cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The State War Power: A Forgotten Constitutional Clause

This article argues for the existence of a State War Power; a power both antecedent to, and affirmatively acknowledged in, the Constitution. This power permits a state to engage in war if invaded by a hostile force, independent of any federal action. Where a state government and the federal government are at odds, this paper argues that reasonable actions a state takes pursuant to the State War Power can withstand a supremacy challenge by the federal government because the State War Power is a constitutionally enshrined power and provisions of the Constitution must be construed so that the Constitution is not self-destructive. This article proposes that the State War Power is essential to the preservation of federalism. It ensures a vital aspect of the constitutional republic, state sovereignty, and allows states to compensate for the failure of the federal government to protect against invasion as required by the Guarantee Clause. Although, there has been little necessity for states to invoke the State War Power because the federal government has historically fulfilled its obligation under the Guarantee Clause, this paper uses the border states, Arizona in particular, as an example of the application of the State War Power. Specifically, this article explores the State War Power with respect to defense against invasion by Drug Trafficking Organizations.
Impact of Academic Motivation, Learning Style, and Locus of Control on Retention in Online Courses

Higher education online learning has experienced tremendous growth. The overall success rate for students taking online courses, however, is much lower than students taking traditional classroom co...
STONEWALL UPRISING: IMPACT ON OLDER LGBT ADULTS

Abstract Studies suggest there are generational differences among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults (young-old, middle-old, old-old), and a significant period involves Stonewall and the Gay Rights Movement. The old-old grew up in a time where public or private same-sex behaviors could result in being arrested and sent to prison, and the decision to hide one's sexual orientation was considered self-protective. The middle-old came of age in that same repressive environment but witnessed and participated in Stonewall and the Gay Rights Movement. The young-old reached young adulthood during the social upheavals of the 1960’s and 1970’s, and witnessed homosexuality be removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Papers suggest that the young-old and old-old LGBT adults differ in disclosure rates of their sexual and gender identities, and prevalence of lifetime victimization and discrimination. In this session, we will examine life before Stonewall and the Gay Rights Movement, review the social upheavals of the 1960’s and 1970’s, and the impact this period has had on mental health of older LGBT adults.
Impact of liver-directed therapy and non-therapy on the waiting time list of patient candidates for liver transplantation: retrospective survival analysis.

Aim of the study To determine whether liver-directed therapies (LDT) and no therapy affect waiting list times for liver transplant candidates from a single center. Material and methods This retrospective study included patients > 12 years of age diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma between January 2014 and June 2019 and followed until the date of transplant, date of delisting, loss to follow-up, or date of death. Waiting list time and associated factors were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazards methods. Results A total of 181 patients met the selection criteria. The mean age was 60 years with standard deviation (SD) of 7.8 years. Sixty-six percent underwent transplant, and 64% were classified within the Milan criteria. Men had a lower median waiting list time than women (191 days vs. 236 days, p = 0.0093). The overall median survival time or time to transplant for 50% of the population was 218 days (95% CI: 195-235). Men displayed a 3.1-fold (95% CI: 1.5-6.2) higher probability of transplantation than women (p = 0.002). Patients who received no therapy had a 5-fold higher probability of undergoing transplantation than patients under arterial LDT (HR [95% CI]: 5 [1.2, 20], p = 0.02). Patients under combined LDT displayed a 70% reduced probability of transplantation compared to patients who received arterial LDTs (p = 0.0009). Conclusions LDT was associated with a prolonged stay on the transplant list, likely due to the presence of an aggressive liver tumor. However, LDTs allow the patient to remain active on the liver transplant list, increasing their chances of undergoing transplantation.
Risk Factors for Thrombosis in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Analysis of a Large National Database

Abstract Background: Neonatal thromboembolism (TE), including both arterial and venous thromboses, causes significant morbidity and mortality in critically ill children. TE is thought to be rare in children compared to adults; however, the incidence is not precisely known. Predicting risk of neonatal TE is challenging due to the limited data available to characterize these infrequent events. Therefore, risk factors are often extrapolated from adult studies, though these may not apply uniformly to children. In contrast to adults; risk of TE in infants incorporates age related differences in vasculature and hemostasis, with a complex balance of pro- and anti-coagulant factors not accurately captured in standard lab tests. Evaluating the incidence of TE in a population-based sample will better define the scope of disease in order to improve strategies for management of thrombosis in the young. The aim of this study is to utilize a large national database to characterize the incidence and factors predisposing infants to TE. Methods: The Pediatrix database was queried to identify all infants admitted to a neonatal ICU from 1997 through 2015 who subsequently developed venous and arterial TE. Demographic characteristics were assessed including sex, race/ethnicity, and birth weight, as well as previously described risk factors for TE including sepsis, pressor requirement, mechanical ventilation, and invasive procedures. Patient characteristics for the TE group were compared with the non-TE group using the Pearson X 2 test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. P-values Results: Of 1,158,755 infants, 2367 (0.20%) were diagnosed with TE. On univariate analysis, early gestational age (in weeks, ≤25 1.6%; 26-28 0.8%; 29-32 0.2%; 33-36 0.1%; ≥37 0.1%, p 3500 0.1%, p Conclusion: This study, the largest national sample to date, demonstrates that arterial and venous TE in neonates are uncommon but associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Neonatal TE is associated with a number of independent risk factors including central venous catheters, congenital heart disease, and, notably, invasive surgery. Treatment strategies, primarily consisting of anticoagulation, vary considerably and have not been standardized. Moreover, consideration of thromboprophylaxis may be warranted in high-risk settings. Further study is needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapy as well as to more precisely identify patients at risk of thrombosis, potentially with lab tests that examine dynamic changes in the coagulome. Download : Download high-res image (188KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Experiences of occupational therapists using telehealth to continue to treat patients with low vision during the COVID-19 pandemic

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the experiences of occupational therapists (OTs) who switched to telehealth for clients with visual impairments during the COVI...
A structure of fuzzy decision-making system for power system protection

For power system protection applications, a structure for a fuzzy logic-based decision-making system is presented. This system structure implements three essential functional modules: the fuzzification interface module (FIM), to represent the inexact information with fuzzy membership functions and to adjust the membership functions in different situations; the fuzzy decision module (FDM), to match the input measurement value and the membership functions and decide the rule firing length for the final decision about status; and the knowledge base module (KBM), to provide the necessary rules for the FIM and the FDM through the acquisition of the knowledge on the application domain. >
Correlation of rubidium-82 and echocardiogram ejection fraction results

2230 Objectives Rubidium-82 myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) studies and echocardiograms have both been used to assess the function of the heart, specifically the left ventricle. Both studies can provide a measurement of the capacity at which the heart is pumping or the percent ejection fraction. Typically, an ejection fraction greater than 55% is considered normal. The purpose of this study is to determine if the ejection fraction identified on Rubidium-82 MPI studies correlates with the ejection fraction of echocardiograms. Methods The ejection fraction results from twenty patients who had undergone both a Rubidium-82 MPI study and an echocardiogram were evaluated. The cardiologists’ dictations of the echocardiograms were compared with the nuclear medicine physicians’ dictations of the Rubidium-82 MPI studies. Results Fourteen patients showed an ejection fraction that was significantly higher(≥ 10%) on the Rubidium-82 MPI rest images than echocardiograms. Three patients displayed a lower ( Conclusions The results indicate that there is a correlation between the ejection fraction of Rubidium-82 myocardial perfusion imaging studies and echocardiograms: Rubidium-82 MPI studies typically show a higher ejection fraction than echocardiograms. Continued research on patients who have undergone both studies is ongoing and should strengthen the test results.
Spatial distribution of biochemical parameters indicating biomass and community composition of microbial assemblies in estuarine mud flat sediments.

The spatial distribution of communities was examined in estuarine mud flat sediments by the biochemical analysis of the lipids and lipid components extracted from the sediments. Total phospholipid was used as a measure of total biomass, and fatty acids were used as indicators of community composition. Comparisons were made among 2- by 2-m (location) and 0.2- by 0.2-m (cluster) sampling plots by using a nested analysis of variance to design an optimal sampling strategy to define the microbial content of a large, relatively homogenous area. At two of the three stations, a 2- by 2-m plot was representative of the station, but 0.2- by 0.2-m areas were in no case representative of the station. The biomass measured by the extractable phospholipid and the total lipid palmitic acid showed excellent correlation with the fatty acid “signatures” characteristic of bacteria, but showed a lower correlation with the long-chain polyenoic fatty acids characteristic of the microfauna.
Use of phosphorus vectors to monitor changes in soil phosphorus

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the use of P vectors to predict the amount of P required on a yearly basis to maintain a constant solution‐solid phase P relationship in an irrigated calcareous and a dryland acid soil. Irrigated potato‐spring barley and dryland spring pea spring‐barley crop rotations established at the two locations. Mono‐calcium phosphate (0–45–0) was applied annually at five levels, ranging from 0–4 times estimated crop removal. Phosphorus vectors were determined on soil samples by equilibration with standard P solutions. Yields tended to increase with added P on the calcareous soil; however, significant responses were not recorded at either location. Consequently, critical P vectors were not established. A constant solution‐solid phase P relationship was maintained by addition of P equal to that removed by the crop on the calcareous soil. A constant solution‐solid phase P relationship was not maintained on the acid soil.
A tutorial introduction to estimation and filtering

In this tutorial paper the basic principles of least squares estimation are introduced and applied to the solution of some filtering, prediction, and smoothing problems involving stochastic linear dynamic systems. In particular, the paper includes derivations of the discrete-time and continuous-time Kalman filters and their prediction and smoothing counterparts, with remarks on the modifications that are necessary if the noise processes are colored and correlated. The examination of these state estimation problems is preceded by a derivation of both the unconstrained and the linear least squares estimator of one random vector in terms of another, and an examination of the properties of each, with particular attention to the case of jointly Gaussian vectors. The paper concludes with a discussion of the duality between least squares estimation problems and least squares optimal control problems.
An Evaluation of an Organization Development Approach To Reducing School Disorder

An organizational development method was used in a three-year effort to reduce disorder in a troubled Baltimore City school. Using the method, researchers and school staff collaborated to design, i...
Large-scale systems: When theories meet applications

Both conceptual and numerical difficulties in the problem of transient stability analysis of power systems increase rapidly when the system size becomes large. Various decomposition techniques are developed within existing large-scale system theories. However, direct application of these techniques is not trivial, it induces new theoretical questions. A strong interaction is needed between complex systems practice and newly developed methods in order to determine an appropriate problem formulation for large-scale systems and to obtain significant results.
An ethnographic study of attitudes influencing faculty collaboration in library instruction

SUMMARY Numerous surveys over the years have found that faculty value librarians more for their reference work, often described as “service,” than for their contributions to teaching; that 55–85 percent of faculty report using no LI with their classes; and that faculty have various reasons for not using librarian-provided instruction. This study differs from its predecessors by focusing specifically upon faculty who use LI heavily with their courses and interviewing them about why they use LI and what they value about it. Understanding these faculty members' values regarding LI, as expressed in their own words, can assist librarians in promoting course-integrated instruction.
The constitution of the fructan produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain C

Abstract The extracellular levan elaborated by L. mesenteroides (strain C) when the organism is grown on a medium containing sucrose as the carbon source has been shown by methylation analysis to be composed of β- d -fructofuranosyl residues linked by (2→6)-glycosidic bonds, with branches at C-1. Methylation of the levan and subsequent hydrolysis afforded 3,4-di-, 1,3,4-tri-, and 1,3,4,6-tetra- O -methyl- d -fructose in the approximate mole proportions of 1.0:3.5:1.0, corresponding to an average chain-length of 5–6. This levan gives with concanavalin A a precipitin reaction of somewhat greater intensity than that displayed by the glycogens.
Equine antihapten antibody. The subunits and fragments of anti-beta-lactoside antibody

Eight antigenically unique immunoglobulins have been identified in purified equine anti-p-azophenyl-beta-lactoside (Lac) antibody isolated from a single horse. The Fc fragments of the gammaGa-, gammaGb-, gammaGc-, and -gammaA-globulins have been shown to possess unique antigenic determinants. Common gammaG- and gammaA-Fc fragment antigenic determinants, which were absent from the 10Sgamma(1)- and gammaM-globulins, have also been observed. All antibody populations share two antigenically distinct light (B, L) chain variants. The association of anti-Lac antibody with the hapten p-(p-dimethylamino-benzeneazo)-phenyl-beta-lactoside has been measured by equilibrium dialysis and by fluorescence quenching. A variation in the affinity of anti-Lac antibody for hapten has been observed. The affinity of antibody was unaltered by enzymatic removal of the Fc fragments by peptic digestion or dissociation of the two combining sites on the papain 3.5S Fab fragments, indicating that the observed heterogeneity of affinities was not a direct function of the heterogeneity in structure of the Fc fragments. Isolated heavy (A, H) chains of gammaA-anti-Lac antibody have been shown to have retamed affinity for Lac dye by equilibrium dialysis and by analytical ultracentrifugation, employing a combination of schlieren and absorption optics. The heavy (A, H) chains from two physically separable, antigenically distinct antibody populations, isolated from the same animal and having affinity for the same haptenic determinant, have been found to differ in their amino acid composition. Anti-Lac antibody light (B, L) chains have also been shown to be chemically heterogeneous, and contained populations of polypeptide chains possessing, and populations lacking methionine. The relevance of the observed structural heterogeneity of equine anti-Lac antibody to the problem of defining the mechanism of acquisition of immunological specificity is briefly discussed.
The relationship of REM sleep with learning and memory in mice.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation existed between paradoxical sleep and learning capabilities in mice. The hypothesis would predict that the best learners would have the highest percentage of paradoxical sleep. Seven different inbred strains of mice and random-bred Swiss, the types used by Bovet in his learning studies, were implanted with cortical electrodes and their sleep studied electroencephalographically. A significant positive correlation was found between the amount of paradoxical sleep and learning ability on active avoidance tasks for the strains studied.
CORRELATION OF SERUM PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN AND QUANTITATIVE IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY

Purpose: Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) in patients with prostate carcinoma is influenced by prostate size, transition zone volume, and tumor differentiation and volume. Immunohistochemistry studies have demonstrated an inverse correlation between PSA staining intensity and tumor grade, yet to our knowledge tissue expression of PSA has never been correlated with serum PSA.Materials and Methods: In 47 radical prostatectomy cases serum PSA was corrected for gland size and tumor volume. Standard immunohistochemistry staining techniques were applied to specimens using monoclonal antibodies to PSA and cytokeratin CAM5.2. ††Becton Dickinson, San Jose, California. Color images of PSA and CAM5.2 immunohistochemistry stained slides were digitally acquired and analyzed using a standard image analysis system. Representative tumor foci in each slide were imaged with a 20× objective and 10× eyepiece. Staining extent and intensity of the tumor epithelium were measured, and stromal elements and luminal areas were...
Machining surfaces composed of cyclide patches

Abstract Cyclide surfaces have attracted the attention of CAD/CAM researchers in the last decade. Thus far, the main focus of research in cyclides, has been its use in shape design. In this paper we consider the problem of generating NC tool paths for machining parts designed with cyclide surfaces. We describe details of generating three kinds of cutter paths — planar section, iso-parametric and iso-curvature tool paths. We also propose metrics for evaluation of cutter paths. These methods have been implemented in a prototype system. The design module of the system (not dealt with in this paper) allows the user to construct free form surfaces composed of cyclide patches. Using the machining module, described in detail in this paper, a part programmer has the option to generate the aforementioned tool paths. In addition to the algorithmic details, we provide examples of implementation and fabrication of physical prototypes.
Does the urban CO2 dome of Phoenix, Arizona contribute to its heat island?

Phoenix, Arizona has both a strong urban heat island and a large near-surface atmospheric CO2 “dome” during periods of atmospheric stability. In this investigation, we use a detailed one-dimensional infrared radiation simulation model to determine the thermal impact of the elevated CO2 levels in the urban environment. We find that the increased CO2 concentrations below the inversion layer contribute only slightly to the observed heat island, which suggests that other factors, such as absorption of solar energy by urban surface materials and lower soil moisture levels, are largely responsible for the observed increase in urban temperatures.
The importance of atmospheric attenuation for the echolocation of bats (Chiroptera)

Abstract Atmospheric attenuation of high frequency sound in air limits the effective range of bats' echolocation. Attenuation is proportional to frequency squared, but also increases with absolute humidity, passes through a peak, and declines again. The humidity causing maximum attenuation is very low at 1 kHz, but shifts progressively to higher humidities at ultrasonic frequencies, and by 100 to 150 kHz the peak is located at humidity levels found in tropical rain forests. The adaptive advantages of various frequencies for an echolocating bat are thus humidity dependent. This may explain the use of 8 to 4 kHz orientation sounds by an unidentified insectivorous bat in the Amazon Valley.
Impact of ion cloud densities on the measurement of relative ion abundances in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: experimental observations of coulombically induced cyclotron radius perturbations and ion cloud dephasing rates

Fundamental research into the quantitative properties of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) has yielded interesting observations, especially in terms of factors affecting the accuracy of relative ion abundances. However, most of the previous discussions have focused on theoretical systems, or systems of limited scope. In this paper, we document ion motion attributes of a 30 spectra (six samples, five replicates each) system previously established as linear over two orders of magnitude. Observed behaviors include the perturbation of one charged species (cyclosporin A, CsA) of low ion density to a cyclotron orbit of greater radius than that of an almost identical, but slightly mass-separated species (CsG) with a higher ion density. This radial perturbation is attributed to the coulombic repulsion between the two ion clouds as they interact during the excitation process, as previously proposed by Uechi and Dunbar. Magnitudes of the perturbation were confirmed by making cyclotron radii determinations utilizing the ratio of the third-to-first harmonics for the charged species of interest. It was found that these radial differences can account for as much as a 55% signal bias in favor of CsA for a single sample and a >20% positive bias in the slope of the regressed data set. A second behavior noted that also contributes to the potential inaccuracy of relative ion abundance measurements is the difference in signal decay rates for CsA and CsG. Damping constants and initial time domain signal amplitudes were evaluated using segmented Fourier transforms. Discrepancies in decay rates were not expected from two species that have essentially identical collisional cross-sections. However, it has been observed that the faster decay rates are observed by the species of lower ion cloud density. We have attributed this differential signal decay phenomenon to the rates of loss of phase coherence for the two ion clouds. Previously, others have reported that less dense ion clouds are more susceptible to shearing and other disruptive forces during the course of their excited cyclotron motion. Our experimental evidence supports that it is the loss of cloud coherence that accounts for the signal loss over time, with the less dense cloud de-phasing more quickly. As the ion populations of the two investigated species near equivalence, so do their time constants.
Ipratropium bromide in asthma: A review of the literature

In comparative studies of asthma, ipratropium bromide has been shown to have a slower onset of bronchodilator action but a longer duration of effect than beta agonists. An additive effect of ipratropium and beta agonists has been demonstrated, in addition to prolongation of the bronchodilator response. Most studies do not show a definite difference in responsiveness of atopic versus nonatopic asthmatic patients; there are, however, reports indicating a greater responsiveness to anticholinergic agents than to beta agonists in patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Ipratropium has been shown not to affect mucociliary clearance, sputum volume, or viscosity. It effectively inhibits the bronchial response to methacholine and, to a lesser degree, to histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, and antigen. Protection against exercise-induced asthma with this drug has been variable, but ipratropium has been found particularly useful in psychogenic asthma. Its role in occupational asthma remains to be determined.
Affluence and cardiovascular risk factors in Mexican-Americans and other whites in three Northern California communities

Abstract A cardiovascular risk factor survey was carried out on a random sample consisting of 1666 residents of three semi-rural, northern California communities. Of these individuals 17.9% were identified as being Mexican-Americans. As expected, Mexican-Americans were of a lower socio-economic status compared to the other white majority. Plasma cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure levels were very similar in the two groups. Although there were fewer heavy cigarette smokers among Mexican-Americans, they were observed to have a greater degree of adiposity and higher plasma triglyceride levels. Adiposity was significantly correlated with both blood pressure and plasma triglycerides in both ethnic groups. Ethnic differences in triglycerides were not explained by greater alcohol consumption among Mexican-Americans. Multiple regression analysis indicated that ethnic group made a significant contribution to triglyceride variance even after the effects of adiposity had been taken into account. It is concluded that the cardiovascular risk factor status of Mexican-Americans in these three communities is similar to that of other the white majority.
The single electron puzzle at RHIC

We apply the DGLV theory of radiative energy loss to compute single electron suppression in Au+Au collisions at s = 200 A GeV . We show that single electrons in the range 5 p T 10 GeV are dominated by bottom quark decays rather than the more strongly quenched charm quarks and cannot be neglected in the computation of single electron suppression.
The ant in the labyrinth: diffusion in random networks near the percolation threshold

The parameters which describe the mean-squared displacement (R2(t)) of a random walker on a random network have a characteristic singular dependence on epsilon =(p-pc)/pc near the percolation threshold. The critical exponents, which characterise the singularities of the diffusion constant, moment of inertia of finite clusters, and time constants for development of the long-time behaviour, are related by a scaling theory. They may also be related to the exponent theories for the percolation and percolation conduction problems. An equivalent resistor network can be described which is equivalent to the time Laplace transform of the diffusion problem. These problems will be given explicit treatment for the Cayley tree.
Pursuit and saccadic tracking exhibit a similar dependence on movement preparation time

Data from previous human and primate studies on saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements suggest that there are shared internal inputs (for example, perception, attention, expectation, and memory) for the initiation of the two types of movements. Additional reports examining the effect of preparation time on movement responses have shown that when ample time is allowed subjects usually generate long-latency “reactive” responses. When the time allowed to prepare a movement is short, however, subjects respond with reduced latency and often anticipate the stimulus (“predictive” response). Based on these findings, we believe that the shared internal inputs at early stages of movement preparation may result in saccade and pursuit eye movements demonstrating the same dependence on preparation time despite acting through different neural pathways further downstream. Previously we demonstrated a behavioral “phase transition” when normal subjects tracked alternating targets with saccades. When preparation time was long (low-frequency pacing) subjects made reactive saccades (latency ~180 ms). As preparation time monotonically decreased (pacing frequency increased), there was an abrupt transition to a predictive response (latency <100 ms). In the present study we show that a similar transition exists in smooth pursuit tracking and that the point of transition between the two behaviors is the same for both systems. In other words, the same behavior (reactive versus predictive) is selected when pursuit and saccade tracking are tested under the same time constraints. This provides further evidence that the two types of movements are different motor outcomes of a common decision process.
A Modified Method of Artificial Insemination in the Production of Chicken-Quail Hybrids

Abstract INTRODUCTION NATURAL barriers, as proposed by Dobzhansky (1951) and Riley (1952), have effectively isolated most species and prevented mating, so that although numerous hybrids from natural mating have been reported (Gray, 1958) other hybrids have resulted only when man has affected mating by artificial techniques. Among the latter is the cross between the chicken and the Japanese quail, recently reported by Wilcox and Clark (1961). This paper reports on fertility and hatchability results from artificial crossing of the red jungle fowl (Gallus bankiva) with the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), and on some factors involved in the production of such hybrids. MATERIAL AND METHODS Birds used in the experiments were Japanese quail and the red jungle fowl. The quail, hatched in the fall of 1959, and the jungle fowl, hatched in the spring of 1959, were brooded in insulated quarters and transferred at six weeks of age to specially constructed cages…
Permeability Prediction From Thin Sections Using the Lattice-Boltzmann Flow Simulation

This paper presents a new methodology for predicting permeability from thin sections. The method is based on two key components – constructing 3D porous media from 2D thin sections and a direct 3D flow simulation using the Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method. From a thin section, statistical parameters such as porosity and autocorrelation function are calculated through image processing. We construct 3D porous media using a geostatistical method of sequential indicator simulation conditioned to the thin section. We then perform flow simulations on those 3D realizations without idealizing or simplifying the complex pore geometry. The LB flow simulation method can successfully handle realistic and very complicated 3D pore geometries. We apply our method for seven thin sections from Daqing oil field. Predicted permeabilities show excellent agreement with lab measurements. We then compare our method to another one, which also estimates permeability based on statistical parameters from thin sections, but without flow simulation. Our method gives better results and is less sensitive to statistical noise from image processing of thin sections. More importantly, our method does not require any empirical parameters.
Prosthetics, exoskeletons, and rehabilitation [Grand Challenges of Robotics]

The paper briefly discusses the history of artificial limbs and describes present prosthetics, exoskeletons and robotic rehabilitation. The challenges in prosthetics and exoskeletons - which include electromechanical implementation, neural control signals and extraction of intent, and clinical interface - are also discussed. In the future, the need for assistive robotic devices is predicted to increase
An Analysis of Corporate Rule in Globalization Discourse: Why We Need Rhetoric to Explain Conceptual Figures

This article analyzes the conceptual metaphor Corporations Are Governments in order to demonstrate the integral relationship between the unconscious operations of metaphor emphasized by conceptual metaphor theory and explicit rhetorical influences such as linguistic choices, patterns of rhetorical response, and overarching narratives that are used to organize and evaluate evidence. It argues that conceptual metaphors are shaped significantly by a give-and-take among ideologically accented and often deliberately considered metaphors, metonymies, and narratives.
Does the Type of Political Regime Matter for Trade and Labor Market Policies

This article uses cross-country data to examine the link between a country's type of political regime and its degree of openness and labor market distortion. The analysis indicates that more authoritarian regimes are associated with higher trade protection and greater labor market distortions. This supports the view that political authoritarianism may be counterproductive to development in important respects.
Measurement of gender-sensitive treatment for women in mixed-gender substance abuse treatment programs

Background Gender-sensitive (GS) substance abuse treatment services have emerged in response to the multidimensional profile of problems that women display upon admission to substance abuse treatment. The present study examines the extent to which treatment programs vary in GS programming for women in real-world mixed-gender treatment settings, where most women are treated.
Effusive-constrictive hemodynamic pattern due to neoplastic involvement of the pericardium

Eight patients with metastatic malignancy of the pericardium who demonstrated the hemodynamics of subacute effusive-constrictive pericarditis were studied. All patients had clinical evidence of cardiac tamponade due to malignant pericardial effusion and were referred for therapeutic pericardiocentesis. In six in whom pericardiocentesis was successfully performed, right atrial pressure remained elevated after pericardiocentesis and return of the intrapericardial pressure to zero; in these patients, hemodynamic data were initially compatible with tamponade but suggested constriction after removal of the pericardial fluid. In the remaining two patients, echocardiography revealed pericardial fluid, but attempted pericardiocentesis was unsuccessful. In these two patients, the hemodynamic data suggested pericardial constriction; subsequent pathologic examination revealed neoplastic involvement of the visceral pericardium. Thus, subacute effusive-constrictive pericarditis, previously recognized as a complication of tuberculosis or mediastinal radiation, may also be due to metastatic malignancy. The syndrome can readily be demonstrated when right heart catheterization is performed in conjunction with pericardiocentesis.
Precountershock cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves ventricular fibrillation median frequency and myocardial readiness for successful defibrillation from prolonged ventricular fibrillation: a randomized, controlled swine study.

Abstract Study objective: After prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF), precountershock cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) will improve myocardial "readiness" for defibrillation compared with immediate defibrillation. Methods: After 10 minutes of untreated VF, 32 swine (27±1 kg) were randomly assigned to receive immediate countershocks (DEFIB), CPR for 3 minutes followed by countershocks (CPR), or CPR for 3 minutes plus intravenous epinephrine followed by countershocks (CPR+EPI). VF waveform was evaluated by fast Fourier transformation. Results: VF amplitude and median frequency by fast Fourier transformation decreased during the untreated VF interval in all groups, and the median frequency subsequently increased during each minute of precountershock CPR. Although the VF median frequency in the 3 groups did not differ after 10 minutes of untreated VF (8.9±0.8 Hz versus 8.4±0.5 Hz versus 7.3±0.5 Hz, respectively), immediately before the first shock the VF median frequency was much lower in the DEFIB group than in either the CPR or CPR+EPI groups (8.9±0.8 Hz versus 13.1±0.8 Hz versus 13.8±0.9 Hz, respectively; P P P Conclusion: Precountershock CPR can result in substantial physiologic benefits compared with immediate defibrillation in the setting of prolonged VF. Moreover, these benefits can be attained with or without the addition of intravenous epinephrine. [ Ann Emerg Med. 2002;40:563-570.]
Resolving DOM fluorescence fractions during a Karenia brevis bloom patch on the Southwest Florida Shelf

Abstract Organic matter can be supplied naturally from land through rivers or produced in-situ in the marine environment. Current methods of examining natural bulk dissolved organic matter (DOM) are not able to discriminate multiple sources of DOM. A diagnostic tool to identify DOM sources is critical to determine possible sources of organic nutrients that influence K. brevis harmful algal bloom (HAB) development. This study applied multi-wavelength fluorescence coupled with a supervised pattern recognition technique (e.g., parallel factorial analysis (PARAFAC) using samples collected from river, estuary and shelf waters where the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis off of Sanibel Island, Florida was observed. The PARAFAC model distinguished four different fractions of DOM components containing humic-like and protein-like components. The derived terrestrial humic-like material was indicative of land-based sources while the tryptophan-like component was likely produced from in-situ biological production. The study developed and tested the hypothesis that the direct relationship of the protein-like DOM fluorescence with K. brevis cell density indicated that the bloom patch was most likely supported by organic nutrients produced in-situ . The results demonstrated that multi-wavelength fluorescence analysis coupled with PARAFAC modeling technique simultaneously resolved DOM fluorescence fractions and their possible sources—information that are critical in explaining harmful algal bloom formation.
Right aortic arch versus mediastinal tumors and densities: diagnostic problems.

It is of importance to recognize a right aortic arch not only for the occasional symptoms which may be produced by it, but more so, to differentiate it from mediastinal tumors and diseases of lymph nodes. The seven selected cases presented in this article, emphasize the diagnostic and differential diagnostic problems that we have encountered. Three cases were presented in which the investigation for mediastinal and pulmonary pathology revealed a right aortic arch as an accidental finding. These three patients had somewhat dilated, elongated and tortuous aortic vessels. Their routine posterior-anterior chest films were not suggestive of right aortic arch. Two cases presented a bilateral upper mediastinal density suggestive of right aortic arch with additional mediastinal pathology. The esophagram revealed a right aortic arch in one case and excluded that diagnosis in the other. In both cases the manubrium sterni added to the diagnostic problems encountered. Positional deviations of the sternal manubrium are not infrequent. Two cases were shown with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes simulating right aortic arch.
A conserved threonine residue in the juxtamembrane domain of the XA21 pattern recognition receptor is critical for kinase autophosphorylation and xa21-mediated immunity.

Despite the key role that pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play in regulating immunity in plants and animals, the mechanism of activation of the associated non-arginine-aspartate (non-RD) kinases is unknown. The rice PRR XA21 recognizes the pathogen-associated molecular pattern, Ax21 (activator of XA21-mediated immunity). Here we show that the XA21 juxtamembrane (JM) domain is required for kinase autophosphorylation. Threonine 705 in the XA21 JM domain is essential for XA21 autophosphorylation in vitro and XA21-mediated innate immunity in vivo. The replacement of Thr(705) by an alanine or glutamic acid abolishes XA21 autophosphorylation and eliminates interactions between XA21 and four XA21-binding proteins in yeast and rice. Although threonine residues analogous to Thr(705) of XA21 are present in the JM domains of most RD and non-RD plant receptor-like kinases, this residue is not required for autophosphorylation of the Arabidopsis RD RLK BRI1 (brassinosteroid insensitive 1). The threonine 705 of XA21 is conserved only in the JM domains of plant RLKs but not in those of fly, human, or mouse suggesting distinct regulatory mechanisms. These results contribute to growing knowledge regarding the mechanism by which non-RD RLKs function in plant.
Inhibition of excessive scleroderma fibroblast collagen production by recombinant γ‐interferon: Association with a coordinate decrease in types I and III procollagen messenger RNA levels

The effects of recombinant gamma-interferon (rec gamma-IFN) on collagen production by confluent monolayer cultures of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) dermal fibroblasts were studied. Five cell lines obtained from patients with rapidly progressive disease of recent onset were examined. All PSS fibroblast cell lines exhibited increased collagen production when compared with normal skin cell lines. It was found that rec gamma-IFN caused potent inhibition of PSS fibroblast collagen production in a concentration-dependent manner. Greater than 50% inhibition was observed with as little as 50 antiviral units/ml, and maximal effects were attained at a concentration of 500 units/ml. The rec gamma-IFN caused reproducible inhibition of collagen production by the 5 PSS fibroblast cell lines, ranging from 58.9% to 85.6% of control values. Measurement of type I and type III procollagen messenger RNA (mRNA) levels with specific complementary DNA probes demonstrated a coordinate reduction of greater than 60% in mRNA for both transcripts in rec gamma-IFN-treated cells, compared with control cells. These findings indicate that rec gamma-IFN can modulate the excessive collagen biosynthesis characteristic of PSS fibroblasts and that this effect can be explained largely by the gamma-IFN-mediated decrease in specific collagen mRNAs.
Response of line focus acoustic microscope to specimen containing a subsurface crack

Abstract A numerical model is presented to calculate V(z) and V(x, z) curves for a line focus acoustic microscope and a specimen containing a subsurface crack. In this model, a Gaussian beam which is tracked through the lens into the coupling fluid and into the specimen, interacts with the crack. The numerical approach is based on the solution of singular integral equations by the boundary element method. The system of singular integral equations follows from the conditions at the interface of the coupling fluid and the specimen and on the faces of the crack. An electromechanical reciprocity relation is used to express the voltage at the terminals of the microscope's transducer in terms of the calculated incident and back-scattered fields. V(z) and V(x, z) curves are presented for various locations and orientations of the crack. The characteristic features of the V(z) and particularly the V(x, z) curves, as they relate to crack configuration, are discussed in some detail.
Capital accumulation and the growth of aggregate agricultural production

Abstract This report empirically examines the role which capital accumulation plays in the growth of agricultural production potential. The report assumes that the degree towhich available technology can be implemented in a nation's agricultural sector depends on accumulated investments that have been made in the sector. Results from estimating aggregate agricultural production functions show the primary importance of rural labor in accounting for agricultural GDP and crop production. Capital accumulation is the dominant explainer of livestock production. Estimation results support the conjecture that capital tends to save scarce land resources (substitute relationship) and use rural labor (complementarity relationship). Output supply elasticities derived from the estimated equations tend to be large. The large elasticities imply that price distortions have had large impacts on resource use and production.
My United Methodist Perspective of “Core” Curriculum

What is the core content or core curriculum for United Methodists? Every time I consider this question, I generate more questions than answers. Is it even possible to articulate a core content with...
Quantitation of free sphingosine in liver by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Conditions were established for the extraction of free sphingosine from liver and the separation and quantitation of this and other long-chain (sphingoid) bases (e.g., sphingosine, sphinganine, phytosphingosine, and homologs) by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The long-chain bases were extracted with chloroform and methanol and then treated with base to remove interfering lipids. After preparation of the o-phthalaldehyde derivatives, the long-chain bases could be separated using C18 columns eluted isocratically with methanol:5 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.0 (90:10). The HPLC analyses took 15 to 20 min per sample and had lower limits of detection in the picomole range. Quantitation was facilitated by using a 20-carbon long-chain base homolog as an internal standard. The utility of the method was demonstrated with rat liver, providing the first quantitation of free sphingosine in this tissue of approximately 7 nmol/g wet wt.
Retinal Pigments of a Labrid Fish

THE distribution of visual pigments in aquatic vertebrates has been assumed to follow this pattern1: marine fishes possess rhodopsin (λmax. 500 mµ), based on retinene1, and freshwater fishes possess porphyropsin (λmax. 522 mµ), based on retinene2. Since the report by Wald1 that labrid fishes have porphyropsin, the members of this family of marine teleosts have been regarded as exceptions to the general picture of visual pigment distribution. It should be made clear, however, that Wald did not study the visual pigment itself in the Atlantic species, Tautoga onitis and Tautogolabrus adspersus, which he examined, but based his conclusions on an analysis of the retinal vitamin A. Confirmation was reported by Kampa2 for two unspecified corid (labrid) fishes in the Caribbean. She apparently studied the visual pigment, retinene and vitamin A, but only summarized her findings and has not published the full results. More recently, in a brief abstract3, Wald has stated again that Tautoga possesses porphyropsin.
Fully allocated costing in U.S. regulated transportation industries

Abstract This paper considers costing criteria to evaluate various single capacity and alternative capacity rules for allocating shared costs among transportation movements (i.e. determining fully allocated costs). The costing evaluation criteria are: (1) core allocations, (2) encourages internally efficient capacity decisions, (3) fairness, and (4) low computation costs. The principal conclusion of the paper is that alternative capacity rules for allocating shared-capacity costs among transportation movements are generally superior to single capacity rules that have been used by the Interstate Commerce Commission.