cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional character of geomagnetic field directional circularity: Holocene East Asia

Abstract This study summarizes the pattern of directional paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) in five previously-published Holocene records from East Asia. Each record is high in resolution and well-dated. We have developed equi-spaced (100-year increment) time series for the declinations and inclinations for the five sites and compared their overall directional variability. We see evidence of nine correlatable scalar features in both inclination and declination. These comparisons suggest that, to first order, these five PSV records all estimate the same regional pattern of PSV for East Asia. We specifically focus on the clockwise or counter-clockwise motion of paleomagnetic directions (termed circularity) in these PSV records. We have used two techniques to estimate the directional circularity of each PSV record. We have first calculated the incremental rate and direction of motion (clockwise or counter-clockwise) in 200-year increments for each record over the last 3000–8000 years. We have separately used a more traditional technique of looking for discernable looping (full loops down to 1/2 loops) in individual records. We estimate the loop sizes, durations, and circularity direction. We largely see the same pattern of circularity in both measurement techniques. There are eight intervals of oscillating circularity (clockwise versus counter-clockwise) in all five sites. They generally agree in timing and direction of circularity. We see evidence for 5 discernable loops alternating between clockwise and counter-clockwise in all five records. Both techniques suggest an oscillating, teeter-totter like, behavior to PSV circularity that must be due to the pattern of fluid flow/magnetic flux regeneration in the outer core. This teeter-totter behavior is unbalanced with almost twice the time spent in clockwise motion as in counter-clockwise motion. Less than 10% of the overall time series duration is spent in linear (not circulating) behavior. The loops tend to have a distribution of sizes and durations with smaller loops being shorter in duration (300–600 years) and bigger loops having longer durations (800–1500 years). One particular feature of these circularity patterns bears special note. All five PSV records show short-term (200–400 years) significant acceleration in circularity rate combined with change in circularity direction. We see evidence for three of these short intervals near 200 BCE, 400 CE, and 1300 CE. These features also are intervals of the fastest regular secular variation rates in all the records. These features are broadly analogous to geomagnetic jerks (Courtillot and LeMouel, 1976, 1984) in that they are short intervals (1–2 years) of anomalous acceleration within high-resolution historical (
Time-Aligned Plane Wave Compounding Methods for High-Frame-Rate Shear Wave Elastography: Experimental Validation and Performance Assessment on Tissue Phantoms.

Abstract Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an ultrasonic technique able to quantitatively assess the mechanical properties of tissues by combining acoustic radiation force and ultrafast imaging. While utilizing coherent plane wave compounding enhances echo and shear wave motion signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), it also reduces the effective pulse repetition frequency (PRFe), affecting the accuracy of the measurements of motion and, consequently, of material properties. It is important to maintain both high-motion SNR and PRFe, particularly for the characterization of (material and/or geometrical) dispersive tissues such as arteries. This work proposes a method for SWE measurements with high SNR, while maintaining a high PRFe, using conventional clinical ultrasound scanners. A time alignment process is applied after acquiring data from plane wave transmissions at different angles. The time alignment uses interpolation to obtain data points at higher frame rates, and the time-aligned data are compounded to increase the SNR. The method is used for SWE in tissue-mimicking phantoms of different stiffness and is compared with traditional plane wave compounding. Increases of 58% and 36% in spatial and temporal bandwidth compared with conventional plane wave compounding, respectively, can be achieved for SWE measurements of representative arterial stiffness values. Improvements in phase velocity accuracy and bandwidth in an arterial phantom are also described, to emphasize the beneficial advantage in dispersive cases.
Risk Factors for Noninvasive Ventilation Failure in Children Post-Hematopoietic Cell Transplant

Author(s): Rowan, Courtney M; Fitzgerald, Julie C; Agulnik, Asya; Zinter, Matt S; Sharron, Matthew P; Slaven, James E; Kreml, Erin M; Bajwa, Rajinder PS; Mahadeo, Kris M; Moffet, Jerelyn; Tarquinio, Keiko M; Steiner, Marie E | Abstract: RationaleLittle is known on the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIPPV) in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients.ObjectiveWe sought to describe the landscape of NIPPV use and to identify risk factors for failure to inform future investigation or quality improvement.MethodsThis is a multicenter, retrospective observational cohort of 153 consecutive children post-HCT requiring NIPPV from 2010-2016.Results97 (63%) failed NIPPV. Factors associated with failure on univariate analysis included: longer oxygen use prior to NIPPV (p=0.04), vasoactive agent use (pl0.001), and higher respiratory rate at multiple hours of NIPPV use (1hr p=0.02, 2hr p=0.04, 4hr p=0.008, 8hr p=0.002). Using respiratory rate at 4 hours a multivariable model was constructed. This model demonstrated high ability to discriminate NIPPV failure (AUC=0.794) with the following results: respiratory rate g40 at 4 hours [aOR=6.3 9(95% CI: 2.4, 16.4), pl0.001] and vasoactive use [aOR=4.9 (95% CI: 1.9, 13.1), p=0.001]. Of note, 11 patients had a cardiac arrest during intubation (11%) and 3 others arrested prior to intubation. These 14 patients were closer to HCT [14 days (IQR:4, 73) vs 54 (IQR:21,117), pl0.01] and there was a trend toward beginning NIPPV outside of the PICU and arrest during/prior to intubation (p=0.056).ConclusionsIn this cohort respiratory rate at 4 hours and vasoactive use are independent risk factors of NIPPV failure. An objective model to predict which children may benefit from a trial of NIPPV, may also inform the timing of both NIPPV initiation and uncomplicated intubation.
Characterization and Non-characterization of Domains by Their Isotropy Groups

We study the characterization of a domain in $${\mathbb {C}}^n$$ by its isotropy group in the group of automorphisms. We provide some useful counterexamples. We also consider boundary phenomena.
Import Substitution in Industry Over the Period 2014-2017: Imports Have Retained Their Share

As before, the main obstacle to successful import substitution is the absence, in RF territory, of the production of equipment, equipment components and raw materials needed by Russian enterprises. The second issue associated with problematic import substitution is the low quality of domestic products. These factors have remained practically unchanged since 2014, when surveys of Russian enterprises were demonstrating critical dependence of Russian industry on imports. An overwhelming majority of domestic enterprises have been forced to maintain the same share of imports in their purchases. In 2017, the ruble’s strengthening and industry’s successful adaptation to the 2015–2016 crisis resulted in a minimal reduction of the share of import substitution in purchases reported by enterprises over the three-year monitoring period.
Erhalt der oberen Extremität nach schwerstem Verbrennungstrauma unter Einsatz des Fixateur externe

Ausgedehnte thermische Schadigungen gehoren zu den schwersten moglichen Verletzungen. Die grosflachige Zerstorung der Korperoberflache fuhrt nicht nur zu lokalen Schaden mit dem Zusammenbruch der protektiven Hautbarriere, sondern auch zu vital bedrohlichen systemischen Reaktionen durch die Aktivierung samtlicher physiologischer Kaskadensysteme.Dabei hangt die Intensitat der Traumaantwort des Korpers von der Ausdehnung und der Tiefe der Hautzerstorung ab. In seltenen Fallen kommt es durch das Unfallgeschehen neben der Verbrennung zu Frakturen bzw. Gelenkinstabilitaten, die eine fruhzeitige Stabilisierung notwendig machen.Der Fixateur externe stellt im Rahmen der durchzufuhrenden stabilisierenden Masnahmen in der Regel eine in der Primarphase der Verbrennung bei noch nicht bakteriell kolonisierten Wunden anzuwendende Option dar.Gerade bei Frakturen sollte fruhzeitig der definitiven internen Stabilisierung der Vorrang gegeben werden, um der bestehenden Infektionsgefahr vorzubeugen.In der vorliegenden Kasuistik stellen wir den Einsatz des Fixateur externe zum Erhalt der oberen Extremitaten nach einer schweren Kontaktverbrennung dar und wollen die Einsatzmoglichkeiten des Fixateur externe bei Verbrennungstraumen kritisch beleuchten.
Inhibitory Proteins in the Newcastle Disease Virus-Induced Suppression of Cell Protein Synthesis

Bolognesi, D. P. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.), and D. E. Wilson. Inhibitory proteins in the Newcastle disease virus-induced suppression of cell protein synthesis. J. Bacteriol. 91:1896–1901. 1966.—Infection by Newcastle disease virus brings about a rapid and marked inhibition of cell protein synthesis (CPS) in chick embryo fibroblast monolayers. The block to CPS is initiated about 5 hr after infection, and by 9 hr about 85% of the host protein synthesis is shut off. Azauridine (3 mg/ml), a ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis inhibitor, prevents the virus-induced inhibition of CPS when added at the time of infection; but it does not prevent the inhibition when added at 3 hr after infection. When puromycin (60 μg/ml), a protein synthesis inhibitor, was added at 3.5 hr after infection, viral RNA was synthesized in normal amounts, but the virus-induced inhibition of CPS was prevented. Actinomycin D added at the time of infection does not, however, prevent the virus-induced inhibition of CPS. The results of these experiments indicate that proteins synthesized during Newcastle disease virus replication are responsible for the inhibition of host-cell protein synthesis. The synthesis of these inhibitory proteins depends on the prior synthesis of viral RNA.
Protein Turnover in Insulin-Treated, Alloxan-Diabetic Lean and Obese Zucker Rats

Obese and lean Zucker rats were made diabetic by intracardiac injections of alloxan (65-72 mg/kg body weight) and then given daily injections of protamine zinc insulin [1.25 U/(100 g/d)] for 6, 9 and 12 d. Body weight, food intake, plasma glucose and immunoreactive insulin concentrations were not different for lean and obese diabetic rats of similar ages. Rates of increase in carcass protein, mixed muscle protein and myofibrillar protein were less in obese than in lean rats. However, rates of increase for the sarcoplasmic fraction were not different. Fractional rates of synthesis of total muscle protein and myofibrillar protein, as determined by continuous intravenous infusion of [14C]tyrosine, were comparable in the two genotypes. Fractional rate of myofibrillar protein degradation, as determined by urinary 3-methylhistidine excretion, was higher in obese than in lean rats. Differences in calculated absolute rates between genotypes did not parallel differences in the fractional rates, due mainly to a smaller protein mass in obese rats. As a consequence, absolute synthetic rates were lower in obese rats, while absolute degradation rates were similar in the two genotypes. In contrast, rates of liver protein synthesis were similar in obese and lean rats, whether expressed as fractional or absolute rates. These results indicate that decreased protein deposition in the obese animal is a consequence of both an absolute decrease in protein synthesis in muscle as well as a disproportionately elevated protein degradation in muscle. Hyperinsulinemia normally seen in obese rats may be an adaptive response to minimize the impaired balance between protein synthesis and degradation.
One for all and all for one.

We usually think of bacteria as lone, unicellular organisms, competing with their brethren for food and desirable places to live. But in fact, bacteria can form organized colonies in which individual cells work together. As Kolter and Losick discuss in their commentary, a report in this issue ( Davies et al.) describes the signaling molecule that controls the multicellular architecture of one of these types of colonies--biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can form hard-to-treat deposits of infection in patients.
Transportation, facility location and inventory issues in distribution network design: An investigation

Examines the interdependence between facility location, transportation and inventory issues in a distribution network design problem. Management of inventories, determination of transportation policy, and location of plants and distribution centers are normally carried out by different groups of people in an organization. These activities interact, however, when the transportation is used to replace inventory, an increase in the number of warehouses increases total system inventory or location of warehouses would dictate the type of transportation mode choice or carrier that needs to be used. The proposed model, FLITNET, is expected to provide a more complete representation of the trade‐offs that exist among the location, transportation and inventory cost components, and lead to an optimal solution.
Taxation in the Bible

Given the range of biblical references, contested issues of sources and dating, and limited information about legal institutions and social practices, conclusions about taxation in the Bible must be drawn with caution. The available information, however, suggests that taxation was an important aspect of public administration in biblical Israel.
Passive protection against security compromise or possible insecurity when information/communications devices are lost

The information on devices like notebook computers and PDAs is often worth many times the value of the devices themselves. When a notebook computer or PDA is lost or stolen, it is desirable to deny access to that information. Similarly, portable communications devices often provide gateways into secure information networks. When lost or stolen, the entire network becomes vulnerable. Crypto ignition keys (CIK) are often used to render such devices useless to unauthorized users, but as devices become smaller and more portable the likelihood of their becoming lost or stolen with the CIK installed increases. In this case the information is not protected. A novel security technology creates an envelope around the user with in which secure operations can occur. When the information or communications device is outside of that envelope, information is automatically protected with no action needed on the part of the authorized user. When the security envelope is broken and the unit protected is rendered harmless, the user can easily reestablish the security envelope when he regains control of the protected unit.
A shear-based assay for assessing plasma ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitors in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND: Severe deficiency of plasma ADAMTS13 activity is a frequent finding in patients with hereditary and acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). To date, plasma ADAMTS13 activity is determined by cleavage of either predenatured von Willebrand factor (VWF) or small peptides derived from the VWF-A2 domain. The physiologic relevance of the assay results is uncertain. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We sought to develop a novel shear-based assay to assess plasma ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitors. We also compared this assay with a fluorogenic peptide assay. RESULTS: We found that an incubation of purified plasma VWF with 0.5 to 1.0 mL of citrated plasma under constant vortexing at 2500 rpm for 60 minutes in the presence of 5 mmol/L CaCl2 and 1.7 mmol/L ZnCl2 and low concentration of NaCl resulted in the maximal cleavage of VWF. The cleavage product could be separated by a 2.5% agarose gel and detected by Western blotting. The assay revealed that plasma and recombinant ADAMTS13 are highly sensitive to inhibition by zinc and chloride ions. Under the optimal conditions, the shear-based assay appeared to be more sensitive than the guanidine-denaturization assay for determining plasma ADAMTS13 activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our fluid shear-based assay may be useful for investigating basic biologic function and regulation of ADAMTS13 metalloprotease. It may also be applicable for assessing plasma ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitors in TTP patients.
Maternal Levels of Prostacyclin, Thromboxane, ICAM, and VCAM in Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies

Citation Lewis DF., Canzoneri BJ., Gu Y, Zhao S, Wang Y. Maternal Levels of Prostacyclin, Thromboxane, ICAM, and VCAM in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 64: 376–383 Problem To evaluate whether impaired endothelial function and endothelial inflammatory response occur in parallel in the women with preeclampsia. Method of Study Venous blood was drawn from normal (n = 40) and severe preeclamptic (sPE) (n = 40) pregnant women when they were admitted to the L&D Unit and 24 hrs after delivery. Plasma and serum samples were extracted and measured for 6-keto PGF1α and TXB2 (stable metabolites of PGI2 and TXA2), and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) by ELISA. Data are analyzed by Mann–Whitney test and paired t-test. The statistical significance is set as P < 0.05. Results Plasma 6-keto PGF1α levels were significantly reduced at admission and 24 hr after delivery in sPE compared to normal pregnant controls, P < 0.01. The ratio of 6-keto PGF1α and TXB2 was significant less in sPE than that in normal pregnant controls before delivery. There was no significant difference for ICAM and VCAM levels between normal and patients with sPE before and after delivery. Conclusion Maternal 6-keto PGF1α levels and the ratio of 6-keto PGF1α and TXB2 were decreased in patients with sPE compared to normal pregnant controls. In contrast, maternal ICAM and VCAM levels were not different between the two groups. These data suggest that serum ICAM and VCAM levels may not be sensitive inflammatory biomarkers for preeclampsia.
Gaussianization: Enhancing the Statistical Power of the Power Spectrum

The power spectrum is widely used in astronomy, to analyze temporal or spatial structure. In cosmology, it is used to quantify large-scale structure (LSS) and the cosmic microwave background (CMB). This is because the power spectrum completely quantifies Gaussian random fields, which the CMB and LSS fields seem to be at early epochs. However, at late epochs and small scales, cosmological density fields become highly non-Gaussian. The power spectrum loses power to describe LSS and CMB fields on small scales, most obviously through high covariance in the power spectrum as a function of scale. Practically, this significantly degrades constraints that observations can place on cosmological parameters. However, if a nonlinear transformation that produces a (more) Gaussian 1-point distribution is applied to a field, the extra covariance in the field's power spectrum can be dramatically reduced. In the case of the roughly lognormal low-redshift matter density field, a log transform accomplishes this. Applying a log transform to the density field before measuring the power spectrum also tightens cosmological parameter constraints by a factor of several.
A 3-D bilateral filter for speckle reduction in 3-D ultrasound images for cattle follicle segmentation

In this paper, we investigate the reduction of speckles in 3-D ultrasound images using a 3-D bilateral filter for cattle follicle segmentation and volume estimation. Adaptive 3-D bilateral filter is developed to reduce the speckles in the ultrasound images effectively. We compared the proposed 3-D bilateral filter with the conventional 3-D bilateral filter and 3-D Gaussian filter using both 3-D synthetic speckled images and real ultrasound images. Quantitative analysis verified the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Upper respiratory dead space in the chicken: Its fraction of the tidal volume

1. 1. Tidal volume, vertical sternal displacement, and upper respiratory dead space volume were measured in the chicken and the point in the respiratory cycle at which fresh gas reaches the lung was determined. 2. 2. Respiratory dead space from the mediodorsal secondary bronchi to the mouth averaged 7.0 ml in chickens whose average body weight was 2.2 kg. 3. 3. Fresh gas did not reach the lung until 23% of the VT or 32% of the vertical sternal displacement had occurred. 4. 4. These findings indicate that upper respiratory dead space may be primarily responsible for delays between the beginning of inspiration and the onset of intrapulmonary CO2 receptor discharges in birds.
The construction of linear orderings under conditions of increased memory load

Thirty-nine students constructed linear orderings (e.g., ABCD) from pairwise information (e.g., AB, BC, CD) presented in different orders. Construction took place when only pairwise information was presented, when one additional and irrelevant-to-the-ordering sentence was presented, and when two such additional sentences were presented. The presence of these additional sentences significantly lowered performance, and effects of presentation order were also observed. As predicted, order effects assumed to be due to memory load were differentially influenced by the increased number of presented sentences. Theoretical implications are discussed.
Inhibition of HIV-1 Gene Expression by a Fragment of hnRNP U

Cellular proteins are now appreciated as critically involved in all steps of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) life cycle, and disrupting host functions essential for virus replication may provide novel antiviral approaches. Selection from a human complementary DNA (cDNA) library for clones able to induce resistance to infection by recombinant HIV-1 genomes resulted in the identification of a gene fragment that potently restricts HIV-1 activity. The active cDNA encodes an N-terminal fragment of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein U (hnRNP U). The gene fragment specifically targets the 3' long terminal repeat (3'LTR) in the viral mRNA and blocks the cytoplasmic accumulation of HIV-1 mRNAs. The results suggest that HIV-1 requires machinery for the nuclear export of viral mRNAs that can be specifically blocked by an interfering gene.
Effects of mismatched refractive indices in aquatic flow cytometry.

Background Forward-angle light scatter, as measured by flow cytometry, can be used to estimate the size spectra of cell assemblages from natural waters. The refractive index of water samples from aquatic environments can differ because of a variety of factors such as dissolved organic content, aldehyde preservative, sample salinity, and temperature. In flow cytometric analyses, mismatch between the refractive indices of the sheath fluid and the sample causes distortion of the forward-angle light scatter signal. We measured the effect of this mismatch on cell size measurements. Methods We examined the error by measuring the scatter signal of a variety of particle types and sizes and changing the sheath-to-sample salinity ratio. The effects were characterized for standard microspheres, cultured phytoplankton cells of different sizes, and natural populations from an estuarine river. Results We found that the distorted scatter signals resulted in an increase in the apparent size of small cells (1–2 μm) by a factor of 4.5 times. Cells in the size range of 3–5 μm were less affected by the salinity differences, and cells larger than 5 μm were not affected. Chlorophyll and phycoerythrin fluorescences and 90° light scatter signals were not changed by sheath and sample salinity differences. Conclusions Care must be taken to ensure that the sheath and sample refractive index are matched when using forward light scatter to measure cell size spectra, especially in estuarine studies, where salinity can vary greatly. Of the factors considered that can change the sample refractive index, salinity gradients in an estuary cause the largest index mismatch and, consequently, the largest error in scatter. Cytometry 44:173–178, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Broad Study but Narrow Question: A Friendly Critique of Perry's Article.

This article is a critique of the article by Robin Perry in this issue that describes a study in Florida to compare supervisor and peer performance evaluations of child welfare staff. An overview of prior studies related to the importance of the social work degree is provided. Subsequently, selected technical, design issues, and results in the Perry study are identified and discussed. Issues and speculations about the validity of supervisor and peer ratings in Perry's study and other studies are addressed. Finally, a discussion of the need to broaden perspectives on the importance of the social work degree is included. Perry's results indicate more about the invalidity of supervisor and peer ratings of child welfare staff performance than anything about the importance of the social work degree for effective job performance. Perry's study focused on a narrow issue pertaining to a larger set of issues.
Ontology-Based Temporal Relation Modeling with MapReduce Latent Dirichlet Allocations for Big EHR Data

In this paper, we propose a model called Temporal a Co reference Topic Modeling (TCTM) to do automatic annotation with respect to the Time Event Ontology (TEO) for the big-size Electronic Health Record (EHR). TCTM, based on Latent Dirichlet Allocations (LDA) and integrated into MapReduce framework, inherently addresses the twin problem of data sparseness and high dimensionality. As a non-parametric Bayesian model, it can flexibly add new attributes or features. Side information associated with corpora, such as section header, timestamp, sentence distance, event distance or disease category in clinical notes makes latent topics more interpretable and more biased toward co referring events. Furthermore, TCTM integrates Hidden Markov Model LDA (HMM-LDA) to obtain the power of both sequential modeling and exchangeability. A MapReduce based variational method is employed to do parameter estimation and inferences, thus enabling TCTM to overcome the bottleneck brought by big data.
Bridging the gap: An exploration of how DMO managers use education to overcome challenges:

Place branding practices are increasingly taking place within public sector organisations, yet destination marketing organisation managers are insufficiently researched through a lens of managerial theory. Extending previous empirical research on DMO management obstacles, this study contributes to the literature by reporting results of interviews with DMO managers throughout a Southern state, and finds that managers face four major challenges: personnel, technological, political, and educational. The educational challenge manifests in how DMO managers respond to the other three obstacles, extending knowledge regarding how DMO managers justify their organisation’s existence and mission to potentially sceptical audiences.
In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As junction field-effect transistors as tunable feedback resistors for integrated receiver preamplifiers

In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As active feedback junction field-effect transistors (JFETs) for use in integrated transimpedance photoreceivers are discussed. By varying the gate-to-source voltage V/sub GS/, the resistance can be continuously tuned between 3 and 40 k Omega with a drain-to-source capacitance of >
Wet Catalyst-Support Films for Production of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes

A procedure for vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VA-CNT) production has been developed through liquid-phase deposition of alumoxanes (aluminum oxide hydroxides, boehmite) as a catalyst support. Through a simple spin-coating of alumoxane nanoparticles, uniform centimer-square thin film surfaces were coated and used as supports for subsequent deposition of metal catalyst. Uniform VA-CNTs are observed to grow from this film following deposition of both conventional evaporated Fe catalyst, as well as premade Fe nanoparticles drop-dried from the liquid phase. The quality and uniformity of the VA-CNTs are comparable to growth from conventional evaporated layers of Al2O3. The combined use of alumoxane and Fe nanoparticles to coat surfaces represents an inexpensive and scalable approach to large-scale VA-CNT production that makes chemical vapor deposition significantly more competitive when compared to other CNT production techniques.
An abnormal clinical course of an ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block using 0.375% bupivacaine

Abstract We report on the case of a reappearance of a supraclavicular nerve block after the apparent initiation of its resolution in a 21-year-old athlete undergoing repair of a valgus impaction syndrome of his right elbow. The patient's anesthetic management consisted of a supraclavicular nerve block and general anesthesia. The patient was discharged home with an apparent resolving nerve block. He returned to the hospital urgently when, at 7 hours after blockade, he lost all motor-sensory function in his arm. His workup ultimately yielded negative results, and the block resolved at 23 hours. In addition to documenting an abnormal course of a supraclavicular block, this case report questions the appropriateness of placing long-acting nerve blocks in outpatients.
Who Trains the Trainer? Library Staff are OPAC Users, Too.

As libraries introduce Online Public Access Catalogs and integrated library systems, the need for staff training becomes essential. The characteristics of training sessions are identified and discussed. Administrative support and advance planning are encouraged.
Comparative Responses to Orthostatic Stress in Normal and Abnormal Subjects: Evaluation by Impedance Cardiography

The hemodynamic response to orthostatic stress was evaluated with an impedance cardiograph in both normal subjects and patients with cardiovascular disease. The results correlated well with our previous results and those of other investigators using either invasive or noninvasive methods, namely: as compared with the normal control subjects, patients with cardiovascular disorders had increased tolerance to orthostatic stress manifested by restricted or absent increases in heart rate, and decreases in stroke volume, cardiac output and ejection time.
The Beneficial Effects of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Therapy in IgG Subclass Deficiencies

The Beneficial Effects of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Therapy in IgG Subclass Deficiencies
Private Badges for Geosocial Networks

Geosocial networks (GSNs) extend classic online social networks with the concept of location. Users can report their presence at venues through “check-ins” and, when certain check-in sequences are satisfied, users acquire special status in the form of “badges”. We first show that this innovative functionality is popular in Foursquare, a prominent GSN. Furthermore, we address the apparent tension between privacy and correctness, where users are unable to prove having satisfied badge conditions without revealing the corresponding time and location of their check-in sequences. To this end, we propose several privacy preserving protocols that enable users to prove having satisfied the conditions of several badge types. Specifically, we introduce (i) GeoBadge and T-Badge, solutions for acquiring location badges, (ii) FreqBadge, for mayorship badges, (iii) e-Badge, for proving various expertise levels and (iv) MPBadge, for accumulating multi-player badges. We show that a Google Nexus One smartphone is able to perform tens of badge proofs per minute while a provider can support hundreds of million of check-ins and badge verifications per day.
Protease susceptibilities of HMW, 1α, 2α, but not 3α cartilage collagens are similar to type V collagen

Abstract The protease susceptibilities of recently identified cartilage collagens HMW, 1α, 2α, and 3α were investigated. Mammlian skin collagenase cleaved the 3α chain under conditions where HMW, 1α and 2α were not degraded. A tumor cell derived type V collagenolytic metalloproteinase degraded HMW, 1α and 2α, but not 3α. Plasmin or leucocyte elastase failed to significantly degrade any of the cartilage collagens when digestion was performed at 25°C (15 hours, enzyme to substrate ratio 1:100). At 36°C but not 33°C α thrombin degraded HMW, 1α and 2α, with little or no degradation of 3α. This pattern of protease susceptibility for HMW, 1α and 2α is therefore similar to type V collagen. The cleavage of 3α by skin collagenase but not by elastase is similar to type II collagen. These results suggest that HMW, 1α and 2α are part of the type V collagen family.
Physical aging in the creep behavior of thermosetting and thermoplastic composites

Abstract The creep behavior of a series of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) and corresponding resins has been studied, with emphasis on elucidating the role of physical aging effects on FRP viscoelastic behavior. Thermosetting and thermoplastic composites were studied, representing semicrystalline, amorphous, and highly filled amorphous polymer matrix FRPs. It was found that physical aging effects are operative for all FRPs, including the semicrystalline systems. Time/ aging-time and time/temperature superposition are found to be valid procedures for short-term creep behaviour; they cannot be applied to long-term creep behavior. However, long-term creep can be satisfactorily predicted from momentary creep by using an effective time theory. Evidence of a universal, temperature shift factor temperature dependence is presented.
Site-specific variations in basal and meal-stimulated intestinal absorption.

The ingestion of a meal increases water and electrolyte absorption in the proximal jejunum. The purpose of these experiments was to elucidate any site-specific variations in intestinal absorption, comparing jejunum to ileum, in both the basal and the meal-stimulated states. Twenty-five-centimeter proximal jejunal and distal ileal Thiry-Vella fistulae were constructed in four dogs. Simultaneous jejunal and ileal absorption studies were performed using [14C]PEG to calculate net absorption of water and electrolytes. Two groups were studied: in Group 1 no meal was ingested, while in Group 2, the animals ingested a mixed meal. Each study consisted of a 1-hr basal period and a 3-hr experimental period. In the basal state ileal absorption significantly exceeded jejunal absorption (P < 0.0001). The ingestion of mixed meal significantly increased water and electrolyte absorption in both the jejunum and the ileum, (P < 0.001), with the magnitude of meal-stimulated ileal absorption significantly exceeding the magnitude of meal-stimulated jejunal absorption (P < 0.001). These studies demonstrate distinct site specific variations in intestinal water and electrolyte absorption in both the basal and the meal-stimulated states.
Nursing Guide for Effective Implementation of Infection Control Precautions

ISSUE: It is imperative to provide nursing with an easy guide for proper implementation of infection control precautions in order to avoid delays and unnecessary exposures. PROJECT: To improve compliance with our medical center precautions program, a new sign was developed that allows the floor nurse to implement precautions accurately. The sign includes the three current categories of Transmission Based Precautions: airborne, droplet and contact. Once the physician indicates the suspected or confirmed disease requiring precautions in the admission order sheet, the nurse locates an instruction packet containing the new sign. Our hospital also has a system for notification to nursing on readmissions of patients with certain MRO's which require precautions. Download : Download full-size image The sign is color coded by type of precautions and includes a chart on the back that provides the necessary information categorized by disease to select the appropriate precautions. The nurse finds the disease on the back of the sign and marks the appropriate option in the front of the sign. The sign is taped to the door of the patient's room and small version of the sign is taped to the patient's chart to aid communication between departments. The guide on the back of the sign provides additional information describing room placement, required personal protective equipment, indicating whether the door is open or closed, patient transport and discharge management. RESULTS: This new 8 × 11 sign was developed as a reference guide to provide information and education for the accurate implementation of Transmission Based Precautions avoiding delays and confusion. LESSONS LEARNED: The use of a reference guide on the back of the precautions sign provides information for health care workers to apply precautions in a timely manner, promotes a better Infection Control program compliance as well as saving time for the Infection Control staff.
The Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-Second Edition: Parent Rating Scale (BERS-II PRS): A Hispanic Cross-Cultural Reliability Study.

This study examined the extent to which the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale: Parent Rating Scale (BERS: PRS) constitutes a reliable measure for assessing strengths of Hispanic children and youth. Major conceptual and theoretical issues with respect to cross-cultural assessment are presented. Further, emotional and behavioral disorders are discussed in the context of cross-cultural assessment relative to the large and growing participation in U. S. schools of Hispanic students. Standard scores, coefficient alphas, and SEMS for total norm sample, European and Hispanic Americans were equivalent, thus tentatively supporting the cross-cultural utility of the BERS-II PRS.
Extracting knowledge from U.S. department of defense freedom of information act requests with social media

Abstract The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has facilitated the release of large amounts of government information that has been of great value to researchers, journalists, and other interested parties. The fraction of this information released in electronic format has been growing as has its volume. While offering great potential for research, large amounts of data disgorged from government information systems can pose challenges to human interpretation and knowledge extraction. Using the Office of the Secretary of Defense/Joint Staff Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Logs for 2007–2009, this research identifies (1) a process for finding relationships between the FOIA requests through keywords extracted from Wikipedia and (2) a technique for visualizing these relationships in order to provide context and improve understanding when working with born-digital government data.
Pressure waves generated by steady flames.

Analysis of pressure waves that can be generated by clouds of explosive gas mixtures in a free atmosphere which is initially at a uniform state. The treatment is restricted only to the final stage of constant flame velocity when the flowfield is self-similar. By the introduction of reduced blast-wave parameters as phase-plane coordinates, the problem is resolved into the determination of the appropriate integral curves on this plane. Results, including space profiles of gasdynamic parameters, have been computed for a specific case of a hydrocarbon-air mixture characterized by a specific heat ratio of 1.3, sound speed at NTP of 345 m/sec, and volumetric expansion ratio corresponding to constant pressure deflagration of 7. Maximum overpressure ratios that can be generated by such flames in point-and line-symmetrical waves range from .00053, for the lower bound in the burning speed, up to 6 for the deflagration, while, for the average speeds of 5 to 10 m/sec, they are at a level of 0.05 to 0.10.
User involvement in clinical audit: a review of developments and issues of good practice*

There have been considerable political and organizational moves to involve ‘consumers’ (patients, carers, service users, potential users, local communities and the public at large) in the provision, planning and monitoring of health services. Such developments beg the question ‘what constitutes good practice in user involvement?’. Taking user views into account relates not only to obtaining feedback on ’hotel’ aspects of care (issues such as food and cleanliness) but also to the potential for patient input to clinical audit and the standards by which care itself is measured. Recent policy statements specifically advocate involving users in the process and product of clinical audit. In practice, ‘involvement’ has meant anything from passing on information to full and active participation in partnership with professionals. This paper outlines some of the issues raised in the published literature on user involvement in clinical audit. Suggesting that real involvement refers to users as active participants, not passive recipients, the paper documents the increasing policy commitment to user involvement and considers issues that influence how the rhetoric is put into practice.
Clueless nodes to network-cognizant smart nodes: Achieving network awareness in wireless sensor networks

A novel scheme is presented that allows individual nodes in sensor networks to achieve network/topology-awareness by listening to regular packets associated with applications. Nodes, initially oblivious to network topology and their position within the network, gradually infer information required to evaluate their own Virtual Coordinates (VCs). A Singular Value Decomposition based transformation allows each node to convert the VCs of nodes, gleaned from the source or destination address field of packets, to corresponding Topological Coordinates (TCs). Eventually each node generates a topology map of the network, thus becoming aware of its own location and those of other nodes. Effectiveness of self-learning scheme, in terms of convergence of different stages, and gradual development of network awareness at nodes are illustrated. While many applications of network awareness within nodes can be foreseen, we illustrate how performance of routing can improve dramatically over time as network awareness develops within a node.
All-Optical Contention Resolution with TTL-Aware Selective 3R Regeneration in Optical-Label Switching Router Networks

This paper experimentally demonstrates error-free all-optical contention resolution of asynchronous, variable-length, and mix-data rate packets in optical-label-switching router networks. Time-to-live information triggers selective 3R regeneration in the router.
The influence of foreign direct investment on contracting confidence in developing countries

This paper examines whether foreign direct investment (FDI) influences confidence in commercial contracts in developing countries. While the research on how host countries’ policy environments encourage FDI inflows has flourished, scholars have paid less attention to how the policy environment and local actors’ beliefs might, in turn, be affected by FDI. This is surprising because multinational enterprises are well-recognized political and economic actors across the world. We expect that their increasing economic salience will influence the policy environments in which they function. By employing an innovative measure of property rights protection – contract-intensive money – we examine how foreign direct investment influences host countries’ contract-intensive money ratio in a large panel time series of both developed and developing countries from 1980 to 2002. Our analysis suggests that higher levels of FDI inflows are associated with greater confidence in commercial contracts and, by extension, the protection of property rights in developing countries.
Effects of kinetin on cell division in Triturus viridescens.

Summary The tissue of Triturus viridescens Rafinesque, exposed to 10 mg% kinetin, showed a significant increase in mitotic activity. This increased mitotic activity was noted in the nest cells. Metaphase figures predominated, an observation which might indicate that kinetin not only stimulated mitosis but also blocked the initiation of anaphase, thus allowing metaphase figures to accumulate. There was generally no evidence of a central spindle. Polyploid divisions were commonly observed during recovery from exposure to kinetin. Other abnormalities included: multipolar spindles, restitution nuclei and tissue disorganization.
High-precision calculation of the parity-nonconserving amplitude in francium

A high-precision calculation of the $7s\ensuremath{-}8s$ parity-nonconserving (PNC) transition amplitude in francium, based on a relativistic all-order method, is presented. Our values for the PNC amplitudes in ${}^{223}\mathrm{Fr}$ and ${}^{210}\mathrm{Fr}$ are ${E}_{\mathrm{PNC}}=15.41(17)$ and $14.02(15),$ respectively, in units ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}i|e|{a}_{0}(\ensuremath{-}{Q}_{W}/N),$ where ${Q}_{W}$ is the weak charge and N is the neutron number. Spin-dependent contributions to the PNC amplitude are calculated for Fr isotopes with nucleon numbers $A=207,$ 209, 211, and 213. To assess the accuracy of our calculations, we apply the present all-order method to the $6s\ensuremath{-}7s$ PNC amplitude in cesium and obtain a result in close agreement with previous high-precision calculations.
Short-term Changes in Hexose Phosphates and ATP in Intact Cells of Acer pseudoplatanus L. Subjected to Anoxia

Endogenous concentrations of hexosemonophosphates and ATP decline sharply and rapidly in intact cells of Acer pseudoplatanus subjected to anoxia, whereas fructose-1,6-diphosphate and pyruvate accumulate markedly. In view of gas exchange data indicating an apparent acceleration of glycolysis under anoxic conditions, the observed changes in glycolytic metabolite concentrations indicate regulation of glycolysis by phosphofructokinase.
Pedagogy of the Alienated: Can Freirian Teaching Reach Working-Class Students?

This article considers the possibilities for fostering critical consciousness (awareness and understanding of oppression) among American working-class students in the face of their often severe educational alienation. After noting the failure of existing critical pedagogical literature to address this problem adequately, it establishes the seriousness of the challenge in three ways. First, it describes how the most famous critical pedagogue, the late Paulo Freire, and one of his most eminent American followers, Ira Shor, recognized the special difficulty of working with highly alienated American students. Second, it documents the extensiveness and severity of educational alienation in the United States, especially among working class students. It focuses on college students, whom the author teaches. Third, it uses Karl Marx's theory of alienation to illuminate the systemic entrenchment of the problem. The article then shows how Antonio Gramsci's theory regarding the porousness of subjugated consciousness ...
Obesity in women: a life cycle of medical risk

Obesity can have an adverse impact on health at each stage of a woman's life cycle. In young women, obesity has an impact on psychosocial health and, as they grow older and become parents, on their reproductive health. Obesity also imposes a number of serious risks during pregnancy. In older women, obesity is associated with the emergence of a number of related chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and increased risk for almost all types of cancer. Of concern in the elderly is the increasing evidence that obesity is an independent risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Obesity also has a marked impact on life expectancy. The medical risks associated with obesity in women are also important for the woman's children and future generations. There is emerging evidence that nutrition during fetal and early life can influence risk for obesity and chronic diseases for both sexes.