cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating a Potential Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Growth

Modern business has recently trended towards a focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) due to a growing sense that companies should uphold ethical standards not only for their direct stakeholders, but also for society at large. This study therefore investigated whether a relationship between companies’ CSR/philanthropic efforts and financial growth may exist. The six public companies investigated (Alphabet, Apple, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Kroger, and Walmart) were the six highest-ranked on the 2019 Fortune 500 list that also appeared on the 2018 Fortune Change the World list. One notable philanthropic effort for each company was selected. Financial statements from the year before, during, and after the philanthropic efforts began were examined and sales revenue was recorded. A positive correlation was found between Apple’s and Kroger’s financial success and philanthropic efforts but not for the other four companies. This may indicate that CSR is a strong factor in how customers perceive those two companies. The weak correlation found between these two variables for the four remaining firms may demonstrate that the relationship between CSR and consumer choice is weak or nonexistent. The results of this study are intended to prepare future research involving the potential relationship between corporate social responsibility and sales revenue, by providing a framework for related statistics and information among top philanthropic public corporations.
Hiatal Hernia Complicating Bariatric Surgery

Rates of hiatal hernia (HH) in the morbidly obese population have been reported to be as high as 37%. Increased intraabdominal pressure secondary to abdominal girth is thought to contribute to greater-than-average rates of HH in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Additionally, while Roux-en-y gastric bypass is often considered to be an “anti-reflux” operation, the more popular surgical option, sleeve gastrectomy, is thought by many to increase the risk of unimpeded reflux. In addition to worsening of reflux symptoms after surgery, the effect of long-term acid exposure must also be considered. Consequently, controversy exists regarding the addition of concurrent hiatal repair in the setting of bariatric surgery. An additional dimension of this controversy arises when a morbidly obese patient is referred for paraesophageal hernia; the surgeon must consider whether a concurrent bariatric procedure and subsequent weight loss would result in the most durable hiatal repair. In this chapter, a diverse body of literature is reviewed and summarized, and future directions for further research and elucidation of this complex topic are explored.
Supraacetabular osseous corridor: defining dimensions, sex differences, and alternatives.

The supraacetabular (SA) corridor extends from the anterior inferior iliac spine to the posterior ilium and can safely accommodate implants to stabilize pelvic and acetabular fractures. However, quantitative analysis of its dimensions and characteristics have not been thoroughly described. This study seeks to define the dimensions, common constriction points, and any alternative trajectories that would maximize the corridor diameter. Computed tomography of 100 male and 100 female hemipelves without osseous trauma were evaluated. The corridor boundaries were determined through manual best-fit analysis. The largest intercortical cylinder within the pathway was created and measured. Alternative trajectories were tested within the SA boundaries to identify another orientation that maximized the diameter of the intercortical cylinder. The traditional SA corridor had a mean diameter of 8.3 mm in men and 6.2 mm in women. This difference in diameter is due to a more S-shaped ilium in women. A larger alternative SA corridor was found that had a less limited path through the ilium and measured 11.3 mm in men and 9.9 mm in women. These dimensions are significantly different compared to those of the traditional SA corridor in both men and women. In men, the SA corridor allows for the safe passage of most hardware used in pelvic and acetabular fractures. However, in women, the SA corridor is restricted by a more S-shaped ilium. An alternative trajectory was found that has a significantly larger mean diameter in both sexes. Ultimately, the trajectory of hardware will be dictated by the clinical scenario. When large implants are needed, especially in women, we recommend considering the alternative SA corridor.
4-vinylpyridine derivatives: Protonation, methylation and silver(I) coordination chemistry:

(E)-4-[2-(Pyridin-4-yl)vinyl]benzaldehyde, containing both a 4-vinylpyridine and an aldehyde functionality, is utilized to develop new, highly conjugated chalcone compounds and a bis-Schiff base az...
The "Active Search" Hypothesis: How Search Strategies Relate to Creative Learning

While research shows that web search plays a role throughout the creative process, less is known about about how people use web search to learn and frame their thinking about an open problem. People need web search to gather information about a problem area, but this can also influence the rest of the creative process. To understand how web search affects early-stage design, we collected and analyzed search log and self-report data from 34 students in a project-based design class. Participants reported struggling with scoping broad, ill-defined information goals into queries, learning domain-specific language, and assessing the usefulness of information. Analysis found that more active and diverse search behavior (i.e. issuing more frequent and diverse queries, and opening more webpages) related to more progress in early-stage design (i.e. gathering more facts, articulating more insights, and developing better problem frames). Based on these findings, we discuss implications for designing search tools to support peoples' creative processes.
GERD Outlook: A Gastroenterologist’s Perspective

The clinical and phenotypic complexity of GERD requires a detailed, multimodality diagnostic evaluation prior to decision-making for pharmacological, endoscopic, or surgical therapies. An individualized selection has to be based on symptoms, clinical presentation, proper disease definition, therapeutic objectives, and available local endoscopic and surgical expertise. As these novel endoscopic and laparoscopic technologies evolve and mature and long-term data becomes available, decision-making will remain in flux but best done at multidisciplinary esophageal centers of excellence.
Implementation of holistic review into emergency medicine residency application screening to improve recruitment of underrepresented in medicine applicants.

Introduction Increasing the diversity of the emergency medicine (EM) workforce is imperative, with more diverse teams showing improved patient care and increased innovation. Holistic review, adapted from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), focuses on screening applicants with a balanced method, valuing their experiences, attributes, and academic metrics equally. A core tenet to holistic review is that diversity is essential to excellence. Objective Implementation of holistic review into the residency application screening process is effective at improving exposure to underrepresented in medicine (URiM) applicants. Methods After adjustment of our residency application screening rubric, improving our balance across the experience, attributes, and metrics domains, we conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing the representation of URiM applicants invited to interview, interviewed, and ranked by composite score compared to our previous primarily metric-based process. Results A total of 8,343 applicants were included in the study. Following implementation of holistic review, we saw an increase in the absolute percent of URiM applicants invited to interview (+11%, 95% confidence interview [CI] = 6.9% to 15.4%, p < 0.01), interviewed (+7.9%, 95% CI = 3.6% to 12.2%, p < 0.01), and represented in the top 75 through top 200 cutpoints based on composite score rank. The mean composite score for URiM applicants increased significantly compared to non-URiM applicants (+9.7, 95% CI = 8.2 to 11.2, p < 0.01 vs. +4.7, 95% CI = 3.5 to 5.9, p < 0.01). Conclusion Holistic review can be used as a systematic and equitable tool to increase the exposure and recruitment of URiM applicants in EM training programs.
On Risk Preferences and Curvilinear Utility Curves

Kuznar’s (CA 42:432–40) proposed relationship between social status (wealth), risk preference, and utility bears further scrutiny. The author proposes “that there will be a general curvilinear relationship between wealth and risk sensitivity in which the poor and the wealthy will prefer risky prospects whereas those with more moderate wealth will be risk-averse” (p. 437). He attempts to clarify this claim with his figure 3, which expresses a relationship between status/wealth and utility. Here I reproduce that figure with some expositional additions (fig. 1). Kuznar’s hypothesized relationship actually contradicts the claims/predictions that he apparently derives from it (captured in the above quotation). In fact, figure 1 shows that an individual at a particular wealth level may be risk-averse, risk-prone, or risk-neutral depending on the size of the stakes in the gamble. Consider a focal poor herder facing a choice between two options: (1) a sure gain of three cows and (2) a 50% chance at six cows and a 50% chance of zero cows. From figure 1 we see that U3 gives the utility received from gaining three cows (option 1) and U6 the utility received from gaining six cows. To figure out which choice our focal herder makes, assuming that his decisions are governed by expected utility maximization and the proposed relationship, we must calculate and compare the expected utilities from the two options. The expected utility of option 1 is simply U3, and the expected utility of option 2 is U6—(0.5)(U6) (0.5)(U0); U0 p 0. For a risk-neutral in1 2 dividual, N6 gives the utility from receiving six cows, and N6 gives the expected utility of option 2. Noting 1 2 that N6 p 2U3 (because of the linear relationship between them), we see that a risk-neutral individual will be indifferent between the two options. From figure 1, we can also observe that U6 1 N6, which implies that U N6—meaning that the utility of option 2 is greater 1 1 1 6 2 2 than that of option 1 ( U6 1 U3). Thus, our herder prefers 1 2 the risky option (option 2). To generalize the analysis we could simply replace three cows with the variable w (6 cows p 2w). This part is consistent with Kuznar’s analysis.
Progress toward magnetoelectric spintronics

Ferromagnetic materials can be used for information storage because they have bistable states that can be seen as “1” and “0.” In magnetic-based memory devices such as magnetic tapes, magnetic hard drives, and magnetic random access memory, information is stored by switching the magnetic state using a magnetic field that is generated by electric currents. Such a field should, however, be larger enough to overcome the coercive field of the materials and thus consumes a large amount of power. Although the spin transfer torque generated by the spin current lowers the current requirement of switching one bit by orders of magnitude, the voltage-controlled spintronics is greatly demanded for ultraminiature and power-efficient devices. Multiferroic materials and magnetoelectric heterostructures have attracted intensified research interest because of the strong magnetoelectric coupling that can control the magnetism of ferromagnetic materials by applied voltage. Different magnetoelectric coupling mechanisms and strain-mediated, interfacial charge-mediated, and exchange coupled magnetoelectric effects are discussed in this chapter. The ferroelastic nonvolatile switching of magnetism in artificial ferromagnetic/ferroelectric magnetoelelctric heterostructures is a focus. The localized voltage control of the magnetic bit offers great opportunity to miniaturize spintronic devices. In traditional magnetic random access memory devices, a reduced Oersted field on the neighboring bit would also apply. With the presence of multiferroic or magnetoelectric materials, spin is controlled by an electric field, which opens new opportunities for voltage control of spintronic devices. In such novel spintronics the spin and charge, or magnetic and ferroelectric degrees of freedom, are coupled to achieve voltage control of the magnetic state with ultralow energy consumption.
Activation of PERK and endoplasmic reticulum signaling in response to anoikis

5515 Tumor cells, unlike their normal counterpart, are capable of anchorage-independent growth, which results from their ability to circumvent death signals activated during suspension-induced cell death or ‘anoikis’. Signaling from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during ER-stress allows cells to decide between survival and apoptosis. However, whether the ER signaling machinery generates survival or apoptotic signals in response to adhesion signaling is still unclear. We decided to examine if the ER is capable of sensing loss of anchorage to a suitable substratum and its link to survival during anoikis. We monitored transcriptional activation of the promoter for CHOP/GADD153, a gene induced during ER-stress, in immortalized wild type (wt) and PERK -/- mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) in adherent or suspended growth conditions. wtMEF cells transfected with a CHOP promoter driven-EGFP reporter plasmid, showed higher levels of EGFP expression than PERK -/- cells (p 2.5-fold in wt over PERK-/- cells within 24 hrs. Further, expression of a dominant negative PERK reduced CHOP activation in response to growth in suspension. Activation of PERK-CHOP signaling in suspended cells was dependent on p38SAPK signaling since co-transfection with dominant negative p38SAPK decreased CHOP activation in wtMEFS. Expression of GADD34, a phospho-eIF2α phosphatase, as well as eIF2αS51A, an eIF2α mutant which is not phosphorylated by PERK, inhibited CHOP-promoter activation in suspended wt cells, suggesting that activation of the CHOP promoter was dependent on PERK phosphorylation of eIF2α. We found that splicing of XBP-1 was not activated in response to suspension, suggesting that PERK but not IRE1α functions as a sensor of adhesion signals in the ER. Quantitation of cell viability by trypan blue staining of wt and PERK-/- MEFs revealed that while adherent PERK-/- and wt MEFs had similar and high viability (94.2 ±2.4% viable cells), when placed in suspension for 48hrs, CHOP-EGFP transfected PERK-/- cells were more susceptible (56.3 ±0.96%) to anoikis than CHOP-EGFP transfected wt cells (87.1 ±3.14%). Our preliminary results reveal a novel mechanism in which (i) the ER kinase PERK, is responsive to adhesion-dependent signals, (ii) suspension induces PERK activation and results in increased CHOP-promoter activity, (iii) these signals appear to be dependent on p38SAPK and eIF2α phosphorylation and, (iv) PERK appears to promote survival of cells grown for at least 72 hrs in suspension.
Microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix. Late results of operative treatment in 91 cases.

Abstract Ninety-one cases of carcinoma of the uterine cervix with stromal invasion of 5 mm. or less were reviewed 5 or more years after operation. Metastasis occurred in 2 cases; one of these patients is alive 5 years after Wertheim hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy and the other died during the sixth year after vaginal hysterectomy. The data yield only equivocal support for the contention that conservative treatment is adequate for all cases of microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix. Simple hysterectomy cures many of the so-called early lesions, including those exhibiting borderline stromal invasion. This treatment is inadequate for a carcinoma with the metastatic potential implied by the presence of tumor cells in vascular spaces. Of less serious import are lesions with definite but limited (3 mm. or less) invasion of the stroma but no discernible invasion of vessels.
Depression and Parkinson's disease: a review.

Objective The purpose of this review is to provide an update of the research regarding depression in Parkinson's disease and to synthesize the information into a neurobiological model relating the structural and biochemical changes in this disorder to the behavioral manifestations. Method The author used a computer-based search of the literature, augmented by extensive bibliography-guided article reviews, to find information on depression and Parkinson's disease. Findings Depression occurs in approximately 40% of patients with Parkinson's disease; depression in Parkinson's disease is distinguished from other depressive disorders by greater anxiety and less self-punitive ideation. Lower CSF levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, a past history of depression, and greater functional disability are associated with a greater risk of depression in Parkinson's disease. Female gender, early age at onset of Parkinson's disease, and greater left brain involvement may also be risk factors. Approximately half of depressed patients with Parkinson's disease meet criteria for major depressive episodes; half have dysthymia. Depression is more common in Parkinson's disease with prominent bradykinesia and gait instability than in tremor-dominant syndromes. Depressed patients with Parkinson's disease have greater frontal lobe dysfunction and greater involvement of dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems than nondepressed patients with the disease. Mood changes in Parkinson's disease respond to treatment with conventional tricyclic antidepressants or ECT. Conclusions Neurobiological investigations suggest that depression in Parkinson's disease may be mediated by dysfunction in mesocortical/prefrontal reward, motivational, and stress-response systems. Neuropsychological, metabolic, clinical, pharmacological, and anatomical studies support the involvement of frontal dopaminergic projections in patients with Parkinson's disease and depression.
The Equal Pay Act of 1963: Making and Breaking a Prima Facie Case

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 embraces a powerful principle: sex should not affect compensation of two employees doing "equal work." The reach of that principle, however, will depend primarily on how alike two jobs to be in order for the work to be "equal." Secondarily, it turns on how broadly various employer affirmative defenses will be construed, especially "any other factor other than sex." Drawing on case authority but going considerably further, this Article proposes a number of principles to govern the analysis of EPA claims and stresses the difference between analysis under that statute and under Title VII.
Alteration by Xylocaine (Lidocaine) and Its Derivatives of the Time Course of the End Plate Potential

Xylocaine and its derivatives act specifically at the neuromuscular junction within the concentration range 0.05 to 2.0 mM. The charged form is the active form of the drugs. There is no correlation between "local anesthetic" activity and effect at the junction. Like d-tubocurarine, these drugs have little or no effect on quantum content, acetylcholinesterase activity, or the passive impedance of the muscle fiber. Yet they produce end plate potentials characterized by a brief, early component and a late, greatly prolonged component, as does procaine. Analysis of these changes in time course suggests that the drugs have little or no effect before receptors are activated by acetylcholine, but cause a decreased and often greatly prolonged response. Clear structure-activity relations indicate that the receptor to which the drugs bind to produce the prolonged response can be the receptor for acetylcholine. Comparison of the effects of the drugs on the end plate potential and on the response to iontophoretically applied acetylcholine also shows that the effects of Xylocaine depend on the time course of receptor activation and are quite different from the effects of d-tubocurarine.
A Direct Masking Approach to Robust ASR

Recently, much work has been devoted to the computation of binary masks for speech segregation. Conventional wisdom in the field of ASR holds that these binary masks cannot be used directly; the missing energy significantly affects the calculation of the cepstral features commonly used in ASR. We show that this commonly held belief may be a misconception; we demonstrate the effectiveness of directly using the masked data on both a small and large vocabulary dataset. In fact, this approach, which we term the direct masking approach, performs comparably to two previously proposed missing feature techniques. We also investigate the reasons why other researchers may have not come to this conclusion; variance normalization of the features is a significant factor in performance. This work suggests a much better baseline than unenhanced speech for future work in missing feature ASR.
NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results

The NEOWISE data set offers the opportunity to study the variations in albedo for asteroid classification schemes based on visible and near-infrared observations for a large sample of minor planets. We have determined the albedos for nearly 1900 asteroids classified by the Tholen, Bus, and Bus-DeMeo taxonomic classification schemes. We find that the S-complex spans a broad range of bright albedos, partially overlapping the low albedo C-complex at small sizes. As expected, the X-complex covers a wide range of albedos. The multiwavelength infrared coverage provided by NEOWISE allows determination of the reflectivity at 3.4 and 4.6 μm relative to the visible albedo. The direct computation of the reflectivity at 3.4 and 4.6 μm enables a new means of comparing the various taxonomic classes. Although C, B, D, and T asteroids all have similarly low visible albedos, the D and T types can be distinguished from the C and B types by examining their relative reflectance at 3.4 and 4.6 μm. All of the albedo distributions are strongly affected by selection biases against small, low albedo objects, as all objects selected for taxonomic classification were chosen according to their visible light brightness. Due to these strong selection biases, we are unable to determine whether or not there are correlations between size, albedo, and space weathering. We argue that the current set of classified asteroids makes any such correlations difficult to verify. A sample of taxonomically classified asteroids drawn without significant albedo bias is needed in order to perform such an analysis.
Interaction between nesiritide and a heparin-coated pulmonary artery line during an infusion for decompensated heart failure.

Study Objective. Because it is known that intravenous nesiritide is not compatible with unfractionated heparin, we sought to determine the effect that heparin coating on a pulmonary artery catheter may have on the efficacy of a nesiritide infusion. Methods. The efficacy of a nesiritide infusion given through a heparin-coated pulmonary artery line was compared with that of a nesiritide infusion administered in the same patient through a heparin-free peripheral line. Results. The rate of infusion was titrated to maintain consistent hemodynamic parameters. When nesiritide was administered through a heparin-coated line, the infusion rate escalated from 0.01 μg/kg/minute to 0.07 μg/kg/minute. After the route of administration was switched to a heparin-free line, the same hemodynamic parameters were maintained. The heparin-free line made it possible to reduce the infusion rate by 57.1% over the next 24 hours to 0.03 μg/kg/minute. Conclusion. The interaction of nesiritide with heparin-coated pulmonary artery lines has the potential to be clinically significant. Clinicians should be educated about this potential interaction. Nesiritide should be infused only through heparin-free lines.
Severe Itching in the Patient with Burns

After discharge, the patient with burns is often plagued with persistent, unrelenting itching. The purpose of this study was to document the incidence and severity of itching in discharged patients with burns, to determine factors that may help in prediction of the problem, and to study the effectiveness of Benadryl (Parke-Davis, Morris Plains N.J.), Atarax (Roerig Div. of Pfizer Inc., New York, N.Y.) and Polyhist Forte (Mikart Inc., Atlanta, Ga.) in relieving the symptom. All adult patients who were discharged to our outpatient clinic were entered into this prospective study. Patients were started on one of the three agents, and agents were changed monthly in a randomized fashion. Severity of itching was determined by a visual linear analogue scale. The study population had a mean age of 35.9 +/- 12.8 years, and a mean burn size of 19.1% +/- 15.3% total body surface area. Eighty-seven percent of discharged patients complained of itching. The average severity of the problem was 7.6 +/- 1.9. A significant difference (p less than 0.05) among groups was found when the population was analyzed for size of burn and duration of time to wound closure. Symptoms varied with anatomic area burned. One hundred percent of patients with leg burns and 70% of those with arm burns complained of itching. Facial burns did not cause itching in any of the patients. The agents that were tested produced complete relief in only 20% of patients, partial relief in 60%, and no relief in 20%. There were no differences in response to the three agents tested. All three of the drugs that were tested had similar onset of action.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Application of a dispersed-reservoir concept for the development of oxidation-resistant alloys

Abstract Resistance to high-temperature oxidation is typically provided by either alloying with the desired scale-forming element or elements, or by applying a coating rich in those elements. For some alloy systems, the alloying approach requires very large additions of the oxide-forming elements and can lead to drastic reduction in the mechanical properties and melting temperature of the alloys. The dispersed-reservoir concept is based on the incorporation of a reservoir of the oxide-forming element as a second phase, which is inert to the alloy substrate, but which reacts with the environment to form a protective outer scale. The selection of the reservoir phase is primarily governed by thermodynamic considerations; its effectiveness also depends on other factors such as its size and distribution in the matrix, which are controlled by processing parameters. The research represents an examination of the applicability of this concept to the development of inherent oxidation resistance in three different classes of alloys. In each case considered, the mode of growth of the scale of the parent alloy is different, and occurs by: (i) the predominant outward diffusion of cations; (ii) the predominant inward diffusion of anions; or (iii) the formation of a volatile oxide. Observations of the high-temperature oxidation behavior of these different systems has provided some insights into the ways in which the dispersed reservoir phase exerts its effect.
Critical Care Practice : Bangladesh Perspective

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v1i1.14357 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2013; 1: 1-2
Early Diagenesis and Mass Properties of Siliceous Oozes: ABSTRACT

Three piston cores, 22-26 m. long were taken in a relatively undisturbed condition during 1964 in the southern Pacific Ocean in about 5,200 meters of water by the U.S.N.S. Eltanin. All were of approximately the same siliceous-ooze lithology. Shear-strength (cohesion) measurements were made at those depths in all of the cores where samples were taken for measurement of water content, texture, mineralogy, and geochemistry. Similar measurements were made on a 6-m. core of calcareous ooze from 4,000 m. of water for comparison. Statistical analysis of 13 variables of the grouped data from the long cores shows that 41.60 per cent of the variation in cohesion is accounted for by the following, in order of their relative importance as ranked in multiple regression: depth in core 20.88%), CaCO3 content (9.0%), silt content (3.07%), water content (5.16%), sand content (1.62%), and sorting (1.87%). In the calcareous ooze, core cohesion varies only as depth (63.91%) and the ratio chlorite: illite (24.19%). All cores show a decrease in water content and an increase in cohesion with depth. The siliceous ooze shows a progressive degeneration in its matted texture with depth, which is attributed to the solution of opaline tests and an attendant growth of the following authigenic minerals, as identified by X-ray diffraction: K-feldspar (microcline, orthoclase, and anorthoclase); Na-feldspar (albite and oligoclase); quartz; amphibole; phillipsite; clinoptilolite; dahlite (?); and wilkeite(?) and montmorillonite. End_of_Article - Last_Page 615------------
What is a model of the lambda calculus

An elementary, purely algebraic definition of model for the untyped lambda calculus is given. This definition is shown to be equivalent to the natural semantic definition based on environments. These definitions of model are consistent with, and yield a completeness theorem for, the standard axioms for lambda convertibility. A simple construction of models for lambda calculus is reviewed. The algebraic formulation clarifies the relation between combinators and lambda terms.
Hemodynamic Spectrum of Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock A Conceptual Model

Despite the recent accumulation of a large hemodynamic data base describing myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, precise characterization of patient subsets has been elusive. This paper represents an attempt to identify the major factors contributing to this wide hemodynamic spectrum, and their interrelation using a theoretical model based upon currently emerging concepts of this disease. It is proposed that the hemodynamic alterations associated with acute infarction are a consequence both of reduction in contractile mass and alteration in left ventricular compliance. In addition, mitral insufficiency, altered contractility, and the peripheral circulation interact to produce wide divergence between clinical and hemodynamic features from case to case and during the progression of the course of the illness. This model may more rationally explain the genesis and natural history of "heart failure" and the "shock syndrome" associated with acute myocardial infarction and in addition explain the extreme...
Characteristics of a delay-line readout in a cylindrical drift chamber system

Abstract This paper reports on the design, construction, and operational characteristics of a delay-line readout implemented on the cathode foils of a cylindrical drift chamber system. The readout was used to determine the position of an event along the length of the 1.74 m drift wires in the MEGA detectors used at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility. The performance of the system is interpreted by comparison to a PSPICE simulation, and to simple analytical models.
Pressure dependence of optical transitions in In 0.15 Ga 0.85 N/GaN multiple quantum wells

The effects of hydrostatic pressure on optical transitions in ${\mathrm{In}}_{0.15}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.85}\mathrm{N}/\mathrm{G}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{N}$ multiple quantum wells (MQW's) have been studied. The optical transition associated with confined electron and hole states in the MQW's was found to shift linearly to higher energy with pressure but exhibit a significantly weaker pressure dependence compared to bulklike thick epitaxial-layer samples. Similar pressure coefficients obtained by both photomodulation and photoluminescence measurements rule out the possibility of the transition involving localized states deep in the band gap. We found that the difference in the compressibility of ${\mathrm{In}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{N}$ and GaN induces a tensile strain in the compressively strained ${\mathrm{In}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{N}$ well layers, partially compensating the externally applied hydrostatic pressure. This mechanical effect is primarily responsible for the smaller pressure dependence of the optical transitions in the ${\mathrm{In}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{N}/\mathrm{G}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{N}$ MQW's. In addition, the pressure-dependent measurements allow us to identify a spectral feature observed at an energy below the GaN band gap. We conclude that this feature is due to transitions from ionized Mg acceptor states to the conduction band in the p-type GaN cladding layer rather than a confined transition in the MQW's.
Evolution of Vertebrate Olfactory Systems

The general features of the olfactory system are remarkably consistent across vertebrates. A phylogenetic analysis of central olfactory projections indicates that at least three distinct olfactory subsystems may be broadly present in vertebrates and that a fourth, the accessory olfactory or vomeronasal system, arose in tetrapods. The origin and function of the vomeronasal system have been the subject of much controversy, but some conclusions can be drawn. The vomeronasal system did not arise as an adaptation to terrestrial life, as indicated by the presence of a vomeronasal system in modern aquatic amphibians and the increasing paleontological evidence that the last common ancestor of amphibians and amniotes was aquatic. The vomeronasal system is involved in both foraging and reproductive behaviors in reptiles and has been shown to be involved in some pheromonally mediated behaviors in mammals. However, among mammals, some pheromonal responses are not mediated by the vomeronasal system, and the possible involvement of the vomeronasal system in other type of behaviors has not yet been investigated. Thus, the relative functions of the olfactory and vomeronasal systems of tetrapods remain unclear. Other hypotheses that features of the olfactory system are specialized for aquatic chemoreception or for pheromone detection are similarly insupportable. For example, the suggestion that members of the olfactory receptor family can be separated into two groups that function for transduction of air-borne or water-borne odorants is contradicted by the presence of both groups in aquatic amphibians and by a phylogenetic analysis of the sequences for these genes. Interestingly, the putative odorant receptors from the vomeronasal epithelium share little sequence similarity with those from the olfactory epithelium, indicating that these receptors may have been independently co-opted from the larger family of seven transmembrane domain receptors for use in odor transduction. A phylogenetic analysis of the distribution of olfactory receptor cell types indicates that microvillar olfactory receptor cells are widespread among vertebrates and are not restricted to aquatic animals or to the vomeronasal epithelium of tetrapods. Previous suggestions that all microvillar receptor cells are specialized for the detection of pheromones are not tenable. Attempts to recognize features of the olfactory system that are common to all vertebrates and might be specialized for the detection of pheromones vs. more general odorants, or for the detection of water-borne vs. air-borne odorants, are not supported by current evidence.
Influenza vaccination encouraged for all children aged 6–23 months in the United States: vaccine supply and feasibility implications

Background: Beginning with the 2002–03 influenza season, vaccination of all U.S. children aged 6–23 months, household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children <2 years was encouraged. The encouragement was precipitated by studies showing healthy young children at high risk for influenza-related hospitalizations. Objectives: To assess the vaccine needed and the feasibility of implementing the recommendation to vaccinate children aged 6–23 months and close contacts of children <2 years. Methods: Estimates obtained from manufacturers' vaccine data, national survey data, and feasibility studies. Results: The expanded policy adds vaccination of 5.5–7 million healthy 6- to 23-month-olds, plus 14 million persons aged 2–49 years who are household contacts of children aged 0–23 months. Thus, 185 million persons in the United States would be targeted for vaccination, including previously unvaccinated children aged <9 years who need two vaccine doses, compared with the 95 million vaccine doses produced and <79 million used during the 2002–2003 season. Although current vaccine production does not meet projected doses needed, vaccination of recommended groups is incomplete and initial vaccine use by young children and their household contacts is likely to be low. The expanded vaccination will need to overcome feasibility and cost concerns. Conclusions: Vaccine supply at current production levels will only be sufficient if coverage levels remain low. Education of parents and providers and implementation of more efficient strategies for vaccinations will raise coverage and also necessitate a larger vaccine supply.
Use of passive samplers to measure atmospheric ammonia levels in a high-density industrial hog farm area of eastern North Carolina

Abstract Hog concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in North Carolina release ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide, VOCs, and particulate matter to the atmosphere. These operations are located mainly in the NC coastal plain and can create potential health hazards for nearby human populations. Limited work has been performed to measure NH3 at the community level to assess potential human exposure. In an effort to address this issue, a study was designed to measure NH3 levels near hog CAFOs and community locations (i.e. homes and schools) in Eastern NC. NH3 was collected using passive diffusion tubes in triplicate exposed primarily in weekly intervals. Sampling occurred from October 2003 to May 2004 (20 sites) and from July 2004 to October 2004 (23 sites) at varying distances from hog CAFOs in close proximity to homes and schools. Average weekly NH3 levels were measured as mass (μg NH3-N) and converted to concentration (ppb). Mean level of 13.8 ppb near homes and schools ( 2 km from a hog CAFO). The study establishes that passive sampling can be effectively used to measure average atmospheric ammonia levels at community locations near hog CAFOs in Eastern NC. The collected data indicate the relative exposure for human populations who live near a hog CAFO. The closer a populace is to the hog CAFO, the more intense the exposure. These results require more validation in the field by comparison to a reference method.
Clinical, radiographic and scintigraphic findings in experimental periodontal disease in dogs.

Ten adult male beagle littermates were equally divided into control (hard diet) and experimental (soft diet) groups for a 3-year longitudinal study. At intervals of 3 months, clinical oral examinations were performed, periapical radiographs were taken, radiopharmaceutical uptake in alveolar bone was measured and the teeth of control dogs were scaled and polished. Clinically the experimental dogs had significantly more (p < 0.05) gingival inflammation and calculus formation than control dogs; the accumulation of plaque was similar in both groups. Radiographic alveolar bone loss was minimal in 2 control dogs and absent in the other 3 dogs in this group. The extent and severity of alveolar bone loss in the experimental group varied among individual animals; both areas with severe bone loss and radiographically normal areas were found in the same dog. Regression analysis of the scintigraphic data showed a highly significant increase (p < 0.01) in uptake in the alveolar bone of experimental dogs. Values for uptake as a function of time were 50–400 per cent greater than in controls. The increased uptake occurred in radiographically normal areas as well as in areas showing alveolar bone loss.
Modelling Linkages between US and Asia‐Pacific Securitized Property Markets

The aim of this paper is to examine long‐run relationships and short‐run causal linkages among the public property markets of the Asia‐Pacific region (Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore) and the US over a period beginning January 2000 and ending March 2006. Long‐term results indicate that, from the perspective of the US investor, the markets of Hong Kong and Japan provide the greater diversification benefits. Short‐run causality tests show no significant lead‐lag relationships between the property market of the US and those of the Asia‐Pacific markets, indicating a wide range of possible diversification opportunities. Thus, US investors in international real estate markets can derive diversification benefits from investing in these public property markets both in the long and short run.
Measuring the Health Consequences of Alcohol Consumption: Current Needs and Methodological Challenges

Background/Aims: Extensive research has shown that alcohol consumption leads to poor health and premature death through its causal or contributing roles in numerous chronic health c
Dynamic Geometry of the Left Ventricle in Mitral Regurgitation

High-speed biplane left ventricular (LV) cineangiograms were analyzed for changes in volume, shape, and dimensions in 35 patients. Ventriculographic studies in ten normal subjects characterized by an ejection fraction (E.F.) of 67 ± 2% and an end-diastolic volume (EDV) of 90 ± 8 ml/m2 were compared with results from 25 patients with isolated mitral regurgitation of varying severity. Patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) were subdivided according to whether or not the ejection fraction was normal. Those with normal E.F. (70 ± 2%) were termed compensated MR (CMR) and had EDV 192 ± 7 ml/m2. Those with decreased E.F. 34 ± 3% were termed decompensated MR (DMR) and had EDV 277 ± 17 ml/m2. In normal subjects no significant changes in LV dimensions were noted during the isovolumic phase of contraction while in patients with compensated MR the transverse axis shortened an average of 5.2% with no change in the longitudinal axis (L). Changes in geometry prior to ejection were less evident in the group with decompe...
Synthesis of protein–polymer conjugates

Protein–polymer conjugates are widely employed for applications in medicine, biotechnology and nanotechnology. Covalent attachment of synthetic polymers to proteins improves protein stability, solubility, and biocompatibility. Furthermore, synthetic polymers impart new properties such as self assembly and phase behavior. Polymer attachment at amino acid side-chains and at ligand binding sites is typically exploited. This Emerging Area focuses on synthetic methods to prepare protein-reactive polymers and also employing the protein itself as an initiator for polymerization.
Thumb carpometacarpal suspension arthroplasty using interference screw fixation: surgical technique and clinical results.

Purpose Arthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is a common condition, for which reconstruction using the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) is a standard treatment. We describe the technique and clinical results for thumb CMC arthroplasty using interference screw fixation of the FCR to the first metacarpal through a single incision. Methods Over 12 months, 29 consecutive CMC arthroplasties were performed in 29 patients using FCR transfer tenotomized at the level of the scaphoid with an absorbable biotenodesis screw for fixation. There were 24 women and 5 men, with a mean age of 58 years. Patients were evaluated at a minimum of one year with radiographs, standardized outcome instruments, and measurements of motion and strength. The scaphoid to first metacarpal distance was measured at 2 weeks, 3 months, and greater than 1 year to assess settling. Results A total of 28 patients were available at a mean of 19 months. No arthroplasties required revision. Postoperative scaphoid to first metacarpal distance was 5.9 mm, which had decreased by a mean of 1.4 mm at final follow-up. There were no side-to-side differences in range of motion or strength in the entire cohort except for lateral key pinch, which was lower on the reconstructed side. The mean postoperative Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score was 15, and the mean visual analog scale score was 1. Correlations were found between age and lateral key pinch strength for the reconstructed and contralateral sides. There were no significant relationships among Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, visual analog scale, radiographic settling, side-to-side strength or range of motion versus gender, Eaton stage, or workers' compensation status. Conclusions Our series demonstrates excellent clinical outcomes with no revisions at an average of 19 months for this technique. Strength, range of motion, and radiographic settling compare favorably with published results of alternative techniques. Except for lateral key pinch, there was no statistically significant difference in strength compared with the contralateral side. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Improved Performance on Clerical Tasks Associated with Administration of Peppermint Odor

Previous research indicates the presence of certain odors is associated with enhanced task performance. The present study investigated use of peppermint odor during typing performance, memorization, and alphabetization. Participants completed the protocol twice--once with peppermint odor present and once without. Analysis indicated significant differences in the gross speed, net speed, and accuracy on the typing task, with odor associated with improved performance. Alphabetization also improved significantly under the odor condition but not typing duration or memorization. These results suggest peppermint odor may promote a general arousal of attention, so participants stay focused on their task and increase performance.
Noninvasive measurement of ventricular pressure throughout systole

Abstract A simple method is proposed for measuring right or left ventricular systolic pressure based on analysis of the right or left ventricular time-activity curve, obtained with a scintillation camera or cardiac probe after intravenous injection of technetium-99m albumin or red blood cells. The method is based on three principles: (1) intraventricular pressure equals force per area of the aortic opening; (2) force equals mass (of blood) times its acceleration; and (3) acceleration can be derived from the ventricular volume curve. The following differential equation was derived ( ∂ P ∂ t ) x = ϱ A 2 α 2 da dt d 2 a dt 2 where ( ∂ P ∂ t ) x is the first derivative of left ventricular pressure; ϱ is the density of blood; A is the area of the aortic opening ∗ ; α is the ratio of blood volume to radioactivity (a) measured within the ventricle, da dt is the first derivative (velocity) of the activity (a) within the ventricle and d 2 a dt 2 is the second derivative (acceleration). The integration of this equation is readily accomplished, and the integrated curve reflects the pressure changes. Absolute calibration in millimeters of mercury requires knowledge of the end-diastolic volume and the area of the aortic opening. It is assumed that the area of aortic opening is relatively constant, that blood flow is laminar and that the pressure pulse travels with the velocity of blood through the aortic opening. In validation studies in dogs, calculated and observed ventricular pressure curves were nearly identical in shape and absolute value. In patients, although an absolute pressure measurement still awaits an accurate method for calculation of left ventricular enddiastolic volume, differences in the shape and amplitude of the curves were found. The procedure can be performed easily, and the calculation can be made within minutes. With further validation, the method may provide noninvasively a pressure and volume relation that is valuable in characterizing the function of the heart as a pump, both at rest and during graded exercise.