cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corrosion behaviour of eco-friendly airbrushed reduced graphene oxide-poly(vinyl alcohol) coatings

Metal pretreatments play a crucial role in the long-term performance of metals. Hexavalent chromium has been a state of the art metal pretreatment, but it is being phased out due to human health and environmental concerns. Therefore, the need for environmentally friendly pretreatment coatings has emerged. 2-D nanomaterials such as graphene have gained interest in this regard because of their ability to act as physical barriers to corrosion-causing agents, yet graphene's deposition is not always scalable or sustainable. Adding to the complexity, the corrosion inhibiting ability of 2-D graphene nanosheets has exhibited differing results in the past. Here, we present reduced graphene oxide-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite coatings on branched polyethylenimine (B-PEI)-coated aluminum alloy 2024-T3, where B-PEI, acts as an adhesion promoting layer, realized by a high throughput airbrushing process of a graphene oxide-polymer ink followed by reduction. For the first time, a water-stable dispersion of reduced graphene oxide and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is prepared and quickly sprayed to yield a smooth pinhole-free coating, where reduced graphene oxide sheets act as bricks and PVA as mortar. It is shown that the coating is an exceptional oxygen barrier, similar in performance to SiOx. The reduced graphene oxide sheets may also provide an alternative electronic pathway that prevents electrons from reaching the cathodic site, thereby hindering the corrosion cycle. Coatings with varying compositions on aluminum alloy 2024-T3 were evaluated in 0.2 M NaCl solution for 30 days period. The alloy coated with 60 to 70 wt% reduced graphene oxide exhibited the best performance, with little to no corrosion. Coatings with higher or lower reduced graphene oxide content exhibited corrosion due to increased oxygen permeability and swelling, which may explain conflicting prior reports.
Consumer credit as a novel marker for economic burden and health after cancer in a diverse population of breast cancer survivors in the USA

Consumer credit may reflect financial hardship that patients face due to cancer treatment, which in turn may impact ability to manage health after cancer; however, credit’s relationship to economic burden and health after cancer has not been evaluated. From May to September 2015, 123 women with a history of breast cancer residing in Pennsylvania or New Jersey completed a cross-sectional survey of demographics, socioeconomic position, comorbidities, SF-12 self-rated health, economic burden since cancer diagnosis, psychosocial stress, and self-reported (poor to excellent) credit quality. Ordinal logistic regression evaluated credit’s contribution to economic burden and self-rated health. Mean respondent age was 64 years. Mean year from diagnosis was 11.5. Forty percent of respondents were Black or Other and 60% were White. Twenty-four percent self-reported poor credit, and 76% reported good to excellent credit quality. In adjusted models, changing income, using savings, borrowing money, and being unable to purchase a health need since cancer were associated with poorer credit. Better credit was associated with 7.72 ([1.22, 14.20], p = 0.02) higher physical health t-score, and a − 2.00 ([− 3.92, − 0.09], p = 0.04) point change in psychosocial stress. This exploratory analysis establishes the premise for consumer credit as a marker of economic burden and health for breast cancer survivors. Future work should validate these findings in larger samples and for other health conditions. Stabilizing and monitoring consumer credit may be a potential intervention point for mitigating economic burden after breast cancer.
Thermal Conductivity of Nylons and Apiezon Greases

Thermal conductivity measurements have been carried out on two brands of type 66 nylon and four Apiezon greases (L, M, N, and T). Recent linear heat-flow data, when compared with previous data, indicated a possibility of anisotropic effects in nylon; it was sought to confirm this with the thermal comparator investigation reported here. The conductivity of the greases is not well suited to measurement by the adiabatic linear flow technique, so a simple, unguarded plate apparatus has been designed which accommodates the large contractions of the sample on cooling.
High level programming environment system for protein structure data

In this paper, we present an application system that extends the Object-Oriented Database (OODB) system by adding domain-specific layers to manage protein structure data. Protein-QL, a domain-specific query language, and Protein-OODB layers are added above the OODB. We have implemented this system for protein domain, but we can easily extend it into other biological domains to build a bio-OODBMS. We define protein's primary, secondary, and tertiary structures as internal data types to simplify queries in Protein-QL in such a way that the domain scientists can easily master the query language and formulate data requests. We use EyeDB as the base OODB to communicate with Protein-OODB. Our system uses Java RMI to return results back to the clients so that transactions can be conveniently executed by the clients.
Responding to Climate Change: The Crucial Role of the NGO’S

Anticipated climate change, or greenhouse warming, presents an unprecedented challenge to humanity. In many regions, the ecological changes which may be expected to accompany unrestrained climatic change will dwarf the consequences of other sorts of environmental stress. In other locations, pressures of development not directly related to climate may be of greater importance. But even there, climatic and development not directly related to climate may be of greater importance. But even there, climatic and development shifts will inevitably interact in their action on the biosphere. It is no exaggeration to say that the coming warming, in conjunction with other forces, may remake the natural world.
First series of minimally invasive, robot-assisted tracheobronchoplasty with mesh for severe tracheobronchomalacia.

Abstract Objective Tracheobronchomalacia is a progressive, debilitating disease with limited treatment options. Open tracheobronchoplasty (TBP) is an accepted surgical option for management of severe tracheobronchomalacia. This study examined the outcomes of the first reported series of robot-assisted TBP (R-TBP). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with clinical suspicion for tracheobronchomalacia who had dynamic computed tomography scan and subsequent R-TBP from May 2016 to December 2017. Results Four hundred thirty-five patients underwent dynamic computed tomography scan for suspicion of tracheobronchomalacia. Of this group, 42 patients underwent R-TBP. In the surgery group, the median age was 66 years (interquartile range, 39-72 years) and there were 30 women (71%). Respiratory comorbidities included asthma (88%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (52%). The median operative time was 249 minutes (interquartile range, 266-277 minutes). Median hospital length of stay was 3 days (interquartile range, 2-4.75 days), and there were 19 postoperative complications (11 minor and 8 major). There were no mortalities at 90 days. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function testing demonstrated improvement in forced expiratory volume at 1 second by 13.5% (P = .01), forced vital capacity by 14.5% (P Conclusions R-TBP can be performed with low morbidity and mortality. Early follow-up reveals significant improvement in pulmonary function testing and high patient satisfaction when compared with preoperative baseline. Long-term follow-up is needed to demonstrate the durability of R-TBP and substantiate its role in the management of patients with symptomatic, severe tracheobronchomalacia.
Tunable Photoluminescence of Atomically Thin MoS2 via Nb Doping

The emergence of 2D materials has led to increased attention on correlating the structural, optical, and optoelectronic properties of atomically thin transition metal chalcogenides like MoS2. We demonstrate the tunability of the photoluminescence (PL) properties of bulk MoS2 via implantation of Nb ions. Raman spectroscopy is used to confirm the p-type doping. The PL intensity of MoS2 is drastically enhanced by the adsorption of p-type dopants. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to study the change of MoS2 structure postimplantation. Our results provide a new route for modulating the optical properties of two-dimensional semiconductors. The strong and stable PL from defect sites of MoS2 created by Nb ion implantation may have promising applications in optoelectronic devices.
Tumor testing in men with prostate cancer to predict for germline DNA-damage repair mutations.

229Background: Current guidelines recommend genetic testing for patients (pts) who have BRCA1/2 mutations on tumor-only testing, where germline is not subtracted. The clinical utility of this appro...
Using expected usage in space assessment projects

AbstractDuring the spring 2017 semester, the staff at the Boston University School of Theology Library launched a space assessment project aimed at identifying underutilized and inefficiently used ...
Sit-Stand Workstations: Relations Among Postural Sway, Task, Proprioception and Discomfort:

Adjustable-height desks are promoted to reduce the detrimental effects of prolonged sitting. Musculoskeletal benefits may arise from increased postural variability, often measured as postural sway....
Creation of high position fetal balloon atrial septoplasty for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and highly restrictive atrial septum: A case report and literature review.

Abstract Background Fetal balloon atrial septoplasty (BAS) is performed through the restrictive foramen ovale in fetal cases with established hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and an intact or highly restrictive atrial septum (RAS). Methods In the current report, we present a case of high position BAS in a fetus with HLHS/RAS. Results Echocardiography confirmed an adequate atrial opening above the foramen ovale and fetal pleural effusion resolved spontaneously 1 day after the procedure. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, the creation of a high position hole in the thinner part of the atrial septum, instead of the restrictive tiny hole, has not been reported in fetal cases with HLHS/RAS.
Original contributionThe role of pepsin in acid injury to esophageal epithelium

OBJECTIVES: The development of reflux esophagitis in humans is a process resulting from esophageal exposure to refluxed gastric contents. There is no doubt that damage to the esophageal epithelium requires exposure to gastric acid; however, the role of refluxed pepsin as contributor to this damage seems to be underappreciated. METHODS: The role of physiological concentrations of pepsin was examined in Ussing chambered rabbit esophageal epithelium and in cultured esophageal epithelial cells. RESULTS: The results of this investigation reaffirmed the ability of pepsin to increase the rate and degree of esophageal cell and tissue damage at acidic pH, although the range of activity was limited to pH < 3.0. Moreover, the increased rate of tissue damage by acidified pepsin rapidly (within 15 min) produced a lesion that was irreversible, whereas, in a similar time frame, acid alone produced a lesion that was completely reversible. This early lesion by acidified pepsin was localized by performance of mannitol fluxes in apparently undamaged esophageal epithelium on light microscopy to the intercellular junctional complex. Further acid produced similar degrees of cell killing as acidified pepsin at pH < 3.0 in rabbit esophageal epithelial cells in suspension but not when growing on coverslips or present within intact epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that acidified pepsin plays a key role in the development of reflux esophagitis by producing an early irreversible lesion that results in an increase in paracellular permeability, which indirect evidence suggests is due to damage to the junctional complex. The irreversibility of the increase in paracellular permeability is likely to aid conversion of nonerosive to erosive damage to the epithelium by permitting luminal acid greater access to the basolateral membrane of esophageal epithelial cells, which is known to be acid permeable.
Radiology Education in the Time of COVID-19: A Novel Distance Learning Workstation Experience for Residents.

Rationale and Objectives The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged the educational missions of academic radiology departments nationwide. We describe a novel cloud-based HIPAA compliant and accessible education platform which simulates a live radiology workstation for continued education of first year radiology (R1) residents, with an emphasis on call preparation and peer to peer resident learning. Materials and Methods Three tools were used in our education model: Pacsbin (Orion Medical Technologies, Baltimore, MD, pacsbin.com), Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, San Jose, CA, zoom.us), and Google Classroom (Google, Mountain View, CA, classroom.google.com). A senior radiology resident (R2-R4) (n = 7) driven workflow was established to provide scrollable Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) based case collections to the R1 residents (n = 9) via Pacsbin. A centralized classroom was created using Google Classroom for assignments, reports, and discussion where attending radiologists could review content for accuracy. Daily case collections over an 8-week period from March to May were reviewed via Zoom video conference readout in small groups consisting of a R2-R4 teacher and R1 residents. Surveys were administered to R1 residents, R2-4 residents, and attending radiologist participants. Results Hundred percent of R1 residents felt this model improved their confidence and knowledge to take independent call. Seventy-eight percent of the R1 residents (n = 7/9) demonstrated strong interest in continuing the project after pandemic related restrictions are lifted. Based on a Likert “helpfulness” scale of 1-5 with 5 being most helpful, the project earned an overall average rating of 4.9. Two R2-R4 teachers demonstrated increased interest in pursuing academic radiology. Conclusion In response to unique pandemic circumstances, our institution implemented a novel cloud-based distance learning solution to simulate the radiology workstation. This platform helped continue the program's educational mission, offered first year residents increased call preparation, and promoted peer to peer learning. This approach to case-based learning could be used at other institutions to educate residents.
Missed Opportunities for Prevention of Sudden Death.

BACKGROUND We assessed patterns of health care utilization to further characterize chronic comorbidities prior to sudden death. METHOD From March 1, 2013, through February 28, 2015, all out-of-hospital deaths aged 18-64 reported by emergency medical services in Wake County, North Carolina, were screened to adjudicate 399 sudden death victims. Retrospective analysis of clinical records on victims determined health care utilization. Health care utilization frequency was assessed by latent growth curve analysis. RESULTS Medical records were available for 264 victims (aged 53.5 ± 9.2) who were predominantly male (65%) and white (64%). Of these, 210 (80%) victims had at least one visit within two years of death and 73 (28%) had a visit within one month of death. Over the two years prior to death, there was an increasing frequency of doctor visits (P < .001). Victims averaged 3.7 ± 4.6 yearly visits and were categorized into low (0.4 visits/year), medium (3.3 visits/year), and high (11.4 visits/year) tiers of visit frequency. The high visit tier had a greater prevalence of coronary artery disease (38%), hypertension (80%), diabetes (58%), depression (74%), anxiety (64%), and substance misuse (46%) (P < .001). LIMITATIONS Those who were non-free-living, minors, without formal medical records, and adults aged 65 and older were excluded from the analysis. CONCLUSIONS A majority of sudden death victims utilized health care within two years prior to death and had comorbidities that may have contributed to their unexpected death. The increasing frequency of visits prior to death provided an opportunity for health care providers to address potential victims' chronic medical conditions to potentially prevent death.
From “Gender Difference” to “Doing Gender” to “Gender and Structural Power” in Psychological Science

In this chapter, Shields reviews how feminist-informed psychology in the US has conceptualized and studied gender since the early 1970s, and how her career both reflects and has affected the field. Toggling between her own experiences and the field, she organizes the story around three periods: the early 1970s and its emphasis on androgyny; the late 1980s to 1990s and growing focus on gender as a socially constructed practice; and present-day intersectionality-informed views of gender as but one dimension of interlocking social identities that define axes of sociostructural power. She concludes with cautions and hopes. She cautions readers about the “gender differences paradigm” that continues to dominate psychological research on gender. Shields finds hope in the continued growth of the international community of feminist psychologists.
An Editing Process for Blind or Visually Impaired Editors

Introduction: In the US, hundreds of thousands of individuals with visual disabilities work in occupations that typically entail editing text. Editing technologies for blind or visually impaired people have been analyzed by researchers for usability, accessibility, and feasibility. However, a tutorial is needed to provide blind or visually impaired workers with information on how to use these technologies. Key concepts: Technologies that blind or visually impaired individuals can use for editing text present challenges. Such challenges include the lack of usability in word processors’ text-editing features, navigational and sense-making issues with screen readers, limited text displayed by refreshable braille displays, and extensive commands needed to operate braille notetakers. Key lessons: The study's blind coauthor (who prefers this terminology) draws on her academic and professional experience to provide procedural information for blind or visually impaired practitioners and students who need to open email attachments, navigate files, select text, navigate the Review tab of Microsoft Word, add comments, and use Nav Quick Keys. Implications for practice: This tutorial indicates that word processors, screen readers, refreshable braille displays, and braille notetakers provide ways for blind or visually impaired practitioners and students to edit text. The tutorial also provides insight into one blind editor's editing process and provides instructions for duplicating this process. This information can increase the awareness of sighted practitioners and teachers who seek to make workplaces more accessible for blind or visually impaired colleagues.
Addressing the risk of lampricide exposure to three federally listed species in U.S. streams

Abstract The Endangered Species Act requires that the Sea Lamprey Control Program (Program) ensures that its actions do not jeopardize federally listed species. Often, lampricide toxicity has not been determined and a listed species cannot be sacrificed to test. This paper reviews approaches taken to investigate the risk of lampricide exposure to the Hungerford’s crawling water beetle (Hungerford’s; Brychius hungerfordi), piping plover (Charadrius melodus), and snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra), and describes adaptations implemented by the Program to protect these species based on the findings detailed here and in other reports and publications. For the Hungerford’s, tests were conducted to determine the toxicity of TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) to a surrogate (Haliplus sp.). Haliplus were resistant to 3.9 times the TFM concentration required to kill larval sea lampreys. However, because avoidance behaviors were observed, it was determined that Hungerford’s would be adversely affected. Surveys demonstrated that TFM exposure during the treatment did not negatively affect the population. For the piping plover, a No Observable Adverse Effects Level, estimated from data results on the toxicity of TFM and TFM-1% niclosamide [5-Chloro-N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-2-hydroxybenzamide] to other bird species, was compared to an estimated daily dietary uptake using residue concentrations in burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia limbata). It was determined that neither lampricide would pose a risk to piping plover adults or chicks. Toxicity tests conducted on snuffbox (glochidia, juveniles), and ellipse (surrogate, Venustaconcha ellipsiformis; glochidia, juveniles, adults) demonstrated that TFM would not adversely affect the mussels. Surveys and field observations supported the determinations for the three species.
Feasibility and roadmap for SCA, wideband, and networking technology insertion into a fielded SDR

This paper describes a productized software defined radio (SDR) and highlights the growth path strategy for supporting SCA compliance, wideband waveforms and networking capability. Software defined radios hold the promise for cost-effective, field upgradable, multi-mode, multi-band and multi-function communications systems. This paper provides a case- in- point study report of how SDR systems based on an open architecture can support rapid technology insertion into fielded units with reasonable effort. Significant architectural changes are being accomplished in months, not years, using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software components, clearly demonstrating the value of SDR technology. This paper demonstrates insertion of SCA compliant core framework, transition from legacy signals to wideband networked operation (OFDM), and interoperation of legacy systems with COTS routers and protocols
Some important factors underlying ethical decision making of managers in thailand

This study analyzes the marketing ethics decision-making process of Thai managers. In particular, it examines the relative influences of ethical perceptions, religiosity, personal moral philosophies, and corporate ethical values on ethical intentions of managers in Thailand. Managers enrolled in executive MBA or special MBA programs from public and private universities throughout Thailand were selected as target respondents. The survey results generally indicate that both dimensions of moral philosophies, idealism and relativism, are significant predictors of a Thai manager's ethical intention, as hypothesized. The results also reveal that perceived ethical problem is a positive factor of a Thai manager's ethical intention. The results generally support our hypothesis regarding the influence of corporate ethical values, that Thai managers in organizations with higher levels of ethical values tend to have a more ethical intention than the managers in organizations with lower levels of ethical values. The survey results regarding the influences of religiosity, however, are mixed.
Relatedness of baculovirus and gypsy retrotransposon envelope proteins

Current evidence suggests that lepidopteran baculoviruses may be divided into two phylogenetic groups based on their envelope fusion proteins. One group utilizes gp64, a low pH-dependent envelope fusion protein, whereas the other employs a protein family (e.g. LD130 in the Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus) unrelated to gp64, but that is also low pH-dependent. Database searches with members of the LD130 protein family often record significant levels of homology to envelope proteins from a number of insect retrovirus-like transposable elements of the gypsy class. In this report, the significance of the homology between these two types of envelope proteins is analyzed. The significance of the alignment scores was evaluated using Z-scores that were calculated by comparing the observed alignment score to the distribution of scores obtained for alignments after one of the sequences was subjected to 100 random shuffles of its sequence. These analyses resulted in Z-scores of >9 for members of the LD130 family when compared to most gypsy envelope proteins. Furthermore, in addition to significant levels of sequence homology and the presence of predicted signal sequences and transmembrane domains, members of this family contain a possible a furin cleavage motif, a conserved motif downstream of this site, predicted coiled-coil domains, and a pattern of conserved cysteine residues. These analyses provide a link between envelope proteins from a group of insect retrovirus-like elements and a baculovirus protein family that includes low-pH-dependent envelope fusion proteins. The ability of gypsy retroelements to transpose from insect into baculovirus genomes suggests a pathway for the exchange of this protein between these viral families.
Clonal, nonconstitutional rearrangements of the MLL gene in infant twins with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: in utero chromosome rearrangement of 11q23

Rearrangements of chromosome band 11q23 are common in infant leukemias, comprising more than 70% of the observed chromosome abnormalities in children less than 1 year of age. The MLL gene, which is located at the 11q23 breakpoint in infant, childhood, and adult acute leukemias, has been cloned and has homology to the Drosophila trithorax gene. The breakpoints in MLL are restricted to an 8.3-kilobase pair (kb) region of the gene that is involved in translocations with as many as 29 other chromosomal regions in a number of phenotypically distinct acute leukemias. We have detected an identical, clonal, nonconstitutional rearrangement of the MLL gene in peripheral blood cells from a pair of female infants twins with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and a t(11;19)(q23;p13.3). The detection of nonidentical IGH rearrangements suggests that the MLL rearrangement took place in a B-cell precursor or hematopoietic stem cell in one twin which was transferred in utero to the other fetus resulting in ALL with an identical aneuploid karyotype in both infants. We speculate that the other MLL-related infant leukemias may also develop in utero, and that the rearrangements may occur consistently in stem cells or early precursor cells, accounting for the frequency of mixed-lineage leukemia in infants.
Anticompetitive Practices in Marketing

This article reviews the historical background of marketing practices meant to limit competition in the United States and addresses the emerging issues that challenge companies with novel anticompetitive strategies. Keywords: marketing; strategy; competition; anticompetitive; monopoly; technology; fair trade
Applications of coherent classical communication and the schur transform to quantum information theory

Quantum mechanics has led not only to new physical theories, but also a new understanding of information and computation. Quantum information not only yields new methods for achieving classical tasks such as factoring and key distribution but also suggests a completely new set of quantum problems, such as sending quantum information over quantum channels or efficiently performing particular basis changes on a quantum computer. This thesis contributes two new, purely quantum, tools to quantum information theory---coherent classical communication in the first half and an efficient quantum circuit for the Schur transform in the second half. The first part of this thesis (Chapters 1-4) is in fact built around two loosely overlapping themes. One is quantum Shannon theory, a broad class of coding theorems that includes Shannon and Schumacher data compression, channel coding, entanglement distillation and many others. The second, more specific, theme is the concept of using unitary quantum interactions to communicate between two parties. We begin by presenting new formalism: a general framework for Shannon theory that describes communication tasks in terms of fundamental information processing resources, such as entanglement and classical communication. Then we discuss communication with unitary gates and introduce the concept of coherent classical communication, in which classical messages are sent via some nearly unitary process. We find that coherent classical communication can be used to derive several new quantum protocols and unify them both conceptually and operationally with old ones. Finally, we use these new protocols to prove optimal trade-off curves for a wide variety of coding problems in which a noisy channel or state is consumed and two noiseless resources are either consumed or generated at some rate. The second half of the thesis (Chapters 5-8) is based on the Schur transform, which maps between the computational basis of ( pCdp⊗ n ) and a basis (known as the Schur basis) which simultaneously diagonalizes the commuting actions of the symmetric group Sn and the unitary group Ud . The Schur transform is used as a subroutine in many quantum communication protocols (which we review and further develop), but previously no polynomial-time quantum circuit for the Schur transform was known. We give such a polynomial-time quantum circuit based on the Clebsch-Gordan transform and then give algorithmic connections between the Schur transform and the quantum Fourier transform on Sn . (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Nanoparticle Photoresists: Ligand Exchange as a New, Sensitive EUV Patterning Mechanism

The authors gratefully acknowledge International SEMATECH for funding, as well as the Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), Cornell Center of Materials Research (CCMR), the Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC) and the KAUST-Cornell Center of Energy and Sustainability (KAUST-CU) for use of their facilities.Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories was essential in our studies of EUV exposure.
Computer Use in the Agricultural Economics Classroom

The introduction of computer technology into the agricultural economics classroom is not a recent phenomenon. Babb and Eisgruber's 1966 book, Management Games for Teaching and Research, outlines the use of computerized management games for classroom applications. The computer has been a part of agricultural economics teaching activities for fifteen years in several schools across the United States. Why, then, this sudden increase in awareness and interest in the impact of computer technology in the profession? Three reasons come to mind. They are (a) the availability of computers, (b) the need and/or demand for computer skills by employers of agricultural economics students, and (c) increased computer capabilities for classroom activities.
Evaluation of Myrothecium verrucaria as a Nutrient Source for Ruminants

The soil saprophytic fungus Myrothecium verrucaria was cultivated from glucose, starch, or xylan as the carbon source, and the biomass was compared with three selected feedstuffs. Fungal biomass was analyzed for nitrogen, protein, lipid, water soluble fraction, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and residual ash, and the in vitro dry matter disappearance was determined. The chemical composition of M. verrucaria varied with substrate. In nitrogen content, the fungal biomass was more similar to alfalfa hay than to milo stalks or wheat straw. Content of water soluble fraction of fungal biomass was between those of alfalfa hay and milo stalks; content of hemicellulose was between those of milo stalks and wheat straw. The fungal fractions identified as cellulose and lignin varied widely with substrate. The fungal biomass was less digestible than alfalfa hay but more digestible than milo stalks or wheat straw. There may be potential uses of this organism in upgrading nutritive value of low-quality forages.
Spatial measurements near the instability threshold in ultrapure Ge.

Spatially and temporally resolved measurements are presented near the threshold for a spontaneous current instability in liquid-He-cooled ultrapure Ge. Periodic current oscillations occur above a sharp threshold in applied dc voltage; each cycle is due to the passage of a single space-charge domain through the sample. For sufficiently large applied dc voltage below this threshold, domain formation can be triggered by a small superimposed voltage pulse. As the dc voltage is increased, the triggered domain grows larger and travels farther into the sample. Nearer threshold, current pulses due to single domains spontaneously occur at irregular intervals; as the threshold for spontaneous oscillation is approached, the pulses occur in increasingly larger groups, and the number of pulses per group diverges at the threshold. The statistics of group length and the exponent associated with this divergence agree well with the predictions of Pomeau-Manneville type-III intermittency.
The effect of government spending on the current account, output, and expenditures: Evidence from latin America

Abstract This paper examines the linkages between government expenditures and current account balances in several Latin American economies, over the period 1974–1984. In theory, these linkages critically depend on private sector responses to changes in government expenditures, on both the demand and supply sides. The analysis provides evidence that the negative current account - government expenditure linkage is much stronger in the event of a temporary shock to government expenditures than in the event of a permanent shock. The source of this differential response appears to be primarily on the expenditure side, suggesting that private sectors in Latin America incorporate the present discounted value (rather than simply the current value) of government expenditures into their expenditure decisions.
Reading the Panarion as Collective Biography: The Heresiarch as Unholy Man

This article proposes a reading of the Panarion, a fourth-century heresiology, as a collective biography, a genre that compiled shortened biographical snapshots of prominent individuals who together embodied an idealized way of life. Epiphanius, the defender and model of orthodoxy, augmented his power and authority through his writing and heresy-hunting activities. The Panarion included miniature biographies of heresiarchs in many of the entries, and together these biographies constructed the composite image and character of the heresiarch and collectively portrayed the unholy life.
Teaching Note---Keeping Logistics Under Wraps

Case Teaching Note: Interested Instructors please see the Instructor Materials page for access to the restricted materials. To maintain the integrity and usefulness of cases published in ITE, unapproved distribution of the case teaching notes and other restricted materials to any other party is prohibited.
Small Bowel Obstruction Resulting from Laparoscopic Vaginal Cuff Closure with a Barbed Suture

Surgical trends favor the minimally invasive approach for gynecologic procedures. Technology, equipment, and surgical materials have evolved to simplify technically challenging skills and decrease operative times to permit successful completion of procedures via the laparoscopic approach. However, with the introduction of new advances, surgeons must also be aware of potential complications that may arise. A barbed suture is an attractive suture option that allows for easier and faster laparoscopic suturing by eliminating repeated knots and the need to maintain tension on the suture line. Here we present the case of a small bowel obstruction caused by barbed suture used for vaginal cuff closure at the time of total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Implementation of a new technology or surgical material in laparoscopy to improve care must be optimized to prevent untoward events in our patients.
Perceptions of and Responses to Stigma

In the last 10 years, interest in the concept of stigma has grown remarkably throughout the social sciences. Today, stigma is an important topic that bridges many disciplines, including sociology, psychology, social psychology, and public health. This literature review primarily addresses perceptions of and responses to stigma from the insider's or target's perspective. The topics examined in this review include the following: defining stigma, public opinion and attitudes toward the stigmatized, measurement of perceptions of stigma and discrimination, the coping strategies employed by stigmatized persons to deal with stigma, the impact of stigma in terms of psychological and behavioral outcomes, explanations of coping strategies and outcomes, and strategies and interventions to reduce stigma. As many of the concerns faced by stigmatized persons are universal, what has been learned in research about one stigmatized group can provide insight into another. Promising directions for future stigma-related research are identified and discussed.
High efficiency, high energy optical amplifier for femtosecond pulses

We report on the design and performance of an improved copper vapor laser pumped amplifier for femtosecond optical pulses. Consideration of the large duration mismatch between pump and seed pulses, the short energy storage time of the gain dye, spatial mode matching, and polarization effects led to an amplifier design of 1.5% efficiency, which is greater than previous designs. Pulses of > 10 tJ energy and -65 fsec duration are generated that are focussable to less than twice the diffraction limit. The multiple pass amplifier incorporates optimized mode matching, an antireflection coated flowing dye cell, and a polarized, spatially smoothed pump beam.
A Monopulse Rotman Lens Phased Array for Enhanced Angular Resolution

A low cost monopulse phased array is described, which is based upon a Rotman lens and switched line phase shifting network. An amplitude comparison monopulse scheme is implemented, where the phased array is capable of scanning the sum and difference beams throughout a 60deg field of view. The sum beam directivity is better than 12 dB within a 6 GHz bandwidth at Ka band. Over 20 dB difference beam nulls were achieved throughout a 1 GHz bandwidth. The entire phase shifting circuit occupies a size of 62 mm by 62 mm, which is no larger than conventional Rotman lens circuitry.
City Tour Guides: Urban Alchemists at Work

Urban sociology, often and quite reasonably, emphasizes the effects of large–scale and corporate cultures of cities and yet, at the smaller scale, there is a diverse and complex set of practices th...
CONCERNING THE REGIOSPECIFICITY AND STEREOSPECIFICITY OF STEROID FUNCTIONALIZATION BY PHOTOLYSIS OF ATTACHED BENZOPHENONE ESTERS

Bei der Photolyse der Steroidbenzophenon-ester wie (Ia) erfolgt zum Teil eine Wasserstoff-Ubertragung zu (IIa), zum Teil eine Cyclisierung zu (III) und (IV).
Thermal boundary layer on a continuous moving plate with freezing

The growth of a solidified layer or "freeze coat" on the surface of a chilled continuous plate traveling steadily through a bath of warm liquid is investigated analytically. The behavior of the thermal boundary layer in the liquid flowfield that is induced by the motion of the plate is modeled along with the process of heat conduction in the solid phase to determine the location of the freezing front. Using the method of similarity, axial variations of the freeze-coat thickness and the coefficient of local convective heat transfer from the liquid to the solid phase are obtained as functions of various controlling parameters of the system. It is found that, while the shape of the freeze coat depends strongly on the local convective heat flux, the flow is, in turn, heavily influenced by the variation of the solid /liquid interface location. Because of this mutual interaction between the phase change process and the flow, the local convective heat-transfer coefficient at the freezing front is considerably larger than the corresponding value for the case of forced convection over a continuous moving plate without freezing. The effect of flow/freezing interaction is found to be quite pronounced, especially when the liquid Prandtl number is large and the freeze coat grows rapidly in the axial direction.
Thermal expansion and structural distortion of perovskite — data for NaMgF3 perovskite. Part I

Abstract The crystal structure of NaMgF3 perovskite (Neighborite) has been studied at high temperature by X-ray powder diffraction. Data were collected using a position sensitive detector with a monochromatic synchroton radiation source. Changes in unit cell and atomic positions of the perovskite structure were defined using the Rietveld refinement technique. The linear and volumetric thermal expansion coefficients are observed to be αa = 4.04 × 10−5 K−1, αb = 1.53 × 10−5 K−1, αc = 3.06 × 10−5 K−1, αv = 8.80 × 10−5 K−1 for the orthorhombic Pbnm phase, and αa0 = 3.16 × 10−5 K−1, αv0 = 9.49 × 10−5 K−1 for the cubic Pm3m phase of NaMgF3 perovskite, respectively. The temperature-induced linear and volumetric changes of the centrosymmetrically distorted ABX3 perovskite structure can be empirically expressed as a combination of the change of the (BX) bond length and the change of tilting of the BX6 octahedral framework. The considerable anisotropy of linear thermal expansion, αa > αc > αb, for the orthorhombic Pbnm phase reflects the progressive decrease of structural distortion and the development of the phase transition of the NaMgF3 perovskite. The tilting angle of the MgF6 octahedral framework is observed to decrease rapidly toward zero as the temperature approaches Tc = 765°C in the manner expected for a ferroelastic phase transition. More interestingly, the apparent (MgF) bond lengths of the MgF6 octahedra shrink dramatically throughout a temperature interval of about 100°C before the phase transition. The volumetric thermal expansion increases drastically in a critical manner as the temperature approaches Tc.
In-situ X-ray reflectivity study of alkane films grown from the vapor phase.

We carried out in-situ X-ray reflectivity study of nine n-alkane chains (CnH2n+2) on Si substrate, n in the range of 17−30. These films formed under vacuum at equilibrium vapor pressure of the respective alkane molecule. For all the alkanes studied we found a bilayer structure on the substrate, a higher density vertical layer at the air−film interface with the layer thickness equal to the all-trans length of the respective molecule, and a lower density layer below it with the molecules lying horizontal on the substrate. This model was earlier proposed for C32 films on Si by Volkmann et al.11 We observe that this model can fit the entire range of data from C17 to C30 in our experiments.
Designing documentation to compensate for delocalized plans

Conceptual representation methods play a significant role in facilitating the software process. Recent studies explore and clarify the use of these representations and their impact on progress.
“Nurses Station” or “Nursing Station”? How to Appropriately Describe Our Work Space in Acute Care?

Edited by Mona M. Shattell, PhD, RNUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro, School of Nursing, Greensboro, North Carolina, USAThe term “nurses’ station” is often used synonymously with “nursing ...
Friends' sexual orientation, relational quality, and mental health among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth

The existing literature on gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) youth emphasizes unique benefits of having GLB friends, but empirical studies have shown no or only small mental health advantages of having them. To unravel this contradiction, this study tested a common assumption that GLB youth develop better relational quality with their GLB friends than with straight friends. Statistical analysis used interview data from community organization participants in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (n = 84) and employed analysis of variance and ordinary least squares regression models. GLB youth’s friendships with GLB and straight peers did not differ in contact frequency, emotional closeness, and hassles. Further, GLB and straight friends were similar in the degree to which each relational quality dimension was associated with mental health. Scholars have emphasized that friendships with gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) peers have important implications for GLB youth’s mental health because they provide unique
Neuropharmacological profile of a selective sigma ligand, igmesine: a potential antidepressant.

Abstract Igmesine is a selective sigma (σ 1 ) ligand that was reported to exert antidepressant action through an unknown mechanism of action. A number of neurochemical measures were taken in this study in efforts to understand its mode of action. Following 21-day drug treatments, the actions of igmesine on a number of neurochemical measures were investigated. Data obtained showed significant decreases in the densities of β-adrenergic but not 5-HT 1A , σ 1 and GABA B receptors in fluoxetine (18%), desipramine (DMI, 32%) and igmesine (20%)-treated groups when compared with control. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity was significantly (30–32%) reduced in all treated groups. Further, fluoxetine and DMI excluding the igmesine-treated groups showed 85 and 40% reductions in serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NE) neuronal uptake, respectively. Following acute treatment, igmesine lacked activity for monoamine oxidase (MAO) A or B (IC 50 >10 μM). In in vivo studies, at behaviorally active doses, igmesine showed weak effects on the NE uptake but lacked activity in altering 5-HT and DA synthesis or antagonizing selective drug-induced depletion of monoamine neuronal uptake. N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)-induced increases in cGMP was blocked by igmesine indicating that igmesine may interfere with the NMDA receptor/nitric oxide synthase/cGMP pathway. Although it appears that part of the pharmacological actions of igmesine is mediated by the monoaminergic system, there is still need to explore other possible mechanisms of antidepressant action.
Necking mechanism and its elimination in uniaxially drawn films of poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN)/polyetherimide (PEI) blends

The influence of blend composition on the deformation behavior of cast amorphous PEN/PEI blends were investigated above their respected glass transition temperatures. PEN inherently shows a sharp necking phenomenon when stretched at temperatures as high as 20°C above its glass transition temperature. This was attributed to highly localized rapid alignment of naphthalene planes parallel to the surface of the films. The addition of PEI was observed to reduce this necking behavior. The neck formation completely disappears when the PEI fraction exceeds 10% in the blend. X-ray studies indicate that the increase of PEI hinders the rapid alignment of naphthalene planes parallel to the surface of the films. The presence of PEI chains in the blend was found to increase the overall friction between the polymer chains in the system and this was found to prevent the formation of highly localized necks. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 2059–2074, 1997
Culture of 5-day horse embryos in microdroplets for 10 to 20 days

Abstract Embryos were recovered from the uteri of mares 5 d after ovulation. Six embryos, all morulae, were placed singly in 200-ul droplets of Ham's F-12 with 10% fetal calf serum and cultured at 37°C in a 5% CO 2 atmosphere. The embryos expanded to form blastocysts by the third day of culture. The blastocysts hatched from their zona pellucida, rather than the zona thinning and flaking off, as occurs in vivo. Hatching from the zona pellucida began on the third day of culture and was complete in five of six embryos by the sixth day. The embryonic capsule, normally present in equine embryos after Day 6, was not seen in the cultured embryos. The blastocysts continued to expand until 15 to 17 d of age (10 to 12 d in culture), reaching an average diameter (± SD) of 2052 ± 290 um, after which time they either collapsed or contracted. These results demonstrate that equine embryos can be maintained in long-term culture in vitro, exhibiting continued growth and expansion in the absence of the embryonic capsule.