cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Implementation of High-Fidelity Simulation and Influence of Audio-Visual Technology in Learning: Physical Assessment With Associate Degree Nursing Students’ Satisfaction and Self-Confidence

The purpose of this pilot project is to ascertain if audiovisual technology and self-directed reflection as compared to traditional clinical skills instruction will influence student satisfaction and self-confidence with a simulation learning experience. The research question for the project was: Will associate degree nursing students’ use of audiovisual technology and self-reflection as compared to traditional instructional teaching methods for physical assessment influence the satisfaction and self-confidence in learning within a high-fidelity simulation experience? The data analysis used in the study consisted of descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The data collected occurred over a timeframe of five months and involved two cohorts (control and intervention groups) of first-semester, associate degree nursing students in the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2. The results revealed that within the groups student satisfaction and self-confidence were significant specific to the use of simulation. The results revealed no significance between the groups with the use of the intervention in the learning of physical assessment. Significance was established at the alpha equal to .05. Implications that resulted in the project included the role adjunct faculty have in influencing student satisfaction and self-confidence in learning essential nursing skills and the development of the meta-cognitive skill of reflection with beginning nursing students. Future research is recommended because of limitations that included the sample of convenience, inclusion of only one nursing program, and use of adjunct faculty.
A Window of Opportunity

Major changes occur in fits and starts, not in a smooth, even flow. Periodically, circumstances, events, and momentum align to provide an opportunity for affecting and influencing such changes. Today, four factors in health informatics are combining to bring us to a window of opportunity, one that offers us a chance to transform health care. The central focus of health and care is poised to shift squarely onto the individual, a move of seismic proportions that can be catalyzed by successfully converging the rapid advances in electronic health records, health information standards, health information exchange capabilities, and personal health records. To date, despite estimates that only 15% of an individual’s health is related to the provision of health care, the vast majority of the activities have been concentrated in the healthcare sector, consuming resources allocated by the economy for health.Moving the focus of health and care from institutions to individuals is a key step in aligning activities and resources to maximize the health status of individuals and communities. This can change, and for the better, if we act now.
Comparative analyses of the neurobehavioral, molecular, and enzymatic effects of organophosphates on embryo-larval zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Abstract Organophosphates insecticides (OPs) are common surface water contaminants in both urban and agricultural landscapes. Neurobehavioral effects on larval fish are known to occur at concentrations higher than those reported in the environment. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of neurobehavioral, molecular, and biochemical responses of four OPs (diazinon, dichlorvos, malathion, methyl-parathion) via the following endpoint measurements: distance traveled, velocity, gene expression (AChE, c-Fos, LINGO-1B, GRIN-1B), enzymatic acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and carboxylesterase (CES) activity. OP exposures (5 hpf - 120 dpf) on embryo-larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) were assessed using a larval zebrafish behavior assay at concentrations: 0.01, 0.1, 10, and 100 μg/L. Individual OPs had varying degrees of neurotoxicity. Significant hypoactivity was observed in the 100 μg/L treatments for diazinon and malathion (p
Pain Management Following Craniotomy

Historically, the underestimation of pain severity post-craniotomy has limited opioid use due to concerns over clouding the postoperative neurologic examination. More recent data has refuted that belief and revealed that moderate to severe pain exists in about two thirds of patients. The presence of pain leads to sympathetic stimulation, which is a risk factor for the development of postoperative complications including intracranial hemorrhage, underscoring the need for adequate management. Although opioids are the mainstay of management of postoperative pain, the utilization of analgesics that target alternate receptors and pathways has become prominent. Review of literature on scalp blockade and pin site infiltration reveals a large body of fairly convincing evidence, but the timing and ideal injectate could be better defined. Although preliminary, recent data on dexmedetomidine is promising and supports a potential opioid-sparing effect. Utilization of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, intravenous lidocaine, tramadol, acetaminophen, and ketamine, may have roles, but additional data are required.
Genetic Analysis of Uveal Melanoma in 658 Patients Using the Cancer Genome Atlas Classification of Uveal Melanoma as A, B, C, and D.

Purpose The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) classification has been validated for uveal melanoma (UM) prognostication. We applied TCGA classification to UM biopsied using fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to determine the predictability for metastasis and death. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants Patients with UM treated with plaque radiotherapy at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from October 1, 2008, through December 31, 2018, who completed genetic analysis of chromosomes 3 and 8 after FNAB. Methods Tumors were classified as A, B, C, or D and were compared using the chi-square test, Fisher exact test, analysis of variance, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Main Outcome Measures Metastasis and death. Results Six hundred fifty-eight UM patients were categorized accordingly as TCGA class A (n = 342 [52%]), B (n = 91 [14%]), C (n = 118 [18%]), and D (n = 107 [16%]). More advanced tumor classification revealed older mean patient age (56 vs. 53 vs. 60 vs. 63 years, respectively; P Conclusions Grouping of UM using TCGA classification predicts the risk of melanoma-related metastasis and death.
8.17 – Long-lived Isotopic Tracers in Oceanography, Paleoceanography, and Ice-sheet Dynamics

This chapter focuses on the basis for using authigenic neodymium, lead, and hafnium isotopes in oceanography and paleoceanography. In particular, it reviews in detail the currently available data on neodymium isotopes in the oceans in order to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses as an oceanographic tracer and a proxy to investigate paleocirculation. Neodymium isotope ratios are highlighted because lead isotopes in the present day oceans are contaminated by anthropogenic input, and dissolved hafnium thus far has not been measured. This chapter only gives a cursory summary of the results of studies on Fe–Mn crusts. This chapter also summarizes the application of strontium, neodymium, and lead isotopes for tracing the sources of continental detritus brought to the oceans by icebergs and implications for the history of the North Atlantic ice sheets.
Path Tracking for the Dissipative Chaplygin Sleigh

In this paper we study the problem of path tracking for the Chaplygin sleigh, a well known nonholonomic system. The dynamics and control of a Chaplygin sleigh with dissipation has received much attention in recent years, more so in light of the similarity of its dynamics to that of fish-like swimming. Recent work has shown the existence of limit cycles in the reduced velocity space for a periodically forced Chaplygin sleigh and their use in tracking a reference speed and heading angle for the system. We use these results as our starting point to address the problem of tracking a path for the Chaplygin sleigh. A two part algorithm is proposed; in one part a reference limit cycle in the reduced velocity space is tracked using a harmonic balance method. In the second part we use the idea of a goal point a fixed distance from the vehicle to frame this as a pursuit problem where the sleigh is pursuing the goal point. The two parts of algorithm are coupled. We show that the sleigh is able to simultaneously track a reference path in the plane and with a reference velocity with this approach.
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Loss Controls Cell Cycle Regulators and Response to Paclitaxel

Abstract Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) is lost in approximately 70% of sporadic breast cancers, with an inclination towards triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is treated with traditional chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel (PTX); however, tumors often develop drug resistance. We previously created APC knockdown cells (APC shRNA1) using the human TNBC cells, MDA-MB-157, and showed that APC loss induces PTX resistance. To understand the mechanisms behind APC-mediated PTX response, we performed cell cycle analysis and analyzed cell cycle related proteins. Cell cycle analysis indicated increased G2/M population in PTX-treated APC shRNA1 cells compared to PTX-treated controls, suggesting that APC expression does not alter PTX-induced G2/M arrest. We further studied the subcellular localization of the G2/M transition proteins, cyclin B1 and CDK1. The APC shRNA1 cells had increased CDK1, which was preferentially localized to the cytoplasm, and increased CDK6. RNA-sequencing was performed to gain a global understanding of changes downstream of APC loss and identified a broad mis-regulation of cell cycle-related genes in APC shRNA1 cells. Our studies are the first to show an interaction between APC and taxane response in breast cancer. The implications include designing combination therapy to re-sensitize APC-mutant breast cancers to taxanes using the specific cell cycle alterations.
Case 17. Mycosis fungoides-like presentation of primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Akilov and colleagues presented a case of CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder that initially manifested as a patch and plaque stage of mycosis fungoides. Fungating tumors later in the course and CD30+ epidermotropic atypical cells in the early biopsy signify the importance of close monitoring of those patients.
Efficacy of a Telehealth Delivered Couples’ HIV Counseling and Testing (CHTC) Intervention to Improve Formation and Adherence to Safer Sexual Agreements Among Male Couples in the Us: Results from a Randomized Control Trial

Background: There is a critical gap in HIV prevention science around the development of interventions that help male couples form and adhere to safer sexual agreements. This paper reports the results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the efficacy of Nexus , a telehealth delivered intervention that combines Couples’ HIV Counseling and Testing (CHTC) with home-based HIV-testing, examining the impact of the intervention on the couples’ formation and adherence to safer sexual agreements. Methods: Between 2016 and 2018, 424 male couples were recruited online from across the U.S and equally randomized to the intervention arm (a telehealth delivered CHTC session with two home HIV-testing kits) or a control arm (two home HIV-testing kits), with study assessments at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Outcomes included the formation and adherence to safer sexual agreements, dyadic discordance in reporting sexual agreements, breakage of sexual agreements, and perceptions of the benefit of PrEP. Findings: Couples randomized to the intervention arm had significantly greater odds of reporting a safer sexual agreement (3 months OR 1.87, 95%CI 1.21-2.90, p-value 0.005, and 6 months OR 1.84, p-value 0.007), lower odds of reporting discordant sexual agreements at 6 months (OR 0.62, p-value 0.048), and a significantly lower odds of reporting breaking their sexual agreement (3 months OR 0.51, p-value 0.035, and 6 months OR 0.23, p-value 0.000). By 6 months, couples in the intervention arm were less likely to say PrEP was beneficial to one (RRR 0.33, P=0.000) or both of them (RRR 0.29, P=0.000) than being beneficial to neither of the partners. Interpretation: The high levels of acceptability and efficacy of the intervention demonstrate strong potential for the scale-up of this efficacious intervention that leverages existing interventions (CHTC) and delivers them through a low-cost telehealth platform to create significant behavioral change among male couples. Trial Registration: The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02335138) Funding: The study was supported by National Institutes of Health (Grant No. R01HD078131). Declaration of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical Approval: Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Michigan (HUM00102906) Institutional Review Board.
Effectiveness of Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI with a Split Dose of Gadoterate Meglumine for Detection of Prostate Cancer.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI with a split injection of 30% followed by 70% of a standard dose (30PSD and 70PSD) of gadoterate meglumine (DOTAREM) can improve diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). MATERIALS AND METHODS MRI for twenty patients was performed on a Philips Ingenia 3T scanner without an endorectal coil followed by subsequent radical prostatectomy. DCE 3D T1-FFE data were acquired with injection of 0.03 mmol/kg followed after 2 minutes by 0.07 mmol/kg of DOTAREM. Regions-of-interest on histologically verified PCa and normal tissue in different prostate zones and the iliac artery were drawn. Average signal intensity as function of time was calculated for each ROI and fitted by using the signal intensity form of the Tofts (SI-Tofts) model to extract physiological parameters (Ktrans and ve). In addition, the scaled arterial input function (AIF) obtained from 30PSD data was used to analyze 70PSD data. RESULTS The AIF obtained from 30PSD data showed both first and second passes clearly and had much higher peak magnitude than AIFs from 70PSD data. Ktrans was significantly (p < 0.05) larger in PCa than in normal tissue in peripheral zone (PZ) and central zone (CZ) for both 70PSD and 70PSD data analyzed with a scaled AIF. Ktrans in cancer overlapped with that of normal tissue in the transition zone (TZ). There was no statistical difference in ve between cancer and normal tissue. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that use of the AIF from 30PSD data to analyze 70PSD data increased the diagnostic efficacy of Ktrans in the PZ and CZ. CONCLUSION The split dose protocol for injection of Dotarem increased diagnostic accuracy of quantitative analysis with the SI-Tofts model.
A Computationally Efficient Algorithm for Computing Convex Hull Prices

Abstract Electricity markets worldwide allow participants to bid non-convex production offers. While non-convex offers can more accurately reflect a resource’s capabilities, they create challenges for market clearing processes. For example, system operators may be required to execute side payments to participants whose costs are not covered through energy sales as determined via traditional locational marginal pricing schemes. Convex hull pricing minimizes this and other types of side payments while providing uniform (i.e., locationally and temporally consistent) prices. Computing convex hull prices involves solving either a large-scale linear program or the Lagrangian dual of the corresponding non-convex scheduling problem. Further, the former approach requires explicit descriptions of market participants’ convex hulls. While linear programs for computing convex hull prices are large, their structure is naturally decomposable by generators. Here, we propose and empirically analyze a Benders decomposition approach to computing convex hull prices that leverages recent advances in convex hull formulations for thermal generating units. We demonstrate across a large set of test instances that our decomposition approach only requires modest computational effort, obtaining solutions at least an order of magnitude faster than the equivalent large-scale linear programming approach. Overall, we provide a computationally feasible method for computing convex hull prices for industrial scale market clearing problems, enabling the possibility of practical adoption of this advanced pricing mechanism.
Enterovirus D-68 presenting with acute pancreatitis.

Readers comment on enterovirus D-68 (January 2015), eosinophilic esophagitis (February 2015), the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (February 2015), and alcoholic hepatitis (March 2015).
Automatic Rootcausing for Program Equivalence Failures in Binaries

Equivalence checking of imperative programs has several applications including compiler validation and cross-version verification. Debugging equivalence failures can be tedious for large examples, especially for low-level binary programs. In this paper, we formalize a simple yet precise notion of verifiable rootcause for equivalence failures that leverages semantic similarity between two programs. Unlike existing works on program repair, our definition of rootcause avoids the need for a template of fixes or the need for a complete repair to ensure equivalence. We show progressively weaker checks for detecting rootcauses that can be applicable even when multiple fixes are required to make the two programs equivalent. We provide optimizations based on Maximum Satisfiability (MAXSAT) and binary search to prune the search space of such rootcauses. We have implemented the techniques in SymDiff and provide an evaluation on a set of real-world compiler validation binary benchmarks.
Optical pickup-based Raman microspectroscopy system

We propose and demonstrate the adoption of the compact disc optical pickup technology for Raman microspectroscopy. We utilize both the focusing and the 2D scanning capabilities of an optical pickup for implementation of a miniaturized microspectroscopy system. The resolution of this pickup-based system is characterized by scanning polystyrene microspheres. We test the completed microspectroscopy system by obtaining Raman images of adenine microstructures. This system will be useful for table-top biological analyzers and other remote medicine applications.
Weapons of Microbial Drug Resistance Abound in Soil Flora

Bacteria found in soils show robust resistance to many antibiotics. These protective mechanisms may offer clues for generating a new arsenal of therapeutic drugs.
Maxim: micro-arcsecond x-ray imaging mission

ABSTRACT The x-ray band of the spectrum is the natural place to perform super-high resolution imaging of astronomical objects. Because x-ray sources can have very intense surface brightness and interferometers can be made with very short baselines, x-ray interferometry has great potential. We will discuss MAXIM, the Micro-Arcsecond X-ray Imaging Mission and MAXIM Pathfinder, a coordinated pair of x-ray astronomy missions designed to exploit the potential of x-ray interferometry. We will show how it is possible to achieve huge gains in resolution using today's technology. The Pathfinder mission will achieve resolution of 100 micro-arcseconds and will image the coronae of the nearby stars. MAXIM, with a design specification of 0.1 micro-arcseconds, has the goal of imaging the event horizons of massive black holes. We will explain the architecture of the missions and describe the activities NASA is supporting in the area of x-ray interferometry. Keywords: X-rays, Interferometry, X-ray Astronomy, X-ray Optics, Grazing Incidence Optics
Krüppel cripples prostate cancer: KLF6 progress and prospects.

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men. In the U.S. there will be an estimated 198,000 new prostate cancer cases diagnosed and nearly 32,000 deaths this year. 1 Moreover, risk will increase substantially as the male population over the age of 65 nearly doubles in the next 25 years. 1 Thus, it has been estimated that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and that more than 1 million men now older than 50 will eventually die of prostate cancer in the U.S. 2,3 Not evident within these statistics is that certain populations – specifically elderly and African American males – may harbor even greater risk. For example, 20% of all cancer-related deaths in men aged greater than 75 years in the last decade was due to prostate cancer and regardless of age, black men had the highest prostate cancer incidence and death rates among ethnic groups. 4 While risk factors for prostate cancer development, including age, race, and family history, have long been recognized, our understanding of the genetic basis of this complex and multi-factorial disease remains insufficiently clarified. The challenges of identifying and characterizing candidate prostate cancer susceptibility genes have been thoughtfully reviewed by several authors. 5-8 However, targeted approaches, including linkage analysis and positional gene cloning of hereditary prostate cancer genes, combined with high-throughput genomic analysis of sporadic tumor samples, have begun to reveal key molecular determinants. In this issue of The American Journal of Pathology, Chen et al 9 present the first independent confirmation of a recently identified candidate prostate cancer tumor suppressor gene, Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6). 10 These collective findings represent an exciting turning point in the genetic analysis of prostate cancer and point to important new directions for further study. To put this discovery into proper biological context, it is instructive to first review other recent advances in the disease, including risks associated with aging, race, and heredity.
Effect of Clopidogrel Use Post Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery on Graft Patency

Background Clopidogrel use post coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has become more popular under the assumption that it improves graft patency. The purpose of this sub-analysis from the Randomized On and Off-Pump Bypass (ROOBY) trial is to evaluate the role of clopidogrel use post CABG to improve graft patency when added to standard aspirin therapy. Methods The ROOBY trial was a multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial that compared on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Clopidogrel use post CABG was left at the discretion of the operator. Detailed data regarding the use and timing of clopidogrel post CABG were collected prospectively, along with 1-year angiograms to evaluate graft status. Results Of the 2,203 subjects undergoing CABG, 953 patient records had complete clopidogrel use and 1-year angiographic data. Of these, 345 (36.2%) received clopidogrel post CABG prior to discharge. Compared with patients with no post-CABG clopidogrel use, baseline characteristics were similar for the clopidogrel group except for the following: lower preoperative aspirin use (80.2% vs 86.7%, p = 0.009); higher preoperative clopidogrel use (23.5% vs 14.0%, p p p p = 0.43). Multivariable analyses did not alter these findings. Conclusions This study suggests that routine post-CABG clopidogrel use may not translate to improved 1-year graft patency. Future studies appear warranted to better define the role of more aggressive antiplatelet therapy post CABG on graft patency and clinical outcomes.
Cathodic behaviour of antimony (IiI) species in chloride solutions

Cathodic copper is easily contaminated by antimony in copper electrowinning from chloride solutions even when the antimony concentration in the electrolyte is as low as 2 p.p.m. Reduction potential measurements of copper and antimony species indicate that electrodeposition of antimony is unlikely unless copper concentration polarization exists near the cathode surface. A.c. impedance measurements and the effect of the rotation speed of the disc electrode indicate that the cathodic process mechanism for antimony is complicated. Both diffusion and chemical reactions occurring on the cathode surface supply the electrochemical active antimony species for the cathodic process. Reaction orders of the cathodic process with respect to antimony chloride, hydrogen and chloride ion concentrations are 2, −1 and −1, respectively. A proposed reaction mechanism for the process explains the experimental findings satisfactorily.
The nitrous acid deamination of glycosides and acetates of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose

A procedure is described for the nitrous acid deamination of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose hydrochloride (1), and reduction of the product with buffered borohydride, to afford crystalline 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol (3) in 71% yield. Similar treatment of the methyl α-pyranoside (4) of 1 gives 59% of crystalline 3, and the same product is obtained in 44% yield from 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-amino-2-deoxy-α(or β)-D-glucopyranose hydrochloride (5 or 6) by the deamination-reduction sequence with subsequent deacetylation. These results provide a model, for a nonhydrolytic, depolymerization technique for structural characterization of glycosaminoglycans.
Suture end length as a function of knot integrity.

Objective To evaluate tension at the failure of 3 commonly used sutures when suture ends were cut to 3 lengths. Study Design Knots were tied using U.S. Pharmacopeia Size 0–0 polyglactin 910, silk, or polydioxanone sutures. The knots were tied randomly on a jig by the same surgeon. End lengths were then cut to random lengths of 0, 3, and 10 mm. We compared the individual knot strength when subjected to tensile forces via tensiometer with the point of knot failure, which was defined as untying and/or breaking of the knot. Results Three types of suture were divided into 3 groups based on end lengths for a total of 178 knots. A logistic regression analysis showed the odds of knots coming untied were highest for polyglactin 910 (odds ratio [OR] = 33.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.1–277.1). End length also had a significant effect on knots untying, with the 0-mm knots being more likely to come untied (OR, 21.2; 95% CI, 2.9–153.0). Post hoc tests for a 3 × 3 analysis of variance found that silk knots failed at significantly lower tension than polydioxanone (p Conclusions The knots with an end length of 0 mm were significantly more likely to come untied than either 3- or 10-mm knots. Among all the materials, polyglactin 910 was the most prone to untying; however, it resulted in untying at a mean tension greater than the breaking point of silk.
The metabolism of d-mannose-14C to polysaccharide in corn roots. Specific labeling of l-galactose, d-mannose, and l-fucose

d -Mannose-14C is readily incorporated into ethanol-insoluble polysaccharide by corn roots. Hydrolysis of this material by acid releases four radioactive components, three of which have been identified as l -galactose, d -mannose, and l -fucose, respectively. The identity of the fourth component is not known, but no radioactivity has been detected in the major sugars of the cell wall, namely, d -glucose, d -galactose, d -xylose, and l -arabinose. The specific labeling pattern observed indicates that d -mannose is probably converted to polysaccharide by a relatively direct route that does not involve its equilibration with the glycolytic hexose phosphate pool. The isolation of labeled l -galactose from corn roots suggests that this sugar may be more widespread in plants than hitherto suspected.
Inhibition of trehalase-activity in the hemolymph of Phormia regina Meig.

The blood of Phormia regina Meig. has been shown to contain trehalose, trehalase, and a system which prevents hydrolysis of the substrate by the enzyme. Further investigation of the inhibitory system has resulted in the discovery of what appear to be at least two components: a large molecule, possibly proteinaceous in nature, and a metal ion. Consideration has been given to the role of this system in regulating trehalose breakdown in the insect.
Humor in the Academic Library: You Must Be Joking! or, How Many Academic Librarians Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb?

In an effort to improve profits and productivity for employers and the quality of work life for employees, many U.S. companies have begun to embrace humor in the workplace. Humor is thought to be a means to promote teamwork, reduce stress, stimulate creativity, and improve communication, morale, and productivity. Initiatives in business have included official programs such as creation of “humor rooms” for employee use as well as less-structured mechanisms such as encouraging the use of humor in memos and staff newsletters. This investigation discusses appropriate and potentially helpful applications of workplace humor to enhance the work atmosphere in academic libraries.
The Unwieldy American State: Administrative Politics Since the New Deal. By Joanna L. Grisinger. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012. 324 pp. $88.00 cloth; $31.99 paper.

The Unwieldy American State: Administrative Politics Since the New Deal. By Joanna L. Grisinger. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012. 324 pp. $88.00 cloth; $31.99 paper.The constitutional battles over creation of the New Deal gave way in the 1940s and 1950s, Joanna Grisinger argues in this evocative history, to increasingly narrow efforts at technical restructuring of the checks on the administrative state, and then to efforts to improve its efficiency. Put simply, opposition morphed into efforts at improvement.Grisinger focuses on three major efforts at restructuring: the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the Legislative Reorgani- zation Act (LRA), adopted within months of each other in 1946, and the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of Gov- ernment (the Hoover Commission), begun the next year. The APA reformed procedures and increased judicial oversight; the LRA restructured congressional committee oversight; and the Hoover Commission tried to improve administrative efficiency and presi- dential control over agencies. Grisinger argues that these reforms mainly legitimated the growing administrative state: they gave the appearance of bringing it under the rule of law, congressional control, and executive direction. But they really accomplished little of these things.The book is divided into five chapters, plus a brief introduc- tion and conclusion. The first chapter shows how, by the late 1930s, opponents of the New Deal had given up their frontal assault on it and turned to complaints that its new agencies were acting unfairly. By this, they meant that agency procedures did not meet judicial standards of due process. The American Bar Association (ABA), for example, complained of agency hearings in which a single official would both hear (and decide) the case and represent the agency's position. Often, this official had managed the case from its inception, had consulted at length with other agency officials during the buildup to the hearing, and sometimes continued these consultations during the hearing. Conservative lawyers complained that this was hardly "due process." But the federal courts consistently accepted these sorts of procedures as constitutionally adequate. Justice Frankfurter declared that it would be inappropriate to turn administrative agencies into something like courts.So the critics turned to Congress for relief, and the path of reform there is the subject of chapter two. Its focus is the APA of 1946. The ABA's preferred solution, the Walter-Logan Act, would have thoroughly judicialized the administrative state. Roosevelt vetoed it and created a committee to draft an alterna- tive. Out of this came the APA. The APA famously separated the functions of rulemaking, adjudication, and prosecution within agencies, thus addressing the ABA's sharpest complaints. But this was a simple one-size-fits-all structure for federal agen- cies, and it required only a relaxed form of administrative due process. …
Incommensurate antiferromagnetic order in strained layer MnSe/ZnTe superlattices

Abstract Neutron diffraction data from MnSe/ZnTe, a MBE-grown superlattice system containing zinc-blende (ZB) MnSe layers subjected to a considerable tensile stress, indicate the formation of an incommensurate helical AF structure which is clearly different from the Type III FCC AF order seen in unstrained ZB Mn chalcogenides, and in MnSe/ZnSe and MnTe/ZnTe superlattices with compressive strain. Energy considerations show that such an arrangement results from strain-induced anisotropy in the nearest-neighbor exchange.
Serum creatinine measurements in men with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract Objectives To determine the usefulness of routine serum creatinine measurements in men with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to correlate these findings with patient age, symptom severity, and comorbid diseases. Methods We analyzed serum creatinine measurements in 246 consecutive men presenting for evaluation of voiding symptoms and BPH. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality-of-life measure from the IPSS, patient age, or a history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension predicted abnormal creatinine levels. Results An elevated serum creatinine level was noted in 11% (26 of 245) of evaluable patients. Only a history of diabetes or hypertension predicted the presence of renal insufficiency. Among men with no history of comorbid disease, increasing age was significantly associated with the finding of an abnormal creatinine. Neither the overall symptom score nor the quality-of-life measure was significantly associated with the likelihood of detectable renal dysfunction. Conclusions Medical renal disease secondary to diabetes or hypertension appears to be the most likely cause of elevated serum creatinine measurements in men with BPH and renal insufficiency. We were unable to identify subgroups of patients in whom the risk of renal dysfunction is sufficiently low to avoid routine serum creatinine measurements.
Response characteristics of neurons in the medial geniculate body of the little brown bat to simple and temporally-patterned sounds.

We examined the auditory response properties of neurons in the medial geniculate body of unanesthetized little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus). The units' selectivities to stimulus frequency, amplitude and duration were not significantly different from those of neurons in the inferior colliculus (Condon et al. 1994), which provides the primary excitatory input to the medial geniculate body, or in the auditory cortex (Condon et al. 1997) which receives primary input from the medial geniculate body. However, in response to trains of unmodulated tone pulses, the upper cutoff frequency for time-locked discharges (64 ± 46.9 pulses per second or pps) and the mean number of spikes per pulse (19.2 ± 12.2 pps), were intermediate to those for the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex. Further, in response to amplitude-modulated pulse trains, medial geniculate body units displayed a degree of response facilitation that was intermediate to that of the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex inferior colliculus: 1.32 ± 0.33; medial geniculate body: 1.75 ± 0.26; auditory cortex: 2.52 ± 0.96, P < 0.01). These data suggest that the representation of isolated tone pulses is not significantly altered along the colliculo-thalamo-cortical axis, but that the fidelity of representation of temporally patterned signals progressively degrades along this axis. The degradation in response fidelity allows the system to better extract the salient feature in complex amplitude-modulated signals.
The existence of doubly near resolvable (v,3,2)-BIBDs

The existence of doubly near resolvable (v,2,1)-BIBDs was established by Mullin and Wallis in 1975. In this article, we determine the spectrum of a second class of doubly near resolvable balanced incomplete block designs. We prove the existence of DNR(v,3,2)-BIBDs for v ≡ 1 (mod 3), v ≥ 10 and v ∉ {34,70,85,88,115,124,133,142}. The main construction is a frame construction, and similar constructions can be used to prove the existence of doubly resolvable (v,3,2)-BIBDs and a class of Kirkman squares with block size 3, KS3(v,2,4). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Convolution of discrete measures on linear groups

Abstract Let p , q ∈ R such that 1 p 2 and 2 p = 1 + 1 q . Define (∗) ‖ f ‖ p ′ = max x , G 1 ( ∑ y ∈ G 1 | f ( x y ) | p ) 1 / p , where G 1 is taken in some class of subgroups specified later. We prove the following two theorems about convolutions. Theorem 2 Let G = SL 2 ( C ) equipped with the discrete topology. Then there is a constant τ = τ p > 0 such that for f ∈ l p ( G ) ‖ f ∗ f ‖ q 1 / 2 ⩽ C ‖ f ‖ p 1 − τ ( ‖ f ‖ p ′ ) τ , where the maximum in (∗) is taken over all abelian subgroups G 1 G and x ∈ G . Theorem 3 There is a constant C = C p > 0 and 1 > τ = τ p > 0 such that if f ∈ l p ( SL 3 ( Z ) ) , then ‖ f ∗ f ‖ q 1 / 2 ⩽ C ‖ f ‖ p 1 − τ ( ‖ f ‖ p ′ ) τ , where the maximum in (∗) is taken over all nilpotent subgroups G 1 of SL 3 ( Z ) and x ∈ SL 3 ( Z ) .
Bacterial Thermotaxis by Speed Modulation

Abstract Naturally occurring gradients often extend over relatively long distances such that their steepness is too small for bacteria to detect. We studied the bacterial behavior in such thermal gradients. We find that bacteria migrate along shallow thermal gradients due to a change in their swimming speed resulting from the effect of temperature on the intracellular pH, which also depends on the chemical environment. When nutrients are scarce in the environment the bacteria's intracellular pH decreases with temperature. As a result, the swimming speed of the bacteria decreases with temperature, which causes them to slowly drift toward the warm end of the thermal gradient. However, when serine is added to the medium at concentrations >300 μ M, the intracellular pH increases causing the swimming speed to increase continuously with temperature, and the bacteria to drift toward the cold end of the temperature gradient. This directional migration is not a result of bacterial thermotaxis in the classical sense, because the steepness of the gradients applied is below the sensing threshold of bacteria. Nevertheless, our results show that the directional switch requires the presence of the bacterial sensing receptors. This seems to be due to the involvement of the receptors in regulating the intracellular pH.
Regional and segmental differences in the embryonic expression of a putative leech Hox gene, Lox2, by central neurons immunoreactive to FMRFamide-like neuropeptides

We performed immunofluorescence experiments using a rat polyclonal antibody on formaldehyde-fixed whole-mount embryos to characterize the expression of a putative leech Hox gene, Lox2, during embryonic development. The main goal was to determine whether the differentiation of subsets of FMRFamide-like immunoreactive (FLI) neurons coincide with the expression domain of Lox2. The earliest expression of Lox2 was detected in relatively large, prominent nuclei in the posterior region at embryonic day 4, a very early stage. Lox2 expression was also detected in subsets of central neurons (neurons located in the CNS) located in midbody ganglia 6 (M6)–M21. In addition, Lox2 was expressed by a number of segment-specific and segmentally repeated central FLI neurons. Lox2-positive FLI neurons of interest included some of those previously identified: the rostral most ventral (RMV) neurons, the circular ventral (CV) neurons, and cell 261. The paired RMVs, which are located in all midbody ganglia, expressed Lox2 only in M7–M19. The CV neurons, specialized motor neurons that innervate the circular ventral muscles of the body wall, expressed Lox2 in M7–M19. The putative cell 261 expressed Lox2 in M7–M12, where Lox1 is also expressed. FMRFamide staining in putative segmental homologs of cell 261 was not detected in other segmental ganglia. Our results suggest a role for Lox2 in very early embryonic development (before the formation of the CNS), and in the differentiation of segmentally repeated and region-specific FLI neurons.
Improvement of Plate and Shell Finite Elements by Mixed Formulations

Mixed formulations are introduced as a means for reducing severe constraints in finite-element derivations. For plate bending elements to include transverse shear effect and to be applicable also to thin plates, the method can reduce the conditions of constraints of zero transverse shear strain energy. For shell elements, the constraints of rigid-body modes can be lessened similarly. Certain mixed formulations have been shown to be equivalent to displacement models with reduced integration scheme. But the present approach provides a general and rational method for the finite-element development. Illustrative examples include plate, circular arch, and shell elements.
Applications of transformed‐space non‐uniform PSTD (TSNU‐PSTD) in scattering analysis without the use of the non‐uniform FFT

In this work, we extend the transformed-space, non-uniform pseudo-spectral time domain (TSNU-PSTD) Maxwell solver for a 2D scattering analysis. Prior to implementing the PSTD in this analysis, we first transform the non-uniform grids {xi} and {yj} sampled in the real space for describing complex geometries to uniform ones {ui} and {vj}, in order to fit the dimensions of practical structures and utilize the standard fast Fourier transform (FFT). Next, we use a uniform-sampled, standard FFT to represent spatial derivatives in the space domain of (u, v). It is found that this scheme is as efficient as the conventional uniform PSTD with the computational complexity of O(N log N), since the difference is only the factors of du/dx and dv/dy between the conventional PSTD and the TSNU-PSTD technique. Additionally, we apply an anisotropic version of the Berenger's perfectly matched layers (APML) to suppress the wraparound effect at the open boundaries of the computational domain, which is caused by the periodicity of the FFT. We also employ the pure scattered-field formulation and develop a near-to-far-zone field transformation in order to calculate scattered far fields. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 16–21, 2003
Viscoelastic behaviour of macro-defect-free cement

The viscoelastic behaviour of macro-defect-free (MDF) cement was studied by dynamic mechanical analysis. MDF specimens with various moisture contents in the range 1.70%–3.20% moisture, were measured at 1 Hz as a function of temperature from 34–96 °C and as a function of frequency from 0.05–5 Hz at 34°C. The viscoelasticity of MDF was found to be affected by moisture content through its plasticizing effect on the PVA binder. Time-moisture and temperature-moisture superposition of the shear moduli were found to be possible for MDF, and linear relationships between log time and linear moisture and between temperature and moisture were found. How the microstructure of MDF affects the viscoelastic response is also discussed through mechanical models. A comparison of the models with known experimental data suggests that the viscoelastic response arises from both direct connections between the inorganic particles and from connections through the polymer binder. Inorganic links are estimated to connect 45% of the inorganic phase.
Efficacy of radio frequency treatment and its potential for control of sapstain and wood decay fungi on red oak, poplar, and southern yellow pine wood species

The effectiveness of radio frequency (RF) treatment in the control of wood decay fungi (Gloeophyllum trabeum, Ganoderma lucidum, and Irpex lacteus) and sapstain fungus (Ceratocystis fimbriata) in red oak (Quercus spp.), poplar (Populus alba), and southern yellow pine (Pinus spp.) was evaluated in the laboratory as an alternative to methyl bromide (MB) treatment. Wood samples (15.5 x 10 x 10 cm) were inoculated with fungi from a 7-day culture by dipping them to a depth of one face deep (2 cm) into inoculum and incubating them at 25°C for 14 days. Identical wood samples were left uninoculated as controls. Subsequent to incubation, the wood blocks were exposed to RF radiation in an industrial 40-kW dielectric oven at temperatures between 60° and 70°C for 2 min. The test fungi were recovered and reisolated from all of the control wood blocks but not from RF-treated wood blocks. RF treatment resulted in complete inhibition of the fungus in 98%-100% of the wood samples. Moisture content loss (≥1%) was noted after wood had been exposed to RF treatment. Moisture content may be an important factor to consider with RF treatments. RF treatment can, therefore, potentially provide an effective and rapid quarantine treatment as an alternative to MB fumigation for certain pathogen-wood combinations.
Residual Diagnostics for Growth Mixture Models: Examining the Impact of a Preventive Intervention on Multiple Trajectories of Aggressive Behavior

Growth mixture modeling has become a prominent tool for studying the heterogeneity of developmental trajectories within a population. In this article we develop graphical diagnostics to detect misspecification in growth mixture models regarding the number of growth classes, growth trajectory means, and covariance structures. For each model misspecification, we propose a different type of empirical Bayes residual to quantify the departure. Our procedure begins by imputing multiple independent sets of growth classes for the sample. Then, from these so-called “pseudoclass” draws, we form diagnostic plots to examine the averaged empirical distributions of residuals in each such class. Our proposals draw on the property that each single set of pseudoclass adjusted residuals is asymptotically normal with known mean and (co)variance when the underlying model is correct. These methods are justified in simulation studies involving two classes of linear growth curves that also differ by their covariance structures....
Detection of neuropeptide mRNA in rat brain by in situ hybridization with radiolabeled synthetic oligonucleotide probes

Abstract Radiolabeled synthetic oligonucleotide probes were used for detection of somatostatin and vasopressin mRNA in rat brain by in situ hybridization.
Midlevel Cyclonic Vortices Generated by Mesoseale Convective Systems

Abstract Despite the large number of convective systems that occur over the central United States every year, there are typically only a few well-defined, midlevel vortices apparent in satellite imagery after the overlying anvil debris from some convective complexes has dissipated or advected away. A climatology of mesoscale convectively generated vortex (MCV) events for 1981-1988 is presented and the synoptic setting in which the circulation becomes apparent is discussed. Proximity sounding data from numerous cases are used to examine features of the kinematic and thermodynamic setting of MCVs at various lifelycle stages defined by satellite imagery. Features ofthe large-scale environment that appear conducive to the formation and longevity of MCVS include weak flow, weak vertical shear, weak background relative vorticity, and intense horizontal and vertical moisture gradients. The rapid mesovortex generation observed can be explained by the stretching term of the vorticity equation. Most MCVs emerge fro...
From indifference to goodness.

In this paper, delivered as the 1995 Philip Hallie Memorial Lecture at Wesleyan University's College of Letters, the author reflects on Hallie's philosophical legacy and introduces clinical pragmatism as a method for moral problem-solving in medicine and medical ethics.