cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Practitioner Implementation of a Tier 2 First-Grade Mathematics Intervention.

We report on a practitioner implementation of Fusion, a first-grade mathematics intervention. Studies such as this evaluation of a loose implementation under realistic conditions are important to c...
Perceptions of the ethical acceptability of using medical examiner autopsies for research and education: a survey of forensic pathologists.

c Background.—Forensic pathologists face difficult moral questions in their practices each day. Consistent ethical and legal guidelines for autopsy tissue use extending beyond usual clinical and legal imperatives have not been developed in this country. Objective.—To obtain the perceptions of medical examiners regarding the ethical acceptability of autopsy tissue use for research and education. Method.—A written, self-report questionnaire was developed and piloted by a multidisciplinary team at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. All individuals who attended a platform presentation at the National Association of Medical Examiners Annual Meeting in September 1997 were invited to participate. Results.—Ninety-one individuals completed the survey (40% of all conference registrants and approximately 75% of presentation attendees). Sixty-three percent of respondents had encountered an ethical dilemma surrounding autopsy tissue use, and one third reported some professional ethics experience. Perspectives varied greatly concerning the ethical acceptability of using autopsy tissues to demonstrate or practice techniques (eg, intubation, brachial plexus dissection) and of fulfilling requests to supply varying kinds and quantities of tissues for research and education. Most respondents indicated that consent by family members was important in tissue use decisions. Respondents agreed on the importance of basic values in education and research, such as integrity, scientific or educational merit, and formal institutional approval of a project. Characteristics of the decedent did not influence decisions to release tissues, except when the individual had died from a mysterious or very rare illness. Attributes of medical examiners, with the exception of sex, also did not consistently predict responses. Conclusion.—Significant diversity exists in beliefs among medical examiners regarding perceptions of the appropriate use of autopsy tissues for education and research. There is need for further inquiry and dialogue so that enduring policy solutions regarding human tissue use for education and research may be developed. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000;124:1485‐1495)
Acousto-optic shaping of femtosecond pulses directly in the mid-IR

A germanium acousto-optic modulator (Ge AOM) is utilized in high resolution phase and amplitude shaping of IR light between 2 and 18 µm. Shaped waveforms centered at 4.9 µm are demonstrated in both the time and frequency domains. The phase stability of the shaped pulse is measured by cross-correlation with an unshaped mid-IR pulse, indicating that such shaped pulses can be readily incorporated into phase sensitive experiments. This Ge AOM will enable new experiments in 2D IR spectroscopy and coherent control on the ground electronic state.
FATTY ACID AND PHOSPHOLIPID COMPOSITION OF THE CELLULAR SLIME MOLD, DICTYOSTELIUM DISCOIDEUM. THE OCCURRENCE OF PREVIOUSLY UNDESCRIBED FATTY ACIDS.

The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium dticoideum has been extensively studied (1) because of the unique series of morphological transitions that the wild type undergoes. From single, vegetative cells, the organisms pass through complex aggregation, migration, and culmination, leadii finally to spore formation. Sussmenn (2) has produced a number of stable, aggregateless mutants that remain permanently in the vegetative stage as single ameboid cells.’ One of these mutants was used in the present study in order to avoid the complicating factors of morphological transition. Previous investigation of the lipids of Dictyostelium diecoideum and its aggregateless mutant Agg 204 had been limited to the characterisation of a steroid, AZ-stigmasten3&ol, and the demonstration of its biosynthesis from acetate and mevalonate (3). Stigmastenol is produced in large quantities by Dictyostelium disco&&urn and is felt to be related to the activity of the aggregation-inducing factor, acrasin (4). The fatty acids and phosphatides of the cellular slime mold are described in this paper. The fatty acid composition of each of the phosphatides has been determined. Evidence is presented for considerable molecular heterogeneity within several classes of phosphatides. The phosphatides contain an unusually high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids. Of major interest is the presence, in large amounts, of three new dienoic long chain fatty acids whose structures have been established as 5,9-hexadecadienoic acid, 5,9-octadecadienoic acid, and 5,1 l-octadecadienoic acid. Under appropriate conditions of growth, two other new fatty acids, 9-heptadecenoic acid and 5,9-heptadecadienoic acid, normally present in small amounts, can be made to accumulate. Studies of the pathways of biosynthesis of these fatty acids are presented in an accompanying paper (5).
Apocalypse, language, temporality: an alien encounter in Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life”

What kind of event could destabilize, simultaneously, planetary trajectories and existential subjectivities? We argue that an encounter with an alien logic has the power to irrevocably dislodge common sense thinking from conventional spaces that have been molded into representational thought. To invoke such an experience, we draw on specific narrative elements in Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life” as well as its cinematic adaptation, Arrival, to elucidate how subjectivity can become reconstructed, existentially, through language and time in very precise, yet nonlinear ways. Categorically speaking, this essay designates the highly interactive, embodied procedures involved in the production of subjectivity under a rubric of three: apocalypse, a solution to the non-zero-sum game and a planetary event of post-anthropocentric ramifications; language, a new use of symbols in affective and transformational communicativity; and temporality, a remembering of the future and a vision of self-destiny.
Aging out or continuing on? Exploring strategies to prepare marginalized youth for a transition to recovery in adulthood

Objective This study aimed to improve our understanding of how to best assist marginalized youth during their transition to adulthood, and how to provide them services that help them achieve independence within existing public systems of care. Method Using purposive sampling methods, 17 direct service providers and supervisors of a large behavioral health organization participated in individual interviews and focus groups. Results A team of analysts identified eight primary themes: (a) the primacy of consistent and caring relationships with adults; (b) working with youth and family concurrently; (c) the complicated dance of autonomy and independence; (d) engagement of alumni and peers in service delivery; (e) transition navigator: an active not passive approach to becoming an adult; (f) youth as the drivers of treatment and recovery; (g) provider training and resources to address the unique needs of transition-age youth; and (h) broadening the definition of treatment. Conclusions and implications for practice Our findings have important implications for practice, including (a) adapting clinical practice to meet the unique needs of transition-age youth and young adults; (b) engaging and expanding positive support systems; and (c) shifting the mindset of transition-age youth and young adults, their caregivers, and providers from a perspective of "aging out" of the mental health system to a perspective of "continuing on" in the management of their mental health through treatment and rehabilitation as needed as young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
Interaction between NMDA Receptor- and Endocannabinoid-Mediated Modulation of Nociceptive Synapses

Nociceptors, sensory neurons that detect damage or potential damage to the body, are the first stage of communicating noxious stimuli from the periphery to central nervous system (CNS). In this study, long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CNS of the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, was examined, taking advantage of the ability to selectively record from nociceptive synapses in this model organism. High frequency stimulation (HFS) of nociceptors produced a persistent increase in synaptic transmission and this LTP was both NMDA receptor-mediated and synapse-specific. Surprisingly, inhibition of NMDA receptors during HFS “uncovered” a persistent form of depression. This long-term depression (LTD) was mediated by the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) acting on a TRPV (transient receptor potential vanilloid) –like channel. These observations suggest that (1) NMDA receptor mediated LTP is observed in nociceptors across both vertebrate and invertebrate phyla and (2) there may be an interaction between NMDA receptor-mediated and endocannabinoid-mediated forms of synaptic plasticity in nociceptors. Specifically, the NMDA receptor mediated processes may suppress endocannabinoid signaling. Such findings could be significant for understanding cellular mechanisms behind nociceptive sensitization and perhaps their contribution to chronic pain.
Rejoinder to "Statistical inference problems in sequential parallel comparison designs".

In this rejoinder the authors stipulate further for two challenging issues. First, if placebo non-responders are selected simply by their response meeting a threshold, this selection may have miscl...
Military Applications of GaAs Integrated Circuits

Publisher Summary Military applications of GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) differ little in reality from commercial use. The old saying that what is good for the goose is good for the gander applies. The paramount military requirement is to ensure that any given MMIC functional capability is obtained at a substantially earlier date than that achievable by potential adversaries. The price for early availability is usually that of ensuring the accelerated development and prerequisite research. While MMIC benefits of space, weight, and performance are shared by all, they are absolutely necessary for most military systems. The relative applicability of individual MMIC advantages does, however, differ significantly among users. Whereas the requirement for radiation hardness can be important in certain limited commercial applications, it can be a primary requirement in many military applications.
A simple approach to projecting the electoral college

Abstract The following research note examines the utility of a simpler method of projecting the winners of the various states within the United States Electoral College system. While more advanced models may be able to center on state-level presidential winners earlier in an election year, those models, among others, continue to be confounded by states where the lead is small and/or not clear. This research will demonstrate that over the course of the elections from 2000 to 2012, a simple weighted average identifies state winners as well as the more complex models.
The OECD Unified Approach: Nexus, Scope, and Coexisting With DSTs

This article comments on the OECD Secretariat Proposal for a “Unified Approach” under Pillar One, released October 9, 2019. The article focuses on the proposal’s scope, nexus, administration and compliance, proposed “Amount C” and compatibility with unilateral digital service taxes. The article suggests a nexus that does not consider size-limiting worldwide revenue thresholds and offers an alternative de minimis country-specific sale-based proposal. Comments on the OECD proposal were submitted by the author as part of the OECD’s public consultation process in November 2019.
Why do nations produce science and technology in society

One of the interesting questions in the field of social sciences is to explain why nations produce science and technology that generate economic and social change. This paper endeavors to systematize some drivers of science and technology (S&T) of nations. The thesis of this paper is that nations produce science and technology to endorse a social and economic power directed to take advantage of important opportunities or to cope with environmental threats in competitive settings. In particular, science and technology are due to organized social and economic efforts of nations to achieve breakthroughs directed to support interests of institutions and wellbeing of population. In general, the production of science and technology is driven by individuals, which have the natural tendency to seek out novelty and challenges, to explore, to learn and to achieve goals within efficient organizations in line with national interests. Empirical evidence here seems to support the psychosocial determinants of science and technology for nations. Overall, then this paper may form a ground work for development of more sophisticated studies and theoretical frameworks in research fields of the drivers of S&T in society.
Management of an overdose patient

Abstract Overdoses are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Evaluation and treatment of the overdose patient should be systematic and based on excellent supportive care. Attention to the airway, breathing, and circulation status of the patient is paramount. While frequently difficult to obtain, appropriate history regarding the exposure can be crucial and should focus on what, when, and how much. The physical exam should be thorough and focus on signs consistent with toxidromes or other findings that may help determine what the patient overdosed on. Laboratory evaluation can be proved valuable when history and physical exam are limited but should always be correlated with the clinical exam. Symptomatic and supportive care is the initial best treatment for any overdose patient. Decontamination should be considered but not routinely used. Antidotal therapy can be lifesaving in specific exposures. Asymptomatic overdose patients should be observed for at least 6 hours and those that develop symptoms should be admitted to the further treatment and observation.
Neurocognitive Functioning in Pediatric Dialysis

This chapter provides an overview of the available literature examining the effects of renal replacement therapies, particularly dialysis, on the immediate and downstream neurocognitive outcomes in children with end-stage renal disease. Specific goals are to (a) discuss the renal-brain connection, (b) explore potential mechanisms of chronic kidney disease leading to brain dysfunction, (c) summarize known neurocognitive and neurologic findings related to dialysis, and (d) consider possible management strategies for cognitive dysfunction in children affected by ESRD. The available findings indicate the negative impact of dialysis, particularly hemodialysis, on neurocognitive functioning, particularly on intelligence and specific cognitive abilities (e.g., selected executive functions); however, the literature is plagued by small, highly heterogeneous samples, inconsistent neurocognitive measurement, and lack of a consistent protocol with respect to follow-up. The field is ripe for a well-controlled longitudinal study to determine the specific neurocognitive outcomes that are associated with specific forms of dialysis.
Rapid and selective separation of amyloid beta from its stereoisomeric point mutations implicated in neurodegenerative Alzheimer’s disease

Extracellular deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The isomerization and epimerization of Aβ peptides have been linked to the enhanced deposition of Aβ plaques. Therefore, considerable effort has been expended to create effective methods to distinguish such aberrant Aβ peptides from normal Aβ peptides. Herein, we have developed chromatographic retention U-shaped curves to investigate the hydrophobicity of Aβ 1-38, 1-40, 1-42 and fourteen aberrant Aβ 1-42 peptides. Using this information, we developed the first selective and comprehensive method that can easily detect both aberrant and normal Aβ peptides simultaneously using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). We show for the first time that D-Ser modifications to Aβ cause the peptide to be more hydrophilic, as does D-Asp and L/D-iso-Asp.
Early Wildfire Smoke Detection in Videos

Recent advances in unmanned aerial vehicles and camera technology have proven useful for the detection of smoke that emerges above the trees during a forest fire. Automatic detection of smoke in videos is of great interest to Fire department. To date, in most parts of the world, the fire is not detected in its early stage and generally it turns catastrophic. This paper introduces a novel technique that integrates spatial and temporal features in a deep learning framework using semi-supervised spatio-temporal video object segmentation and dense optical flow. However, detecting this smoke in the presence of haze and without the labeled data is difficult. Considering the visibility of haze in the sky, a dark channel pre-processing method is used that reduces the amount of haze in video frames and consequently improves the detection results. Online training is performed on a video at the time of testing that reduces the need for ground-truth data. Tests using the publicly available video datasets show that the proposed algorithms outperform previous work and they are robust across different wildfire-threatened locations.
Design Considerations for a Steerable Needle Robot to Maximize Reachable Lung Volume

Steerable needles that are able to follow curvilinear trajectories and steer around anatomical obstacles are a promising solution for many interventional procedures. In the lung, these needles can be deployed from the tip of a conventional bronchoscope to reach lung lesions for diagnosis. The reach of such a device depends on several design parameters including the bronchoscope diameter, the angle of the piercing device relative to the medial axis of the airway, and the needle’s minimum radius of curvature while steering. Assessing the effect of these parameters on the overall system’s clinical utility is important in informing future design choices and understanding the capabilities and limitations of the system. In this paper, we analyze the effect of various settings for these three robot parameters on the percentage of the lung that the robot can reach. We combine Monte Carlo random sampling of piercing configurations with a Rapidly-exploring Random Trees based steerable needle motion planner in simulated human lung environments to asymptotically accurately estimate the volume of sites in the lung reachable by the robot. We highlight the importance of each parameter on the overall system’s reachable workspace in an effort to motivate future device innovation and highlight design trade-offs.
Expression and selective inhibition of the constitutive and inducible forms of human cyclo-oxygenase

The enzyme cyclo-oxygenase catalyses the oxygenation of arachidonic acid, leading to the formation of prostaglandins. Recently two forms of cyclo-oxygenase have been described: a constitutive (COX-1) enzyme present in most cells and tissues, and an inducible (COX-2) isoenzyme observed in many cells in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. Constitutive and inducible forms of human cyclo-oxygenase (hCOX-1 and hCOX-2) were cloned and expressed in insect cells, utilizing a baculovirus expression system. hCOX-1 had a specific activity of 18.8 mumol of O2/mg with a Km of 13.8 microM for arachidonate and Vmax. of 1500 nmol of O2/nmol of enzyme, whereas hCOX-2 had a specific activity of 12.2 mumol of O2/mg with a Km of 8.7 microM for arachidonate and a Vmax. of 1090 nmol of O2/nmol of enzyme. Indomethacin inhibited both hCOX-1 and hCOX-2, whereas NS-398 and Dup-697 selectively inhibited hCOX-2. Both NS-398 and Dup-697 exhibited time-dependent inactivation of hCOX-2, as did indomethacin on both enzymes. The competitive inhibitor of hCOX-1, mefenamic acid, also displayed competitive inhibition of hCOX-2. These results demonstrate the ability to generate selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which could provide useful improvement therapeutically in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease.
What Process is Due? Reversal of Diagnosis in Veterans Benefits Claims and Procedural Due Process

An increasing number of service members who have been deployed now suffer from "invisible wounds of war" including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Some of those veterans' diagnoses were reversed through nothing but a review by a team of psychologists who never personally met or examined the veterans. This paper examines the general attitude towards PTSD at a particular Army medical center, the PTSD diagnostic criteria, and the reasons for diagnosis reversals. And due process and VA administrative procedures are analysed and applied to diagnosis reversals. Lastly, an additional layer of due process for veterans with PTSD is suggested.
Can software maintenance be taught

It is noted that three arguments have been used as the basis for not developing specific courses in software maintenance. The arguments are worded as follows: maintenance is a direct continuation of software development and should therefore be taught as a proper follow-on to the development task; the real technical change is in developing systems from scratch so the technical challenge of performing maintenance does not require a separate course; and finally, aside from development activities and developing for maintenance there is not sufficient material available to prepare for a course in software maintenance. The author demonstrates that all three assumptions are erroneous and should be discarded. Recommendations are then given on how to teach software maintenance and on what is needed to teach it more effectively. >
Discussion of the Solar UV/Planetary Wave Mechanism

Of all the suggested mechanisms for solar activity influences on climate, the solar UV/planetary wave mechanism has been investigated most carefully in a manner that allows comparison with observations. Some historical background, the observations, and modeling investigations of this mechanism are briefly discussed in this review so that the following more detailed papers can be put into context.
Ludwig Wittgenstein, architect

Ludwig Wittgenstein Paul Engelmann Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein Englemann's design Wittgenstein's Kundmanngasse "Architecture is a gesture" "Simplex sigillum veri". Appendix: the sketchbook notes.
Mutational analysis of the human MAOA gene.

The monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B) are the enzymes primarily responsible for the degradation of amine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Wide variations in activity of these isozymes have been reported in control humans. The MAOA and MAOB genes are located next to each other in the p11.3-11.4 region of the human X chromosome. Our recent documentation of an MAO-A-deficiency state, apparently associated with impulsive aggressive behavior in males, has focused attention on genetic variations in the MAOA gene. In the present study, variations in the coding sequence of the MAOA gene were evaluated by RT-PCR, SSCP, and sequencing of mRNA or genomic DNA in 40 control males with >100-fold variations in MAOA activity, as measured in cultured skin fibroblasts. Remarkable conservation of the coding sequence was found, with only 5 polymorphisms observed. All but one of these were in the third codon position and thus did not alter the deduced amino acid sequence. The one amino acid alteration observed, lys{r_arrow}arg, was neutral and should not affect the structure of the protein. This study demonstrates high conservation of coding sequence in the human MAOA gene in control males, and provides primer sets which can be used to searchmore » genomic DNA for mutations in this gene in males with neuropsychiatric conditions. 47 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.« less
Simultaneous estimation of elasticity for multiple deformable bodies

Material property has great importance in deformable body simulation and medical robotics. The elasticity parameters, such as Young's modulus of the deformable bodies, are important to make realistic animations.
Emergent engineering design: design creativity and optimality inspired by nature

For a long time, engineering design research has been focused on the development of various design theories, methodologies, methods, tools, and procedures. The design methods have been subsequently used by engineers to more efficiently design artifacts. However, as the artifacts have grown in complexity, the need for new methods has become obvious. Also, in a nowadays world, increased competition and globalization require organizations to reexamine traditional product development strategies. Traditional methods focused exclusively on the numerical optimality of produced artifacts, or their manufacturing processes, are no longer adequate. Creativity and innovation of designed artifacts provide organizations not only with a competitive advantage but are, in fact, a matter of their survival. This dissertation addresses this problem by posing and answering the question: “How can one construct an effective method for designing engineering systems that would support development of novel/creative designs and their efficient optimization?” It proposes a new and conceptually coherent design method, called Emergent Engineering Design. The proposed design method is inspired by the fundamental processes occurring in nature, which has arguably created the most fascinating designs known to humankind. All major phases of Emergent Engineering Design are represented by complex systems, including cellular automata and evolutionary algorithms, which have been successfully used to model the processes governing the complex behavior occurring in nature. In order to facilitate the development of the proposed design method, Emergent Engineering Design was implemented in a computer system called Emergent Designer. It is an integrated research and design support tool which applies models of complex systems to represent engineering systems and analyze design processes. Emergent Designer was used to conduct the empirical validation of the proposed design method for two classes of conceptual design problems in structural engineering. The extensive design experiments reported in this dissertation have shown that Emergent Engineering Design not only generates novel design concepts exhibiting remarkable structural shaping patterns but it also efficiently optimizes them.
Evidence for a weakening of tropical surface wind extremes in response to atmospheric warming

[1] The changes of extreme winds and its links with precipitation are assessed over the past two decades using daily satellite observations and climate model simulations. Both observations and models indicate a decrease in the frequency of the strongest wind events and an increase in the frequency of light wind events in response to a warming of the tropical oceans. The heaviest precipitation events are found to be more frequent when the tropical oceans warm, but the surface winds associated with these extreme rainfall events weaken. These results add further evidence to suggest that the atmospheric circulation becomes less energetic as the climate warms. It further suggests that the enhancement of the extreme precipitation events is mainly a result of increasing atmospheric water vapor and occurs despite a weakening of the large-scale circulation, which acts to diminish the mass convergence toward the precipitating zones.
Physicians' and Nurses' Responses to Abuse of the Elderly : A Comparative Study of Two Surveys in Alabama

A survey of Alabama physicians in the fields of internal medicine, family practice and general practice and a survey of nurses in the areas of home health and community health care were conducted in 1987 and 1988 concerning elder abuse and Alabma's thirteen-year-old mandatory reporting/protective services law. The authors found that phyisicans did not understand the law but nurses did. Physicians' attitudes toward the law were ambivalent. Nurses had more negative attitudes toward the law. These attitudes appeared to be based on poor response by authorities to earlier reports.
Expert system tool for broadband cable plant design

A formulation of the cable plant design problem using artificial intelligence and expert system techniques is described. The knowledge of the design engineer is captured in an interactive expert system. Such an expert system has been designed and implemented to provide the network designer with a tool to design the broadband cable plant. The design includes the knowledge representation for the cable plant components and design rules. The system is coded in Turbo PROLOG and executes on an IBM PC. The functional expert system parts include a user interface, inference engine and control, design knowledge base and graphics system. A user can provide an initial problem file or modify an existing one. >
Diversity in post-transcriptional control of neutrophil chemoattractant cytokine gene expression.

Abstract Regulation of neutrophil chemokine gene expression represents an important feature in tissue inflammation. While chemokine gene transcription through the action of NFκB is recognized as an essential component of this process, it is now clear that post-transcriptional mechanisms, particularly the rates of decay of mature cytoplasmic mRNA, provides an essential component of this control. Chemokine and other cytokine mRNA half life is known to be controlled via adenine–uridine rich sequence motifs localized within 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs), the most common of which contains one or more copies of the pentameric AUUUA sequence. In myeloid cells AUUUA sequences confer instability through the action of RNA binding proteins such as tristetraprolin (TTP). The resulting instability can be regulated in response to extra-cellular stimuli including Toll like receptor ligands that signal to control the function of TTP through pathways involving the activation of p38 MAP kinases. Recent findings indicate that substantial mechanistic diversity is operative in non-myeloid cells in response to alternate pro-inflammatory stimuli such as IL-17. These pathways target distinct instability sequences that do not contain the AUUUA pentamer motif, do not signal through p38 MAPK, and function independently of TTP.
Negative magnetoresistance in soft carbons and graphite

Abstract Using equipment of greatly increased sensitivity, the magnetoresistance and its field dependence (down to 20G) were investigated at temperatures of 1.6, 4.2, 77 and 300°K for soft carbons heattreated in the range 1000–3200°C. This work has permitted to specify more clearly the conditions necessary for the appearance of the negative magnetoresistance—this is essentially an effect connected with imperfections and lattice disorder. No negative magnetoresistance is observed in perfect graphite crystals.
Are there roles for observational database studies and structured quantification of expert opinion to answer therapy controversies in transplants

Approaches to determine whether one transplant-related therapy is better than another include: (1) using experimental data, such as those from randomized controlled trials (RCTs); (2) using observational data, such as those from observational databases (ODBs) and (3) using conclusions from the structured quantification of expert opinion based on a consideration of evidence from RCTs, ODBs and other sources. Large RCTs are widely and appropriately regarded as the gold standard of clinical investigation. However, data from large RCTs are rarely available for transplant-related therapy questions. We discuss some of the limitations of RCTs in the transplant setting often including small size and short follow-up. These limitations are only partly solved by meta-analyses of RCTs. Data from high-quality ODBs are not only often useful in this setting but also have limitations. Biases may be difficult or impossible to identify and/or adjust for. However, ODBs have large numbers of diverse subjects receiving diverse therapies and analyses that often give answers more useful to clinicians than RCTs. Side-by-side comparisons suggest analyses from high-quality ODBs often give similar conclusions to meta-analyses of high-quality RCTs. Meta-analyses combining data from RCTs and ODBs are sometimes appropriate. Quantitation of expert opinion, when of high quality, is also useful: experts rarely disagree under precisely defined circumstances and their consensus conclusions are often concordant with results of high-quality RCTs and ODBs. We suggest increased use of ODBs and expert opinion as reliable and effective ways to determine relative efficacies of new therapies in transplant settings.
Stokely Carmichael: Two speeches on black power

Stokely Carmichael attempted to identify primarily with a black audience in the presentation of a Black Power ideology. White liberals responded negatively. Would the response have been different if the mass media had conveyed the full force of Carmichael's rhetoric?
Separation of gallium and actinides in plutonium nuclear materials by extraction chromatography

Analysis of stable gallium in nuclear materials has applications in nuclear fuel characterization and nuclear forensics. The use of positron-emitting gallium isotope 68Ga as a tracer for Ga recoveries for analyses in materials containing actinides was explored. A radiochemical method for the separation of Ga, Pu, U, Th, and Am using commercially-available extraction chromatography resins was developed and evaluated. The method effectively allows precise determination of Ga yield (97 ± 3 %) in the analysis of stable Ga (spike recovery 101 ± 1 %) and radioactive Pu (radiochemical yield, 82 ± 10 %; spike recovery, 96 ± 3 %), while also providing pure elemental fractions of other actinides relevant to materials encountered in the analysis Pu-containing materials.
Correspondence between quantum gauge theories without ghost fields and their covariantly quantized theories with ghost fields

Abstract We give a correspondence formula which equates transition amplitudes in a quantum gauge field theory without ghost fields to those in a quantum theory with the gauge fields covariantly quantized and coupled to ghost fields.
Matrix Treatment of Nuclear Induction

By use of matrix notation, solutions of the Bloch equations may be kept in simple, manageable form even in the case of applied fields that are complicated functions of time. Effects that from the usual standpoint are grossly nonlinear appear as linear relations between matrices, of the same form that one encounters in simple radioactive decay problems. A general property of transients in the case of an arbitrary repetitive applied signal is established, and a formalism is set up in terms of which a large class of special problems may be solved.
Chiral discrimination in electronic energy-transfer processes in solution. Effects of temperature and solution properties on chirality-dependent rate parameters

Abstract Time-resolved chiroptical luminescence (TR-CL) measurements are used to study the kinetics of chilality-dependent excited-state quenching processes in solution. Solution samples contain a racemic mixture of chiral luminophore molecules (L) and a small, optically-resolved concentration of chiral quencher molecules (Q) in an achiral solvent (H 2 O, D 2 O, or an H 2 O-ethylene glycol mixture). The luminophores are excited with a pulse of unpolarized light to create an initially racemic excited-state population of ΔL ∗ and ΛL ∗ enantiomers, and TR-CL measurements are then used to monitor the differential decay kinetics of the ΔL ∗ and ΛL ∗ subpopulations. Observed differences between the ΔL ∗ and ΛL ∗ decay kinetics differential rate processes and efficiencies for ΔL ∗ -Q versus ΛL ∗ -Q quenching actions, and they are diagnostic of chiral discriminatory interactions between the luminophore and quencher molecules. In each of the systems examined here, quenching occurs via electronic energy-transfer processes in transient (ΔL ∗ -Q) and (ΛL ∗ -Q) encounter complexes, and the chiral discriminatory rate parameters reflect the relative stabilities and lifetimes of these complexes as well as their structures and internal (electronic and nuclear) dynamics. Both quenching rates and enantioselectivity are observed to increase with increasing temperature over the temperature ranges represented in this study (253–353 K for H 2 O-ethylene glycol solutions and 273–353 K for H 2 O and D 2 O solutions), and differences between the free-energies of activation for ΔL ∗ -Q versus ΛL ∗ -Q quenching processes increase from ≈ 2.5 to 4.8 kJ/mol over the 273–353 K temperature range. Both the luminophore and quencher molecules examined in this study have three-bladed propeller-like structures with very similar shapes and sizes, and differential steric constraints in (ΔL ∗ -Q) versus (ΛL ∗ -Q) contact pairs are small. However, at room temperature and above, the relative efficiencies of ΔL ∗ -Q versus ΛL ∗ -Q quenching processes differ by factors > 3.2, indicating an extraordinary degree of chiral discrimination in the underlying interaction processes.
Convex sets of doubly stochastic matrices

Abstract Let Ω denote the set of all n by n doubly stochastic matrices and let m be a positive integer. Then the set Ω m = {A ϵ Ω : 0 ⩽ a ij ⩽ 1 m , 1 ⩽ i, j ≤ n} is the convex hull of the matrices in Ω m having exactly m entries equal to 1 m in each row and column and the other entries equal to zero.
The influence of macrocyclic ligand structure on carrier-facilitated cation transport rates and selectivities through liquid membranes

Abstract Rates of transport of the nitrate salts of Li + , Na + , K + , Rb + , Cs + , Ag + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ Sr + , Ba 2+ , and Pb 2+ through stirred bulk chloroform membranes have been determined using a large number of macrocyclic ligand carriers. The effects of various ligand structural features on cation transport rates and on cation transport selectivities have been demonstrated. Among crown ethers and cryptands with cavities no larger than that of 21-crown-7, transport selectivity was observed for those cations which best fit the ligand cavity as long as the complex stability constant did not exceed certain values. Open chain analogs of crown ethers were ineffective as cation carriers. The effects on cation transport rates and' selectivity of substituting sulfur, nitrogen, and pyridine nitrogen for ether oxygen donor atoms in 18-crown-6 were shown. It was found that benzo-substituted analogs of crown ethers gave lower transport rates than cyclohexano substituted or non-substituted crowns. Crown ether—diesters were in general not as effective in transporting cations as were their crown ether analogs. Addition of large aliphatic groups to crown ethers and cryptands, which serve to minimize loss of carrier to the water phases, did not significantly alter transport rates or selectivities. Rates and selectivities of cation transport of several of the synthetic macrocycles rivalled those of the antibiotic valinomycin.
Colorectal Carcinoma Development in Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase-Deficient Mice With Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis

The overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) may play an important role in ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated carcinogenesis. In order to study the role of nitric oxide (NO) in UC-associated colorectal carcinogenesis, the development of colorectal carcinoma was studied using the DSS-induced and iron-enhanced model of chronic UC in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-deficient mice. Female wild-type C57BL/6 (iNOS+/+) and iNOS−/− mice were administered 1% DSS (w/v) through the drinking fluid for 15 DSS cycles and fed twofold iron-enriched diet. Colorectal inflammation and mucosal ulceration of moderate severity were observed in both iNOS+/+ and iNOS−/− mice. Similar tumor incidence and multiplicity in the colon were observed that 15 out of 23 (65.2%) iNOS+/+ mice developed colorectal tumors with a tumor multiplicity of 1.47 ± 0.17 (mean ± SE) after 15 DSS cycles, and 13 out of 19 (68.4%) iNOS−/− mice developed colorectal tumors with a tumor multiplicity of 2.08 ± 0.21. Histopathologically, the tumors were confirmed to be well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. Nitrotyrosine, an indicator of peroxynitrite-caused protein modification, was detectable by immunohistochemistry in inflammatory cells and epithelial cells of the colon in iNOS+/+ and iNOS−/− mice, and no difference in staining intensity was observed between the two groups. Immunostaining for endothelial NOS (eNOS) was observed in lamina propria macrophages and colonic blood vessels, and eNOS protein levels were increased in the inflamed colon. These results show that there is no difference in UC-associated cancer development in iNOS+/+ and iNOS−/− mice, and suggest that in the absence of iNOS, other factors, such as eNOS, may play a role in nitrosative stress and UC-associated carcinogenesis in this model system. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Glass-recrystallization of ferroelectric Pb5Ge3O11

Abstract Thin plate-like crystals of ferroelectric Pb 5 Ge 3−x Si x O 11 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5) were prepared by a glass-recrystallization technique during which the glass was heat-treated at 600 to 720°C. The crystals show preferred orientation with the polar c-axis perpendicular to the sample surface, an ideal geometry for pyroelectric infrared detectors.
The association between cigarette smoking and basal cell carcinoma of the eyelids in women.

Purpose To determine if there is an association between basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid and cigarette smoking. Methods A cross-sectional, retrospective, case-controlled study was done comparing the prevalence of cigarette smoking in 112 patients with biopsy-proven basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid to age and sex-matched controls with other eyelid disorders. Exposure-odds ratios were computed for each group. Results Patients with basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid were no more likely to be smokers than controls (odds ratio [OR] 1.78, not statistically significant at the 95% confidence interval [CI]). When divided by sex however, there was an association between cigarette smoking and basal cell carcinoma in women (OR 2.87, statistically significant at the 95% CI) but not in men (OR 1.30, not statistically significant at the 95% CI). Conclusion Basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid is associated with cigarette smoking in women but not in men.
Mechanism of decarboxylation of 1,3-dimethylorotic acid revisited: Trapping of the reaction intermediate

Abstract The decarboxylation of 1,3-dimethylorotic acid was investigated to study the nature of the reaction intermediate. 6-Benzyl-1,3-dimethyluracil was isolated when the decarboxylation was carried out in benzyl bromide, indicating the involvement of a carbon-6 centered nucleophilic intermediate in the reaction pathway.
Characterization of novel alcohol dehydrogenase of Devosia riboflavina involved in stereoselective reduction of 3-pyrrolidinone derivatives

Optically active N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinols are versatile chiral building blocks. Stereoselective reduction of N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone is an economical and environmentally friend means of synthesizing these compounds. Devosia riboflavina KNK10702 was discovered on screening as a source of a reducing enzyme giving the (R)-form N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol. An NADH-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity through five steps from this microorganism. The relative molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 58,000 on gel filtration and 28,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This enzyme reduced a broad range of carbonyl compounds in addition to N-substituted-3-pyrrolidinones. Some properties of the enzyme are reported herein.
William Dwight Whitney and the Social Dimension of Lexical Diffusion

The paper traces how the American linguist William Dwight Whitney (1827–1894) and his intellectual descendants anticipated, and in part influenced, modern-day discussions of ‘lexical diffusion’, the piecemeal spread of phonological changes both through an individual speaker’s word-inventory and speaker-to-speaker through an entire community. Whitney regarded these two processes as inextricably linked; he also stressed comparison between different speech communities in search of locally distinct diffusionary patterns that challenged the Neogrammarian regularity hypothesis. Recent discussions of these and other aspects of lexical diffusion suggest that comparative-local studies, such as Whitney pioneered, remain essential for working out the explanatory nexus between lexical diffusion’s internally-phonological and social contexts.
Amplified reflection through anisotropic four-wave mixing in BaTiO(3).

We have demonstrated cw non-phase-conjugate amplified reflection in single-crystal BaTiO3 using anisotropic four-wave mixing. We show that the reflected beam is polarized orthogonally to the readout beam and that it is a true reflection of the image beam, not a phase conjugate. The maximum reflectivity measured was approximately 200%.
Fish cough response—a method for evaluating quality of treated complex effluents

Abstract Bluegill sunfish ( Lepomis macrochirus ) showed increases in cough frequency commensurate with effluent concentration when exposed for 24 h to different industrial and municipal effluents. Effluents known to be toxic caused steadily increasing cough rates in the fish as effluent concentration approached acutely toxic levels. Bluegills exposed to three different samples of effluent, collected from the same source over an 8-month period, showed decreased levels of cough rate as the effluent improved in quality. Cough frequency is a rapid and sensitive physiological characteristic for evaluating the quality of industrial and municipal effluents and variation in quality of same-source effluents before discharge into receiving waters.
Pronated Oblique View in Assessing Proximal Scaphoid Articular Cannulated Screw Penetration

Purpose Volar and percutaneous techniques of screw fixation for scaphoid fractures usually do not involve direct visualization of the dorsoproximal scaphoid articular surface. Intra-articular screw penetration may be overlooked if the proper fluoroscopic views are not obtained. The hypothesis of this study is that the pronated oblique fluoroscopic view of the scaphoid is the most sensitive in detecting dorsal articular screw penetration of the scaphoid when compared with other views. Methods A 3.6-mm Steinmann pin was inserted along the central axis of the scaphoid using an open dorsal technique in 10 embalmed cadaver wrists. The pin was then withdrawn from the palmar side until it was flush with the dorsal articular surface of the scaphoid. Five fluoroscopic views of the wrist were then obtained by rotating the forearm, keeping the image beam parallel to the floor: (1) anteroposterior, (2) supinated lateral, (3) pronated lateral, (4) 60° supinated oblique (60° supinated from wrist neutral), and (5) 60° pronated oblique (60° pronated from wrist neutral). The Steinmann pin was then allowed to visually protrude proximally from the articular surface in 0.5-mm increments, and all views were repeated. The view in which articular violation was first observed was recorded, as was the corresponding amount of pin protrusion. Results The pronated oblique was the fluoroscopic view in which articular penetration was first observed in all 10 specimens before it was evident on the other views. The amount of pin penetrating the articular surface before it was detected on the other views was 1 mm in 6 wrists and 2 mm in 4 wrists. Statistical analysis using Fischer's exact test was performed to determine whether the radiographic projection had an effect on the determination of articular penetration. The pronated oblique view was the first view to demonstrate articular penetration, with an average radiographically measured articular penetration of 1.4 mm ± 0.5. Conclusions This study confirms our hypothesis that the pronated oblique view is the most important fluoroscopic image to obtain when evaluating penetration of the proximal scaphoid articular surface.