cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mixed Messages: The Heterogeneity of Historical Discourse

If, as many historians and theorists now believe, narrative is the form proper to historical explanation, this raises the problem of the terms in which such narratives are to be evaluated. Without a clear account of evaluation, the status of historical knowledge (both in itself and in all those social, political, and other contexts in which appeal to historical explanation is made) remains obscure. Beginning with the view, found in Hayden White and others, that historical narrative constitutes a meaning not reducible to the factual content it engages, this essay argues that such meaning can arise only through a synthesis of cognitive and normative discourses. Narrative combines heterogeneous language games in such a way that neither appeal to truth content nor to justice suffices to decide the question of which of two competing historical explanations is, as a whole, superior. Examining in critical detail the opposed positions on this issue articulated by two recent theorists-Frank Ankersmit (narrative idealism) and David Carr (narrative realism)-the paper concludes that the debate between those who hold that historical narratives should be judged in essentially cognitive terms and those who hold that they should be judged in essentially political terms cannot be resolved and that a philosophical view of historical narrative that is neither realist nor idealist needs to be developed.
Aggregating broadband demand: Surveying the benefits and challenges for public libraries

Abstract Public libraries in the United States play an important role in their communities by providing free internet access to all residents. Research exists that discusses public library connectivity by investigating funding, technical aspects, and library mission, and that also promotes membership in regional or state consortia as a means of making broadband internet connections more affordable. The research discussed here builds upon these works by asking the question: Do the benefits of aggregation, or pooling demand, justify the investment of state library resources in establishing and maintaining a library cooperative to support internet access? It reports on a survey of Indiana public library directors on questions related to connectivity, E-rate funding, and participation in the Public Library Internet Consortium, a statewide cooperative established by the Indiana State Library. The survey was conducted by Dr. Mary Alice Ball, who was affiliated with Indiana University School of Library and Information Science, Indianapolis while conducting the relevant research. Dr. Ball chairs the Telecommunications Subcommittee of the American Library Association's Office for Information Technology Policy.
Oxidation of elemental sulfur by an enzyme system from Thiobacillus neapolitanus

Abstract A soluble cell-free system from Thiobacillus neapolitanus is described which catalyzed the oxidation of elemental sulfur to sulfate with a contamitant uptake of oxygen. The preparation did not require the addition of reduced glutathione (GSH) for its activity and, under certain conditions, GSH and other sulfhydryl compounds exerted inhibitory effects. Thiol-binding reagents inhibited sulfur oxidation indicating an involvement of free sulfhydryl groups. The participation of a heavy-metal pathway of electron transport to oxygen was suggested by the inhibitory effect of NaN 3 ( i mM). KCN, depending on the conditions of the experiment, either inhibited or stimulated oxygen uptake; these effects are discussed and the properties of this preparation are compared with those of sulfur-oxidizing systems isolated from other thiobacilli.
Resolution of the first component of guniea pig complement into three subunits, Clq, Clr and Cls, and their hybridization with human Cl subunits

Abstract Guniea pig Cl was resolved by chromatography into subunits Clq, Clr and Cls. These subunits recombined to form a hemolytically active Cl molecule. Each of these subunits is capable of forming hybrid Cl molecules with the appropriate subunits of human Cl. A sedimentation constant of 125 was found for the recombined homologous human, guinea pig and hybrid Cl molecules.
A microstructural study of the CdTe/ZnTe film morphology as related to the Si substrate orientation

Abstract A series of CdTe/ZnTe films was grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) onto Si substrates. We examine the relationships between the film morphology, the ZnTe growth method, and the Si growth orientation. The substrates' degree of miscut from the [1 1 1] direction ranged from 0° to 29.5°. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that the substrate orientation is maintained by the ZnTe/CdTe epilayers only for low miscut angles. For higher miscut angles, the film orientation does not match that of the substrate, and in some cases is dependent on the growth methods used to deposit the ZnTe buffer layer.
New antidepressant drugs that do not cross the blood-brain barrier.

Stimulation of neurogenesis in the adult brain (i.e. in the hippocampus) has recently been proposed as a putative mechanism of antidepressant action of drugs. This effect of antidepressants may not be achieved by their primary action on proliferating cells, but may involve the drug-triggered mobilization of trophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glia-derived protein S100β, or insulin-like growth factor I (IFG-I). Whereas BDNF and S100β are produced in the brain, IGF-I is primarily released from peripheral tissues. Administered peripherally, IGF-I increases hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult rat. Because synthesis and release of IGF-I appear to be stimulated by serotonergic mechanisms, we propose that antidepressants that affect serotonergic mechanisms might be rendered more effective by mobilizing IGF-I. Moreover, we suggest that new antidepressant drugs could be designed that would not enter into the brain but would stimulate peripheral mediators such as IGF-I.
Maternal deprivation increases cell death in the infant rat brain

Prolonged separation from the mother can interfere with normal growth and development and is a significant risk factor for adult psychopathology. In rodents, separation of a pup from its mother increases the behavioral and endocrine responses to stress for the lifetime of the animal. Here we investigated whether maternal deprivation could affect brain development of infant rats via changes in the rate of cell death as measured by labeling the 3' end of DNA fragments using terminal transferase (ApopTag). At postnatal day 12 (P12), the number of cells undergoing cell death approximately doubled in the cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex and in several white matter tracts following 24 h of maternal deprivation. Deprivation strongly increased the number of ApopTag-labeled cells at P6 but not at P20. Stroking the infant rats only partially reversed the effects of maternal deprivation. Increased cell death in white matter tracts correlated with an induction of nerve growth factor which has been previously associated with oligodendrocyte cell death. Cell birth was either unchanged or decreased in response to deprivation. These results indicate that maternal deprivation can alter normal brain development by increasing cell death of neurons and glia, and provides a potential mechanism by which early environmental stressors may influence subsequent behavior.
Cryptic diversity, molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the rock- and leaf litter-dwelling land snails of Belau (Republic of Palau, Oceania)

The endemic diplommatinid land snails (Caenogastropoda: Mollusca) of Belau (Republic of Palau, Micronesia) are an exceptionally diverse group of largely undescribed species distributed among rock and leaf litter habitats on most of Belau's 586 islands. Diplommatinid shell morphology (e.g. shell sculpture) reflects habitat type. In this study, I analysed a subset of the 90 diplommatinid species representing a broad geographical spread of islands in order to reveal the species' phylogenetic relationships and biogeography within the Belau archipelago. Diplommatinid species from the islands of Yap, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Guam are also included in the analysis. One nuclear (28S rRNA) and two mitochondrial (16S rRNA, COI) gene regions comprising 1906 bp were used for phylogenetic reconstruction. Results show that (i) the Belau Diplommatinidae are not monophyletic, as Guam and Yap species should be included as part of the radiation, (ii) Pohnpei and Kosrae species are highly divergent from Belau diplommatinids, (iii) there is little evidence for in situ radiation within individual Belau islands, (iv) spined and heavily calcified rock-dwelling species form a well-supported clade, and (v) Belau diplommatinid genera are in need of revision.
Psychiatric diagnoses and sexual victimization in women with chronic pelvic pain

The authors evaluated 100 women scheduled for diagnostic laparoscopy (50 for chronic pain, 50 for tubal ligation or infertility evaluation) using structured psychiatric, family history, and sexual trauma interviews. Laparoscopy reports were blindly rated by a gynecologist. Compared with the nonpain group, the women with chronic pelvic pain had significantly higher current and lifetime rates of psychiatric disorders, as well as childhood and adult sexual victimization. They reported significantly higher mean numbers of somatization symptoms, but no significant differences in objective laparoscopic findings. Psychiatric disorders and sexual victimization are common in women with chronic pelvic pain and should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of these patients.
Cyclin D1 induced apoptosis maintains the integrity of the G1/S checkpoint following ionizing radiation irradiation

Cell cycle “checkpoints” help to ensure the integrity of normal cellular functions prior to replicative DNA synthesis and/or cell division. Cell kinetic abnormalities, particularly arrests at the G1/S and G2/M cell cycle checkpoints, are induced following exposure to ionizing radiationin vitro. Following irradiation, cellular signaling pathways may lead to G1 arrest and/or apoptosis at the G1/S cell cycle transition point. Transfection of cyclin D1, a G1/S cyclin, into a rat embryo cells (REC) results in cellular populations that overexpress cyclin D1, are transformed morphologically, demonstrate an increased incidence of apoptosis, and are tumorigenic in immune-deficient mice. Despite such phenotypic changes, transfected cell populations maintain the itegrity of the G1 checkpoint following ionizing radiation. The transfected cells overexpressing Cyclin D1 have a statistically significant increase in the incidence of apoptosis as compared to parental REC strains or mock-transfected REC. The work provides further evidence of Cyclin D1 playing a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the G1/S checkpoint, via the activation of apoptotic pathways following exposure to ionizing radiationin vitro.
Flame Propagation in Channels: Secondary Bifurcation to Quasi-Periodic Pulsations

We consider premixed flame propagation in long rectangular channels. A steadily propagating planar flame is stable for Lewis numbers less than a critical value. For Lewis numbers exceeding this critical value a sequence of primary bifurcation states, corresponding to time-periodic pulsating cellular flames, emanates from the steadily propagating solution. We analyze the problem in a neighborhood of a multiple primary bifurcation point. By varying the channel dimensions, we split the multiple bifurcation point and show that a stable quasi-periodic pulsating flame can arise as a secondary bifurcation from one of the primary bifurcation states. We also exhibit the phenomenon of mode-jumping, in which there is an exchange of stability between two primary states.
Use of virion DNA as a cloning vector for the construction of mutant and recombinant herpesviruses

We have developed improved procedures for the isolation of deletion mutant, point mutant, and recombinant herpesvirus saimiri. These procedures take advantage of the absence of NotI and AscI restriction enzyme sites within the viral genome and use reporter genes for the identification of recombinant viruses. Genes for secreted engineered alkaline phosphatase and green fluorescent protein were placed under simian virus 40 early promoter control and flanked by NotI and AscI restriction sites. When permissive cells were cotransfected with herpesvirus saimiri virion DNA and one of the engineered reporter genes cloned within herpesvirus saimiri sequences, recombinant viruses were readily identified and purified on the basis of expression of the reporter gene. Digestion of recombinant virion DNA with NotI or AscI was used to delete the reporter gene from the recombinant herpesvirus saimiri. Replacement of the reporter gene can be achieved by NotI or AscI digestion of virion DNA and ligation with a terminally matched fragment or, alternatively, by homologous recombination in cotransfected cells. Any gene can, in theory, be cloned directly into the virion DNA when flanked by the appropriate NotI or AscI sites. These procedures should be widely applicable in their general form to most or all herpesviruses that replicate permissively in cultured cells.
CONSTRUING SEN ON COMMITMENT

Why does Sen maintain that people are capable of putting their own goals offline and deliberating and acting out of sheer commitment to others? How can he endorse such a rejection of the belief-desire model of agency? The paper canvasses three explanations and favors one that ascribes an unusual position to Sen: the belief that so far as agents remain in the belief-desire mould, they cannot deliberate on the basis of reasons other than those that derive from standing goals that form an integrated system. What he thinks of as deliberation on the basis of commitment is just the sort of deliberation that involves the formation of a novel, perhaps occasion-specific goal in which the good of another is prioritised.
Alignment and characterization of high uniformity imaging spectrometers

Imaging spectrometers require precise adjustments, in some cases at the sub-micrometer level, in order to achieve a uniform response over both the spectral and spatial dimensions. We describe a set of measurement techniques and their corresponding alignment adjustments to achieve the 95% or higher uniformity specifications required for Earthobserving imaging spectrometers. The methods are illustrated with measurements from the Next Generation Imaging Spectrometer system that has been built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Temperature‐Responsiveness and Antimicrobial Properties of CNT–PNIPAM Hybrid Brush Films

Temperature-responsive carbon nanotube (CNT)/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hybrid brush films were prepared by combining the layer-by-layer and surface-initiated polymerization (LbL-SIP) techniques. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is employed for the preparation of PNIPAM polymer brushes. Antibacterial activity of the CNT/PNIPAM films are investigated against Exiguobacterium sp. AT1b and Exiguobacterium sibiricum strains. Dead assay results show high microbial inactivation on coated surfaces with CNT films, while very low microbial inactivation is observed in PNIPAM films at all temperatures tested. The CNT–PNIPAM films, on the other hand, have antibacterial properties below 32 °C, which is below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), but allows biofilm formation above the LCST.
Identification of the outer membrane proteins of Campylobacter pyloridis and antigenic cross-reactivity between C. pyloridis and C. jejuni.

SUMMARY: The outer membrane and surface exposed proteins of four strains of the gastric Campylobacter-like organism Campylobacter pyloridis were identified by SDS-PAGE of Sarkosyl-insoluble membranous material and 125I-surface-labelled whole bacteria. Although constant outer membrane proteins (molecular mass 61, 54 and 31 kDa) were observed in these strains, several variable 125I-labelled surface proteins were detected. C. pyloridis does not appear to express a single surface-exposed major outer membrane protein like that of C. jejuni and C. coli. Putative flagella proteins were identified from isolated flagella and acid-extractable surface material and by immunoblotting with anti-flagella antibodies. Several major protein antigens were observed by immunoblotting with anti-C. pyloridis antisera. At least two of these antigens cross-reacted with anti-C. jejuni antiserum. This cross-reaction appears to be caused primarily by flagellar antigens. However, one major protein antigen (61 kDa) was not cross-reactive with C. jejuni and may, therefore, be useful in serological tests for the specific diagnosis of C. pyloridis infections.
Pregnancy‐related issues in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

While fertility is preserved in females with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it is well established that pregnancy in these patients is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including pregnancy loss, pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery and intrauterine growth retardation, as well as neonatal mortality. Mechanisms underlying these adverse outcomes are poorly understood, and better understanding of these would allow development of targeted and personalized treatment strategies. Established risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes include active disease within 6 months prior to conception and during pregnancy, active nephritis, maternal hypertension, antiphospholipid antibodies and hypocomplementemia. While intensive monitoring is recommended, the comparative effectiveness of appropriate management strategies is unclear. While current strategies are able to achieve live births in 85-90% of pregnancies, certain aspects such as prevention of preterm birth, treatment of congenital heart block due to neonatal lupus and recurrent pregnancy loss despite best management, remains challenging. Pregnancy is also associated with an increased risk of flare of lupus, particularly in patients with active disease at time of conception or within 6 months prior to conception. Pregnant patients with SLE should be followed in a high-risk obstetric clinic, and care should be closely coordinated between the obstetrician and rheumatologist.
Clusters of Identical New Mutations Can Account for the “Overdispersed” Molecular Clock

Germ-cell mutations may occur during meiosis, giving rise to independent mutant gametes in a Poisson process, or before meiosis, giving rise to multiple copies of identical mutant gametes at a much higher probability than the Poisson expectation. We report that the occurrence of these early premeiotic clusters of new identical mutant alleles increases the variance-to-mean ratio of mutation rate (R(u) > 1). This leads to an expected variance-to-mean ratio (R(t)) of the molecular clock that is always greater than one and may cover the observed range of R(t) values. Hence, the molecular clock may not be over-dispersed based on this new mutational model that includes clusters. To get a better estimation of R(u) and R(t), one needs measurements of the intrageneration variation of reproductive success (N(i)/N(e(i))), population dynamics (k(i)), and the proportion of new mutations that occur in clusters (r(c)), especially those formed before germ-cell differentiation.
A review of applications of computer games in education and training

Scientists, engineers and educators are increasingly using environments enabled by advanced cyberinfrastructure tools for their research, formal and informal education and training, career development and life-long learning. For instance, academic institutions as well as private training and education companies have recently started to explore the potential of commercially available multi-player computer game engines for the development of virtual environments for instructional purposes. Most of these developments are still in their early stages and are focused mainly on investigating the suitability of interactive games for remote user interaction, content distribution and collaborative activities. Some of the ongoing projects have additional research objectives, such as the analysis of patterns of human behavior and the study of the collaboration between users and their interaction with virtual environments. A few other developments are aimed at utilizing computer game technologies as a platform for personnel training and educational laboratory simulations. This paper provides a review of the current state of computer game applications, with a special focus on education and training implementations.
Major performance characteristics of the DQDB MAC protocol

Major performance characteristics of the DQDB (distributed queue dual bus) MAC (medium access control) protocol in different traffic environments are shown. First, the author addresses throughput unfairness in the default protocol during heavy load periods, and the fact that under such a condition the vital priority mechanism cannot be guaranteed to be effective. He then focuses on the optional bandwidth balancing mechanism which prevents throughput dominance by a single user when other users have heavy-traffic demands, but which sill exhibits a degree of unfair behavior owing to the rather long transients needed to achieve balancing. This particularly affects the low-traffic users. Finally, it is shown that DWDB behaves quite fairly up to high bus loading when sources have equal traffic characteristics, but that again unfairness is observed in asymmetric traffic environments. >
Test Selection Prioritization Strategy

A wide divergence is observed in projects between test activities planned in the test plan and the actual tests that can be executed. Estimates for test execution computed during the planning are inaccurate without test design. The actual time and resources available are usually less than planned. Assuming that time and resources cannot be changed, a dynamic selection of tests for execution that maximizes quality is required.
Relationship between Side Chain Structure and 14-Helix Stability of β3-Peptides in Water

Folded polymers are used in Nature for virtually every vital process. Nonnatural folded polymers, or foldamers, have the potential for similar versatility, and the design and refinement of such molecules is of considerable current interest. Here we report a complete and systematic analysis of the relationship between side chain structure and the 14-helicity of a well-studied class of foldamers, beta(3)-peptides, in water. Our experimental results (1) verify the importance of macrodipole stabilization for maintaining 14-helix structure, (2) provide comprehensive evidence that beta(3)-amino acids branched at the first side chain carbon are 14-helix-stabilizing, (3) suggest a novel role for side chain hydrogen bonding as an additional stabilizing force in beta(3)-peptides containing beta(3)-homoserine or beta(3)-homothreonine, and (4) demonstrate that diverse functionality can be incorporated into a stable 14-helix. Gas- and solution-phase calculations and Monte Carlo simulations recapitulate the experimental trends only in the context of oligomers, yielding insight into the mechanisms behind 14-helix folding. The 14-helix propensities of beta(3)-amino acids differ starkly from the alpha-helix propensities of analogous alpha-amino acids. This contrast informs current models for alpha-helix folding, and suggests that 14-helix folding is governed by different biophysical forces than is alpha-helix folding. The ability to modulate 14-helix structure through side chain choice will assist rational design of 14-helical beta-peptide ligands for macromolecular targets.
Traveling planetary scale waves in the ionosphere

Abstract From an analysis of long distance received daytime VLF phase data over three transmission paths spanning a total of 160° of longitude, and from lower stratospheric radiance data from the SIRS instrument on the Nimbus IV weather satellite, traveling planetary scale waves are shown to exist at about 70 km for the 1970/1971 winter. The VLF phase data are further used in a comparative study of the major mid-winter warming which occurred during this period thereby demonstrating the usefulness of VLF transmissions for studying major mid-winter circulation changes.
The reliability of a hypothesis generation and testing task

The purpose of this paper is to present results of initial experience with a clinical reasoning task which assesses two clearly defined aspects of clinical problem solving. Fourteen senior and 40 junior medical students at the University of Michigan Medical School participated in this study. They were given three clinical reasoning problems--the hypothesis generation and testing tasks (HG & T). As suggested by the name, two specifically defined components of clinical problem-solving, developing the initial hypotheses or differential and then testing hypotheses, were evaluated by these tasks. The findings of this study indicate that hypothesis generation and testing can be reliably evaluated with between seven and ten tasks. The results of this study suggest that reliable assessments of specific components of clinical problem-solving can be developed.
Severe pre-eclampsia remote from term: what to expect of expectant management.

Objective: To describe the duration of expectant management and the indications for termination of expectant management of pregnancies complicated by severe pre-eclampsia remote from term. Study design: We identified pregnancies complicated by severe pre-eclampsia diagnosed between 24 weeks and 31 weeks 6 days at our institution in 1991-98. Pertinent clinical data were obtained from review of maternal and neonatal charts. Comparison of patients was based on the duration of time from admission to delivery: < 48 h (group 1), 48 h to 7 days (group 2), and ≥ 7 days (group 3). Results:A total of 142 women met all study criteria. Seventy-nine (55.6%) women were delivered within 48 h, 42 (29.6%) between 48 h and 7 days, and 21 (14.8%) at ≥ 7 days from diagnosis. Of group 1 patients (< 48 h), 59 (74.7%) were delivered for maternal indications while 20 (25.3%) were delivered for fetal indications. Of group 2 patients (48 h to 7 days), 35 (83.3%) were delivered for maternal indications while seven (16.7%) were deli...
Response Error in Earnings: An Analysis of the Survey of Income and Program Participation Matched With Administrative Data

This article examines the problem of response error in survey earnings data. Comparing workers’ earnings reports in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) to their detailed W-2 earnings records from the Social Security Administration, we employ ordinary least squares (OLS) and quantile regression models to assess the effects of earnings determinants and demographic variables on measurement errors in 2004 SIPP earnings in terms of bias and variance. Results show that measurement errors in earnings are not classical, but mean-reverting. The directions of bias for subpopulations are not constant, but varying across levels of earnings. Highly educated workers more correctly report their earnings than less educated workers at higher earnings levels, but they tend to overreport at lower earnings levels. Black workers with high earnings underreport to a greater degree than comparable whites, while black workers with low earnings overreport to a greater degree. Some subpopulati...
Highly Adaptive Learning for All - Vision and Plan

One of the major global problems is bringing learning to everyone on earth, at all ages. Current lockstep cookie-cutter approaches will not accomplish this, because students differ widely. We need learning that continuously adapts to the needs of each student and that allows each student to stay at an area until mastery is attained, possible now with appropriate computer-based learning units, adaptive tutorial learning. This paper introduces this approach to learning, and discusses how to reach everyone with such units. We suggest beginning with a three year experiment for young children, and if successful with further activities in this direction. Twenty years is estimated to be the time to attain the goal. A detailed schedule is available
THE NATURE OF ANAUXITE

Some of the anauxite grains are single crystals, while others are aggregates. The latter appear to be bound together by an amorphous silica phase. Hot caustic leaching extracts the amorphous silica and breaks up the aggregates producing "fines." Improved characterizations of minor impurities were obtained when the residues from hot caustic treatments were studied with X-ray diffraction techniques.
Bulb of penis as a marker for prostatic apex in external beam radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the relationship between the bulb of the penis and the peak of the urethrogram, and to compare this measurement with the ischial tuberosities (ITs) to peak distance. Methods and materials Pelvic CT scans from 50 consecutive patients with localized prostate cancer were analyzed to identify the penile bulb. Each patient was required to undergo retrograde urethrography during CT-based treatment planning with 3-mm slices. The peak of the urethrogram was defined as the last CT slice in which the contrast dye in the urethra could be visualized. Measurements were taken from the slice containing the most superior aspect of the penile bulb to the last slice of the urethrogram peak. The superior aspect of the penile bulb was defined as the CT slice nearest the peak that contained a bulbous structure at the base of the penis. This distance was defined as the bulb–peak distance. Similarly, the IT–peak distance was recorded for comparison. Results The mean bulb–peak and IT–peak distances were calculated for 47 of 50 patients. The peak of the urethrogram was unable to be evaluated in 3 patients. The mean, median, and range bulb–peak distance was 2.4 mm (SD 1.8), 3 mm, and 0–6 mm, respectively. The mean, median, and range IT–peak distance was 20.1 mm (SD 6.6), 21 mm, and 6–33 mm, respectively. No patient had the bulb located above the apex of the urethrogram. Conclusion The bulb of the penis is a relatively consistent soft-tissue landmark compared with the ITs and is located an average of 3 mm below the peak of the urethrogram. Therefore, the bulb of the penis is another landmark for the identification of the prostatic apex and is less invasive than retrograde urethrography.
Marx, Tocqueville and Race in America: The “Absolute Democracy” or “Defiled Republic.”

Marx, Tocqueville and Race in America: The “Absolute Democracy” or “Defiled Republic.” By August H. Nimtz, Jr. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2003. 314p. $90.00 cloth, $26.95 paper. Something Alexis de Tocqueville said about the irritable patriotism of the Americans might be just as easily applied to his own political theory. One would gladly agree to praise much in Tocqueville's writings if one were occasionally permitted to be critical of him. This book serves as a much-needed reminder that he was not omniscient, that he did not get everything right in his visit to America, and that he was never unequivocally on the side of radical participatory democracy. Bringing Marx's critical thoughts on race to bear on Tocqueville's vision of America as the “absolute democracy,” this book focuses on the fascinating question of why Tocqueville and Marx saw America in such radically different ways—as the vanguard of democratic equality, on the one hand, or as the epitome of racial inequality, on the other. How can these two mutually exclusive critical visions be reconciled? This book's animating premise is every bit as promising as its execution is disappointing, at least with respect to Tocqueville.
Diseases of the Scalp

The scalp is far more important than its small surface area would suggest. It is usually the first part the infant presents to the world and is responsible for much cosmetic concern throughout life. In the general scheme of organization, regional dermatology is an easy way to categorize many diseases. This article will review several regional dermatoses that affect the scalp more commonly than other sites. There will be no attempt to discuss all diseases that may occur on the scalp, particularly those that have more important or characteristic manifestations at other body sites. Diseases of the scalp can be conveniently grouped into those that are congenital, those that are acquired, and those that are associated with normal or abnormal amounts of hair loss (Table 1). The reader will rapidly appreciate that it is difficult to separate some diseases of the scalp from primary hair disorders, particularly when the mouth of the follicle or the hair root is the primary target. It is also useful to organize scalp diseases in a roughly chronologic sequence from birth through maturity and senescence (Table 2). Diseases that commonly occur prior to puberty are frequently not seen after that time; they are replaced by a variety of problems related to hormonal changes.
Use of Decomposition Theory in the Solution of the State Assignment Problem of Sequential Machines

Decomposition theory principles are used in developing a method of obtaining low-cost state variable assignments for sequential machines
Renaissance Surgeons: Anatomy, Manual Skill and the Visual Arts

By the second half of the sixteenth century, anatomy had become a conflicted resource for surgeons. Emphasized in a clinical context, anatomical experience was connected not only to less error, but to a practitioner’s violent approach to the living body of the patient. Taking the case study of two practitioners in late sixteenth-century Venice, this essay explores the problem of anatomy and the emergence of a more robust language of manual skill, with terms drawn from the visual arts.
Quality of Life Issues in Research and Clinical Practice

This chapter summarizes current knowledge related to quality of life in general and application of this knowledge to the head and neck cancer patient. People diagnosed with head and neck cancer often experience a wide range of symptoms and substantial impairment in basic human functions, such as difficulty eating, speaking, and breathing. These problems may occur as a result of the cancer and/or treatment. While many of these problems are associated with treatment and are time-limited, others may be long-lasting and irreversible. Information related to quality of life is essential for understanding the full impact of head and neck cancer and how people’s lives change as a result. How to best assess quality of life in people with head and neck cancer, however, remains controversial given the lack of a gold standard for quality of life assessment. This chapter will address: (1) definitions and conceptual issues associated with quality of life; (2) factors influencing quality of life measurement, such as choosing an appropriate instrument; (3) common quality of life issues in people with head and neck cancer; (4) using quality of life information in research; and (5) using quality of life information in clinical practice.
Usability and Profits in the Digital Economy

With a third of the of the world’s $60 trillion economy going online by 2010, usability issues become critical to corporate survival. To increase their value in this new business landscape, e-commerce HCI professionals must expand their understanding of marketing issues driving the digital economy. Areas that have been the exclusive domain of marketers such as branding, customer service, store shopping behaviour, consumer loyalty, pricing strategies, product displays, privacy, and trust now require a detailed understanding of human—computer interaction to maximise the quality of the customer experience. Firms should be investing in a total customer experience strategy that includes usability issues. Small changes in the interface can impact the quality of the customer experience and the profitability of companies. Thus, the ability of HCI professionals to contribute to the profitability of firms in the digital economy is enormous. This paper explores five years of research documenting how HCI issues impact profitability online.
A NEW REFRACTOMETRIC METHOD OF INVESTIGATION FOR THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN FRESH AND FROZEN

A new method of differentiation between fresh and frozen meat is introduced, based on the measure of an indicator called “residual solid content of the blood”. This freshly generated parameter derives from the index of refraction of the re-solubilized fraction in distilled water of the blood extracted from the edible that has interacted with the polypropylene of the Eppendorf Safe-Lock Tubes™, and it is measured through a simple hand-held refractometer. Aim of this research is to provide a simple, reproducible and inexpensive procedure of quality control investigation, especially designed for the application against the frauds in the tertiary sector.
Understanding and Managing the Ictal-Interictal Continuum in Neurocritical Care

Continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring has become an invaluable tool for the assessment of brain function in critically ill patients. However, interpretation of EEG waveforms, especially in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting is fraught with ambiguity. The term ictal-interictal continuum encompasses EEG patterns that are potentially harmful and can cause neuronal injury. There are no clear guidelines on how to treat EEG patterns that lie on this continuum. We advocate the following approaches in a step wise manner: (1) identify and exclude clear electrographic seizures and status epilepticus (SE), i.e., generalized spike-wave discharges at 3/s or faster; and clearly evolving discharges of any type (rhythmic, periodic, fast activity), whether focal or generalized; (2) exclude clear interictal patterns, i.e., spike-wave discharges, periodic discharges, and rhythmic patterns at 1/s or slower with no evolution, unless accompanied by a clear clinical correlate, which would make them ictal regardless of the frequency; (3) consider any EEG patterns that lie in between the above two categories as being on the ictal-interictal continuum; (4) compare the electrographic pattern of the ictal-incterictal continuum to the normal background and unequivocal seizures (if present) from the same patient; (5) when available, correlate ictal-interictal continuum pattern with other markers of neuronal injury such as neuronal specific enolase (NSE) levels, brain imaging findings, depth electrode recordings, data from microdialysis, intracranial pressure fluctuations, and brain oxygen measurement; and (6) perform a diagnostic trial with preferably a nonsedating antiepileptic drug with the endpoint being both clinical and electrographic improvement. Minimize the use of anesthetics or multiple AEDs unless there is clear supporting evidence from ancillary tests or worsening of the EEG patterns over time, which could indicate possible neuronal injury.
Chronic lung injury in preterm lambs: disordered pulmonary elastin deposition

Prolonged mechanical ventilation of premature neonates is often associated with abnormal morphological development of the lung and chronic lung disease, sometimes called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Impaired alveolar development is a hallmark of this disease. To better understand the effects of mechanical ventilation on lung elastin expression, we studied lung tissue from 10 preterm lambs (gestation = 125 days; term = 148 days) mechanically ventilated for 3-4 wk at a respirator rate of 20 breaths/min and tidal volume of 15 +/- 5 ml/kg (n = 5) or 60 breaths/min and tidal volume of 5 +/- 2 ml/kg (n = 5). Histopathology showed increased elastin accumulation and abnormal morphological development in the ventilated groups. Postmortem lung desmosine content was increased significantly in the 20 breaths/min group. Tropoelastin mRNA expression was increased in both ventilated groups. In situ hybridization localized increased tropoelastin mRNA expression to sites of accumulated elastin in extended alveolar walls with scant, attenuated secondary crests. Lung collagen content, as assessed by the amount of hydroxyproline in lung tissue, was similar to controls. These data suggest that excessive production and accumulation of elastin is associated with chronic lung injury from prolonged mechanical ventilation after premature birth.
Heterodimensional transistor technology for attojoule electronics

Heterodimensional transistor technology using sideway depletion of the two-dimensional electron gas allows for the smooth transition from the classical to quantum regime and has demonstrated operation in the tens of attojoules switching regime. The use of the device sizes down to 10 nm and transition to the ballistic or quasi-ballistic regime should allow reducing the switching energy down to the attojoule range. Very large photo gains measured in heterodimensional transistors are related to the hole trapping in the device channel and make it possible to register optical signals in the attowatt range.
The clinical features and long time follow-up of neonatal lupus erythematosus in 12 children

Objective To investigate the the clinical features and long-term prognosis of neonatal lupus erythematosus(NLE).Methods The clinical manifestations of patients and their mothers were summarized and analyzed.Their autoantibodies were detected,and long term follow-up was carried out.Results ①12 NLE cases,7 males and 5 females,all had lesions on skin.11 cases had hematologic changes,6 of them were with hepar impairments,and 4 cases had heart impairment.The antinuclear antibody and anti-SSA/Ro were positive in all cases.The anti-SSB/La was positive in 5 cases.The anti-dsDNA antibody was positive in 4 cases.Antibody against U1-RNP was positive in 4 cases,the level of ESR was higher in 6 cases.The alanine aminotransferase levels in 6 cases were higher than those in normal infants.②11 mothers had no symptom before pregnancy,one had solar dermatitis.7 mothers manifested solar dermatitis and light desquamation during the second trimester of pregnancy.2 had fever,hair loss and cytopenia.2 presented with rash and hair loss one month after delivery.The antinuclear antibody and anti-SSA/Ro antibody were positive in all mothers,the anti-SSB/La antibody was positive in 5 mothers,the anti-ds-DNA antibody was positive in 4 mothers,antibody against U1-RNP was positive in 4 mothers,the level of ESR was higher in 5 mothers.③Among the 12 cases,11 cases were followed-up for 18 months to 12 years,one case died from complete right bundle branch block.The hematologic changes and the hepatic impairment returned to normal,cutaneous lesions and autoantibodies disappeared about 6 to 12 months after birth in the 11 cases,at the time when maternal antibodies exhausted in the neonatal circulation.One case was diagnosed as JIA when he was 3 years old.Another case had recurrent rash when he was 12 years old,the ANA titer was 1∶320 and the anti ds-DNA antibody was negative.Ten mothers were diagnosed as SLE and two mothers were Sjogren′s syndrome.Conclusions The clinical manifestations of NLE include cardiac conduction disturbances,transient cutaneous lesions,cytopenia,hepatic impairment,etc.The long-term prognosis for children with NLE is still under investigation and some infants with NLE may progress to other autoimmune diseases later in the childhood.
Providing clinical pharmacy services in an AIDS--oncology ambulatory-care clinic

The activities of a pharmacist in an ambulatory-care AIDS-oncology clinic are described. In December 1984, the chief of the AIDS Activities Division of San Francisco General Hospital's Department of Medicine hired a clinical pharmacist to develop the pharmacokinetics sections of investigational drug protocols, provide drug therapy consultations, and supervise the reorganization of the drug storage and inventory system. Since joining the clinic staff, the pharmacist has become active in a variety of clinical, research, and educational activities. The pharmacist conducts weekly medication refill clinics and developed drug information sheets for clinic patients and health-care professionals. The pharmacist also supervises timely collection of blood samples for serum drug concentration determinations and helps to prepare the investigational drugs for dispensing. The pharmacist developed policies and procedures for the safe handling of antineoplastic agents and standardized the accountability procedures for investigational drugs. The pharmacist also serves as a liaison between the clinic and the hospital's department of pharmacy and as a preceptor of pharmacy students and residents. A clinical pharmacist can make an important contribution to the research and patient-care activities in an AIDS-oncology clinic.
Review: low-molecular-weight heparin is more effective than unfractionated heparin for preventing reinfarction in STEMI.

Source Citation Eikelboom JW, Quinlan DJ, Mehta SR, et al. Unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparin as adjuncts to thrombolysis in aspirin-treated patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial...
Preoperative gait mechanics predict clinical response to total hip arthroplasty

Some patients do not have an adequate clinical response to total hip arthroplasty (THA) for reasons that are not fully understood. Identifying modifiable factors that are associated with nonresponse could lead to new ways to identify and treat potential nonresponders. This study investigated whether any preoperative gait characteristics were associated with THA clinical response, and whether or not there were corresponding postoperative gait differences in THA nonresponders compared to responders. A secondary analysis was conducted of 124 subjects (age 61 ± 10 years; 64 female/60 male), evaluated before and 1 year after primary unilateral THA, using quantitative gait analysis and Harris Hip Scores (HHS). Responders and nonresponders were identified using the OMERACT-OARSI responder criteria, modified for use with the HHS. Pre- and postoperative dynamic sagittal plane range of motion (ROM) and 3D peak external moments were compared, for responders and nonresponders, using t-tests and logistic regression. 11.3% of subjects were nonresponders. Before surgery, the ROM was 26% higher for nonresponders than responders, but the peak external rotation moment was 30% lower (p = 0.003-0.043). Preoperative gait and HHS predicted response with a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 99.1%. There were persistent postoperative deficits in the peak external rotation moment in nonresponders compared to responders (p = 0.028). This study showed that gait analysis, where available, can augment clinical scores in predicting THA response. Moreover, it suggests that further analysis of the subtle role of transverse plane hip mechanics could lead to interventions to promote better THA response. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:366-376, 2017.
The Pedagogical Approach to Sex Differences

In the previous chapters we looked at the ways in which psychology, endocrinology and sociology have dealt with sex differences in personality. However, as we discussed in the introduction, this has become the province primarily of pedagogy. The interest of educational theorists in the subject began in the 1960s, as a consequence of the debate on whether a form of sex education was advisable in Soviet schools. Yet although a sizeable trickle of articles and books appeared over the following decade, from the late 1970s this turned into a torrent. A. G. Khripkova and D. V. Kolesov, two of the most prolific of the later writers, implicitly suggest that the earlier material is without value when they remark, in 1979, that, ‘In the available literature of the past 30 to 40 years, we have not encountered any scientific work on this subject’.1 None the less, though the later writings are generally dressed up in a more academic style, the pedagogical understanding of sex differences in personality has not changed. To make this clear we will begin by looking at some of the earlier writings before turning to the glut of more recent literature.