cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organizational systems barriers to engineering effectiveness

An approach to the design of surveys for detecting organizational systems barriers that suppress effectiveness of engineers is presented. The approach views organizations as open systems and specifies the conditions necessary for engineers to be effective within the content of the larger systems. A survey of engineers is conducted to determine where organizational systems pose barriers to effectiveness and estimate the cost impact of these barriers. One application to a large design engineering unit is presented. The results reveal substantial barriers to effectiveness, removal of which could save the company millions of dollars annually mainly in reduced warranty and manufacturing costs. The survey approach and its underlying model of productive organizational systems appear to provide a tool for measuring barriers to effectiveness of engineers and white collar workers generally.
Competitive spillovers across non-profit and for-profit nursing homes

The importance of non-profit institutions in the health care sector has generated a vast empirical literature examining quality differences between non-profit and for-profit nursing homes. Recent theoretical work has emphasized that much of this empirical literature is flawed in that previous studies rely solely on dummy variables to capture the effects of ownership rather than accounting for the share of non-profit nursing homes in the market. This analysis considers whether competitive spillovers from non-profits lead to higher quality in for-profit nursing homes. Using instrumental variables to account for the potential endogeneity of non-profit market share, this study finds that an increase in non-profit market share improves for-profit and overall nursing home quality. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that non-profits serve as a quality signal for uninformed nursing home consumers.
Musculoskeletal Stress on Miners Performing Roof Screening Operations

Roof screen is often bolted to the mine ceiling to help control hazardous rock falls in coal mines. While the screen prevents rock fall injuries, its installation may expose the miner to musculoskeletal stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate methods of handling roof screen. Subjects performed installation tasks under a normal and intervention condition while trunk kinematics and muscle activity data were collected. Trunk kinematics were not affected by the intervention but were significantly higher in the morning than in the afternoon. Muscle activity did not differ significantly with seam height but was significantly reduced by the intervention. Overall, this study showed that musculoskeletal stressors during screen installation were reduced by the proposed intervention.
Participative thinking: “seeing the face” and “hearing the voice” of social situations

Offers an alternative to the Western view that rational and systematic thought about actualities or realities is crucial if we are to solve the problems facing us. Some of the possible features of an alternative, participatory way of thinking are explored as distinct from the disengaged or detached forms of thought and discourse we currently employ in the academic and intellectual spheres of our lives.
Properties of Cysteine‐Added Soy Protein‐Wheat Gluten Films

Soy and wheat proteins as film ingredients are advantageous due to relative abundance, biodegradability, and their renewable nature. Research objectives were to evaluate effectiveness of gluten and cysteine addition in improving properties of soy protein-based films. Thickness, mechanical, and barrier properties were evaluated. Gluten addition and pH 3.0 lowered water vapor permeability and thickness. Mechanical properties were enhanced at pH 7.0 with cysteine addition. Cysteine increased tensile strength of some treatments due to increase in disulfide bond formation. Best compromise between barrier and mechanical properties was observed for the cysteine-added soy:gluten (4:1) film at pH 7.0. These films could
Isostatic hot-pressing mechanism maps for pure and natural sodium chloride—applications to nuclear waste isolation in bedded and domal salt formations

Abstract The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is a U.S. Department of Energy research and development facility which is intended to demonstrate the safe geologic disposal of transuranic wastes. The mechanical behaviour of crushed rock salt is of interest to the WIPP Project because the mined WIPP salt is a candidate material for use as backfill around the waste packages and in the underground openings during and after the operational phase. It is anticipated that in response to the convergence of the mine openings, the crushed salt will compact sufficiently to serve as an effective component in WIPP seal systems. In this paper, the model for isostatic hot-pressing which was developed by Helle et al. is applied to the problem of compaction of both pure NaCl and natural (WIPP) salt to develop a model capable of predicting densification rates as a function of temperature and applied pressure. Calculations for pure dry NaCl suggest that under conditions in situ, the contribution to densification by diffusional processes is negligible; all compaction will occur by dislocation creep. Assuming then that compaction will occur only by dislocation processes, the model is extended to nominally dry, WIPP rock salt. Model predictions are shown to agree favourably with available test data, and the kinds of laboratory tests that may be done to validate the model are discussed. Hot-pressing mechanism maps for dry WIPP salt under anticipated repository conditions indicate that fractional densities in excess of 0.95 are attained in about 30 yr. At this density, connected porosity, and hence permeability, diminish rapidly, and the recompacted salt can begin to serve as an effective seal material. This prediction underestimates consolidation rates in situ, because moist salt will compact even more rapidly. It will be shown how the model may be extended to include the effects of brine on densification rates.
Emotional Triggers: Listening Barriers to Effective Interactions in Senior Populations

Given the scarcity of scholarly studies on the impact of effective listening and senior populations, this study sought to explore senior participants' interactions especially as they related to emotional triggers and listening effectiveness. Participants with a mean age of 84 participated in one of four focus groups. Results suggest that emotional reactions inhibiting effective listening can be language or behaviorally based. The four primary language triggers gleaned from the data included words that implied false familiarity, made assumptions, indicated poor topic choice, or demonstrated poor grammar. Behavioral triggers included use of pause fillers, repetition, ineffective vocal cues, and poor turn-taking skills.
Outcomes, arrhythmic burden and ambulatory monitoring of pediatric patients with left ventricular non-compaction and preserved left ventricular function.

Pediatric patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) and severe ventricular dysfunction are at risk for sudden death. The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate outcomes, (2) describe arrhythmic burden on Holter monitoring, and (3) analyze the utility of Holter monitoring and its impact on care in pediatric patients with LVNC and preserved or mild ventricular dysfunction. This was a retrospective study including patients
Prosthodontic survey. Part II: Removable prosthodontic curriculum survey

Abstract A removable prosthodontic curriculum questionnaire was mailed to 60 United States dental schools. Fifty-one were returned. The results were compared with those of Part I of the study, the removable prosthodontic laboratory survey. 1 The comparisons and their implications were discussed.
An ultrasonic methodology for muscle cross section measurement of support space flight

The number one priority for any manned space mission is the health and safety of its crew. The study of the short and long term physiological effects on humans is paramount to ensuring crew health and mission success. One of the challenges associated in studying the physiological effects of space flight on humans, such as loss of bone and muscle mass, has been that of readily attaining the data needed to characterize the changes. The small sampling size of astronauts, together with the fact that most physiological data collection tends to be rather tedious, continues to hinder elucidation of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed changes that occur in space. Better characterization of the muscle loss experienced by astronauts requires that new technologies be implemented. To this end, we have begun to validate a 360° ultrasonic scanning methodology for muscle measurements and have performed empirical sampling of a limb surrogate for comparison. Ultrasonic wave propagation was simulated using 144 stations of rotated arm and calf MRI images. These simulations were intended to provide a preliminary check of the scanning methodology and data analysis before its implementation with hardware. Pulse-echo waveforms were processed for each rotation station to characterize fat, muscle, bone, and limb boundary interfaces. The percentage error between MRI reference values and calculated muscle areas, as determined from reflection points for calf and arm cross sections, was −2.179% and +2.129%, respectively. These successful simulations suggest that ultrasound pulse scanning can be used to effectively determine limb cross-sectional areas. Cross-sectional images of a limb surrogate were then used to simulate signal measurements at several rotation angles, with ultrasonic pulse-echo sampling performed experimentally at the same stations on the actual limb surrogate to corroborate the results. The objective of the surrogate sampling was to compare the signal output of the simulation tool used as a methodology validation for actual tissue signals. The disturbance patterns of the simulated and sampled waveforms were consistent. Although only discussed as a small part of the work presented, the sampling portion also helped identify important considerations such as tissue compression and transducer positioning for future work involving tissue scanning with this methodology.
Educators Who Have Made a Difference for Their Students: Observations and Reflections of Three Nationally Recognized Marketing Professors

The CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) Professor of the Year program recognizes outstanding professors for their dedication to teaching, commitment to students, and innovative instructional methods. It is the only national program to recognize college and university professors for their teaching skills. Three marketing professors were chosen for this award in 2005 and now share their teaching philosophies. Their philosophies focus on innovation, experimentation, creating a culture of learning, the first day of class, and maintaining high academic standards.
Ethical Issues in Sports Medicine A Review and Justification for Ethical Decision Making and Reasoning

Ethical issues present a challenge for health care professionals working with athletes of sports teams. Health care professionals—including the team physician, the physical therapist, and the athletic trainer—are faced with the challenge of returning an athlete to competition as quickly as possible but as safely as possible. Conflicts of interest arise due to conflicting obligations of the team physician to the athlete and other members of the sports organization, including coaches and the team owner. The multiple stakeholders involved in sports teams challenge the traditional notion of confidentiality and autonomy. The aims of this article are to explicate the ethics of sports medicine, highlight the ethical issues, and provide some strategies and suggestions for ethical decision making.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS OF ALKALOIDS ON PLANT FITNESS VIA HERBIVORY AND POLLINATION

Herbivores and pollinators can simultaneously exert selective pressures on plant traits via direct and indirect effects. Net selection on plant traits, such as defensive chemistry, may be difficult to predict from studying either of these interactions in isolation. In this study, alkaloids were manipulated experimentally in the hemiparasitic annual plant Castilleja indivisa (Scrophulariaceae; Indian paintbrush) by growing these parasites with bitter (high-alkaloid) or sweet (low-alkaloid) near-isogenic lines of the host Lupinus albus (Fabaceae) in the field. To evaluate the effect of herbivores, half of the Indian paintbrush plants were randomly assigned to a reduced-herbivory treatment using insecticide, and the other half to a natural-herbivory treatment. Floral traits, bud and fruit herbivory, pollination, alkaloids, and plant performance were measured. These variables were used in a path analysis to dissect the direct and indirect effects of herbivory and pollination on lifetime seed set, and the direct and indirect effects of alkaloids on seed set via herbivory and pollination. Bud herbivory and fruit herbivory directly decreased seed production, whereas polli- nation had a direct positive effect. In addition, bud herbivory had negative indirect effects on seed set by reducing the number of open flowers, which reduced pollinator visits. Alkaloids directly reduced bud herbivory but did not significantly affect pollination or fruit herbivory directly. However, because bud herbivory indirectly reduced seed set by reducing pollinator visits to flowers, alkaloids also had additional indirect benefits for plants by increasing pollination. Overall, the net benefit of alkaloid uptake was due to both reduction in herbivory and an increase in pollinator visits to flowers. This study demonstrates the importance of considering multiple interactions simultaneously when attempting to under- stand the mechanisms underlying correlations between plant traits and fitness.
Influence of Basic and Branched Chain Amino Acid Interactions on the Lysine and Valine Requirements of Young Turkeys

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of amino acid interactions on the lysine and valine adequacy of a low protein diet fed to Large White turkeys from 7 to 19 days of age. Corn-soybean meal diets containing 22 and 30% protein served as controls in both experiments. Test diets involved supplementation of the 22% protein diet with several essential amino acid mixtures. Each diet was fed ad libitum to two pens of eight males and two pens of eight females in each of three trials, except that the 22% protein control diet was fed to four and two pens of each sex per trial in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Experiment 1 varied the levels of lysine (0, .60, and 1.20%) and arginine (0, .64, and 1.28%) included in the amino acid mixture. A decrease in supplemental lysine from .60 to 0% reduced weight gain and feed efficiency by 8.6 and 2.4%, respectively. The lysine deficiency was not exacerbated by arginine supplementation up to 179% of the requirement. The effects of altering the leucine (0, .54, and 1.08%) and isoleucine (0 and .4%) contents of the amino acid mixture on the valine requirement were investigated in Experiment 2. Leucine and isoleucine supplementation of diets containing 1.25% valine acted independently to reduce weight gain and feed intake, but the depressions were reversed with the addition of .44% valine. Maximum weight gain and feed efficiency were not achieved with diets containing 1.25% valine and no added leucine or isoleucine, which were indicative of a true valine deficiency in the basal 22% protein diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Knowledge Mapping: A Multipurpose Task Analysis Tool.

A tool was developed to increase the objectivity and accuracy of task difficulty ratings for job design. The tool, knowledge mapping, involves identifying specific types of prerequisite knowledge for a given task and then assessing the difficulty of each type. The tool was applied in a semiconductor manufacturing environment and yielded valuable information not only for job design, but also for determining priorities for the development of training and establishing job levels for compensation purposes.
9 Opportunities for future biological therapy in SLE

The development of monoclonal antibodies and the emergence of recombinant DNA technology has made it possible to identify and selectively inhibit distinct cell subsets, surface molecules and secreted products that contribute to normal and pathological immune responses. These advances have helped to clarify the mechanisms that promote autoimmune diseases. As a result, it is now possible to contemplate rational strategies for the treatment of these diseases. Some of these strategies are designed to influence the cell surface interactions that determine whether potentially autoreactive T cells become activated or tolerant following antigen stimulation. Other strategies are designed to augment or inhibit distinct cytokines that regulate autoimmunity. All of these strategies have shown promise in animal models for systemic lupus erythematosus, and they may soon be translated into effective new therapies for people.
Cloning and characterization of a cotton lipid transfer protein gene specifically expressed in fiber cells

A cotton genomic library was screened using a fiber-specific cDNA (GH3) encoding a lipid transfer protein (LTP). One genomic clone (1.7 kb DNA insert) containing the Ltp gene (Ltp6) was sequenced and characterized. The Ltp6 contains an open reading frame of 360 bp, which is interrupted by a single intron (136 bp) located in the region corresponding to the C-terminal of the protein. The derived amino-acid sequence of LTP6 is 64% homologous to that of GH3. Like the GH3 gene, the Ltp6 is specifically expressed in fiber cells in a temporal manner. However, its expression level is lower than that of GH3.
Karyokinetic interference in Triturus following kinetin treatment.

Abstract Adult newts, Triturks viridescens , were exposed to kinetin for periods of 4 to 21 days. Mitotic Index of the intestinal nest cells of kinetin treated newts was about 8–15 times higher than the controls and in the liver capsule cells, about 8 times higher than the controls. In the newt, the lack of an observable spindle apparatus and the condition of the chromosomes is strikingly similar to the effect of colchicine. Following a pulse injection of tritiated thymidine, it was observed that no differences existed in the number of cells incorporating tritiated thymidine in the kinetin-treated and control animals within each area. Thus it appears that in the newt, kinetin does not stimulate mitosis but interferes with the completion of karyokinesis by prolonging mitotic time.
Isolation and characterization of levansucrase-encoding gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Abstract The gene encoding levansucrase (LVS) from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (sacB[BamP]) was isolated, sequenced and expressed in Bacillus subtilis . Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of socB[BamP] reveals extensive homology with that of the B. subtilis LVS-encoding gene in the promoter and coding region. The sacB[BamP] gene cloned in a multicopy plasmid is induced by sucrose in B. subtilis .
Pharmacological rescue of trafficking-impaired ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels link cell metabolism to membrane excitability and are involved in a wide range of physiological processes including hormone secretion, control of vascular tone, and protection of cardiac and neuronal cells against ischemic injuries. In pancreatic β-cells, KATP channels play a key role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and gain or loss of channel function results in neonatal diabetes or congenital hyperinsulinism, respectively. The β-cell KATP channel is formed by co-assembly of four Kir6.2 inwardly rectifying potassium channel subunits encoded by KCNJ11 and four sulfonylurea receptor 1 subunits encoded by ABCC8. Many mutations in ABCC8 or KCNJ11 cause loss of channel function, thus congenital hyperinsulinism by hampering channel biogenesis and hence trafficking to the cell surface. The trafficking defects caused by a subset of these mutations can be corrected by sulfonylureas, KATP channel antagonists that have long been used to treat type 2 diabetes. More recently, carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant that is thought to target primarily voltage-gated sodium channels has been shown to correct KATP channel trafficking defects. This article reviews studies to date aimed at understanding the mechanisms by which mutations impair channel biogenesis and trafficking and the mechanisms by which pharmacological ligands overcome channel trafficking defects. Insight into channel structure-function relationship and therapeutic implications from these studies are discussed.
Hyperalgesia during withdrawal as a means of measuring the degree of dependence in morphine dependent rats.

A modified flinch-jump procedure was used to detect changes in sensitivity to electric footshock in rats. In preliminary studies, dose-related increases in reaction thresholds (analgesia) were observed following intraperitoneal administration of 3, 6, or 9 mg/kg of morphine with the peak effect 60 min after injection. Analgesia and development of tolerance to the analgesic effects of morphine were detected 2–6 h and 12–24 h, respectively, after the subcutaneous (s.c.) implantation of a morphine pellet (75 mg base). In studies of withdrawal, rats made dependent by the s.c. implantation of morphine pellets showed significant decreases in reaction thresholds (hyperalgesia) and correlated decreases in body weight following removal of the pellet. The greatest changes during withdrawal occurred 12–36 h after pellet removal and the return of the reaction threshold to preremoval levels was associated with the return of normal diurnal fluctuation of body weight. Rats made dependent by s.c. administration of varying doses of morphine every 8 h for 11 days showed similar decreases in body weight and reaction threshold following abrupt cessation of drug injections. Animals receiving larger doses of morphine showed greater changes in the two measures, as well as a more rapid onset and more prolonged duration of effect. Peak effects were observed 48–60 h after the last injection of morphine. In another experiment, rats were made dependent to morphine by the pellet implantation procedure. Following i.p. administration of varying doses of naloxone, a morphine antagonist, there were dose-related decreases in reaction threshold and in body weight with the greatest decrease occurring 60–120 min after the injection. These investigations indicate that the hyperalgesia during withdrawal is a useful index of the degree of physical dependence in rats.
Organization of visual corticostriatal projections in the cat, with observations on visual projections to claustrum and amygdala

Electrophysiological mapping criteria were employed to identify visual areas 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b, PMLS, AMLS, ALLS, PLLS, DLS, VLS, and PS in the cat, and to guide placement of tracer deposits. Anterograde tracer methods were used to study the corticostriatal projections of these extrastriate visual areas. The experiments demonstrate that all 11 extrastriate areas send projections to two distinct regions within the striatum, an extensive longitudinal zone within the caudate nucleus, and a more compact region within the posterolateral putamen. Cortical visual projections to the putamen terminate in relatively compact sheets or slabs, and appear to overlap extensively, while those to the caudate nucleus are irregularly patchy and more widely dispersed. Retrograde tracer deposits into the visual recipient zone of the caudate nucleus reveal substantial convergence of other cortical inputs to this same domain. Aspects of visuotopic organization are preserved in the visual projections to both the putamen and the caudate nucleus, but unequivocal retinotopic organization could not be inferred from the available material. Ten of the eleven extrastriate visual area also project topographically onto the visual zone of the claustrum. Area PS does not appear to contribute to the corticoclaustral projections. Five of the extrastriate visual areas (ALLS, PLLS, DLS, VLS, PS) also send sparse projections to the amygdaloid complex. c 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
High natural fusion rates in a botryllid ascidian

Many benthic colonial invertebrates have the ability to fuse and form chimeras with compatible colonies. Botryllid ascidians are model organisms for the study of the evolution of and molecular basis for allorecognition, and fusion rates have been determined for different populations and species by random sampling and fusion testing between individuals. However, natural fusion rates over time have not been documented. Nine settlement panels were deployed in Salem Harbor, Massachusetts, USA and Botrylloides violaceus settlement, growth, and fusion monitored from July to mid-August 2007. Seventy-three percent of the recruits observed fused with at least one other colony, while 4% neither fused nor were overgrown. Multifused colonies were not observed to grow faster than single colonies when growth was calculated as increase in size beyond the summation of fused entities; however, they were significantly larger. These results suggest that larvae settle in clumps of compatible individuals, and that large subtidal colonies may be the result of high numbers of fusions between compatible colonies.
Use of the Fast Fourier transform to improve direct numerical integration schemes for transient structural response

Abstract A hybrid method is presented that combines a Laplace transform technique with a direct integration scheme. The Laplace transform is numerically inverted with an efficient Fast Fourier Transform algorithm. The response determined with the Laplace transform is used to reinitialize a direct integration scheme. The coupling of these solution techniques into a hybrid procedure results in accuracies unattainable with direct integration schemes alone at only a small additional computational cost. The hybrid method was applied to an illustrative problem, the longitudinal response of a rod due to a step load. It was found that the hybrid method retained its accuracy for extremely long response times.
Recent developments in catalysis using nanostructured materials

Abstract This review describes recent developments of size-, shape-, structure- and composition-dependent behavior of catalyst nanoparticles employed in alkylation, dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, and selective oxidation reactions for the conversion of hydrocarbons (with main emphasis on fossil resources) to chemicals. Innovation in these areas is largely driven by novel synthesis of (nano)porous and nanostructured catalytic materials. In case of alkylation, several new classes of porous materials have recently emerged as catalysts while the discovery of novel ultralarge-pore frameworks with desirable acidity remains largely a serendipitous process. Noble metal nanoparticles such as Pt, Pd, Rh, Au and their alloys with other metals have been extensively employed to catalyze a wide range of dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, and selective oxidation reactions of organic molecules. Novel approaches are still required to synthesize and characterize stable gold and other metal nanoparticles with tightly controlled sizes to further advance the knowledge of their unique size-dependent catalytic behavior. The bulk mixed metal oxides of vanadium, molybdenum, and other transition metals, such as the M1 phase for propane ammoxidation to acrylonitrile, have shown great promise as highly active and selective oxidation catalysts. However, fundamental understanding of surface molecular structure–reactivity relationships of these systems remains highly limited. Future advances in all these areas may be possible through combined experimental and theoretical approaches.
Insulin hexamers: new conformations and applications

Recent studies on the structural and chemical properties of insulin have shown that the insulin hexamer is an allosteric protein capable of adopting three distinct conformations, designated T6, T3R3 and R6. Although the physiological consequences of this allostery are not established, new applications for the insulin hexamer as a model system for the study of allostery and for the study of zinc enzymes and copper proteins are emerging.
α-adrenergic and serotonergic receptors and forearm venous compliance in normal human subjects

The effect of alpha-adrenergic and serotonergic receptor agonists and antagonists on forearm venous capacitance and vascular resistance was studied in normal subjects. Venous volumes were significantly decreased by phenylephrine, an alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, and norepinephrine, which stimulates both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors, but not by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine. Vascular resistance was increased significantly by all three agonists. Both the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine and the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin attenuated the venoconstrictor and vasoconstrictor response to norepinephrine, indicating that both adrenoceptors are present. 5-Hydroxytryptamine significantly decreased venous volumes, while vascular resistance was not affected. Ketanserin, a 5-HT2 and alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, attenuated the venous volume responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine and phenylephrine. It is concluded that there are alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors and 5-HT2 receptors in the forearm venous system. However, vasoactive doses of clonidine are not venoconstricting. Forearm veins are sensitive to doses of 5-hydroxytryptamine, which do not change vascular resistance compared to alpha-adrenoceptor agonists, which affect both.
Nizatidine versus placebo in active benign gastric ulcer disease : an eight-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind comparison

Study objective: To determine if 150 mg nizatidine twice daily or 300 mg nizatidine at bedtime are similarly effective and to compare each dose with placebo in healing benign gastric ulcers and relieving peptic ulcer symptoms. Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel comparison. The study was conducted at 74 gastroenterology and internal medicine clinics in the United States and Canada. Four hundred fifty-six patients with active benign gastric ulcer documented by endoscopy participated in the study. On the basis of a computer-generated randomization list, patients were assigned sequentially to receive either 150 mg nizatidine twice daily (n = 151), 300 mg nizatidine once daily at bedtime and identically appearing placebo capsules in the morning (n = 153), or placebo capsules twice daily (n = 152). Treatment lasted for 8 weeks unless healing was documented by endoscopy after 4 weeks. Antacid tablets (aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, simethicone combination) were supplied for relief of symptoms. Measurements and main results: Both doses of nizatidine significantly improved healing rates at 8 weeks compared with placebo. Daytime and nighttime symptom severity was improved by both nizatidine regimens at end point (p < 0.015 versus placebo, two-tailed test). Antacid use was similar for all groups in the end point analysis. Patient well-being was significantly better in patients treated with nizatidine than in patients in the placebo group ((p < 0.04, two-tailed test). No clinically significant differences in the incidence of adverse clinical or laboratory events were noted. Conclusion: Nizatidine, 300 mg at bedtime and 150 mg twice daily, resulted in greater healing of benign gastric ulcers than placebo treatment after 8 weeks. Relief of the symptoms of gastric ulcer was significantly better in the patients receiving nizatidine treatment versus placebo treatment. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1992) 52, 307–313; doi:10.1038/clpt.1992.146
Measuring Media Bias: A Content Analysis of Time and Newsweek Coverage of Domestic Social Issues, 1975–2000*

Objective. This study is an effort to produce a more systematic, empirically-based, historical-comparative understanding of media bias than generally is found in previous works. Methods. The research employs a quantitative measure of ideological bias in a formal content analysis of the United States' two largest circulation news magazines, Time and Newsweek. Findings are compared with the results of an identical examination of two of the nation's leading partisan journals, the conservative National Review and the liberal Progressive. Results. Bias scores reveal stark differences between the mainstream and the partisan news magazines' coverage of four issue areas: crime, the environment, gender, and poverty. Conclusion. Data provide little support for those claiming significant media bias in either ideological direction.
Site occupation determinations by APFIM for Hf, Fe, and Co in Ni3Al

The addition of boron to Ni/sub 3/Al has produced a fabricable material with good high temperature properties. Some substitutional elements have also been added to the base material to further refine its properties for particular applications. One aspect in understanding the influence of these additions is to determine the distribution of the substitutional elements between the nickel and aluminum sites of the ordered Ll/sub 2/ lattice. The atomic spatial resolution of the atom probe field-ion microscope (APFIM) permits the site occupation probability of substitutional elements and the local degree of order to be measured directly. These parameters are determined by measuring the composition of successive planes in the ordered lattice. The site occupation probability is calculated from the preference of the substitutional elements between the different atomic layers in the ordered structure. One advantage of this technique is that it can be applied to normal polycrystalline materials and does not require the specimen to be a single crystal. This technique can only be used to determine the site occupation probability for elements that substitute in the ordered lattice. Three substitutional elements, hafnium, iron, and cobalt, were selected for this study because of their anticipated different site preference.
Relative periods and open-string integer invariants for a compact Calabi-Yau hypersurface

In this work we compute relative periods for B-branes, realized in terms of divisors in a compact Calabi-Yau hypersurface, by means of direct integration. Although we exemplify the method of direct integration with a particular Calabi-Yau geometry, the recipe automatically generalizes for divisors in other Calabi-Yau geometries as well. From the calculated relative periods we extract double-logarithmic periods. These periods qualify to describe disk instanton generated N = 1 superpotentials of the corresponding compact mirror Calabi-Yau geometry in the large volume regime. Finally we extract the integer invariants encoded in these brane superpotentials.
Differential Effects of Reserpine on Pituitary Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Levels in the Female Rat

Effects of reserpine (50 μg/day × 9–10 days) on pituitary levels of FSH and LH were studied in intact, unilaterally and bilaterally ovariectomized and bilaterally ovariectomizedestrone primed rats. FSH and LH were assayed by the HCG augmentation method and the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion method, respectively. Reserpine administration resulted in a significant atrophy of the uterus and the ovaries and also in an almost total inhibition of ovarian compensatory hypertrophy. The absolute, but not the relative (mg/100 g body wt) weight of the pituitary also declined significantly. Reserpine did not significantly decrease the concentration of LH (μg/mg) in the pituitary gland. The total LH content/gland was markedly reduced in intact and unilaterally ovariectomized rats when calculated on the basis of absolute but not the relative (100 g body wt) pituitary weight. Reserpine also significantly decreased the postcastration rise in LH concentration in the bilaterally ovariectomized rats. In contrast, FSH conce...
Integration of Physical Devices into Game-based Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) systems have the potential for alleviating the existing constraints on various natural and social resources. Currently, real-time applications of VR systems are hampered by the tediousness of creating virtual environments. Furthermore, todayâ??s VR systems only stimulate the human senses of vision, hearing and â?? to some extent touch â?? which prevents the system users to feel fully immersed in the virtual environment. By integrating real physical devices with virtual environments, the user interactions with such systems can be improved and advanced technologies such as the MS Kinect system could be used to augment the environments themselves. While existing development platforms for VR systems are expensive, game engines provide a more efficient method for integrating VR with physical devices. In this paper, an efficient approach for integrating virtual environments and physical devices is presented. This approach employs modifications of games that are based on commercially available game engines for implementing the virtual environments in conjunction with the application of Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) for realizing versatile communications between these virtual environments and various application platforms, which in turn can interact with the physical devices outside of the virtual environments. This paper is divided into four sections. In the first section, the motivation for the developments described here is discussed, followed by a description of the method used to integrate virtual environments with physical devices in the second section. In the third section, an interactive and collaborative laboratory environment based on a multi-player computer game engine that is linked to physical experimental setups is presented as an example of a VR system. In the final section, some additional promising applications of the developed platform and the corresponding challenges are briefly introduced.
Snowmelt hydrograph interpretation: Revealing watershed scale hydrologic characteristics of the Yellowstone volcanic plateau

Snowmelt hydrograph analysis and groundwater age dates of cool water springs on the Yellowstone volcanic plateau provide evidence of high volumes of groundwater circulation in watersheds comprised of quaternary Yellowstone volcanics. Ratios of maximum to minimum mean daily discharge and average recession indices are calculated for watersheds within and surrounding the Yellowstone volcanic plateau. A model for snowmelt recession is used to separate groundwater discharge from overland runoff, and compare groundwater systems. Hydrograph signal interpretation is corroborated with chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and tritium concentrations in cool water springs on the Yellowstone volcanic plateau. Hydrograph parameters show a spatial pattern correlated with watershed geology. Watersheds comprised dominantly of quaternary Yellowstone volcanics are characterized by slow streamflow recession, low maximum to minimum flow ratios. Cool springs sampled within the Park contain CFC's and tritium and have apparent CFC age dates that range from about 50 years to modern. Watersheds comprised of quaternary Yellowstone volcanics have a large volume of active groundwater circulation. A large, advecting groundwater field would be the dominant mechanism for mass and energy transport in the shallow crust of the Yellowstone volcanic plateau, and thus control the Yellowstone hydrothermal system.
Structure of a new crystal form of tetraubiquitin.

Polyubiquitin chains, in which the C-terminus and a lysine side chain of successive ubiquitin molecules are linked by an isopeptide bond, function to target substrate proteins for degradation by the 26S proteasome. Chains of at least four ubiquitin moieties appear to be required for efficient recognition by the 26S proteasome, although the conformations of the polyubiquitin chains recognized by the proteasome or by other enzymes involved in ubiquitin metabolism are currently unknown. A new crystal form of tetraubiquitin, which has two possible chain connectivities that are indistinguishable in the crystal, is reported. In one possible connectivity, the tetraubiquitin chain is extended and packs closely against the antiparallel neighbor chain in the crystal to conceal a hydrophobic surface implicated in 26S proteasome recognition. In the second possibility, the tetraubiqutitin forms a closed compact structure, in which that same hydrophobic surface is buried. Both of these conformations are quite unlike the structure of tetraubiquitin that was previously determined in a different crystal form [Cook et al. (1994), J. Mol. Biol. 236, 601–609]. The new structure suggests that polyubiquitin chains may possess a substantially greater degree of conformational flexibility than has previously been appreciated.
Parameter estimation of heart valve leaflet hyperelastic mechanical behavior using an inverse modeling approach

Heart valves control the blood flow and play an extremely important role in the functioning of heart. Either due to congenital defects or due to the changes with remodeling, the leaflets functionality is altered sometimes resulting in less efficient heart output. Such problems are difficult to diagnose at an early stage and may lead to heart failure if left untreated. In this work, we present a method for determining the functional properties of heart valve leaflets from non-invasive imaging modules. As a first step, we use in-vitro experimental data from porcine bioprosthetic heart valve in a flow loop. We present the details of inverse model, its validation against experimental data and sensitivity to various input parameters and optimization constraints. In addition, we briefly touch upon other components of this in-vivo assessment tool - the average fiber architecture and the pre-strain in valve leaflets. This information when combined with the inverse model presented in this work will lead to an in-vivo assessment tool for heart valves and help diagnose problems in the mechanical functionality at an early stage. Additionally, this approach will have the potential to serve as a general-purpose in-vivo assessment tool for heart valves - for evaluating the performance of replaced prosthetic valves as well as monitoring the progression of valve diseases.
Homelessness and Reentry: A Multisite Outcome Evaluation of Washington State’s Reentry Housing Program for High Risk Offenders

Each year many offenders are released homeless putting them at great risk of being returned to prison. To reduce the likelihood of recidivism, Washington State implemented the Reentry Housing Pilot...
Interactions between the neuroendocrine and immune systems: common hormones and receptors.

The studies reviewed here support a molecular basis for bidirectional communication between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. The main findings can be summarized as follows: First, cells of the immune system can synthesize biologically active neuroendocrine peptide hormones. Second, immune cells also possess receptors for many of these peptides. Third, these same neuroendocrine hormones can influence immune function; and fourth, lymphokines can influence neuroendocrine tissues. Although recent studies have begun to unravel the biochemistry of bidirectional communication between the immune and neuroendocrine systems, there are still missing parts in this puzzle. Among the important questions that must be resolved are the identification of factors that trigger the synthesis of neuroendocrine hormones by immune cells. Are these events operating similar to or in balance with pituitary cells? Drugs that interfere with either pathway may be useful. Second, it will be of value to understand the factors controlling neuroendocrine hormone receptor expression on immune cells. A better understanding of the spectrum of positive and negative regulatory events for both systems may determine the ultimate behavior of immune and neuroendocrine cells. In addition, since leukocytes can produce hormones and also have receptors for the same hormones (e.g., ACTH and GH), it is possible that these immunocytes may also influence their own function in an autocrine-like fashion. We have postulated that the immune system can serve as a sensory organ for external stimuli that cannot be detected by the nervous system (Blalock 1984). Thus, the immune system recognizes stimuli such as bacteria, viruses or tumors, whereas the nervous system detects classical sensory stimuli. The contribution of extrapituitary sites of hormone production and function may provide new clues to define psychological and/or pathological states in the pathophysiology of infectious diseases and tumors.
Facilitated transport of sodium or potassium chloride across vesicle membranes using a ditopic salt-binding macrobicycle

A synthetic receptor, with an ability to bind sodium or potassium chloride as a contact ion-pair, is shown to effectively transport either salt across vesicle membranes. Significant transport is observed even when the transporter ∶ phospholipid ratio is as low as 1 ∶ 2500. Chloride efflux from unilamellar vesicles is monitored using a chloride selective electrode. Mechanistic studies indicate that the facilitated efflux is due to the uncomplexed transporter diffusing into the vesicle and the transporter–salt complex diffusing out. Vesicle influx experiments are also reported, where the facilitated influx of chloride and sodium ions into vesicles is observed directly by 35Cl and 23Na NMR, respectively.
Local inhibitory effects of dynorphin A-(1–17) on capsaicin-induced thermal allodynia in rhesus monkeys

Although dynorphin A-(1–17) has been characterized in vitro as a high efficacy κ-opioid receptor agonist, functional studies of dynorphin A-(1–17) following central or systemic administration indicate the involvement of both opioid and non-opioid components. The aim of this study was to investigate whether local administration of dynorphin-related analogs can attenuate capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide)-induced nociception and what type of opioid receptor mediates the local action of dynorphin A-(1–17) in monkeys. Capsaicin (100 μg) was used to evoke a nociceptive response, thermal allodynia, which was manifested as a reduced tail-withdrawal latency in normally innocuous 46°C warm water. Co-administration of dynorphin A-(1–17) (0.3–10 μg) with capsaicin in the tail dose-dependently inhibited thermal allodynia; however, both non-opioid fragments dynorphin A-(2–17) (10–300 μg) and dynorphin A-(2–13) (10–300 μg) were ineffective. Local antiallodynia of dynorphin A-(1–17) was antagonized by a small dose (100 μg) of an opioid receptor antagonist, quadazocine, applied s.c. in the tail. Pretreatment with a selective κ-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), s.c. 320 μg in the tail also reversed local antiallodynia of dynorphin A-(1–17). Both locally effective doses of antagonists, when applied s.c. in the back, did not antagonize local dynorphin A-(1–17), indicating that peripheral κ-opioid receptors selectively mediated the local action of dynorphin A-(1–17) in the tail. In addition, a much larger dose of dynorphin A-(1–17) (1000 μg), when administered s.c. in the back or i.m. in the thigh, did not cause sedative or diuretic effects. These results suggest that in vivo opioid actions of dynorphin-related peptides can be differentiated locally in this procedure. They also indicate that local application of peptidic ligands may be a useful medication for localized pain.