cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experientially diverse customers and organizational adaptation in changing demand landscapes: A study of US cannabis markets, 2014–2016

Research Summary In this study, we contribute to strategy and organizational theories of organizational adaptation by developing theory about the kinds of customers that facilitate an organization's ability to adapt to changing demand‐side conditions. We propose that customers who have previously interacted with diverse types of organizations in the market convey informationally rich feedback that better enables organizations to understand and adapt to change—particularly in more rapidly changing contexts. We further expect that organizations that position themselves congruently with market preferences will be stronger market competitors. We test and find support for our arguments using a unique dataset of over 8,000 cannabis dispensaries operating in seven states that were listed on Weedmaps.com between July 2014 and June 2016. Managerial Summary Performance of organizations in changing markets depends on their ability to adapt to evolving customer preferences. Such adaptation requires understanding how preferences evolve—not only among existing customers, but also in the broader market in which the organization competes. We propose that feedback from customers who have previously interacted with diverse types of organizations in the market enables organizations to understand customer expectations and adapt to changing demand landscapes by positioning themselves accordingly. We find support for these arguments in legalized cannabis markets within seven U.S. states. Dispensaries that get more feedback from experientially diverse customers position themselves in ways that are more congruent with the preferences of customers in their market. Furthermore, dispensaries who are more congruent with market preferences survive longer, bring in a greater number of new consumers, and are generally more appealing to those consumers.
Are Eating Habits Associated with Adequate Sleep among High School Students

BACKGROUND Sleep deprivation adversely impacts cognitive performance. A nutritious diet is one strategy that can prevent sleep deprivation and its adverse effects. However, few data exist regarding the influence of diet on sleep duration among adolescents. Hence, it is important to assess whether dietary habits are linked to adequate sleep among adolescents. METHODS The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data were used in the analysis. Nationally representative samples of adolescents were obtained using a 3-stage cluster design. Selected survey items included number of hours slept on a school night, fruit and vegetable intake, soda and milk intake, breakfast consumption, and demographic variables. Data were analyzed with SAS 9.4 using a logistic regression model. RESULTS Holding other variables constant, an increase in total daily consumption of vegetables, milk, and breakfast increased the odds of sleeping ≥8 hours among participants (p < .01). An increase in daily soda intake decreased the odds of sleeping ≥8 hours among participants (p < .01). Separate logistic models for males and females yielded similar findings (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS Promoting healthy eating habits such as intake of vegetables, milk, and breakfast consumption among adolescents may increase their likelihood of getting adequate sleep.
A Spectrum of Skin Disease: How Staphylococcus aureus Colonization, Barrier Dysfunction, and Cytokines Shape the Skin.

Cytokines are key mediators of skin homeostasis and disease through their effects on keratinocytes, skin barrier integrity, immune activation, and microbial ecology. Sirobhushanam et al. (2020) suggest that the IFN signature in lupus erythematosus (LE) alters expression of epithelial barrier and adhesin genes, which, in turn, promotes Staphylococcus aureus colonization. This work highlights the need to better understand both barrier function and S. aureus colonization in LE, two new potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of LE.
Geography, opportunity and bridgeheads facilitate termite invasions to the United States

With the ever-increasing rate of globalization, port of entry data can be an important source of information for the introduction and spread of invasive species on a worldwide scale. Using a comprehensive dataset spanning records from 1923 to 2017, termite interceptions at US ports of entry were analyzed. We identified 906 non-native interceptions originating from outside the US, including four families, 32 genera and 75 different termite species. Non-native termites originated from 88 different countries and were intercepted in 29 different states. There was a strong regional bias, with termite-rich areas closest to the US—Central America, South America and the Caribbean—the greatest exporters of termite species to the US. Among the 75 non-native termites intercepted, 12 had already become established outside of their native range, with eight appearing to utilize bridgeheads to expand their global distribution. Additionally, the establishment probability of a species was positively influenced by the number of interceptions, as three of the most common non-native species intercepted at ports of entry are currently established within the US—Nasutitermes corniger, Cryptotermes brevis and Coptotermes formosanus. Our results reveal important insights into the global dispersal of invasive termites and contribute further evidence towards the importance of trade, increased propagule pressure and the bridgehead effect as drivers of global invasion rates.
A Review and Analysis of the NSF Portfolio in Regard toResearch on Science Teacher Education

Several recent policy papers have called for scienc e education to be based on substantive research activities that provide guidance for the f ield both in teacher preparation and student learning. For example, America’s Pressing Challenge ‐ Building a Strong Foundation (2006) calls for the country to “Invest in research on teaching and learning that will better inform development of science and mathematics curricula and pedagogical approaches.” (p.5). In an attempt to u nderstand what the National Science Foundation has supported in terms of research withi n science education teacher education a review was undertaken based upon the publicly available NSF Awards Database in regard to projects funded. The database for select ed programs at NSF contained over 3000 awards for the time period January 1, 1996 to January 1, 2006 however the percentage of awards that were deemed to represent research studies in regard to science teacher education were a very small fraction of the se awards (approximately 2.5%). The awards that were identified were categorized by res earch method, grade level and project focus. Selected awards were also reviewed to see i f the results of the studies could be found in the science education literature. Implica tions for policy and the research community are discussed.
Comparing the tracheostomy dislodgement and complication rate of non-sutured neck tie to skin sutured neck tie fixation.

Abstract Introduction Tracheostomy management is a routine aspect of care in the critical care setting. While there are multiple complications that can arise in the post-operative setting after creation of a tracheostomy, dislodgement of a tracheostomy tube is associated with high mortality requiring rapid intervention. It is therefore important to prevent the occurrence with proper securement of the tracheostomy. In this study, we look at two methods commonly used to secure tracheostomy tubes: suturing of the lateral flanges to the skin with the use of cloth neck ties versus cloth neck ties alone. Methods This is a retrospective study with data collected from 1355 consecutive tracheostomy cases at a single institution. Our institution serves the County of San Bernardino, California as a level II trauma center. Patient selection occurred between 2004 and 2018, with distribution of patients to skin-sutured with neck tie tracheostomies (ST) and non-sutured neck tied only tracheostomies (NST) groups occurring by date of tracheostomy surgery. Our study investigates the dislodgement rate of percutaneous tracheostomies secured by either of these two methods. Due to a greater morbidity of tracheostomy dislodgement before a mature fistula tract is formed, we were specifically interested in the dislodgement rate within 7 days. Results In total, 328 cases of NST and 1027 cases of ST were collected. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference regarding the dislodgement and accidental decannulation rate between NST and ST (2.32% vs 4.46% for NST and ST, respectively, p = 0.1476). There was also no statistically significant difference regarding rates of dislodgement and accidental decannulation within 7 days between NST and ST (1.54% vs 1.11% for NST and ST, respectively, p = 0.5608). Discussion It takes 5–7 days for a tracheostomy tract to mature, and therefore most dislodgement occurs perioperatively within the first week after placement. Dislodgement of the tracheostomy tube can lead to devastating complications for those patients. To our knowledge, there has been no study investigating dislodgement in the early post-operative period in relation to tracheostomy securement method. Conclusion Due to the emergent nature of tracheostomy dislodgement and loss of airway, prevention of this complication is critical. Our investigation found no statistically significant difference in the rate of early tracheostomy dislodgement in the skin sutured with neck tie and non-sutured neck tie only groups. This study contributes further data to the available literature regarding tracheostomy securement methods and dislodgement rate, specifically within the early post-operative period. Level of evidence: 2b.
RADIOACTIVELY POWERED RISING LIGHT CURVES OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

The rising luminosity of the recent, nearby supernova 2011fe shows a quadratic dependence with time during the first ≈0.5-4 days. In addition, studies of the composite light curves formed from stacking together many Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) have found similar power-law indices for the rise, but may also show some dispersion that may indicate diversity. I explore what range of power-law rises are possible due to the presence of radioactive material near the surface of the exploding white dwarf (WD). I summarize what constraints such a model places on the structure of the progenitor and the distribution and velocity of ejecta. My main conclusion is that for the inferred explosion time for SN 2011fe, its rise requires an increasing mass fraction X_(56) ≈ (4-6) × 10^(–2) of ^(56)Ni distributed between a depth of ≈10^(–2) and 0.3 M_☉ below the WD's surface. Radioactive elements this shallow are not found in simulations of a single C/O detonation. Scenarios that may produce this material include helium-shell burning during a double-detonation ignition, a gravitationally confined detonation, and a subset of deflagration to detonation transition models. In general, the power-law rise can differ from quadratic depending on the details of the velocity, density, and radioactive deposition gradients in a given event. Therefore, comparisons of this work with observed bolometric rises of SNe Ia would place strong constraints on the properties of the shallow outer layers, providing important clues for identifying the elusive progenitors of SNe Ia.
Accelerating the calculation of makespan used in scheduling improvement heuristics

Abstract The goal of this research is to accelerate improvement heuristics which use a graph to model the system and calculates the makespan, i.e., longest path in the graph, during each iteration. These heuristics iteratively perturb the graph and recalculate the makespan in each iteration until a satisfactory schedule is determined. We propose Improved Structural Perturbation Algorithm (ISPA) to accelerate the calculation of the length of the longest path in the graph in each iteration. This will decrease the overall computation time of these scheduling improvement heuristics. Scheduling perturbations are represented by structural perturbations of the graph (edge additions and deletions). ISPA partitions nodes in the graph into two types of sets and applies two different processes to calculate the effects of the perturbations depending on the set the node was in. The major contribution of this study is that ISPA executes once to update the length of the longest path regardless of the number of added and deleted edges. This results in a more efficient algorithm in terms of time complexity than previous algorithms. To show this performance improvement, an experiment was performed applying ISPA to a Simulated Annealing (SA) heuristic and compare it with applying the commonly used Standard Longest Path Algorithm (SLPA) and two other existing methods to the SA heuristic. The experiment shows that ISPA outperforms existing methods in all cases. Moreover, for these SA problems, ISPA saved 9%-65% of the execution time compared to SLPA for the job-shop scheduling problems. The time savings increase with size (number of nodes) of the problem. ISPA is applicable to other iterative heuristics, such as Tabu-search, Genetic Algorithms, and Shifting Bottleneck.
Shining a new light on pericardial fluid.

In a healthy individual, there is 15–50 mL of fluid between the visceral and parietal layers of the fibroelastic pericardium. The normal composition of pericardial fluid is currently ill-defined. In the USA, pericardiocentesis is performed in patients with pericardial disease approximately 1000 times per month.1 2 During pericardiocentesis fluid is almost uniformly sent for laboratory analysis per guideline recommendations to quantify general chemistry and cellular composition.3 To date, there is no established methodology to assess pericardial fluid composition nor are there recognised reference values for the normal constituents of pericardial fluid. Interpretation of pericardial fluid composition is commonly performed by extending the Light’s criteria validated on pleural fluid analysis to pericardial fluid.3 4 The accuracy of this approach to establish if pericardial fluid is transudative or exudative is unknown. Available data regarding the biochemical and cellular composition of physiological pericardial fluid are sparse. In a study of 30 consecutive patients without pericardial disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or valvular replacement that underwent pericardial fluid analysis, mean fluid lactate …
Fire Protection for New and Existing Buildings

This chapter highlights fire protection for new and existing buildings, where the structural, electrical, and mechanical systems are designed to meet the needs of the applicable codes. Fire protection must be integrated into the design process and coordinated throughout the construction. New construction projects are usually more straightforward than projects involving changes to existing buildings. In a performance-based design, any change to the building can affect the fire protection systems that meet the performance specifications of the owner. Management of change includes many familiar issues, including changes to building construction, building layout, building systems, occupancy, process design, and storage configuration. The fire protection design process for projects in existing facilities reviews the existing fire protection design, analyzes existing building construction, building systems, occupancy, and fire protection systems, documents new facility goals and the changes required to meet the new goals, analyzes the effects of anticipated changes, determines whether prescriptive or performance-based design will best serve the project, and considers using combinations of prescriptive and performance based designs. Fire protection design can be especially challenging for certain types of renovations to the existing buildings.
Getting a foothold in nephrotic syndrome.

The podocyte is a highly specialized kidney cell that is essential to the ultrafiltration of blood, resulting in the extraction of urine and the retention of protein. Four studies, the most recent of which is published in this issue of Nature Genetics, indicate its critical role in the pathology of nephrotic syndrome.
Civic, cooperative or contrived? a functional approach to political consumerism motivations

The rise of political consumerism among young citizens as a means of promoting social change has sparked debate among scholars regarding the civic potential of such political practices enacted in the private sphere of everyday life. In particular, disagreement has centred on whether and the degree to which political consumerism privatizes politics and distracts citizens from collective engagement in the public sphere. The present research argues that understanding what drives political consumerism is key to resolving this debate. Accordingly, it draws across the multidisciplinary literature on political consumerism to identify the various symbolic motivations that underlie consumers’ use of ethical purchase considerations. Functional theory of attitudes is then applied as a framework for theorizing these motivations, and a scale is developed to measure value-expressive, social-identification and social-approval motivations for political consumerism. The first two studies demonstrate the subscales are reliable and have good convergent and discriminant validity, and the third study demonstrates that increasing the salience of a particular motivation through the use of strategic messages alters how it relates to the use of ethical purchase considerations as well as broader involvement in a social cause. The significance of this research for understanding how political consumerism connects to broader participation in lifestyle movements is discussed.
Marital Status, General-life Satisfaction and the Welfare State

Numerous studies, using U.S. samples, have shown a positive correlation between being married and various measures of general well-being. However, data from Sweden suggests that this relationship may not hold in all modernized societies. Using cross-national data, this study examines the relationship between marital status and general well-being in eight countries in the 1970s. The results indicate that being married was an important predictor of general well-being in seven of the eight countries, the lone exception being Finland. These findings are interpreted in light of the idea that social welfare systems, to the extent that they constitute strong institutional supports for individuals outside of marriage, may make marriage less important for general-life satisfaction.
Identification of dependent probit models: A simplified approach

Abstract This paper analyzes the estimability of dependent probit models. Three important cases are examined for the binary choice model and an extension is offered for the multinomial case. Particular attention is paid to the implications of the results for actual use of these models.
Significance of Scatter Radar Studies of E and F Region Irregularities at High Latitudes

In this review, we consider the mechanisms by which electron density irregularities may be generated in the high latitude ionosphere and the techniques through which they are observed with ground base radars. We also compare the capabilities of radars used for studying these irregularities with the capabilities of radars used for incoherent scatter measurements, and we consider the relative advantages and disadvantages of each technique when it is applied to measurements in the high latitude ionosphere. Examples are given of how irregularity scatter techniques are particularly useful for dynamic studies of larger scale structured phenomena. Finally, it is concluded that in Scandinavia where the EISCAT, STARE, and SAFARI facilities will coexist, the various techniques will enhance each other and provide a better understanding of the various processes being studied.
Characterization of the promoter region of the human transforming growth factor-β1 gene

The 5'-end of the human transforming growth factor-beta 1 gene (TGF-beta 1) was isolated from a human leukocyte genomic DNA library. Analysis of the transcriptional start sites of human TGF-beta 1 mRNAs by S1 mapping and primer extension revealed two major start sites 271 nucleotides from one another; several minor sites were also identified. DNA sequence analysis showed that the promoter region contains neither a "TATA" box nor a "CAAT" box, is very G+C rich, and contains 11 CCGCCC repeats. Seven putative binding sites for the transcription factor Sp1 were also identified. To determine the location of sites that may be important for the function of the TGF-beta 1 promoter, we joined the 5'-end of the TGF-beta 1 gene to the coding region for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. The chimeric gene produced high levels of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in transfected HT-1080, AKR-2B, and A-549 cells. Sequences responsible for both promotion and inhibition of transcription were located in the region extending from 1400 to 300 base pairs upstream of the first major TGF-beta 1 transcriptional start site. The 130-base pair fragment located between 453 and 323 base pairs upstream of this start site contains positive regulatory activity in all cells tested. A second promoter activity was identified in the region between the two major transcriptional start sites. These findings revealed a complex pattern of regulation of human TGF-beta 1 gene expression.
Spontaneous rupture of the liver caused by hepatomas.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent cause of spontaneous rupture of the liver. Most of these cases have been reported from Asia. Recently increasing numbers of benign hepatocellular adenomas have been reported as causes of spontaneous rupture of the liver. Other hepatic lesions associated with spontaneous rupture of the liver include hemangiomas metastatic carcinoma polyarteritis nodosa syphilis malaria tuberculous peritonitis typhoid fever epilepsy intrahepatic aneurysms and bile duct stones. 2 cases in young women are reported. Hepatocellular carcinoma was present in 1 and benign hepatocellular adenoma in the other. The patient with carcinoma had been taking birth control pills for 8 years but the patient with adenoma had not taken oral contraceptives. There was no history of trauma in either case. There may be difficulty in distinguishing a benign hepatocellular adenoma from a hepatocellular carcinoma. Selective arteriography if avilable may be a valuable aid in diagnosis. The treatment of both conditions is as complete a resection of the involved hepatic lobe as possible. The prognosis for cases of carcinoma is poor.
Data-Based Civic Participation

Within the past five years, a new form of technology-mediated public participation that experiments with crowdsourced data production in place of community discourse has emerged. Examples of this class of system include SeeClickFix, PublicStuff, and Street Bump, each of which mediate feedback about local neighborhood issues and help communities mobilize resources to address those issues. The experiments being playing out by this new class of services are derived from a form of public participation built on the ideas of smart cities where residents and physical environments are instrumented to provide data to improve operational efficiency and sustainability (Caragliu, Del Bo, and Nijkamp 2011). Ultimately, smart cities is the application to local government all the efficiencies that computing has always promised—efficiencies of scale, of productivity, of data—minus the messiness and contention of citizenship that play out through more traditional modes of public engagement and political discourse. The question then, is what might it look like to incorporate more active forms of civic participation and issue advocacy in an app- and data-driven world?
Delayed Myocardial Enhancement in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Delayed myocardial enhancement MRI is a highly valuable but non-specific imaging technique that is ancillary in the diagnosis of a variety of diseases including myocardial viability, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and other infiltrative myocardial processes. The lack of specificity stems from the wide variety of differential diagnoses that may present with overlapping patterns of delayed enhancement. Many of these differential diagnoses have been presented and discussed in this article.
Rate of Union After Segmental Midshaft Shortening Osteotomy of the Lesser Metatarsals

Background:Current literature reports excellent rates of union following various lesser metatarsal osteotomy techniques. However, it is our experience that segmental midshaft shortening osteotomies heal very slowly and have a greater potential for nonunion than has previously been reported. The purpose of this study was to assess union rates and report the time required for segmental midshaft shortening osteotomies to achieve radiographic union.Methods:We reviewed the charts and postoperative radiographs of 58 patients (representing 91 osteotomies) who underwent segmental midshaft shortening osteotomies with internal fixation between January 2009 and December 2013. Radiographs were reviewed to determine when union was achieved. Union was defined as the bridging of 2 or more cortices in the anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique radiographic views. Osteotomies were classified as delayed union if they were not healed at 3 months postoperatively and nonunions if they were not healed at 6 months postoperativel...
Self-excited wave oscillations in a water table

An experimental investigation has been performed on self-excited wave oscillations on cavity, spike-tipped, and inlet models in a water table. Buzzing was generated by positioning the models at a small angle of attack with respect to the freestream flow. The hydraulic analogy was used to compare the results obtained in water to results obtained in a gas. High-speed and real-time photography were used in the experiment. The frequencies of oscillations in water and air were consistent with the hydraulic analogy. Numerical solutions of the phenomenon were also obtained. and from considerable savings in energy arid funds. It is in fact far more inexpensive and energy saving to operate a water table than a supersonic wind tunnel. In addition, some phenomena in water can be observed directly without sophisticated equipment, while in a wind tunnel it is necessary to mafe use of schlieren high-speed photography, holography, interferometry, etc. An experimental in- vestigation was therefore performed on self-excited wave oscillations occurring on two-dimension al bodies in water. The objective was to study the "buzzing" phenomenon in water and to compare the results, whenever possible, with previous experimental results obtained in air. Necessary conditions for buzzing to occur are the presence of a shear layer with an inflection point in the velocity profile (separation), a reflecting surface (cavity wall, body shoulder, inlet cowl, etc.), and the appropriate body length to permit "in-phase" reflection of pressure waves. If these conditions are met, resonance occurs in the frequency range of the oscillations and amplification of the disturbance takes place until a "limit cycle" is reached. Photographic data were obtained, i.e., high-speed and real-time movies, to visually illustrate the phenomenon. Furthermore, a stability analysis was developed and numerical solutions were obtained to determine the conditions for instabilities and disturbances like buzzing to occur in water. Cavity, spike-tipped, and inlet models were used in the water table.
Neutropenia Associated with Cephapirin Therapy

A case of neutropenia associated with cephapirin therapy is described. After discontinuation of cephapirin therapy, the neutrophil count returned to normal. Bone marrow examination revealed a marked reduction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes beyond the metamyelocyte stage and eosinophilia.
HYPERSONIC VISCOUS FLOW OVER A SWEAT-COOLED FLAT PLATE

Summary This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the hypersonic viscous flow over a sweat-cooled flat plate. The physical system under consideration is the hypersonic laminar boundary layer over a porous flat plate with homogeneous, normal injection of a coolant into the external stream. A heat balance at the porous surface is made between the heat transferred to the surface and the heat absorbed by the coolant. The existence of similar solutions requires a nonuniform distribution of coolant injection. The method of solution consists of the integration of three simultaneous first-order equations, the momentum and the energy integral equations in the boundary layer, and the tangentwedge approximation in the inviscid layer. First-order asymptotic formulas are given in both the strong and the weak pressure interaction regions for the induced surface pressure, the skinfriction coefficient, and the Nusselt number. Numerical results for three specific cases are presented and discussed.
Protein adsorption from buffer and plasma onto hydrophilic—hydrophobic poly(ethylene oxide)—polystyrene multiblock copolymers

Abstract The influence of substrate hydrophilic—hydrophobic balance on the adsorption of proteins from buffer and plasma was investigated using a series of amphiphilic multiblock copolymers composed of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and polystyrene (PS). Adsorption of albumin, fibrinogen, and immunoglobulin G was monitored from single-component buffer, multicomponent buffer, and plasma solutions in contact with polymer-coated beads. Protein adsorption from buffer demonstrated kinetics and adsorption totals that correlated to the hydrophilic—hydrophobic content of the PEOPS surfaces; however, no significant correlations existed between bulk composition, in vitro, and ex vivo blood compatibility tests. From plasma, adsorption to the surfaces showed two interesting results. First, minimum levels of protein adsorption witnessed on a PEOPS (40% PEO) copolymer were not observed in the competitive adsorption of the same species from buffer. These results were correlated to minimum platelet adhesion and activation in vitro and optimal whole blood compatibility ex vivo. Second, fibrinogen uptake from plasma exhibited transient, fluctuating kinetics on both the PEO and PS homopolymer surfaces while two PEOPS copolymer surfaces showed no fluctuations. Overall, few correlations between buffer adsorption, plasma adsorption, or resulting in vivo and ex vivo analyses were observed. This suggests that buffered systems oversimplify the protein adsorption scenario and lack significant correlations to surface interactions in whole blood and plasma.
Using simulated annealing to obtain optimal linear end-member mixtures of hyperspectral data

Abstract Current thinking in hyperspectral remote sensing suggests the existence of “pure” end-member components. Once identified these components become apices for an n -dimensional convex hull, or minimum encompassing hypervolume, containing all remaining data points. Data in the hypervolume are considered linear mixtures of the apex components. As such, each spectra can be constructed of linear combinations of end-member components. Deriving the relative proportions of end-member components is non-trivial and is often computed using variations of least-squares techniques. These solutions have not been shown to be optimal for combinatorial minimization problems. An exhaustive search of the domain space is not practical and the discrete nature of the data precludes the notion of search based on direction, i.e., hill climbing or steepest descent approaches. Simulated annealing (SA) is an optimization strategy easily applied to this domain. Loosely based on thermodynamic cooling models for crystalline materials, SA combines a “random walk” model with a Boltzmann's probability distribution based upon the temperature ( t ) of a system. SA operates much like a phase cooling within a magma body, allowing the user to control the “cooling” schedule and preventing “quenching” to a non-optimal state or local minimum. For this study SA is applied to linear combinations of mineral spectra and reproduces the component mixtures within acceptable tolerances.
Leakage and delivery of liposome-encapsulated methotrexate-γ-aspartate in a chemically defined medium

A chemically defined medium was developed to study liposome-mediated delivery of methotrexate-gamma-aspartate to cells under conditions where dilute suspensions of negatively charged liposomes to not leak extensively. The defined medium induced 14% leakage of methotrexate-gamma-aspartate from egg phosphatidylglycerol/cholesterol (67:33) liposomes diluted to 53 nM lipid. In contrast, commercially available serum replacements induced up to 91% leakage from the same liposomes. The growth inhibitory properties of non-loaded phosphatidylglycerol liposomes were greater in the chemically defined medium that they were in medium supplemented with 10% serum. Egg phosphatidylglycerol, dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol and dilaurylphosphatidylglycerol liposomes inhibited cell growth more than dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol and dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol liposomes. In 10% serum, phosphatidylglycerol liposomes with widely varying phase-transition temperatures were nearly equally effective to deliver drug to CV1-P and L929 cells, despite great differences in liposome stability. Liposome encapsulated methotrexate-gamma-aspartate was more potent when the cells were grown in the defined medium, and the increase in drug delivery was observed from phosphatidylglycerol liposomes of different phase-transition temperatures. The minimum fraction of negatively charged phospholipid required for optimal liposome-mediated drug delivery varied between cell types and among growth media. The growth inhibitory effects of liposome-encapsulated methotrexate-gamma-aspartate was also determined under conditions where the cells were exposed to drug for periods shorter than the entire growth assay. Reduction of the exposure time decreased the potency of both encapsulated and free drug in medium containing 10% serum, and decreased the potency of free drug in the defined medium. However, the potency of encapsulated drug in the defined medium was similar for all exposure lengths between 1 and 48 hours.
Release of iron from ferritin by cardiotoxic anthracycline antibiotics

The use of the extremely effective anthracycline antitumor drugs adriamycin and daunomycin is limited by a severe, dose-dependent cardiomyopathy. Anthracycline-induced toxicity has been proposed to involve iron-dependent oxidative damage to biological macromolecules yet little is known regarding the availability of physiologic iron. We now report that, in the presence of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, these drugs undergo redox cycling to generate superoxide which mediates a slow, reductive release of iron from ferritin, the major intracellular iron storage protein. Anaerobically, the semiquinone free radical forms of adriamycin and daunomycin catalyze a very rapid, extensive release of iron from ferritin. In contrast, diaziquone, an aziridinyl quinone antitumorigenic agent which is less cardiotoxic, is unable to release iron from ferritin. Thus, the present studies suggest that the cardiomyopathy observed with the anthracyclines, and perhaps their antineoplastic activity as well, may be related to their ability to delocalize tissue iron, thereby contributing to the formation of strong oxidants capable of damaging critical cellular constituents.
A Method to Quantify Residents’ Jargon Use During Counseling of Standardized Patients About Cancer Screening

Background Jargon is a barrier to effective patient-physician communication, especially when health literacy is low or the topic is complicated. Jargon is addressed by medical schools and residency programs, but reducing jargon usage by the many physicians already in practice may require the population-scale methods used in Quality Improvement.
Limitations of the London model for the reversible magnetization of type-II superconductors.

We point out that the London model for the reversible magnetization {ital M} of high-{kappa} type-II superconductors in the intermediate-field region is quantitatively incorrect, and we discuss the implications on our understanding of the mixed state of type-II superconductors. We also show that the apparently linear dependence of {ital M} vs ln{ital H} in the intermediate-field region, a behavior that has been observed experimentally, can be obtained from a previously proposed variational model.
Monte Carlo Simulation of the Structures and Dynamics of Amorphous Polyethylene Nanoparticles

Monte Carlo simulations of amorphous polyethylene (PE) nanoparticle have been performed on the second nearest neighbor diamond lattice by including short and long-range interactions. A droplet can be either obtained from equilibrated PE bulk or from nanofiber snapshots by modifying periodic boundary conditions. The presence of attractive long-range interactions gives cohesion to the nanoparticle. PE nanoparticles, which contain up to 72 chains of C100 and have the radius ˜5.0 nm, have been produced and equilibrated on the 2nnd lattice. In these droplets, the density profiles are hyperbolic, with end beads being more abundant than middle beads at the surface. There are orientational preferences at the surface on the scale of individual bonds and whole chains. Comparison of nanoparticles with different sizes, which contain different numbers of chains, does not indicate any significant differences in local and global equilibrium properties – for thickness in the range 5.8 to 7.4 nm. Surface energies are calculated directly from the on-lattice energetics. The mobility of the chain in the droplet at the level of individual chords or an entire chain is greater than in the bulk, and the mobility increases as the size of the droplet decreases.
Laser Chemical Vapor Deposited (LCVD) Tio2 And Al203 Films On Silica And D-Shaped Si02-Ge02 Fibers: An Improved Surface To Grow Photonic Devices

TiO2 and Al203 films were developed by laser chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) technique on silica and D-shaped Si02-Ge02 fiber surfaces. The films were produced by CO2 laser assisted dissociation of TiCI4, AlC13, and trimethyl aluminum and diffusion of ions in the glass. The laser power chosen was to be between 100 and 550 W and the exposure time ranged from 20 to 120 sec. The films were analyzed by SIMS, XPS, ellipsometry, and XRD. The T102 film thickness was varied between 1.5 and 3.5 pm thru the exposure time and laser power variation. XPS demonstrated the formation of TiO2 and A103 on glass surfaces while XRD indicated the growth of rutile on glasses with the 110-axis perpendicular to their surface. The refractive index of the glasses increased from 1.4588 up to 2.505 after TiO2 deposition.
Characterization of temperature-sensing and PIP2-regulation of TRPV1 ion channel at the C-terminal domain using NMR spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are receptors of stimulating signals, such as temperature, taste, odor, and chemo- and mechano-stimuli. Temperature sensing TRP channels coincidently function as pain receptors, and are potential targets for substances of abuse, including alcohol and illicit drugs. TRP vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel is activated by heat (>43 °C) and capsaicin under the tight regulation of membrane-associated second messenger, PIP 2 (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate), responds to noxious stimuli and inflammatory substances, and could potentially modulate effects of alcohol and drugs of abuse. Despite the crucial roles in mediating signal transductions at both peripheral and central nervous systems, TRP channels are poorly understood in the context of structures and mechanisms. In this letter, we describe our initial structural characterization of the TRPV1 C-terminal domain, the putative temperature sensing and PIP 2 -regulatory domain, using NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Both experimental and computational models suggest the C-terminal domain is intrinsically unstructured at room temperature with and without lipid bicelles. Elevated temperature and PIP 2 -binding can induce substantial conformational changes and formation of considerable secondary structural components in the C-terminal domain, which could be transduced to the transmembrane domain to potentially sensitize the channel.
Electron spin resonance study of the interaction of alpha-tocopherol with phospholipid model membranes.

The effect of up to 20 mol% incorporation of α-tocopherol on acyl chain order and dynamics in liquid crystalline phosphatidylcholine (PC) membranes was studied as a function of acyl chain unsaturated by electron spin resonance (ESR) of 5-, 7-, 12- and 16-doxyl spin labelled stearic acids intercalated into the membrane. Order parameters S in the upper portion of the chain (positions 5 and 7) and correlation times τC in the lower portion (positions 12 and 16) determined from the ESR spectra indicate that in general α-tocopherol restricts acyl chain motion within the membrane. The magnitude of the increases in order appears to be dependent upon phospholipid molecular area, being the greatest (up to 15%) in saturated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (14:0-14:0 PC) which possesses a relatively small area per molecule as opposed to much smaller increases (<3%) in unsaturated PC membranes of larger molecular area. This behaviour is interpreted as incompatible with the hypothesis of Lucy and coworkers (A.T. Diplock and J.A. Lucy (1973) FEBS Lett. 29, 205–210), who proposed that membranes are structurally stabilized by interactions between the phytyl side chain of α-tocopherol and the polyunsaturated chains of phospholipids.
Medo existencial e globalização

Investigou-se a validacao do conceito de medo existencial, como fator associado aotrabalho, quanto aos aspectos psicologicos, fisiologicos e sociais do individuo, como fenomenobiopsicossocial, fruto da globalizacao. Foi utilizado o cortisol como marcador imunologico, asindrome de burnout, o estresse e a depressao como indicadores biopsicossociais, usando-setambem, a escala de medo existencial, criada especificamente para este fim. A amostra foidividida em treze enfermeiros, trinta e seis auxiliares, e sete tecnicos de enfermagem, sendofuncionarios com vinculo empregaticio e beneficios, e subempregados, sem vinculoempregaticio direto e sem beneficios. Os dados mostraram a alta fidedignidade de 0.878 daEME atraves do alpha de Cronbach e uma correlacao altamente significativa de 0.047 entreestresse e o conceito de medo existencial. Foi demonstrada tambem uma tendencia, altamentesignificativa, entre os escores da EME e os escores de Burnout e os indices de cortisol.
REAGERE: a reaction-based architecture for integration and control

This research is concerned with the design, development and implementation of a unique reaction-based multi-agent architecture (REAGERE) to integrate and control a manufacturing domain, by combining concepts from distributed problem solving and multi-agent systems. This architecture represents an emerging concept of reifying the parts, equipment, and software packages of the domain as individual agent entities. This research also improves on earlier top- down automated manufacturing systems, that suffered from lack of flexibility, upgradability, overhead difficulties, and performance problems when presented with the uncertainty and dynamics of modern competitive environments. The versatility of the domain is enhanced with the independent development of the agents and the object-oriented events that permit the agents to communicate through the underlying blackboard architecture BB1. This bottom-up concept permits the architecture's integration to rely on the agents' interactions and their perceptions of the current environmental problem(s). Hence the control and coordination of the architecture are adaptable to the agents' reactions to dynamic situations. REAGERE was applied to a simulated predefined automated manufacturing domain for the purpose of controlling and coordinating the internal processes of this domain.
Fracture initiation in XAP-001 dispersion strengthened aluminum alloy

Abstract A unique fractographic analysis technique was developed to study the initiation and propagation of the high-temperature fracture of aluminum dispersion strengthened with Al 2 O 3 . The formation of voids at the Al 2 O 3 sites early in the high-temperature tensile test was verified. The growth of these voids throughout the fracture process was studied for a particular alloy, XAP-001, by measurements of both size and density of voids. Knowledge of the fracture process suggests that a more uniform dispersion of Al 2 O 3 particles would improve the high-temperature ductility.
Science and Ecological Economics: Integrating of the Study of Humans and the Rest of Nature.

Ecological economics is a transdisciplinary field that seeks to integrate the study of humans and the rest of nature as the basis for the creation of a sustainable and desirable future. It seeks to...
Guest Editorial: Computational Narrative and Games

The eleven articles in this special issue focus on the use of computational modeling in developing the narratives for video programs and online games. Narratives are perceived tob e central to cultures, to the ways people communicate, and, many have argued, to cognition itself. The articles in this issue explore these issues and reports on technologies and computer applications that support narative programming.
Multilevel interconnections for ULSI and GSI era

Abstract A high performance interconnection network on a chip is essential to match the ever improving performance of the semiconductor devices they interconnect. This issue reviews the need, some fundamental background justifying the need, approaches one can take in trying to satisfy the need, and associated issues related to the concept of multilevel interconnection (MLI) technology for the ULSI/GSI era of the silicon integrated circuits, with emphasis on materials and the processes that will lead to an acceptable MLI scheme. Thus besides discussing the MLI concepts and implementation issues, properties of metals and their alloys (especially those of Cu and Al), diffusion barrier/adhesion promoter, interlayer dielectrics, deposition and etching of mateials, planarization issues, reliability issues, and new materials concepts are presented. Emphasis is obviously placed on the presently focused research on replacing aluminum with copper based interconnections. The author's viewpoint on gradual changes in replacing current materials with newer mateials as they become available is also presented. A synergism between the materials sets for on-chip and off-chip interconnections has been pointed out.
Narrative: Mode of discourse or paradigm?

This essay critically analyzes the recent work of Walter. Fisher on the “narrative paradigm.”; While Fisher's work has undeniable value, the implications of it have not been completely considered. This essay proposes three limitations on the narrative paradigm. First, Fisher's definition of narrative is too broad, encompassing nearly all discourse. Using Fisher's example of The Fate of the Earth, a case is built for the claim that a more limited definition of narrative is needed. Second, the view that there is an independent standard of narrative rationality that can be distinguished from the “rational world paradigm”; is considered and rejected. Finally, the claim that the proper role of the expert in the public sphere is that of story teller is also considered and rejected.