cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydroxyapatite-poly(d,l-lactide) Nanografts. Synthesis and Characterization as Bone Cement Additives

This paper reports the creation of hydroxyapatite/polyester nanografts by “graft-from” polymerization of d,l-lactide with [Ca5(OH)(PO4)3]2 as the initiator and tin(II)-2-ethylhexanoate as the catalyst. Model polymerizations were performed with cyclooctanol as initiator to confirm the grafting on the surface of the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals. Polymers with the highest molecular mass (Mn) between 4250 Da (cyclooctanol) and 6100 Da (hydroxyapatite) were produced. In both cases the molecular mass distributions of the polymers formed were monomodal. The materials obtained were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography, NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy, and thermal methods. Their suitability as additives for commercial bone cement (Simplex P Speedset, Stryker Orthopaedics) has been confirmed by thermal analysis techniques and mechanical testing. The results obtained show that addition of the hydroxyapatite/ polyester nanografts improved both thermal and mechanical properties of the bone cement.
United States v. Hatahley: A Legal Archaeology Case Study in Law and Racial Conflict

In this case study, the author examines the ways in which race affects the progress and outcome of litigation under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The litigation is brought by individual Navajo plaintiffs against the federal government for the destruction of over a hundred horses and burros. The background conflict over access to public land is laid out, and then the article looks at the difficulty in assessing damages, the impact of the litigation on the underlying land claims, and the question of judicial bias.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Pituitary Apoplexy: A Single-Center Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Background Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare, but life-threatening, condition characterized by pituitary infarction and hemorrhage, most often in the setting of a preexisting adenoma. The risk factors and mechanisms associated with PA are poorly understood. Although neurovascular manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection have been documented, its association with PA has not yet been determined. Methods From a prospectively collected database of patients treated at a tertiary care center for pituitary adenoma, we conducted a retrospective medical record review of PA cases during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to December 2020. We also conducted a literature review to identify other reported cases. Results We identified 3 consecutive cases of PA and concomitant COVID-19 infection. The most common symptoms at presentation were headache and vision changes. The included patients were successfully treated with surgical decompression and medical management of the associated endocrinopathy, ultimately experiencing improvement in their visual symptoms at the latest follow-up examination. COVID-19 infection in the perioperative period was corroborated by polymerase chain reaction test results in all the patients. Conclusions With the addition of our series to the literature, 10 cases of PA in the setting of COVID-19 infection have been confirmed. The present series was limited in its ability to draw conclusions about the relationship between these 2 entities. However, COVID-19 infection might represent a risk factor for the development of PA. Further studies are required.
Regulated Exocytosis in Mammalian Secretory Cells

The sections in this article are: 1 Entry of Proteins into the Secretory Pathway 1.1 Mechanism of Sorting of Membrane and Secretory Proteins into the Secretory Pathway 1.2 Mechanism of Movement of Secretory Vesicles to the Plasma Membrane and Endocytic Vesicles from the Plasma Membrane 2 Mechanisms of Membrane Interactions on the Secretory Pathway 2.1 The SNARE Hypothesis of Vesicular Targeting and Membrane Fusion 2.2 Control Proteins in Exocytosis 2.3 The Role of rab Proteins in Exocytosis and Endocytosis 3 Membrane Retrieval Following Regulated Exocytosis
A Language Framework for Expressing Checkable Properties of Dynamic Software

Research on how to reason about correctness properties of software systems using model checking is advancing rapidly. Work on extracting finite-state models from program source code and on abstracting those models is focused on enabling the tractable checking of program properties such as freedom from deadlock and assertion violations. For the most part, the problem of specifying more general program properties has not been considered.
Mining association rules with item constraints

The problem of discovering association rules has received considerable research attention and several fast algorithms for mining association rules have been developed. In practice, users are often interested in a subset of association rules. For example, they may only want rules that contain a specific item or rules that contain children of a specific item in a hierarchy. While such constraints can be applied as a post-processing step, integrating them into the mining algorithm can dramatically reduce the execution time. We consider the problem of integrating constraints that are Boolean expressions over the presence or absence of items into the association discovery algorithm. We present three integrated algorithms for mining association rules with item constraints and discuss their tradeoffs.
Network-Adaptive Rate Control and Unequal Loss Protection with TCP-Friendly Protocol for Scalable Video Over Internet

Video communication with Quality of Service (QoS) is an important and challenging task. To have QoS provision at application level in the current best-effort Internet, rate control, congestion control and error control are several effective approaches. In this paper, we propose a new network-adaptive rate control and Unequal Loss Protection (ULP) scheme in conjunction with TCP-friendly congestion control for scalable video streaming. Our proposed approach is capable of simultaneously controlling congestion and packet loss occurred across the Internet. More specifically, we first dynamically estimate the available network bandwidth on the fly. Then, TCP-friendly congestion control is performed to smoothly adjust the sending rate for transmission of continuous media. Considering the characteristic of scalable video, unequal loss protection at packet level is adopted for different video layers while performing congestion control. Consequently, a fixed-length and priority-based packetization scheme is introduced to enhance the capability of loss protection and improve the efficiency of network-bandwidth utilization. Moreover, Rate-Distortion (R-D) based bit allocation is proposed to minimize the expected end-to-end distortion. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed scheme.
Practical Intelligence and the Virtues

1. Practical Intelligence and the Virtues: An Aristotelian Approach PART 1. PHRONESIS, VIRTUE, AND RIGHT ACTION 2. Right Action for Virtue Ethics 3. Right Action and Virtuous Motives 4. Right Action and 'the Virtuous Person' PART 2. THE ENUMERATION PROBLEM 5. The Enumeration Problem 6. Individuating the Virtues 7. Magnificence, Generosity, and Subordination PART 3. SITUATIONS, DISPOSITIONS, AND VIRTUES 8. Situations and Broad-Based Dispositions 9. Situations and Dispositions: Examining the Evidence 10. From Situationism to Virtue Theory PART 4. DEFENDING HARD VIRTUE THEORY 11. Phronesis and the Unity of the Virtues 12. Responsibility for Character Works Cited Index Locorum General Index
Computing Environment Effects on Finite Difference Approximations of Continuous Nonlinear Systems

We show techniques for graphical visualization of the inherent computer dynamics due to the truncation-rounding algorithm used in floating point arithmetic. We use the fractal structure of the images in a heuristic argument explaining why the Shadowing Lemma cannot be applied to numerical integration of trajectories of hyperbolic systems in floating point arithmetic. We illustrate this concept with an example of a piecewise linear closed loop control system.
Cosmopolitan Subjects: Critical Reflections on Dualism, International Criminal Law and Sovereignty: Lessons for the African Union from the Yugoslavia Tribunal

Is contemporary international criminal law (icl) compatible with sovereignty and traditional international law (il) as it is comprehended by the doctrine of Dualism, as understood by the great majority of international jurists, scholars, government representatives and those working at the tribunals? What the literature has entirely missed is that three most important figures in the initial creation and institutionalization of ilc for the Yugoslavia Tribunal in 1994 – Antonio Cassese, Cherif Bassiouni and Theodor Meron – all shared a commitment to a monistic view based on expansive and radical interpretation of icl in which international criminal jurisdiction (iicj) – because it makes individuals its sole legal subject – as radically legally, politically and even ontologically incompatible with – and inherently to superior – sovereignty, as well as all those institutions based on traditional sovereign il (e.g., international humanitarian law, the un Charter system, and human rights). Normatively, they call for “the humanization” or individualization of international law marked by direct and unmediated relationships between iicj institutions and the individual. Practically, they acknowledge icl’s basis in modern statist domestic criminal law and Security Council power means that it is necessarily a unitary, top-down and subjecting power, incompatible with the claims of both dualists and pluralists. If the monists are correct, the African Union (au) must be very careful not to presume that what one likes about international courts (African, treaty- or sovereignty based tribunals) can be easily separated from what one does not like (unsc power, icc), because it was icl itself, not the tribunals, which is fundamentally anti-sovereign. As a result, this article concludes that icl itself is now too closely ground in iicj to think that it could be separated in an African court.
Oxygen Deprivation Induced Cell Death: An Update

Mammalian cells have multiple responses to low or zero oxygen concentrations. In the complete absence of oxygen, cells undergo cell death through apoptosis, and not necrosis. Apoptotic signaling during oxygen deprivation occurs through the release of cytochrome c and apaf-1 mediated caspase-9 activation. The upstream regulators of cytochrome c release are the Bcl-2 family members. Pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members such as bax or bak are clearly required to initiate cytochrome c/apaf-1/caspase-9 mediated cell death during oxygen deprivation. Here we review what is currently known oxygen deprivation induced cell death and speculate about initiating mechanisms resulting in the activation of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members.
'Athlete's heart' in prepubertal children.

Bradycardia, cardiomegaly, heart murmurs, and ECG changes are typically observed in adult endurance athletes, but frequency of such changes among children involved in sports training is unclear. Pediatricians need to be aware of whether these features of the "athlete's heart" occur in their patients, because such features may mimic those of cardiac disease. Fourteen prepubertal competitive male swimmers were evaluated by physical examination, ECG and echocardiogram, and findings were compared to those of a group of active but nontrained control boys. Lower resting heart rates and echocardiographic manifestations of chronic left ventricular volume overload were observed among the swimmers. These changes were not manifest on physical examination, however, and no significant ECG alterations were identified among the athletes. These findings indicate that, although features of the athlete's heart are present in children involved in endurance training, seldom will these findings simulate heart disease or be apparent on routine clinical examination.
Chapter 2 The Tropane Alkaloids

Publisher Summary This chapter presents information on tropane alkaloids. Hyoscyamine is the naturally occurring, optically active form of tropine tropate, while atropine is the racemic form. The name scopolamine seems generally accepted as being synonymous with hyoscine, both referring to the l -enantiomer. The dl -form is called atroscine. “Total synthesis of scopolamine” described it as a racemic substance. In 1971, the first report of isolation of a tropane alkaloid from the family Proteaceae marked the beginning of a flurry of activity in this area. Some drastically different types of substituents on the tropane skeleton have been encountered and the first apparent racemic mixtures of naturally occurring, unsymmetrical tropane skeletons have been isolated. Bellendine, the first alkaloid to be isolated from the Proteaceae, has been shown to be 2,3-(2,3-tropeno)-5-methyl-γ-pyrone. Esters identified were the acetate, propionate (a new natural ester), isobutyrate, butyrate (new), -methylbutyrate or isovalerate (not differentiated), benzoate, and 1,2-dithiolane-3-carboxylate (the major component, a new alkaloid called brugine). A relationship has been demonstrated between protein synthesis and alkaloid synthesis in root cultures of D. stramonium var. tatula. One of the first properties observed about cocaine was its ability to produce the numbness of the tongue. Dipole moment, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), temperature-dependent NMR studies, and qualitative considerations of van der Waals interactions provided data on the conformation of atropine.
Phase II study of lapatinib and capecitabine in second-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Patients with metastatic, gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer typically have poor survival. Erlotinib, a targeted therapy that inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activity (overexpressed in 40–60 % of pancreatic cancers), was FDA approved for the treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), another member of the ErbB family of growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases, has also been a therapeutic target of interest in pancreatic cancer; HER-2 overexpression is found in 20 % of pancreatic cancers. Lapatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that binds to both EGFR and HER-2. We conducted a single-arm phase II study to evaluate the combination of lapatinib and capecitabine in the second-line treatment of metastatic, gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer. Seventeen patients with metastatic, unresectable pancreatic cancer whose disease had progressed on first-line gemcitabine-based therapy were selected for this study. Patients were required to have an adequate performance status (ECOG 0–2) and normal hepatic and renal function prior to being enrolled. Patients received lapatinib 1250 mg PO daily 1 h before or after meals, and capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 PO twice daily on days 1–14 of the 21-day cycle. The primary endpoint was median overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were objective response rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and the safety profile of the combination therapy. Clinical toxicities were assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Radiographic response was evaluated by RECIST criteria. Clinically, six of the 17 patients treated had disease progression (PD) after two cycles, six of 17 patients had stable disease (SD) and received more than four cycles (SD, range 4–22 cycles). For all patients, median PFS was 2.6 months (95 % CI 1.3–3.8) and median OS was 5.2 months (95 % CI 3.4–9). Treatment-related toxicities were limited to three (17 %) patients developing grade 3 adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. When stratifying patients by treatment response, we found a statistically significant difference in median PFS and OS: median PFS was 1.4 months (95 % CI 1.0–1.8) in the PD group versus 4.0 months (95 % CI 1.8–6.3) in the SD group (P value = 0.001). Median OS was 2.9 months (95 % CI 0–7.3) in the PD group versus 8.3 months (95 % CI 0–21.2) in the SD group (P value = 0.023). The combination of lapatinib and capecitabine is a tolerable regimen for patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer; however, this observation is based on the small number of patients enrolled in the trial. A subset of the enrolled patients had clinical benefit from treatment. Predictive biomarkers that allow selection of patients that will respond to this regimen should be further investigated.
Taking an Item‐Level Approach to Measuring Change With the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation: An Application of Item Response Theory

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of curricular or instructional innovations, researchers often attempt to measure change in students' conceptual understanding of the target subject matter. The measurement of change is therefore a critical endeavor. Often, this is accomplished through pre–post testing using an assessment such as a concept inventory, and aggregate test scores are compared from pre to post-test in order to characterize gains. These comparisons of raw or normalized scores are most often made under the assumptions of Classical Test Theory (CTT). This study argues that measuring change at the item level (rather than the person level) on the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation (FMCE) can provide a more detailed insight into the observed change in students' Newtonian thinking. Further, such an approach is more warranted under the assumptions of Item Response Theory (IRT). In comparing item-level measures of change under CTT and IRT measurement models, it was found that the inferences drawn from each analysis are similar, but those derived from IRT modeling stand on a stronger foundation statistically. Second, the IRT approach leads to analyzing common item groupings which provide further information about change at the item and topic level.
Estimating progression of visual field loss in glaucoma

Abstract Purpose: The authors estimated the prevalence and rates of progressive visual field loss in glaucoma patients followed annually for a median of 6.3 years. Methods: Linear regression was used to estimate rates of progression of mean deviation, corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD), clusters of locations based on the Glaucoma Hemifield Test (GHT), and location specific changes in C-30-2 fields of the Humphrey Analyzer. Results: Sixty-seven eyes of 56 patients whose first two consecutive fields were abnormal on GHT were included. Almost all patients were under treatment or had undergone surgery for glaucoma. Visual field deteriorated in 19 (28%) eyes based on worsening of one or more CPSD, GHT clusters, or individual test locations (regression slopes significantly different from zero). Corrected pattern standard deviation deteriorated in 5 eyes, at least one GHT cluster deteriorated in 17 eyes, and one or more individual test locations deteriorated in 15 eyes. For those whose visual field deteriorated, CPSD increased by 0.9 dB/year. Glaucoma Hemifield Test clusters declined by between 1.4 and 2.4 dB/year. Deterioration at individual locations ranged from 1.0 to 5.0 dB/year. Age, but not baseline visual field severity, was predictive of further visual field loss. The odds ratio for the association between progressive visual field loss and thinning of the nerve fiber layer was 1.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.52, 6.33), and 3.78 (95% confidence interval; 0.80, 18.16) for the association between progressive visual field loss and optic disc changes during follow-up based on masked photograph readings. Conclusions: Less than one in three eyes of patients with glaucoma had any progressive field loss. Average changes in threshold sensitivities of less than 1 dB/Year could not be detected with seven fields done over 6 years. Larger changes or increased frequency of visual field testing would need to occur before smaller changes could be detected statistically.
Evolution of the myoglobin gene in Antarctic Icefishes (Channichthyidae)

Antarctic icefishes (Family: Channichthyidae) are the only adult vertebrate animals that do not express the circulatory oxygen-binding protein, hemoglobin. Six species of icefishes, including Dacodraco hunteri, also do not express myoglobin (Mb), an oxygen-binding protein found in ventricular tissue of Antarctic notothenioids. Sequence of the Mb gene from D. hunteri contains a duplicated TATA box in the promoter region of the Mb gene that is absent in Chionodraco rastrospinosus, an icefish species known to express Mb. The 15-base pair insertion in D. hunteri is identical to the duplicated TATA box that is thought to be directly responsible for preventing transcription of the Mb gene in C. aceratus, another icefish species that lacks Mb expression. Sequencing of the Mb promoter from the remaining channichthyid species revealed the duplicated TATA box in 14 of 16 icefish species, including 8 species known to express Mb. Based on the presence of the duplicated TATA box in promoters of both Mb-expressing and Mb-lacking species, loss of Mb expression in D. hunteri and C. aceratus is either independent of the duplicated TATA box, or the duplicated TATA box requires presence or absence of a distant regulatory element to prevent transcription.
Estradiol and the Neuroendocrine Control of LH Release in Vitro

Release of LH was measured following short-term incubation of rat anterior pituitary (AP) and stalk median eminence (SME) tissue in the presence or absence of estradiol (E2). LH release from AP's incubated alone was enhancedby 0.5 or 1.0 ng E2/ml. This positive effect was blocked by puromycin (10.0 or20.0 μg/ml) or by cycloheximide (10.0 μg/ml), although the antibiotics failed to influence basal release of LH from the incubated glands. LH release in the presence of LRF was not significantly altered by adding E2 in small or high doses (0.5, 1.0 or 25 μg/ml). When AP's were incubated together with SME tissue (2 SME/gland), LH release was not altered by adding 0.5 or 1.0 jug E2/ml to the medium. Dopamine (DA) at a dose of 2.5 μg/ml had been shown earlier to stimulate LH release from the co-incubate via discharge of LH-releasing factor (LRF) from the hypothalamic tissue. Doses ranging from 0.2 to 12.5 μg Ea/ml prevented the responsiveness of the SME to DA; this inhibitory effect of E2 was again blocked by pur...
What Is the Cost of Financial Flexibility? Theory and Evidence for Make‐Whole Call Provisions

Firms commonly incorporate make-whole call provisions in their newly issued debt, presumably to improve their ability to retire debt early if circumstances require. In return for increased financial flexibility, firms must compensate bondholders with additional (incremental) yield. To estimate theoretical incremental yields, we use and calibrate a structural model for a large sample of callable and noncallable US corporate bonds issued between 1995 and 2004. In a frictionless model where calls occur only when they are in-the-money, theoretical incremental yields average approximately 2 basis points (bp). In an extended model that incorporates taxes, transactions costs, and randomly occurring exogenous events requiring early bond retirement, incremental yields average approximately 5 bp. Empirical analysis, however, indicates that observed incremental yields are significantly greater than model-generated values, averaging between 13 and 24 bp. In the later years of our sample period, however, observed incremental yields begin to converge to model-generated values.
A pharmacological study of hibernation in rodents

Abstract 1. 1. Hamsters and ground squirrels in deep hibernation were infused intra-arterially with drugs. 2. 2. Norepinephrine and epinephrine sometimes caused arousal, sometimes transitory effects. 3. 3. Adrenalectomy did not affect arousal. l -DOPA and amphetamine produced a slow arousal. 4. 4. Arousal was blocked with α-methyltyrosine and the block was released with l -DOPA. dl - and l -threo-DOPS resulted in arousal and bromocriptine did not cause arousal, indicating that dopamine was not necessary for arousal. 5. 5. Isoproterenol caused a transient increase in heart rate which was blocked by propranolol. 6. 6. Phenylephrine caused vasoconstriction, but did not result in arousal. 7. 7. No drug increased the sensitivity to peripheral stimuli during hibernation.
Exploring Differences in Inpatient Drug Purchasing Cost Between Two Pediatric Hospitals

OBJECTIVES In this study, the hospital cost of purchasing drugs at two children's hospitals is explored with respect to high-cost drugs and drug classes and discussed with regard to differences i...
Nucleotide dependent intrinsic fluorescence changes of W29 and W36 in smooth muscle myosin.

The intrinsic fluorescence of smooth muscle myosin is sensitive to both nucleotide binding and hydrolysis. We have examined this relationship by making MDE mutants containing a single tryptophan residue at each of the seven positions found in the wild-type molecule. Previously, we have demonstrated that a conserved tryptophan residue (W512) is a major contributor to nucleotide-dependent changes of intrinsic fluorescence in smooth muscle myosin. In this study, an MDE containing all the endogenous tryptophans except W512 (W512 KO-MDE) decreases in intrinsic fluorescence upon nucleotide binding, demonstrating that the intrinsic fluorescence enhancement of smooth muscle myosin is not solely due to W512. Candidates for the observed quench of intrinsic fluorescence in W512 KO-MDE include W29 and W36. Whereas the intrinsic fluorescence of W36-MDE is only slightly sensitive to nucleotide binding, that of W29-MDE is paradoxically both quenched and blue-shifted upon nucleotide binding. Steady-state and time-resolved experiments suggest that fluorescence intensity changes of W29 involve both excited-state and ground-state quenching mechanisms. These results have important implications for the role of the N-terminal domain (residues 1–76) in smooth muscle myosin in the molecular mechanism of muscle contraction.
Long-Range Forces in Meson-Baryon Systems

We have evaluated single-particle-exchange forces at low energies for all two-particle meson-baryon states with angular momentum from ${S}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ to ${H}_{\frac{11}{2}}$. Using real masses and $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ coupling constants normalized to experiment, we considered the exchange of the following $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ multiplets: baryon octet, ${P}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ decuplet, $Y_{0}^{}{}_{}{}^{*}(1520)$ singlet, vector-meson octet (vector and tensor coupling), and ${D}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ octet. The forces were classified in the direct channel according to $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ irreducible representations, an association which is inexact owing to mass splitting but which nevertheless allows us to relate resonant states thereby generated in various isospin and hypercharge channels. We found strong attractive forces in the ${P}_{\frac{1}{2}}$, ${F}_{\frac{5}{2}}$ octet, ${P}_{\frac{3}{2}}$, ${F}_{\frac{7}{2}}$ decuplet, and ${D}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ singlet states. In particular, the exchange of vector mesons was observed to play a significant role in all these channels. Our analysis suggests that the ${D}_{\frac{5}{2}} Y_{1}^{}{}_{}{}^{*}(1765)$ be assigned to an octet, the other members of which are relatively inhibited by mass-splitting effects to the extent that they may not be observable experimentally as resonances. No forces likely to generate resonances in the multiplet 27 were found.
Normal aging and cognition: The unacknowledged contribution of cerebrovascular risk factors

Despite the widespread assumption that cognitive decline is an inherent part of the normal aging process, research suggests that part of the variance in age-related cognitive decline is attributable to modifiable factors common in geriatric populations such as cerebrovascular risk factors. We completed a literature search using Science Citation Index and evaluated the most cited articles from the last 10 years to determine the extent to which investigations of normal aging and cognition account for the influence of cerebrovascular risk factors. We found that the majority of the most frequently cited literature does not adequately account for the contribution of cerebrovascular risk factors and therefore, it is possible that many conclusions about normal aging and cognition are flawed or incomplete. Further investigation of the role of cerebrovascular risk factors in age-related cognitive decline is imperative to more accurately understand the effect of aging on cognition.
Introduction to the featured collection on riparian ecosystems and buffers

Mayer, Paul M., Albert H. Todd, Judith A. Okay, and Kathleen A. Dwire, 2010. Introduction to the FeaturedCollection on Riparian Ecosystems & Buffers. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA)46(2):207-210. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00425.xRiparian ecosystems, located at the interface of ter-restrial and aquatic systems, are often given specialattention by scientists for their high biodiversity andbiological activity (Naiman et al., 1993; Naiman andDecamps, 1997) and signiﬁcant role in nutrient andenergy ﬂux (McClain et al., 2003). Riparian ecosys-tems are known to buffer environmental impacts andcontribute to the maintenance of water quality (Low-rance et al., 1997). For example, riparian zones canintercept, ﬁlter, and process anthropogenic nitrogeninputs (Lowrance et al., 1984; Peterjohn and Correll,1984; Mayer et al., 2007), attenuate phosphorus(Hoffmann et al., 2009), capture sediments (Liu et al.,2008), reduce urban noise (Harris, 1985), and moder-ate stream temperature (Wilkerson et al., 2006), func-tions that are especially important in the face ofglobal climate change and continued land use devel-opment. Their position in the landscape and linearpathways create critical corridors for animal migra-tion and movement (Hagar, 1999). Thus, riparianareas provide critical ecosystem services that supportsociety and economies (Millennium Ecosystem Assess-ment, 2005) and are, therefore, essential to humanhealth and well-being. In many regions such as urbanand suburban centers, riparian areas remain the lastintact ecosystems to provide parks and green space(Groffman et al., 2003). Ultimately, riparian ecosys-tems are immeasurably valuable. The continual lossof riparian zones represents a loss of ecosystem ser-vices (Sweeney et al., 2004). The proliferation of man-agement initiatives for riparian buffers demonstratesa need for sound, quantitative science on riparianecosystem function and the results of conservationand restoration actions. The contents of this specialissue are intended to help inform management deci-sions that support the values and services riparianecosystems provide.The 10 papers in this collection were solicited fromresearch scientists and others who participated in theAmerican Water Resources Association summer spe-cialty conference titled ‘‘Riparian Ecosystems & Buf-fers: Working at the Water’s Edge,’’ held in VirginiaBeach, Virginia, June 30-July 2, 2008. The approxi-mately 330 conference attendees participated in aninterdisciplinary forum with over 120 speakers in 36technical sessions. Keynote speakers included BrianRichter of the Nature Conservancy, James Karr ofthe University of Washington, Bernard Sweeneyof the Stroud Water Research Center, and EmilyBernhardt of Duke University who spoke on issues
Aqueous solubility of selected biphenyl, furan, and dioxin congeners

Abstract A generator-column technique was used in this study to measure the aqueous solubility of 13 individual PCB, PBB, methylbiphenyl, PCDF, and PCDD isomers at several different temperatures. The data obtained were combined with other literature values, measured at 25 °C using similar techniques, to create an accurate set of solubility values for high molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbons. Empirical equations expressing the variation of solubility with temperature are presented for each compound. Enthalpies of solution, calculated from van't Hoff plots, are also given.
Infrared and Raman spectra of 1-methylcyclopropene

Abstract 1-Methyl cyclo propene is unique in that it contains a carbon-carbon double bond in a strained three-membered ring with methyl, methylenic and vinylic protons present. The molecule has C 3 symmetry and possesses 24 fundamental vibrations: 15 a ' + 9 a ″. Vapor and solid phase infrared (250–4000 cm −1 ) and liquid phase Raman spectra have been obtained and a study of the molecular vibrations, as revealed by its spectrum, has been completed. Assignment of the fundamentals has been made from vapor phase band contours, characteristic group frequencies and Raman polarization data.
STABILITY ANALYSIS OF PARAMETRICALLY EXCITED SYSTEMS USING SPECTRAL COLLOCATION

Abstract The spectral collocation method is used to determine the stability of parametrically excited systems and compared with the traditional transition matrix approach. Results from a series of test problems demonstrate that spectral collocation converges rapidly. In addition, the spectral collocation method preserves the sparsity of the underlying system matrices, a property not shared by the transition matrix approach. As a result, spectral collocation can be used for very large systems and can utilize sparse eigensolvers to reduce computational memory and time. For the large-scale system studied (up to 40 degrees of freedom), the spectral collocation method was on average an order of magnitude faster than the transition matrix approach using Matlab. This computational advantage is implementation specific; in a C implementation of the algorithm, the transition matrix method is faster than the spectral collocation. Overall, the method proves to be simple, efficient, reliable, and generally competitive with the transition matrix method.
How differing shift lengths relate to quality outcomes in pediatrics.

OBJECTIVE:The aims of this study were to describe the shift lengths of pediatric nurses and to measure the association of shift length with nurse job outcomes, nurse-reported patient outcomes, and nurse-assessed safety and quality of care in hospitals.BACKGROUND:Long work hours have been linked with
Intraoperative gamma probe-directed biopsy of asymptomatic suspected bone metastases.

Abstract Background . Radioisotope bone scanning is frequently used in staging malignancies. However, false-positive results are common, and biopsy is usually required. In the absence of plain radiographic abnormalities or local symptoms, localization of the area of abnormal tracer activity at the time of open rib or sternum biopsy may be difficult. It often requires resection of a large portion of one or more ribs or the sternum to assure that biopsy of the target area was performed. In this setting, a small gamma probe underwent evaluation as an aid to precise intraoperative localization of increased tracer activity in the target bone. Methods . Ten patients with asymptomatic suspected osseous chest metastases by radioisotope bone scanning but with normal plain radiographs underwent open biopsy of 13 ribs and 1 sternum. Six to 12 hours before operation, each received an intravenous injection of 28 mCi of technetium-99m oxidronate. The hand-held, pencil-sized gamma probe in a sterile sleeve was used to localize the area of greatest activity in the target bone, once the bone was exposed through a small incision. Biopsy of a 3-cm length of rib or portion of sternum was performed. In the first two rib biopsies, an intraoperative radiograph with a radiopaque marker on the rib confirmed that the correct rib was selected for biopsy. Intraoperative radiographs were not done on later cases. Results . The mean ratio of hot spot activity on the targeted rib to background counts on adjacent ribs was 1.65 ± 0.22 (range, 1.35 to 2.05), and the difference was easily discernible intraoperatively. The ratio of hot spot activity on the sternum was somewhat lower (1.22), but the target area was still easy to detect. An abnormal diagnosis to account for the increased tracer activity was found in each of the 13 ribs and 1 sternal biopsy in all 10 patients: metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (1 rib), metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma (1 rib), lymphoma (2 ribs), localized hypercellular marrow (1 rib), medullary fibrosis/Paget's disease of the bone (2 ribs), localized fibrosis/granulation tissue (1 rib), enchondroma (3 ribs), and chondroma (2 ribs, 1 sternum). The difference in background counts to hot spot activity was best with injection of the tracer 6 hours before operation. Conclusions . The intraoperative use of gamma counting is an easy, highly accurate aid (100% sensitivity) to localize areas of abnormal radioisotope uptake in suspected asymptomatic rib and sternal metastases. Use of this technique obviates the need to obtain intraoperative localizing radiographs to confirm accurate rib identification, thereby decreasing operative time.
The Influence of Approach and Avoidance Goals on Conceptual Change

ABSTRACTRecently, conceptual change research has been experiencing a warming trend (G. M. Sinatra, 2005) whereby motivational and affective factors are being explored in the conceptual change process. The purpose of this study is to explore the 2 × 2 framework of achievement goal theory in relation to students’ conceptual change learning for a specific topic in biology, HIV/AIDS. The authors hypothesized that those with approach goals (mastery approach and performance approach) would demonstrate greater posttest conceptual change in their understanding of HIV/AIDS than those with avoidance goals. Participants were 206 undergraduates in introductory-level college biology courses. Participants were provided a 1,004-word HIV/AIDS text and were pre- and posttested on their conceptual knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Results of an analysis of covariance indicated that approach-oriented students demonstrated greater conceptual HIV/AIDS change at posttest than avoidance-oriented students. Results are discussed in light of...
Women retrospectively identify and weight the emotional events of their lives: exploration of a scaling technique.

One failing of Likert-formatted rating scales is that they are ordinal scales. This limits the possible computations. To solve this problem 63 women participated in a methodological study in which Cantril's 1965 “ladder” technique was used to develop equal-interval scales with true zero points, referenced in the individuals' own experience. Each subject generated a list of life events corresponding to 9 rungs of a ladder, ranging from “no emotional arousal” to “the most moving event” in her life. This provided a scale for each subject which subsequently could be used to assess other events in her life, while allowing the full range of parametric statistics.
Kinetics for Singlet Oxygen Formation by Riboflavin Photosensitization and the Reaction between Riboflavin and Singlet Oxygen

ABSTRACT: The formation of singlet oxygen by riboflavin and the kinetics and mechanisms of riboflavin degradation in aqueous solution under light were determined. The singlet oxygen formation rate by riboflavin was 2.31 μmole oxygen/mL headspace/h of serum bottle. The degradations of riboflavin were 66% in D2O and 40% in H2O, respectively, under light after 24 h. The results indicate that singlet oxygen is involved in riboflavin destruction under light. The riboflavin destructions were 94.0% and 15.7% with 0 mM or 160 mM ascorbic acid, respectively, under light after 96 h. The reaction rate between riboflavin and singlet oxygen was 1.01 × 1010/M/s, which is a diffusion-controlled reaction rate. This explains the extremely fast degradation of riboflavin in foods under light. Ascorbic acid and sodium azide reduce the degradation of riboflavin under light with different quenching mechanisms. Ascorbic acid quenched both singlet oxygen and excited triplet riboflavin. Sodium azide quenched only the singlet oxygen in riboflavin solution with a quenching rate of 1.547 × 107/M/s. With the involvement of both the Type-I and Type-II mechanisms in the riboflavin degradation under light, singlet oxygen quencher alone could not protect the riboflavin from degradation completely. Addition of ascorbic acid can protect riboflavin oxidation in foods exposed to light.
Failure of diphenylhydantoin to prevent alcohol withdrawal convulsions in mice.

Abstract Alcohol withdrawal reactions were induced in mice using an established technique. Mice, administered 1.0 mmole/kg pyrazole daily were exposed for 3 days to 10 mg/l ethanol vapor and withdrawal was brought about by discontinuation of the exposure. Diphenylhydantoin administered in doses of 12, 20 or 50 mg/kg by either of two routes (i.p. or p.o.), failed to have any discernable effect on the withdrawal. A 100 mg/kg dose of diphenylhydantoin increased seizure scores. Chloral hydrate administration in doses of 175, 244 or 350 mg/kg, on the other hand, lowered seizure scores in a manner which was dose related and prompt. These findings suggest that the clinical use of diphenylhydantoin for control of the seizures seen in alcohol withdrawal should be re-evaluated. The seizure scores of mice not exposed to ethanol but administered 1.0 mmole/kg pyrazole daily for 3 days were negligible and well within values obtained with naive control mice not exposed to any pharmacological agent.
Simulation and Analysis of a Flow Profile and Reaction Rate Within a 3D Microfluidic Cell Culture Array

Microfluidic devices deliver the promise of high throughput data output over conventional cell cultures with significantly smaller sample sizes[1]. The 3D microenvironment of sample cells provides with a more relevant analog to the realistic nature of cells over 2D cultures[2]. A microfluidic device of three layers to emulate the blood vessel, the basal membrane, and aggregates of tumor cells was developed using microfabrication technologies with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) [3]. Such a 3D separation of the different layers is necessary in order to understand the dynamics of tumor cells with respect to drug responses[4]. In this study, we examine the flow patterns and transport issues in the 3D layered microfluidic device that mimicks the tumor microenvironment.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Endogenously Produced Interleukin 6 is an Accessory Cytokine for Dendritic Cell Hematopoiesis

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in normal dendritic cell (DC) hematopoiesis. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantitate IL-6 levels in CD34+ progenitor cell cultures favoring monocyte (mono) development versus those supporting mono-DC growth, and studied the neutralizing effects of alphaIL-6 antibody on DC hematopoiesis. IL6 levels in mono cultures (GM-CSF alone) were detected by day 4 and remained constant (approximately 100+ pg/ml) for 18 days. In mono-DC cultures, higher IL-6 levels correlated with DC content and development. Short-term mono-DC cultures initiated with GM-CSF + tumor necrosis factor (TNF) + stem cell factor (SCF) exhibited increases in IL-6 level until day 11 (peak DC growth). By day 18, the levels had declined and cells expressing typical DC features were no longer present. Long-term mono-DC cultures sustained with GM-CSF + TNF + SCF contained the highest IL-6 levels (671 pg/ml) on day 11. In these cultures, DCs and higher IL-6 levels persisted beyond 18 days. Anti-IL-6 profoundly inhibited cell proliferation associated with DC hematopoiesis when added on days 0, 2 and 5 to GM-CSF + TNF + SCF cultures, indicating that various stages of mono-DC development rely on IL-6. There was no reduction in the T cell response when alphaIL-6 was added to mixed leukocyte reaction cultures containing mature DCs as stimulators. Thus, alphaIL-6 appears to downregulate developmental processes associated with optimal mono-DC growth, but not the effector functions of mature DCs. These studies substantiate the importance of IL-6 as a secondary cytokine during DC development and provide insight into another control point in the DC pathway.
Shear waves in an elastic-plastic material due to a supersonic surface step load

Abstract A step shear load moves steadily on the surface of an elastic-plastic half space at a speed exceeding the elastic shear wave speed of the material. The orientation of the shear traction is such that the deformation is two-dimensional antiplane strain. Two different representations of the rate independent elastic-plastic material response are considered. The first material model is based on the associated flow rule and the Mises yield condition with isotropic hardening, whereas the second model is based on a particular flow theory of plasticity which represents incremental behavior at a corner of the instantaneous yield surface. Both models predict the same response under the same proportional loading. The stress history experienced by a typical material particle during passage of the load step is determined, and the variation of final strain with the magnitude of the load step is calculated. One conclusion resulting from comparison of results for the two material models for this problem is that the influence of yield surface vertex formation is not significant.
E2F1 localizes predominantly to neuronal cytoplasm and fails to induce expression of its transcriptional targets in human immunodeficiency virus-induced neuronal damage

As human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does not induce neuronal damage by direct infection, the mechanisms of neuronal damage or loss in HIV-associated dementia (HAD) remain unclear. We have shown previously that immunoreactivity of transcription factor, E2F1, increases in neurons, localizing predominantly to the cytoplasm, in HIV-associated pathologies. Here we confirm that E2F1 localization is predominantly cytoplasmic in primary postmitotic neurons in vitro and cortical neurons in vivo. To determine whether E2F1 contributes to neuronal death in HAD via transactivation of target promoters, we assessed the mRNA and protein levels of several classical E2F1 transcriptional targets implicated in cell cycle progression and apoptosis in an in vitro model of HIV-induced neurotoxicity and in cortical autopsy tissue from patients infected with HIV. By Q-PCR, we show that mRNA levels of E2F1 transcriptional targets implicated in cell cycle progression (E2F1, Cyclin A, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and dyhydrofolate reductase (DHFR)) and apoptosis (caspases 3, 8, 9 and p19ARF) remain unchanged in an in vitro model of HIV-induced neurotoxicity. Further, we show that protein levels of p19ARF, Cyclin A, and PCNA are not altered in vitro or in the cortex of patients with HAD. We propose that the predominantly cytoplasmic localization of E2F1 in neurons may account for the lack of E2F1 target transactivation in neurons responding to HIV-induced neurotoxicity.
Lung lipid synthesis from acetoacetate and glucose in developing rats in vitro.

Acetoacetate (AcAc) and glucose were compared as energy sources and as precursors for lipid synthesis in the lungs of developing rats. Minced lung tissue was incubated with [3-14C]AcAc or [U-14C]glucose and the oxidation of each substrate to CO2 or its incorporation into tissue lipids was quantified. The highest rates of oxidation were obtained during the first 5 days for AcAc and the first 2 days of life for glucose and oxidation of AcAc was 3–4 times greater than that of glucose at all ages. Throughout postnatal development, the rates of nonsaponifiable lipid, fatty acid and hence total lipid (chloroform/methanol extractable) synthesis from AcAc were 2–3 times those of glucose. The highest rates of total lipid synthesis from AcAc and glucose were observed at birth. Glucose was utilized for glyceride-glycerol synthesis at a higher rate than AcAc. Similar patterns of incorporation of AcAc and glucose into various lipid classes were noted. Of the total lipids synthesized from AcAc and glucose, respectively, phospholipid plus monoglyceride accounted for 64% and 77%, triglyceride 13% and 13%, diglyceride plus cholesterol 11% and 4% fatty acids 9% and 4%, and cholesteryl esters 3% and 1%. At birth, the specific activities of all lipids except triglyceride derived from AcAc were greater than those from glucose. Rates of synthesis of all complex lipids declined with age. The results of these experiments demonstrate that AcAc is utilized more readily than glucose for energy production and lipid synthesis in developing rat lungs.