cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Causes of musculoskeletal disorders in dental hygienists and dental hygiene students: A study of combined biomechanical and psychosocial risk factors

Objective The purpose of this study is to address the high prevalence and costs of musculoskeletal disorders in dental hygienists and dental hygiene students by assessing the combined role of biomechanical and psychosocial risk factors. The paper explores new methods for measuring the effects of psychosocial risk factors (job stress) in hygienists. Methods In a sample of practicing dental hygienists and dental hygiene students in Connecticut, the study assessed biomechanical exposures, psychosocial exposures, and symptom status by survey. Study participants were examined by physicians, providing measures of symptom and disease status. Two methods of bio-monitoring the potential effects of stress on the sympathetic nervous system were used: vibrotactile perception thresholds and nerve conduction velocity. Results Biomechanical and psychosocial exposures have independent and additive associations with the wide variety of outcomes, often of similar magnitude. Biomechanical exposures tend to be associated with negative outcomes in identifiable body areas, whereas job stress had fewer identifiable associations with outcomes by body area. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that, in addition to identifying and controlling biomechanical risk factors, dental schools, dental practices, and dental hygienists themselves should pay attention to the identification and control of psychosocial risk factors in the workplace.
Potential Annual Economic Impact of the Operation of Cheswicke Towne Centre in East Hempfield, Pennsylvania

Operation of Cheswicke Towne Center could have broad economic impact on Lancaster Country and East Hempfield Township. Cheswicke Towne Center would stimulate the economies of Lancaster County and East Hempfield to create job, increase economic output, produce income, and raise tax revenues.
Electrical activity and development of neural circuits

A distinct feature of the nervous system is the intricate network of synaptic connections among neurons of diverse phenotypes. Although initial connections are formed largely through molecular mechanisms that depend on intrinsic developmental programs, spontaneous and experience-driven electrical activities in the developing brain exert critical epigenetic influence on synaptic maturation and refinement of neural circuits. Selective findings discussed here illustrate some of our current understanding of the effects of electrical activity on circuit development and highlight areas that await further study.
Airway glandular development and stem cells.

Abstract Submucosal glands in the lung play important roles in several hypersecretory lung disease processes, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. In this context, submucosal glands undergo abnormal growth and differentiation through processes that are poorly understood. To better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to submucosal gland hypertrophy and hyperplasia in the adult human lung, efforts have been made to dissect the molecular signals and cell types responsible for normal submucosal gland development in the airway. Such studies have revealed a close relationship between progenitor⧸stem cell phenotypes in the surface airway epithelia and submucosal glands, and thus it has been suggested that submucosal glands serve as a protective niche for surface airway epithelial stem cells. Furthermore, the pluripotent progenitor cells that exist in the surface airway epithelium, which have the capacity to differentiate into ciliated, secretory, intermediate, and basal cells, also have a developmental capacity for submucosal glands. This putative adult stem cell compartment of the airway epithelium has been the focus of research attempting to identify molecular markers for signaling pathways that control stem cell phenotypes and their capacity for proliferation and differentiation following airway injury.
Targeting PDGF receptors in cancer--rationales and proof of concept clinical trials.

The platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) are a pleotrophic family of peptide growth factors that signal through cell surface, tyrosine kinase receptors (PDGFR) and stimulate various cellular functions including growth, proliferation, and differentiation. To date, PDGF expression has been demonstrated in a number of different solid tumors, from glioblastomas to prostate carcinomas. In these various tumor types, the biologic role of PDGF signaling can vary from autocrine stimulation of cancer cell growth to subtler paracrine interactions involving adjacent stroma and vasculature. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate (formerly STI571, GleevecTM, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp, East Hanover, NJ) blocks activity of the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein and the cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor c-Kit, and as such was recently approved for several indications in the treatment on chronic myeloid leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. In both of these examples the target protein was identified by an oncogenic, activating mutation. Imatinib mesylate is also a potent inhibitor of PDGFR kinase and is currently being evaluated for the treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and glioblastoma multiforme, based upon evidence in these diseases of activating mutations in PDGFR. However, the PDGF pathway may represent a therapeutic target in other solid tumors in which it is not part of the oncogenic transformation. In order to investigate the potential biologic implications of inhibiting PDGFR in these tumor types, clinical trials that investigate both established clinical endpoints of response and benefit, as well as surrogate endpoints that describe the biologic significance of PDGF inhibition in vivo are needed.
Faculty Perceptions Of Research Rewards

This study surveyed 320 faculty members from 10 business schools to examine the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards that motivate faculty to conduct research. Of the thirteen rewards studied, receiving or having tenure is the most important reward, while getting a possible administrative position was the least important. There were significant differences in the importance of these rewards between tenured-untenured and between male-female faculty members. Faculty perceives a strong link between research productivity and the attainment of the rewards of tenure and of promotion. However, in the minds of the faculty, the link between publications and the reward of salary increases is not strong. Associate professors reported lesser importance than either full professors or assistant professors on nine of the thirteen rewards and perceived a weaker link between research productivity and achieving the reward. This implies that the associate professors are the least motivated faculty rank to perform research. There was no significant difference in the number of journal articles either published or accepted for publication within the past 24 months by tenure status, gender, or faculty rank.
Status epilepticus attributed to inadvertent intrathecal injection of cefazolin during myelography

Objective To describe a case of status epilepticus believed to be a consequence of inadvertent intrathecal administration of cefazolin in a dog undergoing a myelogram. Case Summary A 4-year-old, 6.5 kg, male neutered Dachshund was referred for evaluation of an acute onset hind limb paraparesis. While performing a lumbar myelogram, cefazolin was inadvertently injected into the ventral subarachnoid space. Subsequent refractory seizure activity was attributed to the epileptogenic effects of intrathecally administered cefazolin. Supportive therapy led to eventual complete recovery. New or Unique Information Provided Although epileptogenic effects of intrathecally administered cefazolin are well documented in the human and experimental animal model literature, to the authors’ knowledge this has not been characterized in the veterinary literature. This case highlights the need to be diligent and mindful when one administers medications, and describes the management of a dog adversely affected as a consequence of a medical error.
L1-Penalized Quantile Regression in High Dimensional Sparse Models

We consider median regression and, more generally, quantile regression in high-dimensional sparse models. In these models the overall number of regressors p is very large, possibly larger than the sample size n, but only s of these regressors have non-zero impact on the conditional quantile of the response variable, where s grows slower than n. Since in this case the ordinary quantile regression is not consistent, we consider quantile regression penalized by the 1-norm of coefficients (L1-QR). First, we show that L1-QR is consistent, up to a logarithmic factor, at the oracle rate which is achievable when the minimal true model is known. The overall number of regressors p affects the rate only through a logarithmic factor, thus allowing nearly exponential growth in the number of zero-impact regressors. The rate result holds under relatively weak conditions, requiring that s/n converges to zero at a super-logarithmic speed and that regularization parameter satisfies certain theoretical constraints. Second, we propose a pivotal, data-driven choice of the regularization parameter and show that it satisfies these theoretical constraints. Third, we show that L1-QR correctly selects the true minimal model as a valid submodel, when the non-zero coefficients of the true model are well separated from zero. We also show that the number of non-zero coefficients in L1-QR is of same stochastic order as s, the number of non-zero coefficients in the minimal true model. Fourth, we analyze the rate of convergence of a two-step estimator that applies ordinary quantile regression to the selected model. Fifth, we evaluate the performance of L1-QR in a Monte-Carlo experiment, and provide an application to the analysis of the international economic growth.
Reanalysis of Genetic Data and Rethinking Dopamine's Relationship With Creativity

Several genetic analyses of creativity have recently been reported. A key finding is that dopamine might be related to ideational fluency (Runco, Noble, Reiter-Palmon, Acar, Ritchie, & Yurkovich, 2...
Capillary migration inhibition test: permanent slide preparations of migration patterns

Abstract A procedure is described for preparing a permanent, stained slide of cells migrating from glass capillaries. The stained migration patterns are suitable for projection and photography, and allow the morphological study of cells involved in migration and migration inhibition. The slide represents a permanent record of the test or experiment performed.
Quantification of sulfatides in dried blood and urine spots from metachromatic leukodystrophy patients by liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Background Treatments are being developed for metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), suggesting the need for eventual newborn screening. Previous studies have shown that sulfatide molecular species are increased in the urine of MLD patients compared to samples from non-MLD individuals, but there is no data using dried blood spots (DBS), the most common sample available for newborn screening laboratories.
Competition, cooperation, satisfaction, and the performance of complex tasks among air force cadets

Forty-eight U.S. Air Force Academy cadets were studied to examine the effects of individual attitudes and organizational reward structures on the performance of a complex, integrative task. An attitudinal survey was used to measure each subject’s preference for cooperative or competitive situations. Distinctly different group environments were created by giving four groups of six subjectscompetitive instructions and another four groupscooperative instructions. The performance criterion was the “sum” score across eight trials of a complex arcade-type computer game which required one subject to control horizontal movement and another to control vertical movement. Although neither attitude nor reward structure alone influenced performance, their interaction was found to be very significant; subjects performed poorly when the reward structure did not match their individual orientation. Implications for military and professional training programs are discussed.
A minimum cost exponential cusum test

A minimum cost CUSUM test for an event rate increase when inter-event times are exponentially distributed is presented. Optimal values of the test decision parameters, h and k, are developed from a renewal reward model of the event cycle by combining a non-linear optimization technique with an exact method for determining exponential average run lengths. Test robustness for event cycle parameter estimates and departures from the assumption of exponentially distributed inter-event times are discussed in the context of an injury monitoring scenario. Robustness to positively serially correlated observations emanating from EAR(1) and EMA(1) processes is also examined.
Tantalus, a 240MeV Dedicated Source of Synchrotron Radiation, 1968-1986

Tantalus was a 240 MeV electron storage ring completed and commissioned in 1968. It was the first storage ring operated exclusively for the production of synchrotron radiation, although it was not designed for that purpose. As such, it influenced the operating pattern for subsequent dedicated sources of synchrotron radiation. Pioneering experiments using synchrotron radiation were carried out on this machine, and innovative instrumentation was produced there. It ceased operation in 1986.
Interaction of Chemotherapy and Immune Defenses in Experimental Murine Cryptococcosis

Congenitally athymic nude (nu/nu) and thymus-containing heterozygous (nu/X) mice were infected intraperitoneally with Cryptococcus neoformans over a wide range of challenge doses. Cryptococcal disease progressed more rapidly in nude mice than in their nu/X littermates. When nu/X mice were treated with amphotericin B, all survived an otherwise lethal dose of C. neoformans. At larger challenge doses, survival was prolonged in nu/nu mice treated with amphotericin B, but they later succumbed to cryptococcosis. At lower challenge doses, amphotericin B was curative in some nude mice. Therapy of nude mice with both amphotericin B and flucytosine further prolonged survival at high-dose challenge and increased the number of cures at low-dose challenge. These studies support an interaction of antifungal chemotherapy with thymus-dependent immune defense mechanisms. This interaction is most evident at high challenge doses, where antifungal chemotherapy cures nu/X mice but only modestly prolongs survival in nude mice.
Interaction between epidemiology and laboratory sciences in the study of birth defects: Design of birth defects risk factor surveillance in metropolitan Atlanta

Despite years of research, the etiology of most birth defects remains largely unknown. Interview instruments have been the major tools in the search for environmental causes of birth defects. Because of respondents’ problems with recognition and recall, interviews are limited in their capacity to measure certain exposures. Laboratory scientists can have a major impact on defining markers of environmental exposure and genetic susceptibility. The Centers for Disease Control is starting a case‐control study of serious birth defects on the basis of a population‐based surveillance system for birth defects diagnosed during the first year of life in metropolitan Atlanta. Each year, 300 infants with selected birth defects (case subjects) and 100 population‐based control subjects (infants without birth defects) will be enrolled in an ongoing study that will supplement surveillance. In addition to conducting extensive maternal interviews, we will collect blood and urine specimens from case and control subjects and ...
MDScope - a visual computing environment for structural biology

We describe the program MDScope, an integrated set of computational tools which function as an interactive visual computing environment for the simulation and study of biopoly-mers. This environment consists of three parts: (1) vmd, a molecular visualization program for interactive display of molecular systems; (2) namd, a molecular dynamics program designed for performance, scalability, modularity, and portability, which runs in parallel on a variety of computer platforms; (3) MDCOMM, a protocol and library which functions as the unifying communication agent between the visualization and simulation components of MDScope. Modularity in both vmd and namd is accomplished through an object-oriented design, which facilitates the addition of features and new algorithms.
Autoradiographic localization of insulin-like growth factor II receptors in cerebellar cortex of weaver and Purkinje cell degeneration mutant mice.

Abstract Autoradiography was used to visualize insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) receptors in the cerebellar cortex of weaver and Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mice. These mutants were selected for their respective absence of granule or Purkinje cells. Histological preparations confirmed a severe loss of granule cells in the cerebella of weaver mutants and an absence of Purkinje cells in those of pcd mutants. Autoradiographs showed specific IGF-II binding to the granule cell layer of the cerebellar cortex in control mice, and in pcd specific IGF-II receptor sites are located on the granule cells of the cerebellum.
Splice isoform and pharmacological studies reveal that sterol depletion relocalizes α-synuclein and enhances its toxicity

Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative diseases associated with toxicity of the lipid-binding protein α-synuclein (α-syn). When expressed in yeast, α-syn associates with membranes at the endoplasmic reticulum and traffics with vesicles out to the plasma membrane. At higher levels it elicits a number of phenotypes, including blocking vesicle trafficking. The expression of α-syn splice isoforms varies with disease, but how these isoforms affect protein function is unknown. We investigated two of the most abundant isoforms, resulting in deletion of exon four (α-synΔ4) or exon six (α-synΔ6). α-SynΔ4, missing part of the lipid-binding domain, had reduced toxicity and membrane binding. α-SynΔ6, missing part of the protein–protein interaction domain, had reduced toxicity but no reduction in membrane binding. To compare the mechanism by which the splice isoforms exert toxicity, equally toxic strains were probed with genetic modifiers of α-syn–induced toxicity. Most modifiers equally altered the toxicity induced by the splice isoforms and full-length α-syn (α-synFL). However, the splice isoform strains responded differently to a sterol-binding protein, leading us to examine the effect of sterols on α-syn–induced toxicity. Upon inhibition of sterol synthesis, α-synFL and α-synΔ6, but not α-synΔ4, showed decreased plasma membrane association, increased vesicular association, and increased cellular toxicity. Thus, higher membrane sterol concentrations favor plasma membrane binding of α-synFL and α-synΔ6 and may be protective of synucleinopathy progression. Given the common use of cholesterol-reducing statins and these potential effects on membrane binding proteins, further investigation of how sterol concentration and α-syn splice isoforms affect vesicular trafficking in synucleinopathies is warranted.
The frequency of caffeine withdrawal in a population-based survey and in a controlled, blinded pilot experiment

Reports of symptoms when regular caffeine consumption is stopped have appeared in the medical literature, but the frequency and significance of this phenomenon have remained controversial. The objective of this study was to collect information on the prevalence and severity of caffeine withdrawal in the general population and determine the incidence and type of symptoms reported on blind abrupt and gradual caffeine cessation among coffee drinkers reporting past episodes of caffeine-withdrawal symptoms. A community-based telephone survey was followed by a stratified, randomized, double-blind controlled study. Participants included 11,112 persons spontaneously calling to inquire about studies not related to caffeine and 57 regular caffeine users selected from among the callers because of self-reported caffeine-withdrawal symptoms. Gradual or abrupt withdrawal from caffeine was compared to continuation of the same caffeine level. In a survey of 11,112 persons, 61% reported daily caffeine consumption, and 11% of the caffeine consumers reported symptoms upon stopping caffeine. Among the regular caffeine users, only 0.9% of males and 5.5% of females reported symptoms significant enough to interfere with normal activities when they abruptly stopped caffeine. A group of those reporting withdrawal symptoms were randomly assigned to three subsamples. In the group subjected to abrupt withdrawal (N = 18), 6 (33.3%) reported symptoms (e.g., headaches and tiredness). Including decreases in functional ratings, a total of 7 of the 18 (38.8%) could be considered to have experienced caffeine withdrawal. The gradual withdrawal group (N = 20) reported minimal if any caffeine withdrawal symptoms. A third group (N = 18) was kept on a level dose of caffeine for comparison. When participants are unaware of the caffeine-withdrawal focus of the study, these results suggest that both the frequency and severity of caffeine-withdrawal symptoms are much lower than found in some previous reports and that clinically significant symptoms may be uncommon events among the general population.
Clinical outcomes of seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in pediatric inpatients

In April 2009, a novel influenza A H1N1 (nH1N1) virus emerged and spread rapidly worldwide. News of the pandemic led to a heightened awareness of the consequences of influenza and generally resulted in enhanced infection control practices and strengthened vaccination efforts for both healthcare workers and the general population. Seasonal influenza (SI) illness in the pediatric population has been previously shown to result in significant morbidity, mortality, and substantial hospital resource utilization. Although influenza pandemics have the possibility of resulting in considerable illness, we must not ignore the impact that we can experience annually with SI. We compared the outcomes of pediatric patients ≤18 years of age at a large urban hospital with laboratory confirmed influenza and an influenza-like illness (ILI) during the 2009 pandemic and two prior influenza seasons. The primary outcome measure was hospital length of stay (LOS). All variables potentially associated with LOS based on univariable analysis, previous studies, or hypothesized relationships were included in the regression models to ensure adjustment for their effects. There were 133 pediatric cases of nH1N1 admitted during 2009 and 133 cases of SI admitted during the prior 2 influenza seasons (2007-8 and 2008-9). Thirty-six percent of children with SI and 18% of children with nH1N1 had no preexisting medical conditions (p = 0.14). Children admitted with SI had 1.73 times longer adjusted LOS than children admitted for nH1N1 (95% CI 1.35 - 2.13). There was a trend towards more children with SI requiring mechanical ventilation compared with nH1N1 (16 vs.7, p = 0.08). This study strengthens the growing body of evidence demonstrating that SI results in significant morbidity in the pediatric population. Pandemic H1N1 received considerable attention with strong media messages urging people to undergo vaccination and encouraging improved infection control efforts. We believe that this attention should become an annual effort for SI. Strong unified messages from health care providers and the media encouraging influenza vaccination will likely prove very useful in averting some of the morbidity related to influenza for future epidemics.
SnapShot: Transcription regulation: pausing.

Productive elongation Modes of P-TEFb Recruitment: TFs (e.g., MYC, NF-κB) Mediator (Med26 subunit or Cdk8 module) Acetylated histones and Brd4 Other elongation factors as part of the superelongation complex CRE DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) associate with cis-regulatory elements (CRE) to promote assembly of the PIC. TFs can stimulate PIC formation directly through interactions with the Mediator complex and help recruit the general transcription factors (GTFs). TFs also recruit coactivators that can remove nucleosomes from the promoter or modify histone proteins, for example by acetylation (Ac) or methylation (Me).
Comparing Computer Generated Military Actors With Specific Skills

The US military sees a great use for software agent technology in its `synthetic battlespace', a Distributed Virtual Environment currently used as a training and planning arena. The Computer Generated Actors (CGAs) currently used in the battlespace display varying capabilities, but state of the art falls short of presenting believable agents. This lack of `believability' directly contributes to simulation and participant inconsistencies. Even if CGAs display believable behavior no formalized methodology exists for judging that display or for comparing CGA performance. A formal method is required to obtain a quantitative measurement of performance for use in assessing a CGA's performance in some simulation, and thus its suitability for use in the battlespace. This paper proposes such a quantitative evaluation method for determining an agent's observed degree of performance as related to skills. Since the method delineates what is being measured and the criteria upon which the measurement is based, it also explains the particular evaluation given for specific military CGAs.
LD IDENTIFICATION: IT'S NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF BUILDING A BETTER MOUSETRAP

Historically, researchers, policy makers, and practi- tioners have sought improved solutions to the issues associated with LD identification decisions. Since the passage of P.L. 94-142, numerous identification methods has been proposed, imple- mented, and studied. While each new method has been successful, at least partially, in addressing some of the limitations of earlier methods, each new identification model is saddled with its own set of shortcomings. This article argues that factors beyond specific LD identification technology significantly influence the decision-mak- ing process and ultimately decisions about who is and who is not LD. Results from focus group discussions with six stakeholder groups (LD parents, LD teachers, general education teachers, direc- tors of special education, school principals, and school psycholo- gists/diagnosticians) are reported, indicating that a broad array of factors beyond a student's performance on formal and informal assessments influence ultimate decisions made about a student's eligibility for learning disability services. Thus, the search for new identification technologies should also include efforts to better understand the values and biases of critical stakeholders and how to include these factors in the overall decision-making process.
Stability of Oleate Content in Soybean Lines Derived from M23

M23 is a soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] line with elevated oleate content that has been used to develop lines with elevated oleate combined with low saturated fatty acids (MO/LS), 1% linolenate (MO/LLN), or both low saturates and 1% linolenate (MO/LS/LLN). The objective of this study was to determine the stability of oleate content of eight MO/LS lines, nine MO/LLN lines, nine MO/LS/LLN lines, and four cultivars with conventional oleate content when grown in one Missouri and four Iowa environments during each of 2 yr. Averaged across the 10 environments, the mean oleate content was 590 g kg -1 for the MO/LS lines, 521 g kg -1 for the MO/LLN lines, 557 g kg -1 for the MO/LS/LLN lines, and 269 g kg -1 for the four cultivars. The mean oleate content of all lines was significantly greater in 2005 (545 g kg -1 ) than in 2006 (489 g kg -1 ) and the earliest planting date had the greatest oleate content both years. Stability of the individual lines based on either a regression analysis or on the range of their oleate content over environments indicated that the lines with the greatest oleate content generally had the most variation across environments. However, the lines with the greatest mean oleate content had the highest likelihood of meeting or exceeding 500 g kg -1 across environments.
An Ecological and Conservation Perspective on Advances in the Applied Virology of Zoonoses

The aim of this manuscript is to describe how modern advances in our knowledge of viruses and viral evolution can be applied to the fields of disease ecology and conservation. We review recent progress in virology and provide examples of how it is informing both empirical research in field ecology and applied conservation. We include a discussion of needed breakthroughs and ways to bridge communication gaps between the field and the lab. In an effort to foster this interdisciplinary effort, we have also included a table that lists the definitions of key terms. The importance of understanding the dynamics of zoonotic pathogens in their reservoir hosts is emphasized as a tool to both assess risk factors for spillover and to test hypotheses related to treatment and/or intervention strategies. In conclusion, we highlight the need for smart surveillance, viral discovery efforts and predictive modeling. A shift towards a predictive approach is necessary in today’s globalized society because, as the 2009 H1N1 pandemic demonstrated, identification post-emergence is often too late to prevent global spread. Integrating molecular virology and ecological techniques will allow for earlier recognition of potentially dangerous pathogens, ideally before they jump from wildlife reservoirs into human or livestock populations and cause serious public health or conservation issues.
Restoration of involuted zymogenic cells in hypophysectomized rats by replacement therapy.

Following hypophysectomy of the rat, partial involution occurs in the zymogenic cells of the stomach (Baker and Abrams, '54), parotid gland (Baker and Abrams, '55), pancreas (Baker and Pliske, '57) , submandibular gland (Lacassagne and Chamorro, '40 ; Grad and Leblond, '49) , and in the intestinal cells of Paneth (Baker, Kent and Pliske, in press). Insofar as they have been studied, enzyme synthesis is suppressed in these cells, also. The question of how the hypophysis exerts its influence over zymogenic cells will be answered only when they are restored to normal in hypophysectomized rats by replacement therapy. The purpose of this report is to present the results of experiments in which somatotropin, corticosterone and thyroxine were administered in combination. These hormones were selected for several reasoiis. Somatotropin has induced a significant but limited increase in weight of the pancreas in hypophysectomized rats (Kinash et al., '53; Baker and Abrams, '55). The absolute weight of the parotid gland was increased, also, by somatotropin in hypophysectomized rats, although not out of proportion to the augmented body weight (Baker and Abrams, '55). Thyroxine was used be-
Plasmonic nanoclusters: a path towards negative-index metafluids

We introduce the concept of metafluids-liquid metamaterials based on clusters of metallic nanoparticles which we will term Artificial Plasmonic Molecules (APMs). APMs comprising four nanoparticles in a tetrahedral arrangement have isotropic electric and magnetic responses and are analyzed using the plasmon hybridization (PH) method, an electrostatic eigenvalue equation, and vectorial finite element frequency domain (FEFD) electromagnetic simulations. With the aid of group theory, we identify the resonances that provide the strongest electric and magnetic response and study them as a function of separation between spherical nanoparticles. It is demonstrated that a colloidal solution of plasmonic tetrahedral nanoclusters can act as an optical medium with very large, small, or even negative effective permittivity, epsilon(eff), and substantial effective magnetic susceptibility, Chi(eff) = mu(eff) -1, in the visible or near infrared bands. We suggest paths for increasing the magnetic response, decreasing the damping, and developing a metafluid with simultaneously negative epsilon(eff) and mu(eff).
Protecting a Moveable and Immoveable Feast: Legal Safeguards for Yemen’s Cultural Heritage

This paper surveys the current imperfect legal protections afforded to Yemen’s immense cultural heritage. It focuses on recent positive legislative developments, including a new law to protect historic cities, while highlighting ongoing challenges, especially smuggling. Legal efforts to protect heritage are a requirement for retaining Zabid on the UNESCO List of World Heritage and are also crucial to continued conservation of the Old City of Sana’a. Political changes resulting from Yemen’s Arab Spring have recently drawn attention to these and other heritage issues. The paper argues that the political, economic, and security crises necessitate particular and urgent attention to protection of cultural heritage in the country, including a strong legal regime to encourage positive activity and to combat the neglect and criminality that presently threaten conservation.
The President's Science Advisory Committee's Report on the World Food Problem: An Overview

PUBLIC interest in imbalance between food production and needs in the developing nations has fluctuated widely over the past several years as transitory, near-crisis food situations have developed and then subsided. Today, we consider the report of the President's Science Advisory Committee Panel on the World Food Supply at a time when most recent crop reports from the critical areas are favorable.' Undoubtedly, some will find the topic less compelling now than at earlier times. The original charge to the panel came at a time when the atmosphere of crisis was very real. Failure of the monsoon in India had created a dangerous food situation. Madame Gandhi was on an urgent mission to Washington to speed resumption of U.S. food shipments, which had been interrupted following the 1965 India-Pakistan conflict. In this sense, the charge to the panel was as much a product of the weather over the Indian subcontinent as it was a recognition of any unfavorable change in longterm trends of factors affecting food balances. The panel was directed to consider (1) development of practical synthetic dietary supplements, (2) improvement of the nutritional value of food crops, and (3) the application of technology to increase food production. In other words, the panel was simply to consider ways of producing more and better conventional and nonconventional food.
Kentucky advances in motor coach regualtion

A new officer, the commissioner of motor transportation, is charged with full responsibility for motor bus regulation
Gender roles and conflict among Lebialem immigrant families in the USA

This paper explores the effects of contemporary thinking on autonomy and independence against a background of the traditional values of some immigrant families in the USA from Lebialem, a traditional society in Cameroon Republic. I argue that new gender consciousness in a new host society culture is not necessarily incompatible with marriage. Centered on gender roles among Lebialem immigrant households in the USA, the article examines the different experiences of four households representing the trends in this immigrant community that has used a new cultural environment of reversed roles to either become torn apart or to find new strength and prosperity. The study concludes by asserting that feminism is not about women becoming men, but rather about women finding their voices, silenced for very long, in many male-dominated traditional societies. In mediating conflicts that have arisen among many immigrant families over a period of 10 years, the analysis is based on the wisdom of flexibility in experientia...
Experimental triplet and quadruplet fluctuation densities and spatial distribution function integrals for pure liquids

Kirkwood-Buff or Fluctuation Solution Theory can be used to provide experimental pair fluctuations, and/or integrals over the pair distribution functions, from experimental thermodynamic data on liquid mixtures. Here, this type of approach is used to provide triplet and quadruplet fluctuations, and the corresponding integrals over the triplet and quadruplet distribution functions, in a purely thermodynamic manner that avoids the use of structure factors. The approach is then applied to binary mixtures of water + methanol and benzene + methanol over the full composition range under ambient conditions. The observed correlations between the different species vary significantly with composition. The magnitude of the fluctuations and integrals appears to increase as the number of the most polar molecule involved in the fluctuation or integral also increases. A simple physical picture of the fluctuations is provided to help rationalize some of these variations.
Correlation Between Subcutaneous Knee Fat Thickness and Chondromalacia Patellae on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Knee

Abstract Purpose Chondromalacia patellae is a common cause of anterior knee pain in young patients and can be detected noninvasively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the correlation between subcutaneous fat thickness around the knee joint on axial MRIs as a surrogate marker of obesity, with the presence or absence of chondromalacia patellae. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of knee MRIs in 170 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Imaging was performed over a 12-month period on a 1.5T MRI system with a dedicated extremity coil. Two radiologists experienced in musculoskeletal imaging assessed each examination in consensus for the presence or absence of chondromalacia patellae and graded positive studies from 0 (absent) to 3 (full cartilage thickness defect). Measurement of subcutaneous knee fat thickness was obtained on the medial aspect of the knee. Results MRI findings of chondromalacia patellae were present in 33 patients (19.4%), of which, there were 11 grade 1 lesions (33.3%), 9 grade 2 lesions (27.3%), and 13 grade 3 lesions (39.4%). The mean subcutaneous knee fat thickness was significantly higher in the chondromalacia patellae group for all grades compared with the normal group ( P R = 0.48 [95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.68]; P Conclusion Subcutaneous knee fat thickness as a surrogate marker of obesity was positively associated with the presence and severity of chondromalacia patellae on MRI.
The Cause and Prevention of Glassware Corrosion in Domestic Mechanical Diswashers

Laboratory scale procedures and practical tests were used to study the problem of glassware corrosion (permanent filming) in domestic mechanical dishwashers. Results of these tests showed glassware corrosion to be caused by alkali attack of the glass structure. It was also found that sequestrants such as sodium tripolyphosphate greatly accelerate the corrosive action of alkali. Silicates, certain metals and metal oxides were found to inhibit glassware corrosion. The basis for this inhibiting effect is believed to be adsorption on the glass surface of reaction products of these materials in an alkaline solution.
Interactive task planning under uncertainty and goal changes

Abstract This paper describes a task planner designed for service robots. Task planning for service robots differs from traditional planning in the following ways: (i) it requires more extensive interactions between the robot and the human. This interaction may convey changed objectives and goals, and advice or directions to perform tasks in a preferred way, (ii) the presence of multiple agents, such as other robots and humans in the work environment. This makes the environment dynamic, since these agents could make changes even as the robot is executing a predetermined plan, and (iii) lack of structure in the environment (in contrast to most industrial applications). This makes the task of sensing relevant conditions less reliable and less feasible, so the robot often has to plan with incomplete knowledge of the environment. This requires the task planner for service robots to be interactive, reactive, and possess the ability to dynamically evaluate plans based on their reliability in uncertain conditions. This paper describes a planner which uses a spreading activation mechanism to combine two approaches to planning: (i) aproactive component that generates plans biased toward picking the most reliable actions in a given situation, and (ii) areactive component that alters action selection based on changes that occur in the dynamic and uncertain environment. A number of examples related to the ISAC system for feeding the handicapped demonstrate the effectiveness of the planning mechanism.
Eating Qualities of Muffins Prepared with 10% and 20% Soy Flour

Abstract A study was conducted on the eating qualities of muffins prepared with 10% and 20% soy flour. Results showed that muffins prepared with or without soy flour were not significantly different in tenderness, flavor and overall quality. The addition of soy flour did not impart any adverse flavor. In fact, there was a tendency for muffins prepared with 10% soy flour to be rated better than the standard muffins, especially in the “flavor” and “desire to buy” qualities. The results suggested that 10% soy flour substitution in muffin recipes can be a viable alternative to achieve great taste and health benefits of soy.
Elders' Preferences for Care Setting in Short- and Long-Term Disability Scenarios

Preference for long-term care (LTC) location among community-dwelling elders was assessed using short- and long-term disability scenarios (N = 537). Using Wilcoxon rank sum tests, we assessed differences in perceptions of financial difficulty, family strain, and personal stress by predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Using logistic regression we determined which factors were predictive of preference for LTC location. Frail and poor elders and those who lived alone had more financial and familial concerns; elders of higher social class anticipated more personal stress; elders with negative attitudes toward LTC facilities, who had fewer financial, familial and personal concerns, and who were married were more likely to prefer home care.
Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: Behavior, Biology, and Therapeutic Approaches

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), although exceedingly rare, is the most aggressive solid tumor known. Early studies on the effects of different therapies may be biased by the inclusion of responsive "small cell" ATC patients, which are now known to be mostly lymphoma patients. Local control of disease with surgery and/or external beam radiotherapy (XRT) is of fundamental importance to enhance survival. Ultimately, nearly all ATC patients die from their disease, which is widely metastatic. Development of effective systemic chemotherapy agents would provide the best chance for long-term survival of patients. Early preliminary data suggest that paclitaxel may be helpful, although no agent has yet been identified to result in dramatic improvements in survival. Select patients may benefit from aggressive multimodal therapy, although it is important to provide appropriate palliative care when desired.
Le Style en arabesque d'Assia Djebar

Assia Djebar utilise, pour les detourner, des representations appartenant au genre de la peinture ‘orientaliste’, comme dans Femmes d’Alger dans leur appartement (1980) et Vaste est la prison (1995). Comment reecrire, en langue francaise et sans le trahir, un monde de femmes dont les representations historiques sont particulierement informees par le discours orientaliste? Cette premiere interrogation qui sous-tend notre article se developpera en une reflexion autour du rapport entre l’usage des differentes langues (arabe, francais) et la memoire des representations algeriennes d’abord orientalistes. Assia Djebar, contre toute forme d’amnesie historique et linguistique, tente de rassembler les differentes memoires et langues algeriennes accumulees au fil des conquetes. Le ‘style en arabesque’ serait une tentative linguistique et poetique de detourner les representations prises dans le filet de ce qui reste encore considere par les Algeriens comme un discours colonial. La figure de l’arabesque trahit le travail d’une structure en palimpseste; simultanement, elle designe le mouvement subtil et ambivalent d’une presence entrelacee des langues et des representations, visible pour le lecteur bilingue. Cette strategie pour une Algerie plurielle et transculturelle s’oppose au discours monolithique de la construction identitaire algerienne officielle, necessaire pour affirmer une arabite transcendante.
Valgus slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a posteromedial displacement of the epiphysis on the metaphysis. Superolateral displacement of the epiphysis, the valgus SCFE, was first described by Muller, although some authors question its existence. We report 4 additional cases and review the literature regarding valgus SCFE. A retrospective review was performed; the child's sex, race, age, weight and height, symptom duration, type of SCFE (stable/unstable), and slip severity were recorded. There were 105 children (67 boys and 38 girls) with 141 idiopathic SCFEs. Four children were noted to have 7 stable valgus SCFEs. Statistically significant differences between the valgus and varus SCFEs were noted for symptom duration and body mass index, and valgus SCFEs tended to be less severe. When combining the data from the literature and the author's institution, there were 22 children with 30 valgus SCFEs at average age of 12.4 +/- 1.8 years; weight, 69.3 +/- 20.6 kg; height, 155.3 +/- 12.4 cm; and body mass index, 27.l +/- 7.1 kg/cm. The demographics of children with valgus SCFE are similar to children with routine SCFE except for sex: 76% of valgus SCFEs occurred in girls. Awareness of valgus SCFEs is necessary for both diagnosis and treatment. In a "valgus" SCFE, Klein line will always be normal, emphasizing the need for lateral radiographs when evaluating all children for SCFE. Single central screw fixation must be approached with caution because the more medial screw entry point places the screw path in immediate proximity to the femoral neurovascular bundle.