cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reverse Subtyping: The Effects of Prejudice Level on the Subtyping of Counterstereotypic Outgroup Members

Although many anti-bias interventions try to overcome stereotypes by presenting positive and/or counterstereotypic members of the outgroup, people often subtype these members and refuse to see them as typical of the outgroup. Although subtyping has been shown to be a common phenomenon, it is unclear if preexisting attitudes moderate this process. The current study examined whether preexisting prejudice levels would moderate the subtyping process. Specifically, it was found that although high-prejudiced individuals subtyped a positive racial outgroup member, low-prejudiced individuals demonstrated the opposite pattern and subtyped negative outgroup members as being atypical. This suggests that although the subtyping phenomenon may be universal, its expression is moderated by preexisting intergroup attitudes.
Involvement of the Cysteine Protease Calpain Family in Cell Death After Cryopreservation

Recent focus of the phenomenon of cryopreservation-induced delayed-onset cell death (CIDOCD) has been linked to molecular-based cellular responses. Current literature suggests that along with caspa...
The relationship between four personal characteristics of chief executive officers (CEOS) and company merger and acquisition activity (MAA)

This study examines the role that four CEO personal characteristics play in encouraging companies to engage in MAA. Weak to moderate support was found for hypotheses suggesting that high levels of CEO beliefs that “bigger is better,” beliefs in synergy, need for power and self-confidence are significantly related to high levels of MAA. CEO personal characteristics were measured using three methods—content analysis of speeches, questionnaires, and length of CEO biographies. Subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the possible impact that CEO tenure, company size and company age may have on the relationships between CEO personal characteristics and MAA.
A-C Resistance of Segmental Cables in Steel Pipe

In recent years, there has been a very great increase in the use of pipe-type systems for long, high-voltage impregnated-paper transmission feeders. Thus, a detailed knowledge of the factors influencing the a-c losses of large size conductors with relatively low skin-proximity effect characteristics is of value to all cable and operating engineers. This paper reports the results of a study of the effective a-c resistance of a compact type of segmental conductor in sizes from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 circular mils, in air and in steel pipe, with equilateral triangular and cradle configurations. From analysis of the data, an approximate separation is made of losses occurring in the conductor, the outer shield structure and the steel pipe. These component losses are compared with accepted and derived formulas, and application of the data is thus broadened by use of mathematical methods. Based upon the suggested methods of computation, tables are given of losses of cables in steel pipe over a range of conductor sizes and voltage ratings.
The Drama Workshop: A Lab Alternative

The German staff at UNCC, in an attempt to give greater appeal to the language lab, restructured the lab component of the second year and started offering several options to attendance at electronic lab. The most popular of the options is the drama lab, which is described in the article. Started in 1972, the drama lab has operated for ten semesters with great success. The objective of the lab is improvement in language ability, including pronunciation, intonation, and stress patterns. It also serves to create an environment in which students feel at ease in using the German language. Performance is not the goal of the language lab, but because of student enthusiasm for performance, plays have been performed at the Clemson Dionysia Drama Festival, for local high schools, and have been recorded on video and audio tape.
Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Contributes to the Survival of T Lymphoma Cells by Affecting Cellular Metabolism

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a metabolic regulator involved in maintaining glucose and fatty acid homeostasis. Besides its metabolic functions, the receptor has also been implicated in tumorigenesis. Ligands of PPARγ induce apoptosis in several types of tumor cells, leading to the proposal that these ligands may be used as antineoplastic agents. However, apoptosis induction requires high doses of ligands, suggesting the effect may not be receptor-dependent. In this report, we show that PPARγ is expressed in human primary T-cell lymphoma tissues and activation of PPARγ with low doses of ligands protects lymphoma cells from serum starvation-induced apoptosis. The prosurvival effect of PPARγ was linked to its actions on cellular metabolic activities. In serum-deprived cells, PPARγ attenuated the decline in ATP, reduced mitochondrial hyperpolarization, and limited the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in favor of cell survival. Moreover, PPARγ regulated ROS through coordinated transcriptional control of a set of proteins and enzymes involved in ROS metabolism. Our study identified cell survival promotion as a novel activity of PPARγ. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into the role of PPARγ in cancer before widespread use of its agonists as anticancer therapeutics.
Combining photonic sources to produce entanglement

We investigate creation of entanglement by merging two photon-pair sources using interferometers that optimize spatial and temporal overlap, erasing 'which-path' information without intrinsic loss, a crucial feature for loop-hole free tests and various quantum protocols. Article not available.
Regenerative failure of double half limbs in Notophthalmus viridescens.

IT HAS been proposed that positional information in epimorphic fields is specified in terms of polar coordinates1, where one component of positional information is a value corresponding to position on a circle, and the other to position on a radius. In the newt limb, the circular sequence of positional values lies around the circumference and the radial sequence lies in the proximal–distal axis of the limb. French et al.1 have proposed that various different regulative phenomena in such epimorphic fields as insect legs, insect imaginal disks, and amphibian limbs can be accounted for by two principles of cellular behaviour. The first of these is shortest intercalation, whereby any discontinuities in positional information are resolved by intercalation of missing positional values during growth. The second principle is that distal transformation can only take place from a complete set of positional values in the circular sequence. Unless a complete circle is either present at a site of amputation, or can be generated by intercalation from an incomplete circle, no regeneration (distal transformation) will occur. These principles have been used to account for the number, location, handedness and orientation of supernumerary regenerates produced after grafting experiments in amphibians2 and insects3. The results reported here directly support the idea that a complete circle of positional values in the circular sequence is necessary for limb regeneration in adult newts.
Trends in Study Methods Used in Undergraduate Medical Education Research, 1969-2007

ContextEvidence-based medical education requires rigorous studies appraising educational efficacy.ObjectivesTo assess trends over time in methods used to evaluate undergraduate medical education interventions and to identify whether participation of medical education departments or centers is associated with more rigorous methods.Data SourcesThe PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry, Campbell Collaboration, and ERIC databases (January 1966–March 2007) were searched using terms equivalent to students, medical and education, medical crossed with all relevant study designs.Study SelectionWe selected publications in all languages from every fifth year, plus the most recent 12 months, that evaluated an educational intervention for undergraduate medical students. Four hundred seventy-two publications met criteria for review.Data ExtractionData were abstracted on number of participants; types of comparison groups; whether outcomes assessed were objective, subjective, and/or validated; timing of outcome assessments; funding; and participation of medical education departments and centers. Ten percent of publications were independently abstracted by 2 authors to assess validity of the data abstraction.ResultsThe annual number of publications increased over time from 1 (1969-1970) to 147 (2006-2007). In the most recent year, there was a mean of 145 medical student participants; 9 (6%) recruited participants from multiple institutions; 80 (54%) used comparison groups; 37 (25%) used randomized control groups; 91 (62%) had objective outcomes; 23 (16%) had validated outcomes; 35 (24%) assessed an outcome more than 1 month later; 21 (14%) estimated statistical power; and 66 (45%) reported funding. In 2006-2007, medical education department or center participation, reported in 46 (31%) of the recent publications, was associated only with enrolling more medical student participants (P = .04); for all studies from 1969 to 2007, it was associated only with measuring an objective outcome (P = .048). Between 1969 and 2007, the percentage of publications reporting statistical power and funding increased; percentages did not change for other study features.ConclusionsThe annual number of published studies of undergraduate medical education interventions demonstrating methodological rigor has been increasing. However, considerable opportunities for improvement remain.
Integration of control tactics for management of the sugarcane borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Louisiana sugarcane.

A 3-yr split-split-plot study was conducted to evaluate the contributions of arthropod predation, varietal resistance, and insecticidal control toward the management of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) in sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.). The study helped to quantify the value of multiple control tactics in pest management. Insecticidal control was the predominant factor preventing plant injury by the sugarcane borer, supplying <60% of the overall control. However, varietal resistance was almost as effective as insecticidal control at suppressing moth emergence, each contributing 42% and 47% control, respectively. Even a moderately resistant sugarcane variety, CP 65-357, substantially reduced moth emergence. However, the relative contribution of varietal resistance of CP 65-357 toward control was diminished in a year with high sugarcane borer population pressure. A significant interaction (P < 0.05) was detected between varietal resistance and insecticidal control, indicating greater insecticidal suppression of adult emergence on the susceptible and moderately resistant varieties than on the resistant variety. Despite this limited incompatibility, greater sugarcane borer control was always obtained with the incorporation of additional management factors. The resistant variety, CP 70-330, was shown to have a reduced potential for yield loss with the removal of insecticidal control. This study showed that the importance of a particular management tactic was increased when the relative contributions of other control tactics were reduced. Additionally, greater increases in sugar yields were detected when insecticidal control was used in combination with arthropod predation than without predation.
Do residents receive the same OR guidance as surgeons report? Difference between residents' and surgeons' perceptions of OR guidance.

Purpose Operating room (OR) guidance is important for surgical residents’ performance and, ultimately, for the development of independence and autonomy. This study explores the differences in surgical residents’ and attending surgeons’ perceptions of OR guidance in prerecorded surgical cases. Methods A total of 9 attending surgeons and 8 surgical residents observed 8 prerecorded surgical cases and were asked to identify both the presence and the type of attending surgeons’ OR guidance. Each recorded case was observed by 2 attending surgeons and 1 resident. A previously developed taxonomy for types of OR guidance was applied to analyze the data to explore the difference. Agreement by both attending surgeons on the presence and the type of OR guidance served as the concordant guidance behaviors to which the responses of the residents were compared. Results Overall, 116 OR guidance events were identified. Attending surgeons agreed on the presence of guidance in 80 of 116 (69.8%) events and consistently identified the type of OR guidance in 91.4% (73/80, Cohen κ = 0.874) of them. However, surgical residents only agreed with attending surgeons on the presence of guidance in 61.25% (49/80) of the events. In addition, there was significant disagreement (Cohen κ = 0.319) between surgical residents and attending surgeons in the type of OR guidance; the residents only identified 54.8% (40/73) of concordant guidance behaviors in the same guidance category as both the surgeons. Among the types of OR guidance, residents and attending surgeons were most likely to agree on the teaching guidance (66.67%) and least likely to agree on the assisting guidance (36.84%). Conclusions Surgical residents and attending surgeons have different perceptions of both the presence and the type of OR guidance. This difference in perception of OR guidance has important implications for the efficiency of training surgical residents in the OR, and, ultimately on residents’ development of independence and autonomy.
Effect of gender on intra-abdominal fat in teenagers and young adults

Background Adult men accumulate greater intra-abdominal fat (IAF) than adult women, a difference closely related to gender differences in cardiometabolic disease risk in the elderly. However, the time when this gender difference appears is a matter of controversy.
Attitudes and knowledge regarding bulimia and anorexia nervosa

The current study investigated general knowledge of the symptoms, causes, and treatment of bulimia and anorexia nervosa, as well as attitudes toward anorexics and bulimics. High school and college students, 15 to 25 years of age, were administered an anonymous questionnaire. Adequate definitions of bulimia and anorexia were provided by 44% and 71% of the subjects, respectively. Females demonstrated more knowledge than did males. Emotional problems were seen as the most likely cause of both disorders, and psychotherapy was considered the most effective treatment. The subjects were more rejecting of an anorexic female, an obese female, and an average weight vomiter than an average weight binger. Over 4 7 % of the males were rejecting of an anorexic, obese, or purger female as a dating partner.
The O-methylation of 4-hydroxyestradiol is inhibited by 2-hydroxyestradiol : implications for estrogen-induced carcinogenesis

O-Methylation of catecholestrogens catalyzed by catechol-O-methyltransferase provides a major route for the rapid metabolic clearance of these steroids. However, the metabolic clearance rate of 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OH-E2) is considerably lower than that of 2-hydroxyestradiol, although 2- and 4-hydroxycatecholestrogens (2- and 4-OH-CE) have similar apparent affinities for the enzyme. To determine the reason for this apparent paradox we have examined whether the efficiency of O-methylation of 4-OH-E2 could be affected by other catecholestrogens or their O-methyl ethers. The ratio of 4-methoxyestradiol:4-hydroxyestradiol 3-methyl ether was 2.6 at pH 8.5, the pH optimum for the reaction. The O-methylation of 4-OH-E2 (apparent Km 10 microM) was inhibited by 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2) but not by 2- or 4-methyoxyestrogens. The values for Km, Vmax as well as the slope for the methylation of 4-OH-E2 were altered by 2-OH-E2 indicating a mixed inhibition. The inhibition constant for the intercept 1/V'max versus 2-OH-E2 concentrations and the inhibition constant for the slope versus 2-OH-E2 concentrations were 35 and 5.7 microM, respectively. The inhibition of O-methylation of 4-OH-E2 by 2-OH-E2 increased with the pH. In target tissues of the carcinogenic action of estrogens such as the rat pituitary, hamster kidney, or mouse uterus in which 2- and 4-OH-CE are both generated in almost equal amounts, the inactivation of 4-OH-CE by O-methylation may be impeded. Consequently, 4-OH-E2 would remain available as substrate for redox cycling, generation of active radicals and DNA damage.
Effects of monensin supplementation on ruminal metabolism of feedlot cattle fed diets containing dried distillers grains.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of monensin and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on ruminal metabolism in 8 fi stulated steers. In Exp. 1, treatments were (DM basis): 1) 0 mg monensin/kg diet DM, 2) 22 mg monensin/ kg diet DM, 3) 33 mg monensin/kg diet DM, and 4) 44 mg monensin/kg diet DM. The remainder of the diet was 10% corn silage, 60% DDGS, 10% corn, and 20% mineral supplement that used ground corn as the carrier. There was no effect (P > 0.80) of dietary monensin inclusion on DMI. Increasing dietary monensin did not affect (P > 0.05) ruminal VFA concentrations or lactic acid concentrations. There was no effect (P > 0.15) of increasing dietary monensin concentration on ruminal hydrogen sulfi de gas (H 2 S) and liquid sulfi de (S 2- ) concentrations, or ruminal pH. In Exp. 2, treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial and contained (DM basis): 1) 0 mg monensin/kg diet DM + 25% DDGS inclusion, 2) 0 mg monensin/kg diet DM + 60% DDGS inclusion, 3) 44 mg monensin/kg diet DM + 25% DDGS inclusion, and 4) 44 mg monensin/kg diet DM + 60% DDGS inclusion. The remainder of the diet was 15% corn silage, corn, and 20% mineral supplement that used ground corn as a carrier. With 60% dietary DDGS inclusion, DMI decreased (P 0.05) for H 2 S or S 2- concentrations in Exp. 2. Feeding 60% DDGS diets increased mean H 2 S by 71% when compared with feeding 25% DDGS diets. Similar to the response observed for H 2 S, feeding 60% DDGS diets increased mean S 2- by 64% when compared with feeding 25% DDGS diets. Although these studies did not show benefi cial effects of monensin supplementation on ruminal pH, VFA, or H 2 S concentrations, adverse rumen conditions, notably low ruminal pH, when high DDGS diets were fed may have precluded the effects of monensin from being realized.
Contact lens chemistry and giant papillary conjunctivitis.

Objective. To review the relationship between contact lens chemistry and the occurrence of giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC). Design. A review of the literature. Results. GPC can occur with any type of contact lenses. The coating on the lens and the contact lens trauma to the conjunctiva are probable factors. Changing the polymer of the contact lens that a patient with GPC wears can decrease the chance of the condition recurring. Also, replacing a soft contact lens at intervals of less than 3 weeks, rather than 4 or more weeks, significantly reduces the chance of developing GPC. GPC can occur with high Dk silicone contact lenses. Two forms of GPC have been reported: a generalized form similar to that seen with conventional soft contact lenses and a localized form in which the papillae are confined to one or two areas of the tarsal conjunctiva, near the lid margin. Conclusion. Contact lens chemistry plays a role in the development of GPC; however, other factors such as edge design, surface properties, fitting characteristics, and replacement cycle are also important variables in the pathophysiology of GPC.
Freeze-thaw and winter temperature of agricultural soils in interior Alaska

Abstract Freeze-thaw and winter temperature of soil influences the viability of perennial plants, yet the thermal regime of agricultural soils is virtually unknown in interior Alaska. The frequency of daily freeze-thaw events in the spring and fall, winter temperature minima, and the duration of critically-low winter temperatures in the plant root zone (0.05 to 0.40 m depth) were ascertained from daily air and soil temperature data collected from September 1987 through May 1992 at Fairbanks (64°51′N) and Delta Junction (63°55′N). Soil freeze-thaw events at both stations occurred more frequently in spring than in fall and were influenced in part by snow cover. At Delta Junction, where persistent winds result in thin snowpacks, the lowest soil temperature observed during this study was −29.1°C. Temperatures at 0.05 m were lower than 0° and −15°C (lethal temperature of winter grains and legumes) for 169 and 14 consecutive days, respectively. At Fairbanks, the lowest soil temperature was −12.3°C. This study suggested that snow management on agricultural fields in interior Alaska can influence the frequency of soil freeze-thaw and the occurrence of lethal winter temperatures.
Nonparametric estimation for right-censored length-biased data: a pseudo-partial likelihood approach

To estimate the lifetime distribution of right-censored length-biased data, we propose a pseudo-partial likelihood approach that allows us to derive two nonparametric estimators. With its closed-form estimators and explicit limiting variances, this approach retains the simplicity of conditional analysis, and has only a small efficiency loss compared with the unconditional analysis. Under some regularity conditions, we show that the two estimators are uniformly consistent and converge weakly to Gaussian processes. A simulation study demonstrates that the proposed estimators have satisfactory finite-sample performance. Application to an Alzheimer's disease study is reported.
Upper and lower bounds of buckling loads

Abstract Upper and lower bounds of buckling load for a nonuniform elastic column under conservative loading are considered. Compatible admissible moment and displacement functions are expressed in terms of a compatible coordinate system. The generalized Timoshenko Quotient and the modified Schreyer and Shih formula are the proposed upper and lower bounds. Both bounds when iterated converge to the exact buckling load. The method described here is simple and convenient and applies to all self-adjoint problems without exception.
Characteristics of Continental Shelves and Slopes: ABSTRACT

One of the most important and interesting geological questions awaiting solution is that of the origin of continental shelves and slopes. Just as for other geological features, more than a single origin is involved for different areas or for different times. Data on structure, composition, and topography provide the clues for interpretation of geological history and thus of origin, but such clues are presently so incomplete that interpretations are uncertain. Common to many areas is the presence of a downwarped basement under the slope and (or) a topographic depression beyond the slope--but is this cause or effect? Also common is the composition: marine sediment--but what can we infer about the precise environment of deposition of these sediments? Are they neritic under t e inner part of the shelves and bathyal beneath the slopes? How important are turbidites for the continental rise beyond? How similar are the Mesozoic and Tertiary sediments to those of the Pleistocene and Recent? The present topography is reasonably well known--but is it similar to ancient topography? In many areas the present shelf has been shaped by processes unique to the Pleistocene--does this mean that continental shelves did not exist before the Pleistocene? New data will be presented by the different speakers, all of whom have been active in field studies. We, perhaps, will find that a comparison of the results of their field work in large, but widely separated, areas will provide a much needed fresh approach to the question of the origin of continental shelves and slopes. End_of_Article - Last_Page 356------------
Selection of specialized creators.

A study was conducted of 32 industrial employees, including 16 technical and administrative, and 16 research individuals, who responded to a 22-item questionnaire designed to discriminate between “creators” and “others,” as well as between “analysts” and “inventors” within the creative group. Results indicated that 12 items discriminated between the various groups at significant statistical levels; 9 items discriminated between creators and others, and 2 of these same items also discriminated between analysts and inventors. 3 additional items discriminated only analysts and inventors. Thus, it may be possible, with few items, to discriminate reliably between creators and others, as well as between analysts and inventors within the creative group.
Recognition of poly(dimethylsiloxane) with phage displayed peptides

We demonstrate for the first time a powerful yet benign approach for identification of binding motifs to poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) via comprehensively screened phage displayed peptides. Our results show that PDMS can be selectively recognized with peptide-displaying phages and bifunctional peptides. Further, along with the development of PDMS-based microstructures, recognition of PDMS with phage displayed peptides can be specifically localized in these microstructures.
Cardiopulmonary changes in scleroderma A physiologic study

Abstract Four patients with scleroderma were studied by means of cardiac catheterization and measurements of pulmonary function. In one case the studies were repeated after versene therapy and subjective clinical improvement. In 2 cases, a single-breath carbon-monoxide test was performed. In 2 cases, marked pulmonary hypertension was found, and in all 4 cases, reduction in the cardiac output and index was demonstrated. All patients exhibited evidence of restrictive ventilatory disturbance, but only one showed evidence of an obstructive type of pulmonary ventilatory defect. All patients exhibited a large intrapulmonary venoarterial shunt. In the 2 patients in whom the single-breath carbon-monoxide technique was performed a diffusion defect was also observed. The large A-a PO 2 gradient described in these patients when they were breathing room air was the result of the combination of a diffusion defect and pulmonary venoarterial shunts. Versene therapy resulted in marked subjective improvement, but failed to improve the pulmonary ventilation or to diminish the intrapulmonary shunt.
Item reliability of the movement assessment of infants

To examine the item reliability of the Movement Assessment of Infants, 53 high- and low-risk 4-month-old infants were tested. Two examiners rated performance independently to provide an estimate of inter-observer reliability. A sub-sample of 29 infants was again assessed within one week of the initial session. The scores of the same observer over two repeated testings provided and estimate of intra-rater reliability. Percent of agreement and the Kappa statistic were used to estimate inter-observer and intra-observer reliability. Using the Kappa statistic guidelines, 2% of the items demonstrated excellent inter-observer reliability and 58% had fair to good inter-observer reliability; 10% of the items demonstrated excellent intra-observer reliability and 42% had fair to good intra-observer reliability. Agreement and stability of the items were also reported by the index of percent of agreement to help evaluate items with good agreement, yet low variability of response categories. Items that had acceptable r...
Customer Value in an All-Inclusive Travel Vacation Club: An Application of the RFM Framework

ABSTRACT In this study, the RFM (Recency, Frequency, and Monetary) framework is applied as a method of distinguishing customer value based on pre-purchase motivations of membership initiation in an all-inclusive travel vacation club. Findings suggest that frequency is the strongest predictor of supply side customer value in travel vacation clubs, compared to recency and monetary value. Findings are useful for a variety of travel firms in the complex travel-package industry in the areas of customer segmentation, targeting, and marketing communications.
Making Sense of Retributivism

This paper explicates and challenges John Rawl's argument concerning a rule-utilitarian theory of punishment. In so doing, it argues in favour of a retributivist theory of punishment, one that seeks to justify, not only particular forms of punishment, but the institution of punishment itself. Some crucial objections to retributivism are then considered: one regarding the adverse effects of punishment on the innocent, another concerning proportional punishment, a third pertaining to vengeance and retribution, a Marxian concern with retributive punishment, and a concern with the concept of desert. Each objection is deflected in order to ward-off what seem to be the most serious criticisms of a retributivist view of punishment and to clarify the depth of the retributivist position.
RANDOM INTERACTIONS AND GROUND STATE SPIN OF FINITE FERMI SYSTEMS

Numerical simulations show that the ground state spin of a finite many-body system with random but rotationally invariant interactions is predominantly zero. This means that it is not sufficient to explain the zero ground state spin of even-even nuclei only by pairing correlations. Simple explanations based on a statistical multiplicity, width of the level density, effective pairing, formation of condensates etc. do not work. We suggest statistical theory based on the effective mean field and geometric chaoticity of angular momentum coupling of individual particles. The results show a significant role of symmetry arguments in finite systems.
A Comparison of Traditional Folk Healing Concepts With Contemporary Healing Concepts

Health professional interest in folk healing concepts as a means of complementing contemporary health care has flourished within recent years. Yet, despite this seemingly new area of study, many basic tenets of folk healing are consistent with principles ascribed to by modem health professionals. In this article, I elucidate several concepts shared by traditional folk healing systems and the contemporary health care system. These concepts include origin of illness, harmony and balance, motion, colors, symbols, and family and community involvement. The analysis of these concepts should enable nurses to have an advanced understanding of transcultural healing practices, as well as a heightened perspective on the shared dimensions of folk and contemporary health care systems.
Estimation of fundamental frequency of non-circular plates with free, circular cutouts

A method of obtaining approximate fundamental frequencies of slightly non-circular plates with free circular cutouts is developed. An approximate expression for the radius of each bounding curve is written as a truncated Fourier series. The support conditions, which are written in terms of a perturbation series of the modes of a circular annulus, are satisfied on the approximate boundaries. The approximate characteristic equation (either first or second-order approximations) is obtained from satisfaction of the support conditions and the fundamental frequency determined as the first root to this characteristic equation. Approximate frequencies of the fundamental mode of a clamped elliptical plate, square plate with a circular cutout and an eccentric annulus are determined to demonstrate the second-order approximation. In addition, the first-order approximation to the fundamental mode of an eccentric annulus is obtained.
Dissociation of urate from sodium transport in the rat proximal tubule.

Dissociation of urate from sodium transport in the rat proximal tubule. The tubular transport of urate and sodium was examined by clearance, free-flow micropuncture, intratubular microinjection and precession techniques in control rats and in rats receiving a new uricosuric diuretic, indanyloxyacetic acid (MK-196). The i.v. infusion of MK-196 (50 mg/kg of body wt/hr) resulted in significant increases in the fractional excretion of sodium (FE Na ) from 0.98 ± 0.01 to 11.86 ± 2.88% (P urate from 14.1 ± 1.03 to 56.0 ± 2.86% (P inulin ) ratios were 2.43 ± 0.15 and 2.51 ± 0.10 in control and drug-treated animals, respectively (P = NS). Total urinary urate recovery after MK-196 administration was higher following microinjections of [2- 14 C] urate into early proximal tubule sites: 70.5 ± 2.7% in controls vs. 84.9 ± 0.9 (P Dissociation du transport de l'urate de celui du sodium dans le tube proximal de rat. Le transport tubulaire de l'urate et du sodium a ete etudie par clearance, microponctions, microinjections intra-tubulaires et recherche de precession chez des rats controles et des rats recevant un nouveau diuretique uricosurique, l'acide indanyloxyacetique (MK-196).L'administration intraveineuse de MK-196 (50 mg/kg poids corporel/heure) determine une augmentation significative de FE Na de 0,98 ± 0,01 a 11,86 ± 2,88% (P urate de 14,1 ± 1,03 a 56,0 ± 2,86% (P 14 C] dans les tubes proximaux precoces est plus grande apres MK-196: 70,5 ± 2,7% chez les controles, 84,9 ± 0,9% apres MK-196 (P
Obligations of an Academic and Clinical Oncologist: Historical Reflections

Obligations are derived from one's core values-those fundamental, enduring, deeply held beliefs that guide one's everyday actions. Gandhi stated it more eloquently than I ever could: "Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny." So what are the obligations of the academic oncologist and clinician? I believe there are a few indubitable and fundamental obligations: professionalism, patient care, stewardship, maintenance of knowledge, productivity, and mentorship). I might add that I do not see these obligations as unique to the academician but rather applicable to all physicians.
“Pulling the plug”—Management of meconium plug syndrome in neonates

Abstract Background The significance of meconium plug syndrome (MPS) is unclear but has been associated with Hirschsprung’s disease and magnesium tocolysis. We reviewed our experience to attempt to identify any potential association with these conditions and to review our outcomes. Methods Using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision, code for meconium obstruction, patient charts were identified during the 1998–2008 period. A total of 61 cases of MPS were found, after excluding 7 of meconium ileus. Data regarding the hospital course and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results Approximately 30% of patients had spontaneous resolution of the meconium plug without any treatment. Of those patients requiring treatment, contrast barium enema was used, with 97% success. Only 2 patients required surgical intervention owing to worsening distension and subsequent peritonitis. When we stratified the patients according to gestational age of >36 and versus 8.6 ± 7.8 d after birth ( P = 0.003), respectively, and the lower gestational age patients had a longer length of stay. Contrast barium enema was still successful in 94% of patients with a gestational age of Conclusions Patients with MPS have excellent outcomes, independent of gestational age. Contrast barium enema remains the initial diagnostic and treatment of choice for patients with MPS. Also, although previous reports have shown a link between magnesium tocolysis and Hirschsprung’s disease with MPS, our experience suggests otherwise.
Successful Treatment of Genitofemoral Neuralgia Using Ultrasound Guided Injection: A Case Report and Short Review of Literature

A young male patient developed chronic, severe, and disabling right sided groin pain following resection of his left testicular cancer. Since there is considerable overlap, ultrasound guided, selective diagnostic nerve blocks were done for ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves, to determine the involved nerve territory. It was revealed that genitofemoral neuralgia was the likely cause. As a therapeutic procedure, it was injected with local anesthetic and steroid using ultrasound guidance. The initial injection led to pain relief of 3 months. Subsequent blocks reinforced the existing analgesia and were sufficient to allow for maintenance with the use of analgesic medications. This case report describes the successful use of diagnostic selective nerve blocks for the assessment of groin pain, subsequent to which an ultrasound guided therapeutic injection of genitofemoral nerve led to long term pain relief. As a therapeutic procedure, genitofemoral nerve block is done in patients with genitofemoral neuralgia. Ultrasound allows for controlled administration and greatly enhances the technical ability to perform precise localization and injection. There are very few case reports of such a treatment in the published literature. Apart from the case report, we also highlight the relevant anatomy and a brief review of genitofemoral neuralgia and its treatment.
Static and dynamic properties of type-II composite fermion Wigner crystals

The Wigner crystal of composite fermions is a strongly correlated state of complex emergent particles in two dimensions, and therefore its unambiguous detection would be of significant importance. A recent observation of optical resonances in the vicinity of filling factor $\ensuremath{\nu}=1/3$ has been interpreted as evidence for a pinned Wigner crystal of composite fermions [Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 126803 (2010)]. We evaluate in a microscopic theory the shear modulus and the magnetophonon and magnetoplasmon dispersions of the composite fermion Wigner crystal in the vicinity of filling factors 1/3, 2/5, and 3/7. We determine the region of stability of the crystal phase, and also relate the frequency of its pinning mode to that of the corresponding electron crystal near integer fillings. These results are in good semiquantitative agreement with experiment, and therefore support the identification of the optical resonance as the pinning mode of the composite fermion Wigner crystal. Our calculations also bring out certain puzzling features, such as a relatively small melting temperature for the composite fermion Wigner crystal, and also suggest a higher asymmetry between Wigner crystals of composite fermion particles and holes than that observed experimentally.
Wavefront aberration measurements and corrections through thick tissue using fluorescent microsphere reference beacons

We present a new method to directly measure and correct the aberrations introduced when imaging through thick biological tissue. A Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is used to directly measure the wavefront error induced by a Drosophila embryo. The wavefront measurements are taken by seeding the embryo with fluorescent microspheres used as “artificial guide-stars.” The wavefront error is corrected in ten millisecond steps by applying the inverse to the wavefront error on a micro-electro-mechanical deformable mirror in the image path of the microscope. The results show that this new approach is capable of improving the Strehl ratio by 2 times on average and as high as 10 times when imaging through 100 μm of tissue. The results also show that the isoplanatic half-width is approximately 19 μm resulting in a corrected field of view 38 μm in diameter around the guide-star.
Novel vanilloid receptor-1 antagonists: 1. Conformationally restricted analogues of trans-cinnamides.

The vanilloid receptor-1 (VR1 or TRPV1) is a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels and plays a role as an integrator of multiple pain-producing stimuli. From a high-throughput screening assay, measuring calcium uptake in TRPV1-expressing cells, we identified an N-aryl trans-cinnamide (AMG9810, compound 9) that acts as a potent TRPV1 antagonist. We have demonstrated the antihyperalgesic properties of 9 in vivo and have also reported the discovery of novel, orally bioavailable cinnamides derived from this lead. Herein, we expand our investigations and describe the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of conformationally constrained analogues of the s-cis conformer of compound 9. These investigations resulted in the identification of 4-amino- and 4-oxopyrimidine cores as suitable isosteric replacements for the trans-acrylamide moiety. The best examples from this series, pyrimidines 79 and 74, were orally bioavailable and exhibited potent antagonism of both rat (IC...
Heat-induced perturbations of DNA damage signaling pathways are modulated by molecular chaperones

Heat is one of the most potent radiosensitizers known. Several randomized trials have shown that hyperthermia is a good adjuvant for radiotherapy at several different cancer sites. However, the mechanism(s) involved in the interaction of heat and radiation that lead to radiosensitization remain to be elucidated. In this report, we have determined that heat induces perturbations in some of the earliest events in the cellular response to DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation. We studied the effect of heat on the formation of complexes containing gamma-H2AX/MDC1/53BP1 in heated-irradiated cells. We found that the formation of this complex was delayed in heated-irradiated cells, in a heat but not radiation dose-dependent manner. The length of the heat-induced delay of complex formation was attenuated in thermotolerant and heat radiosensitization-resistant cells. The length of the delay of gamma-H2AX/MDC1/53BP1 complex formation correlated with the magnitude of heat radiosensitization and was modulated by the molecular chaperone Hsc70. Heat radiosensitization was attenuated in 53BP1-null cells, implying that the delay of the formation of the gamma-H2AX/MDC1/53BP1 complex plays a role in heat radiosensitization. Heat also induced a delay of events in the DNA damage response that are downstream from 53BP1. Our results support the notion that heat-induced perturbations in the earliest events of the cellular response to ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage play a role in heat radiosensitization.
Steady-state mechanism for polymer ablation by a free-running Er:YAG laser

Abstract A free-running Er:YAG laser is used to ablate polyethylene glycol and the ablation yield is studied as a function of molecular weight (1000–10,000 g/mol) and laser fluence (8–25 J/cm2). A steady-state ablation mechanism is proposed which includes recoil-induced expulsion as the primary contributor to the ablation yield. It is also proposed that the formation of a molten layer is a necessary part of the ablation mechanism because the calculated tensile strengths for the solid polymer are too large to permit fracture of the target due to the laser-induced stress transient. The ablation yield is found to depend in a sigmoidal fashion upon laser fluence, thus implying a variable ablation enthalpy. Finally, the current results are compared with that obtained previously with a free electron laser.
School Improvement and Urban Renewal: The Impact of a Turnaround School's Performance on Real Property Values in Its Surrounding Community.

Abstract This study investigates the economic impact of a “turnaround” school on real property values in its surrounding community as related to the argument introduced by Tiebout in 1956 correlating local public goods, in this case school success, to housing-location decision making. Using single-family home sales found on the Multiple Listing System and data from the Realist Tax Record, we found property values in the school's catchment area were higher than in nearby neighborhoods feeding other public schools; houses were selling closer to their initial asking price and were on the market for shorter times than in comparable neighborhoods.
Effect of Pore-Wall Chemistry on Proton Conductivity in Mesoporous Titanium Dioxide

In this paper we describe how the conductivity of a mesoporous TiO2 membrane is strongly affected by the chemistry of the pore walls. We have studied the effect of site density, state of surface protonation, and surface modification in samples with a fixed pore structure. Pore structure was kept fixed by firing all samples at the same temperature. Changing the surface site density (number of water molecules per square nanometer) from 5.5 to 5.7 leads to an increase in conductivity from 8.00 × 10-3 to 1.00 × 10-2 Ω-1 cm-1 at 25 °C and 81% relative humidity (RH). The effect of the state of protonation was studied by pretreating wafers at pH 1.5 and equilibrating them with solutions at pH 2.5 and 4.0. This variable (protonation state of the material) was found to have an even stronger effect on conductivity. Surface modification was achieved by adsorbing phosphate anions from solutions with different pH. It was observed that even a very small degree of phosphate loading (0.71 ions/nm2) leads to an increase i...
Parotid and Whole-Mouth Secretion in Response to Viewing, Handling, and Sniffing Food:

There was no significant change in flow rates of parotid saliva in nineteen of twenty subjects while they viewed photographs of lemons, or in fourteen of twenty subjects while they cut lemons in a glove box. Neither parotid nor whole-mouth secretion changed from baseline when subjects viewed fresh lemons and lemonade presented in a plastic box. Further, no significant changes in whole-mouth secretion rates were observed when subjects viewed photographs of two appetizing foods, or of fresh doughnuts in a plastic box, even though subjects knew they could eat the doughnuts after the experiment. In most cases, sniffing of the lemons or of the doughnuts resulted in increased flow rates. Subjects demonstrated large differences in their patterns of affective responses to full-strength and diluted lemon juice, which were independent of salivary flow. In the absence of olfactory or tactile stimulations, few subjects altered parotid or whole-mouth secretion rates in response to viewing food or photographs of food. A reevaluation of findings on 'psychic' stimulation of saliva may be in order to ascertain the role of olfactory, tactile, and even trigeminal clues in salivary response to food stimuli.
Re-determination of succinonitrile (SCN) camphor phase diagram

Abstract Low-melting temperature transparent organic materials have been extensively used to study the pattern formation and microstructure evolution. It proves to be very challenging to accurately determine the phase diagram since there is no viable way to measure the composition microscopically. In this paper, we presented the detailed experimental characterization of the phase diagram of succinonitrile (SCN)–camphor binary system. Differential scanning calorimetry, a ring-heater, and the directional solidification technique have been combined to determine the details of the phase diagram by using the purified materials. The advantages and disadvantages have been discussed for the different experimental techniques. SCN and camphor constitute a simple binary eutectic system with the eutectic composition at 23.6 wt% camphor and eutectic temperature at 37.65 °C. The solidus and the solubility of the SCN base solid solution have been precisely determined for the first time in this binary system.
Effect of the Dietary Ratio of Hay to Concentrate on Milk Production, Ration Digestibility, and Urinary Energy Losses

Summary Lactation and balance studies were carried out with 12 Holstein cows in a randomized complete block design. Twenty, forty, or sixty per cent of the estimated net energy (ENE) was supplied in the form of hay; the remainder in the form of concentrate. The level of ENE intake above maintenance was held constant. FCM production was approximately the same for all groups. A significant and rectilinear increase in pounds of FCM per therm of digestible energy consumed above maintenance was observed as the proportion of concentrates in the ration increased. Digestibility data are presented. Urinary energy losses were closely correlated (r = 0.96) with urinary nitrogen losses.
Toward an Ideal Mobile World: Opportunities and Challenges

Mobile devices have improved dramatically in the last two decades. They can put information at our fingertips, allowing us to communicate like never before. Now, it's time to address the issues between them and the next level: an ideal mobile world where they will integrate so naturally into our lives that they will just fade into the background, as electricity once did.