cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatially heterogeneous dynamics in thermoset resins below the glass‐transition temperature

A photobleaching technique was used to measure the rotational dynamics of rubrene dispersed in thermoset resins. The matrices were polymerized from mixtures of two monomers with five different compositions. At temperatures below the glass-transition temperature, probe rotational correlation times were shorter and showed a much weaker temperature dependence than those observed in glassy homopolymers. The probe correlation functions became increasingly nonexponential as the amount of the minor component in the matrix increased, presumably because a more heterogeneous set of environments resulted. Dynamics in the single-component sample were quite homogeneous at room temperature. In contrast to homopolymer systems, a bimodal distribution of local relaxation times developed with the addition of the second component. At a given polymer composition, this bimodal distribution changed shape with temperature in a reversible manner.
The effects of technological turbulence and breadth on supply chain technology acceptance and adoption

Abstract The current empirical study examines the intention to use and subsequent implementation of a supply chain technology. Specifically, the authors extend the technology acceptance model (TAM) to incorporate the state of the technology environment (technological turbulence) and the extent to which other supply chain technologies have already been adopted by the firm (technological breadth). A series of seemingly unrelated regressions (SUR) were used to analyze survey data from 195 respondents. The results show that in technologically turbulent environments, the relationships between the firm's perceived usefulness and ease of use and the firm's intention to use a supply chain technology are stronger. The study also finds that the relationship between the firm's intention to use a supply chain technology and the implementation of the technology is weaker in firms with greater technological breadth.
Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence for cortical reorganization of function in rats with serial lesions of the visual cortex

Male albino rats relearned a black-white discrimination for food reward in a T-maze following bilateral removal of posterior neocortex. Single-stage-lesion animals were given a bilateral lesion in one operation and also underwent a sham operation. These were given in the order: lesion-sham (“early”) or sham-lesion (“late”). Training on the task was interpolated between operations. Multiple-stage-lesion animals suffered unilateral lesions in each of two operations. Only half of these animals received interpolated training. Animals given single-stage lesions, whether “early” or “late,” made as many errors in relearning as they had in original, preoperative, learning. Animals given multiple-stage lesions but no interoperative training also showed no savings in relearning. Animals given multiple-stage lesions and training between operations made fewer errors in relearning than in original learning, i.e., showed positive savings. After behavioral testing, cortex contiguous with the posterior lesion was mapped for evoked responses to light flash under chloralose anesthesia. The electrophysiological responsiveness of contiguous cortex was quantitatively and qualitatively different in animals that had received multiple stage lesions and interoperative training. Cortical reorganization may be uniquely important following multiple stage lesions with interoperative training.
Design and analysis of a piezoelectric cantilever beam resonator

This paper presents the design and analysis of a cantilever beam resonator that is driven by a piezoelectric material. In this paper, we shall look at the effects of miniaturizing the resonator. The beam is a bimorph structure with a Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) layer and a stainless steel substrate layer. The PZT layer is electroded in segments to form a sensor and actuator pair for feedback to drive the resonator. Key issues are the effects of design choices on the gain required to cause self-oscillation. These choices are placement and sizing of the sensor and actuator. The study is based on an analytical model of the beam. Results show that the gain required for self-oscillation is highly dependent on the actuator and sensor size and location, the mode of vibration and the overall resonator size.
Reviews: Milton’s Positivism Found Wanting

Milton Friedman’s 1953 essay created controversy and consternation amongst economists. It provided a prescription, based on empirically generated predictive success, of how to do economics, yet many saw it as a concession of the search for truth and theoretical beauty within the discipline. This article reviews a 50th anniversary festschrift devoted to views of the essay. The purpose of the volume is to provide today’s reader with the essay, responses, and a guide to interpreting it. The volume is selective and several contributors have their own agendas, but the feeling of tumult the essay still engenders is nicely conveyed.
Road Infrastructure, Economic Productivity, and the Need for Highway Finance Reform

After years of debate, there is still much disagreement about the economic impacts of highway infrastructure. This article suggests that recent empirical evidence can help reconcile the divergent views on the role of highways in the economy. The resolution illuminates two ideas that should be more prominent in transportation policy. First, highways are associated with both local economic gains (often near a project) and economic losses (often distant from a project). In a system of centralized highway finance, this creates the possibility of a geographic mismatch between the areas that pay for highway projects and the areas that benefit from those projects. Second, efficiently using the available highway capital is potentially as effective as building additional highway stock in enhancing the local economic impacts of highways. Both ideas suggest the need for more decentralized, project-specific highway finance that includes a role for efficient pricing. The policy implications of a more decentralized hig...
Communicating in the real world: accounts from people who stammer.

Abstract This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to explore the communicative experiences and coping strategies of 14 adults who stammer. Their accounts revealed that those participants with persistent developmental dysfluency felt that stammering had limited their lives especially in the areas of employment, education and self-esteem. All participants shared key styles of communicative management with avoidance and confrontation developing during childhood. The participants who had undertaken therapy during adulthood, relied upon a range of speech management techniques including self-evolved and therapeutic strategies. Many of the strategies regularly used by the respondents contributed to the limiting experience of stammering. This study highlights the experience of stammering on the individual, discusses the variety of strategies used to manage dysfluency and indicates the complexities of day-to-day communication. These findings are discussed in relation to speech and language therapy for adults who stammer. Educational objectives: The reader will learn about and be able to give examples of: (1) the lived experience of stammering; (2) the communicative strategies used by adults; and (3) the situational management of stammering.
The scapuloacromial angle: A 3D analysis of acromial slope and its relationship with shoulder impingement

Purpose To quantify acromial slope (the scapuloacromial [SA] angle). Materials and Methods We used shoulder MR studies in 64 subjects who were stratified surgically into impingement (with and without tear) and nonimpingement (shoulder instability) groups. We measure, in three dimensions, the angle between unit normal vectors to planes of best fit to the undersurface of the acromion and the medial surface of the blade of the scapula. We examine the projection of this SA angle onto the transverse, coronal, and sagittal planes to gauge some measure of rotation, lateral tilt, and anterior tilt with respect to the patient. Orientation of the acromion and scapular blade in relation to the MR scanner and therefore to the patient was also calculated. Results We found no significant differences between these two groups when examining age and side of pathology. A statistically significant difference was seen between males and females. Conclusion Our study does not support the idea that a flatter acromial slope causes impingement and is an etiological basis for rotator cuff tears. We believe that acromial slope, regardless of imaging plane, is not useful in classifying patients who present with shoulder pain and should not be considered as a source of pathologic changes. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Lignin phenols in sediments of Lake Baikal, Siberia : application to paleoenvironmental studies

Abstract Sediments from three cores obtained from distinct depositional environments in Lake Baikal, Siberia were analyzed for organic carbon, total nitrogen and lignin phenol concentration and composition. Results were used to examine changes in paleoenvironmental conditions during climatic cycles of the late Quaternary ( C N ratios and organic carbon accumulation rates were significantly higher in the Holocene compared with the late Pleistocene, reflecting overall warmer temperatures and increased runoff during the Holocene. A Holocene maximum in organic carbon was observed at about 6 ka, and may represent the warmest/wettest period of the Holocene. At one site (Academician Ridge) pronounced late Pleistocene maxima in organic carbon and biogenic silica were observed at about 80–85 ka, probably indicative of an interstadial period with enhanced aquatic productivity. Total sedimentary lignin phenol contents were generally lower in the late Pleistocene compared to the Holocene, but with several peaks in concentration during the late Pleistocene. These late Pleistocene peaks in total sedimentary lignin content (dated at about 80, 50 and 30 ka) directly precede or occur during peaks in sedimentary biogenic silica contents. These periods likely represent relatively warm interstadial times, with increased precipitation producing the observed increase in terrestrial runoff and aquatic productivity. Lignin phenol ratios ( S V , C V and P V ) were used to examine changes in terrestrial vegetation type resulting from changes in paleoenvironmental conditions during the late Pleistocene. A degree of caution must be used in the interpretation of these ratios with regard to vegetation sources and paleoenvironmental conditions, because of potential compositional changes in lignin resulting from biodegradation. Nevertheless, results show that long glacial periods were characterized by terrestrial vegetation composed of a mix of non-woody angiosperm vegetation and minor gymnosperm forest. Shorter interstadial periods are defined by a change to dominant gymnosperm forest and were observed at about 80, 75, 63, 50 and 30 ka, ranging from about 2–6 kyr in duration. These interstadial periods of the late Pleistocene defined by lignin phenol ratios generally occur during longer periods of enhanced sedimentary biogenic silica content (about 10–15 ka in duration), providing corroborative evidence of these warm interstadial periods.
EPRI depletion benchmark calculations using PARAGON

Abstract In order to conservatively apply burnup credit in spent fuel pool criticality analyses, code validation for both fresh and used fuel is required. Fresh fuel validation is typically done by modeling experiments from the “International Handbook.” A depletion validation can determine a bias and bias uncertainty for the worth of the isotopes not found in the fresh fuel critical experiments. Westinghouse’s burnup credit methodology uses PARAGON™ (Westinghouse 2-D lattice physics code) and its 70-group cross-section library, which have been benchmarked, qualified, and licensed both as a standalone transport code and as a nuclear data source for core design simulations. A bias and bias uncertainty for the worth of depletion isotopes, however, are not available for PARAGON. Instead, the 5% decrement approach for depletion uncertainty is used, as set forth in the Kopp memo. Recently, EPRI developed a set of benchmarks based on a large set of power distribution measurements to ascertain reactivity biases. The depletion reactivity has been used to create 11 benchmark cases for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 GWd/MTU and 3 cooling times 100 h, 5 years, and 15 years. These benchmark cases are analyzed with PARAGON and the SCALE package and sensitivity studies are performed using different cross-section libraries based on ENDF/B-VI.3 and ENDF/B-VII data to assess that the 5% decrement approach is conservative for determining depletion uncertainty.
A two-step computation of cyclic redundancy code CRC-32 for ATM networks

In the field of telecommunications, among the numerous cyclic redundancy codes in use, ATM CRC-32 is difficult to compute because it is based on a polynomial of degree 32 that has many more terms (15) than any other CRC polynomial in common use. CRC checking and generation are generally carried out on a per-byte basis, in an attempt to cope with the dramatic increase of the data throughput of higher-speed lines. More calculations are needed to process a new incoming byte of data if the number of terms of the polynomial is large, because more bits of the current intermediate result must be combined to calculate each bit of the next one. This tends to counteract the intrinsic speed advantage of the per-byte computation by requiring that more processing be done at each cycle. This paper describes a method that overrides the intrinsic complexity of the CRC-32 computation. It permits expediting AAL5 messages, which must be segmented into ATM cells, with CRC-32 computed at one end, and reassembled from cells, with CRC-32 checked for data integrity at the destination. The calculation is in two steps: 1) A first division is done on the entire message (until the last cell is received or segmented) by a much simpler polynomial. 2) A second division, on the remainder of the first division by the regular CRC-32 polynomial, is performed only once, in order to obtain the final result.
RESOLUTION OF CHIRAL THIOL COMPOUNDS DERIVATIZED WITH N-(1-PYRENYL)-MALEIMIDE AND THIOGLO™3

Many chiral thiols such as cysteine, homocysteine, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and penicillamine are biologically important compounds. Among other roles, they act as antioxidants, therapeutic agents and indicators of disease. When analyzing low levels of these compounds, they are often derivatized in order to increase the sensitivity of the determination. However, it is generally an associated amine functional group that is derivatized. By selectively derivatizing only the thiol moiety with a fluorescent group, one is able to eliminate the large number of amine containing background compounds that are present in biological samples. However, there have been few reports on the enantiomeric resolution of thiol containing amino acids in which the fluorescent tag is linked exclusively through the sulfhydryl group. The first HPLC enantioresolution of N(1-pyrenyl)maleimide (NPM) and ThioGlo™3 derivatized compounds is reported on Teicoplanin and naphthylethyl-carbamate-β-cyclodextrin (NEC-β-CD) chiral stationary phases.
Maghribi foreign policies and the internal security dimension

The process of regional integration in different parts of the world is one of the leading changes characterising the international structure in the second half of the twentieth century. This results from the realisation among geographically and politically proximate states that their interests can be better promoted and protected, both at the regional level as well as in the international political arena, by promoting integration through economic, political and national security co‐operation. Rarely, however, has proper attention been given to the role of internal security in determining external alliances, which is the theme of this article.
Coherent excitation, incoherent excitation, and adiabatic states

Coherent excitation of an atomic excited state occurs during the propagation of near-resonant light pulses and is responsible for the induced polarization. Simultaneously, incoherent excitation occurs due to the relaxation processes described by the absorption coefficient. Here, the theory for the coherent and incoherent excitation is initially presented in terms of the traditional vector model. While a complete understanding of the two-level system is provided by the vector model, it is shown to be incomplete when the problem of directly monitoring the coherent and incoherent excitation is considered. This is because this latter problem involves more than two levels. For this more complicated multilevel problem, adiabatic states are introduced to gain further understanding. The adiabatic states are the stationary states of the atom in the presence of the near-resonant laser field; they help to explain the intimate connection between the coherent excitation and the two-photon resonance. Experimental measurements of the coherent and incoherent excitation associated with near-resonant pulse propagation in Rb vapor are presented. The double-resonance technique used a relatively strong pulsed dye laser tuned near the $5{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}5{P}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ transition (7948 \AA{}A) of Rb to produce the coherent and incoherent excitation, and a weak, tunable cw dye laser tuned in the region of the $5{P}_{\frac{1}{2}}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}6{D}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ transition (6206 \AA{}A) to monitor this excitation. In agreement with theory, the experimental results demonstrate that coherent excitation is responsible for two-photon absorption, while the incoherent excitation corresponds to one-photon absorption to the $5{P}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ state.
Congressional Ideology and Administrative Oversight in the New Deal Era

Abstract Historians of the U.S. Congress often draw claims from interpretations of legislators’ rhetoric and the outcomes of key votes. In this article, the author tells a cautionary tale: Such strategies ignore the correspondence between roll-call voting on select issues and broader coalitional structures in Congress. He does so by examining contrary positions about a key issue during the New Deal: On the one hand, some researchers claim that reasoned congressional deliberation on the issue of administrative oversight was separate from the prevailing legislative concerns of the day. Other scholars, on the other hand, assert that the prevailing issue dimensions in Congress included administrative oversight. Using a Bayesian measurement method, Ordinary Least Squares, and probit regression, and a novel selection of roll-call data, the author tested these claims, concluding that broader coalitional structures subsumed issues of administration.
EFFECT OF INSULIN HYPOGLYCEMIA ON THE HUMAN SIGMOID COLON.

1. The effect of insulin hypoglycemia on sigmoid activity was studied in 8 normal subjects by the use of small balloons and open-ended catheters. On separate occasions, colonic activity was studied in 4 of these subjects following intravenous glucagon. 2. When compared to the preinsulin level of activity, the response to insulin was biphasic, consisting of a depression phase during the 30- to 60-min. period and an excitatory phase during the 150- to 180-min. period. When compared to control (no injection) and placebo (saline) experiments, only the depression phase was significant. 3. No difference was observed in the effect of glucagon-free insulin and commercial insulin on colonic activity. 4. A positive correlation was observed between blood sugar levels and colonic activity following intravenous insulin. 5. Following intravenous glucagon, the number of waves was increased during the 0- to 30-min. period when comparison was made to the pre-glucagon level and to the same time interval in the placebo and insulin studies.
Electrophoretic and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance evidence for alterations in conformation and net charge on phosphorylation and “aging” of α-chymotrypsin

Abstract Native α-chymotrypsin and its phosphoenzyme and “aged” phosphoenzyme derivatives are conveniently differentiated by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis in a pH 4.5 buffer. The changes in relative mobilities most likely reflect alterations in conformation induced by phosphorylation and, for the aged product, also the formation of the negatively charged substituent. Similar electrophoretic separations are achieved for the corresponding derivatives of γ-chymotrypsin and α-chymotrypsinogen A, but not for those of trypsin. Aged α-chymotrypsins give rise to two 31 P resonances, also suggesting conformational isomerization of the enzyme, and the chemical shifts exhibit a small, reversible, pH dependence. A third phosphoenzyme arises on longer term incubations at pH 7.6. Under the conditions examined, 31 P n.m.r. spectroscopy does not allow differentiation of the aged phosphoenzymes, intermediates in their formation, or the phosphorylated but non-aged analogs.
Engineering of functional proteinaceous hydrogels for biotechnology applications

Hydrogels consisting of 3-D cross-linked polymer networks have emerged as interesting scaffolds for a host of applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioelectronics and biosensors. We have used protein engineering to create hydrogels by genetically appending cross-linking domains to globular proteins, which results in proteinacous biomaterials that exhibit bioactivity. Previously, we have investigated α-helical leucine zipper appendages for cross-linking. By genetically fusing these helices to the termini of globular proteins, we have created hydrogels with fluorescent proteins, and more interestingly, with enzymes such as laccase, organophosphate hydrolase (OPH) and alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhD). More recently, we have created a hydrogel from three self-assembling dehygrogenases which results in a biomaterial that is also a synthetic metabolic pathway capable of oxidizing methanol to CO2. Now we are exploring the calcium-responsive repeats-in-toxin (RTX) domain as an alternative cross-linker. In the absence of calcium, the RTX domain is unstructured. In calcium rich environments, it reversibly folds into a beta roll structure. By engineering one face of the beta roll to contain leucines, we created an environmentally-responsive cross-linking domain capable of calcium-triggered self-assembly. The folded beta roll contains a second face, which we have also designed to contain leucines. We are currently characterizing this “double-face” leucine-rich RTX domain and evaluating is mechanical and biophysical properties. The RTX domains represent a truly “smart” cross-linking strategy in that the addition of a specific effector molecule (calcium) enables the reversible formation of the hydrogel network.
Need for a national drug utilization review (DUR) criteria knowledgebase

Under Health Care Reform proposals have been made for a national advisory panel. We propose the development of a knowledge base with appropriate and specific screening criteria in the form of knowledge rules. Initial credible information for the knowledge base could be derived from authoritative drug compendia. Provisions should exist for knowledge rules to be adjusted in order to accommodate state differences. Once developed, the national advisory panel could oversee the process of DUR knowledge rules development, validation and maintenance. The panel could also provide a more efficient centralized and vigorous supervision, while it ensured a reliable and valid measurement of drug use. We believe that standardization would enhance appropriately the further development and evaluation of computerized DUR systems. Since computer knowledge bases have vast memory capacity and rapid data retrieval, continuous reinforcement of important drug information is possible. Information can be presented to warn physicians and pharmacists of drug therapy problems according to severity and probability and to encourage choice among alternative therapies. These data are not available today in most drug claims files. >
The Promise of Novel Technology for the Prevention of Intravascular Device–Related Bloodstream Infection. II. Long-Term Devices

Intravascular devices (IVDs) are widely used for vascular access but are associated with a substantial risk of IVD-related bloodstream infection (BSI). The development of novel technologies based on our understanding of pathogenesis promises a quantum reduction in IVD-related infections in an era of growing nursing shortage. Infections of long-term IVDs (most are in place for > or =10 days), including cuffed and tunneled central venous catheters (CVCs), implanted subcutaneous central venous ports, and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), are primarily due to microorganisms that gain access to the catheter hub and lumen. Novel securement devices and antibiotic lock solutions have been shown to reduce the risk of IVD-related BSI in prospective randomized trials. The challenge for the future will be to identify new preventative technologies and to begin to more-widely adapt those technologies that have already been shown to be efficacious and cost effective.
Detection of Absorptive Hypercalciuria Type I Without the Oral Calcium Load Test

Purpose: We retrospectively analyzed the validity of a simple method of detecting absorptive hypercalciuria type I, a common stone forming condition with hypercalciuria that is believed to be due to high intestinal calcium absorption. The method is based on urinary calcium derived from 24-hour urine collections while on random and restricted diets rather than on a calciuric response to an oral calcium load.Materials and Methods: A group of 916 well characterized patients with idiopathic calcium oxalate urolithiasis comprised the study group. We also analyzed a subgroup of 695 patients, excluding 221 with dietary abuse, defined as urinary sodium greater than 150 mEq daily and/or sulfate greater than 35 mmol daily, to eliminate potential confounding dietary factors affecting the diagnosis. In each group absorptive hypercalciuria type I was detected by the old criteria, requiring an exaggerated calciuric response to an oral calcium load test, and by the new criteria, based on 24-hour urinary calcium 200 mg o...
Scalable Packet Classification: Cutting or Merging?

Multi-field packet classification is a fundamental function that enables routers to support a variety of network services. Most of the existing multi-field packet classification algorithms can be divided into two classes: cutting-based and merging-based solutions. However, neither of them is scalable with respect to memory requirement for all rule sets with various characteristics. This paper makes several observations on real- life rule sets and proposes a novel hybrid scheme to leverage the desirable features of the two classes of algorithms. We propose a SRAM-based parallel multi-pipeline architecture to achieve high throughput. Several challenges in mapping the hybrid algorithm onto the architecture are addressed. Extensive simulations and FPGA implementation results show that the proposed scheme sustains 80 Gbps throughput for minimum size (40 bytes) packets while consuming a small amount of on-chip resources for large rule sets consisting of up to 10K unique entries.
EXPLORING THE DYNAMICS OF DYADIC INTERACTIONS VIA HIERARCHICAL SEGMENTATION

In this article we present an exploratory tool for extracting systematic patterns from multivariate data. The technique, hierarchical segmentation (HS), can be used to group multivariate time series into segments with similar discrete-state recurrence patterns and it is not restricted by the stationarity assumption. We use a simulation study to describe the steps and properties of HS. We then use empirical data on daily affect from one couple to illustrate the use of HS for describing the affective dynamics of the dyad. First, we partition the data into three periods that represent different affective states and show different dynamics between both individuals’ affect. We then examine the synchrony between both individuals’ affective states and identify different patterns of coherence across the periods. Finally, we discuss the possibilities of using results from HS to construct confirmatory dynamic models with multiple change points or regime-specific dynamics.
Map-ISODATA demarcates regional response to combination rt-PA and 7E3 F(ab')2 treatment of embolic stroke in the rat.

The group comparison of temporal signature evolution within each of the three categories of ischemic damage is given in Fig. 2. The signatures in “Region 1” for both groups increase during the time course studied, while the signatures in “Region 3” for both groups decline (p < 0.05) at 48h after reaching the maximum values at 24h (Fig. 2a and 2b). The combination treatment results in a significantly reduced signature (p < 0.05) in “Region 2” at 48h compared with 24h post-MCAO (Fig. 2b). The changes of ADCw in “Region 1” also indicate that for both groups, this region is severely affected by the ischemia at an early stage of stroke, and tissue changes worsen with time, with or without treatment. Map-ISODATA can distinctly identify this specific region. We demonstrate that map-ISODATA is not only more accurate in identifying lesion areas (R=0.92 for map-ISODATA to correlate with the histological evaluation) than individual parameter maps (R=0.82, 0.86 and 0.51 for T1, T2 and ADCw maps, respectively), but is also more sensitive in detecting the evolution of tissue changes in both treated and non-treated conditions. A significant overall group effect for lesion size (p = 0.03) and for signature mean value (p = 0.047) in the lesion was detected, with the treated group exhibiting a significantly smaller lesion size (p < 0.05) at 24 and 48h and a significantly lower signature mean value (p < 0.05) at 48h compared with the control group. Discussion Map-ISODATA provides an accurate means to identify lesion area, to distinguish ischemic damage, to trace infarction evolution, and to detect the treatment response. Based upon map-ISODATA, ischemic lesion area can be divided into specific regions, each characterized by a distinct evolution of injury and treatment response. The central core of the ischemic lesion appears as a severely damaged region, with little hope of being affected by the treatment. Of the remaining moderate and least ischemia-affected regions, the former is a treatment-sensitive region, and the latter has self-mending potential. These data are consistent with observations that severe injury or an irreversible damage usually occurs in the central core of ischemic area [2-3] . In contrast, MR parameters in the least ischemia-damaged area can return near to the preischemic levels at a late stage of stroke [2-3] . Our data suggest that although the least ischemia-affected region has the highest chance to improve, the region immediately adjacent to this area and with denser ischemia can also respond to the combined treatment at a later stage of stroke. 7E3 F(ab’)2 extends the rt-PA treatment window to at least 4 hours after the onset of embolic stroke of rat.
A not so modest proposal for sustaining the american clinical research enterprise.

“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift was written as a satirical proposal to focus attention and prompt action on the socioeconomic challenges of 18th century Ireland [1]. In the 21st century, American academic health centers have their own socioeconomic challenges that jeopardize their primary growth as important engines of translational medical discovery and technology transfer. As we are no longer in a “golden age of satire,” we must address and confront these challenges with real proposals and immediate solutions. Those who have the authority, organization, and resources to make change must be enlisted to implement necessary improvements. There is no time for satire. American biomedical translational research and, specifically, surgical research is in jeopardy of losing a momentum of progress and achievement that it has enjoyed for decades. Multiple issues affecting the academic health centers have been articulated in past years [2] and more recently [3–6] by various participants of the research enterprise including American’s most prestigious biomedical groups such as the American Medical Association, the Association of Academic Health Centers, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These and other organizations and their dedicated members have reviewed the status of clinical research, addressed its
Hierarchical Linear Models: Applications and Data Analysis Methods

Introduction The Logic of Hierarchical Linear Models Principles of Estimation and Hypothesis Testing for Hierarchical Linear Models An Illustration Applications in Organizational Research Applications in the Study of Individual Change Applications in Meta-Analysis and Other Cases Where Level-1 Variances are Known Three-Level Models Assessing the Adequacy of Hierarchical Models Technical Appendix
Lysozyme activity in earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) coelomic fluid and coelomocytes: Enzyme assay for immunotoxicity of xenobiotics

Lysozyme activity in earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) coelomic fluid and coelomocytes appears sufficiently sensitive for use as a nonmammalian biomarker to detect toxic effects of sublethal body burdens of Cu[sup 2+]. Lysozyme, a phylogenetically conserved enzyme, is capable of bactericidal activity via action on peptidoglycan of gram-positive bacterial cell walls and functions as a component of an organism's innate antimicrobial defense mechanism. Coelomic fluid and coelomocyte lysozyme activities, which exhibit temperature-response patterns similar to those of human saliva, plasma, serum and leukocyte extracts, were sensitive to Cu[sup 2+] exposure. Lysozyme activity of coelomic fluid and coelomocyte extracts from earthworms exposed for 5 d to CuSO[sub 4], using filter paper contact exposure, decreased with increasing sublethal Cu[sup 2+] concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1 [mu]g/cm[sup 2]. Compared to controls, coelomic fluid lysozyme activity was suppressed significantly at both exposure concentrations, whereas coelomocyte extract lysozyme activity was suppressed significantly at the 0.1-[mu]g/cm[sup 2] exposure concentration. Low inherent natural variability and sensitivity to sublethal Cu[sup 2+] body burdens indicate that lysozyme activity has potential as a biomarker for assaying immunotoxicity of metals.
259: Ibutilide is safe and efficatious in heart transplant recipients

were collected and analysed in a univariate and multivariate model. Results: Hemodynamically compromising rejection occurred in 60 patients for an overall incidence of 10.3%. Death or retransplant at 1 year occurred in 19 patients with HCR (32%). Diabetes, female gender and black race were identified as risk factors for HCR. Univariate analysis identified biventricular failure, hypotension, acute renal failure, the need for inotropic support and low histologic grade biopsy score as variables of clinical importance for predicting death or retransplant at 1 year. Multivariate model identified biventricular failure and inotropic support as two variables of major clinical significance. Conclusions: In the modern era of immunosuppression, rejection with hemodynamic compromise remains a major complication after heart transplantation. Diabetes, female gender and black race represent important risk factors for this complication. Biventricular failure and the need for inotropic support were identified as significant prognostic factors.
Noise tolerance of the improved max-min scanning method for phase determination

In general, inherent susceptibility to environmental noise has tended to retard adoption of interference methods by industry. Phase shifting is a key step in optical interference techniques of measurement. An improved max-min scanning (IMMS) method for phase determination was reported in 2004, but the environmental noise tolerance of this approach relative to other methods has been an open question. We discuss the noise tolerance of the IMMS method. Numerical simulations and simple experiments show that the method has good tolerance to some specific environmental vibration inputs, including high-frequency noise and small-amplitude low-frequency noise. The simplified data acquisition and improved noise tolerance of IMMS broadens potential applications of interferometry, particularly digital speckle pattern interferometry in the factory and the field. Another benefit of the IMMS method is an online technique to calibrate and test the phase shifter in real time. This idea is described and demonstrated.
MODELLING QUANTITATIVE STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR AND ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNAL MOLECULES

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) between the physicochemical properties of environmental signal molecules and animal behaviour have been determined. Past work has shown that oyster and barnacle larval settlement and mud crab abdominal pumping (for larval dispersal) are stimulated by small peptide cues. In all the peptides examined that were active at ecologically relevant concentrations, arginine or lysine was found at the carboxy terminus, but the amino acids found at preceding positions were highly variable. We used the multivariate partial least squares algorithm to relate composite properties for the hydrophilicity, size and charge of each amino acid and the sequence position to oyster, barnacle and crab behaviour patterns. From the information in these QSAR models, the apparent variability in amino acid sequences eliciting behavioural responses was explained in each case, and more potent peptide analogues are hypothesized on the basis of untested amino acid sequences. Remarkably, these peptide signals are all structurally related to the carboxy-terminal sequence of mammalian C5a anaphylatoxin, a potent white blood cell chemoattractant. Even more striking is the fact that these different animal species should rely on apparently similar environmental signal molecules when residing within a common habitat (southeastern US estuaries). Through the physicochemical properties of amino acids, the current QSAR models clearly differentiate between the optimal sequences for eliciting oyster, barnacle and mud crab behaviour. Thus, QSARs provide a novel and powerful method not only for relating the physicochemical properties of molecules to animal behaviour but also for differentiating responses to chemicals by individuals of different species.
Millimeter wave, solid-state amplifiers in radar and communication systems

Two different designs of millimeter wave, high-power, solid-state amplifiers are presented here, one each for use in missile radar and satellite communication applications. Details of each design are given along with the tradeoffs which led to the specific solid-state designs over other alternative solid-state and tube amplifier designs.
Meeting the Communist Threat: Truman to Reagan

These essays deal with some major subjects in American diplomacy since the war, including Truman's foreign policy, George F. Kennan and America's 'containment' policy, the Point Four Program and the developing world, the Eisenhower Doctrine and the Middle East, the Vietnam war, the CIA and Congressional Oversight of Intelligence, among others. Paterson takes the view that the US became locked in early on to a view of foreign policy based on combating the Communist menace, and so foreign policy was distorted by this overwhelming consideration.
Effect of extended maceration and ethanol concentration on the extraction and evolution of phenolics, colour components and sensory attributes of Merlot wines

Background and Aims: Anecdotal evidence suggests that there may be a synergistic effect of ethanol (EtOH) and prolonged skin contact on the extraction of certain phenolics that may negatively impact wine sensory properties. The combined effect of extended maceration (EM) and EtOH concentration was studied during winemaking and bottle ageing. Methods and Results: The evolution of phenolics and colour components was followed for up to 1 year of bottle ageing. Harvest skins and seeds and those obtained from the pomace after maceration were also analysed. Sensory attributes were studied by Quantitative Flavour Profiling. The relationship between the chemical and sensory data was explored with Partial Least Square Regression. EtOH concentration differing by 1.2% v/v had no effect on tannin and anthocyanin extraction, colour, tannin mean degree of polymerisation, polymeric pigment formation and recovery of anthocyanins and tannins in the pomace after maceration. The maceration length defined the chemical and sensory profile of the wines. The tannin content of wines produced with EM was mainly derived from seed tannins, whereas control wines had a balanced proportion of seed and skin tannins. The anthocyanin concentration was lower in EM wines, whereas polymeric pigments and tannins were predictors of astringency. In control wines, perceived red colour was associated with anthocyanins, vitisins, a* (red component), and small polymeric pigments. Significance of the Study: Evidence of the nature and interrelation of the chemical and sensory composition of wines obtained with EM is provided. Major chemical features responsible for the sensory properties of wines produced by two contrasting skin contact regimes are identified.
Endocrine Control of Acid-Base Balance

The sections in this article are: 1 Components of Renal Acid-Base Regulation 1.1 Renal Acid Excretion 1.2 Glomerular Filtration 1.3 Urinary Buffers 1.4 Tubular H+/HCO3− Transport 2 Regulation by Peptide Hormones and Catecholamines 2.1 Signaling Intermediates 2.2 Angiotensin II 2.3 Adrenergic Catecholamines 2.4 Endothelin 2.5 Parathyroid Hormone 2.6 Dopamine 2.7 Atrial Natriuretic Factor 2.8 Insulin 3 Regulation by Steroid Hormones 3.1 Mineralocorticoids 3.2 Glucocorticoids 4 Regulation by Thyroid Hormone
Informative Trading or Just Noise? An Analysis of Currency Returns, Market Liquidity, and Transaction Costs in Proximity of Central Bank Interventions

We study the impact of Central Bank intervention on the process of price formation in currency markets. We use a unique dataset of tick-by-tick indicative quotes posted by dealers on Reuters terminals and of intraday sterilized spot interventions and customer transactions executed on behalf of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) on the Swiss Franc/U.S. Dollar exchange rate (CHFUSD) between 1986 and 1998. We find that SNB interventions (but not ex post uninformative customer transactions), although being smaller than typical forex trades, had significant and persistent (albeit asymmetric, depending on their sign) effects on daily currency returns, especially when (relatively) large in magnitude, expected by the market, or inconsistent with existing momentum. The market did not anticipate the occurrence of incoming interventions, unless if chasing the trend. The SNB was much less successful in smoothing fluctuations of the currency, for daily CHFUSD volatility always surged in proximity of interventions, as did average absolute and proportional spreads. Decomposition of estimated absolute spread shocks also reveals that SNB actions induced misinformation among market participants, impacted current market liquidity, increased competition among dealers, and reduced trading immediacy. In many cases, these changes translated into higher transaction costs borne by the population of investors.
Modification of cholesterosis and lipidosis of rats maintained on an atherogenic diet.

ALTHOUGH the liver is regarded as the primary organ of lipid metabolism, little is known of this metabolic process at the cellular level. Recognizing that the cellular composition of liver is approximately 61 per cent parenchymal and 33 per cent littoral cells1, I attempted to clarify the participation of hepatic cells in lipid metabolism by studies on the lipid composition of isolated parenchymal and Kupffer cells2. This work showed, in reference to the isolated parenchymal cell, an elevated cholesterol-level in Kupffer cells which suggested that these cells actively participated in cholesterol metabolism. Subsequent work indicated that Kupffer cells probably are not involved in the uptake of plasma cholesterol but do participate in its biotransformation or excretion3.
Review: anticonvulsants are better than placebo for reducing the frequency of migraine attacks.

Source Citation Chronicle E, Mulleners W. Anticonvulsant drugs for migraine prophylaxis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD003226. 15266476
Supreme Court Guns Down State Firearm Restrictions, The Chicago Way

It was February 14, 1929. The United States was still experiencing the “Roaring Twenties”. The stock market had not yet crashed, and Prohibition, that „noble experiment”, was nearing the end of a tumultuous decade. A group of five apparent law enforcement personnel, some in uniform, some not, paid a visit to a warehouse on the north side of Chicago. Illegal/bootlegged booze trafficking was the ostensible target. When the “visit” was over, 6 men lay dead, and the apparent lone survivor, rushed to the hospital where he declined to elaborate on the incident, promptly passed away. The departed were part of the George “Bugs” Moran organization, while the visiting “police” contingent was actually made up of members of the Al “Scarface” Capone mob. The event would go down in history as The St. Valentine‟s Day Massacre, and the main method of communication at the warehouse was the Thompson submachine gun. In the aftermath of that notorious gangland rubout, and other instances of outlaw use of machine guns, the automatic weapon was virtually taxed and legislated out of legal existence. Along with the abolishment of legal automatic weapons, restrictions on all types of firearms became a cause and a reality. Yet, in 2008, a group of five black-robed members of a Washington, D.C., organization took aim at the outright restriction on handguns in the District of Columbia. The result was a rubout of the D.C. restrictions.(1) Then, two years later, the same Gang of Five donned their black robes, and, in essence, paid the City of Chicago a “visit” regarding its ban of firearms. The outcome was a bloodbath that may end up being remembered by Gun Control enthusiasts on the same level as the St. Valentine‟s Day Massacre.(2)