cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of wavelength-dependent spectral darkening occurring on a broadband Earth observing radiometer: application to clouds and the Earth's radiant energy system (CERES)

It is estimated that in order to best detect real changes in the Earth's climate system, space based instrumentation measuring the Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) needs to remain calibrated with a stability of 0.3% per decade. This stability is beyond the specification of existing ERB programs such as the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES, using three broadband radiometric scanning channels: the shortwave 0.3 - 5μm, total 0.3- > 100μm, and window 8 - 12μm). It is known that when in low earth orbit, optical response to blue/UV radiance can be reduced significantly due to UV hardened contaminants deposited on the surface of the optics. Typical onboard calibration lamps do not emit sufficient energy in the blue/UV region, hence this darkening is not directly measurable using standard internal calibration techniques. This paper details a study using a model of contaminant deposition and darkening, in conjunction with in-flight vicarious calibration techniques, to derive the spectral shape of darkening to which a broadband instrument is subjected. The model ultimately uses the reflectivity of Deep Convective Clouds as a stability metric. The results of the model when applied to the CERES instruments on board the EOS Terra satellite are shown. Given comprehensive validation of the model, these results will allow the CERES spectral responses to be updated accordingly prior to any forthcoming data release in an attempt to reach the optimum stability target that the climate community requires.
Facilitation of sympathetic neurotransmission contributes to angiotensin regulation of body weight.

Previous studies demonstrated that angiotensin II (AngII) decreases body weight. The purpose of this study was to determine if AngII-reductions in body weight result from stimulation of sympathetic neurotransmission to interscapular brown adipose tissue (ISBAT). Following 7 days of chronic AngII infusion (350 ng/kg/min), body weight decreased compared to controls. Using superfused ISBAT tissue slices preloaded with [3H]norepinephrine (NE), evoked [3H]overflow was greater in ISBAT slices from AngII-infused rats compared to controls. When AngII was included in the buffer, evoked [3H]overflow increased in a concentration-dependent manner in ISBAT slices from AngII-infused and control rats. The EC50 for the presynaptic effect of AngII was shifted to the left in ISBAT slices from AngII-infused rats compared to controls; however, the maximal response to AngII was decreased. These results demonstrate that chronic AngII infusion enhances evoked release of NE from ISBAT sympathetic nerve terminals. Moreover, responsiveness to the presynaptic effect of AngII was altered following chronic AngII infusion. Increased sympathetic neurotransmission to ISBAT may contribute to AngII-regulation of body weight.
Leonard Rowntree and the birth of the Mayo Clinic research tradition.

EARLY YEARS AND THE INFLUENCE OF WILLIAM OSLER Leonard Rowntree was born in London, Ontario, in 1883. He entered Western Ontario Medical School in 1901, interned at Victoria Hospital in 1905, and entered into general practice in New Jersey in 1906. In 1907, the young general practitioner traveled to Philadelphia, Pa, to hear William Osler, the most prominent physician in the English-speaking world, lecture at the College of Pharmacy. Rowntree recalls half a century later, “I was thrilled, and at [the lecture’s] close had the opportunity to meet [Osler] personally.” That same night, Rowntree wrote Osler a letter, telling him that he had decided to give up general practice and become an academic physician. Rowntree had so much confidence in Osler after hearing and meeting him that he wrote to Osler, “Whatever you advise, I will do my best to carry out.” In 1958, looking back on this important juncture in his life, Rowntree saw himself as being “immersed in [general practice] to the point where I had no time left for study,” exemplifying his career-long concern for preserving time for research as well as for patient care. (Indeed, it may safely be said that to Rowntree, research became more important than patient care as the years progressed.) Osler promptly stated in a return letter that Rowntree should study at Johns Hopkins for at least 6 years. Rowntree went to Johns Hopkins that same year and because he carried Osler’s letter, was accepted there.
Cross-cultural counseling and the near-death experience: Some elaborations

This paper proposes "cross-cultural counseling and world views" as an effort to improve therapeutic models for aiding near-death experiencers (NDErs). The parameters of the cross-cultural counseling method are established, and potential counterarguments are addressed.
Study of Synthesis and Properties of Spinel LiNi0.4Mn1.5Cr0.1O4 as Cathode for Lithium Ion Batteries

Spinel compound LiNi0.4Mn1.5Cr0.1O4 was synthesized at different reaction temperature. The optimum temperature was 900 0C. The product exhibited good electrochemical properties. It delivered capacity of 128.2, 124.1 and 116.8 mAh g-1 at 0.2, 0.5 and 1C, respectively. The capacity retention was 98%, 99% and 99% after 30 cycles, respectively. The electrochemical property of compound LiNi0.4Mn1.5Cr0.1O4 was better than that of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4.
An algorithm for Filon quadrature

An algorithm for Filon quadrature is described. Considerable attention has been devoted to an analysis of the round-off and truncation errors. The algorithm includes an automatic error control feature.
Thyroid Disease and Alkaline Phosphatase

Excerpt To the editor: Following the recent reports in your journal of raised alkaline phosphatase levels in patients with subacute thyroiditis (1-4), I wish to report an additional case in which i...
Utilizing institutional perspectives to investigate the emergence, rise, and (relative) decline of corporate universities

The emergence, rise, and relative decline of corporate universities (CUs) is somewhat puzzling given the increasing emphasis and investment in training and development (T&D). We utilize institutional theory to identify environmental factors and forces external to the organization to better understand the historical growth and development of CUs. Our findings suggest that CUs cannot be dismissed as a passing fad. Rather, these changes illustrate the evolution and transformation of traditional T&D departments into new institutional forms over time. We generate a discussion on the ongoing challenges and future trends for T&D and present implications for HRD research and practice.
Accountability, Fiscal Management, and Student Achievement in East St. Louis, Illinois 1994-2006 Implications for Urban Educational Reform Policy

This instrumental case study reviews the 1994-2004 period of state financial oversight in East St. Louis, Illinois School District 189, with a secondary review of the initial years of NCLB implementation. Although the oversight panel’s fiscal management did generate financial stability, case findings indicate that its accountability processes did not result in sustained improvements in student achievement indicators despite anticipated links between the two in the panel’s reporting. Furthermore, the oversight process operated as a hierarchical structure without identification of cultural implications. Attention to culture and subsidiarity are indicated for future state–district partnerships oriented toward urban educational reform.
Regional innovation potential in the United States: Evidence of spatial transformation

The new economy hypothesis identifies the southern and western parts of the United States as important source points for industrial creativity that can rival the northeast. This study shows that this viewpoint, based on patent activity, is warranted. Regional technology production in the country is being helped by the presence of professional, skilled labor, rather than manufacturing and related activities as in times past. While the northeast or midwest now operate in a much more competi tive inventive spatial system, and are being outperformed technologically by California, Texas, and Florida combined, all regions of the country are patenting inventions more than ever before.
Interaction of perfluidone with mitochondrial, thylakoid, and liposome membranes

Abstract Perfluidone (1,1,1-trifluoro- N -[2-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)phenyl]methanesulfonamide) was shown to interfere with phosphorylation and electron transport in isolated mung bean ( Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) mitochondria. At low molar concentrations ( M ), perfluidone acted as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation as evidenced by stimulation of state 4 respiration, induction of ATPase activity, and circumvention of oligomycin-inhibited state 3 respiration. At higher molar concentrations (>100 μ M ), perfluidone inhibited electron transport by acting on complexes I and II, and on the alternate (cyanide-insensitive) oxidase. In isolated spinach thylakoids ( Spinacia oleracea L.), perfluidone also acted as an uncoupler, at low concentrations, as evidenced by stimulation of photoinduced electron transport with water as the reductant and methyl viologen and ferricyanide as oxidants, and from reduced dichlorophenolindophenol to methyl viologen. In addition, perfluidone inhibited the rate and magnitude of valinomycin-induced mitochondrial swelling in isotonic potassium chloride and potassium thiocyanate, and with thylakoids suspended in potassium thiocyanate at concentrations that inhibited ATP generation ( M ). Passive swelling in mitochondria was induced at higher concentrations. The permeability of lecithin liposomes to protons was also increased by perfluidone in a manner characteristic of uncouplers. The results obtained suggested that the partitioning of perfluidone perturbs the inner mitochondrial and thylakoid membranes. The perturbations increase the permeability of the membranes to protons and cations (at least potassium) and decrease membrane “fluidity.” As a consequence of the perturbations, the ATP-generating pathway in both mitochondria and chloroplasts is uncoupled and the structural organization of the electron transport components in mitochondria is disrupted, resulting in multisite inhibition of respiration. No evidence was obtained for a direct interaction between perfluidone and redox components of the electron transport pathways.
Diagnosis and management of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome

Pregnancies complicated by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome require a well-formulated management plan. The development of this syndrome after 34 weeks' gestation or with documentation of maternal or fetal compromise is an indication for delivery. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura may present with signs, symptoms, and laboratory abnormalities that may be confused with HELLP syndrome. Thorough investigation is warranted because of the differences in proper management among these various complications of pregnancy. Expectant management in patients with HELLP syndrome remote from term and the use of corticosteroids to improve postpartum maternal outcome remain experimental.
The challenge of malaria eradication in the twenty-first century: research linked to operations is the key

Interest and support for malaria control, eradication, and research has increased greatly over the past decade. This has resulted from appreciation of the huge medical, social, and economic burden that malaria exacts from endemic populations. Recent breakthroughs in drug development (artemisinin-based combination treatments), preventive interventions (long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets), improved diagnosis (rapid diagnostic tests), and community mobilization have resulted in deployment of new antimalarial tools. National programs supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, and other donors have resulted in substantial reductions in malaria morbidity and mortality. Bill and Melinda Gates have given great impetus to eradication with support for the development of key research strategies and direct funding of innovative research projects, including malaria vaccine and drug discovery, that could decrease disease and transmission. Linking research to field operations is a strategy that succeeded for smallpox eradication and will be required for the demise of malaria.
The Physics Interviewing Project: A Tour of Interviews in Asia

The Physics Interviewing Project assists graduate physics departments in evaluating foreign applicants. Supported by some 20 universities, two interviewers, both working scientists, travel abroad and interview students individually for about 1 hour each. Prospective teaching assistants are rated on physics knowledge, problem-solving ability, and English language proficiency. Ratings on all interviewees are sent to all supporting schools and other schools as requested. The Project aids able students from countries that have no physics Ph.D. programs (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand) to obtain assistantships and Ph.D.'s abroad, assists in the technological development of those countries, and helps U.S. schools in selecting the most promising foreign candidates. A similar program should be beneficial in other sciences.
Avoiding game over: bringing design to the next level

Technology scaling has created a catch-22: technology now can do almost anything we want, but the NRE design costs are so high, that almost no one can afford to use it. Our current situation is reminiscent of the 1980's, when only a few companies could afford to produce custom silicon. Synthesis and placement and routing tools changed this, by providing modular tools with well defined interfaces that codified designer knowledge about the physical design of chips. Now we need a new set of tools that can codify designer knowledge about how to construct software, hardware, and validation to again enable application designers to produce chips. Researchers are developing methodologies that allow users to create hardware constructors, or generators. These include Genesis 2, which extends SystemVerilog and enables the designer to encode hierarchical system construction procedu-rally. To demonstrate some of the capabilities that these languages and tools provide, we describe FPGen, a complete floating point generator written in Genesis 2, that also generates the needed validation collateral and hints for the backend processes.
Methane monooxygenase and compound Q: lessons in oxygen activation

Abstract Methane monooxygenase (MMO) catalyzes the NADH and O2 coupled oxidation of CH4 to yield CH3OH. The enzyme consists of three components: MMOH (hydroxylase), MMOB (effector), and MMOR (reductase). We have structurally characterized MMOH and MMOB. The active site is located in MMOH and contains a bis-μ-hydroxo-bridged diiron cluster that is responsible for O2 activation and substrate oxidation. Transient kinetic studies have revealed many reaction cycle intermediates and allowed some of them to be characterized. The unique intermediate Q contains a bis-μ-oxo-Fe(IV)Fe(IV) cluster and can directly oxidize CH4. Large deuterium isotope effects are observed for the reaction of Q with methane but, remarkably, not ethane. Arrhenius plots are nonlinear for the CH4 reaction with Q but not for other substrates. We propose that the Q reaction with substrates occurs in two steps, substrate binding and CH bond cleavage, with the latter rate limiting only for CH4. Mutagenesis of MMOB shows that it affects the kinetics throughout the reaction cycle. One mutant dramatically alters the rates of Q decay and product release according to substrate size. It is proposed that MMOB serves to gate substrates into the active site of MMOH, thereby allowing it to select methane from more readily oxidized substrates.
Tolerating Radiation-Induced Transient Faults in Modern Processors

As MOS device sizes continue shrinking, lower charges, for example those charges carried by single ionizing particles of naturally occurring radiation, are sufficient to upset the functioning of complex modern microprocessors. In order to handle these inevitable errors, designs should include fault-tolerant features so that the processors can continue to correctly perform despite the occurrence of errors. The main goal of this work is to develop architecture mechanisms to protect processors against the effect of such radiation-induced transient faults. It should first be noted that, from a program execution perspective, many faults manifest themselves as control flow errors that cause processors to violate the correct sequencing of instructions. We present here at first a basic compile-time signature assignment algorithm and describe a novel approach to improve the fault detection coverage of the basic algorithm. Moreover, to allow the processor to efficiently check the run-time sequence and detect control flow errors, we introduce an on-chip assigned-signature checker which is capable of executing three additional instructions (SIC, SIJ, SIJC). Second, since the very concept of simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) provides the necessary redundancy, some proposals have been made to run two copies of the same thread on top of SMT platforms in order to detect and correct soft errors. This allows, upon detection of an error, the rolling back of the processor state to a known safe point, and then a retry of the instructions, thereby effecting a completely error-free execution. This paper has focused on two crucial implementation issues introduced by this scheme: (1) the design trade-off between the fault detection coverage versus design costs; (2) the possible occurrence of deadlock situations.
Induction of localized and systemic protection against Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae by tobacco mosaic virus infection of tobacco hypersensitive to the virus

Abstract Within 3 days of inoculating expanded leaves of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Windsor Shade 117 with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), viral lesions were apparent and, in younger uninoculated leaves, systemic induced protection was detected against race 3 of Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae . This protection occurred on all leaves above the TMV-inoculated leaves for at least 22 more days. The level of protection usually approached absolute (less than one fungal lesion per leaf as compared to 3 to 14 fungal lesions per leaf on unprotected plants). As few as 12 TMV local lesions per inoculated leaf were sufficient to induce significant levels of systemic protection. Localized protection was also induced within 3 days of inoculating leaves with TMV, but 7 days were required to induce significant levels of protection in half-leaves opposite TMV-inoculated half-leaves. TMV-inoculated plants flooded with a zoospore suspension or transplanted to infested soil developed fewer black shank infections and were less extensively damaged than control plants.
On the Need for Financial Epidemiology

As economic conditions decline, U.S. households continue to be pushed towards the brink of financial insolvency. Unfortunately, current legal and market protection policies are largely ex post, and do little to alleviate financial distress until after insolvency occurs. This paper argues that such policies are inherently flawed. Instead, policies should be designed using an ecological approach to household decision making, and interventions based on those policies should be primarily preventive in nature. Household financial conditions must be closely monitored at the individual, community and population levels using rigorous empirical methods by organizations that have a vested interest in preserving household financial stability. Overall, these ends can be met by adapting epidemiological, and more broadly public health, frameworks into the current legal and market protection initiatives.
A randomized, phase II study of pazopanib in castrate-sensitive prostate cancer: a University of Chicago Phase II Consortium/Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium study

Intermittent androgen suppression (IAS) is an increasingly popular treatment option for castrate-sensitive prostate cancer. On the basis of previous data with anti-angiogenic strategies, we hypothesized that pan-inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor using pazopanib during the IAS off period would result in prolonged time to PSA failure. Men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer, whose PSA was 4.0 ng ml−1. Thirty-seven patients were randomized. Of 18 patients randomized to pazopanib, at the time of study closure, 4 had progressive disease, 1 remained on treatment and 13 (72%) electively disenrolled, the most common reason being patient request due to grade 1/2 toxicity (8 patients). Two additional patients were removed from treatment due to adverse events. Of 19 patients randomized to observation, at the time of study closure, 4 had progressive disease, 7 remained under protocol-defined observation and 8 (42%) had disenrolled, most commonly due to non-compliance with protocol visits (3 patients). Because of high dropout rates in both arms, the study was halted. IAS is a treatment approach that may facilitate investigation of novel agents in the hormone-sensitive state. This trial attempted to investigate the role of antiangiogenic therapy in this setting, but encountered several barriers, including toxicities and patient non-compliance, which can make implementation of such a study difficult. Future investigative efforts in this arena should carefully consider drug toxicity and employ a design that maximizes patient convenience to reduce the dropout rate.
The natural history of duplex-detected stenosis after femoropopliteal endovascular therapy suggests questionable clinical utility of routine duplex surveillance

Objective Duplex ultrasound (DU) surveillance (DUS) criteria for vein graft stenosis and thresholds for reintervention are well established. The natural history of DU-detected stenosis and the threshold criteria for reintervention in patients undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) of the femoropopliteal system have yet to be determined. We report an analysis of routine DUS after infrainguinal EVT. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing EVT of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) or popliteal artery were prospectively enrolled in a DUS protocol (≤1 week after intervention, then at 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter). Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and velocity ratio (Vr) were used to categorize the treated artery: normal was PSV 300 cm/s or Vr >3. Reinterventions were generally performed for persistent or recurrent symptoms, allowing us to analyze the natural history of DU-detected lesions and to perform sensitivity and specificity analysis for DUS criteria predictive of failure. Results Ninety-four limbs (85 patients) underwent EVT for SFA-popliteal disease and were prospectively enrolled in a DUS protocol. The initial scans were normal in 61 limbs (65%), and serial DU results remained normal in 38 (62%). In 17 limbs (28%), progressive stenoses were detected during surveillance. The rate of thrombosis in this subgroup was 10%. Moderate stenoses were detected in 28 (30%) limbs at initial scans; of these, 39% resolved or stabilized, 47% progressed to severe, and occlusions developed in 14%. Five (5%) limbs harbored severe stenoses on initial scans, and 80% of lesions resolved or stabilized. Progression to occlusion occurred in one limb (20%). The last DUS showed 25 limbs harbored severe stenoses; of these, 13 (52%) were in symptomatic patients and thus required reintervention regardless of DU findings. Eleven limbs (11%) eventually occluded. Sensitivity and specificity of DUS to predict occlusion were 88% and 60%, respectively. Conclusions DUS does not reliably predict arterial occlusion after EVT. Stenosis after EVT appears to have a different natural history than restenosis after vein graft bypass. EVT patients are more likely to have severe stenosis when they present with recurrent symptoms, in contrast to vein graft patients, who commonly have occluded grafts when they present with recurrent symptoms. The potential impact of routine DU-directed reintervention in patients after EVT is questionable. The natural history of DU-detected stenosis after femoropopliteal endovascular therapy suggests questionable clinical utility of routine DUS.
Online Consumer Complaint Behaviors: The Dynamics of Service Failures, Consumers' Word of Mouth, and Organization-Consumer Relationships

This study aims to provide an understanding of the relationships between consumer's negative word of mouth (WOM) and organizations' rectification behaviors. We see consumers' negative WOM as a process of problem solving when consumers encounter an organization's service failure that dissatisfies them. This study suggests a strategic management of public relations as a principle for consumer complaint management. Based on case studies, this study finds that negative WOM is formed by the dynamics of experience sharing, advice giving, agreement, and disagreement. In particular, we discovered that information sharing is predominant among negative WOM behaviors. Finally, the case study reveals that while a high-performing business tends to have a proactive approach to resolving consumer complaints, a low performer tends to have a defensive approach.
Scheduled acetaminophen with as-needed opioids compared to as-needed acetaminophen plus opioids for post-cesarean pain management

Abstract Background Combination opioid-acetaminophen drugs are commonly used for pain management after cesarean delivery. The aim of this study was to determine if scheduled acetaminophen decreases opioid use compared to as-needed combination acetaminophen-opioid administration. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of women who underwent cesarean delivery before and after a clinical practice change. All patients received spinal anesthesia containing intrathecal morphine 200μg and scheduled non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 48h postoperatively. The first group (As-Needed Group, n=120) received combination oral opioid-acetaminophen analgesics as needed for breakthrough pain. The second group (Scheduled Group, n=120) received oral acetaminophen 650mg every 6h for 48h postoperatively with oral oxycodone administered as needed for breakthrough pain. The primary outcome was opioid use, measured in intravenous morphine mg equivalents, in the first 48h postoperatively. Results The Scheduled Group used 9.1±2.1mg (95% CI 5.0–13.2) fewer intravenous morphine equivalents than the As-Needed Group ( P P =0.008). Pain scores were similar between study groups. Conclusions After cesarean delivery, scheduled acetaminophen results in decreased opioid use and more consistent acetaminophen intake compared to acetaminophen administered as needed via combination acetaminophen-opioid analgesics, without compromising analgesia.
Realtime volume rendering using precomputed photon mapping

In this poster, we present a volume rendering framework that achieves realtime rendering of global illumination effects for volume datasets, such as multiple scattering and volume shadow. This approach incorporates the volumetric photon mapping technique [Jensen and Christensen 1998] into the classical precomputed radiance transfer [Sloan et al. 2002] pipeline. Fig.1 shows that our method is successfully applied in both interactive graphics and scientific visualization applications.
Closed form solutions of constrained trajectories - Application in optimal ascent of aerospace plane

The present consideration of the flight trajectory of hypersonic aerospace vehicles subject to a class of path constraints notes the constrained dynamics to constitute a natural two-timescale system, so that problems of trajectory optimization and guidance can be dramatically simplified by means of the asymptotic analytical solutions thus obtained. An illustrative application in ascent trajectory optimization for an aerospace vehicle is presented.
A social cognitive perspective on religious beliefs: their functions and impact on coping and psychotherapy

Religious beliefs are an important part of clients' culture, whether acknowledged or not. Psychological theories about social and cognitive processes can help mental-health professionals better understand the function of religious beliefs in coping and their role in therapy. Religious individuals are likely to use heuristics to form rapid judgments rather than engage in formal information-gathering processes. The confirmatory and in-group/out-group biases support such judgments and shield them from disconfirmatory evidence. Religious beliefs provide order and understanding to an otherwise chaotic and unpredictable world. Many religions advocate forgiveness, which is often helpful in resolving conflicts. Another beneficial religious belief is an ever-present spiritual attachment figure. Negative effects of religion include its exercising aversive control to maintain conformity and its promoting an external locus of control. In contrast, mental-health professionals belong to a tradition of free inquiry and self-development, and guide clients to acquire competencies necessary to change and direct their lives. Therapist attitudes are far less likely to include allegiance to religion than are those of the public and psychiatric patients. Rather than being biased against religion or trying to debate religion, therapists need to engage in problem solving with clients in the context of this example of sociocultural factors.
Failure mechanisms at the human dentin-resin interface: a fracture mechanics approach.

The present study reporis on the failure mechanisms at the human dentin-resin interface, with special reference to two specific questions: (1) does failure at the human dentin-resin interface occur by a cohesive or an adhesive mechanism? (2) is the failure mechanism accompanied by a plastic deformation, and if so how important is it? The experimental design, computational analysis, and fractography were applied to two generically different bending systems: Scotchbond-2 (SB2) and Scotchbond-multipurpose (SBM). The theoretical basis of the study required a three-dimensional finite element analysis for calibration of the new geometric factor coefficient. A minimum geometric factor coefficient (Ym) of 17.3 was then obtained which was vital for the determination of the interfacial fracture toughness. Accordingly, the dentin-resin interfacial fracture toughness (GIC), for the SB2 and for the SBM were 30.22 ± 5.61 and 49.56 ± 7.65 J m−2, respectively, which were significantly different (p < 0.01). Both SB2 and SBM interfaces with dentin displayed significant degrees of plasticity (0.15 and 0.19) which were beneficial to crack resistance. Thus, correcting for the plasticity, the GIC for SB2 and for SBM increased to 42.83 ± 7.75 and 74.97 ± 10.47 J m−2, respectively. The fractography of the two systems reflected these numeric differences. SB2 showed largely interfacial adhesive failure, while SBM showed adhesive-cohesive failure with occasional dentin adhesions attached to the composite interface and vice versa.
In-vivo ESR and EPR imaging

The authors are utilizing electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy for noninvasive examination of living animals. Due to the intense interest in nitroxides as potential nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) contrast agents (and built-in ESR imaging agents) they are studying the pharmacokinetics of nitroxides directly in vivo, as a probe of redox metabolism in various tissues. The results are also promising in assessing the feasibility for ESR imaging measurements at the tissue site of interest. >
Growth Inhibition of Chicks on Rations Containing Corn Grits

Abstract IT HAS been shown in previous studies (Krehl et al. 1945a, b) that corn or corn grits when added to a nicotinic acid low ration markedly inhibited the growth of rats and that this deleterious effect was completely counteracted by the addition of either nicotinic acid or tryptophane to the diet. Further, in studies with dogs, it was found that the animal’s requirement for nicotinic acid was considerably increased when corn grits was present in the purified ration (Krehl et al. 1945c). It was therefore of interest to determine whether corn grits exerted a similar effect in other species particularly in chicks. The chick requires a dietary source of nicotinic acid for optimal growth and for the prevention of chick blacktongue; a minimum level of 1.8 mg. per 100 gm. of ration is needed for this purpose (Briggs et al. 1942). In this paper, results are presented to show that . . .
Increased IL-12 inhibits B cells' differentiation to germinal center cells and promotes differentiation to short-lived plasmablasts.

B cells activated by antigen in T cell–dependent immune responses can become short-lived plasma cells, which remain in the spleen, or germinal center–derived memory or plasma cells, which show evidence of affinity maturation and, in the case of plasma cells, migrate to the bone marrow. We show that this cell fate decision can be governed by the cytokine environment engendered by activated dendritic cells (DCs). DCs from mice lacking the Fc receptor γ chain exhibited an activated phenotype in vitro. They secreted more of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12, which led to the preferential generation of short-lived splenic plasma cells, with ensuing low affinity antibodies and a diminished recall response. Understanding the factors that regulate antigen-activated B cell differentiation and memory cell formation has implications for both antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and protective antibody responses.
Fire safety engineering at a crossroad

Abstract Fire safety engineering (FSE) has become widely accepted throughout the world. This is quite an accomplishment for a young engineering discipline. Fire safety engineers are employed by public and private sector organizations of all types. We are involved in almost all major building and infrastructure projects, enabling amazing buildings to be designed, constructed and occupied. We play critical roles in high hazard industries, helping to mitigate risks and achieve acceptable levels of safety. We undertake groundbreaking research and develop new technologies aimed at reducing the impacts of unwanted fire. However, as an engineering discipline, we lack several attributes that one might expect to see in a mature discipline, including a robust analytical engineering framework. We have not experienced any transformational changes in technology or practice in some time. FSE degree programs and recognition of FSE as a unique discipline remain lacking in several countries, leading to wide variation in the level and consistency of fire safety performance delivered. This has unfortunately led some to question the competency and the efficacy of the profession, in some cases resulting in more regulatory control over the fire safety engineering analysis and design of buildings. The net result is that we are at a crossroad. We face some significant challenges, but we have the opportunity to shape an amazing future. If we are up to the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities, we have a chance to evolve the discipline towards maturity and greater respect. In this article I outline my view of the current situations, some of the challenges we face, steps we might take to overcome them, and areas for research, development and implementation into practice concepts that can lead to a promising future.
Monomolecular contamination of optical surfaces

Abstract This paper describes the measurements of ultraviolet reflectance change in mirrors, caused by oil contamination. Spacecraft equipped with such mirrors are tested in a vacuum generated by oil diffusion pumps, the oil being DC 704 (“tetramethyltetraphenyltrisiloxane”). Within instrumental limits, our experimental mirrors show no change in reflectivity when the vacuum chamber is operated in the usual mode. Contamination is plotted against amount of oil deposited, the amount being measured by a quartz-crystal microbalance. The observed phenomena give a more complete picture of the contamination process than existed previously. Deposited oil, it is found, forms minute droplets on the surface of mirrors coated with MgF 2 . The droplets can be evaporated from the surface at a much higher chamber pressure than the rated vapor pressure of the bulk liquid. It is possible to operate diffusion-pumped systems so as to minimize contamination.
The effect of roentgen ray irradiation on rats premedicated with thyroxin and thiouracil derivatives.

Hypothyroidism, induced by feeding nontoxic doses of thiouracil and its derivatives, does not significantly increase survival time nor decrease the total mortality of Roentgen ray irradiated rats. Propyl thiouracil significantly increased the rate of and total mortality of Roentgen ray irradiated rats. Hyperthyroidism produced by the subcutaneous injection of thyroxin into rats increased the rate of, and in one experiment, the total mortality of Roentgen ray irradiated rats. It was concluded that the potential sulfhydryl group in the thiouracil compounds is available for protecting the sulfhydryl groups in the animal organism, but a great excess must be present before any protectant effect can be observed. In such cases the drugs would be exerting pharmacological rather than antimetabolic effects.
Treatment of slowly growing mycobacteria

The most common nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung pathogen, Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), requires antibiotic treatment regimens that are long and often arduous. M kansasii is the slowly growing NTM pathogen with the most predictably successful treatment outcomes, whereas other slowly growing NTM pathogens such as M xeonpi, M szulgai, and M malmoense are less predictably responsive to antibiotic regimens. M simiae is the most difficult of the common slowly growing NTM pathogens to eradicate. Surgical intervention for slowly growing mycobacterial lung infection has proved beneficial for some patients, but the optimal candidates and timing for surgical intervention remain unknown.
Amphiphilic networks. VI. Swelling and sustained release of poly (N,N-dimethylacrylamide) -l-polyisobutylene, poly (N-N-dimethylamino ethylmethacrylate) -l-polyisobutylene and poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) -l-polyisobutylene networks☆

Abstract The swelling behavior in water of three amphiphilic networks, poly(n,N-dimethylacrylamide)-l-polyisobutylene (DMAAm-l-PIB), poly(N,N-dimethylamino ethylmethacrylate)-l-polyisobutylene (PDMAEMA-l-PIB), and poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-l-polyisobutylene (PHEMA-l-PIB), of various compositions was investigated. The PDMAAm-l-PIB and PHEMA-l-PIB networks displayed a distinct swelling front during swelling in water, suggesting polymer-relaxation controlled swelling. In contrast, PDMAEMA-l-PIB networks, in this solvent showed diffusion-controlled swelling most likely due to the relatively low Tg and high hydrophilicity of the PDMAEMA moiety. The kinetics of theophylline release from initially dry networks exhibited Fickian or anomalous behavior depending on the crosslink density, the respective molecular weight of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic chains, and the overall composition of the networks.
Comparison of abstinence syndromes precipitated by flumazenil and PK 11195 in female diazepam-dependent rats.

The abilities of the central (CBR) and the peripheral (PBR) benzodiazepine receptor antagonists, flumazenil (FLU) and PK 11195 (PK), to precipitate an abstinence syndrome in diazepam (DZ)-dependent rats have been evaluated. Female rats were exposed for 5 weeks to DZ slowly released from SC implanted silastic capsules (90 mg/capsule per week) and thereafter they were challenged in weekly intervals with IV injections of FLU (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) or PK (5, 10, 20 mg/kg), respectively. The maximum abstinence scores tended to increase with the dose of FLU but not with the dose of PK. Although FLU and PK precipitated some common abstinence signs, there were marked differences between these antagonists. FLU evoked dose-related tonic-clonic and clonic convulsions (five out of six rats), whereas PK (10 mg/kg) induced convulsions in only one rat (out of five); tachypnea tended to increase with the dose of both FLU and PK; twitches and jerks, backing and writhing had a significant regression on the dose of FLU; rearing tended to decrease with the dose of PK whereas FLU-evoked head bobbing and PK-evoked twitches and jerks had inverse U-shaped dose-response curves. In comparison to FLU, similar doses of PK (10 and 20 mg/kg) induced a lower precipitated abstinence score (P<0.05) and a less intense tachypnea (P<0.05).The data indicate that the chronic continuous exposure to DZ (and/or its active metabolites) affects both CBR and PBR in the rat; however, the abstinence syndromes produced by the CBR and PBR antagonists, FLU and PK, differ in overall intensities and in the diversity of evoked abstinence signs.
Framingham Heart Study genome-wide association: results for pulmonary function measures.

Pulmonary function measures obtained by spirometry are used to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are highly heritable. We conducted genome-wide association (GWA) analyses (Affymetrix 100K SNP GeneChip) for measures of lung function in the Framingham Heart Study. Ten spirometry phenotypes including percent of predicted measures, mean spirometry measures over two examinations, and rates of change based on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow from the 25th to 75th percentile (FEF25–75), the FEV1/FVC ratio, and the FEF25–75/FVC ratio were examined. Percent predicted phenotypes were created using each participant's latest exam with spirometry. Predicted lung function was estimated using models defined in the set of healthy never-smokers, and standardized residuals of percent predicted measures were created adjusting for smoking status, pack-years, and body mass index (BMI). All modeling was performed stratified by sex and cohort. Mean spirometry phenotypes were created using data from two examinations and adjusting for age, BMI, height, smoking and pack-years. Change in pulmonary function over time was studied using two to four examinations with spirometry to calculate slopes, which were then adjusted for age, height, smoking and pack-years. Analyses were restricted to 70,987 autosomal SNPs with minor allele frequency ≥ 10%, genotype call rate ≥ 80%, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium p-value ≥ 0.001. A SNP in the interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R) on chromosome 1 was among the best results for percent predicted FEF25–75. A non-synonymous coding SNP in glutathione S-transferase omega 2 (GSTO2) on chromosome 10 had top-ranked results studying the mean FEV1 and FVC measurements from two examinations. SNPs nearby the SOD3 and vitamin D binding protein genes, candidate genes for COPD, exhibited association to percent predicted phenotypes. GSTO2 and IL6R are credible candidate genes for association to pulmonary function identified by GWA. These and other observed associations warrant replication studies. This resource of GWA results for pulmonary function measures is publicly available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/gap/cgi-bin/study.cgi?id=phs000007 .
From multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary research: Effects of information systems on formal organizations

The purpose of this work is to help build a bridge between total overviews of the field of information science on the one hand, and empirical research on the other. This is done by building a model for linking multi-disciplinary approaches into a relevant and effective whole, and for deriving testable propositions from this new framework. Both the method followed in building this model and the method of presenting it, consist of working out an example—a sample area of research interest. The example is the field of research into the effects of rationalized information systems on the functioning of formal organizations. The disciplines involved in the analysis are organization theory (itself a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary area), general systems theory, cybernetics, some areas of information science and of the behavior sciences. The example first shows theoretical trends in the discipline of primary relevance—organization theory—being analyzed. A search for relevant analogies, theoretical and empirical terms, and testable propositions is then made in the disciplines listed above. This investigation yields a conceptual framework for empirical analysis which benefits from the contributions of all these disciplines, taking into account systemic characteristics such as the levels of organization of the system to be researched and a modified set of related propositions about relevant behavioral (personal and organizational) processes. A general method for interdisciplinary analysis of other problem areas is seen as being implicit in the specific example offered.
Mortality Associated with Low Serum Sodium Concentration in Maintenance Hemodialysis

Abstract Background Low serum sodium concentrations are associated with an increased risk of death in the general population, but causality is uncertain due to confounding from clinical conditions such as congestive heart failure and cirrhosis, in which hyponatremia results from elevated levels of arginine vasopressin. Methods To examine the association between predialysis serum sodium concentration and mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease, a condition in which arginine vasopressin does not affect water excretion and osmoregulation, we studied 1549 oligoanuric participants in the HEMO study, a randomized controlled trial of hemodialysis patients examining the effect of hemodialysis dose and flux. We used proportional hazards models to compare the risk of death according to predialysis serum sodium concentration. Results Considered as a continuous variable, each 4-mEq/L increment in baseline predialysis serum sodium concentration was associated with a hazard ratio for all-cause mortality of 0.84 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.78-0.90). Multivariable adjustment for demographic, clinical, laboratory, and dialysis-specific covariates, including ultrafiltration volume, did not appreciably change the results (hazard ratio for all-cause mortality of 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.96). The results also were consistent in time-updated analyses using repeated measures of serum sodium and other relevant covariates. Conclusion Lower predialysis serum sodium concentration is associated with an increased risk of death. Considering the unique physiology in the dialysis population, these findings raise the possibility that hyponatremia itself may be a causal determinant of mortality in the broader population. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Imaging Correctional Facility Patients

More than 2.2 million people are incarcerated in the United States, and thousands of these men and women will be brought to medical facilities at some point during their arrest or incarceration. Radiologic technologists across the country conduct imaging procedures for correctional facility patients. Some technologists work within prison infirmaries or in mobile units parked on prison grounds. Others work in hospitals that have contracts with penitentiaries. Whether inside or outside prison walls, imaging of correctional patients requires awareness. This Directed Reading describes the prison environment in the United States, the most common diseases that prisoners have, special prison populations and safety measures for performing imaging procedures on patients in the custody of prison officials.