cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of the Charge and Mass Distribution in the Fission of Cf-252

A new technique is presented for determining mass and charge distribution in fission. This method is based on obtaining the independent yields of the even-even fission products from the measured intensities of ${2}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{0}^{+}$ ground-state band transitions deexciting the prompt-fission products. Transition intensities for members of ground-state bands in 36 even-even fission-product nuclei have been used to determine the centroids (${Z}_{p}$) and widths (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{Z}$) of the charge distribution for eight chains of fission products with constant mass and also to determine the centroids (${Z}_{A}$), widths (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{A}$), and yields (${Y}_{Z}$) of the mass distribution for 12 chains of fission products with constant charge. The method has been applied to analyze the charge and mass distributions of $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$ spontaneous fission. The results when compared with the standard radiochemical and $K$ x-ray technique give satisfactory agreement. The discrepancies which exist are predominantly associated with regions influenced strongly by nuclear shells. Examples are given relating the observed ground-state band transition intensities with other observed fission variables such as kinetic energy release and neutron-evaporation systematics.
Ambulatory Management of Childhood Obesity

KOLAGOTLA, LAKSHMI, AND WILLIAM ADAMS. Ambulatory management of childhood obesity. Obes Res. 2004;12:275–283. Objective: Childhood obesity is one of the most challenging issues facing healthcare providers today. The aims of this study were to describe the ambulatory management of childhood obesity by pediatricians (PDs) and family physicians (FPs) and to evaluate knowledge of and adherence to published recommendations. Research Methods and Procedures: A 42-item, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 1207 randomly selected primary care physicians (PDs 700, FPs 507) between September 2001 and January 2002. Results: Of 339 (28%) responses, 287 were eligible (PDs 213, FPs 74). Most respondents were in group or solo practice (87%) in a suburban or urban, non-inner city location (67%). The average age was 48 years (range 31 to 85 years), and the mean years in practice was 17 (range 1t o 55 years). Nineteen percent of physicians were aware of national recommendations. Three percent of physicians reported adherence to all recommendations. Knowledge of recommendations was not associated with a greater likelihood of adherence. However, physicians who were aware of recommendations were more likely to have positive attitudes about personal counseling ability (odds ratio 2.4, confidence interval 1.3 to 4.4) and the overall efficacy of obesity counseling (odds ratio 4.3, confidence interval 1.7 to 10.8). Poor patient motivation, patient noncompliance, and treatment futility were perceived as the most frequently encountered barriers to obesity treatment. Discussion: Most physicians are not aware of or adherent to national recommendations regarding childhood obesity. Awareness of recommendations was associated with more positive attitudes about personal counseling ability and the effectiveness of obesity counseling in general.
Braking impulse and muscle activation during unplanned gait termination in human subjects with parkinsonism

Persons with parkinsonism (PD) are known to have difficulty with both rapid force production and declination, and may not be able to adjust force levels during bimanual tasks in the upper extremity. We proposed that these deficits might underlie the problems experienced by those with PD when attempting to rapidly terminate locomotor activity. Rapid gait termination requires concomitant increases in braking impulse and decreases in propulsion impulse. We hypothesized that those with PD would be less able to modulate muscle activity and the associated braking impulse during gait termination. Muscular activity of soleus, tibialis anterior and gluteus medius, and braking impulse were compared between a group of subjects with PD and age and gender matched control subjects. Subjects with PD had similar patterns of muscular activation to control subjects although at dramatically reduced levels of amplitude. Consequently, PD subjects were unable to generate sufficient net braking impulse under time-critical conditions.
Conditions associated with large-drop regions

Abstract In light of the significant icing hazard large drops pose to general aviation, two conditions have been previously associated with large-drop formation; these being a warm cloud-top temperature and a low droplet concentration. This paper identifies an additional condition associated with the development of large-drop regions. Wind shear is hypothesized as being a necessary but not sufficient condition for the formation of large drops. Wind shear at cloud top may cause turbulence, Kelvin-Helmholtz waves, and thus the inhomogeneous mixing leading to large drops. This hypothesis was tested in 29 cases where the Wyoming King Air aircraft made a climb or descent through the top of stratiform clouds. The presence of a wind shear layer was defined by the magnitude of the wind shear and the value of the bulk Richardson number across the layer. In 23 of the 29 cases, wind shear was associated with large-drop regions. A χ2 statistical test was applied to the data. The null hypothesis, where wind shear and ...
A laboratory and simulation study of preformed particle gels for water conformance control

Abstract Excess water production is a major problem that leads to early well abandonment and unrecoverable hydrocarbon in mature oil fields. Gel treatments at the injection wells to preferentially plug the thief zones are cost-effective methods to improve sweep efficiency in reservoirs and reduce excess water production during hydrocarbon recovery. A recent gel process uses the preformed particle gels (PPGs) to overcome distinct drawbacks inherent in in-situ gelation systems, i.e. lack of control on gelation time, uncertain gelling due to shear degradation, chromatographic fractionation or change of gel compositions, and dilution by formation water. This paper describes the results of PPG injection in both fracture and sandpack models where experimental results were used to develop and validate mechanistic models to design and optimize the flowing gel injection for conformance control processes. Crucial gel properties, such as in-situ rheology and swelling ratio in addition to oil recoveries were investigated. Water and oil permeability reduction factors were measured and modeled as a function of gel rheological properties, rock permeability, and flow rate. The PPG transport models were successfully implemented in a reservoir simulator and validated against the laboratory experiments.
Presumed choroidal atypical tuberculosis superinfected with cytomegalovirus retinitis in an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patient: a case report.

Abstract Background: To report an unusual case of multifocal choroidopathy with uveitis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) after initially presenting with pulmonary tuberculosis (Mycobacterium kansasii). Case: Slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopic examination were done. Vitreous biopsy, pars plana vitrectomy, and retinal biopsy were performed. Computer tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging and biopsy of the brain were also carried out. Observations: Multiple yellowish-white, round, slightly elevated subretinal pigment epithelium lesions were noted in areas devoid of the atrophic retina of previous CMV infection. Anterior uveitis and vitritis were also noted. Vitreous, retina, and brain biopsy did not offer any clue for diagnosis. The visual acuity improved later, along with recovered immunity under the anti-tuberculosis medications and the cocktail therapy for AIDS. Conclusions: Combined CMV retinitis and atypical tuberculosis chorioretinitis, although rare, can develop in the patients with AIDS. Systemic dissemination of atypical tuberculosis infection should be responsible for the choroidopathy in this patient.
The Need for Ideological Consciousness

The author has been writing about the consequences of political ideology for well over a generation now. As America faces a changed world, he believes it fails to recognize the pull and push of its own ideological tendencies. Unless it begins to understand the power of ideology, it will not be able to cope with the changed world, he argues.
Motion of a buoy on weakly viscous capillary gravity waves

This paper is concerned with responses of a spherical buoy to weakly viscous capillary-gravity waves. In case of weakly viscous liquid, there exist shear components of wave forces and there are normal forces due to viscosity, surface tension and pressure. All forces are calculated by integrating stresses over infinitesimal surface and in the domain of intersection through numerical computations. All numerical results are shown by many figures with explanations.
Somatomedin C response to growth hormone in psychosocial growth retardation.

Three children with psychosocial growth retardation increased their serum somatomedin C levels from 0.20 +/- .02 to 0.81 +/- 0.2 U/ml in response to exogenous growth hormone. The pattern of somatomedin C response to growth hormone was no different from that seen in 11 prepubertal children with growth hormone deficiency who received growth hormone according to the same acute treatment regimen. This result suggests that the poor growth response of children with psychosocial growth retardation to exogenous growth hormone is not due to an inability to synthesize somatomedin C, and that it may represent a degree of resistance to the actions of somatomedin C.
Effect of the R1047L AF/LQT Mutation on the Distal C-Terminal Domain of the hERG Potassium Channel

Kv11.1 (hERG, KCNH2) is a voltage-gated potassium ion channel subunit involved in repolarization of cardiac action potential by mediating IKr current. Loss-of-function mutation or blockade of the channel pore by drug can induce a potentially fatal disorder called long QT syndrome (LQT). Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most commonly treated arrhythmia, has been linked to ion channel dysfunction. A significant proportion of AF patients have a positive family history and may therefore be affected by inherited mutations. We have studied gene variations in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of hERG isolated from patients with AF. One such variant, R1047L, is known to be associated with both AF and LQT, but its effects on the structure, stability, and function of hERG remain to be studied. Previous studies have shown that this site is within a coiled-coil domain that is thought to promote subunit assembly and form protein-protein interfaces. Electrophysiological studies showed difference in the tail current profile for wild-type (WT), R1047L, and the R1047L-WT heteromer. For structural studies, we made constructs of wt and R1047L mutant distal CTDs and purified with isotope labeling for high resolution NMR spectroscopy. 1H-15N HSQC spectrum of the WT distal CTD showed that the purified domain is consistent with predictions based on sequence analysis. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed this domain is largely helical. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and multi-angle light scattering (MALS) confirmed its molecular weight corresponds to a tetramer, as is expected for coiled-coil domains in voltage-gated ion channels. A comparison is presented of the stability and structural properties of the WT and R1047L mutant forms of this domain.
Introduction to the Policy Brief Special Issue

Kieran.killeen@uvm.edu As research on education policy has evolved, the most cutting edge research has become less and less accessible to policy makers. Inaccessibility stems from many causes, including the proliferation of policy topics, the diversity of disciplinary interests in education policy, and the existence of technical or methodological hurdles. Academic journals, however, rarely consider accessibility when deciding which manuscripts to publish, but the accessibility of the research may play a very important role in determining whether it actually affects policy. This journal (EFP) is relatively unusual in that it includes among its objectives “[t]o aid in the deliberations” of “[o]ngoing public policy developments affecting educational institutions and systems” and to promote “understanding of the means by which global resources can be justly and productively engaged to enhance human learning at all levels.” In our role as editors of EFP, we consider the accessibility of research articles when deciding what to publish. Nevertheless, there remains a difficult balancing act between showing the technical merits of new research and making sure that research is accessible. Given this, many of the research articles published in EFP are still likely to be difficult for policy makers to understand. With this in mind, at the founding of the journal an effort was made to make policy briefs a critical component of EFP’s regular content. The intent was for these briefs to provide an explicit avenue through which the lessons from current research are distilled for policy makers. As such, policy briefs were
Seven Pillars of Business Ethics: Toward a Comprehensive Framework.

This article first addresses the question of “why” we teach business ethics. Our answer to “why” provides both a response to those who oppose business ethics courses and a direction for course content. We believe a solid, comprehensive course in business ethics should address not only moral philosophy, ethical dilemmas, and corporate social responsibility – the traditional pillars of the disciple – but also additional areas necessary to make sense of the goings-on in the business world and in the news. These “new pillars,” that we advocate include moral psychology, organizational design and behavior, motivational theory, and a unit on how society, business, and law interact. This last unit builds upon the work of Francis P. McHugh (1988) who urged an integration of “disciplines related to business ethics.” Our seventh pillar would encompass an integration of law, socio-political theory, and policy to demonstrate how business helps construct its own regulatory framework. The concluding recommendation is for a comprehensive “Seven Pillars” of business ethics approach.
Sampling Methods in Behavior Research

Animals perform a continuous stream of behavior throughout their lives. Because their behavior is not random, appropriate sampling methods can be used to obtain data that accurately reflect the actual behavior and are valid for answering research questions. Answering questions related to several variables assists in narrowing the choices of sampling methods. First, a determination must be made of what behaviors to measure. If the behaviors are few and easily measured, then All Occurrences Sampling is the method of choice because it generates accurate frequency and duration data through continuous recording. Sequence and Sociometric Matrix Sampling are specialized types of All Occurrences Sampling that are restricted to sampling intra- or interindividual sequences and social interactions (e.g., agonistic), respectively. Second, if who (e.g., specific individual, sex, or genotype) performs the behavior is a major component of the research question, then consideration should be given to Focal Animal (Pair, Group) Sampling. Third, if when or where the behavior is performed is of interest (e.g., activity budget), then Instantaneous or Scan Sampling can often be effective. Ad libitum Sampling does not produce valid data for analyses, but it is useful when formulating and fine-tuning research questions. One-Zero Sampling is not recommended except when the research question relates to the presence or absence of behaviors only. Other factors to consider in selecting a sampling method are duration of the behavior (event or state), desired scale of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio), and logistics (e.g., time, and equipment and facilities available).
GENFILES: a computerized medical genetics information network. I. An overview.

GENFILES is a comprehensive computer information network to serve research, service, and administrative needs in medical genetics. Four major databases contain detailed information generated by the cytogenetics laboratory, the prenatal diagnosis program, the diagnostic and genetic counseling clinics, and the human cell culture facility. Unique aspects are the use of RAMIS, a commercial database management system, and of microprocessor computers as “intelligent” terminals with significant data-handling capabilities. All databases are on-line in a directly accessed large timesharing computer. The system, which has been designed, controlled, and maintained by regular genetics staff, is an easy to use, moderate-cost tool well suited for use as a regional clinical genetics information system.
Perinatal Lead Exposure Alters the Expression of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase in Rat Brain

Environmental exposure to lead (Pb) is known to affect the developing nervous system causing cognitive deficits in children. The diffusible nitric oxide (NO) is a biological messenger known to be involved in brain development. We examined the developmental changes of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in cerebellum and hippocampus of developing rat brain by radiometric assay, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Pb-exposure (0.2% Pb acetate) was initiated on gestation day 6 through the drinking water of the dam and continued through birth and postnatal days (PNDs) 1 to 21. The pups were never exposed to Pb directly. Pb exposure was stopped on weaning of pups from mothers on PND 21. The changes in nNOS were measured in the offspring on PNDs 7, 14, 21, and 35. The nNOS activity was increased gradually from PNDs 7 to 35 in both cerebellum and hippocampus of control rats when the enzyme activity was determined in the presence of either 0.5 or 6 microM calcium (Ca2+) in the reaction mixture. However, Pb exposure decreased the nNOS activity significantly at PNDs 21 to 35 as compared to respective controls when the enzyme activity was determined in the presence of 6 microM Ca2+. The decrease of nNOS was even greater and evident at all PNDs tested when the enzyme activity was assayed in the presence of physiological concentration of Ca2+ (0.5 microM). These findings were further strengthened by the in vitro studies. The cerebellar nNOS activity was inhibited much more at low Ca2+ (0.5 microM) as compared to 6 microM Ca2+, with IC50 values of 35 and 50 nM Pb, respectively. The nNOS protein levels and immunoreactivity in the cerebellum and hippocampus of rats perinatally exposed to Pb were decreased as compared to controls at PNDs 21 and 35. These data suggest perinatal Pb exposure decreases the nNOS in the developing brain. The decrease of nNOS activity and protein may explain the Pb-mediated cognitive deficits because NO regulates long-term potentiation (LTP) and other neurophysiological events in the developing nervous system.
Pregnancy-enhanced Ca2+ responses to ATP in uterine artery endothelial cells is due to greater capacitative Ca2+ entry rather than altered receptor coupling

Uterine artery endothelial cells (UAEC) derived from pregnant (P-UAEC) and nonpregnant (NP-UAEC) ewes retain pregnancy-specific differences in cell signaling as well as vasodilator production through passage 4. In particular, when P- and NP-UAEC are stimulated with ATP over a 2.5 min recording period, they exhibit similar initial transient peaks in the intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), but the P-UAEC show a heightened sustained phase. In order to establish whether this was due to an altered subclass of purinergic receptor (P2), both the dose dependency of [Ca(2+)](i) responses to ADP and UTP and the profile of purinergic receptor expression are determined in NP- and P-UAEC. Our findings indicate that while several isoforms of P2X and P2Y receptors are present, it is P2Y2 that is responsible for the ATP-induced initial transient peak in both cell types. We also characterized several key components of the ATP-induced Ca(2+) signaling cascade, including the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor and G-proteins, but could not confirm any pregnancy-specific variation in the protein expression that correlated with pregnancy-specific differences in prolonged Ca(2+) signaling. We thus investigated whether such a difference may be inherent to the cell itself rather than specific to the purinergic receptor-signaling pathway. Using thapsigargin (Tg), we were able to demonstrate that the initial Tg-sensitive intracellular pool of Ca(2+)is nearly identical with the capacity in both cell types, but the P-UAEC is nonetheless capable of greater capacitative Ca(2+) entry (CCE) than NP-UAEC. Furthermore, CCE induced by Tg could be dramatically inhibited by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, suggesting a role for store-operated channels in the ATP-induced [Ca(2+)](i) response. We conclude that changes at the level of capacitative entry mechanisms rather than switching of receptor subtype or coupling to phospholipase C underlies pregnancy adaptation of UAEC at the level of Ca(2+)signaling.
Immunoprotection in proestrus females following trauma-hemorrhage: the pivotal role of estrogen receptors

Immune responses in proestrus females are not altered after trauma-hemorrhage, whereas they are markedly depressed in males. Elevated levels of female sex steroids appear to be responsible for maintaining immune responses but it remains unknown, whether estrogen per se is responsible. To study this, proestrus female C3H/HeN mice were subjected to laparotomy (i.e., soft tissue trauma) and hemorrhagic shock (35+/-5 mmHg for 90 min, then resuscitated) or sham operation and received the estrogen receptor antagonist EM-800 or vehicle during resuscitation. Two hours following trauma-hemorrhage, splenocyte proliferation, IL-2, IL-3, IFN-gamma release, and splenic macrophage IL-6 release was maintained in vehicle-treated females. In EM-800-treated females, however, these immune parameters were significantly depressed. Following trauma-hemorrhage, Kupffer cell TNF-alpha release and circulating TNF-alpha were increased only in EM-800-treated females. These findings indicate that the ability of proestrus females to maintain immune function following trauma-hemorrhage is estrogen-dependent and mediated via estrogen receptors.
Why Do Only 5.5% of Black Men Marry White Women?

Only 5.5% of black males married white females in 1990, and the family-income premium for intermarried black males was 7%. This article estimates the impact of the mating taboo, courting opportunities, and individual endowments on the black male marriage market. Results indicate that eliminating the mating taboo would raise the intermarriage rate from 5.5 to 64%, and do away with the intermarriage premium. Improving black males' endowments or allowing black males to meet white females as frequently as they do black females would not increase intermarriage.
Diagnostics and prognostics for aircraft structures using a wireless corrosion monitoring network

Corrosion of aircraft and rotorcraft is one of the primary maintenance cost drivers for the US Military, costing billions of dollars annually, and is by far the largest single maintenance cost for Navy and Marine Corps airframes. Various forms of localized corrosion, such as pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion, exfoliation, and environment assisted cracking, are particularly destructive and can lead to significant structural integrity problems for aircraft. Widespread current practice employs costly schedule based inspection and maintenance to retain acceptable risk levels. To enable condition based maintenance techniques, Luna is developing a diagnostic and prognostic system based on an intelligent wireless corrosion monitoring network.
Paper 1: Tests on a 24-in Diameter Journal Bearing: Transition from Laminar to Turbulent Flow

As the size of steam turbo-alternators has so rapidly increased, the diameter and surface speed of the journal bearings are such as to cause the oil film to become at least partially turbulent. Little information is available on the performance of large bearings operating in the transition and turbulent regimes and it became necessary to undertake a research programme on a full-size test rig.The apparatus was designed so that bearings of various geometries could be tested under both static and dynamic loads. This paper describes some of the static load tests on a 24-in diameter by 18-in long bearing and is confined to describing the factors influencing the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in the film.An analysis of the results indicates that even at low speeds there is a dependence on the Reynolds number and it is suggested that the inertia of the oil film has a pronounced influence. The transition to turbulence is delayed by axial flow and shaft eccentricity, but is ultimately precipitated by th...
MORTALITY PATTERNS IN ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN GEESE (NENE; BRANTA SANDVICENSIS)

Abstract Understanding causes of death can aid management and recovery of endangered bird populations. Toward those ends, we systematically examined 300 carcasses of endangered Hawaiian Geese (Nene; Branta sandvicensis) from Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai between 1992 and 2013. The most common cause of death was emaciation, followed by trauma (vehicular strikes and predation), and infectious/inflammatory diseases of which toxoplasmosis (infection with Toxoplasma gondii) predominated. Toxicoses were less common and were dominated by lead poisoning or botulism. For captive birds, inflammatory conditions predominated, whereas emaciation, trauma, and inflammation were common in free-ranging birds. Mortality patterns were similar for males and females. Trauma predominated for adults, whereas emaciation was more common for goslings. Causes of death varied among islands, with trauma dominating on Molokai, emaciation and inflammation on Kauai, emaciation on Hawaii, and inflammation and trauma on Maui. Understan...
Targeting ion channel trafficking mechanisms for novel analgesics.

ISSN 1758-1869 10.2217/PMT.11.23 © 2011 Future Medicine Ltd Pain Manage. (2011) 1(3), 199–201 In February of this year, the New York Times reported on the increasing number of brazen robberies occurring at pharmacies throughout the USA. One thief in Rockland (ME, USA) brandished a machete and leapt over the pharmacy counter to grab oxycodone. He gulped down some of it even before he fled. In Florida, thousands of doses of oxycodone pills are dispensed in pain clinics, resulting in some calling the highway that leads into Florida, I-75, the ‘Oxy Express’. In 2008, Ohio pharmacists dispensed 4.8 million prescriptions for hydrocodone medications, one for every 2.5 people in the state [101]. Although we have been treating pain effectively for millennia, the need for efficacious, safe but especially nonaddictive analgesics remains strong. We require analgesics that can specifically act on peripheral pain-sensing neurons and not centrally to avert addiction. In this article, I argue that the future of pain research must include the development of compounds that directly target the ion channel trafficking machinery of nociceptors. Analgesics act by reducing the firing properties of neurons within the pain pathway. For treatment of mild pain, nonsteroidal antiflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended. These agents reduce algogenic substances, such as prostaglandins, which directly affect the firing properties of nociceptive neurons. NSAID use is widespread; however, gastrointestinal and renal toxicities associated with these agents are prevalent, with an estimated 10–20% of NSAID patients experiencing dyspepsia [1]. The development of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors, which minimize gastro intestinal effects, seemed promising, but their severe cardiovascular toxicities have dramatically restricted their use. Vioxx, the most famous of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor drug class, had to be removed from the market owing to its toxic effects. For moderate-to-severe pain, moderate opioid agonists, such as hydrocodone, strong opioid agonists, such as oxycodone, or even morphine are used. These agents act on opioid receptors in the CNS, especially on descending pathways originating from the periaqueductal gray matter, to block pain transmission in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. They can also act presynaptically by inhibiting neurotransmitter release from the central terminations of nociceptors in the spinal cord. Opioids do so via μ-receptors, ultimately affecting potassium and calcium conductances. As
Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the glycine rich loop of Death Associated Protein Kinase (DAPK) identifies it as a key structure for catalytic activity

Death associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a calmodulin (CaM)-regulated protein kinase that is a therapeutic target for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. We report here the results of studies that test the hypothesis of McNamara et al. (2009) that conformational selection in DAPK's glycine-rich region is key for catalytic activity. The hypothesis was tested by site-directed mutagenesis of glutamine-23 (Q23) in the middle of this loop. The glycine-rich loop exhibits localized differences in structure among DAPK conformations that correlate with different stages of the catalytic cycle. Changing the Q23 to a Valine (V23), found at the corresponding position in another CaM regulated protein kinase, results in a reduced catalytic efficiency. High resolution X-ray crystal structures of various conformations of the Q23V mutant DAPK and their superimposition with the corresponding conformations from wild type catalytic domain reveal localized changes in the glycine-rich region. The effect of the mutation on DAPK catalytic activity and the finding of only localized changes in the DAPK structure provide experimental evidence implicating conformational selection in this domain with activity. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 11th European Symposium on Calcium.
Very low lead exposures and children's neurodevelopment

Purpose of reviewWe remain far from achieving the goal of eliminating lead-associated neurodevelopmental morbidities in children. New evidence regarding the blood lead levels at which morbidities occur have led to calls for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the current screeni
CYTOLOGICAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE HELICAL STRUCTURE OF GIANT CHROMOSOMES.

Alverdes(1) as long ago as 1912 interpreted the bands of the giant chromosomes found by Balbiani(2) in Chironomus as the result of spiralization. Later, Kaufmann,(3) applying plant-chromosome techniques to Drosophila giant chromosomes, concluded that the discoid or discontinuous appearance of these chromosomes was an expression of inadequate technique and that a spiral structure was the more accurate. Nevertheless, the discontinuous structure appeared to fit genetic data more easily.
Policy Challenges in Improving Mental Health Services: Some Lessons From the Past

The author shares lessons he has learned over the past 45 years he has spent in the health care field, focusing on five areas: research; managed behavioral health care; health insurance and parity; service system availability and linkage; and dignified employment for persons with mental illness. He notes that a broad and sustained research effort is needed, from basic biological and behavioral processes to investigation of how to better organize and provide services. He argues that although much improvement is needed in the area of managed care, such improvement should come about by fixing managed care rather than by attempting to destroy it; managed care is necessary if parity is to be achieved. He also notes that although the term "integration of care" has become popular over the past decade, few systems have been able to successfully integrate care at the clinical level. Regarding employment for persons with mental illness, he notes that the traditional approach to vocational rehabilitation is less eff...
Allergic contact dermatitis to east Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.)

Tropical woods may cause contact dermatitis. 1 Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. (vernacular names : English: East Indian rosewood, Bombay blackwood ; French : palissandre d'Asie ; German : Ostindisches Palisanderholz) is an exotic hardwood belonging to the family of Leguminosae-Papilionaceae. The tree grows in Asia (India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka) to a fullgrown height of 30 m. It is exported mainly from South India. Its wood is of high commercial value and used in making veneers for furniture because of its strength and attractive appearance. It is also used to make objects of art, jewels, desk accessories, knife handles, and musical instruments. These products are entering the middle European and North American markets. Thus persons who have not previously been in contact with this wood in their natural environment are now becoming increasingly exposed to these products. The heartwood of this species contains sensitizing quinones, a class of neoflavanoids, named dalbergiones. 2 Allergic contact dermatitis to D. latifolia Roxb. has rarely been observed. 3,4 To our knowledge, this is the first report of contact dermatitis to jewels made of East Indian rosewood.
Pelvifemoral rhythm during unilateral hip flexion in standing

Objective. To quantify pelvifemoral rhythm during unilateral hip flexion in standing subjects, under different degrees of resistance. Design. Descriptive and correlational. Background. Pelvic rotation contributes to the change in hip flexion angle while individuals are supine. Degree of contribution in standing has not been described. Methods. Pelvic and femoral motions, relative to vertical, were documented while 14 subjects performed three trials of standing unilateral hip flexion, both with and without a 4.53 kg ankle weight. Pelvic and thigh segments were marked with reflective spheres, and motion was captured by video analysis. Results. Pelvic rotation contributed 18.1% of the change in hip flexion angle. Pelvic rotation occurred throughout the movement. Neither presence of external resistance nor direction of movement significantly changed this contribution. Conclusions. A strong relationship exists between pelvic rotation and hip flexion in standing subjects. Relevance Hip flexion, while standing, is a common element of many functional activities. Knowledge of the pelvic contribution increases our understanding of hip and lumbar spine motion during standing activities.
Control of ionic interactions in sulfonated polystyrene ionomers by the use of alkyl‐substituted ammonium counterions

Polystyrenes containing up to about 20 mol % sulfonic acid are reproducibly and readily prepared by the sulfonation of polystyrene at 50°C with acetyl sulfate in 1,2-dichloroethane solution. The metal salts of sulfonated polystyrene possess extremely high melt viscosities and are soluble in single solvents such as toluene and THF only at very low sulfonate levels. Such properties are the result of the very strong ion-dipole interactions among the metal sulfonate groups. Such strong interactions can be substantially reduced through the neutralization of the sulfonic acid with ammonia and, most especially, relatively simple low molecular weight amines. Sulfonated polystyrenes varying in sulfonic acid content from about 1 mol % to about 20 mol % were neutralized with various mono-, di-, and tri-substituted alkyl amines ranging in alkyl chain length from H (ammonia) to C20, and their rheological and thermal properties were measured. As the number of substituents on the nitrogen increased, the glass transition temperature and the melt viscosity decreased. The tributylamine sulfonates possessed viscosities almost as low as unsulfonated polystyrene and the longer chain amines behaved as if internally plasticized. The properties of amine neutralized sulfonated polystyrenes are concluded to be primarily a function of amine size. Increasing the size of the amine reduces the strength of the ion-dipole interaction by preventing close approach of the amine sulfonate groups.
Application of Spatial Bandwidth Concepts to MAS Pole Location for Dielectric Cylinders

The concept of effective spatial bandwidth (EBW) is extended from the case of an MAS solution for perfectly conducting (PEC) cylinders to dielectric cylinders. It is shown that the ideas and results for the conducting cylinder apply in a straightforward manner to the dielectric case. For the dielectric case, there are two auxiliary surfaces. Because the EBW calculations are independent of the scatterer material, the auxiliary surface for the scattered field will follow the same guidelines for both the PEC and dielectric cases. The guidelines for the second auxiliary surface are described and verified here. Guidelines for both a plane wave incident field and a monopole line source incident field are provided.
Maximizing reflexivity and praxis by recognizing and counteracting the constraints imposed by stimulus-response learning

The Task Force on Educating for Excellence in the MPA Degree acknowledged the essential role of active learning when it advocated the use of pedagogical strategies such as classroom exercises and collaborative projects with agencies. The extent to which these strategies foster reflexivity and praxis is limited by stimulus-response learning, i.e., students deciphering what the instructor wants and producing the appropriate responses/materials. To measure the students' preferences for stimulus-response learning, the authors developed a questionnaire that was distributed to students enrolled in MPA courses at a mid-western university. The findings suggest the students' strong preference for stimulus-response learning arises from a fixation on maximizing grades within the allotted time for studies. Given this finding, a program's success in cultivating reflexivity and praxis is impacted by the adoption of strategies that counteract the preference for stimulus-response learning and thereby encourage students t...
Desertion As Localism: Army Unit Solidarity and Group Norms in the U.S. Civil War

Drawing from the experiences of 3,126 enlisted men from North Carolina who fought for the Confederacy in the U.S. Civil War, this article focuses on the determinants of desertion. I argue that men deserted because their identity as Southerners was eroded by an emergent localism, sustained and organized within the Confederate army. Desertion rates were highest in companies that evidenced a high degree of local homogeneity - company solidarity thus bred rather than reduced desertion rates. There is no supportfor any of the historical models of desertion that search for individual-level determinants, such as social class, occupation, status, family structure, age, or time of enlistment. Finally, contextual variables seem to be weak proxiesfor the central variable accounting for desertion - the emergence of a localist identity.
Anaerobic Bacteremia: Decreasing Rate Over a 15-Year Period

At the Mayo Clinic, the number of cases of anaerobic bacteremia decreased 45% between 1974 and 1988. In addition, the percentage of blood cultures positive for anaerobes decreased significantly even though the total number of blood cultures performed increased. The number of anaerobic bacteremias per 100,000 patient-days also declined over the 15-year period. Organisms of the Bacteroides fragilis group ranked third in frequency with respect to other organisms that caused aerobic and anaerobic bacteremia in 1974 but ranked only seventh in 1988 and caused slightly less than one-half of the anaerobic bacteremias. The mechanisms responsible for these changes are unclear but might relate to earlier recognition and treatment of localized anaerobic infection, widespread preoperative use of agents prior to bowel surgery, and use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial regimens that include agents with activity against anaerobes.
Nonlinear n-th Cost Cumulant Control and Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equations for Markov Diffusion Process

A general nonlinear stochastic system with non-quadratic cost function is considered for cost cumulant control of a Markov diffusion problem. The Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation for the n-th cost moment case is derived as a necessary condition for optimality. The n-th cost cumulant Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation derivation procedure is given. Second, third, and fourth cost cumulant Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations are derived using the proposed procedure. The solutions of the nonlinear cost cumulant control problem is discussed using the state dependent Riccati equation method.
Making the Best Even Better: How Idea Pool Structure can make the Top Ideas Exceptional

In any pool of ideas, it is often the case that a small fraction of top ideas have significantly higher quality, both in absolute terms and relative to other ideas in the pool. This study formulates a model of idea pools, and examines the impact of the “structure” of idea pools on the extent to which the top ideas in an idea pool are exceptional. Our results demonstrate that the dispersion of ideas in the pool (defined in terms of the dissimilarity between ideas in the pool) has a positive impact on the value derived from the top ideas. The empirical content of the model is assessed by examining the citations received by top patents in a patent pool, and results consistent with the theoretical model are found. Finally, the study examines the optimal design of idea pools, and managerial rules-of-thumb are derived for the optimal choice of idea pool size, and the dispersion of ideas within the pool.
Donor-acquired fat embolism syndrome after lung transplantation

Objectives Fat embolism is a known complication of severe trauma and closed chest cardiac resuscitation both of which are more common in the lung transplant donor population and can lead to donor-acquired fat embolism syndrome (DAFES). The objective was to review the diagnosis and management of DAFES in the lung transplantation literature and at our centre. Methods We performed a literature review on DAFES using the Medline database. We then reviewed the transplant record of Brigham and Women's Hospital, a large academic hospital with an active lung transplant programme, for cases of DAFES. Results We identified 2 cases of DAFES in our centre, one of which required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for successful management. In contrast to the broader literature on DAFES, which emphasizes unsuccessfully treated cases, both patients survived. Conclusion DAFES is a rare but likely underappreciated early complication of lung transplant as it can mimic primary graft dysfunction. Aggressive interventions, including ECMO, may be necessary to achieve a good clinical outcome following DAFES.
Letter to the editor: The environmental mutagen information center

(1972). Letter to the editor. International Journal of Environmental Studies: Vol. 3, No. 1-4, pp. 147-147.
Outcomes of triple negative breast cancer in African-Americans vs. Caucasians: a community-based study.

Abstract #3043 Background : Breast cancers with a triple negative tumor (TNT) subtype are associated with inferior outcomes and more recently racial disparities in patients with TNT have been demonstrated with African American women experiencing worse outcomes compared to Caucasians. This study examines association of race (AA vs. Caucasians) and breast cancer outcomes in a large community hospital TNT population. Methods : Breast cancers of the TNT subtype were reviewed from a hospital-based tumor registry. Cases diagnosed from 1999 to 2006 were included in the study. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted including socio-demographic, and treatment factors. Endpoints were local/systemic recurrence and death. Results : Of 1827 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer from 1999- 2006, 93 were of the TNT subtype. A higher number of AA (17.58%) had TNT compared to Caucasians (3.7%). In patients with TNT, AA presented at a younger age (mean age 51.78 years vs. 58.52 years, ( Conclusions : The high prevalence of TNTs among AA women and poorer survival in spite of adjusting for insurance and treatment modalities, suggests an underlying biologic variation with respect to race/ ethnicity. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 3043.
Long-term results of a randomized controlled trial of a nonoperative strategy (watchful waiting) for men with minimally symptomatic inguinal hernias.

Objective:To assess the long-term crossover (CO) rate in men undergoing watchful waiting (WW) as a primary treatment strategy for their asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic inguinal hernias.Background:With an average follow-up of 3.2 years, a randomized controlled trial comparing WW with routine re
Cancer Associated with Asbestosis, Schistosomiasis, Foreign Bodies, and Scars

The cancers discussed in this chapter have a common attribute: they emerge from areas of chronic fibrotic tissue reactions in response to injury or permanently embedded foreign bodies. For several pragmatic reasons, however, it has not been customary to view these cancers as a group. Histopathologically they fall into different classes. Clinically they afflict different organs and thus are dealt with by different medical specialties. Even more importantly, their prevention rests on diverse epidemiological or technological approaches. In keeping with the objectives of this Treatise, which aims for overview and biological comprehension, it seems appropriate to emphasize the group relationship of these cancers and to amalgamate the pieces of information that each contributes toward recognition and deeper understanding of the carcinogenic forces involved.
Discrete dynamic modeling: A network approach for systems pharmacology

Systems pharmacology is an interdisciplinary field that aims to apply the theoretical and experimental tools of systems biology to drug development. The goal is to go beyond the interaction between a drug and the target to which it binds to explore drug effects on the cellular networks affected by disease. Over the years, vast amounts of information about the regulatory relationships among genes, proteins, and small molecules have been acquired. Similarly, there is much known about the deregulation of these systems during disease. However, many knowledge gaps still exist. There is an abundance of qualitative or relative information related to the activation of signaling pathways, but a paucity of kinetic and temporal information. Discrete dynamic modeling provides a means to create predictive models of signal transduction pathways by integrating fragmentary and qualitative interaction information. Using discrete dynamic modeling, a structural (static) network of biological regulatory relationships can be translated into a mathematical model without the use of kinetic parameters. This model can describe the dynamics of a biological system over time, both in normal and in perturbation scenarios. In this chapter, we discuss the fundamentals of discrete dynamic modeling as it pertains to systems pharmacology. As an example, we apply this methodology to a previously constructed pharmacodynamic model of epidermal derived growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. We (1) translate this model into two types of discrete models, a Boolean model and a three-state model, (2) show how the effects of an EGFR inhibitor (such as gefitinib) can suppress tumor growth, and (3) model how genomic variants can augment the effect of EGFR inhibition in tumor growth. We argue that discrete dynamic models can be used to facilitate many of the goals of systems pharmacology. These include understanding how individual differences contribute to variability in drug response and determining which drugs would be best depending on individual genetic differences.