cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strength of Compacted Clay at High Pressure

SAMPLES OF CLAY WERE COMPACTED WET OF OPTIMUM TO THE SAME INITIAL WATER CONTENT AND DENSITY CONDITIONS, AND TESTED IN UU AND CU TRIAXIAL TESTS AT CONFINING PRESSURES UP TO 1000 PSI TO SIMULATE LOADING CONDITIONS ON ELEMENTS OF SOIL IN EARTH DAM. ONE SERIES OF SAMPLES WAS PREPARED BY STATIC COMPACTION TO PRODUCE AN INITIALLY FLOCCULATED SOIL STRUCTURE, AND ANOTHER SERIES OF SAMPLES WAS PREPARED BY KNEADING COMPACTION TO PRODUCE A DISPERSED STRUCTURE. THE UU TESTS INDICATED THAT ALL CONFINING PRESSURES, SAMPLES PREPARED BY STATIC COMPACTION, WERE STRONGER AND STIFFER THAN THOSE PREPARED BY KNEADING COMPACTION. THE CU TESTS INDICATED THAT STATICALLY COMPACTED SAMPLES WERE MORE PLASTIC AND WERE SLIGHTLY WEAKER THAN OTHERWISE INITIALLY IDENTICAL SAMPLES PREPARED BY KNEADING COMPACTION AND TESTED AT THE SAME CONSOLIDATION PRESSURES. THIS RELATIVE LOSS IN STRENGTH WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A DIFFERENCE IN CONSOLIDATION CHARACTERISTICS WHICH PRODUCED DIFFERENT WATER CONTENTS AT FAILURE. ON AN EFFECTIVE STRESS BASIS, THE BEHAVIOR OF BOTH TYPES OF SAMPLES WAS THE SAME. /ASCE/
Assessing Variability in In-Hospital Complication Rates Between Surgical Services for Patients Undergoing Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study was performed including all patients who underwent posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) by an orthopedic or neurological surgeon at a single institution between January 1, 2006 and November 30, 2016, and all patients who underwent PCDF by a spine surgeon in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database between 2007 and 2015. In-hospital complications were compared between surgical specialties. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine if in-hospital complication rates differ significantly between surgical services for PCDF patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Orthopedic and neurological surgeons commonly perform PCDF, and differences in surgical opinion and management have been cited between these two specialties in recent literature. This represents a variable that should be evaluated. METHODS Cases were preliminarily identified by CPT code and confirmed using the ICD-9 code 81.03 or ICD-10 code M43.22. Cases were separated based on if the primary surgeon was an orthopedic surgeon or a neurological surgeon. The primary outcome variable was in-hospital complication rates; cohorts were compared using bivariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS A total of 1221 patients at a single institution and 11,116 patients within the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database underwent PCDF. Patients in the orthopedic surgery service had a higher proportion of bleeding requiring transfusion in both the institutional sample (14.5% vs. 9.08%, P = 0.003) and national sample (11.16% vs. 6.18%, P < 0.0001). In the national sample, orthopedic surgeons were 1.66 times as likely to encounter an in-hospital complication than neurological surgeons (95% CI: 1.44-1.91, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION When examining a large institutional sample and an even larger national sample, this study found that orthopedic surgeons were more likely to encounter perioperative bleeding requiring transfusion than neurological surgeons. When in-hospital complications were considered as a whole, in the national sample, orthopedic surgeons are more likely to encounter in-hospital complications than neurological surgeons when performing PCDF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Rapid degradation and non-selectivity of Dakin's solution prevents effectiveness in contaminated musculoskeletal wound models.

Abstract Background Dakin’s solution (buffered sodium hypochlorite) has been used as a topical adjunct for the treatment of invasive fungal infections in trauma patients. Prudent use of Dakin’s solution (DS) for complex musculoskeletal wound management implies balancing antimicrobial efficacy and human tissue toxicity, but little empirical evidence exists to inform clinical practice. To identify potentially efficacious DS concentrations and application methods, we conducted two animal studies to evaluate the ability of DS to reduce bacterial burden in small and large animal models of contaminated musculoskeletal wounds. Methods An established rat (Rattus norvegicus) contaminated femoral defect model was employed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of DS as a topical adjunctive treatment for Staphylococcus aureus infection. A range of clinically-relevant DS concentrations (0.00025%–0.125%) were tested, both with and without periodic replenishment during treatment. Next, an established goat (Capra hircus) musculoskeletal wound model, consisting of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa contaminated proximal tibia cortical defect, muscle crush, and thermal injury, was utilized to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of dilute DS (0.0025% and 0.025%) as a surgical irrigant solution. In situ reactive chlorine concentrations were monitored throughout each treatment using an automated iodometric titration approach. Results In a rat wound model, DS treatment did not significantly reduce S. aureus bioburden after 14 days as compared to saline control. Two treatment groups (0.01% single application and 0.025% multiple application) exhibited significantly higher bacterial burden than control. In a goat musculoskeletal wound model, neither 0.0025% nor 0.025% DS significantly altered P. aeruginosa bioburden immediately following treatment or at 48 h post-treatment. Overall, DS applied to exposed soft tissue exhibited rapid degradation, e.g., 0.125% DS degraded 32% after 5 s progressing to 86% degradation after 15 min following single application. Conclusions We did not observe evidence of a therapeutic benefit following Dakin’s solution treatment for any tested concentration or application method in two contaminated musculoskeletal wound models. Despite confirmation of robust bactericidal activity in vitro, our findings suggest DS at current clinically-used concentrations does not kill tissue surface-attached bacteria, nor does it necessarily cause host tissue toxicity that exacerbates infection in the setting of complex musculoskeletal injury.
Laser Polarimeter Laboratory for Measuring Scattering in Undergraduate Analytical Chemistry

In a university third-year instrumental chemistry laboratory students build a laser based polarimeter for determining light scattering with commercially available optical components used in modern optics research laboratories. During this laboratory experiment, students learn that solutions containing molecules which scatter light also influence the polarization properties of the laser beam by measuring Stokes parameters to calculate the degree of linearly polarized light. They also discover how the polarization properties of a laser beam are affected by half- and quarter-wave plates. Lastly, students are asked to recognize and assess the sources of error associated with the experiment including background intensity, integration time, and polarizer angle accuracy when measuring the Stokes parameters. A majority of students who completed the experiment agreed that this laboratory experiment required more critical thinking than traditional building instrumentation modules that they were exposed to, and that...
Citrulline Generation Test: What Does It Measure?

Background The citrulline generation test (CGT) has been proposed as a tool to determine gut function. However, the increase in plasma citrulline concentration that follows a bolus dose of alanyl-glutamine may also result from a reduction in citrulline clearance due to competition with glutamine for transport. Materials and methods A swine model was developed, and stable isotope tracers were used to determine the mechanism behind the increase in plasma citrulline that follows a bolus dose of alanyl-glutamine. Plasma concentrations and enrichments were determined, and a non-steady-state model was used to calculate rates of appearance, disappearance, and conversion. Results The pig model recapitulated the increase in plasma citrulline observed in humans after a dose of alanyl-glutamine. The dipeptide was rapidly hydrolyzed to its constitutive amino acids. Both citrulline plasma concentration and citrulline rate of appearance increased by ≈45% after the bolus dose of alanyl-glutamine. The conversion of citrulline to arginine and the rate of appearance of arginine also increased. Glutamine contributed up to 25% ± 2% of the rate of appearance of citrulline. No changes in the rate of disappearance of citrulline were observed. Conclusion Our results indicate that a single bolus dose of alanyl-glutamine increases plasma citrulline concentration by increasing citrulline production without any effect on citrulline disposal. Our findings strongly indicate that the CGT assesses the metabolic response of the gut and that CGT can become a useful tool to evaluate gut mass and function.
Constitutional Regulation of Speech (and False Beliefs) in Health Care

False beliefs in medicine can be regulated by constitutional doctrines of false speech and professional speech, whereby government can restrict professionals' false beliefs or impose its own false beliefs on professionals. In our allegedly "post truth" society, such regulations and their foundations can have an important influence on health care practice.
Concurrent acute retinal necrosis and orbital inflammation: Report of 2 cases

Abstract Purpose To describe the rare entity of concurrent herpetic acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and orbital inflammation. Observations Two cases of ARN with simultaneous orbital inflammation are described. A 40-year old male presented with a painful left eye and hand motion visual acuity (VA). Both panuveitis and orbital inflammation with involvement of the sclera and optic nerve were observed. He was initially treated with oral steroid therapy, after which the orbital inflammation improved but the panuveitis remained. A diagnostic anterior chamber paracentesis was positive for HSV-2 by PCR. He was started on systemic antivirals, but ultimately developed a retinal detachment. The second patient was an 18-year old female with hand motion VA in the left eye. Panuveitis and severe conjunctival chemosis were observed. MRI demonstrated dacryoadenitis with preseptal inflammation. The patient was initially started on oral steroid therapy, which alleviated the orbital inflammation but not the intraocular inflammation. An anterior chamber diagnostic paracentesis was positive for HSV-1, after which the patient underwent vitrectomy for a retinal detachment. The patient was started on systemic antiviral therapy. Conclusions and Importance Herpetic disease should remain on the differential for cases of concurrent intraocular and orbital inflammation. Early recognition of this process may help prevent severe vision loss. It is important to recognize that orbital inflammation secondary to herpetic disease may be diverse in its presentation.
Where can my career take me?: harnessing dialogue for interactive career goal recommendations

Career goals represent a special case for recommender systems and require considering both short and long term goals. Recommendations must represent a trade off between relevance to the user, achievability and aspirational goals to move the user forward in their career. Users may have different motivations and concerns when looking for a new long term goal, so involving the user in the recommender process becomes all the more important than in other domains. Additionally, the cost to the user of making a bad decision is much higher than investing two hours in watching a movie they don't like or listening to an unappealing song. As a result, we feel career recommendations is a unique opportunity to truly engage the user in an interactive recommender as we believe they will invest the cognitive load. In this paper, we present an interactive career goal recommender framework that leverages the power of dialogue to allow the user interactively improve the recommendations and bring their own preferences to the system. The underlying recommendation algorithm is a novel solution that suggests both short and long term goals through utilizing the sequential patterns extracted from career trajectories that are enhanced with features of the supporting user profiles. The effectiveness of the proposed solution is demonstrated with extensive experiments on two real world data sets.
Potential use of electrohysterography in obstetrics: a review article.

Monitoring the uterine contraction during pregnancy is necessary to monitor labor progress, fetal and maternal well-being, and uterine activity. The aim of this review was to evaluate the performan...
A 31 pW-to-113 nW Hybrid BJT and CMOS Voltage Reference with 3.6% ±3σ-inaccuracy from 0 ○ C to 170 ○ C for Low-Power High-Temperature IoT Systems

This paper proposes a low-power voltage reference generating 736 mV from 0 ○C to 170 ○C for low-power high-temperature IoT sensing systems. Using subthreshold current, a BJT diode develops a process-insensitive complementary-to-absolute-temperature voltage, and stacked CMOS transistors compensate the temperature sensitive by adding a proportional-to-absolute-temperature voltage. To maintain a reference voltage at high temperature, the circuit is designed considering pwell-to-deep nwell diode leakage. 76 samples from 3 different wafers, fabricated in a 180 nm process, show a ±3σ inaccuracy of 3.6% from 0 ○C to 170 ○C without any trimming. It consumes 31 pW at 27 ○C and 113 nW at 170 ○C from 0.9 V supply.
Factors influencing the implementation of falls prevention practice in primary care

Background Patient falls in the primary care setting are a complex problem and are detrimental to the independence and quality of life of older adults. Objectives The purpose of this integrative review is to identify what factors influence the implementation of fall prevention practice in the primary care setting. This review explores qualitative and quantitative research published between 2004 and 2018 on barriers to fall prevention management in primary care. Data sources The authors conducted a systematic search of the evidence and identified 18 articles which met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions Five themes were identified that described barriers in fall risk management in the primary care setting. These included provider beliefs and practice, lack of provider knowledge, time constraints, patient engagement, and financial issues. Implications for practice The lack of screening and assessment regarding fall risk identification demonstrates a gap in the management of older adults in primary care. Using the evidence- and theory-based Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries toolkit and algorithm is an effective method to assist practitioners with fall assessment and preventative measures.
Standardization of modified allergens using polymerized ragweed as a model system

Polymerized allergens are manufactured by crosslinking allergen molecules with glutaraldehyde and then selecting a desired molecular weight range by gel filtration chromatography. Polymerized allergen extracts have retained antigenicity but reduced allergenicity when compared with conventional allergenic extracts. Thus, the important parameters to standardize in polymerized extracts are allergenicity, antigenicity, and molecular weight range. As our initial studies have demonstrated that allergenicity correlates with antigenicity and molecular weight, only the latter are necessary to measure. In short, polymerized allergen extracts could be standardized simply in terms of in vitro reactivity and chromatographic profile.
Talent identification and development in soccer: An update and contemporary perspectives.

In 2000, Williams and Reilly edited a special issue of this journal on the theme of talent identification and development in soccer. The special issue was well-received, not unexpectedly due to the...
Cognition, Physical Function, and Quality of Life in Older Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Abstract Background Older adults with acute decompensated heart failure have persistently poor clinical outcomes. Cognitive impairment (CI) may be a contributing factor. However, the prevalence of CI and the relationship of cognition with other patient-centered factors such a physical function and quality of life (QOL) that also may contribute to poor outcomes are incompletely understood. Methods and Results Older (≥60 years) hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure were assessed for cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]), physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB], 6-minute walk distance [6MWD]), and QOL (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, Short Form-12). Among patients (N = 198, 72.1 ± 7.6 years), 78% screened positive for CI (MoCA of Conclusions Among older hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure, CI is highly prevalent, is underrecognized clinically, and is associated with severe physical dysfunction and poor QOL. Formal screening may reduce adverse events by identifying patients who may require more tailored care.
Intellectual Property Law: Legal Aspects of Innovation and Competition - Table of Contents

Developed for undergraduate and graduate programs, The Law of Intellectual Property: Legal Aspects of Innovation and Competition provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principal areas of intellectual property protection: trade secrets, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and the right of publicity, as well as treatment of legal protection for other valuable intangibles and international intellectual property issues. Each chapter includes summaries of the law and excerpted cases to illustrate the application of legal rules and concepts. Applicable statutory provisions are excerpted and included for quick reference. The cases are followed by variety of questions and comments to prompt classroom discussion, and each chapter concludes with an extensive set of discussion problems and a case study. Also accompanying each chapter are a set of writing and practical exercises to enhance student written and critical thinking skills, and to provide experiential learning as to specific tasks involved in securing and protecting intellectual property rights. The Law of Intellectual Property: Legal Aspects of Innovation and Competition provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principal areas of intellectual property protection: trade secrets, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and the right of publicity, as well as treatment of legal protection for other valuable intangibles and international intellectual property issues.
Telehealth in US hospitals: State-level reimbursement policies no longer influence adoption rates.

Abstract Objectives Prior to COVID-19, levels of adoption of telehealth were low in the U.S., though they exploded during the pandemic. Following the pandemic, it will be critical to identify the characteristics that were associated with adoption of telehealth prior to the pandemic as key drivers of adoption and outside of a public health emergency. Materials and methods We examined three data sources: The American Telemedicine Association’s 2019 state telehealth analysis, the American Hospital Association’s 2018 annual survey of acute care hospitals and its Information Technology Supplement. Telehealth adoption was measured through five telehealth categories. Independent variables included seven hospital characteristics and five reimbursement policies. After bivariate comparisons, we developed a multivariable model using logistic regression to assess characteristics associated with telehealth adoption. Results Among 2923 US hospitals, 73% had at least one telehealth capability. More than half of these hospitals invested in telehealth consultation services and stroke care. Non-profit hospitals, affiliated hospitals, major teaching hospitals, and hospitals located in micropolitan areas (those with 10-50,000 people) were more likely to adopt telehealth. In contrast, hospitals that lacked electronic clinical documentation, were unaffiliated with a hospital system, or were investor-owned had lower odds of adopting telehealth. None of the statewide policies were associated with adoption of telehealth. Conclusions Telehealth policy requires major revisions soon, and we suggest that these policies should be national rather than at the state level. Further steps as incentivizing rural hospitals for adopting interoperable systems and expanding RPM billing opportunities will help drive adoption, and promote equity.
Alienated Flesh at the Place of Trauma and Death: Unearthing the Black (Queered) In-Human in Suzan-Lori Parks’ One-Character Short Play Pickling

This essay chapter revisits the core of suffering, human and natal alienation that constitute the character, Miss Miss, in playwright Suzan-Lori Parks’ 1988 short solo play, Pickling, which Williams performed at several venues in New York City, between 1999 and 2003. At first blush, the play appears to be a kind of “archaeological” dig, rich in lyrical, metaphoric and semiotic bones and minerals—lifetimes and death times of memories. Through a revised, theoretical lens that re-reads the loss of “Mother” by way of the terrible, ongoing nightmare of transatlantic slavery, a core deeply subtending the play’s fragmented narrative layer emerges, wherein we discover a figure ensconced in fossilized signifiers of all that isolate her within—yet cannot recuperate her from—a compendium of suffering, despite her dramatic performance of it. This, Williams contends, renders distinct queer identity from blackness as “queered” beyond the world in which queer identity performs as human cultural formation. It also reclassifies the dig through Parks’ dramatic rendering as ontological rather than solely existential.
Phytonutrient content of Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. berries

Abstract Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Litchi tomato) is grown ornamentally, and in Europe it is used as a trap crop for management of the potato cyst nematode (PCN). Its berries are edible, but little is known about their nutritional content. If more was known about their nutritional value this could provide incentive to grow it as a food crop. Phytonutrient content was characterized in berries from four varieties and four synthetic breeding lines developed to have reduced spininess. Litchi tomatoes contained 6.8–10.4 mg of total phenolics per g dry weight. Antioxidants measured by FRAP ranged from 148 to 242 μmol TE/g DW. HPLC analysis showed chlorogenic acid (1856–4385 μg/g DW) was the most abundant phenylpropanoid. Ascorbic acid ranged from 2042 to 4511 μg/g DW. The yellow/orange flesh color was due to carotenoids, with β-carotene the most abundant (204–633 μg/g DW). Soluble protein in Litchi tomato ranged from 86.9 to 120.9 mg/g. Of the cultivated Litchi tomato varieties analyzed, SS91 had the highest amount of antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, chlorogenic acid and β-carotene. These results suggest that Litchi tomato fruits can be a good source of phytonutrients, expanding the plant's functionality beyond its use as a PCN trap crop.
Sediment Routing in Irrigation Canal Systems

The routing of a bed material load through a branching irrigation canal system in such a way as to insure sediment discharge equilibrium is considered. All the sediment entering the system is disposed of with the water. It is shown that the system equilibrium can be more easily achieved if smaller sediment concentrations are allocated to irrigation diversions from smaller channels. Also, an approximate numerical model for predicting the bed material load from farm turnouts is presented.
Immunotolerance against a foreign antigen transgenically expressed in the lens.

PURPOSE. TO extend our knowledge concerning immunotolerance against autologous lens crystallins, transgenic (Tg) mice that express a foreign antigen in their lens were generated, and the immune response against the antigen in these mice was analyzed. METHODS. Conventional techniques were used to generate lines of Tg mice that express soluble (S-) or membrane-bound (M-) hen egg lysozyme (HEL) under the control of the aA-crystallin promoter. The presence of HEL in various organs was determined by the particle concentration fluorescence immunoassay (PCFIA), and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique was used to detect mRNA transcripts of the molecule. To examine the development of immunity (or tolerance), Tg mice and their wild-type controls were immunized with HEL (25 pig) in Freund's complete adjuvant and 14 days later were tested for immune response against the antigen. Cellular immunity was measured by the lymphocyte proliferation assay and cytokine production, and humoral immunity was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS. Eyes of the high copy number M-HEL Tg mice were dystrophic, with disrupted lens, whereas no morphologic changes were detected in the eyes of the other Tg mouse lines. All Tg mice exhibited tolerance to HEL by their cellular and humoral immune compartments. The state of immunotolerance to HEL was retained in the Tg mice for as long as 10 months after removal of the main depot of this protein, by enucleation. Measurable amounts of HEL were found in the eyes of all Tg mice, but the protein could not be detected in the serum or in other organs by the sensitive PCFIA (with a threshold of 1 ng/ml). Yet, HEL mRNA was found in the thymus of the Tg mice, suggesting that minute amounts of the protein are expressed in this organ. CONCLUSIONS. The unresponsiveness to HEL in the Tg mice seems to be due to a "central" mechanism of tolerance, mediated by a minuscule amount of HEL in the thymus. Conversely, the much larger amounts of HEL in the peripheral depot, the eyes, play a minor role if any in the tolerogenic process. It is further proposed that a similar mechanism of central tolerance is responsible for the immunotolerance against autologous lens crystallins. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998;39:2049-2057)
Pleomorphic Liposarcoma of the Breast Mimicking Breast Abscess in a 19-Year-Old Postpartum Female: a Case Report and Review of the Literature

Sarcomas of the breast constitutes <1% of primary malignant breast tumors. Liposarcoma of the breast represents 3-24% of the primary breast sarcomas. Liposarcoma can arise from pre-existing benign lesions like fibroadenoma or from lipoid tissue in the breast. There are only few cases of liposarcoma of the breast in young females reported in the literature. Liposarcoma of the breast typically involves women with age after 50 years. In this article, we present a young woman with liposarcoma of the breast.
Refractory ceramic Fibers Update

An effective product stewardship program is the basis for cooperation between manufacturers of refractory ceramic fibers and EPA
Generating Intelligent Tutoring Systems from Reusable Components and Knowledge-Based Systems

This research addresses the need for easier, more cost-effective means of developing intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs). A novel and advantageous solution to this problem is the development of a task-specific ITS shell that can generate tutoring systems for different domains within a given class of tasks. Task-specific authoring shells offer an appropriate knowledge representation method to build knowledgeable tutors as well as flexibility for generating ITSs for different domains. In this paper, we describe the development of an architecture that can generate intelligent tutoring systems for different domains by interfacing with existing generic task-based expert systems, and reusing the other tutoring components. The architecture was used to generate an ITS for the domain of composite materials fabrication using an existing expert system.
Shape-adaptive tarp coding

An embedded wavelet coder is proposed for arbitrarily shaped image objects. Contrary to the popular approach of considering transparent regions surrounding image objects as permanently insignificant, the proposed coder imposes no assumptions on the significance state of unknown transparent regions. Instead, the proposed shape-adaptive tarp coder employs a simple algorithm called tarp filtering to produce a probability estimate of coefficient significance which propagates unchanged across transparent regions. Experimental results show that the shape-adaptive tarp coder offers coding performance superior to a popular zerotree-based technique and equivalent to a popular method based on context conditioning.
Heteroduplex repair in extracts of human HeLa cells

A general repair process for DNA heteroduplexes has been detected in HeLa cell extracts. Using a variety of M13mp2 DNA substrates containing single-base mismatches and extra nucleotides, extensive repair is observed after incubation with HeLa cell cytoplasmic extracts and subsequent transfection of bacterial cells with the treated DNA. Most, but not all, mispairs as well as two frameshift heteroduplexes are repaired efficiently. Parallel measurements of repair in HeLa extracts and in Escherichia coli suggest that repair specificities are similar for the two systems. The presence of a nick in the molecule is required for efficient repair in HeLa cell extracts, and the strand containing the nick is the predominantly repaired strand. Mismatch-dependent DNA synthesis is observed when radiolabeled restriction fragments, produced by reaction of the extract with heteroduplex and homoduplex molecules, are compared. Specific labeling of fragments, representing a region of approximately 1,000 base pairs and containing the nick and the mismatch, is detected for the heteroduplex substrate but not the homoduplex. The repair reaction is complete after 20 min and requires added Mg2+, ATP, and an ATP-regenerating system, but not dNTPs, which are present at sufficient levels in the extract. An inhibitor of DNA polymerase beta, dideoxythimidine 5'-triphosphate, does not inhibit mismatch-specific DNA synthesis. Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of DNA polymerases alpha, delta, and epsilom, inhibits both semiconservative replication and repair synthesis in the extract. Butylphenyl-dGTP also inhibits both replicative and repair synthesis but at a concentration known to inhibit DNA polymerase alpha preferentially rather than delta or epsilon. This suggests that DNA polymerase alpha may function in mismatch repair.
The function of regional management centres

A great many of our shortcomings can be traced back to inadequate management, whether for want of foresight, inexperience, or simply a lack of appropriate training. There have been shining exceptions, it is true; but in the main, any enterprise can only be as good as its managers allow. And our record seems to speak for itself. If management is falling short of our needs, then we have to look again at the process by which managers are produced, educated, trained, and assisted to keep up with new developments. This is what we are concerned with here at this conference.
Who knows whom in a virtual learning network?: applying social network analysis to communities of learners at the computer clubhouse

Social network analysis can be used to describe influence, group dynamics and collaboration in learning networks. The current analysis focuses on a distributed community of learners' email communication and represents the first step in understanding the community's social dynamics. It focuses upon the online intranet presence of the Computer Clubhouse, a network of after-school computer learning centers. The paper presents network analysis and graphs that highlight characteristics of the relationships between the youth, such as strength of their ties, gender, and location of emailing dyads. Implications for future network analysis of learning communities are discussed.
A Comparison of Human Narrative Coding of Redemption and Automated Linguistic Analysis for Understanding Life Stories

The majority of life narrative research is performed using trained human coders. In contrast, automated linguistic analysis is oft employed in the study of verbal behaviors. These two methodological approaches are directly compared to determine the utility of automated linguistic analysis for the study of life narratives. In a study of in-person interviews (N = 158) and a second study of life stories collected online (N = 242), redemption scores are compared to the output of the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (Pennebaker, Francis & Booth, 2001). Additionally, patterns of language are found using exploratory principal components analysis. In both studies, redemption scores are modestly correlated with some LIWC categories and unassociated with the components. Patterns of language do not replicate across samples, indicating that the structure of language does not extend to a broader population. Redemption scores and linguistic components are independent predictors of life satisfaction up to 3 years later. These studies converge on the finding that human-coded redemption and automated linguistic analysis are complementary and nonredundant methods of analyzing life narratives, and considerations for the study of life narratives are discussed.
The dark side of information technology use

A large body of research has considered the positive aspects of information technology (IT) use. However, emerging research and practice commentary is beginning to focus on complex and often alarming ways in which use of IT affects organisational and social life. This Special Issue focuses on these 'dark' effects of IT use. © 2013 Wiley Publishing Ltd.
Regression analysis of spectroscopic process data using a combined architecture of linear and nonlinear artificial neural networks

The authors demonstrate that a combined architecture of linear and nonlinear artificial neural networks offers many advantages over the conventional multilayer feedforward networks and the conventional biased regression methods for the modeling of spectroscopic process data. This direct linear feedthrough (DLF) network is an especially useful tool for modeling process data when the true linear or nonlinear functionality of the system is not known. By just looking at the linear and nonlinear contributions of this DLF network, it is possible to tell if the data are purely linear or nonlinear. For the learning algorithm, sequential quadratic programming improves the training time of the neural network by 2-3 orders of magnitude compared to that of the back-propagation method. The authors also suggest that when the number of data samples is small compared to the size of the network, the risk of under-representing or overfitting the available data can be avoided by using the leave-one-out cross validation technique. >
The ν3 − ν4 difference band contribution to the CCl4 symmetric stretch (ν1) mode

The Raman spectrum of the symmetric stretching vibration (ν1) of liquid carbon tetrachloride observed at 295 K and reported repeatedly over the last 80 years clearly shows four of the five more abundant isotopomers at 440–470 cm−1. At the lower energy end of this spectrum, additional intensity due to isotopomeric contributions from the symmetric stretch for v = 1 2 (hotbands) partially overlaps the prominent v = 0 1 features, and accounts for about 18% of the integrated intensity at 295 K in agreement with theory. When these two patterns are modeled and subtracted from the experimental spectrum, a feature underlying almost exactly the C35Cl4 (v = 0 1) band at 462.5 cm−1 becomes apparent. We propose that this feature is the ν3 − ν4 difference band. Observations at lower temperatures, and of the combination bands, and the polarized Raman spectra are consistent with this hypothesis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fine needle aspiration of primary mediastinal synovial sarcoma: Cytomorphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular study

The cytologic diagnosis of synovial sarcoma (SS) can be difficult when it occurs in unusual locations, atypical age groups, and/or have unusual morphology. We report a case of primary mediastinal SS in a 65-year-old male with a long smoking history who presented with increasing shortness of breath and was found to have a 14.2 cm mediastinal mass. Smears from the endobronchial ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of the mass were moderately cellular consisting of loosely cohesive clusters, some of which demonstrated nuclear molding, and dispersed single cells. The relatively uniform tumor cells had a high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, finely granular chromatin, and inconspicuous nucleoli. Some of the single cells had spindled morphology with unipolar wispy tails and naked nuclei. Based on the clinical presentation and the cytomorphologic features, our initial differential diagnoses included atypical carcinoid, small cell carcinoma, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoma, and lymphoma. Immunohistochemical studies on the cell block sections revealed that the tumor cells were focally positive for cytokeratin and diffusely positive for CD56, while negative for CD45, synaptophysin and chromogranin. Ultimately, an immunohistochemical stain for TLE-1 demonstrated diffusely strong nuclear positivity and molecular studies showed the presence of the t(X; 18) SYT/SSX1 translocation confirming the diagnosis of SS. In this report, we describe the cytomorphologic features of SS, its diagnostic pitfalls, and potential mimics in the mediastinum.
Calorimetrics studies of chemical reactions using a thermal micro-reactor

Abstract Chemical reactions involving volatilizable substances cannot usually be studied by standard DTA or DSC techniques. However, such difficulties can be overcome by using sealed sample containers as micro-reactors. This work describes the adaptation of a sealed ampoule technique to standard commercial equipment for calorimetric studies of several chemical reactions. The reaction products are then analyzed by other instrumental techniques such as gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, or infrared spectroscopy.
A cost analysis of sampling inspection under Military Standard 105D

Military Standard 105D has been almost universally adopted by government and private consumers for the lot-by-lot sampling inspection of product which may be inspected on a dichotomoun basis The plan specifies, for each lot size, a random sample size and set of acceptance numbers (maximum allowable number of defectives in each sample). The acceptance numbers are based upon the binomial distribution and depend upon the quality required by the purchaser. Where several consecutive lots are submitted, a shift to less severe (“reduced”) inspection or more severe (“tightened”) inspection is specified when the ongoing quality is very high or low. Further experience permits a return to normal sampling from either of these states This paper examines the long range costs of such a sampling scheme. The three inspection types are considered as three distinct Markov chains, with periodic transitions from chain to chain. The expected sample size and the expected proportion of rejected product are determined as a function of the two parameters under control of the manufacturer, lot size and product quality. Some numerical examples are given which illustrate how to compute the overall cost of sampling inspection. Suggestions are made concerning the choice of parameters to minimize this cost.
Synthesis of [14C1]squaric acid

The title work proceeds in five steps and 16% overall yield from sodium [1-14C]acetate, which was converted by bromination followed by ethoxide displacement and reaction with phthaloyl dichloride to ethoxy[1-14C]acetyl chloride. The thermal[2+2]cycloaddition of tetraethoxyethene with ethoxy[1-14C]ketene, derived from base induced elimination from ethoxy[1-14]acetyl chloride following the method of Bellus, provided an 80% yield of 1-(ethoxy[1-14C]acetoxy)-2,3,3,4,4-pentaethoxy-l-[1-14C]-cyclobutene. Acid hydrolysis and liquid-liquid extraction afforded [14C]squaric acid.
A rapid and sensitive method for the detection of histone peptides

Abstract Fluorescamine has been used to obtain a peptide map of a mixture of histones (H 3 , H 2 A, H 2 B, and H 4 ) prepared from oocytes of Xenopus laevis . Fluorescamine was found to be more sensitive than o -phthalaldehyde or ninhydrin-Cd for the detection of peptide fragments obtained from tryptic digestion of oocyte histones of X. laevis and the peptic digestion of the β chain of insulin. Using the β chain of insulin for a comparison, the 8 major peptide fragments could be separated by electrophoresis within 30 min and were detectable at the picomols level. Some 70 peptide spots of X. laevis oocyte histones were resolved, thus permitting the analysis of this complex mixture of polypeptides without the need for prior separation.
Modeling of reaction kinetics and transport in the positive porous electrode in a sodium–iron chloride battery

Abstract A one-dimensional mathematical model of the positive electrode of a sodium–iron chloride battery for an isothermal, constant-current discharge–charge cycle is presented. Macroscopic theory of porous electrodes and concentrated solution theory are used in the model to describe the transport processes. The change in the solubility of FeCl 2 with position and time within the cell is included in the model by defining an equilibrium constant that is a function of the NaCl:NaAlCl 4 molar ratio. The concentrated solution theory for a three-ion system with common cation is extended to account for a diffusive flux of a sparingly soluble ferrous complex. It is seen that this flux is important, especially at moderate depths of discharge. The effect of the assumed solubility constant K sp,FeCl on the battery performance is characterized. When K sp,FeCl is higher than 10 6 , its variation does not change the short-time behavior of the system appreciably. Simulations suggest that the iron accumulates near the sodium tetrachloroaluminate reservoir during discharge. When charging, the net movement is reversed. As a result of continuous cycling, simulations predict that iron is depleted at this boundary. For instance, at the end of the fifth cycle, the iron amount decreases by ∼1% near the reservoir.
THE MOVEMENT OF DEBT TO INSTITUTIONS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INTEREST RATE

A review of the mortgage and bond markets since 1920 shows an impressive trend from direct individual to indirect institutional investment in the country's long-term debt. The figures suggest interesting possibilities both for those engaged in investment and the economist. The chief of these are (1) that now investment money appears to be coming more largely from middle income than wealthy investors, (2) that thrift institutions may be developing a savings stream beyond the ability of the community to supply suitable debt investments, and (3) that interest rates may continue at very low levels even without the artificial assistance of the Federal Reserve Banks. The reason that these possibilities cannot be labeled as conclusions will appear in the figures which show how the huge relative increase in federal government expenditures mean that its deficits and surpluses result in debt market operations of dominating importance.
THE EFFECT OF EDIBLE FILM ON OIL UPTAKE AND MOISTURE RETENTION OF A DEEP‐FAT FRIED POULTRY PRODUCT

The recent trend in reducing the fat content in fried foods is leading to the development of low-fat products using batter and breading formulations from protein and other hydrocolloids. The functionality of many of these edible ingredients on moisture retention and fat barrier properties during deep-fat frying is not clearly understood. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose edible film coating on chicken balls for moisture retention and fat reduction during deep-fat frying. Two sizes (35 and 47 mm) of uncoated and coated chicken balls were fried in peanut oil at 175C for five different frying periods ranging from 30 to 180s for small and 30 to 300s for large balls. The moisture and fat content from the surface layer and core were determined. In comparison to the control, moisture retention up to 16.4% and fat reduction up to 33.7% were observed.
Nitrogenase Activity (C2H2) of Isolated Peanut and Cowpea Bacteroids under Nitrogen, Argon, and Helium Atmospheres

Peanut nodules have been reported to have several times higher nitrogenase activity (C2H2) than cowpea and siratro nodules induced by the same rhizobial strains. The unique morphological modification of the peanut bacteroids has been considered to be the cause for such enhanced activity. To investigate this possibility, nitrogenase activities of isolated peanut and cowpea bacteroids were compared. Peanut bacteroids showed low initial rates of C2H2 reduction which increased with time, but for cowpea bacteroids higher initial rates decreased with time. Moreover, the gases used as diluent for 02 (N2, Ar, or He) were found to influence 02 tolerance and
Immunization of young African green monkeys with OprF epitope 8-OprI-type A- and B-flagellin fusion proteins promotes the production of protective antibodies against nonmucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract There is currently no approved vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and a major pathogen in ventilated and burn patients. In a previous study, we demonstrated the immunization of mice with OprF311–341–OprI–type A- and B-flagellin fusion proteins dramatically enhanced clearance of nonmucoid P. aeruginosa. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the ability of OprF311–341–OprI–flagellins to elicit the production of protective IgG in young (4–6 months old) African green monkeys. Intramuscular immunization of African green monkeys with 1, 3, 10, or 30 μg of OprF311–341–OprI–flagellins generated robust antigen-specific IgG responses. In addition, immunization with OprF311–341–OprI–flagellins elicited high-affinity anti-flagellins, OprI, and OprF IgG that individually promoted extensive deposition of complement component C3 on P. aeruginosa and synergized to facilitate maximal C3 deposition. Passive immunization of mice with plasma from OprF311–341–OprI–flagellins immunized monkeys significantly reduced lung bacterial burden three days post-challenge compared to mice that received pre-immunization plasma. Based on our results, OprF311–341–OprI–A- and B-flagellin fusion proteins are highly effective in mice and nonhuman primates and thus merit additional development as a potential vaccine for use in humans.
Guest Editorial Data Communication Techniques for Storage Channels and Networks

Since the inception of direct access magnetic storage about 55 years ago, data storage has both benefited from and given rise to extraordinary progress in many technological areas, including materials science, tribology, servo control and actuation, and signal processing and coding. The number of data bits that can be stored in a unit area ? the areal recording density ? has increased by eight orders of magnitude for harddisk magnetic storage, with compound annual growth rates at times exceeding 100%. Moreover, the cost of this form of storage has dropped by about seven orders of magnitude. For this reason, data storage has been one of the main enablers of the information technology revolution. According to a recent estimation by the technology analysis firm IDC, the amount of data created worldwide has now started to exceed the capacity of storage that is physically available. This so-called digital universe is forecasted to grow explosively and reach more than 1021 bytes (1 ZB) in 2011.
A plyometric training model used to augment rehabilitation from tibial fasciitis

Shin splints, an exercise-induced form of lower leg pain, is a common complaint among athletes. Considered an overuse injury that compromises the dense and tough fascial attachments of the tibialis posterior and/or tibialis anterior muscles from the tibia, it responds well to a multiphase treatment plan that incorporates plyometric strengthening and conditioning exercises. Plyometrics may be safely introduced as early as the third or functional phase of recovery. A progressive plyometric program that emphasizes a gradual development of eccentric stress loading to the musculoskeletal components of the deep posterior and anterior muscle compartments of the lower leg is described.