cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Benefits of Traditional Cadaveric Dissection in a Digital World: Medical and Dental Students’Perspectives

The aim of the present study was to assess the benefits of cadaver dissection in the process of learning anatomy and to determine the degree of student’s respect toward the donors. An anonymous survey was distributed to 265 first-year students: 103 medical students (39%) and 162 dental students (61%) who conducted cadaveric dissection during their gross anatomy course. Ninety five percent of medical students and 98% of dental students found the dissection beneficial. They listed the most valuable aspects of cadaver dissection as visual learning (56–58% female, 40–45% male), hands-on experience (34–36% female, 36–48% male), and spatial learning (28–31% female, 17–33% male). All students (100%) declared appropriate respect and appreciation for the donors. Most of medical and dental students were in favor of organ donation; however less than half would consider donating their own body for educational purposes. They disagreed (94% of medical students and 86% of dental students) with the idea of completely replacing cadaver dissection with computer-based programs. These results suggest that medical and dental students regard cadaver dissection as an effective learning experience that reinforces lecture and textbook material and provides a better understanding of the complexity and variability of the human body.
Assessment of Mitral Regurgitation Severity by Doppler Color Flow Mapping of the Vena Contracta

Background Although Doppler color flow mapping is widely used to assess the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR), a simple, accurate, and quantitative marker of MR by color flow mapping remains elusive. We hypothesized that vena contracta width by color flow mapping would accurately predict the severity of MR. Methods and Results We studied 80 patients with MR. Vena contracta width was measured in multiple views with zoom mode and nonstandard angulation to optimize its visualization. Flow volumes across the left ventricular outflow tract and mitral annulus were calculated by pulsed-Doppler technique to determine regurgitant volume. Effective regurgitant orifice area was calculated by dividing the regurgitant volume by the continuous-wave Doppler velocity-time integral of the MR jet. The cause of MR was ischemia in 24, dilated cardiomyopathy in 34, mitral valve prolapse in 12, endocarditis in 2, rheumatic disease in 2, mitral annular calcification in 1, and uncertain in 5. Regurgitant volumes ranged from ...
In the beginning is the end: regulation of poly(A) addition and removal during early development.

Abstract The addition of poly(A) tails to nearly all mRNAs within the nucleus was reviewed in the July issue of TIBS 1 . Here we shift focus to the fate of poly(A) tails during early development. At specific times during oogenesis and embryogenesis, the poly(A) tails of certain maternal mRNAs are lengthened, while the tails of a number of other mRNAs are removed. The selective poly(A) addition reactions are regulated by a short, U-rich sequence in the 3' untranslated region, while the removal of poly(A) from specific mRNAs is a ‘default state', requiring no specific sequence. These regulated changes in poly(A) length are likely to play a major role in translational regulation in the egg and early embryo.
Fluorometric and GLC analyses of aristolochic acid

Aristolochic acid is a natural product with possible implication in Balkan endemic nephropathy. A convenient fluorometric assay for the compound is described, based on reduction to the lactam and measurement of the intensity of fluorescence. The limit of sensitivity was 0.05 μg/ml. A GLC assay is also described, based on flash methylation of aristolochic acid and its lactam using trimethylanilinium hydroxide. Conditions for optimum performance with a sensitivity limit of 1–5 μg/ml are described.
Induction of Telomere Shortening and Replicative Senescence by Cryopreservation

Abstract Cryopreservation can alter cellular function under certain conditions. In this report, we demonstrate the induction of cellular senescence after cells have been cryopreserved using a standard protocol. A retinal pigment epithelial cell line frozen at a specific freezing rate and subsequently thawed showed severely impaired proliferation compared to cells that were not cryopreserved. The induction of senescence was suggested by senescent associated β-galactosidase activity and diminished bromo-deoxyuridine incorporation. A remarkable increase of single-strand DNA breaks in terminal restriction fragment (TRF) were found in cryopreserved cells immediately after thawing. The rate of mean TRF length shortening was accelerated after cryopreservation. Given this evidence, we hypothesize that cryopreservation may cause telomere shortening and cellular senescence under certain freezing conditions.
Nanoditches Fabricated Using a Carbon Nanotube as a Contact Mask

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiple-walled nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as contact masks to create nanoditches within a thin layer of oxide-covered Ti. The nanotubes buried in the Ti film can be removed by ultrasonication, leaving the Ti layer with well-formed uniform ditches up to several μm in length and as narrow as 10 nm in width. The width of the nanoditches is determined by the diameter of the departing nanotube. The technique presented may help to build electrode-to-span molecules or may furnish a template to fabricate nanowires of various materials.
Tertiary shorelines, Texas coastal plain

Abstract The position of the present shore line of the Gulf of Mexico in Texas is taken as one reference line and the area of outcrop for each series as another. At the outcrop Paleocene Midway deposits are marine; Eocene deposits are alternately continental and marine; Oligocene, Miocene and Pliocene sediments at the surface are continental. A single exception is the presence of a brackish-water near-shore deposit of Middle Miocene age in far eastern Texas. The position of the shoreline during the Paleocene would be north of the present area of outcrop of the Midway Group. During the Eocene, the shore line would have fluctuated; at times it was north, at times within, and at other times south of the area of outcrop. The Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene are continental so the shore line must have been south of the area of outcrop, and form subsurface information, fluctuated on either side of the position of the present shore line. A post-Early Pliocene pre-Middle Pleistocene erosion surface underlies widespread high-levels sands (Willis of eastern Texas), gravels (Uvalde of central Texas, Seymour and others of north central Texas) and caliche (Reynosa of southern Texas). From their position on the interstream divides, the aforementioned sands, gravels, and caliche would have been deposited prior to the incision of the present day river valleys and therefore antedate all river terraces. The valley incisions were probably associated with the first lowering of sea level during the Pleistocene.
Target definition of moving lung tumors in positron emission tomography: correlation of optimal activity concentration thresholds with object size, motion extent, and source-to-background ratio.

Purpose: Hardware integration of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT) in combined PET/CT scanners has provided radiation oncologists and physicists with new possibilities for 3-D treatment simulation. The use of PET/CT simulation for target delineation of lung cancer is becoming popular and many studies concerning automatic segmentation of PET images have been performed. Several of these studies consider size and source-to-background (SBR) in their segmentation methods but neglect respiratory motion. The purpose of the current study was to develop a functional relationship between optimal activity concentration threshold, tumor volume, motion extent, and SBR using multiple regression techniques by performing an extensive series of phantom scans simulating tumors of varying sizes, SBR, and motion amplitudes. Segmented volumes on PET were compared with the “motion envelope” of the moving sphere defined on cine CT. Methods: A NEMA IEC thorax phantom containing six spheres (inner diameters ranging from 10 to 37 mm) was placed on a motion platform and moved sinusoidally at 0–30 mm (at 5 mm intervals) and six different SBRs (ranging from 5:1 to 50:1), producing 252 combinations of experimental parameters. PET images were acquired for 18 min and split into three 6 min acquisitions for reproducibility. The spheres (blurred on PET images due to motion) were segmented at 1% of maximum activity concentration intervals. The optimal threshold was determined by comparing deviations between the threshold volume surfaces with a reference volume surface defined on cine CT. Optimal activity concentration thresholds were normalized to background and multiple regression was used to determine the relationship between optimal threshold, volume, motion, and SBR. Standardized regression coefficients were used to assess the relative influence of each variable. The segmentation model was applied to three lung cancer patients and segmented regions of interest were compared with those segmented on cine CT. Results: The resulting model and coefficients provided a functional form that fit the phantom data with an adjusted R2=0.96. The most significant contributor to threshold level was SBR. Surfaces of PET-segmented volumes of three lung cancer patients were within 2 mm of the reference CT volumes on average. Conclusions: The authors successfully developed an expression for optimal activity concentration threshold as a function of object volume, motion, and SBR.
On the prevalence of external auditory exostoses among the proto-neolithic Homo sapiens population of Shanidar Cave, Iraq

The purpose of this paper is to report on the incidence of external auditory exostoses among the Proto-NeolithicHomo sapiens population from Shanidar Cave, in northern Iraq. Out of 31 individuals comprising the skeletal collection, seven individuals preserved pertinent temporal bone loci. Of these, four of five adult individuals presented exostoses, yielding an 80% observation ratio of this manifestation. Based on the association of external auditory exostoses with cold aquatic exposures, the observed presence of these growths among cranial remains may provide further insight as to aspects of life conditions among this population.
Family Structure and Dependency: Early Transitions to Female Household Headship

This article looks at the intergenerational effects of family structure on family formation and economic dependency. Three explanations are examined: thee conomic-deprivation, socialization, and family-stress hypotheses. Daughters living in single parent families at some point during adolescence are more likely to be come household heads and to go on welfare than offspring of two-parent families. Differences in the incomes of one- and two-parent families can account for up to 25 percent of the difference in offspring behaviors. None of the hypotheses, however, provides a complete explanation of family structure effects. The analysis is based on data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and uses event-history analysis to estimate transitions into female headship and economic dependence.
From Heresy to Dogma: An Institutional History of Corporate Environmentalism

The article reviews the book “From Heresy to Dogma: An Institutional History of Corporate Environmentalism,” by Andrew Hoffman.
Surgical Management of Chronic Sinusitis in Children

Objectives/Hypothesis: The objective was to compare three common surgical modalities in children for the treatment of chronic sinusitis that is refractory to medical management. Study Design: Prospective nonrandomized study in a pediatric otolaryngology tertiary service. Methods: Two hundred two children who satisfied criteria for surgery and were referred over a 10-year period were studied. Children were divided into three surgical groups. Group 1 had both endoscopic sinus surgery and adenoidectomy, group 2 had endoscopic sinus surgery alone, and group 3 had adenoidectomy. After a follow-up period of 12 months, improvement of symptoms was assessed. Results: One hundred eighty-three children had adequate follow-up. Eighty seven percent of children in group 1 had improved symptoms, compared with 75% in group 2 and 52% in group 3 (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed that surgical procedure was a predictor of success. Asthma, smoke exposure, and age were independent predictors of success. Conclusion: Children who fail medical therapy benefit from surgery. Following certain criteria, one can chose between adenoidectomy alone or endoscopic sinus surgery with adenoidectomy to optimize surgical treatment of these children.
Effect of bicarbonate on intracellular potential of rabbit ciliary epithelium.

Extracellular HCO3- hyperpolarizes the intracellular potential and makes the aqueous medium negative with respect to the stromal surface of the rabbit ciliary epithelial syncytium. The bases for these observations have been unclear. We have been studying the bicarbonate-induced hyperpolarization (BIH) with sustained intracellular recordings for periods as long as 1-2 hrs.The BIH was observed [6.0 ± 0.4 mV (mean ± SE, N=22)] even when the external pH was clamped constant by appropriately changing the CO2 tension. External HCO3 was required since aeration with CO2 at low external pH did not replicate the BIH. DIDS [4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid] did not abolish the effect. The hyperpolarization is unlikely to reflect the pH dependence of K+ channels alone, since the effect was not reduced by either 2 mM Ba2+ alone or 2 mM Ba2+together with 50-100 μM quinidine. The BIH depends directly or indirectly on external Na+, since the sign of the polarization response was reversed either by replacing Na+ w...
Noninjection, One-Pot Synthesis of Photoluminescent Colloidal Homogeneously Alloyed CdSeS Quantum Dots

Colloidal photoluminescent CdSeS quantum dots (QDs) were readily prepared via a noninjection, one-pot approach, with air-stable compounds cadmium acetate dihydrate (Cd(OAc)2·2H2O), elemental selenium (Se), and elemental sulfur (S) as Cd, Se, and S source compounds, respectively. The homogeneously alloyed CdSeS QDs were synthesized at 240 °C in a reaction flask containing the source compounds together with myristic acid, 2,2′-dithiobisbenzothiazole (MBTS), and 1-octadecene (ODE). All of these chemicals were loaded at room temperature with this newly developed approach. The effects of Cd/Se/S and S/MBTS feed molar ratios affecting the growth of the CdSeS QDs were investigated, via monitoring the temporal evolution of the optical properties (namely, absorption and emission) of the growing nanocrystals. The resulting ternary nanocrystals can be tuned easily to emit in the range of 470−550 nm of the electromagnetic spectrum; such an emission window is hard to manage with binary CdS and CdSe QDs alone. The band...
Distinct Activation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor by UTP Contributes to Epithelial Cell Wound Repair

The release of nucleotides after injury activates purinergic receptors, leading to phosphorylation of site-specific residues on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). To elucidate the differences between the injury-induced response and that induced by exogenous EGF, we examined recruitment of docking proteins, internalization of EGFR, and migration after injury. Injury induced by scratch wounds or stimulation by addition of UTP caused a brief internalization of EGFR, which paralleled the lesser association with growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) and phosphorylation of EGFR. The internalization caused by EGF was sustained and detected for longer than 60 minutes and correlated with phosphorylation of the receptor. The EGF caused recruitment of Grb2, phospholipase C-γ-1 (PLCγ1), Shc, and Src to EGFR. Glutathione S-transferase pull downs were performed, and glutathione S-transferase–PLCγ1 showed binding of Grb2 when stimulated with EGF but not with UTP or injury. Furthermore, UTP did not induce PLCγ1 phosphorylation, and the phosphorylation induced by EGF was attenuated by costimulation with UTP. The response to heparin-binding EGF was equivalent to that of EGF. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that phosphorylation of Y1068 and Y1086 of EGFR is required for repair. Together, our results show that injury and activation of purinergic receptors and direct activation of EGFR via EGF induce distinct downstream pathways.
The Job Performance of Nursing Graduates: A Program Evaluation

Abstract The study was designed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the nursing education preparation of associate degree nursing graduates as reflected in their job performance. The predictive relationships of measures of scholastic success such as G.P.A. and State Board Examination Scores with graduate job performance were also investigated. A rating scale of 62 items was designed to measure the following dimensions of nursing performance: (a) planning for nursing care, (b) implementing nursing care, (c) interpersonal relationships and communication, (d) leadership and group procedures, (e) evaluating and reporting nursing care, (f) professional involvement, and (g) other. Sources for the rating scale included curriculum objectives and a field survey of performance criteria. Graduates were rated by a nurse and a physician who function in close supervision of their job. Graduates completed a similar rating scale in which they were asked to rate the adequacy of their educational preparation for vari...
Bioenergenetics of brown adipose tissue 1

Examination of the effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) in vivo on the brown adipose tissue of cold-exposed rats as well as the effect of DNP and dicumarol in vitro, indicates that brown fat does possess a functional electron transport-coupled phosphorylating system. Moreover, the fact that a norepinephrineinduced thermogenic response (in vivo) can be elicited from the brown fat after DNP administration implies that the effect of norepinephrine (NE) is not primarily due to stimulation of an adenosine triphosphatase system. Furthermore, since the magnitude of the NE-stimulated temperature increase is not diminished by prior treatment with DNP, it appears that the effect of NE is not achieved through any significant degree of uncoupling by the released fatty acids. Alternatively, our data suggest that under basal conditions (i.e., when the animal is not stimulated by cold stress or NE) the heat production (oxygen consumption) of the brown fat is limited by the availability of substrate rather than ADP. Conversely, it is proposed that under states of cold stress or NE infusion the thermogenic effect is induced through stimulation of lipolysis and consequent enhancement of substrate accessible for mitochondrial oxidation.
Using Objective-Driven Heat Transfer Lab Experiences to Simultaneously Teach Critical Thinking Skills and Technical Content

The heat transfer course at Union College has been redesigned to improve critical thinking and problem solving skills, provide an understanding of the origin of the data and parameters used in heat transfer analysis, and familiarize students with modern experimental and computer analysis tools. The course is taught in the junior year and combines a 4-hr/wk lecture with a 3-hr/wk integrated lab component during a 10 week term. The lecture covers the traditional conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer material whereas in the lab students combine hands on experimental measurements with the use of sophisticated design tools. Our method for achieving the course goals is to use objective-driven lab exercises. Students are asked directed questions about a concrete problem involving heat transfer and are required to develop an experimental/numerical plan to answer the questions. Initial labs are more directed and are designed to introduce experimental / numerical analysis techniques which students may then use in the end of term design project which is more open ended. We have focused on the use of small scale inexpensive equipment which allows us to use multiple set-ups and have students work in small (2-3 person) groups. In this paper we present the weekly lab exercises and discuss how they contribute to the pedagogical goals for the lab, course, and curriculum.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Consumer sensory evaluation, fatty acid composition, and shelf-life of ground beef with subcutaneous fat trimmings from different carcass locations.

Abstract Brisket, chuck, plate, flank, and round subcutaneous fat trim were used to produce ground beef patties then evaluated for color, lipid oxidation, fatty acid composition, volatile chemical compounds and consumer sensory evaluation. Color, TBARS, consumer sensory evaluation, and cook/freezer loss did not differ (P > 0.05) among carcass fat locations. Percentage stearic acid was lower (P = 0.044) in the ground beef using brisket fat than using the chuck and flank fat. Patties made with brisket fat were higher in cis-vaccenic acid (P = 0.016) and the saturated to monounsaturated fatty acid ratio (P = 0.018) than all other sources of subcutaneous fat. Butanedione was highest (P = 0.013) in patties using flank and plate fat. Ground beef with brisket fat was higher (P = 0.003) than all other sources for beefy aroma. Altering the profile of non-polar, triglyceride fatty acids has no effect on sensory flavor or major volatile chemical compounds.
Solar heating of grape berries and other spherical fruits

Abstract The components of the energy balance at the surface of spherical fruits are presented and their relevance in the field situation is discussed. Of these, forced convection is the most complicated, varying over the sphere's surface, depending on wind direction, velocity and turbulent intensity, and the presence of adjacent bluff bodies. The flux density of solar radiation and wind velocity are the two most important environmental parameters in determining fruit temperature. Of lesser importance are fruit size and albedo, wind direction, fruit transpiration and thermal exchange by long-wave radiation. Based on an energy balance at the surface, simple relationships are proposed to predict maximum and minimum temperature increases on the surfaces of sunlit fruits. These relationships are functions of flux density of absorbed radiation, fruit size and thermal conductivity, and a convective heat transfer coefficient that may be calculated from wind velocity using equations developed by Nobel (1975). Good agreement is found between the simple model and an infinite series analytical model of the system, and also with laboratory measurements of berry temperatures. Measurements on green grape berries in the field showed maximum skin temperatures of the order of 12°C above air temperature, with a gradient of 3°C across sunlit berries. Berries on tight clusters heated more than those on loose clusters.
Fire and Roses: Toward Authentic Post-Modern Religious Thinking

At the conclusion of Umberto Eco's The Name of the Roseconsidered by many critics one of the greatest of so-called "Postmodem" novels-what has proceeded all along as a murder mystery suddenly turns into a revelation concerning the workings of language and the adventure of signs. The "discovery" of the perpetrator of a string of baffling, and heinous, crimes inside a late Medieval abbey becomes the occasion for what today might be termed a "deconstructive" literary covert operation. The murders in the monastery turn out to be the artifice of the fanatical friar Jorge, who has connived and conspired to protect a mysterious book in the secret chambers of the abbey. The "book," of course, is Aristotle's legendary "lost" treatise on laughter. Jorge defends his crimes by arguing that the opening of such aa book to the learned would transvalue all the values of classical learning and of Christian civilization. It would unleash the spirit of levity. In addition, it would set going the process of destruction for the entire
Language ideologies and the consequences of standardization

This paper explores the effects of the standard language ideology on attitudes to language of nonlinguists and of language specialists, and considers how far linguists themselves have been affected by – and have contributed to – this ideology. The primary definition of standardization is taken to be the imposition of uniformity upon a class of objects. Attitudes to language within standard language cultures are then reviewed and contrasted with unstandardized situations, in which the boundaries of languages are indeterminate. It is therefore suggested that determinate languages, such as English, may be defined more by ideologies than by their internal structures. Some effects of standardization on the work of linguists are then reviewed. This is followed by a discussion of the importance of the process of legitimization in contributing to the standard language culture, and of the contribution of language specialists themselves to this process. Finally, certain matters arising are reviewed.
Comparative gene and protein expression in primary cultures of epithelial cells from benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Primary cultures are widely used to investigate the disease-specific biology of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). To identify genes differentially expressed between epithelial cells cultured from adenocarcinomas versus BPH tissues, we used probe array technology. Gene expression profiles were evaluated on Affymetrix Human Cancer G110 Array Chips containing ∼1900 cancer-related genes. After defined statistical analysis, genes that were over-expressed in cancer cultures were identified. Protein expression of four of the differentially expressed genes was measured in immunoblots, and the expression of two other genes was measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While no gene or protein was consistently over-expressed in all cancer versus BPH cell cultures, cytokeratin 16 protein was highly elevated in several of the cancer cultures, suggesting that a hyperproliferative phenotype may be characteristic of prostate cancer cells.
Activation volumes for oxygen exchange between the GaO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)127+(aq) (GaAl12) polyoxocation and aqueous solution from variable pressure 17O NMR spectroscopy

Abstract Activation volumes for exchange of oxygen between bulk aqueous solution and sites in the GaO 4 Al 12 (OH) 24 (H 2 O) 12 7+ (aq) (GaAl 12 ) complex were measured by variable-pressure 17 O NMR techniques. Near 322 K, rates of exchange for the less labile set of bridging hydroxyls in the GaAl 12 decrease by a factor of about two with increasing pressure from 0.1 to 350 MPa. These data indicate a substantially positive activation volume of ΔV ‡ = +7 ± 1 cm 3 /mol, which is the first activation volume measured for a bridging hydroxyl in a polynuclear complex. This result suggests significant bond-lengthening in the activation step. Electrostriction effects should be small because exchange occurs via a pH-independent path under the experimental conditions. The second, more labile set of bridging hydroxyls exchange too rapidly for the variable-pressure techniques employed here. The exchange of bound-water molecules on the GaAl 12 was observed at P = 350 MPa using the 17 O-NMR line-broadening technique. Comparison with previous measurements at 0.1 MPa indicates decreasing line width from 0.1 to 350 MPa for temperatures at which exchange dominates, yielding an activation volume of ΔV ‡ = +3(± 1) cm 3 /mol. This activation volume is smaller than the value for the Al(H 2 O) 6 3+ complex, suggesting that water exchange on the larger GaAl 12 complex has less dissociative character although the average charge density is lower.
Kinetic characteristics of K+-activated para-nitrophenylphosphatase in isolated adult dog heart myocytes.

Abstract K + -activated para-nitrophenylphosphatase (K + - p NPPase) was characterized kinetically in isolated adult dog heart myocytes. The results show that: (i) the K m and V max for K + activation were increased by increasing concentrations of Mg 2+ and para-nitrophenylphosphate ( p NPP); the highest V max K m value was obtained at 5 m m Mg 2+ , 5 m m p NPP and 10 m m K + ; (ii) the optimal molar ratio of Mg 2+ to p NPP was 1 when the concentration of K + was 10 m m and that of p NPP was higher than 1.25 m m ; (iii) when the molar ratio of Mg 2+ to p NPP was kept at 1 and the K + concentration was 10 m m , increases in Mg 2+ and p NPP concentrations increased the enzyme activity sigmoidally with a Hill coefficient of 1.7 and a S 0.5 value of 2.3 m m ; (iv) Na + at low concentrations ( m ) activated, while Na + at high concentrations (> 10 m m ) inhibited K + - p NPPase activity when K + concentrations were greater than 1 m m ; (v) Ca 2+ at low concentrations (0.1 to 0.2 m m ) inhibited K + - p NPPase activity by competing with K + , while Ca 2+ at high concentrations (0.5 to 1.0 m m ) inhibited K + - p NPPase activity by mixed (both competitive and non-competitive) competition with K + ; (vi) ouabain inhibited K + - p NPPase activity with a Hill coefficient of 0.59 and a S 0.5 value of 4.8 × 10 −7 m ; the inhibitory effect of ouabain ( −6 m ) was decreased in the presence of Ca 2+ (0.1–0.5 m m ). These results demonstrate that isolated adult heart myocytes possess K + - p NPPase activity which can be used as a sensitive and specific probe for studies of the myocardial sodium pump ATPase enzyme system.
Children of divorce—Some legal and psychological considerations

Abstract Certain psychological and legal issues warrant special attention by professionals involved with separated parents and their children. Such issues as the importance of the counselor's strict neutrality regarding the divorce decision; mandatory vs. voluntary counseling; what, when, and how to tell the children; parental criticism of one another; some common children's reactions to the divorce (denial, anger, reconciliation obsessions); custody determination; and certain legal and social changes that should lessen the psychological trauma of divorce are focused on.
Alignment and amplification as determinants of expressive color

Color alignment and amplification are explored within the context of a windowed system in a computer workstation. Color alignment allows precise specification of color relatedness while, at the same time, accounting for interaction of surrounding visual field and state of visual adaptation. Alignments represent the basic unit of color experience, and are formed by any two hues in color space. An experiment which utilizes the color alignment model developed by Jacobson and Bender is presented. The experiment measures preference for type of alignment between text color, background color, and highlight color, in a workstation. Results of this experiment provide guidelines for effective selection of colors for window, font, and highlight for any given application within the windowed system. Of particular interest is the incorporation of color alignments into the window manager, so that local colors can be coordinated with global colors to provide a variety of expressive signals.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Microcystin analogues comprised only of Adda and a single additional amino acid retain moderate activity as PP1/PP2A inhibitors.

A series of greatly simplified microcystin analogues comprised only of Adda (the β-amino acid common to the microcystins, nodularins, and motuporin,) and a single additional amino acid residue was synthesized and screened for inhibition of the protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. Several of the analogues were shown to be mid-nanomolar inhibitors of the enzymes.
Diagnosing chaos by a fuzzy classifier

Abstract A simple fuzzy classifier system seems to successfully diagnose nonlinear chaotic time series. The system contains two sub-classifiers, each taking a single input and produces a single output. The first detects the degree of linearity in a series by classifying R2 values from linear filtering. The second detects the degree of nonlinearity by classifying values of a relative complexity index θ. This index is the ratio of two correlation dimension estimates, one from residuals of linear filtering and the other from the same residuals but randomly shuffled. It produces a ratio approaching one if the data is random, and a ratio approaching zero if the data is deterministic. The classifier system converts these statistics into memberships in classes and combines them to provide a symbolic characterization of dynamical structures. This system characterizes five frequently investigated chaotic series: the logistic, the Henon, and tent maps which produce discrete data, and the Lorenz system and Mackey–Glass equation which produce continuous data. Classification results are consistent with expectations.
The evolution of damage in tritium exposed copper

Severe microstructural damage has been observed in polycrystalline OFHC copper specimens thermally exposed to high pressure tritium gas at temperatures {le}200 {degree}C, but not at 300 {degree}C. No such damage occurs in single crystal specimens exposed under identical conditions, regardless of temperature. In the polycrystals, the damage takes the form of very flat, crack-like intergranular cavities. It is found that the cavitation evolves slowly with time. For short exposure times, cavities as small as 0.1 {mu}m are observed. In specimens subjected to the longest aging times, the cavities grow and link until entire grain boundary facets fail. The driving force for the growth of these cavities is attributed to the internal gas pressure of helium-3 generated by the decay of tritium. The growth kinetics of cavity microstructure are described by a coupled grain boundary, surface self-diffusion process. The tritium exposure profoundly affects the mechanical properties of the polycrystalline material, inducing a severe loss in ductility. In concert with the observed ductility loss is a change in fracture morphology from transgranular ductile rupture to intergranular fracture. Examination of the resulting grain boundary facets reveals a dimple structure. The spacing of these dimples can be correlated with the spacing of the exposure-inducedmore » grain boundary cavities.« less
Identification of functionally important negatively charged residues in the carboxy end of mouse hepatitis coronavirus A59 nucleocapsid protein

The coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein is a multifunctional viral gene product that encapsidates the RNA genome and also plays some as yet not fully defined role in viral RNA replication and/or transcription. A number of conserved negatively charged amino acids are located within domain III in the carboxy end of all coronavirus N proteins. Previous studies suggested that the negatively charged residues are involved in virus assembly by mediating interaction between the membrane (M) protein carboxy tail and nucleocapsids. To determine the importance of these negatively charged residues, a series of alanine and other charged-residue substitutions were introduced in place of those in the N gene within a mouse hepatitis coronavirus A59 infectious clone. Aspartic acid residues 440 and 441 were identified as functionally important. Viruses could not be isolated when both residues were replaced by positively charged amino acids. When either amino acid was replaced by a positively charged residue or both were changed to alanine, viruses were recovered that contained second-site changes within N, but not in the M or envelope protein. The compensatory role of the new changes was confirmed by the construction of new viruses. A few viruses were recovered that retained the D441-to-arginine change and no compensatory changes. These viruses exhibited a small-plaque phenotype and produced significantly less virus. Overall, results from our analysis of a large panel of plaque-purified recovered viruses indicate that the negatively charged residues at positions 440 and 441 are key residues that appear to be involved in virus assembly.
Reoperative surgery for anorectal anomalies.

Complications occur during the repair of anorectal malformations relatively frequently. Unfortunately, these complications are often preventable. Furthermore, the consequences of these complications are significiant. Not only do patients experience unnecessary pain and suffering, but a secondary operation always renders less optimal functional results. A 20-year experience in the care of children with anorectal malformations was retrospectively analyzed. Patients who previously underwent surgical repair at other institutions, and subsequently required secondary surgery by the primary author were evaluated; 334 patients were identified. Reasons for reoperation included fecal incontinence in 77 patients; dehiscence and retraction in 96; rectogenito-urinary fistulae in 55; persistent urogenital sinus in 31 cloaca patients; acquired vaginal atresia in 21; acquired urethral atresia in 9; posterior urethral diverticulum in 20; and overflow pseudo incontinence in 25 patients. Except for fecal incontinence, all other complications are considered preventable. The source of the complications in almost all other settings are technical errors at the time of the primary repair. Recommendations are presented to help prevent these complications, and suggestions are made on how to treat them when they occur.
Providers tried to help patients and families make realistic end of life decisions.

(2001) Res Nurs Health 24, 258. Norton SA, Bowers BJ. . Working toward consensus: providers' strategies to shift patients from curative to palliative treatment choices. . Aug; . : . –69 . [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] QUESTION: What are the strategies used by providers to assist terminally ill patients and their families in shifting from curative to palliative treatment choices? Grounded theory. Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 10 nurses and 5 physicians (12 women and 3 men) who were working in the practice areas of home health and family practice, oncology, and intensive care. Each provider was interviewed once, and 3 providers were interviewed a second time. The interviews were 30–90 minutes in length, and were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was done after each interview and the questions in subsequent interviews became increasingly focused on evolving categories. Theoretical sampling was built into the interviews with questions designed to determine the types of strategies providers use to assist patients to understand their situations and make realistic decisions. Providers' strategies aimed to help patients achieve a good death (eg, comfortable and … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DResearch%2Bin%2Bnursing%2B%2526%2Bhealth%26rft.stitle%253DRes%2BNurs%2BHealth%26rft.aulast%253DNorton%26rft.auinit1%253DS.%2BA.%26rft.volume%253D24%26rft.issue%253D4%26rft.spage%253D258%26rft.epage%253D269%26rft.atitle%253DWorking%2Btoward%2Bconsensus%253A%2Bproviders%2527%2Bstrategies%2Bto%2Bshift%2Bpatients%2Bfrom%2Bcurative%2Bto%2Bpalliative%2Btreatment%2Bchoices.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1002%252Fnur.1028%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F11746057%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1002/nur.1028&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=11746057&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febnurs%2F5%2F2%2F64.1.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000170802000003&link_type=ISI
Holographic interpretation of renormalization group approach to singular perturbations in nonlinear differential equations

We give a holographic explanation of how the renormalization group approach to singular perturbations in nonlinear differential equations proposed by Chen, Goldenfeld, and Oono is indeed equivalent to a renormalization group method in quantum field theories proposed by Gell-Mann and Low via AdS/CFT correspondence.
Consuming Beef vs. Soy Protein Has Little Effect on Appetite, Satiety, and Food Intake in Healthy Adults

BACKGROUND Although protein-rich plant foods have recently been touted as an equivalent to animal products, limited data exist regarding the effects of animal vs. plant proteins on appetite, satiety, and subsequent food intake. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine whether a high-protein beef lunch alters the appetitive, hormonal, and neural signals controlling food intake regulation vs. a macronutrient and fiber-matched (MF) or serving size-matched (SS) soy lunch in healthy adults. METHODS A randomized, double-blind, crossover design study was completed in 21 adults (aged 23 ± 1 y; body mass index: 23.8 ± 0.6 kg/m²; mean ± SEM) to compare 400-kcal MF and SS lunches varying in protein quality. The MF lunches contained 24-g beef protein or 24-g soy protein, whereas the SS lunches contained 1 serving of beef (24-g protein/1-g fiber) or soy (14-g protein/5-g fiber). Pre- and postlunch appetite questionnaires and blood sampling were completed over an 8-h period until dinner was voluntarily requested. In addition, pre- and postlunch functional MRI brain scans were completed to assess neural activation in response to food stimuli. RESULTS On average, dinner was requested at ∼250 ± 20 min postlunch with no differences between beef vs. soy within the MF and SS conditions. Furthermore, no differences in hunger, fullness, peptide YY, or glucagon-like peptide-1 responses were observed after the beef vs. soy lunches within the MF and SS conditions. The SS beef meal led to reductions in anterior cingulate activation (-22 ± 6%) vs. soy (+7 ± 9%; P < 0.01) and greater reductions in insular activation (-30 ± 6%) vs. SS soy (-7 ± 10%; P < 0.01). The participants consumed ∼945 ± 78 kcal after the MF meals and 910 ± 74 kcal after the SS meals with no differences between beef vs. soy. CONCLUSIONS When comparing 2 high-quality protein sources, such as beef and soy, the type of protein consumed within a mixed meal elicited very little effect on appetite, satiety, and food intake in healthy adults.
Reinventing State Civil Service Systems The Georgia Experience

This article explores the first 5 years of the State of Georgia’s reform of its centralized civil service system, including an assessment of the environment leading to the reform. Additionally, the...
Ontological informatics infrastructure for pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing

Informatics infrastructure plays a crucial role in supporting different decision making activities related to pharmaceutical product development, pilot plant and commercial scale manufacturing by streamlining information gathering, data integration, model development and managing all these for easy and timely access and reuse. The foundation of such an infrastructure is the explicitly and formally modeled information. This foundation enables knowledge in different forms, and best manufacturing practices, to be modeled and captured into tools to support the product lifecycle management. This paper discusses the development of ontologies, Semantic Web infrastructure and Web related technologies that make such an infrastructure development possible. While many of the issues addressed in this paper are applicable to a wide spectrum of molecular-based products, we focus our work on the development of pharmaceutical informatics to support Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) as well as drug product development as case studies to illustrate the various aspects of this infrastructure.
Employers’ Expectations for Education and Skills of New Human Factors/Ergonomics Professionals

This paper reports the results from a survey administered to individuals in several companies whose responsibilities included either hiring or supervision of new human factors/ergonomics professionals. The survey asked about the knowledge and skills expected from new professionals entering the workplace. It was based on the survey previously administered to new professionals about their experiences in their first human factors jobs. The results both replicate and complement the findings of the previous survey. Many critical skills, such as communication skills, are not specific to the discipline. However, in over half of the Ergonomist Formation Model subdomains the respondents rated new professionals’ preparedness as only adequate. The open-ended questions allowed for a review of specific challenges and the responses echoed those of the new professionals’ responses last year. Application of the knowledge gained in college to practical design tasks was reported lacking in the new professionals’ skill set. Skills to effectively interact in multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams were found wanting in both surveys. Results from both surveys offer a useful and cross-validated review of the current demands new professionals are facing, and a mandate to educators to develop human factors curricula in response to them.
Mechanical ventilation in ARDS: a state-of-the-art review.

Mechanical ventilation is an essential component of the care of patients with ARDS, and a large number of randomized controlled clinical trials have now been conducted evaluating the efficacy and safety of various methods of mechanical ventilation for the treatment of ARDS. Low tidal volume ventilation (≤ 6 mL/kg predicted body weight) should be utilized in all patients with ARDS as it is the only method of mechanical ventilation that, to date, has been shown to improve survival. High positive end-expiratory pressure, alveolar recruitment maneuvers, and prone positioning may each be useful as rescue therapy in a patient with severe hypoxemia, but these methods of ventilation do not improve survival for the wide population of patients with ARDS. Although not specific to the treatment of ARDS, protocol-driven weaning that utilizes a daily spontaneous breathing trial and ventilation in the semirecumbent position have proven benefits and should be used in the management of ARDS patients.
Changeover delay and concurrent schedules: some effects on relative performance measures

The pigeon and the rat partition total response output between both schedules of a concurrent variable-interval pair. The quantitative nature of a partition seems critically dependent on the relative rates with which the two schedules provide reinforcements for responding, in addition to the changeover delay. The manner in which the changeover delay controls the partition was studied by varying the duration of the changeover delay from 0 to 20 sec with each of two pairs of concurrent variable-interval schedules, viz., Conc VI 1.5-min VI 1.5-min and Conc VI 1-min VI 3-min. Rats served as the subjects and brain stimulation was employed as the reinforcer. When the schedules were Conc VI 1.5-min VI 1.5-min, relative response rate approximated 0.50 at all values of the changeover delay. When the schedules were Conc VI 1-min VI 3-min, relative response rate, computed with respect to the VI 1-min schedule, increased when the duration of the changeover delay increased. Changeover rate decreased when the duration of the changeover delay increased. The decrease was the same for both VI schedules of the Conc VI 1.5-min VI 1.5-min pair but was more rapid for the VI 3-min schedule of the Conc VI 1-min VI 3-min pair.
Spatial Structure of Microbes in Nature and the Biophysics of Cell–Cell Communication

Microbes are social organisms and their language is chemical. Microbial communities provide cells with structures that facilitate chemical communication and enable them to adapt to environmental pressure. Fossil records demonstrate that microbial communities existed several billion years ago [1] and a wide variety of observations point to the importance of these structures today [2]. The spatial organization of communities provides organisms with advantages for growth and adaptation in fluctuating environmental conditions.