cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective Reduction of a Heterotopic Cesarean Scar Pregnancy Complicated by Septic Abortion.

Background. Heterotopic pregnancy involving the implantation of an ectopic pregnancy into a prior cesarean scar with a concurrent intrauterine pregnancy is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition with minimal information in the literature to guide treatment and management options. Case. A 40-year-old G5P3103 at 12 weeks and 3 days with a history of two cesarean deliveries was diagnosed with a live heterotopic pregnancy containing a cesarean scar ectopic and an intrauterine pregnancy. After selective reduction of the cesarean scar gestation with potassium chloride (KCl), the patient presented ten days later to the emergency department with septic abortion and sepsis. The patient underwent bilateral uterine artery embolization followed by ultrasound guided uterine evacuation with dilation and curettage, which was complicated by intraoperative hemorrhage and persistent bacteremia. The patient had resolution of her bacteremia after total abdominal hysterectomy. Conclusion. Conservative management of uterine infection resulting from selective reduction of a heterotopic pregnancy cesarean scar pregnancy may be considered; however, severe septicemia and persistent bacteremia may necessitate definitive surgical management.
Environmental determinants of destination competitiveness and its Tourism Attractions-Basics-Context, A-B-C, indicators: A review, conceptual model and propositions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature and develop a model of the determinants, indicators and effects of destination competitiveness (DC), as well as several propositions. Design/methodology/approach – This study thoroughly reviewed extant literature to develop a conceptual model and propositions. Findings – Two key findings are listed below. First, 12 different environmental factors are identified and 12 propositions are developed linking these environmental factors to DC. Second, a new indicator of DC is developed, namely, Tourism Attractions-Basics-Context (TABC) model. The TABC model is simple and directly taps into the benefits tourists seek in a destination. Research limitations/implications – Directions for future research are discussed in detail in the paper. Practical implications – Managerial implications are discussed in detail in the paper. Originality/value – The extant research on the topic of DC has been rather fragmented and incomplete in scope. The research presented in this paper addresses these limitations. Proposito – El proposito de este articulo es proporcionar una revision integral de la literatura y desarrollar un modelo de los determinantes, indicadores y efectos de la competitividad del destino (CD), asi como varias propuestas. Diseno/metodologia/enfoque – Este estudio reviso minuciosamente la literatura existente para desarrollar un modelo conceptual y propuestas. Findings – A continuacion, se enumeran dos hallazgos clave. Primero, se identifican 12 factores ambientales diferentes y se desarrollan 12 propuestas que vinculan estos factores ambientales con la CD. En segundo lugar, se desarrolla un nuevo indicador de CD: el modelo de atracciones turisticas-conceptos basicos-contexto. El modelo es simple y aprovecha directamente los beneficios que buscan los turistas en un destino. Limitaciones de la investigacion/implicancias – Los caminos para futuras investigaciones se discuten en detalle en el documento. Implicancias practicas – El documento debate en detalle las implicaciones que atanen alas funciones de gerencia. Originalidad/valor – La investigacion sobre el tema de la CD ha sido bastante fragmentada y de alcance incompleto. La investigacion presentada en este documento aborda estas limitaciones.
Quality assurance and institutional transformation: the Chinese experience

It is commonplace to attribute the emergence of quality assurance practices and policies in higher education to processes of massification. From a comparative perspective, one can claim that no hig...
The Conscience of a Pharmacist

The purpose of this commentary is to attempt to provide some insight into conscience-clause cases from the perspective of a pharmacist and an academician. Health professionals, including pharmacists, have a social contract with the patients we serve in which the patients give us a level of status not given to non-professionals, and, in return, we agree to put the interests of our patients above our own. Therefore, any discussion of a right-to-refuse service needs to begin with a discussion of the duties and responsibilities of the health professional to the patient.
Growth and chemical modification of silicon nanostructures templated in molecule corrals: Parallels with the surface chemistry of single crystalline silicon

Abstract Molecule corrals having diameters of 30 – 50 nm were created on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) using cesium ion bombardment. The molecule corrals were used as templates to grow silicon nanostructures by physical vapor deposition (PVD). The nanostructures could be grown with control over geometry (rings and mesas), and size distribution. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results suggest that the silicon nanostructures are most likely polycrystalline. The chemical modification of these silicon nanostructures with nitrobenzene was compared to that of clean and hydrogen-terminated single crystalline silicon. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the modified nanostructures showed peaks located at 398.9 eV, 400.4 eV, and 402.1 eV for the N 1 s region, which are consistent with those observed on a Si(100) single crystal. The chemical modification was further characterized by the presence of nitrogen-containing peaks in TOF-SIMS spectra. We conclude that the reaction of nitrobenzene on silicon nanostructures provides evidence that the reactivity of the nanostructures is similar to that of hydrogen-terminated Si(111) and Si(100).
Effect of spirotetramat and fluensulfone on population densities of Mesocriconema xenoplax and Meloidogyne incognita on peach.

Management of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) on peach is needed for a longer period of time than is typically afforded by pre-plant fumigant nematicides. Two post-plant nematicides, spirotetramat and fluensulfone, were evaluated for control of Meloidogyne incognita and Mesocriconema xenoplax under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In vitro assays were conducted to test the effect of spirotetramat at 0.017 and 0.026 kg a.i./ha and fluensulfone at 3.92 kg a.i./ha on the mobility of both M. incognita and M. xenoplax in 24-well plates for 24, 48, and 72 hr, compared to a water control. Both fluensulfone and spirotetramat reduced mobility of M. xenoplax, but only fluensulfone reduced the mobility of M. incognita, compared to the untreated control. In peach greenhouse trials, both spirotetramat at 0.017 kg a.i./ha and fluensulfone at 3.92 kg a.i./ha reduced M. incognita numbers by 62 and 77% at 40 d after inoculation (DAI), respectively; neither chemical reduced populations at 70 DAI. Fluensulfone reduced M. xenoplax numbers by 84, 94, and 96% at 30, 60, and 90 DAI, respectively. No effects were observed for spirotetramat on M. xenoplax. At 40 DAI, dual applications of spirotetramat 30 d apart reduced M. incognita numbers by 58 and 54% for both 0.017 and 0.026 kg a.i./ha rates, respectively; no reductions were observed at 70 DAI. No effect was seen for a dual application of spirotetramat on M. xenoplax. These post-plant nematicides may provide additional options for management of PPNs on peach. Management of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) on peach is needed for a longer period of time than is typically afforded by pre-plant fumigant nematicides. Two post-plant nematicides, spirotetramat and fluensulfone, were evaluated for control of Meloidogyne incognita and Mesocriconema xenoplax under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In vitro assays were conducted to test the effect of spirotetramat at 0.017 and 0.026 kg a.i./ha and fluensulfone at 3.92 kg a.i./ha on the mobility of both M. incognita and M. xenoplax in 24-well plates for 24, 48, and 72 hr, compared to a water control. Both fluensulfone and spirotetramat reduced mobility of M. xenoplax, but only fluensulfone reduced the mobility of M. incognita, compared to the untreated control. In peach greenhouse trials, both spirotetramat at 0.017 kg a.i./ha and fluensulfone at 3.92 kg a.i./ha reduced M. incognita numbers by 62 and 77% at 40 d after inoculation (DAI), respectively; neither chemical reduced populations at 70 DAI. Fluensulfone reduced M. xenoplax numbers by 84, 94, and 96% at 30, 60, and 90 DAI, respectively. No effects were observed for spirotetramat on M. xenoplax. At 40 DAI, dual applications of spirotetramat 30 d apart reduced M. incognita numbers by 58 and 54% for both 0.017 and 0.026 kg a.i./ha rates, respectively; no reductions were observed at 70 DAI. No effect was seen for a dual application of spirotetramat on M. xenoplax. These post-plant nematicides may provide additional options for management of PPNs on peach.
AdhyAtma or Spirituality: Construct Definition and Elaboration Using Multiple Methods

In this chapter, the essential characteristic of the indigenous concept of adhyAtma or spirituality is derived from the bhagavadgItA. It emerges that adhyAtma is an inward-looking process of self-discovery, which is closely related to other constructs like brahman, adhibhUta, adhidaiva, adhiyajJa, and karma. Following this, ideas relevant to the practice of adhyAtma from pAtaJjalayogasUtra, which are employed by all practitioners of spirituality, are presented. Then examples from the life of pramukh swAmIjI, guru and past president of BAPS, are presented as evidence of how adhyAtma translates in the daily behaviour of an exemplar spiritual practitioner. Thus, a synthesis of micro-world (bhagavadgItA and pAtaJjalayogasUtra) and life-world (pramukh swAmIjI) is employed in defining and elaborating the construct of adhyAtma.
Timing between Cortical Slow Oscillations and Heart Rate Bursts during Sleep Predicts Temporal Processing Speed, but Not Offline Consolidation

Central and autonomic nervous system activities are coupled during sleep. Cortical slow oscillations (SOs; <1 Hz) coincide with brief bursts in heart rate (HR), but the functional consequence of this coupling in cognition remains elusive. We measured SO-HR temporal coupling (i.e., the peak-to-peak interval between downstate of SO event and HR burst) during a daytime nap and asked whether this SO-HR timing measure was associated with temporal processing speed and learning on a texture discrimination task by testing participants before and after a nap. The coherence of SO-HR events during sleep strongly correlated with an individual's temporal processing speed in the morning and evening test sessions, but not with their change in performance after the nap (i.e., consolidation). We confirmed this result in two additional experimental visits and also discovered that this association was visit-specific, indicating a state (not trait) marker. Thus, we introduce a novel physiological index that may be a useful marker of state-dependent processing speed of an individual.
Modified V-Y Turndown Flap Augmentation for Quadriceps Tendon Rupture Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND Quadriceps tendon rupture following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an infrequent but potentially devastating adverse event. Although uncommon, the long-term sequelae of this injury can result in permanent inability to walk. Despite the severity of this injury, there is no single accepted treatment, with various surgical methods producing mixed results. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a modified V-Y turndown flap as a viable alternative method of treatment for this injury. METHODS Twenty-four quadriceps tendon ruptures in 23 patients (10 men and 13 women) who underwent TKA (8 primary and 15 revision), including 1 tendon rerupture, were treated with use of a modified V-Y turndown. The average patient age at the time of the V-Y flap repair was 61 years (range, 41 to 86 years). Knee Society scores, range of motion, strength, medical comorbidities, nature of the procedure (i.e., primary versus revision), and the ability to walk were all recorded before and after the quadriceps reconstruction, along with general satisfaction and adverse events following the procedure. RESULTS Twelve patients (52%) had predisposing comorbidities, including obesity, diabetes, chronic dialysis, and steroid dependence. Prior to repair with the V-Y flap, none of the patients were able to walk independently, requiring either a wheelchair or walker. No patient had quadriceps strength greater than 3 (of 5), although all had full passive extension. Following the repair procedure, patients had significant (p < 0.0001) improvements in mean Knee Society knee score (88.7; range, 45 to 95) and mean strength (4.8; range, 3 to 5), and all were able to walk without assistive devices. Twenty knees exhibited active range of motion of 0° to 120°, whereas 4 had residual extensor lag of ≥5° (range, 5° to 35°). Major adverse events were limited to a single hematoma and an unacceptable extensor lag (35°) after repair. CONCLUSIONS The modified V-Y quadriceps tendon turndown flap was a reliable alternative treatment for achieving restoration of the extensor mechanism after complete quadriceps tendon rupture following TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Buckling of a column with rigid segments on an elastic foundation

Abstract A beam-column consisting of linked rigid segments with rotational resistance at the joints rests on an elastic foundation. The buckling problem due to axial compression is formulated for N identical segments. The characteristic equation show the buckling force depends on N and a parameter representing the relative importance of joint rigidity and foundation resistance. Exact solutions are found for columns up to N = 5 segments.
Model Predictive Control with Constraint Aggregation Applied to Conventional and Very Flexible Aircraft

This paper presents a Model Predictive Control (MPC) formulation with constraint aggregation using the Kreisselmeier-Steinhauser (KS) function. The KS aggregation function provides an approximation of the feasible region with a reduced number of nonlinear constraints. The application to linear MPC is considered and the implementation aspects are discussed. Case studies including an application to very flexible aircraft are presented. Numerical results show that a significant reduction in computation time can be achieved.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND DIABETES IN CENTRAL MICHIGAN ADULTS.

ABSTRACT Objective: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) predispose individuals to poor health outcomes as adults. Although a dose-response relationship between the number of ACEs and certain chron...
Elderberry Extract Outpatient Influenza Treatment for Emergency Room Patients Ages 5 and Above: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Black elderberry, used medicinally for centuries, decreased influenza duration by 4 days in three previous peer-reviewed trials. US elderberry sales, possibly related to a “high severity” and “high activity” influenza season from January to March 2018, more than doubled from 2017 to 2018 to > $100 million. To determine whether elderberry extract decreases influenza’s duration and severity. FDA-approved, investigator-initiated, Investigational New Drug, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Conducted January 2018–April 2019 in three emergency rooms, two suburban and one urban, in the Midwestern Health System. Eighty-seven consecutive, consenting patients, over age four, with 12 years received 15 ml 4 times a day for 5 days. Patients were permitted to choose to also receive the standard dosage of oseltamivir. Primary: days until all symptoms were none or mild for 21.5 h. Secondary: days to complete symptom resolution for 24 h. The 87 participants were randomized to receive placebo (n = 44) or elderberry (n = 43). The average age was 25 ± 20 years, and 56% were male. The average number of days to reach all symptoms none or mild for 21.5 h in the placebo group was 4.9 ± 2.8 days compared to 5.3 ± 3.6 in the elderberry group (p = 0.57). The average number of days to complete resolution was 8.7 ± 3.8 and 8.6 ± 3.9 in the placebo and elderberry group, respectively (p = 0.87). Small sample size, but powered > 0.90 to detect 2-day benefit of elderberry versus placebo. We found no evidence that elderberry benefits the duration or severity of influenza. Post hoc analysis suggested primary outcomes with elderberry taken alone (without oseltamivir) were 2 days worse than with placebo taken alone. Our results contradict previous studies and demonstrate the need for further studies. NCT03410862
Imaging of Colorectal Liver Metastasis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. The most important determinant of survival and prognosis is the stage and presence of metastasis. The liver is the most common location for CRC metastasis. The only curative treatment for CRC liver metastasis (CRLM) is resection; however, many patients are ineligible for surgical resection of CRLM. Locoregional treatments such as ablation and intra-arterial therapy are also available for patients with CRLM. Assessment of response after chemotherapy is challenging due to anatomical and functional changes. Antiangiogenic agents such as bevacizumab that are used in the treatment of CRLM may show atypical patterns of response on imaging. It is vital to distinguish patterns of response in addition to toxicities to various treatments. Imaging plays a critical role in evaluating the characteristics of CRLM and the approach to treatment. CT is the modality of choice in the diagnosis and management of CRLM. MRI is best used for indeterminate lesions and to assess response to intra-arterial therapy. PET-CT is often utilized to detect extrahepatic metastasis. State-of-the-art imaging is critical to characterize patterns of response to various treatments. We herein review the imaging characteristics of CRLM with an emphasis on imaging changes following the most common CRLM treatments.
The Meaning of Comfort.

It was April 2020. Except for the hissing sounds of ventilators and beeping monitors, the intensive care unit was eerily quiet. Overlaying this was the hum of doctors calling families to provide up...
Property, Taxes and Distribution

Is an ideal of distributive justice, strong enough to require some redistribution, philosophically defensible? More, could such an ideal be made politically attractive? While it looks as if redistribution inevitably conflicts with property rights, and while property rights have great popular and political appeal, it is argued here that property rights are, in fact, hard to defend philosophically. And what can be defended has indeterminate, even open ended, content. Indeed, a strong argument for redistribution is that, unless property is qualified in such a way that it does not automatically rule out redistributive taxation, property cannot be defended.
On output static feedback: the addition of an extra relaxation constraint to obtain efficiently computable conditions

This paper is concerned with the use of output static feedback in linear time-invariant finite dimensional systems. We consider here the use of an extra relaxation constraint as a mean to obtain efficiently computable (sufficient) conditions for the synthesis of output static stabilizing controllers. We present novel necessary and sufficient conditions for output static feedback stabilizability, that are computable in terms of the solvability of a concave programming problem. We add an extra relaxation constraint to the above conditions, to define a new concept: output static stabilization in the relaxed sense. This (conservative) stabilization concept is fully characterized in terms of the LQR problem. The dependence of the above stabilization concept on the state-space representation of a system is analyzed. We show that for a particular class of plants, the stabilization problem in the above sense can be cast as a convex programming problem. We fully characterize a particular class of plants that are stabilizable in the above sense. A consequence of this characterization is somehow surprising: the identification of a class of plants stabilize via output static feedback, for which stabilizing feedback matrices can be (almost) expressed in analytic closed form. A result which is indeed a generalization of a well-known fact for SISO systems.
Antigone: a flexible framework for secure group communication

Many emerging applications on the Internet requiring group communication have varying security requirements. Significant strides have been made in achieving strong semantics and security guarantees within group environments. However, in existing solutions, the scope of available security policies is often limited. This paper presents Antigone, a framework that provides a suite of mechanisms from which flexible application security policies may be implemented. With Antigone, developers may choose a policy that best addresses their security and performance requirements. We describe the Antigone's mechanisms, consisting of a set of micro-protocols, and show how different security policies can be implemented using those mechanisms. We also present a performance study illustrating the security/performance tradeoffs that can be made using Antigone.
A Rao-blackwellized parts-constellation tracker

We present a method for efficiently tracking objects represented as constellations of parts by integrating out the shape of the model. Parts-based models have been successfully applied to object recognition and tracking. However, the high dimensionality of such models present an obstacle to traditional particle filtering approaches. We can efficiently use parts-based models in a particle filter by applying Rao-Blackwellization to integrate out continuous parameters such as shape. This allows us to maintain multiple hypotheses for the pose of an object without the need to sample in the high-dimensional spaces in which parts-based models live. We present experimental results for a challenging biological tracking task.
Causes and Consequences of Abusive Supervision in Sales Management: A Tale of Two Perspectives

Abuse may characterize some most important relationships, and it is estimated that 20 million Americans face abusive work situations on a daily basis. Given this statistic, there is a clear need to investigate this topic within the marketing literature. As a result, the purpose of this study is to explore antecedents and outcomes of abusive supervision in sales management, where the performance-driven nature of salesperson–sales manager relationships often creates a highly stressful situation. This research looks at several characteristics of sales managers from their perspectives as well as subordinates, and it considers how abuse influences professional and personal lives of both parties. Causes under investigation include leadership style, justice perceptions, negative affectivity, and experiences of abusive leadership by sales managers. Their impact is measured on salesperson and manager job satisfaction and organizational commitment. A model is used to help readers visualize the processes involved with both salespersons and sales managers, and theoretical and practical implications are provided in the close.
Extraction-Based Text Categorization: Generating Domain-Specific Role Relationships Automatically

In previous work, we developed several algorithms that use information extraction techniques to achieve high-precision text categorization. The relevancy signatures algorithm classifies texts using extraction patterns, and the augmented relevancy signatures algorithm classifies texts using extraction patterns and semantic features associated with role fillers (Riloff and Lehnert, 1994). These algorithms relied on hand-coded training data, including annotated texts and a semantic dictionary. In this chapter, we describe two advances that significantly improve the practicality of our approach. First, we explain how the extraction patterns can be generated automatically using only preclassified texts as input. Second, we present the word-augmented relevancy signatures algorithm that uses lexical items to represent domain-specific role relationships instead of semantic features. Using these techniques, we can automatically build text categorization systems that benefit from domain-specific natural language processing.
A numerical study of P-, SV-, and SH-wave generation in a plane layered medium

abstract A solution for the surface displacements due to buried dislocation sources in a multi-layered elastic medium is found using the Haskell (1964) paper as a starting point and more importantly, for notation. Through the introduction of some simple matrix operations, the Haskell (1964) solution is made simultaneously more compact and computationally stable. Time histories are computed for a perfectly elastic medium by performing classical contour integration in the complex wavenumber plane. A new aspect in the evaluation of those contours is introduced because of the recognition of nonzero singularity contributions of the Hankel and modified Bessel functions at k = 0. Theoretical ground motion time histories are presented to show the usefulness of the formulation. The overall objective of this paper is to incorporate the modifications made since 1964 to the Haskell (1964) paper in an easily understandable, step-by-step development.
Toxicity of β-diethylaminoethyl diphenylpropylacetate (SKF-525A) in cats

Abstract In unanesthetized cats, intravenous injection of 5–10 mg/kg of β-diethylaminoethyl diphenylpropylacetate (SKF-525A) produced respiratory and gastrointestinal disturbances. A dose of 25 mg/kg caused clonic convulsions and death. Larger doses of SKF-525A were tolerated by intraportal and intraperitoneal administration, but effects of repeated injections were cumulative and progressed to anorexia, convulsions, and death within 48 hours. In anesthetized cats, observations were made upon blood pressure, respiration, end-expiratory pCO2, electrical excitability of the respiratory center, and transmission through the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion. The chief effects of intravenous injection were shortlasting noncholinergic peripheral vasodilatation and persistent respiratory depression. Intracarotid injection evoked a prompt vasopressor response and concomitant skeletal muscle movements due to stimulation of the forebrain. Intravertebral injection resulted in rapid depression of the respiratory center in the lower brainstem. The drug effects elicited in unanesthetized cats are explained by the combination of central and peripheral effects of SKF-525A observed in anesthetized cats.
Fornix Integrity and Hippocampal Volume in Male Schizophrenic Patients

Background The hippocampus has been shown to be abnormal in schizophrenia. The fornix is one of the main fiber tracts connecting the hippocampus with other brain regions. Few studies have evaluated the fornix in schizophrenia, however. A focus on fornix abnormalities and their association with hippocampal abnormalities might figure importantly in our understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Methods Line-scan diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to evaluate diffusion in the fornix in 24 male patients with chronic schizophrenia and 31 male control subjects. Maps of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (D m ), which are indices sensitive to white-matter integrity, were generated to quantify diffusion within the fornix. We used high spatial resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure hippocampal volume. Results FA and cross-sectional area of the fornix were significantly reduced in patients compared with control subjects. D m was significantly increased, whereas hippocampal volume was bilaterally reduced in patients. Reduced hippocampal volume was correlated with increased mean D m and reduced cross-sectional area of the fornix for patients. Patients also showed a significant correlation between reduced scores on neuropsychologic measures of declarative-episodic memory and reduced hippocampal volumes. Conclusions These findings demonstrate a disruption in fornix integrity in patients with schizophrenia.
Earth science: Is earthquake rupture deterministic? (Reply)

Rydelek and Horiuchi 1 present an analysis of earthquakes in Japan whose magnitudes (M) ranged from 6.0 to 8.0. They determine τpmax, the peak predominant period for P-wave arrival, for the five nearest Hi-net seismic-network stations and plot the event-averaged τpmax versus magnitude. They find no statistically significant trend in their data.
Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy in the presence of aberrant or anomalous hepatic arterial anatomy: safety and oncologic outcomes

Background Hepatic arterial anomalies (HAAs) are not infrequently encountered during pancreatic resections. In view of the current emergence of the robotic platform as a safe alternative to open surgery in experienced centres, this study sought to determine the implications of HAAs on the safety and oncologic outcomes of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD).
why a Black Baptist Community Uses Christian Media: An Ethnographic Treatment of a Working-Class Community Where Christian Media Use Is Shaped by Sacred Tenets, Social Influences, and Personal Factors

As aspiring Christians, this African American Baptist community faces intense societal pressures. These pressures work in conjunction with several factors to help shape their continued struggle to live righteous lives, including their convictions in the Baptist faith, their church and work environments, and their personal and familial experiences. This ethnographic study examines how they socially construct rituals of Christian media use that help them negotiate feelings of guilt and moral conflict, prepare for life's difficult challenges, and form meaningful social bonds with others. This study extends the literature on qualitative research conducted within the uses and gratifications tradition. It also adds to the scant amount of research that has been conducted on the Black Christian media audience. The results of this study contain ethnographic descriptions of what motivates this community to use Christian media during their struggle to become devout followers of the Baptist Faith.
When is homogenization the best processing choice

Pharmaceutical emulsions, dispersions, and intracellular products put homogenization to the test in professional labs.
Criticality of External Circuit in Simulating Atmospheric Pressure Direct Current Microglow Discharge

The effects of the external circuit on discharge conditions are not explicitly considered in most numerical simulations of nonthermal plasma discharges. The effects of including and excluding the external circuit on the simulation of atmospheric pressure reactive microglow discharges are addressed. 2-D simulations of direct-current (dc) atmospheric pressure H 2 /CH 4 microglow discharges were conducted using a hybrid model. The external circuit consisted of a ballast resistance (in series) and a parasitic capacitance (in parallel) connected to the discharge electrodes. Simulations were conducted over a broad discharge current range (by varying ballast resistance). The parasitic capacitance values were also varied to examine the effects on discharge behavior. Depending on the value of the ballast resistance, the discharge operated in the subnormal (large ballast resistance) and normal glow (small ballast resistance) regimes. When the external circuit is not considered, the discharge was found to operate in the Townsend like regime as a dark discharge. The simulations further indicated that for higher values of the parasitic capacitance, the discharge (even with a dc power supply) was self-oscillatory, indicating an unstable regime. The oscillations were found to arise as a result of comparable time scales between the ion transit time (τ ion ) within the interelectrode separation and the circuit response time (τ RC ). The predicted results were found to be in agreement with experimental observations.
NMR evidence for a short, strong hydrogen bond at the active site of a cholinesterase.

Cholinesterases (ChE), use a Glu−His−Ser catalytic triad to enhance the nucleophilicity of the catalytic serine. It has been shown that serine proteases, which employ an Asp−His−Ser catalytic triad...
Characterization of the isozymes of bovine adrenal medullary phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase.

Bovine adrenal medullary phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.28) has been purified to apparent homogeneity. The enzymatically active monomer has a relative molecular weight of 30,000 and can be separated into at least four active charged isozymes. These isozymes, designated PNMT-1, PNMT-2, PNMT-3 and PNMT-4, have isoelectric points of 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, respectively. Kinetic parameters have been determined for each isozyme. The Kms for phenylethanolamine range from 11.9 to 45.9 μM; the Kms for S-adenosylmethionine range from 1.13 to 1.47 μM; and the Kis for the competitive inhibitor, S-adenosylhomocysteine, range from 0.12 to 0.22 μM. For isozymes PNMT-1 and PNMT-4, the Kms for S-adenosylmethionine and Kis for S-adenosylhomocysteine are not significantly different. Vmax values for all of the isozymes do not change significantly in the presence of S-adenosylhomocysteine. Treatment of the purified isozymes with various endo- and exoglycosidases does not alter electrophoretic mobility. Hence, carbohydrate substitution must be minimal. No high mannan, complex sugars or terminal N-acetylglucosamine residues are present. The absence of carbohydrate is further supported by the inability of Schiff-periodic acid to stain the protein. Limited thermolysin digests of each isozyme show distinct peptide cleavage products. In conjunction with the kinetic and glycosylation data, this suggests that the isozymes of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase may be primary structural variants.
Disaster : response and recovery at a major research library in New Orleans

Purpose – This paper aims to describe the experience of the largest among many academic libraries in New Orleans severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina. In this case, at Tulane University, a remarkable early effort was undertaken to save collections and stabilize flooded library buildings. Other daunting challenges followed.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports observations on critical aspects of the library's recovery, which was still ongoing at the time of this writing more than two years after the hurricane.Findings – The paper draws preliminary conclusions about disaster planning and response to actual disasters.Originality/value – The event covered maybe unprecedented in many ways even apart from its scale, since its location was a major city that was almost entirely evacuated apart from military personnel. Effective disaster response is a context sensitive and complex undertaking. In this case special problems arose initially in just responding to the scene and later in ways connected to t...
A study of oceanic internal waves using satellite imagery and ship data

Abstract Surface manifestations of oceanic internal waves have been studied in Landsat-1 and -2 data since 1972. The internal waves appear as periodic, intermittent variations in the surface optical reflectivity and are visible from spacecraft, aircraft, and surface vehicles under certain circumstances. The Landsat data suggest that the source of the waves is semidiurnal and diurnal tidal action at the edge of the continental shelf. A study of the wave characteristics yields considerable insight into the physics of their excitation, propagation, and dissipation. Packets have been observed from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras and in images taken off the U.S. and African east and west coasts, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, The Gulf of California, the Sulu Sea, and the Baltic. The internal wave groups show an orderly variation in wavelength from front to rear of the packet, due to a combination of frequency dispersion and nonlinear amplitude effects. An oceanographic cruise was carried out in synchronism with two 18-day Landsat-1 cycles, and data were taken on temperature, density variations, acoustic echoes, and surface slicks accompanying the internal waves. The data were satisfactorily correlated with spacecraft and U-2 imagery taken simultaneously.
An Ecological Perspective of Riparian and Stream Restoration in the Western United States

Abstract There is an unprecedented need to preserve and restore aquatic and riparian biological diversity before extinction eliminates the opportunity. Ecological restoration is the reestablishment of processes, functions, and related biological, chemical, and physical linkages between the aquatic and associated riparian ecosystems; it is the repairing of damage caused by human activities. The first and most critical step in ecological restoration is passive restoration, the cessation of those anthropogenic activities that are causing degradation or preventing recovery. Given the capacity of riparian ecosystems to naturally recover, often this is all that is needed to achieve successful restoration. Prior to implementation of active restoration approaches (e.g., instream structures, channel and streambank reconfiguration, and planting programs), a period of time sufficient for natural recovery is recommended. Unfortunately, structural additions and active manipulations are frequently undertaken without ha...
Liquid Sampling–Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge as a Secondary Excitation Source for Laser Ablation-Generated Aerosols: Parametric Dependence and Robustness to Particle Loading:

Liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge (LS-APGD) microplasma is being developed as a secondary vaporization-excitation source for the optical emission analysis of laser ablation (LA)-generated particle populations. The practicalities of this coupling are evaluated by determining the influence of source parameters on the emission response and the plasma's robustness upon LA introduction of easily ionized elements (EIEs). The influence of discharge current (45-70 mA), LA carrier gas flow rate (0.1-0.8 L min(-1)), and electrode separation distance (0.5-3.5 mm) was studied by measuring Cu emission lines after ablation of a brass sample. Best emission responses were observed for high-discharge currents, low He carrier gas flow rates, and relatively small ( 10 W mm(-3)) of the LS-APGD microplasma.
23. Ketamine abrogates lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive-like behavior in C57/Bl6J mice by antagonizing the activation of NMDA receptors

Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has been shown to rapidly treat depressive-like behavior in clinical and pre-clinical studies. To date, its efficacy in treating inflammation-induced depression has not been reported. Here we demonstrate that peripheral administration of ketamine (6 mg/kg, i.p.) immediately prior to peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0.83 mg/kg, i.p.) in C57Bl/6J mice abrogates LPS-induced depressive-like behavior. LPS induced a reduction in sucrose preference and increase in immobility in the forced swim test (p NIH R01 MH079829 to R.D. and NIH R01 AG-029573 to K.W.K.
Integrated fault-detection and fault-tolerant control of process systems

The problem of implementing fault-tolerant control to nonlinear processes with input constraints subject to control actuator failures is considered, and an approach predicated upon the idea of integrating fault-detection, feedback and supervisory control is presented and demonstrated. To illustrate the main idea behind the proposed approach, availability of measurements of all the process state variables is initially assumed. For the processes under consideration, a family of candidate control configurations, characterized by different manipulated inputs, is first identified. For each control configuration, a Lyapunov-based controller that enforces asymptotic closed-loop stability in the presence of constraints, is designed, and the constrained stability region, associated with it, is explicitly characterized. A fault-detection filter is used to compute the expected closed-loop behavior in the absence of faults. Deviations of the process states from the expected closed-loop behavior are used to detect faults. A switching policy is then derived, on the basis of the stability regions, to orchestrate the activation/deactivation of the constituent control configurations in a way that guarantees closed-loop stability in the event that a failure is detected. Often, in chemical process applications, not all state variables are available for measurement. To deal with the problem of lack of process state measurements, a nonlinear observer is designed to generate estimates of the states, which are then used to implement the state feedback controller and the fault-detection filter. A switching policy is then derived to orchestrate the activation/deactivation of the constituent control configurations in a way that accounts for the estimation error. Finally, simulation studies are presented to demonstrate the implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed fault-tolerant control scheme, as well as to investigate an application in the presence of uncertainty and measurement noise. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Zebrafish and fly Nkx6 proteins have similar CNS expression patterns and regulate motoneuron formation

Genes belonging to the Nkx, Gsh and Msx families are expressed in similar dorsovental spatial domains of the insect and vertebrate central nervous system (CNS), suggesting the bilaterian ancestor used this genetic program during CNS development. We have investigated the significance of these similar expression patterns by testing whether Nkx6 proteins expressed in ventral CNS of zebrafish and flies have similar functions. In zebrafish, Nkx6.1 is expressed in early-born primary and later-born secondary motoneurons. In the absence of Nkx6.1, there are fewer secondary motoneurons and supernumerary ventral interneurons, suggesting Nkx6.1 promotes motoneuron and suppresses interneuron formation. Overexpression of fish or fly Nkx6 is sufficient to generate supernumerary motoneurons in both zebrafish and flies. These results suggest that one ancestral function of Nkx6 proteins was to promote motoneuron development.
Influence of Curd Firmness at Cutting on Yield and Recovery of Milk Constituents

Abstract Stirred-curd Cheddar cheese was made from 460-liter and 2400-liter lots of milk where curd strength at cutting was varied between two firmnesses. Curd rigidity was measured with a device that subjects the gel to oscillatory deformation. Curd firmnesses were selected to encompass the range in commercial operations. With the larger lots of milk, high curd rigidity at cutting increased yield of cheese per unit of milk fat and increased retention of milk fat and casein in 11 lots of cheese made over 9 mo from milk of normal compositional quality. No effects on cheese yield and milk constituent recovery were significant with the smaller lots of milk processed during May when cheese yields and milk constituent concentration were low. Moisture content of cheese was not affected by curd firmness in either series of experiments.
Changes in NOM Fluorescence Caused by Chlorination and their Associations with Disinfection by-Products Formation

Relationships between the formation of disinfection byproduct (DBPs) and changes of the fluorescence of natural organic matter (NOM) in chlorinated water were quantified using two fluorescence indexes. They were defined as the change of the wavelength that corresponds to 50% of the maximum intensity of fluorescence (Δλem0.5) and the differential ratio of fluorescence intensities measured at 500 and 450 nm (Δ(I500/I450)). Although variations of chlorine doses, reaction times and temperatures affected the kinetics of chlorine consumption and DBPs release, correlations between chlorine consumption, concentrations, and speciation of trihalomethanes, haloacetonitriles, haloacetic acids and, on the other hand, Δ(I500/I450) and Δλem0.5 values remained unaffected by chlorination conditions and, to some extent, NOM properties. These results allow developing a fluorescence-based approach to monitor DBPs formation in drinking water.
Theory of the AlN/SiC(101̄0) interface

We report first-principles calculations of surface and interface energies for AlN(101\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}0) and SiC(101\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}0). On the basis of our calculations we predict the atomic structure of the interface. We find that there is an interaction between the surface and the interface mediated by their respective strain fields. Consequently, the formation energy of very thin films of AlN on SiC deviates from that expected on the basis of a simple model in which ${E}_{\mathrm{film}}{=\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathrm{film}}{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathrm{sub}}{+E}_{\mathrm{int}}.$ Our results indicate that AlN films of thickness 3\char21{}4 bilayers will wet the SiC surface.
Unilateral visual neglect and thalamic intralaminar lesions in the cat

Abstract Two experiments were conducted on alert cats which had received a localized thalamic lesion by electrocoagulation. In the first experiment, defects in visual orientation, visual following, blinking to visual threat, and visual placing were found to be related to destruction of the region of the internal medullary lamina, including particularly its dorsolateral and caudal sector. The deficits were contralateral and short-lasting. In the second experiment, lesions in the same region were shown to alter certain characteristics of optokinetic nystagmus: namely its frequency, duration of fast phase, and the visual half-field in which the periodic movements occurred. These results are related to evidence that the thalamic medullary intralaminar structures are involved in ocular orientation and visual attention.
The effect of housing assistance arrangements on household recovery: an empirical test of donor-assisted and owner-driven approaches

The paper assesses whether different types of housing assistance–owner-driven in situ or donor-assisted resettlement housing programs—influence perceptions of household recovery by tsunami-affected households. Utilizing data gathered in India 3½ years after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, we compared the perceptions of households provided with either in situ housing assistance or resettlement/relocation housing assistance. The extent to which households have recovered from the disaster was also examined to gauge the importance of housing arrangements in household recovery. We found that the beneficiaries of the resettlement programs generally experienced improvements in basic household amenities, while households provided with financial and material assistance for in situ housing repairs and rebuilding reported better access to essential services. When assessed in terms of perceptions of overall household recovery, the beneficiaries of in situ housing assistance programs fared better than beneficiaries of the resettlement programs despite the former receiving lower monetary assistance. These findings offer new insights to architects, designers, and public officials on what types of housing assistance arrangements expedite the overall recovery process and can help to evaluate and refocus funding towards specific housing recovery programs. The analysis thereby makes it easier to gauge the successes and failures of post disaster housing recovery programs.