cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Natural history of neuroepithelial tumours: contribution of stereotactic biopsy.

Quantitative tumour growth into the brain (stage of the disease) and qualitative tumour evolution in the time (progression) are the two basic aspects of the natural history of the cerebral neoplastic disease. Recently the development of neuroradiological imaging (CT and MR) and the progress in biopathology of the nervous system tumours introduced new concepts like heterogeneity of neuroepithelial tumours or evolution to anaplasia. The findings obtained in 159 neuroepithelial tumours studied with stereotactic biopsy from 1980 to 1987 are presented. Most of them were glioblastomas (n = 43; 27%) and astrocytic tumours (n = 81; 50.9%). Twenty-nine cases of fibrillary astrocytomas (35.8% of all astrocytic tumours) showed focal anaplasia (progression). In 10 out of the 43 glioblastomas (23.3%) signs of astrocytic differentiation were clearly evident (secondary glioblastoma?).
Endothelium-dependent effects of estrogen on vasomotor tone. Consequences of nongenomic actions.

Clinical observational and experimental studies indicate that estrogen has acute and prolonged effects on vascular function. Acute effects not requiring gene transcription or nongenomic responses include changes in intracellular calcium and activation of second messenger systems including release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide. However, interactions between rapid effects of estrogen and modulation of subsequent responses of endothelial cells are lacking. Experiments were designed to determine effects of estrogen on subsequent responses of endothelial cells to vasoactive stimuli. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured on coverslips and changes in intracellular calcium concentrations measured to 17β-estradiol and histamine. Estradiol alone did not increase intracellular calcium or modulate the peak calcium response to histamine. However, the decay of the peak calcium response to histamine was more rapid in the presence, compared to the absence, of estradiol. These results provide proof of principal that estradiol modulates responses of endothelial cells to vasoactive stimuli through changes in regulation of intracellular calcium.
Caps, Cors, Dehydrins, and Molecular Chaperones: Their Relationship with Low Temperature Responses in Spinach

When exposed to low non-freezing temperatures (0–10°C), the freezing tolerance of spinach increases in a time dependent fashion from an LT50 of -4°C to -14°C. Associated with the low temperature induction of freezing tolerance is the increased expression of at least 20 proteins. Three of these low temperature responsive proteins were selected for study and found to belong to two families of stress proteins, the LEA/dehydrin/Rab and the heat shock 70s. Their possible role in low temperature tolerance mechanisms and a model for the role of ATP in peptide binding activities of the 70 kDa heat shock molecular chaperones are discussed.
The Utility of Lower Glycemic Targets for Treating Gestational Diabetes: A Retrospective Study.

Objective. In vivo study of glucose homeostasis in pregnancy suggests normal glucose levels are lower than current glycemic targets used in gestational diabetes. After the HAPO study results, our institution began using glycemic targets of fasting 85 mg/dL and 2-hour postprandial of 110 mg/dL. We reviewed our results. Methods. A retrospective cohort of GDM patients that delivered at KUMC from January 2007 to May 2017 was reviewed. All patients were diagnosed with the 2-step Carpenter-Coustan thresholds. High targets were compared with low targets. The primary outcome investigated was (large for gestational age, LGA). Results. 604 patients were studied, and 34% were treated with low glycemic targets. Our unadjusted results showed that the low-target group had a lower incidence of LGA infants (24.0 vs. 31.8%), higher incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia (20.7 vs. 11.6%), and inductions (39.4 vs. 20.5%). After adjustment for demographic variables, only a higher risk of inductions remained (aOR 2.54 (1.44, 4.49)). Conclusion. Lower glycemic targets did not produce large reductions in fetal overgrowth, but they were associated with a higher rate of inductions. As there were no observed differences in maternal or neonatal outcomes otherwise, aiming for lower glycemic targets in GDM is likely not cost-effective.
Consequences of ignoring group association in spatial capture–recapture analysis

Many models in population ecology, including spatial capture–recapture (SCR) models, assume that individuals are distributed and detected independently of one another. In reality, this is rarely the case – both antagonistic and gregarious relationships lead to non-independent spatial configurations, with territorial exclusion at one end of the spectrum and group-living at the other. Previous simulation studies suggest that grouping has limited impact on the outcome of SCR analyses. However, group associations entail not only spatial clustering of activity centers but also coordinated space use by group members, potentially impacting both ecological and observation processes underlying SCR analysis. We simulated SCR scenarios with different strengths of aggregation (clustering of individuals into groups with shared activity centers) and cohesion (synchronization of detection patterns of members of a group). We then fit SCR models to the simulated data sets and evaluated the effect of aggregation and cohesion on parameter estimates. Low to moderate aggregation and cohesion did not impact the bias and precision of estimates of density and the scale parameter of the detection function. However, non-independence between individuals led to high levels of overdispersion. Overdispersion strongly decreased the coverage of confidence intervals around parameter estimates, thereby increasing the probability of erroneous predictions. Our results indicate that SCR models are robust to moderate levels of aggregation and cohesion. Nonetheless, spatial dependence between individuals can lead to false inference. We recommend that practitioners 1) test for the presence of overdispersion in SCR data caused by aggregation and cohesion, and, if necessary, 2) correct their variance estimates using the overdispersion factor ĉ . Approaches for doing both are described in this paper. We also urge the development of SCR models that incorporate spatial associations between individuals not only to account for overdispersion but also to obtain quantitative information about social aspects of study populations.
Analyzing HPC Support Tickets: Experience and Recommendations.

High performance computing (HPC) user support teams are the first line of defense against large-scale problems, as they are often the first to learn of problems reported by users. Developing tools to better assist support teams in solving user problems and tracking issue trends is critical for maintaining system health. Our work examines the Los Alamos National Laboratory HPC Consult Team's user support ticketing system and develops proof of concept tools to automate tasks such as category assignment and similar ticket recommendation. We also generate new categories for reporting and discuss ideas to improve future ticketing systems.
Stoned on spices: a mini-review of three commonly abused household spices

Although spices are widely used as food products and are generally regarded as safe, intentional abuse of household spices may occur and is likely underreported in the medical literature. Spices ar...
Feasibility and acceptability of implementing the Making Friends with Yourself intervention on a college campus.

To assess the feasibility and acceptability of Making Friends with Yourself (MFY): A Mindful Self-Compassion Program for Teens and Young Adults with a sample of college students. A secondary object...
A Simplified Balance Sheet View of How Open Market Operations to Stimulate the Economy, When Dominated by Primary Dealers, Actually Stimulate Securities Markets, not the Real Economy

This chapter presents a model of crowd out and loanable funds effects in an accounting methodology model showing the effects of changes in crowd out or loanable funds on a balance sheet. Keywords: crowd out accounting theory, loanable funds accounting theory.
The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist Exendin-4 induces tenogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract Tendon injuries are common and account for up to 50% of musculoskeletal injuries in the United States. The poor healing nature of the tendon is attributed to poor vascularization and cellular composition. In the absence of FDA-approved growth factors for tendon repair, engineering strategies using bioactive factors, donor cells, and delivery matrices to promote tendon repair and regeneration are being explored. Growth factor alternatives in the form of small molecules, donor cells, and progenitors offer several advantages and enhance the tendon healing response. Small drug molecules and peptides offer stability over growth factors that are known to suffer from relatively short biological half-lives. The primary focus of this study was to assess the ability of the exendin-4 (Ex-4) peptide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, to induce tenocyte differentiation in bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). We treated hMSCs with varied doses of Ex-4 in culture media to evaluate proliferation and tendonogenic differentiation. A 20 nM Ex-4 concentration was optimal for promoting cell proliferation and tendonogenic differentiation. Tendonogenic differentiation of hMSCs was evaluated via gene expression profile, immunofluorescence, and biochemical analyses. Collectively, the levels of tendon-related transcription factors (Mkx and Scx) and extracellular matrix (Col-I, Dcn, Bgn, and Tnc) genes and proteins were elevated compared to media without Ex-4 and other controls including insulin and IGF-1 treatments. The tendonogenic factor Ex-4 in conjunction with hMSCs appear to enhance tendon regeneration.
Improving hospital-based point-of-care ultrasound cleaning practices using targeted interventions: a pre-post study.

Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) devices are becoming more widely used in healthcare and have the potential to act as fomites. The objective of this project was to study the thoroughness of cleaning of POCUS machines before and after a quality improvement initiative. We designed a mixed-methods, pre/post study which took place over the course of one year at a university-affiliated health center. Cleaning rates of four ultrasound machines used by hospital medicine and critical care medicine services were evaluated using fluorescent marking. Interventions targeted physicians' knowledge of best practices and improved access to cleaning supplies. Pre- and post-intervention cleaning rates were compared using a generalized linear model. The impact of the corona virus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on baseline cleaning rates was also evaluated. Physicians' attitudes and knowledge of cleaning practices were evaluated via unpaired pre/post surveys. Results There was significant improvement in thoroughness of cleaning following intervention (pre 0.62, SE 0.05; post 0.89, SE 0.07), p Conclusion Thoroughness of cleaning of POCUS machines can be improved with practical interventions that target knowledge and access to cleaning supplies.
Relapsing pancreatitis with pseudocyst of the pancreas and enzyme-containing pleural effusion.

Summary 1.A case of relapsing pancreatitis associated with a pseudocyst and pleural effusion is presented. 2.Very high concentrations of amylase and lipase were present in the serum and fluid of the pseudocyst and pleural effusion. No active trypsin was demonstrable in the fluid from either site. 3.The original source of the enzymes was the pancreas. It is postulated that enzymes collected in the pancreatic cyst, and migrated from this structure to the blood stream and the pleural effusion by way of the lymphatics. The concentration of these enzymes in the various fluids was regulated primarily by the rate of manufacture and secretion of the enzymes by the pancreas and by the rate of excretion by the kidney. 4.External drainage of the pseudocyst resulted in absorption of the pleural effusion. However, fluid reaccumulated following this procedure, and six months later an apparent cure was obtained by a cyst-enterostomy.
Quasi-Experimental Design

Quasi-experiments usually test the causal consequences of long-lasting treatments outside of the laboratory. But unlike “true” experiments where treatment assignment is at random, assignment in quasi-experiments is by self-selection or administrator judgment. Keywords: quasi-experimental design
VAR Estimates of the Housing and Stock Wealth Effects: Cross-country Evidence

We estimate the wealth effects of housing and stock market wealth using time-series data for eight developed countries. In estimation we employ the structural vector-autoregressive regressions (SVAR), which articulate the dynamic interactions of shocks to housing prices, stock values, and disposable incomes. Our results show that for these countries the initial consumption response to housing price shocks is greater than to stock market capitalization shocks, but the long-run consumption response to the latter is more persistent than to the former.
Summing O(β0nαsn+1) corrections to top quark decays

Abstract Order β0nαsn+1 QCD corrections to top quark decays into W+ and H+ bosons are computed to all orders in perturbation theory. Predictions for the radiative corrections to the top quark width are compared with the estimates from BLM scale setting procedures. The results of the summation are shown to greatly improve understanding of higher order corrections in the limit m W , m H →m t , where the BLM scale setting method is known to fail. Attempts to reduce nonperturbative error by substituting the running mass for the pole mass in the expression for the decay are shown to fail in the limit m W , m H →m t because of subtleties in the treatment of phase space.
How the regulatory and catalytic domains get together.

The crystal structure of a nearly intact phenylalanine hydroxylase provides important new insights into the molecular interactions between regulatory and catalytic domains and provides further evidence for an interaction between post-translational phosphorylation and allosteric regulation.
Biophysical Studies of Respiratory Syncytial Virus I. Density of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Associated Complement-Fixing Antigens in a Cesium Chloride Density Gradient

Coates, Helen V. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Md.), Ben R. Forsyth, and R. M. Chanock. Biophysical studies of respiratory syncytial virus. I. Density of respiratory syncytial virus and associated complement-fixing antigens in a cesium chloride density gradient. J. Bacteriol. 91:1263–1269. 1966.—Concentrated fluids from respiratory syncytial (RS) virus-infected tissue cultures (HEp-2 and BEK) were subjected to equilibrium sedimentation in cesium chloride. When two antigenically distinct strains of RS virus (Long and 18537) were tested, approximately 90% of the infectious virus was recovered in a sharp, symmetrical peak with a density of 1.22 to 1.24. In a similar study, unconcentrated virus had a density of 1.25 to 1.27. Two immunologically distinguishable complement-fixing antigens (antigens A and B) were detected at densities of 1.28 to 1.32 and 1.23 to 1.37. In addition, the existence of a third antigen (density of 1.22 to 1.30) was suggested. The possible origin of these antigens is discussed relative to the known properties of RS virus and the other myxoviruses.
Third General Catalogue of MK Spectral Classifications

For the convenience of astronomers who need information concerning certain stars but prefer not to search through hundreds of research articles in the hope of finding it, a file of MK spectral types and UBV photoelectric photometry is maintained at Dearborn Observatory. A generous donor made possible the publication in 1974 of a listing of approximately 17, 000 IBM cards of data compiled by Pamela M. Kennedy and William Buscombe during 1963-1973.
Patterns of use and satisfaction with a university-based teleradiology system.

The Radiology Department at the University of Arizona has been operating a teleradiology program for almost 2 years. The goal of this project was to characterize the types of cases reviewed, to assess radiologists’ satisfaction with the program, and to examine case turnaround times. On average, about 50 teleradiology cases are interpreted each month. Computed tomography (CT) cases are the most common type of case, constituting 65% of the total case volume. Average turnaround time (to generate a “wet read” once a case is received) is about 1.3 hours. Image quality was rated as generally good to excellent, and the user interface as generally good. Radiologists’ confidence in their diagnostic decisions is about the same as reading films in the clinical environment. The most common reason for not being able to read teleradiology images is poor image quality, followed by lack of clinical history and not enough images.
Hippocampal and Cortical Primary Cilia Are Required for Aversive Memory in Mice

It has been known for decades that neurons throughout the brain possess solitary, immotile, microtubule based appendages called primary cilia. Only recently have studies tried to address the functions of these cilia and our current understanding remains poor. To determine if neuronal cilia have a role in behavior we specifically disrupted ciliogenesis in the cortex and hippocampus of mice through conditional deletion of the Intraflagellar Transport 88 (Ift88) gene. The effects on learning and memory were analyzed using both Morris Water Maze and fear conditioning paradigms. In comparison to wild type controls, cilia mutants displayed deficits in aversive learning and memory and novel object recognition. Furthermore, hippocampal neurons from mutants displayed an altered paired-pulse response, suggesting that loss of IFT88 can alter synaptic properties. A variety of other behavioral tests showed no significant differences between conditional cilia mutants and controls. This type of conditional allele approach could be used to distinguish which behavioral features of ciliopathies arise due to defects in neural development and which result from altered cell physiology. Ultimately, this could lead to an improved understanding of the basis for the cognitive deficits associated with human cilia disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and possibly more common ailments including depression and schizophrenia.
Planktonic foraminifera shells record seasonal temperature changes

When planktonic foraminifera calcify, the magnesium to calcium (Mg/Ca) ratios in their shells are sensitive to water temperature. This has enabled paleoceanographers to use Mg/Ca ratios measured from multiple fossil foraminifera shells in sediments as a proxy for average water temperatures in the past. Now Haarmann et al. show that some foraminifera Mg/Ca ratios can also be used to determine seasonal variations in temperature. The authors suggest that because planktonic foraminifera calcify over a period of a few weeks to months, the Mg/Ca ratios in single specimens could capture seasonal temperature variations. They tested this in samples of three different foraminifera species collected off the coast of northwestern Africa, where there is strong seasonal sea surface temperature variability. The researchers found that one of the three species, Globigerinoides ruber (pink), did show strong variations in Mg/Ca that tracked seasonal temperature changes and thus could potentially be used to reconstruct seasonality in the near and distant past. (Paleoceanography, doi:10.1029/2010PA002091, 2011)
Binding of two distamycin A molecules in the minor groove of an alternating B–DNA duplex

Here we report the 1.8A X-ray structure of a 2:1 drug-DNA complex between distamycin A and an alternating B-DNA octamer duplex d(ICICICIC)2. The two distamycin A molecules are bound side by side with dyad symmetry in an antiparallel orientation in the expanded minor groove. The amides of each drug molecule are hydrogen bonded to the minor groove base atoms of only one DNA strand. The complex not only shows binding of two drug molecules, but the DNA duplex also exhibits striking low-high alternations in the helical twist angles, the sugar puckering and the phosphate conformations, providing the basis for a new model for an alternating B-DNA with a dinucleotide repeat.
Age differences in the structure of intelligence: influences of information processing speed

A battery of widely studied psychometric ability tests, measuring seven primary abilities, was administered to undergraduate students and a cross-sectional sample ranging in age from 43 to 78. The battery included measures of how rapidly individuals could mark answer sheets when provided with booklets containing correct answers to test questions. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the ability factors could be identified in all age groups, but that the factor structure did not show (metric) invariance of factor loadings across age groups. Factor correlations increased with age, as did the ability tests' communalities, indicating a type of dedifferentiation of the primary ability factor structure. Thurstone's Primary Mental Abilities (PMA) Verbal Meaning Test was shown to have a strong relationship to answer-marking speed, independent of Verbal Ability, and this relationship was higher for older adults. Several ability factors had high correlations with a factor measuring answer sheet speed, and controlling for speed by removing the answer sheet-related variance attenuated the pattern of higher factor correlations for older adults. Findings were consistent with the view that speed of information processing can be both an important correlate of individual differences in rates of intellectual aging and a performance-specific confound that distorts estimates of age-related change in psychometric ability tests.
Numerical modelling of wave propagation using parabolic approximation with a boundary-fitted co-ordinate system

With a boundary-fitted curvilinear co-ordinate system, the parabolic approximation is applied to the mildslope equation to describe the wave propagation. Both refraction and diffraction are included in the numerical model. Because the shoreline coincides with one of the curvilinear co-ordinates, the numerical model can be used to compute wave propagations near an irregular shoreline.
Hypnosis in the treatment of a child's allergy to dogs.

(1973). Hypnosis in the Treatment of a Child's Allergy to Dogs. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis: Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 269-272.
Modification of Aldosterone Secretion and Electrolyte Excretion in Man by a Chemical Inhibitor of 18-Oxidation

Studies with 3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-oxo-2-naphthyl)-pyridine (SU-9055) show it to be an effective inhibitor of aldosterone secretion when administered to human subjects in a dosage of 4.8 g/day. Inhibition of aldosterone secretion is accompanied by an increase in sodium excretion. SU-9055 has no natriuretic effect in the absence of the adrenal glands and does not inhibit the renal action of aldosterone-like steroids. Inasmuch as SU-9055 inhibits aldosterone secretion despite increasing secretion of its 18-deoxy precursor, corticosterone, it is inferred that SU-9055 acts as an inhibitor of 18-oxidation.
Cellular adaptations of dorsal raphe serotonin neurons associated with the development of active coping in response to social stress.

Background Social stress is a risk factor for affective disorders for certain vulnerable individuals. Stress and depression are linked in part through regulation of the dorsal raphe (DR)-serotonin (5-HT) system by the stress-related neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). We used a rat social stress model that shows individual differences in coping strategies to determine whether differences in CRF-5-HT interactions underlie individual differences in the vulnerability to social stress. Methods Rats were exposed to the resident-intruder model of social stress for 5 days. In vivo single-unit recordings assessed DR-5-HT neuronal responses to CRF and immunoelectron microscopy assessed CRF 1 and CRF 2 cellular localization 24 hours after the last stress. Results Rats responded to social stress passively, assuming defeat with short latencies (48%), or actively, with proactive behaviors and longer defeat latencies (LL, 52%). Whereas CRF (30 ng, intra-DR) inhibited 5-HT neuronal activity of control and SL rats, it activated 5-HT neurons of LL rats, an effect that was CRF 2 -mediated. Consistent with this, social stress promoted CRF 1 internalization together with CRF 2 recruitment to the plasma membrane of DR neurons selectively in LL rats. Conclusions These data suggest that a proactive coping strategy toward social stress is associated with a redistribution of CRF 1 and CRF 2 in DR-5-HT neurons that primes the system to be activated by subsequent stress. The lack of this adaptation in passive coping rats may contribute to their depressive-like phenotype. These studies provide a cellular mechanism for individual differences in stress responses and consequences.
Capture and Quality Control Mechanisms for Adenosine-5′-triphosphate Binding

The catalytic events in members of the nucleotidylyl transferase superfamily are initiated by a millisecond binding of ATP in the active site. Through metadynamics simulations on a class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRSs), the largest group in the superfamily, we calculate the free energy landscape of ATP selection and binding. Mutagenesis studies and fluorescence spectroscopy validated the identification of the most populated intermediate states. The rapid first binding step involves formation of encounter complexes captured through a fly casting mechanism that acts upon the triphosphate moiety of ATP. In the slower nucleoside binding step, a conserved histidine in the HxxH motif orients the incoming ATP through base-stacking interactions resulting in a deep minimum in the free energy surface. Mutation of this histidine significantly decreases the binding affinity measured experimentally and computationally. The metadynamics simulations further reveal an intermediate quality control state that the synth...
Depression and suicide in children and adolescents

Presented here is a review of data regarding depression and suicide in children and adolescents. It covers prevalence, developmental vulnerabilities, defenses specific to adolescence, and symptoms specific to this transitional age. Psychosomatics, family relations, and societal and moral stresses as they affect psychic stability and identity formation are discussed. Precipitation factors, suicide risk assessment, and review of treatment interventions are included.
A Showcase of Bench-to-Bedside Regenerative Medicine at the 2010 ASNTR

Insight into the expanding themes of regenerative medicine is provided by the American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair's annual meeting. The 17th meeting covered a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders, exploring methods to elucidate the currently unknown mechanisms behind the disorders, as well as possible treatments ranging from the use of growth factors, gene therapy to cell transplantation. The importance of growth factors, both as a contributing factor to a disease and as a possible treatment either solo, or as a consequence of, or in conjunction with, stem cell therapy, was highlighted. The potential for viral vectors was also explored either for cells prior to transplantation or as a direct treatment regime into the brain itself. Identification of biomarkers that would allow early detection of a disease is an important factor in our fight against disease. The ability to now perform whole genome analysis and biomolecular profiling provides hope that such markers could be identified which not only could identify this likely to suffer from a disorder but also could allow its progress to be monitored. A few preclinical and clinical cell transplantation trials were also introduced as potential areas of followup in the years to come.
Risk Factors for Postpartum Antihypertensive Medication Requirement in Severe Preeclampsia

Objective: To determine antepartum risk factors for postpartum antihypertensive medication use in women with severe preeclampsia. Methods: A case control study was performed on patients who were di...
A comparison of flexible and rigid ring baffles for slosh suppression.

References 1 Ferri, A., "Review of problems in application of supersonic combustion," J. Roy. Aeron. Soc. 68, 575-597 (September 1964). 2 Dunn, R. G. and Walk, E. J., "Supersonic combustion simulation for high mach number flight," Proceedings of the 13th Annual Air Force Science and Engineering Symposium, Tullahoma, Tenn., Paper no. 9 (September 27-29, 1966); also Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Aerospace Research Labs., ARL Technical Report (to be published). 3 Scaggs, N. E., Burggraf, W., and Gregorek, G. M., "The ARL thirty-inch hypersonic wind tunnel initial calibration and performance," Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Aerospace Research Labs., ARL 63-223 (December 1963). 4 Ferri, A., Moretti, G., and Slutsky, S., "Mixing processes in supersonic combustion," J. Soc. Ind. Appl. Math. 13, 229-258 (March 1965).
The Generation of Quasi Steady-State Load-Flow Trajectories and Multiple Singular Point Solutions

A non-iterative method presented by R. W. Klopfenstein for generating loci of solutions of algebraic equations of the form F(x) = 0 is used to generate solution loci for the load-flow problem. In addition, the method is constrained in such a way as to generate quasi steady-state trajectories under prescribed system changes. The method is equally useful for finding the steady-state stability limit and the number of solutions that exist in the singular point problem. The locations of these multiple singular point solutions are also obtained. Examples of three, four, and six bus systems are included to illustrate these applications of the technique.
Shear-induced diffusion of platelike particles in microchannels.

We exploit the recent developments of microfluidic technologies to investigate the collective shear-induced diffusion in suspensions of micron-sized particles. Whereas spherical particles do not diffuse on the time scale of our experiments, the results with platelike clay particles show a strong cross-stream shear-induced diffusivity at low volume fraction (${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{0}\ensuremath{\le}0.01$). Moreover, we find a linear dependence of the collective diffusion coefficient with the average shear rate (in the range ${10}^{2}--{10}^{4}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) and the particle concentration. These data are in good agreement with previous experimental and theoretical results for spheres when rescaled with the particle number density.
High glucose potentiates L-FABP mediated fibrate induction of PPARα in mouse hepatocytes

Although liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) binds fibrates and PPARα in vitro and enhances fibrate induction of PPARα in transformed cells, the functional significance of these findings is unclear, especially in normal hepatocytes. Studies with cultured primary mouse hepatocytes show that: 1) At physiological (6mM) glucose, fibrates (bezafibrate, fenofibrate) only weakly activated PPARα transcription of genes in LCFA β-oxidation; 2) High (11-20mM) glucose, but not maltose (osmotic control), significantly potentiated fibrate-induction of mRNA of these and other PPARα target genes to increase LCFA β-oxidation. These effects were associated with fibrate-mediated redistribution of L-FABP into nuclei-an effect prolonged by high glucose-but not with increased de novo fatty acid synthesis from glucose; 3) Potentiation of bezafibrate action by high glucose required an intact L-FABP/PPARα signaling pathway as shown with L-FABP null, PPARα null, PPARα inhibitor-treated WT, or PPARα-specific fenofibrate-treated WT hepatocytes. High glucose alone in the absence of fibrate was ineffective. Thus, high glucose potentiation of PPARα occurred through FABP/PPARα rather than indirectly through other PPARs or glucose induced signaling pathways. These data indicated L-FABP's importance in fibrate-induction of hepatic PPARα LCFA β-oxidative genes, especially in the context of high glucose levels.
A model of electoral competition with incomplete information

A model of two-candidate electoral competition is developed in which voters are uncertain about the policy either candidate would implement if elected. Candidates simultaneously announce policy positions, from which voters attempt to infer the true positions the candidates would adopt. Announcing a position different from the true position is costly to the winning candidate, with these costs increasing as the difference between the true policy and the announced policy increases. A refinement of the sequential equilibrium concept is used to describe the behavior of candidates and voters.
Clocks, Evidence, and the “Truth-Maker Solution”

Adrian Heathcote and I agree that a stopped clock does not show—as the adage has it—the right time twice a day, but he thinks, as I do not, that it does show what time it stopped. To think that it does is to treat the position of its hands as evidence of its stopping at the time it did. Add to the justified-true-belief analysis of knowledge the requirement that the evidence on the basis of which the believer is justified be evidence of what is believed in this sense, and you have the long-sought fourth condition to block Gettier cases. I argue that requiring that one’s evidence be evidence in this sense is incompatible with the fallibilism on which Gettier cases are predicated.
Enhanced triplet formation in polycrystalline tetracene films by femtosecond optical-pulse shaping.

Polycrystalline tetracene films have been explored using weak $\ensuremath{\sim}30\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{fs}$ visible laser pulses that excite the lowest singlet exciton as well as coherent vibrational motion. Transient difference spectra show a triplet absorption which arises following singlet fission (SF) and persists for 1.6 ns without decay. Adaptive pulse shaping identifies multipulse optimal fields which maximize this absorption feature by $\ensuremath{\sim}20%$. These are comprised of subpulses separated by time delays well correlated with the period of lattice vibrations suggesting such modes control the yield of SF photochemistry.
Schlieren analysis of an oscillating gas-jet diffusion flame

Abstract Flow structure of a flickering gas-jet diffusion flame was investigated using quantitative rainbow schlieren deflectometry. The fuel was pure hydrogen exiting from a burner tube at 43 m/s. Angular deflection data were obtained across the whole field of color schlieren images taken at a spatial resolution of 0.14 mm and a temporal resolution of 60 Hz. These line-of-sight data were analyzed to determine power spectra and flame flicker frequency at different operating pressures to scale the effects of buoyancy. The measurements were tomographically inverted to obtain the refractive index and, hence, temperature distributions assuming chemical equilibrium in the flame. The oscillating flow is described quantitatively in terms of temporal evolution of the temperature field. The flame structure is also described statistically by mean, root-mean-square (RMS), and probability density function profiles of temperature. Results reveal global oscillations in the flow field of the flame. The oscillations were stronger in the outer flow as compared to those at the flame surface. The flame was clipped-off at a downstream location, where the outer vortical structures intensified and entrained cold fluid toward the center region.
Apakaochtodenes A and B: two tetrahalogenated monoterpenes from the red marine alga Portieria hornemannii.

The structure of apakaochtodene A, the minor isomer of two tetrahalogenated ochtodene monoterpenes, isolated from the red marine alga Portieria hornemannii (Lyngbye) Silva has been identified as 6(S*)-bromo-1,4(S*),8(R*)-trichloro-2(Z)-ochtodene (1) by NMR spectral and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Its geometrical isomer, apakaochtodene B (2), which could not be separated from 1 and thus characterized as a 95:5 mixture of 2:1 had 1H and 13C NMR spectral characteristics similar to previously known ochtodene (3) and the related tetrahalogenated monoterpene 4.
The photodegradation of polypropylene. IV. UV stabilizer decomposition

The destruction of various UV stabilizers in polypropylene films during irradiation has been examined both in the presence and absence of air and oxidation products. Although some stabilizers were destroyed in the absence of oxygen, all were more sensitive when irradiated in the presence of air. Several stabilizers were highly effective but were destroyed so rapidly that photoprotection of the polymer must have resulted from stabilizer products. Work with preoxidized polymer and with model hydroperoxides and peroxides indicated that most stabilizers were destroyed by the attack of oxygen-centered radicals, with peroxy radical attack appearing to dominate.
Finite element analysis of optimal heating of a slab with temperature dependent thermal conductivity

Abstract An infinitely long solid slab of temperature dependent thermal conductivity is heated optimally by the ambient temperature. The physical objective of the problem is to increase the temperature level in the slab to a higher level at the end of a fixed period of time, while keeping the necessary ambient temperature level as low as possible. Reformulated as an optimal control problem, the problem is solved numerically by utilizing the finite element method. An approximate perturbation method is also given for linearizing the necessary conditions for optimality.
Fishing, fish consumption, and awareness about warnings in a university community in central New Jersey in 2007, and comparisons with 2004

Fish are a healthy source of protein, but the risks from consuming fish have become a national concern. Over the past 7 years, there have been a number of national advisories regarding saltwater fish. Fish consumption patterns and public knowledge about advisories and warnings have been examined for at-risk populations, but there is little information about the latter for a general population, or of temporal trends in such information acquisition. Information about the benefits and health risks of consuming fish, health warnings from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Food and Drug Administration, belief in these warnings, and trust in different sources of information were examined in a sample of 460 people within a university community in central New Jersey in 2007. The null hypothesis of no differences in fishing, consumption, and knowledge about advisories as a function of age, gender, ethnicity, and education was tested. In 2007, only 30% of the study population fished, and 83% of the study population ate fish, either commercial or self-caught. There were differences in fishing behavior, consumption patterns, and awareness of advisories as a function of gender, ethnicity, age, and education. Most notably, nearly twice as many men as women fished, Whites fished more and Blacks and Indian/Pakistanis fished less than other ethnic groups, and people aged 23-35 fished more than did others. About 8% of fish meals were from self-caught fish, 32% were eaten in restaurants, and 60% were of fish bought in stores and cooked at home. Men ate more meals of self-caught fish than did females, and Asians ate more meals of fish in restaurants, and Blacks ate more meals of store-bought fish than other ethnic groups. The total number of fish meals consumed per month increased significantly with age. Overall, more people had heard about the benefits (92%) than the risks (78%) of fish consumption. When asked whom they trust for information about health benefits and risks from eating fish, doctors were rated the highest, followed by professors; friends and fishermen were rated the lowest. We then examined whether there were any changes from 2004 to 2007 in the knowledge of the health benefits and warnings about fish consumption, and the trustworthiness of different sources of information. In other words, have communication efforts of the state and federal agencies resulted in any appreciable increase in overall awareness of the benefits or risks of fish consumption. The greatest change in the parameters examined from 2004 to 2007 was an overall decrease in fish consumption from an average of 7.9 meals per month in 2004 to about six meals per month in 2007. This suggests that the unintended effect of some of the warnings and advisories is to decrease overall fish consumption, rather than to switch from fish species with high levels of contaminants to those with low levels.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics of the Newer Antiarrhythmic Agents

This article reviews clinical pharmacokinetic data on 8 new antiarrhythmic agents. Some of these drugs have been studied extensively while others are relatively new, with incomplete data due to limited evaluation. Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic drug which is effective in treating many atrial and ventricular arrhythmias that are refractory to other drugs. Amiodarone accumulates extensively in tissues and its disposition characteristics are best described by models with 3 and 4 compartments. Its apparent volume of distribution is very large (1300 to 11,000L) and its elimination half-life very long (53 days). A delay of up to 28 days from of treatment to onset of antiarrhythmic effect may be observed, and the antiarrhythmic effect may persist for weeks to months following cessation of therapy. Clinically significant drug interactions have been observed with amiodarone and warfarin, digoxin, quinidine and procainamide. Encainide is a class Ic antiarrhythmic drug. Although it has a short elimination half-life (1 to 3h), 2 major metabolites with antiarrhythmic effects accumulate in the plasma of patients during long term therapy. Plasma concentrations of O-demethyl encainide appear to correlate with the antiarrhythmic effect. Flecainide, another class Ic antiarrhythmic agent, has an elimination half-life of 14 hours which makes it suitable for twice daily dosing. Flecainide elimination is prolonged in patients with low output heart failure. Significant drug interactions with digoxin and cimetidine have been reported. Lorcainide is also a class Ic antiarrhythmic drug, the bioavailability of which is nonlinear. Clearance of the drug is reduced during long term therapy. A major active metabolite, norlorcainide, accumulates in the plasma of patients during long term therapy and its concentration exceeds that of lorcainide by a factor of 2. The elimination half-lives of lorcainide (9h) and norlorcainide (28h) allow for once or twice daily dosing. Mexiletine, a class Ib antiarrhythmic drug, is structurally similar to lignocaine (lidocaine). A sustained release formulation provides effective plasma concentrations when administered twice daily. The apparent volume of distribution of mexiletine is 5.0 to 6.6 L/kg, and the elimination half-life varies from 6 to 12 hours in normal subjects and from 11 to 17 hours in cardiac patients. Mexilitine is extensively metabolised but the metabolites are not pharmacologically active. Renal elimination of mexiletine is pH dependent. Drugs which induce hepatic metabolism significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of mexiletine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
DIVORCE MEDIATION: Research and Reflections

Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) grew rapidly in the last few decades as a result of high divorce rates, frequent conflicts between parting parents, the resulting administrative burden on courts, and especially concerns about damaging effects on children and postdivorce family relationships. This article focuses on our longitudinal research involving randomized trials of mediation and adversary settlement to support the conclusions that mediation can: (1) settle a large percentage of cases otherwise headed for court; (2) possibly speed settlement, save money, and increase compliance with agreements; (3) clearly increase party satisfaction; and (4) most importantly, lead to remarkably improved relationships between nonresidential parents and children, as well as between divorced parents—even twelve years after dispute settlement. The key “active ingredients” of mediation are likely to include: (1) the call for parental cooperation over the long run of co-parenting beyond the crisis of separation, (2) the opportunity to address underlying emotional issues (albeit briefly), (3) helping parents to establish a businesslike relationship, and (4) the avoidance of divisive negotiations at a critical time for family relationships. We call for more research on mediation and other forms of ADR, as well as a renewal of the excitement and optimism of the “first generation” of mediators, qualities that are “active ingredients” in any successful social or psychological intervention.
A phased approach to the evaluation and selection of CASE tools

Abstract This paper illustrates an evaluation and selection approach for CASE software or CASE tools. The approach incorporates three phases: (1) CASE software screening; (2) CASE tool evaluation; and (3) confirmation of the final CASE software selection. Initially, developing a short list through screening of commercial CASE products determines whether appropriate tools exist and narrows the field of available CASE software products for detailed consideration. The second phase determines which of the remaining products (the finalists) best meets the needs of the organization, from both functional and technical perspectives. The final phase compares user requirements with the features of the selected CASE software by defining how these requirements will be satisfied by building applications with the selected product. The approach also considers the possibility that, in any phase of the process, no single CASE product is suitable and that a combination of products must be utilized.
Shortage of doctors, shortage of data: a review of the global surgery, obstetrics, and anesthesia workforce literature.

Introduction The global surgery workforce is in crisis in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The shortage of surgery, obstetrics, and anesthesia providers is an important cause of the unmet need for surgical care in LMICs. The goal of this paper is to summarize the available literature about surgical physicians in LMICs and to describe ongoing initiatives to supplement the existing surgical workforce data.
First Report of Ascochyta Blight of Vicia hirsuta (Hairy Tare) in the Republic of Georgia Caused by Ascochyta sp.

Tan lesions with dark margins containing concentric rings of black pycnidia were observed on leaves and pods of hairy tare (Vicia hirsuta L.) growing near Ateni, GA (41°54.631′N, 44°05.586′E, elev. 730 m) on 1 July 2004. Lesions were reminiscent of those induced by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labrousse on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). At the time of collection, necrotic lesions were observed on the stems, leaflets, and pods of several plants. The fungus was isolated by surface-disinfecting small pieces of infected tissue in 95% EtOH for 10 s, 1% NaOCl for 1 min, and then deionized H20 for 1 min. Tissue pieces were placed on 3% water agar (WA) for 24 h under fluorescent lights with a 12-h photoperiod to induce sporulation. Single-conidial isolations were made by streaking cirrhi on 3% WA and picking germinated single conidia. After 14 days of growth, the isolated fungus had colony morphology similar to that of A. rabiei on V8 juice agar. A conidial suspension of the fungus (1 × 105 conidia/ml) was spray-inoc...
Symptomatic 7-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm in an otherwise healthy 31-year-old woman

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are rare in young women. We report the case of a 31-year-old woman who underwent open surgical repair of a symptomatic 7-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The patient had no identifiable AAA risk factors. Laboratory and pathological analyses demonstrated a nonspecific inflammatory component.