cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular layer deposition of Nylon 2,6 polyamide polymer on flat and particle substrates in an isothermal enclosure containing a rotary reactor

Polyamide thin films, designated Nylon 2,6, were grown on flat and particle substrates using molecular layer deposition (MLD) in a custom-built isothermal enclosure containing a rotary reactor. The polyamide films were grown using sequential exposures of ethylene diamine and adipoyl chloride. The reactor and precursors were contained in a fiberglass oven to keep all reactor components at the same temperature. A growth rate of 4.0 A/cycle at 67 °C was determined on flat substrates with ex situ x-ray reflectivity and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The temperature dependence of the Nylon 2,6 displayed a peak growth rate at 67 °C with decreasing growth rates above and below this temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the polyamide film on flat substrates also revealed an elemental composition consistent with the Nylon 2,6 polymer with a small amount of chlorine in the film. The isothermal reactor allowed MLD to be performed consistently on high surface area particles at low temperatures. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed growth of the Nylon 2,6 films on ZrO2, cellulose, and metformin particles that was consistent with the growth on witness wafers. The growth of the Nylon 2,6 films was also linear versus the number of MLD cycles. The TEM images displayed reproducible MLD growth on particles of varying size and composition. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were consistent with the expected characteristics of the Nylon 2,6 polyamide film. Nylon 2,6 MLD should find application when low-temperature MLD is needed to coat thermally sensitive substrates such as organic films or pharmaceutical powders.
Burnout and Well-Being: Evaluating Perceptions in Bone Marrow Transplantation Nurses Using a Mindfulness Application.

Background Oncology nurses are at increased risk for developing burnout. Although various interventions have been researched, mindfulness has been proven to be beneficial in mitigating burnout while improving well-being. Objectives The aim was to evaluate whether the use of a mindfulness mobile application (app), Headspace®, increases perceptions of well-being and decreases perceptions of burnout among inpatient bone marrow transplantation (BMT) staff nurses and nurse practitioners (NPs). Methods This evidence-based practice quality improvement initiative introduced the Headspace app to BMT nurses and evaluated its impact on burnout and well-being at baseline and every 30 days for 90 days. Findings There were significant improvements in burnout and well-being in staff nurses and NPs from baseline to each time point. Sleep hygiene meditations were the most widely used programs within the Headspace app for both nursing groups.
A Report on the Kraus-Weber Test in East Pakistan

Abstract This paper presents results of the Kraus-Weber Test for Minimum Muscular Fitness which was conducted in East Pakistan. A total of 2325 Pakistani male and female school children were subjects. The results were compared with reports of the original tests in the United States and Europe. The testing program revealed that Pakistani children were less able than European children in passing the six test items. They were, however, more successful than American children included in the original report of the Kraus-Weber Test.
Interferometric Techniques Using Embedded Optical Fibers for the Quantitative NDE of Composites

Optical interferometric techniques using single mode optical fiber waveguide embedded in composites and other layered materials have been used to measure one- and two-dimensional stress distributions and acoustic emission caused by applied point source loads. By interferometrically comparing the phases of coherent optical signals propagated through an embedded sample fiber and a bypass reference fiber, a signal proportional to the instantaneous strain integrated along the embedded length of the sample fiber has been detected. System calibration has been obtained by applying a one-dimensional dc strain field to a cantilever beam containing the fiber. Using this calibrated system, an array of fibers attached to a 15cm × 15cm x 0.3cm plate simply supported at the corners and subjected to point loading on the surface has been used to quantitatively determine the two-dimensional dc stress field in the plate. Finally, the calibrated ac response of the interferometer to acoustic emission events in a composite panel has been demonstrated. Potential applications are discussed.
Tcp/Ip for the Internet: The Complete Buyer's Guide to Micro-Based Tcp/Ip Software

TCP/IP is the standard network protocol for data transmission over the global Internet. This book evaluates these disparate softwares, and offers the reader descriptive reviews of the major packages available for a range of Unix, DOS, Windows and Macintosh platforms.
A Framework for Evaluating Textbooks

Reading researchers and educators are gaining a better understanding of the mental processes involved in comprehension, and they are becoming increasingly critical of how many textbooks and supplementary materials are written. The criticism is not so much directed at the readability level of textbooks as at the poor quality of writing that characterizes so many of them. As one researcher wrote, many textbooks, or parts of them, are "confusing, rambling, disjointed, [often with] . . . trivial facts . . . errors, contradictions, and inconsistencies" (Armbruster 1984, p. iv.). This kind of criticism is not coming only from reading researchers. For example, in the NEA's 1983-84 state of the art report, science textbooks were described as "so poor, so diluted, bland, disorganized, .. . [that] if used at all, they should be left on the shelf as resources and picked up only in moments of desperation" (Today's Education 1983, p. 41). Their words were not much kinder for other textbooks. From the standpoint of the classroom teacher selecting textbooks, this problem might seem easy to solve. In many cases alternative texts are available, and teachers should choose those that are well written and comprehensible. But, if my experiences are typical, textbook selection is based first of all on content. I tend first to ask questions about the material covered by the book (Does it meet my course goals? Is it accurate? etc.), and only after those questions are answered do I focus more on questions about how the content is delivered. I am not apologizing. That order, content then form, is as it should be. But it is easy to forget that for students the order is reversed. They must get through the how-the form of the text and its language-in order to get to the
An evaluation of health risk to the public as a consequence of in situ uranium mining in Wyoming, USA.

In the United States there is considerable public concern regarding the health effects of in situ recovery uranium mining. These concerns focus principally on exposure to contaminants mobilized in groundwater by the mining process. However, the risk arising as a result of mining must be viewed in light of the presence of naturally occurring uranium ore and other constituents which comprise a latent hazard. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed new guidelines for successful restoration of an in situ uranium mine by limiting concentrations of thirteen groundwater constituents: arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, nitrate (as nitrogen), molybdenum, radium, total uranium, and gross α activity. We investigated the changes occurring to these constituents at an ISR uranium mine in Wyoming, USA by comparing groundwater quality at baseline measurement to that at stability (post-restoration) testing. Of the groundwater constituents considered, only uranium and radium-226 showed significant (p < 0.05) deviation from site-wide baseline conditions in matched-wells. Uranium concentrations increased by a factor of 5.6 (95% CI 3.6-8.9 times greater) while radium-226 decreased by a factor of about one half (95% CI 0.42-0.75 times less). Change in risk was calculated using the RESRAD (onsite) code for an individual exposed as a resident-farmer; total radiation dose to a resident farmer decreased from pre-to post-mining by about 5.2 mSv y(-1). Higher concentrations of uranium correspond to increased biomarkers of nephrotoxicity, however the clinical significance of this increase is unclear.
Exploring Growth Trajectories

In this article we try an exploration, by means of afew simple exercises, of the consequences of introducing intoa standard endogenous-growth model with expanding product varietythe possibility that the invention process of the new blueprintsmay follow more than one single predetermined trajectory. Themain motivations are a slightly more realistic formalizationof entrepreneurial creativity with spillovers and the greaterflexibility of the economic results.
Interpersonal Perspectives on Black–White Health Disparities: Social Policy Implications

There are large and persistent disparities between the health status of Blacks and Whites in the United States. On average, the mental and physical health of Blacks is much poorer than Whites. In this article, we discuss several potential direct causes of Black–White disparities in health status, which include biological or genetic factors, prejudice and related processes, and socioeconomic factors. We also consider how the system-level, patient-level, and provider-level components of healthcare contribute to disparities in health status. We examine in detail the psychological processes associated with patient- and provider-level factors that may produce healthcare disparities. Of particular interest is the potential impact of racial attitudes and stereotypes on provider–patient interactions. Finally, we propose possible directions for future research on health disparities and discuss policy changes that might reduce disparities in health status and healthcare between social groups.
A computation compression technique for SAR based on vector quantization

A technique for data compression of synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imagery using vector quantization (VQ) is described that provides a reduction in processing requirements for SAR focusing over traditional fast Fourier transform (FFT) implementations. The computation compression technique (CCT) used is a method of trading computations for memory. By using larger memories, the amount of computation time required to implement a function can be reduced. Results show approximately a three-fold speedup over FFT implementations using an HP 350 processor. It is noted that the CCT is much more easily parallelized than the FFT approach, which can further reduce computation times. >
The Performance Effects of Using Business Intelligence Systems for Exploitation and Exploration Learning

ABSTRACT: Accounting researchers are becoming increasingly interested in the performance effects of business intelligence (BI) systems in their role as management control systems. Extant research focuses on the performance effects of adopting and implementing such systems. However, there is less known about how organizations use the information in BI systems for management control once implemented, and whether the use of this information translates into organizational performance. We utilize the theoretical connection between information systems and organizational learning to explain the performance effects of BI system use through organizational learning. Evidence from recent literature indicates the need for organizations to engage in exploitation and exploration learning in pursuit of organizational ambidexterity. Our study draws on agenda setting and framing theories to provide insights that will enable organizations to strategically use the information in two fundamental BI systems to emphasize eithe...
Anti-opioid activity of sigma1 systems

Abstract (+)Pentazocine is a potent sigma1 ligand which antagonizes mu, kappa1, kappa3 and delta analgesia. This antagonism is reversed by haloperidol, which blocks both D2 and sigma receptors, but not by sulpiride, a selective D2 drug without sigma activity. Haloperidol (
Drug targeting using conjugates: the importance of pharmaceutical chemistry.

(1995). Drug Targeting Using Conjugates: The Importance of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Journal of Drug Targeting: Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 239-241.
Measurement of un-ionized ammonia in complex mixtures.

The toxicity of un-ionized ammonia, NH3 (aq), in anaerobic digestion of high-nitrogen wastes has been researched extensively. Previous estimates of NH3 (aq) concentration have relied on a simple speciation approach, based only on the acid dissociation constant and the sample pH and total ammonia concentration. The distinction between concentration and chemical activity has generally not been made, despite the potential for resulting errors in the calculation of NH3 (aq) concentration, and the greater applicability of activity to toxicity work. The currently accepted approach for estimating NH3 (aq) concentration is based on assumptions that are not valid in digested animal manure or other concentrated wastes. This work presents an approach for directly measuring NH3 (aq) activity in complex mixtures using gaseous/aqueous equilibrium across microporous tubing. Application of this approach to anaerobic digester samples confirms that the currently accepted approach is not accurate; it overestimated NH3 (aq) ...
The Case For the Smarter Sentencing Act

Beginning in the 1980’s, Congress passed a series of “tough on crime” mandatory minimum sentences. While increased periods of incarceration contributed to reduced crime rates, the pendulum has swung too far. Mandatory minimum sentences designed for “kingpins” are often meted out to low level drug offenders, who occupy a significant percentage of the federal prison population. The Smarter Sentencing Act would, among other things, reduce the level of minimum sentences for some drug offenders without eliminating them, enabling judges to impose harsher sentences when warranted and freeing up prison space for offenders who pose a greater risk to public safety.
Surgical Reconstruction of the Diabetic Foot: A Salvage Approach for Midfoot Collapse

Between 1985 and 1993, 18 patients representing 21 feet underwent surgical reconstruction for diabetic neuroarthropathy with collapse of the midfoot. Forty-seven percent (10/21) of these feet presented with plantar pressure ulcers. Reconstruction involved reduction and fusion of collapsed joints, using internal fixation to restore foot shape and improve weightbearing alignment. The average follow-up in these patients was 28 months (range, 6-84 months). Limb salvage was obtained in 18 of 21 feet. Average time to radiographic union was 5 months (range, 3-9 months). Improvement in shoe fit and ambulatory status was noted for 13 of the 15 patients who had successful reconstruction. Forty-seven percent of the reviewed cases were without any complication throughout their postoperative course. Seventy percent of the presenting ulcers healed without incident. There were no recurrent midfoot ulcers.
Photoperiod, temperature, and regional patterns of conceptions in the USA

Twenty-two years of monthly values of birth data for the USA, 1967 through 1988, were analyzed by visual inspection. The data were transformed to remove the influence of length of month and of linear trend, and the values were lagged 9 months to approximate the time of conception. Then, 11-year monthly averages were obtained and plotted as standard scores. Thus two 11-year sets of data were independently analyzed, providing the opportunity of replication. Four distinct temporal patterns were found, differing in month of occurrence of the initial trough and peak and the relative sizes of the two troughs; these characteristics of the temporal pattern change systematically with latitude in the eastern and midwestern states. Data from two other continents, the United Kingdom and Australia, also were analyzed using the same method and found to exhibit a temporal pattern during the year similar to the northern states of the USA. Two biologically relevant variables, temperature and photoperiod, were considered as possible controllers and regulators of the annual rhythmicity. Comparisons of the trends in conceptions with these environmental variables, and inspections of the temperatures and photoperiods at which peaks and troughs in conceptions were found, indicated that these environmental variables could not account for the annual rhythmicity in conceptions.
Leukocytes of Biomphalaria glabrata: morphology and behavior of granulocytic cells in vitro.

Abstract Blood cells from Biomphalaria glabrata hemolymph were studied by phase microscopy in vitro. The most common cell is a granulocytic leukocyte, present in the hemolymph at a concentration of 334 ± 105 cells/mm3. This cell ranges in length from 14.1 ± 2.8 μm (including pseudopodia), when suspended in hemolymph, to 77.2 ± 15.1 μm, when allowed to spread on a glass substrate. Cytoplasmic inclusions and other organelles are described. Observations on the behavior of these granulocytic leukocytes in vitro confirm that a strong phagocytic response develops toward a variety of particles in the virtual absence of snail hemolymph.
The measurement of the surface heat transfer coefficient for ceramics quenched into a water bath

Abstract A method for measuring the surface heat transfer coefficient h is presented that combines a paremeter estimation technique with the fast-response capabilities of recently developed thin film thermocouples. Values of h as a function of temperature were measured for three ceramic materials: Al 2 O 3 , TiB 2 and a glass ceramic.
Religion and the discourse on modernity

Paul-Francois Tremlett, London and New York: Continuum, 2008, 159 pp., ISBN: 978-0-864-9823-6 Some have assumed that because Marx and most Marxists paid little attention to religion, a ‘Marx-ist’ a...
Modified spin filter for noise reduction in aerodynamic imaging

A new filtering algorithm was developed for the removal of random noise from digitally imaged aerodynamic flow structures while minimizing geometrical distortion of their shapes. This is a modification of a spin filter previously presented. The algorithm defines a kernel around each pixel and detects the direction of the prevailing pattern passing through that kernel. The median grey level along this preferred direction is then used to replace the grey level recorded by the pixel at the centre of the kernel. Applications of this filter were demonstrated by processing shadowgraph images of shock waves. The noise as measured by the standard deviation from the mean was reduced by nearly 50% after one application of the filter and by nearly 70% after three applications, while distortion of the imaged shock angle remained below the angle measurement uncertainty.
Recently approved and experimental methods of contraception.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved two new contraceptive methods, and others are nearing approval. In addition, several innovative approaches to contraception are under investigation. This paper details the latest information on the following methods: Paragard Copper T 380A intrauterine device, cervical cap, NORPLANT, vaginal pouch, long-acting injectables, hormonal vaginal ring, transdermal patch, experimental male methods, inhibin, and contraceptive vaccines.
Nosocomial infections with methicillin and tobramycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Implication of physiotherapy in hospital-wide dissemination

From January 1979 to July 1980, methicillin and tobramycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 45 patients at a Veteran's Administration hospital. Of these 45, 36 (80%) had clinical infections involving non-surgical wounds (16), urinary tract (10), blood (8), surgical wounds (7), and sputum (5). The epidemic strain had a single phage type (47/54/75/77/83A), a single, 16.4 Md plasmid, and produced an aminoglycoside inactivating enzyme (AAD[4']). Compared to a control group of patients with nosocomial antibiotic susceptible S. aureus infections, patients with the epidemic strain had more hospital days before a positive culture (p = .004), more severe underlying disease (p = .006), received antibiotics more often (p = .0018), and underwent physiotherapy more often (p = .00007). Although selected environmental and personnel cultures were negative for the epidemic strain, epidemiologic investigation suggested that hospital-wide dissemination of S. aureus may have occurred through patient contacts in the physiotherapy department with subsequent clusters of cases occurring on several wards.
The role of drug-lipid interactions on the disposition of liposome-formulated opioid analgesics in vitro and in vivo.

UNLABELLED: Although liposome encapsulation prolongs the duration of action of epidurally administered drugs, little is known about how liposome encapsulation affects opioids differently, or about how lipid content of liposomes alters the bioavailability of epidurally-administered opioids. To address these issues, morphine, alfentanil, fentanyl, and sufentanil were loaded into D-alpha-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine multilamellar liposomes, and incorporation efficiency and in vitro release rates were determined. We then determined epidural morphine and sufentanil liposomes, at two different lipid/opioid ratios, in vivo in a pig model in which epidural and intrathecal spaces were continuously sampled via microdialysis. Liposome encapsulation efficiency was significantly more for sufentanil (100%) than for the other opioids (25%-30%). The in vitro release rate was slowest for morphine, intermediate for fentanyl and alfentanil, and fastest for sufentanil. In vivo, morphine was released more slowly than sufentanil. It is most important to note that increasing the lipid content of morphine liposomes increased the proportion of drug reaching the intrathecal space. In contrast, increasing the lipid content of sufentanil liposomes did not alter intrathecal movement but did decrease movement into plasma. Therefore, increasing drug hydrophobicity and lipid content of the liposomes modulates drug distribution in vivo. IMPLICATIONS: The degree of interaction between opioids and lipid bilayers in liposome-formulated opioids dictates the rates at which epidurally-administered drugs distribute into the intrathecal compartment and blood in potentiating analgesic effects.
In vitro insulin release from chicken pancreas

Abstract Insulin release from the chicken pancreas (adult hens) was studied in vitro by incubating pancreatic pieces (20 ± 5 mg) for four successive 15-min experimental periods preceded by a 30-min preincubation period. Release of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) into the medium was measured in response to glucose (50, 150, 300, 500, and 700 mg/dl), sulfonylureas, and in the presence or absence of extracellular calcium. The results obtained demonstrate that glucose stimulated insulin release only at concentrations of 500 and 700 mg/dl. At these concentrations, the rate of insulin release was maintained at approximately twice basal levels for only 15 to 30 min before returning to the preincubation value (45 ng/g/min) irrespective of the prolonged (1-hr) glucose stimulation. Glucagon (5 μg/ml) effected a twofold increase in the rate of insulin release in the presence of 50 mg of glucose/dl of medium. Three concentrations (3.1, 6.1, and 12.2 mg/dl) of tolbutamide stimulated a twofold increase of insulin release; however, these avian pancreatic pieces were refractory to a second tolbutamide stimulus. In contrast to mammals, the major metabolite of tolbutamide, carboxytolbutamide, was inert in this system. Glucose- and tolbutamide-induced insulin secretion both were inhibited in the absence of extracellular calcium; this inhibition was abolished by replacement of normal amounts of calcium in the incubation medium. The results of this study suggest that the chicken β cell differs from the mammalian counterpart by being insensitive to all but very high glucose concentrations, and by being incapable of a sustained increase in insulin release in response to prolonged or repetitive insulinotropic stimuli. Additionally, the insulin response to tolbutamide in vitro indicates that the insulin releasing action of this compound may underlie the hypoglycemic effect observed in birds. Dependence on extracellular calcium suggests that the functional mechanism for avian insulin release may be similar in birds and mammals, although birds may differ from mammals in their pattern of insulin release.
Structural and adsorptive properties of Ba or Mg oxide modified zirconia.

Abstract Zirconia nanoparticles modified by barium oxide or magnesium oxide were synthesized by using a co-precipitation process followed by ethanol supercritical drying. The nanoparticles obtained were further calcined at 873 K. BET surface area, XRD, and TGA were used to characterize the prepared samples. Isotherms of N 2 and CO 2 adsorption on these modified zirconia nanoparticles were measured at various temperatures. Additions of BaO or MgO resulted in an increase in CO 2 adsorption capacity of the modified zirconia particles. Results also show that BaO as a modifier is more effective than MgO in enhancing the CO 2 adsorption capacity of zirconia. At 1 bar and 473 K, Ba modified zirconia adsorbs ∼0.25 mmol/g of CO 2 .
Geriatric mental health

This issue of the Clinics in Geriatric Medicine is very timely. As baby boomers move into their middle years, they are often dealing with aging parents with a variety of mental disorders. In addition, they are moving closer to their later years and are beginning to worry about their own risks for mental disorders, such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. This issue brings together a number of nationally recognized experts to share their areas of expertise as they relate to mental health and aging. In this text, we address the nature and prevalence of late-life mental disorders as well as the challenge of appropriate use of mood or mind-altering drugs in the elderly. The major geriatric mental health areas are covered with a focus on diagnosis and current treatment options. These include Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders such as delirium, mood disorders, late-life psychoses, and anxiety disorders. Behavioral and psychological signs and symptoms of dementia exact a significant emotional and financial toll on our society and therefore receive special attention as does the use of electroconvulsive therapy, which can literally be lifesaving in the elderly. Alcohol and substance abuse are a growing problem among the elderly, as is the need to educate health care providers in how to deal more appropriately with endof-life issues. These issues are addressed in a thorough, practical fashion. Lastly, it is projected that long-term care use will increase significantly in the next decades. We already know that 70% to 90% of nursing home residents have one or more diagnosable psychiatric disorders, usually a dementing process. Consequently, the needs and issues relative to mental health in long-term care are included.
The premature infant and painful procedures

Pain management for premature infants raises challenging questions for nurses. This group of infants is often physiologically fragile and they may undergo frequent painful procedures on a daily basis. Contrary to ideas from the past, premature infants are able to feel pain, and nervous system elements required for the transmission of painful stimuli are functional by 24 weeks gestation. Painful procedures are harmful to the infant's physiological stability and the ability to self-regulate, which includes maintenance of motor control and stable sleep/wake cycles. Assessment of pain in the premature infant is complex. Major indicators of pain include facial grimaces and physiological parameters such as heart rate and oxygen saturation. The Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) is one tool designed specifically for preterm infants. Nonpharmacological nursing measures such as swaddling or nesting and offering a pacifier are useful strategies to help infants cope with painful procedures. The nurse may also maintain a therapeutic environment to assist the infant in self-regulation. Pharmacological agents such as morphine, fentanyl, and acetaminophen are effective in relieving procedural pain. The use of oral sucrose before and during painful procedures offers new possibilities for pain relief. Recent research shows that oral sucrose is a safe and effective analgesic for short-term procedures. Research studies to determine the most effective doses and modes of oral sucrose administration are ongoing. It is thought that the relief of pain is owing to the sweet taste of the sucrose that activates endogenous pain-modulating systems.
Effect of process conditions on gain and loss in GaN:Eu cavities on different substrates

GaN:Eu Eu laser cavities have been fabricated by MBE growth on several substrates. Gain and loss from Eu stimulated emission have been investigated as a function of several process parameters: Eu concentration, post-growth anneal and substrate (sapphire, silicon and glass).
Pyriform augmentation as an ancillary procedure in facial rejuvenation surgery

A patient is presented in whom augmentation of the pyriform aperture of the maxilla was performed with porous hydroxyapatite in concert with a face and brow lift. Basic research has recently shown that remodeling of the facial skeleton continues throughout life and that this remodeling process leads to changes in the position of several key areas. The pyriform aperture was identified as one region that remodels in a posterior direction, leading to retrusion of the alar base in the older individual. This skeletal retrusion occurs in a very site-specific fashion, and its effects are reflected on the overlying soft tissues of the face. With aging, remodeling of the pyriform aperture posteriorly causes the alar base to appear recessed and decreases the nasolabial angle, changes that are noted on the profile of the older individual. Augmentation of the pyriform aperture can be achieved through a buccal sulcus incision and, when used in conjunction with standard facial rejuvenation procedures, can improve the overall result in facial cosmetic surgery.
Guiding conductive heat flux through thermal metamaterials

Experimental evidence of the bending of heat to desired purpose, in analogy to that of light, through designed placement and orientation of nominally isotropic material is presented. This was done by inducing anisotropy in an effective thermal medium through off-diagonal components in the thermal conductivity tensor. An upward or downward heat flux bending of up to ± 26°, in close agreement with theoretical estimates, was obtained in a metamaterial constituted from thin, stacked layers of copper and stainless steel. Transient observations of heat flow indicate anisotropic energy transport hinging on the relative differences between the elements of the thermal diffusivity tensor.
Impairment of viral haemagglutination of red cells after treatment with formalin.

IT was reported recently1 that mouse cells treated with formalin were more readily agglutinated by some strains of myxoviruses than were untreated cells, and it was suggested that this finding might have general application.
The optimal packing of arbitrarily-shaped polygons using simulated annealing and polynomial-time cooling schedules

Abstract A common instance of geometric packing in manufacturing is the profile nesting problem which involves an optimum arrangement of shapes on a sheet of material in order to reduce material costs. The objectives of this paper are to demonstrate the effect of a polynomial-time cooling schedule on the computational performance of the algorithm, introduce variable penalty methods, implement an efficient overlap computation technique based upon existing methods and suggest generalized rules to construct move sets. The new approach has been validated against existing analytical results for packing circles in a square. The cases solved include the optimal packing of arbitrary simple polygons (including ‘interlocking shapes’) in a bounding rectangular area.
A model for charge transfer inverse photoemission

Charge transfer inverse photoemission spectroscopy (CTRIPS), the phenomenon of inverse photoemission at a metal–solution interface, has been the subject of a variety of experiments. An approximate theoretical model is presented which includes (1) the electronic structure of the metal; (2) the principal features of the emission spectra, such as the high and low frequency thresholds at a given injection energy of the electron or hole, and the intensity of the light emission versus electrode potential; (3) the role of surface states; and (4) the question of direct versus indirect radiative transitions. A broad array of experiments from different groups is surveyed and treated. There is a considerable need for experiments to fill many missing “gaps” in the data, and various experiments are suggested.
Lithofacies and seismic-reflection interpretation of temperate glacimarine sedimentation in Tarr Inlet, Glacier Bay, Alaska

Abstract High-resolution seismic-reflection profiles of sediment fill within Tarr Inlet of Glacier Bay, Alaska, show seismic facies changes with increasing distance from the glacial termini. Five types of seismic facies are recognized from analysis of Huntec and minisparker records, and seven lithofacies are determined from detailed sedimentologic study of gravity-, vibro- and box-cores, and bottom grab samples. Lithofacies and seismic facies associations, and fjordfloor morphology allow us to divide the fjord into three sedimentary environments: ice-proximal, iceberg-zone and ice-distal. The ice-proximal environment, characterized by a morainal-bank depositional system, can be subdivided into bank-back, bank-core and bank-front subenvironments, each of which is characterized by a different depositional subsystem. A bank-back subsystem shows chaotic seismic facies with a mounded surface, which we infer consists mainly of unsorted diamicton and poorly sorted coarse-grained sediments. A bank-core depositional subsystem is a mixture of diamicton, rubble, gravel, sand and mud. Seismic-reflection records of this subsystem are characterized by chaotic seismic facies with abundant hyperbolic diffractions and a hummocky surface. A bank-front depositional subsystem consists of mainly stratified and massive sand, and is characterized by internal hummocky facies on seismic-reflection records with significant surface relief and sediment gravity flow channels. The depositional system formed in the iceberg-zone environment consists of rhythmically laminated mud interbedded with thin beds of weakly stratified diamicton and stratified or massive sand and silt. On seismic-reflection profiles, this depositional system is characterized by discontinuously stratified facies with multiple channels on the surface in the proximal zone and a single channel on the largely flat sediment surface in the distal zone. The depositional system formed in the ice-distal environment consists of interbedded homogeneous or laminated mud and massive or stratified sand and coarse silt. This depositional system shows continuously stratified seismic facies with smooth and flat surfaces on minisparker records, and continuously stratified seismic facies which are interlayered with thin weakly stratified facies on Huntec records.
Within-strain facilitation and disruption of avoidance learning by picrotoxin

Eighty 60 day old Swiss Webster mice, run 10 trials a day for four consecutive days in a wheel turn avoidance situation were divided into four groups of 20 Ss each. All Ss were injected with either Saline, 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 mg/Kg of Picrotoxin at the end of each day’s session. Results indicate that Picrotoxin can facilitate or disrupt the acquisition of the CAR. A significant curvilinear trend for avoidance performance vs drug dose level was found indicating that low and moderate dosages produce increasing facilitation whereas high dosages produce debilitation of performance. The results are consistant with the perseveration-consolidation model of memory formation.
Effect of age, parity, and race on the incidence of pregnancy associated hypertension and eclampsia in the United States.

Abstract Purpose To describe the incidence of pregnancy associated hypertension and eclampsia from adolescence through the fifth decade of life, including the effect of parity and race, in the United States. Methods Data were evaluated from the National Center for Health Statistics (vital statistics section). The data were stratified by maternal age group, parity (G1, first pregnancy; G2+, second or higher pregnancy), and racial group. Results The incidence of pregnancy associated hypertension (PAH) decreased with increased age in late adolescence in the G2+ group but not the G1 group (total and all racial groups). The incidence of PAH was significantly greater for non-Hispanic black or non-Hispanic white than Hispanic groups for all age groups ( P ⩽ .02) except age ⩽15 years (G2+ group) and 45–54 years (both G1 and G2+ groups). The incidence of eclampsia decreased with increased age in late adolescence in the G2+ group (total and all racial groups) and the G1 group (total and non-Hispanic black groups). The incidence of eclampsia was significantly greater for non-Hispanic black than non-Hispanic white and for non-Hispanic white than Hispanic groups for all age groups except age ⩽15 years in the G2+ group. The incidence of PAH and eclampsia increased substantially in both G1 and G2+ groups in the fifth decade of life (total and all racial groups). Conclusions The incidence of PAH (G2+ group) and eclampsia (G1 and G2+ groups) decreased with increased age during adolescence and increased in the fifth decade (G1 and G2+ groups).
Growth Velocity After Growth Hormone (GH) Therapy in Children with Isolated GH Deficiency (IGHD) and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) † 397

Short stature, obesity, decreased lean mass, cryptorchidism, and hypogonadism are characteristic features of PWS. The growth pattern in PWS suggest an abnormality in GH secretion or action. Body composition changes in PWS including increased adipose and decreased muscle mass are similar to those children with IGHD. In GH deficiency, GH secretion is negligible and IGF levels are low, leading to decreased linear growth. In exogenous obesity the GH are low but the IGF levels however are normal or high. Contrary to exogenous obesity PWS children have decreased growth velocity, sexual development, muscle mass, and IGF levels. Other investigators and ourselves have shown blunted GH secretion in both obese and non-obese PWS children and the benefits of GH therapy (J of Ped End & Metab. 9,943-400, 1996.). We now compare the growth velocity in 96 PWS children and 6965 children with IGHD from the National Cooperative Growth Study (NCGS) after 4 years of GH therapy. The linear growth was similar in both groups. Although is unlikely that GHD is the only cause of short stature, decreased growth velocity and increased adiposity in PWS children, suggest that GHD is a common feature and significant contributory factor in expression of PWS phenotype. Figure
Offspring age and nest defence in mourning doves: a test of two hypotheses

Abstract Active nests of mourning doves, Zenaida macroura, were studied to test two hypotheses concerning offspring age and nest defence. Both have been used to explain increases in defence as offspring mature. The age-investment hypothesis interprets the escalation in defence as an adaptive response to changing parental investment; the revisitation hypothesis interprets the escalation as an artefact of researcher disturbance. To distinguish between the hypotheses, the results of analyses involving single and multiple visits to nests were compared. The age-investment hypothesis predicts and increase in offspring defence in both analyses, whereas the revisitation hypothesis predicts an increase only for nests visited repeatedly. A regression of flushing distance on offspring age was non-significant for both analyses. The intensity of flight displays, however, increased as offspring grew older in single- and multiple-visit analyses. This supported the age-investment hypothesis, but inconsistent changes in flight displays within adult pairs suggested that other factors such as predation might be more important determinants of adult behaviour. Analyses of multiple visits are subject to increased type I error if returns to the same nest are treated as independent samples; investigators analysing multiple visits should use conservative degrees of freedom to control the problem.
Content and conjecture in the equal rights amendment controversy in Utah

Few issues in recent American politics have generated as much controversy, polarity and emotion as that sparked by the proposed 27th amendment to the United States Constitution, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Originally given a 7-year time period for ratification which would have ended in March 1979, Congress subsequently voted a 3-year extension as a result of heated discussion and lobbying primarily from supportive women’s groups, thus allowing both proponents and opponents until June 1982 to take final action. An amendment requires ratification by 38 states in order to be added to the Constitution. At present 34 states have ratified with four of those subsequently voting to rescind their ratification. Whether the rescission or original ratification votes will be the vote of record will have to be determined by the courts as no such action has occurred with prior amendments. We argue in this paper that public opinion regarding the ERA, particularly among its opponents, is based more certainly on conjecture, emotion and deference to authority than on objective knowledge of its content. Data to support this claim are drawn from an examination of the history of the ERA in Utah, and from an opinion survey of 232 Utah adults. The lessons to be learned from the ERA history in Utah suggest that it is not enough for proponents of women’s equality to rely on right and reason as their main tools for pressing their causes. As a case study, the Utah experience suggests the need for very different strategies in future action from those utilized in the present controversy if a change in women’s status is ever going to be achieved. Hopefully, an understanding of the forces and
Reporting cumulative proportion of subjects with an adverse event based on data from multiple studies.

Experience has shown us that when data are pooled from multiple studies to create an integrated summary, an analysis based on naively-pooled data is vulnerable to the mischief of Simpson's Paradox. Using the proportions of patients with a target adverse event (AE) as an example, we demonstrate the Paradox's effect on both the comparison and the estimation of the proportions. While meta analytic approaches have been recommended and increasingly used for comparing safety data between treatments, reporting proportions of subjects experiencing a target AE based on data from multiple studies has received little attention. In this paper, we suggest two possible approaches to report these cumulative proportions. In addition, we urge that regulatory guidelines on reporting such proportions be established so that risks can be communicated in a scientifically defensible and balanced manner.
PLASMA DOPAMINE‐β‐HYDROXYLASE ACTIVITY AND BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY IN HYPERTENSIVE MAN

It has been proposed that measurements of plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) may allow for assessmetn of adrenergic tone and may elucidate a possible neurogenic contribution to essential hypertension. We performed a series of measurements of DBH in fifty-seven normotensive and fifty hypertensive black and white men in order (1) to compare DBH to selected blood pressure patterns and (2) to evalutate the influence of salt intake, posture and race on plasma DBH. Plasma DBH, measured on unrestricted salt intake with subjects supine, was 42 +/- 4 Units/L in white normotensives, greater (P less than 0.05) than black normotensives (26 +/- 6 Units/L). White hypertensives had greater plasma concentrations of DBH than black (35 +/- 3 VS. 24 +/- 5, P less than 0.05). Normotensives did not differ from hypertensives. Dietary salt restriction and upright ambulation increased plasma DBH activity in hypertensives. Although DBH did not correlate directly with blood pressure, high DBH values were associated with lability of blood pressure in hypertensives but not in normotensives. There are two possible explanations for our results: (1) multiple factors influence plasma DBH activity and plasma levels reflect more than adrenergic function, or (2) essential hypertension is a multifactorial disease and excess sympathetic neuronal activity alone is not sufficient to produce sustained hypertension.
Access lens: a gesture-based screen reader for real-world documents

Gesture-based touch screen user interfaces, when designed to be accessible to blind users, can be an effective mode of interaction for those users. However, current accessible touch screen interaction techniques suffer from one serious limitation: they are only usable on devices that have been explicitly designed to support them. Access Lens is a new interaction method that uses computer vision-based gesture tracking to enable blind people to use accessible gestures on paper documents and other physical objects, such as product packages, device screens, and home appliances. This paper describes the development of Access Lens hardware and software, the iterative design of Access Lens in collaboration with blind computer users, and opportunities for future development.
Prevalence and Pathogenicity of a Heterophyid Trematode Infecting the Gills of an Endangered Fish, the Fountain Darter, in Two Central Texas Spring-Fed Rivers

Abstract Gills of 194 fountain darters Etheostoma fonticola collected from the Comal River in Texas from May 1997 through May 1998 were found to be parasitized with 8–1,524 metacercarial cysts of a heterophyid trematode tentatively identified as Centrocestus formosanus. The intensity of infection varied among three sites on the Comal River. In contrast, of 130 darters from the nearby San Marcos River that were examined, only 4 (3%) were infected, and these had 1–2 cysts per fish. Of 2,279 Melanoides tuberculata snails from the Comal River that were examined, 139 (6.1%) were infected with the trematode. Only 1 snail in 2,241 from the San Marcos River that were examined was infected. The presence of metacercariae in darters was associated with flared opercula, shortened or thickened gill filaments, epithelial hyperplasia, and engorged lamellae. The normal cartilage support of the filaments was distorted and displaced, leading to severe deformities of filament structure. Gill damage was severe and possibly l...
Preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerves in thyroid and parathyroid reoperations

Abstract Background: The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is vulnerable to injury in thyroid and parathyroid reoperations because of the presence of scar tissue and displacement of the nerve from its normal position. Methods: Since 1993, we have performed 132 reoperations for recurrence of thyroid or parathyroid carcinoma (102 cases), persistent hyperparathyroidism (21 cases), and recurrent goiter (9 cases). One or both RLNs were identified in all cases (208 nerves). Exposure of the nerve was accomplished by a lateral approach (159 nerves), a low anterior approach (41 nerves), or the identification of the nerve between the larynx and the upper pole of the thyroid, in parathyroid reoperations (8 nerves). Dissection was then done while the nerve was kept in view at all times. Results: Preoperatively, unilateral vocal cord paralysis was noted in 6 patients. Resection of a functioning RLN encased with a tumor was intentionally carried out in 5 patients. The RLNs were identified and preserved in all other cases. Among these 121 patients, transient hoarseness lasting up to a month occurred in 12 patients. Conclusions: Careful identification and exposure of the RLN through a previously undissected area can be done safely in thyroid and parathyroid reoperations and resulted in no permanent recurrent nerve injuries in our experience. (Surgery 1999;125:673-9.)