cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lipoprotein Particles in Patients With Pediatric Cushing Disease and Possible Cardiovascular Risks

Author(s): Makri, Angeliki; Cheung, Anita; Sinaii, Ninet; Remaley, Alan T; Sampson, Maureen; Keil, Meg; Belyavskaya, Elena; Lyssikatos, Charalampos; De La Luz Sierra, Maria; Stratakis, Constantine A; Lodish, Maya | Abstract: BackgroundCardiovascular (CV) complications are the most significant cause of mortality in adults with Cushing disease (CD); little is known about CV risk factors in children with CD. Measurement of lipoprotein particles by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a novel technology to assess CV risk. The objective of the current study is to analyze the NMR lipid profile in pediatric CD patients before and 1 year after remission.MethodsNMR lipid profile was obtained via the Vantera NMR analyzer, using frozen serum samples from 33 CD patients (mean age 13.8 ± 4.0 years) evaluated between 1997 and 2017 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center (CC).ResultsGlycA (glycosylated acute-phase proteins), triglyceride-rich particles (TRLP medium and very small sizes), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (LDLP total and large size), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles (HDLP total, medium and small sizes), total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, GlycA inflammatory biomarker, and apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) concentrations showed statistically significant changes after remission of CD (p l 0.05).ConclusionIn our study population, most of the lipid variables improved post-CD remission, with the exception of HDL and ApoA1, indicating that NMR lipoprotein profile may be a helpful tool in assessing the CV risk in pediatric patients with CD.
Greater Height Is Associated with a Larger Carotid Lumen Diameter

Background: Previous studies link tall stature with a reduced ischemic stroke risk. One theory posits that tall people have larger cerebral artery lumens and therefore have a lower plaque occlusion risk than those who are short. Previous studies have not critically evaluated the associations between height and cerebral artery structure independent of confounding factors. Methods: The hypothesis linking stature with cerebral artery lumen size was tested in 231 adults by measuring the associations between height and common carotid artery diameter (CCAD) and intima–media thickness (IMT) after controlling for recognized vascular influencing factors (e.g., adiposity, blood pressure, plasma lipids, etc.). Results: Height remained a significant CCAD predictor across all developed multiple regression models. These models predict a ~0.03 mm increase in CCAD for each 1-cm increase in height in this sample. This magnitude of CCAD increase with height represents over a 60% enlargement of the artery’s lumen area across adults varying in stature from short (150 cm) to tall (200 cm). By contrast, IMT was non-significantly correlated with height across all developed regression models. Conclusions: People who are tall have a larger absolute CCAD than people who are short, while IMT is independent of stature. These observations potentially add to the growing cardiovascular literature aimed at explaining the lower risk of ischemic strokes in tall people.
From Bricks to an Edifice: Cultivating Strong Inference in Information Systems Research

MIS research studies often account for prior empirical research findings (i.e., they empirically cumulate) but do not conceptually build atop their ideas and those in adjacent research streams (i.e...
The Landmark Series: Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive biliary tract cancer (BTC) with distinct anatomic, molecular, and clinical characteristics that distinguishes it from other BTCs. In this landmark series review, we highlight the critical studies that have defined the surgical management of ICC, as well as several randomized controlled trials that have investigated adjuvant therapy strategies. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment and should involve margin-negative resection with regional lymphadenectomy. Several recently completed and ongoing randomized controlled trials are defining the indications for adjuvant therapy among patients with resected ICC. In the near future, improved understanding of the molecular features of ICC should lead to newer targeted therapies as well as a more personalized approach to systemic therapy.
DarKnight: A Data Privacy Scheme for Training and Inference of Deep Neural Networks

Protecting the privacy of input data is of growing importance as machine learning methods reach new application domains. In this paper, we provide a unified training and inference framework for large DNNs while protecting input privacy and computation integrity. Our approach called DarKnight uses a novel data blinding strategy using matrix masking to create input obfuscation within a trusted execution environment (TEE). Our rigorous mathematical proof demonstrates that our blinding process provides an information-theoretic privacy guarantee by bounding information leakage. The obfuscated data can then be offloaded to any GPU for accelerating linear operations on blinded data. The results from linear operations on blinded data are decoded before performing non-linear operations within the TEE. This cooperative execution allows DarKnight to exploit the computational power of GPUs to perform linear operations while exploiting TEEs to protect input privacy. We implement DarKnight on an Intel SGX TEE augmented with a GPU to evaluate its performance.
Extracellular recording of direct synaptic signals with a CMOS-nanoelectrode array

The synaptic connections between neurons are traditionally determined by correlating the action potentials (APs) of a pre-synaptic neuron and small-amplitude subthreshold potentials of a post-synaptic neuron using invasive intracellular techniques, such as patch clamping. Extracellular recording by a microelectrode array can non-invasively monitor network activities of a large number of neurons, but its reduced sensitivity usually prevents direct measurements of synaptic signals. Here, we demonstrate that a newly developed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) nanoelectrode array (CNEA) is capable of extracellularly determining direct synaptic connections in dense, multi-layer cultures of dissociated rat neurons. We spatiotemporally correlate action potential signals of hundreds of active neurons, detect small (∼1 pA after averaging) extracellular synaptic signals at the region where pre-synaptic axons and post-synaptic dendrites/somas overlap, and use those signals to map synaptic connections. We use controlled stimulation to assess stimulation-dependent synaptic strengths and to titrate a synaptic blocker (CNQX: IC50 ∼ 1 μM). The new capabilities demonstrated here significantly enhance the utilities of CNEAs in connectome mapping and drug screening applications.
The Right Child/Right Surgeon initiative: A position statement on pediatric surgical training, sub-specialization, and continuous certification from the American Pediatric Surgical Association

Abstract The past 50 years have witnessed profound changes in the specialty of pediatric surgery in North America. There has been a marked increase in the number of both pediatric surgical training programs and practicing pediatric general and thoracic surgeons. Despite this trend, the population of children in the United States and the birth rate have recently remained relatively flat. Some pediatric surgeons have become “super specialists”, concentrating their practices in oncology or colorectal surgery. This has the potential to result in a dilution of experience for both pediatric surgical trainees and practicing pediatric surgeons, thus limiting their ability to acquire and maintain expertise, respectively. Coincident with this, there has been a relative paradigm shift in recognition that “quality of life” is based more on maintaining a creative balance in lifestyle and is not “all about work”. There has been a parallel growth in the number of practicing pediatric general and thoracic surgeons in urban settings, but we have not appreciated as much growth in rural and underserved areas, where access to pediatric surgical care remains limited and fewer pediatric general and thoracic surgeons practice. This is a complex issue, as some underserved areas are economically depressed and geographically sparse, but others are just underserved with adult providers taking care of children in settings that are often under resourced for pediatric surgical care. This problem may extend beyond the boundaries of pediatric general and thoracic surgery to other specialties. As the premier association representing all pediatric surgeons in the United States, the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) has concluded that the quality of pediatric surgical care will likely decline should the status quo be allowed to continue. Therefore, APSA has initiated a Right Child/Right Surgeon initiative to consider these issues and propose some potential solutions. What follows is a brief statement of intent.
Abstract 48: High-Resolution Vessel Wall Imaging of Cryptogenic Stroke: A 7T MRI Study

Background: High-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) has emerged as a useful tool for characterization of intracranial vasculopathic processes. HR-VWI allows better characterization of the arte...
Association between Z-score for birth weight and postoperative outcomes in neonates and infants with congenital heart disease.

Abstract Objective We hypothesized that infants with fetal growth restrictions have increased mortality and morbidity after congenital heart disease surgery. Methods The study included patients in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (2010-2016) who underwent cardiac surgery at a corrected gestational age of ≤44 weeks. Patients were classified as severely (birth weight Z-score −4 to −2), moderately (Z-score −2 to −1), and mildly growth restricted (Z-score −1.0 to −0.5) and compared with a reference population (Z-score 0-0.5). Multivariable logistic regression clustering on center was used to evaluate the association of birth weight Z-score with operative mortality and postoperative complications and its interaction with gestational age was assessed. Results In 25,244 patients, operative mortality was 8.6% and major complications occurred in 19.4%. Compared with the reference group, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of mortality was increased in infants with severe (AOR, 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-3.0), moderate (AOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.0), and mild growth restriction (AOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.6). The AOR for major postoperative complications was increased for severe (AOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.7) and moderate growth restriction (AOR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4). There was significant interaction between birth weight Z-score and gestational age (P = .007). Conclusions Even birth weight Z-scores slightly below average are independent risk factors for mortality and morbidity in infants who undergo cardiac surgery. The strongest association between poor fetal growth and operative mortality exists in early-term infants. These novel findings might account for some of the previously unexplained variation in cardiac surgical outcomes.
A two-stage stochastic programming approach for influence maximization in social networks

We consider stochastic influence maximization problems arising in social networks. In contrast to existing studies that involve greedy approximation algorithms with a 63% performance guarantee, our work focuses on solving the problem optimally. To this end, we introduce a new class of problems that we refer to as two-stage stochastic submodular optimization models. We propose a delayed constraint generation algorithm to find the optimal solution to this class of problems with a finite number of samples. The influence maximization problems of interest are special cases of this general problem class. We show that the submodularity of the influence function can be exploited to develop strong optimality cuts that are more effective than the standard optimality cuts available in the literature. Finally, we report our computational experiments with large-scale real-world datasets for two fundamental influence maximization problems, independent cascade and linear threshold, and show that our proposed algorithm outperforms the basic greedy algorithm of Kempe et al. (Proceedings of the ninth ACM SIGKDD international conference on knowledge discovery and data mining, KDD'03, New York, NY, USA, ACM, pp 137---146, 2003).
Promoting (Reflexive) Methodological Pluralism: An Autoethnographic Account of Mapping the Political Science Research on Judicialization

Promoting methodological pluralism has been a major theme of discussion across multiple political science subfields. But, notably, qualitative methodologists have set forth meaningfully different visions of how this disciplinary norm should be implemented in practice, differing on whether emphasis should be placed on institutional-level representation or on a more bottom-up variety of pluralism. In this paper I focus on the latter and elucidate how a reflexive dialogic approach holds the potential to enhance sensitivity to methodological diversity as a necessary step towards realizing ecumenical pluralism within the discipline. I illustrate this approach through an autoethnographic recounting of my prior research experience with mixed methods team-based review article authorship. The analysis offers insights into dimensions of methodological difference as they operate in practice, while underscoring the significance of reflexive dialogue for advancing more fully inclusive pluralism within the discipline of political science.
Regulation of the Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Current by Intracellular Free Mg2+ Studied by Internal Perfusion of Single Cardiac Myocytes

Despite the fact that Mg2+ is the major divalent cation in the cell, relatively little is known about the regulation of its intracellular concentration or the effects of changes in this on cellular function. Recently, it has become evident that a variety of different kinds of ion channels are affected by intracellular Mg2+. For example, inward rectification of several kinds of K+ channels including the inward rectifier, the ATP-dependent K+ channel, and the acetylcholine (ACh)-activated K+ channel has been shown to be caused by a time-and voltage-dependent blockade of the K+ channel by intracellular Mg2+ (Matsuda et al. 1987; Matsuda 1988; Horie and Irisawa 1987, 1989; Horie et al. 1987; Vandenberg 1987). There are reasons to believe, however, that the effects of Mg2+ on ionic channels are not limited to simple obstruction of the permeation pathway. For example, the delayed rectifier current (IK) is reduced in amplitude by increasing intracellular Mg2+, but the mechanism of this effect is rather insensitive to voltage, suggesting that Mg2+ blocks this channel at a site that is remote from the pore itself (Duchatelle-Gourdon et al. 1989). Recently, Pusch et al. (1989) have shown that outward current through tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive Na+ channels is blocked in a voltage- and time-dependent fashion by intracellular Mg2+ in a manner consistent with Mg2+ blockage of ion permeation. However, in addition, internal Mg2+ also affects inward current through these channels, implying another site of Mg2+ action.
Abstract T MP54: High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Intracranial Stenosis in Patients Younger Than 35 Years

Background: Using High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging(HRMRI), we aimed to investigate the etiology of intracranial stenosis in patients younger than 35 years. Methods: Fifty-four consecutive patients (mean age,29±6 years) with middle cerebral artery stenosis were evaluated by HRMRI. The morphology of artery lesions and clinical data were analyzed. Probable atherosclerotic plaques were diagnosed by the presence of eccentric wall thickening. Probable non-atherosclerotic lesions were diagnosed by the presence of concentric wall thickening and absence of plaques.On quantitative analysis, when constrictive remodeling can be identified by visual inspection, vessel shrinkage was defined. Results: Plaques were found in 32 (59%) patients, including 13 patients without any atherosclerosis risk factors. The patients with a plaque tended to be older (p=0.061), male (p=0.013), and more likely have atherosclerosis risk factors(59% vs. 23%, p=0.012), expansive artery remodeling (37.5% vs. 0,p<0.001), and infarcti...
Terahertz emission from photoconductive antenna fabricated on GaAs/Sapphire substrate

Photoconductive antenna (PCA) was fabricated on the GaAs/Sapphire substrate. Terahertz (THz) emission properties were studied using time-domain spectroscopy. The results indicated more efficient THz radiation from this PCA when comparing with the identical PCA fabricated on low-temperature grown GaAs.
Protecting Access to People Location Information

Ubiquitous computing provides new types of information for which access needs to be controlled. For instance, a person’s current location is a sensitive piece of information, and only authorized entities should be able to learn it. We present several challenges that arise for the specification and implementation of policies controlling access to location information. For example, there can be multiple sources of location information, policies need to be flexible, conflicts between policies might occur, and privacy issues need to be taken into account. Different environments handle these challenges in a different way. We discuss the challenges in the context of a hospital and a university environment. We show how our design of an access control mechanism for a system providing people location information addresses the challenges. Our mechanism can be deployed in different environments. We demonstrate feasibility of our design with an example implementation based on digital certificates.
Genome technologies and personalized dental medicine

The addition of genomic information to our understanding of oral disease is driving important changes in oral health care. It is anticipated that genome-derived information will promote a deeper understanding of disease etiology and permit earlier diagnosis, allowing for preventative measures prior to disease onset rather than treatment that attempts to repair the diseased state. Advances in genome technologies have fueled expectations for this proactive healthcare approach. Application of genomic testing is expanding and has already begun to find its way into the practice of clinical dentistry. To take full advantage of the information and technologies currently available, it is vital that dental care providers, consumers, and policymakers be aware of genomic approaches to understanding of oral diseases and the application of genomic testing to disease diagnosis and treatment. Ethical, legal, clinical, and educational initiatives are also required to responsibly incorporate genomic information into the practice of dentistry. This article provides an overview of the application of genomic technologies to oral health care and introduces issues that require consideration if we are to realize the full potential of genomics to enable the practice of personalized dental medicine.
Northern Shield US-Russia Maritime Energy Security Cooperation

Russia is a major maritime energy player, producing more than 9.5 million barrels per day of oil and exporting approximately 3 million barrels/day of crude by sea. Additionally, Russia aims to become a significant liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter. Russian energy production is becoming more maritime in character, with projects on Sakhalin Island, Shtockman, and other areas. Finally, Russia is not simply a supplier of seaborne oil and gas. It has significant oil transportation interests, and after the 2006 merger of Sovcomflot and Novoship, now boasts the world’s fourth largest tanker fleet[1].
A digital microfluidic biosensor for multianalyte detection

A microfluidic lab-on-chip (LoC) for measuring the concentration of human body metabolites, using submicroliter droplets as reaction chambers, is presented in this paper. The device is based on the manipulation of droplets using the principle of electrowetting and is integrated with an optical absorbance measurement system for detection. We have demonstrated the detection of glucose using a colorimetric enzyme-kinetic assay in less than 40 seconds. The sensor response is linear in the range of 25mg/dl to 300mg/dl, with less than 5% deviation from linearity at the upper limit. In addition to glucose, we have also demonstrated the feasibility of lactate, glutamate, and pyruvate assays using our system.
An analysis of Bayesian classifiers

In this paper we present an average-case analysis of the Bayesian classifier, a simple induction algorithm that fares remarkably well on many learning tasks. Our analysis assumes a monotone conjunctive target concept, and independent, noise-free Boolean attributes. We calculate the probability that the algorithm will induce an arbitrary pair of concept descriptions and then use this to compute the probability of correct classification over the instance space. The analysis takes into account the number of training instances, the number of attributes, the distribution of these attributes, and the level of class noise. We also explore the behavioral implications of the analysis by presenting predicted learning curves for artificial domains, and give experimental results on these domains as a check on our reasoning.
DC-DC converter design for battery-operated systems

This paper describes performance, design and optimization of DC-DC converters for energy limited, battery operated systems. Variable-frequency operation is used to achieve voltage regulation and high efficiency for an extremely wide range of load currents. An experimental 15 W, 3.3 V buck converter has been constructed to demonstrate design and optimization techniques. The converter employs synchronous rectification to reduce conduction losses, and discontinuous, variable-frequency, current-mode control with optimum peak current to maximize efficiency for a wide range of loads. Applications include portable computers, hand-held instruments, and telecommunications. >
Global education for packaging engineers: beyond science and technology

The National Science Foundation has agreed to fund a 3-year (1995-98) pilot program called Global Innovation for Engineers (GIE), and has chosen to steer the funding through Georgia Tech's Packaging Research Center (PRC), in order to enhance the PRC's educational programs and to provide to GIE a built-in set of member companies. We have marketed the GIE program to the top global leaders in electronics, computers, and communications, both US based and also some non-US companies with a strong US presence who know they need to hire more global American engineers. This paper outlines the program's early results and identifies the strategies that seem to be working as well as some that are not.
Food Quality Assurance and Control

The existence of a wide range of magnetic resonance techniques makes magnetic resonance a versatile method to investigate different aspects of food quality in terms of composition, phase, and structural defects. This article reviews the use of magnetic resonance techniques, high-resolution and low-resolution NMR, and MRI in measurement of quality of food from fresh to processed products. Example are given on the use of high-resolution NMR spectroscopy in chemical composition profiling of fruit juice, wine, coffee, olive oil, and some solid food for food authentication and compound detection. The application of low-resolution NMR to moisture content and solid-liquid ratio measurement is described. Moreover, recent developments and problems in employing MRI in quality assurance of liquid products, fruit, and vegetable are discussed. Keywords: food authentication; fruit juice; oil; moisture content; fat; solid-liquid ratio; spoilage; fruit; vegetable; chemometrics; motion
Regeneration of Ribosomes and Ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid During Repair of Thermal Injury to Staphylococcus aureus

Heating Staphylococcus aureus MF31 at 55 C for 15 min renders the organisms unable to reproduce on agar containing 7.5% NaCl (1). The heated organisms exhibited an extended lag period during which the organisms regained their ability to grow on the 7.5% NaCl-agar. Inhibitor and antibiotic data indicated that protein synthesis is not involved in this recovery process but nucleic acid synthesis is suggested (3). The data presented here further substantiate the noninvolvement of protein synthesis during recovery and further demonstrate the site of the thermally induced nucleic acid lesion. Methylated albumin kieselguhr column analysis showed the lesion site to be the ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA). The rRNA is resynthesized during the extended lag period. Sucrose gradient analysis demonstrated that a ribosomal peak was undetectable subsequent to the thermal treatment, but this peak was regenerated during the recovery period.
Analysis of the electrophoretic mobility and viscosity of dilute Ludox solutions in terms of a spherical gel layer model.

Abstract A spherical gel layer model of colloidal particles is used to analyze the electrophoretic mobility and viscosity of a dilute suspension of the silica sol, Ludox, reported previously by Laven and Stein (J. Laven, H.N. Stein, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 238 (2001) 8–15). The colloid is modeled as a sphere with a solid inner core surrounded by a diffuse gel layer of uniform thickness and comprising a specific fraction, f , of the colloidal particle's mass. The gel layer is accessible to solvent and ions, but the gel layer retards the flow of solvent, which is assumed to obey the Brinkman equation. The colloidal charge is assumed to be spherically symmetric, but its disposition on the surface of the core particle and gel layer ( α =fraction of charge in the gel layer) is left as an adjustable parameter. Experiments at pH 5.7 and 8.7 over a KCl concentration range of 0.3 to 80 mM are examined. At high salt and/or low pH, the thickness of the gel layer is estimated to be 1.0 to 1.6 nm depending on the assumed fraction of silica present in the gel layer. At low salt (0.3 mM) and high pH, where the net absolute charge of Ludox is large, the thickness of the gel layer is estimated to be 3.7 to 4.1 nm. Thus, the thickness of the gel layer appears to increase with decreasing salt at high pH. The net charge required to simultaneously match experimental and model mobilities and viscosities is sensitive to the choice of f and α . Nonetheless, for reasonable choices of these parameters ( f =0.13 and α ≅1.0), the estimated net absolute charges of Ludox from present modeling are in good agreement with the titration charges of Bolt (G.H. Bolt, J. Phys. Chem. 61 (1957) 1166–1169), and Milonjic (S.K. Milonjic, Colloids Surf. 23 (1987) 301–311) over the entire salt concentration range at pH 8.7. At pH 5.7, however, the estimated net absolute charge from current modeling exceeds the Bolt values by about 50%.
The Intergenerational Transmission of Fear of Failure

The intergenerational transmission of fear of failure was examined in two studies with undergraduates and their parents. Parent-undergraduate concordance in fear of failure was documented for mothers and fathers, controlling for parents’ and undergraduate’s impression management and self-deceptive enhancement response tendencies. Love withdrawal was validated as a mediator of parent-undergraduate concordance in fear of failure for mothers but not for fathers. Mothers’ and fathers’ fear of failure was also a positive predictor of undergraduate’s adoption of performance-avoidance goals in the classroom, and undergraduate’s fear of failure was shown to mediate this relationship. Fathers’ fear of failure was also a negative predictor of undergraduate’s mastery goal adoption, and this relationship was likewise mediated by undergraduate’s fear of failure. The results are discussed in terms of the reorienting of positive, appetitive achievement motivation toward negative, aversive achievement motivation.
An enhanced input-delay approach to sampled-data stabilization of T–S fuzzy systems via mixed convex combination

The problem of sampled-data control is investigated for Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy systems with aperiodic sampling intervals based on an enhanced input-delay approach. Delay-dependent stability and stabilizability conditions for the closed-loop continuous nonuniformly sampled-data fuzzy systems are derived by constructing a novel discontinuous Lyapunov–Krasovskii (L–K) functional, which makes good use of not only the upper bound on the variable sampling interval, but also its sawtooth structure information about varying input delay often ignored in previous results. A bounding technique combined by reciprocally convex technics and linear convex combination is presented for acquiring the time derivative of the functional, wherein Jensen’s inequality and Wirtinger’s inequality are integratively employed. And a feasible solution of the obtained criterion formulated as parameterized linear matrix inequalities is ultimately conceived. A numerical example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Defensive Reactance of Psychologists to a Metaphysical Foundation for Integrating Different Psychologies

Abstract Psychology is fragmented and encumbered by an inordinate influence from the outdated positivistic tradition. Whereas many psychologists obdurately embrace positivism, others react strongly against it, thus producing the polarities of thinking that Kimble (1984) called the two cultures of psychology. Researchers have frequently called for more flexible epistemology, but these have not resulted in the incorporation of modernity into our science, nor have they led to metaphysical integration. This resistance on the part of many psychologists to change is attributed to cognitive defense mechanisms. The defense mechanisms are placed against feelings of inferiority. Low tolerance for ambiguity (Frenkel-Brunswik, 1949) about a subject matter that encompasses unexplainable variance in behaviors is a particular mechanism, in perceived contrast to the physical sciences. Therefore, many psychologists tend to adopt extreme views on such metaphysical issues as free will and determinism, a tendency that result...
The yield and deformation behaviour of some polycarbonate blends

Polycarbonate and its blends with PE and MBS have been tested to investigate the impact modification mechanism. These materials have been tested in tension over the speed range 10−2 to 102 in. sec−1 (2.5×10−2 to 2.5×102 cm sec−1). The tensile deformation behaviour of these materials is similar except for the magnitude of the yield stresses. The yield stress versus log $$\dot \in$$ curves have identical slopes. Based on Eyring's equation for the flow of viscous materials, these materials have identical activation volumes, implying that the mechanical behaviour modification is not due to changes in molecular mechanisms. The modifier particles probably change only the stress state of the matrix material. Three-point bending tests on notched bars of these materials have also been performed over the speed range 10−2 to 102 in. sec−1 (2.5×10−2 to 2.5×102 cm sec−1). The areas under the load-deflection curves have been measured as the total energy absorbed during the deformation. It was found that both geometric constraint and rate of deformation can bring about ductile-brittle transitions. However, the thickness sensitivity of the blends is less than that of the pure material. Scanning electron micrographs show that the matrix material voids and flows extensively around the modifier particles before the ductilebrittle transition speed is reached. This voiding probably relieves plane strain. However, at higher speeds, the modifier particles cannot relax sufficiently rapidly, and they lose this plane strain relieving capability.
Supplemental hydrocortisone in culture-negative catecholamine-dependent septic shock

A 15-month-old girl with intussuscepted ascending and transverse colon with ischaemic necrosis and gangrene was admitted post-operatively to the paediatric intensive care unit. She became haemodynamically unstable with periods of fever during which blood cultures remained negative. Repeated trials to wean catecholamines were unsuccessful. On the 9th day of admission hydrocortisone was started on suspicion of relative adrenocortical deficiency. This resulted in marked improvement of the patient‘s haemodynamic state, despite the discontinuation of catecholamines. This is the first case of possible relative adrenocortical deficiency in a child with bowel necrosis and late catecholamine-dependent septic shock.
Colonoscopy-assisted colostomy--an alternative to laparotomy: report of two cases.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of performing fecal diversion with the help of a colonoscope without a concomitant laparotomy. METHODS: Colostomies were performed on two patients who needed fecal diversion and who would benefit from avoiding the morbidity of laparotomy. A colonoscope was used in each case to guide the surgeon in selecting the appropriate bowel segment. RESULTS: No complications related to the colostomy were noted in either patient. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of colonoscopy-assisted colostomy that we have described offers an acceptable method of creating a stoma without the need for laparotomy.
Orthographic and phonological activation in auditory and visual word recognition.

A discrete-trials color naming (Stroop)’paradigm was used to examine activation along orthographic and phonological dimensions in visual and auditory word recognition. Subjects were presented a prime word, either auditorily or visually, followed 200 msec later by a target word printed in a color. The orthographic and phonological similarity of prime-target pairs varied. Color naming latencies were longer when the primes and targets were orthographically and/or phonologically similar than when they were unrelated. This result obtained for both prime presentation modes. The results suggest that word recognition entails activation of multiple codes and priming of orthographically and phonologically similar words.
The Life Review: An Unrecognized Bonanza

Historically, doctors have not entertained a broad enough view of the total human life cycle. While much attention has been focused on infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood as times of growth and change, we have all but ignored the later years and the often marvelous characteristics of “the survivors.” The use of standardized methods for evaluating the mental and physical status of old people has deprived both practitioners and patients of the richness of life-long experiences. By taking the time to attentively listen to their patients' reflections of the past, physicians can help advance our growing understanding of human aging and expand the repertoire of mechanisms that are useful in clinical practice.
Pre-existing immunity to pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes does not prevent induction of immune responses to feline immunodeficiency virus by a novel recombinant Listeria monocytogenes vaccine

Abstract Listeria monocytogenes is an attractive biologic vaccine vector against HIV because it induces a strong cell mediated immune response, can be delivered by mucosal routes, can be readily manipulated to express viral antigens, and is easy and inexpensive to produce. Proof of concept studies have been performed using HIV Gag expressing recombinant L. monocytogenes in the mouse. Here we report the development and validation of recombinant L. monocytogenes to be evaluated in the FIV/cat model of HIV. Using a simplified approach to introduce individual and polyprotein FIV gag genes, we show that recombinant L. monocytogenes containing the entire gag expresses the full-length Gag polyprotein in a soluble secreted form. A DNA vaccine plasmid (pND14-Lc-env) that replicates in Gram positive bacteria and contains the FIV SU (gp100) and the ectodomain of TM (gp40) in a eukaryotic expression cassette was transfected into LM-gag to create LM-gag/pND14-Lc-env. After infection of target cells with LM-gag/pND14-Lc-env in vitro, both FIV Gag and Env proteins were detected in soluble cell lysates. Whether previous exposure to L. monocytogenes affects the immunogenicity of LM-gag/pND14-Lc-env was determined in cats infected with wild-type L. monocytogenes orally and/or subcutaneously. After a single oral dose of LM-gag/pND14-Lc-env, cats with existing anti-L. monocytogenes immune responses developed anti-FIV Gag IgA titers in vaginal secretions, saliva, and feces. Similarly, FIV Gag and Env specific IFN-γ ELISPOT responses were measurable in spleen and lymph node but at a statistically higher frequency in cats exposed to a single subcutaneous dose of wild-type L. monocytogenes versus cats exposed both subcutaneously and orally. The FIV/cat model will provide a useful challenge system to determine whether recombinant L. monocytogenes can protect against a lentivirus in its natural host after challenge by the routes common to HIV transmission.
A Comparison of Methods for Estimating Confidence Intervals for Omega-Squared Effect Size.

Effect size use has been increasing in the past decade in many research areas. Confidence intervals associated with effect sizes are encouraged to be reported. Prior work has investigated the perfo...
A genetic study of temperature-sensitive mutants of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage ∅29

Abstract Temperature-sensitive mutants of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage ∅29, which grow at 37° but not at 45° were obtained by nitrous acid mutagenesis of free phage or by intracellular induction with nitrosoguanidine. Qualitative and quantitative complementation tests were used to group 32 mutants into 13 cistrons. Representative mutants from each of the functional groups were crossed with mutants of every other group. The genetic map of ∅29 derived from these data is linear and has a total length of 10 recombination units. Thus, 13 of the estimated 15–20 genes carried by ∅29 have been marked.
Los Angeles Displays Itself

In the 2003 film Los Angeles Plays Itself, creator—director hardly seems appropriate—Thom Andersen curates a montage of clips from more than two hundred films set in Los Angeles. Encyclopedic, idiosyncratic, and visually overwhelming, Los Angeles Plays Itself offers a refutation of the persistent mythologizing of Los Angeles (and don’t dare call it L.A.). Constant blue skies are countered by the noir mysteries that dominated mid-twentieth century representations of the city as a place haunted by the past, while the supposed ubiquity of the beautiful people of Hollywood, all pampered and coddled, is balanced by counternarratives that tell the stories of workers and people of color. But Andersen’s interest is more than just corrective—his well-trained eye seeks out scenes that capture a lost Los Angeles, one that has likely been bulldozed under in the pursuit of the new. Although the built environment changed, film preserved it, demonstrating that rather than lacking a history, as the cliche would have it, Los Angeles has repeatedly engaged in a process of deliberate forgetting. But the remnants and fragments of this past can float to the surface of a piece of celluloid or, as is the case here, in the creation of several major museum exhibitions. In this special reviews section of The Public Historian, we look at variations on the theme of excavating the history of Los Angeles. Generally speaking, the journal’s reviews focus on one city only when we are highlighting the offerings of the NCPH annual conference host city, as with Ottawa this past
Constituents from Gymnema sylvestre Leaves. II. Nitrogenous compounds

The leaves of Gymnema sylvestre were examined for the presence of alkaloids through the establishment of quaternary and nonquaternary nitrogenous fractions. A trace amount of an alkaloidal substance was isolated from a nonphenolic nonquaternary fraction and partially characterized. The plant bases choline, betaine, and adenine were isolated and identified in a combined yield of 0.04 per cent and would appear to be primarily responsible for the positive alkaloid tests previously reported for the leaves. The amino acids leucine, isoleucine, valine, alanine, and γ -amino- n -butyric acid were also detected. Of particular interest was the isolation (0.0003 per cent of leaf) and firm identification of trimethylamine oxide which has not been previously reported in plant material.
Depression as a practice: Dinamic and psychotherapeutic considerations

Summary In brief, the proposition is offered that depression is not a passively experienced or reactive interpersonal response, but an active means of relating to people. It is the manifestation of a manipulative personality and is affectually characterized by hostility. Psychotherapeutically, it is important, in spite of appropriate compassion, not to be diverted by the suffering unavoidably resulting in the patient from his depressive behavior; it is essential to help the depressive to see what he is doing, to see his maneuvering and also his vindictiveness when frustrated, both of which drive away those who want most to help or befriend him. The psychotherapist himself, by recognizing the nature of the depressive practice, is in addition better prepared to keep it from sabotaging therapy.
Production of UV-induced frameshift mutations in vitro by DNA polymerases deficient in 3'-->5' exonuclease activity.

Abstract In order to study the conversion of UV lesions into frameshift and base substitution mutations, M13mp2 phage DNA was altered by the addition of extra pyrimidines, or by construction of a nonsense codon preceded by a run of pyrimidines within the β-galactosidase complementing region. The normal sequence 5′ GTC GTT TTA CAA 3′ was changed to GTC GTT T TTA CAA (MIDT) of GTC GTT C TTA CAA (MIDC) to study frameshifts an to GTC GTT CTT TAA (OCHRE) to study reversion of the ochre (TAA) codon. Escherichia coli pol I Kf and T7 DNA polymerase mutant enzymes devoid of 3′ → 5′ exonuclease activity produce UV-induced revertants at higher frequency than did their exonuclease proficient counterparts. Removal of cyclobutane dimers with photolyase before in vitro synthesis did not greatly affect mutant frequency although which treatment led to significantly increased DNA synthesis by the wild-Type T7 DNA polymerase on UV-irradiated substrate. Reversions of the in frame ochre sequence GTT CTT TAA produced by the Δ28 T7 DNA polymerase were mainly by base substitution in the TAA codon. About half of the E. coli Kf exo - enzyme ochre revertants had a TTA deletion. Five mutant T7 DNA polymerases with varying exonuclease activity gave revertant frequencies that correlated better with published values of enzyme velocity than with exonuclease activity or with measured bypass synthesis. Our data indicate that loss of proofreading activity increase the frequency of UV-induced frameshifts, but lack of such activity is not sufficient for their production. We suggest that frameshifts occur more frequently when nucleotide addition opposite the lesion is slow. The same lesion can give rise to a different spectrum of mutations depending on the polymerase.
Strength and tension/compression asymmetry in nanostructured and ultrafine-grain metals

Abstract The recent literature is reviewed with respect to the strength-limiting deformation mechanisms in nanocrystalline and ultrafine-grain metals. Based on these results, a deformation mechanism map is proposed for FCC metals with ultrafine-grain sizes. In the absence of flaw-controlled brittle fracture, it is concluded that the strength-limiting mechanism in metals with grain sizes between approximately 10 and 500–1000 nm is dislocation emission from grain boundary sources. A simple model for the strength in this regime of grain sizes is developed from classical dislocation theory, based on the bow-out of a dislocation from a grain boundary dislocation source. The model predicts not only the strength as a function of grain size, but also the observed tension/compression asymmetry of the yield strength. The tension/compression asymmetry arises from the pressure dependence of the dislocation self-energy during bow-out. The pressure dependence is a function of material and grain size, consistent with experimental observations. Finally, the model provides a physical basis for a pressure-dependent yield criterion.
Secret Transmission: A Relative Intimacy Hypothesis:

The transmission of another’s secret is likened to self-disclosure, and further predictions are set forth based on a relative intimacy hypothesis. This hypothesis maintains that individuals will be more likely to transmit private information gathered from a lower-level intimate to a higher-level intimate (upward transmission) rather than from a higher-level intimate to a lower-level intimate (downward transmission). This pattern of behavior also is predicted to be normatively enforced. Results of three studies support these assertions. Participants were more likely to communicate upward rather than downward in both imagined (Study 1) and actual (Study 2) instances of secret transmission. In addition, individuals in Study 3 evaluated a secret relayer more negatively when he or she passed the secret from a higher-level intimate to a lower-level intimate.
Binaural stimulation reveals functional differences between midline and temporal components of the middle latency in guinea pigs

Two morphologically distinct auditory middle latency response (MLR) wave forms can be recorded from the surface of the guinea pig brain. The temporal response is recorded from the temporal lobe contralateral to the stimulus ear, and the midline response is recorded over the posterior midline. Experimental evidence suggests that different neural generators contribute to the two responses. Furthermore, it appears that the temporal response principally reflects activity of the primary auditory pathway while the midline response reflects non-primary pathways. Although it is known that neurons throughout the auditory pathway exhibit distinct binaural interaction (BI) properties, thus far there have been no systematic attempts to differentiate the MLR wave forms in response to binaural stimulation. The purpose of this study was to determine if binaural click stimulation could functionally differentiate the midline and temporal MLR responses in the guinea pig. Binaural click stimulation caused a significant decrease in temporal MLR peak amplitudes, and a significant increase in midline MLR amplitudes. The fact that different BI patterns were observed suggests that the two MLR components are functionally distinct. The data further support the hypothesis that the midline and temporal MLR in guinea pigs reflect different neural generators and pathways.
How international nonprofits build brand equity

This paper describes an empirical model of brand equity for international nonprofit organizations and offers nonprofit managers suggestions for the management of their brands. The main areas of interest include: A review of the importance of branding for nonprofits, the lack of a brand equity models specifically for nonprofits, and the key differences between for-profits and nonprofits. A proposed nonprofit brand equity model, based on a grounded theory and system dynamics approach. A series of specific managerial recommendations, for building nonprofit brand equity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.