cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Canopy Structure in Pseudotsuga menziesii Forests in the Southern Washington Cascades

We quantified stand-level structural diversity in eight stands of temperate coniferous forests that ranged in age from 50 to 950 years in the southern Washington Cascade Range. Stands were chosen based on the dominance, or former dominance in the case of the oldest stands, of Pseudotsuga menziesii. In addition, to avoid confusing patterns of structural development, only stands that had a single disturbance of origin were used. Within each stand, randomly located transects were laid out that were proportional in size to the dominant tree height. Tree heights and diameters ranged up to 90 m and 309 cm, respectively. A total of 5,737 trees among the 32 transects were mapped and measured for height, diameter, crown height, and four crown radii. The structure of the canopy in the younger stands is a simple, fairly even monolayer. This contrasts with the older stands, which have a very complex, highly diffuse canopy with extreme variability in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. The stands with the highest structural complexity were between 500 and 650 years old and retained from 17 to 76 Pseudotsuga stems/ha. Our oldest site had only one living Pseudotsuga/ha. Mean diameter of just the Pseudotsuga trees was less than 55 cm for stands less than 200 years and over 180 cm for the most complex old-growth stands. One measure of stand structural diversity, the standard deviation of dbh, ranged from less than 25 (stands less than 200 years) to values greater than 50 (most complex old-growth sites). A similar relationship exists when using the standard deviation of height. Large snags and logs important for wildlife were present only in the old-growth stands and were abundant in the most structurally diverse stands. FOR .S CI. 50(3):326 -341.
Molecular phylogeny of Pseudocapillaroides xenopi (Moravec et Cosgrov 1982) and development of a quantitative PCR assay for its detection in aquarium sediment.

We used high-fidelity PCR to amplify a portion of the small ribosomal subunit (18S rRNA) of Pseudocapillaroides xenopi, a nematode that parasitizes the skin of Xenopus laevis. The 1113-bp amplicon was cloned, sequenced, and aligned with sequences from 22 other nematodes in the order Trichocephalida; Caenorhabditis elegans was used as the outgroup. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference phylogenetic analyses clustered P. xenopi in a clade containing only members of the genus Capillaria. Our analyses support the following taxonomic relationships: 1) members of the family Trichuridae form a clade distinct from those in the family Trichocephalida; 2) members of the genera Trichuris and Capillaria form 2 distinct clades within the family Trichuridae; and 3) the genus Trichuris includes 2 distinct clades, one representing parasites that infect herbivores and the other representing parasites that infect omnivores and carnivores. Using 18S rRNA sequence unique to P. xenopi, we developed a TaqMan quantitative PCR assay to detect this P. xenopi sequence in total DNA isolated from aquarium sediment. The assay's lower limit of detection is 3 copies of target sequence in a reaction. The specificity of our assay was validated by using negative control DNA from 9 other pathogens of Xenopus. Our quantitative PCR assay detected P. xenopi DNA in the sediment of 2 of 12 aquaria from the source institution of the specimen used to develop the assay; these aquaria had been treated with ivermectin 6 mo previously.
Particulate matter in bubble oxygenators

The degree of contamination was evaluated in seven blood oxygenators in common use. The Bentley Q 100 unit was found to have the highest degree of particulate contamination and the Travenol 6LF the lowest. Evidence is presented in favor of adopting a micropore filtration and washing technique of the bubble oxygenator immediately before open-heart surgery. Vast amounts of particulate matter were removed from the seven types of blood oxygenators studied. The incidence of postoperative neurologic deficits decreased after the incorporation of this technique into the preparation of the heart-lung machine.
Cellular Signaling Networks

I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I always dread writing about cellular signaling. It’s a fascinating topic, but it’s always fabulously complex. The stories are never straightforward. I’d like to write simple, understandable stories, like: “Bob sent Mary an invitation to a party, so she went.” Cellular signaling stories, on the other hand, end up more like: “Bob sent Mary an invitation to a party, but Sam cut off the bottom of it so she couldn’t read the date, but Sally showed Mary her invitation, but there was a power failure and Mary couldn’t read it, but Sean brought a flashlight, so she ended up going.”
Somatic mutations in leukocytes infiltrating primary breast cancers

Malignant transformation requires the interaction of cancer cells with their microenvironment, including infiltrating leukocytes. However, somatic mutational studies have focused on alterations in cancer cells, assuming that the microenvironment is genetically normal. Because we hypothesized that this might not be a valid assumption, we performed exome sequencing and targeted sequencing to investigate for the presence of pathogenic mutations in tumor-associated leukocytes in breast cancers. We used targeted sequencing and exome sequencing to evaluate the presence of mutations in sorted tumor-infiltrating CD45-positive cells from primary untreated breast cancers. We used high-depth sequencing to determine the presence/absence of the mutations we identified in breast cancer-infiltrating leukocytes in purified tumor cells and in circulating blood cells. Capture-based sequencing of 15 paired tumor-infiltrating leukocytes and matched germline DNA identified variants in known cancer genes in all 15 primary breast cancer patients in our cohort. We validated the presence of mutations identified by targeted sequencing in infiltrating leukocytes through orthogonal exome sequencing. Ten patients harbored alterations previously reported as somatically acquired variants, including in known leukemia genes (DNTM3A, TET2, and BCOR). One of the mutations observed in the tumor-infiltrating leukocytes was also detected in the circulating leukocytes of the same patients at a lower allele frequency than observed in the tumor-infiltrating cells. Here we show that somatic mutations, including mutations in known cancer genes, are present in the leukocytes infiltrating a subset of primary breast cancers. This observation allows for the possibility that the cancer cells interact with mutant infiltrating leukocytes, which has many potential clinical implications. Blood cells that infiltrate breast cancers can harbor mutations that may affect progression of the cancer and its response to therapy. Larry Norton and co-workers at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, United States, analyzed DNA sequences in white blood cells — leukocytes — that had entered the breast cancer tissue of 15 untreated patients. In 14 out of 15 cases, the team identified mutations in these cells, including some affecting genes commonly mutated in hematological malignancies. Thus, the development of breast cancers may involve the interaction of primary breast cancer cells with mutant white blood cells. The possible influence of such interactions should therefore be considered during the investigation of breast cancers. Further study of the role of infiltrating mutant white blood cells could reveal new opportunities for prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer.
Toolset for SystemC code generation of heterogeneous platforms

This paper considers the toolset for code generation of system model of the platform and automatic code generation test bench for generated components of the platform. Description of platform architecture as input data for tools and a described list of possible component types are provided. The work-flow description, SystemC platform opportunities and SystemC test bench code generator are demonstrated.
Stimulus Control After Training with Fixed Interval and Variable Interval Schedules of Reinforcement

Rats received discrimination training where light-on was the S+ condition and light-off the S- condition. 2 Ss were trained with a fixed interval (FI) 30-sec. schedule with a limited hold of 5 sec. during S+, while 3 Ss were trained with a variable interval (VI) 30-sec. schedule during S+. Probe testing produced steeper generalization gradients for the FI trained Ss than for the VI trained Ss. Exp. 2 was conducted with 2 more VI Ss trained and tested in an identical manner to the FI Ss of Exp. 1. Gradients for the FI Ss of Exp. 1 were steeper than for those of the VI Ss of Exp. 2. Thus less stimulus control was exerted after training with VI than with FI schedules. The discriminative properties of reinforcement during the VI schedule competed with and thereby weakened S+ stimulus control. An alternate explanation in terms of changes in response patterns was discussed.
Twitter and Encountering Diversity: The Moderating Role of Network Diversity and Age in the Relationship Between Twitter Use and Crosscutting Exposure

This article investigates whether Twitter use motivations relate to exposure to discordant information. To this end, this research conducted an online survey of 1,350 adults of South Korea. The res...
Using a novel technology for disaster staff notification

Notification of backup staff and determining their ability to augment frontline staff is a major component of any disaster plan. However, the communication and organization of this effort has many challenges. These include communication system overload, the disaster setting, disrupted transportation, and staffing impacts on normal operations. An optimal disaster notification system must have the ability to be modified to include all hazards and the unique environment in which the plan is being made. This article highlights a unique disaster staff notification system using a novel technology, an outside administrator, and a multilayer system of redundant communication.
Prognostic biomarkers in patients with human immunodeficiency virus-positive disease with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background We examined the prognostic value of a panel of biomarkers in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive (HIV-positive head and neck cancer) and HIV negative (HIV-negative head and neck cancer). Methods Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed using tumors from 41 disease site-matched and age-matched HIV-positive head and neck cancer cases and 44 HIV-negative head and neck cancer controls. Expression of tumor biomarkers was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and correlations examined with clinical variables. Results Expression levels of the studied oncogenic and inflammatory tumor biomarkers were not differentially regulated by HIV status. Among patients with HIV-positive head and neck cancer, laryngeal disease site (P = .003) and Clavien-Dindo classification IV (CD4) counts <200 cells/μL (P = .01) were associated with poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis showed that p16 positivity was associated with improved overall survival (OS; P < .001) whereas increased expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) was associated with poor clinical outcome (P = .001). Conclusion Disease site has significant effect on the expression of biomarkers. Expression of tumor TGF-β could be a valuable addition to the conventional risk stratification equation for improving head and neck cancer disease management strategies.
Electric field assisted patterning of neuronal networks for the study of brain functions

It is estimated that about 18 million people worldwide suffer from dementia and it is projected to increase to about 35 million by the year 2025. All types of dementia occur due to an aberration in memory retention and development, caused by malfunctioning neurons. Experimental investigation of the dynamics of neuronal networks is a fundamental step towards understanding how the nervous system works. Activity-dependant modification of synaptic strength is widely recognized as the cellular basis of learning, memory and developmental plasticity. Understanding memory formation and development thus translates to changes in the electrical activity of the neurons. To map the changes in the electrical activity, it is essential to conduct in vitro studies on individual neurons. Hence, there is an enormous need to develop novel ways for the assembly of highly controled neuronal networks. To this end, we used a 5×5 multiple microelectrode array system to spatially arrange neurons by applying a combination of DC and AC fields. We characterized the electric field distribution inside our test platform by using 2-dimensional finite element modeling (FEM) and determined the location of neurons over the electrode array as well as the expected direction of neurite growth. As the first stage in forming a neuronal network, dielectrophoretic AC fields were utilized to separate the neurons from the glial cells and to position the neurons over the electrodes. DC fields were then applied to induce directed neurite growth and achieve network formation. The neurons were obtained from 18 days old rat embryos from wild type Rattus Norvegicus. The technique of using a combination of DC and AC electric fields to achieve network formation has implications in neural engineering, elucidating a new and simpler method to develop and study neuronal networks as compared to conventional microelectrode array techniques.
A survey of SNOMED CT direct users, 2010: impressions and preferences regarding content and quality.

Objective Little information exists concerning SNOMED CT (systematized nomenclature of medicine—clinical terms) users. This report describes current impressions and preferences of direct SNOMED CT users regarding coverage, quality, and concept details, and the change request mechanism. Design A 43-question anonymous survey distributed electronically to relevant online communities. Measurements Data on user demographic characteristics, modes and purposes of use, means and frequencies of access, satisfaction with SNOMED CT content coverage and quality and with the change request mechanism were recorded. Results The survey was conducted in January 2010 and elicited 215 responses. Details regarding users' profiles, modes of use and access were reported elsewhere. The coverage of SNOMED CT was perceived to be at least 85% complete by 42% of responders, and 60% were at least satisfied with its quality. Various deficiencies were encountered at least ‘somewhat often’ by 28–61% of responders. Incorrect data were more bothersome than missing data. Users indicated that significant resources should be allocated to more consistent and complete conceptual representations and to further enhance content coverage. Enhanced synonym coverage and the introduction of textual definitions were important to users (54% and 63%, respectively). Limitations A survey format with limited control over recruitment and selection bias. Lack of information regarding the SNOMED CT version used by responders. Conclusion Despite overall satisfaction, direct users indicated a strong desire to improve consistency, quality, and completeness of conceptual representations and concept details, as well as a continued desire to expand coverage. The survey provides much needed data for informed decisions regarding the use and development goals of SNOMED CT. Focused periodical surveys are warranted.
Sibling Incest: Time Limited Group as an Assessment and Treatment Planning Tool

When parents of incestuous siblings exhibit the capacity to adequately monitor their children and prevent further sexual activity, investigating authorities often keep the family intact and mandate treatment. The victim's safety then becomes a clinical concern. In the case study below, a group modality was used to evaluate the family preservation decision, to intervene, and to assess the likelihood of recidivism. Self disclosure by the therapist neutralized group resistance and led to the revelation of material necessary to make the final recommendations.
Scheduling software in public health practice: from book to bytes and back.

Although greater emphasis is being placed on public health information transfer, little is known about its implementation in the field. To better understand the information needs of the public health workforce, semi-structured interviews were conducted at a county public health department. Preliminary investigation revealed the underutilization of available scheduling software in this setting. Privacy concerns and idiosyncratic scheduling patterns may have interfered with the adoption of commercially available scheduling software.
Analysis of the Separator Thickness and Porosity on the Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries

In this paper, investigation on the effect of separator thickness and porosity on the performance of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are analyzed. In recent years there have been intensive efforts to improve the performance of the lithium-ion batteries. Separators are important component of lithium-ion batteries since they isolate the electrodes and prevent electrical short-circuits. Separators are also used as an electrolyte reservoir which is used as a medium for ions transfer during charge and discharge. Electrochemical performance of the batteries is highly dependent on the material, structure, and separators used. This paper compares the effects of material properties and the porosity of the separator on the performance of lithium-ion batteries. Four different separators, polypropylene (PP) monolayer and polypropylene/polyethylene/polypropylene (PP/PE/PP) trilayer, with the thickness of 20 μm and 25 μm and porosities of 41%, 45%, 48%, and 50% were used for testing. It was found that PP separator with porosity of 41% and PP/PE/PP separator of 45% porosity perform better compared to other separators.
Unfavorable Socioeconomic Factors Underlie High Rates of Hospitalization for Complicated Thyrotoxicosis in Some Regions of the United States

Objective: The authors' institution - a safety net, university, and tertiary-care hospital located in West Texas - has a high number of hospital admissions for complicated thyrotoxicosis. It was hypothesized that unfavorable socioeconomic conditions result in increased risk of poor outcomes in hyperthyroid patients, and increased rates of hospitalization for thyrotoxicosis in West Texas. The primary aim of this study was to identify factors associated with admission for complicated thyrotoxicosis in patients living in the Panhandle and Llano Estacado of Texas. Method: A retrospective chart review of patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis evaluated at the authors' institution from January 2011 to January 2017. Patients were divided into two groups: a hospitalized group, consisting of patients who required hospitalization for complicated thyrotoxicosis, and an outpatient group. Demographics, clinical, and biochemical data were reviewed to identify factors associated with hospitalization for complicated thyrotoxicosis. Results: The hospitalized group consisted of 80 patients, and the outpatient group consisted of 294 patients. Thyrotoxicosis accounted for 0.05% of all-cause hospital admissions during the study period. Patients with thyrotoxicosis and a lack of health insurance had 12 times higher odds of being hospitalized for complicated thyrotoxicosis compared to patients with commercial insurance. Conversely, the odds of hospitalization for complicated thyrotoxicosis were reduced by 63% in patients with a higher median income, and by 33% in those with college or university studies versus high school studies. Thirty-two percent of patients hospitalized for complicated thyrotoxicosis presented with thyroid storm, and this accounted for 7% of the studied cohort. Conclusion: Socioeconomic conditions are the main factors associated with the odds of being admitted to a hospital in West Texas for complicated thyrotoxicosis, including thyroid storm. Patients without healthcare insurance have higher odds of admission, while patients with higher education and living in areas of higher income have lower odds of hospital admission due to thyrotoxicosis.
Solving the Structure and Dynamics of Metal Nanoparticles by Combining X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy and Atomistic Structure Simulations.

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy is a premiere method for analysis of the structure and structural transformation of nanoparticles. Extraction of analytical information...
Minimally invasive microwave ablation provides excellent long-term outcomes for otherwise inaccessible hepatocellular cancer.

Background and objectives Thermal ablation can be used as a bridge to transplant or with curative intent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report our experience with laparoscopic ablation of HCC in patients deemed inaccessible by the percutaneous approach. Methods We performed a retrospective review of surgical ablations from 2009 to 2017. Patient demographics, disease and treatment characteristics, and outcomes were abstracted from the medical record. Kaplan-Meier modeling was performed for survival and recurrence. Results Thirty-three patients were included with a median age of 62 (interquartile range [IQR], 57-67). Most patients were male (76%) and Caucasian (70%). Ninety-seven percent had underlying cirrhosis. Median model for end stage liver disease-sodium was 9.5 (IQR, 8-12). The median maximal diameter of ablated lesions was 2.6 cm (IQR, 1.8-3.0). Thirty-nine lesions were ablated; 97% were completed laparoscopically. The median maximal diameter of the ablation zone was 4.8 cm (IQR, 3.8-5.7) with a median difference of ablation zone to the tumor of 2.0 cm (IQR, 1.5-2.75). Twelve patients received additional treatment. Median disease-free survival was 66.7 months and median follow-up 42.9 months. Disease recurrence occurred in 13 patients (39%)-systemic recurrence in 6%, intrahepatic recurrence in 27% and local recurrence in 6%. Conclusion Laparoscopic thermal ablation of HCC is safe and provides good oncologic outcomes for otherwise inaccessible tumors.
The Principle of Duality: Synchrony and Diachrony

According to the official view of Saussure’s linguistics later enshrined in structuralism, the proper object of study is language viewed as a system (la langue). This view is established in the Course in General Linguistics in part by overstating the separation between la langue and la parole to create an impression of a quasi-natural, steep hierarchy that elevated the former above the latter. A similar argument can be made regarding synchrony and diachrony. While the editorial presentation partially agrees with the source materials in that it ties synchrony and diachrony to the two available perspectives on language (langage), it overstates the separation between synchronic and diachronic study. It construes their relation as a hierarchical dualism rather than as an essential duality, and it problematically attributes a properly scientific status to synchrony alone. As a result, the conceptual complexity of Saussure’s reflections on linguistic methodology is sacrificed for the sake of a more manageable, yet ultimately reductive, scientific program. The interrelation between synchrony and diachrony is cast as an essential horizontal duality in the linguist’s Nachlass; language study is here characterized by self-reflexivity and conceptual complexity.
Vascular Air Emboli During the Perioperative Period

Vascular air embolism is of particular concern to the anesthesiologist. The unique combination of factors encountered during procedures requiring sedation or general anesthesia increases the risk for its occurrence. Air embolism can have devastating consequences and result in morbidity and even mortality. Prevention and early diagnosis are key in mitigating the effects of this event. This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of the current knowledge and new developments in vascular air embolism. Our understanding of procedures during which vascular air embolism can occur has expanded. Increased implementation of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for non-cardiac surgeries has made echocardiography one of the most versatile intraoperative diagnostic methods. Treatment is mostly limited to prevention of further air entrainment, supportive care, and resuscitation. Vascular air emboli can frequently be prevented using meticulous attention in handling indwelling vascular catheters and surgical technique. If, despite precautions, a vascular air embolus occurs, rapid diagnosis can aid in implementation of actions that prevent further air entrainment, support cardiopulmonary function, and mitigate the effect of the air embolus present in the vascular system.
BBOX1 promotes triple-negative breast cancer progression by controlling IP3R3 stability

Limited therapeutic options impede the clinical outcome of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our recent study uncovered a novel signaling pathway implicating gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase 1 (BBOX1) in the control of cell growth in TNBC, via inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptor type 3 (IP3R3) mediated calcium signaling which is essential for cellular energy metabolism.
Candida auris Colonization After Discharge to a Community Setting: New York City, 2017-2019.

Background Patients colonized with multidrug-resistant Candida auris and discharged to a community setting can subsequently seek care in a different healthcare facility and might be a source of nosocomial transmission of C auris. Methods We designed a case management pilot program for a cohort of New York City residents who had a history of positive C auris culture identified during clinical or screening activities in healthcare settings and discharged to a community setting during 2017-2019. Approximately every 3 months, case managers coordinated C auris colonization assessments, which included swabs of groin, axilla, and body sites yielding C auris previously. Patients eligible to become serially negative were those with ≥2 C auris colonization assessments after initial C auris identification. Clinical characteristics of serially negative and positive patients were compared. Results The cohort included 75 patients. Overall, 45 patients were eligible to become serially negative and had 552 person-months of follow-up. Of these 45 patients, 28 patients were serially negative (62%; rate 5.1/100 person-months), 8 were serially positive, and 9 could not be classified as either. There were no clinical characteristics that were significantly different between serially negative and positive patients. The median time from initial C auris identification to being serially negative at assessments was 8.6 months (interquartile range, 5.7-10.8 months). Conclusions A majority of patients, assessed at least twice after C auris identification, no longer had C auris detectable on serial colonization assessments.
Productivity Improvement From Using Machine Buffers in Dual-Gripper Cluster Tools

Cluster tools (also referred to as robotic cells) are extensively used in semiconductor wafer fabrication. We consider the problem of scheduling operations in an m -machine cluster tool that produces identical parts (wafers). Each machine is equipped with a unit-capacity input buffer and a unit-capacity output buffer. The machines and buffers are served by a dual-gripper robot. Each wafer is processed on each of the m machines, and the objective is to find a cyclic sequence of robot moves that minimizes the long-run average time to produce a part or, equivalently, maximizes the throughput. We first obtain a tight upper bound on the optimal throughput and then use this bound to obtain an asymptotically optimal sequence under conditions that are common in practice. Next, we quantify the improvement in productivity that can be realized from the use of unit-capacity input and output buffers at the machines. Finally, we illustrate our analysis on cluster tools with realistic parameters, based on our work with a Dallas-based semiconductor equipment manufacturer.
Why we can’t talk openly about race: The impact of race and partisanship on respondents’ perceptions of intergroup conversations:

Conversations about race-specific issues with interracial conversation partners can be important to combat prejudice and foster mutual understanding. Using a national U.S. sample of 201 Black Democ...
AN ECONOMIC STUDY ON FARM INCOME DISTRIBUTION IN SOME GOVERNORATES OF EGYPT

The study aims to recognize levels and resources of farm income, also to determine the percentage of family farm under poverty line and to measure the parameters of statistical distribution of income. The study depended on the suitable economic and statistical tools for achieving the study target . The study depended on questionnaire data collected 2006, using multiple duster sampling technique. The sample covered six governorates. The chosen sample divided into three dasses: less than I. feddan, (1-3) feddans, and (3-5) feddans . The study showed that, the annual net farm income for the first dass is about 855 LE, while it readied 1818 LE for the second Bass and about 1839 LE for the third . Generally, farm income in Delta is more than the farm income in Upper Egypt, plant production Is the main resource for income and animal production considered a secondary income specially in Upper Egypt. The study also showed that in 2006 the limit of poverty line is about 7220 LE and 72% of sample farms are under this line (79% of Upper Egypt, 64% of Delta). Also 89%, 66%, 21% of sample farms in the three cases are under poverty line.. The Study results indicated that the increase of inequality farm income degree created the high percent of farms under poverty line limit, therefore, it was necessity for farm family to work outside its farm to satisfy its necessary needs. Also the study focused on completing the policy reform programs for improving income distribution and insuring the social safety of farmers.
The Great Going Forth: The Expulsion of West Semitic Speakers from Egypt

The memory of a southward descent to northeast Africa, apparently sometime in the Bronze Age, by West Semitic-speaking peoples, coupled with a great going forth four generations later, is indelibly marked in the folk memory of the ancient Near East. In unlikely places, from Saite Egypt to Phoenicia and Greece, and in the Hebrew prophets, traces of the movement have crept into the mix of reminiscence and survived in myth and legend, if only in “one-liners.” The recollection, however vague, sometimes contradictory and distorted, is best known from the descent tradition of Gen. 37–50 and the tradition of Exodus 1–15; but neither text by any means has claim to a prime, authoritative position among the several versions. Far from being an account centered upon a believable and identifiable “Egypt,” Exodus 1–15 should better be labeled by the appellative “Moses: The Shepherd from the East.” Moses “The Egyptian” is nowhere in evidence. We shall explore the traditions as we have them and try to ascertain their roots in time and space. The “Osarseph” and “Bocchoris” tradition foci will be dissected as well as the role of the central Delta in complementing Biblical tradition of the sixth to fourth centuries BC. In terms of plot patterns, dramatis personae, and backdrop, it will soon appear that any attempts to interpret the Biblical material historically and to fix a date in the New Kingdom are illusory.
Public Consensus as Constitutional Authority

Barry Friedman’s new book The Will of the People attempts to dissolve constitutional law’s countermajoritarian difficulty by showing that, in practice, the Supreme Court does only what the public will tolerate. His account succeeds if “the countermajoritarian difficulty” refers to the threat that courts will run the country in ways that contravene majority preference, but not if the “the countermajoritarian difficulty” refers to the need to explain the legitimate sources of judicial authority in cases where decisions do contravene majority preference. Friedman’s book does not pursue the second possibility, and may suggest that doing so is unimportant, in part because of the limited latitude that public opinion gives the Court and in part because of skepticism about the enterprise of constitutional interpretation. This Essay argues that Supreme Court decisionmaking is important despite being constrained by public opinion and that the constraint of public opinion should sometimes be understood as an aspect of constitutional interpretation rather than as an alternative to it. Public opinion that approaches consensus is better understood as a contributing factor in the calculus of arriving at correct constitutional outcomes than as a force demonstrating the limits (or impossibility) of authentic constitutional interpretation.
Effect of pharmaceutical care on optimum colestipol treatment in elderly hypercholesterolemic veterans.

We conducted a prospective trial to determine whether a formal, integrated pharmaceutical care plan can enhance patient acceptance and compliance with colestipol therapy and improve outcomes. Forty patients with hypercholesterolemia were equally divided and assigned to either a usual care or pharmaceutical care group. In the pharmaceutical care group compared with the usual care group, after 52 weeks, colestipol therapy resulted in a greater reduction in total cholesterol (12.5% vs 7.3%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; 16% vs 9.4%), and LDL-C:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (24.4% vs 12.2%, p<0.05). The percentage of patients who achieved their LDL-C goal at week 52 was much greater in the pharmaceutical care group (29.4%) than in the usual care group (5.0%, p<0.05). Comanagement by a physician and a pharmacist of hypercholesterolemic veterans treated with colestipol can enhance patient acceptance of the drug, LDL-C reduction, and achievement of therapeutic goals.
Vitamin A deficiency alters the expression of mucin genes by the rat ocular surface epithelium.

PURPOSE. To study effects of depletion of retinoic acid on expression of the mucins ASGP (rMuc4), rMuc5AC, and rMuc1, by the corneal and conjunctival epithelia of the rat. METHODS. Nineteen-day-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed a casein-based vitamin A- deficient diet or casein-based diet with vitamin A as control. Rats from both groups were killed at 1, 3, 5, 13, 15, 18, and 20 weeks after initiation of feeding. Expression of the three mucin genes by the ocular surface epithelium was assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization. RESULTS. In vitamin A-deficient rats, ASGP mRNA was not detected by RT-PCR after 15 weeks of feeding, rMuc5AC mRNA was detected by RT-PCR at 15 weeks, but by 18 and 20 weeks was no longer detectable. By in situ hybridization, ASGP mRNA was localized in the entire ocular surface epithelium after 1 week of feeding, was diminished but detectable above background by 13 weeks, and was not detectable at 20 weeks, rMuc5AC mRNA was detected in the goblet cells of vitamin A-deficient rats by in situ hybridization at 13 weeks, but was lost by 20 weeks, as were identifiable goblet cells, rMuc1 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR through all time points of 1 to 20 weeks in both vitamin A-deficient and control rats, indicating no significant change in rMuc1 mRNA expression with vitamin A deficiency. CONCLUSIONS. Both the membrane-spanning mucin ASGP (rMuc4) and the secretory mucin rMuc5AC are directly or indirectly regulated by vitamin A in the ocular surface epithelium, whereas the membrane-spanning mucin rMuc1 is not.
ICE CORE RECORDS | Correlations Between Greenland and Antarctica

Ice core and other records from the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere reveal repeated abrupt warmings and coolings during the last Ice Age. The search for analogous events elsewhere finds a mosaic of millennial and submillenial climate variability, but the lack of accurate chronology often limits the power of these observations for testing mechanisms. Ice core records from Antarctica have a unique advantage in this regard because accurate relative chronologies with respect to Greenland can be created using records of well-mixed atmospheric gases. This article reviews what has been learned about climate change during the last Ice Age by accurately comparing Antarctic and Greenlandic ice core records on millennial time scales.
Formal Specification and Verification of a Fault-Masking and Transient-Recovery Model for Digital Flight-Control Systems

The formal specification and mechanically checked verification for a model of fault-masking and transient-recovery among the replicated computers of digital flight-control systems are presented. The verification establishes, subject to certain carefully stated assumptions, that faults among the component computers are masked so that commands sent to the actuators are the same as those that would be sent by a single computer that suffers no failures.
A Detailed Examination of the Translation Efficiency of Fiber Strength into Composite Strength

This work deals with the relationships between the strengths of fiber, fiber bundle and a unidirectionally reinforced fiber composite. A factor designated as the surviving fiber ratio is introduced...
A workshop on self-evaluation for programs serving adolescent parents.

(1974). A Workshop on Self-Evaluation for Programs Serving Adolescent Parents. School Health Review: Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 40-41.
Somaesthetics and Chinese Philosophy: Between Unity and Pragmatist Pluralism

Responding to three articles in a symposium dedicated to my research in somaesthetics, this paper explores a variety of themes connecting my theories with classical Chinese philosophy. The symposium topics discussed here range from the ontology of body-mind and world to the ethics of somaesthetic self-cultivation, and then to the somaesthetic meanings of our practices of erotics and of eating. The paper shows how the pragmatist orientation of somaesthetics reconciles values of unity with those of difference and how key ideas of somaesthetics intersect, in different ways, with both Confucian and Daoist thought.
On the existence and uniqueness of positive steady states in the volterra-lotka ecological models with diffusion

Using the theory of quasimonotone increasing systems developed by P. J. McKenna and W. Walter, we give a rather detailed analysis of the steady state solutions for the Volterra-Lotka model of two cooperating species, and prove some new nonexistence results for the competing species case. We indicate generalizations to the case of n > 2 species
Adsorption of 4 He, Ar, and N 2 on exfoliated graphite and of 4 He on Ar-coated exfoliated graphite at low temperatures

The results of measurements of adsorption isotherms are given for 4 He, Ar, and N 2 on bare exfoliated graphite (“Grafoil”) and for 4 He on Grafoil covered with a monolayer of argon. The temperatures employed were 77.3 K for the argon and N 2 , and the range 4.2–18.55 K for the4He. The pressure range was from 0.25 to 150 Torr. The Grafoil surface area was calculated from the argon isotherm at 77.3 K, yielding a value of 19.9 m 2 /g or a total surface area of 672 m 2 for the 33.81 g of adsorbent used in these experiments. From the 4 He isotherms the isosteric heats of adsorptionQ st /R were calculated. In the limit of zero coverage,Q st /R on the argon monolayer was 82 K, and on the bare GrafoilQ st /R lies between 130 and 170 K. At theoretical monolayer coverage on the argon-coated GrafoilQ st /T=68 K. These results are compared with theoretical evaluations and with previous calorimetric data on other graphites.
A Socioemotional Perspective for Understanding Social Difficulties of School-Age Children With Language Disorders

Recent research clearly has established that many school-age children with language disabilities have significant socioemotional problems. These children likely make up a significant portion of the caseload of school speech-language pathologists. This article provides a perspective for recognizing, understanding, and treating the social behavior problems of children with language disorders who have or who are at risk for developing emotional or behavioral disorders. This view is derived from studies of social and emotional development of children who are normally developing and those who are socioemotionally challenged.
AM/AG MODEL: A HIERARCHICAL SOCIAL SYSTEM METAPHOR FOR DISTRIBUTED PROBLEM SOLVING

This work explores a distributed problem solving (DPS) approach, namely the AM/AG (Amplification/Aggregation) model. The AM/AG model is a hierarchic social system metaphor for DPS based on Mintzberg’s model of organizations. At the core of the model are information flow mechanisms, namely, amplification and aggregation. Amplification is a process of decomposing a given task, called an agenda, into a set of subtasks with magnified degree of specificity and distributing them to multiple processing units downward in the hierarchy. Aggregation is a process of combining the results reported from multiple processing units into a unified view, called a resolution, and promoting the conclusion upward in the hierarchy. Amplification is discussed in detail. A set of generative rules is introduced. Each rule specifies a set of actions for transforming an input agenda into other forms with higher specificity. The proposed model can be used to account for the memory recall process which makes associations between vast amounts of related concepts, sorts out the combined results, and promotes the most plausible ones. An example of memory recall is used to illustrate the model.
Transformational Teaching: An Examination of Classroom Leadership

The diversity and complexity of American Higher Education prevents many students from recognizing their full academic potentials. Transforming average and below-average students into highly committed, motivated learners should be a primary goal of educators. How do we, as college educators, inspire students to become self-active, enthusiastic learners? The management concepts of transformational leadership are analyzed and applied to this question.
The Logic of Confusion

Because I am color blind, I routinely wear mismatched socks and clashing colors (or so I am told). Those who know about my visual deficiencies do not hold me responsible for these fashion mistakes. They may tell me where I've gone wrong, but they do not censure me for sloppiness or lack of a fashion sense, as they might if I had normal color vision. It is tempting to tell a similar story about the charity due those who have "taken two things to be one" and confused them in their thought and talk. When their confusion leads them to make inferential mistakes that would ordinarily be grounds for harsh criticism (like equivocation or misjudging the weight of the evidence), we go easy on them. We acknowledge that the arguments they have given are bad, but we excuse them for having given them. If Joe Camp is right, however, this analogy is profoundly misleading: taking someone to have confused two things is not at all like taking someone to be color-blind. To say that Fred has confused Ant A and Ant B is not to describe Fred's mental state, but to take a normative position on how Fred's reasoning ought to be appraised. And the position is not that Fred should be excused for making certain inferential mistakes (for example, equivocating), but rather that he should be understood paternalistically as unable to make these mistakes in the first place. What this requires, according to Camp, is that we refrain from assigning truth values to Fred's confused claims and evaluate his inferences for validity using a fourvalued epistemic semantics.1 The details are fascinating, and we will get to them shortly. But first, a little reflection on how the game begins.
Aluminum Nanostructured Films as Substrates for Enhanced Fluorescence in the Ultraviolet-Blue Spectral Region

Particulate aluminum films of varied thicknesses were deposited on quartz substrates by thermal evaporation. These nanostructured substrates were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With the increase of aluminum thickness, the films progress from particulate toward smooth surfaces as observed by SEM images. To date, metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) has primarily been observed in the visible−NIR wavelength region using silver or gold island films or roughened surfaces. We now show that fluorescence could also be enhanced in the ultraviolet-blue region of the spectrum using nanostructured aluminum films. Two probes, one in the ultraviolet and another one in the blue spectral region, have been chosen for the present study. We observed increased emission, decrease in fluorescence lifetime, and increase in photostability of a DNA base analogue 2-aminopurine and a coumarin derivative (7-HC) in 10-nm spin-casted poly(vinyl alcohol) film on Al nanostructured surfaces. The fluorescence enhancemen...
Pretreatment brain activation during stroop task is associated with outcomes in cocaine-dependent patients.

Background Cognitive behavioral and related therapies for cocaine dependence may exert their effects, in part, by enhancing cognitive control over drug use behavior. No prior studies have systematically examined the neural correlates of cognitive control as related to treatment outcomes for cocaine dependence. Methods Twenty treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent individuals performed a Stroop color-word interference task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) prior to initiating treatment. The primary outcome measures were percent of urine drug screens negative for cocaine, percent days abstinent, and treatment retention. Correlations between regional brain activation during Stroop task performance and treatment outcome measures were analyzed. Results During Stroop performance, individuals activated brain regions similar to those reported in nonaddicted individuals, including the anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, parietal lobule, insula, and striatum. Activations at treatment onset correlated differentially with specific outcomes: longer duration of self-reported abstinence correlated with activation of ventromedial prefrontal cortex, left posterior cingulate cortex, and right striatum; percent drug-free urine screens correlated with striatal activation; and treatment retention correlated with diminished activation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. A modest correlation between Stroop effect and treatment retention was found. Conclusions The functions of specific brain regions underlying cognitive control relate differentially to discrete outcomes for the treatment of cocaine dependence. These findings implicate neurocircuitry underlying cognitive control in behavioral treatment outcome and provide insight into the mechanisms of behavioral therapies for cocaine dependence. They also suggest neural activation patterns during cognitive control tasks are more sensitive predictors of treatment response than behavioral measures.
Update on fenofibrate

Fenofibrate is a fibric acid derivative that has been marketed since the mid-1970's (1998 in the United States). Its active metabolite, fenofibric acid, is responsible for the primary pharmacodynamic effects of the drug: reductions in total plasma cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein concentrations and increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoproteins AI and AII concentrations. These effects are mediated by activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR(alpha)). The drug has broad spectrum utility, with documented efficacy in Fredrickson types IIa, IIb, III, IV, and V hyperlipidemias. Fenofibrate is well tolerated, with digestive and musculoskeletal side effects similar to those of other fibrates. Results of the initial cardiovascular morbidity/mortality outcomes study with fenofibrate (known as DAIS [Diabetes Atherosclerosis Intervention Study]) were encouraging vis-a-vis slowing of atherosclerotic progression in the coronary vasculature of type II diabetics. The results of other ongoing outcome trials are eagerly awaited. These results will help to establish the overall place of fenofibrate in the hypolipidemic armamentarium.