cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Horticultural Therapy: An Ancient Technique in a Modern World

Horticultural therapy utilizes plants and plant-based activities in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with various disabilities. The practice has been in use since the time of ancient Egypt, Hindus and other cultures. In the United States, The American Horticultural Therapy Association is the professional society that has established educational and training standards for those wishing to practice in the profession of horticultural therapy. Various studies have shown the positive mental and physiological healing benefits of plant-based activities. While horticultural therapy has not achieved the evidence-based practice standard on its own, this treatment approach is flexible and adaptable enough to be integrated into existing scientific evidence-based therapy practices in mental healthcare. Despite current challenges with horticultural therapy practice, the use of plants and plant-based activity as a therapeutic method will continue to have a role in the healthcare community. Plants and gardening activity are benign and non-threatening, making their use in therapeutic treatments an appealing approach to populations worldwide.
Exact Consensus under Global Asymmetric Byzantine Links

Fault-tolerant distributed consensus is an important primitive in many large-scale distributed systems and applications. The consensus problem has been investigated under various fault models in the literature since the seminal work by Lamport et al. in 1982. In this paper, we study the exact consensus problem in a new faulty link model, namely global asymmetric Byzantine (GAB) link model. Our link-fault model is simple, yet to our surprise, not studied before.In our system, all the nodes are fault-free and each pair of nodes can communicate directly with each other. In the GAB link model, up to f directed links may become Byzantine, and have arbitrary behavior. Non-faulty links deliver messages reliably. In our model, it is possible that the link from node a to node b is faulty, but the link from node b to node a is fault-free. Unlike some prior models with a local constraint, which enforced a local upper bound on the number of failure links attached to each node, we adopt the global constraint, which allows any link to be corrupted in the GAB model. These global and asymmetric features distinguish our model from all prior faulty link models.In our GAB model, we study the consensus problem in both synchronous and asynchronous systems. We show that 2f + 1 nodes is both necessary and sufficient for solving synchronous consensus, whereas 2f+2 nodes is the tight condition on resilience for solving asynchronous consensus. We also study the models where faulty links are mobile (or transient), i.e., the set of faulty links might change from round to round. We show that 2f + 3 nodes is necessary and sufficient for a family of algorithms that update local state in an iterative fashion.
Assessing automation: Methodological insights from experimenting with computer vision for public life research

Today, there is a growing interest in designer-led assessment efforts focused on social performance. While this interest has led to significant developments in our understanding of how people occup...
Update on Veterinary Breeding Soundness Evaluation of Bulls

What is breeding soundness evaluation of bulls? The term breeding soundness evaluation is often used to describe a bull's ability to get cows pregnant. However, too often there are broad expectations when this term is used. This presentation will discuss those facets necessary to identify bulls that are capable of getting a reasonable number of cows pregnant in a limited breeding season.
A review of the surgical management of distal humerus fractures and nonunions: From fixation to arthroplasty.

Abstract Distal humeral fractures in adults are challenging injuries. They often require surgical intervention in form of internal fixation or total elbow arthroplasty which is being increasingly used in physiologically elderly patients with comminuted fractures. Careful preoperative evaluation including type of fracture, quality of bone, pre-existing conditions and functional demand help in deciding optimal treatment. CT scans including 2D and 3D reconstructions are almost mandatory in proper planning of the surgical treatment. In most cases with a healthy physiologically young patient, ORIF is the treatment of choice. Biomechanical studies have shown that parallel plating resists rotational deformity to a greater degree than 90/90 plating allowing supracondylar union. Accurate realignment of articular fragments and compression at the supracondylar area is key to the success of the internal fixation. Main cause of failure of fixation is the nonunion or malunion in the supracondylar area. The principles described by O'Driscoll et al. allow for rigid fixation of the distal articular fragments and compression at the supracondylar level which is vital to healing and the prevention of hardware failure, and nonunion. Olecranon osteotomy improves the expodure of distal humeral articular surface but has its own share of problems and should be avoided if possible. Irritation of ulnar nerve is a common complication so it should be isolated, kept under vision throughout and if necessary, transposed anteiriorly. Nonunion or malunion of supracondylar fractures can be treated by revision ORIF or total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). Supracondylar shortening, bone grafting and contracture release are important elements of treatment of nonunions. In unreconstructable distal humerus fractures, where open reduction and internal fixation is not possible due to the small size of the fragments, severe comminution and/or poor bone quality, TEA is the treatment of choice. Triceps can be left intact as the excision of fractured fragments usually provide enough space to carry out the operation. Sometimes, the decision to perform TEA is only made after exposing the fracture so the surgeon should be comfortable in performing TEA if ORIF is not possible; and necessary instruments and implants should be available on the shelf. In spite of satisfactory outcome, overall complication rate after TEA remains high and makes surgical efficiency and technical competence of utmost importance.
Intra-operative Radiation Therapy versus Whole Breast External Beam Radiotherapy: A Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Introduction. This project sought to compare patient-reported outcomes between patients who received intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT) and those who qualified for IORT but received whole-breast external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) following breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Methods. Three scales from the BREAST-Q Breast Cancer BCT Module Version 2.0 questionnaire were used to collect patient-reported outcomes regarding post-operative physical well-being of the chest, post-operative satisfaction with breast cosmesis and post-operative adverse effects of radiation. Results. Patients who received EBRT travelled farther on average than patients who received IORT to complete treatment. Respondents who received IORT reported better physical well-being of the chest than those who received EBRT. Regression reveals that the respondent’s age was the determining factor in the difference between IORT and EBRT post-operative physical well-being scores, where younger patients report poorer well-being. There was no difference in patient-reported outcomes regarding post-operative satisfaction with breast cosmesis or adverse effects of radiation. Conclusions. This study suggests that patients who received IORT report better physical well-being of the chest than patients who received EBRT. There appears to be a relationship between age and physical well-being of chest. This study suggests that there is no difference in patient-reported outcomes concerning post-operative satisfaction with breast cosmesis or post-operative adverse effects of radiation between patients who received IORT and those who received EBRT.
Modeling Interventions to Reduce the Spread of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms Between Health Care Facilities in a Region

Importance Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) can spread across health care facilities in a region. Because of limited resources, certain interventions can be implemented in only some facilities; thus, decision-makers need to evaluate which interventions may be best to implement. Objective To identify a group of target facilities and assess which MDRO intervention would be best to implement in the Shared Healthcare Intervention to Eliminate Life-threatening Dissemination of MDROs in Orange County, a large regional public health collaborative in Orange County, California. Design, setting, and participants An agent-based model of health care facilities was developed in 2016 to simulate the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) for 10 years starting in 2010 and to simulate the use of various MDRO interventions for 3 years starting in 2017. All health care facilities (23 hospitals, 5 long-term acute care hospitals, and 74 nursing homes) serving adult inpatients in Orange County, California, were included, and 42 target facilities were identified via network analyses. Exposures Increasing contact precaution effectiveness, increasing interfacility communication about patients' MDRO status, and performing decolonization using antiseptic bathing soap and a nasal product in a specific group of target facilities. Main outcomes and measures MRSA and CRE prevalence and number of new carriers (ie, transmission events). Results Compared with continuing infection control measures used in Orange County as of 2017, increasing contact precaution effectiveness from 40% to 64% in 42 target facilities yielded relative reductions of 0.8% (range, 0.5%-1.1%) in MRSA prevalence and 2.4% (range, 0.8%-4.6%) in CRE prevalence in health care facilities countywide after 3 years, averting 761 new MRSA transmission events (95% CI, 756-765 events) and 166 new CRE transmission events (95% CI, 158-174 events). Increasing interfacility communication of patients' MDRO status to 80% in these target facilities produced no changes in the prevalence or transmission of MRDOs. Implementing decolonization procedures (clearance probability: 39% in hospitals, 27% in long-term acute care facilities, and 3% in nursing homes) yielded a relative reduction of 23.7% (range, 23.5%-23.9%) in MRSA prevalence, averting 3515 new transmission events (95% CI, 3509-3521 events). Increasing the effectiveness of antiseptic bathing soap to 48% yielded a relative reduction of 39.9% (range, 38.5%-41.5%) in CRE prevalence, averting 1435 new transmission events (95% CI, 1427-1442 events). Conclusions and relevance The findings of this study highlight the ways in which modeling can inform design of regional interventions and suggested that decolonization would be the best strategy for the Shared Healthcare Intervention to Eliminate Life-threatening Dissemination of MDROs in Orange County.
From Metaphor to Reality in Corporate Law

This essay is in response to a commentary by Professor David Millon, who ably argues in the same journal that a dependence on metaphor drives much of the debate within corporate law jurisprudence and corporate law scholarship. This essay joins Millon in his criticism. For decades, scholars have used metaphors ? corporation as person, corporation as creature of the state, corporation as property, corporation as contract, corporation as community, to name the most prominent ? as justifications for the imposition of, or freedom from, legal and ethical requirements. The metaphors are often taken as self-evident. The legal and ethical arguments then flow quite naturally. Currently, the dominant metaphors in corporate law spring from the rights-based common law of contract and property. Arguments that corporations have obligations to stakeholders other than shareholders are deemed inconsistent with property or contract norms. It is no coincidence that those who oppose more socially responsible corporate governance regimes choose metaphors from the common law. Common law rights have long had significant rhetorical power. Much of this persuasiveness is based on the fact that they are seen as neutral, pre-political, and pre-legal. Corporate law is private law, defined by common law principles, and therefore neutral. To change it is impermissible. These rights-based metaphors used to explain corporate law harken back to Lochner v. New York, and are subject to some of the same criticisms. Even the so-called laissez-faire marketplace is shot through with government, and even the most basic common law entitlements are functions of legal rules. Contract and property law are no more neutral, private, or pre-legal than statutory law. One cannot justify the present make-up of corporate law as non-political or pre-legal because it is based on common law principles any more than Lochner could justify common law itself as non-political or pre-legal. This essay suggests that our thinking about corporate law would be improved if we jettisoned the metaphors of private law and instead considered corporate law as regulation. That is, corporate law should be subject to the same analysis as environmental law, labor law, tax law, communications law, and the like. At a high level of generality, the analysis with regard to corporate law rules should be the same as the analysis for other kinds of statutes and regulations. One should ask what we want our society to look like and then seek to craft a bundle of legal rules and regulatory programs that are likely to move us in that direction.
DC-SIGN as a Receptor for HTLV-1 Binding, Entry and Infection

Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has been identified as the etiologic agent of adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients diagnosed with HAM/TSP exhibit rapid activation and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) while ATL is associated with their maturation defect. In addition to T cells, HTLV-1 is known to infect DCs. HTLV1 infection of DCs could alter general DC function or the specific processing and/or presentation of HTLV-1-specific peptides, potentially playing a major role in the course of HTLV-1-associated disease. In this regard, we have demonstrated that an important antigen receptor on DCs, DC-SIGN serves as a receptor for HTLV-1 binding using a quantum dot-based fluorescent binding assay. We have also demonstrated that gene silencing of DC-SIGN inhibits the infection of DC in a DC/T cell co-infection system. Furthermore, expression of DC-SIGN in B cells enhances viral binding, integration, and infection. These investigations, which consider the involvement of DC surface molecules in HTLV-1 pathogenesis, are the first explorations of the intricate mechanisms that underlie the interactions between DCs and HTLV-1. from 2005 International Meeting of The Institute of Human Virology Baltimore, USA, 29 August – 2 September 2005
Fast Quantitative Analysis of Stock Trading Points in Dual Period of DMAC

We propose a novel volatility segmentation approach to detect effective trading points from 2679 stocks of NASDAQ. The buy and sell points are derived from dual periods of DMAC based on daily and weekly periods by estimating the amplitude and interval. The proposed approach is very accurate in that only 373 stocks (out of 2679) in NASDAQ have the average rate of profit of overall buy points higher than 3% and only 193 stocks (out of 2679) in NASDAQ have the average rate of stop-loss of overall sell points higher than 3%. The volatility segmentation approach reduces the uncertainty of stock estimation in single period DMAC. This approach, however, is very computationally intensive requiring 2382.82s for evaluating buy points and 2688.53s for evaluating sell points. A parallel implementation using 240 cores reduced the time to 16.01s and 13.50s, respectively.
Analysis of Security Vulnerabilities of Cloud Computing Environment Service Models and Its Main Characteristics

We are currently observing a huge paradigm shift by different organizations moving their information technology services from enterprise-based data centers that run on different dedicated servers on their premises to cloud computing environment. Organizations are renting these services on demand basis from large cloud service providers that build and manage various large scaled data centers consisting of high capacity platform resources, like Network, hardware, and software resources. As an emerging and distributed computing environment, cloud computing also has a number of security issues associated with its main key features and its primary service delivery models. This research article will discuss, analyze, and address these different cloud computing service delivery models (Software as a service, Platform as a service, and Infrastructure as a service) and those cloud services primary attributes security issues.
What Does It Mean to Be an Activist Scholar? Re-Imagining Our Responses as Anthropologists of Education to Contemporary Challenges

In this address, I ask: What do we bring as anthropologists and educators to our work? Two projects frame my arguments: my work with teachers in Aceh, Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami and my term on a school board in an impoverished U.S. city. I conclude that at a time when challenges are simultaneously local and global, immediate and long term, we must draw from both fields while working for sustainable change and a more just world.
Making Faces: Using Forensic and Archaeological Evidence

Making Faces: Using Forensic and Archaeological Evidence. John Prag and Richard Neave. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1997. 256 pp.
Cost effective frequency measurement for production testing: new approaches on PLL testing

The growing market of consumer multimedia products demands cost effective test solutions for built-in video functions in core chipsets. This work describes a new software approach to perform precise frequency measurements on a digital test system.
Factores institucionales y administrativos que afectan a los costes de las quemas prescritas: el caso de los Estados Unidos de América

Los costes de las quemas prescritas son sumamente variables, aun bajo condiciones similares. Esta variabilidad complica la planificacion y evaluacion de los presupuestos y programas de quemas prescritas, y da lugar a estimaciones imprecisas de sus beneficios economicos. La evaluacion de las quemas prescritas en terminos objetivos es dificil, pero la merma continua en el presupuesto del Servicio Forestal de los Estados Unidos de America requiere un aumento en la eficiencia de estos programas y una mayor comprension de las causas de la variabilidad de sus costes. Se uso un modelo de Analisis de Varianza (ANOVA) para describir y cuantificar el efecto relativo de factores institucionales y administrativos, tales como limitaciones de emision de humo o la limitacion controlar todo tipo de escape, sobre los citados costes. Los datos se obtuvieron de las respuestas de un cuestionario presentado a tecnicos de los programas de proteccion de incendios de las Regiones Norte, Entremontanas (Intermountain), y del Pacifico Noroeste del Servicio Forestal. Los costes estimados de las quemas prescritas fueron afectados significativamente por cambios en los factores institucionales y administrativos, tales como la disminucion en la potencialidad de escape del fuego o el cumplimiento con las normas de emision de humo, presentadas a estos tecnicos. Contrariamente a nuestras experiencias, el objetivo de quema (razon principal para realizarla) no fue un factor importante en el coste. El tamano de la unidad del area quemada afecto mas que la forma de aquella o de su pendiente. Los costes por unidad de superficie pusieron de manifiesto la presencia de economias de escala: a mayor unidad quemada, menor coste unitario.
Investigation of bacterial repopulation after sinus surgery and perioperative antibiotics

Background Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) enjoys high success rates, but repopulation with pathogenic bacteria is 1 of the hallmarks of poorer outcomes. There are many hypothesized sources of repopulating bacteria; however, this process remains largely unexplored. This study examined changes in the sinus microbiome after ESS and medical therapies to identify potential sources for postsurgical microbial repopulation. Methods Samples from the anterior nares, ethmoid sinus, and nasopharynx were taken at the time of surgery from 13 subjects undergoing ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Patients were treated postoperatively with 2 weeks of oral antibiotics and saline rinses. The ethmoid sinus was sampled at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively; microbiota were characterized using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. The Morisita-Horn beta-diversity index (M-H) was used to compare similarity between samples. Results The bacterial burden of the ethmoid was higher 2 weeks postoperatively than 6 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.01). The 6-week samples most closely represented the anterior nares and ethmoid at surgery (M-H = 0.58 and 0.59, respectively), and were least similar to the nasopharynx (M-H = 0.28). Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) plots illustrate that the ethmoid microbiota temporarily shifted after surgery and antibiotics but returned toward baseline in many subjects. Conclusion Bacterial communities colonizing the ethmoid 6 weeks postoperatively were most similar to anterior nasal cavity and pretreatment sinus microbial profiles, indicating a high degree of resilience in the sinonasal microbiome of most subjects. Interestingly, surgery and postoperative antibiotic therapy does not appear to reduce bacterial burden, but rather, shifts the microbial consortia.
Dual Delivery of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Coacervate Displays Strong Angiogenic Effects

Controlled delivery of multiple growth factors (GFs) holds great potential for the clinical treatment of ischemic diseases and might be more therapeutically effective to reestablish vasculature than the provision of a single GF. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are two potent angiogenic factors. However, due to rapid degradation and dilution in the body, their clinical potential will rely on an effective mode of delivery. A coacervate, composed of heparin and a biodegradable polycation, which protects GFs from proteolysis and potentiates their bioactivities, is developed. Here, the coacervate incorporates VEGF and HGF and sustains their release for at least three weeks. Their strong angiogenic effects on endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation in vitro are confirmed. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that coacervate-based delivery of these factors has stronger effects than free application of both factors and to coacervate delivery of each GF separately.
Using learning styles to evaluate computer-based instruction

This study compared two instruments while evaluating the effects of learning style on performance when using a computer-based instruction (CBI) system to teach introductory probability and statistics. The Gregorc Style Delineator (GSD) and the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (LSI) were used to measure learning style. Results indicated that there was an effect of learning style when using the GSD: students identified as Concrete Sequential learned significantly less than students identified as Concrete Random. There was no effect according to LSI styles. Lack of an ordering preference dimension in the LSI is discussed as a possible explanation. Findings from other studies evaluating CBI and recommendations are also discussed.
A Case of Upper Extremity Edema

Upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) accounts for the minority of thrombotic events. Most UEDVT events are secondary to venous catheters allowing for easy diagnostic recognition. Paget-Schroetter syndrome (PSS), formation of UEDVT due to mechanical compression of the subclavian vein, is an uncommon cause of primary UEDVT and therefore often remains elusive. Clinicians should maintain a high degree of suspicion for this disorder in young males with spontaneous upper extremity edema as prompt detection can be curative and prevent long term sequelae. We report a case of a healthy young male presenting with Paget-Shroetter syndrome and resultant pulmonary embolus. J Med Cases. 2013;4(8):530-532 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jmc1335w
Topology-dependent performance of attack graph reconstruction in PPM-based IP traceback

A variety of schemes based on the technique of Probabilistic Packet Marking (PPM) have been proposed to identify Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack traffic sources by IP traceback. These PPM-based schemes provide a way to reconstruct the attack graph – the network path taken by the attack traffic – hence identifying its sources. Despite the large amount of research in this area, the influence of the underlying topology on the performance of PPM-based schemes remains an open issue. In this paper, we identify three network-dependent factors that affect different PPM-based schemes uniquely giving rise to a variation in and discrepancy between scheme performance from one network to another. Using simulation, we also show the collective effect of these factors on the performance of selected schemes in an extensive set of 60 Internet-like networks. We find that scheme performance is dependent on the network on which it is implemented. We show how each of these factors contributes to a discrepancy in scheme performance in large scale networks. This discrepancy is exhibited independent of similarities or differences in the underlying models of the networks.
CEPHALIC PYODERMA GANGRENOSUM (PG)‐LIKE LESIONS AS A PRESENTING SIGN OF WEGENER'S GRANULOMATOSIS

Background. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG)-like lesions can be associated with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG); in rare instances, they could be the presenting sign of WG. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between these two disorders. Methods. The clinical and histologic data from a case of WG with primary ulcerative lesions of the face were compared with five other cases previously reported in the literature. Results. A predominance among young men was noted. In three patients the histology of the skin ulcerations was suggestive of WG, in the remaining three, including the case described, it was nonspecific. Two cases developed pulmonary WG after the skin lesions cleared, showing that the extent and severity of skin lesions do not necessarily correlate with the systemic disease. Conclusions. When the histology of the skin is nonspecific, the diagnosis of PG or PG-like lesions of the head and neck should not be considered definitive and the patients should be carefully monitored to rule out the possible presence of WG.
Build‐to‐order and just‐in‐time as predictors of applied supply chain knowledge and market performance

Abstract The research increases our understanding of a build-to-order supply chain (BOSC) by examining the effects of two distinct yet related strategies on applied supply chain knowledge and market performance: a build-to-order (BTO) and a just-in-time (JIT) strategy. The results show that a BTO strategy positively affects market performance through its influence on the application of supply chain knowledge downstream with customers. Although a JIT strategy does affect the upstream application of knowledge with suppliers, the latter does not predict market performance. Theoretical and managerial implications are presented.
Quantum Monte Carlo and electron localization function study of the electronic structure of CO2

Abstract The atomization energy and heat of formation of CO 2 + are computed using the diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) variant of quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) and compared with values determined at the Moller–Plesset second order (MP2), a generalized gradient approximation density functional theory (B3LYP-DFT), the coupled-cluster singles–doubles with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] levels of theory. Hartree–Fock (HF) and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) trial functions were used in the DMC calculations. A CASSCF trial function (TF) was found to yield an 8.1 kcal/mol improvement for both properties relative to the HF TF value. The DMC calculation with the HF TF gave an atomization energy of 374.0 kcal/mol, while the DMC result with the CASSCF TF yielded 382.1 kcal/mol; the experimental atomization energy is 381 kcal/mol. The DMC heat of formation is: 234.7 kcal/mol using the HF TF and 226.7 kcal/mol using the CASSCF TF. These values lie closer to experiment than results obtained from the MP2, DFT, and CCSD(T) methods, all at the complete basis set limit. The bonding character of CO 2 + and CS 2 + was examined using the electron localization function (ELF) method. The HF, MP2, and B3LYP-DFT wave functions were projected onto the single–triple and double–double resonance forms of the molecules to determine the relative contribution of the two forms to the ground state geometry. The double–double resonance form was found to be the larger contributor to the ground state for both systems.
Resource-constrained multi-project scheduling with tardy costs: Comparing myopic, bottleneck, and resource pricing heuristics

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of scheduling multiple resource-constrained projects with the objective of minimizing weighted tardiness costs. Extending our earlier heuristic scheduling work for production shops, we develop an efficient and effective means of generating low cost schedules for multiple projects requiring multiple resources. A ‘cost-benefit’ scheduling policy with resource pricing is developed which balances the marginal cost of delaying the start of an eligible activity with the marginal benefit of such a delay. A central part of this policy is the heuristic estimation of implicit resource prices, which form the basis for calculating marginal delay costs. The resulting policies are tested against a number of dispatch scheduling rules taken from the project scheduling literature, and against several new scheduling rules, with encouraging results for both the weighted tardiness problem and for the special case of weighted project delay.
Some effective cases of the Brauer-Siegel Theorem

Let k be an algebraic number field of degree n~ and discriminant D~. We let Kk denote the residue of ~(s), " " the zeta function of k, at s = 1. One version of the Brauer-Siegel Theorem is that if k runs through a sequence of normal extensions of Q such that nk/log IDol+ 0, then log ~c~,,log I DJ -~0. This is proved by finding estimates for ~"k from above and below. The upper estimate is easy and effective. However, the lower estimate, which we write as rc~>cI~tLDkt -~J (~>0, c(~:l>O), I l l
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Spiramycin and Their Clinical Significance

The absolute bioavailability of oral spiramycin is generally within the range of 30 to 40%. After a 1g oral dose, the maximum serum drug concentration was found to be within the range 0.4 to 1.4 mg/L. The tissue distribution of spiramycin is extensive. The volume of distribution is in excess of 300L, and concentrations achieved in bone, muscle, respiratory tract and saliva exceed those found in serum. The intracellular penetration of spiramycin is also rapid and extensive, with the concentrations in alveolar macrophages 10 to 20 times greater than simultaneous serum concentrations.
Thermal requirements for development of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) was reared on artificial diet under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity. The lower thermal threshold for development of neonate larvae was estimated to be 15°C. The growth rate of neonate larvae increased exponentially with increasing temperature up to 30°C. The growth rate of later instars, however, was suppressed at 30°C and mortality was higher than that of larvae reared at 26°C. Larvae reared as late instars only (>56 d old), or continuously at 30°C, had increased mortality and produced smaller adults than larvae reared at 22 and 26°C. Larvae reared as late instars only (>56 d) or continuously at 22°C had similar survival rates compared with those reared at 26°C, and they emerged as larger adults compared with larvae reared at 26 or 30°C. The time required for development from neonate to pupation was 125 ± 3 d (mean ± SEM, n = 38) at 26°C. Duration of the pupal stage was inversely proportional to temperature between 22 and 30°C. Pupal mortality was higher at 30°C than at 22 or 26°C. The total time required for a single generation from oviposition to adult emergence was estimated to be 154 d at 26°C and adequate humidity. Cumulative mean air and soil temperatures and rainfall for a location in central Florida were analyzed and presented for the period October 1991 through January 1999.
On the removal and quantification of algal aufwuchs from macrophyte hosts

Accurate population density measurements of algal aufwuchs associated with macrophyte hosts appears to be fraught with uncertainties. This account details a procedure involving aufwuchs removal by agitation and acid hydrolysis with subsequent quantification by a special Sedgwick-Rafter cell counting technique. The aufwuchs removal efficiency from five hosts of widely differing morphology was calculated to be 98.0% (95% confidence limits: 96.3%, 99.7%) after five 45 second agitation cycles.
Electrophilic Assistance by Asp-99 of 3-Oxo-Δ5-steroid Isomerase†

3-Oxo-Δ5-steroid isomerase (Δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerase, KSI; EC 5.3.3.1) catalyzes the conversion of a variety of β,γ-unsaturated 3-oxosteroids to their corresponding α,β-unsaturated isomers at rates that approach the diffusion limit for specific substrates. The reaction proceeds through a dienolate intermediate, with two amino acid residues (Asp-38 and Tyr-14) known to be involved in catalysis. When the complete three-dimensional structure of KSI was determined recently by NMR methods, an additional polar residue (Asp-99) was found in the active site and this group was shown to be important for catalytic activity. In this work, we examine the properties of several mutant KSIs to determine the nature of catalysis by Asp-99 of KSI. The electrophoretic mobilities of wild-type (WT) KSI and several mutants (D99A, D99N, D38N, and D38N/D99A) on native gels were determined at pH values ranging from 6.0 to 8.5. The results demonstrate that the pKa of Asp-99 is >8.5 in wild-type KSI. The pH−rate profiles for the D...
Pharmacological modulators of the circadian clock as potential therapeutic drugs

Circadian clocks are molecular time-keeping systems that underlie daily fluctuations in multiple physiological and biochemical processes. It is well recognized now that dysfunctions of the circadian system (both genetically and environmentally induced) are associated with the development of various pathological conditions. Here we describe the application of high throughput screening approach designed to search for small molecules capable of pharmacological modulation of the molecular clock. We provide evidence for the feasibility and value of this approach for both scientific and therapeutic purposes.
Plasma triglyceride levels in ethanol-fed turkey poults

Abstract 1. 1. Plasma triglyceride levels were determined in ethanol-fed turkey poults at 24 and 38 days posthatch. 2. 2. Ethanol, fed at concentrations of 4, 4.5 and 5% during the first, second and third weeks, respectively, significantly (P ≤ 0.5) elevated plasma triglyceride levels. 3. 3. Significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased levels of plasma triglyceride were maintained with continued feeding of 5% ethanol during the fourth and fifth weeks. 4. 4. A significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased ratio of heart weight to body weight in the ethanol-fed poults confirmed the presence of an ethanol-induced cardiomegaly.
Obesity and prostate cancer.

q c T c l c p c d t T t s c o w c ( p c f a t t besity is an epidemic that affects more than 30% of United States adults.1 Obesity is assoiated with the development of multiple chronic iseases, including coronary artery disease, hyperension, diabetes, asthma, and arthritis.2 Obesity as also been linked to several types of cancer, ncluding postmenopausal breast cancer and colon ancer.3 Prostate cancer is also an epidemic. It is the most ommonly diagnosed cancer among men and the econd leading cause of cancer death. Despite the igh prevalence of both prostate cancer and obeity, only recently have data emerged shedding ight on the association between these two disases. For example, a PubMed literature search usng the keywords “obesity” and “prostate cancer” n May 2004 demonstrated 122 reports, of which 0 (57%) had been published after January 1, 000. Thus, more than one half of the reports on besity and prostate cancer were written in the past .5 years. Part of the difficulty in examining obesity is that besity is not only associated with excess body fat, ut also altered serum concentrations of numerous ormones, including testosterone, estrogen, insuin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and lepin, all of which have been linked to prostate cancer n some studies. In addition, obesity is highly corelated with dietary intake: on average, obese men onsume more calories and greater amounts of di-
Recognition of thymine in DNA bulges by a Zn(II) macrocyclic complex

A Zn(II) macrocyclic complex with appended quinoline is a bifunctional recognition agent that uses both the Zn(II) center and the pendent aromatic group to bind to thymine in bulges with good selectivity over DNA containing G, C or A bulges. Spectroscopic studies show that the stem containing the bulge stays largely intact in a DNA hairpin with the Zn(II) complex bound to the thymine bulge.
Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography

In patients with biliary obstruction, determining the level and the cause of the obstruction is essential because it can be a key factor for the next step in diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. Noninvasive cholangiography, such as computed tomography (CT) cholangiography or magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiography, allows the diagnosis of cause and level of biliary disease with minimal risk. Traditional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is an established and effective noninvasive diagnostic modality particularly for extrahepatic biliary tract evaluation. Intrahepatic biliary duct evaluation and functional MR, including evaluating for leaks and gallbladder dyskinesia and outlet obstruction, are evolving diagnostic techniques that show promising results. CT cholangiography techniques are especially useful when MRI is not available or contraindicated or when the quality of MRCP images is suboptimal. CT cholangiography is particularly useful as an adjunct to surgery or postsurgical cases. The primary limitation of cholangiographic contrast-enhanced CT cholangiography (the most prevalent type of CT cholangiography) is its hindrance by poor liver function and/or high-grade biliary obstruction. In this setting MRCP is clearly superior. There are different types of CT cholangiography and MRCP. This article discusses the types of CT cholangiography and MRCP techniques and their clinical applications.
Evaluating the Credibility of Sources: A Missing Link in the Teaching of Critical Thinking

Good decisions depend on starting with good information and then reasoning with it logically. Texts and instruction in courses in critical thinking by philosophers and psychologists focus almost exclusively on how we should reason with information, and they provide little or no help in guiding students toward selecting sources of credible information. I argue that we necessarily depend on others for most of the important information we use and that a major payoff of good education is learning whom to believe. Instruction in criteria to use in selecting valid sources should be an explicit and important part of instruction in critical thinking.
Theory of longitudinal recoil-ion momentum distribution in ion-atom ionization

The longitudinal recoil-ion momentum distributions of single ionization in collisions between fast heavy ions and atoms are analyzed by exploring the three-body kinematics and its relation to dynamic processes. It is found that there is a kinematic threshold for the longitudinal recoil-ion momentum distributions that can be ascribed to electron capture to the continuum (ECC). The finite cross section at threshold provides unambiguous evidence of the divergence of the ECC peak when the electron velocity is equal to the projectile velocity. Other aspects associated with the ionization process, such as soft-electron emission and binary-encounter collision, are also studied. Theoretical longitudinal recoil-ion momentum distributions are also compared to existing experiments.
Metrology for the advancement of x-ray optics at the ALS

When it comes to building short-wavelength optical systems to control light at the nano-scale, metrology is the foundation, and accuracy is the bedrock. An inescapable truth in our field is that the most highly specified optical elements are wildly aberrated when just slightly misaligned, whether that misalignment comes from surface-figure or mirror-placement errors, imperfect bending, thermal drift, vibration, or other various anomalies.
A contemporary evaluation of the auditory hazard of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Objectives Previous publications have suggested that prolonged exposure to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) may lead to hearing damage and that hearing protection should be used. We sought to determine the auditory risk associated with ESWL in regard to patients and operating room personnel in a contemporary setting. Methods A single day study was performed during which 5 patients were treated with ESWL via a Dornier Compact Delta lithotripter (Dornier MedTech America Inc, Kennesaw, Georgia). A sound level meter was used to evaluate the noise exposure to the patient, ESWL technician, anesthesia personnel, and the treating urologist. Multiple readings were taken at each station and during each treatment session while the patient was treated at maximum intensity level. These recordings were then averaged and referenced to published Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Results The greatest level of noise exposure was found to be at the head of the patient, with an average reading of 89 decibels (dB). The readings at the lithotripter technician's station averaged 84 dB. The anesthetist and urologist were exposed to average sound levels of 81 and 79 dB, respectively. All readings at each evaluated station evidenced a level of exposure considered safe by OSHA standards, which permit 8 hours of exposure to 90 dB per day. Conclusions Contemporary ESWL does not pose a significant auditory hazard to either the patient or operating room personnel by OSHA standards. Thus, in reference to these standards, hearing protection for the parties involved is not considered mandatory.
Geometry and Heat Transfer Considerations in Rapid Manufacturing

The authors review a laser-assisted rapid manufacturing process which allows to manufacture components from the original powderized material, overcoming functionality test limitations of conventional rapid prototyping processes. In a comprehensive experimental and analytical investigation, a set of rules which predicts the heat transfer and the geometrical properties of the fabricated parts was derived and verified. Further, the resulting set of equations was connected to a second model which predicts the mechanical properties of the fabricated parts. The results agree very well with measured mechanical properties, showing that, depending on the operating parameters laser power, scanning speed and powder delivery rate, the mechanical strength is anisotropic.
Max Born's Statistical Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

In the summer of 1926, a statistical element was introduced for the first time in the fundamental laws of physics in two papers by Born. After a brief account of Born's earlier involvements with quantum physics, including his bringing the new mechanics to the United States, the motivation for and contents of Born's two papers are discussed. The reaction of his colleagues is described.
Concentration Profiles of End-Grafted, Diblock and Triblock Polymers in the Melt: Near-Wall Structure and Effects of Segment-Wall Interaction

We report a neutron reflectivity and secondary-ion mass spectrometry study of segment-density profiles of grafted polymers in a homopolymer matrix. The effect of monomer-wall interactions was investigated by grafting to neutral or attractive interfaces. The low-density grafting regime was studied where bulk-like screening of the excluded-volume interactions for grafted chains is expected to be effective. Experiments confirm this picture of screened interactions. Current many-chain calculations do not appear to predict the ideal chain statistics observed for the neutral-wall case, nor reproduce the experimentally observed variation of the profiles with wall interaction strength.
Effect of retrieval effort and switching demand on fMRI activation during semantic word generation in schizophrenia

Verbal fluency deficits in schizophrenia are difficult to interpret because the tasks are multi-factorial and groups differ in total words generated. We manipulated retrieval and switching demands by requiring alternation between over-learned sequences in which retrieval is relatively automatic (OS) and semantic categories requiring increased retrieval effort (SC). Controlled processing was also manipulated by including switching and non-switching conditions, and formal thought disorder (FTD) was assessed with the communication disorders index (CDI). The OS/SC semantic fluency paradigm was administered during fMRI to 13 patients with schizophrenia and 14 matched controls. Images were acquired on a 3 Tesla Siemens scanner using compressed image acquisition to allow for cued overt word production. Subjects alternated between OS, SC, OS-switch, SC-switch, and baseline blocks. Images were pre-processed in SPM-2, and a two-stage random effects analysis tested within and between group contrasts. There were no group performance differences. fMRI analysis did not reveal any group differences during the OS non-switching condition. Both groups produced expected activation in bilateral prefrontal and inferior parietal regions. However, during the SC condition patients had greater activation than controls in left prefrontal, right anterior cingulate, right superior temporal, bilateral thalamus, and left parietal regions. There was also evidence of patient over-activation in prefrontal, superior temporal, superior parietal, and visual association areas when a switching component was added. FTD was negatively correlated with BOLD response in the right anterior cingulate, cuneus and superior frontal gyrus during increased retrieval demand, and positively correlated with fMRI activation in the left lingual gyrus, right fusiform gyrus and left superior parietal lobule during increased switching demand. These results indicate that patients are able to successfully perform effortful semantic fluency tasks during non-speeded conditions. When retrieval is relatively automatic there does not appear to be an effect of schizophrenia on fMRI response. However, when retrieval and controlled processing demands increase, patients have greater activation than controls despite unimpaired task performance. This inefficient BOLD response may explain why patients are slower and less accurate on standard self-paced fluency tasks.