cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical, Fire Retardant, Water Absorption and Soil Biodegradation Properties of Poly(3-hydroxy-butyrate-co-3-valerate) Nanofilms

Biopolymers provide potential substitution to synthetic polymers derived from scarce petroleum materials which are not environmental friendly and biodegradable. However, there exists challenging or unanswered questions for biopolymers to be used in biomedical, film packaging, automobile, construction and commercial industries such as their mechanical performance, thermal and fire retardancy, and durability when exposed to water. In this study, we investigated one such potential biopolymer, poly(3-hydroxy-butyrate-co-3-valerate) (PHBV) for the aforementioned properties. At first, 0–15 wt% halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was dispersed in PHBV polymer using ultrasonication process in presence of chloroform solvent. The solvent was then evaporated and PHBV/HNTs films were prepared by solution casting method. PHBV films without HNTs (neat) were also prepared for baseline comparison. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and tensile tests were then performed to study the thermal and mechanical properties of these films. The horizontal burning test (HBT) was also carried out to investigate the fire retardancy behavior. Finally, the water absorption and soil biodegradability behavior of these composites were investigated by submerging the films in water and Alabama soil conditions. PHBV films with 3 wt% loading showed optimum enhancement in thermal stability and tensile properties. In contrast, films with 10–15 wt% HNTs loading showed superior fire-retardancy, better water resistance and faster soil degradation over neat counterpart.
Randomized controlled trial of a clinical decision support system for painful polyneuropathy

INTRODUCTION Despite the existence of guidelines, painful neuropathy is often inappropriately treated. We sought to determine the effectiveness of a clinical decision support system on guideline-recommended medication use. METHODS We randomized neurology providers, stratified by subspecialty, to a best practice alert (BPA) linked to a Smartset or a BPA alone when seeing patients with neuropathy. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with uncontrolled nerve pain prescribed a guideline-recommended medication. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess effectiveness. RESULTS Seventy-five neurology providers (intervention 38, control 37) treated 2697 patients with neuropathy (intervention 1026, control 671). Providers did not acknowledge the BPA in 1928 (71.5%) visits. Only four of eight intervention arm neurologists who treated patients with uncontrolled nerve pain opened the Smartset. The intervention was not associated with guideline-recommended medication use (odds ratio 0.52, 0.18-1.48; intervention 52%, control 54.8%). DISCUSSION Our intervention did not improve prescribing practices for painful neuropathy. Physicians typically ignored the BPAs/Smartset; therefore, future studies should mandate their use or employ alternate strategies.
North-South Interdependence, Development and Trade

This paper discusses issues arising from development centred on the satisfaction of basic needs, and more generally, questions of distribution and of North-South relations. A critical review is made of prevalent approaches to development and trade, which are based on economic theories that disregard some of the most important aspect of interdependence at present. An economic model of trade and distribution for another development is discussed, which model emerges from recent work. It questions the role of the international market as an "engine of growth" and reavaluate some of the more wide-spread economic notions on the role of this market in shaping distribution of wealth among the regions and within them. The results may explain the persistence of certain patterns of inequality and of international division of labour which support them. Policy conclusions for more equal distribution, and more efficient and self-sustaining development patterns are briefly discussed.
Geosynthetics in geo-infrastructure applications

Abstract Geosynthetic materials primarily made of various polymers provide excellent durability and have been increasingly used in civil and transportation infrastructure projects. The authors described an overview of the various geosynthetic materials, brief details on manufacturing processes, and various application areas in infrastructure works. Four infrastructure case studies using different geosynthetic materials including geocells, geotextiles, geofoam, geofibers, and others are described to explain the role of these materials in enhancing the performance of transportation and civil infrastructure including pavements, bridge approach slabs, dams, and embankments. The relevant material properties and design methodologies applied are also described in these case studies. Overall, it can be mentioned that geosynthetic polymeric materials and their durable performance characteristics make them excellent materials for the construction and renovation of civil infrastructure works. Sustainability and life cycle cost studies will provide more insights into these materials and how they can reduce maintenance costs in the longer design life periods.
A patient-specific model of reactive air pollutant uptake in proximal airways of the lung: Effect of tracheal deviation

Abstract We present a three-dimensional dosimetry model to examine the influence of proximal airway deformations such as the tracheal deviation that often occur in the setting of fibrotic lung disease, on transport and uptake of inhaled reactive air pollutants in the human lung. Anatomically-accurate models of proximal airways are reconstructed from high-resolution multidimensional computer tomography (MDCT) scans of healthy and fibrotic adult male lungs. Numerical simulation of pollutant transport and reaction within the virtual airways is then performed to determine the toxicant flux distribution at the airway wall. For quasi-steady inspiratory flow under rest conditions, the flow structure and toxicant concentration distribution in the fibrotic lung are qualitatively different from those in the healthy lung, thereby leading to significantly different patterns of elevated toxicant flux at the airway walls. In contrast to the healthy lung where regions of elevated wall flux are primarily confined to the carina and subsequent bifurcations, hotspots of flux in the disease-modified lung are more widely distributed in the distal trachea and the main bronchi where secondary flow generated by the tracheal deviation persists. This leads to much larger fractional uptake of toxicant in the trachea and main bronchi of the fibrotic lung.
A benchmark dataset for individual tree crown delineation in co-registered airborne RGB, LiDAR and hyperspectral imagery from the National Ecological Observation Network

Broad scale remote sensing promises to build forest inventories at unprecedented scales. A crucial step in this process is designing individual tree segmentation algorithms to associate pixels into delineated tree crowns. While dozens of tree delineation algorithms have been proposed, their performance is typically not compared based on standard data or evaluation metrics, making it difficult to understand which algorithms perform best under what circumstances. There is a need for an open evaluation benchmark to minimize differences in reported results due to data quality, forest type and evaluation metrics, and to support evaluation of algorithms across a broad range of forest types. Combining RGB, LiDAR and hyperspectral sensor data from the National Ecological Observatory Network Airborne Observation Platform with multiple types of evaluation data, we created a novel benchmark dataset to assess individual tree delineation methods. This benchmark dataset includes an R package to standardize evaluation metrics and simplify comparisons between methods. The benchmark dataset contains over 6,000 image-annotated crowns, 424 field-annotated crowns, and 3,777 overstory stem points from a wide range of forest types. In addition, we include over 10,000 training crowns for optional use. We discuss the different evaluation sources and assess the accuracy of the image-annotated crowns by comparing annotations among multiple annotators as well as to overlapping field-annotated crowns. We provide an example submission and score for an open-source baseline for future methods.
The importance of palpation in the skin cancer screening examination.

With the recent unprecedented shift toward contactless healthcare solutions, providers should recall the value that proper palpation adds to dermatologic practice. We present a case that demonstrates the limitations of touchless care and how proper palpation during skin cancer examinations may impact cosmetic outcomes. Our patient is an 86-year-old male patient with Sezary syndrome and monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis whose squamous cell carcinoma invasion was missed by visual inspection alone. He delayed treatment of his biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma for 15 months. On follow-up, visual examination only showed a well-healed biopsy scar, and treatment was delayed another 2 months. Finally, thorough physical examination found perineural invasion. This helped guide the Mohs approach, but due to the delays resulted in a larger final defect and poorer cosmetic outcomes. Proper, deep palpation of skin lesions, especially prior biopsy sites, is imperative to the treatment of skin cancer in cosmetically sensitive areas. Biopsy scars on the face often heal well, and visual only inspection may miss crucial details. This case also reminds dermatologists of the importance of patient education in the prompt treatment of skin cancer for the best cosmetic outcomes.
The Development of Water Supplies and Water Conservation

People have used Chino Basin groundwater and the surface streams in the basin for many years. The primary early use was for agriculture (including ranching as well as crop cultivation) and household supply. Over time, as development of the area proceeded and water use grew, the first efforts to enhance and protect the basin’s water resources were initiated, which included the capture and retention of stream flows to encourage groundwater replenishment. Multiple water companies, water agencies, and water associations were formed during the early 1900s and many participated in these conservation and protection efforts. Those efforts had ramifications for downstream users outside Chino Basin as well. Communities and individual users organized the Chino Basin Protective Association for several purposes but especially to guard against downstream efforts to limit Chino Basin water production and water conservation activities. This chapter traces the growth of developed water use in the basin from the 1800s into the twentieth century, and the formation of the Protective Association.
Diurnal Rhythms in Cholinergic Modulation of Rapid Dopamine Signals in the Striatum

Circadian rhythms and diurnal (light/dark) entrainment are evident in many systems within the central nervous system. Dysregulation of these rhythms, including those of the dopamine system, plays a role in the etiology and symptomatology of a wide range of psychiatric disorders. We report several critical and previously undiscovered functions in the rhythms of both rapid dopamine signals and cholinergic interneurons (CIN) working in concert within the rodent striatum. First, we report dopamine signal-to-noise varies substantially across time of day and phasic signals are magnified during times in the circadian cycle when reward seeking (for food, reproduction, etc.) would be most advantageous. Second, we show CINs provide the mechanism for diurnal variation in rapid dopamine signals; by serving as a gain function to dopamine signal-to-noise that adjusts across time of day. We conclude that CINs vary their influence directly via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors located on dopamine varicosities across time of day.
Prevalence of primary immune thrombocytopenia and related healthcare resource utilization among Texas Medicaid beneficiaries.

To estimate the prevalence of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and describe ITP-associated healthcare resource utilization (HRU) among Texas Medicaid beneficiaries.A retrospective analysis usi...
Autoimmune thyroid disease in children with diabetes and adolescents: A single center study from south Punjab.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) in diabetic children in south Punjab. Methods: This was an observational cross sectional study from Jan 2019 to Dec 2019 in the outpatient diabetic clinic of the department of pediatric endocrinology at Children Hospital and The Institute of Child Health Multan. A total of 161 consecutive patients of both genders with TIDM were enrolled in this study after taking informed consent. Blood samples for Thyroid functions testes including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (fT4), Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab), thyroglobulin antibody (TG-Ab) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) level were sent. Results: Among diabetic children males were 83 (51.6%). Age range was 2-15 years. Mean age and standard deviation was 9.7± 4.3. TPO-Ab was positive in 34 patients (21.1%) and TG-Ab in 27 patients (16.7%), whereas both antibodies were positive in 17 patients (10.5%). Six patients (3.7%) had evidence of subclinical hypothyroidism, 8 patients (4.9%) had overt hypothyroidism and 1 patient (0.62%) had hyperthyroidism Conclusion: The prevalence of AITD among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus was 21.1% in our study. Hypothyroidism was more prevalent in these children compared to hyperthyroidism. All diabetic children should be screened for AITD. Thyroid functions should be checked where TPO antibody is positive. Keywords: Autoimmune thyroid disease, anti thyroid peroxidase antibody, anti thyroglobulin Continuous...
Reactive oxygen species, proinflammatory and immunosuppressive mediators induced in COVID-19: overlapping biology with cancer

This review analyzes the published literature linking the different mechanisms focused on oxidative stress and inflammation that contribute to COVID-19 disease severity. The objective is to bring together potential proinflammatory mechanisms of COVID-19 pathogenesis and address mitigation strategies using naturally occurring compounds and FDA-approved drugs. Outstanding questions addressed include the following: What is the mechanistic basis for linking enhanced vulnerability in COVID-19 to increased oxidative damage and proinflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines), especially in high-risk people? Can we repurpose anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents to mitigate inflammation in COVID-19 patients? How does 2-deoxy-d-glucose function as an anti-COVID drug? COVID-19, cancer biology, and immunotherapy share many mechanistic similarities. Repurposing drugs that already have been FDA-approved for mitigating inflammation and immunosuppression in cancer may be a way to counteract disease severity, progression, and chronic inflammation in COVID-19. What are the long-term effects of reactive oxygen species-inducing immune cells and sustained inflammation in so-called long-haulers (long COVID) after recovery from COVID-19? Can we use mitochondria-targeted agents prophylactically to prevent inflammation and boost immunity in long-haulers? Addressing the oxidative chemical biology of COVID-19 and the mechanistic commonalities with cancer may provide new insights potentially leading to appropriate clinical trials and new treatments.
From Therapy to Teletherapy: Relocating Mental Health Services Online

Numerous studies have highlighted a range of potential benefits of teletherapy for clients. Nonetheless, researchers have found that many therapists are reluctant to adopt teletherapy in their work practice. There is a dearth of research about how therapists have appropriated telehealth platforms, either to understand teletherapy practice or to understand the challenges and opportunities for system design. The COVID-19 pandemic offers an unfortunate but unique opportunity to learn more about the experiences of therapists who use a range of therapeutic interventions with a range of client populations. In this work, we explore the following research question: in what ways do telehealth platforms support and challenge the work of teletherapy? We present results of semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 mental health therapists during the first six months of the pandemic in the United States. We present a descriptive account of their experiences as well as a discussion of the ways in which the multi-layered and interdependent nature of two facets of therapeutic work---the therapeutic alliance and the therapeutic interventions---made the transition to computer-supported cooperative work particularly challenging. We then offer a suite of design implications for systems that better support the nuanced and unique work of teletherapy.
Impact of direct seeded rice technology adoption on farm income in Punjab

The study isolates the impact of DSR technology on farm household well-beings in the state of Punjab using PSM technique on data pertaining to 2017-18. The results conclude that adopters of DSR technology have reduced their labor cost, and irrigation cost significantly, besides a marginal improvement in yield of paddy. The cost cutting on inputs and a slight improvement in yield due to this technology yielded a higher net income of about Rs. 8100/ ha compared to non adopters.
Race and Politics in Britain

Thinking about race in British politics beyond the colourblindness of political studies. Part 1 The historical context: British history, black people and British capitalism the British Raj and aftermath the Victorians and scientific racism the other white minorities early 20th- century attitudes towards race early black political activism. Part 2 The social-demography of multi-racial Britain: size and location of black Britons patterns of immigration geographic distribution age and gender jobs and housing. Part 3 Problems of a multi-racial society: the rising political saliency of immigration, 1945-1962 building the new liberal consensus. Part 4 Race and party politics: industrial recovery and labour shortages, 1948-1976 the populist ticket, 1976-1983 one-nation Toryism versus radical race politics, 1983-1991. Part 5 Black political participation: ethnic votes and voting - definition and interpretation black voting patterns a profile of black electoral behaviour the routes to representation. Part 6 The politics of race, nation and culture: the Powell legacy the rise and fall of the extreme right the New Right agenda. Part 7 Concluding remarks: the political analysis of race liberals and their critics future prospects.
Tomographic imaging for border security applications

Efficient Non-Intrusive Inspection(NII) systems with high throughput are required for screening cargo containers at sea, air and land ports. Of all the available NII techniques, systems employing high energy X-rays have become very popular. Though well established, the probability of detecting contraband goods in the radiographic image obtained using conventional high energy X-ray systems is a function of operator skill and the orientation of the contraband material inside the container. In this paper, we present a limited-view tomography technique capable of reconstructing 2D tomograms of 3D objects. Such a system can be used in border security applications for screening cargo.
Electrocardiographic mirror pattern studies. I. Experimental validity tests of the dipole hypothesis and of the central terminal theory.

Abstract 1. 1. A theoretical analysis is made of the mirror image electrocardiograms which are often found at anatomically opposite positions across the heart. 2. 2. A cancellation technique is proposed whereby similar parts of presumed mirror patterns are cancelled leaving only the unbalanceable portion as a residual. 3. 3. A cancellation coefficient has been devised which permits quantitative evaluation of mirror pattern excellence. 4. 4. Use of a polar cardioscope is proposed for detailed study of electrocardiographic patterns over a lengthy observation period and is found valuable experimentally. 5. 5. A double exposure photographic method is utilized to establish cancellation axes visually within the body. 6. 6. The existence of deceptive “false” mirror patterns is pointed out and demonstrated. 7. 7. The importance of exact phase coincidence for cancellation is emphasized. 8. 8. True mirror patterns of good cancellation excellence are not rare and most patterns have good mirror images, but some noncancellable patterns are found.
Diagrams in the Mind and in the World: Relations between Internal and External Visualizations

Recent advances in computer technology and graphics have made it possible to produce powerful visualizations of scientific phenomena and more abstract information. There is currently much excitement about the potential of these computer visualizations, particularly in education and training in science, technology and medicine. This paper examines three possible relations that might exist between internal and external visualization. First, external visualizations might substitute for internal visualizations. Second their comprehension and use may depend on internal visualizations. Third, they might augment and be augmented by internal visualizations. By reviewing these possibilities, it is argued that the design of external visualizations should be informed by research on internal visualization skills, and that the development of technologies for external visualizations calls for more research on the nature of internal visualization abilities.
A Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase from Micrococcus luteus (Micrococcus lysodeikticus) Isolated on Deoxyribonucleic Acid-Cellulose

A deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase from Micrococcus luteus has been isolated by allowing it to bind to its substrate, DNA, attached to a solid matrix of cellulose and subsequent detachment from the DNA by high salt concentrations. This approach has permitted the isolation of a highly purified enzyme by easy and reproducible methods from a partially purified preparation in which the polymerase is only a minor constituent. The enzyme preparations are quite active with DNA primers, almost entirely free of endo- or exonucleases, and extremely stable in the presence of DNA and other nucleotide polymers, or in high salt solution. At low salt concentrations, however, activity is rapidly lost. The active polymerase in high salt has a sedimentation rate of about 7 S. Kinetic studies indicate that the interactions between the polymerase-DNA structure and the deoxynucleoside triphosphates and Mg++ or Mn++ are complex. It can be calculated from DNA saturation data that there are only one or two sites of initiation on helical linear DNA molecules, and that reinitiation on a synthetic complex does not occur. DNA synthesis stops when a doubling of the added primer is reached.
Qualified Syllogisms with Fuzzy Predicates

A previous publication introduced the logic Q for qualified syllogisms, which formalizes arguments such as "Most birds can fly; Tweety is a bird; therefore it is likely that Tweety can fly". This provided a probabilistic semantics for fuzzy quantifiers most, many, few, etc., fuzzy usuality modifiers usually, often, seldom, etc., and fuzzy likelihood modifiers likely, uncertain, unlikely, etc.. That work dealt only with crisp nonfuzzy predicates like Bird and CanFly, however. The present work proposes a simple and intuitively natural way to expand the semantics of Q so as to accommodate syllogisms such as "Most Swedes are tall; Helge is a Swede; therefore it is likely that Helge is tall", where tall is a fuzzy predicate. To accomplish this, a formulation of the notion of the probability of a fuzzy event is proposed. It is shown that the new semantics validates the intended syllogisms as well as numerous other propositions and rules, including a rendition of the axioms and inference rules of classical first-order predicate calculus. These results may be viewed as steps toward future applications. A future work will follow the lines of the previous work and show how Q thus extended may be employed for nonmonotonic reasoning with fuzzy predicates.[a]
The Role of Probiotic Cultures in the Prevention of Colon Cancer

Risk factors for colon cancer include both hereditary and environmental factors. Dietary patterns represent controllable risk factors for the development of colon cancer. Much attention has focused on decreasing colon cancer risk through increasing intake of dietary fiber; recently, this has included interest in the consumption of prebiotics and probiotics. Because factors involved in the initiation and promotion of colon cancer might be separated in time from actual tumor development, it is difficult to choose outcomes or end points that are definitive indicators of efficacy of probiotics or prebiotics. Studies that have explored the cause-effect relationship directly have used animal models. In this review, we have confined our discussion to animal studies from the last 10 years that have examined most directly the relationship between prebiotic and probiotic consumption and colon cancer development. To present the consensus of these studies first, it appears that probiotics with or without prebiotics have an inhibitory effect on the development of aberrant crypts (precancerous lesions) and tumors in animal models. The effect is not completely consistent and is small in some studies, but this may represent a dose or time effect.
The role of perception of time in consumer research.

Consumer decision process models seem to assume a particular perception of time usually associated with European-Americans. The models need to be expanded to be really applicable for people who hold different perceptions of time. This paper reviews three different perceptions of time, and shows how changes in the models are necessary to accurately understand the behavior of people who hold these different perceptions.
HUMAN GAIT CHARACTERISTICS

WALKING, as the most common method of human locomotion, is analyzed. Characteristic patterns of walking are described. Conventional methods for describing gait in objective terms are discussed and illustrated. These include electrical and optical techniques for obtaining the temporal, kinematic and kinetic measures. The most recent instrumentation used by the New York University Biomechanics Group in its continuing research in locomotion, “Elgons”, linear and angular accelerometers and circuitry associated with these, are described. Analytic methods, vector and harmonic analysis, for the interpretation of the recorded data are presented. The more significant differences between normal and pathological gait are discussed. The application of these techniques to the evaluation of the more complex prosthetic devices are described and other possible applications are also reviewed.
Obsessive–compulsive disorder

Obsessive–compulsive disorder is a well-defined clinical syndrome which has been very difficult to treat with standard psychotherapies and medications. There is a ‘hidden epidemic’ of silent sufferers who will begin seeking treatment as general knowledge of the efficacy of serotinin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants and behavioral therapy becomes widespread. The serotonin model requires us to reconceptualize the monoamine reuptake inhibitors as more than antidepressants and raises the issue of whether there is a commonality in the biology of compulsions, impulsivity, bulimia, and suicide.
New projection optical system for beyond 150-nm patterning with KrF and ArF sources

Two types of new optical system for 150 nm lithography are studied. One is the system with KrF source and high numerical aperture (NA), the other is the system with ArF source. By aerial image simulation, the adequate NA of each projection lens is searched, and the value was 0.68 for KrF source and 0.60 for ArF source. Then the projection lens is fabricated and evaluated. The results are almost same as those of simulation.
Scalar- and planar-valued curve fitting using splines under tension

The spline under tension was introduced by Schweikert in an attempt to imitate cubic splines but avoid the spurious critical points they induce. The defining equations are presented here, together with an efficient method for determining the necessary parameters and computing the resultant spline. The standard scalar-valued curve fitting problem is discussed, as well as the fitting of open and closed curves in the plane. The use of these curves and the importance of the tension in the fitting of contour lines are mentioned as application.
Intermolecular C−H Bond Activation Reactions Promoted by Transient Titanium Alkylidynes. Synthesis, Reactivity, Kinetic, and Theoretical Studies of the Ti⋮C Linkage

The neopentylidene−neopentyl complex (PNP)TiCHtBu(CH2tBu) (2; PNP- = N[2-P(CHMe2)2-4-methylphenyl]2), prepared from the precursor (PNP)TiCHtBu(OTf) (1) and LiCH2tBu, extrudes neopentane in neat benzene under mild conditions (25 °C) to generate the transient titanium alkylidyne, (PNP)Ti⋮CtBu (A), which subsequently undergoes 1,2-CH bond addition of benzene across the Ti⋮C linkage to generate (PNP)TiCHtBu(C6H5) (3). Kinetic, mechanistic, and theoretical studies suggest the C−H activation process to obey pseudo-first-order in titanium, the α-hydrogen abstraction to be the rate-determining step (KIE for 2/2-d3 conversion to 3/3-d3 = 3.9(5) at 40 °C) with activation parameters ΔH⧧ = 24(7) kcal/mol and ΔS⧧ = −2(3) cal/mol·K, and the post-rate-determining step to be C−H bond activation of benzene (primary KIE = 1.03(7) at 25 °C for the intermolecular C−H activation reaction in C6H6 vs C6D6). A KIE of 1.33(3) at 25 °C arose when the intramolecular C−H activation reaction was monitored with 1,3,5-C6H3D3. For the a...
Short wavelength fluctuations and electron heat conductivity in enhanced reversed shear plasmas

Abstract Short wavelength fluctuations with k ∼ ω pe c and kϱi ∼ 5 are detected by microwave scattering in TFTR plasmas with reversed magnetic shear. They propagate in the ion diamagnetic drift direction with a frequency below the ion diamagnetic drift frequency in the frame of reference where Er = 0. The variation of the fluctuation amplitude in the plasma core correlates with the variation of the local electron heat conductivity, suggesting that these fluctuations may be the cause of anomalous electron heat transport in these plasmas.
On the occurrence of vitamin E in the liver of dystrophic and antioxidant-fed rabbits.

Abstract A revised procedure for the determination of α-tocopherol has been applied to the livers of rabbits in the vitamin E-deficient state and following regeneration with vitamin E or the synthetic antioxidant DPPD. No α-tocopherol could be detected in the tissues of the deficient animals or of those cured of dystrophic symptoms with DPPD. These results provide further evidence for the nonspecificity of the vitamin E requirement of animals and relegate against a possible role for tocopherols as cofactors in enzymic reactions.
Direct numerical analysis of dual-mode elliptical-core optical fibers

A direct solution of the scalar wave equation (SWE) for an elliptical-core weakly guiding fiber is considered. We decompose the SWE into two ordinary differential equations by using the method of separation of variables, demand the periodicity of the solution in terms of the angular coordinate, and, by matching the boundary conditions numerically, obtain the characteristic propagation curves for the two modes. A simple computer program permits the acquisition of two-mode fiber device parameters as functions of the core ellipticity, the core dimensions, and the refractive-index difference.
Organisational learning and the risks of technology transfers in China

The transfer of technology from the foreign partner to the domestic partner has been a problem for international joint ventures throughout the world, but particularly in China. Because of the nature of organisational learning, especially in its tacit forms, such transfers can occur quite subtly without the foreign partner realising what has transpired until it is too late. The problem is complicated by the fact that technology is short‐lived and must be exploited within narrow time frames, the fact that the Chinese partner’s primary interest is in acquiring the foreign partner’s technology, and the fact that the foreign partner typically shows little interest in obtaining the Chinese partner’s unique non‐technical knowledge as an offset. This article attempts to show how technology transfers can be controlled in the first place and how the foreign partner’s competitive advantage can be preserved by acquiring the domestic partner’s unique knowledge of host country circumstances.
MARANGONI CONVECTION WITH TWO FREE SURFACES

A numerical model is presented for a two-dimensional surface-tension-driven flow with two free surfaces, as is the case for a stationary full-penetration weld. Focus is on the flow patterns with the presence of two free surfaces and how they differ from those with one free surface. A standard splitting scheme is used to numerically solve the governing equations with primitive variables u, v, p, T and the locations of the free surfaces. Results for several combinations of Reynolds number, capillary number, Bond number, and external pressure are presented. It is found that with low Reynolds number, thermocapillary flows with two free surfaces have stronger secondary vortex than those with one free surface. For two-free-surface flows with high Reynolds number, thermocapillary forces at the bottom free surface are strong enough to generate a secondary vortex that is comparable to the primary vortex generated by the thermocapillary forces at the top free surface. Furthermore, two-free-smface flows are more fle...
Stimulation of Release of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone by Hypothalamic Extracts in Vitro and in Vivo

Acetic acid extracts of beef and sheep stalk-median eminence tissue were tested for their effects on release of FSH in vitro and in vivo. The Steelman-Pohley rat ovarian weight and the Igarashi-McCann mouse uterine weight methods were used to detect FSH activity. In vitro experiments consisted of incubation of isolated anterior pituitary tissue from estrogen progesterone treated spayed (EPS) rats. Addition of hypothalamic extracts to the incubation medium raised its FSH activity. In vivo tests consisted of measurement of plasma FSH activity in EPS rats. Injection of the extracts significantly raised plasma FSH activity. The effects of extracts were not due to contamination with FSH or substances having FSH-like activity or to potentiation of endogenous FSH by the extracts. Extracts of brain cortex and lysine vasopressin did not evoke measurable release of FSH either in vitro or in vivo. The results indicate that beef and sheep hypothalamic extracts contain a factor or factors which, both in vivo and in vi...
American Lobotomy: A Rhetorical History

We have been asking the wrong questions about lobotomy. This, at least, is Jenell Johnson’s first claim. Did they really use an ice pick? Were criminals lobotomized? Were black people, or women, or...
2004 ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with STEMI: the implications for clinicians.

In 2004 the ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with STEMI was refocused and expanded. It has become the ultimate reference for managing patients with STEMI, and here Robert Giugliano and Eugene Braunwald highlight the significant changes between the 1999 and 2004 versions that will most affect practicing clinicians.
Analysis of the Pathology Section of the OITE Will Aid in Trainee Preparation

We analyzed the tumor-related questions on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examinations (OITE) over a 5-year period (2002–2006). Each year approximately 27 of the 275 examination questions (10%) are tumor-related. Malignant conditions are tested more than benign ones (1.2:1). Approximately nine questions per year are immediate recall of specific entities, while eight questions tested the examinees’ ability to establish a diagnosis from imaging studies with or without biopsy material. Participants were required to establish a diagnosis from imaging studies and/or biopsy material and then choose treatment an average of seven times per examination. The examinees’ abilities in evaluation and decision making of patients was only tested an average of twice during each examination. Analysis of the content and type of question on the OITE might enable trainees to prepare more systematically. We determined the content, classified the questions, and quantified the interpretive material.
Ocular Vasodilation and Angiogenesis in Potter's Syndrome

At autopsy we examined eight eyes of six infants with Potter's syndrome, an idiopathic multisystem condition with a constellation of ocular anomalies, to explore its ocular component more fully and systematically. A striking abnormality in some cases was the presence of dilated intraocular blood vessels, and these were sometimes associated with retinal and preretinal neovascularization reminiscent of the vaso-proliferative stage of retrolental fibroplasia. Since oxygen therapy cannot be implicated in these cases, other causes, either genetic or environmental, must be sought. The presence of nonretinal ocular vascular anomalies, such as iris capillary dilation, peripapillary angioma formation, and vascular anomalies in nonocular tissue, point to a generalized derangement in the control of ocular angiogenesis. Our study indicated that an understanding of the pathogenesis of the vascular anomalies in Potter's syndrome is clearly relevant to other more common retinopathies that are associated with neovascularization.
Inhibition of Avian Osteoclast Bone Resorption by Monoclonal Antibody 121F: A Mechanism Involving the Osteoclast Free Radical System

Osteoclasts generate high levels of superoxide anions during bone resorption that contribute to the degradative process, although excessive levels of this free radical may be damaging. One mechanism for their removal is via superoxide dismutase (SOD), a protective superoxide scavenging enzyme. We have previously described a novel developmentally regulated 150 kDa plasma membrane glycoprotein of avian osteoclasts which is reactive with the osteoclast-specific monoclonal antibody (Mab) 121F and is related immunologically, biochemically, and in protein sequence to mitochondrial Mn2+/Fe2+ SOD. We hypothesized that this unusual osteoclast surface component may be involved in protection against superoxides generated during active bone resorption. Increasing concentrations of monovalent Fab fragments prepared from Mab 121F, but not those from another antiosteoclast Mab designated 29C, markedly inhibited both bone particle and bone pit resorption by avian osteoclasts, while reducing tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and causing the morphological contraction of osteoclasts on bone. Thus, the SOD-related membrane antigen may be essential for osteoclast bone resorption. Osteoclast superoxide production, monitored kinetically by cytochrome c reduction and histochemically by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction staining, was significantly greater in the presence of 121F, but not 29C, Fab treatment. Furthermore, the release of another free radical known as nitric oxide, which is produced by osteoclasts, can scavenge superoxides, and acts to potently inhibit osteoclast bone resorption, was dose-dependently increased by 121F Fab in resorbing osteoclast cultures. Therefore, Mab 121F binding may block the potential protective function of the osteoclast plasma membrane SOD-related glycoprotein, leading to a rapid elevation of superoxide levels and a subsequent rise in osteoclast nitric oxide release, feedback messages which may be sensed by the osteoclast as signals to cease active bone resorption.
Late effects of fractionated pi-mesons compared to X rays on mouse lung.

Early and late delayed effects of up to 20 fractions of pions and X rays were investigated in the mouse lung. The whole thorax of female CD-1 mice was irradiated under Ethrane/O2 anesthesia. Respiration rate was measured by whole body plethysmography at biweekly to monthly intervals. With signs of irreversible respiratory distress, animals were sacrificed and their lungs evaluated histologically. In addition to the effect of fractionation, the influence of dose-rate and anesthesia was studied as well. The degree of injury for the most predominant lesions (macrophage accumulation, fibrosis, vascular congestion) was scored, and the correlation with the relative change in respiratory rate and survival was analyzed. This analysis showed the primary lesion to be radiation pneumonitis at a median survival time of approximately 100 days. Focal fibrosis was observed to occur soon thereafter, and no evidence was obtained for an independent second wave of fibrotic injury. Fibrosis seemed primarily the result of pathological organization in areas with heavy concentration of macrophages. It was observed that the mice were unusually sensitive, with a single dose X ray ED50/180 of 8.8 Gy. A similar value was found for unanesthetized mice. This might have been the result of performing these studies at an altitude of 2100 m. The fractionation effect also seemed more pronounced, with alpha/beta values of 0.6 Gy for X rays and 4 Gy for pions, which is significantly lower compared to reported values. At the pion dose-rate of 0.25 Gy.min-1, RBE values for single doses were 0.9 when compared to high dose-rate X rays, and 1.36 at equivalent dose rates. This clearly shows that significant repair occurs during the relatively low dose-rate pion irradiations. With smaller doses per fraction, the dose-rate effect became less dominant, and for 20 fractions of pions the RBE was 1.4 compared to fractionated high dose-rate X rays. These RBE's are similar to values reported for acute effects in skin.
Probing powder supported catalysts with sum frequency spectroscopy

Abstract We report the first observation of sum frequency generation (SFG) from a high surface area metal containing catalyst. In this study, total internal reflection (TIR)-SFG has been used to probe the interface between a 5 wt% Pt/Al2O3 catalyst and a carbon monoxide (CO) containing gas phase. We also offer a comparison of this catalyst with CO adsorbed on a Pt thin film and with the attenuated total refection-IR (ATR-IR) spectrum. Vibrational features associated with linearly bound CO to the surface of the Pt are observed. Transient CO adsorption/desoption phenomena are also studied.
Banning drugs in sports: a skeptical view.

This volume presents articles which focus on the ethical evaluation of performance-enhancing technologies in sport. The collection considers whether drug doping should be banned; the rationale of not banning ethically contested innovations such as hypoxic chambers; and the implications of the prospects of human genetic engineering for the notion of sport as a development of ‘natural’ talent towards human excellence. The essays demonstrate the significance of the principles of preventing harm, ensuring fairness and preserving meaning to appraise whether a particular performance enhancer is acceptable in the context of sport. Selected essays on various forms of human enhancement outside of sport that highlight other principles and concepts are included for comparative purpose. Sport enhancement provides a useful starting point to work through the ethics of enhancement in other human practices and endeavors, and sport enhancement ethics should track broader bioethical debates on human enhancement. As a whole, the volume points to the need to consider the values and meanings that people seek in a given sphere of human activity and their associated principles to arrive at a morally grounded and reasonable approach to enhancement ethics.
AN EXPERIMENT IN READING

T HIS is the report of an experiment performed in a classroom of the University of Chicago High School on March 5, 1931, at the time of the visit of Professor Michael West, Principal of the Teachers College, Dacca, Bengal, India. The class concerned was a second-year French class which was in its fourth semester of study. This class started the study of French in the University High School under the following conditions: During the first two semesters there were but four recitations per week and no home assignments. During the second year, that is, the third and fourth semesters, as ten pupils of the class were Seniors, the teacher had permission to make moderate home assignments. The class had been taught by the Organized Direct Method. Professor West expressed the desire to get evidence of their ability to read. As the pupils were reading "Le Voyage de Monsieur Perrichon," we decided to use an entirely different text, "L'Abbe Constantin," for the experiment. Professor West helped us prepare twelve questions based on pages seven to twelve of the American Book Company's edition of "L'Abbe Constantin," questions that would test the pupils' ability to get the thought of the material read. The first half of the class period was spent in a discussion of "Le Voyage de Monsieur Perrichon." When this twenty-five minute period was over, the pupils were given the test on "L'Abbe Constantin." The instructor read the first two pages to the class, i.e., pages five and six, giving explanations as far as possible in French. The pupils were then told to read silently the next five pages, which included 1,070 words. When a pupil finished reading, he indicated the fact by rising. He was then instructed to close his book, to turn his chair around, and to answer the questions written on the back blackboard. The answers were written in English. Inasmuch as the books were closed, it was a test of memory as well as of comprehension.
Water and carboxyl group environments in the dehydration blueshift of bacteriorhodopsin.

The proton channels of the bacteriorhodopsin (BR) proton pump contain bound water molecules. The channels connect the purple membrane surfaces with the protonated retinal Schiff base at the membrane center. Films of purple membrane equilibrated at low relative humidity display a shift of the 570 nm retinal absorbance maximum to 528 nm, with most of the change occurring below 15% relative humidity. Purple membrane films were dehydrated to defined humidities between about 50 and 4.5% and examined by Fourier transform infrared difference spectroscopy. In spectra of dehydrated-minus-hydrated purple membrane, troughs are observed at 3645 and 3550 cm−1, and peaks are observed at 3665 and 3500 cm−1. We attribute these changes to water dissociation from the proton uptake channel and the resulting changes in hydrogen bonding of water that remains bound. Also, in the carboxylic acid spectral region, a trough was observed at 1742 cm−1 and a peak at 1737 cm−1. The magnitude of the trough to peak difference between 1737 and 1742 cm−1 correlates linearly with the extent of the 528 nm pigment. This suggests that a carboxylic acid group or groups is undergoing a change in environment as a result of dehydration, and that this change is linked to the appearance of the 528 nm pigment. Dehydration difference spectra with BR mutants D96N and D115N show that the 1737–1742 cm−1 change is due to Asp 96 and Asp 115. A possible mechanism is suggested that links dissociation of water in the proton uptake channel to the environmental change at the Schiff base site.