cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Speciation of Select f-Elements with Lipophilic Phosphorus Acids and Diglycol Amides in the ALSEP Backward-Extraction Regime

The complexation of HDEHP, HEH[EHP], T2EHDGA, and TODGA and mixtures thereof in n-dodecane with Nd(III), Pm(III), and Am(III), extracted from pH 3 aqueous media, were analyzed by distribution analysis, IR, UV–vis, and X-ray spectroscopies. Appreciable ternary complex formation is seen among HDEHP with DGA components and to a lesser extent with HEH[EHP]. Ternary complex formation constants were determined by absorption spectroscopy and slope analysis. The effect of the adduct formation on the process performance and on the Ln/An selectivity is discussed. It has been shown that the ternary complexes have the tendency to extract larger trivalent cations as Am and Nd over Eu, thus diminishing the overall Ln/Am selectivity of the process. Also, previously unreported extraction constants were derived for HEH[EHP] with Am and Pm as well as coordination information for Nd-HEH[EHP] and Nd-T2EHDGA complexes.
Effect of Extended Benzannelation Orientation on Bergman and Related Cyclizations of Isomeric Quinoxalenediynes.

A combined computational and experimental study was conducted to examine the effect of extended benzannelation orientation on C1–C5 and C1–C6 cyclization of acyclic quinoxalenediynes. Calculations (mPW1PW91/cc-pVTZ//mPW1PW91/6-31G(d,p)) on terminal and phenylethynyl-substituted 5,6-diethynylquinoxaline and 6,7-diethynylquinoxaline showed C1–C6 Bergman cyclization as the favored thermodynamic reaction pathway, with larger C1–C6 preference for the angular quinoxalenediynes due to gain of a new aromatic sextet. Kinetic studies, as a function of 1,4-cyclohexadiene concentration, revealed retro-Bergman ring opening predominates over hydrogen atom abstraction (k–1 > k2) for 6,7-diethynylquinoxaline while 5,6-diethynylquinoxaline undergoes irreversible Bergman cyclization indicative of a large retro-Bergman ring opening barrier (k2 > k–1). The effect of extended linear versus angular benzannelation on reaction pathway shows in the contrasting photocyclizations of phenylethynyl derivatives. While angular 5,6-diet...
Policing and Teaching: The Positioning of Black Male Teachers as Agents in The Universal Carceral Apparatus.

Given the challenging in- and out-of-school outcomes that some boys and young men of color exhibit, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners have advocated for increasing the number of Black male teachers. This strategy is predicated on the belief that having same-race and same-gender teachers can improve student learning. Drawing on Shedd’s Universal Carceral Apparatus and Brown’s Pedagogical Kind, this study used the qualitative method, specifically phenomenology, to explore the school-based experiences of 27 Black male teachers across 14 schools in one urban school district. Participants perceived that their peers and school administrators positioned them to serve primarily as disciplinarians first and teachers second. The Black male teachers described how their colleagues expected them to redirect student misbehavior. They rejected the idea that they were magically constructed or that students who were deemed as misbehaving responded to the teachers’ redirection simply because they were Black men. Instead, participants described how they attended to students’ social and emotional development, thereby influencing their capacity to engage and manage perceived misbehavior. Implications for future research are presented at the conclusion of the study.
Styles of Argumentation in Judicial Opinions (Legitimating Judicial Decisions)

This article focuses on how judges present arguments in written opinions and whether the predominant style of argumentation promotes the legitimacy of the judiciary. Judicial opinions are habituall...
Laparoscopic-Assisted Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Patients with altered anatomy who require endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) present a challenge to the surgeon and require a specialized approach. In the past, most patients had altered anatomy secondary to duodenal ulcer operations, specifically a Billroth II reconstruction with afferent and efferent limbs. More common in the current era are patients with altered anatomy secondary to bariatric surgery, specifically laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Cholecystectomy in patients with altered anatomy can usually be performed laparoscopically, but access to the duodenum and the major papilla via transoral ERCP may be extremely difficult and frequently impossible. Even if one is able to access the duodenum using a transoral approach, impaired visualization of the papilla and scope instability can reduce the likelihood of deep biliary cannulation and technical success. Given the difficulty and poor success rate of transoral ERCP in RYGB patients, laparoscopic-assisted ERCP has developed as a safe and reliable way to allow ERCP.
Model United Nations: Review for First-Time Instructors and Advisors.

This review examines the Model United Nations (MUN) program at the collegiate level and provides useful information for advisors that are leading MUN for the first time.
2011: Satellite CCRMA: A Musical Interaction and Sound Synthesis Platform

This paper describes a new Beagle Board-based platform for teaching and practicing interaction design for musical applications. The migration from desktop and laptop computer-based sound synthesis to a compact and integrated control, computation and sound generation platform has enormous potential to widen the range of computer music instruments and installations that can be designed, and improves the portability, autonomy, extensibility and longevity of designed systems. We describe the technical features of the Satellite CCRMA platform and contrast it with personal computer-based systems used in the past as well as emerging smart phone-based platforms. The advantages and trade-offs of the new platform are considered, and some project work is described.
Preparing School Technology Leaders for Online Professional Development: Training Efforts with El Paso Teachers for Online Course Facilitation in Texas STARgate

Much research interest in the field of distance education by necessity focuses on student achievement. However, instructor preparation may be of equal concern, particularly when considering the lack of direct human contact between instructors and learners. Toward this end, 41 technology leaders in El Paso Independent School District engaged in online facilitator instruction through Texas STARgate, a professional development portal for Texas teachers, from December, 2003 to January, 2004. In February, 2004 a select few from this group volunteered to lead the first online professional development courses for El Paso teachers. This paper will examine the background of the STARgate project, including the literature surrounding support efforts given to online learners and facilitators; identify key issues for course facilitation offered in STARgate guide training; and illustrate the efforts used to discern if the El Paso facilitators put the knowledge offered in their training to effective use.
The Development of Sensitivity of Kenetic, Binocular and Pictorial Depth Information in Human Infants

A program of research is described that explores the development of sensitivity to three classes of spatial information in human infants. The research suggests that sensitivity to kinetic, binocular and pictorial depth information develops in a fixed sequence. Some sensitivity to kinetic information may be present at birth or soon thereafter; sensitivity to binocular information appears between three and five months; and sensitivity to static monocular information appears between five and 7 months of age. These findings may direct research on the development of neural mechanisms that underlie the emergence of responsiveness to spatial information in human infants.
Examining Dynamic Emergent Properties of the DNA Sensing Pathway

Abstract The DNA sensing pathway is a component of the innate immune system that recognizes DNA in the cytosol of cells. Its main purpose after DNA detection is to promote interferon production, which acts as a “warning signal” to neighboring cells and subsequently induces anti-viral and pro-inflammatory proteins. DNA that activates this pathway can originate from pathogens (herpes simplex virus, tuberculosis) or leakage from the nucleus (observed in cancer cells). Unfortunately, the regulatory factors underlying the DNA sensing pathway are poorly understood. Without a model describing the dynamics of the DNA sensing pathway, little progress can be made toward understanding its role with pathogens, cancer, and autoimmunity. To investigate the dynamics of the DNA sensing pathway, we constructed an ordinary differential equation (ODE) model parameterized from compiled literature data. With the established model, we performed several in silico knock-down experiments and observed sustained pathway activation without the presence of a negative feedback mechanism for DNA degradation and robustness to perturbations. This model provides a foundation to predict how pharmaceutical interventions could modulate the DNA sensing pathway to desired phenotypes.
Large-Scale Hydrological Fluxes as Revealed by Data from the Soil Moisture Active-Passive Mission

Given that the near-surface soil acts as a “gateway” for many hydrological processes (e.g., infiltration into the soil, evaporation from the soil), and given that the Soil Moisture Active-Passive (SMAP) passive radiometer can sense soil moisture in the top 5 cm of soil at regular intervals, SMAP soil moisture retrievals offer the potential for providing useful information on large-scale hydrological fluxes, including precipitation and streamflow. This idea is explored here through the joint analysis of SMAP soil moisture retrievals, gauge-based precipitation data, and stream gauge measurements covering the warm seasons (June-September) of the years 2015–2017. Results are presented for two representative hydrological basins. SMAP-based estimates of 10-day precipitation and streamflow averages in these basins are found to be reasonably accurate as long as the precipitation and/or streamflow occurring in nature is not too extreme.
Perceptions of Search Consultants of Qualities School Boards Seek in Superintendents.

This study sought to determine those qualities that school boards seek when they employ superintendents as perceived by superintendent search consultants. The author found the following qualities to be extremely important when school boards are seeking superintendents: performance in previous positions, performance during the interview, evidence of leadership and managerial skills, communication skills, and experience and success with school constituent groups.
Cytologic processing of ureteral microbiopsies is associated with higher sensitivity for detection of urothelial carcinoma compared with conventional biopsy processing

Introduction Because of the high rates of false-negative or nondiagnostic ureteral Piranha microbiopsies associated with low cellularity, we assessed the effect of processing these using cytology. Materials and methods We included 2 groups of 44 consecutive microbiopsies processed from formalin as a standard surgical biopsy and 22 processed by cytology. All samples were from the ureter or renal pelvis or calyx. The cytology samples were collected in alcohol-based media and were prepared with a Cellient cell block only (n = 9) or with a Cellient cell block for the visible particles, together with ThinPrep, to capture the remaining desquamated cells (n = 13). Results Malignancy was diagnosed in 5 of 44 conventionally processed microbiopsies (11%) compared with 14 of 22 cytologically processed microbiopsies (64%; P 200 cells/profile) in the Cellient cell blocks (14 of 22 [64%]) compared with the histologic biopsies (17 of 44 [39%]; P = 0.070). Conclusions Cytologic processing of ureteral microbiopsies showed superior sensitivity for detecting high-grade urothelial carcinoma, apparently owing to the increased cellular recovery.
Estimation and Forecasting Potential Evapotranspiration Using Limited Hydrometeorological Data

Potential evapotranspiration (ETp), defined as the amount of water that would be lost by evaporation and transpiration from an area in the absence of water limitation, is an import hydrometeorologi...
Abstract WP407: Therapeutic Window of Red Cell Microparticles in Limiting Hematoma Growth in a Rat Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is a serious form of stroke without any effective therapy. Limiting hematoma growth is a promising therapeutic strategy. Published data showed that red b...
Nursing Home Social Work During COVID-19.

Dear Editor, As the impacts of COVID-19 on nursing facilities became apparent, the members of the U.S. based National Nursing Home Social Work Network (NNHSWN) immediately considered what it could ...
Structural, morphological and magnetic properties of compositionally modulated CoNi nanowires

Abstract Ferromagnetic nanowires (NWs) are novel materials that offer unique magnetic properties, as the geometrical dimensions become comparable to key length scales in magnetism, such as the exchange length or the domain wall width. In this work, compositionally modulated Co1−xNix nanowires (diameter 10–15 nm) with high coercivity have been synthesized via a thermal decomposition method. The structural analysis demonstrates that the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal structure and the wire-shape morphology are maintained up to Ni content of x = 0.3. Based on the shape anisotropy and orientation, the aligned Co1−xNix nanowire assemblies show that the coercivity at room temperature decreases from 11.4 to 5.4 kOe with increasing x from 0 to 0.3. The monotonous decrease in coercivity with Ni content is related to the effective magnetic anisotropy and nanowire diameter which are found to be strongly varied with Ni addition. In addition, it is found that the increase of Ni content in the nanowires brings more resistance to oxidation than the pristine Co nanowires. The exchange bias study indicates that the Ni addition leads to lower blocking temperature of the CoNiO grains and consequently the switch-on temperature for the exchange bias field shifts to low temperatures with the increase of Ni content. Further, the exchange bias behavior that is associated with the existence of antiferromagnetic and spin-glass-like states are confirmed by temperature-dependent magnetization measurements.
The Adams-onís Treaty's Bicentennial and Its Enduring Legacy for the American Doctrine of Self-Executing and Non-Self-Executing Treaties

On February 22, 2019, the Adams-Ons Treaty turned 200. In celebration of the bicentennial, this article recalls what the author considers to be the enduring legacy of the Adams-Ons Treaty for the operations of international law treaties in the constitutional space of the United States-the uniquely American doctrine of self-execution and non-self-execution.
Understanding Mothers’ Perceptions of Food Skills: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background Food skills are behaviors surrounding the planning, purchasing, and preparing of food. Food skills have been identified as important for promoting diet quality. Little work has investigated specific food skills perceived by parents to promote a healthy diet or parents’ perceived barriers to implementing food skills. Objective Our aim was to determine current food skills that parents identify as helpful behaviors for consuming a healthy diet and the perceived barriers to implementing food skills. Design We conducted a qualitative study using focus groups with mothers (18 years or older) who reported being primarily responsible for acquiring and preparing food. Participants/setting Thirty mothers with at least 1 child under the age of 18 years were asked to attend 1 of 5 focus groups held in a university setting. Main outcomes Outcomes included emergent themes and subthemes within the domains of food skill behaviors identified as helpful and perceived barriers to implementing food skills. Analysis Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to analyze transcripts and descriptive statistics were used to characterize participant demographics. Results Food skill themes identified as helpful behaviors for consuming a healthy diet included mothers’ resourcefulness, overall planning behaviors, and child involvement and influence. Themes for barriers to implementing food skills included limited time, cooking for multiple needs and tastes, exposure to food and sales while shopping, and food cost. Conclusions Qualitative findings indicated that mothers need behavior strategies for time management, meeting multiple family needs, dealing with exposure to food and sales, and food resource management rather than being provided solely with education. These findings can inform future behavior-based interventions to improve the diet quality of families.
Caregiver Risk Factors Associated with Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths

Background: Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) refers to the unanticipated death of a previously healthy infant younger than 1 year old, lacking an obvious cause before investigation. The leading cause of death for infants, SUID includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and asphyxia from accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB). ASSB deaths predominate, are largely preventable, and have been the focus of research, prevention programming and public health educational efforts targeting modifiable risk factors including hazards in the sleep environment. In contrast to environmental risk factors caregiver specific …
Walls Block Waves: Using an Inundation Metaphor of Immigration Predicts Support for a Border Wall

From early 20th century headlines to presidential tweets, immigration is described frequently in terms of waves, floods, and tides. Although usage of this inundation metaphor has been widely documented, its potential influence on immigration attitudes has not been assessed empirically. Building from conceptual metaphor theory’s claim that abstract ideas can be grounded in simpler, concrete concepts, we hypothesized that using the inundation metaphor to understand immigration contributes to support for a U.S.—Mexico border wall as a figurative means to block immigrants. Accordingly, social media posts supporting a border wall contained more inundation-metaphoric expressions than messages opposing a wall and messages opposing immigration without reference to a wall (Study 1; N = 4,067). Converging experimental tests show, when controlling for political attitudes, exposure to the inundation metaphor increases support for a border wall (Studies 2a and 2b; N = 737). These findings add to the growing body of evidence that political cognition and policy attitudes are partly motivated by metaphoric comparisons to concrete ideas that are irrelevant in a literal sense.
A new species of azooxanthellate Scleractinia from the western Atlantic, and a new name and record of Desmophyllum striatum sensu Cairns, 1979

A new species of deep-water azooxanthellate scleractinian coral is described from the northwestern Atlantic, named Trochocyathus circularis. It is distinctive for its almost circular calice. A new name is proposed for the junior primary homonym Desmophyllum striatumCairns, 1979, which was preoccupied by the senior homonym, a Miocene fossil from Italy, described in 1871 by Sismonda in Sismonda & Michelotti.
Framing the Issue: An Introduction

This volume summarizes and expands on the extant literature on three intersecting areas to care for and empower homeless persons: the social/political/economic concerns, the commonly associated psychiatric and substance use disorders, and the frequent acute and chronic medical problems. It is written mainly to be of help to primary care and mental health providers, clinicians in the emergency department, acute medical and psychiatric hospital units, social service agencies, and to a lesser extent policy makers. Many primary care practitioners work in clinics that serve the homeless; and while familiar with the acute medical and psychiatric problems, the importance of addressing housing needs, and how to go about doing so, may be less known.
The origin of mechanical harmonic distortion within the organ of Corti in living gerbil cochleae

Although auditory harmonic distortion has been demonstrated psychophysically in humans and electrophysiologically in experimental animals, the cellular origin of the mechanical harmonic distortion remains unclear. To demonstrate the outer hair cell-generated harmonics within the organ of Corti, we measured sub-nanometer vibrations of the reticular lamina from the apical ends of the outer hair cells in living gerbil cochleae using a custom-built heterodyne low-coherence interferometer. The harmonics in the reticular lamina vibration are significantly larger and have broader spectra and shorter latencies than those in the basilar membrane vibration. The latency of the second harmonic is significantly greater than that of the fundamental at low stimulus frequencies. These data indicate that the mechanical harmonics are generated by the outer hair cells over a broad cochlear region and propagate from the generation sites to their own best-frequency locations. He and Ren measured sub-nanometer vibrations of the reticular lamina from the apical ends of the outer hair cells in living gerbil cochleae using a custom-built low-coherence interferometer. Their results indicate that mechanical harmonics are generated by the motile outer hair cells and can propagate to their best-frequency locations.
Nonsmooth Optimization Method and Sparsity

Nonsmooth variational problems are analyzed using the Lagrange multiplier theory. In particular, the sparsity optimization method has a multitude of important applications, i.e., in imaging analysis and friction contact and inverse problems, and can be cast as nonsmooth variational problems. The optimality condition is derived and it is of the form of the complementarity systems. An effective numerical optimization method using the semismooth Newton method is then developed and analyzed. The method takes the form of primal-dual active set methods and is much more efficient than numerical optimization algorithms based on first order methods. The l0 sparsity optimization for the linear least square problem is considered. The necessary optimality condition is derived and a numerical algorithm based on the Lagrange multiplier rule to determine a solution is developed and analyzed.
Highly accurate thermal flow microsensor for continuous and quantitative measurement of cerebral blood flow

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) plays a critical role in the exchange of nutrients and metabolites at the capillary level and is tightly regulated to meet the metabolic demands of the brain. After major brain injuries, CBF normally decreases and supporting the injured brain with adequate CBF is a mainstay of therapy after traumatic brain injury. Quantitative and localized measurement of CBF is therefore critically important for evaluation of treatment efficacy and also for understanding of cerebral pathophysiology. We present here an improved thermal flow microsensor and its operation which provides higher accuracy compared to existing devices. The flow microsensor consists of three components, two stacked-up thin film resistive elements serving as composite heater/temperature sensor and one remote resistive element for environmental temperature compensation. It operates in constant-temperature mode (~2 °C above the medium temperature) providing 20 ms temporal resolution. Compared to previous thermal flow microsensor based on self-heating and self-sensing design, the sensor presented provides at least two-fold improvement in accuracy in the range from 0 to 200 ml/100 g/min. This is mainly achieved by using the stacked-up structure, where the heating and sensing are separated to improve the temperature measurement accuracy by minimization of errors introduced by self-heating.
Inferencing, reasoning, and rules

By virtue of the fact that a graph defines things and their relationships to one another, it is possible to follow paths in a graph or compare entities and their connections, to deduce, or infer, knowledge that isn’t explicitly represented. Humans do this all the time but are barely aware of it most of the time. The Semantic Web embraces and facilitates computational reasoning over triples because ontologies are defined based on the formal branch of mathematics called first order logic. Every graph segment represents a statement of fact, which is called an axiom. Logic provides a formalized language for specifying the implications of statements and for evaluating a series of statements to determine new knowledge or to validate the truth of a condition represented by those statements. This chapter discusses the notion of logic and the formal version used by the Semantic Web called first order logic and some of the challenges in computational logic. It introduces the operators and structure of logic statements. Finally it shows how ontologies, triples, and rules relate to logic, and shows how rules can be used by Semantic Web applications to use semantic data in ways that mimic human understanding of information.
THE IOWA DRIVING SIMULATOR : A TOOL FOR HUMAN FACTORS AND VEHICLE VIRTUAL PROTOTYPING RESEARCH

The Iowa Driving Simulator (IDS) is a six degree–of–freedom, hexapod configuration, ground vehicle simulator located at the Center for Computer–Aided Design (CCAD) at The University of Iowa. The simulator is designed for use in human factors and vehicle virtual prototyping research studies. Currently one of the most advanced ground vehicle simulators in the world, the IDS relies on high–fidelity simulation software and hardware. In the context of this work, high–fidelity is meant to imply: high–resolution, photo textured graphics, real–time multibody vehicle dynamics simulation, and appropriate sound, control loading and motion cues. The IDS incorporates all of these features in a flexible system capable of providing repeatable human factors experiments at a level of simulation detail which is useful for engineering design.
Social Relationships in Adulthood

Most research has been conducted on intimate, or potentially intimate, relationships. A few comments are devoted to research on competitive and hierarchical relationships here. More extensive comments are included relevant to interpersonal processes within friendships, romantic relationships, and family relationships. The relationship literature focuses largely on naturally occurring, ongoing relationships and on specific interpersonal processes relevant to forming, building, repairing, maintaining, and (sometimes) ending relationships. The field has advanced sufficiently that there is clear consensus on some facts about close relationships. These topics are discussed: the importance of relationships to good mental and physical health; the predictability of who forms relationships with whom; the central focus of responsiveness to needs; and the impact of positive views of a partner.
Invasive Species: to eat or not to eat, that is the question

Managing invasive species is a current challenge for biodiversity conservation. A recurring recent suggestion is that by harvesting nonnatives for human consumption, people can control invasive populations. Even though humans may be able to control or eradicate certain populations of nonnative species by harvesting them as food sources, several caveats should be considered before starting these programs. A prominent problem is that creating a market engenders pressure to maintain that problematic species. Also, if the target species becomes an economic resource, people may try to recreate that market in previously uninvaded regions. Using invasive species as an economic resource may trigger the local community to protect these harmful species, to facilitate their incorporation into the local culture, and can generate severe management problems. As with other management programs, managers must know if the harvest actually reduces the target population. Mortality could produce a reduction in the population size or growth, or it could be compensatory, in which case removal of the harvested individuals would not affect population growth. However, in addition to possible control, there may be several benefits of this approach, including an opportunity for public outreach. Projects aiming at controlling invasives through human consumption should be carefully examined, as they may produce results opposite to those proposed.
Syntheses of metal carbonyls

Abstract Ru(C 6 Me 6 )(C 2 H 4 ) 2 reacts with Rh(C 5 Me 5 )(CO) 2 to give the known dinuclear complex [Rh(C 5 Me 5 )(CO)] 2 and the new heteronuclear cluster complex {[Rh(C 5 Me 5 )] 3 [Ru(CO) 3 ](μ 3 -CO) 2 } which has been fully characterized by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study.
Local Momentum and a Three-Body Gauge

In recent years researchers have attempted to improve the continuum state three-body wavefunction for three, mutually interacting Coulomb particles by including, so called, local momentum effects, which depend upon the logarithmic gradient of the continuum, two-body Coulomb waves. Using the exact three-body wavefunction in the region where two of the three particles remain close, a revised description of these local momenta, is attained which predicts that a quantum-mechanical impulse may develop in the reaction zone, causing like-sign-charged particles to decrease their radial separation and opposite-sign-charged particles to increase their radial separation. The consequences of these predictions are investigated through both quantum and semi-classical techniques where the total energy of a two-body continuum Coulomb system in the presence of a third, mutually interacting body are analyzed. Numerical calculations confirm that while ignoring these local effects for light-ion-atom processes, may be appropriate, three-body effects may dominate in the reaction zone for heavy-ion-atom processes. This hypothesis is investigated and it is shown that a real-valued, position-dependent phase is added to the wavefunction. Further analysis shows that one may detect asymptotic variations in the scattering amplitudes for massive systems at near-threshold energies. These results provide convincing theoretical and physical evidence for a formal three-body gauge.
Ribonucleic Acid Synthesis During Morphogenesis in Myxococcus xanthus

Ribonucleic acid synthesis was measured during the morphogenesis of Myxococcus xanthus. After induction of microcyst formation by the addition of glycerol to an exponential culture, net ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis was immediately terminated (measured either chemically or by the accumulation of acid-insoluble radioactivity). Extensive RNA turnover did take place, however, including RNA made both before and after induction. Sucrose gradient centrifugation revealed that ribosomes and ribosomal RNA were synthesized during microcyst formation even though there was no net RNA synthesis. Base analyses of the total RNA of vegetative cells and 120-min microcysts were indistinguishable.
Spinal cord ischemia. Development of a model in the mouse.

Background and Purpose —Spinal cord ischemia with resulting paraplegia is a devastating complication of thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. Experimental models of spinal cord ischemia have been developed in primate, dog, pig, rabbit, and rat with variable reproducibility, but none has been developed in mouse. Because genetically engineered mice have become important to examine the impact of specific genes in ischemic pathophysiology, we sought to develop a reproducible mouse model of spinal cord ischemia. Methods —C57BL/6NCrlBR mice were subjected to cross-clamping of the aortic arch, left subclavian artery, and internal mammary artery for 9 minutes (group A; n=8) or 11 minutes (group B; n=29) followed by reperfusion for 24 or 48 hours. Mean distal arterial blood pressure (left femoral artery) and lumbar (L1) spinal cord blood flow (laser-Doppler flowmetry) were measured for the duration of the procedure. The arterial blood supply of the spinal cord was visualized by intravascular perfusion of carbon black ink. We evaluated motor function in the hind limbs at 0, 1, 3, 6, and 24 hours after reperfusion using a rating scale of 0 (normal function) to 6 (total absence of movement). Spinal cord histopathology was evaluated after 24 and 48 hours of reperfusion by Luxol fast blue–hematoxylin and eosin. Results —The vascular anatomy of the mouse and human spinal cord appeared similar in that blood was supplied by 1 anterior and 2 posterior spinal arteries and heterosegmental radicular arteries. During combined occlusion of aortic arch and left subclavian artery, mean distal arterial blood pressure dropped to 10±5 mm Hg, and spinal cord blood flow at the L1 level decreased to 27±7% of baseline. All animals recovered from anesthesia with acute paraplegia. Animals in the 9-minute group (group A) showed steady recovery of hind limb function over the ensuing 24 hours, whereas the majority (80%) in the 11-minute group (group B) remained paralyzed with maximum deficit throughout the postoperative period. Mortality was 0% and 21% in groups A and B, respectively. Maximal ischemic damage was observed at the lower thoracic and higher lumbar spinal levels in both groups. In group A (9 minutes), tissue damage was mild, affecting predominantly dorsal horns and intermediate gray matter, whereas ventral horns were minimally involved. All mice in group B (11 minutes) showed extensive gray matter lesions particularly involving dorsal horns and intermediate areas; in ventral horns, >50% of motor neurons died. White matter lesions were present in the most severely damaged cords only. Conclusions —Spinal cord ischemia caused by aortic arch plus left subclavian artery cross-clamping provides a mouse model useful for the study of spinal cord injury and of potential relevance to the complications following thoracoabdominal aortic surgery in humans.
WEAR OF ELASTOMERIC SEALS IN ABRASIVE SLURRIES

Seals are a critical aspect of machinery that operates in the presence of abrasive slurries. Seals act to maintain machine lubrication and prevent abrasives from affecting critical components. Over time, however, the slurry will wear the seal and lead to a loss of lubrication and eventual machine failure. It is therefore important to investigate the seal wear process in aims of improving seal design and performance. The wear process was studied by visualizing and recording the operation of the seal through a window using time-lapse video. Images from the test show that the wear process occurs in two stages: the break-in period and the aggressive wear period. During the break-in period the seal does not wear. During the aggressive wear period, however, particles under the contact band cluster and form an abrasive front that erodes the seal lip at a rapid rate. Based on these observations, the seal geometry was changed to include the periodic placement of various texture topologies, including (1) a depression surrounded by a protrusion, (2) a protrusion only and (3) a depression only. Textures featuring protrusions act to extend the break-in period and decrease the wear rate of the aggressive wear period. Seals with the protrusions-only texture outlived non-textured seals by a factor of eight.
Patients’ Understanding of the Regulation of Dietary Supplements

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) permits manufacturers to sell products without providing pre-market evidence of safety or efficacy. One fundamental reason for the passage of the DSHEA was to empower consumers to make their own choices, free from governmental restriction. Yet, little is known about the public’s understanding of the supplement regulatory process. We undertook a study to assess patients’ knowledge regarding governmental oversight of product marketing and advertising. A survey of 300 adult patients from the Baltimore Metropolitan area was administered after showing participants an advertisement for a dietary supplement. Patients were asked questions regarding their understanding of federal regulation of the advertised product. A total of 52% of respondents were unaware that the dietary supplement had not been approved by the government while 63% were unaware that the advertisement for that supplement had not been pre-approved. Factors associated with a lack of understanding of the product approval process included lower education level (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.52–4.19) and non-Caucasian race (OR 1.99; 95% CI 1.17–3.36). Lower education level was also associated with confusion regarding the advertisement approval process (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.48–4.57). Based on these results, patients seem unclear about the government’s role in the regulation of dietary supplements. Educational efforts should be geared towards clarifying these issues.
Effect of Slip Dispersion on Microstructure Evolution During Isothermal Sintering of Cast Alumina

The effect of slip dispersion on the consequent densification and microstructure evolution of alumina was studied for isothermal sintering. As expected, cast alumina bodies produced with flocculated slip required longer sintering time to reach high density. Quantitative microstructure analysis was used to study the relationships between the slip dispersion condition, the densification behavior, and microstructure evolution of cast alumina during sintering at 1350°C. A microstructural description based on pore boundary tessellation revealed a correlation between the degree of flocculation, tessellation cell properties, and densification rate. A conceptual understanding of the sintering of agglomerated powders was used to explain the observations.
Practical and Sensitive Screening Strategy for Detection of Influenza Virus

This study evaluated the performance of Directigen FluA combined with a 3-day flu screening culture for the detection of influenza virus. This abbreviated protocol was a useful and effective tool and resulted in a substantial reduction in time, effort, and money spent, while not compromising sensitivity of influenza virus detection.
The Development of an Asynchronous Computer-Mediated Course: Observations on How to Promote Interactivity.

In pedagogical literature, asynchronous, computer-mediated courses have been promoted as an interactive mode of course delivery. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of different teaching strategies in this medium. In this paper, I describe the development of my asynchronous course and outline the fundamental dilemmas in attempting to achieve interactivity in this medium of course delivery. I discuss issues of pacing the course, grading, monitoring discussions, and incorporating Internet-based material into the course. Each of these considerations should be addressed in future research on asynchronous courses.
Carbon dioxide absorption method for inhalation anesthesia its Development and principles

Abstract Like most revolutionary innovations and discoveries in the art and practice of medicine, the absorption of carbon dioxide from anesthetic mixtures was not first used by accident nor was it the creation of one individual. It resulted from the intelligent application of accumulated knowledge of anesthetics and their administration. D. E. Jackson applied the principles of complete rebreathing of anesthetic mixtures to laboratory experiments; Ralph M. Waters established the method in clinical anesthesia. The absorption of carbon dioxide from anesthetic mixtures introduces desirable improvements in inhalation anesthesia. Accurate, convenient and safe appliances have been constructed. Anesthetic mixtures may be completely rebreathed. The respired atmosphere is warmed and saturated with water vapor. The physiological control of carbon dioxide and oxygen tensions, essential during inhalation narcosis, may be accomplished by the anesthetist. The fire and explosion hazard is minimized. Obnoxious and toxic anesthetic gases and vapors are removed from the atmosphere breathed by the surgical team. A definite economy is effected. A convenient technique that improves surgical conditions is available. The technique to be employed satisfactorily requires clinical judgment as well as technical ability.
β-Adrenergic receptors (β-AR) regulate VEGF and IL-6 production by divergent pathways in high β-AR-expressing breast cancer cell lines

Activation of β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) drives proangiogenic factor production in several types of cancers. To examine β-AR regulation of breast cancer pathogenesis, β-AR density, signaling capacity, and functional responses to β-AR stimulation were studied in four human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines. β-AR density ranged from very low in MCF7 and MB-361 to very high in MB-231 and in a brain-seeking variant of MB-231, MB-231BR. Consistent with β-AR density, β-AR activation elevated cAMP in MCF7 and MB-361 much less than in MB-231 and MB-231BR. Functionally, β-AR stimulation did not markedly alter vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production by MCF7 or MB-361. In the two high β-AR-expressing cell lines MB-231 and MB-231BR, β-AR-induced cAMP and VEGF production differed considerably, despite similar β-AR density. The β(2)-AR-selective agonist terbutaline and the endogenous neurotransmitter norepinephrine decreased VEGF production by MB-231, but increased VEGF production by MB-231BR. Moreover, β(2)-AR activation increased IL-6 production by both MB-231 and MB-231BR. These functional alterations were driven by elevated cAMP, as direct activation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin elicited similar alterations in VEGF and IL-6 production. The protein kinase A antagonist KT5720 prevented β-AR-induced alterations in MB-231 and MB-231BR VEGF production, but not IL-6 production. Conclusions β-AR expression and signaling is heterogeneous in human breast cancer cell lines. In cells with high β-AR density, β-AR stimulation regulates VEGF production through the classical β-AR-cAMP-PKA pathway, but this pathway can elicit directionally opposite outcomes. Furthermore, in the same cells, β-AR activate a cAMP-dependent, PKA-independent pathway to increase IL-6 production. The complexity of breast cancer cell β-AR expression and functional responses must be taken into account when considering β-AR as a therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.
DST in depression is unaffected by altering the clock time of its administration

Abstract Circadian oscillators in major depressive illness may be phase advanced by several hours. We attempted to determine whether phase advance of the oscillator responsible for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function in depressives might influence the outcome of the overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST). Six major depressives underwent DST with dexamethasone doses administered in a randomized fashion at 1900h and 2300h on separate evenings. Twenty-four hour cortisol secretory patterns basally and postdexamethasone were obtained for each subject. Postdexamethasone cortisol responses were similar for both the 1900h and 2300h dosage schedules in suppressors, nonsuppressors, and an early escape responder. We conclude that failure of the HPA axis to suppress normally with DST in major depressive illness is a primary feature of neuroendocrine regulatory mechanisms rather than secondary to a posited phase advance of the related circadian oscillator.
Stem cell depletion: an explanation of the late effects of cytotoxins.

Abstract It is proposed that both the acute and the late effects of radiation and cytotoxic chemotherapy are due to cell depletion of the major target cell renewel tissues such as the skin, gastro-intestinal mucosa and bone marrow. Acute effects depend on the balance between cell killing and compensatory cellular replication of both the stem and proliferative compartments. The development of late effects requires that stem cells have only a limited proliferative capacity. Compensation for extensive or repeated cell killing may exhaust this capacity resulting in eventual tissue failure. This can be observed clinically as mucosal or skin ulceration and bone marrow aplasia.
Three-dimensional, primitive-variable model for solid-fuel ramjet combustion

Abstract : A three-dimensional computer code has been developed for the solid-fuel ramjet combustion process. The code includes finite-rate chemical kinetics and has been used to predict the combustion behavior for axial inlet, side-dump inlet and bypass configurations. (Author)
The stone tools of capuchins ( Cebus apella )

We examined the production of stone took by capuchins (Cebus apella). Eleven subjects used five reduction techniques to produce 346 stone tools (48 cores and 298 flakes). They produced a sharp edge on 83% of the cores and largest flakes. Three monkeys later used a sample of these objects as cutting tools. These results demonstrate that monkeys produce lithic tools analogous to those produced by Oldowan hominids.
Molecular mobility of poly(methyl methacrylate) glass during uniaxial tensile creep deformation

An optical photobleaching method has been used to measure the segmental dynamics of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) glass during uniaxial creep deformation at temperatures between T g - 9 K and T g - 20 K. Up to 1000-fold increases in mobility are observed during deformation, supporting the view that enhanced segmental mobility allows flow in polymer glasses. Although the Eyring model describes this mobility enhancement well at low stress, it fails to capture the dramatic mobility enhancement after flow onset, where in addition the shape of the relaxation time distribution narrows significantly. Regions of lower mobility accelerate their dynamics more in response to an external stress than do regions of high mobility. Thus, local environments in the sample become more dynamically homogeneous during flow.
Drotrecogin alfa (activated) prevents smoke-induced increases in pulmonary microvascular permeability and proinflammatory cytokine IL-1beta in rats.

In an established rat model of smoke inhalation injury, we conducted a dose-response study to examine the protective effects of XigrisTM [drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DrotAA)], a recombinant form of human activated protein C (APC). DrotAA is a serine protease (∼55 kD molecular weight) with the same amino acid sequence and the glycosylation site as human plasma-derived APC. A total of 120 F344/NH rats (half each gender, approximately 175 g body weight) were randomly divided into five groups and exposed nose-only to air or diesel fuel smoke for 20 min. These rats were then i.v. administered with DrotAA in 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body weight, respectively, immediately following smoke exposure. Treatment with DrotAA significantly attenuated smoke inhalation injury in a dose-dependent manner at 2 hours after insult, as indicated by preserving microvascular permeability and proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β (but not TNF-α and neuropeptide substance P) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Moreover, the rats treated with 20 mg/kg of DrotAA had an improvement of the expiration phase of pulmonary dynamic compliance. At all dosages, however, DrotAA also significantly increased all phases of pulmonary resistance compared with either the controls or to smoke inhalation alone. Generally, these data suggest that DrotAA may exert an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting cytokine-mediated inflammatory amplification. However, additional studies following a clinical course are needed to confirm the maximum efficiency and possible side effects of this recombined human activated protein C.