cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Locomotor effects of a low-frequency fire alarm on C57BL/6 male mice: a preliminary study:

Maintaining appropriate acoustic conditions for animal welfare and data collection are crucial in biomedical research facilities. Negative impacts of disruptive sound are known and can include auditory damage, immune function changes, and behavioral alterations. One type of disruptive sound occurring in research facilities is that of fire alarms. To ameliorate this problem, many facilities have incorporated the use of low-frequency fire alarms that emit tones outside the rodent audible range. The impact of these devices has been assumed to be negligible. However, this has yet to be evaluated with controlled behavioral experiments. Thus, our objective was to investigate the impact of low-frequency fire alarm exposure on locomotor behavior in the open field, a test sensitive to acoustic stimuli disruption. Male mice were randomized to three alarm exposure groups (No-Alarm; Alarm-During; and Alarm-After) and placed in individual photobeam-activated locomotor chambers. The Alarm-During group displayed significantly reduced horizontal locomotion, with a trend towards reduced vertical locomotion. These data suggest that a low-frequency brief alarm tone can temporarily disrupt movement, a valuable insight should an alarm be deployed. Further, findings support close collaboration between researchers and institutional facility staff to ensure appropriate acoustic conditions are maintained, whenever possible, for research animals.
Leaving no one behind? Persistent inequalities in the SDGs

With a rallying cry of ‘leave no one behind’, the Sustainable Development Agenda has moved inequalities centre stage. A number of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include a cross-cutting fo...
Boon or bane: Examining divergent development outcomes among oil- and mineral-dependent countries in the Global South:

Under neoliberal conditions that privilege foreign investors and call for the retreat of the state, some oil- and mineral-dependent countries in the Global South outperform others. To investigate w...
Technology Life Cycle and Market Segmentation

The picture of the technology cycle in Figure 2.1 begins at a point in time (marked “technological innovation”) where a device exists. Other companies have complementary devices; for example, one firm may have set-top home multimedia boxes, another firm having movie-on-demand databanks, and a third company having to-the-home cable infrastructure. At this point, each firm begins a low-level investment1 to investigate the possible profitable alliances and the potential market size. This potential is called “latent demand” because there is no demand in the economic sense for a product that does not exist, and consumers cannot articulate their desire for something they have never heard of (more about this in Chapter 9). But the wise innovator begins to “warm up the audience” even before the product development cycle begins. This is what AT&T has done with the YOU WILL campaign. It is interesting that this kind of advertising is different from traditional corporate image advertising. Image advertising differs from product advertising in that it promotes the company as a whole, and by extension, its entire current (and perhaps future) product line. The YOU WILL campaign, in contrast, prepares the customer for a particular technological direction the company will take, though the form of the product and the identities of the companies in the alliance that will produce it are still unknown.
Regenerative Potential of Various Soft Polymeric Scaffolds in the Temporomandibular Joint Condyle

Purpose Biodegradable polymeric scaffolds have been used for tissue engineering approaches and can be used to regenerate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tissues. Synthetic acellular polymeric poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) scaffolds and natural scaffolds made from gelatin are polymeric scaffold sponges that could provide a substrate for cell infiltration and remodeling. The authors studied the regenerative potential of these 2 scaffolds in addition to a bioactive signal, magnesium (Mg), in a novel fibrocartilage defect model in the goat mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC). Furthermore, in a departure from the pig model, the authors have started to develop the goat as a repeatable surgical model with easy access into the joint space in skeletally mature animals. Materials and Methods Bilateral osteochondral defects were created in the mandibular condyle of mature female Spanish Boer goats. A 1-mm diameter drill was used to create a trough defect on the articular surface. Four groups were evaluated: 1) an empty control without an implant, 2) PGS with Mg ions, 3) gelatin with Mg ions, and 4) gelatin with Mg ions and trimagnesium phosphate (TMP) powder. Goats were allowed to heal for 3 months, and then the tissues were harvested. Results The empty control group showed a thin fibrous layer growing within the defect. The PGS and gelatin sponge groups showed a cartilage layer with glycosaminoglycan and collagen type II and robust regeneration of the fibrous layer as exhibited by cell infiltration and collagen in the defect. TMP in the gelatin did not degrade and seemed to hamper healing. Conclusion These results suggest that synthetic and natural sponges can provide a template for new tissue growth in the MCC of the TMJ. Furthermore, this study is the first to attempt to develop the goat as an in vivo TMJ tissue regeneration model.
Exploring Sources and Influences of Social Capital on Community College Students' First-Year Success: Does Age Make a Difference?.

Background/ContextAlthough numerous studies have emerged shedding light on community college student success, the enduring role of social capital is often overlooked. Furthermore, when conceptualiz...
Analysis of radiation measurement data of the BUSS cask

The Beneficial Uses Shipping System (BUSS) is a Type-B packaging developed for shipping nonfissile, special-form radioactive materials to facilities such as sewage, food, and medical-product irradiators. The primary purpose of the BUSS cask is to provide shielding and confinement, as well as impact, puncture, and thermal protection for its certified special-form contents under both normal transport and hypothetical accident conditions. A BUSS cask that contained 16 CsCl capsules (2.723 {times} 10{sup 4} TBq total activity) was recently subjected to radiation survey measurements at a Westinghouse Hanford facility, which provided data that could be used to validate computer codes. Two shielding analysis codes, MICROSHIELD (User`s Manual 1988) and SAS4 (Tan 1993), that are used at Argonne National Laboratory to evaluate the safety of packaging of radioactive materials during transportation, have been selected for analysis of radiation data obtained from the BUSS cask. MICROSHIELD, which performs only gamma radiation shielding calculation, is based on a point-kernel model with idealized geometry, whereas SAS4 is a control module in the SCALE code system (1995) that can perform three-dimensional Monte Carlo shielding calculation for photons and neutrons, with built-in procedures for cross-section data processing and automated variance reduction. The two codes differ in how they model the details of the physics of gamma photon attenuation in materials, and this difference is reflected in the associated engineering cost of the analysis. One purpose of the analysis presented in this paper, therefore, is to examine the effects of the major modeling assumptions in the two codes on calculated dose rates, and to use the measured dose rates for comparison. The focus in this paper is on analysis of radiation dose rates measured on the general body of the cask and away from penetrations.
Chapter 3 – Amorphous silica

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews amorphous silica. Amorphous silica, a noncrystalline form of SiO2, traditionally called “silica glass” or “vitreous silica,” is important in electronics and photonics because of its excellent electrical and optical properties. This chapter uses these different names interchangeably to represent all noncrystalline SiO2. The structure and basic properties of silica are also discussed. Structural study of amorphous materials is carried out by radial distribution analysis. Radial distribution analysis provides information on the short-range order of the structure. The structure obtained is consistent with the random network model. Amorphous silica consists of SiO4 tetrahedral units, with the Si-O and O-O distances. This chapter discusses the various defects in amorphous silica that influence various glass properties, especially optical and electrical properties. These defects are created either by radiation or by mechanical stresses. Real amorphous silica contains impurities such as water, chlorine, fluorine, alkali, and alumina. This chapter further discusses chemical, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties of amorphous silica.
The Growth of Intermetallic Compounds at a Copper-Niobium-Titanium Interface

The diffusion process between Cu and Nb-Ti has been studied in a well-bonded composite. Interdiffusion studies were performed between 500° and 650°C and three distinct layers were seen. Two of these were intermetallic compounds of approximate composition Ti2Cu7 and (TixNb1-x)Cu, where x is ~ 0.5. A significant diffused region of Cu with grain boundary precipitation was seen in the NbTi solid solution. The growth rates of the layers were quite well-behaved and diffusion parameters for the process are presented.
Antiretroviral Therapy: Current Drugs

The rapid advances in drug discovery and the development of antiretroviral therapy is unprecedented in the history of modern medicine. The administration of chronic combination antiretroviral therapy targeting different stages of the human immunodeficiency virus' replicative life cycle allows for durable and maximal suppression of plasma viremia. This suppression has resulted in dramatic improvement of patient survival. This article reviews the history of antiretroviral drug development and discusses the clinical pharmacology, efficacy, and toxicities of the antiretroviral agents most commonly used in clinical practice to date.
Differential expression of two cinnamate 4-hydroxylase genes in 'Valencia' orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck).

Two different full-length cDNAs for cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H1 and C4H2) were isolated from Citrus sinensis Osbeck cv. Valencia libraries. C4H1 (1708 bp) and C4H2 (1871 bp) share only 65% identity on nucleotide and 66% identity on the amino acid level, respectively. C4H1 is most homologous to a cinnamate 4-hydroxylase sequence from French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), but codes for a unique N-terminus. C4H2 shows highest similarity to a poplar (Populus kitakamiensis) sequence, but also shows a unique N-terminus. The two genes are expressed differentially in orange flavedo, C4H2 is constitutive, C4H1 is wound-induced. In competitive RT-PCR, the mRNA for both genes in wounded and untreated tissue was quantified. C4H1 is strongly wound-inducible from `not detectable' to about 35 fg mRNA per 50 ng total RNA 8 h after wounding. The first detectable C4H1 mRNA was found 4 h after wounding. After reaching peak levels 4 h later the levels slightly declined, but stayed elevated until the end of the experiment (48 h). C4H2 is expressed 3–10 times higher than wound-induced C4H1 even in the control sample; wounding transiently increases the level of expression another 2–3 times. The existence of different N-termini and their effects on the possible role of both genes in phenylpropanoid pathways is discussed.
Evaluating competency based education modules in an online nurse practitioner course

Competency based education (CBE) has been shown to improve academic performance and could help bridge the gap between education and clinical practice. There is a lack of evaluation data for new content added to courses, particularly CBEs and new technology. The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of CBE modules and GoReact technology in an online psychiatric nurse practitioner course. In a quality improvement study, four CBE modules were used to assess knowledge and clinical skills in an online psychiatric assessment course. Knowledge tests were used to assess student knowledge, adaptations of the Student Evaluation of Educational Quality Scale (SEEQ) and the Systems Usability Scale (SUS) were used to evaluate the students’ responses to the CBE modules. Faculty feedback and comparisons from prior years without CBEs were also examined. All students in the course successfully completed the CBE modules for course credit. The majority of the students who completed the surveys had a positive response to the CBEs and GoReact technology. Faculty were satisfied with using CBEs and the technology and overall student performance in the course and subsequent practicum course following the CBEs was the same or improved. CBE modules appear to be an effective and well received method of instruction in online clinical psychiatric nurse practitioner courses.
C3 Glomerulonephritis: A Rare Etiology of the Pulmonary Renal Syndrome

C3 Glomerulopathy is a rare form of kidney disease due to dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway. We report a case of a college-aged woman with C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN), presenting with the unexpected extrarenal manifestation of pulmonary hemorrhage. The patient presented with a nephritic urinary sediment and acute kidney injury after a recent infection. Kidney biopsy demonstrated focal endocapillary proliferative, crescentic, and necrotizing glomerulonephritis with bright glomerular C3 staining only. Electron microscopy revealed mesangial, intramembranous, and subendothelial deposits. After 2 doses of intravenous methylprednisolone, the patient developed spontaneous hemoptysis and respiratory compromise requiring emergent intubation. Bronchoscopy and computed tomography findings were consistent with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Notable laboratory results included C3, 40 (reference range, 75-175) mg/dL, and negative antinuclear antibody, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, and anti–glomerular basement membrane serology results. As an outpatient, genetic testing revealed the presence of C3 glomerulopathy risk alleles. A diagnosis of C3GN complicated by pulmonary hemorrhage was made. There was initial response to treatment with steroids and mycophenolate mofetil; however, after repeated relapses of proteinuria and hematuria, treatment with eculizumab showed an initial response, but the patient subsequently became hemodialysis dependent. Our case highlights that C3GN can present with crescents and have other extrarenal manifestations such as pulmonary hemorrhage and should also be considered part of the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with pulmonary renal syndrome.
The “central vein sign” in inflammatory demyelination: The role of fibrillar collagen type I

Accumulating evidence corroborates the role of the "central vein sign" in the radiological diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we report human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and corresponding pathological data that inflammation-dependent intracerebral remodeling of the vessel wall is directly associated with the prominence of intralesional veins on susceptibility-based MRI. In adult marmosets with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, vessel-wall fibrosis was detected early in the demyelinating process, even in lesions <2 weeks old, though fibrosis was more evident after 6 weeks. Vascular remodeling consisted of both luminal enlargement and eccentric thickening of the perivascular space (fibrillar collagen type I deposition) and affected almost exclusively white matter, but not subpial cortical, lesions. The long-term effect of vessel remodeling in MS lesions is currently unknown, but it might potentially affect tissue repair. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:934-942.
Corruption as systemic political decay

By offering an analysis of different conceptions of corruption connected to the political regime and contingency in which they developed, the article retrieves a systemic meaning of political corru...
Destination as Product Placement: An Advertising Strategy to Impact Beliefs and Behavioral Intentions

This study identified the effect of destination placement (present vs. absent) on consumers’ responses to the place and branded product and the subsequent effect on consumers’ intention to visit th...
Optimized MIMO Antenna Port Placement using Characteristic Modes

Characteristic Mode Analysis (CMA) identifies characteristic current modes in an arbitrary conductive structure. A unique property of these characteristic modes is that they give rise to orthogonal radiation patterns, making them useful for designing MIMO antennas. Our algorithm uses data from CMA to automatically place ports on a cell phone chassis and synthesize a MIMO antenna at 2.5 GHz. Using our algorithm, we show port placements and excitations that give rise to six isolated channels.
Nonlocal elasticity and boundary condition paradoxes: a review

Nonclassical continuum mechanics theories have seen a rise in implementation over the past several years due to the increased research into micro-/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), micro-/nanoresonators, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), etc. Typically, these systems exist in the range of several nanometers to the micro-scale. There are several available theories that can capture phenomena inherent to nanoscale structures. Of the available theories, researchers utilize Eringen’s nonlocal theory most frequently because of its ease of implementation and seemingly accurate results for specific loading conditions and boundary conditions. Eringen’s integral nonlocal theory, which leads to a set of integro-partial differential equations, is difficult to solve; therefore, the integral form was reduced to a set of singular partial differential equations using a Green-type attenuation function. However, a so-called paradox has arisen between the integral and differential formulations of Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity. For certain boundary and loading conditions, instead of the expected softening effect inherent in nonlocal particle interactions, some researchers have found a stiffening effect. Still, others have found no variation from those results found using classical theories. As such, the discrepancies between the integral and differential forms have been the subject of debate for nearly two decades, with several proposed resolutions published in recent years. This paper serves to review and consolidate existing theories in nonlocal elasticity along with selected theories in nonclassical continuum mechanics, the utilization of Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity in beams, shells, and plates, the existing discrepancies and proposed solutions, and recommendations for future work.
Does Social Stigma and Neglect Post-COVID-19 Matter? A Case Report on Brief Psychotic Disorder Post-COVID-19 and Self-Quarantine

Social stigma and neglect post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and self-quarantine can be associated with a brief psychotic disorder (BPD). A 53-year-old African-American man with no significant past medical and psychiatric history was brought to the emergency department (ED) with symptoms of persecutory delusions post COVID-19 and self-quarantine. His symptoms included false beliefs that people were plotting to kill him which made him combative at work and home. As his symptoms worsened, his wife brought him to the hospital. He was given intramuscular haloperidol 5 mg one dose in the ED. The Clinical Health Psychology and Psychiatry team diagnosed the patient with BPD as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Method of Mental Disorder Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Over the next few days, his symptoms slowly improved. At follow-up visit in the outpatient clinic in a week, we found him back to his baseline without any delusional thoughts. Increased stressors post COVID-19, neglect at home, and social stigmata at work associated with COVID-19 along with his individual vulnerability appeared to be the cause of his delusions but various other mechanisms may exist. Our case raises the question: does social stigma and neglect post-COVID-19 and self-quarantine matter?
Dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis results in resistance to ferroptosis increasing tumorigenicity and metastasis in cancer

Hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia are associated with an increased risk for many cancer types and with poor outcomes in patients with established disease. Whereas the mechanisms by which this occurs are multifactorial we determine that chronic exposure of cells to 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC), an abundant circulating cholesterol metabolite, selects for cells that exhibit increased cellular uptake and/or lipid biosynthesis. These cells exhibit substantially increased tumorigenic and metastatic capacity. Notably, the metabolic stress imposed upon cells by the accumulated lipids requires sustained expression of GPX4, a negative regulator of ferroptotic cell death. We show that resistance to ferroptosis is a feature of metastatic cells and further demonstrate that GPX4 knockdown attenuates the enhanced tumorigenic and metastatic activity of 27HC resistant cells. These findings highlight the general importance of ferroptosis in tumor growth and metastasis and suggest that dyslipidemia/hypercholesterolemia impacts cancer pathogenesis by selecting for cells that are resistant to ferroptotic cell death.
The Mental Health of U.S. Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Evidence suggests parents experience unique pandemic-related stressors related to isolation, food insecurity, school closures, and unemployment. This study examined 1,048 U.S. parents' depression, anxiety, stress, atid alcohol and substance use behavion during March and April 2020 to better understand the impact of pandemic-related conditions on parents' mental health. Mean scores indicated severe levels of depression and stress and extremely Severe anxiety. Nearly two thirds (74.7%) indicated alcohol use in the past month, with 26.5% scoring in the range for problem alcohol use. Almost half of the sample reported using at least one substance in the previous 2 weeks. Men had significantly higher alcohol consumption and substance use than women. Depression, anxiety, and stress were higher for parents who consumed alcohol or substances and had a history of depression or anxiety. The longterm impact of COVID-19 is unknown, and mental health care is likely to be in high demand moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Mental Health Counseling is the property of American Mental Health Counselors Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Mixed SAMs of backbone-functionalized tribenzotriquinacenes and alkanethiols: Synthesis, preparation and STM-investigations

Abstract We present the synthesis of a backbone-functionalized tribenzotriquinacene (TBTQ) 3 , serving as a prototype for TBTQ-based stators comprising thioether anchor groups for self-assembled monolayers on Au-(1 1 1) surfaces. Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) consisting of isolated molecules of the minor component 3 embedded in a close-packed matrix of decanethiol (C10-SH) were prepared, leading to stable monolayers which were characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ambient conditions. The structural features of the highly ordered mixed monolayers point to the fact that isolated TBTQ-headgroups are exposed to the outer monolayer surface, making them available for the interaction with shape-complementary guest molecules.
Exploring the Potential Market for the “Commercial Home” in Mainland China: A Comparison of Domestic and International Tourists

The growth of the “commercial home” around the world has been well documented (Jones & Guan, 2011; Lynch, McIntosh, & Tucker, 2009); however there has been little research into the potential market for this type of lodging accommodation in mainland China. Therefore, what this article explores is the type of “commercial home” domestic and international tourists would prefer to stay in when traveling in mainland China, what attributes they would consider important, and the most valuable resource for seeking information on this type of lodging in mainland China. The results of cluster analysis indicate non-Chinese, who are more highly educated and experienced travelers, prefer “rural family hotel”/cultural hotels and Chinese prefer Western-style Bed and Breakfast (B&B) inns in mainland China. Additionally, significant differences were found in amenities and services offered between the potential types of guests that would stay in a “commercial home.” Referrals from family and friends were most important to a...
Standing to Raise Constitutional Issues: A Comparative Analysis

This essay, a revised version of the General Report on "Standing to Raise Constitutional Issues" presented at the XVI International Congress of Comparative Law, surveys the principal approaches to this question in different legal systems. It attempts to re-conceptualize the distinctions by positing two principal criteria for standing rules based on two different purposes of constitutional judicial review. The first is to resolve legal questions in order to decide particular controversies; the second is to reinforce the impact of constitutional rules by providing opportunities for authoritative clarifications and elaborations of those rules.
The hierarchy of public governance : resource allocation vs bureaucratic inefficiency

Should a social program be run at a higher or lower level of government? We consider a government-run program supplying a private good to consumers. We focus on a tradeoff between the advantage of a high level of government in resource allocation and its disadvantage in consumer information. We look into the effect of differences in income levels, marginal costs and preferences on the architecture of public governance. One general conclusion is that, when regional differences are large, the central government should be in charge; otherwise, local governments should be in charge.
Digit tip regeneration correlates with regions of Msx1 (Hox 7) expression in fetal and newborn mice

We report that during mouse fetal development transcripts of Msx1 and Msx2 become progressively restricted to cells that will form more distal digit structures; the Msx2 expression domain is always more distal than Msx1. At birth both Msx1 and Msx2 are expressed in cells of the nail bed and hair follicle. We have found that the regenerative ability of mouse digit tips is restricted to levels in which the amputation plane is within the region of Msx1, but not Msx2, expression in early fetal digits and to levels where both Msx1 and Msx2 are expressed in late fetal and neonatal digits. Fetal digit tip regeneration is rapid and completed by birth, whereas neonatal digit tip regeneration requires 4 weeks and is sometimes imperfect. In both fetal and neonatal digits, we find that both Msx1 and Msx2 are expressed during regeneration, but not during wound healing associated with proximal amputations where no regenerative response is observed. These data support the hypothesis that the expression of Msx genes are important for digit cells to initiate and participate in a regenerative response.
Race and Regional Unemployment as Predictors of Exit from AFDC

This article compares welfare exit rates in three counties, and attempts to explain differences in types of exit using event history analysis. Using data from evaluation of an experimental welfare program, the study examines the effects of race and regionalized unemployment rate on welfare duration. The data suggest that factors which are both beyond the control of welfare program recipients and outside the purview of most welfare programs have a strong effect on the ability of welfare recipients to become self-supporting.
Knockdown of Ephrin-A5 Expression by 40% Does not Affect Motor Axon Growth or Migration into the Chick Hindlimb

Bidirectional signaling between Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their cell-surface protein signals, the ephrins, comprises one mechanism for guiding motor axons to their proper targets. During projection of motor axons from the lateral motor column (LMC) motor neurons of the spinal cord to the hindlimb muscles in chick embryos, ephrin-A5 has been shown to be expressed in the LMC motor axons until they reach the base of the limb bud and initiate sorting into their presumptive dorsal and ventral nerve trunks, at which point expression is extinguished. We tested the hypothesis that this dynamic pattern of ephrin-A5 expression in LMC motor axons is important for the growth and guidance of the axons to, and into, the hindlimb by knocking down endogenous ephrin-A5 expression in the motor neurons and their axons. No perturbation of LMC motor axon projections was observed in response to this treatment, suggesting that ephrin-A5 is not needed for LMC motor axon growth or guidance.
Intracranial Stenting With Wingspan Still Awaiting a Safe Landing

See related articles, pages 1971–1975 and 1976–1981. Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a major cause of stroke and yet there are no proven effective treatments for it. Medical therapy has been associated with a high rate of recurrence, particularly in those with the most severe stenoses who have a 22.5% risk of stroke or death in the first year after a stroke.1 Clearly better alternatives are needed. Surgical bypass has been shown in at least 1 trial to be worse than medical therapy in the era before thienopyridines, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In this issue of Stroke , Fiorella and colleagues describe their longer-term experience with intracranial stenting with the Wingspan (Stryker Inc, Fremont, CA) stent system and last year in this Journal, Jiang and colleagues published their long-term experience with 100 consecutive patients also treated with the Wingspan stent system.2,3 The question is do these publications broaden our knowledge enough to alter management of patients with ICAD? Do they prove that endovascular therapy is superior to medical treatment and that it is safe enough to be performed routinely? The article by Fiorella et al represents the largest (N=158) published series of Wingspan in the United States to treat ≥50% symptomatic stenoses.2 The immediate perioperative stroke and death rates were 5.7% (N=9) and 2.5% (N=4), respectively. Over a mean follow-up period of 14.2 months (only 110 patients [69.6%] had 12 months of follow-up), the primary end point (any perioperative stroke or death and any ipsilateral stroke thereafter) was noted in 15.7% of patients or approximately 13.2%/year. Seventy-six percent of the ipsilateral strokes occurred within the first 6 months with no events beyond 12 months. These event rates did not include transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and did not include target lesion revascularization (TLR) for …
Teaching Logic: How to Overcome the Limitations of the Classroom

Dobie has been devoting their dates to teaching Polly the informal logic that he thinks she needs in order to be up to his intellectual standards. When he finally is satisfied with her progress and tries to transform their relationship from “academic to romantic,” she frustrates him by using what he taught her to find fallacies in every one of his overtures. Out of desperation, he turns against his own lessons. His warning not to apply them in real life comes too late because, as she points out, even though such “classroom stuff” usually has no value outside the classroom, there are exceptions, as her own use of his lessons to thwart his romantic overtures demonstrates.
Achieving fair trade through a social tariff regime: a policy thought experiment

This paper pursues a fair trade policy thought experiment that (i) presents the Social Index Tariff Structure (SITS) regime and (ii) simulates a multilateral SITS regime using bilateral trade flow data. A SITS regime seeks to promote strong labour and environmental standards and other initiatives that engender human development, equality and sustainability. It does this by institutionalising both the incentives and means for countries to enhance their performance in these areas. We demonstrate that a multilateral SITS regime would generate substantial and stable flows of development funds while incentivising an international ‘race to the top’ in labour and environmental standards and, more broadly, in human development, equality and sustainability.
Exact solutions for magneto-electro-elastic laminates in cylindrical bending

Abstract Analytical solutions are derived for the cylindrical bending of multilayered, linear, and anisotropic magneto-electro-elastic plates under simple-supported edge conditions. We construct the general solution in terms of a simple formalism for any homogeneous layer, from which any physical quantities can be solved for the given boundary conditions. For multilayered plates, we derive the solution in terms of the propagator matrices. A special feature of cylindrical bending, which distinguishes itself from the three-dimensional plate problem, is that the associated eigenvalues for any homogeneous layer are independent of the sinusoidal mode, and thus need to be solved only once. Typical numerical examples are also presented for a piezomagnetic plate, a two-layered piezoelectric/piezomagnetic plate, and a four layered piezoelectric/piezomagnetic plate, with different span-to-thickness ratios. In particular, the piezoelectric and piezomagnetic fields show certain interesting features, which give guidance on the development of piezoelectric/piezomagnetic thin-plate theories. Furthermore, it is shown that the variations of the elastic, electric, and magnetic quantities with thickness depend strongly upon the material property and layering, which could be useful in the analysis and design of smart composite structures with sensors/actuators.
Treatment of Ewing sarcoma family of tumors: current status and outlook for the future.

Background The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) comprises a group of well-characterized neoplasms with aggressive behavior. Despite significant progress with the use of intensive multiagent chemotherapy and local control measures, a significant proportion of patients die of disease progression. Chemotherapy dose intensification and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) have been explored by many institutions without obvious benefit in high-risk patients. Our current understanding in the biology and treatment of ESFT suggests that a more rational approach to the development of risk-adapted therapy should be undertaken. Procedure We performed a review of the most relevant data regarding the current status in the treatment of ESFT. The results of the major American and European cooperative groups were analyzed, including the treatment strategies used and the prognostic factors identified for both localized and metastatic ESFT. Results The intensification of alkylating agents and topoisomerase-II inhibitors is feasible and has resulted in some survival improvement for selected patients. This benefit seems to be restricted to patients with localized disease, and a proportion of survivors are at risk of developing treatment-related hematologic malignancies. Nevertheless, these advances have resulted in a re-definition of prognostic factors, which may help to define risk groups based on tumor load parameters as well as biologic factors (type of fusion transcript and histologic response to chemotherapy). Patients with advanced metastatic disease may benefit from HSCT. New strategies such as immunotherapy and the use of biologic modifiers may have a role in the treatment of ESFT. Conclusions Future treatment for ESFT should consider risk-adapted strategies and the inclusion of newer therapies such as biologic modifiers for the minimal residual disease. A modified risk-adapted therapy is proposed. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:276–287. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Southern Appalachian Peatlands Support High Archaeal Diversity

Mid-latitude peatlands with a temperate climate are sparsely studied and as such represent a gap in the current knowledge base regarding archaeal populations present and their roles in these environments. Phylogenetic analysis of the archaeal populations among three peatlands in the Southern Appalachians reveal not only methanogenic species but also significant populations of thaumarchaeal and crenarchaeal-related organisms of the uncultured miscellaneous crenarchaeotal group (MCG) and the terrestrial group 1.1c, as well as deep-branching Euryarchaeota primarily within the Lake Dagow sediment and rice cluster V lineages. The Thaum/Crenarchaea and deep-branching Euryarchaea represented approximately 24–83 % and 2–18 %, respectively, of the total SSU rRNA clones retrieved in each library, and methanogens represented approximately 14–72 % of the clones retrieved. Several taxa that are either rare or novel to acidic peatlands were detected including the euryarchaeal SM1K20 cluster and thaumarchaeal/crenarchaeal-related clusters 1.1a, C3, SAGMCG-1, pSL12, and AK59. All three major groups (methanogens, Thaumarchaea/Crenarchaea, and deep-branching Euryarchaea) were detected in the RNA library, suggesting at least a minimum level of maintenance activity. Compared to their northern counterparts, Southern Appalachian peatlands appear to harbor a relatively high diversity of Archaea and exhibit a high level of intra-site heterogeneity.
Acremolin from Acremonium strictum is N2,3-Etheno-2′-isopropyl-1-methylguanine, not a 1H-Azirine. Synthesis and Structural Revision

The first synthesis of the heterocyclic marine natural product, acremolin, is reported along with the revision of the structure from a 1H-azirine to a substituted N2,3-ethenoguanine (5-methyl-7-isopropyl-4,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]purine). Additional properties of acremolin are also described including its 1H–15N-HMBC and fluorescence spectra.
Response of cotton to different soil water deficits on clay soils

Cotton was grown under sprinkler irrigation on a silty clay soil at Keiser, Arkansas, for the 1987, 1988 and 1989 growing seasons. Irrigation treatments consisted of maximum soil water deficits (SWD) of 25, 50 and 75 mm and a nonirrigated control. While the irrigated treatments were significantly different from the control for plant height and total seedcotton yield, significant differences among the three irrigated treatments were only observed for plant height. Yields were significantly lower in 1989 than in the other two years of the study, due in part to later planting. The 3-year averages for total seedcotton yield were 3280 and 2870 kg ha−1 for irrigated and nonirrigated, respectively, for an average increase corresponding to irrigation of 416 kg ha−1 or 14.5% of the nonirrigated yield. The maximum increase was observed in 1988 as 602 kg ha−1 or 20.6% of the nonirrigated yield for that year. The 75 mm allowable SWD was the most efficient treatment and resulted in a 3-year average of 3.85 kg ha−1 additional seedcotton (above the nonirrigated) harvested for each 1 mm of irrigation applied. Maintaining the SWD below a 75 mm maximum required an average of four irrigations and 110 mm of irrigation water per year.
Approximation Methods for Pricing Problems Under the Nested Logit Model with Price Bounds

We consider two variants of a pricing problem under the nested logit model. In the first variant, the set of products offered to customers is fixed, and we want to determine the prices of the products. In the second variant, we jointly determine the set of offered products and their corresponding prices. In both variants, the price of each product has to be chosen within given upper and lower bounds specific to the product, each customer chooses among the offered products according to the nested logit model, and the objective is to maximize the expected revenue from each customer. We give approximation methods for both variants. For any I > 0, our approximation methods obtain a solution with an expected revenue deviating from the optimal expected revenue by no more than a factor of 1 + I. To obtain such a solution, our approximation methods solve a linear program whose size grows at rate 1/I. In addition to our approximation methods, we develop a linear program that we can use to obtain an upper bound on the optimal expected revenue. In our computational experiments, we compare the expected revenues from the solutions obtained by our approximation methods with the upper bounds on the optimal expected revenues and show that we can obtain high-quality solutions quite fast.
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Expression of c-fos, zif/268, c-jun and jun-B mRNAs in Rat Brain Following Seizures Evoked Focally from the Deep Prepiriform Cortex

Using in situ hybridization, we previously investigated (17) the regional pattern of c-fos mRNA increases in the brain following convulsive seizures elicited from a highly circumscribed epileptogenic site located in the deep prepiriform cortex. In this paper, we focus on the hippocampus and examine mRNAs encoding other immediate early genes (IEGs), namely c-jun, jun-B, and zif/268, for changes following the focally evoked seizures. Although the anatomic distribution of increases in each IEG mRNA was qualitatively comparable, the temporal analysis indicated that increases in zif/268 mRNA appeared prior to the other genes studied. Each of the mRNAs reached a maximum increase by 30 min and declined to basal levels within 3 h following seizure initiation. The data indicate that these four IEGs respond in a coordinated fashion to propagated seizure activity with increases in mRNA and, furthermore, that increased expression of all four genes appears to occur in the same cell types in the hippocampus.
A controlled comparison of symptoms and chemical intolerances reported by Gulf War veterans, implant recipients and persons with multiple chemical sensitivity.

Using the Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (EESI), a standardized instrument for measuring chemical sensitivity, weobtained and compared ratings of symptoms, chemical (inhalant) int...
Reintegration Success and Failure: Factors Impacting Reintegration Among Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women

Criminologists have explored the reentry experience of formerly incarcerated adults, documented the pressing challenges of reentry, the correlates of recidivism, and the causes of desistance. Given scholars' focus on reentry to explain what factors impact criminal outcome, this raises the interesting question of whether and how such factors shape the process and outcome of reintegration. The current study uses official records and survey and in-depth interviews of 50 current and formerly incarcerated women to assess their accounts of what shapes reintegration success and failure. Results highlight the utility of an intragender approach and have import for policy aimed at women.
Recovery of salt marsh in Brittany sixteen months after heavy pollution by oil

Abstract Two visits separated by sixteen months were made to salt marshes and a shingle spit in Brittany, where oil was stranded in the spring of 1968, to assess macro-changes in floral composition and the overall effects of heavy contamination by weathered oil. Most salt marsh plant species survived all but the heaviest contamination. Oil appeared to prevent gaseous interchange between soil and air, yielding reducing conditions which led to chlorotic symptoms in plants. As the oil was rapidly denatured salt marshes can be important for retaining oil during this process and preventing pollution elsewhere.
Attempting to model dissociations of memory

Kinder and Shanks report simulations aimed at describing a single-system model of the dissociation between declarative and non-declarative memory. This model attempts to capture both Artificial Grammar Learning (AGL) and recognition memory with a single underlying representation. However, the model fails to reflect an essential feature of recognition memory - that it occurs after a single exposure - and the simulations may instead describe a potentially interesting property of over-training non-declarative memory.
Three-dimensional (3D) imaging systems for video communication applications

In this paper we describe the background to, and our interest in, 3D imaging systems for improved video-telecommunications services. There have been two main thrusts: for video- telephony and for improving response in tele-operations or remote working situations where depth information is vital. We have built prototype demonstrations that offer enhanced presence and are comfortable to view. These demonstrations have been well received. These systems have become feasible because of the recent rapid improvements in display technologies. Further improvements in 3D image quality can be anticipated as the 2D display technologies continue to develop and as the benefit of these applications is transformed to user demand. We anticipate a growing requirement to provide the bandwidth for a range of 3D imaging applications operating over telecommunications networks.
Statistical properties of ecological and geologic fractals

To use fractal models for ecological and geologic data, the statistical properties of fractals need to be clarified. No sampling or estimation theory for fractals currently exists. Several concrete steps in this direction are taken here. First, the information fractal dimension is proposed as a new measure that is relatively robust with respect to sampling error and can handle intensive data. The information fractal is tested with field data and is shown to be capable of delineating stratified structures and defining the scale of heterogeneity in the data. Comparison to semivariance analysis reveals the superiority of the fractal model for sample data that are nonisotropic and nonstationary. It is argued that approaches using regression to estimate fractal dimensions of spatial patterns are statistically invalid, and alternatives are proposed. Sampling of natural objects with transects (e.g., wells) is explored. For nonisotropic media (or maps), random placement of transects is shown to give an unreliable estimate of pattern. For transects taken perpendicular to a directional pattern (i.e., strata), it is shown that the mean of multiple estimates of the multiscale fractal dimensional profile does converge to the true value. Other sampling issues are addressed.
The organometallic fluorine chemistry of palladium and rhodium: studies toward aromatic fluorination.

Although springing from two established fields, organometallic chemistry and fluorine chemistry, organometallic fluorine chemistry is still in its early stages. However, developments in this area are expected to provide new tools for the synthesis of selectively fluorinated organic compounds that have been in high demand. Selectively fluorinated organic molecules currently account for up to 40% of all agrochemicals and 20% of all pharmaceuticals on the market. Our research efforts have been focused on the development of new organometallic and catalytic methods for the selective introduction of fluorine and the CF3 group into the aromatic ring. Monofluorinated and trifluoromethylated aromatic compounds are still made by the old technologies that employ stoichiometric quantities of hazardous and costly materials. In this Account, we describe our studies toward the development of safe, catalytic alternatives to these methods. We have synthesized, characterized, and studied the reactivity of the first aryl pa...
EEG electrode-amplifier harness

Astronaut electrode-amplifier helmet harness for cable and radiotelemetry acquisition of EEG, EGO, EMG and blood pressure data on noninterference basis