cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of adherence factors and human bile on bacterial attachment and biliary stent blockage: an in vitro study.

Abstract Background: Bacterial attachment plays an important role in the initiation of biliary sludge formation and stent blockage. In vitro studies were conducted to determine the effects of adherence factors, namely pili and glycocalyx production, and culture media, including brain heart infusion broth, modified Vogel and Bonner medium, and human bile, on the adherence of Escherichia coli to plastic stents. Methods: Clinical isolates of E coli with different adherence mechanisms, that is, piliated (P+) or nonpiliated (P−), glycocalyx producing (G+) and nonglycocalyx producing (G−), were obtained from clogged stents. Adherence studies were conducted by using the modified Robbins device, and stents were removed at regular intervals to determine the number of attached bacteria/cm 2 with the viable plate count method. Polyethylene stents were used to compare the adherence curves of E coli with different adherence factors in brain heart infusion broth. The effects of different culture media on the adherence of P+G+ E coli to polyethylene stents were determined. In addition, the adherence of P+G+ E coli to different plastics in brain heart infusion broth and human bile was compared. Results: P+G+ E coli adhered better than P−G+ and P−G− E coli to polyethylene stents. Modified Vogel and Bonner medium, which stimulates glycocalyx production, enhanced the attachment of P+G+ E coli , whereas human bile decreased E coli attachment to polyethylene stents, despite an increase in glycocalyx production. There was a difference in adherence of P+G+ E coli to polyethylene, polyurethane, and Teflon stents in brain heart infusion broth, but the differences were nullified in the presence of human bile. Conclusions: P+G+ E coli with both adherence factors adhere best to plastic stents. Media such as modified Vogel and Bonner medium that stimulate glycocalyx production also enhance bacterial attachment. The toxic effects of bile salts in human bile on the bacteria might alter the adherence mechanism and reduce E coli attachment. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;56:72-7.)
Antenatal Depression: Navigating the Treatment Dilemmas

“Ms. A” was a 35-year-old married Caucasian health care professional with a history of recurrent major depressive disorder that responded well to treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). She discontinued her antidepressant prior to conception for a planned pregnancy because she did not want to expose her baby to medication. She soon relapsed, and by the first trimester of her pregnancy, she was in a major depressive episode. Her symptoms included anhedonia, tearfulness, irritability, insomnia, and diminished appetite. She presented for participation in an open-label pilot trial of omega-3 fatty acids for antenatal major depressive disorder (1). At intake, after hearing the risks and benefits of available treatment options, Ms. A declined antidepressant medication and a referral for psychotherapy and consented to participate in the study of omega-3 fatty acids, which she started at 16 weeks’ gestation. She was assessed every 2 weeks throughout pregnancy. At 8 weeks she had not responded to omega-3 fatty acids and was again presented with other treatment options, including medication and psychotherapy. She again declined these treatments and continued to do so throughout the remainder of her pregnancy. She was concerned about the safety of medications in pregnancy and believed that taking medication would make her a bad mother. She also declined referral for psychotherapy, stating that she was “too busy.”
Break on Through to the Other Side of the Glass Ceiling

A legendary and very successful Madison Avenue adman, David Ogilvy, was once quoted as saying, “The consumer is not a moron, she is your wife” (Landler, 1992). This type of statement was commonplace twenty to thirty years ago and summed up the sentiments of what was believed by many to be women's contribution to society ‐ going shopping for the family. While this statement may have had some truth to it decades ago, the perception as to where women stand in our society have evolved immensely. Today, women are not only the consumers to which marketing is directed, they are the ones implementing the marketing and running the companies. One example of this evolution of women's role in the work place is that of Jill Barad. She climbed through the ranks of Mattel Inc., headed the very successful Barbie division, and later became president of Mattel in 1990 (Schine, 1992). Another success story worth mentioning is that of Joan Lappin who is president of Gramercy Capital Management Corporation. Lappin fought her way through the male‐dominated investment world of Wall Street to become one of the most respected money makers in the industry (Marcial, 1992). While these two success stories, along with countless numbers of similar stories, are encouraging for women, still, they do not represent the norm with regard to women's ability to climb up the corporate ladder. Biases, prejudices, and downright discrimination have created what some have termed a “glass ceiling”. Therefore, we need to ask whether or not women have the same opportunities as men in rising through the ranks with respect to both promotions and pay, or whether their efforts are being thwarted by this so‐called glass ceiling?
Digital simulation of analog computation and Church's thesis

Church's thesis, that all reasonable definitions of “computability” are equivalent, is not usually thought of in terms of computability by a continuous computer, of which the general-purpose analog computer (GPAC) is a prototype. Here we prove, under a hypothesis of determinism, that the analytic outputs of a C ∞ GPAC are computable by a digital computer. In [POE, Theorems 5, 6, 7, and 8], Pour-El obtained some related results. (The proof there of Theorem 7 depends on her Theorem 2, for which the proof in [POE] is incorrect, but for which a correct proof is given in [LIR]. Also, the proof in [POE] of Theorem 8 depends on the unproved assertion that a solution of an algebraic differential equation must be analytic on an open subset of its domain. However, this assertion was later proved in [BRR].) As in [POE], we reduce the problem to a problem about solutions of certain systems of algebraic differential equations (ADE's). If such a system is nonsingular (i.e. if the “separant” does not vanish along the given solution), then the argument is very easy (see [VSD] for an even simpler situation), so that the essential difficulties arise from singular systems. Our main tools in handling these difficulties are drawn from the excellent (and difficult) paper [DEL] by Denef and Lipshitz. The author especially wants to thank Leonard Lipshitz for his kind help in the preparation of the present paper. We emphasize here that our proof of the simulation result applies only to the GPAC as described below. The GPAC's form a natural subclass of the class of all analog computers, and are based on certain idealized components (“black boxes”), mostly associated with the technology of past decades. One can easily envisage other kinds of black boxes of an input-output character that would lead to different kinds of analog computers. (For example, one could incorporate delays, or spatial integrators in addition to the present temporal integrators, etc.) Whether digital simulation is possible for these “extended” analog computers poses a rich and challenging set of research questions.
Chemical-shift MRI of rebound thymic hyperplasia with unusual appearance and intense 18F-FDG uptake in adulthood: report of two cases

Abstract Rebound thymic hyperplasia (RTH) with increased 18 F-FGD uptake at positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) is typical of pediatric patients after chemotherapy, although it may occasionally occur in adults. At CT, RTH usually appears as a diffusely enlarged thymus with areas of fatty attenuation. We report two cases of RTH in adults detected at follow-up: both showed unusual morphology on CT and were confirmed at PET-CT as areas of strongly increased radiopharmaceutical uptake, which suggested disease recurrence. Chemical-shift magnetic resonance imaging, however, demonstrated fat infiltration within the tissue. Such finding was consistent with the diagnosis of RTH and was paramount in preventing unnecessary invasive procedures or treatments.
A dynamic approximation of balanced gymnastics landings

A gymnast can balance after an uneven parallel bar dismount by contacting the ground with an appropriate body position and angular velocity. Balanceable gymnastics landings were predicted by dividing landing into two parts: a short duration impact phase when foot-mat contact forces are high, and a subsequent longer balancing phase during which the gymnast exerts active control at the joints to attenuate the resulting post-impact velocities and achieve a desired motionless terminal configuration. This paper identifies controllable sets of pre-impact landing positions and velocities for a typical female collegiate gymnast that are feasible targets for the end of flight following a single- and double-backward somersault uneven bar dismount with forward mass centre (CM) velocity. Simple algebraic impulse-momentum models for the impact phase determine impulses necessary to stop the feet and slow angular velocity. After impact, a dynamic analysis is needed to determine stability because non-negligible post-impact angular and linear velocities are possible. For almost all successfully balanced landings, ground contact occurs with the CM positioned above the feet and between the toe and heel, because the linear impact impulses that stop the feet also contribute to an angular impulse that slows angular momentum. Only at the largest pre-impact angular velocities following a double-somersault dismount can contact occur with the CM in front of the toe. The gymnast is in balanceable preimpact orientations longer when rotating more slowly and with a smaller angular momentum; therefore balance may be more likely after performing a single-somersault dismount with a large moment of inertia.
Observations of foraging on taproots of invasive thistles by prairie voles

Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) feed primarily on leaves and stems of forbs and grasses and to a lesser extent on plant roots and seeds, and arthropods (Fleharty and Olson 1969; Kaufman and Bixler 1995; Menhusen 1963; Zimmerman 1965). As these investigators have noted, the species eaten by prairie voles include grasses such as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and forbs such as fireweed (Kochia scoparia), curly dock (Rumex crispus), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). As part of our interest in the mammals of the mixed-grass prairie region of north-central Kansas, we continue to record natural history observations made in native and anthropogenic habitats. Herein, we report an unusual observation of prairie voles foraging on the taproots of invasive thistles, both musk thistle (Carduus nutans) and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare).
Structure–Activity Studies on Organoselenium Alkylating Agents

A variety of organoselenium alkylating agents were synthesized, using 2-hydroxyethyl and 3-hydroxypropyl selenocyanate intermediates, and studied to determine their chemical reactivities with 4-(4-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP) and cytotoxicities against CCRF-CEM, L1210/0, and L1210/L-PAM cells. The comparison between the 2-chloroethyl sulfides and selenides 1–4 revealed the markedly enhanced nucleophilicity of selenium (Se) over sulfur (S) by two or more orders of magnitude. This finding indicates that a major consideration in the design of antitumor alkylating organoselenides is the reactivity of selenium. A Taft plot of the experimental first-order rate constant, knbp, and σ* in a series of 2-chloroethylseleno compounds gave a slope of −1.73 (ρ*), with the exception of 2-chloroethyl 2-nitrophenyl selenide (10). The anomalous behavior of 10 is explained in terms of the ortho–nitro stabilization effect directly interacting with the selenium atom of ethyleneselenonium ion to form a 5-membered cyclic intermediate. In the same series, a 5000-fold difference in alkylating reactivity offered only a sixfold variation in cytotoxicity against CCRF-CEM cells. Increasing the alkylating chain length from ethylene to propylene units markedly reduced alkylating reactivities. In the CH3Se(CH2)nCI series, 16 (n = 3) was 1.5 × 105 times slower than 2 (n = 2) in NBP alkylation, revealing that 3-chloro-n-propyl selenides are not chemically reactive enough to be biological alkylating agents despite the presence of the highly nucleophilic selenium atom. Replacement of chloride with mesylate in 3-substituted propyl selenides, such as 17 and 20, restored desirable reactivities and cytotoxicities.
Healthcare: A complex service system

Healthcare is indeed a complex service system, one requiring the technobiology approach of systems engineering to underpin its development as an integrated and adaptive system. In general, healthcare services are carried out with knowledge-intensive agents or components which work together as providers and consumers to create or co-produce value. Indeed, the engineering design of a healthcare system must recognize the fact that it is actually a complex integration of human-centered activities that is increasingly dependent on information technology and knowledge. Like any service system, healthcare can be considered to be a combination or recombination of three essential components — people (characterized by behaviors, values, knowledge, etc.), processes (characterized by collaboration, customization, etc.) and products (characterized by software, hardware, infrastructures, etc.). Thus, a healthcare system is an integrated and adaptive set of people, processes and products. It is, in essence, a system of systems which objectives are to enhance its efficiency (leading to greater interdependency) and effectiveness (leading to improved health). Integration occurs over the physical, temporal, organizational and functional dimensions, while adaptation occurs over the monitoring, feedback, cybernetic and learning dimensions. In sum, such service systems as healthcare are indeed complex, especially due to the uncertainties associated with the human-centered aspects of these systems. Moreover, the system complexities can only be dealt with methods that enhance system integration and adaptation.
Three-Dimensional Evolution of Simulated Long-Lived Squall Lines

Abstract Simulations of squall lines, using nonhydrostatic convection-resolving models, have been limited to two dimensions or three dimensions with the assumption of along-line periodicity. The authors present 3D nonhydrostatic convection-resolving simulations, produced using an adaptive grid model, where the lines are finite in length and the restriction to along-line periodicity is removed. The base state for the simulations is characterized by weak, shallow shear and high convective available potential energy (CAPE), an environment in which longlived midlatitude mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are observed. The simulated systems bear strong resemblance to many observed systems, suggesting that large-scale forcing, absent in the horizontally homogeneous environment, is not needed to produce many of the distinguishing features of midlatitude MCSs. In simulations without Coriolis forcing, the presence of line ends leads to mature symmetric systems characterized by a central region of strong convectio...
Chemistry of thienopyridines. XXVIII. Mass spectra of fourteen substituted thienopyridines and nmr spectra of four picrates

Electron-impact mass spectra are presented for various substituted thieno[2,3-b]- and thieno[3,2-b]-pyridines. In particular, it is shown that chemical structures of alkylthienopyridines can be correlated (a) with their mass spectral fragmentation patterns and (b) with the proton magnetic resonance spectra of their picrate salts.
A quadranomial real options model for evaluation of emissions trading and technology

Green house gas (GHG) emissions have been tied to global climate change. One popular policy instrument that seems to have gained credibility with explicit mention of its application in the Kyoto Protocol is the use of permit trading and cap-and-trade mechanisms. Organizations functioning within this environment will need to manage their resources appropriately to remain competitive. Organizations will either have the opportunity to purchase emissions credits (offsets) from a market trading scheme or seek to reduce their emissions through different measures. Some measures may include investment in new technologies that will reduce their reliance on GHG emitting practices. In many countries, large organizations and institutions generate their own power to operate their facilities. Much of this power is generated (or bought) from GHG producing technology. Specific renewable energy sources such as wind and solar photovoltaic technology may become more feasible alternatives available to a large percentage of these organizations if they are able to take advantage and incorporate the market for GHG emissions trading in their analyses. To help organizations evaluate investment in these renewable energy technologies we introduce a real options based model that will take into consideration uncertainties associated with the technology and those associated with the GHG trading market. The real options analysis will consider both the stochastic (uncertainty) nature of the exercise price of the technology and the stochastic nature of the market trading price of the GHG emissions.
Applying Sociology Through Social Marketing: Student Reflections on an Intimate Violence Awareness Project

INTRODUCING STUDENTS TO SENSITIVE so cial issues like intimate violence in lower level courses can spark their sociological imaginations motivating them to do further research in order to gain reflective knowl edge about such topics (Scheel 2002). In order to promote two course objectives: (1) recognizing and applying sociological con cepts and theories, and (2) understanding the practical uses of sociology, we required students in an Introduction to Sociology course to complete a multi-stage social mar keting project. The assignment encouraged students to move beyond personal assump tions about intimate violence by collabora tively investigating empirical research. We then required groups to translate their newly acquired knowledge into posters with mes sages that might alter others' social attitudes about intimate violence. In this paper we will provide a brief review of the collabora tive learning and social marketing concepts, followed by a more in-depth discussion of the assignment, including an overview of students' final reflections on the project.
EXTENSION OF KALMAN FILTER THEORY TO NONLINEAR SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATION TO WING ROCK MOTION

A formulation for nonlinear Kalman filter theory is developed in this paper. It is shown that the solution of the nonlinear Kalman filter problem is governed by a Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman inequality (HJBI). Choosing the closed loop Lyapunov function in a symmetric matrix form of the state vector results in the reduction of the HJBI to an algebraic Riccati inequality along with several other algebraic inequalities. These inequalities are formulated into a series of closed loop Lyapunov inequalities which are turned into equalities by adding a positive state vector function. Closed loop Lyapunov functions are then obtained successively by solving these eqauations based on the powers of the state vector. Control of a nonlinear wing rock motion is employed as an example to illustrate the theory.
Pituitary responses to synthetic corticotropin-releasing hormone: Absence of modulato effects by estrogen and progestin

To determine if the activity of the adrenocorticotropic hormonal-adrenal axis is modulated in part by estrogens and progestins, we have compared pituitary and adrenal responses to corticotrophin-releasing hormone in normal women during the early follicular, late follicular, and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle and in four women undergoing ovariectomy who received estradiol (E 2 ) implants alone or in combination with oral medroxyprogesterone acetate administration. Basal adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels (9:00 AM) and responses to ovine CRH were unaffected by variations in E 2 and progesterone during each phase of the menstrual cycle. In women undergoing ovariectomy who received E 2 replacement therapy, basal concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol (9:00 AM) and the responses to human corticotrophin-releasing hormone were not altered by administration of E 2 alone or E 2 with medroxyprogesterone acetate. Under these experimental conditions, our findings suggest that physiologic changes in E 2 and progesterone levels during the menstrual cycle and replacement doses of estrogen and progestin commonly used clinically do not significantly influence basal adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels or responsiveness to corticotrophin-releasing hormone.
IL-12-assisted immunization against Listeria monocytogenes using replication-restricted VSV-based vectors

Co-administration of IL-12 with vaccine immunogens has proven to be an effective strategy for eliciting potent Th1-biased immunity. Unfortunately, the use of IL-12 as a vaccine component has been limited because it is unstable at ambient temperatures, expensive to produce, and toxic when administered at excessive dosages. Using reverse genetics, we created a recombinant replication-restricted vesicular stomatitis virus that expresses large quantities of an IL-12 fusion protein (VSVΔG-IL12F), but can only establish a single round of infection because the genome does not encode the viral glycoprotein (G protein) that is required for viral entry into host cells. Here, we report that immunization of mice with a poorly immunogenic listerial antigen preparation (LMAg) in combination with VSVΔG-IL12F elicits potent T cell- and B cell-mediated responses that confer protective listerial immunity.
A Method for the Preparation of NIST Traceable Fossil Fuel Standards with Concentrations Intermediate to SRM Values

A procedure is presented whereby the fossil fuel community may design andmix SRMs in different proportions and thereby produce in their laboratorystandards for sulfur in distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, and coal ofalmost any desired concentration with uncertainties that are calculable andtraceable to NIST SRM certified values. The expanded uncertainty, U, of abinary blend is always less than the U of the component with the largest uncertainty,and in some cases it is less than either of the SRM components. Because thesulfur content of all fossil fuel SRMs was certified at NIST with high accuracyand precision by isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry, inalmost all cases the total expanded uncertainties of the standards producedfrom binary mixtures are an order of magnitude smaller than the reproducibilityof current methods used in commercial laboratories. The use of this methodgives the SRM user a continuum of concentrations available for calibrantsand quality control test samples. Unlike calibrants prepared from high puritycomponents, this method enables the SRM user to create a customized seriesof calibrants in the fossil fuel matrix of interest. This should reduce oreliminate biases that result from differences in matrix composition amongstandards and unknowns.
Head banging persisting during adolescence: A case with polysomnographic findings

Head banging is a sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder of unknown etiology. It is common during infancy; however, available literature suggests that prevalence decreases dramatically after childhood. We report the case of a 16-year-old male who presented with head banging. The symptoms were interfering with his functioning and he had been injured because of the same in the past. We are presenting the video-polysomnographic data of the case. Possible differential diagnoses, etiology, and treatment modalities are discussed. The boy was prescribed clonazepam and followed up for 3 months. Parents did not report any episode afterward.
Computation of hypersonic flow through a narrow expansion slot

The compressible Navier-Stokes equations are numerically solved for hypersonic flow over a three-dimensional ramp with a narrow expansion slot. In a two-dimensional test case, it is shown that a higher order scheme is needed to avoid too much numerical dissipation and hence too much total-pressure loss. The calculation demonstrates the role of viscosity in the expansion process of hypersonic flow through the narrow slot. Cases with various wall temperatures and slot widths are studied. Calculations show that wall cooling reduces the thickness of boundary layer, and hence increases the flow expansion substantially. In the lower portion of the slot, inviscidly, the flow is dominated by a highly expanded low density fluid, and viscously, by a viscous layer. As a direct consequence, as soon as the wedge angle is large enough, the mass flux through the slot is almost constant.
School-based AIDS education for adolescents.

Purpose: To describe a program which utilizes medical students and persons with AIDS (PWAs) to provide for adolescents school-based education about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Methods: Two 1.5 hour classroom sessions were conducted by medical students and persons with AIDS for seventh and eighth grade students (n = 1,161 students) at two urban middle schools. In addition, a two hour informational session was provided for parents. A 49 question student health survey was used to evaluate adolescents' HIV knowledge, tolerance of persons with AIDS, and intentions to engage in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) safe behaviors. Results: Significant (p Conclusions: Medical students and persons with AIDS can provide school-based AIDS education to early adolescents.
On Periodic Billiard Trajectories in Obtuse Triangles

In 1775, J. F. de Tuschis a Fagnano observed that in every acute triangle, the orthoptic triangle represents a periodic billiard trajectory, but to the present day it is not known whether or not in every obtuse triangle a periodic billiard trajectory exists. The limiting case of right triangles was settled in 1993 by F. Holt, who proved that all right triangles possess periodic trajectories. The same result had appeared independently in the Russian literature in 1991, namely in the work of G. A. Gal'perin, A. M. Stepin, and Y. B. Vorobets. The latter authors discovered in 1992 a class of obtuse triangles which contain particular periodic billiard paths. In this article, we review the above-mentioned results and some of the techniques used in the proofs and at the same time show for an extended class of obtuse triangles that they contain periodic billiard trajectories.
The cellular Na+ pump as a site of action for carbon monoxide and glutamate: A mechanism for long-term modulation of cellular activity

Carbon monoxide (CO) induces a long-lasting alteration in cerebellar alpha 3-Na,K-ATPase independent of [Na+] but linked to cGMP synthesis and localized to Purkinje neurons. The action of CO is absent in Purkinje neuron-deficient mice, mimicked by 8-Br-cGMP, and blocked by inhibition of PKG. Glutamate (Glu) and metabotropic agonists mimic the action of CO, an effect that requires PKC and is associated with CO synthesis. These data suggest that CO regulates Na,K-ATPase through cGMP and PKG, and that Glu regulates CO through mGluRs. This system is also modulated by NMDA agonists and nitric oxide, possibly via Glu release, as well as by free radicals. These findings offer a mechanism by which CO, Glu, and free radicals can exert specific effects on synaptic transmission (relevant to long-term changes in cell excitability), as well as more general actions on energy metabolism (relevant to the pathophysiology of excitotoxicity).
The confluence zone of the intense katabatic winds at Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, as derived from airborne sastrugi surveys and mesoscale numerical modeling

The surface wind field inland of the intense coastal kataba!,c wind regime at Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, has been studied both observationally and numerically. Airborne surveys of windinduced features on the snow surface have been used to construct the time-averaged winter surface airflow pattern. The surface motion field has also been simulated by a mesoscale primitive equation model using terrain slopes with a horizontal resolution of 32 km. Both methods of analys!s demonstrate that the intense katabatic airstream at Terra Nova Bay is forced by converging air currents in the continental interior. The broadscale confluence zone becomes organized into two regions within about 180 km of the coast. The primary route for katabatic mass transport into the Terra Nova Bay area is Reeves Glacier valley, but an important secondary source is provided by airflow down David Glacier. The former is generated by the Coriolis-induced concentration of mass transport on the left side (looking downwind) of the broadscale confluence zone as well as by the near-coastal mountain deflection of airflow into the valley head. The confluence zone feeding into David Glacier valley stretches over 100 km into the interior and is forced by the broadscale terrain configuration of the ice sheet. Source areas for the two airstreams differ with Reeves Glacier valley being fed by cold air formed well into the interior, whereas the airflow down David Glacier is sustained by radiative cooling over lower parts of the ice sheet which are much closer to the Ross Sea. Evaluation of the observational and modeling results reveals both the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Airborne surveys of sastrugi orientations are a highly successful method for establishing the detailed pattern of surface airflow. However, a systematic examination of sastrugi dimensions suggests that such work could also be carried out using SPOT-type satellite observations, which is a more cost-effective approach than aircraft surveying. The double-jet structure of katabatic airflow into the Terra Nova Bay area is well represented by the primitive equation modeling, but much finer grids are needed to resolve the near-coastal drainage details.
Treating Baby Doe: the ethics of uncertainty.

The ethical tensions inherent in all Baby Doe treatment decisions are compounded by medical uncertainty. Physicians both here and abroad have adopted various strategies. Swedish doctors tend to withhold treatment from the beginning from infants for whom statistical data suggest a grim prognosis. The British are more likely to initiate treatment but withdraw it if the infant appears likely to die or suffer severe brain damage. The trend in the U.S. is to start treating any baby who is potentially viable and continue until it is virtually certain that the infant will die. The "least worst" strategy is an individualized one: starting treatment, gathering data, and then reassessing the decision.
Electron localization in one-dimensional disordered systems: K2Pt(CN)4Br0.3·xH2O and quinolinium (TCNQ)2⨪ and ⨥

Abstract Experimental evidence is presented to show that the one-dimensional chains of Pt ions in K 2 Pt(CN) 4 Br 0.3 ·xH 2 O and the one-dimensional columns of TCNQ molecules in quinolinium (TCNQ) 2 ⨪ contain localized electronic states created by a random potential along the chains which originates at the cationic sites. The random potential in K 2 Pt(CN) 4 Br 0.3 ·xH 2 O is most likely created by partial site occupancy of K + and Br − sites whereas in quinolinium (TCNQ) 2 ⨪ and ⨥ the random potential is caused by orientational disorder of the quinolinium cation. The electrical conductivity for both materials follows an exp -( T o T ) l n law at low temperatures with n = 2 for a one-dimensional system. T O = 5.9 × 10 4 ∘K for the Pt chain and 5.0 × 10 3 ∘K for the TCNQ columns. At intermediate temperatures σ α exp - Δ E kt with Δ E = 0.085 ev for the Pt chain and 0.023 ev for the TCNQ system. At still higher temperatures a semiconductor to “metal” transition occurs in the TCNQ system at T ≈ Δ E k . For the Pt chains decomposition occurs before the transition. It is suggested that the “metallic” region is not due to extended states but to correlated electron hopping. It is suggested that the transition temperature of the TCNQ system may be lowered by using more polarizable cations.
Atomic SCF valence orbitals for first transition series metals

A consistent set of 4s, 4p, and 3d orbitals are reported that are linear combinations of Slatertype functions for the highest multiplicity term of the configurations 3dn−2 4s14p1 for the metals titanium through copper.
A high-q all-fused silica solid-stem wineglass hemispherical resonator formed using micro blow torching and welding

We report a new fabrication technology for making fused silica (FS) wineglass resonators with arbitrarily sized FS solid stems through a simultaneous process of micro blow-torching and microwelding. The process allows the welding of multiple FS structures at controlled locations during blow torching. We demonstrate a new micro FS wineglass resonator with high quality factor (Q) and long ring down time (τ). The resonator is formed by blow torching and flowing a thin FS substrate using vacuum to form the resonator shell, and by welding the shell to a solid post at a controlled location. The flowing of the shell and welding to the rod is performed in one step and in a single mold. This solid-stem resonator offers low anchor loss due to the large stem length/stiffness, and small shell rim thickness. The device has a shell radius/height of ∼2.8 mm, and a stem radius of 0.5 mm. At <10 µTorr vacuum, the n=2 wineglass mode, located at a frequency (f) of 22.6 kHz, has σ = 35.9 s and Q = 2.55 million.
Time dependence of the radiation-induced EPR signal in sucrose

Sucrose and common household sugars (e.g. cane) have been studied as dosemeters for a wide variety of applications. However, previous studies of the post-irradiation time dependence of irradiated sugar did not include an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) reference material. This work employs synthetic ruby as an EPR reference material to remove significant spectrometer/environmental influences on the measured time-dependent changes in the EPR spectral amplitude of irradiated sucrose. As such, these more accurate measurements should replace the previously published data.
Geographic Variation in Nonmetric Dental Traits of the Deciduous Molars of Pan and Gorilla

Physical anthropologists often use nonmetric dental traits to trace the movement of human populations, but similar analysis of the teeth of nonhuman primates or the deciduous teeth is rare. Because nonmetric dental characteristics are manifestations of genetic differences among groups, they vary among geographically distant members of the same species and subspecies. We use 28 nonmetric dental traits in the deciduous molars to compare genetically and geographically distinct groups of extant African apes (Gorilla and Pan). Previous researchers have studied these traits in the adult or juvenile teeth of great apes and humans, and we score our observations according to established standards for hominins. We observe marked differences in trait frequencies between Gorilla and Pan, Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus, and two P. troglodytes subspecies but we find no significant differences between geographically isolated groups within the subspecies. Trait frequencies differ from those found in previous studies that contained fewer individuals. We find that the deciduous molars show similar variation to adult premolars and molars within Pan and Gorilla. This suggests that the deciduous dentition of these and other apes may contain diagnostic traits that are not currently in use.
An integrated approach to the analysis and modeling of protein sequences and structures. II. On the relationship between sequence and structural similarity for proteins that are not obviously related in sequence

Here, we discuss the relationship between protein sequence and protein structural similarity. It is established that a protein structural distance (PSD) of 2.0 is a threshold above which two proteins are unlikely to have a detectable pairwise sequence relationship. A precise correlation is established between the level of sequence similarity, defined by a normalized Smith-Waterman score, and the probability that two proteins will have a similar structure (defined by pairwise PSD<2). This correlation can be used in evaluating the likelihood for success in a comparative modeling procedure. We establish the existence of a correlation between sequence and structural similarity for pairs of proteins that are related in structure but whose sequence relationship is not detectable using standard pairwise sequence alignments. Although it is well known that there is a close relationship between sequence and structural similarity for pairwise sequence identities greater than about 30 %, there has been little discussion as to the possible existence of such a relationship for pairs of proteins in or below the twilight zone of sequence similarity (<25 % pairwise sequence identity). Possible implications of our results for the evolution of protein structure are discussed.
Object detection with a field-portable spectropolarimetric imager

A relatively compact, lightweight, and programmable spectropolarimetric imager was used to collect spectral and polarization data from various objects and backgrounds, both in the laboratory and in field tests. This imager uses a tellurium dioxide (TeO2) acousto-optic tunable filter and a liquid-crystal retardation plate with a CCD camera. The spectral images were collected 450-1000 nm at 10- or 20-nm intervals at two or four polarization settings for each spectral interval. We analyzed a portion of these data to assess the effectiveness of this system for object detection. We present our measurements and discuss the analysis results.
New applications of the Porteus Maze tests.

In the past five years some important, almost revolutionary discoveries with regard to the Porteus Maze have come to light. Two at least of them appeared early enough to receive brief mention in my last book, which dealt with 50 yr. of experience with the tests, dating from 1915, the time of their first publication in America and England. Just recently ocher confirmatory articles have appeared, in some of which are suggested almost drastic changes in diagnostic procedures commonly relied upon by clinical psychologists, educators, anthropologists and psychiatrists. a
The Evolution of Human Intrasexual Competition: Tactics of Mate Attraction

Darwin's theory of sexual selection suggests that individuals compete with members of their own sex for reproductively relevant resources held by members of the opposite sex. Four empirical studies were conducted to identify tactics of intrasexual mate competition and to test four evolution-based hypotheses. A preliminary study yielded a taxonomy of tactics. Study 1 used close-friend observers to report performance frequencies of 23 tactics to test the hypotheses. Study 2 replicated Study 1's results by using a different data source and subject population. Study 3 provided an independent test of the hypotheses in assessing the perceived effectiveness of each tactic for male and female actors. Although the basic hypotheses were supported across all three studies, there were several predictive failures and unanticipated findings. Discussion centers on the heuristic as well as predictive role of evolutionary theory, and on implications for other arenas of intrasexual competition.
A low-power, low phase noise local oscillator for chip-scale atomic clocks

This paper presents a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for application in chip-scale atomic frequency references. At 3.4GHz (half of the Rubidium atom ground-state hyperfine transition frequency), the VCO demonstrates low phase noise (-33dBc@100Hz and -92dBc@10kHz) at 4.5mW power consumption with a circuit footprint <0.5cm/sup 2/. The temperature stability is 0ppm//spl deg/C at room temperature, and does not exceed -40ppm//spl deg/C over the range of -5/spl deg/C to +65/spl deg/C. Locking to the coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance of a NIST Rb clock is enabled by a weakly-coupled varactor diode which provides /spl sim/3MHz of tuning range. The oscillator is implemented using low-cost off-the-shelf surface-mount components, including a micro-coaxial resonator. To the authors' knowledge, this VCO has the lowest simultaneous size, phase noise, DC power consumption and thermal drift published in the literature.
Scheduling multi-channel and multi-timeslot in time constrained wireless sensor networks via simulated annealing and particle swarm optimization

Timely communication in wireless multihop sensor networks requires high throughput and low delay, which can be achieved by exploiting multiple channels and time slots. Efficient scheduling becomes indispensable if multiple channels and time slots are utilized. Optimum scheduling of multiple channels and time slots in multihop networks is an NP-complete problem. We apply metaheuristic approaches to solve the scheduling problem because of the fact that not only the global solution but near-optimal solutions can satisfy a given end-to-end delay bound. We adopt simulated annealing (SA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to schedule the resources. Different measures and stopping conditions are explored to validate the feasibility of scheduling via SA and PSO, and to compare the performance of the two metaheuristics in satisfying the desired end-to-end delay. Although the purpose of this article is to compare SA and PSO, the simulation results demonstrate that PSO-based scheduling outperforms SA-based scheduling in terms of end-to-end delay.
Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation and cardiac surgery.

Abstract Sixteen months' experience with intraaortic balloon pumping in a cardiac surgical unit is reported. Eight patients presented in cardiogenic shock and required immediate pumping prior to cardiac catheterization and operation. Sixteen patients undergoing elective cardiac procedures had pumping in the immediate postoperative period because of myocardial depression. Twenty of these 24 patients were able to be restored to cardiovascular stability. Mortality and morbidity in these patients are discussed as well as complications of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation. Our current methods of balloon insertion and deployment are presented.
Comments on the Clinical Application of Fibronectin in Dentistry

Several studies have demonstrated that citric acid demineralization of the root surface promotes tissue attachment. Since demineralization exposes collagen to which fibronectin binds, the role of fibronectin in the attachment of cells to the tooth surface has been of considerable interest. It is clear that fibronectin and other cell adhesion proteins can promote cell attachment to the tooth surface; therefore, attempts have been made to utilize these findings in a clinical setting.Using a quantitative ELISA procedure to measure the binding of fibronectin to demineralized bone and tooth, we have found that I μg fibronectin can saturate approximately 1 mg of either demineralized bone or demineralized tooth powder. Since serum contains 300 μg fibronectin per mL, the bleeding that occurs during oral surgery should saturate exposed tooth surfaces with amounts of fibronectin adequate for cell adhesion. Thus, exogenous fibronectin would appear to be of little clinical benefit.
Sustained H 2 Production Driven by Photosynthetic Water Splitting in a Unicellular Cyanobacterium

ABSTRACT The relationship between dinitrogenase-driven H 2 production and oxygenic photosynthesis was investigated in a unicellular cyanobacterium, Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142, using a novel custom-built photobioreactor equipped with advanced process control. Continuously illuminated nitrogen-deprived cells evolved H 2 at rates up to 400 µmol ⋅ mg Chl −1 ⋅ h −1 in parallel with uninterrupted photosynthetic O 2 production. Notably, sustained coproduction of H 2 and O 2 occurred over 100 h in the presence of CO 2 , with both gases displaying inverse oscillations which eventually dampened toward stable rates of 125 and 90 µmol ⋅ mg Chl −1 ⋅ h −1 , respectively. Oscillations were not observed when CO 2 was omitted, and instead H 2 and O 2 evolution rates were positively correlated. The sustainability of the process was further supported by stable chlorophyll content, maintenance of baseline protein and carbohydrate levels, and an enhanced capacity for linear electron transport as measured by chlorophyll fluorescence throughout the experiment. In situ light saturation analyses of H 2 production displayed a strong dose dependence and lack of O 2 inhibition. Inactivation of photosystem II had substantial long-term effects but did not affect short-term H 2 production, indicating that the process is also supported by photosystem I activity and oxidation of endogenous glycogen. However, mass balance calculations suggest that carbohydrate consumption in the light may, at best, account for no more than 50% of the reductant required for the corresponding H 2 production over that period. Collectively, our results demonstrate that uninterrupted H 2 production in unicellular cyanobacteria can be fueled by water photolysis without the detrimental effects of O 2 and have important implications for sustainable production of biofuels. IMPORTANCE The study provides an important insight into the photophysiology of light-driven H 2 production by the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. strain ATCC 51142. This work is also of significance for biotechnology, supporting the feasibility of “direct biophotolysis.” The sustainability of the process, highlighted by prolonged gas evolution with no clear sign of significant decay or apparent photodamage, provides a foundation for the future development of an effective, renewable, and economically efficient bio-H 2 production process.
What is the “Right Diet” for a Healthy Old Age?

It's a popular question. On the morning shows, on the Web, and in newspapers and magazines, the “latest findings” on health promoting diets or ingredients are reported and explained (and sometimes ...
Enhancing Collaboration among Math and Career and Technical Education Teachers: Is Technology the Answer?

Contextualized learning experiences benefit secondary students in many ways (Bottoms & Sharp, n.d.;Buriak, McNurlen, & Harper, 1996;Enderlin & Osborne,1992;Glasgow, 1997;Parnell, 1996). While these experiences may be provided to students through various approaches, formal integration of subject matter between disciplines can equally benefit secondary teachers (Chiasson & Burnett, 2001;Enderlin & Osborne, 1992;Myers & Dyer, 2006;Parr, Edwards, & Leising, 2006;Parr, Edwards, & Leising, 2008;Parr, Edwards, & Leising, 2009).
Simple and conditioned adaptive behavior from Kalman filter trained recurrent networks

We illustrate the ability of a fixed-weight neural network, trained with Kalman filter methods, to perform tasks that are usually entrusted to an explicitly adaptive system. Following a simple example, we demonstrate that such a network can be trained to exhibit input-output behavior that depends on which of two conditioning tasks was performed a substantial number of time steps in the past. This behavior can also be made to survive an intervening interference task.
Extending Pattern Branching to Handle Challenging Instances

We consider the planted motif search problem, a problem that arises from the need to find transcription factor-binding sites in genomic information. One of the fastest non-exact algorithms that solves this problem is pattern branching [10], however this algorithm fails to solve challenging instances such as (15, 5) in most cases. In this paper we discuss a simple extension to this algorithm and an implementation of it that allows us to tackle challenging instances such as (15, 5) and (17, 6) with accuracy close to 100%