Prairie View A&M University are seasoned executives, and would find routine lower-level multiple choice questions boring and mundane (See Bloom’s [1956] Taxonomy: knowledge, comprehension, application vs. analysis, synthesis and evaluation). Therefore, the 20 questions featured in my take-home final exam, shown in the body of this article, are in-depth, higher-level cognitive questions, designed to assess learning at the synthesis and evaluative judgment levels concerning managerial communication literature. There are 26 items in the reference section, including classic books on management, which are the required readings from the course syllabus, to supplement the two course textbooks: Bell and Martin (2019a) “Managerial communication for organizational development; Bell and Martin (2019b) “Managerial communication for professional development.” Serious executives appreciate reading communication chapters from great books, for example, Barnard (1938); Hall (1971); Katz and Kahn (1966); Simon (1976); Drucker (1973); Mintzberg (1973); Peters and Waterman, (1982); Phillips (1985); Schein (1992); Bennis and Nanus (1985); Brown (1973); Daft, Bettenhausen, and Tyler (1993); Ulrich and Lake (1990); Zuboff (1988); and Deal and Kennedy (1999). Over the years, this type of exam has resulted in a rich learning environment for my students. By-the-way, students learn how to answer the 20 questions throughout an 8-week term, by means of various reading assignments and the Socratic approach.
Habitat associations of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta fry.

Habitat restoration activities continue to increase in large rivers, but many of these projects focus on improving juvenile or adult habitats. Incorporating the habitat associations of fry into restoration designs will allow for broader successes from restoration for all life stages and may be useful for either multispecies or specific-species management. This study investigated the habitat associations of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta fry in the upper Colorado River, focusing on the mean substrate size (D50 ), velocity (m s-1 ), depth (m) and presence of wood in near-shore habitats. S. trutta and O. mykiss were found in higher numbers in fry sites with a D50 of 151 mm (ranging from 96 to 206 mm), velocities ranging from 0.20 to 0.23 m s-1 and depths ranging from 0.17 to 0.18 m. Although there was considerable overlap in habitat associations between the two species, there may be opportunities for single-species management, if this is a goal of such restoration activities, by adjusting design criteria based on differing habitat associations. In addition, the results suggest that including larger particle sizes in near-shore habitats and upstream of fry sites could decrease Tubifex tubifex habitat and thereby fry infection severity by reducing exposure to Myxobolus cerebralis. Stocking, interspecific competition and/or the presence of pathogens can affect fry habitat associations and cause deviations from demonstrated suitability indices. As such, evaluating system-specific differences in habitat associations may allow future habitat restoration activities to be more effective.
Perception of indexical cues in speech by children and adults with and without dyslexia: Regional dialect and gender identification.

Auditory research in developmental dyslexia proposes that deficient auditory processing of speech underlies difficulties with reading and spelling. Focusing predominantly on phonological processing, studies have not yet addressed the role of the speaker-related (indexical) properties of speech that enable the formation of phonological representations. Here, we assess auditory processing of indexical characteristics cueing a speaker's regional dialect and gender to determine whether dyslexia constraints recognition of dialect features and voice gender. Adults and children aged 11-14 years with dyslexia and their age-matched controls responded to 360 unique sentences extracted from spontaneous conversations of 40 speakers. In addition to the original unprocessed speech, there were two focused filtered conditions (using lowpass filtering at 400 Hz and 8-channel noise vocoding) probing listeners' responses to segmental and prosodic cues. Compared with controls, both groups with dyslexia were significantly limited in their abilities to recognize dialect features from either set of cues. The results for gender suggest that their comparatively worse gender recognition in the noise-vocoded condition was possibly related to poor temporal resolution. We propose that the deficient processing of indexical cues by individuals with dyslexia originates in peripheral auditory processes, of which impaired processing of relevant temporal cues in amplitude envelope is a likely candidate.
1-restricted Simple 2-matchings: (Extended Abstract)

Abstract A simple 2-matching in a graph is a subgraph all of whose nodes have degree ≤ 2. A simple 2-matching is called k-restricted if every connected component has > k edges. We consider the problem of finding a k-restricted simple 2-matching with a maximum number of edges, which is a relaxation of the problem of finding a Hamilton cycle in a graph. Our main result is a new polynomial time algorithm for finding a 1-restricted simple 2-matching with a maximum number of edges. We also present a Tutte-type existence theorem and a Tutte-Berge-type formula for this problem.
The effect of depletion of endogenous substrates on the metabolic behavior of isolated rabbit heart mitochondria.

Changes in the State 3 respiratory rate and the respiratory control ratio of isolated rabbit heart mitochondria with the use of pyruvate as the substrate parallel changes in, and depletion of, the endogenous substrates. The endogenous substrates of these mitochondria are more efficient in maintaining the Krebs cycle than are exogenous dicarboxylic acids. The quantitative nature of pyruvate metabolism by rabbit heart mitochondria is markedly altered following depletion of the endogenous substrates. These results indicate that the order of and the time interval between addition of reactants to mitochondrial systems may be important determinants of the nature of substrate metabolism and, hence, of respiratory rates and respiratory control ratios.
Basic mechanisms of stress-corrosion cracking of titanium.

Stress corrosion mechanism of titanium noting experimental conditions, results of chemical analyses, time factor, material resistance to crack formation, etc
A report of the James Watson lecture at Yale University.

In March 2012, Nobel Prize winner James Watson gave a seminar at Yale University entitled “Driven by Ideas.” In his lecture, Watson discussed his personal vision for the future of science, specifically addressing how the scientific community should approach developing anticancer agents. He discussed the use of glycolytic inhibitors as anticancer agents due to the Warburg effect, as well as the benefits of metformin and anti-inflammatory drugs to help prevent cancer. He also compared drugs that target cell proliferation instead of targeting cell growth. Additionally, Watson commented on the mechanisms for how research should be conducted in the laboratory.
Endohedral fullerenes: the importance of electronic, size and shape complementarity between the carbon cages and the corresponding encapsulated clusters

Cage-cluster complementarity is of crucial importance in determining the sizes and structures, as well as the properties of endohedral fullerenes. The encapsulated atoms or clusters, which are typically in a positively charged state, are irreversibly, mechanically, and electrostatically trapped inside the typically negatively charged cages. These rather exotic compounds exhibit exquisitely complementary properties between their components. Here, we present a short overview to show that size and shape are crucial in determining the specific structures that are formed, and the presence of electrostatic interactions result in structural motifs that are never observed for pristine fullerene cages. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A CD8/Lck transgene is able to drive thymocyte differentiation.

Efficient development of thymocytes requires participation of a CD8 or CD4 coreceptor in the TCR:MHC interaction. Both CD8 and CD4 coreceptor cytoplasmic domains associate with Lck. In this study, we attempted to delineate the role of CD8α-associated Lck in driving CD8 single positive (SP) thymocyte development. We used a chimeric molecule encoding the extracellular and transmembrane domains of CD8α fused to full-length Lck. In mice deficient for CD8α and transgenic for 2C, a MHC class I-restricted TCR, robust reconstitution of CD8 SP thymocytes occurred both centrally and peripherally. The reconstituted CD8 SP population was phenotypically and functionally comparable to 2C wild-type counterparts expressing endogenous CD8α. A CD8α/Lck kinase-dead chimera also resulted in reconstitution of CD8 SP thymocytes. Our results suggest that CD8α-associated Lck is sufficient to drive CD8 SP thymocyte development. Furthermore, this CD8 SP development may not necessarily depend on Lck kinase activity.
A low frequency high resolution sonar for AUVs

The authors present the design of a sonar for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) which can be operated as a conventional high-frequency forward-looking sonar or as parametric low-frequency sonar for buried mine detection and as an enhanced target classifier through the use of wideband low-frequency waveforms. The system provides high area coverage rates in conventional high-frequency mode when searching for water column and proud targets on the bottom. When detecting buried mines, the typical low coverage rate of a parametric system is improved by using pseudo-random binary sequences to code the transmit waveforms, thus supporting a send-while-receive mode operation. Additionally, the parametric beam can be used to provide improved water column and proud bottom target classification over conventional systems through the use of low-frequency wideband waveforms. Since the low-frequency source is parametric, the transducer size and weight is considerably less than that of a conventional projector at low frequencies. >
Syntactic Memory in the Comprehension of Reflexive Dependencies: an Overview

The distribution of reflexive anaphors has long been of central importance in the development of syntactic theory. In a parallel fashion, research on the comprehension of reflexive anaphors is increasingly influential for theories of syntactic comprehension. In this article, I present the problem of selecting a reflexive's antecedent as a memory retrieval problem and illustrate why the comprehension of reflexives is of special interest for theories of the memory architecture of the sentence processor. I review a range of influential findings on reflexive comprehension, focusing on results that concern the speed and grammatical accuracy of antecedent retrieval. An emerging empirical generalization is that reflexives are relatively immune to retrieval interference, a property that sets them apart from superficially similar syntactic dependencies like subject–verb agreement. Existing data, across languages and across methodologies, suggest that comprehenders retrieve a reflexive's antecedent primarily on the basis of its syntactic position.
Multipoint radiation hybrid mapping: Comparison of methods, sample size requirements, and optimal study characteristics

Abstract There are several statistical methods available for analyzing radiation hybrid (RH) data, but little is known about the ordering accuracy we can expect under common study conditions. Using analytic methods and computer simulation, we compared the ordering accuracy of three multipoint statistical methods: minimum breaks (MB), maximum likelihood (ML), and maximum posterior probability (PP). For 8, 12, and 16 markers and all combinations of numbers of hybrids, retention patterns, and marker spacings considered, the probabilities that the true order is identified as the best order were considerably higher with the ML and PP methods than with the MB method. ML and PP performed similarly, but PP tended to give slightly greater support for the best order than did ML. Our results can be used as guidelines for determining sample size requirements and optimal marker spacing for future RH mapping experiments. For equally spaced markers, intermarker spacing of 30 to 50 cR gave the highest probability of correctly ordering all the markers. For randomly spaced markers, 10-20 Cr average intermarker spacing resulted in the highest proportion of markers being placed in a 1000:1 framework map. Assuming equal retention in the analysis when a centromeric model would be more appropriate did not affect the ability of the ML method to accurately order the markers, but did influence the distance estimates obtained.
Hereditary gynecologic cancers: differential diagnosis, surveillance, management and surgical prophylaxis

The main cancer susceptibility syndromes that involve gynecologic cancers include Breast-Ovarian Cancer Syndrome and Lynch Syndrome/Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer Syndrome. For uterine cancer, approximately 5% of all cases are likely due to a hereditary cause and for ovarian cancer, approximately 10% are due to an inherited cause. Gynecologic oncologists play an important role in identifying women with ovarian or endometrial cancer who may have these syndromes. Personal and family history of relevant cancers assists with identification. For those women without cancer who are found to have a hereditary cancer syndrome, effective counseling in the prevention and early detection of cancers is crucial.
Pattern formation in integrative biology – a marriage of theory and experiment

Abstract The interdisciplinary challenge to discover the underlying mechanisms in the generation of biological pattern and form are central issues in development. In this review we briefly discuss the philosophy of such an integrative biology approach. We then describe one pattern formation approach which has intimate ties to experiment, namely the mechano-chemical theory. We discuss, by way of example, the successful use of such a framework in the formation of cell–matrix networks, intimately associated with angiogenesis. All of the model parameters are estimated from experiment and the results of the model analysis compare well with experiment. We conclude with some general views on the use of models in biology.
Laminar entropy generation over a flat plate with isothermal and constant heat flux boundary conditions using the von Kármán integral method

This paper is a fundamental study on the irreversibility of single-phase laminar convective heat transfer over a flat plate with isothermal and constant heat flux boundary conditions. It quantifies the losses due to viscous momentum transfer losses and heat transfer losses and presents the irreversibility of the convective flow based on the entropy generation (EG) method. This paper determines the entropy generation for incompressible, single phase, laminar flow for large and small Prandtl numbers over a flat plate with isothermal and constant heat flux boundary conditions using von Karman’s integral theory.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Ethanol increases PGE and thromboxane production in mouse pregnant uterine tissue

Abstract The teratogenic effect of ethanol in the C57BL/6J mouse can be attenuated by pretreatment with aspirin (ASA). One prominent effect of ASA is to inhibit prostaglandin (PGE) and thromboxane (TXB2) production. We examined the effect of in vivo ethanol exposure on PGE and TXB2 production in a uterine-embryo tissue sample of C57BL/6J mice either before or after in vivo ASA pretreatment on day 10 of gestation. Ethanol increased both PGE and TXB2 production by approximately 20%. ASA caused a marked reduction of PGE and TXB2 in both control and ethanol groups by approximately 80–90%. The mouse strain, gestation time, and study parameters used in this study were the same as in the previously reported ASA attenuation of the teratogenic effect of ethanol. Therefore, the present data add additional support to the hypothesis that prostaglandin and/or thromboxane production may be involved in at least some aspects of fetal alcohol syndrome.
79 EFFECT OF REPEATED ASPHYXIA/REVENTRATION ON STRIATAL DOPAMINE RELEASE AND CEREBRAL CORTICAL OXYGEN PRESSURE IN NEWBOFN PIGLETS

79 EFFECT OF REPEATED ASPHYXIA/REVENTRATION ON STRIATAL DOPAMINE RELEASE AND CEREBRAL CORTICAL OXYGEN PRESSURE IN NEWBOFN PIGLETS
Active sodium transport: A source of metabolic heat during cold adaptation in mammals

Abstract The major fraction of elevated oxygen uptake of liver and skeletal muscle tissue slices that occurs during cold adaptation in mice is ouabain sensitive.
Spatial navigation: head direction cells are anchored by gravity.

Thalamic neurons that signal an animal’s direction of heading are crucial for spatial navigation. Both directional coding and flexible use of spatial memory are upended, however, when a rat has to find its way while upside down.
COUPLING OF THREE OR MORE POSITRONIUMS: A RELATIVISTIC MODEL OF COUPLING OF COMPOSITE PARTICLES.

Abstract Because the eikonal approximation has the non-trivial features of providing falling form factors and correct relativistic mass formula for the bound-states, it can be taken as a theoretical laboratory to derive S -matrix elements of n composite particles (or reggeons) from an underlying S -matrix element of 2 n elementary particles. For definiteness the coupling of positroniums is considered. We derive in this approximation a formula for the coupling of three or more positroniums as a function of their principal quantum numbers. The amplitude vanishes as the mass of each composite particle vanishes. A number of applications and the extension of the amplitude to those having “duality” properties are pointed out.
Substantia nigra-mediated anticonvulsant actions: Role of nigral output pathways

Bilateral ablation of the superior colliculus in rats abolished the anticonvulsant effect of muscimol, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, infused into the substantia nigra. Our data indicate that the ability of intranigral muscimol to protect against maximal electroshock convulsions requires the integrity of the nigrotectal pathway. We present evidence that the nigrotegmental, nigrothalamic, and nigrostriatal projections do not appear to contribute to the nigral-evoked attenuation of electroshock convulsions. Inasmuch as the nigrotectal pathway utilizes the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, we hypothesize that the anticonvulsant effect of nigral manipulations in the electroshock test is a result of the disinhibition of neurons in the superior colliculus, the firing of which must therefore be capable of suppressing or disrupting electroshock-induced convulsions.
Synthesis of ferrocenylacetylenes

Abstract The action of dimethylformamide and phosphorus oxychloride on acetylferrocene converts it, via (1-chlorovinyl)ferrocene, into (1-chloro-2-formylvinyl)ferrocene. This substance is transformed by sodium hydroxide in aqueous dioxan to ethynylferrocene. The two-step sequence constitutes a convenient synthesis of this substance. 1,1′-Diacetylferrocene is similarly converted into a bis-chloroaldehyde, but on treatment with base this gives 1-ethynyl-1′-(1-chloro-2-formylvinylferrocene as the only characterizeable product. Cuprous ferrocenylacetylide couples readily with mono- and 1,1′-diiodo-ferrocenes to give diferrocenylacetylene and 1,1′-bis(ferrocenylethynyl)ferrocene. Similar reactions may be effected with cuprous phenylacetylide. NMR spectra of all substances described are given.
Using expert systems in industrial marketing

Abstract U.S. corporations will spend $4 billion annually on expert systems in 1990. However, several obstacles have been encountered that have limited their use in industrial marketing. The purpose of this article is to present a balanced view of expert systems that not only illustrates potential benefits of these systems but also considers their pitfalls. After a review of the benefits and problems associated with expert systems implementation and use, several early efforts to use expert systems in industrial marketing are discussed. Finally, guidelines for the future development and practical use of expert systems by industrial marketers are presented.
Oral ethanol reinforcement in the rat: Effect of the partial inverse benzodiazepine agonist RO15-4513

The partial inverse benzodiazepine agonist RO15-4513 has been found to reverse the sedating and anti-conflict effects of acute ethanol administration. In non-food or fluid-deprived rats, orally self-administering 10% ethanol in an operant situation, RO15-4513 resulted in a dose-dependent suppression on ethanol intake. Doses of 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg suppressed responding from approximately 25% to 60% respectively. A dose of 0.1 mg/kg had no significant effect upon responding. These findings were discussed in terms of the potential independence of brain mechanisms related to ethanol reinforcement and sedation.
Significance of anaerobic ammonium oxidation in the ocean

Abstract A missing link in the nitrogen cycle has recently been found: bacteria capable of oxidizing ammonium to nitrogen gas (N 2 ). This new source of N 2 has now been detected in both the water column and the sediments in marine environments. This discovery is important because it necessitates re-evaluation of (1) major fluxes in the global nitrogen budget and (2) regulation of the processes leading to fixed nitrogen loss.
Critical care physicians: Attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge about pressure ulcers

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to determine critical care physicians’ attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge toward pressure ulcer (PrU) prevention and treatment in critical care patients.DESIGN:Descriptive, correlationalPARTICIPANTS:56 critical care physiciansMAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Sur
Circadian pathway genes in relation to glioma risk and outcome.

Purpose There is growing evidence that circadian disruption may alter risk and aggressiveness of cancer. We evaluated common genetic variants in the circadian gene pathway for associations with glioma risk and patient outcome in a US clinic-based case–control study.
Fly-casting in protein-DNA binding: frustration between protein folding and electrostatics facilitates target recognition.

Molecular plasticity, the key to many biomolecular self-assembly processes, and electrostatic steering, which guides proteins to DNA, are shown to be coupled and to facilitate DNA search. While protein flexibility is involved in induced-fit recognition and to a larger extent in intrinsically unstructured DNA binding proteins, we show that through a “tidal force” the electrostatic field of the DNA can induce flexibility and the partial unfolding of a two-state folding protein, thereby reducing its folding barrier and, thus, stimulating fly-casting. The protein binds DNA nonspecifically in a partially folded state and completes its folding when it binds the specific site. The interplay between fly-casting and electrostatics is observed even for weak electrostatic forces and is expected to vary with the electrostatic screening due to salt and the intrinsic folding barrier, both of which can be modulated experimentally.
Left hand preferences in capuchins (Cebus apella): role of spatial demands in manual activity.

Sixteen capuchins (Cebus apella) participated in four tasks that differed in their exploration demands and availability of visual cues. The two explorative tasks required the monkeys to discover sunflower seeds hidden in crevices in objects of various shapes, with vision (Haptic-Visual task) or without vision (Haptic task). Two other tasks required the capuchins to grasp sunflower seeds directly on a flat support, with vision (Visual reaching) or without vision (Tactual reaching). The presence or absence of exploration demands had a significant effect on the direction of hand preferences. The group displayed greater left hand preferences for the Haptic and Haptic-Visual tasks than for the two reaching tasks. The strength of manual preferences did not differ significantly among the four tasks. These findings suggest that the manipulo-spatial demands of a task are of particular importance for the expression of left hand bias in a population of capuchins. It is argued that left hand preferences for the hapti...
Podocyte ACE2 protects against diabetic nephropathy

As new components of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) are elucidated, our understanding of the complexities of their interactions also advances. Previous studies have determined that podocytes possess a local RAS that can generate angiotensin II. Podocytes have also been shown to express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which can decrease angiotensin II levels by generation of angiotensin-(1–7). Nadarajah et al. now show that increased podocyte ACE2 activity can attenuate the development of diabetic nephropathy.
Adaptive filtering using modified Fermat number transform

The modified Fermat number transform (MFNT) is applied to the efficient realisation of the LMS and block LMS adaptive digital filters. The Fermat number transform (FNT) had earlier been used to implement the BLMS. It is shown that the MFNT leads to more computationally efficient realisations of the LMS and BLMS adaptive filter than the FNT.
Emergency Stenting of a Ruptured Infected Anastomotic Femoral Pseudoaneurysm

A 74-year-old man presented with a ruptured infected anastomotic femoral pseudoaneurysm. Due to severe medical comorbidities he was considered unsuitable for conventional surgical management and underwent an emergency endovascular repair with a balloon-expandable covered stent. The pseudoaneurysm was excluded successfully and the patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery with long-term suppressive antimicrobials. He remained well for 10 months after the procedure with no signs of recurrent local or systemic infection and finally died from an acute myocardial infarction. To our knowledge, emergency endovascular treatment of a free ruptured bleeding femoral artery pseudoaneurysm has not been documented before in the English literature. This case illustrates that endovascular therapy may be a safe and efficient alternative in the emergent management of ruptured infected anastomotic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms when traditional open surgery is contraindicated.
A study of the use of sedative PRN medication in patients at a secure hospital

We have investigated the use of ‘as required’ (PRN), sedative psychotropic medication in 242 forensic rehabilitation patients at a UK secure psychiatric hospital. In total, 176 (73%) patients were prescribed PRN medication and 90 (37%) received a total of 542 doses in the preceding two weeks. The principle indication for use was agitation. Oral benzodiazepines, particularly Lorazepam, were most commonly prescribed and administered followed by Haloperidol. Although high-dose antipsychotics and polypharmacy due to PRN prescribing were common (11 and 20%, respectively), on only 6% of the days studied did patients actually receive PRN antipsychotic medication. Using univariate analyses, PRN administration was associated with younger age, female gender, emotionally unstable personality disorder, shorter length of stay and detention in medium security. Case note documentation of PRN administration was often absent (44%) or vague. Further research, both quantitative and qualitative, is needed into the precise ci...
Reliability demonstration test planning: A three dimensional consideration

Abstract Increasing customer demand for reliability, fierce market competition on time-to-market and cost, and highly reliable products are making reliability testing more challenging task. This paper presents a systematic approach for identifying critical elements (subsystems and components) of the system and deciding the types of test to be performed to demonstrate reliability. It decomposes the system into three dimensions, (i.e. physical, functional and time) and identifies critical elements in the design by allocating system level reliability to each candidate. The decomposition of system level reliability is achieved by using criticality index. The numerical value of criticality index for each candidate is derived based on the information available from failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) document or warranty data from a prior system. It makes use of this information to develop reliability demonstration test plan for the identified (critical) failure mechanisms and physical elements. It also highlights the benefits of using prior information in order to locate critical spots in the design and in subsequent development of test plans. A case example is presented to demonstrate the proposed approach.
A rapid two-dimensional fractionation of DNA restriction fragments

Genomic DNA that has been digested with a restriction endonuclease and fractionated by electrophoresis on an agarose gel can be recovered on glass-fiber filters by a new blotting scheme. The DNA fragments in each fraction are then digested with a second restriction nuclease and then separated on a slab gel, resulting in a two-dimensional display of the restriction fragments. This rapid fingerprinting technique is useful in the analysis of complex genomes and in the isolation and cloning of particular sequences.
The consumer movement takes hold in medical care.

Most Americans encounter the medical system only occasionally, through routine check-ups and maintenance, processes usually provoking no more anxiety than general dental care. But when serious illness strikes, patients often experience it as an assault on identity and sense of self. Both seriously ill and seriously worried patients crave information. They can experience powerful sensations and dire fears, but they often do not know how to interpret them. They want to know what medicine can do and what they can do for themselves to make the best of whatever their new reality is to be. Meanwhile, modern medicine too often behaves as if caring for such human needs is beyond its purpose. Medical education stresses pathophysiologic process to the exclusion of the social, personal, and even functional dimensions of health and illness. Residency training teaches diagnosis by biotechnological methods, rendering interpersonal skills and human performance measures anachronistic. Medical financing has followed suit: it so favors the biotechnological aspects of care that its implicit message to professionals is, “Deal with your patients’ concerns on your own time.” This disjuncture between the patient’s realities and the pursuits of modem medicine is moving toward a new alignment. This essay examines forces for change that are recognizable, formidable, and hard at work. Change will come because millions more aging American families will experience serious illness and insist on it, because researchers are facilitating it, and because medical practitioners and organization leaders are beginning to see the rewards of providing it. But the driving force for change is competition in medical care delivery. Competition is leading to a redefinition of business purpose and quality
Dubious Conceptions: The Politics of Teenage Pregnancy

1. The Problem and Its Human Face 2. Bastardy, Fitness, and the Invention of Adolescence 3. Poverty, Fertility, and the State 4. Constructing an Epidemic 5. Choice and Consequence 6. Why Do They Do It? 7. Teenage Parents and the Future Appendix Notes Selected Bibliography Index
D-2 dopamine receptors in the frontal cortex of rat and human.

D-2 dopamine receptors and serotonin receptors in the frontal cortex of rat and human were labelled with 3H-spiroperidol. The D-2 receptors were then distinguished in 4 ways. Dissociation of spiroperidol was biphasic, indicating two populations of sites. Cinanserin in competition with 3H-spiroperidol exhibited high (75%) and low (25%) affinity sites. Dopamine and LY 141865 in competition with 1.25 nM 3H-spiroperidol exhibited high (20–25%) and low (80-75%) affinity sites in the absence of cinanserin, while in the presence of 300 nM cinanserin only the high affinity sites remained. Lesioning of the dopaminergic meso-cortical path-way increased the number of cinanserin-resistant sites by 26%. Thus 3H-spiroperidol binding in the presence of cinanserin can be used to selectively label D-2 receptors in the frontal cortex.
Next Steps in Alzheimers Disease Research: Interaction between Epidemiology and Basic Science

Epidemiologic studies have provided important clues about the etiology, prognosis and options for prevention and treatment of AD, and sub-clinical changes in cognition and brain structure. A brief review is given of what we have learned from epidemiologic studies of risk factors and natural history. This is followed by a discussion of how these findings could inform the design of basic research strategies that may further the translation of bench science to the clinic and public health arena.
Prostaglandin E2-mediated regulation of immunoglobulin G2 via interferon gamma.

Background: Patients with localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP) produce elevated levels of IgG2 both in vivo and in vitro. Responses to the periodontitis-associated pathogens Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis are dominated by IgG2, and these IgG2 responses are associated with reduced extent and severity of disease. Little is known about regulation of the IgG2 subclass, although prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (a mediator known to polarize responses toward Th-2) and interferon (IFN)-γ (a Th-1 mediator) both promote IgG2 production. This unusual relationship prompted the hypothesis that, in certain circumstances, PGE2 enhances rather than inhibits IFN-γ production. Methods: To test this hypothesis, indomethacin (IND)-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBL) cultures from healthy volunteers were stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and the cultures were manipulated by adding PGE2, rIFN-γ, rIL-1α, rIL-1β, rIL-6, or rIL-12. Production of IgG1, IgG2, IFN-γ, and PGE2 was monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Indomethacin treatment inhibited IgG1 and IgG2 production, and PGE2 restored both immunoglobulins in PWMstimulated cultures. Remarkably, addition of IFN-γ also restored IND-suppressed IgG2 but not IgG1. In contrast, addition of rIL (interleukin)-1α, rIL-1β, rIL-6, or rIL-12 did not restore IgG2 responses. Furthermore, IND suppressed IFN-γ production and PGE2 increased IFN-γ levels. Kinetic studies indicate that PGE2 production occurred on the first day of culture, followed by IFN-γ two days later. Conclusions: These findings support the concept that in certain circumstances, PGE2 production can lead to increased IFN-γ and that this IFN-γ selectively promotes IgG2 responses. These data suggest that the elevated PGE2 observed in LAgP patients may contribute to increased IFN-γ production and help explain elevated IgG2 responses. J Periodontol 2003;74:771-779.
Template-assisted three-dimensional nanolithography via geometrically irreversible processing

An innovative and versatile nanofabrication technique based on template assisted three-dimensional (3D) nanolithography is presented that takes advantage of the irreversibility of conformal growth and conformal etching at locations with negative surface curvatures in 3D templates. Using colloidal crystals as templates, nanoring particles are generated with quantity much higher than conventional methods. Relying on the same principle, metallodielectric photonic crystals with discrete metal elements are fabricated that show strong absorption in the near-IR and transmission at longer wavelengths.
A Single Amidotransferase Forms Asparaginyl-tRNA and Glutaminyl-tRNA in Chlamydia trachomatis

Abstract Aminoacyl-tRNA is generally formed by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, a family of 20 enzymes essential for accurate protein synthesis. However, most bacteria generate one of the two amide aminoacyl-tRNAs, Asn-tRNA or Gln-tRNA, by transamidation of mischarged Asp-tRNAAsn or Glu-tRNAGlncatalyzed by a heterotrimeric amidotransferase (encoded by thegatA, gatB, and gatC genes). TheChlamydia trachomatis genome sequence reveals genes for 18 synthetases, whereas those for asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase are absent. Yet the genome harbors threegat genes in an operon-like arrangement (gatCAB). We reasoned that Chlamydia uses thegatCAB-encoded amidotransferase to generate both Asn-tRNA and Gln-tRNA. C. trachomatis aspartyl-tRNA synthetase and glutamyl-tRNA synthetase were shown to be non-discriminating synthetases that form the misacylated tRNAAsn and tRNAGln species. A preparation of pure heterotrimeric recombinant C. trachomatis amidotransferase converted Asp-tRNAAsn and Glu-tRNAGln into Asn-tRNA and Gln-tRNA, respectively. The enzyme used glutamine, asparagine, or ammonia as amide donors in the presence of either ATP or GTP. These results suggest that C. trachomatis employs the dual specificity gatCAB-encoded amidotransferase and 18 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to create the complete set of 20 aminoacyl-tRNAs.
Phase Studies of Model Biomembranes: Complex Behavior of DSPC/DOPC/Cholesterol

Abstract We have undertaken a series of experiments to examine the behavior of individual components of cell membranes. Here we report an initial stage of these experiments, in which the properties of a chemically simple lipid mixture are carefully mapped onto a phase diagram. Four different experimental methods were used to establish the phase behavior of the 3-component mixture DSPC/DOPC/chol: (1) confocal fluorescence microscopy observation of giant unilamellar vesicles, GUVs; (2) FRET from perylene to C20:0-DiI; (3) fluorescence of dilute dyes C18:2-DiO and C20:0-DiI; and (4) wide angle X-ray diffraction. This particular 3-component mixture was chosen, in part, for a high level of immiscibility of the components in order to facilitate solving the phase behavior at all compositions. At 23 °C, a large fraction of the possible compositions for this mixture give rise to a solid phase. A region of 3-phase coexistence of {Lα + Lβ + Lo} was detected and defined based on a combination of fluorescence microscopy of GUVs, FRET, and dilute C20:0-DiI fluorescence. At very low cholesterol concentrations, the solid phase is the tilted-chain phase Lβ′. Most of the phase boundaries have been determined to be within a few percent of the composition. Measurements of the perturbations of the boundaries of this accurate phase diagram could serve as a means to understand the behaviors of a range of added lipids and proteins.
Estimation of suspension of alkaline material by dust devils in the United States.

Abstract Estimates are made of the contribution of dust devils to the aerosol mass burden over the U.S. These estimates have been derived from experimental data generalized by using climatic and vegetation maps of the U.S. The area of maximum calculated dust production by dust devils in the southwestern U.S. Comparison of our calculated fluxes with background aerosol data shows general agreement. Comparison of alkaline dust emissions from wind erosion shows that dust devils provide a similar magnitude input of atmospheric dust.
On generalized twisted cubes

Abstract We briefly survey some of the results on twisted cubes which have been published in the last decade. We point out that a number of n-dimensional twisted cubes with diameter about n 2 are known. These twisted cubes are better than the recent ⌈ 2n 3 ⌉ diameter twisted cube given by F. Chedid and R. Chedid (1993). We discuss embedding other networks within twisted cubes and point out an error in one supposed embedding given by Chedid and Chedid.
Performance of high-power gas-flow spark gaps

Results of an experimental investigation of the performance of repetitively pulsed gas-flow spark gaps are presented. Interelectrode gas-flow velocity and turbulence levels have been documented using pitot and hot-wire probes while transient arc debris behavior has been studied using schlieren optical techniques. Typical electrical recovery curves are presented at various gas velocities. Analysis of the recovery, flow, and optical diagnostic data has led to the development of a simple model for the recovery of a spark gap with gas flow.
Secondary grain boundary dislocations in [001] twist boundaries in MgO II. Extrinsic structures

Extrinsic secondary grain boundary dislocation (GBD) structures were observed by weak beam transmission electron microscopy in a variety of (001) twist boundaries in MgO. These structures were derived from segments of lattice dislocations embedded in the boundaries and could be interpreted as the result of the decomposition of the lattice dislocations into extrinsic GBDs and the subsequent interaction of the product GBDs with the intrinsic boundary structure. The results demonstrate that lattice dislocations in MgO are attracted to grain boundaries over a wide range of conditions and tend to remain embedded in the boundaries as extrinsic GBD structures.
Linguistic meaning related differences in evoked potential topography: English, Swiss-German, and imagined

Abstract Functionally different neural populations for processing different categories of word meaning are suggested by the topography of event-related EEG scale-field distributions. Noun and verb meanings of English and Swiss-German homophones produced differences in anterior-posterior topography during the first 300 to 350 msec of the response. Similar results were found for a degraded-speech stimulus when subjects imagined noun and verb meanings. Anterior—posterior scalp-field differences appeared both in an analysis of the positions of field maximal and minimal values; and in principal component analysis of ERPs.
Antimicrobial Activity of Cefmenoxime Compared with Those of Other Cephalosporins

The antimicrobial activity of cefmenoxime was compared with those of cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cephalothin, and moxalactam. In general, the activity of cefmenoxime was equivalent to those of the other cephalosporins. Cefmenoxime appears to be a potent antimicrobial agent against most gram-negative microorganisms other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp.
On the formation of chromosomal aberrations

Abstract The exchange hypothesis and the breakage-first hypothesis are the 2 major hypotheses that describe how chromosomal aberrations might be produced. A critical test has shown that one important aspect of the exchange hypothesis is correct, namely that some aberrations that appear to be simple chromatid deletions are actually incomplete exchanges. Furthermore, the relative frequency of those deletions that could be positively identified as incomplete exchanges was very close to that predicted from the exchange hypothesis. Because the sample was small and because a mixture of 2 deletion types (true, non-exchange, deletionsand incomplete exchanges between sister chromatids) could have given the same results, further experiments were performed. The results show that chromatid deletions are indeed of 2 types, since the relative proportion of exchange deletions is not the same in Chinese hamster cells as in rat kangaroo cells, nor is it the same in S and in G2 of Chinese hamster cells. Thus, some chromatid deletions are simple deletions arising from single lesions as expected on the basis of the breakage-first hypothesis and others are incomplete exchanges between sister chromatids as expected on the exchange hypothesis. It is clear, then, that neither hypothesis, as usually interpreted, is entirely correct nor incorrect, but rather that deletions are of 2 types according to mode of origin. Attempts to identify the 2 types morphologically have failed. The data also suggest that some of the chromosomal changes that we and others have considered to be gaps, are actually true deletions. This is important because many of the changes produced by chemicals in cultured mammalian cells are of this type.
Teaching as Prophecy

AbstractIn North America and the United Kingdom, there has been a spate of calls recently for performance or outcomes-based teacher education. The authors argue that although there is a place for technical skills in teacher education, making them the centerpiece of teaching and teacher education overlooks, and even does violence to, the deeper motivations and calling that prompt so many people to become teachers and that also shape not only what they choose to teach but also how they choose to teach it. The authors challenge narrowly technical views of teaching by drawing on images of teaching as prophecy and teachers as prophets.Prophesy: in its root meaning, the calling of a people, via criticism and affirmation, to their noblest traditions and aspirations. Prophesy, I would submit, is the essential public function of the educator in a democratic society. (Cremin, 1976, p. 77)
Evaluation of multiple-atlas-based strategies for segmentation of the thyroid gland in head and neck CT images for IMRT

Segmenting the thyroid gland in head and neck CT images is of vital clinical significance in designing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment plans. In this work, we evaluate and compare several multiple-atlas-based methods to segment this structure. Using the most robust method, we generate automatic segmentations for the thyroid gland and study their clinical applicability. The various methods we evaluate range from selecting a single atlas based on one of three similarity measures, to combining the segmentation results obtained with several atlases and weighting their contribution using techniques including a simple majority vote rule, a technique called STAPLE that is widely used in the medical imaging literature, and the similarity between the atlas and the volume to be segmented. We show that the best results are obtained when several atlases are combined and their contributions are weighted with a measure of similarity between each atlas and the volume to be segmented. We also show that with our data set, STAPLE does not always lead to the best results. Automatic segmentations generated by the combination method using the correlation coefficient (CC) between the deformed atlas and the patient volume, which is the most accurate and robust method we evaluated, are presented to a physician as 2D contours and modified to meet clinical requirements. It is shown that about 40% of the contours of the left thyroid and about 42% of the right thyroid can be used directly. An additional 21% on the left and 24% on the right require only minimal modification. The amount and the location of the modifications are qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. We demonstrate that, although challenged by large inter-subject anatomical discrepancy, atlas-based segmentation of the thyroid gland in IMRT CT images is feasible by involving multiple atlases. The results show that a weighted combination of segmentations by atlases using the CC as the similarity measure slightly outperforms standard combination methods, e.g. the majority vote rule and STAPLE, as well as methods selecting a single most similar atlas. The results we have obtained suggest that using our contours as initial contours to be edited has clinical value.