cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in Cognitive Task Performance, Reinforcement Enhancement, and Nicotine Dependence Between Menthol and Nonmenthol Cigarette Smokers.

INTRODUCTION Menthol has been shown to target similar brain regions and neural receptors as nicotine, yet the association between menthol cigarette use and cognitive performance remains unknown. AIMS AND METHODS This study examined differences in cognitive task performance between menthol (MS) and nonmenthol (NMS) cigarette smokers after acute cigarette consumption. Sixty white and black and/or African American, nonabstinent, MS (n = 30) and NMS (n = 30) were assessed presmoking and postsmoking their preferred cigarette on four computerized tasks: Continuous Performance Task (CPT; alerting attention), N-Back Task (working memory), Finger Tapping Task (motor control), and Apple Picker Task (reinforcement enhancement). Self-reported nicotine dependence and objective smoking topography measures were also compared between groups. RESULTS Initial unadjusted analyses showed a significant effect of cigarette type × time on CPT speed (p = .042), where MS improved while NMS group worsened in CPT speed after smoking. After controlling for baseline cigarette craving and cigarette nicotine levels, the effect of cigarette type × time for all cognitive outcomes was statistically nonsignificant (ps > .05). However, there remained a significant effect of cigarette type, where MS versus NMS had poorer CPT (p = .046) and N-Back Task accuracy (p = .006) but faster N-Back speed (p = .039). There were no statistically significant differences between groups on reinforcement enhancement, nicotine dependence, or smoking behavior outcomes (ps > .05). CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our hypotheses, results did not find a significant effect of cigarette type on the change in cognitive performance after acute smoking in nonabstinent smokers. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific pharmacological effects of nicotine and menthol on cognitive functioning. IMPLICATIONS The current study is the first to compare the potential enhancement of cognitive task performance after acute cigarette smoking between satiated menthol and nonmenthol cigarette smokers. Study results suggest that acute menthol cigarette use may not enhance cognitive function above and beyond nonmenthol cigarettes to increase dependence among menthol smokers. However, the contribution of other psychological factors (eg, craving, mood) and cigarette characteristics (eg, nicotine content) may be involved in cognitive function enhancement to perpetuate dependence and smoking persistence for menthol smokers.
Europeanisation of EU Consumer Law and Its Impact on European Consumers

European consumers are increasingly exposed to procedural mechanisms deriving from the EU. They are affected by two proceduralisation phenomena: generic developments within the policy of judicial cooperation in civil matters, and sectoral proceduralisation, which is the main focus of this special issue – the proceduralisation of consumer law. While the paper briefly presents the first phenomenon and acknowledges its importance for consumers, it places much more emphasis on sectoral proceduralisation, reviewing legislative instruments and the procedural rules they introduce. It argues that, although limited to only a single area of substantive law, this kind of proceduralisation has the potential to affect consumers more significantly than the generic procedural mechanisms. However, this paper concludes that the European Union is in the early stages of the proceduralisation of consumer law. While it is yet to be seen how some of the latest procedural measures will affect consumers.
Comparative Effects of Physical Exercise and Other Behavioral Interventions on Functional Status Outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Objectives Lifestyle modifications for those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may promote functional stability, lesson disease severity, and improve well-being outcomes such as quality of life. The current analysis of our larger comparative effectiveness study evaluated which specific combinations of lifestyle modifications offered as part of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Action to Benefit Independence in Thinking (HABIT) program contributed to the least functional decline in people with MCI (pwMCI) over 18 months. Methods We undertook to compare evidence-based interventions with one another rather than to a no-treatment control group. The interventions were five behavioral treatments: computerized cognitive training (CCT), yoga, Memory Support System (MSS) training, peer support group (SG), and wellness education (WE), each delivered to both pwMCI and care partners, in a group-based program. To compare interventions, we randomly withheld one of the five HABIT® interventions in each of the group sessions. We conducted 24 group sessions with between 8 and 20 pwMCI-partner dyads in a session. Results Withholding yoga led to the greatest declines in functional ability as measured by the Functional Activities Questionnaire and Clinical Dementia Rating. In addition, memory compensation (calendar) training and cognitive exercise appeared to have associations (moderate effect sizes) with better functional outcomes. Withholding SG or WE appeared to have little effect on functioning at 18 months. Conclusions Overall, these results add to the growing literature that physical exercise can play a significant and lasting role in modifying outcomes in a host of medical conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases.
The Effect of Conflict on Healthcare Workers in Syria: Results of a Qualitative Survey

Abstract The purpose of this study is to understand how the conflict in Syria, having devasted the healthcare system, has affected Syrian healthcare workers (Joseph et al. 2016). We provide a secondary analysis of a summer 2019 survey Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) conducted with 82 Syrian healthcare workers living in neighbouring countries as well as in northeast and northwest Syria. Our descriptive analysis found that 48 participants reported an average of 16.52 hours of work per day, and 40 participants reported caring for an average of 43 patients per day while working in Syria during the conflict. Sixty-eight participants reported facing barriers to perform their work, and 59 participants reported facing risks as a medical professional. Seventy-one participants experienced traumatic events during their work as a medical professional, and 70 participants experienced stress in the month prior to being interviewed. This analysis illustrates the negative effect an armed conflict has on healthcare workers through disruptions in their workload, training and resources, barriers and risks faced, and mental health and security issues. The study indicates that these factors require long-term consideration in order to protect healthcare workers and improve the health system.
Enzyme Immobilization in Porous Supports

Enzyme immobilization on the internal surfaces of porous insoluble materials provides high volumetric activity and minimal diffusional resistance for substrates and products. Preparation of these biocatalysts requires impregnation of the support with enzyme, a complex transient diffusion-surface attachment process. The influences of enzyme and support properties and immobilization conditions on enzyme loading and on internal distribution of enzymes in the catalyst particles have been studied.
A Person-Situation Interaction Theory of Intelligence in Outline

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the theory of intelligence in outline. It takes intelligence as a first focus, however, because of two centrally important facts; general ability differences strongly predict individual differences in learning from instruction and they also interact frequently with variations in instructional treatment in this prediction. These kinds of interactions are called aptitude-treatment interactions (ATI). The fact that ATI are ubiquitous in education emphasizes the need for a person-situation interaction theory of intelligence. Intelligence has many faces, a characteristic that is usually described as multifaceted. There are clearly multiple levels on which intellectual processes operate. Many theorists posit metacognitive as well as cognitive functions; in the Demetriou-Efklides terminology, these are hypercognitive functions. In addition, the chapter describes intelligence as hierarchical.
Nutritional assessment of the neonate

Nutritional assessment in the neonatal period provides the physician with a chance to ensure a smooth transition of the growth process from the prenatal to the postnatal period. The advantages and disadvantages of various methods of assessing nutritional status in newborn infants at risk for protein energy malnutrition are discussed.
Minimum option prices under decreasing absolute risk aversion

We establish bounds on option prices in an economy where the representative investor has an unknown utility function that is constrained to belong to the family of nonincreasing absolute risk averse functions. For any distribution of terminal consumption, we identify a procedure that establishes the lower bound of option prices. We prove that the lower bound derives from a particular negative exponential utility function. We also identify lower bounds of option prices in a decreasing relative risk averse economy. For this case, we find that the lower bound is determined by a power utility function. Similar to other recent findings, for the latter case, we confirm that under lognormality of consumption, the Black Scholes price is a lower bound. The main advantage of our bounding methodology is that it can be applied to any arbitrary marginal distribution for consumption.
A cannonball star candidate in Canis Minor

Abstract We report on the identification of a cannonball star candidate toward the direction of Canis Minor. The star is called PSS 544-7 and it has been selected as a result of a search in SIMBAD at CDS. With uncorrected colors B − V = 1.58 ± 0.15, V − J = 2.66 ± 0.14, V − KS = 3.38 ± 0.23, J − H = 0.675 ± 0.167, H − KS = 0.046 ± 0.244, J − KS = 0.721 ± 0.219, the object exhibits a significant proper motion, 401 ± 13 mas/yr. Based on the object’s photometry, we conclude that it is likely a M-dwarf with an unusually high velocity perpendicular to the galactic disk. Its photometric parallax yields a distance estimate of 210 ± 60 pc, a tangential velocity of 399 ± 127 km/s and a W-component >350 km/s. If our interpretation is correct, given its location and kinematic signature, the object is a candidate cannonball star ejected by a star cluster.
Information and documentation in chile: Progress report and bibliography 1970-1975

This progress report focuses on contemporary developments in information and documentation in Chile and provides an annotated bibliography of sources published in Spanish between 1974 and 1978. While the 1960s and 1970s saw the emergence of a national information system in Chile, the 1980s will see an improved foundation for old and new document subsystems as well as a closer coordination and faster integration of all types of information into the educational, industrial, and social mainstream of the country.
On the energetics of the solar supergranulation

Thermodynamic arguments demonstrate that kinetic energy dissipation must occur in the convection zone. The dissipation rate depends on the temperature gradient, which is at a minimum in the hydrogen ionization zone. As a result, the kinetic energy dissipation rate per density scale height shows a maximum just below the photosphere and another maximum beneath the ionization zone. It is proposed that intensified convection at these two levels is the explanation for the two distinct phenomena of granulation and supergranulation. The values of the scale heights at these maxima are consistent with the length scales of the granulation and the supergranulation. A moderate amount of a radial diffusion of kinetic energy does not alter this result.
Subjective probability and information retrieval: a review of the psychological literature

The psychological literature on subjective probability estimation is reviewed to determine the feasibility of designing probabilistic information retrieval systems using such estimates. Their use has been considered by some writers, but psychological issues have not been addressed. Research pertinent to probabilistic information retrieval is examined and implications for probabilistic information retrieval are drawn. It is shown that accurate human probability estimation is possible, both in the laboratory and in real world tasks, e.g., in meteorological forecasting; but that it is also a task subject to systematic bias, or inaccuracy. Proposed techniques for debiasing are considered. The highly task‐dependent nature of such estimates is also discussed; two implications are that results from laboratory studies may have limited relevance to real world tasks and that empirical studies specific to the context of information retrieval need to be made. Human probability estimation appears to be a difficult task, but one which can be done well with proper training and use of debiasing techniques. It is premature to say how useful such estimates would be in probabilistic information retrieval, but their use should not yet be ruled out.
Plastics recycling: Economic and institutional issues

Abstract There are two major objectives of this paper. The first is to discuss the quantities of plastic wastes that are candidates for different types of recycling process in the coming decade. The second objective is to discuss the major economic and institutional incentives and barriers faced by different private- and public-sector decision-makers when considering plastics recycling. Projections made by the author indicate that the total quantity of plastic wastes entering a recycling or waste-disposal stream will continue to rise during the coming decade — increasing from an estimated 33 billion pounds in 1984 to about 47 billion pounds in 1995. Postconsumer wastes will grow more rapidly than manufacturing waste and by 1995 should comprise about 92% of the total. While packaging will remain by far the largest single source of plastic wastes, plastics from the construction sector will grow most rapidly in percentage terms. It is argued that technical and economic problems associated with the separation of plastics from other materials and the separation of individual plastic types will limit plastics recycling outside of the municipal waste stream to between 22 and 26% of the total quantity produced. It is further argued that the degree to which the private sector adopts new technologies to recycle this 22–26% will be determined in large part by the economic and institutional incentives and barriers faced by the different groups that must individually or collectively participate in a recycling operation. In most cases, successful operations have been functions of institutional conditions rather than technological fixes. Finally, it is suggested that the public sector's involvement in, and support for, plastics recycling will be a function of the continuing debate about the environmental consequences of plastics disposal versus recycling. While government intervention can be argued for on other grounds — in particular the subsidization of waste disposal — the uncertainty about the environmental implications of plastics disposal, as well as some forms of recycling, will be important in formulating a public response to the issue.
Ethical and Policy Issues in Newborn Screening of Children for Neurologic and Developmental Disorders

Abstract Genetic testing for neurologic and developmental disorders spans the spectrum from universal newborn screening for conditions like phenylketonuria to diagnostic testing for suspected genetic conditions, to predictive genetic testing for childhood-onset conditions. Given that virtually all children in the United States undergo genetic screening in the newborn period, this article focuses on 3 actual case studies of neurologic and developmental disorders that have been included or proposed for inclusion in newborn screening programs: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a neuromuscular disorder), Krabbe disease (a neurodegenerative disorder), and fragile X syndrome (a neurodevelopmental disorder).
Modeling Solid-Fuel Ramjet Combustion

A computer model was developed for the solid-fuel ramjet combustor. The model appears to be a good qualitative tool for examining the effects of combustor geometry and test environment on fuel regression rate, flame pattern, and combustion efficiency. Additional model verification is required.
e-Learning Tools for Computer Science Educators and Students

The high attrition rate for computer science students has generated significant debate as to the cause and possible actions to address the problem. For the introductory courses some departments have switched to new programming languages like Alice or Scratch that are much more visual than traditional languages and are considered easier to learn. Many instructors have also turned to hardware and software technology in search of better ways to inform and motivate their students. Fortunately, computer science educators are in an enviable position. As programmers, they have the means to write software to meet the pedagogical goals of their courses if existing software doesn't fit the bill. As a result, enterprising computer science educators have created software tools to help faculty teach and students learn virtually every topic in computer science. Some of these tools are designed for the physical classroom, others for the online classroom, and others for outside student activity. This article will describe some of these home-grown software tools. I'll also describe how several general tools can be used in a computer science context to enhance the learning opportunities available to students. While the focus is computer science, many tools also apply to other disciplines.
DOES BODY MASS INDEX AFFECT SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADICAL OR PARTIAL CYSTECTOMY FOR BLADDER CANCER

ABSTRACT Purpose: Obesity is estimated to account for up to 20% of all cancer deaths. We evaluated the effect of body mass index (BMI) on survival in patients undergoing radical or partial cystectomy for bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Pathological and medical records on 300 consecutive patients undergoing radical or partial cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer between January 1990 and December 1993 were reviewed. The standard WHO definition of BMI was used, that is normal weight—less than 25 kg/m 2 , overweight—25 to 29.9 kg/m 2 and obesity—30 kg/m 2 or greater. Sufficient data were available on 288 of 300 patients (96%) with cystectomy (radical in 264 and partial in 24) for analysis. Results: The BMI distribution was normal weight in 34% of patients, overweight in 41% and obesity in 25%. Mean followup was 53.4 months (median 39, range 1 to 168). Median overall survival was 43.0 months (95% CI 37.1 to 58.4), while median disease specific survival was 82.5 months (95% CI 50.0 to 127.5). Multivariate analysis revealed that age greater than 65 years, pathological stage, smoking history and soft tissue margin status as significant factors impacting overall survival (p 2 and organ confined disease (p = 0.08). Conclusions: There was no significant association between BMI and overall or disease specific survival, although there may be a trend toward better disease specific survival in normal weight (BMI less than 25kg/m 2 ) patients with organ confined disease (p = 0.08).
Dental anomalies in the gray foxUrocyon cinereoargenteus and the red foxVulpes vulpes

We examined dental anomalies, including oligodonty, polydonty, connation, rotation, and misalignment in 510 gray foxes and 150 red foxes from southern Illinois (USA). Dental anomalies were significantly more common (x2 = 11.5, df = 1,p < 0.001) in gray foxes (n = 177; 34.7% of sample) than red foxes (n = 25; 16.6% of sample), and more common in male than female gray foxes (x2 = 3.88, df = 1,p < 0.05). Polydonty was very uncommon, as expected for species in which the normal dental complement is close to the primitive eutherian number. In both species, the most prevalent anomaly was loss of the last lower molar. Loss of the upper or lower first premolar was also common. Thus, oligodonty almost always involved the smaller anterior (P1 and P1) or posterior (M3) teeth of the dental arcade. Conversely, the large carnassial teeth, with complex occlusal patterns and shearing surfaces, appeared to be highly conserved with only three anomalous individuals (0.4%) among all specimens.
The International Cometary Explorer mission to comet Giacobini-Zinner

The International Cometary Explorer (ICE), scheduled to pass the tail of Comet Giacobini-Zinner on September 11, 1985, was expected to address first-order questions bout the interaction between solar wind and comets. Since ICE was not initially intended for comet studies, it did not have sun-sensitive imaging instruments designed to image the comet nucleus. In effect, ICE was free to pass through the tail of the comet. The ICE spacecraft, a 16-faceted cylindrical drum just over five ft high with a spin axis normal to the ecliptic plane, was designed to encounter the comet at a distance of 0.47 AU from the earth. Scientific instruments on board the spacecraft include: (1) the electron plasma experiment, (2) the vector helium magnetometer, (3) the plasma wave experiment, (4) the radio waves experiment, (5) the plasma ion experiment, (6) the low-energy cosmic ray experiment, and (7) the energetic protons experiment. Targeting error was expected as a result of solar-wind induced plasma tail wagging. Comet interception was planned to be at a distance of 10,000 km from the nucleus.
The primary structure of rat ribosomal protein L35.

Abstract The amino acid sequence of the rat 60S ribosomal subunit protein L35 was deduced from the sequence of nucleotides in a recombinant cDNA and confirmed from the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein. Ribosomal protein L35 has 122 amino acids (the NH2-terminal methionine is removed after translation of the mRNA) and has a molecular weight of 14,412. Hybridization of the cDNA to digests of nuclear DNA suggests that there are 15–17 copies of the L35 gene. The mRNA for the protein is about 570 nucleotides in length. Rat L35 is related to the archaebacterial ribosomal proteins Halobacterium marismortui L33 and Halobacterium halobium L29E; it is also related to Escherichia coli L29 and to other members of the prokaryotic ribosomal protein L29 family. The protein contains a possible internal duplication of 11 residues.
Tectonics of the Laptev Sea and Moma rift systems, northeastern USSR

Abstract Examination of the topography, seismicity, focal mechanisms, and structure of the extension of the Arctic mid-ocean ridge into the Laptev Sea suggests that the present-day features of the upper crust are consistent with an asymmetric, simple shear, extensional system. On a large scale, the topographically high, upper plate side alternates from Severnaya Zemlya and Taimyr Peninsula, across the rift zone to the New Siberian Islands, and then back across to the Kharaulakh Range and the Omoloi River basin. The activity of this system is indicated by moderate-size normal-faulting earthquakes and the extensive development of extensional structural features. A weakly developed axial graben, with a few teleseismic earthquakes, is developed in the eastern Laptev Sea. Further south, a NW-striking Pliocene rift system, commonly known as the Moma rift, extends through the northern Cherskii Range. Although there is a broad zone of elevated heat flow and isolated volcanoes, this system is transpressional at the present time. The zone of major seismicity passes south of the rift system near the Indigirka River and indicates that the rift is not acting as the plate boundary. The Moma rift is also asymmetric, but with the lower plate (southwest) side being topographically higher. The Moma system is inactive along most of its length and only reached an early stage of development before activity ceased.
Latin American development after the debt crisis

Abstract This paper comments critically on the present Latin American debt strategy from the perspective of the internal and external adjustments implied. It then focuses on the inadequacy of foreign capital inflows as a prime constraint on development. A new financing facility, with less rigid conditionality, is proposed, while at the same time recognizing the additional complementary demands on domestic performance.
Stability and folding kinetics of structurally characterized cytochrome c-b562.

The four-helix-bundle protein fold can be constructed from a wide variety of primary amino acid sequences. Proteins with this structure are excellent candidates for investigations of the relationship between folding mechanism and topology. The folding of cytochrome b_(562), a four-helix-bundle heme protein, is hampered by heme dissociation. To overcome this complication, we have engineered a variant of cytochrome b_(562) (cyt c-b_(562)) featuring a c-type linkage between the heme and the polypeptide chain. The replacement of the native cyt b_(562) leader sequence in this protein with that of a c-type cytochrome (cyt c_(556)) led to high yields of fully matured and correctly folded cyt c-b_(562). We have determined the X-ray crystal structure of cyt c-b_(562) at 2.25 A and characterized its physical, chemical, and folding properties. These measurements reveal that the c-type linkage does not perturb the protein fold or reduction potential of the heme group. The covalent attachment of the porphyrin to the polypeptide does, however, produce a substantial change in protein stability and folding kinetics.
Institutional safety certification of a research class IV laser for clinical photodynamic therapy

In preparation for photodynamic therapy clinical trials, a research class IV argon ion-pumped dye laser was modified to allow delivery of laser radiation from the Laser Biology Research Laboratory (LBRL) to a surgical operating room (OR) located one floor below and over 50 meters away. Optical fibers and coaxial cable, protected by flame retardant conduit, were fed from the LBRL to the OR. A remote control box was constructed to allow physician control of the laser output from the OR. A safety-off and output-power control wee included in the control system. Safety issues involved calculations of maximum permissible exposure of OR staff to optical radiation, the classification of the laser output in the OR and dealing with the placement of relatively high-flux carrying optical fiber placed in utility chases. Operational considerations involved the calculation and measurement of optical transmission losses, the procedure for relaying operational status between the OR and laser facility and the necessity of conducting practice runs with the laser and OR staff.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Work to fracture of canine femoral bone.

Abstract The work-to-fracture of canine femoral bone has been measured using the technique of Tattersall and Tappin (1966). The work required to fracture a specimen in three point bending by slow crack propagation through a triangular cross section is obtained from the load-deformation curve. The area of the resulting fracture surface is measured by macrophotographic techniques, and the work-to-fracture is calculated as work per unit area. The values of fracture “toughness” measured in this way ranged from 5.36 × 10 3 J/m 2 to 1.55 × 10 4 J/m 2 in the samples tested with a mean of 9.03 × 10 3 J/m 2 and a standard deviation of 3.27 × 10 3 J/m 2 . The work-to-fracture was found to vary with transverse variation in location in the femoral shaft. Scanning electron microscope photographs of the fracture surfaces indicate that the nature of the failure is similar to that of fiber reinforced composite materials. Samples which failed by catastrophic crack propagation were characterized by smooth fracture surfaces and had larger osteons than those which failed by slow crack propagation.
Nitrogen Molecular Spectra in the Vacuum Ultraviolet

Nitrogen molecular spectra in the region from 900A to 2300A have been photographed with a 10-foot vacuum spectrograph giving a dispersion of 5.5A/mm. Partial rotational quantum analyses have been made for several bands of the $a^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{u}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}}^{+}$ system yielding the constants ${{B}_{0}}^{\ensuremath{'}}=1.632\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002$, ${{B}_{0}}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=1.998\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002$, ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0.021$, ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=0.018$. Many new bands in a nitrogen band system with an origin at 1847A discovered by Hopfield in a condensed discharge in a helium-nitrogen mixture are reported. This system is due to ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{+}$, having the same lower state as that of the first negative system. The r\^ole of the helium is discussed. Birge and Hopfield's ${b}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ progression is found to consist of $Q$ branches only with ${B}^{\ensuremath{'}}=1.147$. Several new ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ ground state progressions among the bands in the 900A-1300A interval are presented.
Statistical treatment of experimental errors in the fission track dating method

The major stochastic elements in the fission track dating method are (i) the number of spontaneous fission tracks (N s ) in a sample, and (ii) the number of induced tracks (N i ) observed when the sample is irradiated with neutrons. The foundations for the statistical uncertainty in these measures are of two kinds: (i) there exists a definite probability of uranium fission by means of natural decay and by neutron activation, and (ii) within a crystal the distribution of uranium is not uniform and perhaps follows something like a Poisson law. In any event, the natural logarithm of the ratio (N s /N i ) is proportional to age. A plausible statistical fission track dating model should, therefore, start by considering the joint distribution of N s and N i . In this paper a joint bivariate normal model is described which allows the rigorous definition of the probability distributions of Ns, N i , the ratio N s /N i , and age itself. A general computer program (FISSION) has been developed to perform all the necessary computations. By accounting for the correlation between N s and N i , the statistical model here ascribes smaller standard errors to N s /N i (and therefore age) than do previous methods. In addition, the error associated with neutron flux is a significant factor in the age relationships and has been incorporated into the model.
Fresh-frozen osteochondral allograft reconstruction of a severely fractured talus. A case report.

Talar fractures constitute <1% of all fractures1 and are associated with a high rate of morbidity due to the limited vascularity of the talus and frequent substantial posttraumatic loss of function. Especially challenging are comminuted talar fractures for which reduction and internal fixation is implausible and a tibiotalar and/or subtalar arthrodesis is performed at the cost of joint mobility and hindfoot anatomy. The use of autologous bone-tissue allografts (from the iliac crest or femoral head) to treat talar neck and body fractures has been reported. However, these allograft procedures have been accompanied by primary fusion of one or more of the seven articular surfaces of the talus, most commonly the talocalcaneal, talonavicular, and talotibial joints, leading to considerable loss of function2-4. The use of whole-bone fresh-frozen allografts in the foot has only been reported for the treatment of bone tumors. Muscolo et al. reported on the use of whole fresh-frozen calcaneal allografts for the treatment of chondrosarcoma and giant-cell tumor of the calcaneus5. We are unaware of any previous reports on the use of bulk allografts as an alternative to subtalar arthrodesis for the treatment of severely comminuted fractures of the talus. In an attempt to minimize loss of function, we reconstructed a severely comminuted talar fracture with use of a portion of a fresh-frozen osteochondral talar allograft. We report our results after twenty-nine months of follow-up. The patient was informed that data concerning this case would be submitted for publication. Afifty-year-old man fell from a height of 16 ft (4.9 m). He complained of pain in the back and in the right ankle. Radiographs demonstrated a comminuted fracture of the posteroinferior aspect of the right talus. The fracture involved the posterior aspect of the talar …
SU-FF-T-290: Measurement of Surface Dose Increase Through Styrofoam And/or Memory Foam Patient Support Systems

Purpose: To investigate the increase of surfacedose due to partial loss of build up after the radiation beam passes through Styrofoam and/or Tempur‐Med® memory foam mattress. Methods: Depth dosemeasurements were performed in water in the build‐up region a) under Styrofoam blocks of varying thicknesses placed on the surface, b) under regions of different densities of the mattress with varying gaps between the surface and the mattress with 6 and 16 MV beams. Surfacedosemeasurements with 6 MV beams were performed with GafChromics film strips and TLDs in a solid water body phantom imitating a prone breast setup, and on 20 consented patients undergoing prone breast treatments. Results: The depth dosemeasurements under Styrofoam showed that the build‐up region of the depth dose curve was shifted towards the surface by 0.03*thickness of the Styrofoam in cm, where 0.03 represents the density of Styrofoam. The phantom measurements, imitating the treatment conditions showed about a twofold increase of the surfacedose when a beam traversed through the mattress and/or the Styrofoam relative to that of air. The superficial depth dose under the mattress showed strong field size dependence, and the buildup loss was almost complete with zero gap, and still significant even with a 5 cm gap. The 16 MV beam, still showed relevant, although diminished surface sparing, and the depth of the maximum dose moved closer to the surface.Conclusion:Dosimetric analyses (both clinical and phantom measurements) showed an approximately twofold increase when using Styrofoam or Tempur‐Med platform. Despite their low density, the long path through the mattress and/or Styrofoam can be equivalent to 0.6 to 1.2 cm of water. The use of 16 MV, however, can provide the necessary skin sparing, and the approximate superficial dose of the 6 MV beam.
Role of antithrombin concentrate in treatment of hereditary antithrombin deficiency. An update.

Antithrombin (AT) functions as a potent natural anticoagulant and serine protease inhibitor that inactivates many enzymes in the coagulation cascade. Antithrombin also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, many of which are mediated by its actions as an anticoagulant. Hereditary AT deficiency is a rare, underrecognised medical condition that is associated with inadequate endogenous anticoagulation thought to result from impaired inhibition of serine protease coagulation factors. Inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, congenital AT deficiency typically reduces functional AT levels to 40–60% of normal. As a result, individuals with hereditary AT deficiency have a ≥50% lifetime risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Specifically, AT deficiency is associated with a three- to seven-fold higher risk of VTE compared with other thrombophilias. Thus, maintaining adequate levels of AT during high-risk periods is an important treatment goal. Long-term anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis is not recommended in asymptomatic patients with AT deficiency because of the increased risk of haemorrhage. However, treatment guidelines recommend short-term thromboprophylaxis in high-risk clinical settings, including surgery, trauma, and management of pregnancy, labour, and delivery. The goal of treatment for patients with hereditary AT deficiency is an initial increase in AT activity to ≥120% of normal levels followed by maintenance of AT activity at ≥80% of normal levels. Plasma-derived AT, heparin, fresh frozen plasma, and human recombinant AT are treatment options for individuals with hereditary AT deficiency. The objective of this review is to discuss hereditary AT deficiency and the role of AT replacement therapy in the treatment of patients with this congenital disorder.
Learning in First-Year Biology: Approaches of Distance and On-Campus Students

This paper aims to extend previous research into learning of tertiary biology, by exploring the learning approaches adopted by two groups of students studying the same first-year biology topic in either on-campus or off-campus “distance” modes. The research involved 302 participants, who responded to a topic-specific version of the Study Process Questionnaire, and in-depth interviews with 16 of these students. Several quantitative analytic techniques, including cluster analysis and Rasch differential item functioning analysis, showed that the younger, on-campus cohort made less use of deep approaches, and more use of surface approaches than the older, off-campus group. At a finer scale, clusters of students within these categories demonstrated different patterns of learning approach. Students’ descriptions of their learning approaches at interview provided richer complementary descriptions of the approach they took to their study in the topic, showing how deep and surface approaches were manifested in the study context. These findings are critically analysed in terms of recent literature questioning the applicability of learning approaches theory in mass education, and their implications for teaching and research in undergraduate biology.
Differences in the protein profiles of cultured and endosymbiotic symbiodinium sp. (pyrrophyta) from the anemone aiptasia pallida (anthozoa)

One- and two-dimensional sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunological analyses were used to visualize differences in polypeptides synthesized by Symbiodinium sp. from the anemone Aiptasia pallida when grown in the cultured and endosymbiotic states (freshly isolated zooxanthellae). Surprisingly, a comparison of proteins in cultured and endosymbiotic Symbiodinium sp. revealed only four major polypeptides with similar isoelectric and molecular mass characteristics. Using monospecific antibodies, we demonstrated differences in specific proteins synthesized by the dinoflagellate in the two different growth states. The dimeric, 14 kDa form of the peripheral membrane peridinin-chlorophyll a binding protein predominates under endosymbiotic conditions, whereas the monomeric, 35 kDa form predominates under the culture conditions used in this study. Antibodies to form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase revealed 62 and 60 kDa forms of this protein in the alga grown as an endosymbiont and in culture, respectively. Differences in the integral membrane peridinin-chlorophyll a-c-binding proteins were also observed. These results demonstrate that there are major changes in the populations of proteins synthesized by Symbiodinium sp. in response to the conditions in hospite. Such changes may reflect a developmental switch that tailors the physiology of the alga to the conditions encountered in the endosymbiotic state. 77 refs., 6 figs.
Regulated phosphorylation of a major UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isozyme by tyrosine kinases dictates endogenous substrate selection for detoxification.

Whereas UDP-glucuronosyltransferase-2B7 is widely distributed in different tissues, it preferentially detoxifies genotoxic 4-OH-estradiol and 4-OH-estrone (4-OHE1) with barely detectable 17β-estradiol (E2) conversion following expression in COS-1 cells. Consistent with the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase requirement for regulated phosphorylation, we discovered that 2B7 requires Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation. Y236F-2B7 and Y438F-2B7 mutants were null and 90% inactive, respectively, when expressed in COS-1. We demonstrated that 2B7 incorporated immunoprecipitable [33P]orthophosphate and that 2B7His, previously expressed in SYF-(Src,Yes,Fyn)−/− cells, was Src-supported or phosphorylated under in vitro conditions. Unexpectedly, 2B7 expressed in SYF−/− and SYF+/− cells metabolized 4-OHE1 at 10- and 3-fold higher rates, respectively, than that expressed in COS-1, and similar analysis showed that E2 metabolism was 16- and 9-fold higher than in COS-1. Because anti-Tyr(P)-438–2B7 detected Tyr(P)-438–2B7 in each cell line, results indicated that unidentified tyrosine kinase(s) (TKs) phosphorylated 2B7 in SYF−/−. 2B7-transfected COS-1 treated with increasing concentrations of the Src-specific inhibitor PP2 down-regulated 4-OHE1 glucuronidation reaching 60% maximum while simultaneously increasing E2 metabolism linearly. This finding indicated that increasing PP2 inhibition of Src allows increasing E2 metabolism caused by 2B7 phosphorylation by unidentified TK(s). Importantly, 2B7 expressed in SYF−/− is more competent at metabolizing E2 in cellulo than 2B7 expressed in COS-1. To confirm Src-controlled 2B7 prevents toxicity, we showed that 2B7-transfected COS-1 efficiently protected against 4-OH-E1-mediated depurination. Finally, our results indicate that Src-dependent phosphorylation of 2B7 allows metabolism of 4-OHE1, but not E2, in COS-1, whereas non-Src-phosphorylated 2B7 metabolizes both chemicals. Importantly, we determined that 2B7 substrate selection is not fixed but varies depending upon the TK(s) that carry out its required phosphorylation.
Nematic-isotropic transition in some lattice models for rigid cores having semiflexible tails: Segmental Lennard-Jones interactions

Two average-environment simple cubic lattice models---a refined model and a simple model, both having site-site (segmental) pair Lennard-Jones (LJ) interactions---for molecules composed of rigid cores having semiflexible tails are presented. The calculated values of the following properties at the nematic-isotropic transition for rigid rods of varying length are compared with relevant experimental data for PAA ($p$-azoxyanisole, or 4,4\ensuremath{'}-dimethoxyazoxybenzene): temperature, core orientational order parameter, nematic density and volume, relative density change, and relative entropy change. The temperature change as a function of volume change at constant order parameter is also discussed. In general, both LJ models give considerably better quantitative agreement with experiment, especially for the temperature and the relative density change, than do the earlier lattice models with hard repulsions, with or without constant segmental pair interaction energies. In most aspects, these LJ models give good quantitative agreement with experiment. These LJ models elucidate the importance of realistic intermolecular potentials, especially the role of soft repulsions, in describing an order-disorder transition between two condensed phases.
Toxicity of Five Therapeutic Compounds on Juvenile Salmonids

Abstract Toxicity levels of therapeutic compounds used in aquaculture may vary depending on fish size and species, water quality, concentration of the compound, and duration of exposure. Two different sizes (2.0 and 10.0 g) of three salmonids (rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, coho salmon O. kisutch, and Chinook salmon O. tshawytscha) were given immersion treatments with formalin, potassium permanganate, copper sulfate, acetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide at different concentrations for 1 h. Mortality curves and doses lethal to 50% (LD50) and 2% (LD2) of test fish within 96 h were developed. Analysis of the data showed significant differences in some toxicity levels based on the size of fish within a given species; small fish often were more tolerant than large fish. Among species, some differences in tolerance were apparent. This study showed that fish size and species can affect toxicity and must be considered when developing treatment regimes for those compounds or when collecting target animal safety ...
Holding an Aristotelian Mirror to Confucian Ethics

It is an honor to be part of this book symposium on YU Jiyuan’s splendid book. The best way of repaying the honor, I believe, is to engage actively and critically with the issues Yu has raised. However, in this essay I will only be able to discuss selected aspects of this extremely rich, ambitious, erudite, and inspiring book. I shall focus on three of its most impressive achievements. The book’s first achievement is that Yu has redefined comparative philosophy by doing it “critically” and “philosophically.” He does it “critically” in the sense that both sides of the comparison are subjected to critical examination; neither is regarded as an unquestioned authority. It is one of the book’s strengths that the author is an Aristotle scholar by training, and the book is as much about Confucians as about Aristotle. In fact, as he has made Confucians seem more Aristotelian, Yu’s Aristotle has taken on some Confucian characteristics. Yu also does comparative philosophy “philosophically” in the sense that he tries to discover whether the two ethical systems are true. Yu thinks that it is not enough to have provided coherent interpretations of Confucian and Aristotle’s ethics; he also wants to know whether each of them is true. In other words, Yu is interested in not only getting the right interpretations of Confucian and Aristotle’s ethics but also whether they have got ethics right. In the end he reaches the conclusion that “neither Aristotle nor the Confucians are completely right or completely wrong” (Yu 2007: 6). Yu’s second achievement is that he has given us coherent interpretations of Confucian and Aristotle’s ethics. The first thing a reader would notice about the book is that Yu’s style of thinking can be characterized in Aristotelian adjectives, such as “systematic,” “meticulous,” “patient,” and “perceptive.” But Yu is also an Aristotelian in a deeper sense: he has mastered Aristotle’s method of “saving the phenomena,” as Dao (2011) 10:359–375 DOI 10.1007/s11712-011-9231-4
Surface Displacement of the 17 May 1993 Eureka Valley, California, Earthquake Observed by SAR Interferometry

Satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry shows that the magnitude 6.1 Eureka Valley earthquake of 17 May 1993 produced an elongated subsidence basin oriented north-northwest, parallel to the trend defined by the aftershock distribution, whereas the source mechanism of the earthquake implies a north-northeast-striking normal fault. The ±3-millimeter accuracy of the radar-observed displacement map over short spatial scales allowed identification of the main surface rupture associated with the event. These observations suggest that the rupture began at depth and propagated diagonally upward and southward on a west-dipping, north-northeast fault plane, reactivating the largest escarpment in the Saline Range.