cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cefepime Clinical Pharmacokinetics

Cefepime is a new parenteral cephalosporin with antimicrobial activity similar to third-generation cephalosporins. It acts against the Enterobacteriaceae family, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but maintains Gram-positive activity similar to that of first- or second-generation cephalosporins. Cefepime has in vitro activity against many bacterial isolates resistant to ceftazidime and cefotaxime, is stable against chromosomally mediated beta-lactamases, demonstrates lower affinity for these enzymes and shows a high resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis. Clinical uses thus far include treatment of lower respiratory tract, intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections and for prophylaxis in biliary tract and prostate surgery. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that cefepime exhibits linear pharmacokinetic behaviour. Pharmacokinetic variables are not significantly different between single- and multiple-dose administration, indicating a lack of drug accumulation in patients with normal renal function. Cefepime is not highly bound to plasma proteins, with binding values of approximately 16 to 19%. The drug is widely distributed in various biological tissues and fluids. The primary route of elimination is from the kidneys, with over 80% of the drug recovered in the urine as unchanged drug in patients with normal renal function. Total drug clearance and renal clearance are similar to creatinine clearance, and glomerular filtration is thought to be the primary mechanism of renal excretion. The elimination half-life is approximately 2 to 2.5 h in patients. Cefepime is removed by haemodialysis (over 3h) and peritoneal dialysis (over 72h) to an appreciable extent, with 40 to 68% and 26% of the drug removed, respectively. Overall, cefepime is well tolerated by patients and no significant drug interactions have been reported to date.
A thin-film magnetorheological fluid damper/lock

This paper presents the design, testing, and application of a thin-film magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper/lock. This MR damper/lock is designed for the use in a model adaptive fan nozzle system actuated by shape memory alloy wires. The MR damper/lock (a total of eight in the fan nozzle system) will lock the opening size of the fan nozzle and provides damping when the system vibrates. For this purpose, the MR damper/lock has to have the following characteristics: (1) The device is in the locking position when the power is off. (2) The device has a small static friction force (less than 1 lbf) when the power is on. (3) The device generates a small kinetic friction force when it slides during the power-on period. (4) Its damping coefficient can be adjusted. (5) It must be compact. To meet these requirements, a new design of a damper/lock using thin MR fluid film is employed. The device consists of five major components: two soft steel bars, two stacks of permanent magnets, two groups of magnetic wires, a soft steel slider, and MR fluids. Utilizing the permanent magnets, the MR fluid is trapped and the device is always in the locked position. When the device is powered on, the flux of the electromagnets partially cancels and re-directs the rest of the flux from the permanent magnets, and then the slider is free to move. In this design, MR fluid reduces the air gap and increases the locking force when it is powered off. On the other hand, it also functions as a lubricant to reduce the kinetic friction forces when electromagnets are powered on. Extensive tests of the MR damper/lock are conducted to reveal its force–displacement curves and force–velocity curves under different applied voltages. Utilizing these testing results, the MR damper/lock is applied to the model adaptive fan nozzle system to perform both locking and damping tasks with a feedback control. Experimental results show that these tasks are successfully accomplished.
A robust synthesis methodology for neutrally stable uncertain SISO plants under input amplitude saturation

In this article, a control system design methodology for neutrally stable, uncertain, single-input single-output plants under input amplitude saturation is presented. Based on Horowitz's original three degree of freedom design and extensions developed afterwards, this approach concentrates on neutrally stable, higher type, uncertain plants. A three degree of freedom non-interfering loop structure is used for the synthesis, along with the structure of the additional, independent loop transmission around the saturating element proposed for designing the third degree of freedom H s . Robust stability and performance are established. The circle criterion, the describing function and non-overshooting conditions are utilised to obtain design constraints. Finally, all these design constraints are expressed in frequency domain bounds and synthesis follows from loop shaping methods such as quantitative feedback theory.
Paddle canoeists’ encounter norms in Minnesota's boundary waters canoe area wilderness

Encounter norms offer recreation managers a potentially invaluable source of information to assist in the development of standards concerning quality of visitor experiences. However, it has been debated whether such norms are measurable, and if so, whether they accurately represent visitors’ preferences about acceptable levels of use. This 1991 study explored backcountry encounter norms in the semiprimitive nonmotorized management zone of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Camper parties to this portion of the BWCAW (approximately 82% at the time of the study) were surveyed using “trip diaries'’ to report daily on their actual encounters and preferences for acceptable use levels that would not spoil their sense of being in the wilderness. Findings suggest personal and social encounter norms can be defined by most paddle canoeists that accurately express desired encounters with other parties. However, variability among social encounter norms was discovered. Results suggest that BWCAW manage...
Evaluation and management of steroid-unresponsive nephrotic syndrome

Purpose of reviewIdiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children is commonly associated with minimal change disease and response to steroid therapy. Steroid-unresponsive nephrotic syndrome is often characterized by persistent proteinuria and progression to chronic kidney disease. Focal segmental glomerulo
The effect of student participation in international study

Abstract Comparative Nursing in England and France is taught at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh every winter interim, usually departing shortly after Christmas and returning the second week in January. A convenience sample of 38 nursing alumni who have completed the same 2-week international study tour during the past 5 years completed the International Education Survey (IES) developed at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire School of Nursing. The IES examines the impact of the international experience on the professional nurse role, international perspectives, personal development, and intellectual development. (Index words: International study, Nursing education, Student attitudes, Baccalaureate education)
Performance analysis of connection oriented services with Book-Ahead reservations in Internet Protocol optical networks

In this article, we study the impact of supporting connection-oriented services in Internet Protocol (IP) optical networks. We consider two types of services: (a) Book-Ahead (BA) reservations and (b) Immediate Request ones. We propose a heuristic First Available Shortest Path (FASP) algorithm for BA reservation subject to quality of service constraints such as minimising call blocking rate while maximising the utilisation of the network's assets. The efficiency of the algorithm is assessed via comparisons vs. those of an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) algorithm, the standard Shorted Path First algorithm (SPF) and Shortest-Widest Path algorithm (SWP). Our simulation results show that the FASP has a blocking probability that is close to the ILP algorithm as the number of wavelength per link is more than 10, and FASP also shows better performance than both the SPF and the SWP, for a representative set of topologies, under a representative set of traffic conditions. We, then, focus on the performance analysis of using FASP for BA reservations to identify the operating regions where cost is minimised and revenue is maximised. By introducing different classes of BA services, revenues can be increased under certain operating conditions.
Enhancing Communication Interventions and Evaluations through Communication Design

Communication design is first and foremost about creating, engineering, or critiquing approaches to communication that achieve specific goals or values. A design approach acts as an integrative perspective for finding the relevance of theory to a specific site of intervention. Communication design processes are illustrated through work on ombuds processes and organ donation campaigns. This research highlights four propositions related to communication design. First, design should be about both creation and critique. Second, design is complementary to, and strengthens, theory (and vice versa). Third, design can be both unique to an intervention or context and iterative from previous designs. Finally, design helps us uncover unexpected and unintended consequences, uncovering hidden properties of communication and leading to opportunities for modifying and correcting communication practices. These unintended consequences and other design successes and failures provide opportunities for learning and creating ...
Characterization of a mononuclear copper carboxylate complex: Bis(acetylsalicylato)bis(pyridine)copper(II)

Abstract The preparation, spectral properties, and crystal structure of a mononuclear copper(II) complex of acetylsalicylate and pyridine are reported. The complex exists as bis(acetylsalicylato)bis(pyridine)copper(II) both in the solid state and in chloroform solution. The crystal is monoclinic, space group P21/n, with a = 17.823(5), b = 10.903(4), c = 6.598(2) A, β = 95.74(2)°. The final refinement used 1472 observed reflections and gave an R of 0.046. The copper atom is surrounded by four atoms in a trans square planar arrangement with two short CuO distances of 1.949(3) A and two CuN distances of 2.003(4) A. Two longer CuO distances of 2.623(3) A are made with the remaining oxygen atoms of the aspirin carboxylate groups.
On lies, secrets, and right‐wing sexual politics: reflections on Laud Humphreys’ “breastplate of righteousness”

Charts the unfortunate events surrounding the 1974 wedding of a couple who later, on their honeymoon, discovered that they had both had sexual relations with the minister. Billy James Hargis. Contents the revelations forced his resignation as he also admitted 3 further liaisons with male students at the American Christian College. Mentions Laud Humphreys and his work to classify the meeting of men for homosexual acts in the “tearoom”, a place where up to 20 men go for oral sex, without commitment, as some are heterosexual.
Evaluation of sample application techniques, stationary and mobile phases, and detection reagents for HPTLC — Densitometry analysis of glucose in fecal samples of mice infected with Echinostoma caproni (Trematoda)

Summary Seven different thin-layer chromatography stationary phases, one additional stationary layer pretreatment, eight mobile phases, two spotting techniques, and three detection reagents were evaluated for the determination of glucose in mouse fecal samples. Quantitative analysis was performed by slit-scanning densitometry. The optimal system was found to be Merck silica gel HPTLC plates with a concentrating zone developed with 1-butanol-glacial acetic acid-diethyl ether-deionized water 27:18:5:3. α-Naphthol-sulphuric acid detection reagent was found to give the best quantitative results, while the naphthoresorcinol reagent was the most useful for qualitative analysis. Semiautomatic application of samples with a CAMAG Linomat was found to give more compact bands and better separations than manual application. Using this system, quantification of glucose was achieved in mouse fecal samples. The amounts of glucose in the fecal samples of BALB/c mice infected with the intestinal trematode E. caproni were ...
A score test under a semiparametric finite mixture model

We propose a score statistic to test the mixing proportion under a semiparametric finite mixture model introduced by Anderson [Anderson, J.A., 1979, Multivariate logistic compounds. Biometrika, 66, 17–26]. The proposed score test is based on the semiparametric profile log-likelihood function under a three-sample semiparametric model. The proposed score statistic has an asymptotic χ2 distribution under the null hypothesis and an asymptotic noncentral χ2 distribution under local alternatives to the null hypothesis. Moreover, we show that the proposed score test is asymptotically equivalent to the Wald test and the empirical likelihood ratio test. We present some results on simulation and on the analysis of one data set.
Texture from Touch

Texture from touch refers to the processing of information about surface material and microgeometry obtained from tactile exploration. Though textural information can be obtained both visually (Heller 1989) and auditorily (Lederman 1979), touch yields much finer and more complex textural information than do the other sensory modalities.
Relocation Stress, Coping, and Sense of Control among Resettlers Resulting from China's Three Gorges Dam Project.

The involuntary relocation of people for development purposes has become prevalent across the world in recent decades. Depression is one of the documented negative outcomes of involuntary relocation among resettlers. Viewing the affected population simply as passive victims, past studies have largely ignored the coping strategies employed by individual resettlers in dealing with stress they experienced in the relocation process. Focusing on Three Gorges Project-induced relocation in China, this study examines coping strategies employed by resettlers using panel data collected before and after relocation. We found that emotion-focused coping was more effective than problem-focused coping in combating relocation-related depression. Unsuccessful problem-focused coping was found to elevate, rather than reduce depression. Emotion-focused coping reduces depression not only directly but also indirectly by restoring resettlers’ sense of control. This study contributes to the literature by identifying coping strategies, as well as their mechanisms, that are effective in combating relocation-induced distress.
Proton Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Investigations of Water

A STRUCTURAL model for water represents the liquid as a mobile, imperfect framework with molecular water or waters at defect sites1. The framework is connected by hydrogen bonds while the molecules held interstitially are hydrogen bonded neither to each other nor to framework molecules. This communication reports experimental results consistent with this model as provided by an investigation of aqueous proton nuclear magnetic relaxation times.
DNA Repair in Skin of Lupus Erythematosus Following In Vivo Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation

The in vivo repair of pyrimidine dimers induced in the DNA of skin of 9 patients diagnosed as systemic or discoid lupus erythematosus (LE) was measured. A small area of the buttock was exposed to radiation emitted from a Burdick UV-800 sunlamp. The number of pyrimidine dimers was measured by incubating the epidermal skin DNA with UV-specific endonuclease and sedimenting the DNA through alkaline sucrose gradients. The initial number of dimers induced following sunlamp exposure was 7.6 ± 1.8 per 10 8 daltons DNA. The level of photorepair was measured by illuminating an area of the skin with > 450-nm radiation immediately following sunlamp exposure. We found that 56.5 ± 9.5% of the dimers are photorepaired with 5 min of illumination. Excision repair was measured in an area of the skin covered for 2 and 24 h postirradiation. Approximately 44 and 81% of the dimers induced immediately following sunlamp exposure were removed at these respective times. These observations in LE are similar to those observed in the skin of normal individuals.
Functional Dissection of the Pro-apoptotic Protein Bik HETERODIMERIZATION WITH ANTI-APOPTOSIS PROTEINS IS INSUFFICIENT FOR INDUCTION OF CELL DEATH

Bik is a potent pro-apoptotic protein, which complexes with various anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, 19-kDa adenovirus E1B, and EBV-BHRF1. The mechanism by which Bik promotes cell death is not known. It shares a conserved domain, BH3, with other pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax, Bak, Bid, and Hrk, and certain anti-apoptosis proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Mutations within the BH3 domain of Bik abrogate its ability to induce cell death and to complex with anti-apoptosis proteins. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that Bik may promote cell death by complexing with and antagonizing the activity of endogenous cellular anti-apoptosis proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. To elucidate the relationship between protein complex formation and induction of cell death, we have identified the minimal sequences of Bik, from a library of N-terminal and C-terminal deletion mutants, required for interaction with Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and for inducing efficient cell death. Two-hybrid analysis in yeast and immunoprecipitation analysis of proteins expressed in mammalian cells indicate that a 52-amino acid region (amino acids 43-94) of Bik, encompassing the BH3 domain, is sufficient for efficient heterodimerization with Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Protein interaction studies further reveal that an 18-amino acid region, encompassing the BH3 domain (residues 57-74), constitutes the core heterodimerization domain. Functional analysis indicates that a Bik deletion mutant expressing residues 43-120, which efficiently heterodimerizes with the anti-apoptosis proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, is defective in eliciting cell death. In contrast, a mutant expressing additional C-terminal sequences (amino acids 43-134) interacts with the survival proteins and elicits efficient cell death. Our results suggest that for Bik-mediated cell death, the heterodimerization activity encoded by the BH3 domain alone is insufficient and raise the possibility that Bik may induce cell death autonomous of heterodimerization with survival proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL.
The Kapitza conductance of the (100) surface of copper

Measurements of the Kapitza conductance to liquid helium II across the (100) surface of single crystals of copper are presented. The temperature range of these measurements was 1.6–2.1 K. The sample surfaces were subjected to several different treatments. Some surfaces were cleaned by low-energy argon ion bombardment, annealed in an ultrahigh-vacuum system, and preserved under vacuum until purified liquid helium was admitted. Other surfaces were intentionally damaged by machining and/or exposure to the atmosphere. The conductance after these latter treatments was found to be about a factor of three higher than that of the more ideally cleaned and annealed surfaces, and a significant difference in the temperature dependence of the conductance was also observed. Conductances were reproducible for similarly treated surfaces and could be correlated with surface damage determined by x-ray diffraction. The relationship of these results to the numerous current theories of the Kapitza conductance is discussed. Conductance measurements of polycrystalline indium, which was used as a sealant, are presented.
THE EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE, ESTRONE AND ESTRADIOL APPLIED LOCALLY TO THE PENIS OF THE RAT1

THE AUTHORS HAVE previously reported that the application of a testosterone ointment(75γ daily for 22 days) to the penes of castrate rats causes growth of the penis (1). The growth was of the same order as that found in untreated normal litter mates and in castrated litter mates with daily subcutaneous injections of the same amount of testosterone in peanut oil. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine the effect of smaller doses of testosterone and shorter periods of treatment. Alcohol has also been used as the solvent and the effects of estrone and estradiol have been observed. The procedure used was essentially that previously described. The only variation has been thatin some groups the period of treatment has been shortened to 10 days. As in the previous experiment, all comparisons were made between litter mates. The controls in each group were treated dailywith the solvent only of that particular group.
The CSMA/DM LAN protocol

We propose an extension of the classical CSMA/CD protocol that eliminates its three main drawbacks. The new protocol, called dual-mode CSMA/CD (CSMA/DM), operates in two modes, light mode and heavy mode. The light mode of CSMA/DM is almost the same as the original CSMA/CD protocol and is primarily used when the LAN load is light. The heavy mode is a collision free mode and is applied when the LAN load is heavy. The proposed modification to CSMA/CD is minimal while performance gain is significant. CSMA/DM automatically switches between its two modes based on the observed LAN load. Under heavy mode, the monitor station in a CSMA/DM LAN allocates bandwidth to those busy stations without collisions. The newly added priority scheme in the heavy mode allows stations to reserve bandwidth for their high priority frames. Compared with the current collision-free fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, CSMA/DM has the advantage of not needing any extra switches or hubs while maintaining comparable performance. Its priority scheme provides more flexibility on bandwidth distribution than in fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. It can also be easily adapted for high-speed wireless LANs. More importantly, CSMA/DM should be a good alternative of the widely used CSMA/CA (collision avoidance) in mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) and sensor networks. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of Crystalline and Solution Phases of Diglyme−LiSbF6

Solutions of lithium hexafluroantimonate, LiSbF6, dissolved in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (diglyme), CH3O(CH2CH2O)2CH3, are used as a model for high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, complexed with LiSbF6. During this work, a 2:1 diglyme:LiSbF6 crystal was discovered and its structure solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pccn space group with Z = 4. In this crystal, the lithium ion is 6-fold coordinated by two diglyme molecules, while the anions are isolated. Raman and FTIR vibrational spectroscopy were used to study both the crystal and a series of diglyme−LiSbF6 solutions. Similarities in modes sensitive to molecular conformation show that the local conformational structure in the crystal also occurs in diglyme−LiSbF6 solutions.
Lessons learned from the transformation of natural product discovery to a genome-driven endeavor.

Natural product discovery is currently undergoing a transformation from a phenotype-driven field to a genotype-driven one. The increasing availability of genome sequences, coupled with improved techniques for identifying biosynthetic gene clusters, has revealed that secondary metabolomes are strikingly vaster than previously thought. New approaches to correlate biosynthetic gene clusters with the compounds they produce have facilitated the production and isolation of a rapidly growing collection of what we refer to as “reverse-discovered” natural products, in analogy to reverse genetics. In this review, we present an extensive list of reverse-discovered natural products and discuss seven important lessons for natural product discovery by genome-guided methods: structure prediction, accurate annotation, continued study of model organisms, avoiding genome-size bias, genetic manipulation, heterologous expression, and potential engineering of natural product analogs.
Measurement, Analysis, and Comparison of the Parcel Shipping Shock and Drop Environment of the United States Postal Service with Commercial Carriers

The past decade has shown a great increase in the number of direct to consumer shipments of products and packages. As a result, parcel delivery companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and the USPS have strengthened their presence in air transport to deliver products faster and through larger distances. Using cargo planes, they route packages from various destinations to large airport hubs, where they sort millions of packages and ship them to their destinations. There is a continuous need to quantify what happens to these packages as they are handled both manually during collection and delivery and on large high-speed conveying and sortation equipment at hubs. The dynamic events during these moves can cause damage. The information collected in this study helps packaging engineers design protective packaging. This study measured and compared shock and drop events for these carriers during next-day and two-day shipping service between Michigan and California. Data are presented in terms of drop heights associated with the 90, 95, and 99th percentile of occurrence for DHL, FedEx, UPS, and USPS. Impact orientation is also discussed. The data from this study are beneficial to new test methods being developed for drop testing of single parcel shipments by ASTM.
THE EFFECTS OF A STUDENT CENTERED SPECIAL CURRICULUM UPON THE RACIAL ATTITUDES OF SIXTH GRADERS

The purpose of this research was to appraise the effects of a comprehensive effort to improve racial attitudes of sixth grade children. Experimental Ss received enriched curricula and materials, tutored, and interacted with black children and attempted to positively influence control group Ss’ racial attitudes. The total group showed improvement on all four attitude measures but there were no significant findings according to treatment nor achievement. The net effects of curricular and material enrichment, interracial experience, and teaching about blacks does not appear to outweigh the advantages of peer influence as a mode for improving racial attitude.
A penalized simulated maximum likelihood approach in parameter estimation for stochastic differential equations

We consider the problem of estimating parameters of stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with discrete-time observations that are either completely or partially observed. The transition density between two observations is generally unknown. We propose an importance sampling approach with an auxiliary parameter when the transition density is unknown. We embed the auxiliary importance sampler in a penalized maximum likelihood framework which produces more accurate and computationally efficient parameter estimates. Simulation studies in three different models illustrate promising improvements of the new penalized simulated maximum likelihood method. The new procedure is designed for the challenging case when some state variables are unobserved and moreover, observed states are sparse over time, which commonly arises in ecological studies. We apply this new approach to two epidemics of chronic wasting disease in mule deer.
Electron capture in multiphoton-assisted electron-atom scattering

We have solved Schr\"odinger's equation numerically to obtain fully photon-dressed wave functions for an electron in a strong radiation field while it undergoes a collision with a model one-dimensional hydrogen atom. We have investigated a regime in which the incoming electron wave packet can be resonantly captured by the atom to form a model ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ negative ion. We discuss the time dependence of the capture rate as well as the scattered energy spectra, which in the case of resonant capture contain additional structure due to the subsequent photodetachment of the captured electron.
Heat and Mass Transfer in a Differentially Heated Enclosure Filled With Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Numerical simulations of heat and mass transfer in supercritical carbon dioxide are carried out for natural convection conditions in a differentially heated square enclosure. The two vertical walls are maintained at different temperatures while the two horizontal walls are insulated. For the mass transfer studies, a heated vertical naphthalene wall is considered. Properties of supercritical carbon dioxide are evaluated from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Database 12. A correlation for the mean Nusselt number along the heated wall is obtained as a function of the heat transfer Rayleigh number (for a given Prandtl number). A correlation for the temporal Sherwood number along the naphthalene surface is obtained as a function of the mass transfer Rayleigh number, and Fourier number (for a given Schmidt number). The results are compared with result available in the literature.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Blueprints for Medieval hydroclimate

According to tree ring and other records, a series of severe droughts that lasted for decades afflicted western North America during the Medieval period resulting in a more arid climate than in subsequent centuries. A review of proxy evidence from around the world indicates that North American megadroughts were part of a global pattern of Medieval hydroclimate that was distinct from that of today. In particular, the Medieval hydroclimate was wet in northern South America, dry in mid-latitude South America, dry in eastern Africa but with strong Nile River floods and a strong Indian monsoon. This pattern is similar to that accompanying persistent North American droughts in the instrumental era. This pattern is compared to that associated with familiar climate phenomena. The best fit
The Use of Professionalism Scenarios in the Medical School Interview Process: Faculty and Interviewee Perceptions

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of professionalism scenarios on the medical school admissions process from applicant and faculty perspectives. Specifically, do completing professionalism scenarios as part of the medical school interview process have an impact on both the interviewee’s and the faculty’s perception of the process and outcome? Method: Ninety-one faculty interviewed 199 applicants from January 2007 through April 2007 at The University of Toledo College of Medicine. All applicants were asked one standard professionalism scenario in each of their two interviews. A total of six scenarios were used for the entire interviewing season in rotation every two months. A survey was administered by an admissions office staff member to both the interviewed applicants as well as faculty who conducted interviews about how these scenarios impacted their interview experience. Results: Asking applicants to respond to professionalism scenarios during the interview was de­scribed as having a positive influence on their interview experience. This was also associated with leaving an impression on the applicant about what our institution values in its students and contrib­uted an element of personal reflection about what will be expected of them in the medical profes­sion. Applicants more often reported that asking questions about professionalism was an important aspect of the interview than did faculty. Overall, there was an association between the interviewer’s perception of the applicant’s response and the interviewer’s assessment of professionalism. Conclusions: Professionalism scenarios can be a worthwhile tool for use in the admissions process. The interview process should encourage participation from faculty who value this as an important component in the evaluation of an applicant. Determinants of faculty perception of the role of assessing professionalism in the interview process should be investigated in future research.
The Trace Restriction: An Alternative Identification Strategy for the Bayesian Multinomial Probit Model

Previous authors have made Bayesian multinomial probit models identifiable by fixing a parameter on the main diagonal of the covariance matrix. The choice of which element one fixes can influence posterior predictions. Thus, we propose restricting the trace of the covariance matrix, which we achieve without computational penalty. This permits a prior that is symmetric to permutations of the nonbase outcome categories. We find in real and simulated consumer choice datasets that the trace-restricted model is less prone to making extreme predictions. Further, the trace restriction can provide stronger identification, yielding marginal posterior distributions that are more easily interpreted.
Fortune and Narrative Proliferation in the Berinus

THE STUDY of medieval French romance has confined itself almost exclusively to a relatively small number of authors and works: Chretien de Troyes, the Tristan romances, Arthurian prose romance, Marie de France. Others like Jean Renart, Gautier d'Arras, the romans d'antiquit, the various versions and adaptations of the Seven Sages of Rome legend, usually merit only perfunctory consideration. The rest are rarely studied for themselves; only occasionally they appear as part of a broader discussion.' Albert Pauphilet has asserted (and his observation is valid by and large for the other "favorites") that "Le roman de Chretien n'est pas, 'a proprement parler, un roman d'aventures, oiu l'interet naisse ni se soutienne du seul agencement des incidents, des surprises et des rebondissements du recit. Ce sera la maniere de ses successeurs ...."2 Pauphilet thus divides romance into two broad types. One, including Chretien, stresses analysis of courtly or chivalric ideals and character delineation, or what might today be called normative psychology. The other type of romance what Pauphilet terms adventure romance derives its interest from narrative variety and complexity rather than character and thematic exemplification or analysis. The dichotomy is generally valid for medieval romance, despite problems of definition that impede classification, and borderline cases that have something of both types like Parthonopeu de Blois, Gerbert de Montreuil's Violette, and Beaumanoir'sJehan et Blonde. It would follow from the foregoing that our understanding of medieval romance, even our appreciation of the unique qualities of authors like Chretien de Troyes, is jeopardized without more serious, detailed study of that great mass of adventure romances that sprang up around Chretien and continued to thrive for several centuries after him. Much of this writing is not immediately so satisfying as Chretien or the prose romances,3 but it contains material that is curious, fascinating and strange, and beautiful, a rich mine for the description of medieval romance in its formal and material scope and variety. There are various divisions within each of the two broad types of romance indicated by Pauphilet. Crucial to the distinctions is the so-called "psychology" of the romance hero. The hero may be of varying complexity and depth, and he may be represented (amplified) according to the exigencies of
A Method of Teaching Modern Languages

Author's Summary.— An aural-oral approach with novel features and many practical suggestions for the beginner-course in a modern foreign language.)
Water infiltration and soil structure related to organic matter and its stratification with depth

Abstract Soil organic matter is a key attribute of soil quality that impacts soil aggregation and water infiltration. Two soils (Typic Kanhapludults), one under long-term management of conventional tillage (CT) and one under long-term management of no tillage (NT), were sampled to a depth of 12 cm. Soil cores (15 cm diameter) were either left intact or sieved and repacked to differentiate between short-term (sieving) and long-term (tillage management) effects of soil disturbance on water infiltration, penetration resistance, soil bulk density, macroaggregate stability, and soil organic carbon (SOC). Mean weekly water infiltration was not different between sieved and intact cores from long-term CT (22 cm h −1 ), but was significantly greater in intact (72 cm h −1 ) than in sieved (28 cm h −1 ) soil from long-term NT. The stratification ratio of SOC (i.e., of 0–3 cm depth divided by that of 6–12 cm depth) was predictive of water infiltration rate, irrespective of short- or long-term history of disturbance. Although tillage is used to increase soil porosity, it is a short-term solution that has negative consequences on surface soil structural stability, surface residue accumulation, and surface-SOC, which are critical features that control water infiltration and subsequent water transmission and storage in soil. The stratification ratio of SOC could be used as a simple diagnostic tool to identify land management strategies that improve soil water properties (e.g., infiltration, water-holding capacity, and plant-available water).
Hygrothermal cycling effects on the durability of phenolic based composites

Work has been performed to investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of carbon fiber/phenolic resin composites as engineering materials for the aerospace industry. These materials are cost effective while displaying excellent temperature and fire resistance as well as good mechanical properties. All phenolic and epoxy composite specimens used here were prepared by resin transfer molding (RTM) to model a cost-effective process. Hygrothermal cycling effects on the property changes of phenolic composites were evaluated through thermal, mechanical, and morphological tests. The fracture performance of a phenolic composite modified with a silicone-based additive decreased after fewer hygrothermal cycles than unmodified phenolic and epoxy composites. Results from dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) experiments showed that the modified phenolic composite was more significantly affected by the hygrothermal cycling than the unmodified phenolic composites. Fatigue tests showed that the phenolic composites that were not exposed to hygrothermal cycling had more resistance to fatigue cycles than the epoxy composites.
The effect of temperature on the flow field in a continuous rotating annular electrophoresis column

The effect of a non-uniform temperature profile on the flow field in a continuous rotating annular electrophoresis column is investigated. The momentum balance equation is solved for packed as well as unpacked columns using a centered-difference finite difference technique with a known temperature profile. The packed column analysis utilizes a parallel annular channel model similar to the capillary channel model used in packed bed columns. Results indicate that the changes in density and viscosity as result of the temperature variation have a significant effect on the flow field. Effects of voltage gradient and column geometry are also discussed.
Classification properties of Holocene sediment in Shelikof Strait, Alaska

Sediment in Shelikof Strait, which is located between the Kodiak island group and the Alaska Peninsula, varies continuously from muddy sand at the proximal northeast end to silty clay at the distal southwest end. A textural sorting pattern is evident, with pronounced and regular changes in sand content throughout the strait but with consistent separation of silt from clay only at the lowest sand contents. Using data from 74 samples, a strong predictor equation for plasticity index is derived from the amount of clay‐size grains (< 4 μm, geological definition) and grain specific gravity. Vane shear strength values fall in the very soft to medium range. They are best predicted by the amount of silt‐size grains (an indicator of mean grain size); the overburden stress at the shallow sampling depths influences the strength values only slightly. For regressions of plasticity index and vane strength, predictor equations similar to those derived from the total data set can be obtained using as few as 17 samples if...
Extending the Teleo-Reactive paradigm for robotic agent task control using Zadehan (fuzzy) logic

The Teleo-Reactive (T-R) paradigm for computing and organizing actions for autonomous agents in dynamic environments can be viewed as having a foundation triplet of durative actions, circuit semantics, and Boolean logic. This foundation is intended to enable the construction of semantic circuitry for the continuous computation of parameters and conditions on which agent action is based. Drawing on the notion of analog circuitry, actions and behaviors are intended to be more continuous over periods of time. However, the use of Boolean logic can sometimes inadvertently revert behaviors to be reminiscent of the state transition model since its limited bivalent capability is not consistent with the continuous nature of durative actions and circuit semantics. This paper is a report of work in progress on a Teleo-Reactive extension where Zadehan (fuzzy) logic is substituted for Boolean logic.
Sharing Power to Settle Civil Wars

Crafting Peace: Power-Sharing Institutions and the Negotiated Settlement of Civil Wars. By Caroline A. Hartzell, Matthew Hoddie. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007. 208 pp., $55.00 (ISBN-13: 978-0-2710-3207-8). In Crafting Peace , Caroline Hartzell and Matthew Hoddie intend to show that enduring settlements to civil wars can be created through the careful crafting of agreements that institutionalize comprehensive power-sharing arrangements among former combatants. In some regards this is well-trodden territory; the book represents a refinement and expansion of arguments and analyses the authors previously published in an edited volume (Hoddie and Hartzell 2005). Further, more than a decade ago Sisk (1996) argued that power sharing agreements represent the likeliest path to a lasting settlement of ethnic conflicts, a topic which he and a coauthor revisit in a more recent case study of peace building in South Africa (Sisk and Stefes 2005). Where Crafting Peace makes its contribution is in going beyond the single case of ethnic conflict to examine more broadly whether power-sharing deals represent a general solution to the challenge of establishing a lasting peace to civil wars of all stripes, not just ethnic ones. Crafting Peace also goes beyond prior work by rooting its conclusions in a series of cross-national statistical analyses that make up the heart of the book. But while those tests make this a novel and potentially important study, they also represent the weakest elements of what is an overall compelling argument. Noting that in the 1990s, the most common manner of settling civil wars was through negotiated agreements, the authors set out to resolve a fundamental question: What makes those settlements stick? The answer, they contend, lies in the details of the settlement itself: “…the most extensively institutionalized …
Serial Myoglobin Levels for Patients with Possible Myocardial Infarction

Objectives: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a new myoglobin assay for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), considering both the total amount of serum myoglobin and its percentage change over 2 hours. Methods: A prospective, observational test performance study for the recognition of AMI was done using serial myoglobin assays of 42 admitted chest pain patients at a large, urban teaching hospital ED. Myoglobin testing was performed at presentation (time 0) and at 1 and 2 hours after arrival. A myoglobin level >100 g/L (ng/mL) or a change >50% from baseline (increase or decrease) any time during the 2–hour period was considered positive. Patients and their physicians were blinded to the myoglobin results. The managing clinician's final diagnosis of the presenting event was used as the diagnostic criterion standard. Results: The sensitivity of the myoglobin technique for detection of AMI in the first hours in the ED was 13/14 (93%; 95% CI: 66–100%). The 1 patient who had a false-negative test had evidence of AMI on the ECG and an initially abnormal creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) assay. The specificity was 22/28 (79%; 59–92%). However, of the 6 patients who had “false-positive” myoglobin tests, all had serious illness: significant cardiac disease (n = 4), in-hospital death (n = 1), or deep venous thrombosis (n = 1). Conclusion: Myoglobin level determinations are sensitive tests to detect AMI during the first 2 hours of a patient's stay in the ED and may complement current clinical tools.
Characterizing the spatial pattern of Abutilon theophrasti seedling patches

Spatial biology of weed populations is the study of weed patches and their relevant patch-level processes. In this context, a patch was defined as an area in which individuals are aggregated into discrete subdivided populations. Four Abutilon theophrasti seedling patches in two continuous maize production fields were surveyed using a contiguous grid of quadrats between 1995 and 1997. Surveyed area was dependent on patch size and ranged from 96 m 2 to 1134 m 2 . Within each area, all seedlings were counted in each I m x 0.75 m quadrat in June, just before post-emergence weed control, and in mid-July after all weed control practices were completed. The spatial pattern observed in the seedling distribution maps was single or multiple focal points of high seedling density that decreased with distance from the focal point. Two-directional correlograms corroborated this visual observation, such that A. theophrasti seedling density in neighbouring quadrats was spatially autocorrelated, and correlation strength decreased with distance separating quadrats. Autocorrelation coefficients decreased at a greater rate across crop rows than parallel to crop rows. Visually, patch shape was elliptical and oriented in the direction of field traffic. Factors affecting patch-level processes of spatial aggregation, stability and edge dynamics were considered.
Agrosecurity for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs): commentary on recent planning activities

Agrosecurity has become a major concern for livestock operations. This paper reviews post 11 September 2001, American planning activities and offers commentary on issues related to these plans. A critical issue is the need for as many people as possible to be aware of plans and preparations already completed and actions still necessary. There is a sizeable disparity within the animal agriculture sector about information known and understood at different levels. Several readiness exercises have highlighted the need for better broad-spectrum communication: communication within disciplines, within agencies, across disciplines, across agencies, and most importantly everyone involved must talk with industry at all levels. The best preparation involves close coordination between law enforcement, industry, governmental agencies at all levels, academia, risk managers and communicators, veterinarians, engineers, economists, game theorists, and others. This paper features issues related to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), highlights some of the lessons learned through these exercises, and discusses a plan of action patterned after the activities of a regional agricultural jurisdictional working group.