cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bio-inspired Design Pedagogy in Engineering

Every day, engineers are confronted with complex challenges that range from personal to municipal to national needs. The ability for future engineers to work in cross-disciplinary environments will be an essential competency. One approach to achieving this essential competency is teaching biomimicry or bio-inspired design in an engineering curriculum. Bio-inspired design encourages learning from nature to generate innovative designs for man-made technical challenges that are more economic, efficient and sustainable than ones conceived entirely from first principles. This chapter reviews current teaching practices and courses in engineering curricula for training students in multidisciplinary design innovation through bio-inspired design. Emphasis is placed on theory-based and evidenced-based approaches that have demonstrated learning impact. The significance and implications of teaching bio-inspired design in an engineering curriculum are discussed, and connections to how the essential competencies of future engineers are fostered is addressed. Teaching bio-inspired design in an engineering curriculum using cross-disciplinary approaches will not only develop essential competencies of tomorrow’s engineer, but also enable students to become change agents and promote a sustainable future.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for Refractory Psychiatric Symptoms in Huntington's Disease: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by involuntary movements and neuropsychiatric decline. With suicide rates five times higher in patients with HD compared to the general population, there is a need for further research into the management of affective symptoms in these patients. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been long used as a treatment for severe or medication-refractory mood disorders and catatonia. There are some case studies demonstrating ECT's positive effect on depression and agitation in HD, but the data is limited. OBJECTIVE In this single site case series, we review ECT use for four HD patients with medication-refractory depression and/or psychosis to better assess the utility of ECT in this population. We also compile and review the existing literature on the topic. METHODS A single-center retrospective case series was conducted reviewing the indications, outcomes, and regimen of ECT treatments. Literature review was conducted via PubMed. RESULTS Four patients received ECT treatment during an inpatient hospitalization with three continuing maintenance therapy as an outpatient. All four had improvements in depression, agitation, and suicidal ideation leading to successful hospital discharge. One of the four patients also demonstrated subjective improvement in cognitive and motor symptoms after ECT initiation. Nineteen reported cases were identified through the literature review and are summarized. CONCLUSIONS This case series adds to the existing literature demonstrating the successful use of ECT for psychiatric symptoms in HD. Larger scale studies are warranted to further investigate the specific role and protocol for the use of ECT in the management of refractory depression and psychosis in this population.
Eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine versus 1% lidocaine injection for lumbar punctures in pediatric oncology patients

BACKGROUND The role of local analgesics for lumbar punctures (LPs) in pediatric oncology patients has not been specifically studied. AIM To compare the efficacy of eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) cream to 1% lidocaine injection for LPs. METHOD This was a retrospective observational study of all patients receiving either EMLA cream (EMLA group) or 1% lidocaine subcutaneous injection (lidocaine group) in addition to fentanyl and propofol for LPs over 18 months. Demographics, vital parameters, procedural and recovery times, propofol and fentanyl doses, and adverse events were studied. RESULTS Two hundred ninety LPs in 49 children were studied: 148 in the EMLA group and 142 in the lidocaine group. There was no difference in demographics or preprocedural parameters between the two groups. LPs in the EMLA group were completed in a shorter time (7.5 minutes [CI 7.0-8.1] vs 9.4 minutes [CI 8.9-9.9]) with a faster recovery time (38.7 minutes [CI 36.9-40.9] vs 43.9 minutes. [CI 41.9-45.9]) as compared with the lidocaine group (P < 0.001). The EMLA group required less maintenance doses (0.54 mg/kg [CI 0.47-0.62] vs 1.14 mg/kg [CI 1.06-1.21]) and total doses (2.58 mg/kg [CI 2.42-2.75] vs 3.12 mg/kg [CI 2.95-3.29]) of propofol as compared with the lidocaine group (P < 0.0001). Adverse events in the EMLA group were less (19% vs 41%) as compared with the lidocaine group (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The addition of EMLA cream for procedural sedation for LPs in pediatric oncology patients significantly improves pain management in comparison with 1% lidocaine injection.
Network Effects in the Academic Market: Mechanisms for Hiring and Placing PhDs in Communication (2007–2014)

We analyze hiring and placement dynamics across communication PhD programs using data collected in 2014. We assess changes compared to data collected in 2007, and identify factors that underlie the formation of recruitment ties. Our findings challenge prior conclusions that faculty-hiring patterns offer a proxy to the quality of doctoral education. Instead, we find evidence that the recruitment network results from interorganizational dynamics likely to emerge from faculty mobility; these dynamics, endogenous to the network, manifest in the form of reciprocity, transitivity, and cumulative advantage. Once we control for these characteristics, exogenous factors such as institutional prestige, faculty seniority, and reputational rankings modestly drive the creation of recruitment ties—appearing as secondary forces in the formation of faculty-hiring networks.
Hired Latinx Child Farmworkers in North Carolina: Educational Status and Experience Through a Social Justice Lens

We examine the educational experience of Latinx hired child farmworkers in North Carolina, using a social justice framework. Qualitative (n = 30) and quantitative (n = 202) data collected among chi...
Learning to Generate Clinically Coherent Chest X-Ray Reports

Automated radiology report generation has the potential to reduce the time clinicians spend manually reviewing radiographs and streamline clinical care. However, past work has shown that typical abstractive methods tend to produce fluent, but clinically incorrect radiology reports. In this work, we develop a radiology report generation model utilizing the transformer architecture that produces superior reports as measured by both standard language generation and clinical coherence metrics compared to competitive baselines. We then develop a method to differentiably extract clinical information from generated reports and utilize this differentiability to fine-tune our model to produce more clinically coherent reports.
Dynamic Similarity Relations of Straight Blades Considering Dynamic Softening Effects

A method for dynamic similarity model design considering the dynamic softening effect was put forward.The dynamic equilibrium equations for rectangular plates were formulated based on the large displacement kinetic equations for moving plates. On this basis, combining with the kinetic characteristics of the straight blade, the dynamic equilibrium equation of the straight blade was established based on the flexural body assumption. Using the dynamic similarity principle,the dynamic similarity equation of the rotating straight blade was established. In order to avoid the high order vibration induced by over-high revolution speed, a method for establishing the transition model of the rotating straight blade was put forward. The applicability of the method was analyzed in the condition of rigid and flexible straight blades. Finally, the efficiency and correctness of the similarity relation were verified by numerical simulation.
Computed tomographic guidance for internal fixation of type II distal phalangeal fractures in 51 horses.

BACKGROUND Type II distal phalanx (P3) fractures are a well-described cause of lameness in horses. Reports on outcome following internal fixation of type II P3 fractures are lacking, and with little emphasis on complications. OBJECTIVE To describe a technique for internal fixation of type II P3 fractures, and evaluate whether specific variables influenced post-operative complications or a horse's ability to return to work. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS Medical records of 51 horses with CT-guided internal fixation of type II P3 fractures were reviewed. Outcome data were acquired from race records and telephone interviews. Associations between independent variables and outcome were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Eighty-six per cent (95% CI 74%-94%; n = 44) successfully returned to work. Implant infection (n = 15) and distal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis (n = 9) were the most common complications, with the latter reducing the likelihood of success (OR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.01-0.7, P = .02). Implant infection increased the time to return to work (HR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-0.9, P = .03). The odds of delayed infection decreased by filling the hoof defect with acrylic hoof adhesive rather than poly(methyl methacrylate) and deeply countersinking the screw head (OR = 0.08, 95% CI 0.02-0.38, P = .001); the individual effect of each treatment is unknown. Radiographic healing was not associated with likelihood of success. MAIN LIMITATIONS Study limitations included variation in follow-up methods, lack of control population for comparison and lack of randomisation of treatment protocols. CONCLUSIONS Internal fixation of type II P3 fractures is an effective treatment that allows horses to return to athletic use, with similar improved success rates as those reported for conservative management. Infection rates were reduced by deeply countersinking the screw head and filling the hoof defect with an acrylic that mimics hoof wall flexibility and provides a secure seal. Recommencement of training should be based on clinical rather than strictly radiographic findings.
Contract Renegotiation and Options in Agency Problems

This paper studies the ability of an agent and a principal to achieve the first-best outcome when the agent invests in an asset that has greater value if owned by the principal than by the agent. When contracts can be renegotiated, a well-known danger is that the principal can holdup the agent, undermining the agent's investment incentives. We begin by identifying a countervailing effect: Investment by the agent can increase his value for the asset, thus improving his bargaining position in renegotiation. We show that option contracts will achieve the first best whenever this threat-point effect dominates the holdup effect. Otherwise, achieving the first best is difficult and, in many cases, impossible.
How do silicone muffin pans compare to traditional metal pans

Research on the efficiency of silicone bakeware is limited. Manufacturers claim that silicone bakeware is nonstick, has easy product release and even heat distribution. This study attempted to replicate consumer baking conditions through a comparison of muffins baked in silicone pans to muffins baked in nonstick, anodized aluminum dark-colored metal pans (‘nonsilicone’). Using a consumer corn-muffin mix, structured baking procedures and controlled tests were performed, such as measures of the top surface browning, texture, water activity and heat transfer coefficient of the pans. The results of the tests indicated that silicone muffin pans did not produce a better product; rather, they were moister, had greater volume, with top-crust texture and color significantly less than muffins baked in nonsilicone muffin pans.
Between Citizen and State: An Introduction to the Corporation

Acknowledgments and Dedication Foreword: The Mystery of the Social Betweens by Charles Lemert Preface: What About Happiness? Introduction: Corporation Law as Theater PART I: Background Chapter 1: Stock Characters and Ordinary Scripts Chapter 2: Why Corporation Law Matters Chapter 3: Capital Structure, Dramatic Structure Chapter 4: Understanding the Moral (Learning from Cases) PART II: Internal Struggles Chapter 5: Directors' Fiduciary Duties: Loyalty Chapter 6: Directors' Fiduciary Duties: Due Care Chapter 7: Managers as Heroes Chapter 8: Shareholders as Strategic Actors Chapter 9: Struggles for Control of the Corporation PART III: External Relations Chapter 10: Agency, Responsibility, and Limited Liability Chapter 11: Views of the Institution Chapter 12: Corporations and the State Chapter 13: The Mirror of Securities Law Chapter 14: Conclusion: Charting the Corporation's Place in Civil Society
Main Group: Multiple Bonding

This chapter summarizes the many quite remarkable discoveries that have been made in recent years regarding multiple bonding of the heavier main group elements. While the general concept of multiple bonding is well established and easily embraced in organic chemistry, this is not the case for much of organometallic chemistry. The criteria that are routinely employed to assign double and triple bond character in organic compounds, that is, bond distance and bond strength, are of little significance in many cases involving the heavier main group elements. For example, the EE (E = Sn or Pb) double bond is both longer and weaker than the corresponding EE single bond. This chapter will discuss such seminal discoveries as the syntheses of the first digallyne (GaGa), dibismuthene (BiBi), and disilyne (SiSi). Central to these breakthroughs is the incorporation of sterically demanding ligand systems, which both stabilize and inhibit decomposition pathways of the heavier main group atoms. Keywords: bond; double bond; linear; multiple bonding; trans-bent; triple bond
Everyday Law for Gays and Lesbians: An Introduction

This is the (revised) introductory chapter of a book that I am currently writing. The book is titled "Everyday Law for Gays and Lesbians", and is part of Paradigm Publishers' Everyday Law series. The introductory chapter - indeed, the entire book - is built upon and around the power of narrative. I begin the chapter with a personal narrative that illustrates what I refer to as the current predicament of the lesbian and gay movement. In the first part of the chapter, I survey the social and legal landscape that surrounds the movement, explain why I view the current situation as a predicament, and consider the source of that predicament. Then, in the second part of the chapter, I set the stage - and the tone - for the remainder of the book by suggesting that the narratives of individual lesbians and gay men, told in their own words, are a radical and powerful tool for advancing us (meaning all lesbians and gay men) toward the unqualified acceptance that we seek. As I explain in the chapter, my goal in writing this book is to empower and inspire each of us to deploy these narratives in the most effective way possible. In keeping with this view of the power of the individual narrative, I argue that it is up to each of us to draw attention to and challenge the ubiquitous privileging of heterosexuality in our society. And, the title of the book and the series notwithstanding, I further eschew overreliance on legal strategies for effecting change; instead, in the course of the book, I discuss both potential legal and non-legal avenues for effecting change. I would greatly appreciate any comments that you might have on the chapter or any suggestions that you might have regarding coverage for the book.
A Flotation Cell Model for Dynamic Simulation

Abstract In this paper a dynamic model of ore flotation is presented. The model has been conceived in such a way that its tuning is easily carried out by the use of commonly available information: flotation kinematics experiments results (used in plant design process), plant dimensions and design throughput, valves and nozzles specifications, and some minor assumptions. The basic modeled module is a flotation cell with two phases: slurry and froth. The phenomena involving the transportation of rich particles from the slurry to the froth by air bubbles is addressed. In spite of its simplicity, the model has proven to be highly effective for operator training, control system verification and commissioning, and plant design verification. The model is presented in detail along with an operator training case study.
Social negative option marketing: A partial response to one of Spotswood, French, Tapp and Stead’s (2012) “uncomfortable questions”

– The purpose of this paper was to address one of Spotswood et al.’s (2012) “uncomfortable questions”. The paper applies negative option marketing, the use of defaults as a behavioral engineering tool to shape choice, to social marketing and then uses the Hunt-Vitell (1986, 1993, 2006) Theory of Marketing Ethics to evaluate it against President Kennedy’s (1962) Consumer Bill of Rights and the American Marketing Association’s (2014) statement of marketing ethics. , – A conceptual assessment of the ethics of negative option social marketing (NOSM) using the Hunt-Vitell (1986, 1993, 2006) Theory of Marketing Ethics as the evaluative framework. , – When assessed using the Hunt-Vitell (1986, 1993, 2006) Theory of Marketing Ethics, NOSM possesses neither ethically sound means nor socially desirable ends. , – This paper contributes to the emerging debate on the use of nudges in a social marketing context and is a partial response to Spotswood et al. (2012).
Psychopharmacology and the future of personalized treatment.

In the past three decades, we have witnessed remarkable advances in the treatment of several major medical disorders by virtue of being able to match individual patients to optimal treatments. The most often cited examples of this strategy are infectious disease, certain cancers, and more recently cardiovascular disease. Indeed, the dramatic increase in survival rates for infectious disease was, in large part, due to the ability to identify the causative bacterium and conduct antibiotic drug sensitivity testing in individual patients. In the case of breast cancer, 5-year survival rates have dramatically improved, not only due to increased detection, but in part due to identification of individual receptor and genomic characteristics of the individual patient’s cancer, e.g. estrogen receptor positive HER2 positive, BRCA 1 and 2 positive mutations, etc. These same principles are now being applied to central nervous system (CNS) disorders including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and the major psychiatric disorders. This latter topic has recently been comprehensively reviewed [1] and can only be summarized briefly here due to space constraints. Prediction of response can broadly be divided into prediction of side effects (tolerability) and prediction of therapeutic efficacy. In terms of the former, the vast amount of attention has focused on the polymorphisms in the isoenzymes of the hepatic cytochrome P450 system. The polymorphisms in these enzymes and the cytochrome P450 2D6 isoenzyme in particular are important because they are largely responsible for the metabolism of a broad range of psychopharmacological agents including certain antidepressants and antipsychotics. Patients may be classified based on the polymorphism of this isoenzyme as poor (PM), intermediate (IM), extensive (EM), and ultrarapid metabolizers (URM). Theoretically, PMs would be
The k−1 scaling of air temperature spectra in atmospheric surface layer flows

A number of atmospheric surface layer (ASL) experiments reported a k−1 scaling in air temperature spectra ETT(k) at low wavenumber k but other experiments did not. Occurrence of this scaling law in ETT(k) in an idealized ASL flow across a wide range of atmospheric stability regimes is investigated theoretically and experimentally using measurements collected above a lake and a grass surface. Experiments reveal a k−1 scaling persisted across different atmospheric stability parameter values (ζ) ranging from mildly unstable to mildly stable conditions (−0.1 < ζ < 0.2). As instability increases, the k−1 scaling vanishes. Based on simplified spectral and co-spectral budgets and using a Heisenberg eddy viscosity as a closure to the spectral flux transfer term, conditions promoting a k−1 scaling in ETT(k) are identified. Existence of a k−1 scaling is shown to be primarily linked to an imbalance between the production and dissipation rates of half the temperature variance. When −0.1 < ζ < 0.2, such imbalance exhibits weak dependence on ζ and hence z, which is shown to be the main cause for a −1 scaling at low k. As the atmosphere becomes more unstable, the imbalance determined from experiments here are not significantly affected by ζ, thereby negating conditions promoting a −1 scaling in ETT(k). The role of the imbalance between the production and dissipation rates of half the temperature variance in controlling the existence of a −1 scaling suggests that the −1 scaling in ETT(k) does not necessarily concur with the −1 scaling in the spectra of longitudinal velocity Euu(k). This finding explains why some ASL experiments reported k−1 in Euu(k) but not in ETT(k).
EFFECT OF PERINATAL FACTORS ON BLOOD PRESSURE IN PRETERM NEONATES. 1352

Blood pressure regulation is a commonly encountered problem among preterm neonates. This study was conducted: 1) to determine if perinatal factors influence blood pressure and 2) to determine if antenatal steroid (ANS) use influences neonatal blood pressure of very low birthweight (VLBW) neonates. A review of medical records of infants admitted to the NICU of Hutzel Hospital between 7/93 to 6/94 was conducted. A total of 238 neonates were born with birthweights =1000 g(n=112). Likewise there was a significant difference in MAP (35 ± 9 vs. 41 ± 9 mm Hg, p=0.001) between infants =30 wks (n=43). Of the perinatal factors tested (prenatal care, PIH, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine or opiate use, preterm labor, PPROM, chorioamnionitis, placenta previa, placental abruption, fetal distress, MgSO4, maternal GBS, gonorrhea, syphilis, monilia, HIV or HSV infection) only PIH was associated with an increase in MAP (36 ± 9 vs. 41 ± 11 mm Hg, p=0.007) whereas GBS colonization significantly decreased MAP (36 ± 10 vs. 41 ± 8 mm Hg, p=0.02). Of the 177 infants, 113 (64%) did not receive ANS, 17 (10%) received 1 dose and 47 (27%) received two doses. There was a tendency for a higher MAP in infants who were ≥ 1000 g who had been given ANS. In infants <1000 g there was a tendency for a lower MAP among those who had received ANS. We conclude that of the perinatal factors, only PIH and GBS significantly affect blood pressure on VLBW infants.
Mission and trajectory design for a Venus radar mapper mission

Results are presented for a mission and trajectory design for a Venus Radar Mapper mission that will place a SAR in a nearly polar orbit around Venus. The mission is intended to obtain images of at least 70% of the planet's surface at a line-pair resolution of 1 km and to produce global maps of the planet's topography and gravity field. The mission design criteria are discussed, along with the spacecraft flight system, the mission performance and domains, a mission profile, the mapping orbit and SAR coverage, and the data acquisition strategy.
Effect of viscous flow on the thermal residual stresses in a monofilament SiC/borosilicate glass composite

Residual strains of SiC (SCS-6) single fibres embedded between borosilicate slides were measured by comparing their post-fabricated in situ lengths with their original lengths as a function of processing temperature and load in an open die. If cooled without load the residual strains agreed with the values one would expect if the stress-free temperature was taken to be the strain point of the glass. However, if cooled under load, the residual strains were found to be significantly enhanced, and increased linearly with the applied load, but were insensitive to processing temperature. A hydrodynamic model, where glass flow normal to the vertically applied pressure entrains the embedded fibres and results in the enhanced residual strains, is proposed. The implications of these results in calculating thermal residual stresses in viscous media are discussed. At higher applied loads, the fibre edges broke into smaller fragments. The fragment length distribution was measured and analysed using Weibull statistics. Heat treatment of the fibres at 1600 °C for 4 h in vacuum, resulted in approximately a 50% decrease in their strength and critical length as compared to the as-received fibres. The Weibull moduli, however, were not affected by the heat treatment.
CaM Kinase II-dependent Suppression of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor δ-Subunit Promoter Activity

Nerve-induced muscle activity suppresses nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) gene expression by increasing intracellular calcium levels. This suppression is mediated by nAChR promoter sequences harboring at least 1 E-box (CANNTG) that bind myogenic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. How muscle depolarization or increased calcium mediates changes in nAChR promoter activity is not well understood. In chick muscle, protein kinase C (PKC) activation is necessary for activity-dependent nAChR gene suppression. Similar effects of PKC activation have not been found in mammalian skeletal muscle. Therefore, we used rat primary muscle cultures to screen for other calcium-regulated enzymatic activities that may mediate the effects of muscle activity and calcium on nAChR promoter activity. We report here that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) can specifically suppress nAChR promoter activity in mammalian muscle. This regulation was mediated by a single E-box sequence residing in the previously characterized nAChR δ-subunit genes 47-base pair activity-dependent enhancer. In vitro protein/DNA interaction studies suggest that CaM kinase II inhibits binding of the myogenic factor, myogenin, to the δ-promoter 47-base pair activity-dependent enhancer. CaM kinase activity is increased in active muscle and inhibition of this enzymatic activity results in increased nAChR δ-promoter activity. Therefore, CaM kinase II may represent a previously unappreciated activity that participates in coupling muscle depolarization to nAChR gene expression.
Compositions of isolated forsterites in Ornans (C3O)

The Ornans (C3O) carbonaceous chondrite shows many examples of isolated olivine grains which are Mg-rich and show cathodoluminescence (CL). Using backscattered electron imaging to scan and select Mg-rich isolated olivine grains, and a CL detector, the chemical zoning within these grains was investigated together with its relation to CL and to chemical zoning of grains within a Fe-rich chondrule. Composition profiles from the core to the rim of five isolated forsterites showed details of Al, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe zoning with respet ot position and CL color.
Sizes of Color Differences Resulting from Change of Illuminant from CIE C to D 6500

To explore, for typical surface colors, the shift of color when illuminant is changed from CIE Ill. C to the newly-adopted CIE Ill. D6500, spectral data for 228 samples from the Munsell Book of Color (glossy-finish edition) were integrated to CIE tristimulus values referred to each illuminant. For each sample, MacAdam color differences were computed between the tristimulus values for the two illuminants. They ranged between 2 and 10 MacAdam units, varying systematically with Munsell hue, value, and chroma.
Malpractice and medical litigation

Patient-doctor relationship has become complex and medical litigation appears to be a “modern” feature of such a relation. Indeed at the time of this editorial, a search in Google using the terms “medical litigation” generates 2,270,000 results! The cost of medical litigation has steadily increased at almost 12% annually since 1975 in the USA and most likely with similar rates in all Western countries. Malpractice has both direct and indirect costs which have been calculated in 2003 by the US Department of Health and Human Services to account for 2% (direct costs of medical malpractice) of the nation's health-care spending and for 5–9% of overall expenses when the costs of defensive medical practices are taken into consideration. The adverse impact of defensive medicine include not only unnecessary costs which, however, limit the access to care for certain patients or over and under treatment of the most severe illnesses but also delayed adoption of medical advancements. Actually, the threat of a law suit may discourage the physician and, in particular, the surgeon to use new pharmaceutical and medical devices to avoid the possible accusation of “learning” on the patient. Even though we might incline to consider medical litigation a relatively new phenomenon, supposedly unknown in the past when the doctor-patient relationship was essentially a fiduciary relation, the possibility for a physician to be charged with malpractice was not probably so rare. Competence and eventually experts' support in tribunal constituted, like today, the most effective defensive tools as it may be deduced when reading the comments and the suggestions made by Galen in his preferred book: АΝАΤΟΜΙΚΑΙ ΙΓΧEΙΡΗΣEΙΣ (Anatomicae administrationes) (Fig. 1):
Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Affecting Arabidopsis thaliana Seed Morphology Features Extracted Computationally From Images

Seeds are studied to understand dispersal and establishment of the next generation, as units of agricultural yield, and for other important reasons. Thus, elucidating the genetic architecture of seed size and shape traits will benefit basic and applied plant biology research. This study sought quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling the size and shape of Arabidopsis thaliana seeds by computational analysis of seed phenotypes in recombinant inbred lines derived from the small-seeded Landsberg erecta × large-seeded Cape Verde Islands accessions. On the order of 103 seeds from each recombinant inbred line were automatically measured with flatbed photo scanners and custom image analysis software. The eight significant QTL affecting seed area explained 63% of the variation, and overlapped with five of the six major-axis (length) QTL and three of the five minor-axis (width) QTL, which accounted for 57% and 38% of the variation in those traits, respectively. Because the Arabidopsis seed is exalbuminous, lacking an endosperm at maturity, the results are relatable to embryo length and width. The Cvi allele generally had a positive effect of 2.6–4.0%. Analysis of variance showed heritability of the three traits ranged between 60% and 73%. Repeating the experiment with 2.2 million seeds from a separate harvest of the RIL population and approximately 0.5 million seeds from 92 near-isogenic lines confirmed the aforementioned results. Structured for download are files containing phenotype measurements, all sets of seed images, and the seed trait measuring tool.
Reproductive consequences of food restriction at low temperature in lines of mice divergently selected for thermoregulatory nesting.

Female mice of lines divergently selected for thermoregulatory nesting were mated at 5°C and were fed eitherad libitum or restricted diets. Gestation period and litter size at birth were not affected by food restriction, but both fertility and litter size at weaning were significantly reduced by restriction. The reduction in litter size by restricted females was positively associated with the weight of both females and pups at weaning. The pattern of response to food restriction was generally more conservative than that expected on the basis of r-selection predictions. There was also a significant reduction in the proportion of males weaned by restricted females. Differences among the selected lines in both feeding regimes were generally consistent with the hypothesis that thermoregulatory nesting has a positive genetic correlation with Darwinian fitness at low temperatures.
PREVENTING SCHOOL FAILURE, DRUG USE, AND DELINQUENCY AMONG LOW-INCOME CHILDREN: Long-Term Intervention in Elementary Schools

A six-year, school-based prevention program, which modified classroom teacher practices, offered parent training, and provided child social skills training, was evaluated for its effects on school failure, drug abuse, and delinquency among low-income urban children. Compared to a low-income control group, children in the intervention group showed enhanced school commitment and class participation. The girls in the group also evidenced lower rates of substance use initiation, while the boys exhibited increased social and school work skills.
Potential Involvement of Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase 1 and 2 in Encystation of a Primitive Eukaryote, Giardia lamblia STAGE-SPECIFIC ACTIVATION AND INTRACELLULAR LOCALIZATION

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are major signaling systems by which eukaryotic cells convert environmental cues to intracellular events such as proliferation and differentiation. We have identified Giardia lambliahomologues of two members of the MAPK family ERK1 and ERK2. Functional characterization of giardial ERK1 and ERK2 revealed that both kinases were expressed in trophozoites and encysting cells as 44- and 41-kDa polypeptides, respectively, and were catalytically active. Analysis of the kinetic parameters of the recombinant proteins showed that ERK2 is ∼5 times more efficient than ERK1 in phosphorylating myelin basic protein as a substrate, although the phosphorylating efficiency of the native ERK1 and ERK2 appeared to be the same. Immunofluorescence analysis of the subcellular localization of ERK1 and ERK2 in trophozoites showed ERK1 staining mostly in the median body and in the outer edges of the adhesive disc and ERK2 staining in the nuclei and in the caudal flagella. Our study also showed a noticeable change in the subcellular distribution of ERK2 during encystation, which became more punctate and mostly cytoplasmic, but no significant change in the ERK1 localization at any time during encystation. Interestingly, both ERK1 and ERK2 enzymes exhibited a significantly reduced kinase activity during encystation reaching a minimum at 24 h, except for an initial ∼2.5-fold increase in the ERK1 activity at 2 h, which resumed back to the normal levels at 48 h despite no apparent change in the expression level of either one of these kinases in encysting cells. A reduced concentration of the phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2 was also evident in these cells at 24 h. Our study suggests a functional distinction between ERK1 and ERK2 and that these kinases may play a critical role in trophozoite differentiation into cysts.
A 130-nm triple-V/sub t/ 9-MB third-level on-die cache for the 1.7-GHz Itanium/spl reg/ 2 processor

The 18-way set-associative, single-ported 9 MB cache for the Itanium 2 processor uses 210 identical 48-kB sub-arrays with a 2.21-/spl mu/m/sup 2/ cell in a 130-nm 6-metal technology. The processor runs at 1.7 GHz at 1.35 V and dissipates 130 W. The 432-mm/sup 2/ die contains 592 M transistors, the largest transistor count reported for a microprocessor. This paper reviews circuit design and implementation details for the L3 cache data and tag arrays. The staged mode ECC scheme avoids a latency increase in the L3 tag. A high V/sub t/ implant improves the read stability and reduces the sub-threshold leakage.
Transient appearance of beta-endorphin immunoreactive cells within the germinal zone of neonatal rat forebrain

Abstract Recent evidence implicates endogenous opioid systems in basic processes which underlie morphogenesis. The present report describes a population of cells within the germinal zone of the neonatal rat forebrain which are immunoreactive for the opioid peptide β-endorphin and other peptides derived from the proopiomelanocortin precursor. These cells are present at the time of birth, but are no longer detectable by the sixth postnatal day. They have medially and laterally directed processes which extend to the ventricular wall and across the caudate putamen to its lateral border. Cells of similar morphology and distribution which are immunoreactive for two other proopiomelanocortin peptides, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone, were also observed in similar distributions during the same developmental period. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that cells within the germinal zone transiently synthesize proopiomelanocortin, which is further processed to yield these three peptide products. This finding may be important in understanding the role of proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides in neural development.
Ulcerative sarcoidosis in the legs with granulomatous vasculitis

We present a case of a patient with pulmonary sarcoidosis who developed ulcerative sarcoidosis with granulomatous vasculitis on the lower legs. Ulceration is a rare presentation for sarcoidosis and this case gives further evidence that an underlying vasculitis may be an aetiological factor. Granulomatous vasculitis, classically associated with Wegener's granulomatosis, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, or Churg-Strauss syndrome, is also commonly described in pulmonary sarcoidosis. It has, however, only rarely been described in cutaneous sarcoidosis. Our patient's leg ulcers have responded well to immunosuppressive therapy with tapered corticosteroid and low-dose azathioprine.
Empyema Thoracis : Therapeutic Management and Outcome

Study objective We evaluated treatment and outcome of patients with thoracic empyema at a teaching institution. Design and setting Retrospective chart review over a 44-month period at a university hospital. Patients and measurements Charts of patients with a hospital discharge diagnosis of thoracic empyema were reviewed. Age, symptoms, alcohol use, empyema etiology, culture results, number of loculations, date and success of each procedure, length of hospital stay, and hospital discharge status were recorded for each patient. Success of procedure, recovery time, time between procedures, and total hospitalization time were compared between procedures and between subgroups. Results Charts from 43 patients were reviewed. Twenty-four of 43 (56%) cases were parapneumonic empyemas. Forty of 43 (93%) patients had symptoms attributable to their empyema, with fever being the most common (65%). Seventy-nine procedures were needed to treat the 43 patients (1.84 procedures per patient). Success rates ranged from 11% (3/27) for tube thoracostomy to 95% (21/22) for decortication (p=0.0001). Delay between procedures averaged 6.2 ± 1.1 (mean ± SEM) days between the first and second procedure (n=27), and 10.4 ± 5.1 days between the second and third procedure (n=8). Mean recovery after successful intervention ranged from 9 to 19.3 days depending on the procedure (p=NS). Comparisons between multiloculated and uniloculated empyemas, parapneumonic and nonparapneumonic empyemas, and culture proven and biochemically proven empyemas showed no significant difference in procedure success rates or length of hospital stay. Conclusion Multiple therapeutic options exist for the treatment of thoracic empyema. Optimal therapy requires selection of the most appropriate first procedure for each patient with early postprocedure imaging to avoid inordinate delays between interventions.
UN-speak: a tool for universal communication?

In the organization of the United Nations system, an English that is neither British nor American but rather a language in its own right has developed as a common vehicle of communication. This language, sometimes decried as UN-speak, is analyzed as a potential tool for universal communication. The author considers the extent to which UN-speak's evolution since the days of the League of Nations is attributable to intercultural and interlingual influences. UN-speak is considered as a self-restricting language that, unlike artificial or controlled languages, mirrors a real intercultural community and has a life that such languages lack. It is concluded that UN-speak might therefore be suitable as the nucleus of a universal language for intercultural communication. >
Infectious Diseases and Aging: Immunologic Perspectives

Four theories of aging provide a basis for understanding both the aging process and the primary alterations in host defenses that may occur with age. The immunologic theory of aging may be especially important in this regard, since immunologic defects may be responsible for many manifestations of aging, and a decline in immune function may also underlie the increased susceptibility of the aged to infection. However, multiple factors are probably responsible for the aging process and for changes in host defenses. Although several studies attempting to enhance the immune response of elderly persons and perhaps extend lifespan are in progress, no factor at present appears to be as important in this regard as three underutilized immunizations for influenza, pneumococcal infection, and tetanus.
Yellow over Black: History of Race in Korea and the New Study of Race and Empire

This paper examines the precolonial and colonial history of race in Korea, which has been overlooked in the study of race, empire, and Korean history. While the study of race claims to be global, i...
INVESTIGATING THE POPULATION‐LEVEL EFFECTS OF CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS: AN EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE OF AMPHIBIANS

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease that has recently been reported in amphibian populations throughout the world. It has been associated with many cases of population declines and extinctions. In some areas of the Sierra Nevada of Cali- fornia the disease appears to be the causal factor in the rapid extinction of local populations of the mountain yellow-legged frog, Rana muscosa, within a few years of the first detection of the disease. In other areas, however, R. muscosa populations appear to persist for many years, despite high levels of infection in tadpoles. Here we present simple models of the dynamics of the disease within an individual lake and ask whether our current understanding of the disease is consistent with the field survey observations of: (a) extinction due to the disease over a wide range of host population sizes, and (b) persistence of frog populations with the disease at some sites. Despite our laboratory observation of chytridiomycosis being invariably lethal to postmetamorphic frogs, the observed long-term persistence of infected frog populations can only be explained if at least some infected adult frogs survive and reproduce.
CCA-treated wood disposed in landfills and life-cycle trade-offs with waste-to-energy and MSW landfill disposal.

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood is a preservative treated wood construction product that grew in use in the 1970s for both residential and industrial applications. Although some countries have banned the use of the product for some applications, others have not, and the product continues to enter the waste stream from construction, demolition and remodeling projects. CCA-treated wood as a solid waste is managed in various ways throughout the world. In the US, CCA-treated wood is disposed primarily within landfills; however some of the wood is combusted in waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities. In other countries, the predominant disposal option for wood, sometimes including CCA-treated wood, is combustion for the production of energy. This paper presents an estimate of the quantity of CCA-treated wood entering the disposal stream in the US, as well as an examination of the trade-offs between landfilling and WTE combustion of CCA-treated wood through a life-cycle assessment and decision support tool (MSW DST). Based upon production statistics, the estimated life span and the phaseout of CCA-treated wood, recent disposal projections estimate the peak US disposal rate to occur in 2008, at 9.7 million m 3 . CCA-treated wood, when disposed with construction and demolition (C&D) debris and municipal solid waste (MSW), has been found to increase arsenic and chromium concentrations in leachate. For this reason, and because MSW landfills are lined, MSW landfills have been recommended as a preferred disposal option over unlined C&D debris landfills. Between landfilling and WTE for the same mass of CCA-treated wood, WTE is more expensive (nearly twice the cost), but when operated in accordance with US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) regulations, it produces energy and does not emit fossil carbon emissions. If the wood is managed via WTE, less landfill area is required, which could be an influential trade-off in some countries. Although metals are concentrated in the ash in the WTE scenario, the MSW landfill scenario releases a greater amount of arsenic from leachate in a more dilute form. The WTE scenario releases more chromium from the ash on an annual basis. The WTE facility and subsequent ash disposal greatly concentrates the chromium, often oxidizing it to the more toxic and mobile Cr(VI) form. Elevated arsenic and chromium concentrations in the ash leachate may increase leachate management costs. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Donation after cardiac death liver transplantation: time for policy to catch up with practice.

Donation after brain death (DBD) is the predominant source of organs for transplantation, even though brain death accounts for only a small percentage of all-cause mortality in the United States. In contrast, cardiovascular death is a leading cause of mortality. Therefore, donation after cardiac death (DCD) represents an attractive strategy for remedying organ shortage and improving transplant wait-list mortality. The transplantation of DCD organs has risen dramatically over the last decade in response to federal mandates issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and 10.6% of all organ transplants currently use DCD organs. The utilization of livers from DCD donors for transplantation declined by nearly 10% from 2007 to 2008, and this decline could undermine the goal set by the Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative: 10% of all donors from DCD sources. This downward trend in DCD liver utilization likely stems from recent reports demonstrating inferior outcomes with DCD liver transplants versus DBD liver transplants. In particular, DCD livers are marred by higher rates of graft failure, retransplantation, and patient mortality, which are due at least in part to biliary complications (primarily ischemic cholangiopathy). In this issue of Liver Transplantation, Taner et al. report graft and patient survival data for DCD liver transplants similar to DBD liver transplants at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Although the authors should be commended for achieving such favorable outcomes, other single-institution experiences have also failed to identify differences in graft and patient survival rates between DCD and DBD livers because of limited sample sizes. The study by Taner et al. was powered to resolve a 10% or greater differential in graft survival, which is admittedly greater than the differences observed between DCD and DBD livers in many studies. Consequently, although statistical significance was not achieved, there were clearly disparate trends in graft survival for DCD and DBD grafts. A peculiar feature of this study is the fact that although DCD livers yielded an inferior graft survival rate, they were associated with a superior patient survival rate in comparison with DBD livers. Because this result could have been achieved only with aggressive retransplantation, the local availability of livers for retransplantation in Jacksonville may help to explain this outcome. Therefore, it is not clear whether these results are generalizable to other localities. Despite the debate about the relative merits of census (registry) data versus sample (single-center) data, the national registry reliably captures both retransplantation and patient mortality data because of the linkage with the Social Security Death Master File. As for issues of sample size, analyses of the national registry have clearly demonstrated worse graft survival and, more recently, worse patient survival. In a complementary manner, single-institution reports provide important insights into