cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parent/Nurse-Controlled Analgesia Compared with Intravenous PRN Opioids for Postsurgical Pain Management in Children with Developmental Delay: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives The aim of this study was to conduct a randomized, controlled comparison of outcomes associated with parent/nurse-controlled analgesia (PNCA), with and without a basal (background) opioid infusion, with intravenous (IV) opioids intermittently administered by a nurse on an "as needed" basis (IV PRN) for postoperative pain management in children with developmental delay (DD). Methods Participants included children with DD expected to require IV opioids for at least 24 postoperative hours. Patients were randomized to one of three groups: PNCA with a basal infusion, PNCA without a basal infusion, or IV PRN opioids. Demographics, pain scores, opioid consumption, and frequency of side effects were collected beginning 12 hours after emerging from anesthesia to decrease the impact of anesthetic agents on outcomes. Results The 81 participants (median = 12.0, 9.0-15.0 years) were primarily Caucasian (74%) males (58%), with severe DD (69%) having spinal surgery (41%). The proportion of patients in each group with pain scores ≤3 vs ≥ 4 revealed no between-group differences in any epoch (P = 0.09-0.27). Patients in the PNCA with a basal group consumed significantly more opioid (median = 0.03 mg/kg/h morphine equivalents, 0.02-0.03 mg/kg/h) than the PNCA without a basal infusion. No difference was found between the PNCA without a basal (median = 0.01 mg/kg/h morphine equivalents, 0.00-0.02 mg/kg/h) and the PRN groups (median = 0.01 mg/kg/h morphine equivalents, 0.01-0.02 mg/kg/h). There were no statistically significant differences in side effects, with the exception that more children in the PNCA group required supplemental oxygen (P = 0.05). Conclusions Results suggest there may be no advantage to PNCA over PRN opioids in this patient population after the first 12 postoperative hours with regard to pain scores, opioid consumption, or side effects.
Beyond dose: Pulsed antibiotic treatment schedules can maintain individual benefit while reducing resistance

The emergence of treatment-resistant microbes is a key challenge for disease treatment and a leading threat to human health and wellbeing. New drugs are always in development, but microbes regularly and rapidly acquire resistance. We must consider if altering how we administer drugs at the individual level could slow development of resistance. Here we use mathematical models to show that exposing microbes to drug pulses could greatly reduce resistance without increasing individual pathogen load. Our results stem from two key factors: the presence of antibiotics creates a selection pressure for antibiotic resistant microbes, and large populations of bacteria are more likely to harbor drug resistance than small populations. Drug pulsing targets these factors simultaneously. Short duration pulses minimize the time during which there is selection for resistance, and high drug concentrations minimize pathogen abundance. Our work provides a theoretical basis for the design of in vitro and in vivo experiments to test how drug pulsing might reduce the impact of drug resistant infections.
Self-consistent feedback mechanism for the sudden viscous dissipation of finite-Mach-number compressing turbulence.

Previous work [Davidovits and Fisch, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 105004 (2016)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.116.105004] demonstrated that the compression of a turbulent field can lead to a sudden viscous dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and that paper suggested this mechanism could potentially be used to design new fast-ignition schemes for inertial confinement fusion (ICF). We expand on previous work by accounting for finite Mach numbers, rather than relying on a zero-Mach-limit assumption as previously done. The finite-Mach-number formulation is necessary to capture a self-consistent feedback mechanism in which dissipated TKE increases the temperature of the system, which in turn modifies the viscosity and thus the TKE dissipation itself. Direct numerical simulations with a tenth-order accurate Pade scheme were carried out to analyze this self-consistent feedback loop for compressing turbulence. Results show that, for finite Mach numbers, the sudden viscous dissipation of TKE still occurs, for both the solenoidal and dilatational turbulent fields. As the domain is compressed, oscillations in dilatational TKE are encountered due to the highly oscillatory nature of the pressure dilatation. An analysis of the source terms for the internal energy shows that the mechanical-work term dominates the viscous turbulent dissipation. As a result, the effect of the suddenly dissipated TKE on temperature is minimal for the Mach numbers tested. Moreover, an analytical expression is derived that confirms the dissipated TKE does not significantly alter the temperature evolution for low Mach numbers, regardless of compression speed. The self-consistent feedback mechanism is thus quite weak for subsonic turbulence, which could limit its applicability for ICF.
History of development of TNF inhibitors

Advancements in anti-cytokine therapy have been heralded as a new era in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Insights gained from the development of TNF inhibitors have helped pave the way for the development of other anticytokine therapies, which are now in various phases of clinical trials. The success of TNF inhibitors in treating a number of inflammatory illnesses has greatly advanced our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of these diseases, and raised expectations about the potential for longterm abatement and control of diseases such as moderate to severe RA and psoriasis. Because of these advancements, anti-TNF-α therapies are currently being investigated in patients with other chronic conditions, including congestive heart failure, vasculitis, Behcet’s disease, hepatitis, and dermatomyositis.
Investigations of the In Situ Bag Technique and a Comparison of the Fermentation in Heifers, Sheep, Ponies and Rabbits

Fiber fermentation using the in situ bag technique was studied in a hay-fed cow. Entry of fine particles into bags of varying pore size, the effect of sample size, rumen contractions, bag porosity and rumen contraction (bags suspended in vitro or in situ) and obstruction of liquid flow through the bag cloth were investigated (Exp. 1). In Exp. 2 fiber degradation in vitro and in situ with 5- and 37-micron pore size bags was measured utilizing six fistulated heifers (four large: 610 kg and two small: 243 kg), two sheep and two goats (30 kg), three ponies (130 kg) and four rabbits (3.2 kg). Degradation rate (k) and indigestible fiber (B) were determined after curve fitting. Lag of fermentation was also calculated. Results of Exp. 1 showed that plant fiber containing approximately 50% lignin and 2.9% N entered even 20-micron pores, that rumen contractions increased fiber disappearance and that obstructing liquid exchange limited fermentation. Results of Exp. 2 showed lower fiber residues for 37-micron than for 5-micron pore size bags and that in situ method, time and species were highly significant (P less than .0001). All model factors differed significantly among species (P less than .05), but not among the three methods. Lag approached significance for methods (P = .07), but not for species. In situ measurements (37-micron) resulted in the following values for k (h-1), B (%) and lag (h): large heifers .040, 39 and -1; small heifers .025, 39 and 0; sheep-goats .051, 42 and 2; ponies .030, 59 and -5 and rabbits .107, 85 and 3.
Early Cognitive Development: Basic Functions

Representative findings are outlined in support of the hypothesis that infants' sensorimotor activity constructs elementary logico-mathematical cognition (e.g., classes) as well as elementary physical cognition (e.g., causality). Comparisons with linguistic and perceptual development in infancy suggest that sensorimotor activity is a sufficient condition for the origins of logico-mathematical and physical cognition. We conclude with findings on comparative cognitive development of different species and their implications for the evolution of intelligence.
Effect of carbamazepine on spontaneous recurrent seizures recorded from the dentate gyrus in rats with kainate-induced epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE Animal models of chronic epilepsy with spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs) may be useful in the discovery and mechanistic analyses of antiseizure drugs (ASDs). Carbamazepine (CBZ), a widely used ASD with a well-defined mechanism, was analyzed in this proof-of-principle study to determine how a traditional ASD affects the properties of SRSs. METHODS The effects of CBZ on electrographic SRSs recorded from the dentate gyrus were studied in freely behaving rats using a repeated, low-dose kainate model of acquired epilepsy with a repeated-measures, crossover protocol. RESULTS Almost all seizure durations were >20 seconds. Both seizure likelihood and duration appeared to be similar between 1 and 8 hours after individual CBZ injections. CBZ-induced decreases in seizure frequency were not significant at 10 mg/kg; however, at 30 mg/kg, seizure frequency was significantly reduced for convulsive but not nonconvulsive seizures. At 100 mg/kg, CBZ strongly suppressed both convulsive and nonconvulsive seizures. Although CBZ had a dose-dependent effect on seizure frequency, CBZ did not affect seizure duration at any dose. The preceding interictal interval did not affect seizure duration; however, at 30 mg/kg CBZ, nearly all seizures were nonconvulsive when the interictal interval was <30 minutes (ie, during clusters). SIGNIFICANCE Increased doses of CBZ (10-100 mg/kg) suppressed the frequency but not the duration of convulsive and nonconvulsive seizures in the repeated, low-dose kainate model. The repeated-measures, crossover protocol, which requires relatively few animals and compensates for progressive increases in seizure frequency during epileptogenesis after status epilepticus, allowed quantitative analyses of clinically relevant and translatable properties of SRSs.
Prison autobiographical narratives: Making sense of personal and social (racial) transformation:

This article investigates autobiographical public narratives of people who are, and were, incarcerated during different regimes of injustices in the United States—from the civil rights era to the c...
The significance of abdominal radiographs with paucity of gas in pediatric adhesive small bowel obstruction

Abstract Purpose Management of children with adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) is often based on abdominal radiographs (AXR). Our purpose was to determine the significance of paucity of gas on initial AXR. Methods Retrospective, single center review of children with ASBO between 2011 and 2015. Analysis included chi-square, non-parametric tests and multivariate regression. Results Of 207 cases, 99 were operative. Initial AXR showed paucity of gas in 41% and gaseous loops in 59%. Paucity was more common in operative patients (49% vs. 32%, p = 0.01). At operation, 71% of patients with paucity had closed loop or high-grade obstruction, compared to 29% of patients with gaseous loops (p = Conclusion For children with ASBO with paucity of gas on AXR, complicated obstruction (closed loop or high-grade) should be considered. In children with high clinical suspicion of complicated obstruction, additional imaging with CT or SBFT may clarify the clinical picture.
Jewish–Gentile Relations in Hiding during the Holocaust in Sokołów County, Poland (1942–1944)

This article explores the experience of Jews in hiding with gentile Poles during the Holocaust through the geographical lens of one county in eastern Poland, Sokolow, which was situated a few kilom...
MODIFICATIONS OF THE TIP VORTEX STRUCTURE FROM A HOVERING ROTOR USING SPOILERS

Numerical studies of the tip vortex structure from a hovering rotor with and without various spoilers are presented. A general multizone unsteady three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver is developed to determine the flowfield. A scheme that is fifth-order accurate in space and first-order accurate in time is used to improve the capturing of the tip vortex. Velocity data from the core of the vortex is studied at various planes behind the blade trailing edge. Computations of this velocity data for a clean rotor are first compared with experimental results obtained for the same rotor test case. Three different trailing edge spoiler configurations are then investigated to see if the tip vortex structure can be favorably altered.
Ben Jonson's The Alchemist: Shaping Behavior in the Shadow of the Apocalypse

As portrayed in The Alchemist, Ben Jonson's London grappled with the challenges of a burgeoning urban life and its effects on morality and consumption. While using his authorship as lectern was not...
Does it pay to get personal? Examining the prioritization of “telling your story” in film school pedagogy and its implications for minoritized film industry aspirants

Prominent filmmakers frequently direct two success narratives toward Hollywood hopefuls: prioritize “telling your story” or “refining your craft.” However, through reflecting on his experiences in ...
Optimal Dynamic Nonlinear Pricing for Airline Networks

Airlines offer passengers different ways to go from a given origin to a desired destination via complex hub and spoke networks. The prices of itineraries typically violate an intuitive linear additivity property: namely the fare for flying from A to B plus the fare for travelling from B to C equals the fare for traveling from A to C with a layover in B. Despite the increasing use of sophisticated revenue management pricing algorithms, we argue that computational complexity precludes optimal dynamic pricing over an airline's entire route network, forcing them to rely on heuristics to approximate optimal prices of individual flights but ignoring interactions over the network as a whole. We estimate a dynamic structural model of airline pricing with a novel high frequency data set on flight prices and seat availability. We relax the assumption of optimality and resolve classic econometric issues of endogeneity, censoring, and truncation to recover the airline's beliefs on its stochastic demand process. We formulate and solve the optimal dynamic network pricing problem for simple networks and compare revenue and consumer welfare under several different pricing strategies to elucidate the channels through which pricing externalities are transmitted in the network. We apply our approach to calculate counterfactual network-perfect pricing policies for three node sub-networks on the periphery of the route networks for several airlines. We estimate that revenue for these sub-networks could be increased by over 2-10% via the adoption of a network-perfect pricing strategy.
The Magic School Bus dilemma: How fantasy affects children's learning from stories.

Abstract Although children’s books often include fantasy, research suggests that children do not learn as well from fantastical stories as from realistic ones. The current studies investigated whether the type of fantasy matters, in effect testing two possible mechanisms for fantasy’s interference. Across two studies, 110 5-year-olds were read different types of fantastical stories containing a problem and then were asked to solve an analogous problem in a real lab setting. Children who were read a minimally fantastical version of the story, in which the story occurred on another planet “that looked just like Earth,” were no more likely to transfer the solution than children who heard a story that was slightly more fantastical in that the story occurred on another planet and that planet looked different from Earth (e.g., orange grass, a green sky). In contrast, significantly higher rates of learning were observed when the story contained those elements and two physically impossible events (e.g., walking through walls). Furthermore, this improvement was obtained only when the impossible events preceded, and not when they followed, the educational content. Although fantasy may sometimes detract from learning (as other research has shown), these new studies suggest that minimal fantasy does not and that particular types of fantasy may even increase learning. We propose that the mechanism for this may be that a small dose of impossible events induces deeper processing of the subsequent events in the story.
Exiting from Lockdowns: Early Evidence from Reopenings in Europe

European authorities introduced stringent lockdown measures in early 2020 to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. As the first wave of infection curves flattened and the outbreak appeared controlled, most countries started to reopen their economies albeit using diverse strategies. This paper introduces a novel daily database of sectoral reopening measures in Europe during the first-wave and documents that country plans differed significantly in terms of timing, pace, and sequencing of sectoral reopening measures. We then show that reopenings led to a recovery in mobility-a proxy for economic activity-but at the cost of somewhat higher infections. However, the experience with reopening reveals some original dimensions of this trade-off. First, the increase in COVID-19 infections after reopening appears less severe in fatality rates. Second, a given reopening step is associated with a worse reinfection outcome in countries that started reopening earlier on the infection curve or that opened all sectors at a fast pace in a relatively short time. Finally, while opening measures tend to have an amplification effect on subsequent cases when a large fraction of the economy is already open, this effect appears heterogenous across sectors.
Seasoning to Perfection: How to Optimize Anti-TNF Therapy.

Every physician who cares for patients with non-infectious uveitis or other immune-mediated diseases seeks to recommend therapy by finding the optimal balance between likelihood of therapeutic bene...
Role of Essential Oil-Based Mouthwashes in Controlling Gingivitis in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment. A Review of Clinical Trials

Essential oil (EO)-based mouthwashes have been used for oral health maintenance due to their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim was to review clinical trials that assessed the role of EO-based mouthwashes in controlling gingivitis in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment (OT). The Patients, Interventions, Control and Outcome (PICO) format was based on the following: (a) P: Patients undergoing fixed OT (b) Intervention: EO-based mouth-wash; Control: Mouthwashes that did not contain EOs or no mouthwash (d) Outcome: Control of gingivitis measured by clinical indices. Databases were searched manually and electronically up to and including May 2021 using different medical subject subheadings. Data screening and extraction were performed. The risk of bias within randomized controlled trials was assessed using the revised Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool (RoB 2). The Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies—of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used for non-randomized controlled trials. Disagreements related to literature search and RoB evaluations were resolved via discussion. Six clinical studies were included. Four studies showed that Listerine® is effective in controlling gingivitis in patients undergoing fixed OT. One study reported that the use of 5% Fructus mume mouthwash resulted in a significant reduction in gingival bleeding. Two mouthwashes that contained 1% Matricaria chamomilla L. and 0.5% Zingiber officinale were also found to be efficient in controlling gingival bleeding. Four, one and one studies had a low, moderate and high RoB, respectively. In conclusion, EO-based mouthwashes seem to be effective for the management of gingivitis among patients undergoing fixed OT. Further well-designed and power-adjusted clinical trials are needed.
Teaching with a PURPOSE: An NGN approach to clinical instruction and evaluation

Abstract A clinical teaching and evaluation tool was created to improve clinical judgment and diagnostic reasoning for Practical Nursing (PN) and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students in preparation for the Next-Generation National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Implementation of the PURPOSE tool offers a structured approach for nursing students to obtain and retain necessary clinical information in a variety of populations and settings. In addition, the PURPOSE tool provides all levels of faculty a consistent method to contribute to clinical evaluation. Integration of the PURPOSE tool at a large community college in the Southeast resulted in a 100% NCLEX pass rate for new stand-alone program PN graduates.
Governance characteristics of information technology

Regulation through information technologies is growing in importance. Policymakers are addressing societal concerns such as privacy, freedom of speech, and intellectual property protection through the design of information technology. While scholars have noted the power of information technologies, there is little analysis of how people are affected or regulated by information technology. This paper builds upon structuration theory to provide a theoretically informed analysis of how information technologies affect individuals. The paper then examines two governance characteristics that policymakers may use to ensure information technology comports with societal concerns. The characteristics are defaults and standards. For each characteristic, the paper discusses the salient regulatory issues for manipulating them. The results should aid policymakers in manipulating information technologies to address societal concerns.
Are desmosomes more than tethers for intermediate filaments

Desmosomes are intercellular adhesive junctions that anchor intermediate filaments at membrane-associated plaques in adjoining cells, thereby forming a three-dimensional supracellular scaffolding that provides tissues with mechanical strength. But desmosomes have also recently been recognized as sensors that respond to environmental and cellular cues by modulating their assembly state and, possibly, their signalling functions.
Fimbriae and determination of host species specificity of Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Abstract A monoclonal antibody, designated CF8 and prepared against fimbrial protein enrichments of Bordetella bronchiseptica 110H, was determined by immunogold electron microscopy to bind to some but not all fimbrial filaments on intact bacterial cells. Comparison of the reactivity of this antibody with that of monoclonal antibody BPF2, which is specific for Bordetella pertussis serotype 2 fimbriae, indicated that CF8 recognizes an epitope similar to that recognized by BPF2. By Western blot (immunoblot), it was determined that monoclonal antibody CF8 does not react with proteins denatured by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate and beta-mercaptoethanol and by boiling for 5 min but that it does recognize fimbrial proteins in their native, nondenatured state. This antibody was used to compare fimbriae between strains of B. bronchiseptica isolated from different species. Strains from pigs, dogs, guinea pigs, and four other species were compared by an enzyme immunoassay. Strains isolated from pigs were found to express significantly more CF8-reactive and B. pertussis serotype 2 cross-reactive fimbriae than strains isolated from guinea pigs. Strains from dogs were more variable in reactivity than those from pigs or guinea pigs. The reactivity with antifimbrial monoclonal antibody CF8 did not correlate with enzyme electromorphotype but did correlate with the host species, suggesting a role for fimbriae in the determination of host species specificity of B. bronchiseptica.
Silicon photomultiplier integration in the camera of the mid-size Schwarzschild–Couder Cherenkov telescope for CTA

Abstract The design of the focal plane of the mid-size Schwarzschild–Couder telescope for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is described. For the camera under development for the prototype telescope, novel Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPCs) from Hamamatsu with Through Silicon Via (TSV) technology are used. The photon-detectors are integrated into an insulated environment that is actively temperature stabilized to avoid gain and photon detection efficiency fluctuations due to temperature variations.
Accelerator mass spectrometry of10Be to study the fossil record of cosmic radiation

The ultrasensitive accelerator mass spectrometry is applied to measure as few as 106÷107 atoms of10Be, which is present in terrestrial and extraterrestrial matter, and provides a time scale for many terrestrial and solar-system events of the last few million years. Some successful results are presented.
Transcurrent faulting in the ocean floor

Displacements along strike slip faults in the ocean floor are measured by fitting magnetic anomaly patterns. In the northeastern Pacific Ocean the combined left lateral displacement of 1400 km across the Mendocino and the Pioneer faults can now be followed with a few interruptions from 140 to 165 degrees W, or a distance of 2200 km. The western end of the correlatable pattern has not yet been reached. In latitude the pattern stretches between 28 and 41 degrees N, or a distance of 1450 km. Right lateral displacements of 150 and 680 km separated by a disturbed zone have been measured on the Murray fault between 125 and 152 degrees W. The disturbed zone occurs on the south side of the Murray fault. It is characterized by more rugged topography and is bordered by groups of volcanoes at its eastern and western boundaries. Across the faults the bathymetric contours are displaced in the same direction and roughly by the same amount as the magnetic intensity pattern. Fourteen magnetic profiles across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 30 and 6 degrees S show a persistent magnetic anomaly on the crest of the ridge which can be followed from one profile to the next, whereas topographic features lack this continuity. Mapping the position of the crest anomaly suggests that if the ridge was originally continuous, it has now been cut into sections by strike slip faults.
Formation of magnetic nanotubes by the cooperative self-assembly of chiral amphiphilic molecules and Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Single- and double-walled magnetic nanotubes are obtained in a one-step liquid phase reaction by the cooperative self-assembly of chiral amphiphiles and nanoparticles on cooling of heated mixtures of N-dodecanoyl-L-serine and Fe3O4 nanoparticles in toluene. The nanotubes are composed of well-ordered, close-packed nanoparticle assemblies, and can be transformed into chiral magnetic nanostructures, such as helical coils, by subsequent calcination. The nanoparticle assemblies and their variations on calcination are attributed to the collective organization of the surfactant molecules adsorbed on the nanoparticles and the freely dispersed chiral molecules, and the dewetting effects guided by the primitive constitution of the chiral amphiphilic molecular assemblies.
Measurement of velocity and attenuation of shear waves in bovine compact bone using ultrasonic spectroscopy

The ultrasonic spectroscopy (broadband pulse) technique was applied to simultaneously measure phase velocity and attenuation coefficient of shear waves in bovine compact bone at frequencies ranging from 4.0-10.0 MHz. It was found that the ratio of attenuation coefficient of shear waves to that of longitudinal waves at a particular frequency for bovine compact bone was smaller than that of other polymer synthesizing materials. The anisotropy of phase velocity and attenuation coefficient of compact bone was also experimentally examined.
A comparison of pilot Whale drives in Newfoundland and the Faroe Islands

Abstract The long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) is a common cetacean species in the North Atlantic Ocean and has been hunted by humans for food and oil for many centuries. A common hunting method used by pilot whalers has been to initiate a ‘drive’ in which the whales are surrounded by boats and driven onto the shore or into the shallow water, then killed. This method uses the natural herding instinct of the pilot whales to the whalers' advantage and entire pods are often taken at once. These pilot whale drives have historically occurred throughout the inhabited regions of both sides of the North Atlantic but by the mid-twentieth century were only occurring in two locations: the Faroe Islands and Newfoundland. Canada's 1972 ban on commercial whaling put an end to the Newfoundland pilot whale drive, leaving the Faroes as the North Atlantic's lone whale-driving society. After discussing both pilot whale drives, this paper compares the Faroese and Newfoundland whaling communities and examines reaso...
Mechanism(s) of cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity of PGB1 oligomers : PGBx has potent anti-phospholipase A2 and anti-oxidant activity

We postulate that the anti-PLA2 and anti-oxidant activities may account for the broad spectrum protective effects of PGBx that were previously described. These dual properties are demonstrable in vitro, in situ and in vivo, and would have profound effects on stabilization of membrane structure and function, which in turn, would protect organelles, cells, tissues, and organs from inflammation and injury, and possibly alter patterns of aging involving senescence and cell death.
Automatic image cropping for republishing

Image cropping is an important aspect of creating aesthetically pleasing web pages and repurposing content for different web or printed output layouts. Cropping provides both the possibility of improving the composition of the image, and also the ability to change the aspect ratio of the image to suit the layout design needs of different document or web page formats. This paper presents a method for aesthetically cropping images on the basis of their content. Underlying the approach is a novel segmentation-based saliency method which identifies some regions as "distractions", as an alternative to the conventional "foreground" and "background" classifications. Distractions are a particular problem with typical consumer photos found on social networking websites such as FaceBook, Flickr etc. Automatic cropping is achieved by identifying the main subject area of the image and then using an optimization search to expand this to form an aesthetically pleasing crop. Evaluation of aesthetic functions like auto-crop is difficult as there is no single correct solution. A further contribution of this paper is an automated evaluation method which goes some way towards handling the complexity of aesthetic assessment. This allows crop algorithms to be easily evaluated against a large test set.
Yield and nitrogen requirement of no-tillage corn as influenced by cultural practices

Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency in corn (Zea mays L.) production could be improved if farmers adjusted N fertilizer rates for different yield potentials caused by variations in cultural practices. Five studies were conducted in Ohio, three on Hoytville silty clay (fine, illitic, mesic Mollic Ochraqualf) and two on Riddles silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf), to assess the effect of planting date, plant population, N rate, and timing of N application on yield of two corn hybrids grown using no-tillage methods. Increasing plant population increased grain yield in only one of five site-year comparisons, but did not increase the amount of N required to produce maximum yield. Crop yield potential varied depending on site-year, with maximum grain yield indicated by response functions ranging from 5.5 to 11.3 Mg ha −1 for early-planted corn, and 3.0 to 10.1 Mg ha −1 for late-planted corn. Nitrogen rates needed to achieve maximum yield varied from 0 to 205 kg N ha −1 for early-planted corn and from 0 to 175 kg N ha −1 for late-planted corn, depending on site-year. In most site-years, late-planted corn required less N to achieve maximum yield than early-planted corn. The reduction in N requirement averaged 60 kg N ha −1 , and was directly related to the magnitude of the yield reduction associated with delayed planting. Split applications of N generally produced yields equivalent to application of all N at planting. Split application can offer many farmers a way to use lower N rates to compensate for delayed planting
I.S. research of business practices: Many, one or zero academic disciplines?

This paper discusses the identity crisis in the Information Systems (I.S.) academic discipline. It reviews how Kuhn's concepts of paradigm and (normal) science apply to I.S. and argues that I.S.'s scope is too broad and too disconnected from practice. The paper proposes that I.S. become a professional discipline, guided by issues faced by practitioners, e.g., Chief Innovation Officers. I.S. research would center around the management of provisioning, operation and maintenance of I.T. Similar to other professional fields (e.g., medicine), I.S. researchers would be practitioners. The paper concludes with a sample of important research questions for I.S. as a professional discipline.
D-Methionine Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Neurotoxicity in the Hippocampus of the Adult Rat

The hippocampus plays an important role in memory, mood, and spatial navigation. In the dentate gyrus of the adult hippocampus, in the subgranular zone (SGZ), new cells are generated, which differentiate and mature into new neurons. Cisplatin, a highly effective antineoplastic drug with nephrotoxic and ototoxic side effects, induces apoptosis and suppresses neurogenesis in the hippocampus leading to memory impairment. Previous studies have shown that the antioxidant D-methionine protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity suggesting that it might also prevent neurogenesis from being suppressed by cisplatin treatment. To test this hypothesis, rats were treated with cisplatin, D-methionine, cisplatin plus D-methionine, or saline (controls). Seven days after treatment, the rats were sacrificed, and hippocampal sections immunolabeled for doublecortin (DCX) to identify neuronal precursor cells and maturing neurons in the SGZ. Cisplatin significantly reduced the number of DCX-labeled cells (~80 %) relative to controls. In contrast, DCX cell counts in rats treated with D-methionine prior to cisplatin were similar to controls. The treatment with D-methionine alone did not affect the number of DCX cells. These results indicate that D-methionine prevents the dramatic cisplatin-induced decrease of neurogenesis.
Altered thymidylate kinase substrate specificity in mammalian cells selected for resistance to iododeoxyuridine

Abstract A clone of Syrian hamster melanoma cells was selected for resistance to high levels of the thymidine (dT) analog 5-iododeoxyuridine (IdU). Unlike cell lines previously isolated as IdU resistant (IdUr), these IdUr lines had normal levels of thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) activity, grew in HAT medium, and readily incorporated exogenous dT and 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) into DNA. However, these IdUr cells were found to preferentially exclude IdU from their DNA. Analyses of the soluble nucleotide pools of the IdUr cells showed that they were able to take up and phosphorylate exogenous dT as well as the wild-type cells, and both mutant and wild-type cells accumulated dTTP as the major phosphorylated component. In contrast, while the wild-type cells in the presence of exogenous IdU accumulated significant levels of IdUTP (as well as IdUMP), the IdUr cells accumulated only IdUMP. Thus, the mutant cells appear to have a markedly decreased ability to phosphorylate IdU beyond the monophosphate level. Assays of thymidylate kinase (EC 2.7.4.9) activity in extracts of the IdUr cells indicated a marked preference for dTMP as substrate over IdUMP (in comparison to the wild-type enzyme activity). The cell lines described in this study represent a new phenotype arising from selection for resistance to a halogenated dT analog. The resistance appears to involve a change in the substrate specificity of thymidylate kinase, such that the enzyme in the IdUr cells has an enhanced ability to discriminate between very closely related compounds.
Gemcitabine, Oxaliplatin and Bevacizumab in patients with biliary tract cancers

Introduction: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are relatively rare cancers with poor prognosis. There are few effective chemotherapy regimens available for the treatment of metastatic disease and gemcitabine-based combination therapy is frequently utilized. Vascular endothelial growth factor is expressed in the BTCs and is associated with poor prognosis. Bevacizumab, an antiangiogenic antibody, may play a role in the treatment of metastatic BTCs. Presentation: We report the outcomes in six patients with BTCs treated with the combination of gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and bevacizumab (GEMOX-B) at Thomas Jefferson University. Three patients had previously been treated with different chemotherapy regimens. Two patients achieved partial response and four patients had stable disease. One patient was able to undergo curative resection. Progression free survival ranged from 6 to 42 months. Conclusions: GEMOX-B is an active regimen in the treatment of metastatic BTCs and needs to be investigated in a randomized clinical trial.
Functional analysis of chromatin assembled in synthetic nuclei.

Numerous regulatory mechanisms contribute to the control of eukaryotic transcription. These controls are manifested through higher-order protein–DNA structure within the nucleus.In vitroassays have proven extremely useful in deciphering the potential regulatory roles of chromatin and nuclear structure in transcription. Embryonic egg extracts ofXenopuswith their vast maternal stores and rapid cell-cycle oscillations can be exploited to recapitulate multiple layers of nuclear regulation. Incubation of cloned DNA templates inXenopusegg extracts promotes a self-ordered assembly of physiologically spaced nucleosomes and synthetic nuclei structure formation. Interaction of membrane vesicles with chromatin leads to formation of a bilayer nuclear envelope encapsulating the DNA. These synthetic nuclei are functional organelles capable of active protein transport and a single round of semiconservative DNA synthesis. This system can be used to directly test the mechanisms by whichtrans-acting factors promote transcription on nucleosomal DNA, either during chromatin assembly or postassembly or in conjunction with remodeling machinery and/or DNA replication. The functional consequences oftrans-acting factor interaction within synthetic nuclei are determined by a coupledin vitrotranscription analysis. Immobilizing biotin end-labeled DNA templates on paramagnetic streptavidin beads greatly improves the flexibility of the system. The ease of chromatin-assembled template recovery allows the introduction of wash steps, buffer changes, and specific reaction optimization. These methods for reconstituting gene regulatory mechanismsin vitroare an attempt to strike a balance between biochemical accessibility and physiological relevance.
A comparison of three popular test methods for determining the shear modulus of composite materials

Three popular shear tests (the 10 degree off-axis, the plus or minus 45 degree tensile, and the Iosipescu specimen tested in the modified Wyoming fixture) for shear modulus measurement are evaluated for a graphite-epoxy composite material system. A comparison of the shear stress-strain response for each test method is made using conventional strain gage instrumentation and moire interferometry. The uniformity and purity of the strain fields in the test sections of the specimens are discussed, and the shear responses obtained from each test technique are presented and compared. For accurate measurement of shear modulus, the 90 degree Iosipescu specimen is recommended.
Library Homepage Design at Medium-Sized Institutions

This study sought to describe and analyze the homepages of academic library Web sites at 313 medium-sized bachelor's and master's general institutions. The authors evaluated an unprecedented number of library homepages for the presence of 118 design elements and reported common and uncommon design practices at these libraries. They found 21 elements present on at least half the homepages studied. Seven of these occurred on at least 80 percent of the pages studied: links to the university homepage, library hours, images, portals by subject or links to subject guides, links to interlibrary loan services, “about” sections, and catalog searches. This study serves as a baseline for the current practices of homepage design for a large population of libraries. The results of this survey indicate trends and common design elements for library Web site design and show which elements Web designers and librarians at medium-sized libraries should consider including on their Web pages. Findings are compared with a simi...
Treatment of orbital pseudotumor (idiopathic orbital inflammation) by radiation therapy

Abstract Orbital pseudotumor is a non-specific inflammatory condition which clinically may simulate a neoplasm. This report describes the Stanford University Medical Center experience with orbital radiotherapy in the treatment of five patients with orbital pseudotumor, three with bilateral involvement, two with unilateral lesions. Four patients with computed tomography (CT) scans had characteristic findings of pseudotumor; four had the diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. There was no evidence of an alternative diagnosis or systemic disease in any of the patients. Therapy consisted of 2000 rad of fractionated radiotherapy over 10 days with a 4 MeV linear accelerator. Each patient experienced dramatic and rapid improvement in symptoms and signs. Exophthalmometric measurements improved by 8, 8, 6, and 5 millimeters respectively in those with proptosis. There has been no recurrence after a mean follow up of 30 months and no complications of treatment. Orbital radiotherapy may be a preferable alternative to surgical or corticosteroid treatment for pseudotumor. Because of the variability in presentation, radiotherapy must be individualized so that orbital lesions are treated effectively while adjacent normal structures are shielded.
Effects of Chlorophenols and Nitrophenols on the Kinetics of Propionate Degradation in Sulfate-Reducing Anaerobic Systems

The ability of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to effectively degrade several substituted and non-substituted aromatic and aliphatic compounds offers a promising alternative for the treatment of su...
Measurements of the Directional Spectra of Shallow Water Waves Using the Maximum Entropy Principle and a Single Ocean Bottom Seismometer

Abstract A new method for measurement of the directional spectra of surface gravity (water) waves is presented here. Measurements are made at a single point by orthogonally mounted seismometers buried 0.5 meters below the seabed surface and a pressure sensor resting on the seafloor. The maximum entropy principle, which uses entropy as an index of uncertainty in the directional distribution, is used to find the directional distribution function for the waves traveling through the sediments as measured by the seismometers. This function is combined with the frequency spectra of the ocean surface waves to form the directional spectra of the surface gravity waves. Single point measurements are advantageous due to the relative case of implementation and expense compared to arrays, as well as for measurement of non-uniform wave fields. Due to attenuation of shorter wavelengths with depth, this procedure is limited to shallow or intermediate depths. Field data was collected on the New Jersey Shelf and the result...
1,2-Dichlorobenzene-mediated hepatocellular oxidative stress in Fischer-344 and Sprague-Dawley rats.

1,2-Dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) is a potent hepatotoxicant in male Fischer 344 (F-344) rats but not in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. While Kupffer cell-dependent oxidative stress plays a role in the progression of 1,2-DCB-mediated liver injury, we hypothesize that initiation of liver injury is due to oxidative events within the hepatocyte. This study compared hepatocellular oxidative stress marked by glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and glutathione (GSH) production in either bile, liver, or isolated hepatocytes of F-344 and SD rats following 1,2-DCB administration. Hepatic GSH concentrations were depleted at a greater rate in F-344 than in SD rats within 12 h of 1,2-DCB administration (3.6 mmol/kg ip). In bile, GSSG concentrations were threefold greater in F-344 rats compared to SD rats by 9 h of 1,2-DCB treatment. Moreover, 1-aminobenzotriazole but not gadolinium chloride pretreatment blocked the rise in biliary GSSG concentrations following 1,2-DCB administration. In in vitro studies, isolated hepatocytes of F-344 rats had a 15% increase in cellular GSSG concentrations following 1 h of 1,2-DCB (3.55 nmol) exposure, while GSH decreased 22% by 6.5 h compared to controls. In contrast, isolated SD hepatocytes exposed to 1,2-DCB had no increase in GSSG and only an 8% reduction in GSH. Furthermore, parameters of lipid peroxidation were increased in F-344 rats and not in SD rats. Collectively, these data suggest that hepatocellular oxidative stress is dependent upon bioactivation and the enhanced oxidative stress in the F-344 rat may explain its susceptibility to 1,2-DCB compared to the SD rat.
Relationship between sampling duration and concentration of culturable airborne mould and bacteria on selected culture media

Aims: This study was designed to evaluate potential effects of sampling duration on observed concentrations of airborne culturable mould and bacteria on selected media. Methods and Results: Airborne culturable mould and bacteria from lightly to moderately contaminated environments were collected on selected culture media using two co-located, concurrently operated, Andersen N-6 samplers for five sampling durations in the range of 1–10 min. Differences in mean concentrations, as well as linear relationships between sampling duration and both concentration and variability, were evaluated using nonparametric procedures. For the five sampling durations, there were no significant differences in mean concentrations of mould; for bacteria, there were significant differences, with a trend of decreasing concentrations as sampling duration increased. Data variability decreased with increasing sampling duration for both mould and bacteria. Conclusions: Airborne culturable mould concentrations were similar for sampling durations in the range of 1–10 min. Airborne bacteria concentrations tended to trend downwards with sampling durations exceeding 3 min. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study has shown that sampling durations of 1–10 min are appropriate for collection of airborne culturable mould on malt extract agar (MEA) and dichloran glycerol agar (DG-18); based on the apparent trend of decreasing bacterial sample concentrations associated with increasing sampling duration, sampling durations of ≤3 min may be more appropriate than 5 or 10 min for bacteria on trypticase soy agar (TSA).
Al-Qaeda and Anarchism: A Historian's Reply to Terrorology

This article situates al-Qaeda and similar jihadi movements within the category of anarchism. In so doing, it challenges the central pillar of the terrorology paradigm: the notion that terrorism is useful as an independent unit of analysis. The article takes a two-fold approach; in the first part, it offers a five-part definition of anarchism, based on the literature in the fields of history, political science, and sociology. Anarchism is distinguished by five characteristics: First, anarchism is an episodic discourse which provides its adherents with a prescription for action and which has been consistently available to, but only sometimes adopted by, political actors in the modern world. Second, anarchism makes for itself the claim of being defensive in nature. Third, anarchism is anti-systemic; i.e., the target of anarchist grievances is the very system (the nation-state system, capitalism) anarchists view as the source of oppression. Fourth, by “othering” the source of oppression, anarchists delineate...