cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of group b streptococcus prophylaxis on latency following preterm premature rupture of membranes

Objective: To assess the influence of antibiotic prophylaxis for Group B streptococcus (GBS) on latency following preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients experiencing PPROM in our institution from January 1, 1990 to January 1, 1999. The study population included all singleton pregnancies with PPROM between 20 and 34 weeks of gestational age (GA) with vaginally delivered liveborn infants. The GA at rupture (GA-R) categories were then grouped ( 31 weeks). Exclusion criteria included chorioamnionitis and/or fever on admission, fetal demise, multiple gestation, use of tocolytics, or incompetent cervix. The patients were then subdivided by use of antepartum antibiotics for GBS prophylaxis. Latency was defined as time in hours from rupture to delivery, and patients subdivided into latencies less than 24 hours and 24 hours or more. Other variables examined parity, GBS culture results, amniotic fluid index on admission, GA at delivery, and birth weight. Data were compared using the Pearson χ2 and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: There were 183 patients in the total study group. Of these, 111 (61%) received antepartum antibiotics for GBS prophylaxis, and 72 (39%) received no antibiotics after admission. The distribution by GA-R included 29 (16%) less than 28 weeks, 36 (20%) 28–31 weeks, and 118 (65%) greater than 31weeks. Those with a latency of 24 hours or more included 22 of 29 (76%) for GA-R less than 28 weeks, 19 of 36 (53%) for GA-R 28–31 weeks, and 36 of 118 (31%) for GA-R greater than 31 weeks. Comparing antibiotic usage groups for the less than 28 weeks, 28-31 weeks, and greater than 31 weeks, GA-R categories, patients achieving 24 hours or more of latency with antibiotics were 13 of 17 patients (76%), 13 of 22 patients (59%), and 25 of 72 (35%), respectively, compared with 9 of 12 (75%) (P = 0.9), 6 of 14 (43%) (P = 0.49), and 11 of 46 (24%) (P = 0.23) without antepartum antibiotics. Conclusion: Use of antibiotics for GBS prophylaxis following PPROM does not seem to increase the number of patients with latencies of 24 hours or more.
Enhancing tourist opportunities to view spotted-necked otters (Lutra maculicollis) at Rubondo Island National Park: can the apriori location of latrines simplify identifying best viewing areas?

We observed spotted-necked otters (Lutra maculicollis) along a 5.17-km section of shoreline at Rubondo Island National Park, Tanzania, during May 2008 and February, June–August 2009 to determine whether their activity areas were associated with latrine site (places along the shoreline where spotted-necked otters scent mark by depositing scats and urine) as part of an assessment to determine how tourists or researchers can best view the species. For this assessment, we compared the distance of spotted-necked otters sightings associated with the shoreline (n = 207) with the distance between an equal number of geographical information system (GIS)-generated random points to the nearest latrine for each of the respective points. The mean distances for locations of spotted-necked otter sightings to the nearest latrine differed from the mean distance of random points to latrines [171.9 m (SE = 11.30) and 66.1 m (SE = 8.16), respectively; t = −9.23, df = 412, P < 0.001]. Sightings also were much (2.6 times) closer to latrines that occurred in groups than those that were isolated (single). Establishing viewing sites at or near latrines (particularly those occurring in clusters) would thus seem an effective way to maximize opportunities to see spotted-necked otters. Resume Nous avons observe des loutres a cou tachete (Lutra maculicollis) le long d'une section de 5,17 km de rive dans le Parc National de Rubondo Island, en Tanzanie, en mai 2008 et en fevrier, juin, juillet, aout 2009, pour determiner si leurs zones d'activite etaient liees aux latrines (lieux le long de la berge ou ces loutres laissent une marque olfactive en y deposant epreintes et urines), dans le cadre d'une evaluation visant a determiner comment touristes et chercheurs pourraient le mieux observer cette espece. Pour cette evaluation, nous avons compare la distance des observations de loutres a cou tachete liees a la berge (n = 207) a la distance entre un nombre equivalent de points determines au hasard par un systeme d'information geographique (SIG) et la latrine la plus proche pour chaque point, respectivement. La distance moyenne entre les lieux d'observation des loutres et la latrine la plus proche etait differente de la distance moyenne entre les points pris au hasard et les latrines (171,94 [SE = 11,30] et 66,13 [SE = 8,16], respectivement; t = −9,23, df = 412, P < 0,001). Les observations etaient aussi beaucoup (2,6 fois) plus proches des latrines lorsque ces dernieres etaient regroupees que quand elles etaient isolees. Installer des sites d'observations sur ou pres des sites des latrines, particulierement celles qui sont regroupees, semblerait donc un moyen efficace d'optimiser les chances d'observer des loutres a cou tachete.
Entropy and caloric curve for mononuclei considering both surface diffuseness and self-similar expansion degrees of freedom

The caloric curve for mononuclear configurations is studied with a model that allows for both increased surface diffusness and self-similar expansion. The evolution of the effective mass with density and excitation is included in a schematic fashion. The entropies, extracted in a local-density approximation, confirm that nuclei posess a soft mode that is predominately a surface expansion. We also find that the mononuclear caloric curve (temperature versus excitation energy) exhibits a plateau. Thus a plateau should be the expectation with or without a multifragmentationlike phase transition. This conclusion is relevant only for reactions that populate the mononuclear region of phase space.
Transition State for the Gas-Phase Reaction of Uranium Hexafluoride with Water

Density Functional Theory and small-core, relativistic pseudopotentials were used to look for symmetric and asymmetric transitions states of the gas-phase hydrolysis reaction of uranium hexafluoride, UF{sub 6}, with water. At the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)/SDD level, an asymmetric transition state leading to the formation of a uranium hydroxyl fluoride, U(OH)F{sub 5}, and hydrogen fluoride was found with an energy barrier of +77.3 kJ/mol and an enthalpy of reaction of +63.0 kJ/mol (both including zero-point energy corrections). Addition of diffuse functions to all atoms except uranium led to only minor changes in the structure and relative energies of the reacting complex and transition state. However, a significant change in the product complex structure was found, significantly reducing the enthalpy of reaction to +31.9 kJ/mol. Similar structures and values were found for PBE0 and MP2 calculations with this larger basis set, supporting the B3LYP results. No symmetric transition state leading to the direct formation of uranium oxide tetrafluoride, UOF{sub 4}, was found, indicating that the reaction under ambient conditions likely includes several more steps than the mechanisms commonly mentioned. The transition state presented here appears to be the first published transition state for the important gas-phase reaction of UF{sub 6} with water.
On the structure of contact binaries. II. Zero-age models.

Zero-age models of contact binaries of roughly solar composition are constructed on the basis of contact discontinuity hypothesis. With this formulation, systems with common radiative envelopes can be constructed as well as systems with common convective envelopes. Two models with total masses, respectively, of 1.5 and 3 solar masses are presented explicitly; both binary models have a mass ratio chosen equal to 0.5. The properties of the interior structure of these models are compared with the properties of zero-age single stars which have masses corresponding to the individual components. The predictions of the theory are compared with the empirical period-color relationship found by Eggen (1961, 1967) for W Ursae Majoris stars. The agreement with observations is satisfactory.
An Ancestral Polynesian occupation site at To'aga, Ofu Island, American Samoa

Excavations in a deeply stratified coastal site at To'aga, Ofu Island, in the Manu'a group of American Samoa, yielded evidence of human occupation spanning the entire Samoan cultural sequence. The earliest deposits, dated to 3700–3300 BP, may represent a Lapita Period occupation, although the present sample is very limited. An Ancestral Polynesian phase, dated from 2500–1900 BP, is well attested, with abundant Polynesian Plainware ceramics, simple one-piece fishhooks, and other artifacts and associated faunal materials. Aceramic deposits, dated after 1900 BP, are also present. A model for the geomorphological evolution of the site, incorporating sea level change and the effects of human impact on the landscape, is presented.
A Sex Education Program for Mothers: Effects, Parent Characteristics, and Practice Insights

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to measure outcomes of a group program designed to help mothers become involved in their child's sex education. Innovations included: a quasi-experimental design, use of standardized measures, and measures of mothers' personal characteristics. The design included volunteer participants, a control and experimental group, and pre- and post-measures. Initially, the 9 mothers attending the program had more sexual guilt and discomfort with sexual topics than the 28 controls (not attending); but five months later, the workshop mothers had removed these original differences; they also decreased on restrictive sexual beliefs but still remained higher than controls. The mothers who chose to attend the group were initially less involved in their child's sex education; but at post-testing both groups were similar on sex education efforts. The results indicate a relationship between parents' personal characteristics and the program effects. The discussion notes the limitations o...
Rehabilitation of the Geriatric Amputee

ABSTRACT: During a five-year period, 90 patients who had undergone lower-extremity amputations when aged 60 or older were treated at the Amputee Clinic of the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. Seventeen of the 90 were not fitted with prostheses because of various medical contraindications. Thirteen of the remaining 73 patients who were fitted with prostheses had died by the time of follow-up, and 23 others could not be located. Of the 37 known survivors, 23 wore their prosthesis for more than six hours daily and used it as their main mode of locomotion; 14 used it only occasionally or not at all. Sex and age at the time of amputation were of little value in predicting the success of prosthetic rehabilitation. Patients with below-knee amputations fared much better than those with above-knee amputations. Contraindications to fitting an aged amputee with a prosthesis are mental deterioration, congestive heart failure, severe angina pectoris, and advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Neurologic disorders such as parkinsonism or stroke with a significant neurologic residual are additional contraindications. Patients who have ulcerations or infections of the remaining extremity or who have severe contractures of the stump usually cannot be fitted with a prosthesis. The ability to use axillary crutches is not a realistic prerequisite for supplying an aged amputee with a prosthesis. A patient who has walked before the amputation and who afterward can walk with a walker, usually will be able to use an artificial limb. Amputees who cannot be expected to use a prosthesis can still be rehabilitated to an independent wheelchair existence.
Nonclassical distance in quantum optics

The nonclassical distance of a state of the electromagnetic field is defined. This distance allows one to say how nonclassical a given state is and places bounds on the extent to which the behavior of that state can deviate from that of classical states. Methods are developed for estimating nonclassical distance and are applied to number states and squeezed states.
Studies of Sulfate Utilization by Algae 10. Nutritional and Enzymatic Characterization of Chlorella Mutants Impaired for Sulfate Utilization

Seven mutants of Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Emerson strain 3) impaired for sulfate utilization have been isolated after treatment of the wild-type organism with nitrosoguanidine by replica plating on media containing thiosulfate and l-methionine. These mutants fall into three classes based on their ability to grow on sulfate, accumulate compounds labeled from sulfate-(35)S, and reduce adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulfate-(35)S (PAPS-(35)S) to thiosulfate-(35)S. Mutant Sat(2) (-) cannot grow on sulfate, but it accumulates thiosulfate-(35)S and homocysteic acid-(35)S from sulfate-(35)S in vivo. In addition, extracts of mutant Sat(2) (-) reduce PAPS-(35)S to thiosulfate-(35)S, indicating the possession of enzyme fractions S and A, both of which are required for thiosulfate formation. Mutants Sat(1) (-), Sat(3) (-), Sat(4) (-), Sat(5) (-), and Sat(6) (-) cannot grow on sulfate, and their extracts lack the ability to reduce PAPS-(35)S to thiosulfate-(35)S. Mutant Sat(7) (-)R(1), a probable revertant, can grow on sulfate but still lacks the ability to reduce PAPS-(35)S to thiosulfate-(35)S in vitro. Complementation experiments in vitro show that the block in formation of acid-volatile radioactivity in every case is due to the absence of activity associated with fraction S. All mutants can grow on thiosulfate and all possess the activating enzymes which convert sulfate to PAPS. Through a comparison of nutritional and enzymatic characteristics, the first outlines of a branched and complicated pathway for sulfate reduction in Chlorella are beginning to emerge.
The role of intestinal transport proteins in cortisone-mediated suppression of Ca2+ absorption

Abstract In order to more fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying the reduction of active Ca 2+ transport in the duodenum produced by glucocorticosteroid administration, studies were undertaken to investigate the role of intestinal proteins which may function in the translocation of calcium in the small intestine. Levels of in vitro Ca 2+ transport, a vitamin D-induced Ca 2+ -binding protein, a brush border Ca 2+ -dependent ATPase and a brush border alkaline phosphatase from rat duodenum were measured in animals raised on regular laboratory or vitamin D-deficient diets and given 3 days of glucocorticosteroid treatment. Glucocorticosteroid administration suppressed brush border alkaline phosphatase activity suggesting that intestinal alkaline phosphatase plays a role in mediating the corticosteroid induced depression of Ca 2+ transport.
Border inspections of imported food and related products in Taiwan from 2011 to 2013.

and related products were Japan (22.5%), USA (15.3%), Mainland China (10.6%), Thailand (7.2%), and Vietnam (4.9%). Besides, the main countries of origin of the products imported were USA (36.1%), Brazil (13.5%), Thailand (10.3%), Australia (7.2%), and Mainland China (5.4%), contributing to 72.5% of the total imported volume. However, based on cost (insurance and freight charges), the United States occupied the first position (33.2%), followed by Brazil (13.3%), Australia (6.9%), New Zealand (5.9%), and Thailand (5.5%). The approaches for border inspections in Taiwan are visual inspection, hygiene-qualities examination, and document verification. A total of 10,896 batches were identified as noncompliant during the past 3 years (8606, 1213, and 972 batches in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively; 105 batches
Recent status of SIM Lite Astrometric Observatory mission: Flight engineering risk reduction activities

The SIM Lite Astrometric Observatory is a mission concept for a space-borne instrument to perform micro-arc-second narrow-angle astrometry to search 60 to 100 nearby stars for Earth-like planets, and to perform global astrometry for a broad astrophysics program. The instrument consists of two Michelson stellar interferometers and a telescope. The first interferometer chops between the target star and a set of reference stars. The second interferometer monitors the attitude of the instrument in the direction of the target star. The telescope monitors the attitude of the instrument in the other two directions. The main enabling technology development for the mission was completed during phases A & B. The project is currently implementing the developed technology onto flight-ready engineering models. These key engineering tasks will significantly reduce the implementation risks during the flight phases C & D of the mission. The main optical interferometer components, including the astrometric beam combiner, the fine steering optical mechanism, the path-length-control and modulation optical mechanisms, focal-plane camera electronics and cooling heat pipe, are currently under development. Main assemblies are built to meet flight requirements and will be subjected to flight qualification level environmental testing (random vibration and thermal cycling) and performance testing. This paper summarizes recent progress in engineering risk reduction activities.
Florence Nightingale: Neonatal Leaders, Take Notes!

describes leadership as atrait, ability, skill, behavior, and a relationship. Leadership caninclude some or all of these concepts.Florence Nightingale was one of the most influential leadersof the 19th century. Florence was born in 1820 to Fanny andWilliam Nightingale, a wealthy landowner. According toNightingale's diary entries, she had major depression and anervous breakdown. At 17 years old, she was at odds with herfamily as she had decided that nursing was a call from God, yether parents considered nursing an unsuitable job for a lady.
Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) refers to a wide range of structural defects of the heart and major blood vessels that are present at birth. Successes in repairing and managing even highly complex CHD have created a large, ever-growing, and heterogeneous population of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). The majority of patients with CHD are now adults. Several themes commonly arise when caring for ACHD regardless of the age or physical condition of the patient. These include screening for and management of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes; perioperative management for non-cardiac surgeries; counseling around physical activity and employment; sexual and reproductive health; genetic counseling; and antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis. While complications directly related to CHD should be managed in conjunction with a specialist in ACHD, primary care clinicians should be comfortable managing the above scenarios in most ACHD and should be able to recognize when co-management with an ACHD specialist is indicated. This chapter presents a patient-centered primary care approach to ACHD that takes into account the presence of any associated syndrome or chromosomal abnormality, the complexity of the underlying CHD lesion and the chronologic and developmental age of the patient.
The Korean Question: Assessing the Military Balance

Thanks are due to Eileen Crumm, Mike Mochizuki, two anonymous reviewers, and especially to Miki Iko for their helpful comments. Additionally, I thank Darin Uno for his generous assistance in the preparation of the final draft.
Mutant frequency and molecular analysis of in vivo lacI mutations in the bone marrow of Big Blue rats treated with 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

Recently, we evaluated lacI mutations in lymphocytes and mammary tissue of Big Blue (BB) rats exposed to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). The results on the time course of mutant induction suggested that the lacI gene may manifest a tissue-specific increase in mutant frequency (MF). To test whether a tissue-specific increase in lacI MF is dependent on the cell proliferation rate of a tissue, we examined rapidly proliferating bone marrow cells for DMBA-induced lacI mutations. Seven-week-old female BB rats were given single doses of 0, 20, and 130 mg/kg DMBA by gavage and the lacI MFs in the bone marrow were measured over a period of 14 weeks following treatment. Bone marrow cells had a remarkably low average background MF (3.1 ± 1.6 × 10−6 plaque-forming units) and the DMBA-induced lacI MFs were significantly higher than control MFs for both doses and at all time points (P < 0.01). The lacI MF in the bone marrow increased for 2 weeks and then remained relatively constant; 20 and 130 mg/kg DMBA produced 34- and 106-fold increases in MF over control MF. DNA sequencing revealed that the majority of DMBA-induced lacI mutations were base-pair substitutions and that A:T T:A (48%) and G:C T:A (24%) transversions were the predominant types. Thus, the different lacI mutation fixation times observed for bone marrow (2 weeks), mammary (10 weeks), and lymphocytes (6 weeks) suggest that the lacI gene manifests a tissue-specific mutation fixation time, which may depend on the cell proliferation rate of a tissue. In addition, the relatively low spontaneous MF in bone marrow compared with that in other tissues may be useful for increasing the sensitivity of the assay for detecting induced MFs in BB rats. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 36:235–242, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
White Americans' attitudes toward Asian Americans in social situations: An empirical examination of potential stereotypes, bias, and prejudice

The purpose of this study was to investigate the stereotypical attitudes of college students toward a variety of social situations involving Asian Americans. The authors were also interested in the effects of differential labeling of Asian Americans on the attitudes held toward them (i.e., “Asian” versus “Oriental”).
Suppression of quantum coherence: Noise effect

Abstract The influence of noise on the tunneling dynamics in a periodically driven two-level system is discussed. To describe the noisy quantum dynamics the stochastic Schrodinger equation is used. It accounts for the mutual influence of both phase damping and circularly polarized field driving with a noisy amplitude. It is shown that in absence of deterministic driving, a random dynamic drive stabilizes the localized state while a random, non-demolition drive (see below) destabilizes the localized state. In contrast, localization which can be induced by deterministic driving fields is destroyed by either phase damping or fluctuations of the driving fields. The delocalization rate for intermediate-to-strong field strength turns out to be universal. Approximate results can be obtained by a perturbation treatment.
Screening, assessment, and management of depression in VA primary care clinics. The Behavioral Health Laboratory.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project was to assess the utility and feasibility of a telephone-based systematic clinical assessment service, the Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL), in the context of primary care. The BHL is a clinical service that provides primary care providers with an assessment and a summary of mental health and substance abuse (MH/SA) symptoms and provides treatment decision support, including triage to specialty MH/SA services. The BHL was implemented to assist in the evaluation of patients who screened positively for depression at an annual clinical appointment or who were identified through routine care. METHODS: Results from systematic screening of primary care patients were extracted during a period of 6 months prior to implementation of the BHL and after implementation of the BHL. Descriptive results of the 580 evaluations conducted during this time were available. RESULTS: Results suggest an association between the implementation of the BHL and an increase in the proportion of patients screened for depression in primary care. In addition, there was an increase in the proportion of patients who screened positively (2.8% vs 7.0%). The BHL was successful in providing a comprehensive assessment for 78% of those referred. Significant co-occurring mental illness and substance misuse were found among those assessed. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing the BHL into primary care was associated with an apparent change in clinical practice in primary care at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. Not only were more patients identified, the broad-based approach of the BHL identified significant comorbidity with alcohol misuse, illicit drugs, and suicidal ideation, symptoms likely to have been missed in routine clinical practice. The BHL offers a practical, low-cost method of assessment, monitoring, and treatment planning for patients identified in primary care with MH/SA needs.
Observations and mechanisms of fracture in polycrystalline alumina

Abstract The fracture mechanics of polycrystalline alumina have been investigated using the double cantilever beam cleavage method. The fracture resistance of alumina was measured at temperatures up to 1500°C. The fracture resistance of alumina increased with increasing grain size for all temperatures studied. Electron fractography studies of the fractured surface indicate that the large grain alumina contains more transgranular fracture than the small grain material. This preponderance of transgranular fracture is shown to accompany a higher fracture resistance in the material. It is thus concluded that one mechanism of variation of strength in these materials is through variation in the relative amounts of transgranular and intergranular fracture. The lower softening point of SiO2 causes alumina with this material as a binder to lose its strength at lower temperatures than does MgO bonded material. The mechanism of fracture in these polycrystalline ceramics leads to a suggested method for improved mechanical strength.
Local delivery of proteins and the use of self-assembling peptides

Self-assembling peptides are members of a new class of molecules designed for tissue engineering and protein delivery. Upon injection in a physiological environment, self-assembling peptides form stable nanofiber hydrogels. Such biocompatible nanofibers can support three-dimensional growth and differentiation of many cell types. Self-assembling peptides are promising candidates for protein delivery, because they allow non-covalent binding of proteins, tethering of proteins, or incorporation of fusion proteins. Self-assembling peptides can be designed to deliver individual proteins or multiple factors, because the building blocks comprising self-assembling peptides can be designed with great flexibility.
The role of protein kinase C in the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis by phospholipase C

The role of protein kinase C in the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis by phospholipase C was investigated. Phospholipase C treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) generates diacylglycerol, which is an activator of protein kinase C. The protein kinase C activator, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated choline incorporation into two CHO cell lines, a wild-type cell line, WTB, and a mutant cell line, DTG 1-5-4. DTG 1-5-4 is a mutant defective in receptor-mediated endocytosis. A 3-h phospholipase C treatment resulted in the activation and translocation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase in both cell lines. TPA treatment, however, resulted in only a slight (20%) translocation of cytidylyltransferase in WTB; no detectable translocation of cytidylyltransferase was observed in DTG 1-5-4. A decrease in the phosphocholine pools was observed in response to TPA treatment in both cell lines, which indicated that the cytidylyltransferase step was being activated. Phospholipase C stimulated choline incorporation into PC even when protein kinase C had been down-regulated in both cell lines. It was concluded that phospholipase C does not activate PC synthesis by activating protein kinase C.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE INTERMEDIATE RADICAL IN THE HYDROSTANNATION OF PHENYLACETYLENE

Hydrostannation of phenylacetylene, both thermal and free radical catalyzed, results in a Z/E mixture of β-(trialkylstannyl)styrenes with the Z isomer the kinetic product and the E isomer the thermodynamic product. The stereoselectivity of the kinetic product is a result of the structure of the intermediate vinyl radical. Semi-empirical calculations using the PM3 Hamiltonian indicate the radical species formed in the addition of trisubstituted tin hydride across the triple bond of phenylacetylene leads to an intermediate with an sp-geometry at the radical carbon. The reaction proceeds to form the Z product for a number of reasons. First, there is a small barrier to tin group rotations hindering hydrogen abstraction syn to tin. There is a nearly unhindered reaction plane anti to tin. A trialkyltin hydride is quite sizable and does not readily fit in the reaction plane necessary to form the E product. Finally, the value of the Singly Occupied molecular Orbital (SOMO) is highest where radical attack occurs. ...
Some components of a program for dynamic modelling of historical change in language

A system that is to serve as a vehicle for testing models of language change is being programmed in JOVIAL. Inherent in the design of the system is the requirement that each member of a speech community be represented by a generation grammar and a recognition grammar. The units of interaction in a simulation are conversations. Grammar rules may be borrowed or lost by individuals during the course of a simulation. The rules themselves need not be limited to those suggested by a particular theory of language; also, they may refer to any or all levels of linguistic phenomena. Extralinguistic factors pertinent to language change may be incorporated in simulations.
Assessing the work-environment fit for accountants: implications for the international talent shortage

A growing and global 'talent crunch' currently exists and is expected to grow 'more acute and more widespread' over the next ten years, affecting global development throughout the world. This 'talent shortage' has already affected the accounting profession as it is listed among the top ten jobs experiencing difficulty recruiting. Prior research in the management discipline indicates a potential tool in enhancing employee recruitment, satisfaction and retention: the perceived 'fit' between an individual and the work environment. This research examines the relevance of work-environment fit in the accounting industry, using the USA as an illustrative example. This study examines the importance of fit with one's work environment to the job satisfaction of accountants using Moos' Work Environment Scale. Results indicate that fit on the dimensions of goal orientation and systems maintenance is significantly related to the job satisfaction of accountants.
Sodium meta bisulfite and ph tolerance ofPleurotus sajor caju under submerged cultivation

To develop a procedure for submerged cultivation of the edible fungusPleurotus sajor caju, we investigated the organism’s tolerance to sodium meta bisulfite and acidic pH levels. These factors were evaluated as means of controlling bacterial and/or fungal contamination. Trials were conducted in 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks that contained 200–300 mL of a 3% glucose, 0.5% yeast extract medium, and either 0-0.225% SMB (wt/wt) added, or initially adjusted to pH levels between 1.8–6.5. Inoculated flasks were incubated 7–10 d at 30°C and 200 rpm in an environmental shaker, with samples removed daily to determine mycelial dry weights. Results showed that SMB levels up to 0.05% significantly lengthened the lag phase (from 27 to 79 h) but had no effect on productivity. Maximal productivity varied between 0.054–0.057 g/L/h, whereas overall productivity was 0.042–0.045 g/L/h. Biomass concentrations ranged from 7.1–8.4 g/L. Higher SMB levels rapidly reduced productivities and yields, eventually inactivating the inoculum above 0.1% SMB. In one instance the SMB tolerance of P.sajor caju was increased to 0.075% by repeatedly exposing the organism to sublethal levels of the chemical; however, this trait was not maintained in later trials. Bacterial contaminants were detected at SMB concentrations of 0.02–0.07%, while fungal contaminants were found up to 0.125% SMB. Thus it appears that SMB might be useful in controlling bacterial contamination, but may not be as effective against fungal contaminants. The optimum pH range in terms of lag phase length, biomass yield, and productivity was 4.5–5.5, however, in certain trialsP. sajor caju still exhibited good growth parameters at pH levels as low as 3.8–4.0. pH levels below 3.8 and above 5.8 greatly reduced both growth rates and yields. Acidic pH levels (3.8–4.5) were also effective in controlling the majority of bacterial and fungal contaminants encountered. Therefore low pH or perhaps a combination of low pH and SMB should be useful in developing a large scale system for submerged cultivation ofP. sajor caju.
Generalized spinous follicular lichen nitidus with perifollicular granulomas.

: The first report of spinous follicular lichen nitidus with perifollicular granulomas was by Madhok and Winkelmann in 1988. Since this report, a few cases of follicular or periappendageal lichen nitidus have been described, in a more localized form or without perifollicular granulomas. We describe a 5-year-old girl with the rare generalized spinous follicular variant of lichen nitidus with perifollicular granulomas.
Medium spiny neuron projection from the rat striatum: An intracellular horseradish peroxidase study

Summary The morphological features of striatal projection neurons and the responses of these neurons to electrical stimulation of the substantia nigra were studied in rats through the methods of intracellular recording and intracellular labeling with the enzyme horseradish peroxidase. Under urethane anesthesia, single striatal neurons were first analyzed for responsiveness to nigral stimuli and then filled electrophoretically with the enzyme in order to permit subsequent serial reconstruction. The axon of the medium spiny neuron was found to form an extensive collateral plexus within the striatum before entering the globus pallidus or the internal capsule. These medium spiny projection neurons responded to nigral stimuli with monosynaptic excitation.
OPTICAL THIRD-HARMONIC GENERATION AT INTERFACES

Optical third-harmonic generation (THG) is generally a weak process but is dipole allowed, therefore it occurs in all materials, including dielectric materials with inversion symmetry. We report that when using focused high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses, this normally weak THG process becomes highly operative at a simple air-dielectric interface and is much stronger than the bulk of most dielectric materials. We characterized this nonlinear optical response at interfaces as a phenomenological surface-enhanced THG in transmission and/or in reflection. This surface THG is further cascaded in transmission or reflection from layered composite dielectric materials of a high-low index of refraction, resulting in a marked increase in photon conversion efficiency than that of a single interface. Although the present THG efficiency is lower than that of a typical phase-matching harmonic crystal, it is important to note that the surface-enhanced optical THG is a fundamental physical process occurring at all interfaces and is relatively free from the constraint of a phase-matching condition and wavelength restriction. Using optical THG at an interface, it becomes possible to generate wavelengths at which harmonic crystals are unavailable. These findings may lead to a new development of surface-enhanced studies and prompt a reexamination of the processes of high-harmonic generation at interfaces using a focused beam.
Assessing naturalness and emotional intensity: a perceptual study of animated facial motion

Animated characters appear in applications for entertainment, education, and therapy. When these characters display appropriate emotions for their context, they can be particularly effective. Characters can display emotions by accurately mimicking the facial expressions and vocal cues that people display or by damping or exaggerating the emotionality of the expressions. In this work, we explored which of these strategies would be most effective for animated characters. We investigated the effects of altering the auditory and facial levels of expressiveness on emotion recognition accuracy and ratings of perceived emotional intensity and naturalness. We ran an experiment with emotion (angry, happy, sad), auditory emotion level (low, high), and facial motion magnitude (damped, unaltered, exaggerated) as within-subjects factors. Participants evaluated animations of a character whose facial motion matched that of an actress we tracked using an active appearance model. This method of tracking and animation can capture subtle facial motions in real-time, a necessity for many interactive animated characters. We manipulated auditory emotion level by asking the actress to speak sentences at varying levels, and we manipulated facial motion magnitude by exaggerating and damping the actress's spatial motion. We found that the magnitude of auditory expressiveness was positively related to emotion recognition accuracy and ratings of emotional intensity. The magnitude of facial motion was positively related to ratings of emotional intensity but negatively related to ratings of naturalness.
On some nonparametric estimators for the linear markov scheme

Assume that is a realization from a linear autoregressive process is a sequence of independent and identically distributed random variables with zero mean and possibly infinite variance. Two asymptotically normal estimators of ρ, namely are discussed in this article. is essentiallv the median of the ratios . Similarly is the median of . is shown to be highly efficient when {Zt } is Gaussian and even more efficient than the least square estimator for a wide class of non-Gaussian sequences {Zt }. Whilecomputationally much simpler is shown to be much less efficient than
Therapeutic Scope of Intravenous Nitroglycerin

Sublingual nitroglycerin has been the time-honored therapy for angina pectoris for nearly a century. Sustained-action oral forms and cutaneous ointment have been used for perhaps ten years for prophylactic treatment of angina and even more recently have been recommended for use in congestive failure. For the past six years investigators at Johns Hopkins Hospital have been administering intravenous nitroglycerin to patients with acute myocardial infarction with and without left ventricular failure. More recently, we have employed intravenous nitroglycerin to manage acute hypertension developing in patients before and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. I would like to review with you the current indications for intravenous nitroglycerin and the beneficial effects that would be expected in each clinical situation. I will draw on our own clinical experience obtained in nearly 200 patients1-6 and, when necessary, on the recent medical literature.
Seismic anisotropy beneath stable continental interiors

A robust knowledge of seismic anisotropy beneath the continents is essential to our understanding of plate tectonic theory, as anisotropy provides a unique constraint on the character of past and present deformation in the lithosphere and sublithospheric mantle. This review paper summarizes the range of techniques currently available to image seismic anisotropy with passive source seismic data, and addresses current issues surrounding the observation and interpretation of continental seismic anisotropy. To this end, we present case studies for four regions where seismic anisotropy has been extensively investigated in recent years: eastern North America, the Canadian Shield, Australia, and southern Africa. Based on this full suite of results, we infer that stable continental regions generally contain seismic anisotropy that is clearly located within both the lithosphere and the sublithospheric mantle, usually to depths of at least 200 km and perhaps more. An implication of these results is that tectonic plates are, at most, only partially coupled to the underlying mantle. The results from these case studies also demonstrate that while remarkable progress in seismic anisotropy imaging has been achieved in recent years, it is clear that much more work will be required to adequately understand the origin of continental seismic anisotropy. We suggest that a more robust characterization of anisotropic parameters can only be achieved by integrating complementary seismic datasets and by incorporating constraints from key related datasets from mineral physics, magnetotellurics, gravity, and geodesy.
A Practical Approach to Using Taguchi Loss Functions to Rank Investment Choices

We use a series of hypothetical financial situations to describe the manner in which a quantitative technique could assist analysts in making financial decisions. We also provide a detailed example of a portfolio manager9s attempt to replicate a given stock with another stock that meets multiple characteristics. The demonstrated quantitative technique is an improvement over the traditional “accept/reject” dichotomy because it imposes an explicit penalty for deviations in the observed values from the desired characteristic values, allows multiple characteristics to be considered simultaneously, and also allows the selected characteristics to be weighted based on their relative importance
The cost effectiveness of a radiation therapy simulator: A model for the determination of need

Abstract The requirement for a certificate-of-need for capital expenditures of $100,000 or more has placed a major constraint on purchases of new medical equipment. Consideration of a “first principles” argument has not proven compelling to the planning agencies in justifying the purchase of a radiation therapy simulator. Thus a strategy based on cost-effectiveness and the consequences of survival in successfully treated patients is proposed for equipment justification. We have reviewed the records of 18-month survivors among patients with lung cancer that were treated by irradiation; we observed 3 spinal cord injuries in non-simulated patients, whereas none were observed in patients who had the benefit of simulation. Considering the societal costs of spinal cord injury, a cost-benefit analysis of a simulator justifies the expense of this equipment.
Regge poles in relativistic schrödinger theory

The Regge trajectories α(E) associated with the scattering of relativistic particles at a Coulomb potential are considered as analytic functions of the energyE. The trajectories for particle and antiparticle scattering are related by a simple crossing relation. In addition to the branch points atE=±m, the functions α(E) have complex branch points which are related to the possibility of a collapse into the centre. Corresponding singularities are expected for a Yukawa potential resulting from a vector meson interaction. The possible relevance of these results for relativistic dispersion theory is discussed.
Studies on the rabbit appendix. I. Lymphocyte‐epithelial relations and the transport of bacteria from lumen to lymphoid nodule

A correlated light and electron microscope study was made of lymphocyte-epithelial relations in the appendix of normal rabbits, ranging in age from one week to ten months. The lymphocyte migration into the epithelium was very slight at one week. The lymphocytes were increased considerably in number from two weeks to three months, grouping into unique nests in the epithelium. The basement membrane began to be penetrated by migrating cells at one week and bacame discontinuous in older animals. At one and two weeks, the epithelial cells contained glycogen, which disappeared at three weeks. Degenerating cells as well as bacilli were found in the epithelial cells and in the macrophages of the nodules. The varied appearance of bacilli in the macrophages indicates that they were being digested. The lymphocytes in the epithelium were larger, having less crowded cytoplasm as compared with those in the lymph nodules. Many lymphocytes were in deep folds of epithelial cells. There was evidence favoring an intracellular position for some lymphocytes in the epithelium.
Irritable bowel syndrome: modern concepts and management options.

Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, manifesting as abdominal pain/discomfort and altered bowel function. Despite affecting as many as 20% of adults, a lack of understanding of etiopathogenesis and evaluation strategies results in diagnostic uncertainty, and in turn frustration of both the physician and the patient. This review summarizes the current literature on the diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome, with attention to evidence-based approaches. A 4-step treatment strategy that has been used successfully in our tertiary referral practice is presented and should lead to successful therapeutic outcomes in the majority of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
Reductive degradation behavior of bioreducible poly(disulfide amine) for enhancing SiRNA efficiency

Bioreducible cationic polymer poly(CBA-DAH) containing repeated disulfide linkages on the polymer backbone was synthesized through Michael-type polyadditions of CBA to DAH monomers. Poly(CBA-DAH) could spontaneously form nanoscale polyelectrolyte complexes through electrostatic interactions with siRNA in an aqueous phase. These nanoparticles were rapidly degraded under the reductive cytoplasmic environment with subsequently releasing the siRNA cargo into the cytoplasm where RNAi takes place, as a result of the breakdown of disulfide bonds in the polymers. The reductive degradation behavior of the poly(CBA-DAH)/ siRNA polyplexes is more likely to increase RNAi activity with enhancing the cytoplasmic localization of siRNA molecules. Poly(CBA-DAH) may have great potential as a gene carrier especially for therapeutic applications of siRNAs owing to the reductive degradation characteristics.
Naturework and the Taming of the Wild: The Problem of “Overpick” in the Culture of Mushroomers

Although nature often has been treated as an unproblematic reality, I argue for treating it as a contested concept, suggesting that “nature” is a cultural construction. Drawing on interactionist and ecological theory, I claim that the creation of social problems involving the environment is inevitably grounded in cultural choices. Through a set of ideological structures (a protectionist vision, an organic vision, and a humanistic vision), social actors develop templates for understanding the proper relationship between humans and nature. Based on an ethnography of mushroom collecting, I contend that these models lead us to experience nature through cultural eyes – wishing to be away from civilization, to be at one with nature, and to engage in the pragmatic use of nature for personal ends. Conflicting stances toward nature account for debate over the moral acceptability of the commercial collection of mushrooms and the “problem” of overpick. Templates of human-environmental interaction, leading to models for experiencing the wild, provide the basis for understanding the conditions under which environmental change is defined as a social problem.
Model systems of treatment for alcohol abuse following traumatic brain injury.

Less than 5 years ago, Rohe and DePompolo [1] published the results of an important survey, which focused on substance abuse policies among rehabilitation programmes. The authors surveyed 52 treatment programmes and obtained information regarding ongoing staff education, patient education and policies related to alcohol consumption. Less than one-third of programmes surveyed provided patient education and less than one-quarter of programmes provided staff education. Although 90% of respondents supported prohibition during hospitalization, one-half of those surveyed also routinely prescribed alcohol for patients in a variety of situations (e.g. appetite stimulation, relaxation, social facilitation). The authors concluded that consistent patient and staff education programmes were lacking and that few programmes had consistent or expressed policies regarding the use of alcohol and drugs.