cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Medical Management

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a common long-term complication of pulmonary embolism characterized by thromboembolic obstruction of the pulmonary arteries, vascular arteriopathy, vascular remodeling, and ultimately pulmonary hypertension (PH). Although pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery is the standard of care, approximately 40% of patients in the international CTEPH registry were deemed inoperable. In addition to lifelong anticoagulation, the cornerstone of PH-specific medical management is riociguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator. Medical management should be started early in CTEPH patients and may be used as a bridge to PEA surgery or balloon pulmonary angiography. Medical management is indicated for inoperable CTEPH patients and patients who have recurrence of PH after PEA surgery.
Meningeal melanocytoma: an aggressive course for a benign tumor.

A 79-year-old female presented with difficulty ambulating and was found to have weakness and hyperreflexia in the lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large T8-T9 intraspinal tumor. She underwent a thoracic laminectomy, and excision of an intradural extramedullary lesion. The surgical specimen was soft, black tissue that consisted of a moderately cellular, deeply pigmented tumor. The neoplastic cells proved to be melanocytic, and were devoid of overt features of anaplasia, i.e., prominent nuclear pleomorphism, necrosis, significant mitotic activity, and high proliferation indices. Four months postoperatively, MRI demonstrated focal areas of enhancement in the conus medullaris and in the fourth ventricle, indicating leptomeningeal spread. Subsequently, the patient underwent whole brain radiation. On repeat imaging, there was nodular enhancement of the fourth ventricle and throughout the spinal cord. Despite chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the disease advanced and the patient expired. Meningeal melanocytoma is a rare, histologically benign tumor with good prognosis. However, local aggressive behavior has been recorded, especially in cases of subtotal gross resection. On a literature review, there was one case of cranial posterior fossa meningeal melanocytoma with associated lesions in both suprarenal glands and the left kidney, but there were no cases with distant metastasis. In this report, we present an unusual case of spinal meningeal melanocytoma with diffuse spread throughout the craniospinal axis that proved to be fatal.
A carbon dioxide purge and thermal protection system for liquid hydrogen tanks of hypersonic airplanes.

With supersonic flight already achieved, studies of hypersonic flight in the atmosphere are underway [1–3]. A study of a hypersonic transport [2] indicates that the use of liquid hydrogen fuel with its high heat of combustion may result in twice the cruise efficiency attainable with hydrocarbon fuel; in fact, this and other advantages [4] suggest that liquid hydrogen fuel is mandatory for efficient hypersonic cruise airplanes. Hypersonic flight then not only results in high external surface temperature from aerodynamic heating (about 1500°F compared with about 500°F for supersonic flight), but requires tank temperatures as low as — 423°F. This simultaneous existence of high and low temperatures for long flight times requires an efficient thermal protection system to prevent excessive fuel boil-off; moreover, since liquid hydrogen has a very low density, large surface areas must be protected. Insulation alone is not adequate since the cold tank can cause air to liquefy continuously [5]. Experiments [6] have shown that the resulting cryopumping action can release heat at a rate as high as 3600 Btu/hr-ft2, which represents a fuel boil-off rate of 18 lb/hr-ft2—a totally unacceptable rate for a flieht vehicle.
Tunable silicon Fabry-Perot microcavity

We demonstrate a 20-/spl mu/m-long tunable optical Fabry-Perot resonator integrated on a silicon-on-insulator waveguide. The device is electrically driven and shows a modulation depth as high as 53% for a power consumption of only 20 mW.
Nationalism, Statism and Cosmopolitanism

Criticisms of nationalism are commonplace. Some critics contend that nationalism is a dead or dying force; others argue that it is a dangerous, violence-prone and destabilizing one. Some criticisms of nationalism object primarily to its tendency to upset existing international boundaries: this is the essence of “statism.” Other, more fundamental criticisms argue that the organization of the international community into nation-states is inadequate to solve the most urgent transnational collective action problems; that the nation-state is no longer the appropriate unit for making policy decisions that have global effects; or that nationality neither can or should provide the overriding focus either of personal identity or of political loyalty: this is the “cosmopolitan” perspective. The usual mindset about nationalism, whether statist or cosmopolitan, needs to be reconsidered. By any reckoning, nationalism remains a significant factor in world affairs. It may well be on the rise in major states like China or Russia; and even in the West, supra-national projects like the European Union have encountered unexpected roadblocks in the wake of the financial crisis that began in 2008. Furthermore, demands for separate statehood by minority nationalities remain understandably powerful, as the recent cases of Kosovo and South Sudan demonstrate; the international environment continues to be favorable to the emergence of new states; and especially when national minorities are at risk of persecution or oppression, the international community should be sympathetic to their demands for political sovereignty. In the past, nationalism has often been an emancipating and ennobling force; and, in the right circumstances, it can be so again. Rather than fearing or condemning it uncritically, the global community and the international legal system should be prepared, in appropriate cases, to welcome and encourage it.
Hyperbolic equations in joined domains with boundary energy dissipation

This work deals with the asymptotic behavior of solutions of two hyperbolic equations coupled in series where the energy-absorbing boundaries are presented. It is shown that under some geometrical conditions with respect to a vector field h(x) in the joined surface of the two bounded domains in the space of R/sup n/, the energy of the system will decay uniformly exponentially. Some numerical results for different design of boundary controllers of rectangular domains are presented.
Plessy Vs. Lochner: The Berea College Case

Because Plessy v. Ferguson and Lochner v. New York were decided within a decade of each other, and are two of the most maligned Supreme Court opinions of all time, legal scholars and historians have naturally been inclined to try to find commonalities between the two opinions. The history of the Berea College v. Kentucky case shows that this anachronistic approach is misguided. Plessy and Lochner were not cut from the same cloth; in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the statism and racism of Plessy went hand in hand, while the skepticism of state power reflected in Lochner was a weapon in the battle against state-sponsored segregation. In 1908, just three years after the Court decided Lochner, the battle between the ideologies reflected in Plessy and Lochner reached the Supreme Court in Berea College. The Court chose to evade the conflict. Compared to Plessy's blunt endorsement of racism and state-sponsored segregation, that evasion, while hardly courageous, reflected a change in attitude toward the constitutionality of state-enforced segregation in the private sector that would come to full fruition less than a decade later in Buchanan v. Warley, in which the Supreme Court invalidated a residential segregation law.
Throughput consideration for location-aware handoff in mobile data networks

Location aware handoff algorithms have a much better performance than traditional algorithms in terms of the number of handoffs and handoff delay (crossover point). As they do not pay attention to the received signal strength (RSS), it is not clear if they also maintain the best throughput in the case of wireless data networks. We evaluate the tradeoffs between unnecessary handoffs, handoff delay and system throughput. The results indicate that, with location-aware handoff algorithms, the throughput is also higher than the throughput in the case of using traditional RSS-based algorithms.
Oestradiol Inhibition of Vascular Myointimal Proliferation Following Immune, Chemical and Mechanical Injury

The lower incidence of coronary artery disease in premenopausal women and in postmenopausal women treated with oestrogen supports the hypothesis that oestrogen protects the vasculature from injuries or from responding to injuries with arteriosclerosis. The mechanism remains unknown, although currently the most frequent suggestion is that oestrogen induces beneficial quantitative and qualitative changes in serum lipoprotein concentrations. We studied other mechanisms and in particular the direct effects of 17 beta-oestradiol on vascular smooth muscle and the endothelium. Our focus has been on the vascular response to injury by myointimal and medial thickening, leading to narrowing or occlusion of the vessel. This is frequently seen in coronary arteries within months following angioplasty and a few years following cardiac transplantation. We find that oestradiol treatment protects and reduces the vascular response to injury in three in vivo and one in vitro models: (1) in the rabbit cardiac allograft where oestrogen inhibits accelerated graft atherosclerosis; (2) in monocrotaline- or hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypotension in the rat, where oestrogen attenuates pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy and medial thickening of the pulmonary artery; (3) oestrogen protects against balloon injury in rabbit aorta; and (4) it inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation in the porcine left anterior descending coronary artery.
A comparison of the Indian Health Service counseling technique with traditional, lecture-style counseling.

Abstract Objectives To compare the immediate postcounseling retention of important information using the traditional method with retention obtained using the Indian Health Service (IHS) interactive technique, and to compare the time required to counsel patients on new prescriptions using the traditional method with the time required using the IHS technique. Design A prospective, nonrandomized, observational study at four different local community pharmacies in Oregon. Two sites that used the traditional counseling model served as the control sites, while two other sites used the IHS counseling model. Only new prescriptions were included in this study. The pharmacists did not alter their counseling styles for new prescriptions for the purposes of this study. The duration of counseling between the pharmacist and patient was recorded. Immediately upon completion of counseling, patients met with the primary investigator for postcounseling knowledge assessment on indication of therapy, directions on how to take their medication properly, and expected adverse effects. Setting Four local community pharmacies in Oregon. Participants Five hundred patients at four local community pharmacies in Oregon. Intervention Use of the IHS counseling technique. Main outcome measures Immediate recall of key counseling points and time per counseling session. Results A total of 500 patients participated in the study. Seventy-one percent of patients counseled using the IHS technique answered all three questions correctly, compared with 33% of patients counseled using the traditional method ( P P = 0.06). Those who received IHS counseling had four times the odds of correctly answering when to take their medication and four times the odds of correctly answering all adverse effects questions. The duration of counseling methods differed by 53 seconds (128 s for IHS vs. 75 s for traditional). Conclusion The interactive style of the IHS method of counseling provided significantly improved immediate memory recall compared with the traditional method. The IHS method also took longer than the traditional method.
Review essay: Return to the sources of modern sociological theory

(1987). Review essay: Return to the sources of modern sociological theory. The Social Science Journal: Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 457-459.
Cardiac motion can alter proximal isovelocity surface area calculations of regurgitant flow.

Abstract Objectives . This study addressed the hypothesis that motion of the surface containing a regurgitant orifice relative to the Doppler ultrasound transducer can cause differences between actual flow rate and calculations based on the proximal flow convergence Background . In vitro studies quantising regurgitant flow rate by proximal flow convergence have been limited to stationary orifices, Clinically, however, valve leaflets generally move relative to the ultrasound transducer during the cardiac cycle and can move at velocities important relative to the measured color aliasing velocities. The transducer therefore senses the vector sum of actual flow velocity toward the orifice and orifice velocity relative to the transducer. This can cause potential overestimation or underestimation of true flow rate, depending on the direction of surface motion. Methods . The hypothesis was explored computationally and tested by pumping fluid at a constant flow rate through an orifice in a plate moving at 0 to 8 cm/s (velocities comparable to those described clinically for mitral and tricuspid annulus motion toward an apical transducer). Results . Surface motion in the same direction as flow caused over-estimation of the aliasing radius and calculated flow rate. Surface motion opposite to the direction of flow (typical for mitral and tricuspid regurgitation viewed from the apex or esophagus) caused underestimation of actual flow rate. The underestimation was greater for lower aliasing velocities (36 ± 11% for 10 cm/s vs. 23 ± 6% for 20 cm/s). Correcting for surface motion provided excellent agreement with actual values (y = 0.97x + 0.10, r = 0.99, SEE = 0.17 liters/min). Conclusions . Physiologic motion of the surface containing a regurgitant orifice can cause substantial differences between actual flow rate and that calculated by the proximal flow convergence technique. Low aliasing velocities used to optimize that technique can magnify this effect. Such errors can be minimized by using higher aliasing velocities (compatible with the need to measure the aliasing radius) or eliminated by correcting for surface velocity determined by an M-mode ultrasound scan.
A Multiobjective Approach and Empirical Application of Sales‐Organization Design

This paper addresses the critical issue of determining the appropriate structural design of a sales organization. We propose a new approach for organizing the selling function using multiobjective modeling techniques. The proposed approach considers the situational characteristics under which the sales organization operates, trade-offs among multiple sales-effectiveness criteria, and the “fit” between the situational characteristics and the structural dimensions (i.e., the structure-contingency relationships). Using data collected from sales branches of brokerage firms, we develop appropriate structural designs for a sales organization using the proposed procedure. The paper concludes by outlining the various decision-making implications of the approach.
STABILITY OF OZONE AND ITS GERMICIDAL PROPERTIES ON POULTRY MEAT MICROORGANISMS IN LIQUID PHASE

Ozone was produced using a Welsbach ozonator and measured by an iodometric titration method. The stability of ozone in water depended on water temperature, initial ozone concentration and length of holding time. In general, ozone was more stable in water at 2°C than in water at 25°C. Percentages of ozone retained after standing were similar for initial concentrations which ranged from 3.15 to 4.65 mg/L. The germicidal effects of ozone were affected by contact time, temperature, pH value and presence of inorganic and organic materials in the solution. Longer contact time, lower pH value and lower temperature resulted in greater bactericidal effect. The bactericidal effects of ozone were reduced in Ringer solution, 5% NaCl solution and in the presence of egg albumin in solution.
Glaucarubol and glaucarubol-15-isovalerate from Castela nicholsoni

Abstract Crude chaparrin from Castela nicholsoni Hook was acetylated and then chromatographed on silica gel. Two minor constituents, glaucarubol and glaucarubol-15-isovalerate, were isolated and identified as their per- O -acetyl derivatives.
Low-loss slow-wave propagation along a microstructure transmission line on a silicon surface

We report observations of relatively low-loss propagation in the frequency range of 1.0 to 12.4 GHz using a micrometer-size coplanar MIS transmission line fabricated on a heavily doped N+ silicon surface. This low-loss mode of propagation is found to be accompanied by significant wavelength reduction which suggests that such lines may be useful as transmission media for distributed components in silicon monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs).
Diverse developmental programs of Xenopus laevis metamorphosis are inhibited by a dominant negative thyroid hormone receptor

Metamorphosis of anuran tadpoles is controlled by thyroid hormone (TH). Here we demonstrate that transgenic Xenopus laevis tadpoles expressing a dominant negative form of TH receptor-α are resistant to a wide variety of the metamorphic changes induced by TH. This result confirms that TH receptors mediate both early and late developmental programs of metamorphosis as diverse as growth in the brain, limb buds, nose and Meckel's cartilage, remodeling of the intestine, and death and resorption of the gills and tail.
Homogeneous magnetic fields influence pancreatic islet function in vitro

Pancreatic islets were isolated from newborn rats and exposed to homogeneous magnetic fields for 48 hours. Under these conditions insulin release, measured at low (5.6 mM) and high (16.7 mM) glucose concentrations, was significant and dose-dependent only at low glucose concentrations. High glucose and aminophylline (10 mM) inhibited insulin release. Thus, in the absence of stimulatory glucose concentrations, low-intensity magnetic fields (1 to 10 Gauss) significantly influence insulin discharge from rat islets in vitro.
Influence of redox potential on phosphorus solubility in chemically amended wetland organic soils

Abstract Conversion of agricultural lands to wetlands results in solubilization of residual fertilizer P, thus increasing soluble P concentration of floodwater. Previous studies have shown that application of chemical amendments such as alum, FeCl 3 and CaCO 3 were found to be effective in decreasing soluble P of the soil porewater. Water-table fluctuations and variable hydraulic loading rates in wetlands can alter soil redox conditions, and the solubility of P compounds. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of oxidized and reduced soil conditions on P solubility of a wetland organic soil amended with chemicals. Soil treatments evaluated include: (i) control, (ii) CaCO 3 at 15.3 g kg −1 , (iii) alum at 14.5 g kg −1 , and (iv) FeCl 3 at 1.8 g kg −1 . Dissolved reactive P of soils in the control and FeCl 3 amended soils responded to changes in Eh, while a less pronounced effect was noted in alum and CaCO 3 amended soils. Overall, dissolved P concentrations were higher under reduced conditions and decreased with increase in Eh. The KCl-P (labile inorganic P) decreased with increase in Eh, while NaOH-RP (Fe- and Al-bound P) increased with Eh, especially in control, FeCl 3 and alum amended soils. Soil amended with CaCO 3 showed minimal changes in either KCl-RP or NaOH-RP. In CaCO 3 amended soil, the solubility of P was regulated by the solid phases of Ca-P compounds, while in other treatments solubility was controlled by variscite, strengite, and vivianite. Amendments (such as CaCO 3 and alum) that are less sensitive to changes in redox conditions may be suitable for binding P under wetland environments.
MRI findings of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma in nine cases

Abstract Purpose To assess the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of a series of 9 cases of pathologically proven sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC). Methods Two radiologists in consensus retrospectively reviewed a spectrum of MRI features of nine cases of SRCC imaged at our institution between 2003 and 2009. Results SRCC had a mean diameter of 9.9 cm. All cases had an irregular or infiltrative morphology and demonstrated heterogeneous T2 signal intensity and enhancement. Internal necrosis was present in all cases, with four cases demonstrating >50% necrosis. Evidence of aggressive local behavior and/or distant spread was frequently observed. Conclusions We have presented the largest case series to our knowledge of the MRI appearance of SRCC, with the lesions tending to appear as large heterogeneous masses with internal necrosis and evidence of aggressive local or distant behavior. However, these imaging features are non-specific, and histology remains necessary to establish the diagnosis.
Reversible attenuation of voltage of QRS complexes and P waves and shortening of QRS duration and QTc interval consequent to large perioperative intravenous fluid infusions

A 39-year-old woman with a gangrenous pyelonephritis and septic shock underwent a nephrectomy, in preparation for which, she received large preoperative fluid resuscitation. Quantitative evaluation of her serial standard electrocardiograms (ECGs) revealed reversible attenuation of voltage in association with peripheral edema (PERE), with the latter being eventually completely abolished. The transient low-voltage ECG (LVECG) (attenuated amplitudes of QRS complexes) was associated with parallel transient attenuation of the amplitude of P waves and shortening of the QRS duration and QTc, whereas the P-wave duration increased. Awareness of these ECG changes with PERE of varying pathophysiologic mechanisms is useful, ensuring avoidance of improper procedural and laboratory testing and correct measurement of wave amplitudes and ECG time intervals for proper ECG diagnosis. In addition, these ECG associations can be used as indices of the presence and course of PERE postoperatively, as well as in a large variety of medical settings.
A survey of health-related behaviors of senior baccalaureate nursing students.

Seventy-seven fourth-year baccalaureate nursing students were given a questionnaire to elecit information regarding selected health-related behaviors, perceived knowledge of benefits and risks of the behaviors, attitudes on health behavior modeling, and interest in health-related program offerings. Interpretation of the descriptive data generated from the questionnaire revealed that perceived knowledge and attitudes toward modeling were incongruent with actual behavior. Overwhelming interest in health-related programs suggested that the students have the desire to attempt change.
The Nature of Reproductive Failures in Cows of Low Fertility

Summary The study covered 104 cows, 49 Guernsey and 55 Holstein, each of which had been bred from 4 to 13 times without conceiving. The percentage of genitally-normal cows having fertilized ova when slaughtered at 3 days -was 66.1, but at 34 days the percentage having normal embryos had dropped to 23.1, for an embryonic death rate of 65.1. Estimates were made of the effect of the following factors on fertilization and embryonic death: (a) breed, (b) Bang's disease, (c) number of previous services, (d) number of previous calvings, (e) herd size, and (f) herd breeding index. Appreciable effects upon the fertilization rate were noted for the first and the last three factors, and upon embryonic death rate for the second and the last three. Visible genital abnormalities were found in 10.6 per cent of the cows at the time of slaughter; these abnormalities were not detected by clinical examination. There was a higher occurrence in the Holsteins (18.2 per cent) than in the Guernsey (2.0 per cent). The total percentage of cows with genital abnormalities, 10.6, included 8.7 per cent in which the abnormality constituted a physical barrier to fertilization. Considering the group of cows as a whole, including those with genital abnormalities, division may be made into three main categories on the basis of reproductive performance during the first 34 days after breeding: (a) failure of fertilization, 39.7 per cent; (b) embryonic abnormalities and mortality before 34 days, 39.2 per cent; and (c) embryos still normal at 34 days, 21.1 per cent.
Science 101: Building the Foundations for Real Understanding

It's not just about evolution anymore. Growing anti-science sentiment in the United States now infuses public discourse on conservation, vaccination, distribution of research funds, and climate change ( 1 ). Low rates of scientific literacy ( 2 ) exacerbate the problem. Although the public recognizes its indebtedness to the products of scientific knowledge, few understand much about the nature of that knowledge or the processes that generated it ( 3 ). Without a basic understanding of how science works, the public is vulnerable to antiscience propaganda, which engenders distrust of science when it comes to social issues, consumer choices, and policy decisions.
Manufacturing and characterization of polyurethane based sandwich composite structures

Demand has been growing for structural systems utilizing new materials that are more durable and require less maintenance during the service lifetime. In particular, sandwich composite structures attract attention due to many advantages such as light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, durability and speedy construction. In this study, three designs of glass reinforced composite sandwich structures, namely boxes (web-core W1), trapezoid and polyurethane rigid foam, are fabricated using new generation of two-part thermoset polyurethane resin systems as matrix materials with vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The stiffness, load-carrying capacity and compressive strength were evaluated. Core shear, flatwise and edgewise compression tests were carried out for these three models. The mechanical response of three designs of sandwich structures under flexural loading were analyzed using commercial finite element method (FEM) software ABAQUS. The simulation results of flexural behavior were validated by experimental findings.
United States Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service research on alternatives to methyl bromide: pre‐plant and post‐harvest

Methyl bromide is a widely used fumigant for both pre-plant and post-harvest pest and pathogen control. The Montreal Protocol and the US Clean Air Act mandate a phase-out of the import and manufacture of methyl bromide, beginning in 2001 and culminating with a complete ban, except for quarantine and certain pre-shipment uses and exempted critical uses, in January 2005. In 1995, ARS built on its existing programs in soil-borne plant pathology and post-harvest entomology and plant pathology to initiate a national research program to develop alternatives to methyl bromide. The focus has been on strawberry, pepper, tomato, perennial and nursery cropping systems for pre-plant methyl bromide use and fresh and durable commodities for post-harvest use. Recently the program has been expanded to include research on alternatives for the ornamental and cut flower cropping systems. An overview of the national research program is presented. Results from four specific research trials are presented, ranging from organic to conventional systems. Good progress on short-term alternatives is being made. These will be used as the foundation of integrated management systems which begin with pre-plant management decisions and continue through post-harvest processing.
Wear Life Prediction Model on 38CrMoAlA Alloy Steel

The wear experimental project on load and sliding speed was instituted by the uniform design method, the wear properties of 38CrMoAlA alloy steel under dry friction were investigated on a vertical universal friction and wear tester, the worn surfaces of specimens were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The wear life predication model of 38CrMoAlA alloy steel was established by multiple regression analysis, and the significance of influencing factors was carried out. The results showed that the distribution of experimental points chosen by uniform design method was in research range, and the experimental efficiency was evidently increased, and the experimental cycle was shortened. The wear mechanism of 38CrMoAlA alloy steel was primarily abrasive wear and adhesive wear. It is found that the wear life predication model was highly significant.
Do cannabinoids have a therapeutic role in transplantation

Cannabinoids have emerged as powerful drug candidates for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases due to their immunosuppressive properties. Significant clinical and experimental data on the use of cannabinoids as anti-inflammatory agents exist in many autoimmune disease settings, but virtually no studies have been undertaken on their potential role in transplant rejection. Here we suggest a theoretical role for the use of cannabinoids in preventing allograft rejection. The psychotropic properties of CB1 agonists limit their clinical use, but CB2 agonists may offer a new avenue to selectively target immune cells involved in allograft rejection. Moreover, development of mixed CB1/CB2 agonists that cannot cross the blood–brain barrier may help prevent their undesired psychotropic properties. In addition, manipulation of endocannabinoids in vivo by activating their biosynthesis and inhibiting cellular uptake and metabolism may offer another pathway to regulate immune response during allograft rejection.
INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT: CLEARING OUT THE UNDERBRUSH

SUMMARY An increasing number of publications are focused on complex issues surrounding the strategy of integrated rural development. Yet the concept of integrated rural development is increasingly the victim of faddish, unthinking application or dispute. This article presents the origins of the concept, describes four major approaches to defining it and points out the need to ground it better in development theory. Resume Un nombre croissant de publications sont consacrees aux questions complexes de la strategic du developpement rural integre. Cependant le concept de developpement rural integre est de plus en plus la victime de discussion ou d'application irreflechie ou de la mode. Cet article presente les origines de cc concept, decrit quatre approches principales pour lc definir, et insiste sur la necessite de mieux le fonder dans la theorie du developpement. Zusammenfassung Eine wachsende Zahl von Veroffentlichungen beschaftigt sich mit komplexen Sachverhalten im Zusammenhang mit der Strategie der integriertcn landlichen Entwicklung. Jedoch ist das Konzept der inte-griertcn landlichen Entwicklung zunehmend das Opfer torichter, gcd-ankenloscr Anwendung oder Debatten. Dicscr Artikel zeigt die Ur-sprunge des Konzeptes auf, beschrcibt vier Hauptansatze wie es definiert wird und weist auf die Notwendigkeit hin, es besscr entwick-lungstheoretisch zu fundieren.
The influence of physicians' guideline compliance on patients' statin adherence: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: National cholesterol management guidelines recommend regular follow-up of patients and annuallipid evaluations to promote adherence to statin therapy. Objective: This study examined the relationship between primary care physicians' (PCPs') compliance with primary care guidelines and patients' adherence to statin therapy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among statin users aged ≥50 years who had an assigned PCPat a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The dependent variable was statin adherence by patients over 24 months. Computerized pharmacy, laboratory, and medical records were used to measure PCPs' compliance with 4 recommendations in national cholesterol management guidelines: (1) lipid-lowering drug (LLD) initiation; (2) 8-week follow-up visit after an initial LLD prescription; (3) 6- or 12-month follow-up visit for established LLD users; and (4) annual lipid evaluation. Multilevel, multivariable regression models were used to estimate the effects of PCPs' guideline compliance on patients' adherence while controlling for patients' demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and pharmacotherapy factors. Results: The sample included 82 PCPs caring for 4707 patients. The mean statin adherence rate was 83.9%. Anincrease in the annual lipid evaluation rate resulted in an increase in patients' adherence ( P − 0.037). Black race and higher statin dose negatively influenced patients' adherence (both, P Conclusions: Patients' adherence to statin therapy was influenced by their PCPs' compliance with cholesterol management guidelines. Efforts should be made to align PCPs' practice with published guidelines for optimal statin therapy, especially for vulnerable subpopulations of patients.
Crisis management preparedness of school districts in three southern states in the USA

The following paper describes the results of a baseline study to assess the status of crisis management preparedness in public school districts in three southern states in the United States. Self-reported responses were collected by distributing a 22 question self-reporting survey to all school districts and systems in the states of Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. Threats by students were indicated as requiring district team activation by 40% of responding districts. This baseline study indicated that 95% of responding districts have some type of district crisis management plan, 77% have a district crisis management team and 88% have a part- or full-time director designated for crisis situation. While these initial findings sound promising, the low number of districts (less than 50%) self-reporting at least one full day of training in the last year and no full-scale drill is indicative of a very low level of crisis preparedness. This lack of preparedness reported in combination with the relatively high level of crisis incidents, such as student deaths, violence (fights), weapons on campus, and student threats, gives rise for concern, and districts should pay special attention to increasing future training efforts and performing more full-scale drills. Overall, crisis plans should be improved in order to ensure adequate school district crisis preparedness.
An in vitro model for the binding of polybrominated biphenyls in environmentally contaminated blood.

Spiking blood with14C-labeled 2,2′, 4,4′,5,5′-hexabromobiphenyl (14C-HxBB) or a mixture of 2,2′,4,5,5′-pentabromobiphenyl, 2,2′,4,5′,6-pentabromobiphenyl and14C-HxBB has been found, in comparative measurements, to be a representative model of polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) contaminated blood from Michigan residents. Blood components were obtained by Ficoll-Hypaque techniques, apolipoprotein B and A fractions by immunoprecipitation with specific antisera; congeners were quantified by negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry or scintillation counting. The distribution of PBB among plasma, erythrocytes, mononucleocytes and polymorphonucleocytes was 89:9:⩽1:⩽1. In serum, 20% of the PBB was not bound to protein. The remaining 80% was bound to apolipoproteins B and A in a 4∶1 ratio, which is close to the ratio (by weight) of the lipid content of these apolipoproteins. No preferential absorption of PBB congeners occurred in the examined blood compartments.
Biodiesel effects on particulate radiocarbon (14C) emissions from a diesel engine

Abstract The relative amount of 14 C in a sample of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), defined as percent modern carbon (pMC), allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to infer the fraction of PM derived from anthropogenic pollution sources. With increased use of biofuels that contain 14 C, the main assumption of the two-source model, that 14 C is solely derived from biogenic emissions, may become invalid. The goal of this study was to determine the 14 C content of PM emitted from an off-highway diesel engine running on commercial grade biodiesel. Tests were conducted with an off-highway diesel engine running at 80% load fueled by various blends of soy-based biodiesel. A dilution tunnel was used to collect PM 10 emissions on quartz filters that were analyzed for their 14 C content using accelerator mass spectrometry. A mobility particle sizer and 5-gas analyzer provided supporting information on the particle size distribution and gas-phase emissions. The pMC of PM 10 aerosol increased linearly with the percentage of biodiesel present in the fuel. Therefore, PM emissions resulting from increased combustion of biodiesel fuels will likely affect contemporary 14 C apportionment efforts that attempt to split biogenic vs. anthropogenic emissions based on aerosol- 14 C content. Increasing the biodiesel fuel content also reduced emissions of total hydrocarbons (THC), PM 10 mass, and particulate elemental carbon. Biodiesel had variable results on oxides of nitrogen ( NO x ) emissions.
Exploiting sparsity in stranded hidden Markov models for automatic speech recognition

We have recently proposed the stranded HMM to achieve a more accurate representation of heterogeneous data. As opposed to the regular Gaussian mixture HMM, the stranded HMM explicitly models the relationships among the mixture components. The transitions among mixture components encode possible trajectories of acoustic features for speech units. Accurately representing the underlying transition structure is crucial for the stranded HMM to produce an optimal recognition performance. In this paper, we propose to learn the stranded HMM structure by imposing sparsity constraints. In particular, entropic priors are incorporated in the maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation of the mixture transition matrices. The experimental results showed that a significant improvement in model sparsity can be obtained with a slight sacrifice of the recognition accuracy.
High-pressure substitutions for Cd In Cd2Nb2O7 and Cd2Ta2O7

Abstract Substitutions into cadmium niobate of the type Cd 2−x A x Nb 2 O 7 (x≤0.5) have been carried out at 58 kbars and 1100°C. The substituting A cations were Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn which are all smaller than Cd. Rhombohedral or triclinic distortions derived from cubic Cd 2 Nb 2 O 7 were achieved at values of x as low as 0.05. All the substituted phases appear to be centric at room temperature. Analogous substitutions into Cd 2 Ta 2 O 7 were also made.
The effect of cortisone on the induction and development of hamster-pouch carcinomas.

T he role of cortisone and various steroid hormones in experimental carcinogenesis has presented problems in interpretation, since a diversity of experimental results have been reported. An augmentation of the action of carcinogenic chemical agents was reported by Sulzberger and associates1 and by Spain, Molomut, and Novikoff.* A depression of the action of carcinogenic substances was reported by Engelbreth-Holm and Asboe-Hansen3 as well as by Ghadially and Green4 Gillman, Hathorn, and Penn5 reported no significant effect of cortisone on chemically induced neoplasms in experimental animals. Sabes, Chaudhry, and Gorli+ reported an increased yield of chemically induced buccal-pouch carcinomas in hamsters in which cortisone was applied topically. However, these authors found depressed tumor induction in the submandibular gland when cortisone was injected locally. Anbari, Shklar, and Cataldo’ found that systemically administered cortisone resulted in an augmentation of the action of a chemical carcinogen on rat submandibular glands, so that tumor-induction time was decreased and a larger number of carcinomas developed. I have recently reported an increased incidence of chemically induced buccal-pouch carcinomas in hamsters that had also received injections of cortisone.8 In addition to its effect on carcinogenesis, cortisone has also been reported to induce metastases of transplanted mouse tumors9 and to facilitate the growth of human carcinomas in experimental animals.‘0 Since the implication that a corticosteroid hormone could have a cocarcinogenic influenceI was of considerable significance, it was thought that a detailed histologic study of the induced neoplasms in cortisone-injected and control animals was indicated. Histopathologic observations would reveal the sequence of
Jon and Kate Plus 8: A case study of social media and image repair tactics

Abstract Broadening the application of Benoit's image repair theory, this case study compares and contrasts crisis management strategies of Jon and Kate Gosselin during their 2009 highly publicized divorce. Specifically, it looks at how they presented themselves through personal statements, interviews and social media in two phases: the year before and the year after their divorce. Findings indicate the two used many image repair strategies and experienced varying levels of success. In the end, media outlets utilized traditional cultural narratives in their framing of both celebrities, depicting Kate as a distraught wife/single mother and Jon as an irresponsible and untrustworthy husband/father. Media later transitioned to a more positive portrayal of Jon and a negative portrayal of Kate. Exploring social media added a fresh dimension to previous image repair analyses. Findings indicate social media allow celebrities to publish information fast and efficiently without a gatekeeper; however, they must still follow traditional image repair strategies to succeed.
Site selection for Mars exobiology.

The selection of sites on Mars that have a high priority for exobiological research is fundamental for planning future exploration. The most immediate need is to identify targets for high resolution orbital imaging during the Mars Observer and Mars '94/'96 missions that can be used to refined site priorities for surface exploration. We present an objective approach to site selection whereby individual sites are selected and scored, based on the presence of key geological features which indicate high priority environments. Prime sites are those that show evidence for the prolonged activity of liquid water and which have sedimentary deposits that are likely to have accumulated in environments favorable for life. High priority areas include fluvio-lacustrine (stream-fed lake systems), springs, and periglacial environments. Sites where mineralization may have occurred in the presence of organisms (e.g. springs) are given high priority in the search for a fossil record on Mars. A systematic review of Viking data for 83 sites in the Mars Landing Site Catalog (MLSC) resulted in the selection of 13 as being of exobiological interest. The descriptions of these sites were expanded to address exobiological concerns. An additional five sites were identified for inclusion in the second edition of the MLSC. We plan to broaden our site selection activities to include a systematic global reconnaissance of Mars using Viking data, and will continue to refine site priorities for exobiological research based on data from future missions in order to define strategies for surface exploration.
Akt2, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and PTEN are in lipid rafts of intestinal cells: Role in absorption and differentiation

Background & Aims: In intestinal Na absorptive cells, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) is involved in rapid epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of Na absorption by the brush border membrane (BBM) Na/H exchanger NHE3. However, how NHE3 is regulated by the PI 3-K pathway and the role of Akt2 are poorly defined. Methods: The localization of Akt, PI 3-K, and NHE3 was determined by either immunocytochemistry and/or membrane fractionation using OptiPrep density gradient centrifugation. Results: In ileum, active total Akt was present most in the villi and basal layer of the crypts, and Akt2 was mostly in villi. In villus cells, PI 3-K and Akt2 were mostly at the apical surface at which they were present partially in lipid rafts (LR). EGF increased PI 3-K and active Akt2 in ileal BBM at the same time that it increased PI 3-K-dependent trafficking of NHE3 to BBM and stimulation of Na absorption. However, Akt2 was only active in the detergent soluble (DS) pool and not LR of ileal BBM, which correlated with the presence of PTEN in LR. In Caco-2 cells, while EGF stimulated BB NHE3, Akt2 was active in both LR and DS pools. This correlated with the lack of PTEN in the LR of Caco-2 membranes. Akt2 also correlated with epithelial cell differentiation. Akt2 amount and activity were greater in differentiated than undifferentiated Caco-2 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that LR may play an important role in determining the function of PI 3-K/ Akt2 signaling, including stimulation of intestinal Na absorption. These results also suggest that LR-associated Akt2 may be involved in enterocyte differentiation.
Nonsteady plume-wall interactions in rocket launch tubes

Strong and potentially destructive pressure amplitudes have been observed during the early stages of rocket launch from canisters. This can be explained by a traveling wave system that is caused by quasiperiodic changes in irreversibility levels between the critical flow conditions in the rocket nozzle and at the exit of the launch tube. The interaction between the wave system and the wake region near the base of the rocket and its controlling flow mechanisms result in the complex nonsteady overall interaction of supersonic and subsonic flow regions. Observations by means of the hydraulic analogy allow the identification of constituent mechanisms, which are subsequently subjected to a highly simplified analysis and finally compared to experimental results under laboratory conditions. General agreement between theoretical and experimental results (pressure amplitudes and frequencies) support the validity of the proposed analytical approach.