cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation Practice Patterns in Community and Tertiary-Care Hospitals

Background and Purpose By 1992, several prospective trials established the efficacy of anticoagulation (AC) and to some extent antiplatelet (AP) agents in the prevention of stroke in the setting of atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to determine whether practice patterns in AF stroke prophylaxis reflect the findings of clinical trials and whether stroke prophylaxis in AF differs between community hospitals and tertiary teaching hospitals. Methods Retrospectively, 1250 hospital charts were reviewed. After patients who had undergone recent surgery, received treatment for malignancy, or were not in chronic AF on discharge were eliminated, 651 remaining records were analyzed for the presence of 26 clinical factors influencing the selection of thromboembolism prophylaxis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the association between clinical and demographic factors and the decision to treat with AC, AP, or no specific antiembolic therapy. Results Of the 651 patients in AF, 273 (42%) received no emboli prophylaxis while 219 (34%) were treated with AC (warfarin), 146 (22%) were treated with AP, and 13 (2%) received both agents. Patients discharged in AF from community hospitals were significantly less likely to be treated with either AC or AP agents than patients discharged from tertiary centers. A strong bias against thromboembolism prophylaxis with either AC or AP agents in AF existed with age over 45 years. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that the decision to treat was associated only with the presence of prosthetic valve, history of prior stroke, mitral disease, and absence of a recent gastrointestinal bleed or occult blood in stool. Even after adjustment for these factors, a significant bias against treatment with either AC or AP agents with advancing age and discharge from community hospitals remained. Conclusions Thromboembolism prophylaxis with either AC or AP agents is underutilized in the setting of AF. Furthermore, factors known to increase the risk of embolization in AF such as age, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease were not associated with decisions to treat with either AP or AC agents. This study suggests that the use of clinical guidelines suggested by trials of thromboembolism prophylaxis in AF could reduce the incidence of stroke.
Voices in the Classroom: Case Studies of Minority Teacher Candidates.

A critical problem facing educators today is the inability of our teacher education system to produce substantial numbers of teachers from racial, ethnic, and language minority groups. Despite gene...
Ferrous hydroxy carbonate is a stable transformation product of biogenic magnetite

A ~1:1 mixture of ferrihydrite and nanocrystalline akaganeite (β-FeOOH; 10-15 nm) was incubated with Shewanella putrefaciens (strain CN32) under anoxic conditions with lactate as an electron donor and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) as an electron shuttle. The incubation was carried out in a 1,4-piperazinediethanesulfonic acid (PIPES)-buffered medium, without PO³⁻₄ at circumneutral pH. Iron reduction was measured as a function of time (as determined by 0.5 N HCl extraction), and solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The biogenic reduction of Fe3+ was rapid; with 60% of the total Fe (Feтот) reduced in one day. Only an additional 10% of Feтот was reduced over the next three years. A fine-grained (10 nm), cation-excess (CE) magnetite with a Fe²⁺/Feтот ratio of 0.5-0.6 was the sole biogenic product after one day of incubation. The CE magnetite was unstable and partially transformed to micron-sized ferrous hydroxy carbonate [FHC; Fe₂ (OH)₂CO3(s)], a rosasite-type mineral, with time. Ferrous hydroxy carbonate dominated the mineral composition of the three year incubated sample. The Fe²⁺/Feтот ratio of the residual CE magnetite after three years of incubation was lower than the day 1 sample and was close to that of stochiometric magnetite (0.33). To best of ourmore » knowledge, this is the first report of biogenic FHC, and only the third observation of this material in nature. Ferrous hydroxy carbonate appeared to form by slow reaction of microbially produced carbonate with Fe²⁺-excess magnetite. The FHC may be an overlooked mineral phase that explains the infrequent occurrence of fine-grained, biogenic magnetite in anoxic sediments.« less
Scottish missionaries as legislators representing the Africans of Nyasaland, 1908–1958

(1989). Scottish missionaries as legislators representing the Africans of Nyasaland, 1908–1958. Parliaments, Estates and Representation: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 79-89.
Sink and swim: kinematic evidence for lifting-body mechanisms in negatively buoyant electric rays Narcine brasiliensis.

SUMMARY Unlike most batoid fishes, electric rays neither oscillate nor undulate their body disc to generate thrust. Instead they use body–caudal–fin (BCF) locomotion. In addition, these negatively buoyant rays perform unpowered glides as they sink in the water column. In combination, BCF swimming and unpowered gliding are opposite ends on a spectrum of swimming, and electric rays provide an appropriate study system for understanding how the performance of each mode is controlled hydrodynamically. We predicted that the dorso-ventrally flattened body disc generates lift during both BCF swimming and gliding. To test this prediction, we examined 10 neonate lesser electric rays, Narcine brasiliensis , as they swam and glided. From video, we tracked the motion of the body, disc, pelvic fins and tail. By correlating changes in the motions of those structures with swimming performance, we have kinematic evidence that supports the hypothesis that the body disc is generating lift. Most importantly, both the pitch of the body disc and the tail, along with undulatory frequency, interact to control horizontal swimming speed and Strouhal number during BCF swimming. During gliding, the pitch of the body disc and the tail also interact to control the speed on the glide path and the glide angle.
Hesperides: Solar/nuclear missions to the Sun׳s inner gravity focus

Abstract The Sun׳s gravity focus at >550 AU is of interest to astrophysicists including SETI scientists, researchers seeking to image extra-solar planets and others. One method for an extra-solar probe to reach the Sun׳s inner gravity focus within a human working lifetime (less than 50 years) is to combine solar and nuclear propulsion techniques. Here, we present a non-optimized probe concept including state-of-the-art solar-sail, radioisotope-electric propulsion and giant-planet gravity assists. Application of radioisotope propulsion allows some cross range capability during and after the powered and cruise phases of the flight to >600 AU. Such a capability is likely necessary to fully utilize the solar gravitational lens effect for SETI and astrophysical observations.
Collapsing singletons may boost signal for associating rare variants in sequencing study

Advances in next-generation sequencing technology have made it possible to comprehensively interrogate the entire spectrum of genomic variations including rare variants. They may help capture the remaining genetic heritability which has not been fully explained by previous genome-wide association studies. Here we performed a gene-based genome-wide scan to identify hypertension susceptibility loci in analysis of a whole genome sequencing cohort of 103 unrelated individuals. We found that collapsing singletons may boost signals for associating rare variants and identified SETX statistically significant by a genome-wide gene-based threshold (p value <5.0 × 10−6). The function of SETX in hypertension may be worthy of further investigation.
Postoperative return of motion in anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament injuries: the effect of medial collateral ligament rupture location

Twenty consecutive patients with combined anterior cruciate/medial collateral ligament injuries were analyzed to determine if a correlation exists between the location of medial collateral ligament disruption and postoperative return of motion. All patients were treated operatively by autogenous patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and primary medial collateral ligament repair. The mean followup was 379 days. The patients (12 men and 8 women; mean age, 23 years) were divided into two groups based on the location of superficial medial collateral ligament rupture. Group P consisted of 13 patients with lesions at or proximal to the joint line; Group D consisted of 7 patients with disruptions distal to the joint line. Group D patients had a more rapid return of motion for both flexion and extension. At the conclusion of followup, patients from Group D also achieved 8 degrees more flexion and 3 degrees more extension. There were eight additional procedures performed on five patients, all from Group P, required to treat difficulty regaining motion. Among these patients with anterior cruciate/medial collateral ligament injuries there are two distinct groups, each with different prognoses related to return of motion based on the location of the medial collateral ligament disruption. We suggest that patients with double-ligament injuries, where the medial collateral ligament lesion is proximal, should be managed very aggressively to regain motion.
Odors pulsed at wing beat frequencies are tracked by primary olfactory networks and enhance odor detection

Each down stroke of an insect's wings accelerates axial airflow over the antennae. Modeling studies suggest that this can greatly enhance penetration of air and air-born odorants through the antennal sensilla thereby periodically increasing odorant-receptor interactions. Do these periodic changes result in entrainment of neural responses in the antenna and antennal lobe (AL)? Does this entrainment affect olfactory acuity? To address these questions, we monitored antennal and AL responses in the moth Manduca sexta while odorants were pulsed at frequencies from 10-72 Hz, encompassing the natural wingbeat frequency. Power spectral density (PSD) analysis was used to identify entrainment of neural activity. Statistical analysis of PSDs indicates that the antennal nerve tracked pulsed odor up to 30 Hz. Furthermore, at least 50% of AL local field potentials (LFPs) and between 7-25% of unitary spiking responses also tracked pulsed odor up to 30 Hz in a frequency-locked manner. Application of bicuculline (200 muM) abolished pulse tracking in both LFP and unitary responses suggesting that GABA(A) receptor activation is necessary for pulse tracking within the AL. Finally, psychophysical measures of odor detection establish that detection thresholds are lowered when odor is pulsed at 20 Hz. These results suggest that AL networks can respond to the oscillatory dynamics of stimuli such as those imposed by the wing beat in a manner analogous to mammalian sniffing.
Photoluminescence from “spike doped” hydrogenic donors in Al0.3Ga0.7As-GaAs quantum wells

We have performed photoluminescence (PL) measurements on GaAs-Al0.3Ga0.7As superlattices where Si donors have been selectively doped at the center of the non-interacting quantum wells. A PL feature is shown to be donor related and is attributed to the radiative recombination of an electron of a neutral donor at the center of a quantum well with a heavy hole. Furthermore, our measurements indicate that the binding energy of the electron bound at a neutral donor is slightly larger than that of a coupled electron heavy hole exciton and, in addition, is significantly larger than that observed for donors in bulk GaAs. These observations are in substantial agreement with recent theoretical calculations.
Recent Trends in the Occupational Mobility of Negroes, 1930–1960: An Intracohort Analysis

An intracohort analysis of occupational trends produced more consistent results than did conventional approaches to the study of labor force change. There was a trend of convergence between the occupational distributions of white and Negro males from 1930 to 1940 and, especially, from 1940 to 1950, which did not hold, however, during the fifties. Figures for the South showed a trend of convergence similar to that of the country as a whole during the 1940's, but, in contrast to popular opinlion, the Negro lost notable occupational ground in the South during the fifties. The factor of education was found to be of special importance for the Negro's mobility dutring periods of sutbstantial occupational change. R ecent trends in the occupational distribution of Negroes in the labor force of the United States have been analyzed with contradictory results by several wellknown social scientists. There are, to begin with, the static, cross-sectional comparisons by Myrdall and Taeuber and Taeuber.2 Myrdal concluded that Negroes "usually fail to improve their opportunities by staying in school longer." But Taeuber and Taeuber found, on the other hand, that "there are close associations between levels of education and occupational concentrations," although the "educational levels of nonwhite men in specific occupations are somewhat below those of all men in the same education." Important trend analyses more recently were made by Bogue3 and Miller.4 Bogue suggested that while the occupational differential between whites and nonwhites "is still very large, very substantial changes have been made" since 1940. Miller conversely concluded that "the relative occupational status of nonwhites has not changed appreciably" since 1940. One contribution of the present report -aside from its attempt to illuminate specific trends in the occupational distribution of Negroes, with special reference to the factor of education-is its deemonstration that conventional analytical approaches can produce these (livergent results.
Competition at the range boundary in the slimy salamander: using reciprocal transplants for studies on the role of biotic interactions in spatial distributions

1. Determining the factors that influence the distribution of species has been a longstanding goal in the field of ecology. New techniques such as ecological niche modelling have the potential to aid in addressing many broad questions in ecology, evolutionary biology, and behavioural ecology. 2. This study combines broad-scale ecological niche models with fine-scaled studies of biotic interactions to examine how abiotic and biotic interactions affect the spatial distribution of the terrestrial salamander species Plethodon glutinosus (northern slimy salamander), in a potential contact zone shared with Plethodon mississippi (Mississippi slimy salamander). 3. The core habitat in the interior portion of the range of P. glutinosus and the contact zone are distributed in unique environmental niche space. 4. The form of competition, inter- or intraspecific, significantly affected mass loss of adult salamanders. Salamanders lost more mass when interacting with a heterospecific. 5. Abiotic conditions strongly influenced the impact of competition on salamanders. Under stressful environmental conditions at the field site located in the contact zone, salamanders lost more mass than at the field site located in the interior of the range. 6. Furthermore, adult salamanders from range-edge populations and core populations (from the interior of the range) differed in their respective abilities to compete under the abiotic conditions in the contact zone.
Capacity of a class of relay channels with orthogonal components

The capacity of a class of discrete-memoryless relay channels with orthogonal channels from the sender to the relay receiver and from the sender and relay to the receiver is shown to be equal to the max-flow min-cut upper bound. The result is extended to additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) relay channels where the channel from the sender to the relay uses a different frequency band from the channel from the sender and the relay to the receiver.
Perspectives: Evaluating Presidential Candidates

How can you tell if a person has what it takes to be a college president? Currently, candidates for the top jobs at colleges and universities go through a selection process that includes exhaustive...
The prediction of ovulation and monitoring of the fertile period.

Simple and reliable methods have been sought for both predicting and confirming ovulation. Application of these methods could include management of infertile couples to aid in conception and for increasing the reliability of natural family planning (NFP) as a method of birth control. With the advent of specific hormone assays, serial measurements of estrogens, progesterone (and metabolites), and luteinizing hormone have been the gold standard of monitoring ovarian function in women, However, newer and simpler methodologies have been described and are currently either in use or being tested. These include the measurement of basal body temperature (BBT), the evaluation of the volume, consistency and electro-conductivity of cervicovaginal fluid, salivary steroid content and cellular enzymatic activity, the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays applied to solid-phase formats, and the investigation of new hormonal molecules as markers of reproductive state and function. These new technologies are described herein and their potential for monitoring ovarian function is discussed.
Incidence of skin breakdown and higher amputation after transmetatarsal amputation: Implications for rehabilitation

Abstract The purpose of this study of patients with transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) is to describe multiple patient characteristics, including the incidence of subsequent skin breakdown and higher amputation, that may influence rehabilitation treatment and outcomes. Data were gathered on all patients having a TMA at this facility between April 1989 and September 1993. One hundred twenty TMAs were performed on 107 patients with a mean age of 62.4 ± 13.8 years. There were 55 men and 52 women. Thirteen patients (12%) had a bilateral TMA. Twenty-nine patients (27%) developed skin breakdown. Of these, 48% occurred within the first 3 months after surgery. Thirty patients (28%) required a higher amputation. Of these, 60% occurred in the first month after TMA. In addition, this group of patients had a high incidence of diabetes mellitus (77%), hypertension (54%), electrocardiogram (EKG) abnormalities (60%), congestive heart failure (22%), and prior ipsilateral vascular surgery (51%). These results indicate that patients with TMA often present with a complicated medical condition and that they are at high risk of skin breakdown or higher amputation, especially in the first 3 months after surgery. The investigators conclude that patients with TMA may benefit from a rehabilitation program emphasizing protection of the residuum during their return to functional activities. Additional research is needed to determine optimal acute and long-term rehabilitation of patients with TMA.
Uncertainty, Experience and the Winner's Curse in OCS Lease Bidding

This paper presents an empirical test of the major hypothesis of the currently-accepted bidding models in two regions of differing tract value uncertainty. The most significant result is an empirical verification that the more bidders that bid on a particular parcel in the face of great uncertainty, the lower the bid levels of individual firms that participate given all else is constant. No such relationship was observed, however, in the sale where there was previous bidding experience and prior ownership of closely related tracks. Prior models have not been able to identify the inverse relationship because of a bias that occurs when only positive bids are employed in these models and the use of data where previous experience reduces uncertainty. In the analysis of the competitive bidding situation, we use a two-stage procedure which adjusts for this "selection bias" by allowing for the incorporation of information from the dichotomous bid/no-bid decision in the modeling of bid level.
Moral intuitionism and disagreement

According to moral intuitionism, at least some moral seeming states are justification-conferring. The primary defense of this view currently comes from advocates of the standard account, who take the justification-conferring power of a moral seeming to be determined by its phenomenological credentials alone. However, the standard account is vulnerable to a problem. In brief, the standard account implies that moral knowledge is seriously undermined by those commonplace moral disagreements in which both agents have equally good phenomenological credentials supporting their disputed moral beliefs. However, it is implausible to think that commonplace disagreement seriously undermines moral knowledge, and thus it is implausible to think that the standard account of moral intuitionism is true.
Formulation and food deprivation affects 2,4-D neurobehavioral toxicity in rats.

Abstract The herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a commonly used herbicide and one component of Agent Orange. The herbicide is commonly formulated as the butyl ester. The effects of a 50:50 mixture of n-butyl and iso-butyl esters of 2,4-D (2,4-D mixed butyl esters, 150–175 mg/kg/day SC) on photocell locomotor activity and landing foot splay were assessed in rats. Similarly the effects of 2,4-D mixed butyl esters and pure 2,4-D-n-butyl ester (150 mg/kg/day SC) on photocell locomotor activity were assessed in both food deprived and free feeding rats. In general, food deprivation tended to decrease the sensitivity of rats to the effects of either formulation. The spectrum of neurobehavioral effects varied with the ester isomers. Both 2,4-D-n-butyl ester and 2,4-D mixed butyl esters depressed photocell locomotor activity. 2,4-D mixed butyl esters failed to increase landing foot splay as reported for 2,4-D-n-butyl ester. The extent of ester hydrolysis was similar when comparable concentrations of 2,4-D acid were measured in blood and brain four hours following either formulation. 2,4-D-n-butyl ester caused significantly more activity depression than 2,4-D mixed butyl esters. Additionally, tolerance developed more rapidly for animals receiving 2,4-D mixed butyl esters than for animals receiving 2,4-D-n-butyl ester. These studies exemplify the importance of herbicide formulation and subject nutritional status in the expression of neurobehavioral toxicity.
Conducting a survey of community computer resources (abstract only)

The Curriculum Advisory Committee of the School of Engineering, Technology and Nursing at IPFW requested a survey of the computer resources in the community. Following are reasons cited: To aid in the design of curriculum in degree programs that better reflect the needs of the community.To identify topics of specific courses, workshops and seminars to be offered through the Office of Continuing Education.To document equipment and software needs of the University to support funding requests.To verify the continuing need for graduates of the Computer Technology Department's programs.A committee was appointed to conduct the survey. Committee members designed the survey instrument, wrote a cover letter, supervised the distribution and collected the responses. They are currently recording the responses in a database. Next the data will be summarized and analyzed.The survey was carefully designed to facilitate completion by the respondents and to provide data in a format that could be conveniently recorded and summarized.Questions in the survey covered the following areas: Hardware, including the quantity and size of CPU's, the number of terminals and the type of communications in use.Software, relating to the languages represented and packages in use.Personnel, both current and future projections of need indicating the number anticipated in each of several educational categories.Survey forms were mailed to approximately 1250 businesses and industries during Spring Semester 1986. At this time over 200 responses have been received.
''Exact'' classical electron dynamic approach for a free-electron laser amplifier

We have calculated the gain of a free-electron laser in the small-gain-per-pass limit by using the single-particle model. The electron equations of motion reduce to that of a simple pendulum. As operating levels increase, the theory predicts that by varying the amount of detuning, gain enhancement should occur. In addition, we calculate the electron energy and phase distributions at the output of the amplifier assuming the electrons entering are monoenergetic and have a uniform phase distribution. Above a certain operating level, the theory predicts and explains for the first time the occurrence of discontinuities in both distribution functions. The effect of these discontinuities in storage-ring high-power applications is not yet known.
Aligning Organizational Culture With Leader‐Member Exchange

At an increasing rate, human resource managers are recognizing the need to understand how the dimensions of organizational culture affect the elements of the leader-member exchange (LMX) model. A study of 300 working adults analyzed the relationship between the organizational cultural dimensions of individualism, collectivism, and gender egalitarianism and the four LMX dimensions of contribution, loyalty, affect, and professional respect. The results show that collectivism is a significant predictor of all four of the LMX dimensions, while gender egalitarianism is a significant predictor of only the LMX dimension of affect. Individualism was not found to be a predictor for any of the LMX dimensions. These findings are instrumental in helping HR managers capitalize on the strengths of collectivism as a driving factor as they design their policies and practices to achieve organizational objectives. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In practice, chimp memory study flawed.

In the News Focus story “Did working memory spark creative culture?” (9 April, p. [160][1]), M. Balter reports that “[c]himpanzees are better than humans at some memory tasks,” based on work with the chimpanzee Ayumu ([ 1 ][2]). In fact, that study contained a fundamental flaw. Ayumu received extensive practice on the task; the humans to whom he was compared received none. At least one subsequent study ([ 2 ][3]) shows that, with even very moderate practice, humans can match Ayumu's performance. In spite of this basic methodological error, the claim of superior spatial working memory in chimpanzees has been widely and uncritically repeated in the popular and scientific media. Propagation of this incorrect idea distracts from more fruitful explorations of chimpanzee memory and undermines ongoing research into human and primate evolution. 1. [↵][4] 1. S. Inoue, 2. T. Matsuzawa , Curr. Biol. 17, 1004 (2007). [OpenUrl][5][CrossRef][6] 2. [↵][7] 1. A. Silberberg, 2. D. Kearns , Anim. Cognit. 12, 405 (2009). [OpenUrl][8][CrossRef][9][PubMed][10][Web of Science][11] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.328.5975.160 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [5]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DCurr.%2BBiol.%26rft.volume%253D17%26rft.spage%253D1004%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.cub.2007.10.027%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [6]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/j.cub.2007.10.027&link_type=DOI [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [8]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAnimal%2Bcognition%26rft.stitle%253DAnim%2BCogn%26rft.aulast%253DSilberberg%26rft.auinit1%253DA.%26rft.volume%253D12%26rft.issue%253D2%26rft.spage%253D405%26rft.epage%253D407%26rft.atitle%253DMemory%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Border%2Bof%2Bbriefly%2Bpresented%2Bnumerals%2Bin%2Bhumans%2Bas%2Ba%2Bfunction%2Bof%2Bpractice.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1007%252Fs10071-008-0206-8%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F19115068%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [9]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1007/s10071-008-0206-8&link_type=DOI [10]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=19115068&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F328%2F5983%2F1228.3.atom [11]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000263540600017&link_type=ISI
Computationally intensive multivariate statistics and relative frequency distributions in archaeology (with an application to the Early Epipaleolithic of the Levant)

Archaeologists seek to analyze patterns of similarity and difference among diverse kinds of assemblages that (1) vary in the number of specimens and (2) have been characterized by standard multi-category frequency distributions. Recent developments in computer simulation methods offer marked improvements in our ability to test statistical hypotheses about variation in relative taxonomic or typological abundance data, drawn from assemblages of variable sizes and diverse archaeological contexts (American Antiquity 66 (2001) 715; Journal of Archaeological Science 30 (2003) 837). In this article we extend the highly flexible and powerful computationally intensive framework for statistical analysis to the multivariate family of methods of analysis of variation (MANOVA) and non-hierarchical cluster analysis. We treat the relative type-frequency distribution as a multivariate quantitative description of the archaeological assemblage. We then introduce two simulation-based computer applications for analyzing variability between groups of assemblages. We utilize the multivariate applications in a case study; we evaluate how standard microlith typological classifications perform in capturing information about technological and formal variability among Early Epipaleolithic microlith assemblages from the Southern Levant. Computationally intensive, simulation-based statistical techniques allow the researcher to custom-tailor the measure of statistical variation and the model of random archaeological record formation relevant to the given problem. We suggest that with simulation-based approaches, the costs of computer programming and processing are far outweighed by the potential for explaining quantifiable variability in material traces of human activity in the past.
Harsanyi's 'utilitarian theorem' and utilitarianism

1.1 In 1955, John Harsanyi proved a remarkable theorem:' Suppose n agents satisfy the assumptions of von Neumann/Morgenstern (1947) expected utility theory, and so does the group as a whole (or an observer). Suppose that, if each member of the group prefers option a to b, then so does the group, or the observer (Pareto condition). Then the group's utility function is a weighted sum of the individual utility functions. Despite Harsanyi's insistence that what he calls the Utilitarian Theorem embeds utilitarianism into a theory of rationality, the theorem has fallen short of having the kind of impact on the discussion of utilitarianism for which Harsanyi hoped. Yet how could the theorem influence this discussion? Utilitarianism is as attractive to some as it is appalling to others. The prospects for this dispute to be affected by a theorem seem dim. Yet a closer look shows how the theorem could make a contribution. To
INFLUENCE OF NACL LEVEL AND FREEZING ON ACTIN AND MYOSIN CONTENT OF EXUDATE FROM CHUNKED AND FORMED LAMB ROASTS

The influence of NaCl levels and freezing on bind characteristics and protein exudate of chunked and formed lamb roasts were evaluated. Roasts prepared from frozen lean had lower shear values and Instron peak loads than did roasts prepared from fresh lean. Freezing of lean prior to processing lowered percentage actin in exudate but significant (P<.05) NaCl level × freezing interactions existed for percentage actin and myosin. Increasing NaCl levels from .5 to 2.0% decreased cook loss in all roasts made from fresh and frozen meat and increased Instron measures of bind in roasts made from fresh but not frozen meat. Effects of freezing and NaCl level on extractability and functionality of the myofibrillar proteins into the exudate at meat chunk surfaces is probably responsible for the observed differences in bind.
Charting a Communication Pathway: Using Assessment to Guide Curriculum Development in a Re-Vitalized General Education Plan

The scope and function of general education is perhaps one of the most volatile issues in higher education (Shires, 1996). Many academic institutions are in the process of reassessing and redefining the standards that constitute core academic or general education curricula (Goldstein, 2001; Shires, 1996). Since communication courses are often offered as a part of general education, issues related to accountability, assessment, and change in general education should be a concern of communication departments that contribute to general education programs. Arguing that communication skills are foundational to students' fundamental academic skills and critical to students' success in college and beyond, this essay addresses the question: “What is the role of a communication curriculum in general education?” The current essay demonstrates how a systematic assessment plan was utilized to refine a curriculum and to provide evidence and fortify arguments for the role of communication in general education. Finally,...
Nanoclay/Polypropylene Composite Monofilament Processing and Properties Using Twin and Single Screw Extruders

The structure and properties of nanoclay/polypropylene composite monofilaments were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analyzer, differential scanning calorimeter, and Instron universal testing machine. Twin and single screw extruders were used to produce composite monofilaments with different weight percentage and types of nanoclays and compatabilizers. Final properties of composite monofilaments were affected by the amount of nanoclay. The tensile strength values decreased compared to the pure polypropylene monofilaments for all composite samples. There was not a significant change at melting point; however, decomposition temperature of composite polypropylene monofilaments increased about 10–18% compared to pure polypropylene monofilaments.
Dialects in the alarm calls of prairie dogs

1. The alarm calls of the Gunnison's prairie dog, Cynomys gunnisoni zuniensis, have differentiated into local dialects. 2. Call characteristics show that, within a given dialect, the number of syllables, the length of the syllables, and the interval length between syllables are weakly correlated with one another. The number of syllables, however, is strongly correlated with the total length of the call. 3. Both the number of syllables and the total call length are strongly correlated with the complexity of the habitat: the more complex the habitat in terms of vegetation cover, rocks, and tree stumps, the more syllables there are and the longer is the call. This may be related to predation pressure, with prairie dogs in more complex habitats calling longer to warn their kin when a predator approaches.
Fluorescent chemosensors that signal carbohydrates in aqueous solution: a novel mechanism for signal transduction is required and found

2-Anthrylboronic acid (pKa 8.8) displays decreased fluorescence in the boronate form compared with its boronic acid form, which we attribute to photoinduced electron transfer. When the boronic acid complexes to polyols such as fructose, the pKa of the complex decreases; thus, the fluorimetrically determined pKa of the 2-anthrylboronic acid:fructose borate ester is 5.9. These properties combined permit polyol complexation in water to be observed spectrofluorimetrically, which has not been reported previously. Fructose binds with a fluorimetrically determined Kd of 3.7 mM.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
19F MR imaging of ventilation and diffusion in excised lungs.

Perfluorinated gases, particularly C2F6, are potentially suitable alternatives to hyperpolarized noble gases for pulmonary airspace spin density and diffusion MRI. This work focuses mainly on 19 F imaging of C2F6 gas in healthy and emphysematous explanted lungs, avoiding regulatory issues of human in vivo measurements. Three-dimensional gradient echo and spin echo spin density images of human lungs can be made in 10 s with adequate signal-to-noise, demonstrating the feasibility for breathing dynamics to be captured during a succession of short breath holds. As expected, the spin echo images have much smaller susceptibility artifacts than the gradient echo images. 19 F and 3 He images of the same lungs are compared. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of C2F6 is sensitive to restrictions imposed by the lung microstructure: the average ADC is measured to be 0.018 cm 2 /s in healthy lungs versus 0.031 cm 2 /s in emphysematous lungs at a diffusion time 2.2 ms. The low free diffusivity of pure C2F6 (D0 0.033 cm 2 /s) places it in a regime where the ADC measurement allows the surface-to-volume ratio to be determined in each voxel, a potentially valuable quantitative characterization of regional lung tissue destruction in emphysema. Magn Reson Med 54: 577–585, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The flow of gases through high polymer films in equilibrium with sorbed vapors

A new apparatus is described for the measurement of the permeability constants of polymer—vapor film systems to atmospheric gases. The permeability constants of regenerated cellulose to oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide were found to increase rapidly and nonlinearly with increasing relative humidity. The permeability constants of polyethylene to oxygen and nitrogen were found to increase in a like manner with increasing relative pressures of n-hexane and carbon tetrachloride. In the case of the polyethylene—organic vapor and gas systems the activation energy for the permeation process appears to be independent of sorbed vapor concentration. Furthermore, it was found that the permeability constants of the polymer—vapor films increased linearly with sorbed vapor concentration. A theory based on an analogy with electrical conductivity is proposed to explain the form of this relationship. The theory appears to give good quantitative agreement for the polyethylene—hexane—oxygen system, but further experimental data are needed to establish the generality of the theory.
Rekombinante Faktoren der Blutgerinnung. Entwicklung und Produktion aus tierischer Zellkultur

Mehr als 17 Jahre klinische Erfahrung mit den rekombinanten Gerinnungsfaktoren FVIIa, FVIII und FIX haben gezeigt, dass die Herstellung dieser Proteine aus tierischer Zellkultur eine verlassliche und deutlich sicherere Alternative zu der herkommlichen Substitutionstherapie mit Plasmafaktoren ist. Alle rekombinanten Faktoren werden in aufwendigen Fermentationsprozessen unter stringenter Kontrolle moglicher Sicherheitsrisiken zu Endprodukten hoher Reinheit aufgearbeitet. Zur weiteren Verbesserung des Therapiestandards werden neben den Aktivitaten in der Gentherapie neue Ansatze verfolgt, um z.B. die Aktivitat des Faktor-VIII-Molekuls uber eine Liposomen-Formulierung oder uber Veranderung der Aminosauresequenz zu verlangern und die Zahl der Injektionen fur die Patienten zu verringern.
Realism in engineering education

Citing the cultural education of an engineer as a continuing process, Dean Langsdorf tosses the responsibility to the national engineering societies. He opposes further dilution of engineering curricula which already require streamlining and intensification if, in the face of expanding technology, they are to meet effectively their obligation of assuring their graduates the requisite fundamentals.
Contribution of the diffuse modes to the thermal conductivity of a magnetic lattice near the curie point

Abstract The scaling law hypothesis is used to predict the contribution of the diffuse modes to the thermal conductivity of a ferromagnetic lattice near the Curie point.
Low level transistorized chopper amplifier

Low-level transistorized chopper amplifiers have been constructed for a specific missile application. With minor modifications, these amplifiers can meet the requirements for general usage. The chopper is capable of processing 900 signals per second at a common mode rejection of 1000:1. The gain is smoothly adjustable ± 20 percent of full scale and the output is linear within 1 percent of a straight line drawn between the end points. Operation is consistent over a temperature range of +40°F to 165°F with less than 10 percent variation in gain. The amplifier's rise time is less than 300 microseconds. Input impedance is 25 k or better and output impedance is 5 k or less. Ripple is less than 10 millivolts peak.
Information needs of elderly postsurgical cancer patients during the transition from hospital to home.

Purpose: To describe information needs of elderly postsurgical cancer patients. Few reports have described learning needs of postsurgical cancer patients during the initial weeks after hospitalization. Responding to information needs during the transition to home is important for helping patients and families to appropriately manage illness. Design: Descriptive, using records kept for patients assigned to the experimental group in a larger study completed in 1996. The sample was 148 American patients surgically treated for a new diagnosis of prostate, breast, gastrointestinal, lung, or head and neck cancer. Information needs were identified from topics addressed by advanced practice nurses during 4-week episodes of home care. Methods: Content analysis of 3,280 statements of teaching interventions. Findings: Teaching themes were instructing on postoperative self-care, advising on symptom management, clarifying the illness experience, discussing psychological responses, and preparing patients and families to coordinate follow-up care. Topics included describing the expected course of illness, informing about community resources, identifying events that require physician notification, and advising on pain management. Topic emphasis varied by site of cancer. Conclusions: Information needs of elderly postsurgical cancer patients during transition from hospital to home are extensive. Teaching interventions ranged from giving concrete instructions about care of a surgical wound to interpreting complex information about options for cancer treatment. Elderly postsurgical cancer patients need informational support during the transition from hospital to home.
Prognostic assessment of estimated glomerular filtration rate by the new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation in comparison with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation

Background Systematic reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation is recommended for detection of chronic kidney disease and prediction of cardiovascular (CV) risk. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation is a newly developed and validated formula for eGFR that is more accurate at normal or near-normal eGFR. We aimed to assess the incremental prognostic accuracy of eGFR(CKD-EPI) versus eGFR(MDRD) in subjects at increased risk for CV disease. Methods We performed a post hoc analysis of the VALIANT trial that enrolled 14,527 patients with acute myocardial infarction with signs and symptoms of heart failure and/or left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The eGFR(MDRD) and eGFR(CKD-EPI) were computed using age, gender, race, and baseline creatinine level. Patients were categorized according to their eGFR using each equation. To assess the incremental prognostic value of eGFR(CKD-EPI), the net reclassification improvement was calculated for the composite end point of CV death, recurrent myocardial infarction, heart failure, or stroke. Results Twenty-four percent of the subjects were reclassified into a different eGFR category using eGFR(CKD-EPI). The composite end point occurred in 33% of the subjects in this cohort. Based on eGFR(CKD-EPI), subjects reclassified into a higher eGFR experienced fewer events than those reclassified into a lower eGFR (21% vs 43%). In unadjusted analyses, the composite end point risk in subjects with eGFR between 75 and 90 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) was comparable with the referent group (eGFR between 90 and 105) using eGFR(MDRD) (hazard ratio 1.1, 95% CI 0.9-1.2) but was significantly higher using eGFR(CKD-EPI) (hazard ratio 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4). The net reclassification improvement for eGFR(CKD-EPI) over eGFR(MDRD) was 8.7%. Conclusion The CKD-EPI equation provides more accurate risk stratification than the MDRD Study equation in patients at high risk for CV disease, including identification of increased risk at mildly decreased eGFR.
Glycosaminoglycans of adult frog back skin.

Abstract The glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) of the back skin of Rana catesbeiana adult frogs have been isolated and identified. Approx. 45% of the glycosaminoglycan content appears to be dermatan sulfate (chondroitin sulfate B), 25% appears to be hyaluronic acid and 15% appears to be chondroitin 4 and/or 5 sulfate (chondroitin sulfate A and/or C). The remaining 15% of the glycosaminoglycan may be a dermatan-like substance. These findings are in contrast with those concerning tadpole back skin which has been previously shown to contain hyaluronic acid as its major glycosaminoglycan (96%). Thus thre is an extensive difference between the back skin glycosaminoglycans of the anuran tadpole and adult frog.
Spontaneous hepatic repopulation in transgenic mice expressing mutant human α1-antitrypsin by wild-type donor hepatocytes

α1-Antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited condition that causes liver disease and emphysema. The normal function of this protein, which is synthesized by the liver, is to inhibit neutrophil elastase, a protease that degrades connective tissue of the lung. In the classical form of the disease, inefficient secretion of a mutant α1-antitrypsin protein (AAT-Z) results in its accumulation within hepatocytes and reduced protease inhibitor activity, resulting in liver injury and pulmonary emphysema. Because mutant protein accumulation increases hepatocyte cell stress, we investigated whether transplanted hepatocytes expressing wild-type AAT might have a competitive advantage relative to AAT-Z-expressing hepatocytes, using transgenic mice expressing human AAT-Z. Wild-type donor hepatocytes replaced 20%-98% of mutant host hepatocytes, and repopulation was accelerated by injection of an adenovector expressing hepatocyte growth factor. Spontaneous hepatic repopulation with engrafted hepatocytes occurred in the AAT-Z-expressing mice even in the absence of severe liver injury. Donor cells replaced both globule-containing and globule-devoid cells, indicating that both types of host hepatocytes display impaired proliferation relative to wild-type hepatocytes. These results suggest that wild-type hepatocyte transplantation may be therapeutic for AAT-Z liver disease and may provide an alternative to protein replacement for treating emphysema in AAT-ZZ individuals.