cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carbon dioxide interactions with irradiance and temperature in potatoes

Abstract Separate controlled environment studies were conducted to determine the interaction of CO 2 with irradiance and interaction of CO 2 with temperature on growth of three potato cultivars. In the first study, an elevated CO 2 concentration of 1000 μmol mol −1 and an ambient CO 2 of 350 μmol mol −1 were maintained at the photosynthetic photon fluxes (PPF) of 17 and 34 mol m −2 d −1 with 12 h photoperiod, and at the PPF of 34 and 68 mol m −2 d −1 with 24 h photoperiod (400 and 800 μmol m −2 s −1 PPF at each photoperiod). Tuber and total dry weights of 90-day old potatoes were significantly increased with CO 2 enrichment, but the CO 2 stimulation was less with higher PPF and longer photoperiod. Shoot dry weight was affected more by photoperiod than by PPF and CO 2 concentrations. The elevated CO 2 concentration increased leaf CO 2 assimilation rates and decreased stomatal conductance with 12 h photoperiod, but had only a marginal effect with 24 h photoperiod. In the second study, four CO 2 concentrations of 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 μmol mol −1 were combined with two air temperature regimes of 16 and 20°C under a 12 h photoperiod. At harvest, 35 days after transplanting, tuber and total dry weights of potatoes reached a maximum with 1000 μmol mol −1 CO 2 at 16°C, but continued to increase up to 2000 μmol mol −1 CO 2 at 20°C. Plant growth was greater at 20°C than at 16°C under all CO 2 concentrations. At 16°C specific leaf weight increased substantially with increasing CO 2 concentrations as compared to 500 μmol mol −1 CO 2 , but increased only slightly at 20°C. This suggests a carbohydrate build-up in the leaves at 16°C temperature that reduces plant response to increased CO 2 concentrations. The data in the two studies indicate that a PPF of 34 mol m −2 d −1 , 20°C temperature, and 1000–2000 μmol mol −1 CO 2 produces optimal tuber yield in potatoes.
IGF-I assays: current assay methodologies and their limitations

The diagnosis of disorders of growth hormone (GH) is dependent upon accurate measurement of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations since serum IGF-I assays have been found to be useful as a screening tests for the presence of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children and in both children and adults they have been found very useful in establishing the diagnosis of acromegaly. IGF-I is also used extensively to monitor the response to GH treatment in children and adults and to monitor the response to treatment in acromegaly. Since IGF-I is influenced by several other hormones and physiologic factors as well as GH, a knowledge of its regulation is essential to understanding how to properly interpret the measurements. Several technical criteria are required for successful laboratory estimation of IGF-I values. These include elimination of interference of IGF-I-binding proteins (IGFBP), utilization of adequate numbers of normal subjects to define the normal ranges and importantly the use of high affinity, high specificity antisera that allow precise and reproducible measurements of the biologically active peptide. Cross comparisons of various commercial assays show that the results generally are similar when values are in the normal range. However, the assays have different performance characteristics when concentrations are either above or below the normal range. To obtain cross laboratory standardization for values outside the normal range requires utilization of similar, high-quality reagents and techniques that are reasonably comparable. Without this degree of standardization, cross comparisons among various reference laboratories are likely to continue to show wide divergence for values that are above or below the 95% confidence interval. A future goal should be the development of standard procedures and reagents that eliminate this degree of variability.
Quantification of the response of rat medullary raphe neurones to independent changes in pHo and PCO2

The medullary raphe nuclei contain putative central respiratory chemoreceptor neurones that are highly sensitive to acidosis. To define the primary stimulus for chemosensitivity in these neurones, the response to hypercapnic acidosis was quantified and compared with the response to independent changes in PCO2 and extracellular pH (pHo). Neurones from the ventromedial medulla of neonatal rats (P0-P2) were dissociated and maintained in tissue culture for long enough to develop a mature response (up to 70 days). Perforated patch clamp recordings were used to record membrane potential and firing rate while changes were made in pHo, PCO2 and/or [NaHCO3]o from baseline values of 7.4, 5 % and 26 mm, respectively. Hypercapnic acidosis (PCO2 9 %; pHo 7.17) induced an increase in firing rate to 285 % of control in one subset of neurones (‘stimulated neurones’) and induced a decrease in firing rate to 21 % of control in a different subset of neurones (‘inhibited neurones’). Isocapnic acidosis (pHo 7.16; [NaHCO3]o 15 mm) induced an increase in firing rate of stimulated neurones to 309 % of control, and a decrease in firing rate of inhibited neurones to 38 % of control. In a different group of neurones, isohydric hypercapnia (9 % PCO2; [NaHCO3]o 40 mm) induced an increase in firing rate of stimulated neurones by the same amount (to 384 % of control) as in response to hypercapnic acidosis (to 327 % of control). Inhibited neurones also responded to isohydric hypercapnia in the same way as they did to hypercapnic acidosis. In Hepes-buffered solution, both types of neurone responded to changes in pHo in the same way as they responded to changes in pHo in bicarbonate-buffered Ringer solution. It has previously been shown that all acidosis-stimulated neurones in the medullary raphe are immunoreactive for tryptophan hydroxylase (TpOH-ir). Here it was found that TpOH-ir neurones in the medullary raphe were immunoreactive for carbonic anhydrase type II and type IV (CA II and CA IV). However, CA immunoreactivity was also common in neurones of the hypoglossal motor nucleus, inferior olive, hippocampus and cerebellum, indicating that its presence is not uniquely associated with chemosensitive neurones. In addition, under the conditions used here, acetazolamide (100 μm) did not have a significant effect on the response to hypercapnic acidosis. We conclude that chemosensitivity of raphe neurones can occur independently of changes in pHo, PCO2 or bicarbonate. The results suggest that a change in intracellular pH (pHi) may be the primary stimulus for chemosensitivity in these putative central respiratory chemoreceptor neurones.
THE EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS OESTROGEN ON THE BLOOD FLOW AND OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF THE UTERUS OF THE NON‐PREGNANT EWE

Observations on unrestrained nonpregnant ewes, prepared with appropriately placed indwelling catheters for obtaining blood samples, indicate that the administration of oestrogen - either I.M. or I.V. - is followed by a fall in the coefficient of O2 utilization of the uterus, and an increase in the blood flow through it, that were often detectable 30 min later and approached minimum and maximum values respectively after about an hour and a half. Similar results were obtained in acute experiments at which the uterine blood flow was measured directly and the oxygen consumption (ml./kg/min) determined. In all of the acute experiments the blood flow increased after oestrogen administration in the absence of any regular increase in O2 consumption. In three experiments the flow rate (ml./kg/min) increased about fivefold.
Regional cone dysfunction in retinitis pigmentosa evaluated by flicker ERGs: relationship with perimetric sensitivity losses.

PURPOSE To evaluate regional cone dysfunction in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) by recording focal electroretinograms (FERGs) from the central and paracentral retinal regions and to correlate the FERG with perimetric sensitivity losses. METHODS Twenty-three typical patients with RP (age, 18-65 years; visual acuity, 20/100 to 20/20; kinetic visual field by size II/4e, 20-40 degrees ) and eight age-matched control subjects were evaluated. FERGs were recorded in response to either a central (eccentricity, 0-2.25 degrees ) or a paracentral annular (2.25-9 degrees ) field, presented on a light-adapting background. Fields' luminances (mean: 80 cd/m(2)) were sinusoidally modulated at different temporal frequencies (TFs; 10.3, 14, 21, 32, 41, and 52 Hz). Amplitude and phase of the responses' fundamental harmonic (1F) were measured. Perimetric sensitivity was measured by a visual field perimeter. For each patient, mean sensitivity losses were calculated for both the central (0-2.25 degrees ) and paracentral (2.25-9 degrees ) regions. RESULTS On average, central and paracentral FERGs of patients with RP were reduced in amplitude (P </= 0.05) compared with control values. Amplitude losses tended to be smaller in the central than the paracentral region and were limited to low-medium TFs (10.3-14 Hz). Paracentral losses were rather invariant with TF. Paracentrally, but not centrally, the FERG phase in patients was delayed on average (P < 0.01), compared with control values. The central FERG phase was delayed only in patients with visual acuities less than 20/40. In individual patients, paracentral 41-Hz amplitude losses were positively correlated with corresponding perimetric losses (r = 0.7, P < 0.005). Both central and paracentral 41-Hz amplitudes displayed high specificity (87.5% and 100%, respectively) with relatively low sensitivity (46.6% and 63.6%, respectively) in predicting perimetric results in corresponding retinal regions. CONCLUSIONS In RP, central and paracentral FERGs are differently altered as a function of TF, indicating regional differences in the stage and/or pathophysiology of retinal cone dysfunction. FERG abnormalities may predict, to some extent, perimetric results at corresponding retinal regions. The data support the use of the present FERG method to evaluate regional cone dysfunction in different stages of RP.
THE BALOCHI DIALECT OF THE KOROSH

Koroshi is the Balochi dialect spoken by the Korosh (Koros), a group associated with the Qashqa’i tribes of Fārs in southwestern Iran. Entirely isolated from the main body of the Baloch habitat, Koroshi distinguishes itself in grammar and lexicon among Balochi varieties. The phonology of Koroshi demonstrates a solid Balochi pedigree but not without major mutations. Likewise, the nominal case-number system of Koroshi shows significant deviation from most other Balochi dialects. In verb morphosyntax a salient peculiarity is the coexistence of two parallel systems of the imperfective, which appear to be stabilising in an evolutionary process of the Koroshi aspect system. Borrowing from the neighbouring languages is salient in the lexical domain, where Persian, the Fārs dialects, and Qashqa’i Turkish each play a part as the source language. Given all these peculiarities the degree of mutual intelligibility between Koroshi and other Balochi dialects is yet to be established.
Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Tobacco Cessation Interventions for Individuals With Mental Health Disorders

Individuals with mental health disorders are more likely to use tobacco, often have greater difficulty during quit attempts, and are at greater risk for relapse than those in the general population. Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches enhance tobacco use cessation interventions for individuals with mental health disorders by improving affect regulation skills and nicotine withdrawal symptoms associated with quit attempts. Acceptance and mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to be effective for the treatment of mental health disorders and substance use disorders, including nicotine dependence. We review the evidence for acceptance and mindfulness-based tobacco cessation interventions and their application for individuals with co-occurring nicotine dependence and mental health disorders. In addition, we present a case example of an acceptance and mindfulness-based tobacco cessation intervention for an individual with posttraumatic stress disorder. Finally, we discuss the need for further s...
Hybridization in Hydrophiles: Natural Interspecific Hybrids in Najas (Hydrocharitaceae)

Abstract Pollination by water (hydrophily) is a highly specialized mechanism that occurs rarely among aquatic angiosperms, which mainly retain the reproductive systems reminiscent of their terrestrial ancestors. Hydrophily is abiotic and typically associated with unisexual flowers, factors that predictably would promote xenogamy and outcrossing. Yet, there have been few reports of hybridization involving waterpollinated plants (hydrophiles), with no firm evidence of natural interspecific hybridization. The genus Najas comprises about 40 species of submersed aquatic plants, all characterized by subsurface hydrophily. Hybridization in this genus has been suspected, but verified previously only among infraspecific taxa. In this study we document the first instance of interspecific hybridization in Najas using genetic evidence from three populations that were identifiable as N. guadalupensis but yielded polymorphic DNA sequence profiles. To facilitate our analysis we first conducted a phylogenetic survey of N...
Ineffectiveness of Thiamin Hydrochloride in Treating Late Weaning Paralysis of Vitamin E Deficient Rats

ConclusionsIt is concluded that, contrary to the claims of other investigators,1 oral administration of vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride) supplemented by force feeding is ineffective in preventing or in curing the paralysis in suckling rats attributable to an insufficiency of vitamin E.
Exclusive Processes and the Fundamental Structure of Hadrons

I review the historical development of QCD predictions for exclusive hadronic processes, beginning with constituent counting rules and the quark interchange mechanism, phenomena which gave early validation for the quark structure of hadrons. The subsequent development of pQCD factorization theorems for hard exclusive amplitudes and the development of evolution equations for the hadron distribution amplitudes provided a rigorous framework for calculating hadronic form factors and hard scattering exclusive scattering processes at high momentum transfer. I also give a brief introduction to the field of "light-front holography" and the insights it brings to quark confinement, the behavior of the QCD coupling in the nonperturbative domain, as well as hadron spectroscopy and the dynamics of exclusive processes.
Web-based simulation visualization using Java3D

The coupling of Java3D and applet technologies has the potential to revolutionize Web-based simulation visualization. Applets can enable the dynamic and distributed instantiation and elimination of viewers that until now was not possible. A visualizer based on these technologies is under development at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate. Unlike existing visualizers, that must be running at the simulation's start time, this tool allows users to come and go as they please-effectively allowing them to peer into the state of a simulation at a place, perspective and time that is of specific interest to them. Intense 3D graphics have been difficult to program and distribute among heterogeneous environments until the inception of Sun Microsystems' Java3D. Java3D provides users the best acceleration their platform can support, while the WWW provides the transmission and communication infrastructure. This paper discusses a government-owned, browser-based simulation visualizer that is capable of displaying simulated entities to any number of distributed sites.
Connectivity and sparse wavelength conversion in wavelength-routing networks

Wavelength-routing networks offer the advantages of wavelength re-use and scalability over broadcast-and-select networks and are therefore suitable for wide area networks (WANs). We study the effects of topological connectivity and wavelength conversion in circuit-switched all-optical wavelength-routing networks. An approximate blocking analysis of such network is performed. We first propose an improved framework for the analysis of networks with arbitrary topology. We introduce a simple model for networks with a variable number of converters and analyze the effect of wavelength converter density on blocking probability. We then apply this framework to two sparse network topologies, the ring and the mesh-torus, and obtain the blocking performance. The results show that, in most cases, only a fraction of the network nodes need to be equipped with wavelength conversion capability for good performance. Finally, the tradeoff between physical connectivity, wavelength conversion, and the number of available wavelengths is studied through networks with random topologies.
Predicting problems caused by component upgrades

We present a new, automatic technique to assess whether replacing a component of a software system by a purportedly compatible component may change the behavior of the system. The technique operates before integrating the new component into the system or running system tests, permitting quicker and cheaper identification of problems. It takes into account the system's use of the component, because a particular component upgrade may be desirable in one context but undesirable in another. No formal specifications are required, permitting detection of problems due either to errors in the component or to errors in the system. Both external and internal behaviors can be compared, enabling detection of problems that are not immediately reflected in the output.The technique generates an operational abstraction for the old component in the context of the system and generates an operational abstraction for the new component in the context of its test suite; an operational abstraction is a set of program properties that generalizes over observed run-time behavior. If automated logical comparison indicates that the new component does not make all the guarantees that the old one did, then the upgrade may affect system behavior and should not be performed without further scrutiny. In case studies, the technique identified several incompatibilities among software components.
Malignant soft-tissue tumors in a large referral population: distribution of diagnoses by age, sex, and location.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative prevalence, age at presentation, sex distribution, and skeletal distribution of malignant soft-tissue tumors and to ascertain the relative frequency of these tumors in specific anatomic locations and age groups among a population of patients in a large pathologic consultation service.The computer diagnoses of 39,179 lesions occurring in 38,484 patients seen by soft-tissue pathologists at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology during the 10-year period from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1989, were retrospectively reviewed. All lesions were placed in one of 121 major categories in accordance with the classification system used by the World Health Organization and coded to one of 32 anatomic locations, such as hand, wrist, forearm, and so forth. Age and sex also were recorded. For purposes of analysis, all lesions were placed in one of 10 categories: hand and wrist, upper extremity, proximal limb girdle (axilla and shoulder), foot and ankle, lower e...
Regional sea level trends due to a Pacific trade wind intensification

[1] Over the past two decades, sea level trends have increased in the western tropical Pacific Ocean with rates that are approximately three times the global average. A general circulation model is used to show that the high rates are caused by a gradual intensification of Pacific trade winds since the early 1990s. The modeled sea level change captures the spatial trend pattern in satellite altimeter sea surface heights and the temporal trend shift in tide gauge observations. In addition to the sea level response, the model is used to show how other aspects of the ocean circulation have increased appreciably in amplitude as a consequence of the trade wind intensification, including tropical surface currents, the shallow meridional over-turning circulation, the Equatorial Undercurrent, and the Indonesian Throughflow. These results highlight an ongoing shift in the state of the tropical Pacific Ocean that will continue as long as the trade wind trend persists.
Spontaneous resolution of tonsillitis in children on the waiting list for tonsillectomy

The aim of this study was to determine whether children undergo spontaneous resolution of recurrent acute tonsillitis whilst awaiting surgery. Eighty children who had been on the waiting list for tonsillectomy for at least 9 months were requested to attend a review clinic with a second review 6 months later if appropriate. Nineteen (27%) of the 70 children who completed the study no longer warranted surgery and were removed from the waiting list. We conclude that those children who have been on the waiting list for a long period of time should be reassessed prior to the planned tonsillectomy to see if surgery is still indicated.
Terminal arborizations of retinotectal axons in the bullfrog.

In the optic tectum of Rana catesbeiana four laminae of myelinated fibers in the superficial zone of the optic tectum (laminae B, D, F, and G: Potter, ′69) are identified as retinal axons on evidence from patterns of degeneration following contralateral eye removal. After survival times of 5 to 22 days Cajal's block method II shows either fragmentation or abnormal beading of the axons in the four laminae and the paraffin-Nauta method shows coarse granules, representing axonal debris, in these laminae. Golgi impregnations of terminal arborizations arising from fibers in laminae B, D, F, and G show three major types of branching patterns. The arbors are horizontally flattened and are elongated in the same direction as the parent fibers. Densely branched (DB) arbors have stem fibers in laminae B and D and are distributed within the same and adjacent laminae. Widely branched (WB) and thin, straight (TB) arbors have stem fibers in laminae F and G and are distributed mainly in the two laminae of origin with some overlap into adjacent layers of cells and fibers. The horizontal dimensions of DB arbors are 30 μ–70 μ by 100 μ–200 μ, whereas the WB arbors are more variable in overall dimensions. The TB arbors consist of long thin stem axons that give off infrequent terminal specializations in the form of forked or spiny appendages. Numerous terminal forks are present on the WB arbors but are rare on the DB arbors. Swellings and varicosities, that probably represent synaptic specializations, are particularly numerous on the long tertiary branches of DB arbors.
At the source: the origins of the Massachusetts toxics use reduction program and an overview of this special issue

This special edition of the Journal of Cleaner Production celebrates the twentieth anniversary of a piece of legislation that has special significance to the environmental movement e the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act of 1989 (TURA). Most of the papers in this issue were presented at a symposium to commemorate the twentieth anniversary that was held on November 4, 2009. Much has been written about the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Program. It has been heralded as a major pollution prevention success story. It has been lauded as a premier American example of the precautionary principle in action. It has been condemned by the American chemical industry trade association as “bad for the chemical industry”. And it has been praised by the Ford Foundation and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government as an award-receiving example of innovation in government (Harvard Kennedy School, 2005). Looking back now to some twenty years agodback to the early origins of the program conceptdit can be seen both as a landmark breakthrough in international chemicals policy, and as a fairly conventional next step in the political evolution of Massachusetts environmental policy. Where did this idea come from? How did it develop? How were pieces put together? Why did Massachusetts adopt such an idea into law? And how did the idea change during the early years of implementation? This paper provides a brief history of the development of the concept of toxics use reduction and the process by which it was drafted into law in Massachusetts, followed by an introduction to the articles included in this special edition and their assessment of TURA e past, present, and future. 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
The Association between Integrin-associated Protein and SHPS-1 Regulates Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Receptor Signaling in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Growth factor signaling is usually analyzed in isolation without considering the effect of ligand occupancy of transmembrane proteins other than the growth factor receptors themselves. In smooth muscle cells, the transmembrane protein Src homology 2 domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate-1 (SHPS-1) has been shown to be an important regulator of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) signaling. SHPS-1 is phosphorylated in response to IGF-I, leading to recruitment of Src homology 2 domain tyrosine phosphatase (SHP-2). Subsequently, SHP-2 is transferred to IGF-I receptor and regulates the duration of IGF-I receptor phosphorylation. Whether ligand occupancy of SHPS-1 influences SHPS-1 phosphorylation or SHP-2 recruitment, thereby altering growth factor signaling, is unknown. Previous studies have shown that integrin associated protein (IAP) associates with SHPS-1. We undertook these studies to determine whether this interaction controlled SHPS-1 phosphorylation and/or SHP-2 recruitment and thereby regulated IGF-I signaling. Disruption of IAP-SHPS-1 binding, by using an IAP monoclonal antibody or cells expressing mutant forms of IAP that did not bind to SHPS-1, inhibited IGF-I-stimulated SHPS-1 phosphorylation and SHP-2 recruitment. This was associated with a lack of SHP-2 transfer to IGF-I receptor and sustained receptor phosphorylation. This resulted in an inability of IGF-I to stimulate sustained mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, cell proliferation, and cell migration. The effect was specific for IGF-I because disruption of the IAP-SHPS-1 interaction had no effect on platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated SHPS-1 phosphorylation or cell migration. In summary, our results show that 1) ligand occupancy of SHPS-1 is a key determinant of its ability to be phosphorylated after IGF-I stimulation, and 2) the interaction between IAP and SHPS-1 is an important regulator of IGF-I signaling because disruption of the results in impaired SHP-2 recruitment and subsequent inhibition of IGF-I-stimulated cell proliferation and migration.
Mapping moral motives : Approach, avoidance, and political orientation

Abstract Recent critiques of moral psychology and the contemporary culture wars highlight the need for a better understanding of diverse moral perspectives. A model of moral motives is proposed. The fundamental approach–avoidance distinction in motivation is crossed with self-other focus to create four moral motives: Self-Restraint (avoidance-self), Social Order (avoidance-other), Self-Reliance (approach-self), and Social Justice (approach-other). Three studies explored these motives in the context of political orientation. Overall, political conservatism was associated with avoidance motives and liberalism with approach motives. Approach–avoidance motives were also associated with distinct patterns of results regarding authoritarianism, social dominance, and positions on contemporary social issues. Responses of campus political groups demonstrated the utility of the moral motives in providing a more nuanced view of politics that also takes into account the model’s second dimension, for an emphasis on Self focus (personality responsibility) versus Other focus (social responsibility) further distinguished between conservative groups. Moral and political implications are discussed.
Preterm Infants Show Reduced Stress Behaviors and Activity after 5 days of Massage Therapy

Preterm infants residing in an NICU were randomly assigned to a massage therapy or to a control group. The preterm infants in the massage therapy group received three 15-min massages each day for 5 consecutive days, with the massages consisting of moderate pressure stroking to the head, shoulders, back, arms and legs and kinesthetic exercises consisting of flexion and extension of the limbs. Infant stress behaviors and activity were recorded on the first and last day of the study. Preterm infants receiving massage therapy showed fewer stress behaviors and less activity from the first to the last day of the study. The findings suggest that massage has pacifying or stress reducing effects on preterm infants, which is noteworthy given that they experience numerous stressors during their hospitalization.
Learning and Collaborating in the Adult Literacy Education Wiki.

This article presents the results of a mixed-methods study of the Adult Literacy Education Wiki. Two research questions framed the study: (1) What do participants report they have learned by contributing to the wiki? and (2) What is the nature of participation and collaboration in the wiki? A key finding of the study is that the wiki does not achieve the levels of participation and collaboration that its founders hope for, and that contributors' own perspectives on literacy may be a contributing factor. The article includes suggestions for ways wiki organizers can address the issue of limited participation.
Bond Stresses in Fiber Reinforced Composites Subjected to Uniform Tension

Theoretical elasticity solutions are presented for determining the bond stresses between the fibers and matrix of reinforced com posites. The effects of fiber dimensions, spacing and Poisson's ratio are all studied in problems of plane stress. The first problem con sidered is a column of rigid, one-dimensional fibers equally spaced in an infinite, elastic sheet subjected to a uniform stress field parallel to the fibers. The bond stresses are calculated by Fourier integral and modified point-matching techniques. The effects on the bond stresses of varying the length/spacing ratio and Poisson's ratio for the matrix are investigated. The second problem investi gated is that of an elastic sheet containing regularly distributed rows and columns of rigid, one-dimensional fibers. The elastic sheet is again subjected to a uniform tension. Fourier series and modified point-matching techniques are used in this analysis. The effects on the bond stresses of varying the horizontal and vertical spacing are again invest...
Sleep problems in children and adolescents with common medical conditions

Untreated sleep disturbances and sleep disorders pose significant adverse daytime consequences and place children at considerable risk for poor health outcomes. Sleep disturbances occur at a greater frequency in children with acute and chronic medical conditions compared with otherwise healthy peers. Sleep disturbances in medically ill children can be associated with sleep disorders, comorbid with acute and chronic conditions, or secondary to underlying disease-related mechanisms, treatment regimens, or hospitalization. Clinical management should include a multidisciplinary approach with particular emphasis on routine, regular sleep assessments and prevention of daytime consequences, and promotion of healthy sleep habits and health outcomes.
High-Performance Hydrogen Evolution from MoS2(1-x)P x Solid Solution

A MoS2(1-x) P(x) solid solution (x = 0 to 1) is formed by thermally annealing mixtures of MoS2 and red phosphorus. The effective and stable electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution in acidic solution holds promise for replacing scarce and expensive platinum that is used in present catalyst systems. The high performance originates from the increased surface area and roughness of the solid solution.
Killing Two Birds With One Stone: Antineoplastic Immunosuppression.

The idiom “killing two birds with one stone” is used to describe achieving two objectives with a single effort and dates back to the Greek mythology tale of Daedalus and Icarus. According to the myth, Daedalus, a great inventor, is held captive in the Labyrinth on Crete along with his son Icarus. Wh
Enhancing the Returns of SRI Portfolios Using a Minimum Variance Small-Basket Strategy

The focus of this research is on enhancing the returns of socially responsible investment (SRI) portfolios by constructing minimum variance small-basket portfolios. The results suggest that individual investors and professional financial planners on behalf of their clients can realize enhanced performance relative to SRI funds that contain a large number of stocks by constructing minimum variance portfolios that generally contain fewer than 10 stocks. Over the 10-year period from 2002 through 2011, which is a function of the availability of SRI fund return data, the average annual excess returns for the minimum variance small-basket portfolios range from 2.59% to 6.99% relative to the larger SRI funds from which the small-basket funds are constructed. Measures of total risk and downside risk further support the enhanced performance of the minimum variance small-basket portfolio strategy. Perhaps most importantly, the minimum variance small-basket strategy that we describe can be easily implemented by individual investors or by professional financial planners on behalf of their clients.
Radiotherapy of Spontaneous Fibrous Connective-Tissue Sarcomas in Animals

The clinical records and follow-up data obtained over 13 years on the results of radiotherapy of spontaneous fibrous connective-tissue sarcomas in dogs, cats, and horses were reviewed. The results obtained from the treatment of fibrosarcomas and sarcoids of horses indicated that radiation administered with 60Co is important in the medical and surgical management of these tumors. Fibrous connective-tissue sarcomas in horses were radioresponsive. When radiotherapy was applied postoperatively, the probability of a 2-year cure approached 50% for all prescribed radiation doses of less than 2,000 to greater than 4,000 rads. If radiation doses of 4,500-6,000 rads were used, a 2-year cure rate may approach or exceed 60%.
A Unified Subdivision Scheme for Arcs and Circles

This paper proposes a subdivision scheme that is capable of expressing arcs and circles in a consistent form. This curve scheme is based on the unified subdivision rules for cubic B-splines, splines-in-tension, and some trigonometric splines that are capable of generating circles. The most important feature of the scheme is to change the end point rule such that the end points are forced to locate on lines connecting the center to the start point as well as the end point. With the proposed scheme, generating arcs and circles also becomes much more intuitive.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Diffraction Tomography For Inhomogeneities In a Layered Background Medium

A Fourier back-propagation inversion for a stratified background and point sources is developed by using the normal mode solution to the acoustic wave equation. The spectrum of an object function describing the heterogeneity is decomposed into contributions from different layers and then the selection rule is applied to the spectrum of the individual layers. This method differs from its counterpart for a uniform host medium by a propagation matrix filter that reduces to unity as the stratification degenerates to be uniform. Since the theory deals directly with point sources in a cylindrical background medium the algorithm does not require 2.5-D correction when applied to field data as usually performed in previously published diffraction tomography algorithms.
Is hypoprothrombinemia caused by deficiency of vitamin K different from that of dicumarol

SummaryOn mixing equal volumes of plasma obtained from a dog deprived of vit. K and plasma from a dog receiving Dicu-marol, the mixture has a prothrombin time that corresponds to the expected average based on the standard prothrombin time curve. It is concluded that in the dog the increased prothrombin time in both avitaminosis K and after Dicumarol is due to a decrease of prothromibin
Attitudes and knowledge of urethral catheters: a targeted educational intervention

Objective To assess the training of medical students and their confidence in urethral catheter placement, given growing evidence of unnecessary urology consults and iatrogenic injury. Subjects and Methods A third-year medical school class was queried about their attitudes and knowledge of catheter placement before and after the Clinical Biennium. The Clinical Biennium introduces hands-on skills prior to clinical clerkships. Urethral catheterisation is one of the skill stations that students rotate through, and urology residents provide a didactic session and supervised simulation. Confidence was self-rated regarding catheter technique, knowledge, troubleshooting, and comfort with placement in the same and opposite gender. Factual questions were posed about proper insertion and malfunctioning catheters. Results In all, 92 students participated in the initial survey, 41% female and 59% male, and 87% of the students had never placed a catheter. Students desired high confidence in catheter skills (4.4/5). There were no significant differences in responses for those with a desire to pursue urology vs other specialties, or procedural fields compared with non-procedural fields. Prior independent learning was reported by 38% of students and was a predictor for increased confidence across all domains (P < 0.05). In all, 16.7% of students initially identified proper male urethral insertion distance, which improved to 95.6% after the session. Student interest in urology modestly increased after the educational session (P = 0.028). At 3–6 months follow-up, students had performed a median (interquartile range) of 4 (2–7) urethral catheter placements, and 74.2% of students rated training useful or extremely useful. Indeed, 54.8% desired more instruction. Knowledge assessment indicated that 93% of students retained comprehension of proper male urethral insertion distance. Clinical Foley training rarely contradicted instruction from the Clinical Biennium (6.5%). At all time-points, medical student knowledge for troubleshooting catheters was low. Conclusions Medical students strive for high confidence in urethral catheter placement. Prior targeted education improves confidence and knowledge. Together with clinical experience, these effects are durable up to 6 months.
Employment-Based Health Insurance and the Changing Work Force

Since the mid-1980s, the percentage of the U.S. nonelderly population (ages 18-64) with employment-based health insurance coverage has declined. In 1995, 63.8 percent of the nonelderly population was covered by an employment-based health insurance plan, compared with 69.2 percent in 1987. Analysts cite numerous factors as contributing to the erosion of employment-based health insurance. Primary among these factors are work force changes and rising health care costs coupled with stagnant wage growth.
A Survey on behavioral factors and awareness status of hypertension among residents in Yixing

Objective To investigate prevalence of hypertension and related knowledge,attitude,behavior associated with hypertension among residents in Yixing;to provide scientific basis for health intervention.Methods Using random clustered sampling method,residents of 32villages(neighborhood committees)in Yixing were chosen for questionnaire survey and physical examination.Data acquired in investigation was analyzed by SPSS 18.0.Results In Yixing,crude incidence of hypertension among residents aged≥18years,≥35years and≥60years was 22.35%,28.44% and 46.13%,respectively.Gender,education level,waist circumference and drinking were independent risk factors for hypertension.Total rate of smoking was28.04%,with 56.79% for male and 1.04% for female.Total rate of drinking was 21.85%,with 41.14% for male and3.72%for female.Occupational physical activity was mainly rare and mild physical activity,accounted for 82.00%.Daily salt intake per capita was 9.846 g,which exceeded recommended limit.Awareness rate of hypertension was relatively high,however,health behavior formation rate was low.Conclusion Hypertension ranked on top 1on the spectrum of disease among residents in Yixing.Residents were aware of unhealthy lifestyle and its hazard,demonstrating high cognition with low behavioral phenomenon.Targeted health promotion measures should be taken.
Graphic Description of Scattering

The qualitative goal of diagnostic imaging with ultrasound is to obtain images of tissue that are sensitive to disease processes.
Mouse Retinal Whole Mounts and Quantification of Vasculature Protocol

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from a pre-existing vascular bed. It is a multi-step process beginning with enzymatic degradation of the capillary basement membrane, followed by endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, migration, tube formation, assembly of a new basement membrane, and pericyte stabilization. Aberrant angiogenesis plays a major role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. The regulation of this complex process is an important therapeutic target. Success in this pursuit, however, requires the development of in vivo angiogenesis models that provide a reliable and facile platform for mechanistic studies of angiogenic regulation as well as drug development and testing (Carmeliet and Jain, 2011). Postnatal development of mouse retinal vasculature offers a unique and powerful in vivo angiogenesis model because, unlike other species, mice undergo extensive angiogenesis-dependent maturation of their retinal vessels after birth. As such, this model is also very useful for the mechanistic study of embryonic vascularization (Stahl et al., 2010; Adini et al., 2003). This protocol describes the steps involved in the whole mount processing of mouse eyes for visualization of the retinal vasculature.
Exploring Nurse Faculty Incivility and Resonant Leadership.

Aim The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to explore the relationship between the frequency of interfaculty incivility among nurses in academia and observed levels of resonant leadership of immediate supervisors. Background Despite mandates to address incivility in health care, nurse faculty report high levels of horizontal incivility among their peers. No known quantitative research has measured the relationship between nurse faculty-to-faculty incivility and resonant leadership traits of leaders. Method Nursing faculty from 17 universities (n = 260) were emailed an anonymous link to answer survey questions about horizontal peer incivility and leaders' management styles. Results There was a significant inverse relationship (Pearson's r, -.560) between the frequency of experienced faculty-to-faculty incivility and the level of observed resonant leadership behaviors of participants' immediate supervisors. Conclusion Resonant supervisory behaviors inversely correlated with nurse faculty peer incivility, with potential to impact satisfaction, recruitment, and retention.
Endoscopic ultrasound celiac plexus block and neurolysis

Abstract Over the last decade, endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block and celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) have been established as effective and safe interventions to palliate visceral abdominal pain resulting from chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, respectively. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided approach has advantages over the percutaneous methods because it facilitates precise injection into the region owing to its more direct access. More recently, celiac ganglion neurolysis has been promoted as a safe alternative to CPN and it may be a more efficacious technique than CPN. Although large, adequately powered randomized trials are lacking, observational studies and small randomized trials support the use of celiac plexus block and CPN in palliation of pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, respectively. However, these interventions’ affect on quality of life and survival is unclear and further large randomized studies are needed.
Middling Through Somehow: Queer Temporality and the Disaster Meme

Using memes as its primary (stupid) material for analysis, this chapter outlines the instructive possibilities of a stupid humanism working against the grain of progress-focused activism, historicizing and self-fashioning. The chapter takes on some of the contradictions of copia, a rhetorical theory that promotes stability, correspondence and perfect knowledge, but which in practice often results in transgression and fragmentation. Copia—in both the early modern period and today—is both an impossible project and a queer project: impossible because it positions the writer/creator/subject outside of the teleological history whose all-inclusiveness it purports to celebrate; queer because this instability permits a suspension of chronological distinction in favor of anachronistic encounters between subjects and history. Recognizing the queer time of memes is one way to violate traditional notions of history, oppose too-neat theories of correspondence, and muddle our way toward a middle ground between ignorance and advancement.
Electro-tactile stimulation (ETS) enhances cochlear-implant Mandarin tone recognition.

Abstract Objective Electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS) is an effective method to enhance cochlear-implant performance in individuals who have residual low-frequency acoustic hearing. To help the majority of cochlear implant users who do not have any functional residual acoustic hearing, electro-tactile stimulation (ETS) may be used because tactile sensation has a frequency range and perceptual capabilities similar to that produced by acoustic stimulation in the EAS users. Methods Following up the first ETS study showing enhanced English sentence recognition in noise,1 the present study evaluated the effect of ETS on Mandarin tone recognition in noise in two groups of adult Mandarin-speaking individuals. The first group included 11 normal-hearing individuals who listened to a 4-channel, noise-vocoded, cochlear-implant simulation. The second group included 1 unilateral cochlear-implant user and 2 bilateral users with each of their devices being tested independently. Both groups participated in a 4-alternative, forced-choice task, in which they had to identify a tone that was presented in noise at a 0-dB signal-to-noise ratio via electric stimulation (actual or simulated cochlear implants), tactile stimulation or the combined ETS. Results While electric or tactile stimulation alone produced similar tone recognition (∼40% correct), the ETS enhanced the cochlear-implant tone recognition by 17–18 percentage points. The size of the present ETS enhancement effect was similar to that of the previously reported EAS effect on Mandarin tone recognition. Psychophysical analysis on tactile sensation showed an important role of frequency discrimination in the ETS enhancement. Conclusion Tactile stimulation can potentially enhance Mandarin tone recognition in cochlear-implant users who do not have usable residual acoustic hearing. To optimize this potential, high fundamental frequencies need to be transposed to a 100–200 Hz range.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a challenging condition faced by clinicians. Characterized by a partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of less than or equal to 300, the syndrome is exemplified by diffuse alveolar damage and hypoxic respiratory failure. The causes can be either direct lung injury or indirect systemic factors, and diagnosis is based on clinical assessment, laboratory, and radiographic evidence. This chapter will discuss the definition, causes, and diagnosis of ARDS and then will delineate evidence-based management strategies, including low tidal volume ventilation, discussions of PEEP and driving pressure, ventilator modes, and useful adjuncts in therapy.
New global environment commission

The independent UN. commission on environmental problems could help to establish a sound ecological base for sustainable development, but questioning long-term environmental trends could impede progress.