cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T 1 and T 2 for Orbach Relaxation Processes

The master equation for the density matrix of the ionic levels involved in the relaxation process described by Orbach is developed in a form valid for low temperatures. In the absence of degeneracies, the equations for the diagonal elements of the density matrix are the rate equations for the populations which have been solved before; and the equations for the off-diagonal elements show that ($\frac{1}{{T}_{2}}$), the linewidth for a transition between two levels, is given by one-half the sum of the phonon-induced rates out of those levels. Cases in which the inverse lifetimes of the excited states are not small compared with the splitting of the doublets are investigated, and we find that the modification of ${T}_{1}$ can be quite significant, but that the effect on ${T}_{2}$ is slight in all cases. For ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$, and ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{3+}$ in the double nitrates, we find that ${T}_{1}={T}_{2}$ within 12.5% for the magnetic field perpendicular to the symmetry axis for all conditions. For ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ in LaMg double nitrate with the field perpendicular to the symmetry axis, measurements at 10 Gc/sec should give ${T}_{1}={T}_{2}$ within 3%, whereas the experimental result reported by Stapleton and Brower is ${T}_{1}=13{T}_{2}$. It is found that spin-spin interactions between the ground doublet and the excited doublet cannot be the cause of the discrepancy, but that a near-universal bottlenecking of a part of the phonon modes would lead to an explanation of the linewidth measurements and not be at variance with the size and concentration dependence of ${T}_{1}$ thus far reported for the double-nitrate crystals. This hypothesis is based on the calculations of Orbach and Vrederoe, which show that the lifetime of the transverse phonon modes may be much longer than that for the longitudinal modes. Further, the transverse phonons should produce the greater part of the orbitlattice interaction. This hypothesis suggests that a true spin-lattice ${T}_{1}$ would be measured only at very low concentrations, and that with increasing concentrations a bottleneck would develop so that the apparent relaxation time would increase with concentration until the bottlenecked relaxation became comparable with the rate due to other unbottlenecked phonons acting in parallel with the bottle-necked phonons. The experiments of Adde and Geschwind appear to show some aspects of this behavior.
The Impact of Family Eats, a Web-Based Program Promoting Healthy Home Food Environments for African-American Families

Methods: In a 4-group randomized controlled trial with 400 4-5 grade children, whereby groups varied on type of II created during the goal-setting component of game-play (none; action plans; coping plans; both action/ coping plans), participants who created action plans reported higher FV consumption at post 2 than participants who only set a goal (i.e., no II). Parents also received 10 newsletters with content that supported each session. This study examined intervention effects by meal. FV consumption was collected via three dietitian-assisted 24 hour recalls by phone at each data collection period. Analyses included repeated measures mixed models for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, controlling for child gender, race/ ethnicity, and total calorie intake; parent age; and highest household education.
Masking-Level Difference in Filtered-Random and Amplitude-Modulated Noise

The masking characteristics of filtered-random noise and amplitude-modulated noise (40-dB pressure-spectrum level) were studied in a series of four experiments using a masking-level difference para...
OBSERVATIONS OF PREDATION EVENTS AT BIRD NESTS IN CENTRAL PANAMA

Abstract We describe 14 nest predation events witnessed in the Republic of Panama during studies of avian nesting success. Eight predations were by birds, including two species of toucan and one forest-falcon. Four predations were by two species of snake, one was by monkeys, and one near-predation was by army ants (Eciton burchelli). In three cases, a fraction of the nest contents were removed by the predator on one visit before it returned later to consume the remaining items. Our observations, although limited to diurnal encounters, indicate that Neotropical birds are susceptible to a diverse array of potential predators. Detailed investigations using cameras are needed to quantify the potential importance of each predator species and to identify the occurrence and importance of nocturnal predation.
Early intervention in acute coronary syndrome: is bivalirudin monotherapy an effective antithrombotic strategy?

Early intervention in acute coronary syndrome: is bivalirudin monotherapy an effective antithrombotic strategy?
An analysis of opinions considered adverse to the thesis of the main communication

The attempt to develop formal stereotyped or more free-ranging psychological procedures to aid in the selection of patients for operations to relieve pain, or to assay the results thereof, has been studied at least ever since the Minnesota Multi­ phasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was created. Some of the early efforts were summarized in Volume 1 of the First World Congress on Pain in Florence, Italy in September 1973. In that first volume the psychiatrist Waring and the psychologist Weisz state they were totally unable to confirm the conclusions of the four pre­ vious groups (Hanvik, Phillips, Wiffling et aI., Wiltse and Rocchio) that Hanvik's "conversion V" profile on the MMPI distinguished cases of presumed psychogenic backache from cases with clear organic disease. In this profile the hysteria (Hs) and hypochondriasis (Hy) scales are elevated, the depression (D) scale is rela­ tively low, and there is a mild rise on the psychasthenia (Pt) scale. A second paper in Volume 1 describes five psychological tests, the only one of which I have heard was the reduced Wechsler Intelligence Test. This intro­ duction intimates the diffuse nature of the problem tack­ led by Nelson et al. Although they cite 105 references, these by no means cover the whole medical literature on the subject. Of the 61 references cited by the four commenting authors, 47 had not been cited in the prin­ cipal paper of Nelson et al. The comprehensive account of Nelson and colleagues on psychological selection criteria for implantation of a spinal cord stimulator leads off with the objective of justi­ fying the time and expense of such a specialized selec
Highly nonlinear solitary waves in chains of cylindrical particles

We study the dynamic response of uniform gran- ularchainscomposedofshortcylindricalparticlesexcitedby animpulse.Theparticlesinthechainsarearrangedwiththeir axesorthogonaltothechain'saxis,andtheparticlesmaintain a constant relative orientation angle. We study the formation and propagation of solitary waves in the chains varying the orientation angle (α) between particles, and show tunabil- ity of the stress transfer as a function of α. We use the gen- eralHertziancontacttheorytomodeltheinteractionbetween
A virtual sleep laboratory

A virtual sleep laboratory capable of providing low cost and personalized sleep apnea monitoring using a smartphone has been demonstrated. This system can be used both at home and clinical care settings. This fully automated system derives sleep apnea information from ECG and/or oximeter and uses support vector machine classifiers to classify the events as apena or non-apnea episodes. The system has been tested using Physionet Apnea-ECG database and yields an accuracy close to 90% for both ECG and oximetry sensors. The system is a fully automated internet based system capable of supporting monitoring of hundreads of people at the same time and is being readied for a limited patient trial. This system will be demonstrated at the conference.
Infrared spectroscopy studies of the effects of the catalyst on the ester cross-linking of cellulose by poly(carboxylic acids)

The esterification of cellulose by a poly(carboxylic acid) proceeds in two steps: the formation of a 5-membered cyclic anhydride intermediate by the dehydration of two carboxyls, and the reaction between cellulose and the anhydride intermediate to form an ester. Sodium hypophosphite is the most effective catalyst for the esterification. The effect of sodium hypophosphite on the esterification of cotton cellulose was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was found that sodium hypophosphite accelerates both the formation of the cyclic anhydride intermediate and the reaction between the anhydride intermediate and cellulose. The chief role of sodium hypophosphite is possibly the acceleration of the esterification of cellulose by the anhydride intermediate. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Influence of storage methods on corn root length measurements

This study evaluated the changes in root length, mass, and diameter after air drying and rehydration of corn (Zea mays L.) root samples. For corn roots washed from soil, rehydrated root length was not reduced when compared with fresh root length, but rehydrated root mass was reduced to about half of fresh root mass, and rehydrated root diameter was approximately 75% of fresh diameter. Three storage methods (air dried, 70% ethanol, and 5% formaldehyde solution) were also compared for corn roots grown in moist paper towels. Although root mass and diameter were significantly reduced by air drying, root length was not altered by any of the treatments.
Impedance-based damage identification enhancement via tunable piezoelectric circuitry

The piezoelectric impedance-based method for damage detection has been explored extensively for its high sensitivity to small-sized damages with low-cost measurement circuit which enables remote damage monitoring. While the method has good potential, the amount of feasible impedance data is usually much less than the number of required system parameters to accurately identify the damage location/severity via an inverse formulation. This data incompleteness forms a highly underdetermined problem and because of this numerical ill-conditioning, the predicted damage parameters will be significantly influenced by unavoidable measurement noise and the accuracy of the base-line model. In this study, the state of the art of impedance-based damage identification is advanced by incorporating a tunable piezoelectric circuitry with the structure to enrich the impedance measurements. This piezoelectric circuitry introduces additional degrees of freedom to the structure and changes the dynamics of the coupled system. By tuning the inductance value, it is possible to perform various measurements under different system dynamics which reflects the damage effect. Therefore, if performed systematically, notably increased sets of measurement can be obtained, which will improve the inverse problem to be less underdetermined. Clearly, we can expect the accuracy and robustness in damage identification to be significantly enhanced. Numerical case study on localizing damage in a fixed-fixed beam using spectral element method is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new method for structural damage identification.
DISCUSSION OVER CORRECTNESS OF METHODS USED FOR TEST OF RESISTANCE FUELS TO AGEING PROCESSES

Research of usefulness of fuels for long-term storage is an important research of products of special use (meant for stock keeping as national or military reserves). Important fact is that fuels after storage should be used according to their initial use so their phisico-chemical and exploratory properties should remain the same during the whole storage cycle. Basic condition, enabling to foreseen that fuel will keep its quality at sufficient level in certain timeframe should be positive results of ageing tests. Below the doubts are presented whether methodology of evaluation is correct because of important differences in mechanisms of accelerated laboratory tests as well as real storage in typical conditions of storage tanks with large capacity. Differences in courses of chemical reactions and conditions of their initiation and course were pointed out. Scheme of equipment for marking content of existing gums, scheme of equipment for testing induction period, scheme of filtering and oxidizing equipment to test resistance of fuel to oxidation, effectiveness of collisions of molecules of reactants, scheme of chemical ageing process of fuels storaged in different temperature, function for different conditions ageing process of FAME, influence of value of potential molecules energy on initializing of chemical reactions are presented in the paper. .H\ZRUGV�� fuels, storage, fuels aging
Utilizing Social Work Skills to Enhance Entrepreneurship Training for Women: A Ghanaian Perspective

This article describes a women's entrepreneurship exchange program that was designed and facilitated with the cooperation of various governmental and nongovernmental entities in Ghana for Ghanaian women. The article briefly reviews the entrepreneurship development literature from an international perspective and discusses the Entrepreneurship Program as a targeted approach for empowering and sustaining women's economic situation in Ghana. Emphasis is placed on understanding the impact of cultural and social networks and the women's ability to succeed as entrepreneurs through the use of social work skills.
A Comparison Between 2-D and 3-D Conduction Shape Factors

Conduction shape factors are frequently used in a variety of heat transfer applications to evaluate heat transfer from one three-dimensional body to another three-dimensional body. Previous investigators have used conduction shape factors derived using the 2-D cross-section of the 3-D geometries for non-heating conditions as approximations to 3-D conduction shape factors with heating and no-heating present. This paper investigates the suitability of neglecting the axial conduction and power deposition in deriving expressions for conduction shape factors for the case of a single, cylindrical vessel imbedded concentrically in a cylindrical, uniformly heated tissue matrix. It is shown that 1) conduction shape factors are functions of the deposited power and the temperature distribution and 2) the magnitudes of conduction shape factors are affected significantly by axial conduction.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
An analysis of survival time to re-arrest in treated and non-treated jailers

Incarceration is a costly intervention that does not always prevent future crime. Clinicians working in criminal justice settings are in a unique position to monitor programming to reduce recidivism. We investigated the impact of self-control training on re-arrest in a jail population. Treatment that allotted more time for behavioral rehearsal was expected to reduce future arrest. One hundred inmates completed measures of problem-solving and self-control skills. Forty participants received group training in self-control skills, 40 received the same protocol plus 10 minutes for behavioral rehearsal, and 20 served as a no-treatment comparison group. Participants who completed treatment were less likely to recidivate three years after release from jail, with a trend toward lower recidivism rates for self-control training plus behavioral rehearsal. Training in self-control skills can be useful for preventing re-arrest and these effects may be enhanced by adding a brief behavioral rehearsal of the targeted skills.
The Contingency Theory of Education

(1982). The Contingency Theory of Education. International Journal of Lifelong Education: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 341-352.
Massive rhabdomyolysis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by leptospirosis

We report a case of leptospiral infection in a 63-year-old man who acquired the infection while swimming in canals and streams in Hawaii. The patient's course was atypical in that he was anicteric and had no evidence of meningitis when he presented with fever, rapidly progressive and severe rhabdomyolysis, thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, and respiratory distress syndrome. Although he recovered after a protracted illness, he required major life support, including mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis. Initial antimicrobial therapy was designed to cover major bacterial and atypical pathogens, including leptospires. An in-depth work-up for causes of this catastrophic illness confirmed acute leptospirosis. Although rare, leptospirosis is a potentially lethal infection classically associated with hepatitis, azotemia, and meningitis. Most patients experience self-limited illness, with fever, myalgias, and malaise followed by an immune-mediated aseptic meningitis. A small proportion develop shock and multiple organ dysfunction. Whereas myalgias are ubiquitous in leptospiral infection, and most patients show mildly elevated muscle enzymes, life-threatening rhabdomyolysis is rare. This atypical case is reported to urge clinicians to consider leptospirosis in the evaluation of a patient with cryptogenic sepsis who develops multiple organ dysfunction associated with rhabdomyolysis. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy, with penicillin or doxycycline, can be life-saving.
Pretreatment swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background Few objective data characterizing the pretreatment swallow function of patients with head and neck cancer are available. Methods Pretreatment swallowing function in 352 patients with various lesions was evaluated with videofluoroscopy and compared with control subjects. Results Patients had significantly longer oral and pharyngeal transit times, greater amounts of oral and pharyngeal residue, shorter cricopharyngeal opening durations, and lower swallow efficiencies. Swallow function worsened significantly with increased tumor stage, and patients with oral or pharyngeal lesions had worse swallow function than patients with laryngeal lesions. Frequency of complaint of swallow difficulty before treatment was 59%. Patients with lower stage tumors had fewer complaints of swallowing, as did patients with oral cavity lesions. Conclusions Despite demonstrating significant differences from control subjects, patients had highly functional swallows before treatment. The tendency for patients not to perceive a swallowing problem is consistent with the highly functional nature of their pretreatment swallow. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 22: 474–482, 2000.
Interaction of blood and tissue cells with foreign surfaces

The compatibility of candidate implant materials with living cells was evaluated in vitro. The materials and their interaction with living human blood and tissue cells were observed, recorded, and analyzed by means of reflected light interference microscopy. Blood cells–materials interfaces were prepared by incubating the materials in contanct with whole blood or platelet-rich plasma. The interaction between the materials and the cells was examined either in a static or a dynamic flow system, and recorded by photography or cinemicrography. The tissue cell–materials interfaces were prepared by cultivating animal and human cells as a monolayer directly on the surface of the material to be evaluated. The resulting implant–cell specimens are suitable for histological fixation and subsequent analysis by modern evaluation techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis by electron microprobe. These studies can be performed on the same implant specimen before, and following its exposure to the biological material. Furthermore, separate analyses of the implant and biochemical analyses of the cells and culture medium can be carried out before and after the interaction. These techniques have been used to investigate the interaction of blood and tissue cells with a variety of promising implant candidate materials such as polymers, metals, glass, and carbon surfaces. As a result of these studies, a number of observations have been made which may be of practical significance to the design engineer in developing and evaluating the safety of prosthetic materials for use in the human body.
Emergency department simulations: medicine for building effective models

This paper will discuss proven practices for developing Emergency Department (ED) simulations based on recent project success. From human decisions to political agendas, an ED is filled with unpredictable elements, making it a difficult environment to model. However, the key decision-making information that will be uncovered from a study is worth the effort. This paper will thoroughly analyze each step of a typical ED simulation project, identifying key areas of focus and tips for success. Defining the objective, process map, scenarios, outputs and animation requirements are the first steps. A system for gathering the ED data will be discussed, as well as advice for the verification and validation phases. Finally, the presentation of the findings will be analyzed. No part an ED simulation project should be discounted. This paper will stress dependency of each phase on the successful outcome of the entire project.
Regulating Service Quality: A Survey

This article reviews the major insights of the economics literature regarding the design of service quality regulation in public utility industries. The focus is on generic service quality issues of primary relevance in the industries, which include the electricity, telecommunications, and water industries. The instruments that public utility regulators commonly employ and the manner in which the regulators employ the instruments to secure desirable levels of service quality are emphasized.
Tax credits and US solar commercialization policy

Abstract This article evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of federal tax credits as instruments of US solar commercialization policy. It demonstrates that the overall cost-effectiveness of the tax credits in inducing energy savings has not been conclusively documented. In addition, at the time they were created there was mismatch between the commercialization strategy represented by the tax credits and the state of the solar industry and the technology. Despite these limitations, tax credits supported many of the objectives embodied in solar commercialization policies; they benefited the solar industry and contributed to its development, and they provided a visible sign of government support for solar energy.
Effects of antibodies to transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein on in vitro sperm motion: implications in infertility associated with endometriosis.

Effects of antibodies to transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein on in vitro sperm motion : Implications in infertility associated with endometriosis. PROBLEM: Women with endometriosis have antibodies to endometrial transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein in their serum and peritoneal fluid. The objective of this study was to determine whether antibodies to transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein adversely affect sperm motility and survival. METHOD OF STUDY: Spermatozoa obtained from normal fertile donors and washed free of seminal plasma were incubated with the medium (control), 1:2 and 1:100 dilutions of antitransferrin, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:100 dilutions of anti-alpha 2-HS glycoprotein, and a 1:2 dilution of antialbumin antiserum (negative control). Sperm motion characteristics in 10 μl aliquots were evaluated at 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, and 24 hr using computerized sperm motion analysis. A paired t-test was done to analyze the effects of the various antibodies on sperm motion characteristics. RESULTS: Antibodies to albumin failed to adversely affect sperm motility in general or the several sperm motion characteristics in particular. In contrast, antibodies to transferrin at the dilution of 1:2 adversely affected the percentage of motile and rapid spermatozoa, progressive and path velocities, straightness, linearity, track speed, and anterior-lateral head displacement (P < 0.001) at all the time intervals, whereas a 1:100 dilution of this antiserum adversely affected these parameters only at 24 hr. Elongation and beat cross-frequency were significantly affected at 4 and 24 hr by a 1:2 dilution of antitransferrin antiserum. The effects of anti-alpha 2-HS glycoprotein were more pronounced than those of antitransferrin, but they were similar. Dilutions of 1:4 and 1:8 were effective at all time intervals, whereas a 1:100 dilution was effective in reducing the track speed and the percentage of rapid cells at 24 hr (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Antibodies to endometrial transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein present in the peritoneal fluid, and possibly in the oviductal fluid, of patients with endometriosis may adversely affect postcoital sperm motility and sperm survival.
Gain Weighted Eigenspace Assignment

This report presents the development of the Gain Weighted Eigenspace Assignment methodology. This provides a designer with a systematic methodology for trading off eigenvector placement versus gain magnitudes, while still maintaining desired closed-loop eigenvalue locations. This is accomplished by forming a cost function composed of a scalar measure of error between desired and achievable eigenvectors and a scalar measure of gain magnitude, determining analytical expressions for the gradients, and solving for the optimal solution by numerical iteration. For this development the scalar measure of gain magnitude is chosen to be a weighted sum of the squares of all the individual elements of the feedback gain matrix. An example is presented to demonstrate the method. In this example, solutions yielding achievable eigenvectors close to the desired eigenvectors are obtained with significant reductions in gain magnitude compared to a solution obtained using a previously developed eigenspace (eigenstructure) assignment method.
Age differences among women in the functional asymmetry for bias in facial affect perception

The effects of age, affect valence, and cerebral asymmetry on emotional response bias and response time in the discrimination of affective facial stimuli were examined. Subjects were 11 college-aged and 11 elderly women, all of whom were right-handed. The subjects were required to identify the affect depicted in Ekman and Friesen’s (1978) stimuli of angry, happy, and neutral faces by using a forced-choice reaction time paradigm with only “angry” or “happy” response alternatives signified by the respective response manipulanda. The stimuli were presented to the left and right visual fields tachistoscopically. The results showed faster affect identification by the younger women, a faster learning rate for positive affect than for negative affect, and no significantly faster identification of affect with right hemisphere (LVF) presentation. The younger and elderly women differed in the forced identification of neutral stimuli, revealing a heightened LVF positive affective bias among the elderly women. The results lend support to the hypothesis of a relative right-hemisphere decline with age.
Roles for the two cysteine residues of AhpC in catalysis of peroxide reduction by alkyl hydroperoxide reductase from Salmonella typhimurium

The catalytic properties of cysteine residues Cys46 and Cys165, which form intersubunit disulfide bonds in the peroxidatic AhpC protein of the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpR) system from Salmonella typhimurium, have been investigated. The AhpR system, composed of AhpC and a flavoprotein reductase, AhpF, catalyzes the pyridine nucleotide-dependent reduction of organic hydroperoxides and hydrogen peroxide. Amino acid sequence analysis of the disulfide-containing tryptic peptide demonstrated the presence of two identical disulfide bonds per dimer of oxidized AhpC located between Cys46 on one subunit and Cys165 on the other. Mutant AhpC proteins containing only one (C46S and C165S) or no (C46,165S) cysteine residues were purified and shown by circular dichroism studies to exhibit no major disruptions in secondary structure. In NADH-dependent peroxidase assays in the presence of AhpF, the C165S mutant was fully active in comparison with wild-type AhpC, while C46S and C46,165S displayed no peroxidatic activity. In addition, only C165S was oxidized by 1 equiv of hydrogen peroxide, giving a species that was stoichiometrically reducible by NADH in the presence of a catalytic amount of AhpF. Oxidized C165S also reacted rapidly with a stoichiometric amount of the thiol-containing reagent 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid to generate a mixed disulfide, and was susceptible to inactivation by hydrogen peroxide, strongly supporting its identification as a cysteine sulfenic acid (Cys46-SOH). The lack of reactivity of the C46S mutant toward peroxides was not a result of inaccessibility of the remaining thiol as demonstrated by its modification with 5, 5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), but could be due to the lack of a proximal active-site base which would support catalysis through proton donation to the poor RO- leaving group. Our results clearly identify Cys46 as the peroxidatic center of AhpC and Cys165 as an important residue for preserving the activity of wild-type AhpC by reacting with the nascent sulfenic acid of the oxidized protein (Cys46-SOH) to generate a stable disulfide bond, thus preventing further oxidation of Cys46-SOH by substrate.
Modified Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogels for Drug Delivery

Thermo-responsive hydrogel can change their swelling behavior and drug release characteristics in response to environmental temperature [1–5]. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogel undergoes a phase transition when the temperatue is lower than a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of ∼32°C in aqueous solution [8], and drug release profiles in PNIPA hydrogel can be controlled by the alternation of their solution temperatures.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Basal ganglia and movement disorders: an update

Abstract A model of basal ganglia functioning proposed a few years ago suggests that increased and decreased activity in basal ganglia output to the thalamus underlies akinesia, as seen in Parkinson's disease, and dyskinetic movements as seen in Huntington's disease or after treatment with l-dopa and neuroleptics, respectively. Although the basic features of this model have stood the test of time, patterns of electrophysiological activity and changes in indices of GABA-dependent transmission in the external pallidum lead to a reconsideration of the mechanisms responsible for these changes in output activity. Trends Neurosci. (1996) 19, 417–422
Ethics corner: cases from the Hebrew rehabilitation center for aged-truth or consequences.

This article is the fifth of a six-part JAMDA series devoted to medical ethics in the nursing home. In each issue, a case is presented from the Ethics Committee at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged (HRCA) in Boston, Massachusetts. Following a description of the case and a discussion of the ethical issues that the case raises, Dr. Steven Levenson will discuss the implications for medical directors.
Low CO2 Stimulates Inositol Phosphate Turnover and Increased Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Levels in Piglet Cerebral Microvascular Smooth Muscle Cells

In contrast to hypercapnic dilation, hypocapnia-induced cerebral vasoconstriction does not involve prostanoids in newborn pigs. The hypothesis that increased pH or decreased CO2 tension increases inositol phosphate turnover in piglet cerebral microvascular smooth muscle (SM) cells was addressed to begin to assess the possibility that this second-messenger system is involved in hypocapnia-induced cerebral vasoconstriction. Cerebral microvascular SM cells in primary culture prelabeled with [3H]-myoinositol were stimulated for 30 sec with artificial cerebrospinal fluid of increased or normal pH, (7.80 vs 7.40), constant PCO2 36 mm Hg. Following extraction from cells, radiolabeled inositol phosphates were separated by HPLC. These metabolic alkalosis studies were repeated using an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins[1,4,5]P3 protein-binding assay (PBA). Respiratory alkalosis using aCSF with pH 7.60, PCO2 20 mm Hg versus control pH 7.40, PCO2 36 mm Hg was similarly tested with PBS measurement of Ins(1,4,5)P3. aCSFs of control pH 7.40, and PCO2s of 70, 36, or 25 mm Hg were studied both by [3H]-myoinositol (HPLC) and PBA to further determine the importance of CO2 tension, in the presence of fixed pH, on Ins(1,4,5)P3 production. When PCO2 was constant, inositol phosphate turnover (as measured by [3H]-Ins[1,4,5]P3 accumulation) increased when pH was increased from 7.40 to 7.80 at 30 sec of stimulation. Mean [3H]-Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation at pHs of 7.40 and 7.80, constant PCO2 of 36 mm Hg, were 2.9 +/- 0.7 and 4.1 +/- 0.8 cpm/micrograms protein, respectively. Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels for pH of 7.40 or 7.80 and constant PCO2 of 36 mm Hg, were 25.4 +/- 1.8 and 38 +/- 8 pmol/well, respectively, by PBA. Respiratory alkalosis also increased Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels. For pH of 7.40, PCO2 36 mm Hg and pH 7.60, PCO2 20 mm Hg, Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels were 37.6 +/- 16 and 64.1 +/- 25 pmol/well, respectively. Decreasing CO2 tension (from 70 mm Hg to 25 mm Hg) in the presence of fixed pH 7.40 failed to increase Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels. The present data demonstrate that decreased CO2 tension stimulates an increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 production in piglet cerebral microvascular smooth muscle cells. Increasing pH via lower PCO2 increases the level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 even more than increasing pH with fixed base, but extracellular pH appears to be important since decreased PCO2 without changing extracellular pH had no effect. We conclude that the inositol phosphate second messenger system in cerebral microvascular smooth muscle responds appropriately to acute alkalosis to be involved in hypocapnia-induced cerebral vasoconstriction.
Too Good to be False: An Essay in the Folklore of Social Science

In 1939, Carl Hovland and Robert R. Sears presented data that they believed linked fluctuations in the price of cotton to lynchings in the South, a linkage first suggested six years earlier by Arthur Raper. This correlation quickly became a popular illustration of frustration-aggression theory. A few years later, a statistical critique by Alexander Mintz cast the reality of the association into doubt, but a sample survey of members of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues reveals that Howland and Sears's “finding” is still widely, if imprecisely, known and accepted. Their article continues to be cited in the social-psychological literature and in many introductory textbooks. The failure of Mintz's critique to catch up with the striking but flawed, original report illustrates a structured impediment to reliable knowledge in the social sciences.
Nanocatalysis on tailored shape supports: Au and Pd nanoparticles supported on MgO nanocubes and ZnO nanobelts.

Active gold and palladium nanoparticles supported on MgO nanocubes and ZnO nanobelts and transition-metal-containing MgO nanobelts were synthesized by combining evaporation and deposition−precipitation techniques. The high activity and stability of the Au/CeO2 and Pd/CeO2 nanoparticle catalysts deposited on the MgO cubes are remarkable and imply that a variety of efficient catalysts can be designed and tested using this approach. The significant increase in the concentration of corner and edge sites in MgO nanocubes make them well-defined supports to study the detailed mechanism of the catalytic activity enhancement.
Obsolescence in/of Digital Writing Studies

Abstract This essay examines the impact that planned obsolescence of digital writing technologies has on the teaching and study of writing. Through analysis of how hardware and software design decisions shape digital product life cycle, I demonstrate that rapid obsolescence of writing tools threatens to obsolesce research and pedagogy in writing studies. I argue therefore that obsolescence of composing technologies should be drawn into the purview of writing studies, and lay out a few possible avenues through which to apply critical pressure to rapid obsolescence. The essay suggests that because obsolescence is a market-based phenomenon, critiquing obsolescence allows literacy educators to resist the harnessing of literacy, communication, and pedagogy to market forces and exploitative corporate practices.
Proton binding of bacterial exudates determined through potentiometric titrations

Abstract Bacterial exudates can play a role in metal reduction and mineral dissolution. Exudates were collected from non-metabolizing Gram-positive ( Bacillus subtilis ) and Gram-negative ( Shewanella oneidensis ) bacterial species by suspending and rotating 40, 80, or 100 g (wet mass)/L bacteria in NaClO 4 solutions of 0.01, 0.1, or 0.3 M for 2.5 h, and removing the cells by centrifugation. Exudate solutions were analyzed for total organic carbon concentrations, which varied as a function of bacterial type and concentration. However, FTIR spectra of all exudate samples were essentially identical under all experimental conditions. Potentiometric titrations of the exudate solutions were conducted for each of the bacterial concentrations and ionic strength conditions examined, for both of the bacterial species. Both ‘up-pH’ and ‘down-pH’ titrations were conducted to determine the extent of reversibility of the proton binding reactions, and titration data were modeled using a discrete-site modeling approach to determine the number of discrete proton-active functional groups required to account for the observed buffering capacity and to place quantitative constraints on values of the acidity constants and site concentrations for the proton binding sites. A 3-site model fit the titration data the best, and the calculated acidity constant values did not vary significantly as a function of bacterial species studied, ionic strength, or quantity of biomass used to generate the exudate solution. The calculated site concentrations varied with ionic strength and bacterial species. B. subtilis exudates showed a decrease in total site concentrations with increasing ionic strength, and S. oneidensis showed an increase with increasing ionic strength; however, the range of total site concentrations was similar for both species. Total buffering capacities and site concentrations for the exudates were approximately one order of magnitude lower than those previously determined for bacterial cells per gram of bacteria but were within the ranges of those calculated for EPS and humic substances.
Gas-Phase Conformation of Biological Molecules: Bradykinin

Several cationized forms of bradykinin (BK) were generated in the gas phase using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). Accurate collision cross sections were obtained using the ion ...
Raphanus sativus and electromagnetic fields

Abstract Whether or not low frequency electromagnetic fields can affect living systems is an important biological question with public health implications. Smith et al. [1] reported that the growth of seedling of Raphans sativus L., the common garden radish, was enhanced when exposed for 21 days in a continuous 60 Hz electromagnetic field tuned to the ‘ion cyclotron resonance’ for calcium. They suggested that R. sativus could become a standard system for testing bioelectromagnetic effects. We measured up to 15 developmental parameters, including the chlorophyll content of the leaves. Unlike Smith et al. [1], we found no measurable effect of EMF on the development of R. sativus .
Nail dystrophy, edema, and eosinophilia: harbingers of severe chronic GVHD of the skin in children

The prognostic value of adnexal findings in chronic GVHD (cGVHD) has not been investigated in children. Dermatologic examinations were performed in a severe cohort of 11 children with skin cGVHD seen over a 2-year period. Findings were compared with 25 additional patients with skin cGVHD and 97 control patients. In 36 patients with skin cGVHD, nail dystrophy was present in 45% of patients, and was significantly associated with sclerotic disease and lung cGVHD. Pterygium inversum unguis (PIU) was associated with severe lung disease, with significantly lower % predicted FVC and FEV1 in those with PIU than those without. Forty-four percent of GVHD patients had preceding peripheral edema and 56% had preceding peripheral eosinophilia. Peripheral edema and eosinophilia were significantly associated with sclerotic cGVHD and persisted until the diagnosis of cGVHD in all patients. Comparison of data with control patients showed that incidence of nail dystrophy, incidence of peripheral edema and mean peak peripheral eosinophil count of patients with skin cGVHD was significantly higher than those without cGVHD. This study suggests that nail dystrophy, persistent peripheral edema and persistent peripheral eosinophilia are harbingers of severe cGVHD of the skin in children. The presence of PIU may be a harbinger of severe lung involvement.
The evolution of all-inside meniscal repair

Since the preservation of the meniscus became a well-established hallmark of knee surgery, all-inside meniscal repair has undergone an important evolution as arthroscopic techniques have improved. All of these innovations must stand up against the gold standard that remains inside-out repair. This chapter gives an overview of the four generations of all-inside meniscal repair devices that have evolved, from cumbersome suture hooks and arthroscopic knot tying techniques to sleek combinations of suture, slip knot, and peripheral anchors, all in one device. These new, all-inside, meniscal repair techniques and implants do offer distinct advantages over older all-inside methods. However, incorrect insertion, even in experienced hands, can result in chondral abrasions and penetration of neurovascular structures and even the skin. Good comparative and prospective studies are needed in this rapidly growing field of Orthopaedics.
Has aid for AIDS raised all health funding boats

Global health analysts have debated whether donor prioritization of HIV/AIDS control has lifted all boats, raising attention and funding levels for health issues aside from HIV/AIDS. We investigate this question, considering donor funding for 4 historically prominent health agendas-HIV/AIDS, health systems strengthening, population and reproductive health, and infectious disease control-over the decade 1998-2007. We employ funding data from the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which tracks donor aid. The data indicate that HIV/AIDS may have helped to increase funding for the control of other infectious diseases; however, there is no firm evidence that other health issues beyond the control of infectious diseases have benefited. Between 1998 and 2007, funding for HIV/AIDS control rose from just 5.5% to nearly half of all aid for health. Over the same period, funding for health systems strengthening declined from 62.3% to 23.9% of total health aid and that for population and reproductive health declined from 26.4% to 12.3%. Also, even as total aid for health tripled during this decade, aid for health systems strengthening largely stagnated. Overall, the data indicate little support for the contention that donor funding for HIV/AIDS has lifted all boats.
Magnetolectric Cantilever for Collocated Actuation and Sensing Applications: Experimental Study, Model and Scaling Laws

The magneto-electro-mechanical behavior of cantilevers is modeled with two novel applications in mind: micro-surgical ablation tools and larger actuators such as cutting tools for machining applications. By uniquely combining a energy based non-linear magnetostrictive model with Euler-Bernoulli structural model and a linear piezoelectric constitutive model, a modeling tool is developed to predict the deflections and electric responses of such cantilevers under different loading conditions and magnetic field. A reduced version of this model is validated with experimental data of a magnetostrictive cantilever in bending mode. Further a simple scaling law is developed to calculate the actuating forces that can be produced when the dimensions of the cantilever is changed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Computer simulation of shaded areas in the Upper Rio Grande Basin for satellite snow mapping and snowmelt runoff forecasting

Snow maps of the Upper Rio Grande basin at Del Norte are currently obtained from the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument on board Terra satellite and from the AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) on board NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) satellites. These snow maps are generated by a combination of visible and near infrared channels to obtain an image in which each pixel has a digital level proportional to the percent of snow cover. An algorithm was developed to simulate the shaded areas of the basin at any time of the year and any hour of the day, in order to apply a compensation to the reflectance values retrieved from satellite data.
Oxidized phospholipids as biomarkers of tissue and cell damage with a focus on cardiolipin

Oxidized phospholipid species are important, biologically relevant, lipid signaling molecules that usually exist in low abundance in biological tissues. Along with their inherent stability issues, these oxidized lipids present themselves as a challenge in their detection and identification. Often times, oxidized lipid species can co-chromatograph with non-oxidized species making the detection of the former extremely difficult, even with the use of mass spectrometry. In this study, a normal-phase and reverse-phase two dimensional high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometric system was applied to separate oxidized phospholipids from their non-oxidized counterparts, allowing unambiguous detection in a total lipid extract. We have utilized bovine heart cardiolipin as well as commercially available tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin oxidized with cytochrome c (cyt c) and hydrogen peroxide as well as with lipoxygenase to test the separation power of the system. Our findings indicate that oxidized species of not only cardiolipin, but other phospholipid species, can be effectively separated from their non-oxidized counterparts in this two dimensional system. We utilized three types of biological tissues and oxidative insults, namely rotenone treatment of lymphocytes to induce mitochondrial damage and cell death, pulmonary inhalation exposure to single walled carbon nanotubes, as well as total body irradiation, in order to identify cardiolipin oxidation products, critical to the cell damage/cell death pathways in these tissues following cellular stress/injury. Our results indicate that selective cardiolipin (CL) oxidation is a result of a non-random free radical process. In addition, we assessed the ability of the system to identify CL oxidation products in the brain, a tissue known for its extreme complexity and diversity of CL species. The ability of the two dimensional HPLC-mass spectrometric system to detect and characterize oxidized lipid products will allow new studies to be formulated to probe the answers to biologically important questions with regard to oxidative lipidomics and cellular insult. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxidized phospholipids - their properties and interactions with proteins.
An Application of Magnetic Bubble Memory in Ocean Instrumentation

A method of implementing Magnetic Bubble Memory (MBM) in sophisticated ocean instrumentation is presented. With the increasing need for mass data storage and manipulation, storage systems must be made available which meet the demanding requirements of the ocean environment. MBM provides an attractive alternative to conventional mass storage media. Design efforts included power conservation measures, maximum system reliability with minimal field support and minimal system interconnections. A method of isolating the MBM from a host computer by utilizing a local computer will be discussed; a concept which allows the MBM system to be used with most types of computers, mainframe, mini or micro, with a minimum amount of redesign. Several other system components are presented. These include a file management system, stand alone capabilities, and a host-local computer communications protocol.