cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A sustained intravitreal drug delivery system with remote real time monitoring capability

Abstract Many chorioretinal diseases are chronic and need sustained drug delivery systems to keep therapeutic drug level at the disease site. Many intravitreal drug delivery systems under developing do not have mechanism incorporated for a non-invasive monitoring of drug release. The current study prepared rugate porous silicon (pSi) particles by electrochemical etching with the current frequency ( K value) of 2.17 and 2.45. Two model drugs (rapamycin and dexamethasone) and two drug-loading strategies were tested for the feasibility to monitor drug release from the pSi particles through a color fundus camera. The pSi particles ( k = 2.45) with infiltration loading of rapamycin demonstrated progressively more violet color reflection which was negatively associated with the rapamycin released into the vitreous ( r = −0.4, p K value of 2.17 demonstrated progressive color change toward green and a weak association between rapamycin released into vitreous and green color abundance was identified ( r = −0.23, p = 0.002, pairwise). Dexamethasone was covalently loaded on to the fully oxidized pSi particles that appeared in vitreous as yellow color and fading over time. The yellow color decrease over time was strongly associated with the dexamethasone detected from the vitreous samples ( r = 0.7, p Statement of Significance The current study, for the first time, demonstrated proof of concept that engineered porous silicon photonic crystal may deliver therapeutics in a controlled fashion while at the same time might offer a noninvasive remote monitoring of its payload release in a living eye. Porous silicon photonic crystal changes color which is in association with its payload release into vitreous. With further optimization, the color change may be harnessed to inform eye care professionals of real time drug concentration in the eye and allow them to make informed decision to re-dose the patients.
The Role of Monetary Policy in IMF Programs

The main purpose of the International Monetary Fund has been the promotion of economic and financial cooperation among its member countries. In order to fulfill this purpose, the Fund has come to play a central role in the international monetary scene, a role that includes the provision of financial assistance to members facing actual or potential balance of payments difficulties in support of their efforts to overcome them. The responsibilities of the Fund as a source of financial assistance are laid out in the Articles of Agreement of the institution. This basic document prescribes inter alia that the Fund will help in shortening the duration and lessening the degree of imbalance in members’ balance of payments in the context of a liberal multilateral payments system characterized by the absence of exchange restrictions and the prevalence of exchange stability. To this end, the Fund has stood ready to make its financial resources available to member countries to help them correct balance of payments imbalances without resorting to measures that run counter to national or international prosperity. In the discharge of this responsibility, an important requirement of the Articles of Agreement is that the Fund adopts policies that will provide reasonable assurances that members’ use of the institution’s resources will be temporary1. Consequently, the Fund makes resources available to members in support of policies of economic and financial adjustment undertaken either to solve their actual, or to avert their potential, balance of payments problems. The design and content of these policies have evolved in line with changes in the world economic environment and they have always reflected the particular characteristics of individual countries. But they have also sought policy adjustment paths that in the light of available financing
The Australian Movement against Uranium Mining: Its Rationale and Evolution

This paper begins with a brief historical overview of the Australian movement against uranium mining, before focussing on two major campaigns: Roxby and Jabiluka. It describes the reasons the activists gave at the time for their blockades of the Roxby Downs uranium mine in South Australia in 1983 and 1984. These reasons – such as perceptions that the industry is unsafe - have changed little over time and were the basis for the campaign against the proposed Jabiluka mine in the Northern Territory in 1998. They continue to be cited by environmental groups and Aboriginal Traditional Owners to this day as new situations arise, such as the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. The paper then describes how the movement evolved between the Roxby and Jabiluka blockades, with changes to the movement’s philosophy, strategy, tactics and internal dynamics. This analysis includes a comparison between two anti-nuclear bike rides, one a year after the 1984 Roxby blockade and involving some of the same activists, and another at the time of the Jabiluka blockade. This author was present at all these events, and provides an emic (insider) perspective within a longitudinal participant-observation methodology. Although this perspective obviously has a subjective element, the paper fills a gap in that there is little written history of these blockades (particularly Roxby) and more generally of Australian resistance to uranium mining, let alone the aspects of nonviolence and movement evolution. It is an introductory history of these campaigns, examining the direct action components, the practicalities of nonviolent campaigning, and the evolution of Australian anti-uranium activism.
Practical Reasoning about Final Ends

Part I. Problem: 1. Introduction 2. Practical reasoning Part II. Scope: 3. Ends in deliberation 4. Specifying ends Part III. System: 5. Value incommensurability 6. Is commensurability a prerequisite of rational choice? 7. Practical coherence 8. Reflective sovereignty Part IV. Source: 9. Sources and limits 10. Ultimate ends Part V. Disagreement: 11. Interpersonal deliberation 12. Disagreement in concept and in practice 13. Dialectical softening 14. Realizing rationality.
Observability and dynamic state estimation

Static state estimation has been introduced almost half a century ago and became one of the crucial applications in modern energy management systems. Recent advances in monitoring capabilities of power grids motivated several investigations concerned about tracking not only the quasi-static bus voltages but also the dynamic states of generators and loads via the use of dynamic state estimators. In this paper, a two-stage dynamic state estimation framework along with issues of observability and measurement selection will be discussed.
International Cooperation in Space

NASA has developed an extensive program of international cooperation, which opens the entire range of its space activities to foreign participation and benefit. The program has involved developing as well as advanced countries in activities that are fruitful scientifically, technically, economically, and (it may be hoped) politically. "Gaps" or limitations in the program are found in the areas of manned space flight and large booster development and in cooperation with the Soviet Union. In the first case, the low level of European budgeting is the prime explanation, perhaps reflecting Europe's late start in the space business and an early underestimate of its values and possibilities. In the second case, the explanation seems to rest with Soviet political views rather than with technical problems or any lack of interest by the United States. Openhanded efforts are currently under way to raise the level of foreign participation in the space programs of the next decade, but it is too early to estimate their chances of major success. Public commentary could undoubtedly assist these efforts more effectively if it were directed more clearly to the actual sources of restriction on foreign participation. Despite the restricting factors abroad, however, there is every reason to persevere with existing and improved programs for international cooperation.
PRACTICING FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY: A HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH TO THE GLOBAL PROBLEM OF MISSING AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS

The problem of missing, endangered, and unidentified persons is increasingly approached through a human rights model with successful outcomes. Contexts vary from international investigations into war crimes, genocide, and extrajudicial killings to American “cold cases.” In all these examples, anthropologists play critical roles, such as searching for clandestine graves, crime scene recovery, human identification, interviewing witnesses, repatriation, public education, and testifying in court. To successfully identify unknown persons, key questions about human variation and biology are essential. For example, can ancestry be reliably estimated? What are the ramifications of estimating the biological profile of an unknown person without appropriate references samples? Does the variation occur because of inherent genetic variation or environmental conditions? Given the potential variation that exists, what are the implications of using standard calibrations across populations in criminal trials? Moreover, forensic anthropologists today work in diverse cultural and legal environments. How do the roles of forensic anthropologists differ in diverse legal settings? The current practice of forensic anthropology ranges from field to laboratory to courtroom and has evolved as a discipline from what it was almost a century ago. The purpose of this volume is to explore the ways in which forensic anthropology intersects with current human rights and humanitarian justice initiatives. The 11 papers in this series include a range of emerging new tools and approaches to human identification and the investigation of long-term missing and unidentified persons.
Facial Growth Response to Human Growth Hormone in Hypopituitary Dwarfs

Abstract No Abstract Available. From the Department of Orthodontics, Univ. of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic.
Determinants of ischemic heart disease in Seventh-day Adventists: a review

Most data from several countries shows Seventh-day Adventist men to have lower rates of ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality. Similar data for women are somewhat conflicting. There is clear evidence that Adventists have lower serum total cholesterol and lower serum HDL cholesterol with the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol being similar to that of non-Adventists. The risk relationships of this ratio may differ in different populations. There is a certain amount of evidence that vegetarians may have lower blood pressures but this is not clearly supported by data from Seventh-day Adventists. The lower risk for IHD in Adventist men, at least, is probably related to their dietary habits, nonsmoking status, possibly their better exercise habits, and greater social support.
Common virulence factors for bacterial pathogenicity in plants and animals

A Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain (UCBPP-PA14) is infectious both in an Arabidopsis thaliana leaf infiltration model and in a mouse full-thickness skin burn model. UCBPP-PA14 exhibits ecotype specificity for Arabidopsis, causing a range of symptoms from none to severe in four different ecotypes. In the mouse model, UCBPP-PA14 is as lethal as other well-studied P. aeruginosa strains. Mutations in the UCBPP-PA14 toxA, plcS, and gacA genes resulted in a significant reduction in pathogenicity in both hosts, indicating that these genes encode virulence factors required for the full expression of pathogenicity in both plants and animals.
Optimal coverage trajectories for a UGV with tradeoffs for energy and time

Area coverage is a common task for an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that requires time and energy to complete. We have developed a novel cost function that can be used to optimally traverse a path that covers a region. The UGV model and cost function are developed theoretically and verified experimentally. Our cost function weights force inputs, area covered and motor efficiency to create an optimal trajectory. This trajectory is constrained to follow a coverage path described in the literature. The path is modified based on the cost function by replacing turn-in-place maneuvers by moving turns. Tradeoffs are presented for three cases: (1) drive motor efficiency is not considered, (2) the motors are most efficient at the maximum velocity, and (3) the motors are most efficient below the maximum velocity. Optimality tradeoffs include the time required to cover the region, and the energy required to complete the trajectory. Experimental results using an iRobot Packbot are presented.
Potential overtreatment of diabetes mellitus in older adults with tight glycemic control.

Importance In older adults with multiple serious comorbidities and functional limitations, the harms of intensive glycemic control likely exceed the benefits. Objectives To examine glycemic control levels among older adults with diabetes mellitus by health status and to estimate the prevalence of potential overtreatment of diabetes. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional analysis of the data on 1288 older adults (≥65 years) with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 through 2010 who had a hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) measurement. All analyses incorporated complex survey design to produce nationally representative estimates. Exposures Health status categories: very complex/poor , based on difficulty with 2 or more activities of daily living or dialysis dependence; complex/intermediate , based on difficulty with 2 or more instrumental activities of daily living or presence of 3 or more chronic conditions; and relatively healthy if none of these were present. Main Outcomes and Measures Tight glycemic control (HbA 1c level, Results Of 1288 older adults with diabetes, 50.7% (95% CI, 46.6%-54.8%), representing 3.1 million (95% CI, 2.7-3.5), were relatively healthy, 28.1% (95% CI, 24.8%-31.5%), representing 1.7 million (95% CI, 1.4-2.0), had complex/intermediate health, and 21.2% (95% CI, 18.3%-24.4%), representing 1.3 million (95% CI, 1.1-1.5), had very complex/poor health. Overall, 61.5% (95% CI, 57.5%-65.3%), representing 3.8 million (95% CI, 3.4-4.2), had an HbA 1c level of less than 7%; this proportion did not differ across health status categories (62.8% [95% CI, 56.9%-68.3%]) were relatively healthy, 63.0% (95% CI, 57.0%-68.6%) had complex/intermediate health, and 56.4% (95% CI, 49.7%-62.9%) had very complex/poor health ( P = .26). Of the older adults with an HbA 1c level of less than 7%, 54.9% (95% CI, 50.4%-59.3%) were treated with either insulin or sulfonylureas; this proportion was similar across health status categories (50.8% [95% CI, 45.1%-56.5%] were relatively healthy, 58.7% [95% CI, 49.4%-67.5%] had complex/intermediate health, and 60.0% [95% CI, 51.4%-68.1%] had very complex/poor health; P = .14). During the 10 study years, there were no significant changes in the proportion of older adults with an HbA 1c level of less than 7% ( P = .34), the proportion with an HbA 1c level of less than 7% who had complex/intermediate or very complex/poor health ( P = .27), or the proportion with an HbA 1c level of less than 7% who were treated with insulin or sulfonylureas despite having complex/intermediate or very complex/poor health ( P = .65). Conclusions and Relevance Although the harms of intensive treatment likely exceed the benefits for older patients with complex/intermediate or very complex/poor health status, most of these adults reached tight glycemic targets between 2001 and 2010. Most of them were treated with insulin or sulfonylureas, which may lead to severe hypoglycemia. Our findings suggest that a substantial proportion of older adults with diabetes were potentially overtreated.
Design, Construction and Control of a 7 DoF Wheelchair-Mounted Robotic Arm

A wheelchair-mounted robotic arm (WMRA) was designed and built to meet the needs of mobility-impaired persons with limitations of upper extremities, and to exceed the capabilities of current devices of this type. The mechanical design incorporates DC servo drive, with actuator hardware at each individual joint, allowing reconfigurable link lengths. It has seven degrees of freedom and uses a side mount on a power wheelchair. The control system is built and designed for user-driven or autonomous coordinated Cartesian control, and it offers expandability for future research, such as coordinated motion with the wheelchair itself. This paper discusses the current state of the art in WMRAs; describes the design goals and user requirements for this device; explains the component selection and the mechanical / electrical design; describes the controller design of the arm and optimized redundancy resolution for the Cartesian control. Further improvements are also suggested.
Distribution quantified by microtopography in an assemblage of saxicolous mosses

Microtopography was quantified and related to plant microdistribution in an assemblage of bryophytes on granitic rocks in the inland chaparral of San Diego County, California, U.S.A. The dominant species, Grimmia laevigata, grew mostly on north-, east-, and west-facing surfaces with slope less than 60°. Other bryophytes tended to grow on steep, concave, north- and west-facing surfaces. Occurrence of these latter species was strongly associated with shade, as estimated from microtopography. The relationship of microdistribution to microclimate and ultimately to plant physiology can probably be successfully defined in systems such as this.
Simultaneous angiographic imaging of ipsilateral pulmonary veins for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Various imaging techniques are nowadays in clinical use to obtain important information about pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy in patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although some controversy exists about the optimal approach for catheter ablation of AF in recent times, knowledge of the individual left atrial-PV anatomy remains a basic feature of the different ablational techniques. Angiographic delineation of PV ostia has become an integral part of the PV isolation procedure, mainly in order to avoid potentially harmful PV stenosis. Selective venography with angiocatheters is well documented and widely available but has its own limitations, particularly with respect to visualization of the atriovenous junctions. The present report summarizes the usefulness, safety and feasibility of a new angiographic technique for simultaneous imaging of ipsilateral PVs applicable during catheter ablation of AF. Electrophysiologically guided segmental PV isolation was accomplished in 31 patients mostly with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, who experienced significant clinical improvement during a followup of 17 ± 15 months. The angiographic technique was effective for assessment of the individual anatomy including common ostia and supernumerary veins which can be easily missed by selective venography. Variant PV ostia were identified in about 20% of patients; particularly the presence of a left common trunk was challenging for the segmental ablation strategy. Angiographic detection of variant PV anatomy was comparable to visualization with computer tomography performed at 4-months follow-up. Finally, this type of angiographic imaging performed at the time of catheter ablation may help to reduce the risk of significant PV stenosis.
Decision support system: use IT or skip IT

Using a decision support system (DSS) delays the decision‐making process and commits the user to the cost of invoking the system. The existing configurations of decision support systems do not guarantee the profitability of the DSS. If the DSS generates messages that the decision maker can anticipate, then the cost and waiting time as a result of invoking the DSS will not be justified. Proposes a decision support system equipped with a knowledge‐based model that tells the decision maker, prior to invoking the DSS, whether or not it is profitable to invoke the DSS; if invoking the DSS is not profitable, then the decision maker will have to base the decision on pure managerial subjective judgement. Uses a numerical example to illustrate the work of the proposed DSS.
Transcriptional responses in spleens from mice exposed to Yersinia pestis CO92

Yersinia pestis is one of the most threatening biological agents due to the associated high mortality and history of plague pandemics. Identifying molecular players in the host response to infection may enable the development of medical countermeasures against Y. pestis. In this study, microarrays were used to identify the host splenic response mechanisms to Y. pestis infection. Groups of Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with 2-257CFU of Y. pestis strain CO92 or vehicle. One group was assessed for mortality rates and another group for transcriptional analysis. The time to death at the 8 and 257CFU challenge doses were 5.0+/-2.3 and 3.8+/-0.4 days, respectively. Gene profiling using Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 Arrays revealed no probe sets were significantly altered for all five mice in the low-dose group when compared to the vehicle controls. However, 534 probe sets were significantly altered in the high dose versus vehicle controls; 384 probe sets were down-regulated and 150 probe sets were up-regulated. The predominant biological processes identified were immune function, cytoskeletal, apoptosis, cell cycle, and protein degradation. This study provides new information on the underlying transcriptional mechanisms in mice to Y. pestis infection.
Aphid-ant interaction reduces chrysomelid herbivory in a cottonwood hybrid zone

In a cottonwood (Populus) hybrid zone, Chaitophorus aphids attract aphid-tending ants which subsequently reduce herbivory by the leaf-feeding beetle, Chrysomela confluens. Observations and experimental manipulations of aphids and beetle larvae on immature cottonwood trees demonstrated that: 1) via their recruitment of ants, aphids reduced numbers of beetle eggs and larvae on the host; 2) these interactions occurred within a few days of the host being colonized by aphids; and 3) although aphid colonies were ephemeral, their presence resulted in a 2-fold reduction in beetle herbivory. The aphid-ant interaction is most important in the hybrid zone where 93% of the beetle population is concentrated (for reasons unrelated to aphids and ants). Because beetle defoliation of immature trees is high (ca. 25%), the indirect effect of aphids in reducing herbivory is likely more beneficial to trees in the hybrid zone than in adjacent pure zones where beetle herbivory is virtually absent. Tree genotype likely affects the impact of the aphid-ant interaction on trees within the hybrid zone, since levels of herbivory differ between sympatric Fremont and hybrid cottonwoods.
Drug addiction. II. Variation of addiction.

As in revious experiments with this procedure, relapse by animals was demonstratecf Different degrees of drug-directed behavior were produced in groups of rats which underwent escape training. Small injections given between trruning trials increased the drug-directed behavior, probably because they retarded, but did not revent, some loss of tolerance and dependence during the procedure. It seems likeg that the time interval between training trials is too long and should be shortened for maximal effect on drug-seeking behavior. More important, this experiment indicates that for rats, as for man, the conditions under which morphine is received is more highly related to the development of drug-seeking behavior than is any “inherent rewarding properties” of morphine.
Cervicothoracic arterial injuries: recommendations for diagnosis and management.

Management of arterial injuries at the thoracic outlet and neck presents a major challenge to the trauma surgeon; hemorrhagic shock, neurologic deficit, and limb loss are the serious sequelae. Over a 13-year period, 118 patients with injuries to the innominate, carotid, subclavian, and axillary arteries were evaluated. Most injuries were penetrating (78%). Half of the patients were diagnosed by physical examination and half by angiography. Patients were treated by either primary repair (35%), interposition graft (31%), ligation (8%), or anticoagulation (26%). Two patients required amputations (1 digit, 1 above elbow). Overall mortality was 14%, with 5% due to consequences of hemorrhagic shock, 7% due to cerebral ischemia, and 2% due to other causes. Claviculectomy, median sternotomy, and trap door incisions were routinely used for proximal vascular control and repair. We conclude that liberal use of angiography is indicated in stable patients for penetrating wounds near major arteries, and for blunt injuries associated with neurologic deficits unexplained by computed tomography. Patients with obvious arterial injury should have immediate exploration. Extensile exposure is mandatory for appropriate management. Blunt carotid dissections are generally best managed nonoperatively with anticoagulation.
On irreducible, infinite, nonaffine Coxeter groups

The following results are proved: The center of any finite index subgroup of an irreducible, infinite, nonaffine Coxeter group is trivial; Any finite index subgroup of an irreducible, infinite, nonaffine Coxeter group cannot beexpressed as a product of two nontrivial subgroups. These two theorems imply a unique decomposition theorem for a class of Coxeter groups. We also prove that the orbit of each element other than the identity under the conjugation action in an irreducible, infinite, nonaffine Coxeter group is an infinite set. This implies that an irreducible, infinite Coxeter group is affine if and only if it contains an abelian subgroup of finite index.
Disrupting proteins to treat cancer.

Multiprotein complexes figure prominently in all cellular processes. Disrupting formation of these complexes can modulate key cellular pathways and offers new possibilities for therapeutic intervention. A new study illustrates an efficient approach for developing high-affinity mimics that inhibit protein−protein interactions.
Controlled bimolecular collisions allow sub-diffraction limited microscopy of lipid vesicles

The concentration and vesicle size-controlled collisions of single molecules with target biological assemblies allow sub-diffraction limited optical images to be obtained that are not subject to the usual photobleaching problems with single molecule experiments. For example, single molecules of the probe Nile Red in aqueous solution emit a burst of fluorescence when they collide with a 50 nm hydrophobic vesicle situated on the surface in the laser focus. The bimolecular kinetics of the bursts is defined by their on- and off-time distribution functions which depend on the concentration and diffusion of the probe and the vesicle size. The mean burst frequency changes much more sharply than does the fluorescence intensity when a vesicle is raster scanned through the laser focus. This sharpness allows the spatial resolution of two objects to be improved and separations less than the diffraction limited resolution of the conventional optical microscope to be measured. The principle of this method of trajectory time distribution optical microscopy (TTDOM) could be used in a far field optical microscopic system with a resolution of several nanometers.
A General Method for Approximating Tail Probabilities

Abstract A new transformation referred to as the G (m) n -transformation is introduced to establish a general methodology for finding functions that are easy to evaluate and give very good approximations to tail probabilities. The transformation is based only on a general class of differential equations that include the specified density function in the solution set, at least asymptotically. As a result this new method applies to a broad class of distributions. Not only is the method general, it is also accurate. Unlike many other approximation methods, the approximation functions produced maintain their high degree of accuracy even in the extreme tails, making them also suitable for extreme tail probability approximation. In this article the method is applied to the Pearson family members, the inverse Gaussian, and the ratio of χ 2 and lognormal that do not belong to the Pearson family. Furthermore, it is applicable in the case of all of the standard noncentral distributions. Tables are included that sho...
Ruptures and Perforations of the Esophagus: The Case for Conservative Supportive Management

A series of 31 patients treated for ruptures and perforations of the intrathoracic esophagus is reviewed. Eighteen of these patients underwent major thoracotomy; 11 were treated with minor procedures. Two died before treatment could be implemented. Of the 18 undergoing major operations, 7 died; among the 11 managed conservatively there was only 1 death. Based on this experience, we conclude that major surgical repair for esophageal perforation is often unnecessary. It has the additional drawback of sometimes resulting in equally serious secondary procedures.
Difference in association of Tl(I) with gramicidin A and gramicidin B in trifluoroethanol determined by Tl-205 NMR

Abstract The thallium-205 chemical shift was determined as a function of temperature for the thallium(I) complexes of gramicidin A and gramicidin B in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. From the difference in magnitude of the induced chemical shift it was determined that gramicidin B does not bind the Tl(I) ion as well as does gramicidin A. This result may explain the lower single-channel conductance of gramicidin B relative to gramicidin A. Cabon-13 NMR studies strongly indicate that the binding site for gramicidin A and B is at teh tryptophan end of the molecule and that replacement of tryptophan residue at position 11 in gramicidin A with a phenylalanine to form gramicidin B produces a significant structural change at the tryptophan end of the molecule, but has little effect on the N-terminus.
Measuring the efficiency cost of wage taxation with uncertain labor productivity

Abstract Estimates of the marginal efficiency cost of wage taxation can vary between 7% and 21% of revenues raised. Using a consistent definition eliminates much of the variability in these estimates. However, all studies carried out evaluate the marginal efficiency cost within a certainty framework. The inclusion of uncertain labor productivity dramatically changes the efficiency loss measurement by affecting the marginal utility of lump-sum income and consequently altering the marginal efficiency cost of a tax change.
Phylogenetic analysis of the perissodactylan family Tapiridae using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COII) sequences

The four extant members of the family Tapiridae have a disjunct, relictual distribution, with three species being Neotropical (Tapirus bairdii, T. terrestris, andT. pinchaque) and one found in Southeast Asia (T. indicus). Little recent work on tapir systematics have appeared, and no molecular studies of this group have been published. A phylogenetic analysis was undertaken using sequences of the mitochondrial cytochromec oxidase subunit II gene (COII) from representatives of the four species of tapirs, as well as a representative outgroup,Equus caballus. Analyses of the COII sequences indicate a close relationship between the two South American species of tapirs,T. terrestris andT. pinchaque, and estimates of divergence dates using rates of COII evolution are compatible with migration of a single tapir lineage into South America following the emergence of the isthmus of Panama, about 3 million years bp. Various methods of analysis, including maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor-joining, provided poorer resolution of other tapir relationship. The COII data suggest that three distinct tapir mitochondrial lineages, a South American (represented byT. terrestris andT. pinchaque), a Central American (represented byT. bairdii), and an Asian (represented byT. indicus) diverged relatively rapidly, 20–30 million years bp. Another goal of this study was to calibrate the rate of COII evolution in a eutherian mammal group which has a good fossil record, such as perissodactyls, to estimate accurately the rate of COII evolution in a nonprimate mammalian group. The rate of COII evolution in equids and tapirs has been relatively constant and, using corrected distances, calibrated to be approximately 0.22% lineage/million years. This rate is three-to fourfold lower than that of hominoid primates.
PARENTAL USE OF ESCAPE EXTINCTION AND DIFFERENTIAL REINFORCEMENT TO TREAT FOOD SELECTIVITY

Escape extinction combined with differential reinforcement for acceptance has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for food selectivity when implemented by trained professionals in clinic settings. This study evaluated the efficacy of parent-implemented escape extinction in the child's natural environment using video monitoring to train parents and assess intervention efficacy. Parents were able to use intervention to significantly increase bites accepted and decrease problem behavior.
Software Simulations for Problem-Based Aeronautical Engineering Education

Problem-based learning is gaining popularity as a means of teaching students how to be independent learners and problem-solvers. These abilities make engineering graduates better prepared to become productive engineers. Many engineering curricula lack the flexibility to add sufficient coursework devoted to problembased learning. A computer software package is described which provides a means of adding problem-based learning experiences to introductory aeronautical engineering courses without adversely impacting course content or student workload. The software provides students with a series of virtual laboratory experiments which cover nearly every important topic in a typical introductory aeronautical engineering course. Each virtual experiment challenges the student to apply aeronautical engineering theory to predict the outcome of the experiment. "Hot buttons" in the virtual lab provide links to an online textbook with full electronic search capabilities, so that the student can learn all necessary background and theory independently. Results of using this software in three semesters of an introductory aeronautics course at the United States Air Force Academy are described. In general, students who completed assigned virtual labs before class were found to be bettered prepared for classroom instruction. Assessment of long-term affects of these experiences on students' abilities as independent learners and problem solvers are ongoing.
Mechanism of gene transfection by polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers modified with ornithine residues

The aim of this study was to prepare and investigate the mechanism of uptake of the dendriplexes prepared with ornithine-conjugated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) G4 dendrimers. Ornithine-conjugated PAMAMG...
Nested zero-dynamics redesign for a non-minimum phase longitudinal model of a hypersonic vehicle

The paper presents a novel approach to control design for a minimally-actuated longitudinal model of a hypersonic vehicle that exhibits exponentially non-minimum phase behavior. To circumvent the instability of the zero dynamics with respect to the regulated output (airspeed and altitude), a redefinition of the altitude tracking error as a function of the states of a dynamic controller is pursued. The proposed controller stabilizes the internal pitch dynamics while ensuring zero steady-state tracking error. Central to the approach is the definition of two separate nested zero-dynamics subsystems corresponding to successive redefinitions of the regulated output.
Identification of a conjugative R plasmid in Bacteroides ochraceus capable of transfer to Escherichia coli

CONJUGATIVE plasmids specifying multiple antibiotic resistance are commonly found in facultative enteric bacteria. However, R plasmids have not been well characterised in anaerobic organisms, which constitute the major flora of the alimentary tract of mammals. An increasing percentage of anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical infections are resistant to previously useful antibiotics1,2. Several strains of Bacteroides have been reported to contain extrachromosomal DNA, but no function could be attributed to these plasmids3–6. Recently, Mancini and Behme7 demonstrated transfer of antibiotic resistance from Bacteroides fragilis to an Escherichia coli recipient. However, the individual resistance markers were unstable in the E. coli transconjugants, and the presence of closed circular plasmid DNA in either the B. fragilis donor or the E. coli recipient was not demonstrated. We have previously reported the isolation of two plasmids from a strain of B. ochraceus5. In the present report the larger plasmid is characterised as a conjugative, multiple antibiotic resistance factor. In addition, it is shown that both plasmids can be transferred to and stably maintained in E. coli.
Enhanced Recovery of a Secreted Mammalian Protein from Suspension Culture of Genetically Modified Tobacco Cells

Increasing the level of recovery of mammalian proteins secreted by a genetically modified Nicotiana tabacum was explored in suspension culture. As a model protein system, a mouse monoclonal antibody heavy chain gamma (MAb HC) with an antigen specificity for p-azophenylarsonate was used. Consistent with findings for other plant cell suspension culture systems expressing proteins with mammalian leader sequences, the synthesized mouse MAb HC was secreted through the plasma membrane. In addition, the majority of the MAb HC was also secreted through the cell wall into the growth medium. However, efficient recovery of the protein was only possible when the protein stabilizing agent, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was present in the plant cell growth medium. The presence of PVP increased the recovered concentration of secreted protein 35-fold from 0.010 to 0.36 micrograms protein/ml culture medium. Biological activity of the approximately 50-kDa MAb HC polypeptide was demonstrated by arsonate affinity matrix binding as determined by Western blot analysis. In addition to antigen binding activity, the secreted protein also exhibited reactivity to protein G, a protein which specifically binds mouse IgG. These findings are important because they demonstrate that culture conditions can significantly influence the concentration of a biologically active foreign protein secreted from plant cells into the media of suspension cultures. The ability to increase the efficiency of mammalian protein production in plant suspension culture systems should provide significant advantage over protein production in intact transgenic plants which require cultivation, harvesting, and expensive extraction procedures to obtain nonsecreted foreign proteins.
The Aβ Hypothesis: Leading Us to Rationally‐Designed Therapeutic Strategies for the Treatment or Prevention of Alzheimer Disease

In recent years the amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) has been increasingly referred to as the amyloid beta protein (Abeta) cascade hypothesis. This subtle rephrasing reflects the acknowledgment that there is debate within the field as to whether Abeta aggregates other than Abeta deposited as classic amyloid fibrils could trigger the pathological cascade that results in neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Despite this semantic shift, which highlights one enigmatic aspects of AD, the evidence supporting the Abeta hypothesis of AD is extensive. More importantly the Abeta hypothesis of AD has led and will continue to lead to the development of rationale therapeutic strategies that are likely to either prevent or treat this devastating disease. In this review, the evidence supporting the Abeta hypothesis and the recent advances in anti-Abeta therapy are discussed.
Archaeological evidence for meat-eating by Plio-Pleistocene hominids from Koobi Fora and Olduvai Gorge

The importance of meat-eating in human evolution has long been a controversial subject1–4. The best available evidence of hominid activities between 2 and 1.5 Myr ago is the archaeological record from two East African localities, Olduvai Gorge5, Tanzania, and Koobi Fora6, Kenya, which consists of scattered stone artefacts and fragmentary animal bones. The question7,8 of functional association between juxtaposed artefacts and bones would be largely settled if hominid-induced modifications were present on some bones. Comparative analyses of archaeological bone assemblages from Olduvai Gorge and Koobi Fora and of various modern bone assemblages with known taphonomic histories reveal direct evidence of early hominid butchering and marrow-processing activities.
Resonant integrated micromachined (RIMS) acoustic sensor development

Future advanced fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, launch vehicles, and spacecraft will incorporate fiber-optic smart sensor networks to monitor structural integrity and manage overall structural health. This paper describes the design of an acoustic emission (AE)-based micromachined sensor for new and aging aircraft applications to assess preflight readiness, in- flight structural integrity, and post-flight time-based maintenance. This unique sensor approach combines silicon micromachining, free-space optical waveguides, high-speed optical interconnects, and supervisory sensor management to measure stress waves related to AE events. A unique second-generation polysilicon resonant microbeam sensor design is described. It incorporates a micron-level vacuum-encapsulated microbeam to optically sense structural-integrity acoustic parameters and to optically excite the sensor pickoff. Its principal of operation, significant payoffs and benefits, and wafer-level laboratory test data results are summarized.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Neoplastic transformation induced by simian virus 40 in Syrian hamster neuroglial and meningeal cell cultures.

Inoculation of simian virus 40 in dispersed cell cultures prepared by trypsinization of fetal or newborn hamster brain and meninges resulted in early extensive cytopathology and later morphological transformation. The minimal SV40 inoculum required to induce transformation was the same (about 105 grivet monkey kidney culture infectious doses) in fetal and newborn hamster brain cultures as in fetal hamster renal cultures. The transformed hamster brain cells exhibited varied alterations in morphology and greatly increased growth ratesin vitro. The presence of SV40 nuclear neoantigen (T antigen) was demonstrated in transformed fetal hamster brain cells by immunofluorescent staining. Subcutaneous inoculation of six transformed fetal hamster brain cell lines into newborn hamsters resulted in the development of locally invasive neoplasms with histopathological characteristics of glioblastoma multiforme (astrocytoma grade IV), ependymoma and ependymoblastoma, choroid plexus papilloma and adenocarcinoma, fibroblastic meningioma and undifferentiated sarcoma.
Nuclear Radiation Induced Noise in Infrared Detectors

A model for calculating the rate and amplitude of gamma ionization events in infrared detectors is presented. Several simplifying approximations to the actual, complex physical situation are applied in the model, thereby allowing an exact analytical formulation of the problem. Experimental measurements of nuclear-radiation induced noise pulse-height distributions and event rates are compared to predictions made using the model. Comparisons of experiment and theory were made at several different gamma energies to provide confirmation of the model over the gamma energy range of interest of most application. The experimentally-confirmed model allows prediction of the noise response of photoconduction detectors for any specified detector material, geometry, surrounding material and incident gamma spectrum.
Fostering reasoned decisions: Case-based pedagogy and the professional development of teachers

Abstract The case method has been recommended as an addition to preservice programs which may overcome some of the limitations of field and clinical experiences while facilitating the professional development of teachers. The intent of the study discussed here was to determine if dilemma-based cases can be used to gain insight into one aspect of students' development—their reasoning. Findings suggest that the developmental nature of learning to teach is reflected in students' analyses of events embedded in cases and that case-based pedagogy provides opportunities to further encourage the development of professional reasoning in prospective teachers.
Hospital and long-term outcome after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has become the preferred method of providing long-term enteral nutrition. While hospitalized patients frequently have PEG inserted to facilitate enteral nutrition, little is known about these patients. The objective of the study was to determine hospital and long-term survival in patients who receive PEG while hospitalized for medical or surgical reasons. Records of all patients aged 18 years and older who underwent PEG between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2004 at a university-affiliated community-based tertiary care center were examined. 80 (11%) of 714 patients died during the index hospitalization. Older age, being married, mechanical ventilation, and dialysis were statistically significant predictors of hospital death (P < 0.05). There were nine complications and no deaths directly attributable to PEG. Overall survival was poor with 5.6% of patients dying within seven days of the procedure. Mortalities at 30, 60, and 365 days were 22%, 31% and 48%, respectively. Of the 80 patients who died prior to discharge, 40 (50%) died within one week of PEG placement. Fourteen (35%) of these 40 patients had treatment withdrawn. Kaplan-Meier median survival was 412 ± 73 (mean ± standard error) days. By Cox proportional hazard modeling, older age, cancer, heart disease, non-white race, and dialysis were significant predictors of post-PEG death (P < 0.05). Outcome after PEG is dependent on demographic factors and patient comorbidities. Given the very low initial complication rates, it may be advisable to delay PEG placement until just prior to discharge in order to prevent unnecessary procedures on those patients who are not likely to survive.
Nonadherence in mood disorders: A formidable challenge in clinical practice

Nonadherence in mood disorders poses a significant obstacle to remission and recovery. A comprehensive approach that includes evidence-based strategies have been shown to improve adherence customized to the individual needs of the patient resulting in improved quality of life and reduced disease burden. This is further strengthened by identifying risk factors, establishing therapeutic alliances, and educating patients, families and other healthcare providers.
Consideration of accuracy in the analysis of ultra pure aluminum

Abstract The elemental analysis of ultra high purity aluminum is discussed with specific emphasis on the use of several instrumental techniques, including glow discharge mass spectroscopy. The difficulty inherent in producing a standard reference material at purity levels in excess of 99.999% is also examined. Finally a study to determine the extent to which the manufacturing process contributes to the overall variability of product quality is presented.