cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monitoring Sub-Saharan African physician migration and recruitment post-adoption of the WHO code of practice: temporal and geographic patterns in the United States.

Data monitoring is a key recommendation of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, a global framework adopted in May 2010 to address health workforce retention in resource-limited countries and the ethics of international migration. Using data on African-born and African-educated physicians in the 2013 American Medical Association Physician Masterfile (AMA Masterfile), we monitored Sub-Saharan African (SSA) physician recruitment into the physician workforce of the United States (US) post-adoption of the WHO Code of Practice. From the observed data, we projected to 2015 with linear regression, and we mapped migrant physicians’ locations using GPS Visualizer and ArcGIS. The 2013 AMA Masterfile identified 11,787 active SSA-origin physicians, representing barely 1.3% (11,787/940,456) of the 2013 US physician workforce, but exceeding the total number of physicians reported by WHO in 34 SSA countries (N = 11,519). We estimated that 15.7% (1,849/11,787) entered the US physician workforce after the Code of Practice was adopted. Compared to pre-Code estimates from 2002 (N = 7,830) and 2010 (N = 9,938), the annual admission rate of SSA emigres into the US physician workforce is increasing. This increase is due in large part to the growing number of SSA-born physicians attending medical schools outside SSA, representing a trend towards younger migrants. Projection estimates suggest that there will be 12,846 SSA migrant physicians in the US physician workforce in 2015, and over 2,900 of them will be post-Code recruits. Most SSA migrant physicians are locating to large urban US areas where physician densities are already the highest. The Code of Practice has not slowed the SSA-to-US physician migration. To stem the physician “brain drain”, it is essential to incentivize professional practice in SSA and diminish the appeal of US migration with bolder interventions targeting primarily early-career (age ≤ 35) SSA physicians.
Risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in elderly patients admitted to a regional trauma center after sustaining a fall

Falls are a significant cause of mortality in the elderly patients. Despite this, the literature on in-hospital mortality related to elderly falls remains sparse. Our study aims to determine the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in elderly patients admitted to a regional trauma center after sustaining a fall. All elderly case records with fall-related injuries between 2003 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed for demographic characteristics, injury severities, comorbidity factors and clinical outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality. In total, 1026 elderly patients with fall-related injuries were included in the study. The average age of patients was 80.94 ± 8.16 years. Seventy seven percent of the patients had at least one comorbid condition. Majority of the falls occurred at home. More than half of the patients fell from ground level. Overall, the in-hospital mortality rate was 16 %. Head injury constituted the most common injury sustained in patients who died (77 %). In addition to age, ISS, GCS, ICU admission and anemia were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with in-hospital deaths in elderly fall patients. Ground-level falls in the elderly can be devastating and carry a significant mortality rate. Elderly patients with anemia were two times more likely to die in the hospital after sustaining a fall in our study population. Increased focus on anemia which is often underappreciated in elderly fall patients can be beneficial in improving outcomes and reducing in-hospital mortality.
Nanomechanical z-shape folding of graphene on flat substrate

Abstract Graphene folding is an essential process in the design and manufacturing of graphene origami. Here we report the nanomechanical z-shape (accordion) folding of single graphene sheets on flat substrates by using atomic force microscopy techniques. The quantitative nanomechanical measurements in conjunction with nonlinear mechanics modeling and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that a reversible out-of-plane buckling delamination of graphene occurs in its early-stage folding process, which enables graphene to deform into a stable self-folded z-shape conformation. The research findings are useful to the study of active and controllable folding of graphene and in the pursuit of graphene origami with intricate geometries.
Continuous Operators That Generate Many Flows

This chapter describes the continuous operators that generate many flows. It presents an assumption in which G is a continuous transformation from E 2 into E 2, and T is a dynamical system that solves G such that T is a continuous transformation from E 1 × E 2 onto E 2 such that if each of x and y is a number and p is a point of the plane, then T ( x , T ( y , p )) = T ( x + y , p ) and T ( p ) = G ( p ). Anatol Beck has given an example of a continuous transformation G from the plane into itself such that there exist uncountably many dynamical systems on the plane that solve G . The chapter presents a continuous transformation G from the plane into itself with the property that if p and q are two points of the plane, then there is a dynamical system T with the property and that there is a trajectory ψ of T such that both p and q are in cl ( ψ ) and T solves G .
A task complexity assessment tool for single-operator multi-robot control scenarios

One important aspect of research in multi-robot team applications focuses on integrating humans in the control loop to perform collaborative tasks. Human operators are expected to assume many different roles in these systems. So far, the research in this domain mainly considers situations where tasks are independent from one another. In contrast, the work demonstrated here describes a methodology and software system for studying human behavior in multi-robot control scenarios where tasks are complex and have different types of dependencies.
Research Support and Conceptual Framework

The claims and recommendations found in this text include selected literature and current findings on identity, social media, and teaching practices of practicing and preservice teachers; research conducted by the author over more than six years with more than 300 preservice teachers; and, more specifically, the findings of a study of preservice teachers’ responses to the use of Twitter and other social media.
Predictors of electrocardiographic abnormalities in type 1 Diabetes: the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose To determine the incidence and determinants of developing abnormalities on the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) in persons with type 1 diabetes.
Conquering adversary behavioral uncertainty in security games: an efficient modeling robust based algorithm

Stackelberg Security Games (SSG) have been widely applied for solving real-world security problems—with a significant research emphasis on modeling attackers’ behaviors to handle their bounded rationality. However, access to real-world data (used for learning an accurate behavioral model) is often limited, leading to uncertainty in attacker’s behaviors while modeling. This paper therefore focuses on addressing behavioral uncertainty in SSG with the following main contributions: 1) we present a new uncertainty game model that integrates uncertainty intervals into a behavioral model to capture behavioral uncertainty; 2) based on this game model, we propose a novel robust algorithm that approximately computes the defender’s optimal strategy in the worst-case scenario of uncertainty—with a bound guarantee on its solution quality.
Expanding Dispositions for Literacy: General Educators as Literacy Gatekeepers

ABSTRACTStudents with disabilities continue to be denied literacy rich experiences with their non-disabled peers. Throughout this article the authors explore how narrow, ability-focused teacher dispositions can perpetuate low expectations and can preemptively deny students with disabilities access to meaningful literacy experiences. Hence, the development of an inclusive literacy disposition is crucial to providing access to robust learning experiences for students with disabilities. The authors describe a research study that utilizes journal writing and a role-play intervention with pre-service general educators in a graduate literacy methods course. Analysis of post-intervention data suggests it is possible to shift narrow, ability-orientated dispositions to broader and more inclusive conceptualizations that support students with disabilities. Implications for both research and practice are discussed.
The influence of feedback statement sequence and goals on task performance.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the use of combined positive and corrective feedback statements to improve performance in the presence of a performance goal. A within-subjects design was used to expose participants to 4 feedback statement sequences: (a) no feedback; (b) PCP (positive
Distribution of tacrine across the blood-brain barrier in awake, freely moving rats using in vivo microdialysis sampling.

Microdialysis was used to sample simultaneously the distribution of THA (9-amino-l,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine; Tacrine), a potential anti-Alzheimer agent, both in blood and across the blood–brain barrier of anesthetized and awake, freely moving rats. Microdialysis probes were implanted in the jugular vein and dorsal hippocampus and dialysis samples were simultaneously collected from both sites. Dialysis samples were analyzed using a microbore column chromato-graphic assay with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/ml. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated after a 1 mg/kg intravenous dose of THA. Plasma pharmacokinetics followed a biexponential mode, with t 1/2(dis.) = 8.4 ± 2.7 min and t 1/2(elim.) = 76.7 ± 24.2 min for awake, freely moving rats. THA rapidly penetrated the blood–brain barrier, with maximum concentrations attained within 60 min post-dose. In the brain of awake, freely moving rats t 1/2(abs.) was 26.0 ± 5.2 min and t 1/2(elim.) was 99.1 ± 17.7 min. THA levels in hippocampus extracellular fluid were 10 times lower than those in plasma. For anesthetized rats, the t l/2(elim.) in blood was 154.8 ± 46.8 min, while in the hippocampus t 1/2(elim.) was 159.5 ± 31.7 min. The binding of THA in rat plasma was 56.2 ± 5.0%, while the fraction bound to rat whole blood was 73.3 ± 4.1% as determined by microdialysis and ultrafiltration.
Characterizing transverse thermoelectrics: Novel techniques for anisotropic ambipolar semiconductors (Conference Presentation)

Tri-Technology Device Refrigeration (TTDR) II, edited by Richard I. Epstein, Bjorn F. Andresen, Tonny Benschop, Joseph P. Heremans, Sergey V. Riabzev, Mansoor Sheik-Bahae, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 10180, 1018009© 2017 SPIE · CCC code: 0277-786X/17/$18 · doi: 10.1117/12.2266121Proc. of SPIE Vol. 10180 1018009-1
Frequency of supernumerary teeth in a dolichocephalic canine breed, the greyhound.

Objective To determine the frequency of supernumerary teeth in Greyhounds. Animals 55 Greyhounds obtained anonymously from a variety of breeders. Procedure Greyhounds were examined for the presence of supernumerary teeth. Results Supernumerary teeth were present in 20 of 55 (36.4%) Greyhounds surveyed. Conclusions Location of supernumerary teeth, usually first premolars, is not random, but favors occurrence in the upper arcade. Occurrence of supernumerary teeth did not favor the left or right side. Clinical relevance Because an increasing number of veterinary anatomy textbooks use Greyhounds as typical examples, it is important to note the high frequency of supernumerary teeth.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIVERSITY IN THE PLANT ACTIN GENE FAMILY

Recent progress in understanding the plant actin gene family is reviewed, focusing on the Arabidopsis actins. Taking an evolutionary perspective, we have focused on the functional significance of the conserved but ancient vegetative and reproductive actin classes, which date back to the origin of vascular plants. We propose that the conservation of ancient family members is due to differential gene regulation and/or to functional differences among isovariants. The eight functional actin genes are widely dispersed on four of the five Arabidopsis chromosomes. Each of the five actin gene subclasses are strongly expressed at some time and place during plant development, and they are highly differentially regulated. A handful of surface epitope differences among plant and vertebrate actins enabled the isolation of general and subclass-specific anti-plant actin monoclonal antisera. These reagents give an excellent resolution to the switch from vegetative to reproductive actin protein expression during floral development. Combined with refined fixation protocols, these reagents resolve the intimate relationship between the chloroplasts and the actin cytoskeleton in leaf cells. Sequence-based screening procedures were developed for the isolation of the first mutant alleles of plant actins. These mutants have strong deleterious effects on the survival of plants and are effectively lethal mutations over several generations. Sequence differences among the co-expressed plant actin isovariants should produce complex dynamics within actin filaments and with actin-binding proteins. Future work on the significance of this ancient family will focus on the cell biology, genetics, and biochemistry of the isovariants.
Humans with obesity have disordered brain responses to food images during physiological hyperglycemia.

Blood glucose levels influence brain regulation of food intake. This study assessed the effect of mild physiological hyperglycemia on brain response to food cues in individuals with obesity (OB) ve...
Role of Protein Phosphatase 1 and Inhibitor of Protein Phosphatase 1 in Nitric Oxide–Dependent Inhibition of the DNA Damage Response in Pancreatic β-Cells

Nitric oxide is produced at micromolar levels by pancreatic β-cells during exposure to proinflammatory cytokines. While classically viewed as damaging, nitric oxide also activates pathways that promote β-cell survival. We have shown that nitric oxide, in a cell type-selective manner, inhibits the DNA damage response (DDR) and, in doing so, protects β-cells from DNA damage-induced apoptosis. This study explores potential mechanisms by which nitric oxide inhibits DDR signaling. We show that inhibition of DDR signaling (measured by γH2AX formation and the phosphorylation of KAP1) is selective for nitric oxide, as other forms of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species do not impair DDR signaling. The kinetics and broad range of DDR substrates that are inhibited suggest that protein phosphatase activation may be one mechanism by which nitric oxide attenuates DDR signaling in β-cells. While protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) is a primary regulator of DDR signaling and an inhibitor of PP1 (IPP1) is selectively expressed only in β-cells, disruption of either IPP1 or PP1 does not modify the inhibitory actions of nitric oxide on DDR signaling in β-cells. These findings support a PP1-independent mechanism by which nitric oxide selectively impairs DDR signaling and protects β-cells from DNA damage-induced apoptosis.
Without the ties that bind: U.S. young adults who lack active parental relationships

Abstract Parents are an important source of affection and support for young adults in the U.S., so those who lack parental relationships are a potentially vulnerable group. This study outlines how common it is for young adults to report lacking an active parental tie and provides a portrait of these young adults. Analysis of the 2008–2009 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 5090) reveals that the vast majority of young adults ages 25–32 in the U.S. – 97.6% – have an active relationship with at least one parent figure. Only a small share of young adults lack a relationship with a mother figure (6%), due primarily to early maternal death. A larger share of young adults lack a relationship with a father figure (20%), usually because their father figure is deceased or they never had a father figure (rather than having become estranged over time). Young adults who are Black or from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to lack parental ties in young adulthood. In addition, prior events such as parental separation or incarceration are associated with an elevated likelihood of being estranged in early adulthood (though these events are rarely followed by estrangement with an existing parent figure).
Takeoff orientation of the major aortic arch branches irrespective of arch type: Ramifications for brachiocephalic interventions including carotid stenting.

Background:Our previous work demonstrating great ease and predictability of cannulation of the major aortic arch branches with an upwardly pointing 3DR catheter, irrespective of aortic arch type, l...
How Is Bandwidth Used in Computers

This chapter will explore the issue of bandwidth: how it is used, and how that effects the performance of an individual processor in a system, as well as how it impacts the overall system. It will examine the current trends in system evolution, and explain what those trends imply in light of bandwidth. Finally, the chapter will explore the technologies that are likely to emerge to satisfy those trends.
Risks, Complications, and Revisions

Although we surgeons like to think of ourselves as perfectionists, none of us is perfect. The results of human enterprise cannot be guaranteed, and plastic surgery is certainly no exception. There are potential risks and complications involved with any surgical procedure. When patients are informed and aware of the risks as well as the standard procedures for managing those risks they are better able to understand, accept, and cope with a complication. A written explanation of all risks and potential complications should, therefore, be given to each patient and is not only very helpful to the patient but can be invaluable to the surgeon medically/legally. The following are the most frequently seen complications in ethnic rhinoplasty. Several are relatively more common than in Caucasian rhinoplasty.
The Quasi-\mathcal{R}-Matrix

4.1.1. Completions. Let (U ⊗ U)^ be the completion of the vector space U ⊗ U with respect to the descending sequence of vector spaces $${H_N} = ({{\rm{U}}^{\rm{ + }}}{{\rm{U}}^{\rm{0}}}(\sum\limits_{{\rm{tr }}\nu \ge N} {{\rm{U}}_\nu ^ - } )) \otimes {\rm{U}} + {\rm{U}} \otimes ({{\rm{U}}^ - }{{\rm{U}}^{\rm{0}}}(\sum\limits_{{\rm{tr }}\nu \ge N} {{\rm{U}}_\nu ^ + ))} $$
Selective flocculation of aqueous coal suspensions with polyethylene oxide

Aqueous suspensions of Colchester Seam coal from Illinois were flocculated at 25°C and 95°C by using polyethylene oxide (PEO) having a molecular weight of about 100,000. Turbidity measurements on coal suspensions showed that raising the suspension temperature from 25°C to 95°C increased the degree of particle aggregation. Coal particles were selectively flocculated from mixed suspensions of coal and kaolin particles by using PEO at both 25°C and at 95°C. In general, coal recovery was higher at 95°C than at 25°C for a given dosage of PEO. Increasing the solids concentration in the range of 1.6 to 4.0% reduced the amount of PEO required to achieve a high coal recovery while not greatly affecting the separation efficiency.
Greater stem growth, woody allocation, and aboveground biomass in Paleotropical forests than in Neotropical forests.

Forest dynamics and tree species composition vary substantially between Paleotropical and Neotropical forests, but these broad biogeographic regions are treated uniformly in many land models. To assess whether these regional differences translate into variation in productivity and carbon (C) storage, we compiled a database of climate, tree stem growth, litterfall, aboveground net primary production (ANPP), and aboveground biomass across tropical rainforest sites spanning 33 countries throughout Central and South America, Asia, and Australasia, but excluding Africa due to a paucity of available data. Though the sum of litterfall and stem growth (ANPP) did not differ between regions, both stem growth and the ratio of stem growth to litterfall were higher in Paleotropical forests compared to Neotropical forests across the full observed range of ANPP. Greater C allocation to woody growth likely explains the much larger aboveground biomass estimates in Paleotropical forests (~29%, or ~80 Mg DW/ha, greater than in the Neotropics). Climate was similar in Paleo- and Neotropical forests, thus the observed differences in C likely reflect differences in the evolutionary history of species and forest structure and function between regions. Our analysis suggests that Paleotropical forests, which can be dominated by tall-statured Dipterocarpaceae species, may be disproportionate hotspots for aboveground C storage. Land models typically treat these distinct tropical forests with differential structures as a single functional unit, but our findings suggest that this may overlook critical biogeographic variation in C storage potential among regions.
Alice Kaplan. Looking for The Stranger. Albert Camus and the Life of a Literary Classic: U of Chicago P, 2016. 289 pp.

Once again, as with French Lessons (1993) or The Collaborator: The Trial and Execution of Robert Brasillach (2000), Alice Kaplan has produced a most absorbing and riveting piece of literary history...
A Genomic Approach To Identify Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii Strains with Enhanced Competitive Fitness in the Lungs during Multistrain Pneumonia.

ABSTRACT Microbial competition is most often studied at the genus or species level, but interstrain competition has been less thoroughly examined. Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important pathogen in the context of hospital-acquired pneumonia, and a better understanding of strain competition in the lungs could explain why some strains of this bacterium are more frequently isolated from pneumonia patients than others. We developed a barcode-free method called “StrainSeq” to simultaneously track the abundances of 10 K. pneumoniae strains in a murine pneumonia model. We demonstrate that one strain (KPPR1) repeatedly achieved a marked numerical dominance at 20 h postinoculation during pneumonia but did not exhibit a similar level of dominance in in vitro mixed-growth experiments. The emergence of a single dominant strain was also observed with a second respiratory pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii, indicating that the phenomenon was not unique to K. pneumoniae. When KPPR1 was removed from the inoculum, a second strain emerged to achieve high numbers in the lungs, and when KPPR1 was introduced into the lungs 1 h after the other nine strains, it no longer exhibited a dominant phenotype. Our findings indicate that certain strains of K. pneumoniae have the ability to outcompete others in the pulmonary environment and cause severe pneumonia and that a similar phenomenon occurs with A. baumannii. In the context of the pulmonary microbiome, interstrain competitive fitness may be another factor that influences the success and spread of certain lineages of these hospital-acquired respiratory pathogens.
Genetics of Common Pediatric Brain Tumors

Abstract Central nervous system tumors are the most common solid tumors in pediatrics and represent the largest cause of childhood cancer-related mortality. Improvements have occurred in the management of these patients leading to better survival, but significant morbidity persists. With the era of next generation sequencing, considerable advances have occurred in the understanding of these tumors both biologically and clinically. This information has impacted diagnosis and management. Subgroups have been identified, improving risk stratification. Novel therapeutic approaches, specifically targeting the biology of these tumors, are being investigated to improve overall survival and decrease treatment-related morbidity. The intent of this review is to discuss the genetics of common pediatric brain tumors and the clinical implications. This review will include known genetic disorders associated with central nervous system tumors, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Gorlin syndrome, and Turcot syndrome, as well as somatic mutations of glioma, medulloblastoma, and ependymoma.
On the digital frontier: Stakeholders in rural areas take on educational technology and schooling

Even in the most remote U.S. rural contexts today technology is a part of schooling. This article explores stakeholders’ perceptions of educational technology as it relates to schooling in six rura...
Systemic Adaptive Immune Parameters Associated with Neuroblastoma Outcomes: the Significance of Gamma-Delta T Cells

We mined a set of neuroblastoma (NBL) exomes for immune receptor recombinations representing all seven, human adaptive immune receptor genes, using a very high standard for identifications of V- and J-gene segments in sequencing reads. Results indicated an unusually large number of TRD recombination reads in the NBL samples, possibly related to the younger age of the patients. In general, recovery of immune receptor (IR) recombination reads representing any of the immune receptors, from either blood or tumor samples, was associated with a lower overall survival rate, consistent with an emerging literature indicating that systemic immunology parameters can be informative for cancer evaluations. Despite the overall negative association of IR recombination frequencies and outcomes, survival rate distinctions could still be established as associated with certain chemical features of IR complementarity determining region-3 (CDR3) amino acid sequences, thereby likely revealing a distinction between the negative impacts of a general adaptive immune response versus the positive aspects of specific CDR3 chemical interaction potentials. These data underscore the relevance of gamma-delta T cells in the development of cancer in younger patients. And for the first time, these data allow a distinction within an NBL cohort with active disease, between two contrasting systemic immune states: (i) general and likely harmful adaptive immunity development versus (ii) a likely positive, adaptive immune response with particular antigenic specificities.
Connecting regional-scale tree distribution models with seed dispersal kernels

Abstract Regional scale forest distribution models are important tools for biogeography and understanding the structure of forest communities in space. These models take climate and geographic variables as input and are therefore helpful for long-term decision support and climate adaptation planning. Generally, local processes of tree germination and seedling survival are resolved probabilistically with explanatory variables such as elevation, latitude, exposure, soil type, moisture availability, climate and weather inputs and `trained’ using landscape and regional presence-absence data and machine learning techniques. How seeds are distributed in these models, that is, determining the dispersal kernel, is far more problematic. The challenge is that variables conditioning vertebrate seed dispersal (motility and probability of utilization or caching in response to cover type) are not represented in large scale distribution models, and in fact vary on scales (10-100 meters) that are much smaller than the smallest pixel size for the distribution model (1-10 kilometers). We present a homogenized seed digestion kernel (HSDK) which incorporates this scale separation. Homogenization naturally links highly variable small-scale processes (like seed foraging and caching by birds and rodents) with large scale effects (like dispersal of seeds over tens of kilometers). We develop a homogenization strategy to predict seed dispersal on landscape scales, analytically linking small-scale variables (landscape fraction cover by tree type, gut residence times and cover type utilization by frugivorous birds) with large scale behaviors. Closed form approximations are developed in two dimensions for two limiting cases of seed handling behavior, and the approach is illustrated using landscape data and pinon-pine dispersal in a 630,000 square kilometer region in the southwestern US.
Characterizing Detection Thresholds for Six Orthogonal Modes of Vibrotactile Display via Stylus with Precision Grasp.

In this paper, we characterize the detection thresholds in six orthogonal modes of vibrotactile haptic display via stylus, including three orthogonal force directions and three orthogonal torque directions at the haptic interaction point. A psychophysical study is performed to determine detection thresholds over the frequency range 20-250Hz, for six distinct styluses. Analysis of variance is used to test the hypothesis that force signals, as well as torque signals, applied in different directions, have different detection thresholds. We find that people are less sensitive to force signals parallel to the stylus than to those orthogonal to the stylus at low frequencies, and far more sensitive to torque signals about the stylus than to those orthogonal to the stylus. Optimization techniques are used to determine four independent two-parameter models to describe the frequency-dependent thresholds for each of the orthogonal force and torque modes for a stylus that is approximately radially symmetric; six independent models are required if the stylus is not well approximated as radially symmetric. Finally, we provide a means to estimate the model parameters given stylus parameters, for a range of styluses, and to estimate the coupling between orthogonal modes.
Animals in British and French Encyclopaedias in the Long Eighteenth Century

This survey of the treatment of animals in eighteenth-century British and French encyclopaedias will argue that taxonomy and alphabetical encyclopaedias were compatible, despite the reputation of the latter as being antithetical to traditional hierarchies. At the same time, I will point to an evolution in the treatment of animals in encyclopaedias, one that suggests specialisation on the part of readers. My chronology proposes four overlapping stages: one involving intermixed discourses; one involving neglect; one involving separation of the practical and learned aspects of animals; and one involving treatises on animals and sciences of animals.
Abstract 12490: Effects of Muscle Stretching on Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation and Skeletal Muscle Blood Flow of Aged Rats

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether passive muscle stretching enhances endothelium-dependent vasodilation and increases blood flow in skeletal muscle arterioles of aged rats. Methods: Stretching consisted of ankle dorsiflexion splinting, and was performed for 30 min daily for 4 wks in male Fischer 344 rats (n=16, 20 mo old). After splinting, soleus muscle arterioles were isolated, cannulated and pressurized at 70 cm H2O. We assessed vasodilation to acetylcholine (Ach) in the absence and presence of L-NAME, and endothelium-independent vasodilation to Dea-NONOate. We also measured blood flow to the soleus muscle, gastrocnemius muscle, tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, flexor hallicus longus (FHL) muscle, flexor digitorum longus (FDL) muscle and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle with radioactive microspheres during walking at 15 m/min on a treadmill. Vasodilatory responses and skeletal muscle blood flows in the stretched limb were compared with those in the contralateral limb. Result...
Inhibition of actin-tropomyosin activation of myosin MgATPase activity by the smooth muscle regulatory protein caldesmon.

Caldesmon inhibition of actin-tropomyosin activation of myosin MgATPase activity was investigated. greater than 90% inhibition of ATPase activation correlated with 0.035-0.1 caldesmon bound per actin monomer over a wide range of conditions. Caldesmon inhibited sheep aorta actin-tropomyosin activation of skeletal muscle heavy meromyosin (HMM) by 85%, but had no effect on the binding affinity of HMM.ADP.Pi to actin. At ratios of 2 and 0.12 subfragment 1 (S1):1 actin, addition of caldesmon inhibited the ATPase activation by up to 95%, but did not alter the fraction of S1.ADP.Pi associated with actin-tropomyosin. We concluded that caldesmon inhibited actomyosin ATPase by slowing the rate-limiting step of the activation pathway. At concentrations comparable to the ATPase measurements, S1 displaced caldesmon from native thin filaments both in the absence (rigor) and the presence of MgATP. We therefore concluded that caldesmon could displace S1.ADP.Pi from actin-tropomyosin only under exceptional circumstances. An expressed mutant of caldesmon comprising just the C-terminal 99 amino acids bound actin 10 times weaker than whole caldesmon but otherwise inhibited actin-tropomyosin activation with the same potency and same mechanism as intact caldesmon. Thus, the entire inhibitory function of caldesmon resides in its extreme C terminus.
Exogenous diacylglycerol restores arteriolar myogenic constriction following candesartan (664.10)

Growing evidence supports the Gq/11 protein-coupled angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) acting as a mechanosensor and contributing to pressure-induced vasoconstriction of small arteries. While me...
Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage

Acid mine drainage (AMD) results when metal pyrites come in contact with water and/or air, to form dilute sulfuric acid. For instance, iron pyrite (FeS2) is the major iron-sulfur impurity found in mined earth, particularly in the eastern United States where coal mining is prevalent. Typically, AMD waters contain elevated concentrations of SO4, Fe, Mn, Al, and other metal ions. As an example, representative AMD water quality parameters from the Roaring Creek-Grassy Run Watershed, located in Elkins, West Virginia, include pH from 2.4 to 3.3, mineral acidities from 2.4 to 980 mg/L as CaCO3, dissolved iron between 35 and 260 mg/L, and sulfate concentrations from 190 to 740 mg/L. In contrast, copper and arsenic sulfide compounds associated with “hard rock” mining operations are common in the western United States; such compounds are generally much less prevalent in the east. In such instances, sulfide containing minerals such as pyrrhotite (FeS), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) can produce acidic drainage when oxidized. Keywords: acid mine drainage; AMD; acidity; alkalinity; cations; precipitation–dissolution; metal pyrite; sulfur; microbially mediated oxidation; carbonate equilibrium
Computer networking laboratory projects

The formidable task of not only trying to balance application and theory but also to keep up with the rapid advancement in technology is always upon Computer Science mentors. This paper presents a series of laboratory project descriptions that are used in a laboratory model for a curriculum that strives to meet the challenges presented by the rapid advancement of telecommunication technology. These laboratory projects are divided in two main categories: hands-on network configuration and network programming.
Saving the World With Corporate Law

The current debate within corporate law is as fundamental as any time since the New Deal, when the great exchange between Merrick Dodd and A.A. Berle defined the issues for a generation of scholars. Today, the community of corporate law scholars in the United States is split between two groups. The first, heavily influenced by economic analysis of corporations, argues the merits of increasing shareholder power vis-a-vis directors. Another group, animated by concern for economic justice, challenges the traditional, shareholder-centric view of corporate law, arguing instead for a model of "stakeholder governance." The enclosed article is one half of a debate between two prominent scholars, one from each of the two major groups, on the audacious question, "Can Corporate Law Save the World?" Professor Greenfield, a leading proponent of "progressive corporate law," uses this paper to offer an provocative critique of the status quo using organizational and regulatory theory. Greenfield argues that U.S. corporate law should be modernized and expanded to take advantage of the distinctive abilities of the corporation to create wealth, while making it less likely that corporations will do so through breaches of the public trust or the imposition of costly externalities on stakeholders or communities. Corporate law could also channel the power of corporations to make them a progressive force in society, using them not only to create wealth but to spread it more equitably - addressing public policy problems that have been remarkably impervious to other public policy tools. The other half of the debate, by Professor Gordon Smith, appears separately on SSRN.
Analytic perturbation analysis of discrete event dynamic systems

This paper considers a new analytic perturbation analysis (APA) approach for discrete event dynamic systems (DEDS) with discontinuous sample-path functions with respect to control parameters. The performance functions for DEDS usually are formulated as mathematical expectations, which can be calculated only numerically. APA is based on new analytic formulas for the gradients of expectations of indicator functions, therefore, it is called an analytic perturbation analysis. The gradient of performance function may not coincide with the expectation of a gradient of sample-path function (i.e., the interchange formula for the gradient and expectation sign may not be valid). Estimates of gradients can be obtained with one simulation run of the models. >
Control of Hemoglobin Synthesis in the Cultured Chick Blastoderm

Abstract The early, de-embryonated chick blastoderm, cultured in vitro, closely simulates a phased culture of erythroid cells. This fact permits the study of hemoglobin synthesis from colorless erythroblast precursor cells to fully hemoglobinated erythrocytes. When δ-aminolevulinic acid is added to colorless blastoderms, thereby by-passing δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase, copious amounts of porphyrins, and presumably of heme, are formed. This result indicates that in the erythroid precursor cells of the early blastoderms heme synthesis is limited by the activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase. The addition of δ-aminolevulinate also results in an increase in globin synthesis and hemoglobin formation. The enhancing effect of δ-aminolevulinic acid on hemoglobin formation is not abolished by actinomycin D but is prevented by puromycin. This result suggests that δ-aminolevulinic acid forms heme which stimulates globin synthesis at the ribosome level. It is conjectured that heme may be necessary for the appropriate folding of the globin polypeptide in the completion of its synthesis. The hypothesis is proposed that the formation of δ-aminovulinic acid synthetase, which is under repressor control, is the limiting and controlling reaction in the formation of hemoglobin. Such a hypothesis would explain the fact that no free globin is formed and that monomeric globin and heme are formed in a 1:1 ratio.
Factors Affecting Virulence of Shigella flexneri: Defective Methionine Synthesis in an Escherichia coli-Shigella Hybrid

Abstract An Escherichia coli-Shigella flexneri hybrid of intermediate virulence was studied to determine whether its shorter survival in host cells might be due to a metabolic defect. Investigation of its growth in minimal glucose medium showed that the hybrid, like its E. coli parent, had a longer lag phase and a slower growth rate than its virulent Shigella parent. Methionine was found to increase the growth rate of the hybrid. The Shigella parent of the hybrid can synthesize methionine normally, but the E. coli parent has a point mutation in its metA gene. Since it synthesizes enough methionine to grow slowly, it is postulated that the hybrid strain has a hybrid metA gene, that is, a gene composed partly of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from E. coli, with the balance of the DNA from S. flexneri. Phage P1-mediated transduction, with the metA−E. coli parent as recipient and the Shigella parent as donor, yielded a few transductants that responded to methionine in the same way the hybrid did. Many more transductants of the hybrid type were produced when the hybrid strain was used as a donor. It is suggested that this poorly functioning gene acts synergistically with the hybrid strain's relaxed synthesis of ribonucleic acid to prevent its survival in the host.
El fenómeno de la informalidad en periferias urbanas de los Estados Unidos de América

Informal housing is a phenomenon usually related to the urban periphery of cities combining poverty andrapid growth, which are characteristic in Latin America and many other developing countries. This articleanalyses the phenomenon of informality in urban peripheries of the United States of America in generaland more specifically in Texas, where informal settlements known as colonias are inhabited by low-incomegroups that can’t find affordable alternatives within the formal housing offer available in nearby cities. Thearticle reflects on the role that new professionals of the disciplines of the built environment and other urbanstakeholders are to play in this new challenge.
Introduction to Diabetes

The medical and surgical management of foot disorders in the patient with diabetes should have as its basis a thorough understanding of the complications and metabolic consequences of diabetes mellitus. This is especially true in the patient who is undergoing a surgical procedure. Diabetes is rapidly increasing in prevalence worldwide, and surgery in patients with diabetes is more common. Foot complications are a major cause of admissions for diabetes, and they cause a disproportionately high number of hospital days because of increased surgical procedures and prolonged length of stay.
Consumers' intention to use generic‐drug discount programmes

Objective Generic-drug discount programmes (GDDPs) offer generic drugs at subsidized costs to both insured and uninsured consumers in the USA. Understanding predictors of intention to use GDDPs could help in developing interventions to direct more consumers to take advantage of such programmes. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of intention to use GDDPs using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Methods A paper-based survey was self-administered to randomly selected individuals from the greater Houston area in Texas, USA. The validated questionnaire included potential predictors of intention to use GDDPs that were derived and measured using the premise of TPB and the concept of awareness. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate if awareness, attitude towards GDDPs and generic drugs, perceived behavioural control (PBC) and subjective norms predicted intention to use GDDPs after controlling for demographics, income, number of chronic conditions and number of prescription drugs taken. Key findings A response rate of 59.5% was achieved (n = 663). Approximately 62.4% (414) respondents were aware of and 80% (528) had an intention to use GDDPs. After controlling for demographics and predisposing factors (current prescription drug use, chronic conditions and insurance status), attitude towards GDDPs (odds ratio, OR = 5.08; 95% confidence interval, CI = 3.228–8.003; P < 0.0001), attitude towards generic drugs (OR = 1.733; CI = 1.231–2.441; P = 0.0016) and PBC (OR = 1.57; CI = 1.067–2.320; P = 0.0222) significantly predicted intention to use GDDPs. Individuals of Hispanic and African American origin were 3.1 times (P = 0.0016) and 2.6 times (P = 0.0173) more likely, respectively, than white people to have an intention to use GDDPs. Conclusions Attitude towards GDDPs and generic drugs, PBC, location and race/ethnicity were significantly associated with intention to use GDDPs. Interventions by stakeholders to promote positive attitudes and highlighting the ease with which GDDPs can be used would be beneficial to eventually increase consumer utilization of GDDPs.
A Measurement of the 27Al (d, n) Spectrum for Use in Neutron Detector Calibration

Calibration of neutron detectors for use in measurements spanning a wide range of neutron energies is normally a challenging task. Use of monoenergetic neutron beams is tedious and not convenient for certain energies. Measurements of a continuous spectrum of neutrons from the {sup 27}Al(d,n) reaction at E{sub d} = 7.44 MeV have been made with a fission chamber. This should allow rapid calibration of neutron detectors in the energy range 0.2 {le} E{sub n} {le} 14.5 MeV.
High-strength transparent spinel with fine, unimodal grain size

Spinel (MgAl 2 O 4 ) is a good candidate material for transparent armor and IR window applications. Traditionally, transparent spinel has suffered from poor strength and difficult polishing owing to its large, bimodal grain structure. Starting from a spinel nanopowder, spinel ceramics with a grain size of less than 2 microns have been made with better than 80% in-line transmittance at 632 nm wavelength for 3/8" thick samples. A ring-on-ring test has been used to measure biaxial flexural strength on samples machined to 0.8 mm thickness. The average strength was found to exceed 480 MPa.
LOAD FACTOR METHOD FOR DYNAMIC TRACK LOADINGS

Design of track structural components and foundations is based upon design loads higher than the nominal static values. These design loads generally have been determined using dynamic impact factor...
Synthesis of conduritol, conduramine, and validoxylamine analogs from tetrahydronaphthalene-cis-diol

Abstract A range of polycyclic analogs of conduritols and conduramines was prepared concisely, starting from cis -(1 R ,2 S )-1,2-dihydronaphthalenediol. This methodology could be extended to the syntheses of validoxylamine A analogs.
Robustadials. 3. Total synthesis of camphane analogs

A partir de trimethoxy-1,3,5 benzene et de camphenilane, synthese des 4 diastereoisomeres du diformyl-6,8 dimethoxy-5,7 dimethyl-3'3' isobutyl-4 spiro [chromanne-2:2'-norbornane]; ces composes ne sont pas des robustadials
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Role of the Board of Directors: Typologies of Interaction

The corporate board of directors is a body entrusted with power to make economic decisions affecting the well‐being of investors' capital, employees' security, communities' economic health, and executives’ power and perquisites. The power of the board of directors is often forgotten in this complex society. Managers, the government, and special interest groups seem to impose upon the corporation situations that are never addressed by the board of directors. Yet it is the board that has the ultimate internal authority within the corporation. Corporate charters granted by the various states specifically assign to the board of directors the responsibility of management, or the delegation of that management. The directors act as trustees for the shareholders, selecting the management structure of the firm, and delegating to that management structure those administrative matters the board itself chooses. The degree of delegation is a decision of each board, with most boards delegating away the major portion of their decision‐making authority.