cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global citizens, healthy communities: Integrating the sustainable development goals into the nursing curriculum.

Abstract Background Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the nursing curriculum is an ethical response and facilitator developing students into global citizens. Nurse educators can promote global citizenship through the concept of “glocal” experiences in local communities as students work in partnership with communities to address social determinants of health and begin to achieve SDG targets. Purpose This paper explores the process of integrating the SDGs into the nursing curriculum emphasizing the strategic vision of international agencies and national nursing organizations. Discussion Distinct pedagogical and clinical approaches for implementing SDG content into the curriculum are provided including an exploration of global health competencies and their relationship to the SDGs. Finally, an academic-community partnership is described as a clinical exemplar to strengthen the health of communities and begin realizing the SDGs at a local level.
Postoperative Ileus: Old and New Observations on Prevention and Treatment in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery

Background The reported incidence of postoperative ileus (POI) after spine surgery depends on the surgical approach and definition used. It is therefore possible that the overall incidence is substantially higher than previously thought. POI has consequences for both the patient and hospital resources, and can significantly increase health care costs. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients aged 18 years or older who underwent elective complex spine surgery at our tertiary referral institution from 2011 through 2017. Preoperative comorbidities, operating time and approach, estimated blood loss, postoperative complications, and length of stay (LOS) were analyzed for patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Results Of 174 patients included in the study, 32 patients (18.4%) developed POI, leading to a significant increase in their median LOS (9 vs. 7 days; P = 0.020). Total estimated blood loss (1649.5 ± 1266.2 vs. 1124.6 ± 936.3 mL; P = 0.009) and total surgical time (501.6 ± 170.5 vs. 388.4 ± 159.8 minutes; P Conclusions Despite use of early interventions, the median LOS remains significantly longer in patients who develop POI after complex spine surgery. Knowledge of the associated predictive risk factors could potentially assist with the development of rigorous, evidence-based preventative strategies.
Applied problem solving: nifty assignment

In a Discrete Math course, to allow students to be creative, think about what they have learned, and be able to apply what they have learned, the authors have created the following assignment: Assignment: Applied Problem Solving -- Apply a problem solving technique to a life example. Each student proposes a problem using the problem solving technique studied in class, but in a different context from the scenarios shown in the text. Students post their problems to an electronic discussion board for other students to view and solve.
Reflecting upon teaching diversity-centered courses: dialogues between novice and veteran professors

ABSTRACTSelf-reflection has been demonstrated to have a positive effect on the academic growth of educators. Teachers that actively engage in self-reflection are more likely to exhibit an increased...
Dopaminergic Control of Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons Underlies Cocaine-Induced Psychostimulation.

Summary Cocaine drastically elevates dopamine (DA) levels in the striatum, a brain region that is critical to the psychomotor and rewarding properties of the drug. DA signaling regulates intrastriatal circuits connecting medium spiny neurons (MSNs) with afferent fibers and interneurons. While the cocaine-mediated increase in DA signaling on MSNs is well documented, that on cholinergic interneurons (ChIs) has been more difficult to assess. Using combined pharmacological, chemogenetic, and cell-specific ablation approaches, we reveal that the D2R-dependent inhibition of acetylcholine (ACh) signaling is fundamental to cocaine-induced changes in behavior and the striatal genomic response. We show that the D2R-dependent control of striatal ChIs enables the motor, sensitized, and reinforcing properties of cocaine. This study highlights the importance of the DA- and D2R-mediated inhibitory control of ChIs activity in the normal functioning of striatal networks.
96 License denial and motor vehicle collision for drivers with dementia

Statement of purpose This research examines how dementia impacts performance on various driving ability tests during license review. Odds of motor vehicle crash for drivers with dementia was also calculated and compared to other drivers. Methods Iowa drivers over the age of 70 referred for medical review of their license were included in this study. Drivers were identified using Iowa’s Enhanced Medical Referral and Evaluation Management System. Drivers who were entered into the system for their first assessment between January 2014–January 2018 were included. Odds of failure of various driving ability tests, crashes in the previous 3 years, and crash following assessment were evaluated using logistic regression. Results Of over 10,000 drivers in the system, 2.8% (n=286) had a diagnosis of dementia. Drivers referred with dementia were more likely to have their license denied as a result of the review process when compared to other referred drivers. Drivers with dementia had a 3.41 (95%CI:2.04–5.72) greater odds of failing the on-road driving test and a 5.47 (95%CI:2.70–11.07) greater odds of failing the driving knowledge test compared to other assessed drivers while controlling for age. Driver with dementia were less likely to have had a crash in the 3 years prior to referral compared to other drivers. While based on few crashes, there was no difference in the odds of crash for the two groups of drivers who kept their license after the referral process. Conclusions For drivers referred for medical review of their license, a diagnosis of dementia frequently resulted in the denial of a license. These drivers were significantly more likely to fail the various tests used to evaluate driving performance. Significance This research supports that individuals with dementia have decreased driving ability. Drivers with dementia may benefit from a review of their fitness-to-drive.
Integrating Cathodoluminescence into an Undergraduate Geology Curriculum

Cathodoluminescence (CL) is fast becoming a very common research tool in the geosciences. The introduction to and use of the technique in undergraduate courses is a reasonable beginning. Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with the multiple applications of CL before the start of research projects and/or careers. Mineralogy is a logical course for the first exposure to the instrumentation. Once a foundation is developed, the possibilities for further use in courses and independent studies are numerous. With incremental exposure to the theory, basic applications, instrumentation, software, and finally image acquisition, the potential fear of such instrumentation can be minimized. CL has been successfully included in Mineralogy and Geochemistry courses so far at Illinois State University but this is only the beginning. In addition to the knowledge of CL and its applications, confidence in the use of seemingly difficult instrumentation will serve all students well during and after their unde...
The Influences of Category Learning on Perceptual Reconstructions

We explore different ways in which the human visual system can adapt for perceiving and categorizing the environment. There are various accounts of supervised (categorical) and unsupervised perceptual learning, and different perspectives on the functional relationship between perception and categorization. We suggest that common experimental designs are insufficient to differentiate between hypothesized perceptual learning mechanisms and reveal their possible interplay. We propose a relatively underutilized way of studying potential categorical effects on perception, and we test the predictions of different perceptual learning models using a two-dimensional, interleaved categorization-plus-reconstruction task. We find evidence that the human visual system adapts its encodings to the feature structure of the environment, uses categorical expectations for robust reconstruction, allocates encoding resources with respect to categorization utility, and adapts to prevent miscategorizations.
Cerebral venous thrombosis of the sphenoparietal sinus: A case report.

Background Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke that preferentially affects reproductive aged females and patients with hereditary or acquired thrombotic risk factors. The superior sagittal sinus and transverse sinus are the two most common sites for thrombus formation. Case description We report a case of CVT arising in a very rare location, the sphenoparietal sinus. A 32-year-old woman with a history of factor V Leiden mutation and multiple prior episodes of venous thromboembolism presented with a new-onset seizure, headache, and emesis. CT angiography ultimately revealed thrombosis of the left sphenoparietal sinus. The patient received anticoagulation with apixaban with resolution of symptoms and without complications. Conclusion This case serves as an uncommon example of sphenoparietal sinus thrombosis managed with novel oral anticoagulant treatment.
Impact of Transcatheter Pulmonary Artery Intervention Following Superior Cavopulmonary Connection on Pulmonary Artery Growth.

Introduction Balloon and stent angioplasty of the pulmonary arteries (PAs) are frequently performed following superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC), not only to normalize the caliber of the affected PA but also in hopes of maximizing downstream growth over time. There are limited data on the impact on subsequent PA growth prior to total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). Methods A single-center, retrospective cohort study was performed on children who underwent transcatheter (TC) PA intervention following SCPC between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018. Growth of treated and contralateral PAs was measured at the lobar bifurcation (distal branch PA [DBPA]) and in the proximal lower lobe (lower lobe branch [LLB]) on serial angiograms. Growth rate was evaluated using a mixed-effect model clustered by individual patient with an interaction term for treated PA and time to evaluate for differential growth rates between treated and contralateral PAs. Results Thirty-five patients underwent TC PA intervention following SCPC, at a median of 70 days (interquartile range: 19-297 days) postoperatively. Significant growth was seen at both DBPA and LLB for raw (0.8 mm/year, 95% CI: 0.6-1.0, P Conclusion Transcatheter PA intervention was associated with normal distal PA growth rate relative to the untreated side.
Ecohydrology of Water-Controlled Ecosystems: Plant water stress

The reduction of soil moisture content during droughts lowers the plant water potential and leads to a decrease in transpiration. This in turn causes a reduction of cell turgor and relative water content in plants, which brings about a sequence of damages of increasing seriousness. After a discussion of the links between soil moisture and plant conditions, the mean crossing properties of soil moisture, analytically derived in Chapter 3, are used here to define an index of plant water stress that combines the intensity, duration, and frequency of periods of soil-water deficit. Plant water stress is then studied under different climatic conditions, to analyze how the interplay between plant, soil, and environment impacts on vegetation conditions. The analysis of plant water stress presented in this chapter closely follows the paper by Porporato et al. (2001). Soil-water deficit and plant water stress From the level of the single plant to that of the entire ecosystem, the action of climate, soil, and vegetation is linked to plant response by two fundamental processes: the first one is centered around the soil moisture dynamics and controls the intensity and duration of the periods of soil-water deficit, while the second one regulates the impacts of water deficit on plant physiology (Figure 4.1). Since plants get their water from the soil, many of the impacts of climate and soil are felt by plants through the filter of soil moisture dynamics. Effective drought conditions for plants are determined by soil moisture availability and not necessarily by precipitation scarcity (Stephenson, 1990, 1998).
Soft Information, Hard Sell: The Role of Soft Information in the Pricing of Intellectual Property - Evidence from Screenplays Sales

There is a growing literature on the differential impact of "soft" vs. "hard" information on organizational structure and behavior. This study is an attempt to empirically quantify the value of soft information, using a data-base on the market for screenplays. Script quality is difficult to estimate without subjective evaluation. Therefore soft information should be an integral part of the pricing of these intellectual assets. In our empirical analysis, we find that "hard information" (reputation) variables as well as "soft information" proxies are priced. Screenplays with high soft information content are priced significantly lower than "high concept" "harder information" - type scripts. We also follow the screenplays to production, and find that buyers seem to be able to forecast the success of a script, paying more for screenplays resulting in more successful films. In other words, "high concept" (harder information) screenplays sell for more and result in more successful movies.
Induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) by membrane type 1-Matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a prerequisite for cancer invasion

4356 experimental and clinical evidence has demonstrated that MT1-MMP may serve as a master regulator of cancer dissemination. The mechanism underlying this process remains to be defined. While, recent reports on the role of MT1-MMP in cell migration and invasion in three dimensional (3D) type I collagen gels have expanded our understanding of cancer cell invasion, some of the data appear contradictory. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has emerged as a critical step in the conversion of early stage tumors into invasive malignancies. Employing our previously established stable cell lines {human prostate cancer (LNCaP), breast cancer (MCF-7) and fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells} expressing “pathophysiologic” level of MT1-MMP-GFP (MT1-GFP) chimera as well as GFP control cells cultivated in either 2D plastic dishes or 3D native type I collagen gels, we examined the role of MT1-MMP in promoting epithelial cancer cell EMT. expression of MT1-MMP in all three cell lines promotes cell proliferation in 3D cultures, but not in 2D cultures. Enzymatic activity of MT1-MMP is a prerequisite for enhanced cell proliferation suggesting that cellular degradation of surrounding collagen is a prerequisite for enhanced cell proliferation. GFP-expressing LNCaP and MCF-7 cells cultivated in 3D type I collagen gels gradually formed spherical aggregates, whereas cells expressing MT1-GFP display a scattered growth pattern. MT1-MMP-induced cell scattering was abrogated by targeted inhibition of either the catalytic domain (TIMP-2, but not TIMP-1) or the hemopexin domain (recombinant MT1-hemopexin protein), indicating a specific role for each domain of MT1-MMP in cancer cell scattering. Inhibition of MT1-MMP-induced phenotypic changes (fibroblast-like morphology and cell scattering), however, was reversed upon withdrawal of inhibitors. MT1-MMP transfected LNCaP and MCF-7 cells also degraded the cell-cell adherins junction molecule, E-cadherin. In contrast to epithelial cells (LNCaP, MCF-7), HT1080 cells which are mesenchymal in origin displayed a scattered growth pattern in 3D collagen gels. Transfection of HT1080 cells with MT1-MMP or treatment with high dose TIMP-2, did not alter the scattered growth pattern of HT1080 cells, thus consistent with previous observations that mesenchymal cell invasion is independent of MMP activity. Given these data, it appears that MT1-MMP is responsible for converting LNCaP and MCF-7 cells (epithelial origin) to a mesenchymal phenotype. We hypothesize that MT1-MMP degradation of E-cadherin and collagen leads to mesenchymal-associated morphologic changes in 3-D collagen gels and promotes cancer cell migration and proliferation, thus recapitulating EMT. The central role of MT1-MMP in epithelial cancer progression provides a stimulus for development of specific inhibitors as treatment of early stage cancer.
The effects of atmospheric hydrogen fluoride upon Drosophila melanogaster—I: Differential genotypic response

Abstract Four inbred lines of Drosophila melanogaster were exposed to various concentrations of gaseous hydrogen fluoride for a period of six weeks. The effects upon the viability of these populations were predominantly linear with respect to fluoride concentration over the range tested. Differential responses of the inbred lines were interpreted to mean that tolerance to fluoride contamination is influenced by genotype.
Strong Magnetic Field Effects in the Pulsar Crusts and Atmospheres

Strong magnetic fields of the order 1012 ~ 1013 gauss are believed to exist in the vicinity of the surface of neutron-stars. The existence of such high fields brings about important changes in the behavior of the crust and the surrounding atmosphere: some of these effects have been discussed previously by various authors2, 3; in the present paper we discuss some further physical processes which can play an important role in the behavior of pulsars.
God, Guns and Others: Why Restrictions on Carrying Firearms in Church Conflict with a Moral Duty to Defend Others

This article argues from Scripture that individuals have a moral duty to act in defense of their neighbors, and examines how the law, modern and historic, have recognized the existence of that duty. It also examines the nature of the conflict between restrictions on carrying firearms in churches and concludes that state restrictions on this subject must be relaxed to allow individuals to be prepared to act on their duty.
lac Repressor-operator interaction. VI. The natural inducer of the lac operon.

Abstract Allolactose (1-6-O-β- d -galactopyranosyl- d -glucose) is the inducer of the lac operon when Escherichia coli are grown in the presence of lactose (1-4-O-β- d -galactopyranosyl- d -glucose). An in vitro assay for inducer was used to define the conditions of inducer production from lactose by β-galactosidase. The inducer can be made directly on the enzyme by a rearrangement reaction converting the 1 to 4 linkage of lactose to a 1 to 6 linkage. Allolactose was shown to be present in cell extracts by addition of purified repressor as carrier, isolation of the repressorligand complex and then chromatographic identification. The binding constant of allolactose for repressor and the effect of allolactose on the repressor-operator complex are the same as that of the synthetic inducer isopropyl-β- d -thiogalactoside. Furthermore, in vivo, synthetic allolactose is a more effective inducer than IPTG ‡ , probably because it is more efficiently concentrated by the permease.
On fixed-price marketing for goods with positive network externalities

In this paper we discuss marketing strategies for goods that have positive network externalities, i.e., when a buyer's value for an item is positively influenced by others owning the item. We investigate revenue-optimal strategies of a specific form where the seller gives the item for free to a set of users, and then sets a fixed price for the rest. We present a $1\over 2$-approximation for this problem under assumptions about the form of the externality. To do so, we apply ideas from the influence maximization literature [13] and also use a recent result on non-negative submodular maximization as a black-box [3,7].
3-D Microfluidic Networks for Combinatorial Chemistry

In this work we have proposed, developed and characterized a novel 3-D microfluidic network for massively parallel sample analysis suitable for combinatorial chemistry applications. The developed 3-D microfluidic system is designed to test three analytes with 16 different concentrations of analyzer solutions simultaneously. The device operates in the low µL/min range and is well suited for significant reduction in time and cost for highly parallel reactions such as those associated with drug screening.
A simple and efficient VLSI sorting architecture

We have proposed a special-purpose VLSI architecture based on a new parallel sorting algorithm, the MM-SORT. The main ingredients of our design are three types of simple systolic structures: linear arrays, a sorting network and a complete binary tree, all operating in pipelined fashion. The basic processing elements are special storage cells, comparator/register pairs or ANDer/register pairs, and the interconnection degree of each processing element is bounded by a small constant. Due to the simplicity and regularity of this design, the proposed architecture is very suitable for VLSI implementation, and easy to be expanded.
Synaptic membrane phospholipids: effects of maternal ethanol consumption.

Abstract The cholesterol and phospholipid content and phospholipid composition were determined in synaptic membranes from the 17- to 31-day-old offspring of rats that were pair-fed either a control or 6.6% ( v v ) ethanol liquid diet on a chronic basis prior to parturition. At all ages examined, the major synaptic membrane phospholipid was phosphatidyl choline (>40%). Other prominent synaptic membrane phospholipids included phosphatidyl ethanolamine (∼17 to 21%), ethanolamine plasmalogen (∼5 to 16%), and phosphatidyl serine (∼13%). Smaller proportions of sphingomylein (4 to 7%), phosphatidyl inositol (∼1%), and phosphatidic acid (∼1%) were detected. Between 17 and 31 days of age, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of phosphatidyl choline and a significant increase in the proportion of ethanolamine plasmalogen. When the offspring of control and ethanol-treated rats were compared, no significant differences were found in either the yield of synaptic membrane protein, or in the concentration of synaptic membrane cholesterol and total phospholipid. However, the proportion of ethanolamine plasmalogen was significantly decreased in the 24-day-old offspring of ethanol-treated rats, suggestive of a delay in the normal development-related increase of this lipid. In addition, there was a small increase in the proportion of sphingomyelin in the 31-day-old offspring of ethanol-treated rats.
An investigation of the mechanism of the pederin to pederenal transformation

Abstract The mechanism of the acid catalyzed conversion of pederin (1) and pedaldehyde (3) into pederenal (2) is investigated by isotopic labeling using model hydroxyaldehyde 5.
"Out-of-the-park home runs" - legendary digital circuits that tracked technology scaling

Today we enjoy today an abundance of electronic capability enabled by successive generations of technology scaling. While transistor device technologies have evolved to circumvent limitations arising from power consumption, variability, and atomistic-level physics, what has been less apparent is the circuit design response to these device changes. This article provides a glimpse at what's happened over the years in circuit styles including Push-Pull Logic, Bootstrapping, E/D Decoding, Static Combinatorial, DCVS, Pass-Gate/T-Gate, Dynamic Domino, Body-Biasing, Sub Vt Operation.
Phase separation kinetics and morphology in a polymer blend with diblock copolymer additive

The phase diagram for a low molecular weight blend of deuterated polystyrene (PSD) and polybutadiene (PB) was determined by temperature jump light scattering (TJLS) measurements and phase contrast optical microscopy (PCOM). The PSD/PB blend exhibited upper critical solution temperature behavior, and the critical temperatures measured by these two techniques were consistent. Upon addition of 0 to 0.12 mass fraction of a comparable molecular weight PSD-PB symmetric diblock copolymer, a linear decrease in the phase transition temperature was observed with increasing diblock copolymer content. At a constant, shallow quench depth, the kinetics of phase separation via spinodal decomposition as measured by TJLS were greatly retarded by the presence of the copolymer. Additionally, the time dependence of the concentration fluctuation growth did not seem to follow a universal functional form anywhere in the accessible q range when the diblock was present. The results of morphology study of the blends in the late stage of phase separation by PCOM also indicated that the phase separated domain sizes did not grow to the same size for a given annealing time as diblock content increased.
Hyper-resistive modeling in the spheromak

Current drive by coaxial helicity injection in the Sustained Spheromak Physics Experiment (SSPX) is modeled by a hyper-resistive term in Ohm's law for discharges in which magnetic fluctuations are small (1–3%). The current on the open magnetic field lines from the applied vacuum bias flux is assumed completely relaxed; interior to the spheromak, the helicity flux balances the ohmic losses. The poloidal area of the spheromak is found to depend on the strength of the hyper-resistive diffusion coefficient, allowing potentially large amplifications of the vacuum flux and discharge current. One discharge is examined in detail; the best fit to the experimental data finds that a limited fraction of the helicity injected into the flux conserver is effectively applied to current drive interior to the spheromak.
An efficient Green element algorithm for radial flow

Abstract We present a radial coordinate Green element model (GEM) for the computation of transient fluid flow in a straight rigid pipe driven by oscillatory pressure gradient. GEM’s elementwise discretization of the problem domain and the accurate solution of the resulting Fredholm integral equations guarantees accuracy. In particular boundary conditions of the governing equations are exactly satisfied, and high accuracy with minimum computational effort is displayed by comparing GEM results with those obtained from scientific literature.
Reasons Parents Exempt Children From Receiving Immunizations

School nurses are on the front lines of educational efforts to promote childhood vaccinations. However, some parents still choose to exempt their children from receiving vaccinations for personal reasons. Studying the beliefs of parents who exempt vaccinations allows health care workers, including school nurses, to better understand parental concerns which may, in turn, help prepare school nurses for effective communication with these parents. The objective of the study was to explore personal beliefs of parents living in Utah, who exempted their children from receiving vaccinations. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was implemented. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 287 parents responding to an open-ended question about why they exempted their children from receiving at least one vaccination. The qualitative data included parental comments, concerns, or suggestions regarding childhood vaccinations. Five categories were identified regarding reasons for personal exemptions: parental perceptions, health care systems issues, chronic disease concerns, immune system concerns, adverse reaction concerns and other reasons not classified. The number of parents refusing childhood vaccinations remains relatively low; however, despite public health efforts, the percentage increases each year.
Interaction of Negative Pions with Iodine

The interaction of slow negative pions with iodine was studied radiochemically. From the yields of twenty-five radioactive nuclides, yield distribution curves were obtained for the isotopes of each of the seven elements preceding iodine in the periodic table. The total yields of each element and the displacement in mass units of the peak of each distribution from the line of maximum stability were found to be: Te 58 percent (-3), Sb 22 percent (-2), Sn 11 percent (0), In 3 percent (+1), Cd 0.7 percent (+1), Ag 0.12 percent (+2), and Pd 0.03 percent (+3 estimated). The sum of these yields accounts satisfactorily for essentially all the interactions of slow negative pions with iodine. The results reported here are compared with those of other investigations.
Transformation of Primary Chick Embryo Fibroblasts by Marek's Disease Virus

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is an alphaherpesvirus, which can mediate the malignant transformation of lymphocytes to form lymphomas in chickens. In this study, we demonstrate that MDV can transform primary chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). The cell line derived from primary CEF infected with the GA strain of MDV was called CEM(MDV). The fibroblast nature of CEM(MDV) was verified by absence of cytokeratin type II. The CEM(MDV) phenotype differed from either primary CEF or MDV-infected CEF. CEM(MDV) were extensively vacuolated, with unusual multilamellar structures in the cytoplasm, The nuclei were considerably larger than those in primary CEF and were uniformly positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The cell line was subcultured for more than 10 generations; however, CEM(MDV) did not support a fully productive MDV infection, because complete nucleocapsids were not detected and infectivity assays showed that cell line produced no infectious virus. PCR analyses demonstrated that this cell line carried both polypeptide 38 (pp38) and Meq DNA, MDV-specific genes associated with transformation. In addition, examination by laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed that CEM(MDV) constitutively produced MDV MEQ protein in nuclei and pp38 as well as glycoprotein B in the cytoplasm and on the plasma membrane. Growth in soft agar assay demonstrated that CEM(MDV) formed colonies, similar to HeLa and human melanoma cells. Retroviral insertion was not detected in DNA from the CEM(MDV) line.
Special Issue: Impact of Information Systems on Market Structure and Function: Developing and Testing Theories

(2008). Special Issue: Impact of Information Systems on Market Structure and Function: Developing and Testing Theories. Journal of Management Information Systems: Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 7-12.
Apparatus for Measuring the Thermal Expansion of Optical Materials from 30°C to 250°C

An apparatus has been designed and constructed for measuring the coefficient of linear thermal expansion in the 30–250°C temperature range for samples as small as 13 mm in length and 6 mm in diameter. Similarities between this apparatus and one previously built for measurements from room temperature down to 10 K are reviewed; important modifications appropriate to the high temperature range are discussed in detail. Measurements were made at 25°C intervals on two infrared-transmitting optical materials: polycrystalline cadmium sulfide (Eastman Kodak Co.) and chalcogenide glass 20, composition Ge33Se55As12 (Texas Instruments, Inc.). Measurements were also made on a sample of Corning crown glass 8263; the results are compared with Corning data. Finally, it is shown that the thermal expansion coefficients determined with this high temperature apparatus are compatible with those obtained with the above-mentioned low temperature device.
Fully organic ITO replacement through acid doping of double-walled carbon nanotube thin film assemblies

Transparent electrodes made from metal oxides, of which indium tin oxide (ITO) is most common, suffer from poor mechanical flexibility and electrochemical stability. Highly transparent and electrically conductive thin films based on double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) were assembled layer-by-layer (LbL) as a potential replacement for ITO. The alternate deposition of positively charged poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) [PDDA] and DWNTs, stabilized with negatively charged deoxycholate (DOC), exhibits linear film growth. A five bilayer (BL) assembly exhibits a sheet resistance of 309 Ω sq−1, and visible light transmittance of 84%. In an effort to further reduce sheet resistance, these thin films were exposed to HNO3 vapor. Sheet resistance of the 5 BL film was reduced to 104 Ω sq−1 (4200 S cm−1 conductivity, 22.9 nm thickness), with no change in transparency. Single-walled carbon nanotube assemblies show an even greater change when exposed to HNO3 vapor, with a 5 BL assembly (%T > 85) decreasing from 1236 to 237 Ω sq−1. The DWNT-based assemblies maintained their low sheet resistance after repeated bending and also showed excellent electrochemical stability relative to ITO. This work demonstrates the excellent optoelectronic performance, mechanical flexibility, and electrochemical stability of nanotube-based assemblies, which are potentially useful as transparent electrodes for a variety of flexible electronics.
A homogeneous affinity fluorescence assay system for galactose monitoring

Abstract Since the systemic venous-hepatic venous galactose gradient is normally quite large, the ability to detect different blood galactose concentrations in vivo would provide a mechanism for anatomic localization of the hepatic venous system. Furthermore, the development of a catheter assembly mounted with a galactose-sensitive biosensor would provide a technique for cannulating this organ system entirely using sensor guidance. In this report we describe a homogeneous affinity fluorescence assay system which can be contained in a dialysis hollow fiber for continuous galactose monitoring. The principle of this assay is based upon competition of freely permeable galactose for the specific binding interactions between a fluorescently labeled polysaccharide and lectin reagent pair. This competetive energy-transfer assay exhibits good sensitivity over a physiologically relevant galactose concentration range (0–2 mM), an acceptable response time (
Normal electrical activity is not required for the formation of specific sensory-motor synapses

These studies sought to determine the role of stretch-evoked electrical activity in muscle sensory axons on the formation of specific monosynaptic connections made by these neurons onto spinal motoneurons. Normal activity was disrupted by tenotomy during the developmental stages that the central connections are made. The pattern of connections was normal, suggesting that normal activity is not required in this system for the formation of specific sensory-motor connections.
The Obama Administration and R2P: Progress, Problems and Prospects

This article examines the policies of the Obama administration relevant to ‘Responsibility to Protect’ along four dimensions - core doctrine, as established in key foreign and national security policy statements and documents; executive branch institutional changes, focusing particularly on the 2011-12 Presidential Study Directive-10 (PSD-10) and the State Department’s Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR); actual policy in key cases; and particular focus on the Libya case - to assess the progress made, problems that have arisen, and prospects going forward. I argue that the Obama administration is to be credited for shifting the US R2P debate from “if” to “how” and “which”: i.e., no longer if the United States should adopt R2P as an international norm and genocide and mass atrocities prevention as a priority US policy objective but how best to do so and in which cases to do so. This by no means resolves all the issues; indeed it opens up many, domestically and internationally, that were less pressing when we still were at if. And much remains to be seen.
A diagnosis of periodontitis was associated with an increased failure rate of dental implants followed for approximately 2.5 years.

Original Article Evian C, Emling R, Rosenberg E, et al. Retrospective Analysis of Implant Survival and the Influence of Periodontal Disease and Immediate Placement on Long-term Results. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2004;19:393-8. Level of Evidence 4 Purpose To report the outcome of placing Paragon screw implants either immediately after tooth removal or following a healing period in patients with or without pre-existing periodontal disease Source of Funding Industry: Zimmer Dental, Carlsbad, CA, USA Type of Study/Design Retrospective Cohort study
Direct Activators BID & BIM Function Like Membrane Receptors for BAX & BCL-XL

The BCL-2 protein family is a primary regulator of apoptosis and its interaction network converges at the pro-apoptotic BAX/BAK nexus. BAX has soluble, membrane-bound, and membrane-integrated forms that are central to the management of mitochondrial permeabilization. These states, which lead to BAX pore formation and cytochrome c egress, are modulated by anti-apoptotic multidomain and pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins. Using purified recombinant BCL-2 proteins and defined liposomes, the soluble->membrane transitions and pore activity modulations have been characterized.Direct activators cBID and BIMS instigate BAX pore formation - a process inhibitable by BCL-XL - and these oppositional functions are dosage-dependent. BIMS is more efficient an activator than cBID; however, BIMS-BAX activation is more susceptible to inhibition by BCL-XL. Since the steps of BAX activation remain controversial, we investigated the kinetics of protein-membrane binding. BAX, cBID, BIMS, and BCL-XL are each capable of adsorbing to membranes, albeit with differing properties. These proteins' transitions to lipid bilayers include a rapid binding step that is reversible and distinct from a slower membrane integration step. BCL-XL and BIMS show a comparatively high rate of binding to membranes whereas BAX and cBID are substantially slower. The membrane-resident forms of each protein have comparably strong affinities for membranes indicating that the on-rate is most influential on their in-membrane concentrations.The difference in membrane on-rates between the direct activators potentially accounts for the disparity in their BAX activation efficacies. Intriguingly, the membrane-resident forms of cBID and BIMS were capable of driving BAX and BCL-XL to tight membrane affinity conformations. These activities were saturable, suggesting a protein-protein interaction rather than modulation of the bulk membrane environment. These data reveal receptor-like roles for cBID & BIMS for soluble BCL-2 proteins during the initiation of apoptosis.
Temperature dependence and characterization of gratings in PQ/PMMA holographic materials

The good optical properties of PQ (phenanthrenequinone)-doped PMMA (poly methylmethacrylate) and the ability to form it in a wide range of substrate configurations makes it attractive as a holographic recording material. Previously Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and Optical Code Division Multiple Access (OCDMA) filters were demonstrated in this material operating near 1550 nm using edge-illuminated geometry. In this paper we investigate the temperature dependence of edge-illuminated holographic filters formed in PQ/PMMA. It was found that both the volume and refractive index of the material changes as a function of temperature. It was also found that changes to the refractive index dominate the wavelength selectivity of the grating. Experimental measurements and a theoretical model for the grating behavior as a function of temperature are presented.
Analysis of the wake field effects in the PEP-II storage rings with extremely high currents

Abstract We present the history and analysis of different wake field effects throughout the operational life of the PEP-II SLAC B-factory. Although the impedance of the high and low energy rings is small, the intense high-current beams generated a lot of power. The effects from these wake fields are: heating and damage of vacuum beam chamber elements like RF seals, vacuum valves, shielded bellows, BPM buttons and ceramic tiles; vacuum spikes, vacuum instabilities and high detector background; and beam longitudinal and transverse instabilities. We also discuss the methods used to eliminate these effects. Results of this analysis and the PEP-II experience may be very useful in the design of new storage rings and light sources.
Influence of changes in microcirculation on the excitability of the sensory unit in the tooth of the cat.

Simultaneous determinations of radioactive iodide disappearance rate (k-value) and sensory nerve impulse frequency from dentinal cavities were performed on canine teeth of anesthetized cats. Changes in k-value reflecting changes in pulpal microcirculation were obtained by direct sympathetic nerve stimulation or by thermal stimulation. Sympathetic nerve stimulation re duced the k-value and induced an initial increase in nerve impulse frequency. During maximal sympathetic nerve stimulation this initial increase was followed by a marked depression in impulse frequency. Application of heat increased k-value as well as impulse frequency, while cold reduced k-value and induced an initial increase in nerve impulse frequency followed by a decrease. Thermal stimulation superimposed during maximal sympathetic stimulation, when k-value was depressed, was inadequate to evoke an appreciable increase in sensory nerve in pulse frequency. It is suggested that the excitability of sensory units in the tooth is strongly modulated by changes in pulpal microcirculation induced by, for example, stimulation of sympathetic vasoconstrictor fibres.
Minisatellite DNA-Binding Proteins in Mouse Brain, Liver, and Kidney

Minisatellites are tandemly repeated DNA sequences that are found in most higher eukaryotes. They are genetically unstable and often gain or lose repeat units. Minisatellite repeats contain a "core" sequence which is highly conserved among a family of minisatellites. The core sequence resembles the chi sequence of Escherichia coli which is a binding site for recombination proteins. It has therefore been suggested that minisatellite core sequences may also be binding sites for proteins involved in recombination. In this paper, we report several proteins in mouse brain, liver, and kidney nuclear extracts which bind to various minisatellite sequences. We have found several proteins which have not been previously reported and, in addition, have noted that brain has a different profile of minisatellite-binding proteins than liver and kidney. Moreover, we have also observed probe-specificity in the binding of some of these proteins, suggesting that different "families" of minisatellites may have qualitatively different functions.
In situ high-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy studies of two-dimensional TiN island coarsening kinetics on TiN (0 0 1)

Abstract In situ high-temperature (1023–1223 K) scanning tunneling microscopy was used to study the coarsening/decay kinetics of two-dimensional (2D) TiN adatom islands on TiN(0 0 1) terraces and in single-atom-deep vacancy pits. Island coarsening/decay behavior was found to be non-linear with time and to depend on the local environment (i.e., on adatom concentration gradients on the terrace), the signature of surface-diffusion-limited kinetics. Two simple island geometries––a single 2D adatom island on an atomically smooth terrace and a single 2D adatom island within a vacancy island––were used to extract adatom surface transport parameters. We model diffusion-limited island decay kinetics for these configurations based upon steady-state diffusion equations solved by adaptive finite-element methods with a form of the Gibbs–Thomson equation describing anisotropic islands serving as the boundary condition. Calculated decay rates were compared with the experimental results to obtain an activation energy Ea for adatom formation and diffusion on TiN(0 0 1). Ea was found to be 2.6±0.6 and 3.1±0.5 eV for adatom islands in vacancy pits and on terraces, respectively. The difference in the two Ea values corresponds to the step edge Ehrlich barrier, which for TiN(0 0 1) is less than the experimental uncertainties in the measurements.
Whisker and hillock growth via coupled localized Coble creep, grain boundary sliding, and shear induced grain boundary migration

Abstract A model incorporating the effects of grain geometry and size and grain boundary properties on the growth of whiskers and hillocks has been developed based on coupling between localized Coble creep and grain boundary sliding. For both whiskers and hillocks accretion of atoms by Coble creep on grain boundary planes normal to the growth direction is limited by grain boundary sliding on planes parallel to the direction of whisker growth. If the accretion-induced shear stresses are not coupled to grain boundary migration a whisker forms when sliding occurs. In the case of hillocks an additional coupling between grain boundary sliding and shear-induced grain boundary migration leads to the observed lateral growth. By incorporating grain size and geometry, a structure-dependent grain boundary sliding coefficient and measured film stresses the local conditions for whisker growth, including the growth rates, can be calculated. As described here, other commonly observed whisker and hillock morphologies and geometries are consistent with this model, as are the effects of a surface oxide film and thermal cycling.
A Positive Theory of Legal Change

There is no generally accepted positive economic theory of common law change. There are, of course, innumerable economic explanations of particular laws and equilibrium theories that claim that the law in some sense tracks (or fails to track) economic efficiency. Thus, Landes and Posner* claim to have “the” positive theory of law, and this theory is that the law is efficient. However, they do not provide any mechanism explaining why this is so. Blume and Rubinfeld provide a normative theory of the optimal rate of depreciation of precedent, but again no positive theory.g We propose a straightforward remedy for this omission and find a strong parallel in common law to the forces that change statute law, including rent seeking by special interest groups. The major class of economic models attempting to explain legal change are the evolutionary models.“ These models attempted to explain the alleged efficiency of the common law. The ultimate consensus was that the models identified some weak tendency toward efficiency but not enough to provide a basis for the Posnerian claim that the common law is effrcient5
Measurement of birefringence for optical recording of disk substrates

We experimentally investigate the birefringence of bare and coated substrates for magneto-optical recording, using ellipsometry at wavelengths of 632.8 and 780 nm. The polarization rotation and ellipticity of reflected or transmitted light are measured for different incident angles and for different orientations of the incident linear polarization. The measured data are then fitted by the multilayer computer program, which solves the Maxwell equations for a plane wave propagating in a multilayer structure. This approach makes it possible to determine, with high accuracy, the orientations of the principal axes of the substrate and the corresponding refractive indices. The results show that one of the principal axes is always along the substrate’s normal direction, but the orientations of the in-plane principal axes can be much different from the radial and track directions. A special feature of the ellipsometers that were used is that a glass hemisphere is placed in contact with the substrate to eliminate refraction of the incident beam. This enables a maximum propagation angle of 70° (with respect to the normal) in the substrate and hence increases the measurement sensitivity. Certain anomalies have been observed, which we believe are associated with the variation of birefringence properties along the thickness direction.